Miagao Church

Commonly known as the Church of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva is an old baroque church in Iloilo. Miagao Church is one of the world-famous baroque churches in the Philippines, and it has become one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The construction of this church began in 1787 while Fray Francisco M. Gonzales. O.S.A. was the parish priest of Miag-ao, and Domingo Libo-on was the Gobernadorcillo. The Church was completed in 1797 and served as the fortress against the Muslim Raiders. In 1898, this church was destroyed during the revolution, but it was rebuilt.

My Solo-Backpacking in Guimaras

Guimaras will definitely be brought up on the topic when we talk about mangoes because they are said to have the “Sweetest Mango in the Philippines.” With that, their local delicacies, with mango, are just mouth-watering. The residents must be proud of their breathtaking and stunning beaches, historical sites, and other activities. They also have the Manggahan Festival, an annual festivity to thank for their bountiful mango harvest. It is a small island province that can be visited for the whole day, but they can offer a lot to visitors.

Solo-Backpacking in Capiz

Roxas City is the capital of Capiz Province – the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines” in Western Visayas. If you are on Panay Island, it is highly recommended that you visit this rich city to witness and experience the heritage sites of the modern generation. Also, the province has the most controversial and awaited annual festivity in the Philippines – the “Aswang Festival.” Politically, the city is prominent because it is the hometown of the late Philippine President Manuel A. Roxas.

Apo Whang Od

A photo of Apo Whang Od while tattooing a tourist.

Apo Whang Od is an indigenous tattoo artist from Kalinga province who uses an old style of tattooing called "Batok," or traditional hand-tapped tattooing. She became prominent because she has been featured on local TV shows, international documentaries, magazines, and others.

Bakun Trio

This event was an urgent decision. We met at Victory Liner Bus Terminal in Cubao and rode in a bus bound for Baguio. From Baguio City, we chartered a jeep to Bakun, Benguet. Travel time was within 4-5 hours. But before reaching our destination, we passed by different landmarks of the North, one of which was the Highest Point (photo above). The entire travel period was an adjustment period for our group and other participants.

Kaparkan Falls

It is a paradise where crystal clear and cool water is free-flowing on terraces. Thus, social media sites and travel blogs helped it to become one of the top destinations in the North. According to the tsimis, there are a total of 200 terraces from the top to bottom. Each of the terraces or pools is filled with water, overflowing and creating a relaxing sound. Plus, it is really safe to walk on the surface of the pools because they are covered with minerals.

Pink Beach, Sorsogon

We finally arrived at the Pink Beach in Sorsogon. Day 2: Backpacking in Albay, Sorsogon and Catanduanes. There is no direct route from Legaspi City to Matnog. So, from Daraga Shell gas station, we rode in a bus with “Bulan” signboard and alighted in Trece. The travel time was about 3-4 hours, passing by Sorsogon City and the nearby municipalities. In Trece, we chartered a tricycle, alighted in front of the municipal hall and met Christian, our boatman.

Apuao Grande Island

Apuao is a deserted island with much to offer, from the cool and crystal clear emerald waters, wealthy underwater, breathtaking landscape, tranquility, and relaxing ambiance, and, of course, the good people.  I know, for beach lovers, if we're talking about the beauty in Camarines Norte,  Calaguas is on top. Now, I'm bringing you to one of the unrated paradises in the entire Bicol region and one of the small islands in the Mercedes Group of Islands. Well, travel time is about 7 to 8 hours from Manila to Mercedes via private van, but I have seen and experienced remarkable beauty.

Albay Tourist Spot

1. Albay Cathedral

Around 11 AM when we started our adventure. From Lita's Lodge, we walked to our first destination - the historical Albay Cathedral. It is also known as the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great situated in front of McDo and beside Legaspi City Hall. According to its historical data, this cathedral started as a chapel built in the 1580s by Spanish missionaries. The early structure was made from local products such as wood and nipa. Then, it emerged as a stone structure in 1800.

Palawan Tourist Spot

1. Kayangan Lake

Kayangan Lake (Photo by Cheng Santos) is one of the must-visit tourist spots in Coron. This attraction is perfect for people aiming for adventure and a picture-perfect landscape. Getting on top of the viewing deck will take a 10 to 15-minute trek but will certainly be half for fun because there's a rich diversity of floras on the trails. Upon reaching the spot for viewing, you can quickly feel the tranquillity in the area and see the artistic coral stone formations dipped in the calm waters that mirror the image of the skies, which added a stunning color to the landscape.