Sagada Tourist Spot

1. Hanging Coffins

It is the most iconic tourist spot in Mountain Province. The photo above shows a unique way of putting the local's loved ones to their final resting place. Their way of saying "Goodbye" is challenging, agree? How do they prepare? The elderly would carve their own coffin out of a log but if they are ill or too weak, their families prepare it instead. Not only that, they place the body in a fetal position as they believe that the spirit would leave the world in the same position as they were born. The coffins are also small, so they would break the bones to fit the body into the coffin. Lastly, they tucked them into crevices or stacked them inside the caves. The height at which coffins are placed also symbolizes their social status.

Blossom Campus (Korean BL)

The drama depicts Kim Min Jae, a transfer student majoring in Practical Music and working part-time at the library, and Lee Kyu Ho, a Taekwondo major who helped him. Since their first meeting, the two have become entangled and closer, leading them to develop a romantic relationship. Source X: BLUPDATE2022. Since it's being worked on by the Producer of the hit Choco Milk Shake and the Director of Long Time No See, we expect another amazing Korean BL once Blossom Campus starts airing.

Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Capitol

The stunningly beautiful Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Capitol.

READ: Location, How to Get Here, My Solo-Backpacking in Zamboanga Sibugay

Ipil Rotunda Obelisk, Zamboanga Sibugay

 

Ipil Rotunda Obelisk is the most famous landmark in Zamboanga Sibugay.

READ: Location, How to Get Here, My Solo-Backpacking in Zamboanga Sibugay

Kiseki: Dear to Me (Taiwan BL 2023)

 

As an aspiring doctor, Bai Zongyi (Taro Lin) feels compelled to help those in need around him. So when fate brings the injured gangster, Fan Jheruei (Hsu Kai) into his life, Zongyi can’t turn him away. Taking Jheruei into his own home, Zongyi nurses the wounded man back to health. As Jheruei’s injuries slowly heal, the walls standing between the two men begin to crumble. Setting ideals and prejudices aside, Zongyi and Jheruei begin to understand and appreciate each other. As their relationship continues to grow, love naturally blossoms but what should have ended in “happily ever after” only ends in heartbreak when Zongyi is incarcerated for Jheruei’s mistakes.

I Feel You Linger in the Air

 

I Feel You Linger In The Air is the story of Jom (Nonkul Chanon), a young architect who must come to control the design and renovation of an old house in Chiang Mai. However, during this project, Jom starts to have strange and frequent dreams about himself and a mysterious man from the past. At the same time, Jom faces heartbreak when his love interest decides to end their relationship. In a moment of distress, he drives recklessly and ends up in an accident, plunging into the Ping River. As if beyond the natural order of things, Jom emerges from the water to find himself in 1927.

Twinkling Watermelon (KDrama 2023)

 

In 2023, Eun Gyeol (Ryeoun) is a high schooler with a passion for music. During the day, he is a studious model pupil...but at night, he rocks out as a guitarist in a band. But when he stumbles across a strange yet alluring music store, he goes hurtling back in time to 1995. Here, he comes face to face with his father Ha Yi Chan (Choi Hyun Wook) – as a high schooler! Yi Chan takes Eun Gyeol for a lunatic when the latter calls him “dad.” Worse still, it looks like Yi Chan has a crush on an icy cellist named Se Kyeong (Seol In Ah)– not his future mother Cheong Ah (Shin Eun Soo)! In a bid to put things “right,” Eun Gyeol joins a band fronted by his future father. But will this be enough to help Eun Gyeol bring his future parents together...and will he ever get back to the 2020s? Synopsis by Viki

Trigger (KDrama 2025)

The purchase, selling, or owning of a gun are banned in South Korea. There's almost zero crime cases involving guns in the country. Things change quickly. Illegal guns, from unknown sources, are brought into the country and gun incidents proliferate. Yi-Do (Kim Nam-Gil) is a righteous detective. In his past, he served in the military as a sniper. Now, Yi-Do struggles to stop a series of gun incidents and chases after the source of the illegal firearms.

Vigilante (KDrama 2023)

When Kim Ji-Yong (Nam Joo-Hyuk) was a child, his mother was beaten to death by a thug for no reason on the street. The thug only received 3 and half years in prison. Kim Ji-Yong is now an adult and he sees that his mother's killer hasn't changed at all. Kim Ji-Yong takes matters into his own hands and beats him brutally.

Death's Game (KDrama)

 

Death’s Game,” which was previously confirmed to star Seo In Guk and Park So Dam, will tell the story of a man who gets more than one second chance at life after facing death. Park So Dam will play the role of Death, who sentences a man named Choi Yi Jae (Seo In Guk) to 12 cycles of life and death right before his first life is about to end. Synopsis by Soompi

Queen of Tears (KDrama 2024)

A miraculous love story is told where married couple Baek Hyun-Woo (Kim Soo-Hyun) and Hong Hae-In (Kim Ji-Won) get through a crisis. Baek Hyun-Woo works as the legal director for conglomerate Queens Group. He is the most successful person to have come from his hometown village of Yongdu-ri and he is the pride of that village. Baek Hyun-Woo is married to Hong Hae-In, who is the daughter of the family that owns and operates Queens Group. She is known as the "Arrogant Queen” at Queens Department Store. Synopsis by AsianWiki

Mercy for None (KDrama)

 

In his past, Nam Ki-Joon (So Ji-Sub) was a member of the Bongsan Gang that was led by Gu Bong-San (Ahn Kil-Kang). Nam Ki-Joon defeated other gangs through violent battles and the gang grew into a large company, but Nam Ki-Joon decided to leave the gang. His younger brother Nam Ki-Seok (Lee Joon-Hyuk) joined the Joowoon Gang that was led by Lee Joo-Woon (Heo Jun-Ho). The two gangs were rivals. For his brother, Nam Ki-Joon quit the Bongsan Gang by cutting his left Achilles tendon.

My Demon (KDrama 2023)

 

Do Do-Hee (Kim You-Jung) is the successor of the Future Group. She has an arrogant and cool-headed personality, who doesn’t trust in anyone. She is cynical about love. Do Do-Hee gets involved with a demon named Jung Gu-Won (Song Kang) and makes a contract marriage with him. She faces big changes in her life.

Evillive (KDrama 2023)

Han Dong-Soo (Shin Ha-Kyun) is a livelihood lawyer. He randomly picks a prisoner to visit and picks up a case. He is usually rational and reasonable, but deep within his mind exists a dark side. Something triggers him to cross the line and step into the world of evil. His younger half-brother is Han Beom-Jae (Shin Jae-Ha). Han Beom-Jae works at a second-hand computer shop and he also acts as a case broker for Han Dong-soo, bringing him clients. One day, Han Beom-Jae notices that Han Dong-Soo has changed since he brought him a case.

A Good Day to Be a Dog (KDrama 2023)

KDrama Review: A Good Day to Be a Dog | Synopsis, Cast, Schedule, Rating

High school Korean literature teacher Han Hae Na (Park Gyu Young) suffers from an extremely unusual curse: If she kisses a man, she is doomed to turn into a dog every night, although she returns to human form in the morning. There is only one way to break the curse – and that involves receiving a kiss from the same man who kissed her...while in dog form!

My Dearest Part 2 (KDrama 2023)

Jang Hyun is living without purpose or desire. He's a cold-hearted man who loves no one until he gets introduced to love after meeting Gil Chae. She is charming and admired by all, but her first love, Yeon Jun, is already engaged to her best friend, Eun Ae. Yeon Jun, a Sungkyunkwan student, struggles with his feelings for Gil Chae but cannot break off his engagement due to tradition. Eun Ae does not doubt nor hate the two. As Jang Hyun becomes entangled in this unusual love triangle, Gil Chae, who has only loved Yeon Jun, is confused about her own feelings. The relationship between these four gets put into an even bigger twist at the breakout of war. Will they survive the challenges of war and find their love amidst the chaos? Synopsis by Viki

High Cookie (KDrama 2023)

People attempt to get out of the quicksand caused by a cookie that makes people's dreams come true with just one bite. Choi Soo-Young (Nam Ji-Hyun) works as a temporary labor worker at a factory. She takes care of her younger sibling, who is 3 years younger than her. When Choi Soo-Young became 18 years old, she needed to make money to support her family. She gave up on high school and began working at a factory. Her younger sibling gets into trouble caused by a homemade cookie and Choi Soo-Young jumps into the situation.

The Matchmakers (KDrama 2023)

KDrama: The Matchmakers | Synopsis, Cast, Schedule, Rating

Sim Jung-Woo (Ro Woon) is an intelligent and handsome young man. He was the youngest to place first in the state examination, but he was picked to become the princess's husband. During their wedding ceremony, the princess suddenly died. Sim Jung-Woo's life changed and he became the most unfortunate man. According to the Joseon period custom, he is not able to take a government post and he can't remarry. He then becomes involved with Jung Soon-Deok (Cho Yi-Hyun).

Doona! (KDrama 2023)

Lee Doo-Na (Bae Suzy) was a member of an idol girl group. She was the main vocalist and the most popular member of the group, but she suddenly announced her retirement. She now stays at a share house, located near a university, and rarely goes out. Meanwhile, Lee Won-Jun (Yang Se-Jong) is a university student. He is a warm-hearted, ordinary young man without anything special in his background. He begins to stay at the share house where Lee Doo-Na resides. His warm heart gives Lee Doo-Na comfort. They get attracted to each other. Synopsis by AsianWiki

Daily Dose of Sunshine (KDrama 2023)

Jung Da-Eun (Park Bo-Young) works as a nurse. She is transferred to neuropsychiatry from the internal medicine department. This is her first time working in neuropsychiatry, so everything is difficult and awkward for her. Nevertheless, Jung Da-Eun tries her best to deal with the patients and she grows as a nurse with the help of Chief Nurse Song Hyo-Jin (Lee Jung-Eun). Dong Go-Yoon (Yeon Woo-Jin) works as a doctor and specializes in proctology. Watching Nurse Jung Da-Eun and her pure ways, Dong Go-Yoon realizes that he smiles when seeing her and is even healed by her. Meanwhile,  Jung Da-Eun is friends with Song Yoo-Chan (Jang Dong-Yoon). He looks like a very bright person, but he holds pain inside that nobody knows about. Synopsis by AsianWiki

Moon in the Day (KDrama 2023)

 

Han Joon Oh (Kim Young Dae) is a leading South Korean celebrity. He is stunningly good-looking and tall, but is secretly plagued by an inferiority complex that leaves him permanently insecure. One day he is hired to appear in a public service video. But the shoot goes horribly wrong, and Han Joon Oh is involved in a potentially fatal car collision. He is only saved by the quick thinking of a female firefighter named Kang Young Hwa (Pyo Ye Jin), who pulls off a heroic rescue. Synopsis by Viki.

Castaway Diva (KDrama 2023)

Seo Mok-Ha (Park Eun-Bin) was a bright and positive young girl living on an island. Her dream was to become a singer. Pursuing her dream, she decided to attend an audition that was being held in Seoul. On her way there, she gets stranded on a deserted island. After 15 years, Seo Mok-Ha is rescued from the deserted island. She tries to adjust to an unfamiliar world while keeping a cheerful attitude, and she still pursues her dream of becoming a diva. Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki.

Strong Girl Nam-soon (KDrama)

Gang Nam-soon (Lee Yoo-Mi) has superhuman strength. She went missing as a kid in Mongolia. Now as an adult, she comes to Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea to find her parents. She finally meets her mother Hwang Geum-Ju (Kim Jung-Eun). Her mother is a wealthy woman and is a resident of Gangnam. After she lost her daughter, Hwang Geum-Joo tried to find her daughter and she also tried to live a righteous life, obsessed with doing good deeds. Gil Joong-Gan (Kim Hae-Sook) is Hwang Geum-Ju's mother and Gang Nam-Soon’s grandmother. The grandmother and mother were also born with superhuman like strength like Gang Nam-Soon.

Best Travel Blog in the Philippines

Mission: Sirang Lente, one of the Best Travel Blogs in the Philippines

Meym Dharzie, thirty-ish, Romblon! Previous part-time movie extra and full-time in BPO. I love historical sites, nature and outdoor activities like hiking and camping. At home, watching documentaries and Korean Dramas are my interests.

Why Sirang Lente?

Sirang Lente is a Filipino word which means “a defective lens,” pertaining to my camera lens. I know you’re thinking why I'm writing and proud having such a defective lens, correct? Here’s the reason: it was in 2012 when I started hiking and backpacking. That time, I don’t have anything expensive, like DSLR cameras, to capture high quality photos or even a knowledge in photo editing. What I have were old 5 megapixel Digital camera and a smart phone with 3.2 megapixel camera. They both have cracks on the LCD so I was thinking that they have defective lenses, but upon transferring the photographs to my laptop, images were beautiful. That's when I realized that there could be beauty in defects, it all depends in perspective.

 

I created this blog to list down the beautiful tourist attractions, tourist spots, tourist destinations in all the provinces I visited, upload great photos (must be raw and may not be in high quality) and tell my stories. I may not have perfect grammar but I do believe that: “learning is constant and practice makes permanent!”

For travelers, like me, Social Media is now considered as one of the must haves. Social media platforms, such as twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google Plus and many other social media sites and apps are best and simplest way to share your stories, travel itinerary and gorgeous photos to others. They are also being used to promote and inspire others to do the same.

CLICK HERE TO HOMEPAGE: LIST OF ALL PROVINCES

Namacpacan Church, La Union: History, Location, Wedding

The facade of Namacpacan Church in La Union

READ: PLACES TO VISIT IN LA UNION

Pebble Beach and Baluarte Ruins, La Union

It's a 400-year-old watchtower that faces the West Philippine Sea and serves as a watchtower for pirate attacks and other dangers by the sea. Originally made of adobe and coral blocks, today, it's covered with lighter bricks but still looks stunning. By the way, after Namacpacan, we got in the van, and we traveled 30 minutes to the coastal area and we arrived at Loa Mending’s, a fantastic restaurant with a great view of the beach. Had coffee and their own version of Tapsilog. The food tastes really good but it's 40 minutes before it is served - just too bad! Then, we walked by the beach and discovered the beauty of the Pebble Beach and Baluarte Ruins. 

CLICK HERE TO HOMEPAGE: LIST OF ALL PROVINCES

ABOUT ME: SIRANGLENTE

Bato de Luna Art Gallery, La Union

In 2000, Bahay na Bato started as a rest house. The owner commissioned Mr. Kim to create the gallery (Bato de Luna) that showcases artistically carved stones, wood carvings, and other materials. Every image is colorful yet unique, making it perfect for Instagram.

Grapes Picking in La Union

You can't complete your La Union itinerary without visiting and tasting their locally produced grapes. Some of the farms opened their gates (for free, some are not) and started offering "grape picking" for tourists. Vineyards are surrounded by greens while the breeze is cool and fresh, so you will really enjoy your day here. Anyways, aside from the remarkable experience and gorgeous photos, of course, with grapes in the background, farm operators sell wines not just from grapes but also from locally harvested fruits such as Guyabano and Bignay.

Ma-cho Temple

It is one of the biggest Taoist temples outside China. With an elevation of 70 meters above sea level, the Ma-cho Temple is located on the hill downtown with a perfect view of the West Philippine Sea. Its attractions include the Majestic Five-Door Gate, the Bamboo Garden, the Liang Thing Pagoda, 2 circular pools or ponds, the golden emblem of a dragon, the Bell Tower, and the Drum Tower. What's good about this stunning temple is that they are open to non-worshippers visitors.

Talikud Island, a stunning paradise in Davao

Talikud Island is located on Samal, Davao del Norte. This is a paradise in the Davao region that bears fine white sand beaches and is surrounded by emerald and crystal clear water. On the other hand, the underwater has a sanctuary of colorful flora and fauna. The shoreline is landscaped with trees and quaint cottages. The ambiance was made perfect because of the cool wind blowing. We didn't do anything for a couple of hours, just staring at its beauty and golden sunset. This paradise was our post-climb destination after the tiring hike on Mount Apo.

SLT Homestay, Lake Sebu

School of Living Tradition (SLT) also offers homestay for travellers in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. I always wanted a unique experience, so I stayed here, just 5 minutes from the terminal. Its structure is based on the cultural wooden houses in the area; has a spacious interior, made of local and handcrafted products and musical instruments. Anything inside the house is unique. Maybe it's the reason why it was chosen as the place where Catriona Gray had her video shoot for Miss Universe.

Lang Dulay, a Filipino weaver from Lake Sebu

Photo: Sebulan Dulay weaving.

A special visit to the house of Lang Dulay in Lake Sebu was epic. She's a former National Living Treasure Awardee for the T'nalak Weaving which the designs were based on her dream, so she was called the "Dreamweaver." By the way, T'nalak is a traditional hand-woven fabric made from refined abaca fiber. This type of fabric got attention worldwide because it is done through a manual process but the finished product has amazing and unique patterns. The picture above is Sebulan Dulay, the successor, with portraits of Lang Dulay.

T'Boli Museum

The architecture of T'Boli Museum is based on traditional houses in Lake Sebu. What's inside are the gongs used for different occasions, outfits made of T'nalak (a hand-woven fabric), accessories and many other antiques that were used by the locals for agriculture. During our visit, the T'Boli Museum was still closed, but Jorie had it opened for us; he knows the caretaker. 

Lotus Farm, Lake Sebu

The Lotus Farm is one of the top tourist destinations in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. It was early in the morning, around 6, when I was brought to this paradise to witness the blooming of the Pink Lotus flowers floating on the waters of the lake. According to my guide, initially, there were 3 types of this aquatic flower farmed but only the pink ones survived. By the way, a manual canoe is used to go to the spot of the flowers.

Ozamiz Cathedral

The Ozamiz Cathedral houses the city's most significant relic and patroness - the Our Lady of Misamis, also known as the Virgin sa Cotta, The Blessed Virgin of Cotta, and Birhen sa Cotta. Initially, the statue of the patroness was set up outside the walls of Fort sa Cotta, but Fray Jorge Carcabilla moved it to this church. 1975, the statue was stolen and returned on December 8, 2017. Also, Ozamiz Cathedral is the home of the second largest bamboo organ in the Philippines, after the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ.

Ozamiz City Hall

Photo: Selfie at Ozamiz City Hall.

Click Helpful Links Below:

Read: Day 7 – Backpacking in Misamis Occidental

Read: 9 Days solo backpacking in Mindanao

CLICK HERE TO HOMEPAGE: LIST OF ALL PROVINCES

ABOUT ME: SIRANGLENTE

Fort sa Cotta

Fort sa Cotta is one of the Spanish-built fortresses in the Philippines. The main purpose of this edifice is the same as the function of Fort Santiago in Manila and Fort sa Pedro in Cebu which is to protect the city/town against the attacks of the Moro pirates. This sturdy structure is made up of coral stones, thus, during World War 2, Fort sa Cotta served as a garrison, barracks and storage area for the military. Today, it is one of the most popular historical sites and a landmark in Misamis Occidental and in the entire Northern Mindanao region. During my visit, it was closed due to renovation. READ: SOLO-BACKPACKING IN ZamBaSulTa, Region 9, and Misamis Occidental. 

Bukidnon Provincial Capitol

My accommodation was at the Green Ridge Apartelle which is near the capitol compound, so early in the morning, using Google Maps, I had my walking tour at the capitol building and to Kaamulan Park and Zoo, where I met the animals that I usually see online, and on TV. The area is surrounded by greens, the breeze is cool, the air is fresh, and the landscape is Instagrammable. The perfect time to visit Kaamulan Park and Zoo is in the morning, and the entrance fee is free. READ: SOLO-BACKPACKING: Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Davao City.

CLICK HERE TO HOMEPAGE: LIST OF ALL PROVINCES

ABOUT ME: SIRANGLENTE

Green Ridge Apartelle, Bukidnon

For 550 pesos, had my overnight stay at Green Ridge Apartelle (visible on Google Maps) near the capitol compound. From Gaisano Mall, using Google Maps, I walked on the streets to Green Ridge.

READ: Rates, Location, How to Get Here, My Solo-Backpacking in Bukidnon

Kaamulan Open Theater, Bukidnon

On a sunny day, I visited Kaamulan Park in Bukidnon, and their open theater captured my attention. READ: SOLO-BACKPACKING: Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Davao City. 

CLICK HERE TO HOMEPAGE: LIST OF ALL PROVINCES

ABOUT ME: SIRANGLENTE

Most Affordable and Budget-Friendly Hotel (Resort)

Though my journey here lasted overnight, I was able to grasp what Siargao island can offer to tourists and visitors. I was able to see the lifestyle of the smallest locals to the most expensive hotels and resorts. I know and can feel that I will definitely be back here.

Pacifico Beach, Siargao

Pacifico Beach is the top surfing destination in Siargao. It was my last destination. Very self-explanatory, its name is given because it is facing the Pacific Ocean, having said that, the waves here are huge. The gigantic waves are powerful but it is the perfect playground for professional surfers.

Palm Tree (Coconut) View Deck, Siargao

While we were en route to Pacifico, we passed by the roads decorated with draft live mango trees and tall coconut trees present on both sides, such a gorgeous landscape. Then, we also passed by the coconut plantation, another top destination in Siargao. On this spot, the sea breeze is cool and fresh with a wide view of the countless coconut trees and mountain slopes.

Secret Beach (Guiwan), Siargao

The secret beach, also known as "Guiwan," is accessible via motorcycles. Surrounded by coconuts, fine white sand, and crystal clear waters, it is a quiet place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. This is an incredible spot to do sunbathing.

Surfing Cloud 9, Boardwalk in Siargao

Cloud 9 Boardwalk and View Deck is one of the top tourist attractions in Siargao. It is the spot where you can have a wide view of the surfer dancing on the gigantic waves. The waves here are perfect with a fresh sea breeze and an amazing landscape. Afraid of the waves? That's okay, you can just walk on the boardwalk and do an amazing photo shoot. This spot is picture-perfect in the afternoon because of the golden skyline with the surfers standing on their boards on top of the rolling waves.

Ganano Falls, Quirino Province

Trekking to Ganano Falls makes the event a bit extreme. The trails are surrounded by trees, shrubs, bamboo, and other greens so the trek was relaxing. Not only that, there are flowers and butterflies making our journey colorful. After an hour, we were rewarded with a tantalizing view of the waterfalls. The tranquillity is preserved because of the trees. There are gigantic rock formations and towering limestone cliffs. It’s a paradise.

Governor's Rapids, Quirino Province

Governor’s Rapids in Maddela is definitely one of the most visited tourist destinations in Quirino. It is part of the Cagayan River, the longest river system in the Philippines, so natural beauty and rock formations can be found here. You can’t leave the province without trying its own version of water tubing and rafting. Hearing them shouting while holding onto the tube is proof that they are enjoying it, hhmm, maybe. Other parts of the tour are hidden falls, a cliff jump, and a Tarzan swing.

Landingan Viewpoint

A colorful shot of Landingan Viewpoint.

Location:

Situated on the top of the hill in the Municipality of Nagtipunan, Landingan Viewpoint is one of the top tourist attractions in Quirino Province. This paradise became popular because of its colorful and stunningly beautiful flowers. Since it's on top, there's a wide view of the nearby municipalities and mountain ranges. Also, as the cool and fresh wind blows, it makes the entire area a perfect spot to relax.

Quirino Tourist Spot

Quirino is the 81st of 82 provinces in the Philippines I’ve visited. Although the province has 6 municipalities, it offers a lot when it comes to nature’s beauty and adventure. Since it’s land-locked, some of the best things to do are spelunk to discover the stunning minerals inside the caves, get wet on the crystal clear waters by river tubing, enjoy the beauty of majestic waterfalls, and taste their local delicacies. CLICK HERE TO WATCH MY VIDEO