Category Archives: PHILIPPINES

BATANES… Tukon Chapel – Our Lady of Mount Carmel

From the welcome arch of Basco, we drive our way going to the South. Few minutes of driving, we make a left turn heading to the mountain. A bit of excitement is felt since we didn’t know what awaits us there. Along the way, all we can see were tall grasses and some bushes on each side of the road. But after a few minutes, a stunning scenery caught our eyes; A panoramic view of the... continue

BATANES… Basco Welcome Arch

A private tour was organized for the six of us.  After a quick refresh at the hotel, we’re off to our scheduled tour. Itinerary covers most part of the Northern Batan Island. You will not really miss a moment not to look outside the window of your car because the view on every twists and turns along the winding Batanes roads is really amazing. Fortunately, we were blessed with a... continue

BATANES… The Arrival

It was my long overdue plan since I started working in Manila, I have always dreamt of visiting Batanes. I even wanted to go there before PAL express started flying to Basco. I checked for flights via Tuguegarao. I almost booked a flight where it costs a fortune for a round trip ticket of approximately Php 20,000. Thanks to PALEX for adding Basco, Batanes as one of their destination. In... continue

ILOCOS… Escape to the North Part 2

Part 1 – continued DAY 2 – July 19, 2013 Having a good night sleep; we wake up early to carry on with our itinerary going further to the north. We packed our things, freshen up, ate our breakfast and we’re ready to go. We had a quick stop at the San Nicolas of Tolentine Church. It was a beautiful church showcasing the baroque façade. It is just along the highway, and I guess... continue

ILOCOS… Escape to the North Part 1

THE CONCEPTION After years of waiting, an escape to Ilocos had been pushed through. It was in 2008, five years ago, when I organized our Ilocos trip with my friends. I booked our online air tickets via Laoag, checked for hotels and planned the itinerary. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it since I am scheduled to be mobilized to my new job abroad before our departure date. Though my friends went... continue

ALBAY… A Half-day Date with Mayon

It all started when Cebu Pacific launched its P1 fare. I scheduled my mom a trip to Manila from our province in Mindanao. I booked her a flight from Thursday to Sunday. She had an appointment on Friday and making her Saturday available. Since we already roamed to almost all attractions in Manila, I checked for an airfare going to Legazpi, Albay and there were available slots. I booked the... continue