Our group, group, Batang Hamog Mountaineers, is now at 8! The original plan was to celebrate in Talisayin Cove, in Zambales, however, due to inter-tropical convergence zone and a typhoon in Northern Seaboard, the Coast Guard did not allow all small motorized sea vessel to go farther. Instead, we were brought to Agnaem Cove, a secluded area which 10-15 minutes boat ride from Pundaquit.
9 DAYS SOLO-BACKPACKING: Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguidanao, North Cotabato, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur

EXPENSES WITHOUT AIRFARE: 18,486 Pesos
AIRFARE: 2,235 Pesos Back and Forth
Awao Falls

Awao Falls hides in the mountainous farming village in the Municipality of Monkayo. In terms of Eco-tourism, this stunning waterfall is the top destination in the province. There is no direct transportation to these majestic waterfalls, so having an hour bumpy habal-habal ride with a river crossing is necessary to see its hidden beauty. Getting here will certainly be challenging, but you will be rewarded with pristine and breathtaking waterfalls. The picturesque is perfect, the ambiance is relaxing, the water is cool, and the air is fresh.
Kaamulan Park
Kaamulan is definitely the most relaxing part of my travel in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. This government-owned park offers an outstanding and remarkable experience to all visitors. Why not? Inside the park, the wind is fresh, the temperature is cool, and the ambiance is relaxing because of the greens that surround the area. The landscape is clean and well-maintained. Thus, the entire area is picture-perfect - a perfect place to bond with your loved ones.
TRAVEL GUIDE: MATIN-AO COLD SPRING, Malaybalay, Bukidnon
Nasuli Spring
Nasuli Spring is one of the top tourist destinations in Bukidnon. For the locals, it's a prominent place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature, but a few travelers and backpackers know about its hidden beauty. This place is definitely a natural cold spring with cool and crystal clear waters that can quench your body heat. Not only that, this resort in Malaybalay City is surrounded by trees, plants, and flowers, which preserves nature's tranquillity and creates a relaxing ambiance. To combine all, the landscape of Nasuli is picture-perfect and can be considered one of the must-visit attractions in Bukidnon.
Paseo de Santiago
My Iligan City habal tour ended at the Paseo de Santiago, a seaside complex with several food stalls and shops. Since it's seaside, of course, it's by the beach, and the sound of the waves makes the area cosy with the cool breeze - a perfect spot to relax. Others would call it a "hangout area" where you can have a few bottles of beer and "ihaw-ihaw," with someone performing on the mini stage. The area is wide with an instagrammable landscape which includes the gorgeous fortress (photo above), a wide map of the Philippines on the ground and the statue of Lapu-Lapu on the other side. The perfect time to visit this place is during sunset. It is privately owned; thus, entrance fees are being collected.
SOLO-BACKPACKING: Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao City

SUB-TOTAL EXPENSES WITHOUT AIRFARE: 9,464 PESOS
AIRFARE: 2,189.84 PESOS
TOTAL EXPENSES: 11,653.84
San Lorenzo Wind Farm (Guimaras Windmills)
My last destination in Guimaras was Guimaras Windfarm, with 27 gigantic wind turbines that harness electricity from the wind. The island is surrounded by the seas, so it’s a perfect location for renewable because of its sea breeze. According to Kuya Ken, the harnessed energy is transported to Ilo-Ilo City via cables submerged in the water. There’s a registration but no entrance fee. We also talked about the proposed bridge connecting Guimaras to Ilo-Ilo; however, it was rejected because it could damage living underwater creatures. By the way, Bangui Windmills is the most prominent wind farm in the Philippines, and it has attracted a lot of tourists to Ilocos Norte. Just recently, I featured the Tanay Windmills in Tanay, Rizal.
Tori's Backpackers Paradise

Tori's Backpackers Paradise is the cheapest place to stay in Siquijor. The receptionist greeted me at their small reception area with a genuine "Good Morning, Sir!" and a smile. At that very moment, I thought that this place was perfect. I only paid 350 pesos for an overnight stay, a great deal, right? This resort is backpackers friendly because of its low price, and they have a dormitory-type room where visitors can meet other visitors. I was just sad because my visit was off-season, and only three visitors were in the resort. If you want privacy, that's not a problem because they also have private rooms.