Sitting Inside a Confessional Booth in Baclayon Church | Bohol

December 13, 2009
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is located in Baclayon, a fifth class municipality in Bohol. Many people now refers to it as Baclayon Church and is considered as one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. The church has a rich history spanning centuries, as it stood  witness to the eventual emancipation of the Philippines from the Spanish colonizers who built the church sometime around 1727 following the settlement of Spanish Jesuits mission in Baclayon around 1595.

Izah Morales

Fort San Pedro, Cebu City

December 13, 2009
The Fort San Pedro was first erected with logs in 1565 upon orders by Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. While the time when the actual construction of the stone fort remains in question, there are claims that suggests it began in 1630. Regardless, the Fort San Pedro currently claims the title of being the oldest and smallest fort structure in the Philippines. The Spanish built the fort as a mean of defending the city from bastion of hostile Muslim raiders who are against the rule of the Spanish colonizers, with the over all construction getting done by 1738, a little less than 200 years after it was first conceived.

The fort is triangular in shape, according to a 1739 report that was addressed to then Spanish King Philip II and was made of mortar and stones. The three bastions were called Ignacio de Loyola, San Miguel and Concepcion.

During the course of History the fort became under the Americans after the Spanish-American War and was used as a barracks by the Americans before it became a school for a lot of Cebuanos in the few years leading to World War II.


During World War II, the fort was used as living quarters of Japanese living in Cebu city until it became a hospital for the wounded during the war. It became a short lived military camp after WWII until Cebu Garden Club took over its operations.


Present day, the local government of Cebu takes care of the fort by naming it as a historical park with a museum that houses well preserved Spanish documents and artifacts as well as a garden that exhibits different kinds of plants.

Fort San Pedro is found in San Roque, Cebu City. A mere walking distance from Pier 1 of the Cebu City port and another landmark, the Plaza Independencia.



I was able to visit the fort after my trip from Bantayan Island. Upon disembarking from Pier 1 of the city port I decided to take a short walk before I get a cab - a walk which in turn took me to the Fort itself.


I had a wonderful time walking around the small fortress, looking at its old structures, the solid rock walls, visiting the museum and just imagining the scenes that used to happen in the courtyard, behind the walls when those skirmishes are happening during the old times. In a way it took me further back in time.


It's a wonderful opportunity as well, to learn from history while visiting landmarks such as the Fort of San Perdro. I'm glad that such place was preserved rightfully to serve as a reminder of our rich and colorful past.

Blood Compact Site | Bohol

December 12, 2009
The island of Bohol is the site of another historical event known as "Sandugo" or the blood compact between then ruler and chieftain of the island, Datu Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi held on March 16, 1565. History have told us that the arrival of the Spanish to the Philippines was anything but smooth sailing. We all knew how Ferdinand Magellan fell to the courageous men of Lapu Lapu in Mactan Island. Since then, succeeding expeditions sent by the kingdom of Spain to the Far East and eventually The Philippines met hostile resistance and was unable to convince local rulers that they had come in peace — but with intent of colonization.

Regene Ong

Malcapuya Island: Coron, Palawan

September 03, 2009

During our second day of island hopping in Coron, we sailed to Malcapuya Island located about an hour and a half away from the main town. We arrived there at around 10:00 AM giving us more than enough time to explore the island. My favorite part, aside from the long stretch of shoreline covered with fine white sands, was the viewing deck perched atop a 50-foot hill, wherein you’ll see the surrounding view of the island.

Jill Munion

Kayangan Lake: Coron, Palawan

September 01, 2009

Kayangan Lake situated in Coron Island north of Palawan is said to be among the cleanest lakes in Asia. Surrounded by rocky mountains and lush green trees, it paints an image  one used to seeing only in postcards and movies. If you're expecting the best the great outdoors can offer, then you cannot be more correct to get it here. Climbing the hiking trails leading to Kayangan lake already gift you with a jaw-dropping view of the Calamianes archipelago.

Ria Jose

Coron, Palawan: Chasing Beaches

August 29, 2009
We spent 2 days island hopping in Coron, Palawan around the Calamian group of islands. This included a trip to paradise-like Kayangan Lake and went snorkeling in coral laden areas like Siete Picados — an area surrounded by 7 small rocky islands — and around it are some of the best snorkeling sites in the world where. The vibrant corals and fishes of different colors are clearly visible through the crystal clear waters.

Levy Amosin

Maquinit Hot Springs, Coron, Palawan

August 27, 2009
Another place one should visit while in Coron, Palawan is the Maquinit Hot Springs. It is located in the hillside part of Coron, about 25 minutes from the town center. Visitors will be enchanted by circling pools filled with steaming water oozing from the bottom of the nearby mountain. It is said to come from an underground volcano thus explaining why the water’s temperature ranges from 38-40 degree Celsius.

Mia Panlilio

Coron, Palawan: “Town & Country”

August 26, 2009
Coron Town is the center of economic and tourist activity in Busuanga, Palawan. It serves as the sail-off place for island hopping tours throughout the rest of the Calamian group of Islands. One of the main attraction of the town is Mount Tapyas. The view from the peak gifts you a wonderful view of the town below. One can clearly see the nearby islands, hillside roads, boats and ships on the horizon and the people living their simple lives. It is a setting we big city dwellers would save up to experience for a few days in between our daily grind climbing the corporate ladder. 

Christian Sangoyo

Bullets over Busuanga, Palawan

August 25, 2009
August 20, 2009: we flew aboard a Cebu Pacific propeller plane to Busuanga, Palawan planning to explore not only Coron town but a good part of the Calamian Group of Islands. The place is about an hour of flight time from Manila. I was barely keeping myself awake when I heard the plane’s captain telling us that we’re about to land at Busuanga airport. I looked out the window and saw these beautiful island formations surrounded by blue waters, white shorelines and reefs. “Putang ina ang ganda” was all I can mutter to myself.

Marianne Londres

Sagada redux

July 18, 2009
This was my second time around to go to Sagada, right after our trip to Batad Rice Terraces in Banaue we headed straight to Sagada-which is another 3 hour drive from Banaue.
With our body and legs battered by the hike to Tappia Falls we arrived in Sagada at about 11:00 pm, found a nice place called George Inn that gives a wonderful view from its window on our room on the third floor.

view from our window
view from our window

The next day we woke up at around 6am, had our breakfast at about 7:00 am at Yoghurt House.

don, kat, kim and mark m.
don, kat, kim and mark m.

After fueling our gas tanks, still feeling a bit tired from the previous long day at Banaue, we started our cave connection ( Lumiang Cave – Sumaging Cave). On the entrance of the cave, a horde of wooden coffins can be found all humped over another stretching from the bottom of the cave’s mouth up to the rocky ceilings – positioned peacefully and bringing an eerie feeling of unfortunate circumstances once disturbed.

wooden coffins
wooden coffins
There was a coffin with a hole in it, large enough for a human skull to take a peek. It feels weird looking at it, thinking that it was once a live human being walking and feeding and talking like us, but right now it firmly rests there with its soul in the other world.

Peeping skull
Peeping skull
Inside the cave, the five of us plus our guide then another group of people are in the cave as well, producing a short queue on the tiny opening at the start where one has to use a rope to get down. While waiting for our turn Don exposes his “chemical gas” that almost rendered our guide unconscious.

to the bat cave
to the bat cave
Inside the cave was a maze of rocky passageways requiring body contortions, balance and the reliable lamp light, without it, the cave will turn into one pitch black world.

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Pools of cold water greets you inside, flowing along rock formations whom the local guides refers to as the king (as it forms like a penis), queen, pig pen, chocolate cake, elephant trunk and so on (you’ll know why when you see it trust me)

Batad 098-097

We took a dip into one of the cold pools found inside. The cold water meets your skin like needles the first few seconds after you go under it but as time goes and your body adjusts to the cold water it feels like therapy feeding your skin with energy.

Batad-109-106
Batad-104-103

After 15 minutes we got back on our trail and were met upon by more cool rock formations and crossed small pools of water again.

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And here’s Don when he’s not farting inside the cave.
Fartstarter
Fartstarter
One by one we climbed up about 6 feet using a rope heading to the exit of Sumaging cave.

Batad 154-153
the Queen
the Queen
Batad 168-157

We stayed at Sagada until the next day then headed back to Manila, it was a long trip that started friday night to Banaue, went Tappia falls, then to Sagada, went caving, foodtrip, pictures and then back to the maddening real world in the city. Something to look forward to again, because the life on the road forever awaits you.

Batad-183-178

Top 10 RV Destinations in the United States

July 11, 2009


Land Of Mobile Luxury


Recreational vehicles have changed the way we live in America. You can get away for a week in the wilderness and bring all the comforts of home with you. If you’re with your family, you can have a camping adventure. If you’re alone, you can get away from it all.