Destination

Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park | Basey, Samar

• Posted by Potpot
• 23993 Views
• January 14th, 2019
• in Destinations, Philippines
• No Comments

Samar Island Natural Park is gorgeous on the surface, underneath the earth & high above it. But within its 450,000-hectare protected landscape, 840 hectares attract the most visitors — Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park in Basey, Samar. Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park is a maze of natural...

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Destination

Islas de Gigantes | Carles, Iloilo Province

• Posted by Potpot
• 7069 Views
• January 8th, 2019
• in Destinations, Philippines
• No Comments

Is it just me feeling that Boracay’s reopening did not lure the hordes of tourists back to the island? Or is it just warming up? Whatever there is, one thing is sure, its closure opened opportunities for other islands to steal the show. Take Islas de Gigantes in Carles,...

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Destination

Ozamiz City | More Than Just a Gateway

• Posted by Potpot
• 16522 Views
• January 6th, 2019
• in Destinations, Philippines
• No Comments

The story of Ozamiz City is just like those places that started as tiny settlements & grew into big cities. However, many people find it a sour bite in the lip when it made national headlines. But others like me see it as a beautiful space that history has...

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Destination

Ilocos Norte | Still, the Philippines’ Northern Star

• Posted by Potpot
• 14525 Views
• December 25th, 2018
• in Destinations, Philippines
• 4 Comments

Ilocos Norte is much more than just the iconic “pinakbet” and the Marcoses. It’s also about other beautiful excesses. And this abundance is also what keeps me coming back here since I first visited it in the 90s. In Ilocos Norte, there’s plenty of sunlight to play under &...

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Arts & Culture

Pampanga Christmas Lanterns | The Star Wonders

• Posted by Potpot
• 44584 Views
• December 21st, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Artworks
• No Comments

Pampanga Christmas lanterns are more than just embellishments of the most loved season of the year. It is also about how the Kapampangans created the Filipino Christmas that we all enjoy today. In what might just be the most iconic symbol of Pinoy Christmas, the “parol” or lanterns flicker...

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Eco-Event

World Migratory Bird Day | Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay

• Posted by Potpot
• 6480 Views
• December 16th, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Festivals
• No Comments

Twice a year, Zamboanga Sibugay receives an unusual jam of international visitors from as far as the arctic hemisphere — birds! And in a tiny town called Siay, they’re received with so much shebang that they even get their own festival called World Migratory Bird Day! Yes, these migratory...

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Events

Kaon Ta | Region 10 Food & Travel Expo

• Posted by Potpot
• 19575 Views
• December 8th, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Lifestyle Events
• No Comments

The recent food & travel expo of the Department of Tourism-Region 10 was all about delicious cookery & a whole lot of Northern Mindanao charm. Dubbed as Kaon Ta, or let’s eat was a first of its kind on this side of Philippine kitchendom. Held last November 23-25, Kaon...

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Festival

Christmas Symbols Festival | Tangub City

• Posted by Potpot
• 17710 Views
• December 6th, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Festivals
• No Comments

All towns, malls & hotels have lit their showpiece trees. Homes & streets sparkle in the dark of night. And children’s carols fill the air. But does Christmas in your neighborhood look like the Christmas Symbols Festival in Tangub City? Yes, Tangub in Misamis Occidental doesn’t let Christmas pass...

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Cultural Festival

Pasungko Festival | Misamis Occidental

• Posted by Potpot
• 27049 Views
• November 29th, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Festivals
• No Comments

Thanks to Pasungko Festival because we are not anymore stuck in imagining the Subanen culture from textbooks that are most likely to be outdated. And thanks to the Province of Misamis Occidental for keeping it all alive because it is truly an enriching experience. Barely a decade old, Pasungko...

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Festival

Ati-Atihan Festival | Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines

• Posted by Potpot
• 151850 Views
• November 19th, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Festivals
• No Comments

At more than 800 years old, Ati-Atihan Festival had surpassed many human lifetimes, conquerors, presidents, wars, victories, calamities & yes, the coronavirus. It inspired the creation of many lavish fiestas that happen everyday across the 7,000 plus islands in the Philippines. And it still continues to charm everyone to...

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Travel Guide

Philippines for Travellers in a Hurry

• Posted by Potpot
• 5115 Views
• November 14th, 2018
• in Destinations, Philippines
• No Comments

If you only have a week to spend in the Philippines, planning a quick vacation could be a real challenge. To begin with, it is a nation with more than 7,000 islands beautifully littered with beaches, waterfalls, ricefields, mountains & rivers. Then there are fiestas that happen everyday, endless...

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Cultural Festival

Zamboanga Hermosa Festival | Zamboanga City

• Posted by Potpot
• 33094 Views
• November 2nd, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Festivals
• 2 Comments

Among the many cultural traits that Spain left the Philippines with in their 300-year rule is their love for fiestas. And nowhere is this Spanish carnival more felt than in Zamboanga Hermosa Festival. Si, from songs sang in Spanish-rich lyrics to graceful dances in traje de mestiza, it’s easy...

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Cultural Festival

Sagingan Festival | Tubod, Lanao del Norte

• Posted by Potpot
• 35599 Views
• October 22nd, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Festivals
• 5 Comments

Every mid-October, Sagingan Festival showcases what Tubod, the capital town of Lanao del Norte offers. From farm-fresh produce & delectable goodies to handicrafts & dances, everything goes all out for a week. But above all, it celebrates the bounty of its harvests, cultural traditions & the greatness of its...

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Eco-Destination

Tibiao, Antique | Experience Panay’s Nature Indulgence

• Posted by Potpot
• 13467 Views
• October 21st, 2018
• in Destinations, Philippines
• No Comments

You may have probably seen the flood of photos on Instagram of people wallowing on milk baths in gigantic flaming cauldrons. Or happy shots of tourists flying on tire tubes over river rapids. But perhaps you don’t remember that all these fun & excitement are just in Tibiao in...

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Destination

Once Islas | Discovering Zamboanga’s New Island Allures

• Posted by Potpot
• 11654 Views
• October 17th, 2018
• in Destinations, Philippines
• No Comments

Beachbums, it’s time for you to refresh your island getaway bucketlist because this new island-hopping destination in Mindanao is such a darling & undoubtedly deserves a spot on the top! Introducing, Once Islas in Zamboanga City. Once Islas is a string of eleven beautiful islands dotting the wide Moro...

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Festival

Dalit Festival | Tangub City, Misamis Occidental

• Posted by Potpot
• 22081 Views
• October 15th, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Festivals
• No Comments

It’s hard to think of Tangub City without imagining Dalit Festival. And it’s also harder to think of Dalit Festival without recognizing Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe. After all, these are among the attractions that shot them to fame & got everyone flocking to this small city every September. Yes, Tangub...

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Hotel Review

LM Metro Hotel | Zamboanga City

• Posted by Potpot
• 7680 Views
• October 6th, 2018
• in Accomodations, Resorts/Hotels, Reviews
• No Comments

LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga is a bit of a happening spot in the city. With a restaurant, café, gym, event center & a huge pool, fun-loving Zamboangeños seem to make it their favorite place for staycation. But I felt the wonderful reasons too why everyone loves this homegrown...

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Festival

Diyandi Festival sa Iligan | Iligan City

• Posted by Potpot
• 48935 Views
• October 1st, 2018
• in Arts and Culture, Festivals, Philippines
• 2 Comments

Truly, there’s nowhere else in the Philippines where Christians, Muslims & Lumads come together to celebrate the feast of an angel than in Iligan City. This is Diyandi Festival — the gathering of cultures into one festive space, rejoicing diversity bound by one adoration for St. Michael the Archangel....

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Travel Tips

7 Tips to Stay Awake and Alert on the Road

• Posted by Potpot
• 3578 Views
• September 28th, 2018
• in Stories
• No Comments

The sense of freedom that comes with embarking on that trip when you hit the open road is something special, particularly when exploring a new destination. But, when you are driving, as enjoyable and exhilarating as it may be, it is of the utmost importance that you stay awake...

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Destination

Merloquet Falls | Sibulao, Zamboanga City

• Posted by Potpot
• 22522 Views
• September 12th, 2018
• in Destinations, Philippines
• No Comments

I have to be honest that getting to Merloquet Falls is not as easy as you imagined it to be. It’s far. Really far. And for all the right reasons, we were just as glad to have the trip arranged by iTravel Tourist Lane. Merloquet Falls is secreted away...

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