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...

Evil Smells and Heavenly Bites: Our Davao Food Expeditions

Someone described it as "hell on the outside and heaven on the inside." Another likened eating one to “sitting on the toilet while eating your favorite ice cream.” At least those guys liked the fruit’s taste. Others weren’t as generous. Henri Mouhot, the French naturalist and explorer who popularized the ruins of Angkor to the...

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,...

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...