A Sunrise and Sunset Photo Collection

The Kinks’ "Waterloo Sunset," written by frontman Ray Davies, is a deeply personal, impressionistic reflection on loneliness, observation, and finding peace. The song contrasts the chaotic rush of modern life with the quiet, transcendent comfort of a London sunset over Waterloo Station. In a similar way, when we feel overwhelmed by the demands of a stressful day, we sometimes look to a calming sunset to sooth our nerves. Here are some of the more amazing sunsets and sunrises we have encountered thus far.

Trying Out the Cafés and Restos of the Country’s Coffee Capital

We had known for several years that Amadeo town in Cavite has been christened as the Philippines’ Coffee Capital. This despite the fact other regions are more famous for their coffee such as Batangas and Benguet. Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao also has a much larger land area devoted to planting coffee and supplies almost 35% of the country’s dried coffee and green coffee beans.

A Joyride Through Mt. Palay-Palay National Park

The weather has been somewhat erratic lately. Although it is the southwest monsoon season in the Philippines, last week featured warm and sunny days with temperatures climbing towards the mid-30s°C (around 90s° Fahrenheit). We were beginning to think about going beach bumming earlier this week when it began raining every afternoon. So we switched instead into inland destinations. Nina mentioned that she missed visiting the Mountain Brew Coffee Shop in the highlands of Ternate. That was enough for us to make the drive towards this café.

Café and Restaurant-Hopping in Silang (Updated)

The volcanic vog (air pollution that results when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles emitted by a volcano react with oxygen and moisture) from nearby Taal Volcano in the last few days have inundated us here at Silang. As of this writing conditions have improved somewhat but we decided to stay indoors until it is much safer to travel. Which is a shame since there are many good coffee spots and restaurants – many of them Instagram-worthy – that we could visit in the area. Here are some of them:

Tranquil Escape at Agoncillo’s Villa Jovita

Stashed away amidst a lush landscape, this town offers a peaceful escape not too far from our place. The municipality of Agoncillo, Batangas sits near Taal Lake and Volcano but affords far more than a view of the picturesque lake and its restive volcano. Among these is the tranquil Pansipit River that meanders through a verdant landscape, providing a charming backdrop for leisurely strolls and moments of quiet reflection. While looking for a getaway spot along this winding waterway, we chanced upon Villa Jovita, a resort that sits right along the Pansipit River’s banks.

In the Nick of Time: At Tala River Park

It is little more than an hour’s drive away from home, yet we have never been to the upland town of General Emilio Aguinaldo. This municipality sits at an average elevation of about 200 meters above sea level, with its highest point at nearly 400 meters. The town’s hilly landscape is characterized by prominent parallel ridges and deep valleys carved by local streams and rivers. One of those is the Tala River that runs practically along the town center.

Right at Our Doorstep: The Cornerstone Pottery Farm

We were not big fans of pottery before but since our visit to Ugu Bigyan’s Pottery Garden and Restaurant in Tiaong, Quezon 2 decades ago, we took instant notice of this craft. Our interest has steadily grown ever since. Recently friends Erick and Mimi suggested we visit another pottery farm along with a few other friends. We were surprised that the farm was just a dozen kilometers away from our place – in the same town.

Kaleidoscope World in Our Garden

It is now the rainy season in the Philippines, coming after the usual (very) hot and dry months of April and May. Although the latter season is not conducive to propagating plants, it also tends to infuse our private oasis with a multitude of colors which have remained even with the onset of rains. Though not as kind to many other plants, the hot sun in these parts conversely brings out the best in others.

The Island Within a Lake on an Island Within a Lake on an Island

This massive freshwater caldera and the volcano associated with it is the second-most active volcano in the Philippines and had its last major eruption just 6 years ago. We live only 40 kilometers away from the shores of Taal Lake and often have to monitor Taal Volcano’s activity. The recent frequent phreatomagmatic eruptions of this volcano, albeit classified as minor, would sometimes keep us on edge.

Better Late Than Never: Lobo, Batangas

Facing the Verde Island Passage, the town of Lobo in Batangas is blessed with an abundance of beaches. The Verde Island Passage, a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, sits at the apex of the Coral Triangle resulting in a highly biodiverse marine environment. It is known globally as the "Center of the Center of Marine Shore Fish Biodiversity.” As a result, the sea along Lobo’s coast is teeming with corals and marine life, making it highly suitable for snorkeling and diving.

Museo Orlina: Pioneering Glass Sculpture in the Philippines

Perched on a downhill slope overlooking Taal Lake and Volcano in Tagaytay City, this multi-level contemporary art museum is dedicated to the brilliant craftsmanship of Ramon Orlina. The structural glass galleries and sculpture garden of Museo Orlina is a testament to Orlina’s pioneering work and mastery of glass sculpture in the Philippines.

Beyond Ecotourism: Lagadlarin’s Mangrove Forest

We have visited a number of mangrove forests in the past and think we have a good appreciation of the role they play in protecting coastal communities during extreme weather conditions. But a recent visit and a closer look at one of Lobo, Batangas’ mangrove forests revealed so many more benefits from well-preserved mangrove ecosystems besides this. And beyond their role as ecotourism sites.

Summer’s Last Hurrah at Lobo’s Kastilyong Bato

Every afternoon for the past few days we have been visited by short but torrential thunderstorms. PAGASA, the country’s weather authority has stated that the hot and dry season is almost over with the onset of the rainy season and the southwest monsoon (Habagat) almost here. That means a relief from the sweltering heat of the past 2 months. But it also meant an end to beach bumming and island-hopping for now.

The Beaches of Quezon Province

For a long time, our image of the coastline of Quezon province was a plain-looking gray sand beach, a coastal scenery we encountered on a visit to the shores of Tayabas Bay in Lucena. That experience pretty much kept us off the province’s beaches until we started seeing photos of a lovely, deserted white sand beach in another part of the province. That encounter introduced us to the coastal wonders of Quezon, the sixth largest province in the country.

San Juan, Batangas: More Than Just Sun, Sand and Sea

Mention San Juan, Batangas to any Filipino traveler or tourist and their thoughts immediately turn to the beaches of Laiya. And who can blame them? Located in San Juan’s southern coast, Laiya’s long stretch of white sand beaches has become popular among travelers from Metro Manila and nearby areas due to its proximity and wide range of accommodations. But, as we have discovered on a recent trip, San Juan has far more to offer than Laiya’s coastal destinations.

Forest Bathing and Evening Walks, Kaway’an Eco Park

In the past several days, daytime temperatures in the Philippine lowlands ranged from 34°C to 36°C (93°F to 97°F). Couple that with high humidity levels and you get a heat index – the temperature it feels like – of 42°C to 52°C (108°F to 125°F), levels that are well within the “danger” category. This is the time of year when we normally go to the beach, to a spring resort or to the highlands such as Baguio or Sagada up north. But wanting a quick respite from the heat, we headed instead to Kaway’an Eco Park in General Trias (GenTri), just 30 minutes away from our place.

Boracay: They Paved Paradise

When we listened recently to Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi,* her song reminded us about our visits to the popular island of Boracay in Malay, Aklan. The little island is one of the country’s most popular destinations attracting over 2 million visitors per year during peak periods.

The Secluded Beauty of San Andres, Quezon

Its location at the extreme southeastern end of Quezon province’s Bondoc Peninsula – about 330 kilometers from Manila – almost guarantees that few people from the metropolis would ever get to see this hidden gem. Because of this the town of San Andres has remained relatively unspoiled. Its pristine waters, scenic white sand beaches, verdant hills, and lush mangrove forests make it a paradisical destination for those willing to make the 8-hour journey from the metropolis.

Laurel’s Sweeping Views of Taal Lake and Volcano

The news this morning awakened us to the reality of living in a volcanic area. On the morning of April 9, Taal Volcano had a minor phreatomagmatic eruption that reached 300 meters. It wasn’t very alarming and the volcano remained under Alert Level 1. This kind of activity has been going on for a couple of years now since the last major Taal eruption 6 years ago. But the province which we currently call home – Cavite – is located well within the high-hazard zone for volcanic activity, meaning it is subject to severe ashfall other volcanic impacts from a major Taal eruption.

Kaway’an Eco Park: The Ultimate in Bamboo Architecture and Engineering

A Philippine destination was recently recognized by TIME as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2026 under Places to Visit. To our surprise it was not one of Palawan’s many nature spots, Siargao, Bohol or any of the country’s island destinations. Instead, it was Kaway’an EcoPark in General Trias, Cavite – situated just south of the Manila metropolis. When we discovered that this park was just a little over 30 minutes-drive from our place, we did not hesitate to get there.