Manuroyta!

            My love story with San Felipe started one unforgettable summer.  Mel and I are planning to spend our summer time Para-sailing in Subic Bay when out-of-the-blue, I asked her to try surfing instead.  Hesitation is written all over her pretty face but picture my surprise when she immediately jump on her bed, turn on her laptop and her fingers start dancing on her keyboard to Google the best rash-guard, Zambales maps and tips on how to ride the surfing board. Hahaha! (Excited much, huh?! He-he!)             The six (6) hours travel time from Victory Liner , Cubao in Manila to Olongapo City are spent mostly by reading books and sleeping.  Instead of dropping off Olongapo - to Subic, as what we first planned, we took another bus ride to San Felipe , Zambales.              After Olongapo, you will pass by Castillejos , San Antonio , ...

           A self-confessed seafood glutton that I am, I'd rather miss my spa than a visit to Dampa-Kainan . Hahaha!  Imagining Dampa is like having those lobsters, crabs, shrimps and fishes of different types floating on my head like a halo. Hahaha!            Thinking of this place makes someone complain about driving too far or being at the back of the steering-wheel in the middle of traffic in EDSA.  One may think its too far that even for the sake of a delicious "ginataang-hipon' or 'adobong-pusit' or for a grilled tuna-belly, they'd rather stay home.  Well, here's a very good news to homebodies, there's now a number of Dampa-kainan that you can visit.              

            Every time someone mention La Union, beach and waves comes to my mind.  I normally chase waves in Zambales but La Union is not a bad choice, in fact, its equally adventurous and beautiful.  This quiet place is located in Ilocos Region and its name literally means ' the union of towns from different provinces'.  Its surrounded by different equally famous and beautiful places: Benguet  , Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan .              I am ready to experience surfing in La Union's (L.U.) wave but I am so glad one of my office mate invited us (me and my office friends) to try surfing in LU and stay overnight in their vacation house.  What is better than to get a free vacation with your friends in a secluded and awesome beach, right?             We hired an urban van that accommodate eighteen (18) of us and off we travel to this land of rice, tob...

            It was not my intention to visit this place when I boarded a ferry from Km.11 Sasa, Davao City to Babak, Samal Island. Not until my cousin-in-law informed me that my ever-dearest crush TV host/sportsman Marc Nelson visited the place and that a representative from Guinness Book of World Records checked out the place recently.  That and a beautiful beach grabbed my attention, then, off I took a 'habal-habal' (single motorcycle) ride to Monfort-Bat Cave in Babak, Island Garden City of Samal.              The fare will cost you only 11Php/pax from Sasa, Davao City to Babak, Samal Island.  From the pier, several tricycles are waiting for your beak and call.  Fare ranges from 25Php-P50Php depending on your destinations. The cave is within the area so it only took us 30minutes to reach the place and 50Php less was stashed from my cash.  The entrance ...

             Known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio City lives by its name.  Having a cool weather all year round - this place is the best spot to get away from the sizzling hot weather of Manila. Its only Six (6) hours drive from Manila.  Those who have cars can either choose to take Kennon road that start from La Union.  This is the old and favorite road Baguio locals and old people from Manila used to take.   Marcos highway is also available, you can enter this road via Agoo or Rosario, La Union.  This is the favorite route  of buses and big cars because of its wider lanes. Another route is in Naguilan road (also known as Quirino highway).  The entry point is in Bauang, La Union and this is famous for visitors from Northern Luzon area.  And Baguio-Nueva Viscaya road that connects Benguet, Nueva Viscaya, Sagada, Ifugao and other provinces nearby. The "City ...

            A mere mention of Dive Link Resort , one may think of scuba diving right away.  Well, you got it right!  The resort offers a lot of services and water sports and activities but mainly scuba diving, thus, the name was derived.  Its our first time in Coron , Palawan and stayed in Dive Link Resort .  Its located in Uson island and only 10minutes away from Coron town by boat (Bangka).  It is near, yes, that you can even see the resort's "little" pier and walkway from Coron's mainland.              It is raining when we arrive, hence I was not able to capture the resort's beauty in daylight.  This type of weather makes me curl up in our twin-sharing air conditioned room and just sleep my day away.  But hey! I didn't travel 1hour (by plane) away from Manila and took a bumpy ride on board Cebu Pacific Air (we are travelling when typhoon Quiel hit the country) just to sleep rig...

            I normally go to Zambales when I feel like chasing the waves and exhaust my self from surfing.  Where else should I stay other than a resort that offers exactly what I need: a fine sand  (not exactly white), a surfboard and a comfortable bed/hammock to stay for the night.               Crystal beach is located in San Narciso , Zambales. Its two (2) hours away from Olongapo City - the capital of Zambales.  The resort offers an unforgettable surfing experience for both amateurs and pro surfers.  They also offer other water activities such as  skim boarding , kayaking , beach volley and obstacle race and campsite  for campers right next to the shore.            To reach this destination, you can buy your bus ticket in Victory Liner  - Cubao.  They offer a direc...

            The first stop in our Padre Burgos Adventure Tour is in Mag-asawang Bato Island .  You bet, it's a two side by side boulders or should I say Islands of boulders facing Padre Burgos coastline.                The locals call it "Mag-asawang Bato" or "married rocks", though I don't know why.  These rocks are not really close to each other, when we are still on our bangka - we thought these two boulders are in not-so-close distance you may think they are just "acquaintance". Hehehe             

            What's a mountaineering organization without a mountain to climb, right?  And so after several times of swimming, sunbathing, caving, spelunking, Island hopping in the Islands of Borawan, Dampalitan, Mag-asawang Bato, here we are in our final leg - Lipata Island to conquer Mount Lipata .                 Professional and amateurs (like me!) mountaineers alike do appreciate the beauty of each mountain whether its as high as Mt. Apo (Davao City), as steep as Mt. Pulag (Benguet) or as simple and splendid as Mt. Lipata .             Right after we set our foot on the warm and beautiful shore of Lipata Island which they call Uro's beach, we started spreading our sleeping bags (sarong and blankets for others) in a nearby shady trees.  Eat halo-halo (20Php/tumbler) made available by locals in the area and take more photos of the beach than our memor...

            My friend Mitch and I wanted to get out from the city and just do some sunbathing and a lot of swimming.  I may not be sure if I'll call it luck or a mere coincidence when we receive a Facebook invitation from a mountaineering club YABAG .              They will be having their 2nd Padre Burgos Adventure Tour and their scouting anyone who are interested to do some mountain climbing, caving/spelunking, rappelling, island hopping, camping on the beach and a simple 'beachineering'.  The mentioned of "beach" turns us on and off we join.              Borawan Island is just one of the Islands that we can enjoy as part of our Padre Burgos Tour.  It offers a wide beach shore that allows campers to build their small and huge tents alike.  The boulders and mountains surrounding it keep the tents from blowing away by the strong wind.

            I love nature ever since I can remember.  I love the feel of raindrops on my face - when it rains.  I love the cold water on my feet when I am in the pool, creek, river and more so in the sea.  I love to see the beautiful flowers in the garden or to steal from the ground the shade of the tree, the blue sky and... the mountain and the jungle?  Yes, I never thought I would love climbing mountains and exploring jungles.               My first major climb was in Mt. Pointed Peak (a.k.a. Mount Balingkilat 1,100+masl) in Subic Municipality, Zambales.  I got a chance to join other professional and non-pro mountaineers to explore one of the highest peaks of Zambales.  The climb was organized and led by a mountaineering club called: YABAG .            

           Me and my friends do go out...most of the time.(Hahaha!)  On one of our busy week, we manage to pull-out ourselves from the four corners of our office and lead our feet to Tagaytay City .  Over the cup of coffee in Starbucks, the famous Tagaytay mushroom burger and the delicious bulalo in Tagaytay public market - we talk about how beautiful and enchanting Tagaytay City is.              Tagaytay City is located in   Cavite . Some says its part of Batangas because its lies on top of Tagaytay Ridge which is the highest point in Batangas.  The ridge provides an awesome view of Taal Volcano and Taal Lake in Batangas.  Its 55km away from Manila via Aguinaldo Highway.  I normally go to Tagaytay thru this route: Star Mall EDSA, FX is only P60-P80/pax to Balibago, Laguna.  Then I will take Jeeps or tricycle to take me to Tagaytay.  Tricycle will cost you around P100-P200...

            I wonder why Coron in Palawan is rather famous for adventurers and loner alike when it is Puerto Princesa that's considered Palawan's capital city.  Last October 1st, aboard Cebu Pacific Air , my friend Mel and I landed for the first time in Francisco Reyes (Busuanga-Coron) Airport .  Other airlines also fly guests from Manila to Coron: PAL express and  Zest Air.  Fetched by Dive Link Resort van from the airport, we went straight to Coron's pier located right next to Coron Public Market and one of the famous and new hotel in town - Coron Gateway Hotel . Though ours are free, if you are alone van rental may cost you P150/pax or around P1,500/whole van.  Ten minutes away from the pier, by boat, is our resort - Dive Link Resort , where we will stay for 3 exciting days to explore this under populated but popular place.               Coron, I may say ...