- 6051 Views
- July 26, 2020
These 20+++ Filipino comfort food surely gets you through the rainy season. Yes, that’s about four months of excuses to indulge on calorie-dense well-adored Pinoy favourites. It’s the rainy...
Featured Posts
- 5729 Views
- June 14, 2020
If tourists feel bad about aborted holidays, think about those whose livelihood depend on people travelling. Among them are our tour guides, the sector in the travel value chain...
- 3050 Views
- June 06, 2020
We may see ourselves travelling again soon as the Philippines eases out on quarantine restrictions. But travelling with Covid-19 without approved vaccine also means following stricter protocols. Obviously, travel...
- 5271 Views
- May 27, 2020
Baroy’s love of lechon knows no boundaries. Yes, every mid-June, this town in Lanao del Norte becomes the greasy epicenter of cardiac delights as it celebrates the Lechonan sa...
- 11096 Views
- May 16, 2020
For a long time, Benguet is touted as the Rose Capital of the Philippines. Then came climate change, competition, social media and a new breed of gardeners. Finally, the...
- 11065 Views
- May 01, 2020
Mosques are the most quintessentially Islamic buildings. These are not just symbols of faith but importantly an essential part of the religious experience. And if only you take a...
- 7017 Views
- April 20, 2020
Choosing the best places to eat in Baler comes as easy as the sand that clings on your toes. Yes, there’s just so much options around as this surf...
- 14746 Views
- April 15, 2020
Whether you want to chill on the hill, savour exotic cuisine or immerse with indigenous communities, there’s so much to explore in Tabuk City. And yes, this quiet town...
- 9359 Views
- April 01, 2020
Apayao may just be a place you knew from your Philippine history class. Or you may have heard of it before but never even got your fingers googling it...
- 3489 Views
- March 26, 2020
We know we can’t travel yet as we are all on strict community quarantine. But that doesn’t stop us from building inspirations to fulfill our travel goals when better...
- 3181 Views
- March 17, 2020
In the summer of 2018, Catanduanes finally sealed my personal quest to complete all of the 81 provinces in the Philippines. Of course, I was so happy because it...
- 9082 Views
- January 28, 2020
Perhaps there’ no island left unmapped in the entire Philippine archipelago anymore. But for sure there are still thousands more left uninhabited or sparsely populated. One of these treasures...
- 14848 Views
- January 19, 2020
Every January, Santo Nino fiestas mostly fill the list of festivals in the Philippines. It opens the country’s a million-and-one fiestas happening everyday from the farthest north to the...
- 14649 Views
- December 30, 2019
Despite the country’s campaign on conscientious tourism, many irresponsible tourists visiting Baguio still keep our heads hanging in shame. And the residents are the ones most affected by these...
- 4545 Views
- December 23, 2019
Baguio City is a timeless vacation destination. In fact, it’s not just the summer capital of the Philippines anymore but a year-round holiday getaway. And come December, all roads...
- 4065 Views
- November 30, 2019
Sparkling Christmas destinations around the Philippines abound as there are fiestas that happen across the 7,000 plus islands all year round. After all, the country is known to celebrate...
- 13729 Views
- November 04, 2019
Regatta de Zamboanga is the largest & most crowd-drawing sailing extravaganza in the Philippines. Each year, thousands of people swarm the kilometer stretch of RT Lim Boulevard as hundreds...
- 9368 Views
- October 19, 2019
Certainly, there’s more to life than Oktoberfest every October. Take the festivals in the Philippines as an example where overloads of fun happen everywhere. From north to south, find...
- 15461 Views
- October 11, 2019
Making a trip to Lanzones Festival in Camiguin island is always a good plan! Here, you don’t just rock on its heart-thumping events, but also a chance to roll...
- 10558 Views
- September 26, 2019
Finding the best places to eat in Camiguin is as easy as dusting off the sand that clings on your toes! And as lovely as their island are their...
- 6980 Views
- September 07, 2019
So many festivals in the Philippines would have kept us busy this month had coronavirus not existed. Yes, it’s sad to think the BER months kicked in with many cancelled events. Anyhow,...
- 10500 Views
- August 30, 2019
We’re on fire as the hottest, brightest & wildest travel sale hits the Philippines once again! It’s creeping with rage & there’s no way stopping the madness of Philippine...
- 10747 Views
- August 22, 2019
Discover the indigenous lives of the Tedurays in the mountains of South Upi through its time-honoured weaving traditions called the monom. For obvious reasons, Maguindanao is not a popular...
- 96535 Views
- August 09, 2019
A long time ago, the torogan was one of the sultanate of Lanao’s symbol of power. It was the core of Maranao traditional statecraft, customs, art & culture. It...
- 10768 Views
- August 04, 2019
Roxas City’s seafood flair can more than hold its own. In fact, even with over 7,000 other islands, the Province of Capiz is the only one that keeps the...
- 7310 Views
- July 30, 2019
Looks like August is going to be a busy month with lots of festivals in the Philippines worth attending. From fruit harvests to cultural celebrations & from local crafts...
- 13222 Views
- July 24, 2019
Tinalak Festival is one of the most celebrated cultural fiestas in the Philippines. Think of abundant harvests, the coming together of cultures, their love for beauty & party rolled...
- 10984 Views
- July 08, 2019
Make your July super bombastic with these festivals in the Philippines adored by millions of partyphiles! This is what you get when you live in a country with more...
- 10530 Views
- June 06, 2019
There are many places in the Philippines named Pandan. There’s Pandan in Catanduanes, in Occidental Mindoro & Iligan. Then there’s Pandan in Palawan & Pampanga too. But googling it,...
- 12731 Views
- May 31, 2019
Are you ready to get wet & wild? Brace yourselves as the festivals in the Philippines in June bring you lots of water fun & more artery-clogging food trips!...
- 46999 Views
- May 28, 2019
Anyone who’s been to Batanes always returns with impressions that the Ivatan people are cheerful, kind & honest. Yes, they are true. But they’re also self-sufficient, industrious, typically shy...
- 57405 Views
- May 22, 2019
Nestled in a mountain range, Aningalan breathes among age-old trees, wildflowers & clouds. With its sweeping panorama & chilly weather, could this be Antique’s prettier answer to Iloilo’s Bucari...
- 7148 Views
- May 20, 2019
Magalawa Island is one of the highlight destinations of tourists exploring the northern side of Zambales. Its claim to fame is its tiny but pretty sandbar plus a camping...
- 5844 Views
- May 18, 2019
When you dine at Alpas, the fish on your plate may have just gotten through its backdoor sea & those vegies picked right outside its walls. And yes, the...
- 15409 Views
- May 17, 2019
Chances are, Sapang Dalaga isn’t on any traveler’s bucketlist. But if you give this charming li’l town a chance, you’d be delighted to find some of the allures of...
- 9718 Views
- May 15, 2019
Ripped from the coast of Culasi, Mararison Island is beyond reason, one of the most stunning travel destinations in Antique. And just 20 minutes by boat from the mainland,...
- 8190 Views
- May 15, 2019
Nowhere are the festivals in the Philippines more colorful & abundant than in the month of May. Yes, May celebrates many fiestas throughout the country mostly in honor of...
- 4050 Views
- May 03, 2019
Ideal for those who seek intimate escapes that offer both the beach & the wilderness, Lagen Island Resort is smack right dab at El Nido’s most coveted getaways. They’re...
- 49245 Views
- April 26, 2019
The festival phenomenon is surely sweeping the Philippines by storm. And yes, it happens even in the northernmost islands of the archipelago. The Ivatans of Sabtang in Batanes call...
- 14618 Views
- April 18, 2019
If only you decide to take strides further than the neon-lit side of Angeles City, you would end up in a townscape saturated in stories of the past. These...
- 8739 Views
- April 15, 2019
Mangan Taku is the best food fair I have been to among all other culinary shows that had hit the country in years. And the reason is as shiny...
- 4596 Views
- April 06, 2019
Subic adventure isn’t only about the usual trips to the zoo or to the waterpark. It is neither only about duty-free shopping nor basking down in the beach. It...
- 7950 Views
- April 04, 2019
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, all the festivals in the Philippines in April are cancelled. It’s officially summer! And yeah, you know what it brings — beach vacations & more...
- 18573 Views
- April 03, 2019
The Philippines is known for many things wonderful & we aren’t shy about celebrating it. From the religious to cultural & from crafts to harvests — name it, we...
- 4854 Views
- March 18, 2019
Camping doesn’t have to mean always roughing it out. In fact, with today’s sophisticated traveling styles, camping takes on a whole new comfort through glammed-up set-up. In the Philippines,...
- 33484 Views
- March 16, 2019
Places in the Philippines that claim to do cultural festivals must look into how Bukidnon stages Kaamulan Festival. It is one of the perfect examples of how to keep...
- 6267 Views
- March 13, 2019
Checking in at the Cube Baler had me staring for a long time. It’s that feeling when you’re caught between soaking in its cool ambience first or jumping in...
- 11166 Views
- March 11, 2019
Just when most festivals in the Philippines have become copycats of Sinulog, Sunggod Te Kamanga is doing it differently truthful, wonderful & inspiring. It expresses real cultural attractiveness &...
- 14039 Views
- March 01, 2019
Just when you think that Clark, Pampanga is all about being a megacity in cold & stark steel, hold on because there’s more to it than just what meets...
- 26314 Views
- February 23, 2019
Between the forgotten tales of the Sultanate of Maguindanao & the unimaginable speed of modern day living, there is a band of threads binding the stories together — the...
- 2618 Views
- February 20, 2019
Driving destinations in New Zealand steer tourists to wonderland. In every turn there’s always a surprise that waits somewhere, be it rolling hills, snow-capped mountains or glaciers. Then there...
- 3516 Views
- February 17, 2019
Is it just me or you feel it too that those family-run inns of the bygone times are now hard to find? Even in far-flung towns like Baler, once...
- 16751 Views
- February 05, 2019
Alright, let’s go straight to the point —- Victory Liner’s point to point bus service is awesome. No frills, no nonsense. Just quick & smooth ride connecting Clark Airport...
- 124287 Views
- January 20, 2019
Lanao del Sur is a wealth of old-world charms. From ostentatious royal houses to the tiniest detail in their gongs, Maranao arts and crafts carry the stories of its...
- 10474 Views
- January 17, 2019
Neither Amai Manabilang nor its former name Bumbaran probably rings a bell to most Filipinos. But this small town in Lanao del Sur is rich in culture, natural resources...
- 20591 Views
- January 14, 2019
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 —...
- 6243 Views
- January 08, 2019
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...
- 14623 Views
- January 06, 2019
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...
- 40812 Views
- December 21, 2018
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...
- 5838 Views
- December 16, 2018
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...
- 18401 Views
- December 08, 2018
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,...
- 16006 Views
- December 06, 2018
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...
- 23713 Views
- November 29, 2018
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...
- 146082 Views
- November 19, 2018
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...
- 4700 Views
- November 14, 2018
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...
- 12376 Views
- October 21, 2018
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...
- 10534 Views
- October 17, 2018
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...
- 20087 Views
- October 15, 2018
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...
- 7018 Views
- October 06, 2018
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...
- 21107 Views
- September 12, 2018
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...
- 6622 Views
- September 08, 2018
Think of scope out views of the sea, the murmurs of crickets at night & the sound of rustling leaves. Imagine the gentleness of life in Dumaguete City. All...
- 9524 Views
- September 01, 2018
Dumaguete may be a city known for its everlasting quaintness. But a few times in a year it breaks out from the usual & throws in some of the...
- 11541 Views
- August 29, 2018
Torpedo, as the word puts is a ballistic missile that explodes on impact. But in Samar, torpedo is neither a barreling bomb nor a lethal attack. It is a...
- 18784 Views
- August 26, 2018
Liloan, Southern Leyte is no stranger to frequent travelers driving from Luzon to Mindanao. Since the 1980s, Liloan Ferry Terminal has been one of the vital links that connect...
- 15190 Views
- August 14, 2018
Cagayan de Oro is dubbed as the City of Golden Friendship. But as affable as it is, this city is also chockfull of adventures at every turn. And it...
- 13483 Views
- August 08, 2018
Don’t leave your fantasies of flying only to your dreams because you can do it wide-awake by paragliding in Cagayan de Oro City! And through tandem flights with top-brass...
- 26658 Views
- July 30, 2018
On the other side of Mt. Pinatubo is a hotbed of adventure, meandering landscape & all-natural pampering. Swathed in volcanic overtones, Puning Hot Spring is a gorgeous place to...
- 73010 Views
- July 27, 2018
For all of Zamboanga Peninsula’s tourist brochure allures, Villa Angelina Luxury Suites is one that’s tough to top. And because there’s nothing fabulously like it on this side of...
- 8435 Views
- July 18, 2018
Globetrotters unite! Star Cruises Superstar Virgo is coming back to its homeport in Manila to begin another season of fun & exciting cruises in Asia! And nothing a homecoming...
- 25188 Views
- July 14, 2018
For all its friendliness, quaint town romance & encompassing acceptance of the diversity of humankind, Tabaco City prides itself as Bicol’s City of Love. Here, this affection is as...
- 24042 Views
- July 10, 2018
It surely took a lot of chutzpah & confidence for Catanduanes to herald a catchphrase “The Happy Island”. Yes, it may sound lighted-hearted & prosaic but it also bears...
- 17065 Views
- June 19, 2018
If virgin & crowdless beaches sparkling with fine white sand are your kind of island getaway, then come to Baobawon Beach. Better come now before hordes of tourists start...
- 2253 Views
- June 12, 2018
Have you snapped a selfie in some of the churches in northern Philippines? Scroll through your camera rolls now because you might just win P10,000 plus a brand new...
- 9668 Views
- May 19, 2018
Long before those posh beach resorts in Boracay, Bohol & Palawan came to fame, there was already Dakak Park & Beach Resort in Dapitan. And this 80s pioneer in...
- 13350 Views
- May 15, 2018
Two things to remember when traveling around Irosin in Sorsogon: natural springs & pili nuts. Save for some pretty roadside sights like emerald ricefields & silhouetted mountainscape, this town...
- 26212 Views
- May 13, 2018
Jimenez may be a faded has-been of a town in Misamis Occidental but it is in its timeworn character that blushes of sepia mood become a rare brilliance. It...
- 21049 Views
- April 18, 2018
Suman or sticky rice cake is no stranger to Filipino gastronomic flair. This adored all-day, all-season snack could well become a delicious contender for national snack title, should there...
- 38142 Views
- April 16, 2018
Somewhat charming. Somewhat quiet. Somewhat secret. This is Alabat Island, a small town in Quezon Province that basks on gentle landscapes & dwelled by genteel people. It is rustic...
- 4120 Views
- April 05, 2018
Sure, it’s lovely to stay in island resorts that are tucked away from it all. But there are times that we travel not to retreat but to celebrate. And...
- 4797 Views
- April 03, 2018
From turquoise-hemmed shores & awesome underworld to powder-soft sands & razor-sharp cliffs, there’s just something wonderful about Malapascua Island that keeps us lust for more. I for one, couldn’t...
- 87433 Views
- March 21, 2018
The north of the Philippines has always been a favorite destination for epic road trips or quick weekend getaways. And going this route, the usual, the smoothest & fastest...
- 37764 Views
- March 18, 2018
Lulugayan Falls in Calbiga, Samar is neither the widest nor the highest waterfall in the Philippines. It is also not the most famous. But it is certainly one of...
- 5771 Views
- March 16, 2018
The Farmhouse by EDL is one of the many wonderful reasons why Tarlac is now more than just a transit place to the north. With its refreshing holiday concept...
- 17002 Views
- February 28, 2018
If you think that there’s nothing more to Bulacan other than the heritage town of Malolos, then let San Rafael River Adventure surprise you. Naaah, this isn’t the typical...
- 27215 Views
- February 23, 2018
Malolos is just in Bulacan, barely 35 kilometers away from the Balintawak exit of North Luzon Expressway. Yet, hardly any tourist put it on their travel bucketlist. Do we...
- 16401 Views
- February 17, 2018
There are 31 places in the world that share the name Barcelona, a city in Spain popular for its medieval treasures. And in the Philippines, there are 7 of...
- 3537 Views
- February 13, 2018
On this side of Boracay, it’s the wonderful paradox of island living—luxurious but not snobbish, grand but graceful, whitewashed but sprightly, and so gosh-darn chichi. Beachcombers strolling along 7...
- 17712 Views
- February 08, 2018
It’s charming but tucked so far away from it all. It’s free but you got to be there at the right time. It’s not the prettiest lagoon but still...
- 6295 Views
- February 07, 2018
Velvety shores, swaying palms & dramatic sunsets are the usual elements for a romantic holiday. And for travelers with a quixotic streak, Nature’s Eye Resort in the island of...
- 20397 Views
- January 03, 2018
Did you know that Sorsogon has been coddling beautiful beaches tucked in a small coastal town called Santa Magdalena? Yes beach lovers, they’ve been keeping this lil secret all...
- 11354 Views
- December 09, 2017
The chase to see the perfect cone-shaped splendor of Mayon Volcano begins in Camalig, Albay. Here, as your car winds through the narrow small town road, she’ll welcome you...
- 9775 Views
- November 16, 2017
Since elementary days I already knew that Bulusan is an active volcano & that it is also a name of a town in Sorsogon. But what I didn’t know...
- 11554 Views
- November 11, 2017
Bais City in Negros Oriental is not a popular travel destination. Save for summer & long holidays when the town gets full of tourists, the rest of the year...
- 9422 Views
- October 23, 2017
There are places that fill travel fancies of secluded white sand beaches or mountainscapes against bleeding sunsets. There are towns that bask on old-world charm thoughtless of urban sophistication....
- 18092 Views
- October 17, 2017
Yes, there is another beautiful world beyond what you think of Tawi-Tawi. Not surprisingly virgin, Panampangan Island is definitely one for beachbums, photographers & those who love the languid...
- 11099 Views
- October 06, 2017
To say that fiestas happen in the Philippines everyday & everywhere is not a hyperbolic claim. In fact, even in the southernmost reaches of the country in Tawi-Tawi, there...
- 8621 Views
- September 04, 2017
Santa Cruz Island in Zamboanga City is famed for its pink sand beach. But it only allows 400 visitors per day to keep its environment healthy. What if you...
- 8204 Views
- September 02, 2017
From family residences to condominium units, listings of vacation home rentals in Baguio City are dizzyingly long. But certainly there aren’t a lot of American cottages or log cabins...
- 3033 Views
- August 31, 2017
“Wisteria season had ended & the park already closed down to tourists yesterday”, said the lady at the tourist desk in Fukuoka bus station. In an instant, I felt...
- 8183 Views
- August 29, 2017
Matnog is Luzon’s gateway to Visayas. In the past, it only served as a link between Sorsogon & Samar ferrying thousands of passengers & tons of goods. But today,...
- 15286 Views
- August 27, 2017
If there is one thing that the Philippines must learn from a small town in Sorsogon called Prieto Diaz, that would be ecological resource management. Sure, only a few...
- 20776 Views
- August 20, 2017
Calbayog City is one town I am honestly having a hard time describing. I am groping for the best word that perfectly fits that feeling of being in a...
- 8347 Views
- August 10, 2017
Meet Vea, Yrron & Greg. They are 14 & now on Grade 8. And they’re neither the kids towed by chihuahua-trotting mamas, nor those who can get what they...
- 7596 Views
- July 30, 2017
Mayon ATV tours are surely the hottest ways to experience Mayon Volcano. It’s thrilling, fun-filled & gives you that one cool moment to play dirty. Truly, gone are the...
- 6096 Views
- July 28, 2017
Just by the mention of the place Naga City, 3 things instantly come to one’s mind: the Our Lady of Penafrancia, the gata-heavy cuisine & wakeboarding. Well, it’s true....
- 12704 Views
- July 25, 2017
Seriously, with so many places to eat in Naga City, you would probably need to fire up a chow finder app to help you choose the best value option....
- 4076 Views
- July 23, 2017
If one were to put a name on the classic qualities of a hotel, that being sophisticated, comfortable & offers sincere service, The Carmen Hotel in Naga City, Camarines...
- 4902 Views
- July 12, 2017
Camarines Sur is a wonderland for sports junkies, island hoppers, religious pilgrims & food trippers. But there’s one place that gathers all of them together — the CamSur Watersports...
- 15725 Views
- July 10, 2017
While its nightlife may not have the super wild factor like the ones in other cities, restobars in Baguio City keep the town warm amidst the biting mountain breeze....
- 17612 Views
- June 30, 2017
Chavacano cuisine is more than just that eternally delicious seafood on a platter. It is also about their heirloom recipes & centuries worth of kitchen stories. It is about...
- 5884 Views
- May 22, 2017
The pleasure of slurping thick & creamy tonkotsu broth was a delicious thought to noodle over as the train sped through the sparkling urbanscape of Fukuoka. After a few...
- 23240 Views
- May 10, 2017
Creativity is not a flavor. But the truth is, new-age diners have more than discriminating palates. We also hanker for chic & picture-perfect places to eat. And it took...
- 73076 Views
- May 04, 2017
To say that culture is best served on a platter describes my journey in Kalinga-Apayao on the central mountains of the Cordillera region. This trip gave me deep reasons...
- 3217 Views
- April 15, 2017
Twenty-nine foodies, seven food hubs, about forty dishes & one mission—to survive a 15-hour food safari in Pampanga. Quite a calorific challenge but that’s probably how to train our...
- 8113 Views
- April 01, 2017
It has been a while now since I last set foot on Sabtang Island in Batanes, the northernmost province in the Philippines. I have visited this place many times...
- 9172 Views
- March 25, 2017
Taipei is what everyone calls “big things come in small packages”. Yes, it is among the smallest capital cities in the world. But their caboodles of attractions are larger...
- 4610 Views
- March 16, 2017
The recent culmination of Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City sees another blossoming success in Project Puraw. It is a community effort that springs hope to mitigate the impact of...
- 11555 Views
- March 09, 2017
“I am just a farmer”, Jeffrey muses as he handed me a bouquet of freshly cut roses. At first glance, you couldn’t tell that this man in his muddy...
- 31666 Views
- February 17, 2017
As peculiar as its existence, a real princess chamber called the lamin still stands to this day. It hides in shambles in a small lakeside town of Binidayan in...
- 6521 Views
- February 14, 2017
Imposing, bright & ornate. This is the Royal Ambarrukmo Hotel, the 21st century re-imagination of Yogyakarta’s timeless sultanate opulence & grace. Arriving on the eve of Hari Raya, the...
- 12450 Views
- February 07, 2017
If you like the verdant rolling hills & the quaint ambience of north Batan in my other post, you’ll fall in love with south Batan island even more! The...
- 11861 Views
- February 04, 2017
For its seemingly surreal landscape, Batanes is any shutterbug’s paradise. In the island of Batan alone, everywhere you look around is a sight worth the click. And on north...
- 4908 Views
- January 29, 2017
“Terracotta army, terracotta army”, shouted the street hawkers in a maddening frenzy as passengers began to emerge from the train station in Xian, China. I was tugged, followed &...
- 7774 Views
- January 22, 2017
It’s the time of the year once again when the skies of Clark, Pampanga become an infinite canvass of colorful gigantic balloons. But this year’s Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta...
- 7422 Views
- January 03, 2017
Boracay, Palawan, Baguio, Vigan & Cebu are just among the many landmarks of tourism in this island nation of more than 7,000 islands. But beyond these staple vacation spots,...
- 13967 Views
- December 26, 2016
Dear Air Asia, About two years ago, I wrote you an email expressing how good my experience was in flying with you for the first time. It was just...
- 16002 Views
- December 22, 2016
Paradise found is paradise lost. This saying is the reason why I parked my thoughts writing about Balbalasang National Park for a long time. I’ve been hesitating to tell...
- 16946 Views
- December 11, 2016
Kalinga tattoo was once feared to die in the hands of Apo Whang-od, its last grandmaster, who at 100 still inks with folk precision. Tossed by social media, her...
- 8759 Views
- November 29, 2016
In another story I wrote about how I easily ripped off my money to Bandung’s maddening world of shopping. And I have to add another confession because just minutes...
- 16509 Views
- November 17, 2016
Itbayat Island is largely unheard of even among Filipinos, not only because of its remoteness but also its people chose to live a quiet life. This anonymity has never...
- 6384 Views
- November 08, 2016
Astagina Resort Villa and Spa is someplace worth holding dear in my Bali-in-transit romance. And living up to its Sanskrit provenance for “crown”, Astagina truly served me like a...
- 4591 Views
- November 03, 2016
Bali needs no elaborate forewords as it is already synonymous to what we mean as “tropical holiday”. It’s just about everything that you wish for in a dream vacation—sparkling...
- 90315 Views
- October 26, 2016
Maranao snacks are as luscious as with the rest of tidbits in the Philippines. But they’ve never really gone into wide appreciation because they are not readily available outside...
- 7850 Views
- October 21, 2016
The best beaches in Indonesia are not only in the ballyhooed island of Bali. In fact, among the most sparkling ones are those that are way south of it,...
- 5903 Views
- October 11, 2016
This portrait of a Sasak Sade woman has been sitting on my laptop’s screen for weeks now. I am groping for words on how to tell her story. My...
- 9793 Views
- October 06, 2016
As soon as I got hold of our daily tour itinerary in Indonesia, I knew I would be in serious trouble on Day 03. It read, “Bandung Shopping”. The...
- 7026 Views
- October 03, 2016
Ending a wonderful journey is always something not anyone is ready to embrace. But if closing it means indulging in a swish resort at Alila Seminyak, then it’s something worth...
- 7838 Views
- September 29, 2016
Each day we are midwifed to the world with new beginnings. Just like how we first open our eyes to receive the gift of sunlight, we start to write...
- 4075 Views
- September 03, 2016
Shanghai fulfills your vanities. It pumps your energy & blinds you with its bright lights. It tickles your imagination & feeds your craving. Shanghai after all, is one of...
- 13519 Views
- August 23, 2016
Dear Natalie & Rob, I am writing you from the veranda of my hotel here in Baguio as I watch the fog creeping in the horizon of terraced houses...
- 26199 Views
- August 20, 2016
Abra comes up first on the list of provinces in the Philippines. But sadly it wallows at the bottom roll of the least visited places in the country today....
- 19819 Views
- August 16, 2016
Antipolo City is a popular pilgrimage site especially during the Holy Week. But even on common days, this place still attracts pilgrims. Albeit different & filling, they’re skyward to...
- 50224 Views
- August 14, 2016
The Maranaos are always among us—in shopping malls, restaurants, theme parks, schools & offices. They’re the people that we easily refer to as Muslims. We clearly recognize them in...
- 5488 Views
- July 24, 2016
Forget about the usual Starbucks or Coffeebean because there are more cool cafes in Manila than you probably know it. I am a confessed coffeeholic & watching the world...
- 9719 Views
- July 16, 2016
“Run Ian! Run!” My screams broke the stillness of Balbalasang as huge rocks avalanched before our eyes. We scrambled like mad dogs through the thick fog desperate to find...
- 7428 Views
- July 06, 2016
El Nido Resorts is like Palawan’s most treasured marine parks — coveted, spectacular & exquisite. It coddles not only luxuriously fashioned island holidays but also it weaves nests of...
- 11218 Views
- June 23, 2016
Luxury resorts tucked in exclusive islands are perhaps not the best places to run into your ex. There’s just no way of bailing out easily from the situation. Or...
- 33054 Views
- June 02, 2016
The internet incessantly feeds our wanderlust with photos & videos of beautiful places around the world. But there are also spots in the Philippines like Batanes that is so...
- 6433 Views
- May 24, 2016
My mind is a glut of ancient temples & castles, incredible landscapes & powerful portraits all banked through my life-long affair with travel. Now in between 40 and death,...
- 25625 Views
- May 20, 2016
Mayor Duterte, soon to be honored as the 16th President of the Philippines loves native chicken adobo & dried fish. But I wonder if he has a sweet tooth...
- 6711 Views
- May 12, 2016
Malasimbo Music and Art Festival was already on its 6th run last March. Barefooted, dressed down & so thrown into the Brigada’s afro-Brazilian beats, I wondered where was I...
- 21231 Views
- March 13, 2016
Lanao del Sur? I have never had so many people express their worries about my kind of adventure not until I announced my trip to Lanao del Sur. “Is...
- 9626 Views
- March 02, 2016
Festivals in the Philippines are as abundant as there are islands to this country. And we aren’t shy about expressing our love for fiestas. In fact, we always have one...
- 9530 Views
- February 17, 2016
Long neck women, giraffe ladies, bizarre, freaks. They’re called many names but these indigenous people are actually the Kayan Lahwi, a sub-group of the Karen tribe. I have been...
- 24602 Views
- January 21, 2016
Sinulog Festival is by far the grandest fiesta in the Philippines. Surely, it is unmatched in terms of pageantry, audience & commercial value. In fact, many fiestas around the...
- 19502 Views
- January 16, 2016
Which do you prefer—a heritage house left to decay on its original site or uprooted & restored in a new location, all sparkling like new? This is the story...
- 10275 Views
- January 14, 2016
“What can we do in Manila for a day?” asked Marina & Tatiana, my German friends whom I met on a vacation in Palawan. Honestly, I haven’t really done...
- 30412 Views
- December 25, 2015
One of the most adored Filipino food that needs no further description is lechon. And there are many versions of it as there are claimants to the title of...
- 9594 Views
- August 15, 2015
As ancient as its country, Beijing is a treasure trove of Asia’s antiquities. It is a huge capital city packed with attractions. Locating them, let alone the barriers in...
- 32327 Views
- August 10, 2015
Having traveled extensively around the country, I am always asked about my favorite places in the Philippines. Seriously, it is the hardest question to answer because every place has...
- 45771 Views
- August 04, 2015
The Philippines is not just all about Boracay, Palawan, Sagada & Cebu. It is also about the colorful Mindanao region, the uncombed fringes of Quezon or the virgin environs...
- 4667 Views
- July 13, 2015
Red is 8 years old—stocky but gentle, shy but charming. Pareng Red as he is fondly called in the happy shores of Pundakit, is a darling when he rides...
- 6244 Views
- June 18, 2015
Light had just barely crept into the vast plains of Bagan. The petrichor from last night’s rain gently whiffed through our faces as the stupas started to take shape...
- 35018 Views
- June 04, 2015
After the sweltering heat of summer, the first few overwhelming showers that usually usher the beginning of the rainy season in most parts of Southeast Asia is finally here....
- 6030 Views
- May 31, 2015
Most, if not all travel guides about Laos will tell you not to expect a crowd, anywhere. This is quite a breather especially to those who are seeking for...
- 7677 Views
- March 17, 2015
Joining the Tao Open Expedition in Palawan has always been on my active bucket list. Yet again, in my February 2015 exploration of the island province, the stars were...
- 4040 Views
- March 05, 2015
They say S*%t happens! But do you abandon a dream just because it did? Travel Trilogy is authored by a single person only and all the travel stories you’ve...
- 5669 Views
- March 02, 2015
I hopped, I wiggled. I jumped, I jiggled. I tapped, I squiggled. I screamed, HOLI HEY! Yesterday, the vibrant Indian community in Manila with the Asia Society Philippines staged...
- 3012 Views
- February 17, 2015
- 6793 Views
- January 31, 2015
Volcanic Grill is a tiny and unpretentious food spot along the residential row at Florida Street in Palanan, Makati City. Its “popularity” comes from diners who drool for good...
- 3258 Views
- January 28, 2015
- 6687 Views
- January 28, 2015
At the dawn of 20th century, Yangon was the Garden of the East, a flourishing city then at par in style with London. Manicured gardens, pretty lakes and rows...
- 5069 Views
- November 15, 2014
Among the many other pleasant characters that define this pacific island nation, amazing hospitality is one shining badge that Filipinos proudly wear at all times. As bright as its...
- 11434 Views
- June 07, 2010
Many have said that traveling to Tawi-Tawi is like braving the unknown. The seemingly endless conflicts, the savage seas, the unfamiliar faces, language & even the Sama folktales are just some...