Category: Visayas
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Street Dance Watching with Skechers GOwalk
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The sky was dark and a downpour was threatening to halt the revelry. We hastened our walk through the crowd-filled streets of Bacolod that were closed for the Masskara Festival celebrations. We walked from one corner to the other, trying to find out if the street dance was already on…
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Eat’s More Fun in Bacolod: A List of Local Food Destinations
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Home sweet home. It truly is. That’s because home is Bacolod, the capital of the sugar bowl of the Philippines. It is known for its delectable food, especially desserts. I’ve already written some fine eating places in the City of Smiles in my previous blog post Eat is Bacolod. Ever…
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First-time Around Silay: Admiring its Heritage Buildings
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Amid the darkened sky and the impending rain, the heritage homes in Silay City — dubbed in olden days as the Paris of Negros Occidental. This city in the Philippines stand proud as they showed off marks of endurance that withstood the ruthlessness of tropical weather and viciousness of conflict…
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Taking the RORO: A Road Trip from Manila to Bacolod
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It was an epic road trip that I have taken ever — a road trip from Manila to Bacolod via RORO, bringing my car with me in this whole adventure. This one took me to four major islands in the Philippines and six ports. More importantly, it was a road…
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Romblon: the Journey to Romblon Island
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It was a bright morning as we packed our stuff, left the Sanctuary Garden Resort and headed to the pier en route to Romblon Island. The sea was calm. Yet, without any gush of wind and the sun rising up high, the morning heat was slowly becoming unbearable. Even when…
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Romblon: the Journey Around Sibuyan Island
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Sibuyan Island is a picturesque and relatively unexplored island located in the province of Romblon in the Philippines. Known as the “Galapagos of Asia” due to its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem, Sibuyan Island is a hidden gem for nature lovers and adventure seekers. But before we could get there,…
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Visita Iglesia in Bacolod and Bago Cities, Negros Occidental
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No longer familiar with the city where I grew up, I relied on my sister and Google in plotting our Visita Iglesia, or the traditional church visitation every Holy Week, around Bacolod. Since we have not visited that many churches in our own hometown, we thought of going to churches…
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Preparing for a grand #RoadTrip2Home
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This year, I will be taking one of the greatest travel challenges I’ll ever have in my lifetime. It is what I call my #RoadTrip2Home. After so much prayers, spiritual discernment, consultation, and self-reflection, I have come to accept that for me to embark on a life abroad I need…
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Encountering The Trails of General MacArthur in the Philippines
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I first encountered General Douglas MacArthur in the pages of history books. As a celebrated World War II hero, he played a major role in Philippine history. He led American and Allied forces against the Japanese army. However, I never paid much attention to his life and experiences on Philippine soil. That…
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Our post-Typhoon Yolanda Volunteer Trip in Tacloban and Basey
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It was a memorable post-Yolanda Eastern Visayas trip and and unforgettable journey through Eastern Visayas after the devastating Typhoon Yolanda. However, our group of 17 Hands On Manila volunteers embarked on this post-Yolanda relief trip to help affected communities. Moreover, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the generous donors…
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First-time in the Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum
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The Sto. Nino Shrine was not the first thing that caught my attention when we arrived in Real Street in Tacloban. Instead, I noticed the palm trees. Their trunks stood battered and bare, with only a few leaves clinging to them. They looked like silent witnesses to the fury that had…
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First-time in Tacloban City, Leyte: In The Aftermath of Yolanda
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I have never expected that the almost year-long anticipation of my first trip to Tacloban would change at the last minute. Yet, it was for good, because with the recent onslaught of typhoon Yolanda that ravaged Tacloban and other parts of the Eastern Visayas region, it would be hard to…
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Volunteer Vacation in Tacloban & Basey: A Mission to Help
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Sometimes, a trip begins with a simple plan but ends up becoming something far more meaningful. That was exactly what happened when our planned getaway to Tacloban and Basey turned into an unexpected Volunteer Vacation after Typhoon Yolanda devastated Eastern Visayas. It was March when a fellow volunteer from Hands On Manila…
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Eat is Bacolod! Must-visit Restaurants in the City of Smiles
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Bacolod: the City of Smiles; the capital of the sugar bowl of the Philippine province of Negros Occidental. It offers many sweet delicacies and great eats. In this beautiful city on Negros Island, Bacolod holds smiling people, pastries, and delectable food. [UPDATE 2023: Some of the restaurants listed here have…
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Campuestohan: A Christmas Adventure in the Highlands of Talisay
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Yes, Christmas is for children. But sometimes, it is also the perfect excuse for the children at heart to have some fun. Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, was where our family decided to spend Christmas Day, turning the holiday into a fun-filled highland adventure. Our group included my grand…