Adto na 'ta

Yours truly is still reeling from the experience of actually seeing the majestic Mayon Volcano down in Legazpi, a city which is about an hour away from Manila by plane.  I was able to get a reservation when Air Philippines had super discounted rates last summer and had it scheduled last week when monsoon rains were pouring in Manila .  It was cloudy and humid in this area of Luzon.  Despite the dry weather, we still could not see the perfect cone of Mt. Mayon, which was a damper to many excursionists that were also in Legazpi at that time.  But, as the locals would say beautiful, " Magayon " is not enough to describe how awesome and breathtaking a lady Mt. Mayon is. Like a woman, Mt. Mayon is regal, cool and collected, but also mysterious and there's no telling when she will explode, scary thought, right?  Mt. Mayon is the major landmark of the province, rising tall and proud at 2,462 meters.  It can be seen from at least 8 neighboring towns.  How wo...

Here's my number 3 in my list of comfort food .  Well, I know that what's comfort food for me, may not be comfort food for you as food appreciation is very relative and subjective.  But let me share this with you because I believe that nothing compares to it or at least, I have not found anything that will outclass it.  I'm talking about Cafe Lidia's, which is located in one of the minor streets of Marikina and one of the establishments that is already gaining a following, thanks to their good food, good service and great ambience.  Although I heard that pasta and pizza are their specialties, I did not order pasta but opted for the lighter order of clubhouse sandwich.  But if I thought that their serving is simple and good for one person, I thought wrong because what was brought to my table was a  plateful of "goodness to the bones three-layered clubhouse sandwich."  It was complete with french fries and the usual greens and tomatoes.  I simply j...

   If you are in Davao , always include Samal Island in your destinations as there are so many things to do and enjoy in this island which is just off the coast of Davao City,   Samal Island is an hour away by a large "baroto" or local canoe .  First, I took a cab from Royal Travel Hotel for Sta. Ana wharf which cost me P60 only.  Now, that was the fastest way to get to Sta. Ana wharf from downtown.  You can also go to Sta. Ana wharf by any jeep that goes to Magsaysay Park.  At Magsaysay Park, you will see lots of fruit stalls selling durian, mangosteen and marang and other local delicacies.  It will only cost you P8.00.  In Sta. Ana wharf, you can ride a big bangka going to and from Kaputian Wharf.   This is the schedule of the large bangkas that can accommodate over 50 people for only P60.  If you want to stay longer in the Island, go at around 8 am so that you can get your money's worth. Palbros 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. ...

Indeed, it is more fun in the Philippines.  After watching this video, I got convinced that the Philippines has a lot to offer in terms of tourist destinations and attractions.  There are many interesting and exciting things to see and do here.  Please take a look at the Official Video from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Click on the uppermost title of the video to see the official link.                    

Davao City is one of the top tourist destinations in Mindanao because of the many things that it can offer to travelers, tourists, backpackers or just simply those who want to get away from the busy city.  Well, after spending a weekend in Davao, here are some of the things that would really make me come back to the city again and again. 1.  The people are incredibly honest and kind.  Taxi drivers, for instance, do not haggle with their passengers who are going to the airport, unlike in other big cities, that  it is such a refreshing experience.  It's as if it's a crime to even hint for a tip.  2.  Fresh, tropical fruits such as mangosteen, durian , marang, pomelo.  Davao is known for all these and also, you get them at very low prices.   These alone will make you fall in love with the city.  So while you are here, you can indulge in the freshest fruits to your heart's content. 3.  It probably has ...

It is not an exaggeration if people call Davao the " Durian Capital of the Philippines ".  Durian fruit is just so abundant in this part of the Philippines that they are sold at P40 per kilo, even going as low as P20 per kilo if there is an oversupply.  This price is probably 3 or 4 times lower than the price of durian if you get them  from the supermarkets or groceries (if you are lucky to find them fresh in Manila or other big cities)  So I immediately tried a small one, which I got for P35.  The lady vendor skillfully opened the thick spiny skin.  I was scared looking at her do that because as far as I could remember, my father would crack open the durian fruit, especially the big one, by stepping hard on it.  The thick sole of his shoe prevents the spines from hurting his feet.  Anyway, that tiny durian actually had almost a dozen seed in it that I could only finish some, but I was so satisfied and happy that my l...

On March 23, 2013, at 8:30 till 9:30 at night, the world will turn into a sea of darkness again for one hour, lights will be turned off in homes and establishments,  and for those 60 minutes, out of the 8784 hours the entire year, we can show our concern for the only home we all have.     Earth Hour is a movement that was conceptuatlized to raise awareness regarding climate change in 2007 in Sydney, Australia.    Starting from its beginnings in 2007 where only 2.2 Australian households and only 2,000 establishments turned off lights, participation gradually increased and in 2012, about 128 countries joined the annual undertaking. There are people who are sceptical about the Earth Hour because they do not see the effect of one hour 'lights out' to our environment.     Well, one hour is not really something to crow about,  but if more and more people participate, it means ...