Nagcarlan’s Bunga Falls

Named after the betel nut of the areca palm that used to grow abundantly in the area, Bunga Falls has always attracted our interest since we first visited this twin cascade ten years ago. Located along a stream that meanders through a forested area, this waterfall sits in a quiet section of Nagcarlan town near the foot of Mt. Banahaw.

Laguna: In Our Crosshairs for a Quick Getaway

This province is a no-brainer any time we want a quick and easy break away from the concrete jungle of Metro Manila. With its picturesque waterfalls, hot and cold springs, scenic lakes and historic spots, Laguna is a veritable plethora of natural, cultural and historical gems. Western Laguna The towns of western Laguna lie on...

Not Just Two: Kalayaan’s Twin Falls

Looking for a quick one-day getaway from Metro Manila’s urban chaos we decided to look east instead of south where most of the destinations were still blanketed by ash and still at risk from Taal Volcano’s wrath. That led us to the towns east of Laguna de Bay and into the town of Kalayaan, Laguna...

Taal Volcano’s Lakeside Towns (Updated)

January 13, 2020: Taal Volcano erupted yesterday at 2 PM Manila time belching steam, ash and small rocks. Evacuation of the towns and villages around the lake is now ongoing.

Majayjay: Just Passing Through

Metro Manila’s horrendous traffic and vehicle number coding schemes would sometimes force us to leave early for a trip outside the metropolis. And so last Tuesday, on the way to the wake of a friend’s sister in Lucena City in Quezon province we had to leave at 5:30AM since our car was off-limits on Metro...

Return to Cavinti: A Quick Foray Into NE Laguna

The weather during the better part of August wasn’t conducive to a nice and short road trip so when the skies cleared recently we grabbed the chance. Along with three other friends, we motored off to the northeastern section of Laguna province and into the quiet town of Cavinti while passing the heritage town of...

Bukal Falls: Majayjay’s Other Waterfall

After our trek to Tulay na Bato Falls in Siniloan on the last week of September, we had another adrenaline urge that prompted us to go waterfall-chasing again last Monday. We were also trying to make the most of a very suitable weather – it was cloudy but not rainy – before the next typhoon...

Tulay na Bato Falls: Trekking at Siniloan

It might be a sorry part of our aging process but we realized that it’s been a while since we last did even a moderate cross-country hike. It has also been raining in recent months thanks to the typhoon and southwest monsoon season. However a break in the weather earlier last week finally gave us...

Revisiting Tanay’s Waterfalls

After a few weeks of monsoon rains in the country, we finally got a glimpse of good weather – cloudy still but no heavy rainfall for the time being. Wanting to escape the city even for just a solitary day we drove off to Tanay in Rizal province to revisit two waterfalls tucked away in...

Unlocking the Hidden Treasures of Catanduanes

For two decades the province of Catanduanes has solely been associated with surfing – primarily at Puraran Beach in Baras. Known as the “Land of Howling Winds” due to its location that placed it directly along the path of typhoons entering the country from the Pacific, Catanduanes, however, has so much more to offer. It...