Highlight of 2009: My first-time travels
Watching travelers in an airport coffee shop while waiting for my flight, I couldn’t help but wonder what 2010 has for me when it comes[…]
First-time in Calauit Island: A Sanctuary for Animals
As Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe, Marty the zebra, and Gloria the hippo escaped to Madagascar and to Africa, we also had a little[…]
First-time in Coron: A Paradise in the Philippines
Coron is one of the must-see places in my list of destinations within my home country, the Philippines. Together with Busuanga, Culion, and several islands,[…]
First-time in Tagaytay: A City by the Volcano Lake
This weekend I went to Tagaytay. I frequent Tagaytay a lot that I have lost count how many times I have returned since the first[…]
First-time in Antipolo, Rizal
Antipolo is one of the cities in Rizal, a nearby province from the Philippine capital, Manila. Situated in the hilly part of the province, it[…]
First-time in San Mateo, CA
I’m not referring to a town in Rizal Province in the Philippines. Rather, this is San Mateo, one of the suburbs near San Francisco, California,[…]
First-time in Los Angeles, California
“LA is great big freeway…” so the song goes. And big freeways, indeed, fill the Los Angeles landscape. Next to rows of palm trees, of[…]
NCVS 2009 with Michelle Obama and some Hollywood stars
Forty-five hundred people. Thirty-something new friends. A grand opening session. This has been the biggest conference I have attended so far. This was the National[…]
First-time in San Francisco, California
It was my first time in San Francisco, California. In fact, it was my first time in the US. On a bigger scale, it was[…]
First-time in Davao City
Davao City is a place where fruit and seafood are delightful treats. Geographically, it is the largest city in the Philippines, with its hills stretched[…]
First-time in Albay: A Volcanic Wonderland
Albay is not your usual tourist destination. Located at the Bicol peninsula, about 460 km or 287 miles south of capital Manila, there are so[…]
First-time in Sentosa: The Island Escape of Singapore
Sentosa is an island in Singapore that has been home to the tiny state’s major recreation spots. The once fishing village island was formerly known[…]
First-time in Cebu City: The Queen City of the Philippines
With a stroke of imagination and a palette of vibrant words, let me paint for you the sprawling canvas of Cebu City. Imagine a tapestry[…]
First-time to volunteer vacation in Oriental Mindoro
The eastern side of the Mindoro Island—Oriental Mindoro—is known for the white sand beach at Puerto Galera. Apart from Boracay, it is one of the[…]
Bacolod City: A Vibrant Destination for Food and Festivals
As you step into Bacolod City, a wondrous realm unfolds before your eyes. It is a place where happiness swirls in graceful pirouettes, emanating from[…]