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

Breaking Dawn: Notes from a 12 hr bus ride to Laoag City

Partas Night bus

It's 11PM now. I woke up after 2 hours of sleep, where are we? I have no idea. We left Partas terminal in Pasay at 9PM and headed North. As our driver pulled over to what looks like a pit stop, I saw a signage that says Tarlac. Ah, hometown of President Noynoy and the Cojuangco clan.

 We got off the bus to stretch our legs. Decided to buy Chicharon (Fried Pork skin) and made sure we were able to pee. I have no idea when the next pit stop would be so even if I didn't need to go, I made sure I did. I can't go back to sleep now even if I wanted to. The driver turned off the bright white light inside the bus as he started to back up and headed to face the dark highway again, the only light that I can consistently depend on now is this annoying red light over my head supposedly good for reading. But, for some reason all it does is give me a headache. I've heard of unconventional writing techniques but tonight, I think I'm using the most unconventional one. I am not looking down at all to see what I'm doing to avoid getting nauseous, keeping my hands as steady as I can while I continue to write like a mad blind man would and just hoped for the best that I will not get any words written over so I will be able to  read it after this trip. Fortunately for me, I was able to second guess and translate some of the things that I've written when we took a 12 hr night bus ride to Laoag City.

Iloilo Travelogue#3: Guimbal - a feminine church and a stroll in the park

I first saw this town's well-kept plaza and its church's belfry tower from a distance while riding a jeepney on our way to see Miag-ao church. After passing the public market and reading "Guimbal" on its sign, I tugged my husband's sleeves and whispered to him - "we have to stop here if we still have time". Luckily, we were able to get back right before sundown. And, after getting off the market and passing the town's municipal hall, we walked directly towards another historical and unique Spanish church.  

Guimbal church

Travel Bataan: Experience The Last Stand at Mt. Samat

Everybody was enthusiastic about the long weekend because of the first ever official Chinese New Year holiday in the Philippines. Me and my husband also took advantage of the free time and went on a short trip as well. We decided to accept my sister's invitation to visit the whole family at Olongapo City and then did a side trip to one of the most historic mountain of Central Luzon, Mt. Samat of Bataan.

Travel bucketlist: Mt. Samat - checked :)

Travel San Pablo, Laguna: San Pablo Cathedral Church

Going to San Pablo City, you can never miss San Pablo Cathedral. Built in 1774 by the Augustinians, it has long been a must-see neoclassical architecture found in the very heart of busy San Pablo. We stopped by this historical structure on our way to  Lake Pandin for an eco lunch tour, the cleanest among the seven lakes of San Pablo City.^_^

From afar, you can never miss its inviting high dome and bell tower. There's a plaza on a roundabout just before you enter the church that houses the Philippine Flag as shown in the picture below but we weren't able to go there because of the heavy rain.

Travel San Pablo, Laguna: Lake Pandin eco lunch tour

One Super Rainy Saturday, out of ignorance that the deadly Typhoon Sendong was rampaging through Visayas and Mindanao region and sending neverending rain in Southern Luzon, me and my husband drove off to San Pablo, Laguna.

Home of the San Pablo Cathedral Church and considered one of the oldest city in Laguna. It is most popular for having seven lakes (or pitong lawa) namely:

Lake Sampaloc, Lake Palakpakin, Lake Calibato, Lake Muhikap, Lake Bunot, Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo.

 Although this post will only describe our journey to one of those seven lakes. It is still a worthwhile experience to read about especially if you are planning to pass by San Pablo. I also highly recommend taking the Lake Pandin green rafting experience knowing that supporting this program help preserve the cleanest lake in San Pablo and also brings livelihood to those who live near the lake.

But before I go on detailing about our trip. I think I have to get this off my chest. To be honest, I feel a bit uneasy writing about this particular trip knowing that on the very same day more than 1,000 Filipinos lost their lives because of the flash floods that hit Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and other parts of Visayas and Mindanao islands one week before Christmas, many are still missing and thousands remain homeless up to this day. It's really heartbreaking to know that many welcomed 2012 in evacuation centers. My prayers goes to all who has experience this terrible tragedy. And, I would like to encourage anybody who is reading this blog to give to Red Cross Philippines. Just click here to go directly to their website.

For Filipinos, I know having the title as the text capital of the world, we can easily extend our donations via sms messaging. Just Text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe users) or 4143 (Smart users). Amount may be 5, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1,000 (Globe users) and 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000 (Smart users). Transaction is free.

Batangas - Calatagan beach resort - Caisip Compound

We have traveled to Calatagan to visit one of oldest Spanish Lighthouses in the Philippines, the Punta de Santiago Lighthouse. We were feeling spontaneous at the time so when we saw the pristine waters from afar, we were really tempted to go for a quick swim and if we can, spend a night in a nearby beach somewhere. We asked Mang Jun, the lighthouse keeper, if he knows a good & affordable place where we could stay. He pointed us out to Caisip compound.  A beach resort not far from the lighthouse and seems to be the "go to" place of the locals.

Batangas travel: Calatagan Lighthouse

Its geological location allows Batangas to be an efficient receiving port that can cater to hundreds of ships and ferries a day. But, unknown to many, these ferries and ships are constantly being guided to safety by the two light houses built at Batangas by the Spaniards more than one hundred years ago. One, is located at Cape Malabrigo Lobo, Batangas and the other one is located at Cape Santiago in Calatagan, Batangas.

It has been part of my to-do lists to visit lighthouses around the Philippines. I think they are important part of our history and every single one of them should be considered a National Treasure. So one Saturday morning, I woke my husband up and asked him if he wants to go to on a road trip to see a 120 year old lighthouse at Calatagan, Batangas.

Our reward below: The Punta de Santiago lighthouse

Travel Tagaytay: People's park

Last November, when the rain finally stopped pouring and the humid weather started coming back, my husband and I went for a short drive to Tagaytay to cool off. With no particular place in mind but not wanting to break the bank, we decided to try going up People's park, the highest point of Tagaytay.

People's park sign 2011 with missing letters - Tagaytay, Philippines

Travel Bohol part 4 - Chocolate hills, Butterfly sanctuary, Hanging bridge

What would a visit to Bohol be if you would not see the great Chocolate hills, which was the number one tourist attraction here long before the white sand beaches of Panglao were discovered. Most of the scattered hills are situated at Carmen town which is about an hour and a half away from Panglao. So be prepared for the long drive.

The famous hills are actually protected under Proclamation No. 1037 that took effect on July 1, 1997. The two agencies implementing this act are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). Furthermore, the House of Representative introduced House bill No. 01147 on July 6, 2004 stating that the hills are considered a National geological monument, penalizing anyone who will cause their destruction and defacement. Good job congressmen! ^_^

Chocolate hills - Bohol, Philippines

Travel Bohol part 3 - Baclayon Church, Tarsier, Loboc river

Our Bohol tour was arranged by my sister through our resort. Itinerary for the whole morning comprises of visiting Baclayon Church, it's museum, looking at big-eyed tarsiers and enjoying a sumptuos lunch at Loboc river. 

bell tower of Baclayon church