TravelStream™ news feed for member arnobs66 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/arnobs66 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:06:52 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1240210200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1240210200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1240210200/tpod.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:06:52 -0500 Prancing Around the Philippines

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Samal, Davao, Philippines

When boredom starts to get the better of me, I usually head straight to one place that helps me get back on my feet: Samal Island. Truly, this tadpole-shaped slice of paradise off the east coast of Davao City in southern Philippines has it all.

Crystal clear waters. Scenic views of Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak. Fresh, delectable tuna and other delights from the sea. Scuba-diving, swimming and other aqua sports. Trekking, exploring and spelunking. Island hopping. And a leisurely life by the sea. All these I can easily have whenever I step into the island's inviting shores.

And Samal's not only an island, it's a garden and a city, too. Right smack in the heart of Davao Gulf, Samal, whose full name locals and tourists shorten to IGaCoS (or Island Garden City of Samal), has long been one of Davao Region's premier tourist come-ons.

When I was younger, I often mistook the island to be part of our city because of its proximity. Over the years, Samal, which happens to be one of the Philippines' newly created cities, has come into its own as a thriving urban center with world-class ecotourism potentials. Currently under the political jurisdiction of Davao del Norte, Samal has 46 villages, including three which are found in nearby Talikud, a smaller island off its southwest coast.

Anyone can get to Samal through various routes but the most accessible one involves crossing it from Davao City either at the old port in Sta. Ana or the wharf at Sasa where ferry boats take passengers there. There are also a number of ro-ro vessels that can accommodate people, buses and cars going to and from Samal. Getting around the island doesn't pose any problem as several jeepneys and motorbikes called habal-habal can be hired to get anyone to his preferred destination.

Samal's pristine beaches and numerous natural attractions, coupled with the warmth and hospitality of its inhabitants, have made it a buzzword among locals and foreigners looking for weekend hideaways with unspoiled natural settings as well as those hankering for amazing adventures and death-defying challenges with nature. Over 20 beach resorts - and still counting - dot the island's various stretches, including the world-famous Pearl Farm, Bali-Bali, Blue Waters, Bluejaz, Chemas, Costa Marina, Hof Gorei, Island Buenavista, Paradise Island, Punta del Sol, to name a few.

But there's more to Samal than these excellent treats, something a little off-the-beaten track that's still largely unknown to those who flock to its beaches. Near the heart of the island lies a fairly secluded hideaway oozing with pure rustic charms: Hagimit Falls, a low-dropping cascade with natural swimming pools, huge rock formations gushing forth water and mammoth boulders that seemed to have existed for eons.

Located about two kilometers away from the thriving village of Peñaplata, the landlocked resort is a haven for picnickers, swimmers and nature trippers yearning for the simple, inexpensive pleasures in life. What draws the crowds to the falls, especially during weekends, is the guiltless, natural high they get from plunging into the cool waters of the kaliguanan sa lasang (pool in the woods). And this is where I often seek refuge from the madness of city life, taking a dip in its cool, refreshing waters to renew my mind, body and soul.

Hagimit may be out-of-the way, but anyone who goes there will eventually find his way. To reach the place, I usually take the bus from Davao City, which drops me at Peñaplata proper. From there, I hire a habal-habal and instruct the driver to take me to the resort. I know I'm near the place when I see that huge billboard on the left side of the road, welcoming me to the cascade.

To gain access, I usually pay a small token at the resort's gate, which the city government uses for the resort's upkeep. As I amble towards the falls, I always feel like being caught in a time warp, transported into some old growth rainforest as towering trees, lush shrubs, vines and flowering plants come into view. The clean and green ambience on the way to the falls never fails to dazzle me, lulling me into a hypnotic trance. The faint rush of water gushing from the falls, however, rouses me from my brief reverie, beckoning me to follow the trail to the cascade. Heeding the call, I move on and explore the unplumbed grandeur of the bucolic getaway.

Lest you expect too much from the resort, it has none of the creature comforts found in more developed pleasure grounds. Still largely unspoiled by "progress", it has no pay phones, no restobars, no souvenir shops, and no fancy cottages where you can spend the night. Whenever I stay there for longer hours, I usually pitch my own tent and bring along my food and drinks. Despite its simplicity, the resort's au naturel charms pluck at my heartstrings and makes me want to savor for hours the reclusive, no-frills simplicity of its cool waters and verdant foliage.

As dusk settles all over the place, I leave Hagimit thanking God for making that piece of heaven on earth within my reach. And for all it's worth, I wish — no matter how foolish it may seem — that it would forever remain the island's best-kept secret, untouched by the swelling tide of modernization that's bashing and changing the landscape of Samal's shores.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1254383719/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1254383719/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1254383719/tpod.html Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:44:24 -0400 Prancing Around the Philippines

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Quezon City, Rizal, Philippines

I'm a tenderfoot when it comes to experiencing typhoons. Davao, my city, happens to be one of the few fortunate places in the Philippines that nature has kept safe: it’s typhoon-free. And I’ve always prayed it stays that way.

Although storms of different strengths and magnitude — tropical depressions, tropical storms, typhoons and super typhoons — never fail to visit the Philippines every year, I’ve had very few brushes with them. I can readily call to mind only two very memorable encounters: Ruping, a.k.a. Mike in 1990 and Milenyo, a.k.a. Xangsane in 2006. I was in the capital or near it when both struck the country.

Instinct has taught me though that when I’m in Manila, either in Mega or Metro, it’s best to stay where you are if there’s a storm because you’ll never know what could happen if you’re out there in the open. It was this same instinct that made me stay in my modest room in a hotel along Kalayaan Avenue in Quezon City when Ondoy, a.k.a. Ketsana, pounded Central Luzon last Saturday, September 26. It was this sixth sense which insisted that I was safer there.

A day before going to Manila to attend a national conference of statistics practitioners in Diliman, I’ve heard about Ondoy’s coming. But I was comforted by the weather bureau’s forecast that it would make landfall over Northern Luzon and that the capital and the rest of the country’s largest island would only be experiencing moderate to heavy rains. Hmmm...nothing alarming, I thought. It was going to be one of the worst assumptions I’ve ever made.

That Friday evening, at around 9:00 p.m., a slight drizzle began to fall. While browsing the Web at the hotel’s cafe, I kept hoping the weather would be fine the morning after. For I was supposed to hook up with a couple of long-lost friends who have urged me to stay a day more after concluding my official business.

At around 8:00 a.m. the following day, it started raining cats and dogs. Several minutes later, I got a text message from my friends informing me that they’re cancelling our meeting. However, if the weather improves, we’ll push through. They also advised me to stay indoors while the typhoon was raging.

A bit anxious, I peeked at the street from my window and saw that the water in the street below my room had started to rise to ankle’s level. Minutes later, I noticed that the traffic barely moved and heard the sound of sirens. It occurred to me that the volume of water Ondoy dumped all over Metro Manila must have been heavy. At that moment, I began feeling that something unusual was happening out there. But I kept hoping though that it was nothing tragic.

At around 11:30 a.m., the rain started to subside. I felt my tummy grumble so I decided to grab a bite at a nearby KFC chain along Matalino Street, which is just a block away from my hotel. I was barely a few meters away from Kalayaan Avenue when the torrent once again poured. The heavy rain and the howling winds that accompanied it took its toll on my umbrella which snapped several times, leaving me cold and soaking wet and forcing me to hike faster.

Upon reaching KFC, I readily walked into the counter and rattled off my order. When food was ready, I climbed up the second floor, sat in one quiet corner and ate my lunch. Sated, I lingered there for almost an hour but the downpour showed no signs of subsiding. I was getting impatient so I braved the rains and went back to the hotel. Despite having been drenched, I hadn’t the faintest idea that I was already wobbling towards the vortex of Ondoy’s wrath!

It was not until I turned on the TV in my room later in the afternoon and heard the pleas for help coming from several flooded areas that I realized the gravity of the situation. Word has it that the 6-hour downpour that Ondoy brought was a record-breaker: it was the highest ever recorded rainfall in Metro Manila since 1967!

No wonder Marikina and several cities and towns in Metro Manila as well as those in Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, among others, were submerged in water and people in those parts needed to be rescued immediately. Not a few were politicians, actors and other celebrities trapped inside their own homes. I thought that if this was happening to the rich and famous who dwell in multi-storey concrete houses in plush subdivisions, then the rampaging floodwaters must have swept away the poor who live in dilapidated shanties. The disturbing images I later saw on TV confirmed my assumption. As it is, Ondoy spared no one that came along his way.

Good thing I didn’t book myself a return flight on that fateful day. Otherwise, I could have been one of those stranded and forced to sleep for a night at NAIA because their flights had been cancelled. Or worse, I could have been stuck in neck-deep water along EDSA on the way to the airport. OMG, the thought of this grim scenario still gives me the creeps!

While writing this, I thought it would probably take some time before people will be able to accept this tragic event, especially those who’ve lost their homes, their belongings, and their loved ones. But one thing occurred to me: God must have a profoundly divine reason for allowing all these to happen.

I can only surmise what it was. And my guess is this. Perhaps He was trying to send a message to some people — corrupt and overstaying government officials, unscrupulous businessmen and others whose depravity and excesses must have reached their quotas. I can only wish the intended recipients got His message loud and clear and mend their ways before it’s too late.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1246702448/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1246702448/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1246702448/tpod.html Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:12:13 -0400 Prancing Around the Philippines

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Lanang, Davao, Philippines

How do you write a blog entry about a place that you're so familiar with?

Familiarity, as the cliché goes, breeds contempt. So, maybe I should start with something contemptuous about Davao? But I don't feel any contempt for the city where I grew up. Really, most of the things I have in mind are all about Davao's wonderful feats, which not too many places have managed to achieve. Indeed, very few cities in the world can claim to have successfully crossed the great divide that separates the unlivable and the livable. And Davao, which is considered as the Philippines’ most livable city, happens to be one of them.

Some twenty something years ago, this place was no man’s land. Time was when nary a day passed without news of salvaging, massacre, hostage-taking, kidnapping, torture or other forms of senseless violence happening along Davao’s main streets even on broad daylight, which were perpetrated by communist rebels who have turned the city into their laboratory for urban guerilla warfare. The seemingly endless killing spree turned the place into the country’s local version of Cambodia’s killing fields, thus, earning the reputation as the Philippines’ murder capital.

In the mid-1980s, however, the spate of daily killings waned when anti-communist vigilantes, backed by military and civilian defense forces, got rid of the dreaded assassins. A few years later, incumbent City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who gained wide acceptance by almost every group in the political spectrum, won the mayoralty race, which started his long-term ascendancy to power. It was during his regime when Davao took the rigorous but rewarding journey of transforming itself into what it is now.

Today, the city, which is considered Mindanao’s premier urban center, has outgrown the horrors of its chaotic past, metamorphosing into a bustling metropolis that serves as the country’s southern gateway to its Asian neighbors and vital link to the East ASEAN Region and the rest of the world.

Davao has remained a vibrant melting pot of diverse cultures from all over the Philippines who’ve migrated into this "land of promise" in search for greener pastures. Home to about 1.4 million Davaoeños, it’s one of the country’s hubs of polyethnic vibrancy, where migrants from other provinces — Batangueños, Bicolanos, Boholanos, Cebuanos, Ilocanos, Ilonggos, Kapampangans, Pangasinenses, Warays and Tagalogs, to name a few — are living in peaceful co-existence with each other as well as with indigenous tribal groups known as lumads and the Muslim Filipinos. In recent years, there’s also a growing influx of foreigners such as Japanese, Koreans, Americans and some Europeans who have chosen Davao to be their home base.

So, let me take you to an armchair tour of this city I’ve been calling home for almost two scores now. Like me, I’m sure you’ll be dazzled by the diversity of delights that are in abundance in this once dreaded part of Mindanao. Truly, there’s a hodgepodge of sights, savors and scents in the bustling metropolis that’s waiting to seize the attention of first-timers and frequenters, something of everything to make your stay a memorable one.

Sun-worshippers and beachcombers can get a load of sun, sea and sand at any of Davao’s alluring beaches. Or you may cross over to nearby Island Garden City of Samal and relish the pleasures offered by the numerous pristine resorts there. You can also marvel at the wonders of nature, admire the indigenous flora and wild fauna and experience pure mountain magic at any of its nature resorts: Eden Nature, Loleng’s, Seagull in the Sky, Mountain Haven, among others.

Golf aficionados shouldn’t forget to bring along their clubs and display their clubbing skills at any of the city’s finest golf courses, which are towered by Mt. Apo’s majestic presence amidst the putting greens.

And while you’re here, sample some of the exotic bounties the city is known for. Dare taste the durian, the king of tropical fruits, and score points for overcoming that musky smell. And to make your voyage complete, pay homage to the famous Philippine eagle that has been successfully bred in captivity.

Finding a place to stay here in my city isn’t a problem. Get yourself billeted at any of the hotels offering world-class amenities: Marco Polo, Apo View, Royal Mandaya, among others. Located mostly within the heart of the city, these hotels have swimming pools, bars, discos, health clubs, business centers and restaurants to meet the demands of travelers going to the city for both business and pleasure. Or you can opt to stay at Waterfront Insular or Grand Regal. When hotels are not exactly what you want, a number of inns, motels and pension houses are also available.

After a heady day roaming the city, there’s no better way for the weary to relax than to head for the city’s dining and drinking hubs. A good place to start would be any of the restaurants and eateries at F. Torres St., the city’s popular food and drink strip, where visitors can savor a variety of freshly cooked and delectable cuisine from the row of establishments there, all waiting to satisfy even the most discriminating palates. There are also numerous restaurants and bars dotting the city where you can feast on your favorite Chinese, Japanese, Korean, American, European and Filipino dishes. Baked, boiled, broiled, fried, grilled, sautéed, simmered, or raw—you name it, they got it.

Your next stop might be Matina Town Square — MTS to its throngs of habitués — a popular hang-out among yuppies, students, the business and social set and those who lead alternative lifestyles. Loud, cavernous and bursting with activity, it boasts of an open bar called Taboan, meeting place in the vernacular, which features live band performances. Cloistered within its periphery are an array of small bars, restaurants, pizzerias, lounges and cafés, offering not only gustatory delights but also great fun for those who prefer a quieter night.

Want to cap the night with some hot thrills? You can always head for any of those girlie bars that add vibrancy to Davao’s exciting nightlife. There are quite a number of them all over the city, offering great music, shows, booze and fun until the wee hours of the morning.

Experience a little more of life’s pleasures by visiting any of the malls and shopping centers that have made Davao some sort of a shopping mecca in this part of the country. Not only is the city home to malls like Victoria Plaza, Gaisano South, Robinson’s, NCCC, and Gaisano Davao, but it’s also the site of SM City Davao, the very first branch built in Mindanao, if I’m not mistaken. These all-in-one shopping centers boast of different stores and booths carrying ready-to-wear items and products, many of which are internationally known brands.

Davaoeños, like most Filipinos, have an incurable fondness for festivities even in the midst of so many difficulties plaguing the country. There are at least two, however, that has caught the attention of curious tourists who flock to Davao to join the celebrations. Every March 16, the city gears up for a display of pomp and pageantry as it celebrates Araw ng Dabaw, which commemorates the founding of the city way back in the 1930s.

Then there’s Kadayawan, an annual festival usually held on the third week of August. This weeklong celebration and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest showcases the city’s artistic, historical, and cultural heritage. Highlights of the festivities include a street party (hudyakaan), convergence of Davao’s various tribes (panagtagbo), floral float parade and competition (pamulak kadayawan), street dancing competition (indak-indak sa kadalanan), trade fairs and exhibits showcasing the Davao region and the rest of Mindanao’s homegrown fruits, flowers, food, and other fancy stuff, among others.

Because of the many amenities it offers, Davao has emerged in recent years as the most favored convention site in the country, serving as venue of various national and international gatherings, trade expos, conventions, seminars, sports competitions and other crowd-drawing events. Tourist arrivals have been increasing as more people get to discover and explore the exotic charms of Davao’s rare orchids, mountains trails, pristine beaches and festivals.

Come to Davao and delight in the many dazzling treats that it offers. Come and discover for yourself why many have opted to stay and call this city their home.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1243856520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1243856520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1243856520/tpod.html Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:56:35 -0400 Prancing Around the Philippines

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General Santos, General Santos, Philippines

If there's one city I consider as my second home, that would be General Santos City or GenSan, hailed as one of the country's fastest growing cities and one of Mindanao's most progressive regional capitals.

For years now, I've been shuttling to and fro the city either to visit some relatives and friends or attend work-related meetings, trainings and what have you. Whenever I make it there, I never miss a chance to savor and take home some of the delectable catch from the sea that has made Gensan the country’s tuna capital.

So far, however, my recent three-day stay in the city seems to be the most memorable, if not the most "sports-tacular" of all the trips I’ve done, thanks to an island-wide sports competition among Mindanao-based water utilities which served as my passport to GenSan.

As my utility's coordinator for the documentation of the event, I, together with my 10-man team covered the exciting goings-on there.

Conducted alternately in any of the Mindanao cities, the biennial competition pits athletes from different water utilities all over the island against each other in volleyball, swimming, track and field, billiards, tennis (lawn and table), badminton, chess, dama, cycling, among others.

Team Davao won the gold in many events, making us the runaway winner of this year’s sports competition.

Apart from the medals we’ve won, there’s this unexpected encounter with a world-renowned celebrity which I consider the icing on the cake of our GenSan tour de force. For he happens to be none other than — hold your breath — Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao!

We caught up with the People’s Champ in person one late afternoon while he was busy working out for his bout with David Diaz, if I’m not mistaken. Instead of practicing his punches within the confines of a luxurious fitness studio, he preferred to sweat it out at a makeshift gym which, to our delight, happens to be just a stone’s throw away from our hotel.

Star-struck, we waited for our chance to snap ourselves with the legendary pug. And our patience paid off. As expected, PacMan, probably the greatest boxer of his generation, didn’t fail us. Good thing his presence didn’t knock down my worn-out camera.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1217313000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1217313000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1217313000/tpod.html Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:33:06 -0400 Prancing Around the Philippines

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Basey, Samar, Philippines

I've been raring to visit Samar, the third biggest island in the archipelago, for the longest time because of the exciting outland adventures that it offers to nature-trippers like me. Having heard so much about its grand mountains, mysterious caves, awesome rivers, breathtaking waterfalls, pristine beaches, desolate coves and formidable coastlines, I've included the island in my list of must-see destinations.

Samar will probably go down in Philippine maritime history as the weary seafarer's sanctuary. Throughout the centuries, it has provided refuge to a number of navigators who have braved the vast Pacific Ocean. It also holds the distinction of being the first island that Magellan and his men saw, which, as mentioned in the annals of history, marks the rediscovery of the country on March 16, 1521 (although the correct the date is March 17 considering the differences in time zones and the crossing of the International Date Line that the explorers must have experienced).

Located in the easternmost part of the Visayas, the island known for its towering heights and rugged terrain, is made up of three provinces: Samar (formerly known as Western Samar), Eastern Samar and Northern Samar. With its eastern coast facing the open sea, it lies within the typhoon belt, making all three provinces vulnerable to tropical storms every now and then.

Both Samar and its neighbor Leyte form part of what is known as Waray-Waray country. Often shortened to Waray, this variety of the Visayan language is widely spoken in all of Samar, the eastern part of Leyte, and some portions of Biliran province, which altogether comprise the Eastern Visayas region. It's also the term used to refer to Pinoys inhabiting these islands.

It was an invitation from GM Ralph Uy of Catbalogan Water District and Engr. Felisa Gomba of Samar State University, to facilitate a strategic planning workshop in the capital of Samar province, which paved the way for my passage into that part of the country.

Following an hour-long trip from Manila, the plane I boarded arrived safely at Daniel Romualdez Airport in Tacloban, Leyte's primate city, where GM Ralph, along with his driver, picked me up and then treated me to a sumptuous lunch at his home in the downtown area. After a brief rest, we proceeded with the journey to Catbalogan, passing by San Juanico Bridge, considered the longest span in the country, which links the twin islands of Leyte and Samar.

Days before my trip there, I received instructions from my superiors to pay a visit to one of Samar's sleepy coastal towns, Basey. So, on the way to Catbalogan, I asked my host to drop me there to confer with one of its key officials who sought technical assistance for their water supply project.

Interestingly, the town's name, according to Wikipedia, is pronounced as "bAsay", not "basEY" since there's no "ey" sound in Waray. In the early days of the colonial era, American soldiers mispronounced its name, which has been carried over through the years. Basay comes from the Waray word, mabaysay, meaning "beautiful."

The brief stopover turned out to be one diversion I didn't regret as it gave me the chance to visit one of the country's centuries-old Spanish churches: St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church. For this incorrigible nomad who once considered priesthood as a vocation, it was truly a fascinating treat.

The detour also enabled me to snoop around the quiet town and meet some friendly Basaynons, particularly Dr. Alexis Yu, who graciously gave me a tour that showed snippets of the simple yet sweet life in that part of the Philippines.

Basey, I found out, also happens to be the banig (mat) capital of the Philippines. This thriving weaving industry has gone a long way in helping augment the Basaynons' income. Tikug, a variety of grass thriving in swampy areas along rice fields, is the raw material used to weave the town’s famous product, which some local entrepreneurs have turned into fine pieces of export quality bags, wallets, fans, placemats, rugs, wall decors, lampshades, and what have you.

Interestingly, Basey is said to hold the world record of weaving the longest banig. In 2000, its townspeople put together a more than one kilometer-long mat, a feat that’s considered unofficial as it wasn’t submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Had time been on my side, I would have wanted to go spelunking in Samar’s renowned dripstone caves, which, based on what I've read, are inhabited by exotic wildlife. Upon knowing my fondness for the great outdoors, GM Ralph gave me the business card of a noted local spelunker who's been giving guided eco-tours into the island's caves.

Incidentally, one of the most visited caverns in the province happens to be in Basey — Sohoton Cave, or more appropriately called the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park. The 840-hectare enchanting park boasts of such geological features as cathedral-like caves, limestone boulders, rock holes, formation rocks and underground rivers. It would have been the adventure of a lifetime had I made it to the natural park.

Well, that gives me a damn good reason for a second coming, right?
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1244035779/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1244035779/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1244035779/tpod.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:04:56 -0400 Prancing Around the Philippines

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Bantayan, Cebu, Philippines

On the second night of my stay in Bantayan, I hit town for some fresh seafood and frothy suds in a little bistro in Sta. Fe, where I found myself in the company of a few night owIs.

Like many of the nearby establishments littered all over the place, the bar where I had my drinks was owned by a European who had married a local. You can either enjoy the videoke in those bars or just listen to the bands performing live.

After having my fill, I went to the beach front and saw a handful of people walking around. Some were couples, mostly foreigners. If that were another resort, say Boracay, I would have been rubbing elbows with throngs of tourists, especially during the summer months.

If you go for wild parties at sundown, Bantayan will surely disappoint you. The nightlife there pales in comparison to Boracay. But serenity was what I came for so I was just too pleased to have finally found that there on that balmy night in Bantayan.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'll give the island a 10 for being the perfect place for relaxation and self-exploration, where you get to enjoy the sun, sea, sand and silence of the island's surroundings.

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Iloilo City, Visayas, Philippines

Iloilo holds a special place in my heart as it was there where my ancestors, who all hailed from Antique, have first settled for quite some time before striking their roots in Mindanao. A few relatives, however, like my father's younger sister, have opted to stay there, ready to play gracious hosts to any visiting kith and kin.

Blessed with so many irresistible charms, Iloilo — both the province and the city — offers a wide array of attractions ranging from the historical, cultural and natural that would make a visit to the place a wonderfully enriching experience. Its centuries-old churches alone, which are found in Alimodian, Miag-ao, Tigbauan, San Jose, Guimbal, San Joaquin, to name a few, are enough to dazzle you with the Ilonggos' rich heritage as well as architectural prowess.

Of the many charms that Iloilo possesses, there's one that has etched a stirring impression on so many palates: Ilonggo cuisine. Home to authentic gastronomic delights that can satisfy even the most discriminating taste buds, it has made an indelible mark into the consciousness of every food-loving Pinoy here and abroad. Just think of La Paz batchoy and pancit Molo, two Ilonggo dishes that can really make my day.

Like most typical dishes in the country, simplicity characterizes Iloilo’s homegrown delights. But even without frill and fancy, they count among the most sensational Pinoy cuisine you’d ever get to taste. Known for their tenderness, sweetness and graciousness, Ilonggos seem to bring these wonderful traits into their cooking, thus, achieving something which they term as manamit (delicious).

Seafood forms a good part of traditional Ilonggo fare which is usually prepared using different spices and garnishings. Take for instance the delectable oysters that it’s famous for. Known as talaba in the native tongue, the scrumptious bounty from the sea can be cooked in a variety of ways — grilled, fried, baked, sautéed, boiled. While sinugba nga panga (grilled tuna jaw) still tops my choice of the perfect handmaiden, or pulutan, if you wish to all it, to dear old, iced cold beer, I think talaba promises to be an equally sumptuous alternative.

Another Ilonggo delicacy that’s been tickling many Pinoys’ taste buds, including mine, is inasal (grilled chicken) which can be found in almost every restaurant in Iloilo. A marinade of local herbs and spices gives this mouth-watering dish its unique flavor. Tasty but not salty, it has the right amount of sweetness that leaves you hankering for more. Inasal, which is cooked over hot charcoal, is best served with piping hot rice wrapped in banana leaves and then eaten with bare hands.

Well, that’s just a sampler of what Ilonggo cuisine is all about. As for the two most popular delicacies — pancit Molo and La Paz batchoy — they’ll have to wait for their turn to be written separately after I’ve heeded the call of my tummy for some fillers. How I wish it’s one lunch with talaba as main course.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1171143000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1171143000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1171143000/tpod.html Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:29:25 -0400 Prancing Around the Philippines

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Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Philippines

Climate, cowboys, culture and creed are just a few of the numerous reasons why I believe Bukidnon should make it on every traveler's list of must-see destinations in the country. Located right in the heart of Mindanao, the landlocked province, whose name means "people of the mountains" in the vernacular, has practically everything I'd like to experience during a weekend escapade within an outback setting.

A recent visit to Malaybalay, the provincial capital, afforded me and my colleagues a rare chance to take a peek at the pulchritude, pleasures as well as pageantry that could catapult Bukidnon into one of the country's prime tourism magnets.

For starters, there's the refreshingly cool climate that swathes many parts of the province all year round, reminding me so much of Baguio. This, coupled with the presence of many scenic attractions, bolsters Bukidnon's reputation as the perfect choice for those in search of a hideaway in the highlands. Like the famous city in Northern Philippines, I noticed that many places in Bukidnon are blessed with pine-covered hills and flatlands, making it an ideal venue for picnics, excursions and outings.

Mountain climbers and trekkers will also find the province’s mountains, especially the Kitanglad mountain range, a challenge worth conquering. Part of the range are Mt. Dulang-Dulang and Mt. Kitanglad, the third and fourth highest mountains in the country, respectively, which are fast becoming the favorite venues of annual treks and conquests.

Surrounded by grand mountains, wide canyons and deep gorges, Bukidnon’s gently rolling grassland plateau is ideal for cattle raising, a flourishing industry that traces its roots to the early 1900s. It was the Americans who initiated the setting up of cattle ranches in several towns, which provided employment to Bukidnon’s men who were hired as cowboys.

One of the province’s more progressive cattle ranch towns is Impasugong (sometimes spelled as Impasug-ong), which is billed by the local government as the "hometown of the country’s finest cowboys." It’s also being touted as the home to the only communal or government-owned ranch in the Philippines. Although we passed by Impasugong on the way back to Davao, we didn't have the chance to explore the town, which is just a 30-minute drive from the provincial capital.

Culture-vultures will be ecstatic to know that Bukidnon has its own share of festivities that highlight the province’s ethno-cultural uniqueness. Foremost among these is the Kaamulan Festival, a month-long celebration in honor of Bukidnon’s seven hill tribes. The festival’s string of activities takes place from the last week of February until the first week of March, coinciding with the anniversary date of Bukidnon’s creation as a province.

From what I’ve gathered, Kaamulan — derived from amul, a Binukid word meaning to gather — was primarily set up to preserve the cultural heritage of the province’s indigenous peoples who belong to the tribes of Bukidnon, Manobo, Higaonon, Talaandig, Umayamnon, Tigwahanon and Matigsalug.

Unlike other festivals where some participants are made to appear as natives, the annual festival features real indigenous peoples as they engage in various authentic rituals: a datuship rite, a peace pact, a wedding ceremony, a thanksgiving fete for a bountiful harvest, among others.

After attending a meeting in Malaybalay, we passed by the provincial capitol grounds where the celebration had just kicked off with the opening of the agro-fair and livestock show, bazaar, and food fest, among others. Curious, we went around some of the booths and ended up taking home fruits, candies, trinkets, and other native products.

Bukidnon has also become some sort of a religious mecca among Catholics wanting to do some soul searching and gain spiritual enlightenment by visiting the Monastery of the Transfiguration.

Nestled somewhere in the woodlands of San Jose in Malaybalay, the monastic complex stands on a sprawling, slightly sloping terrain surrounded by lush mountains and hills. Its most prominent feature is a pyramid-shaped church that was designed by no less than the late National Artist Leandro Locsin.

Run by Benedictine monks who are known for living a life of silence, supplications and simplicity, the monastery offers week-long silent retreats for those who want to engage in undisturbed self-introspection and intimate communication with God.

Before reaching the church, we had to negotiate through a rough dirt road. But it was worth all the inconvenience because it afforded us a sweeping view of the monks’ estate where they’re growing a variety of crops such as rice, corn, peanuts and coffee, which they turn into fine products that have gained a consistently growing clientele.

When we arrived, a wedding ceremony was about to take place inside the 500-seater church so we ended up basking ourselves in the serene ambience, quietly snapping the church and its verdant surroundings.

Pressed for time, our group moved on. On the way out, we dropped by the souvenir shop inside the complex where we found a variety of items for pasalubong such as peanut butter and other sweets, rosaries, prayer books, tees, medals, pendants and of course, the famous Monks Blend premium coffee.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1092746418/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1092746418/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/arnobs66/4/1092746418/tpod.html Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:49:15 -0400 Prancing Around the Philippines

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Siquijor, Visayas, Philippines

I woke up in one piece after a restful sleep in the island known for giving people the creeps. No nightmares. No sightings of the macabre. No horrifying experience whatsoever during the last 24 hours of my stay in Siquijor.

From my window, I saw the crystal clear waters which beckoned me to take a dip. For being an early bird, I was later rewarded with a visually arresting seaside vista of the Visayan islands of Negros Oriental, Bohol and Cebu.

After swimming, I combed the palm-fringed beach, spotting a few fishermen returning home from a weary night at sea. Later, Ben and Jessica, the would-be couple, caught up on me and took me to the latter's house for breakfast.

Then it was time for the two to tie the knot, one of the simplest yet the most solemn ceremonies I've ever attended. Bereft of pomp and circumstance, the wedding took place inside one of the resort's pavilions with the town mayor officiating the exchange of marriage vows.

The panoramic view of the beach outside the ballroom, which was visible through the glass windows, however, lent idyllic grandeur to the occasion, which was over in a few minutes.

Ben and Jessica then led their guests to a delectable buffet lunch, followed by a short program. The relatives and friends of the groom then joined some of the bride's kith and kin for some getting- to-know-each-other drinking spree. Other guests engaged in friendly banter while some took turns in holding the microphone for some videoke singing.

The sun was about to set when the merriment at the pavilion finally subsided.
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Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu, Philippines

I had first seen Mactan way back in 1992 — in transit on the way to neighboring Cebu City for my first trip to Central Visayas — but I hadn't the faintest idea I'd have a grand time exploring the island years later. Looking at the swarming shanties along some parts of its coasts from my window seat and seeing from above the sprawl of what seemed like urban blight, the thought of touring the island didn't excite me for I was clueless then about its numerous scenic attractions.

Separated from the island province of Cebu by a narrow channel, Mactan is home to one of the Philippines' largest export processing zones, which employs several thousands of workers. It also houses the country's second biggest international airport, which serves as one of the entry points to the island province of Cebu and take-off point to other local and foreign destinations.

When I first went to Cebu, there was only one span, the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, linking Mactan to the province. The other bridge, which was named after one of the province's most illustrious sons, Marcelo Fernan, the former Supreme Court Chief Justice and Senate President, became accessible to traffic a few months after my first visit.

The magnificent island, which is divided into Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova, boasts of several rows of world-class resorts on its east coast, largely catering to the middle to upper income markets: Maribago Blue Water Beach Club, Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel, Coral Reef Hotel, Tambuli Beach Club and Villa, Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, and Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, to name a few. Of these, I had the chance to gatecrash into two upscale resorts twice on two separate occasions: Plantation Bay Resort and Spa and Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa.

When I saw Plantation Bay for the first time, it struck me as a hybrid of a theme park and a beach resort. At the time, the award-winning resort had just been opened to the public. Created by human ingenuity, the resort delights guests and visitors with its three man-made attractions: a saltwater lagoon, a waterfall and two giant water slides built over a site consisting of barren rock.

It also boasts of a white-sand artificial beach, with the sand made of mountain stone crushed into fine grains that stay cool any time of the day even under the scorching heat of the sun. Interspersed among these waterways are a number of pricey, well-appointed rooms and villas, which my companions and I visited for a look-see.

From Plantation Bay, we proceeded to the other end of the island to take a peek at Shangri-La Hotel where a day trip alone costs a fortune. But I considered it reasonable given its luxurious ambience plus all the perks that go with the hefty rate, particularly the sumptuous buffet lunch. Besides, I didn't foot the bill so this gatecrasher didn't feel the crunch.

With immaculate grains said to have been hauled from nearby Bohol, Shangri-la Hotel's white-sand beach counts among its prime attractions. We had a grand time walking barefoot on the powdery sand and snapping ourselves every now and then with the emerald waters of Cebu Strait at the backdrop.

Just a short walk away from Shangri-la Hotel, there's a monument in Punta Engaño that's dedicated in honor of Lapu-Lapu, the island's fearless tribal chief who openly resisted the efforts of Magellan to convert his people to Christianity and become subjects of the Spanish throne. Such resistance angered Magellan, which eventually led to the historic Battle of Mactan that cost him his life. The first Filipino freedom fighter's statue has been erected right smack on the spot where the battle took place.

From the hotel, we went straight to the shrine for a photo op with Lapu-Lapu. Cast in larger-than-life bronze, the Cebuano chieftain, holding a kampilan (sword) with his right hand and a shield with his left, looked formidable on top of a stone pedestal and ready to quell any invader that dare steps into his kingdom's shores.

Near Lapu-Lapu's statue is an obelisk known as Magellan's Marker, which was built by the Spanish government in 1866 in honor of the Portuguese explorer. From the obelisk, we went to a small structure that houses a stone plinth with the plaques of the two main protagonists of the celebrated event. Behind the plinth is a mural of the historic battle.

If there's one thing I missed doing during those two trips, it's savoring the renowned sutukil, a Cebuano contraction for the three ways fish is prepared by Mactan's eateries: sugba (grilled), towa (stewed) and kilaw (turned into raw fish salad). The term also refers to restaurants serving these seafood dishes.

In the meantime, I think I'll have to create my own version of sutukil while waiting for my next trip to the island. Here's hoping it'll turn out as delectable as the ones sold in Mactan.

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