Best of Ilocos Norte: Trekking up Kaibigan Waterfalls

I've heard it before from other people that we should skip going to Kaibigan (friendly) falls especially if you've already trekked to other falls before. But, having experienced this trip, I strongly urge everyone to stop by Barangay Balaoi and make that 2-km trek to meet this friendly falls. Why? The problem that I found when we had this trip up North is that we had a very tight schedule. The towns and the point of interests in our itinerary are really far from each other so our driver had to drive so fast to get us to our next destination before sundown (since you won't be able to see anything after dark). In short, it wasn't really a leisure drive so we missed enjoying some of the beautiful scenery outside. There are also times when we got thrown around the van because we were going so fast just to catch some time which has become a bit of a nightmare for me. So, having to step away from all of that and be able to use my own two feet and make that trek up that mountain at my own pace to see and experience a bit of Ilocos Norte's country-side has really made up for all those lost moments.

Kaibigan falls, Balaoi, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Best of Ilocos Norte: Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud

Being able to visit Blue Lagoon beach, I now understand the fuss over this once hidden beach located at the edge of Pagudpud. Coming down the swirling main road, we got an overview shot of how beautiful this cove really is.  From afar, its turquoise waters and long white sand beach already sends delight to the lenses of our cameras that we can't help but click away. 

Blue Lagoon beach, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Best of Ilocos Norte: Paoay Church: UNESCO Heritage site

Paoay church is famous for being one of the four remaining baroque churches in the Philippines listed as a UNESCO Heritage site. I've been able to visit San Agustin church in Intramuros, Manila when I was still in college and last year was able to visit Miag-ao Church in Iloilo when we went backpacking there. I wanted to visit Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur but I was not able to because of time constraints. Oh well, it will be one of the many reasons I would want to go back North, isn't it? ^_^.

Paoay Church, Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Best of Ilocos Norte: Malacanang of the North

Overlooking Paoay Lake, its facade truly mimics the image of Malacanang Palace - the President's official home in Manila. After it was built in 1977, it has been  the late President Marcos' home away from Malacanang whenever he's in Ilocos for a visit. This place has been known for the elite parties & exclusive gatherings thrown by the Marcoses for their cronies. 

Malacanang of the North, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Best of Ilocos Norte: Bangui Windmills

The only place in the whole Philippines that harnesses wind power as energy source. It is definitely one of the places one must visit when you're in Ilocos Norte. From the Pan-Philippine Highway or Manila North Road you can see from afar twenty of these windmills that are lined up along the shores of Bangui town. Our driver said that it stands 70 meters tall and it provide almost 60% of Ilocos Norte's energy. There is also another wind farm under construction at the nearby town of Burgos and I guess, the plan is to eliminate the province dependency on coal and diesel plants. 

Totally genius. ^_^. 

Bangui Windmill, Ilocos Norte Philippines

Best of Ilocos Norte: Kapurpurawan Rock formation

I did not expect to fall in love with this white rock from Burgos town but I did. I think the way that it was set up made it really worthwhile to visit. Mother Nature truly is the best craftsman of all. The raised rock already stood out from a distance. My mother, who cannot make it down the trail because of her weak knees enjoyed the view from a kubo (hut) on top of a cliff with our driver. The view surrounding the rock painted a different scenery. I haven't seen a beautiful landscape like it from all my travels in the Philippines so it automatically made an impression on me.

Kapurpurawan Rock formation, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Unwinding at Arena Island, Palawan

Instead of heading to Singapore, an unexpected turn of event led us to reroute our flights to Palawan, Philippines and bum around in a small island 4 hours South of its capital. 

I was not expecting for a "slow" vacation and was really looking forward exploring Singapore's busy streets but I must admit, after spending the whole day exploring, swimming and snorkeling the rich waters of this turtle and marine sanctuary, I was converted.

Arena Island, Palawan, Philippines

Corregidor Island Revisited in 48 hours

10 years - it has been that long since me and my husband set foot in this tadpole-like island guarding Manila Bay. I have always wondered how this carefully crafted fortress will be like after time has taken its toll in its already war-beaten landscape and if there is something more that this small island has left to offer me after being there already? How will I feel if I stepped again in its hallowed ground? Will it be as memorable as last time?

 Finally, an opportunity to answer these questions paved its way after a decade. 

All I need to do is give another 48hrs of my life to this historical site. 

Will it still be worth my time this time around?

Corregidor island ruin - 2012

Happy Veggie Restaurant, Binondo, Manila

Following my previous post about What to eat in Binondo, a guided tour organized by our friend Michael, I suddenly remembered eating at this vegetarian restaurant a couple of months ago when we were scouting for a parking space near Soler Street in Binondo. The food was so tasty that I didn't notice that what I was eating were actually vegetables. 

Happy  Veggie Restaurant, Binondo-Manila (sweet and sour eggplant)

What to eat: Binondo, Manila Chinatown

Whenever I visit Binondo, it is a never-ending journey of discovery and a test of self. The place may be a little overwhelming at first. You may find yourself one rainy June walking in an ankle deep charcoal-colored mud, inhaling that signature smell of sewers brought by the garbages in its now clogged but once magnificent canals, the super overcrowded streets especially during the "ber-months" (October, November, December) where you literally have to muscle people to get through the next shop, the hazard and hassle of finding a parking space or commuting during peak season and rush hour, and of course the constant mental battles between you and your anxiety attacks brought by fear of being mugged or falling prey to pickpockets. But, like many people who have fallen in love with Binondo, the secret to appreciating its beauty is to look beyond its rough facade and discover that there is a harmonious order well at play amidst the rowdiness (more like a dance) that a little open-mindedness, preparation and research can unlock. And the reward once we figure them out? ...definitely a unique experience, great value for our hard-earned money, loads of huge blue plastic bags filled with cheap items of almost everything and thanks to a Fil-Chi friend, an affordable food haven of chicken, eggs, teas and dumplings. Having mentioned food, let me show you some of the places our good friend Michael shared with us one Saturday afternoon when we roamed around to eat in the oldest Chinatown in the world.....^_^

Manila Chinatown's Welcome Sign

Night Walk Photos: Seaside Boulevard, SM Mall of Asia

With nothing to do, we headed off to Seaside Boulevard and just started taking photos. This part of Pasay has something to offer for all walks of life.

Seaside Boulevard, Pasay

The Mall of Asia eye which stands at 180ft tall is one of the iconic structure in this strip. It will cost a person about PHP150 per person for a 10 minute ride. Each cart can accommodate 4 persons. There's also a VIP option, that is if you don't want to share a cart with anybody else for PHP50 more.

SM Mall of Asia Eye, Philippines

There are also restaurants not only on the bay area but also at the mall itself that gives a grand view of the strip. And, it's far less noisy as well.

SM Mall of Asia, Pasay, Philippines

There are newly built buildings that are also like candies to the eyes like the Two-E com Center just beside Mall of Asia. There are restaurants on top of it (but we haven't tried them yet) with an open garden facing the bay, a good place for a conversation.

Two E-Com towers, Philippines

There's also the SM Arena, an event center that has a capacity of 16,000 for sporting events and 20,000 full capacity according to Wikipedia. It's parking capacity is about 2,000. An ideal place to held concerts. It opened last June 6, 2012. ^_^

SM Arena, Philippines

A Visit from Our Lady of Penafrancia

It will take her 13 hours of train ride just to get from her hometown Naga to the Capital City of Manila. But I guess, travelling great distances has become her forte, there is no distance that is really too hard for her. How she came about and how she was made known to the world, it had all been one great journey of faith....of overcoming great distances.

Her story started when a french man named Simon Vela heard a voice telling him to find the Virgin Mother's image in the far away mountains of Spain. He answered this call and spent 5 years wandering around to find it. He was led to a place called Pena de Francia and with witnesses, he dug a small land as shown to him in a dream and found this miraculous image.

Our Lady of Penafrancia, Philippines

Stories from Bolobadiangan Islands

"Each affects the other, and the other affects the next, and the world is full of stories,

but the stories are all one."

-- Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

10AM. The tides finally rolled back in. The motor boat that was once stranded on the sand had to be anchored properly now to keep it from floating away. Mang Sonny walked us to it and told us that Mang Mode (pronounced as Moh-dë) and another boatman (that I have regretfully forgotten the name) will take us to the other islands. The island tour will cost us PHP1,000. And, I am hoping that it will be worth it. We hopped onto the boat, more confidently now and more relaxed than the first time we were in it. While our two boatmen were busy maneuvering it away from the shore using long bamboo sticks as lever, I was giving my husband the "Yehey! this is it" look.... He knew I was excited...... I can't help it.... Watching these raised masses of earth scattered all around, I can't help but ask --

 "What's the story over there?"

Notes from Sandbar Island beach

...."I slept soundly hearing the crashing waves but woke up at 5:28AM because I couldn't hear them anymore.  Nervousness rushed over me because I knew that it is a bad sign when you don't hear anything, especially if you're in an island. And, experiencing a 6.9 earthquake a day before with continuous aftershocks surely didn't help calm my nerves quickly ---- 
my first thought of the day is a tsunami hitting this small island between Panay and Negros. 
Good thing, I was able to rattle around my half-asleep self and remembered what Mang Sonny, the caretaker, said last night --- low tides in the morning. And, true enough, when I opened the wooden window of our humble shanty, the water had receded so much that all I can see are some rocks and seaweeds left behind by the ocean we have swam at yesterday.

sweet, sweet hammock, Sandbar Island beach, Iloilo City

Iloilo Travelogue#10: Molo Church - the White Queen

If Jaro Cathedral serves as the Alpha Male Church of Iloilo City, Molo Church or St. Anne is definitely the Queen church. Standing sexy and tall in the heart of Molo town, with its two red-roofed belfry tower stretching high in the heavens, it is the only Gothic church in the whole country that is located outside of Manila. It is a must for all visitors to see this white church. And, yes, I said it right, it is not typo-error, this church is actually white by nature. Its walls are made up of tons of white corals that have been discolored by time, war and natural elements. It survived many strong earthquakes from the past and had served as an evacuation center for civilians during WWII. Unfortunately, one of its original towers became a Japanese machine gun nest and had to be destroyed by the American forces; shells of artillery sent its bells tumbling to the ground on March 18, 1945. Restoration was made after the war and in 1992, it was declared a National  Landmark.

Molo Church, Iloilo City

Travelogue#9: Plaza Libertad - historical Christmas Day

Among all the plazas that I've been to in Iloilo, the most historical of them all would be Plaza Libertad. This is where Spain surrendered Iloilo, its last capital in the Philippines, on December 25,1898. The recipient of this surrender was the brave revolutionary General Martin Teofilo Delgado, leader of the Western Visayas resistance force against the Spaniards.

Plaza Libertad, Iloilo City

Iloilo Travelogue#8: San Jose Church

The beauty of traveling in a Catholic country such as Philippines is that you can always find a church in almost every town where you can sit in peace and rest for a bit without the hassle of paying anything  (it's also very likely that nobody will bother you) and we all know that it's always best to drop by and ask for good solid direction from "The Man above" as much as we could, don't you think? ^_^.  Much said, in a way, churches has become my coffee shop when traveling ^_^ (having coffee time with God? now that's a thought.lol! ) Fortunately, in Iloilo, most churches are just a couple of steps away from the town's plaza -- a big plus since most of them always had a historic significance of some sort. San Jose Church is found a couple of steps away from the historic Plaza Libertad and about 10 minutes via jeepney from Museo Iloilo. The church itself is much different from any of the churches we've visited in Iloilo, for one, the materials used to build the church are not of corals or limestones but of stones and bricks giving the church its unique red color. And, much to my delight, the interior of the church is much subtle than its red facade outside. It's a beautiful surprise wrapped up in a red wrap. Check out my photos. ^_^

San Jose Church, Iloilo City

Iloilo Travelogue#7: Museo Iloilo

We started our city tour by visiting Museo Iloilo, the small city museum that can tell you more about the history of the province and the Ilonggos who made important contributions during WWII. They also feature different art works of local and international artists. During our visit, we were honored to see the works of  photographer Kim Komenich. He was the 1987 Pulitzer prize awardee for Spot News photography when he was assigned to cover the Philippine EDSA revolution in 1986. I have never seen the work of a Pulitzer award winner so this one has been a good treat for us. Ehem, please note that camera is not allowed inside the museum so don't expect photos from the exhibit here.

Colorful Museo Iloilo building

Iloilo Travelogue#6: Tigbauan Church and Plaza

One of the first interesting town that you'll pass by coming from Iloilo city is Tigbauan. I have learned that this is where the American forces together with the Philippines Commonwealth troops landed to liberate the Island of Panay from the Japanese during WWII. And, to the allied forces' surprise, they arrived in an already been freed town. The Japanese invaders were already driven out by the brave Ilonggo locals. ^_^

Tigbauan Church, Iloilo City

Iloilo Travelogue#5: Jaro Cathedral and the old belfry tower

One of the most famous churches in Iloilo is the Jaro Cathedral. It is the parish home of the Archbishop of Jaro and  has also became the home of  the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles. This church, like the many churches across Iloilo, also served as a fortress against the Moro pirates who kidnap locals and sells them off at Mindanao. The old belfry that is actually separated from the original church served as a watchtower that will send alarms to the Jaro people in case of piratical raids. The church has lived through earthquakes, fires, and wars but the Ilonggo's love and faith in the Catholic church led on to the continuous rebuilding and effort to preserve this historical landmark.
What I love about this church is that even if you can see the obvious renovations done at some of its parts, you can still see the old church that has been there since 1874.