Many decades after the painstaking filming of "Apocalypse Now" gave rise to the country's perhaps first surfing destination when the film crew left their surfboards behind, the name Baler had become synonymous with surfing. While Colonel Kilgore in the film referred to the Viet Cong as "Charlie" who "don't surf," in real-life Baler, everybody surfed.

The recent maiden Philippine Airlines flights to Tawi-Tawi from Cotabato City paved the way for me to explore the country’s southernmost province once again. I remembered when I first went here, I had met a slew of curious queries about safety when traveling to Tawi-Tawi. As many remembered, this province once hogged the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” As a metaphor, it implies using the ideas of thinkers who came before us to advance our own intellectual progress. Nevertheless, when I found myself exploring Islas de Gigantes for the second time and had the opportunity to stand on its slopes and take in more of its magnificent scenery, I was reminded of the phrase—this time, simply to immerse myself further in its beauty. Coming back to Carles, Iloilo, as part of a media familiarization trip organized by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB), had me feeling excited to the hilt at the prospect of once again standing on the shoulders of the Gigantes Islands.

Whenever one thought of Sorsogon, the gentle giant whale sharks of Donsol first came to mind. However, upon further exploration, one would learn that the province offered a plethora of delights that included beautiful beaches, heritage towns, and other natural gems comprising waterfalls, quaint lakes, firefly-laden rivers, and sleepy volcanoes. From the rich flora and fauna, colorful culture and traditions, and platefuls of delicious local cuisine to everything that ticked every intrepid traveler's checklist, it was no wonder each time a visitor departed Sorsogon, heaps of memorable experiences were left behind.

“So near, yet so far,” I thought to myself as I stared at the island known as Potipot from where I was standing at Isla Vista Beach Resort. “It is still closed to visitors,” the manager told me. Ever since the world re-emerged from the clamps of the pandemic, resort owners in Candelaria, Zambales, had been clamoring for the reopening of Potipot.

As a travel writer, I was fortunate to be able to break free from the clamps of the pandemic earlier than most people. I do remember my first trip since the lockdown, after six months following the government’s “stay at home” order, when I almost leapt for joy at finally smelling the fresh scent of nature. Unfortunately, many of us were still reeling from the global pandemic and had shelved our travel plans on the side for the longest time.

I’m sure you have read many “Where to Stay” listicle articles where the author just picked up random accommodation properties and presented them without experiencing what it was like staying there. I know, I had done such things writing for other websites. However, in this article, I will highlight actual properties where I spent at least a few days. I had been to Boracay only four times in the past, with that year’s trip being the longest at almost two weeks. But in those journeys to Boracay, I hopped from one place to another ranging from budget options to medium-range and luxury. However, I had yet to reach Shangri-La levels.

The mood that pervaded this hidden getaway was probably similar to what the Gods of Travel would have recommended to you after a day of diving and island hopping around the magical seas of Ticao Island. Slipped inside a cove in the town of San Jacinto and dotted with tall coconut trees, Ticao Island Resort dished a laid-back atmosphere that was serene and full of Zen, just as a tropical island should be. Away from the crowds and almost free from any network signal, one could easily embrace the sense of isolation that existed on this part of the island.

It made perfect sense that museums were housed in repurposed historic structures, as there was no better way of narrating the significance of the past than inside a building whose four walls hid heaps of stories to be told.

The triangular-shaped island of Panay had gifted me with countless memorable travel experiences. Covering four provinces: Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique, it had taken up a large chunk of space in my memory vault. Despite that, I remained keen on the idea of returning to the island, and when the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines invited me to join a media tour, I immediately said "Yes."