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

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

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

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. 

Iloilo Travelogue#4: SM Iloilo Traveler's lounge

I wanted to refrain myself from going inside the SM malls or other big malls (if there's one in the Iloilo area) so that we can totally soak in the experience of being away from our usual life. I know, I know "pinahihirapan ko lang ang buhay ko" (I am just making my life harder by doing that) lol ^_^. But in this trip, no matter how much we wanted to stay away from these malls, fate has a funny way of making things happen that we had no choice but to go inside SM Iloilo. Apart from their traveler's lounge that helped us lessen our baggage load before going on a city tour, the famous supermall actually made it possible for us to also replace our drenched camera that got wet during our Bolobadiangan island tour (I'll tell you all about it in my next post). ^_^

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

Iloilo Travelogue#1: Miag-ao Church - the Baroque experience

One of the things that I've included in my travel bucket list is to see in person those few declared UNESCO heritage sites in the Philippines. I've always known that I will feel regretful when I'm already old and gray and not be able to visit any of those 8 sites when I had the energy and chance to do so. Luckily my husband supports these wishful thoughts and he agreed to celebrate our wedding anniversary backpacking in and around Iloilo province so that we will be able to spend time together and visit one of the four baroque churches that can be found in the southern town of this nose-like province - the Miag-ao Church.

This will be the first of the few posts about our travel experiences in Iloilo. I hope you'll enjoy reading it. :)

Travel bucketlist: Visit Miag-ao church - checked

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: 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.