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.

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Lignon Hill

Lignon Hill has a beautiful landscape and a 360-degree view of Legaspi City and Mt. Mayon. By the way, after Daraga Church, we headed to this stunning place. Kuya Lijong dropped us by the entrance, and we settled the payment, but he left. Instead of a continuous ascent, we had a buko break first. Relaxed and regained the fluid we lost. The road to the summit is concrete and surrounded by hardwood trees, so the ambiance while we were walking was relaxing, with the cold wind blowing. And after 30 minutes, we finally reached the summit. Beautiful landscape and a 360-degree view of Legaspi City and the hiding Mt. Mayon. Commercial establishments such as souvenir shops and food stalls are available. By the way, restrooms are also available. READ: BACKPACKING ALBAY, SORSOGON, CATANDUANES

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ABOUT ME: SIRANGLENTE

MT. KASAHINGAN, NUEVA ECIJA

Mt. Kasahingan is the newest hiking destination in Nueva Ecija. It became popular because of its breathtaking beauty, relaxing ambiance, easy-to-moderate trails, gorgeous waterfalls, and pretty much accessible from Manila and other points in Luzon. Hiking this mountain can give you a rewarding experience and instagrammable spots.

Mt. Samat

It is a historical mountain in Bataan where the Shrine of Valor or Dambana ng Kagitingan was built on its summit. This shrine has a huge cross with a memorial shrine and museum built to honor the gallantry of the Filipino American soldiers who fought during World War 2. The shrine complex on Mount Samat includes a war museum with different memorabilia, paintings, and weapons used by the Filipino, American, and Japanese forces during the Battle of Bataan. These structures were commissioned by former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1966 for the 25th Anniversary of the Second World War. Also, please note that the province holds the record of the Battle of Bataan, including the controversial Death March.

Mararison Island

Others call it Malalison, which is an island in Culasi, Antique. It can be considered a fishing island because most residents are fishing for their livelihood. A few years back, its breathtaking beauty captured the attention of travelers after Typhoon Yolanda. It is Panay's next frontier because of its fine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters with diverse aquatic flora and fauna – it is truly a perfect diving paradise.

Mt. Batulao

It is one of the most climbed mountains in Southern Luzon because of its beautiful landscape and cool and relaxing ambience. Plus, a two to three-hour land travel from Manila, Mt. Batulao, can reward you with a breathtaking and wide view of its green mountain slopes. Your trek can be tiring, but your tired muscles will be relaxed as the cool and refreshing wind blows. 

Tarak Ridge (Mt. Mariveles)

This mountain has a good combination of breathtaking beauty, an elegant skyline, cool and temperate weather, and abundant flora and fauna, making it one of the hiker's top destinations in Bataan. By the way, it was my first major hike, and after five years, I am here again. Our journey is totally different because last time, it was the wet season, and this time, it was super dry.

Mt. Ulap Hike Guide

About Mt. Ulap:

Mt. Ulap is one of the highest peaks in the Cordillera region, with amazing flora and fauna. Because of its temperature, the trees, grass, and flowers look so healthy, making the mountain look gorgeous. Our itinerary was, instead of a public vehicle, we chartered a van for our transportation to the North. Thirteen of us met at Crossing, including Rio, our Chinese visitor. From Manila to Baguio City took us six hours of travel, so instead of getting bored while on the road and the rains were dropping, it was filled with stories of our previous hikes.

Mt. Binacayan - Hike Guide You Need To Know

Mt. Binacayan measures 426+ MASL, and it's a small but tiring hike because of its terrain. Though separated by the Wawa River from Mt. Pamitinan, Binacayan almost has the same features in terms of difficulty and trail types. Some fruit-bearing trees and shrubs bloom like ornaments, and the lullabies from birds can be heard. You will be certified as a "revel in trekking" because of the rock climbing and scrambling on the boulders and limestone cliffs with sharp edges. Below are its specifications:

Mt. Marami - Hike Guide You Need To Know

By elevation, Mt. Marami measures 405+ MASL, and it is a mountain in Cavite that can give you relaxation because everything is surrounded by green, while the slopes from afar are picture-perfect. With that in mind, this mountain is getting its own record as one of the hiking destinations in Southern Luzon. Not only that, it is also one of the most visited mountains in the province because of its simple and gradual trails. You can't stop yourself from a death-defying pose on the rock formation called "silyang bato." Fruit-bearing trees, coconuts, bananas, and other crops can give you a Farmville feeling while the birds are singing their lullabies. Below are its specifications:

Mt. Talamitam - Hike Guide You Need To Know

Though no trees are dancing and birds singing, the nude shape of Mt. Talamitam, with elevation: 630+ MASL, makes it one of the hiking destinations in the Province of Batangas. Considered a friendly mountain for beginners, yet it can bring a remarkable hiking experience to seasoned hikers because of its soil type, which is slippery and muddy during the wet season and hot during summer. As you can see in the photo above, it is covered with green, which brings a relaxing aura to the eyes.

Mt. Pico de Loro - Hike Guide You Need To Know

Mt. Pico de Loro or Mt. Palay-palay, located in Ternate, Cavite, has a combination of beauty and trekking adventure; it has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty and richness. Birds are singing, colorful flowering plants on the ground, orchids hanging on the branches, bananas, and fruit-bearing trees like coconuts and mangoes. Reaching the top of the Monolith or the Parrot's Beak is a must-have because it will test your fear and agility. Its name was given by the Spanish seafarer because it looks like a parrot’s beak from afar. Refer to the details below for its specifications:

Mt. Damas - Hike Guide You Need To Know

Mt. Damas, with an elevation of 685+ MASL, is a mountain in Tarlac with amazing views from its summit, healthy forest areas, and cool weather. Although until now, it is under debate whether it’s a minor or a major hike. Others would say it’s minor because of its elevation, but others would say it's major because of its trail type and technicalities. During our ascent, they were both correct; the entire journey was composed of an uphill and downhill trek with a river crossing. That doesn't end there; since it's wet season, the muddy and slippery terrains made our journey remarkable.

Mt. Daraitan - Hike Guide You Need To Know

Mt. Daraitan, with the stunning view of the Tinipak River, is a perfect place to relax and re-energize your body. When we saw the gorgeous photos of this mountain, we thought it had calmness and the positivity that nature possesses. Also, hiking this mountain and crossing the river can give you a unique experience because the place is surrounded by relaxing greens, and the sound of the rushing water by the river preserves tranquility. Aside from this mountain, the province of Rizal has a lot to offer, from arts, crafts, food, rivers, and caves.

Mt. Maculot - Hike Guide You Need To Know

I'll place Mt. Maculot as the second highly recommended mountain to hike in Batangas because of different factors. Can also be one of the best options for day hikes because of its minor trail type and terrains that are covered with trees and surrounded by grass and shrubs, the air is the fresh, cool ambience and a perfect location for a stunning shot with the world famous and most active Taal Volcano on the background. In addition, the Rockies are the best and most famous part of this mountain range.

Mt. Lubog Traverse to Mt. Hapunang Banoi

Mt. Hapunang Banoi is situated beside Mt. Pamitinan, and separated by Wawa Dam from Mt. Binacayan. These mountains in Montalban, Rizal are now famous in the mountaineering world because it is surrounded by luscious green trees, making the area look so relaxing, and the wind is cool, clean, and fresh. Plus, the exhilarating terrains added an adventure to hikers; a perfect place to relax and an Instagram-worthy worthy.

Mt. Cristobal - Hike Guide You Need To Know

Mt. Cristobal, lying in Quezon Province, is one of the famous mountains in Luzon because of the countless stories, rumors, and legends about "ghosts" and other extraterrestrial events. As a result, it is called the "Devil's Mountain." On the other hand, Cristobal hides amazing terrains, surrounded by dense forest areas. There are mosses, ferns, and orchids hanging on the branches, proof that this wildlife sanctuary is still preserved. Also, the ambiance and weather are cool.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting Travel Guide – Conquering the Knife-Edge of Romblon

Jump to: About Mt. Guiting-Guiting | How to Get There | What to Expect | Suggested Itinerary | Travel Budget | Where to Stay | Travel Tips

About Mt. Guiting-Guiting

Mt. Guiting-Guiting, towering at 2,058 MASL, is the crown jewel of Sibuyan Island, Romblon. Renowned for its razor-sharp ridges and technical knife-edge trail, it is considered one of the most difficult and dangerous climbs in the Philippines. The mountain sits within a protected natural park and is a sanctuary for rare flora and fauna, including endemic pitcher plants and cloud rats. A dream climb for experienced mountaineers, G2 is not just a test of endurance, but of grit and mental toughness.

Mt. Timbak - Hike Guide You Need To Know

I've been hearing from friends that Mt. Timbak is one of the must-hiked mountains in the Cordilleras. In terms of altitude, it measures 2,717 MASL and garnered an easy trail class, which I think is true. Among the provinces in CAR, Benguet is really a bomb and prominent to tourists, especially hikers, because of its rich forested mountain slopes, hike-relaxing ambiance, and beauty that can only be found in nature, plus a glimpse of the local livelihood.

Mt. Manalmon - Hike Guide You Need To Know

Mt. Manalmon is a mountain in Bulacan that can give you a great experience. The trails are simple, there's a relaxing ambiance on the summit, there's a gorgeous landscape, and the rock formations are picture-perfect. Experience the extreme by hopping from one cave to another. There are other outdoor activities that you can try courtesy of the local government and the tourism office.