The Phoenix

It’s been a while… I’ve been so very busy with travel and work… Glad that I find time to write another long overdue blog. Another long weekend. Another opportunity to go out-of-town and just relax. Only this time is different. It’s just Me and Olive . We met at McDonald’s Imus Branch at 6:00AM. We just bought sausage muffin for each of us and a hashbrown for myself. Then we went to the near-by 711 and bought mineral water and Nestle Pure Milk. We waited for a bus that would take us to Robinsons Dasmari ñ as in front of 711. After around 30 minutes, we are already at the Van Terminal to Batangas Pier. We paid Php160 each and after more than an hour (I think!) of waiting, at last, off we got to the Pier. We reached Batangas Pier a couple of minutes past 9:00AM.We bought a Galerian Liner round-trip ticket to Puerto Galera worth Php450 per person, an environmental fee and terminal fee. Before 9:30AM we are already in front of closed Gate 2B. They opened it at around ...

After the long wait… Finally, here’s the second (and probably the last part) of my Banaue-Sagada Adventure. April 23, 2011: Black Saturday – Early morning we had our breakfast and prepared ourselves for the most intense part of our visit to Sagada. We are set to go to the Sumaguing Cave , Lumiang Burial Cave , Sagada Underground River , Echo Valley and the famous Hanging Coffins . First stop is the Sumaguing Cave . I honestly do not know if there is an entrance fee. If so, I do not have an idea how much it is or even how much is the guide’s fee. Reason: This is a partly sponsored tour. Everything has been arranged even before we elope from Manila. All we have to do is to follow the itinerary as strictly as possible. Anyways, before we enter the cave, the guides told us to just leave our belongings in our jeepney. Even the jackets should be left because we will get wet inside. I only have my flashlight in my pocket and nothing else. We had picture takings before we ent...

Hey peeps! Here’s another adventure that I want to share with you following my Ilocos Tour last February. This time, I explored two municipalities in Mountain Province, Philippines. Banaue and Sagada . It was a four days and three nights adventure together with the SPi Mountaineering Club  and Camera Club . But first, here’s a little general information for Banaue and Sagada. Banaue: It is widely known as the site of the UNESCO World Heritage Site . Here is where you will see the Banaue Rice Terraces which was tagged as the “ Eight Wonder of the World ” . The rice terraces were built 2,000 years ago by our Ifugao brothers. It begins at the base of the mountain range and extends several thousand feet upwards. It was once said that the total length of the terraces would encircle half of the globe if put end-to-end. Sagada : Sagada was tagged as a “ Sleepy Town ” . But I tell you, if you really have all the time to explore Sagada and do trekking,...

February 12-14, 2011… That’s the time when I, along with my two friends Olive and Greyz, had a chance to experience the Ilocos Heritage. Before anything else, let me just share to you little facts about Ilocos. There might be some of you who are wondering on what’s the difference between Ilocanos and Ifugaos when both are speaking the same language, Ilocano . Ifugaos live in the high-lands. While Ilocanos live in low-lands. Ilocos, like any other provinces, have Plazas where all the locals usually get together for a special event. But it is very noticeable that whenever you see a Plaza , you will also see a church, a municipal/city hall and a village full of huge houses which usually belong to the well-known families of that place. Why? It’s because during the Spanish era until earlier 1900s, almost all the members of the well-known families who live in the village near the Plaza are working in the Municipal/City Hall. They all go to the church on Sundays. And, they ...