October 10, 2017October 10, 2017

Real, Quezon: A Quick Getaway

It’s not often that we travel for more than two hours just to savor freshly caught seafood. The coastal town of Real, Quezon is one of those rare exceptions. Its proximity to Manila and the variety of attractions it offers besides the seafood – pristine waterfalls, lush forests, fast-moving rivers for white water rafting, a […]
September 30, 2017

Cuatro Islas: A Throwback to Leyte’s Gems

We first saw a picture of this group of islands in a postcard in the early 2000s but it would take more than 10 years before we finally got to visit the Cuatro Islas. Two years ago we visited a friend in Ormoc City, Leyte and together with him and other friends did a 3-day […]
September 17, 2017October 15, 2017

Sea Turtles and Sea Caves: Doing Bataan Part 2

It has been a while since we last drove down the national highway at Bataan. Something like two decades. So we knew a lot would have changed by now. As we drove down from Dinalupihan into Balanga last week, the wider roads, urbanized town centers, shopping malls and heavier vehicular traffic confirmed our suspicions. However, […]
September 11, 2017October 15, 2017

Playa la Caleta, Doing Bataan Part 1

The last time we’ve been to Bataan was ages ago – for a team meeting and overnight stay at the Napocor Housing Village in Bagac. Previous to that we had a team R&R time at the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) at Mt. Samat in nearby Pilar town and a visit to one of […]
August 31, 2017October 15, 2017

Cavinti: Getaway for a Day

The rainy season in the Philippines often puts a damper on vacation plans. Over the years we’ve learned to embrace that and to change plans quickly when the weather situation warrants it. So when our plan to go cove-hopping around Mariveles, Bataan’s’ Five Fingers failed to materialize due to the rough seas churned by a […]
August 27, 2017September 10, 2017

Banana Island, Coron

After a nerve-wracking morning boat ride from Coron town in Palawan and an exhilarating stint at Bulog Dos Island, it was time to slow down and take our lunch. Just 10 minutes away by boat from Bulog Dos, Banana Island was our lunch stopover and second island destination for the day. Also known as Dicalabuan […]
August 17, 2017August 25, 2017

Clean and Green Kayangan Lake

It used to be an almost deserted cove when we first docked here 15 years ago. This time around our boat jostled for space with almost two dozen other motorized outriggers in a now-busy parking lot. The same boats practically blocked the view of the cove at ground level – a mild disappointment. The docking […]
August 10, 2017August 16, 2017

Travel Back to Salagdoong Beach

We had been traveling on Siquijor’s main roadway, passing magnificent views of the mangrove-lined beaches and marine sanctuaries at Enrique Villanueva town along the way. Now, as our trike made its way to the town of Maria, the highway began veering inland, away from the coast. Not too long afterwards we found ourselves driving through […]
June 29, 2017July 27, 2017

Malalison: A Sandbar and a Simple Life

By the time we headed out on a boat for Malalison Island, we were well aware of and looking forward to hiking its beautiful rolling hills. But the first sight that greeted us as our boat inched closer to the island was a beautiful, curving sandbar and surrounding crystalline turquoise waters. We also knew about […]
June 21, 2017September 2, 2017

Malalison Island: Over the Hills and Far Away

The sun had barely awakened from its slumber when we began to set off for the rolling hills on the western side of the island. It was almost the start of the rainy season – it would actually rain almost every late afternoon – but the oppressive heat during much of the day forced us […]

colorful pottery at Ugu Bigyan's Pottery Garden

October 15, 2017October 17, 2017

Tiaong, Quezon: A Visit to the Master Potter

Balagbag Falls in Real, Quezon

October 10, 2017October 10, 2017

Real, Quezon: A Quick Getaway

Mahaba Island, Cuatro Islas

September 30, 2017

Cuatro Islas: A Throwback to Leyte’s Gems

durian fruits at a stall in Davao City

September 25, 2017September 26, 2017

Evil Smells and Heavenly Bites: Our Davao Food Expeditions

Sugong Cave, Bagac, Bataan

September 17, 2017October 15, 2017

Sea Turtles and Sea Caves: Doing Bataan Part 2

Playa la Caleta, Morong, Bataan

September 11, 2017October 15, 2017

Playa la Caleta, Doing Bataan Part 1

Bumbungan Eco-Park Falls, Cavinti, Laguna

August 31, 2017October 15, 2017

Cavinti: Getaway for a Day

approaching Banana Island in Coron, Palawan

August 27, 2017September 10, 2017

Banana Island, Coron

karst formations at the entrance to Kayangan Lake

August 17, 2017August 25, 2017

Clean and Green Kayangan Lake

Salagdoong Beach, Maria, Siquijor

August 10, 2017August 16, 2017

Travel Back to Salagdoong Beach

view of a rock wall at the Grand Canyon from Yavapai Point

Grand Canyon: A Winter Retrospect

grilled tanigue or Spanish mackerel at Paseo Rizal

July 25, 2017July 29, 2017

The Rizal-Laguna Backdoor: Coffee Shops and Resto Stops

harbor area of Romblon town

July 14, 2017September 13, 2017

There’s So Much More to Romblon Than Just Marble

view of Malalison Island from its sandbar

June 29, 2017July 27, 2017

Malalison: A Sandbar and a Simple Life

the hills at Malalison Island

June 21, 2017September 2, 2017

Malalison Island: Over the Hills and Far Away

the sandbar at Logbon Island

June 12, 2017September 17, 2017

Logbon Island: Bayanihan and a Fishing Community