Guadalupe Church, Makati City

The Guadalupe Church, or the Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church, is a 400-year-old structure with an amazing facade. Founded by the Augustinians, the construction of its foundation was laid in 1601 and was finished in 1630. Some parts of this church were rebuilt several times because of the earthquakes, and in 1880, the masonry roof collapsed because of the earthquake, so it was rebuilt in 1882 by Rev. Jose Corujedo O.S.A. Later, this structure was burnt during the fight between Filipinos and Americans in February 1899. It was reconstructed and re-opened to the public in 1983.

Binondo Church, Manila

One of the famous districts in Manila is Binondo, it is also known because of the Filipino-Chinese communities in the area. Since this district is said to be one of the centers of the trade and industries centuries ago and even today, some Chinese businessmen were converted to Christianity during the Spanish era, so Binondo Church was established in the area in 1587 by the Dominicans for them.

Sabang, Puerto Galera

Our group, Batang Hamog Mountaineers, usually makes sure to participate in any Freedom-related activities to celebrate the freedom that was proclaimed on June 12, 1898. This year, to be out of our comfort zone, we organized a Freedom Dive held in Sabang, Puerto Galera, Province of Oriental Mindoro, which is one of the best diving spots in the Philippines. We all know that the Philippines is composed of more than seven thousand islands and is surrounded by water, so scuba diving is just one of the most tried water activities.

Backpacking in Surigao del Sur (5 Best Tourist Spots)

Our original plan was to hike Mt. Dulang-dulang and Mt. Kitanglad, but because of the question: “gusto nyo ba?” it was changed to backpacking in Northern Mindanao. It happened for a very, very short time. So from Malaybalay, Bukidnon, we rode a bus with a Cagayan signboard and alighted at Agora Terminal. Then, we rode another bus with a Butuan signboard and alighted at their central terminal. Then, another bus ride to Bislig, Surigao del Sur. Below was our 5-day backpacking trip in Mindanao covering Surigao, Agusan del Norte, and Camiguin.

Negros Occidental (7 Best Tourist Spots)

1. The Ruins, Talisay

Negros Occidental holds most historical sites in Western Visayas. The first attraction you should visit is The Ruins, a mansion that was owned by the sugar baron Don Mariano “Anoy” Ledesma Lacson (1865-1948). The construction of this mansion was non-stop until the entire structure was completed. It was the largest mansion built during that time; however, it was burned to prevent the Japanese forces from making it their headquarters during World War II. Because of the A-grade mixture of concrete that was used, its ruins remain today.

Isla Reta Beach Resort

Isla Reta Beach Resort is located on Talikud Island, Samal. It is a perfect island for retreat and relaxation, well, if you're just looking for a relaxing ambiance by the beach. This is one of the island paradises in the Davao region that bears a white sand beach and an island that is surrounded by emerald and crystal clear water. In addition, the underwater world is a sanctuary of colorful flora and fauna.

My first Solo-Backpacking, A Walking Tour in Cebu City

Cebu City is the capital city of the Province of Cebu. It is one of the largest islands in the Philippine Archipelago. It is considered the "Queen City of the South" because of its economic stability and other factors. Of course, in Philippine history, the province has a gigantic contribution in terms of religion. And with that, my curiosity was activated. This was my first flight and solo backpacking, so everything was remarkable.

Backpacking in Catanduanes (Top 2 Tourist Spots)

During our backpacking in Bicol, our Catanduanes tour was quite hard because it's an island province. Dubbed as "The Happy Island," the province hides a few spectacular and breathtaking tourist spots and destinations that can make you "happy" and stunned. Lately, the province is getting more attention on social media sites because of stunning photos of its rolling hills, amazing beaches, and other attractions.

Biak na Bato National Park

Biak na Bato National Park is situated in San Miguel, Bulacan, and is one of the top travel destinations in the province because of its historical contribution to the Philippine Republic. Its name translates to "split of the boulder" in English, and it's where Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo signed the Malolos Republic (the first Constitution of the country). Aside from its historical background, tourists and students visit this park to relax, breathe some fresh air, and witness the beauty inside the caves, especially the stunning Bahay Paniki Cave, the highlight of the area. By the way, it was declared a national park in 1937 by the former president Manuel L. Quezon.

Bataan White Corals Beach Resort

Bataan White Corals Beach Resort offers relaxing accommodation with full access to its amazing facilities, such as the cool and artistic swimming pools, picture-perfect landscape, cool ambiance, sumptuous delicacies, and many more. Plus, they are very friendly and polite employees. Just so you know, we had no prior reservation, and we're already in Bataan when we started searching for beach resorts on Google Search and Google Maps. We visited several resorts in the Municipality of Morong, crossing our fingers to get an available villa for our overnight stay. Already passed 4 PM, but we hadn’t booked anything yet, so we proceeded to this last resort.