Posted by ericd001 on March 4th, 2008 at Batanes
Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province of the Philippines both in terms of population and land area. The province is actually more nearer to Taiwan than Manila. It is said that .the people of Batanes, known as the Ivatan, are of Chinese descent. Many would say that their facial characteristics and their dialect, Ivatan, have some similarities to the dialect being spoken in Taiwan.
And when an invitation as sent to me to join a Media Appreciation Tour of Batanes, a lot of things rushed in my mind. Images of Batanes that I usually see on television and books came like a bolt of lightning.
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Posted by calvin on February 26th, 2008 at Ilocos
On our third day in Laoag, we took a trip south to Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur. We only planned to visit Calle Crisologo and Baluarte to save time.
After a quick breakfast at Balay da Blas, we took a trike and left for the Bus Terminal going to Vigan. I forgot the name of the bus but it’s only an ordinary one (non-airconditioned) and the fare was Php100 each. The ride lasted for 2 and 1/2 hours with some short stops picking up passengers by the road.
TIP: If you could spare Php20 more for your fare, I would suggest riding an air-conditioned bus like PARTAS. The seats are more comfy, they don’t stop to wait for passengers, and you don’t have to take in the scent of burning leaves by the roadside every few minutes.
We got off at the Vigan City Hall and asked directions from the traffic cops on how to get to Calle Crisologo. From the city hall, Calle Crisologo is about 3 blocks away so we just traveled there by foot.
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Posted by calvin on February 26th, 2008 at Ilocos
We decided to visit places south of Laoag on our 3rd day there. This includes the Mausoleum of Marcos in Batac, Paoay Church, Malacañang of the North and Paoay Lake.
We departed at around 9 AM after having breakfast at Balay da Blas. We boarded a jeep at the Paoay Jeep Terminal in Laoag and asked to be dropped at the Batac intersection. Fare going to Batac is Php 21.00 each and takes around 15 minutes.
MAUSOLEUM OF MARCOS
When you get off the jeep, you have to walk for about two blocks going to the mausoleum. It is on the left side past Chowking (which is on the opposite side) and just before the wide bridge.
First you will see an old house where the parents of the late Pres. Marcos lived. You can see their family tree posted there. You can also see the house/mansion where the Pres. Marcos lived just ahead of his parent’s house.
House of Marcos’ parents near his mausoleum
Near the place is a mini-museum where you will see news clippings, photos, articles related to Marcos and a presidential desk as well.
In front of the museum, is the mausoleum itself where you can see the preserved body of Marcos. No picture taking is allowed inside.
After spending around 20 minutes taking pictures, we went back to the road where the Paoay jeeps are passing. We boarded a jeep and head to Paoay Church. Fare is Php 7.00 each and takes around 10 minutes to get there.
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Posted by calvin on February 26th, 2008 at Ilocos
We left Kapuluan Vista Resort at around 9:30 AM and we arrived at Laoag at around lunch time. We took a trike for Php 40 going to the highway where we waited for around 10 minutes for a bus going to Laoag.
Roughly 2 hours later, we finally arrived at Laoag. From the bus terminal, we took a trike going to the place where we stayed for 3 nights, Balay da Blas. I strongly recommend this place for people visiting Laoag. The rent is not that expensive for the quality of the rooms they offer.
BALAY DA BLAS
Sammy Blas, the owner of the place was our gracious host. We booked for a Junior Suite (Php 1,350 per night) but he upgraded it to Deluxe Suite at no extra charge. The suite includes a living room with cable tv, kitchen with ref and stove, bedroom with queen size bed and bathroom with hot and cold water.
After checking the room and freshening up, we went down and had a chat with Sammy. He helped us plan our itinerary and suggested places where we can eat.
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Posted by calvin on February 26th, 2008 at Ilocos
This is Part 3 of Touring Ilocos Without a Car series.
As I mentioned in my previous post, there are 2 gorgeous beaches in Pagudpud, Saud and Blue Lagoon or what is known by the locals as “Maira-ira”. Both offers nice, soft, white sand and surfing waves (at the right time of the year). The two beaches are about 20 minutes apart from each other so choosing where to stay will be based on what beach you prefer.
SAUD OR BLUE LAGOON?
You can compare Saud Beach to Puerto Galera wherein the resorts are all lined up for you to choose from. Since there are plenty of resorts along Saud Beach, expect many people and activities around. Also, there are many places to eat in Saud. If you like crowds when you go to a beach, choose Saud.
Saud Beach, not crowded in December
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Posted by calvin on February 26th, 2008 at Ilocos
This is Part 2 of Touring Ilocos Without a Car series
GOING TO PAGUDPUD
Pagudpud lies on the north of Laoag. It’s pretty cold out there during the “ber” months pretty much like Baguio. From Laoag, it is a 2 hour bus ride. There are two good beaches in Pagudpud, one is Saud and the other is Blue Lagoon or what they call “Maira-ira“.
The airport is located in a town outside Laoag so when you leave the terminal, you will see some jeeps, tricycles and the Fort Ilocandia bus waiting at the parking lot. It’s up to you if you want to ride the jeep or the small tricycles (I mean really small compared to Manila trikes) going to Laoag since the fare is the same, Php40 – Php50 per head depending on how good you are at haggling.
TIP: Take the trike if you wanna go directly to your hotel. Take the jeep if you’re headed for the bus terminals at Laoag.
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Posted by calvin on February 26th, 2008 at Ilocos
On December 2007, my wife and I went on a 6-day Ilocos tour. We visited places in Laoag, Pagudpud and Vigan. We don’t know anybody there so it was a great adventure for us. I’m writing our experience to help others out there who want to visit the place but don’t know where to start, what to visit, how to get where, etc.
Our plan is to go to Pagudpud first and stay there for 2 nights then go back to Laoag for 3 more nights. It was raining pretty bad the week before we’re supposed to leave and since it’s already December, we decided not to go swimming anymore on the nice beaches of Pagudpud.
We travelled by plane (Cebu Pacific) to Laoag instead of the cheaper but 12 hour bus ride from Manila to Laoag. As many of you may experience riding Cebu Pacific, always expect that the flight would be delayed. Anyhow, we were greeted with a nice sunny weather landing in Laoag Airport.
TIP: Call your airline before you leave for the airport for schedule changes. It sucks to be stuck on the terminal for hours.
Our next order of business upon landing is to head straight to Pagudpud which is covered on the next part.
Part 1: From Manila to Laoag
Part 2: Going to Pagudpud
Part 3: Pagudpud
Part 4: City of Laoag
Part 5: South of Laoag
Part 6: Going to Vigan from Laoag
If you have any questions/suggestions/corrections, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!
Posted by habagatcentral on February 22nd, 2008 at Iloilo, Road Trip, Travel Destinations
17 Pebrero. Bagama’t binayo ang Iloilo ng malamig na ihip ng hangin mula sa Siberia, hindi nagpatalo ang mga Ilonggo sa kanilang talento na harapin ang bangis ng karagatan na humanaw sa kamuwangan ng mga Ilonggo bilang isa sa mga kilalalang seamen ng bansa. Ang Paraw Regatta Festival ay tinuturing na isa sa pinakamatandang regatta o karera ng mga yate o bangka sa Asya. Ngayon na nasa ika-36 na taon ng pagdiriwang na ang nasabing festival, ito’y lumaki at lumaki mula sa simpleng karerahan ng mga bangka-de-paraw ng mga mangingisda noon, hanggang naging isa itong pang-akit sa mga turista at mga boat enthusiasts na rin. Tinaguriang ika-tatlong best tourism event ng ATOP (Assoctiation of Tourism Officers in the Philippines), maliban sa karera sa dagat at pagpinta ng mga layag ng mga paraw, dinagdagan na rin ng mga karagdagang activites ang nasabing pyesta. May sayawan ng samba, may fireworks display noong gabi bago ang fiesta at mga pakontest habang nasa kalagitnaan ng karera ang mga bangka.
Ang karera ngayon ay tila hinabaan at nagtagal ito ng mahigit 2 oras na umiikot mula sa Villa Beach ng Iloilo City, patungo sa Guimaras at pabalik.
Para sa mga hindi nakakaalam, ang paraw na marahil ang naging simbolo ng angking kagalingan ng mga Ilonggo pagdating sa industriya ng pandaragat o maritime industry. Kung tutuusin, dito mo rin matatagpuan ang kauna-unahang maritime university ng bansa at ang mismong Iloilo ay nagpapadala ng libo-libong mandaragat kada taon. Sa kasaysayan ng mga Ilonggo, pinaniniwalaang ito ang nagdala sa 10 datu na nanggaling pang Boreno (Malaysia na ngayon) na tumakas sa diktador nitong sultan, patungo sa Isla ng Panay ayon sa Maragtas. Dahil sa nakatira sa isla ang mga Panayanon, hindi maiiwasang gumamit at makipagsapalaran sa karagatan para manghuli ng isda, maglakbay at manakop ng ibang lugar. Ito ay naging tradisyon na nakamarka sa mga Ilonggo at pati na sa mga Panayanon.
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Posted by habagatcentral on February 22nd, 2008 at Iloilo, Road Trip, Travel Destinations
Pebrero 2. Ito na marahil ang pinaka-una kong pagkakataon na maranasan ang sinasabing pinakamalaking pyesta ng Iloilo, bago pa man sumulpot ang Dinagyang sa syudad. Ito na ang Pyesta ng Nuestra Señora de Candelaria ng Distrito ng Jaro sa Syudad ng Iloilo. Noong una, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit parag grabe ang kasikatan nitong pyesta na to, na magdadala sa north part ng syudad sa grabeng trapik at di mahulugan ng karayom na namamanata sa Birhen.
Flashback muna tayo. Ang kasalukuyang Katedral ng Jaro (o Katedral ng Santa Elizabeth de Ungria) ay itinayo noong late 19th Century sa komisyon ni Padre Mariano Cuartero. Ang statwa mismo na tinitingala ng mga deboto ay meron ding misteryosong nakaraan. Sinasabing nakita raw ito sa tabi ng Ilog Jaro ng isang mangingisda, hindi raw ito mabuhat ng madla kahit 1 feet lang. Wow, bigat!
Nang mailuklok ang estatwa na ito sa Katedral, pinaniniwalaang lumalaki at lalong bumibigat ito kada taon. May mga araw rin daw na nawawala ang imahen na ito, sabay na nakikita ang isang magandang babae na may dalang anak na naliligo sa isang bukal sa ngayo’y Plaza Jaro.
Dahil sa taglay na mala-milagrosong katangi-an. Maraming naging deboto ang Candelaria…ang kanilang naging simbolo ng pag-asa.
Mismong si Pope John Paul II na mismo ang nagdeklara kay Birheng Candelaria bilang Patrona Santa ng Western Visayas, ng Arsodiosesis ng Jaro noong 1981 nang sya’y bumisita sa syudad.
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Posted by ka_edong on February 9th, 2008 at Pampanga, Road Trip
The Hot air balloons are back!
The annual Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) is the country’s biggest aviation sports event today. Hot air balloon and airplane pilots from all over the world fly into the Philippines to join their local counterparts in this breathtaking event. In addition to daily flights of the hot air balloons, other activities include: skydiving, daily flag jumps (a skydiver jumps with the Philippine flag while the National Anthem is played to the start of the day’s activities); micro light demonstrations; small planes fly-bys and fly-ins; remote controlled airplanes exhibitions; aerobatics; light airplane balloon bursting competition; ultra-light formation flying and bomb dropping exhibitions; helicopter fly-ins and exhibitions; an air rally from Clark to Vigan; rocketry demonstrations; kite flying exhibitions; and races between ultra lights and motorcycles.
Be sure to be there early in the morning. Be there by 5am if you want to catch the Balloons being set up at dusk. It’s just awesome watching those balloons transform from flat pieces of linen to graceful and colorful flying balloons! The balloons are the real stars in the Fiesta. The sunrise and the morning sunlight is a show in itself as well! Thank you Lord!
There are other aviation highlights during the day. Read the rest of this entry »
