Last side trip of the year

December 21, 2007 at 1:40 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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I always make it a point that my last trip of the year would be spent going to my hometown, Bacolod City.  So, after listing down my choices of the 12 fun travels I’ve done this year, I was already looking forward to a trip back home.  It totally slipped my mind that I have one more trip to make (or was having doubts if it would ever push through but it did).  It was our office planning for next year.  Why we did it during the busiest season of the year is not what I will dwell on in this write-up.

From a three-hour road trip to Batangas Port and two hours at sea, we docked at Calapan, Oriental Mindoro for a sumptuous lunch at Hungry King’s Diner.  Since the trip was strictly business, we had some orientation and discussions on the environment and volunteerism.

But enough of the “serious” stuff.

Mindoro was like any of the provinces in the country.  The islands and scenic rice fields were very much like the ones I saw in Negros, Cebu, Iloilo and Mindanao.  What makes Mindoro extra special were the rich natural minerals found in this island.  Calapan was a small city that is almost comparable to Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran or Vigan.


We stayed at Amor Beach Resort in San Teodoro, a northern town just some minutes away from Calapan.  Although the resort has facilities like air-conditioned cottages, a restaurant, computer shop, billiard hall and videoke bars, I must say that it was not as well-developed as the tourist resorts in the Visayas and Mindanao.

What caught my frenzy there was the communal fishing method of their little barrio.  Everyone helps out in getting a catch.  The locals were happy and satisfied with the meager catch as long as they have something to sell and something to eat on their table.

Without television, the form of entertainment we had were videoke and talking about anything under the sun over a few bottles of beer.  But being cooped in the resort, I never got to see the other faces of Mindoro.  Probably, in time, I’d be back in this island down Luzon.   Oh, and endure almost six hours of travel.

That’ll be the last for this year and I’m rearing to be Bacolod-bound where I will welcome the year 2008 with a bang.

My Travel Imprints of 2007

December 14, 2007 at 3:42 am | In Asia, Philippines, travel | Leave a Comment
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The year 2007 is a great year for me, especially on traveling.  The adventures and the fun company of friends made traveling even more enjoyable than ever.  A look in the year 2007 brings a dozen of fun travel memories that are worthy to keep.

1. Cebu

On my two trips to Cebu, I stayed in new hotels built in the metropolis.  Although both were business trips with clients, they were still a delight because my affinity with Cebu deepened as I learned new places to visit.  Shangri-la in Mactan really took my breath away.  Too bad I wasn’t able to enjoy a splash at the beach or the pool.  The Casa Español was a new place which caught my interest.  I was seeing Cebu in a new light when we brought members of the media from other Southeast Asian countries around Cebu.


2. Iloilo

The last time I’ve been to Iloilo was in high school.  Since Iloilo was just across Bacolod, all my trips to the former were taken via ferry or ship.  This year was the first time that I flew in to Iloilo.  So much have changed over the years.  Honestly, I never recognized the new face of Iloilo.

3. Davao

Funny thing because I’ve stayed for a month in this city, that’s why I knew my way around.  I was the one who had to tell our hosts where Luz Kinilaw was located.  They were surprised that I knew how to get there when they haven’t even stepped foot at this eating joint.

4. Zamboanga

Finally, I have landed in Zamboanga City.  But I didn’t see any vinta.  It was just an overnight trip and with limited time, the only place I was able to go visit outside of work was the barter.  It’s more of a flea market but there were a lot of imported goods from neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

5. Baguio

Oh, I never tire of Baguio despite the long hours on the road.  This year, it was well spent revisiting Tam-awan Village and staying with friends from community.


6. Hong Kong

It was freezing cold when we went to Hong Kong.  But I wasn’t complaining because it was great to experience a much colder weather than what we have here in tropical Philippines.  Add to that was that I spent very minimal for this trip.  You see, I won this trip through a Christmas party raffle last year in my previous employment. :-)   I really planned that during this trip, I would be able to visit the places I’ve never been to–the Giant Buddha at Lantau Island, Ocean Park (sorry there were no pandas), and some other temples.  My sister enjoyed the trip more.


7. Puerto Princesa

This was such a fun trip because there were about 16 of us who went to Puerto Princesa!  Honda Bay and the Underground River were a marvel to me.


8. Bonito Island

My first outing with my new officemates.  I love it when you have the island all to yourself.  The place was great and very private.


9. Bataan

The big waves in Bataan plus the Pawikan Center and the Anvaya Cove were enough reasons for me to include my Bataan trip in this list.  It was a long day for us and the volunteers, especially when our bus got stuck in the soft sands of Bataan.  But I loved every minute spent there as I learned new things about animals.


10. Binondo

I’ve been to Binondo several times but I never really appreciated it until we had this walk tour by one of our volunteers which he did to us for free!  From the street food to the restaurants, you can have your fill in Binondo.

11. Cagayan de Oro

Again, another revisit.  But I didn’t mind because I learned a new restaurant which served delicious Italian dishes.  And of course, I bought some homey stuffs at my favorite joint, Gazebo Cafe.

12. Taal City

It was just a day trip.  Although I’ve been there for several educational trips during my college days, visiting Taal with partners from the National Historical Institute added a touch of familiarity to the trip.  I do hope more people will support causes that will preserve our history and promote our country to tourists.

NY Times’ list of 53 places to go in 2008

December 11, 2007 at 4:41 am | In World, travel | Leave a Comment
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Where will you be in 2008?  I’ve got places lined up and some of them are already a done deal because I’ve paid for the airfare and some travel expenses.

Denny Lee of the New York Times has compiled a list (see under my links page).  Lee has chosen the following places:

1. Laos
2. Lisbon
3. Tunisia
4. Mauritius
5. Mid-Beach, Miami
6. South Beach, Miami
7. Maldives
8. Death Valley
9. Courchevel
10. Libya
11. Hvar
12. Puerto Vallarta
13. Sylt
14. Prague
15. Quito
16. Liverpool
17. Munich
18. Iran
19. Tuscany
20. Anguilla
21. Bogota
22. Playa Blanca, Panama
23. Alexandria
24. Mazatlan
25. Sta. Lucia
26. Oslo
27. Buenos Aires
28. Rimini, Italy
29. Malawi
30. Roatan
31. Mozambique
32. Kuwait City
33. Verbier
34. Lombok
35. Northwest Passage
36. Easter Island
37. Virgin Gorda
38. Namibia
39. San Francisco
40. Detroit
41. Itacare, Brazil
42. Kilimanjaro
43. Algeria
44. San Diego
45. Malaga
46. Puerto Plata
47. London
48. Vietnam
49. Essaouira
50. Las Vegas
51. Barossa Valley, Australia
52. Tokaj, Hungary
53. New York

How they came up with the list, I don’t know.  The only place I have visited in the list is Laos. And it’s number one, huh? I think Beijing should be there especially with the upcoming Olympics.  Oh well…

Christmas in Jakarta made me miss home

December 5, 2007 at 5:44 am | In Asia, travel | Leave a Comment
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“Selamat datang,” I could have uttered but I’d rather hear “selamat jalan” from my friends.  Five years ago, I was struggling to go home.  I was posted in Jakarta, Indonesia for almost a year (I was there during the Bali blast).  While people were celebrating Ramadan, a single Christmas tree was put up in a mall that reminded me of home.  Whenever Christmas approaches, I looked back to that time when I was staring at that tree with the knowledge that Christmas is different at home.  Yes, I gotta be home for Christmas.  Almost seven months in this neighboring country, I knew my time was up — literally, which is why I was held at the Jakarta airport for overstaying.  But that’s another matter.

Despite the Bali bombing, like in the local Philippine scene, life went on in Jakarta.  My stay was filled with work, tutorials (for local Indonesians wanting to study here), shopping, socializing with Filipino friends, Catholic community and touring visitors to Jakarta’s landmark.  Mind you, I’ve never been to all despite the length of time I spent there.  It’s different when you’re in a place at a short time with visit as the topmost priority compared with staying for months and postponing tourism because the places are “just there.”

Anyway, a friend asked me what I can recommend in Jakarta and I was grasping my memory of the places I’ve passed by or visited during my brief stint there.

Jakarta’s main symbol is the Monas.  It’s a towering landmark that marks Indonesia’s freedom and independence.  A golden flame-like shape towers the tall monument which I can compare with the Quezon Memorial Circle.  Everyday, I pass by this monument but never had the chance to really get inside and climb up to the tower.

Within the periphery of Monas are the train station, the US embassy and the Vatican embassy.  Down Jalan Sudirman is the great fountain that sits in the midst of various hotels.

Our office, which was then situated in Gedung BRI, is just within that main thoroughfare. Across our building is the Atma Jaya Catholic University.


What I liked about their city is the urban planning.  The skyway is connected and you’ll never get lost.  It surrounds the central part of Jakarta and you’ll surely end up where you enter, in case you forgot where to exit.  Buildings have driveways and are not built wall to wall, unlike our Makati.

Still in Central Jakarta, you’ll find the Istiqlal Mosque which is the largest mosque in Indonesia.


Across the mosque is the Catholic Cathedral where I went to as I heard mass there once.

For shoppers, malls like Plaza Senayan and Taman Anggrek are popular.


But if you are looking for a good buy of Dutch lamps, you’ll get beautiful goods at Jalan Surabaya where a row of antique stall await tourists.

My favorite hotel is JW Marriott Hotel, which is a bit secluded even when it is at the heart of the city.

But my friends usually hang out at the lounge of the Grand Hyatt hotel where a Filipino band plays on the grand piano.  We drink cocktails as we listen to some Filipino songs overlooking the grand fountain at the background.

Living in the northern part of Jakarta, my friends took me to nearby Sea World.  We went inside the tube looking at beautiful underwater species found in the rich seas of Indonesia.

Down south is where backpackers’ hotels and fine restaurants are found, including the Secretariat Office of the ASEAN.

An Indonesian friend also took me to their revolving restaurant.  I saw the splendor of Jakarta at night, 360 degrees!

I do hope that when I go back to Jakarta, it would be more of pleasure and with some friends in tow, too.  But I do miss a lazy quiet afternoon in my unit at Sunter where I learned to cook various Pinoy foods and usually glued in MTV all day and night.

V as in Vigan

December 5, 2007 at 4:55 am | In Philippines, travel | Leave a Comment
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The mini-Cathedral display at Meralco reminded me of something and I couldn’t seem to put my finger into it.  A day sick in bed, I finally had a Eureka moment.  It reminded me of Vigan’s Cathedral, and I don’t know why.

Sadly, I don’t have digital photo files of my trip to Vigan so I’m using what the internet can offer me.  (Check www.vigancity.gov.ph for more info).  I used a film camera but I have to dig in my album to find the pics.

My Vigan trip took place a few years back with my former officemates.  It was a surprise plan, realizing there was a long weekend that month of June.  And as a birthday gift to myself, I agreed to join them.  We started our journey at the wee hours of the mornning, lining up for bus tickets in a Cubao terminal at just a little past midnight.  That’s after we went to bus terminals in Manila and found that the buses were already gone.

Still, with less sleep and so much hassle at the terminal, I looked forward to a visit in Vigan.  Who wouldn’t?  Vigan has been declared a historic site by the Philippine government because of its historical relevance that is almost equal to Manila’s Intramuros.

It is a small, quiet city that speaks of a lot of stories of the olden days of the Philippines depicted by the Spanish colonial architecture and baroque churches. Upon arrival at Vigan, we immediately checked in at Aniceto Mansion (#1 M. Crisologo St., Vigan City; Telephone #: (6377) 7222383) which is a stone’s throw away from the Cathedral.  Aniceto Mansion is like an old house that was built during the Spanish period. The antique look and facilities are true to Vigan’s baroque ambiance. There are family portraits that hang on the walls, which gives visitors a glimpse of the owners’ past. It may seem a bit eerie to be staying in a very old mansion, but the staff’s jovial and welcoming behavior, plus modern amenities, provides a warm and non-threatening ambiance.

We walked through the preserved cobblestone street where antique shops were found and where most tourists had their photos taken. Since it’s a small place, it is safe and enjoyable to have a tour of the city in a horse-driven carriage called the “calesa”.

We went to the ruins of the old church and climbed the bell tower along with other tourists. We proceeded to the local pottery makers and saw how they make beautiful jars out of their bare hands. After a day of walking around the city, we relaxed at the plaza where a man-made lagoon could be found and a miniature relief map of the city was displayed. We sat for hours talking about everything and marveling at the beautiful facade of the Cathedral.

There are lots of museums in Vigan, like the Crisologo Mansion and other old houses of renowned people. The small stalls that sell native delicacies are a great place to have a snack. There are also Filipino and multinational fast food chains in the city.  But the most famous is the Crisologo St. with its cobblestone pathway.

You can spend just an hour or two in this street.  At the end of the street, you can dine at Cafe Leona with its sumptuous local meals.  It’s also open at night and you can have a drink or two.

With so much time left in our stay, we spent the night away playing billiards in one of the local pubs.  You can see Vigan in a day or two.  It’s a place where everything’s not a rush and you can take your lovely time enjoying every scenery and every detail of the historic city of Vigan.

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