dong ho's eskapo 3.0

when one shares the experience

2009-07-10T20:30:00.000+08:00

the experience of roaming will always be memorable even without the magnificent mountain views or the luxurious and cozy rooms. many enjoy going out as a bunch of noisy excited barkada while others prefer the solo backpack style. just a week ago, you shared your most memorable road trips and ROAM team has decided! here comes the three winning entries."with my travel buddies, i had one of the best road trip. we roam the whole laguna for 3 days. considering we dont have a car. as in commute galore. we started at the rizal side of laguna using the zigzag road of rizal. we went down to siniloan then pakil which i can say is the most rustic places of laguna. had an stopover at paete, the most beautiful community ive ever seen in terms of heritage sites. had over night at pagsanjan. then to liliw and majayjay, where we had an overnight. the chill of majayjay was so awesome. then off to heritage site of laguna the famy and victoria then to LB where we savor the hot spring of the places then go home... too bad we miss the san pablo lakes." - bryz25

"My most memorable road trip was in Quezon province. It was an extreme adventure since the road was rough and rocky for a jeepney topload ride. I can just imagine now how adventurous I was in my younger years, unmindful of any danger in our trip. Some folks warned us also that some bandits were hiding in a nearby mountain. But we dared because our mind were set to see the beach and we proceeded then to Cagsiay. And what a breathtaking moment when we finally reached the destination. It was all worthy to have faced the challenges in getting there, to have witnessed such wonderful island, untouched and unexploited." - nuts

"mahapdi na ang mga mata ko habang nakasakay sa bangka kasama ang apat pang kaibigan. galing kami sa isla ng anawangin. nakatitig ako sa papalubog na araw, sa nagkalat na ulap na kulay dugo, at ang pagtalsik ng tubig ang pawang nagpapalamig sa katawan ko. gandang ganda ako sa haring araw na nais ng matulog, at bigla bigla ay may tumalon na isang dolphin.
kung pumikit ako ng oras na iyon, siguro magsisisi ako buong buhay ko." - ax

congratulations to the three of you and please email me at i.dongho@gmail.com for your copy of ROAM Magazine second issue. thank you to all those who shared which are for sure as memorable. thank you to the staff of ROAM magazine and October Eighty Productions.ROAM Magazine is now available on all leading bookstores and magazine shops.

my most memorable road trips (second set)

2009-07-08T16:25:00.004+08:00

like on my first set of my most memorable road trips, it took me a hard time looking back to those experience of just going out exploring the country's popular and some not-so-known yet worth seeing spots. but with this list, i was able to determine some of the most notable road experience that i took. so here goes the final set of my own experience of what it is to travel along the Philippines road system.[12] Manila to Alaminos and around (5hours). it was during the Lenten season that we decided to drive our way to Alaminos to go to the Hundred islands. we didn't know the shortcut so we took the way via Urdaneta and turned left to Dagupan. we stayed at the nearby Pugaro island. to go to the island, you have to cross a small bridge. it means you'll have to take a longer route but most of the locals there takes a boat trip instead from Dagupan port to this island. the island has a wide shoreline but with grey sand. then the next day we went on a road trip around the nearby towns of Manaoag, San Fabian, Sual, Mabini, Labrador and Lingayen and a visit to the hundred islands. to think it was just our first time there.
what to see: nice mountain view in the areas of Sual and some scenic shoreline views.
what to expect: stopover on food restos along the road. look for the Hitoan just within Dagupan. we ended up bringing home 5 of these grilled hito. so it's not just bangus that's really good there. road trip view: 3.5
road trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 7.5 [11] Tagaytay to Taal (2hours). after a day at the Tagaytay highlands we found out that we still have enough time for an afternoon road trip so we drove our way down to the town of Taal. one of our companion has relatives there and lucky that it was the town's fiesta. excellent mountain views on this roadtrip. we dropped by the old but beautiful Taal church. late afternoon, the skies turned really dark and on our way back going uphill to Tagaytay, it rained so hard. surrounded by fog we cannot see the road ahead. so we were driving slow and the road was only revealed everytime there was lightning. this is one of my most dangerous road trip.
what to see: excellent green lush mountain view, Taal crater lake, Taal church and a number of ancestral houses.
what to expect: zigzag road, if you'll take a jeepney ride, make sure that you take the front seat or else you'll miss the great view. so it's still best if you bring a car and drive your way down.
road trip view: 4.0
road trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.5[10] Manila Daet to Legazpi (13hours). many have taken this route but usually by bus. on our first trip to Bicol, we decided to drive our way there for us to be able to make stopovers. among the best spots of the road trip is the Gumaca coastal road just few kilometers away from Lucena. from there, you have two options, whether to take the road passing the town of Daet or the town of Tangkawayan. we took the former which passes the famous Bitukang Manok road, that goes zigzag downhill. when we reached the Bicol region, it was all mountains this time and the best part was the thrill of seeing the majestic Mt. Mayon.
what to see: typical provincial towns, Gumaca's coastal road, Mt. Isarog, Mt. Iriga and Mt. Mayon.
what to expect: a tiring experience for the one who's driving but a few stops will help. don't worry because those stops gave us some great sights of Bicol's beautiful mountains.
road trip view: 3.5
road trip experience: 4.5
eskapo rate: 8.0[9] Cabanatuan to Bayombong (4hours). a sleepless trip to Cabanatuan where we met with travel buddy lawstude. we just had quick breakfast around 4:30am and immediately left for an even longer trip up North. when we started the way up the Sierra Madre mountain range, it was all fog. we made our way up the Dalton Pass while it was drizzling but it didn't stop us from taking photos and climbing the hilly monument. good that we had our vehicle filled with food, thanks to ever-ready lawstude. the rain came and ruined our plans of visiting waterfalls but the stunning Sierra Madre's scenic mountain range complemented it.
what to see: Dalton Pass memorial, Region 2 welcome arc, great mountain view.
what to expect: an uphill drive. i recommend that you take an experienced driver with you because there are areas which has zigzag road and are at times foggy.
road trip view: 4.0
road trip experience:4.0
eskapo rate: 8.0[8] Sta Fe to Bantayan (1hour). this must be one of the shortest road trip i had. but it was when i had the chance to rent a motorbike and drive around that made this a great road trip experience. since i really wanted to visit the Bantayan town church, which was about 30minutes away from our resort in Sta Fe, i drove my way to the town center. town is still rustic and so quiet even at mid day. since there was not much to see along the highway, i took some short stops on some of the inner roadways and found great views of the beach.
what to see: the old church of Bantayan island, unbusy town and great beach views when you take some inner roadways.
what to expect: you'll pass by some big chicken poultries and expect the smell of chicken dungs. it is because Bantayan island is the largest producer of eggs in the Visayas. but the road is in good condition.
road trip view: 3.5
road trip experience: 4.5
eskapo rate: 8.0[7] Dau to Pinatubo drop off (2hours). i've been to Pinatubo twice taking two different paths. one was the old regular route way back 2006 and just this year the skyway route. the first time i had this trip, i was awed by the myriad of what used to be lahar's canal which is now a deserted space. our 4x4s were racing, wherein the one who lags gets all the dust from the leading 4x4. of course our 4x4 won! we stayed overnight at the crater and the next day we did race again this time to the nearby lake on the Northern side of Capas. it was an excellent adventure!
what to see: great mountainscape, expanse desert, remains of the Mt. Pinatubo's rage.
what to expect: for trekkers, the old route will be great but for those who just wanted to see the crater, the skyway will be a good choice. during sunny days, expect a dusty road trip. we don't recommend you to visit it during rainy season.
road trip view: 4.0
road trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 8.0[6] Marinduque and around (3hours). i was expecting my first top load jeepney ride to be in the Cordilleras but not when we had our chance in Marinduque. we arrived in the island around 2:30am with an overloaded RORO trip, due to the Moriones Festival and the holidays, passengers immediately rushed to the first jeepney. in minutes it was full that led us to the option of taking the next jeepney instead. but we noticed that the jeepney has a top load area, and so we asked if riding on top of the jeepney was allowed. the driver agreed, so travel buddy Nadz and i climbed up. it was only the two of us there enjoying the fresh breeze. but what we did not expected was the great coastal view of the island. we really recommend that you take the Dalahican to Balanacan boat trip when you go to the town of Boac in Marinduque. that's for you, not to miss this excellent scenic view.
what to see: great coastal view from the mountain's highway, small Moriones monument and old ancestral houses of Boac.
what to expect: zigzag road that goes uphill and downhill when it reaches the town of Boac.
road trip view: 4.0
road trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 8.0[5] Malamawi island and around (1hour). this might be one of the most dangerous road trip but still it was worth the trip. this island in Basilan has one of the nicest beach in the country. riding on top of a truck running fast over unpaved road was fun. during the whole trip i was standing looking at the hilly view of the island. one must jus avoid trees as it can hit you. the closer you are to the beach, the more sand you can see along the road. what's great is the path approaching the beach has a great way of slowly revealing what is to be a very beautiful beach. one can choose to take a banca from Basilan island to this beach but the road trip experience is a great experience.
what to see: view of the island's hills, expanding mangroves and a lot of stilt houses.
what to expect: rough road and it can be very dusty during summer. you need to coordinate with the local tourism office to assure your security while you're in the island.
road trip view: 4.0
road trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 8.0[4] Cabanatuan to Dingalan (2hours). a gloomy day didn't stop our pursuit to explore the off-the-beaten-path town of Dingalan. this was the second part of my trip with lawstude after the Bayombong road trip. we were welcomed by Sierra Madre's mountains in Laur covered with fog and really big hills on both side of the road. hills as beautiful as the Chocolate hills in Bohol but maybe five times its size. this was the trip that we've made so many stopover including a stop at raging river. but most excellent mountain view was when we reached Dingalan. the two groups of hills seems like guarding this small coastal town.
what to see: excellent mountain range, the hills and the coast meets revealing a stunning road trip view.
what to expect: the place is unpopular yet the road is really in good condition. so if you plan to drive your way there, it won't be a problem. i don't recommend you to commute because you'll miss a lot of the great scenic sights.
road trip view: 4.5
road trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 8.5[3] Bacolod to Don Salvador (3hours). it was my father who recommended me this route but on the day that i was set to visit the town of Don Salvador Benedicto, it rained hard. so i cancelled the trip. the next day, sun came out and immediately rushed to the bus terminal and took a bus that goes to San Carlos. it almost has the same route that goes to Mambucal except that it turns left on one part revealing the giant Mt. Kanlaon. midway, the mountain view became even more rewarding and as we entered the town of Don Salvador, a kilometer-long highway of pine trees lined up along the road came into view. upon reaching the town, i rented a motorbike and paid somebody to drive since i'm not familiar to the different viewing sites of the waterfalls, rice terraces and great mountainscape.
what to see: waterfalls, rice terraces and great mountainscape.
what to expect: zigzag road that goes up and down on many parts giving an excellent mountain view. watch out for the really weird roof of the tricycles in the town of Murcia. road is at good condition.
road trip view: 4.5
road trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 8.5 [2] Sibuyan island around (1hour). not so known to many but not to mountaineers as this island is the home to one of the country's most challenging mountain trail, Mt. Guiting-Guiting. it has some of the beautiful untouched beaches. but i was not there to climb but it was because one my uncle lives there. so we stayed there for two weeks doing a lot of roadtrips. the roads were still unpaved, no electricity that made the people dependent on generators. most of the time we took our bikes to get to nearby areas and occasionally roamed around the island driving motorcycles. this island has a lot of the untouched waterfalls, densed forests and even nice beaches. that was way back the late 90s.
what to see: the Mt. Guiting Guiting National Park that covers a large area of less explored forests and waterfalls.
what to expect: some areas are still undeveloped but jeepneys are now available for trips around the island.
road trip view: 4.5
road trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 8.5 [1] Baguio to Sagada (6hours). what used to be known as the torturous Halsema Highway is the country's most beautiful mountain highway. awesome mountain views vary during the six-hour trip from Baguio to Sagada. the many rice terraces along the way combines the great wonders of nature and human ingenuity. a climate suited for this road trip that always set a travelers road trip experience in awe. if you sleep along the way, you'll miss a lot. it was a time when i realized that an airconditioned bus is unnecessary for this trip.
what to see: the great Cordillera mountain range, Chico river, rice terraces in all forms and
what to expect: on most occasions a foggy roadway, traveling beside steep and deep ravines. some parts road is still under repair but so minimal.
road trip view: 5.0
road trip experience: 4.5
eskapo rate: 9.5 making this list reminded me that we have a country to live and to love. if you thought that i've already explored the whole country, i say not yet. there's just too many to explore in this archipelago for a lifetime. so where's your next road trip?

last chance to vote - this midnight

2009-07-07T11:35:00.003+08:00

got this from the Department of Tourism

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is calling on Filipinos all over the world to vote for Palawan’s Subterranean River on the New7Wonders of Nature poll, as voting comes to and end on July 7, at 12 midnight (GMT).

“We have to secure our place in the top 77 candidates. More than voting, let’s also promote our bet,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN) organizers announced that after the top 77 candidates have been determined, the New7Wonders Panel of Experts, led by Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO, will then take over to select the 28 Finalists. The 28 Finalist Candidates will be announced on July 21, 2009.

Bernard Weber, Founder and President of New7Wonders said, “New7Wonders is now bigger and more global than ever. By allowing 28 locations to compete as Official Finalists, we are recognizing the passionate, universal desire to participate in the campaign to chose the Official New7Wonders of Nature.''

Voting for the nominees that will be eligible to be chose as an Official Finalist Candidate closes at midnight, July 7. Voters anywhere in the world can take part in the poll through www.new7wonders.com or via the international telephone voting line, or with a personalized voting certificate.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River has slipped to number 2 on the poll. The Philippine entry is vying for the top spot, which is currently occupied by the Amazon River, among other 54 nominees under the category of Forests/National Parks/Nature Reserves.

There are currently 261 nominees from all over the globe, competing in 7 different categories, only 77 of which will remain after voting ends in July 7, 2009. The campaign is at its second of three stages.

The contenders have been classified into 7 groups which are: Landscapes/Ice Formations, Islands, Mountains/Volcanoes, Caves/Rock Formations/Valleys, Forests/National Parks/Nature Reserves, Lakes/Rivers/Waterfalls, and Seascapes.

“More than a popularity contest, this campaign advocates the protection and preservation of our unique natural wealth,” said Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions.

Renowned as the world’s longest underground river, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park also features a stunning limestone karst mountain landscape. Inside its large chambers are stalactites and stalagmites formations, while at the mouth of its cave thrives a bustling ecosystem which includes monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature is an ongoing campaign sponsored by the New 7 Wonders Foundation based in Switzerland. The same group initiated the New 7 Wonders of the World project in 2007.

Majority of the visitors on the N7WN website has likewise voted for Manila as the venue for the proclamation of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011.

my most memorable road trips (first set)

2009-07-05T22:34:00.007+08:00

with an archipelago of 7,107 islands you surely have a good list of your favorite trips of the vein-like road systems of each island. let me share my own list of memorable road trips and i'm sure you've been to most of the trips here. but a trip will definitely differ on the experience. i listed twenty four of the most memorable ones and here's my first batch.

[24] Cebu city to Hagnaya (3hours). i was already in Cebu yet i still don't know where the terminal going to North of Cebu. not that it wasn't on my itinerary, sometimes it's just fun to just get lost and find yourself like you're in Amazing Race. it was a long way up North reaching almost the long Cebu's island tip. we were rushing to reach the RORO that goes to Bantayan island (roll-on-roll-off) in time, not knowing that the RORO doesn't leave the port until our bus arrives, or else, it will have less passengers.
what to see: half of the trip is along coastal beach shores and the other half provincial towns and a beautiful mountain view when the bus starts crossing the Cebu mountain range.
what to expect: no air-conditioned buses available as of my trip last year but it was still comfortable to travel.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 2.5
eskapo rate: 6.0[23] Bacolod to Victorias (2hours). i've been to Victorias way back the mid 80s but not a bit of the roadtrip can i remember and so in 2008 i had my chance to go there again. this time riding just this motorcycle traveling for an hour and a half with my cousin. it was only then that i realized how dangerous it was to drive a motorbike while big trucks overtakes at high speed. on our way back it was more dangerous because it was already night time. we made a stop over at Silay and went home safely but extra tired.
what to see: the ancestral houses of Silay, nice mural painting of the Angry Christ, the vast sugar cane field and the remaining Victorias Milling Company.
what to expect: just a long roadtrip in the middle of a sugar can field.
trip view: 2.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 6.0 [22] Baguio to San Fernando (3hours). just early this year when we went to Baguio along with my parents. on our last day there, i realized that i've been taking the Marcos highway for quite some time so i decided that we take the Naguilian highway instead. so we extended our trip to San Fernando La Union and dropped by the beautiful town of Agoo. had our dinner there and drove back to Manila.
what to see: a good view of the Cordillera range that ends down the town of Naguilian, towns of La Union along the highway.
what to expect: nothing much but a road trip along the mountain range.
trip view: 3.0
trip experience: 3.0
eskapo rate: 6.0

[21] San Pablo to Nagcarlan and Liliw (3hours). many Luzon travelers already took this route and most of the time they include the towns of Pangil, Paete and Sta Cruz in their trip. this trip can be extra rewarding if you enjoy visiting churches while driving along mountainous roads. there was a way there where our SUV stopped on a steep curved road and we all have to go down and push it up. after we had it forward, another vehicle got stuck.
what to see: beautiful old churches, underground cemetery, uphill steep curve roads, cheap slippers and sandals in Liliw.
what to expect: at most times, this area is rainy because it is part of Mt. Banahaw's foothill. trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0
[20] Iloilo to Guimbal Miagao (2hours). so many times i've been to Iloilo but never a trip down South to the towns of Guimbal and Miagao. with a chance to visit my friend's resort in Guimbal i decided to take a stop before proceeding to Miagao. this trip is very rewarding because of the beautiful old churches.
what to see: just plain road trip with some coastal views but the churches of the towns there are really impressive.
what to expect: overloaded tricycles competing with the jeepney's speed, very friendly people and a lot of stopover.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0

[19] Alabang to Calayo Batangas (3hours). we traveled going there during night time and we didn't appreciate much of the trip except for the sleepless fun trip. the place was great but it was only on our way back did i found out that we actually passed a scenic uphill and downhill trip.
what to see: the mountain range of Pico del Oro was in view from afar.
what to expect: a concrete road going high up giving a panaromic view of the area. this place cannot easily be accessed by commuting because of the limited trips. (3hours)
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0
[18] Rizal to Laguna (9hours). it was way back 2005 when we had a visita iglesia and we started in Antipolo moving East over the highlands of Rizal province. great mountain views from there and old churches are really beautiful. we continued our way down the towns of Laguna and back to Manila through the South Luzon Expressway. definitely one of my most memorable visita iglesia.
what to see: old churches and Rizal province highlands.
what to expect: roads seems to be endless when you take this route.
trip view: 4.0
trip experience: 3.0
eskapo rate: 7.0

[17] Alabang to Mauban (5hours). how can i ever forget this? we were expecting to take a bus ride by 12midnight but ended up waiting for the air-conditioned bus for three hours. we decided to take a connecting trip to Turbina in Laguna then from there, we took the bus to Lucena. lucky though that upon reaching Lucena, the mini bus immediately left few minutes after we boarded. with this, we ended up arriving just in time having good enough time to roam around Mauban before our trip to the island of Cagbalete. because of that a tricycle driver, even thought we were a combo band.
what to see: nothing much along the way except for the beautiful mystical Mt. Banahaw.
what to expect: the mini bus from Lucena to Mauban is an old type bus but the trip down the coastal town of Mauban went smoothly. just expect a lot of short stopovers.
trip view: 3.0
trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 7.0 [16] Manila to Anda and around Bolinao (5hours). this we had just recently and still to be posted in the coming week. a trip to Anda is not as popular as the trip to Alaminos in Pangasinan. it is a road less traveled but it leads to what i believe is Pangasinan's best beach shore. but what i like the most is the roadtrip that goes to the small town of Bolinao. nice scenic views along the way and the road is well paved.
what to see: long bridge connecting Luzon island to Anda island, Cape Bolinao Lighthouse and the caves of Bolinao.
what to expect: as of this time, expect damaged houses and trees along the way as caused by a typhoon two months ago. nice coastal beach lines on the way to the lighthouse in Bolinao are tempting as it is seen along the way.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0 [15] Around Tacloban and to Ormoc (2hours). way back 2007, a van picked us from the Tacloban airport and brought us to the Marcos bridge that connects Leyte and Samar. since parking along the bridge is prohibited, our driver decided to drop us off at the middle of the bridge and left us there. then he returned, after we had a feeling like-there-was-no-tomorrow photoshoot. from there we drove our way to Ormoc. upon reaching Ormoc, i declared that the fastest van drivers comes from Leyte.
what to see: the longest bridge of the Philippines, the Leyte landing monument, and a typical mountain highway trip.
what to expect: children playing and crossing the highway that's despite the vans running at high speed. quite odd.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0
[14] Dapitan to Zamboanga (13hours). we attended the boy scout jamboree held in Dapitan and on our way back we chose to take a roadtrip from Dapitan to Zamboanga city. this is one the longest roadtrip i had, it was like traveling from Manila to Legazpi. we chose to take a non-aircon bus not knowing that majority of the road was still unpaved. my black bag pack turned brown when we reached the town of Ipil but it was way back the mid 90s.
what to see: the mountain views of the long Zamboanga peninsula.
what to expect: when you take the airconditioned bus, expect some chickens to be traveling with you. just imagine the smell. but again it was way back the mid 90s. not sure if they still allow it. i hope not.
trip view: 4.0
trip experience: 3.0
eskapo rate: 7.0

[13] Iloilo to Caticlan (6hours). my mother and i took this road trip going to Boracay and i brought this map checking once in a while as we went Northwest of Panay island. the trip from Iloilo to Kalibo is just fine, passing by sugar cane and rice field. but the way from Kalibo to Caticlan is the most exciting. an hour trip passing by a great coastal view while driving beside the mountain heights. we didn't slept during the whole trip despite the lack of sleep the night before that day.
what to see: typical provincial towns of Panay, wide ricefields, great coastal views from Kalibo to Caticlan.
what to expect: overloaded tricycles and jeepneys along the way. some parts of the trip are still unpaved.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0the next twelve, to be posted in the coming days. the winners for the ROAM contest will be posted soon.

when i'm not traveling

2009-07-03T00:32:00.004+08:00

the Banaue trip this weekend was moved to next week (July 11-12) so you can still join us if you have nothing to do next weekend. this led me to have watching some few good movies during the past six days.

[1] Ice Age 3 - Dawn of the Dinosaurs. i was invited to the launching of Trinoma Mall's Digital 3D Cinema and the premier of the third installment of animated movie Ice Age. along with other bloggers, i enjoyed each of the character's motion in three-dimensional effects. new characters comes in this movie but still the two possums Crash and Eddie remains to be my favorite characters. they were as naughty.[2] Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen. a seemingly unending battle of robots and humans made this movie appealing. three times more action than the first one. i just love seeing and listening to the extreme robot fight scenes. story though was in many ways, dramatic.[3] Valkyrie. a movie which was shown last year that captures the story of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg who largely participated in the assassination of Adolf Hitler in 1944. the movie is not action-packed but the thrill of pursuing the plot was excellently shown in the movie. this actually led me to reading more about this group who later proved that not all Germans were like Adolf Hitler. i watched this on DVD which my brother rented yesterday.
watching movies in the Philippines is a good treat since we have already have these modern cinemas. winners of ROAM's roadtrip contest will be posted within the coming days. thanks to all those who participated.

roam magazine second issue - contest

2009-06-30T10:30:00.001+08:00

i remember buying six copies of the first issue of ROAM magazine, giving out to some bloggers who i met in Iloilo and Bacolod. now comes the second issue and this time i'm giving three magazines courtesy of ROAM Magazine.the second issue highlights the best of roadtrips on the Northern part of the island of Luzon entitled the Northern Spin. from the surfing spots of La Union, the raging waters of Cagayan, to the awesome Cordilleras. this magazine captured each moment of the trip based on the travelers personal experience. i finished this part in one read.plus a jam-packed travel stories of Bicol's not-so-hidden secrets, the mysteries of Indochina's culture, and the ever thrilling sights of Batanes. i like the Hit the Road Jack portion, as i usually experience it on my own travel experience.you'll have the chance to have it for free by simply sharing your most memorable roadtrip experience. the place won't matter much because we will base it on the experience. so just post your entries in the comment section. this time, i requested ROAM magazine's staff to do the judging. we will be giving out three magazines of this issue to the three best roadtrip experience. it is open to all and each blogger is only entitled to one entry. we will limit this to those who are in the Philippines but if you're outside the country, you can still submit your entry. if in case you win, you can choose who to give it to, who's in the Philippines. deadline of submission for this contest will be on July 2, 2009 11:59pm.

thanks to ROAM magazine! visit www.roammag.multiply.com and www.octobereighty.com

voyage of balanghai

2009-06-28T15:18:00.005+08:00

the Philippine archipelago was conquered by the Spaniards many years back but trading already begun even before their arrival. among the proof are the balanghai or the old wooden boat used by our ancestors.it was in 2006 in Butuan, North of Mindanao island, when i first saw the balanghai at the National Museum and Balanghai Shrine. it was excavated on what used to be a lake dried through the years. a total of nine of these boats were found and some of which were still unearthed due to the cost needed for the excavation. this day, the site is already declared a national cultural treasure of the country. today, through the initiative of Philippine Department of Tourism Undersecretary Art Valdez, they rebuilt a balanghai. this time to journey around the archipelago. the team is composed of the Philippine Mt. Everest team, tourism officials, and experienced sailors. it was yesterday when it was already set to test-sail the balanghai that i had the chance to see it. through the invitation of ironwulf, lagalog and roadworthyman, though we still didn't meet there.according to the officials, they will start testing it and hopefully to set out by mid-July. stopover points includes Cavite, Mindoro, Boracay, Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Butuan, Zamboanga, Davao, Sulu islands and other cities and islands around the Philippines. in the coming years, they will circumnavigate around the world. i was privileged enough to have seen it before it started its journey. eskapo blog supports the Philippine team on this new challenge. you can still visit the balanghai at the Harbour area of CCP in Manila Bay before it sets out. here's a video posted by balanghayvoyage in youtube as presented by the Probe Team.

you're invited - banaue escape

2009-06-26T11:41:00.006+08:00

eskapo officially invites you to dong ho's next destination. the towering and world renowned rice terraces of Banaue. July 4-5, 2009 (correction: previously posted 5-6). experience and explore the culture of the Ifugaos.if you're interested send an email to i.dongho@gmail.com for the details. photo courtesy of travel buddy lawstude. wanna see more of Banaue? check lawstude's adventure to this gigantic and beautiful terraces.

eleven reasons why i love sagada

2009-06-24T00:21:00.003+08:00

of our three day stay in Sagada, i seem to have maximized my stay along with Nadz and Kit that i ended up with eleven reasons why i love this highland town.
[11] Cheap Accommodations. it can be as cheap as those homestay rates of Baguio city but still with a touch of a rustic yet beautiful rooms. some giving you a really nice view of the central town of Sagada.
Sagada's charming countryside [10] Church. the presence of the St. Mary Episcopal church in Sagada is very significant as it both symbolizes the town's development and the spread of Christianity. development in the sense that through the missionaries, education and health support was provided to the people of Sagada.
St. Mary's Episcopal church - Sagada [9] Sagada Weaving. it is just so good know that somebody has kept the tradition of weaving. from the very thread, completely coming from raw materials produced within the province, to the artistic designs of its clothing form, one will definitely love it. though now made with the use of modern wooden mechanical looms, still it's a favorite souvenir.
sagada weaving - intricately made
[8] Rice Terraces. there are a number of rice terraces found around Sagada. the road serves as a nice view deck to the expanse rice terraces. they say the ones that can be seen from Kiltepan peak are really impressive. i recommend you seeing the ones near Sumaguing cave. [7] People. the people of Sagada may not look as friendly as they may not approach you but when you start opening a conversation they can be so charming. among the really nice experience is when you get to talk to the Sagada kids as experienced by Nadz and Kit. what's great is despite the many tourists walking around, they don't beg for anything. they just enjoy being with visitors. [6] Climate. Sagada's location if seen through the map can be considered as the center of the Northern portion of the island of Luzon. pine trees fill the huge unoccupied lands, a variety of vegetations and a really nice climate makes Sagada a good retreat place for a busy soul. the foggy mornings and the usual rainy afternoon tells you what to bring when you go there. [5] Mountainscape. the limestones found around Sagada are really impressive. the mountains that forms a silhouette when seen from afar seems to be a good reason why many people would go to Sagada. they just look for a good place,for their feet to be placed on top and relax.
sagada's echo valley - repercussion of our voices [4] Food. everyone who visits Sagada won't deny that one of the reasons that makes Sagada very special are the food that it offers. with natural home made yoghurt, lemon pies, coffee, tea and the food influenced by the foreign tourists, who decided to make Sagada their home. food may be expensive there but a food trip around Sagada's small central town is highly recommended. [3] Hanging Coffins and Burial Coffins. this culture which is quite unique to the Cordillera region are as good as gems. the way they bury and hang the dead can be one of the country's most important historical ritual. the reason behind placing the dead in fetal position somehow has a strong value.
sagada hangin coffins - suspended caskets
sagada burial coffins - on cave entrances
[2] Roadtrip. whether you went to Sagada via Baguio or Banaue, one can just be awed by the beauty of the Cordillera mountain range. i believe that the country's highest most accessible mountain range can also be considered as the country's finest. i personally believe that the long travel to these mountains will always capture a traveler's soul.
halsema highway - cordillera mountain range [1] Sagada Cave System. the country's deepest cave and the fifth longest cave system is comprised of the caves of Lumiang, Sumaguing, Crystal and Latipan is must-see. though only Lumiang and Sumaguing are accessible these days, the beauty of the many chambers that it has, tells me that there's more to just exploring the country's beaches and best diving sites. the caves of Sagada are as enchanting.
lumiang cave - cave connection entrance
sumaguing cave - cave connection exiti'd like to thank Nadz and Kit for contributing much on the Sagada series through the photos and write ups. to the people of Sagada, we will see you again.thank you to all of you who consistently followed Eskapo through the Sagada series.

sagada hanging coffins - suspended caskets

2009-06-21T07:33:00.011+08:00

from afar we could almost see coffins hanging by the cliff at the left side and the small town of Sagada to our right. groups of people took pictures as it gives a background so strategically placed that almost everyone lined up for a particular shot.

we trek further down along with the Batang Sagadans, whom, together with us were chanting our names and chatted while trekking. it was one of the best ways to experience the local culture.

the hanging coffins itself was a enchanting scenery. only in Sagada you can find such in the Philippines along with similar traditions found around China. several other hanging coffin sites can be found around Sagada.

i thought while my eyes were fixed on them, why would someone hang coffins when you can lay them down flat at the grounds? why would someone punch holes at the hard limestone 30 feet from the ground?

well, as i was not certain to why, it just ceased my mind to wander but wonder knowing that different culture and place breeds different thinking and thus a different way of life.

it made me at awed that Sagadans have such a special way of looking things up. making Sagada more beautiful and a unique treasure and sight to behold.

thanks to Nadz for being a guest writer for the two posts feature on Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins. here's a video i found in youtube as posted by crystalthread that will show you a wider perspective of its location. this is from another site still around Sagada.

sagada echo valley - repercussion of our voices

2009-06-18T00:14:00.001+08:00

with my ankle sprained from the cave connection, i decided not to join the walk in the afternoon of that day. Nadz and Kit proceeded to one of the most significant part of the trip. this is a special post as written by guest writer Nadz.

after a much needed rest from the Lumiang-Sumaging spelunking. we proceeded to our next adventure, the Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins.

the trek going to the cemetery took only a few minutes from the St. Mary's Episcopal Church which serves as the gate to the spooky yet thrilling walk.

the fork at the end of the road was a bit confusing to us since the green map we bought revealed nothing but a dashed line. thankfully, we were fortunate enough to have an encounter with five local children, Batang Sagadans as we fondly called them. we invited them to go with us and instantly became our cheerful guides.

we passed by a Christian cemetery and with a sloping hill of it depicted a common cemetery setup which can be seen in every part of our country. the steep hills proved to be a challenge to traverse especially for us who have watched our dumbbells turned into rust. trees lined up and so with the limestones beautifully parched the scene and gave us a magnificent view at the Echo Point. our voices reverberated for at least twice when we shouted out our exhausted breathe.

proving to us its name, Echo Valley. it was a different experience and we gladly took the exercise but did not further to becoming Andrea Bocelli.

up next the way down to the Hanging Coffins of Sagada.

sumaguing cave - sagada

2009-06-15T00:14:00.003+08:00

after crossing the cave's big dance hall, we heard sounds coming from the path ahead of us. we knew that Sumaguing cave trail was not far from where we were.this is Sagada's renowned big cave because of its big chamber that goes deep down its rocky hills. it is also the busiest cave among Sagada's gigantic cave system.as we went on, we already saw the light from both ways, one coming from where we came and one down to where we were about to go. when we reached the chamber's end, we saw the way down to Sumaguing's deepest reachable point.later on, we met two foreign tourists with their guide now going ahead of us. we enjoyed taking photos on some of the chambers that we've entered, which made us stay longer.we then reached the Sumaguing trail where more and more people coming from the top can be seen. it was at this point when i decided not to force myself down as the pain on my left ankle caused by an injury along the way was already uncomfortable.so Nadz and Kit instead went on with our guide. i stayed on one portion midway down Sumaguing cave. seeing very beautiful rock formations in this cave made spelunking very exciting.the guides would point at some of the rock formations giving them names based on its form. mostly shaped by the hundreds of years of flowing water inside this cave.among the most beautiful formation is the curtain wall forming like a hanging long piece of cloth. when down there, the experience was like one is inside a museum that featured many valuable historical items naturally displayed.there were pools of water where one can swim alongside really amazing walls. down there, no other light source except the one from the guide's lamp. so a display of each rock formation are only revealed when the guide's lamp make way to those wonderful rock forms.after a swim, Nadz and Kit made their way back this time climbing on ropes on an almost vertical wall. the way down is different from the way up on this portion of the cave's trail.more people were still going down when we started climbing back up out of the cave. there was a part where one will pass over the bats stinky manures and slippery rocks.the way up out of Sumaguing cave was way easier than the Lumiang trail. some steps were already fixed to provide ease when caving down. when we reached our exit, which is the entrance for those doing the Sumaguing caving only, we felt fulfilled.it was at this point when all i can say was "to be inside Sagada's cave system for four hours was one of the best experience i had in my life". now i believe, that you've never been to Sagada if you haven't done caving on one of its beautiful caves. it's a must see.

Evolution of the Philippine Flag - 111th Philippine Independence

2009-06-12T14:11:00.000+08:00

i'm still in Pangasinan and so i made this post in an advance. in the celebration of the 111th Philippine Independence Day commemorated on this day, here's a video taken from Youtube that shows the historical background behind today's National flag. thanks to ICRJ productions for the video.
Happy Independence Day Pilipinas!

an awesome weekend

2009-06-11T00:34:00.005+08:00

the new Awesome Philippines website of the Department of Tourism features Pinoy travel bloggers of which dong ho's Eskapo is featured. check out its 7,107 stories plus dong ho's photo of Bantayan island was also included on the "Awesomeness in Stills".

explore the new www.awesomephilippines.com today.

it will be another awesome weekend as i'll be out of town again somewhere in Pangasinan. a beautiful beachscape to celebrate the country's 111th Independence day!

if you're staying in Manila over the weekend, make sure to drop by Cubao Expo or also called Cubao X on June 12 3:00pm till 12midnight as emerging travel magazine ROAM launches its second issue. a photo exhibit entitled "Train of Thoughts" will also take part during the event. plus a night of music, shopping, cool crowd, and travel fair. Roam The X is supported by YKL, Canon, Calcium Cee Vitamin, Villa Anna Resort, Pretty Looks, PNR, Mogwai, Blacksoup Project, Heima & Cubao X. Check http://roammag.multiply.com/ for more details or click here.

watch out as Eskapo will also be giving out free ROAM magazine in the coming days. enjoy your weekend!

lumiang cave connection - sagada

2009-06-09T00:18:00.003+08:00

seeing how deep the cave entrance was, our guide asked "ready now?". without hesitation we answered "yes. we are" yet deep inside there was a bit of doubt if we will really do it after looking at the cave's opening.very few people choose to do the cave connection in Sagada's cave system. the treacherous and dark Lumiang cave is part of the Philippines' deepest cave system. reaching a vertical range of 534feet or equivalent to about 53floors of a standard flooring height.most of the tourists would take the Sumaguing cave spelunking which is also part of the Sagada cave system. one enters the opening of Sumaguing cave and comes out from it after reaching the basin. but only a few takes the challenge to do the cave connection. which means that we enter in Lumiang cave and comes out of Sumaguing cave. three to four hours of spelunking that can actually be life threatening.our guide Mang Wilbur, lights his Petromax lamp as if giving us enough time to rethink if we will really be doing it. but with a motivation, coming from someone who told us that we've never been to Sagada if we didn't do this, the three of us were determined to do it."we will be going down there" Mang Wilbur pointing in a small hole, which was only revealed after the lamp was lit. we can't see what was down the hole as the lamp's brightness was limited to the first chamber that we were in to.he enters the hole ahead of us bringing the lamp which then revealed that the darkness was not only caused by the absence of light but also because it was deep. about fifteen feet high. travel buddy Nadz went ahead as Mang Wilbur guides him where to step and where to hold on.i followed and travel buddy and official photographer Kit, came last. after successfully coming down, a mini terraces-like flooring came into sight. it was impressive to think how it formed in such beauty.we then continued our way down from one dark chamber to another, passing on high steep inner passages which required flexibility and focus to the guide's instructions. there were areas where one can actually fall down and hit the cave's rough rock floors. that can happen if the instruction of the guide was not followed properly.every chamber that we surpassed safely, we felt like it was one great fulfillment. we enjoyed every stop that we made, took some photos on some parts. drips of water comes from the top and no other sound can be heard.we didn't see any bats nor small insects except for an occasional sighting of a black bird passing over us. the temperature was getting colder as we went deeper. we were still clueless of how deep we will be going but what was on my mind that time was the lower we go, the same height we will be climbing up.there was a part when we have to go up using a rope and totally rely on it or else we can fall on a high dark cliff. it was at that part when my left ankle was injured. from there i already had a hard time walking. yet still endured the journey most of the time using my right foot.we went down to about ten chambers some even bigger than a two-floor height room. there were parts when we were required to remove our slippers as some areas are very slippery. the lowest part was when we were to cross a chamber of water that reaches up to our shoulders. we were asked to remove our shirts as it can cause hypothermia. we wrapped our shirts on top of our head and crossed this almost ten-meter length of water stepping on rocks. we took a break after that and continued our journey to a bigger chamber which signified that we were already at the boundary of Lumiang and Sumaging cave. we were already spelunking for about two and a half hours. a granule shape rock and a chicken-foot shape rock symbolized the boundary.we reached the dancing hall as they call it, which was really huge. a chamber comparable to the size of an indoor basketball court.

on the coming post, our journey continues to Sumaguing cave or popularly known as the big cave.

lumiang burial coffins - sagada

2009-06-07T15:43:00.001+08:00

the burial coffins outside Lumiang cave is believed to be more than five hundred years. there's about a hundred wooden coffins all piled up in the opening of this cave. early morning the next day, we went to the tourism office at the municipal hall to meet with our guide for the cave connection. cave guides are certified to be trained and has good experience in the field of spelunking.we were introduced to Manong Wilbur Timpac who has been entering these caves for more than 15years now. a quiet yet compose type of person now on his thirtees. he led us down the paved road to barangay Ambasing, where some of the burial caves are found. even along the road, we passed by small caves with burial coffins outside its opening.towering stone walls can be seen from afar with some hanging coffins, which i'll be featuring in the coming posts. pine trees are everywhere and and the farther we go, the fewer the houses.when we reached about 500meters of walking, we turned left now entering a rough path. upon reaching the cave's opening, we saw the coffins piled up almost reaching the cave's curved ceiling.years back, the tribes that inhabited Sagada practiced the tradition of placing the coffins of the dead outside a cave opening instead of the traditional human burial. it is not even placed inside the cave as they believe that the dead deserves to be exposed.if you look closely at the wooden coffins, you'll notice that it's smaller than the usual coffin. this is because the bodies are placed in fetal position. in the belief that since the baby in the mother's womb is in this position, humans are to be in the same position when buried.some of the coffins has animal carvings, of which a form of a gecko is common. according to some, this represents good leadership among the clan.all the coffins in Lumiang cave are believed to be people coming from the same clan. therefore others are placed on other caves around Sagada. some coffins are already damaged through time. but for years of preservation, the coffins are now being protected and safeguarded by the guides through the initiatives of Sagada's cultural preservation team. i consider this site as a national treasure.

the great escape

2009-06-05T00:05:00.002+08:00

beyond trekking, the great adventure one can do in Sagada is spelunking. we had to be away from sunlight for four hours crossing from one cave to another. darkness surrounds us but with a reliable guide and enough light source, we surpassed this great challenging experience. i strongly believe that this applies to life.doing the cave connection comes up next. but before that, since i'm also celebrating this special day. allow me to share few things about myself.

the fifth letter of my real name is "n".
it was when i was five years old when i entered school.
i spent five years in college as an engineering student.
the fifth book that i've read is the Hardy Boys.
the fifth cellphone that i owned is a Nokia E51.
the fifth province that i visited is Zamboanga del Norte.
my fifth flight was from Manila to Cebu.
the fifth mountain that i climbed is Mt. Gulugod Baboy.
the fifth island that i've been to is the island of Romblon.

sagada weaving

2009-06-03T20:36:00.001+08:00

we have seen it weaved in looms and was amazed with how each thread formed one full cloth. it was a privilege to have seen how intricate it was made.about twenty-minute walk away from town center is the famous Sagada weaving house. down in the Nangonogan area, you'll find this souvenir shop where bags, table clothes, head covers are being sold. all these items were tailored in the shop but not everyone knows that the clothes were actually woven in the building at the back of this shop. we were privileged enough to meet with the owner and allowed us to see how it was made.upon entering the weaving area, we learned that taking photos were prohibited not unless the workers agrees to be photographed. in our case, they allowed us but still we limited our shots of the wooden loom and the threads.threads are interlaced through the use of the loom these days but even before the influence of the missionaries, the locals already do the native way of weaving. it houses a number of looms and dedicated weavers.different tribes in the Cordilleras has its unique design pattern. making the woven cloth from Baguio different from the ones made in Sagada.after observing how it was being weaved, we made sure to bring home a piece of it. a perfect souvenir for the travelers who wants a piece of Sagada's culture.

sagada church

2009-06-01T14:31:00.003+08:00

one of the most beautiful concrete structure in the whole town of Sagada is the Episcopalian church of St. Mary. this was built through the help of the American missionaries led by Rev. Fr. John Staunton.it was built in early 1900s and until now it remains one of the biggest structure around Sagada. it stands as a symbol of Christianity in the area. a solid structure seems to symbolize Sagada's solid faith.it has a nice lawn with the old bell and an two old wheels placed in a platform. the bell has a story behind it that you can read in Vicente Sapguian's blog.it has an unusual door design that makes it partly distinct to all the other Spanish influenced churches around the country.
what also makes this church beautiful is its location. it is definitely the most prominent and most visible structure. even with the pine trees surrounding it, one can always be captivated by its size.this church may be Episcopalian but tourists of different sect still finds this church a very reflective place. a perfect stop for someone who visits Sagada.the Episcopalian missionaries developed Sagada into a place of trade, good education and even provided a hospital. but at the same time allowing the people to still embrace its culture.

sagada - a charming countryside

2009-05-29T00:03:00.001+08:00

it remains secluded in the middle of the Cordilera region at a height of 1480meters above sea level. a town where the hills meets the clouds.Sagada is a mountain town that is roughly ten to twelve hours away from the urban Manila. it is known for its tranquility and great adventure walks.this town has evolved from an untouched tribal village to a charming countryside town. it has kept intact some of the hanging coffins and burial caves.
we arrived around 12:30noon time with the sun out and perfect for a daywalk around Sagada's central town area. the bus trip was a great experience, it was not torturous as it was years back.
in the coming posts, we will bring you to some of its famous sites. my camera was damaged during the trip but lucky enough to have with me Kit and Nadz whose photos will be featured on eskapo's Sagada series.

halsema highway - cordillera mountain range

2009-05-27T00:02:00.002+08:00

six hours of stunningly beautiful mountain range. the most beautiful and the largest range in the country. the Cordillera of the Philippines.if you've been to Baguio, you have just seen a bit of the Cordillera mountain range. travel buddy Kit and i took noon time bus to Baguio and met Nadz after our meet with Lingkod Baguio. had coffee with Binx, Meann and ended up going home around 2:00am. up by 5:12am the next day to take one of the earliest trip to Sagada.we arrived at the Dangwa terminal of Baguio just in time for the second trip. the bus left 6:34am it passing by Upper Tomay in La Trinidad. we entered the Halsema Highway which begins at the outskirts of La Trinidad.this mountain highway connects two of Cordillera's province, which are the province of Benguet and the great Mountain Province. the 180kilometer-highway connects the two capital towns of these two provinces.our first stop was at the bus terminal of Atok. this was the longest stopover from the whole trip to Sagada. we were given 15minutes to take our breakfast and for some to go to the comfort rooms. the time was good enough.Halsema highway is also considered as the highest highway in the country with its highest point somewhere in Atok. the highest point is about 2,255meters above see level. that makes it higher than Mount Banahaw's peak.this highway was opened in 1930 as led by Engineer Euseibus Julius Halsema of whom this highway was named after. he was also Baguio city's mayor during that time.
the whole trip, i was awed by the beauty of the mountains. but through the fogs, the trail can be blurry and grayish. making this highway a dangerous trail during the rainy season.but from a person, who stayed for most of his life in a flat and plain town, the fogs over mountains definitely are a great view. this makes me love the Cordillera region so much.rice terraces and green paddies is a usual sight along this highway. sometimes you will pass over the side of it and sometimes it comes over the hills along the highway. farming is the most common way of life here and majority of the vegetables distributed in Manila today comes from the Cordilleras. this highway has greatly contributed to the ease of transporting these goods. but there were times when this region was hit by frost causing great damages on its crops.today, parts of the highway are still unpaved but are continuously being rehabilitated. rough roads are now very minimal in this highway. what used to be a torturous road is now a highway that can soon be compared to that of the Marcos highway.you will pass by boulders of huge mountain rocks carved to give way to the road's widened path. those rocks rises high giving great scenic views similar to the roads going to Kapangan.when the bus reached the intersection that separates the way to Bontoc and Sagada, the trip was now going uphill with a rough and steeper road. it signifies that we were now approaching the town of Sagada.despite the lack of sleep, i was awake the whole trip looking in awe how beautiful the Cordillera region is.i would like to dedicate this post to my travel friend Kit who is celebrating his birthday today. he and Nadz will be my guest photographer and writer for the Sagada series.

trip rate:
road trip: 5.0
road quality: 4.0
mountain view: 5.0

third where is this winner

2009-05-26T10:25:00.002+08:00

whoa! i thought no one would guess it. but we have a sole winner. the right answer is St. William Cathedral in San Fernando La Union. this was taken during my trip during the early part of the year when we went to Baguio. instead of taking the usual road back to Manila, we took the Naguilian highway down to La Union and made a stopover at San Fernando. San Fernando city is the capital of the province of La Union. it is known to be a surfing haven.the winner gets the book Extra Rice. congratulations to photo cache! please email me for the details. thank you to all those who participated.

where is this? - just guess

2009-05-25T00:01:00.006+08:00

before i proceed with the next series, i'm giving out another contest. this is the third time i'm doing this. you can check out the first here and the second one here. it's simple, just guess where this church is. again just guess.clue is it's just within the island of Luzon somewhere along its coast. just give me the name of the city or the town. if in case no one gets it correctly, i'll consider the province. and if in case a number of people gets it right, i'll raffle the names who guessed it correctly. only one answer per user and if in case you gave more than one answer, the first from your list will be the valid entry.

just like the previous contests, it will be just for one day. contest begins 12:01am that's right now and ends by 11:59pm tonight. the price is a book entitled Extra Rice. enjoy!

nine reasons why i love marinduque

2009-05-22T17:33:00.007+08:00

ending the Marinduque and the Moriones series is not easy for me as we had an awesome experience there. to end, here are my nine reasons why i love the island of Marinduque with some links that leads to the previous posts.

[9] bibingka. several types of bibingkas, a type of rice cake, can be found around the Philippines. but the ones in Marinduque are bigger in size and it has a taste different from the variety that i've tasted. it can't easily be found there, you really have to search for those sidewalks because to the locals it is ordinary.[8] walk around boac. the simplicity of this rustic town is so obvious. with some old houses just around the town central. a walk in the morning sometimes makes me feel that it's therapeutic. even at noon time, the city remains unbusy, despite being the province's capital town. rustic town of boac

[7] roadtrip. in just a day, one can actually go around the island. but with interesting sights on each of the six municipalities, it isn't best to do that. with good chance, one can actually experience topload ride and the best place to do this is the trip from Balanacan port to the town of Boac. beautiful exhilirating views of the hills and coastline is awesome.roadtrip to sta cruz

[6] the churches. most of the churches here are now 400years old. unique from one another some were built as fortress. we visited three of these churches mostly located uphill.church of boac
church of gasan
church of sta cruz

[5] the traditions. if one wants to spend a time with the feel of a solemn Holy week, i recommend Marinduque. with different traditions like the senakulo or the reenactment of Christ' death until his resurrection. flagellantes are very much alive in this island. each town celebrates simultaneously these traditions that signifies the importance of the ultimate sacrifice.procession of hope

[4] creativity. until now, everytime i see the Morion masks on my photo storage, i'm still amazed with the details that they put in it. at first i thought it was made of something else but soon learned that it's actually made of carved wood, painted and polished. it has evolved thru the years. the Moriones costumes today is from the masks down to the sandals. Marinduquenos creativity is excellent.moriones festival 2009 - ethnic and recycled

[3] island boat trip. the islands of Tres Reyes are islands so accessible from the coastal villages of Marinduque. a nice, though now occupied by a small village, island of Gaspar has a pebble bar beach. with small hidden white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. explored caves and beautiful rock formations. but these are not the only islands that you can visit, there are other beautiful islands around Marinduque. go explore.gaspar island - pebble beach
gaspar island - hidden beach

[2] the festival. definitely one of the best, most colorful and authentic festival in the Philippines. rooted from almost two hundred years of tradition and devotion being passed from generation to generation. behind the story of the converted Roman soldier, are the people's devotion to God. the festival covers the whole week from Christ journey to his death until resurrection.moriones festival 2009
moriones festival - a brief history
moriones festival - battle of the morions

[1] the friendly people. sit down, order a coffee on an ordinary shop and you'll end up in a conversation that can get to as far as being offered for a visit to their home. if it's your first time there, no worries. almost everyone seems to be a friendly guide. genuine hospitality is what i love the most in this island.to prove how much i love this island, i'll be there next year again and by that time with you.

to all the frequent readers, thank you for joining me with the Marinduque series. to travel friend Nadz thank you. special thanks to the Jordan family and the people of Marinduque for the genuine hospitality. to the provincial government of Marinduque for posting my photo in their blog site.

related post:
ten reasons why i love boracay

the philippine churches - coconuter

2009-05-21T11:42:00.005+08:00

check out dong ho's contribution to the coconuter community.