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 trip that led me back …
Read more “Taking the RORO: An Exciting Road Trip from Manila to Bacolod”
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 we already started with our …
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, we had to take a …
Having worked in the city of Manila, I have passed by the Rizal Memorial Stadium several times without even glancing at the old structures of the complex. I have watched several sports events in this same complex, but I was more engrossed on the game than on my surroundings. Not until I was on a …
Read more “The story of the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium”
This is the first time that I am featuring authors of a travel site. You see, traveling and community service are some of the passions I have. Browsing through the worldwide web for leads that can somehow help me fulfill these passions, I chanced upon the site Global Help Swap, which shares stories and tips …
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 that were new to us, …
I recently brought with me to my home province my vast collection of postcards. As I opened the container where I kept all my postcards, I remember the places I have visited and those which I yearn to visit one day. Many of the cards were bought in places where I visited, because they’re handy …
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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 to go back to my …
Ever overheard a conversation between travellers? It becomes clear within minutes that the most popular stories revolve around “having dinner in a local family’s home” or “discovering the hidden gems away from the beaten track”. When roaming the internet looking for nice travel initiatives, I came across this new website called Withlocals.com. I was quite …
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Four ladies decided to brave Manila’s Chinatown in Binondo, said to be the oldest Chinatown in the world that was established in 1594, for the Chinese New Year festivities. Some friends forewarned us that Binondo would be crowded and we have to stay away from firecrackers. But it was really our day. The first day …
General Douglas MacArthur was a celebrated World War II hero that played a significant part in Philippine history as he led the American troops against the Japanese army. I read about General MacArthur in the pages of history books but I haven’t so much paid attention to his life in the Philippine soil. But through …
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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. Our group, comprised of 17 dedicated volunteers from Hands On Manila, embarked on this post-Yolanda relief trip with a mission to make a difference in the lives of the affected communities. First and foremost, we …
Read more “Our post Typhoon Yolanda Eastern Visayas volunteer trip”
The Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum, located at Tacloban’s Real Street, is one of the city’s jewels that houses the antiques and valuable collections of the Marcos family. It is also situated in one of the badly hit areas by typhoon Yolanda when we visited it during our volunteer trip to Tacloban. Almost lifeless …
Read more “First-time in the Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum”
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 have an itinerary that entirely …
It was March of last year when I received a message from a fellow volunteer of Hands On Manila about a plan to go on a trip to Tacloban, Leyte in January 2014 through a seat sale promo by an airline. Tacloban is known for landmarks, such as the MacArthur landing site and San Juanico …