Bahay-na-Bato in Luna, La Union: Stone Art Gallery, Noble Home, and Pebble Beach

I kept hearing about Bahay-na-Bato from friends and acquaintances, but I suppose they were never enough to pique my interest to make the effort to personally go there. It wasn’t until the parentals made a spontaneous decision to go on a day trip out to Luna, La Union to check out Bahay-na-Bato that I *kinda* looked into it. When I realized there’s a 3D art gallery featuring stone art, as well as a pebble beach nearby, then I went, I’M IN.
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Island-hopping & Sardine Run in the Waters of Moalboal, Cebu

In a way, I think climbing mountains is kinda akin to going island-hopping. Just as no mountain climbing or hiking experience is the same, each island-hopping experience has something unique to offer. So don’t go out there and be like “oh, I think I’ll pass on going out into the water today, because it’s pretty much the same as that time I went island-hopping in so-and-so” because that’s. just. rubbish. (I know someone who has that mentality and I seriously pity him.) Continue reading “Island-hopping & Sardine Run in the Waters of Moalboal, Cebu”

Road Trip Up North: The Bangui Windmills of Ilocos Norte

Hello, friends, how have you been? It’s been exactly a month since my last update. The holidays have also come and gone. Quite a number of things happened, which was partly to blame for my month-long hiatus from this blog. Let me just sum it up in 4 words: holidays, rest, RSI and laryngitis. BUT! It’s a new year, so let’s leave them at that. Also, instead of starting anew, let’s just pick up where we left off, shall we? This time, I bring you to the next stop in our road trip up north, to see to the famous Bangui Windmills up close.

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Islas de Gigantes: Adios… but first, Buenavista Island (and some travel tips!)

I bet by this time, most people have already gone on vacation for All Saints’ and Souls’ Day. Just here to drop a quick post about my last few hours at the beautiful Islas de Gigantes, featuring an island that was not originally in our itinerary, but since we were passing it on our way back to the mainland, we just had to stop: it’s the Buenavista Island.

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Islas de Gigantes: Antonia Island (+ Tinagong Dagat)

If you’re on an island or a beach, especially after spending whole year round amid the hustle and bustle of urban life, then you’d probably think the quiet and stillness, with the sun, sea and sky as backdrop, would be more than enough to occupy you. But sometimes, you’d probably look for something to do, other than lie down on the sand, that is. At Islas de Gigantes, you’d find a lot of things to do at Antonia Beach.

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Islas de Gigantes: Bantigue Sandbar

We’re past the middle of October, and I find it gets so dang warm, it’s almost like summer. Well, ‘cept for the frequent downpours we get in the late afternoons and evenings, some of them lasting all through the night (oh and that storm over the weekend). Hot days like these call to mind those days spent at a beach or an island, with nothing but the sea, sky and scorching sun to bear witness to whatever foolishness you come up with. And it’s ok to be foolish, especially if you’re in a place as picturesque as the Bantigue Sandbar in Islas de Gigantes.

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Islas de Gigantes: Pulupandan Island

A new month, a new travel series. Annually, we have to attend conventions to earn creds. But I do not think I am the type to fully let go of the chance to insert a bit of fun somewhere along the way. Iloilo City was where we were supposed to have the convention; which means there are loads of places around where we could have a side trip. So what did we do? Flew in there a day early, for a quick one-day-one-night sojourn to the Islas de Gigantes.

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Down South: The White Island Sandbar of Camiguin

If I’m not mistaken, the original plan for this trip was just for some time around Cagayan de Oro, or thereabouts. Somewhere along the pseudo-planning stage, it became a getaway with the island of Camiguin at the center. And quite the adventure it turned out to be! I’m telling you, if you get the chance to go on a trip (that’s more than one or two days) with good friends and kindred spirits, GO FOR IT. Continue reading “Down South: The White Island Sandbar of Camiguin”

Dicasalarin Cove of Baler, Aurora

Let me just take this moment to lament the summer season, at least in my part of the world. It rains often in the afternoons and nights, and gets windy in the morning. But it’s not entirely a bad thing because, really, I’d prefer this over scorching heat any darn time. That’s not to say that I completely shun heat and sunshine, though, which is why, in this post, I am harking back to a visit that I and my co-workers made to Dicasalarin Cove in Baler, Aurora, on one fine, sunny, scorching hot day.

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Coron 2015: Island Tour Day 2

The rainy days seem to be making their presence felt as the past couple of days (and nights) brought on torrential downpours. The good thing about this is, just as the summery days seem to be coming to an end, the rainy season too will do the same. (Sorry, that’s what happens if you marathon 10 episodes of Falling for Innocence for three days.) The rain, however, is not a reason to talk about the sun, sand and the beautiful waters of Coron during our second day of island tour.
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Coron 2015: Island Tour Day 1

A lot has happened in the past week. Labor Day. LaBoracay for some. The Mayweather-Pacquiao bout. My 4-day trip to Mt. Bulusan, Donsol and Cagsawa. All in all, it was an eventful (very) long weekend which I am oh-so-grateful for. Yes, despite the ache in my extremities and the difficulty (top that with moaning and groaning in pain) when going down stairs, I can safely say that the past several days has been one for the books! I will be blogging about it in the future, but for now, I will continue my Coron 2015 series, ya noe, in the spirit of “oh darn summer is about to end” and #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines!
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Palawan 2014: Honda Bay's Cowrie Island

Happy Easter, everyone! How did you spend the past few days? Did you stay at home? Go out of town? Went on a Bisita Iglesia? No matter how you spent the past week – whether you lived it up or laid low – I suppose the important thing is that we did not forget what the week was all about, and we did not forget to thank Him for making the ultimate sacrifice for us. “Thank you” is rarely being said now, is that something we should allow?

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Palawan 2014: Honda Bay's Pambato Reef

In a few hours, the day will be over. Here’s to wishing that you have gone through April Fool’s Day unscathed. Once or twice, in my life, I admit to having been fooled. But I also admit to having been on the other end, doing the fooling. It was a lot of fun, but care must always be exercised when doing these things, because there are simply some jokes that aren’t funny… or may be too funny. Know what I mean? Before the day ends, however, here’s a little look back on one of our stops during our Honda Bay tour. This time, it’s this tiny place called Pambato Reef. 

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Palawan 2014: Honda Bay's Luli Island

I mentioned this to a friend recently: the rainy afternoons that transpired in the past several days kinda made me think that summer is already over. The fact that we spent almost a week in sunny Coron just a couple of weeks ago reinforced that idea. But then I go online and everyone’s raving about summer being “here”. Am I way too advanced? So to rectify that, I’m going to hark back to a trip that is, well, sorta about summer: a visit to Honda Bay. Honda Bay was not part of the itinerary when we first went to Puerto Princesa 6 years ago. And it was also not included in the itinerary of our trip last month. However, due to a stroke of luck – and bad weather – we decided to check it out.

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