A bit of Albay

Oct 23, 2010

If Pinatubo became beautiful after the disaster, Mayon will always be the disaster-threatening beauty of Albay. It is the constant view that no one can escape from. Always there. Always a welcoming sight.

Along with my sisters Cha and Loi, we had a quick stop in Albay before heading to our own province, Catanduanes. We arrived in Bicol with clouds scattered and some isolated showers.

Exploring Bohol-Cebu-Panglao Island

February 20-22, 2010

Cha and I went on a three-day tour to three of the most visited and beautiful places in our country—Bohol, Cebu and Panglao Island. This trip turned out to be one of the most fun that we've had. I’d like to share our itinerary:

Day 1

08:35- Mla ETD, NAIA Terminal 3 (Cebu Pacific)

09:50- Tag ETA

10:00- Start of the Bohol Countryside Tour

Blood Compact (historical site)

Baclayon Church (old church)

The 24-hour Negros Escape: Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Manapla

Negros may not have the mighty mountains of Sagada nor can its beaches be compared to the ones in Palawan but its sugarcane plantation in the countryside is amazing and overwhelming. Even from the aerial view, one can already see the sprawling greens of sugarcanes, and true to what I already know, Negros indeed is a sugarlandia.

Known as the Land of the Sugar Barons, Negros Occidental is a good spot to learn the heritage and lifestyle of its opulent residents during their heydays. We visited some of its heritage houses and mansions, and from the stories of the people we met there, it was like stepping back in time when these landed people were living high and languid. Before the sugar industry crashed in 1980s, we were told about their grand balls, the carriage pulled by mighty horses, and their other excesses in life.

My CORONific Experience!

Coron has amazing lagoons like this one near Kayangan Lake

Sept. 19- 21, 2010
Coron, Palawan

I first learned about Coron way back in my grade school years when my father was invited for a cockfight there. I vividly remember how we devoured the  cashew nuts he brought home from that trip. It was the first time I have ever tasted cashew nuts so it was like a huge feast at home. But apart from the cashew nuts story, he made no mention of how Coron was like as a small town in Palawan.

From the time of my father’s visit up until today, Coron had significantly grown to become a very popular tourist destination. So when my sister Cha told me that she wanted to book a flight to Coron, I pleaded to tag along. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

My travel companions were Cha, Janet, Vicki, Jane, Myles, Cathy, Susan, Gemma, Ana, Sancai, Alma, Imee, Tin and Angie. Thanks to them, the trip was fun and easy even when some things got a little awry along the way.

Pahiyas Festival

Lucban, Quezon

Majayjay-Liliw-Nagcarlan, Laguna

May 15, 2010. Food-nature-road trip with my favorite travel mates to one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines--Pahiyas Festival. It was my 3rd Pahiyas already but the colorful kipings and the vibe in Lucban just make me want to come back again and again. Also, the trip to the lovely churches in Liliw and Majayjay was simply awesome.

Our Itinerary:

PAHIYAS Festival
Lucban, Quezon, Philippines

04:30am – Assembly at McDO Edsa Central (near Teleperformance Bldg)
05:00am – Departure to Lucban, Quezon;
09:00am – ETA Lucban, Quezon; Free time to roam around the festival
12:00pm — Lunch; Free time
02:30pm — Depart for Liliw and Nagcarlan
03:30pm — Sidetrip: Liliw and Nagcarlan for sandal shopping and visit at the church and underground cemetery
05:30pm — Depart for Manila, dinner stopover on the way home
10:00pm — ETA Manila

Foodtrip Pilipinas: Best Tastes of Binondo

Binondo, also known as the oldest Chinatown in the world, was established in 1594 as a settlement for the Chinese migrants arriving and trading in Manila. Although dominated by Filipino-Chinese merchants nowadays, Binondo become a cultural melting pot for many other migrants, like Muslims and Spaniards, which makes it an interesting cultural place to visit... and to sample food. 

Dong Bei dumplings

Frog legs 

Tea egg 
Lord Stow’s egg tart

Sugarcane juice

Fried siopao

Liver steak

Raspberry

Iced brewed coffee

Kiampong rice

Peeking through the Manila Metropolitan Theater

Whenever I pass by Lawton area in Manila, I can’t help but imagine some crazy-scary scenes inside the Manila Metropolitan Theater. I would visualize lovely women dolled up to catch a gala show. The long lines of vintage cars passing in front its intricately-designed façade. The red curtain and the red carpet. All glamorous. But, when the reality dawns on me that I’m looking at a severely dilapidated infrastructure, my mind would easily shift to scary thoughts. Now, there would be ghosts hovering the entire place. And the lights would dim.

Just last Sunday, June 20, along with about 130 participants, I had the chance to enter this famous art deco building designed by the Filipino architect Juan M. de Guzman Arellano. The free tour was organized by the Filipinas Stamp Collectors' Club. We seized the place not for ghost hunting but to just explore and somehow get a glimpse of this long forgotten landmark.