My 25 Things To Do and Done in the Philippines

When I started traveling, I said to myself "I had to travel to places around my country first". To this date I am still on the journey of fulfilling that promise. The travel sales going outside the Philippines are all tempting! But it's good that they are a little expensive ($$$) compared with the Philippine travels, I really need to save more before they can convince me to go. Knowing that the Philippines have too many beautiful places to explore, I wanted to plot all the places I was able to explore already and those that I still need to explore. Luckily I came across the Inquirer Lifestyle site that listed "25 Things To Do In the Philippines" with the first lines written "… before fantasizing about exploring other countries"! Haha, so now I'm not the only one who's thinking this way! Hmm, let's see if I'm halfway through this list. 

1- Go white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro.

2- Visit Batanes. --> very, very, very SOON! By January 14, 2011 you're done!

3- See Mt. Mayon up close.

4- Swim with the whale sharks in Donsol.

5- Climb Mt. Pulag and be awed by its sea of clouds.
6- Dive, swim and explore Palawan’s underground river. --> This is done last March 11-14, 2010 but I will definitely go back and back and back, since there are so many exciting places to explore in Palawan!

7- Hike and let the view of Mt. Pinatubo crater take your breath away.

8- Party in your bikini in Boracay. --> It's a yes and all-expense paid actually!

9- Surf’s up! Choose your wave—La Union, Zambales or Real, Quezon.

10- Missed out on the pristine beauty of Boracay 15 years ago? Visit Malapascua, Cebu. --> Hmm, does Cebu City visit counts? February, 2011 will be the date.

11- Dive and see the rich marine life of Anilao, Batangas.

12- Travel back in time—go to Vigan.

13- Let Bohol wow you with its many offerings—the Chocolate Hills, the tarsier, the Loboc River Cruise, old churches and the beach. --> Bohol, I'm coming for you on February 2011.

14- Go high! Drive to the Mountain Province of Sagada. Check out the caves, the hanging coffins and enjoy the laidback lifestyle.

15- Grab a Viaje del Sol map, visit Ugu Binyan’s pottery studio, eat at Kusina Salud and unwind at Casa San Pablo.

16- Spend an entire week up north. Take a road trip from Manila to Vigan, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Aparri and Isabela!

17- Try wakeboarding in Camsur.

18- Check out Malate, Old Manila and all their secret spots. --> These are all common places for me since I was born and raised in Manila. But it is still good to visit these places to reminisce the part of Philippine history.

19- There are many reasons to love Davao. Kublai’s artworks, its proximity to the beach, the tasty pastil and juicy suha. And did I mention that it’s a smoke-free city?

20- Spend a weekend roughing it in Anawangin and Capones in Zambales.

21- Check out our colorful fiestas and document them with your camera. Ati-atihan, Dinagyang, Masskara, Sinulog, Higantes, Panagbenga and more.

22- Pick your own strawberries at the Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad, Benguet. --> Chilled-out here when I was young-er!

23- Go to Pampanga for sisig. --> The best sisig and caldereta with cheese for me!

24- If it’s too hot in Manila, grab a few friends and take a quick trip to Tagaytay. --> The nearest place to chill and relax with friends, families, and loved-ones.

25- Enjoy a food trip in Iloilo. You’ll never go hungry in this city.

So out of 25 I got 9 destinations. Whew, not even half! But that's ok, I still have another year to travel to these places anyway!

Day 1 - Puerto Princesa, Palawan

It was Friday the 13th when a 50% off promo in Cebu Pacific popped in my FB profile page. I wanted to grab it but I don't know where to go and what to do! In the end, my urge to travel won. Hihihi! In short, gumana ang pagiging lakwatsera ko! For Php 3,684.00 RT for 2 persons hindi na masama para sa 4 days 3 nights lakwatsa!

After months of researching at pangungulit sa GirlTalk sisters ko, natapos din ang itinerary namin. We're both very excited and worried as well. Cross-fingers kame na maging smooth yung travel at mag-enjoy lang kame since yun naman ang sasadyain namin dun. March 11-14, 2010 ang trip namin, tamang-tama lang para hindi masyadong nagmamadali sa tour at umpisa palang ng summer dito sa Pinas kaya di pa masyadong mainit. When the travel date finally came, at last ready na ang lahat!

8AM ang flight so inagahan namin ang alis ng bahay kasi baka ma-traffic since Friday yun. Before 7AM nasa NAIA 3 na kame, maaga pa pero ang dami ng tao! Too bad kasabay namin yung mga taga-China Bank na pupuntang PPC kaya nasa kadulu-duluhan na kame ng airplane. As in last seat! Pero buti na lang at window seat ang nakuha namin (**wink**). Naaliw na lang kame sa pagpi-picture sa clouds, islands, at sea na tanaw sa bintana ng plane

When we arrived at PPC, jampack ang tao sa baggage area! Buti kakaiba yung itsura ng bags namin kaya madali namin nakita at nakuha. As we went out ang daming nag-aabang na tao, parang sa NAIA lang! Sila pala yung drivers/guides na sumusundo sa tourists. May hawak silang placard with the name of the resort, hotel, or pension pati yung name ng guests nila nakasulat dun! Kaya hindi ka mawawala. Iba-iba din yung sasakyan nila --- merong tricycle, jeep, at van. Ours' was a BIG JEEP driven by Kuya Bobby. I'll never forget his name because kapangalan nya kapatid ko. At sa laki nya imposibleng hindi mo sya mapansin, joke! But Kuya Bobby was very nice, accomodating, and very knowledgeable with a great sense of humor! He is from Puerto Pension nga pala. We opted to stay there dahil sa nakita ko sa blog ni Diane eh maganda at malinis yung place. Kung gusto nyo talagang magrelax without thinking about the budget masyado, this is the best place lalo na sa couple at family. On our way to the pension, nagbigay ng konting info si Kuya Bobby samin. At lahat ng sinabi nya yun din yung na-research ko! Siguro 10-15 minutes lang nasa pension na kame. Konting usap kay Ate Bel sa frontdesk tapos binigyan na nya kame ng temporary room where we can freshen up. 12nn pa kasi ang check-in time, pero kung available na yung room nyo ibibigay na sa inyo agad. 1 hour lang kame nagstay sa temporary room, nilipat na din kame sa room talaga namin. Ang cozy sa loob, Pinoy na Pinoy ang ambiance at sobrang relaxing sa mata! In fairness hindi malamok, maingay at mainit sa loob ng room.



After we transferred our things on our room, I texted Kuya Danny na pwede na kame mag-City Tour. Yung pala nasa labas na sya ng pension mula ng dumating kame sa PPC. He was so patient, two thumbs up sya dun for me! Napakatahimik nyang tao, pero mukha syang mabait. At hindi naman kame nagkamali on our first impression about him. And he does not look 40+ huh!

He asked us if we want to have lunch first, then he brought us to Badjao Seafood Restaurant. Sa mga taga-PPC parang SOP na nilang dalhin ang guests sa Badjao for lunch or dinner kasi talagang hindi pwedeng palampasin yung place na yun. I love their food, ay "we" pala! Dagdag mo pa yung ambiance na sa entrance palang mangroves na ang makikita mo with tiny fishes sa ilalim, and as you enter the place parang busog ka na sa view ng dagat ng Palawan. Hindi ka din magdadalawang isip kung tight ang budget mo kasi murang-mura lang ang food nila, pero hindi tinipid ang quality at quantity. Sabi nga ni boyfie, only in Palawan! Hehehe!



After we had lunch we went on city tour with Kuya Danny pa din. Naka-tricycle lang kame since 2 lang naman kame. And the journey to PPC begins...

Puerto Princesa, here we come!

It was a Friday the 13th and a 50% off promo in Cebu Pacific popped in my Facebook profile page. I wanted to grab it but I don't know where to go and what to do! In the end, my urge to travel won. Hihihi! In short, gumana ang pagiging lakwatsera ko! For Php 3,684.00 RT for 2 persons hindi na masama para sa 4 days 3 nights lakwatsa! I booked a Puerto Princesa City trip without informing boyfie yet that we're going somewhere (**grin**). When I finally told him about this my valid reason was "it's for your advance birthday gift/celebration..." Yes, nakalusot nanaman si Ayi!

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

After booking the flight, I immediately researched all about the place. I spent months of researching the Internet about PPS. And this was also the reason why I joined GirlTalk. Glad I did, because all my questions were answered here! I also read blogs of Diane, Just A Piece Of Me, and White Beagle. Along with researching about this trip, I also looked for gadgets that we'll be needing. Just for this trip I bought Baby Toy aka BToy.

After months of researching at pangungulit sa GirlTalk sisters ko, our itinerary is finalized. I kinda patterned our itinerary with Diane's because it was an enjoyable trip and relaxing as well, and she's with husband lang din. (Thanks Diane, you're helpful much!) Melvin and I are very excited and worried as well on the outcome of our first trip together with no other companion. Cross-fingers that this travel will go smooth and we'll just enjoy every moment since that's what our goal is. We'll be in Puerto Princesa City or PPC from March 11-14, 2010. A 4 days 3 nights trip is just enough to enjoy different tours around the place and still have relaxation, this is what we thought. Actually that's what Melvin said, "Mama, wag tayo magmamadali sa mga gagawin natin pag andun na tayo ha! Mag-relax ka!" And I quote, "Ok fine, I know lagi akong hyper. Di na kailangang ipaalala, basta mag-eenjoy na nga ako hmp!" March is just the start of summer here in Pinas kaya di pa masyadong mainit, para naman di kame maging nognog pagbalik ng Manila.

Hayz, excited much kaya hindi na makatulog! Our flight is a month near already, at last all is set and we're ready to go! God, please guide us in every way we go and everything that we do.

I almost forgot to blog.

First and foremost, thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I hope you enjoyed and gained some exciting and useful thing from here that you will also share to others (of course with my permission dapat!)

Actually, matagal na pala akong may blog. Hindi ko lang na-update dahil nakalimutan ko ng meron ako nito. My blog contains different topics --- travels, foods and restaurants (where I ate or I made myself), gadgets (that I own and want to own), and anything under the sun that I'd like to share and I'd like to remember. Kasi mejo slow-processing ang hard disk ko minsan. The very first reason that I write this blog is to have something to read on, to reminisce the good memories and so that I won't forget people that were once part of my life. It is also a good album to store my pictures and show them to my kids in the future. I love writing, both in English and Tagalog (Filipino). I like sharing ideas, experiences and advices. Maybe you will know me better by reading my blog?

I almost forgot to blog. A few years back when I still have lots of time for myself, I regularly spent hours designing and publishing posts here. It's like a Facebook and Twitter for me since I put here all my emotions, my TRUE emotions. Whether it can put me in trouble or get me a promotion. :)

The time I started traveling again, I felt that I missed blogging so much. I wanted to share my experiences again and show how happy I am on things that I do everyday. Thank you to my GirlTalk sisters that inspires me in reviving my blog. However, I don't know anymore on when I started my blog. So I am officially blessing it on the date I started blogging again, January 13, 2010. This is also the date when I joined GirlTalk.