Dante Varona Unchained at San Juanico Bridge

Unknown October 07, 2012

When I was growing up in our old neighborhood in Paranaque, there was this tricycle driver who everyone referred to as "King." He has disheveled features, including a long black beard and a semi-handlebar mustache that matches his thick hair, which appeared to haven't felt the sweep of a comb for years. He has the air of a mysterious man who doesn't say much but is well-known for having a short temper—especially if you pay him a 20 peso bill for a 1 peso tricycle fare. There were whispers, probably made up by adults to scare off kids like me, that he was the daredevil stuntman Dante Varona. According to an urban legend, after Dante Varona jumped from the highest point of the San Juanico Bridge, blood flowed out of his eyes, ears, and nose, and he was almost killed. He then became a recluse under the guise of a new name and profession.

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Chapter 1: Pre-Lumineers' Arrival in Coron | Palawan

Unknown October 01, 2012

This was my third visit to Coron, Palawan, and it was the most remarkable. If there are any, I should be writing this with my eyes closed and using only one hand, while the other makes a salami sandwich. Narrating the 'I did this, we did that, went there and ate here, stayed at Coron Eco Lodge' story. This trip, however, is out of the ordinary. It was, in fact, a journey in which "something wonderful happened and exploded like fabulous roman candles."

Lauren Denoga with Marky Ramone Go, Monette Fernandez and Ron Cruz

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Lake Bulusan: Where Bad Folks Don’t Go | Sorsogon

Unknown September 30, 2012

According to the Meat Puppets, bad folks end up in a lake of fire. The good folks, though end up in some scenic lake elsewhere. I have reasons to feel like we were a bunch of good folks heading to Bulusan Volcano Natural Park that day. Accompanied by the humble Mayor Ronel Lim of Gubat, Sorsogon and a day removed from kick starting the book sharing project. We set foot and gazed our eyes at this body of water covered by a lush forest. The calm presence of this lake presents a stunning contrast to a force of nature situated beside it. Lake Bulusan is located at the foot of Mount Bulusan, a still active volcano which stands 5,135 feet and last erupted in February 2011.

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In Pursuit of the Most Wanted Waterfalls | Biliran

Unknown September 17, 2012

I stepped off my plane on the tarmac of Daniel Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City at the first sight of light. My mission was as clear as a shimmery disco ball circling to the beat of a Bee Gees song "Staying Alive." If I want to live again, I must carry out the top-secret orders bestowed upon me. I must track down the most wanted waterfalls of Biliran Island province one by one, every single one of them. I walked past airport security and into a waiting jeepney to downtown Tacloban, my camera locked and loaded with a 4 gig memory card. From there, I rode a van-van for a two and a half hour journey into the land of fast flowing waters.

Tinago Falls (There's also a Tinago Falls in Iligan)

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Spyder Surge: Biking Around Marikina Semi - Gangnam Style

Unknown September 12, 2012

I always wanted to buy another bike since my last one was stolen at our then home in Pasig, by a member of the "Spiderman Club" a few years ago. (sings Queen's "Bicycle Race") One of my best friend, Don is an avid biker and I am itching to join him on one of his biking jaunt around the Metro and nearby provinces such as Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga and Zambales. While my stamina is 500 miles away from being back to tip top shape, I tried going around the island of Siquijor on a bicycle in February of this year. I lasted a few miles before my legs gave up on me. That experience though, reminded me of the joy of riding a bike en route to anywhere, whether its in a bustling city like Marikina and Makati or a scenic countryside like in Siquijor. For good or ill, I will save up for a bicycle in the neccesarily near- future. As the lady from the office of the Marikina Bikeways aptly says "A bicycle on the road is one less car off the road". You can't get any eco-friendly transporting from one place to another than that.

Photo credit: Jun Reynales of http://photographedbyjunreynales.blogspot.com/

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Go Hotels Dumaguete

Unknown September 01, 2012

During my first trip to Dumaguete early this year, I stayed at a budget hostel - the kind of place a traveler would just sleep on, take a shower and that's it. That's why my second trip to Dumaguete, also of this year was like Mr. Chow and an average Joe apart. I got the chance to stay at GoHotels Dumaguete, it is advertised as 'a place for every Juan' but without the torturous state of accommodation, because in actuality, the place can really compete among the priciest hotels all over the country. It is best described as a boutique hotel - fancy looking, neat, stylish and most of all very affordable.

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Enchanted River: Unearthly Basin of the Deep Blue | Surigao del Sur

Unknown August 28, 2012

"♫♪♫ I belong with you, you belong with me you're my sweetheart

I belong with you, you belong with me you're my sweet (Ho!) ♫♪♫"

Sings the male fairy as he flaps his wings quickly, unseen by the object of his desire—a beautiful girl staring, jaw dropped in fascination at the blue colored waters of what is known as the "Enchanted River." The male love-stuck fairy casts a magical spell, but every time he points his wand at the girl, it emits a "pfffft" sound. The other fairies all laughed in unison at him. The earthly woman stripped down to her underwear, revealing a two-piece suit that accentuates her vivacious curves. Meanwhile, the Romeo-wannabe fairy has accepted that his world will never blend with that of the woman. As he sat idle on a little stone, tears flowed down his eyes wondering how it feels like to be a human in the Earthly world.

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For Whom the Tinuy-an Falls | Surigao del Sur

Unknown August 24, 2012

The massive force of Tinuy-an's raging waters stunned me at first sight. It's 95 meters wide, and the sound of water falling from its 180-foot top mimics a roaring engine, as if you're standing in front of an aircraft on the runway about to run you over. The more you move slowly towards it, cutting distance in slow and deliberate strides, the more enthralling it becomes. Splashes of water begin to droop over you, as if a dog was shaking its dripping wet coat. Just when I thought I couldn't see it any better from where I was, I noticed a rainbow planted near the foot of the waterfalls.

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A Woodstock of Pebble Rocks in Mabua | Surigao del Sur

Unknown August 13, 2012

In the not so far outskirts of Surigao City, a throng of edgy, colliding rockers lies unusually subdued, well rested and only head bangs against each other when stepped upon. These are the pebble rockers of barangay Mabua, simply known as "Pebble Beach". The place defies the popular belief, same way as this madame reject the logic that thin women are the only sexy vixens on Earth – that a beautiful beach, to be considered as such, should constitute only fine granule of sands. As this shingle beach shows, these smooth, oval shaped sedimentary rocks are making a strong case against the prevailing concept that only sandy beaches are worth visiting.

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Looting Scenery on a Day Hike to Gomot Falls | Romblon

Unknown August 05, 2012

Still reeling like a junkie who just smoked a bundle of weed from the previous night's "Bikini Open", I woke up from a dream where I found myself trapped in an island along with the eleven other bikini-clad contestants. Only to find later on that "number 3" was really an alien from outer space intent of killing me while I elope with "number 2" and "number 4". To understand what I'm talking about, you can read the background story here. Anyway back to real life. The sun was up early and I heard the birds were chirping by the window of the guest room of Barangay Kapitan Bibo Porras' home. I stood up from my bed half wishing my dream was real, I went outside and saw our two guides Inggo and his cousin Wladimir already waiting for us at the porch.

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Postcard Series: Pebble N' Rolla | Surigao

Marky Ramone Go August 01, 2012

My feet aren't planted over fine white sands, rather on smooth, round pebble rocks. West of Surigao City in the seaside town of Mabua, a different kind of beach awaits travelers used to drawing stick figures on beach shores. A friction factory of banging rocks, many of which bigger than the human hand, of various shapes but equally lethal when thrown at ya. It's rock n' rolla, its breaking rocks under the hot sun indeed. Keep on rocking in the free world, this time, in this place. It's Pebbles and roll!.