Wildest Place Ever! So So Subic!

I’m planning to study in Manila when I’m in college so, going to Manila while the classes have not started yet is I think idealistic. November of 2008 I decided to take entrance exams in one of the big universities in the Metro. But when I arrived in there, the entrance exams turned out to be a vacation. I know my teacher believed me and excused me from class if I say I will have exams but if they will know that I really did not take even one exam, I think they will chase me now and put me back in high school (oh! Please don’t teachers) haha. So let us suppose that my teacher is not reading my blog.  

Going to Subic is always an option for the college students who want to take a break and look for a nearest beach. But in my case basically, I had my first tri to Subic with my Family. Since my dad was looking for a beach and a place where he could rest, we asked for places and someone told us about all hands beach resort. We stayed there during our first night but transferred to an apartment that looks like an igloo. The caretaker explained why. She told us that those were the houses of the soldiers long time ago (I even learned from my trip haha). Back to the escapade. Behind the apartment where we are staying is a place called “Tree Top Adventure” (www.treetopadventuresubic.com) that’s a place where you can tour the forest using cable car and you can also try their zip line. A restaurant that gives unique cooking techniques and delicious foods is just near by the place, but it took us an hour before eating haha.  In our last day in Subic we went to Zoobic Safari, maan!! That was so amazing! Most of the animals there were the ones I have never seen in my entire life! We also had a tiger and turkey encounter…pretty scary but fun! I assure you that! You should try this one! You will not regret spending your money there. J

Tagay! Tay!

 










My daddy is fond of traveling whether in the Philippines or out of the country. In his work he was given a free stay in Taal Vista Hotel 

in Tagaytay, so my dad brought us there, it was my first time in Tagaytay so I was so excited for the trip. From NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), it took us almost two hours to reach the place. I realized the place was elevated so it was cold, I also found out that Taal Volcano can be seen over our hotel, I really don’t know that Taal Volcano is in Tagaytay (haha).  We ate in a restaurant that offers the unique fish that can be seen in the waters surrounding the volcano. The food was pretty good actually and I ate a little more. Going down to the Volcano, people there will chase you even in rain or shine just so you would rent their boat to have a tour in the main crater of the volcano. When you’re in that place, it seems that you are on the top of the world because everything around you is overlooking. We spent three days in Tagaytay and that three days away from home is super fun! I know you’re planning to go there too. Who would not? Right?

Celebrating My Birthday in "North Pole"

I’m turning seventeen and I need to go to the coolest places in the Philippines before I turn legal age and travel outside the country. Now I’m in my second year in college, basically my parents allow me to travel on my own now. I planned going out of town with my college buddies and luckily one of my closest friends gave me something for my special day and it was a free trip to Baguio. I felt so giddy even if my birthday was still a month away.

September came and it was our first term break in school, after our event in school we started our six-hour travel to Baguio. We had a good sleep over the whole trip and when we woke up we grabbed our jacket lickety-split because it is really like subzero.  Even if we were so tuckered out with the travel, the party still started. On our first day in the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” , we  first visited the famous Mine’s View, we bought some of their goods offered and rode the cutesy pink pony. We heard about how chillaxing “Camp John Hay” was and then we went there and we really did enjoy the place. Since we were in Baguio and we love strawberry so we went to the market and procure the best strawberries and some products they offer.

In our four-day stay in the “coolest” place in our country we made lots of memorable things in our life. From shopping the best and affordable bags and clothes and having the best bonding time for my friends. The whole experience was a total fun and I would be glad if that would happen all over again. 

Roses Are Red Bora is Blue!

This is the continuation of my story when I was in Aklan. So as what I have said we planned to have a swim in one of the greatest beach in Asia. Before reaching Boracay, from Kalibo we rode a van bound to Caticlan and from there you need to cross over the waters by a pumped boat until you will finally reach the place where everyone wants to be—Boracay. I am not expecting too much about staying into a luxurious hotel because all I’m craving for was the white sand and the clear waters. Right after we arrived in Bora we rented a private house recommended by a friend. When all was set and done, my sister and I hopped to different places and walk around the island. It was thirteen years since I last saw Bora; I was like a baby then so I could not remember anything about my first time in Bora. Now I’m big enough I can appreciate the place and I really did love Bora since then. After all the overnight hopping in Bora even if we only had a short span of time I really had a great time in the beach. I know I don’t need to tell you this things coz it’s pretty obvious that most of us know about this place but I would just like to brag about my own experience. Hope you’ll have great time in the blue waters too.

this is my mommy and me in Bora

I Know That You Don't Know--Bungulanon Falls

It’s been a while since we had our last bonding moments with my cousins, so what we have in mind was to meet up in a place where we can have swimming. One of my cousins introduced their farm in Magpet, North Cotabto, which is near Bungulanon falls. As far as I could remember it was a weekend of October when we had our road trip to Magpet. The first thing we did there was to have fishing then grilled the fishes we caught in my tito’s pond. After our fine lunch we dived like blazes in the cold waters. The water was so cold that we could have our warm soft drinks be chilled.

Whenever we have visitors from outside the country or someone who have never been in Magpet, this is one of the places we recommend if they have been dying to see a beautiful “naturey” place. This falls is just one of those wonders of the Philippines that wasn’t explored yet by the sightseers. I ‘m proud to say that I have been here and experienced the beauty of Magpet, North Cotabato. 

My First Time in the “Queen City of the South”

April 29, 2009—my sister graduated in University of the Philippines Cebu City with the degree of AB Political Science. That was also my sojourn moment before going to college. Thinking that attending my sister’s graduation could be my vacation as well and since my family was in Manila that time, I traversed Cebu City alone. Traveling alone for an hour is dull as dishwater but the view helped me survive the rest of the hours.

It was a quite rainy when I arrived in Cebu so I took a cab from the airport to our hotel.

I was deprived from malls and shopping for all my life since I stayed in a place where malls are not much important. The first mall I’ve gone in was in Ayala. Compared to other malls, this mall has an edge from the malls in the city. But I was not really after the malls; I heard something about the temple in Beverly Hills that was made by the Cebu's substantial Chinese community. The place was really amazing and literally breathtaking. After my tour, i decided to hunt some foods in the city. I bought their famous delicacies like dried mangoes and otap, but I enjoyed more with their daing. Cebu is indeed a very nice place to stay in because I can see how productive the place is. I believe that someday I would go back to the place where I first saw a real “city”. 

Where My Heart Belongs...Dumaguete

I have been hearing this story from my sister several times and i'm sure that this story of hers can be helpful in my blog. So the story goes like this...


"It’s been almost two years since I last visited Dumaguete—and yet I’ve never stopped wanting to go back. I left my heart in that city. The good memories I have with college friends in Silliman were something worth re-living and the beauty of that place lingers in my mind ever so often. 

The community that Dumaguete provides is no like any other. I have yet to find a place in the country that could match the warmth and bliss that is, in my opinion, only found in places like Dumaguete. It has so many breath-taking and picturesque places, plus, the people are so friendly it would not take so long to feel at home there. It is a melting pot of different races and cultures, that’s why it’s so lovely to see the people live in harmony.

Silliman University would probably be the city’s top attraction. You would want to adapt the lifestyle of any Sillimaninan—laid back and easy going. Shorts and flip-flops are the norm and the stress that the metropolis is abundant with is non-existent in that place. It’s a perfect place to unwind and enjoy the beauty of life. From sun-set walks at the Boulevard, to enjoying hearty conversations in first-class coffee shops, Dumaguete is overflowing with reasons why you should come and spend a week or two enjoying life there."

Did You Know Where the Party Started?--Hala Bira! Aklan!

I have been telling too much about Mindanao, now let us see what Visayas has to offer. When we say Visayas things that always come in our mind is; Boracay, Chocolate Hills, Bohol Island, Magellans Monument in Mactan, Daing, Dried mangoes and many more. But let us dig deeper to explore more about this one of the wonderful place in the Philippines.

This place is known because of the famous island of Boracay and where the street dancing really originated from . I had a chance to stay in the place where you can see unconditional tourist attraction and I can say that Aklan is one of those places that people should go to. In my short stay in that beautiful place, I have experienced the best festival ever. My mom is a pure Aklanon so we decided to visit my mom’s family in Aklan. Mommy told me that Aklan was the one who started the dancing in the street with their face painted with black . I realized how great the place is, I’m not being biased here but I really do adore Aklan.

So the story goes like this, it was January of 2008 when my mom told us to pack our things and prepare our bikinis ‘coz we are going to Bora. Who would scruple to go to the cut above the rest beach resort? NO ONE!! So, off we go! We had a connecting flight from Cebu Airport then proceeded to the teensy airport of Aklan. My dad’s political friends welcomed us and we opt to have some seafood luncheon in a restaurant near the airport (I forgot the name though). The food was extremely good! You must try their fresh oyster and imbao, it’s their specialty. We rented an old small apartment near my granpa’s house for the reason that all the hotels in Aklan were fully booked, lessons learned? We should have reserved rooms earlier.


It was the 19^th of January then and it is the day of Aklan’s festival called “Ati-Atihan”. So, before going to the beach we planned to join the festival first because we were so agog about it. The festival had a street dance where all the barangays in Aklan had their own group of people dancing with their face painted. After the sun settled the party started. This is the time where people in the street join a bunch of dancing people that was going around the plaza, it was called “Sad-sad”. It was so fun because people would not care about how you dance all they want is to whoop the festival up. The party lasted until morning, no brawling happened in the celebration even most of the people there were drunk. 

In my brief visit in my mom's place, i will never forget the warm smiles from the locals even if it was more than three years ago. Now I'm looking forward of going back to the place where the greatest mom is hail from.