Category: Luzon
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Three-hour drive to Baguio
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Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines and located in the mountainous region in the north, is a favorite destination of residents of Manila and nearby towns. It is about six hours from Manila by private vehicle or non-stop bus, and can even exceed if one will ride the regular…
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First time in Casablanca
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It’s neither the one in Morocco nor the hotel in New York. It’s not even the movie. It’s the private resort along the National Highway of Tagaytay City, the Philippines that has a breathtaking view of the smallest volcano in the world, Taal. The infinity pool gives a visual effect…
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First-time to walk in darkness
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Nothing can compare to my walk in pitch black darkness. Going back to Corregidor Island five months after visiting the island may not hold any novelty to it. But I guess this historical landmark never failed to amaze me. Our trip was something different. I was with several travel bloggers hosted…
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First-time in a Habitat Bloggers Build
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I missed the first two Bloggers Build with Habitat for Humanity. To think that I work for this non-profit organization. Finally, I was able to be at the site when a group of bloggers once again took a morning off and traveled for almost two hours to the quiet town…
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First-time in Bale Dutung, Pampanga
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Lechon Menu Ensaladang Pakô (Fiddle head fern salad) Piniritong Lumpiang Ubod sa Claude’9 Oriental Sauce (Fried all vegetable spring roll with lemon coriander Thai basil sauce) Inasal na Manok at Claude’9 Talangka Rice (BBQ chicken wings with lemon grass marinade and crab fat rice) Talangka Sushi Hito at balo-balo Sushi…
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First-time in the Ligligan Festival
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Apart from exploring the entire stretch of the Philippine archipelago, one thing I also want to fulfill is to witness the various festivals in our colorful and culture-rich country. This year, I can tick off another Filipino festival, called the Ligligan Parul, or the Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando,…
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First-time in Vigan, Ilocos Sur
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I was browsing through the internet about Philippine sights and came upon a section about Vigan, known for its old houses. I became nostalgic of my trip many years back to this northern, quiet Philippine city. (Check www.vigancity.gov.ph for more info). But I’m glad to have been given the opportunity…
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First-time at the foot of Mt. Halcon
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I have visited the town of San Teodoro in Oriental Mindoro several times. But I have not ventured anywhere near the foot of Mt. Halcon, where we have a possible site for volunteer vacations. The one I did there the last time was mangrove tree planting in its coastal area.…
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First-time to Tour Corregidor Island
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It’s the 4th of July. As much as it is part of American history, it extends to the shores of the Philippine islands. Yesterday, July 4, I went to a place of Filipino-American history, Corregidor Island, where both nations fought side by side. The first time I embarked on a…
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Taal Town: birthplace of the maker of the first Philippine flag
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Every June 12 is the Independence Day of the Philippines. Over a century ago, the Philippine flag was first raised on this day. That flag finds its roots in Taal town in Batangas. The historic town of Taal, which is a three-hour drive from Manila, is a favorite destination of culture…
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First-time in Taal’s Crater
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I had never been in a volcano crater before. And the first crater I had visited was the smallest volcano in the world, located within a lake: Taal Volcano. Two years back, my friends and I embarked on an adventure to this famous volcano. We made a side trip to…
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First-time in Jala-Jala, Rizal
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Jala-jala is the local’s term for paradise and for those living in the province of Rizal in the Philippines, they regard Jala-Jala as the paradise tucked away in their province. Our office organized a volunteer activity that would take us to this little paradise. We had to meet up early…
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A First-time Traveler’s 3 Best Kept Secret Islands
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I have three best kept secret islands found in my country, the Philippines, but I’m letting these out of the bag. With more and more people traveling nowadays, getting to a place where others have never been before has become quite a challenge. As I become more connected with other…
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First-time I captured the sun setting
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I spent an afternoon with a visiting cousin and got us a chance to witness the natural beauty of the sunset at Manila Bay. She and her parents were scheduled to go home to Bacolod the day after so I decided to take her to the biggest mall in the…
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First-time in Marlou Beach Resort, Nasugbu
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It was an unforgettable summer at the Marlou Beach Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas. I love summer and, at the same time, I abhor it. Summer in the Philippines, which often falls from March to May, calls for extreme heat. The sun is always out to find you, even when you…