Camiguin - Delighted to See Ancestral Houses

Honestly, I didn’t do much research before going to Camiguin. I never thought that I would find ancestral houses in this tiny island, just like what I saw in Silay, Taal, Boac and Vigan. Camiguin still has a number of striking and elaborate ancestral houses that date back to Spanish and American Colonial Periods. These houses can be seen as you pass through the island's well paved circumferential hi-way.

Camiguin - Day Tour Part 1: Giant Clams, Church Ruins, Old Volcano Trail and Sunken Cemetery

After closing the deal with my habal-habal driver, I hopped into his motorcycle and we commenced the whole day tour of the island. He specifically discussed to me where we would go. Since I only have 1 day to spend, I just picked the places I want. I don't want to rush myself in covering all the sites just for the sake of going there and have a photo taken, I want to take it slow and enjoy each spot that we're going to visit.

Camiguin - En Route to the "Island Born of Fire"

It's day 2 of my Solo Northern Mindanao Adventure. I woke up early to prepare for a long day of experiencing the splendour of the island of Camiguin. From my hostel in Capistrano St., Cagayan de Oro City, I went to Agora Market Terminal and arrived just in time for the 5:30 AM trip of Bachelor Express Bus bound for Butuan. I paid 143 pesos for the 2 hour trip from Cagayan de Oro to Balingoan; told the driver to drop me at Balingoan and dozed off from the moment the bus started to move.

WHERE TO EAT IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: Divisoria Night Market, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental

Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental was my home-base for 3 days during my adventure trip to Northern Mindanao early this month. Upon arrival at Lumbia Airport, I went out of the airport and took a jeepney bound for Carmen. This is the cheapest way of getting to the city center; it's 17 pesos instead of paying 250 - 300 pesos for a one-way trip to the city center on a cab. From Carmen, I took another jeepney bound for Bonbon and alight at Plaza Divisoria (7 PHP).

Manila - Revisiting the Walled City of Intramuros, a Tour for an Australian Colleague

A Senior member of our team in Sydney came over to Manila last month for a series of trainings to our new team members. As a gesture of Filipino hospitality, we toured her around Intramuros. We visited Manila Metropolitan Cathedral, Fort Santiago and Intramuros and Rizal Bagumbayan Light and Sound Museum. The day ended with a sumptuous dinner of Filipino sea food cuisines at a restaurant in Seaside Macapagal Avenue.

TRAVEL GUIDE : Catarman, Northern Samar - How To Get There, Accommodations, Transportation, Expenses, Itinerary and Contact Details

HOW TO GET THERE

From the airport to the City center
Walk a few meters outside the airport and take a tricycle going to the city proper. Fare is 10 pesos and travel time about 10-15 minutes.

From Catarman to Allen
Take a jeepney bound for Allen at the city's central terminal. Fare is 60 pesos and travel time is around 1.5 hours.

Northern Samar - My Best and Worst Experiences in Northern Samar

This is just another "I'll go and see what happens" trip that I had recently. I managed to book a round trip airfare tickets with Cebu Pacific during their seat sale last March. For only 378 pesos all-in, I had a quick tour around Catarman in Northern Samar and its nearby towns. No plans, no itinerary prepared, I just want to be there.

TRAVEL GUIDE: Basilan and Zamboanga City Solo Trip Summary, Itinerary and Expenses

The Basilan and Zamboanga City Trip is a series of blog posts during my visit to south-western Mindanao last July 2-3, 2011. I waited for almost a year to be able to fly to "Asia's Latin City", via AirPhilExpress’ seat sale last year. Originally, my plan was to explore Zamboanga City, but Basilan came into picture when I met Dom, a fellow blogger. He helped me discover and experience Basilan’s exceptional splendor and exquisiteness, a beauty not everyone is lucky to see.

ZAMBOANGA CITY TRAVEL GUIDE: DIY itinerary, Things to do, How To Get There, Hotels, Expenses and More!

Zamboanga City Budget Travel Guide

This Zamboanga City Budget Travel Guide will provide you with useful information on Zamboanga City's tourist spots and attractions, DIY itinerary, Things to do, How To Get There, Hotels in Zamboanga City, Budget and Expenses, contact details and More!

HOW TO GET THERE
From the airport to the City center
Walk a few meters outside the airport and take a Canelar bound jeepney to the city proper. Fare is 7 pesos and travel time about 10 minutes.

From city proper to Pasonanca
Take a Pasonanca bound jeepney from the city proper and get off at the Boy Scouts grounds. Fare is about 10 pesos and travel time is around 20 minutes.

Zamboanga City - Pasonanca and Freedom Parks, Mt. Pulong Bato and La Jardin de Maria Clara Lobregat

After strolling around the streets of Zamboanga City, I went back to the hostel to fix my things and checked out. I had my lunch in a nearby restaurant and took a jeepney bound for Pasonanca (PHP 10).

Pasonanca Park is about 7 kms away from the city and is recognized as the "Little Baguio of the South" as it is one of the highest elevated barangays from the sea level. It is a popular tourist attraction in Zamboanga City well-known for holding conferences, regional seminars, conventions, outdoor camping or jamborees of Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts and has won awards as the number one garden in the Philippines.

Zamboanga City - Bienvenidos Ciudad de Zamboanga!, a DIY Walking Tour

After filling myself with a delightful satti meal at Jimmy's Satti Haus, I walked towards the city proper to check things around. From Jimmy's Satti Haus in Pilar St., I walked towards Don Pablo Lorenzo St. until I reached Plaza Pershing and Plaza Alvarez. Plaza Pershing was built in honor of Governor John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing’s triumph against Muslim insurgents during the early times. Unfortunately, it's currently re-constructed when I visited, so I wasn't able to check it out.

Zamboanga City - A Bittersweet Food Trip Experience

FB Status: I had a great time in Basilan.. Super thank you to my host, Ludwig and his family.. and to Dong Ho for all the help.. I just got back in Zamboanga City..

I went back to my hostel to freshen up. Then proceeded to Paseo del Mar to see things around. I took a jeepney bound for Canelar and walked towards Valderosa St. where Paseo del Mar is located.

Pinoy Holidays : A Long Weekend Holiday in the Philippines from August 27 to 30, 2011

A long holiday await Filipinos as the month of August 2011 ends.

Under Proclamation 84, s. 2010, Malacañang declared that August 29 (Monday) and Eid'l Fitr which falls on August 30 (Tuesday) this year are non-working holidays making it a 4-day long weekend.

Travel Guide : Basilan - How To Get There, Ferry Schedules and Fares, Tips, Itinerary and Contact Details

HOW TO GET TO BASILAN

Zamboanga City is the main gateway to Basilan Island. From Manila, take a flight to Zamboanga City. From the airport, take a jeepney bound for Canelar and walk towards Zamboanga City Port. Ride a fast craft or a ferry boat to Isabela or Lamitan City in Basilan.

Basilan - A Tour Around Isabela City Proper

We were pushing towards Lamitan to see more rubber plantations. However, when we were about a kilometer away from the city, it started to rain again. The rain is pouring so hard that we decided to take a U-turn and head back to Isabela City. We had few stops to take shelter from the rain. Fortunately, the rain subsided when we reached Isabela City. I took the chance to see the interesting sites within the city proper.

Basilan - Road Trip to the Rubber Plantations

Upon reaching Isabela City port in Basilan, I was fetch by my host Ludwig and was asked to stay first in the passenger terminal. His team of volunteers has an emergency to attend to and had to bring a patient aboard the fast craft going to Zamboanga City to seek urgent medical attention. After the patient has been settled in the boat, we rode the ambulance and proceeded to their group's home base, which is a few meters away from the port.