Island Hopping at Hundred Islands

Hundred Islands is a well-known tourist destination in Alaminos, Pangasinan. Its name gives you a hint that the place has around 100 big and small islands to explore. Not only that, the place is also blessed with beautiful caves.

Governor’s Island is the biggest island in the place. The Pinoy Big Brother House, where the challenge of the first teen edition happened, was built in this island. Some of the tv series such as Marina were also shot in the islands.

To reach the other islands, you can walk or ride a boat if it is high tide. There is an island in the place where need to enter in the cave and jump from up to the sea water. You will never get bore in this wonderful place. It is all because if you are bored of staying in one island, you still have 99 islands to explore.


Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan, Philippines
April 2006
With UP Sandigan

The Magnificent Songs of the Sea

Have you heard the Songs of the Sea? It is not what as you think that the sea sings. Songs of the Sea is a theater performance in Sentosa Island, Singapore. It is a show combining the elements of fire, water, and light plus a great presentation from the performers.

Songs of the Sea attracts thousands of tourists in Singapore. From the city of Singapore, you need to take the MRT going to Harbour Front. When you are in the Harbour Front station, you need to ride again an MRT that will take you to the beautiful island of Sentosa.

The show starts at 8 in the evening, and it lasts for around two hours. A payment of 10 Singaporean dollars is worth it after watching the show. The Songs of the Sea performance has a very wonderful view. The audience sit by the beach and as you wait for the show to start, you can witness the beautiful sunset.

Many spectators wait patiently for the show to begin. When it starts, you will be amazed by the astounding performance of the artists. Their show is a combination of singing, dancing, and acting. The performers are really great in singing, and they dance gracefully. Their acting is as wonderful as the professional artists. In additional, this performance is complemented by splendid fireworks, refreshing water, and luminous lights to make the show truly unforgettable. As the fireworks go off, it gives a pleasant feeling to the audience. The fireworks show in between the presentation adds to a wonderful ambience. It gives a romantic touch to the surroundings. Bring your girlfriend here, and for sure, you will get a positive response when you ask “Will you marry me?”

The variety show “Songs of the Sea” is something that you should not miss to watch when you are in Singapore. It makes your Singapore trip memorable because of having witness such a one of a kind performance.

Sentosa Island, Singapore
May 2010
With Teacher Halzi

Holy Week '07 in Cam Norte with Corey

My college friend, Corey, brought me to her hometown in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, and there we spent our Holy Week. Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte is part of Bicol Region. Corey told me that Padilla family originated from this town.

Jose Panganiban is just a very small place. Yet, I was amazed to see a huge number of people offering prayers in the church and professing their belief to the God they adore. Corey’s house is just beside the church. We needed to be in the church as early as we could so we would have a vacant chair to sit in. When the mass started, a lot of people were standing and some of them flocked even at the outside part of the church.

During the holy week, there is one ritual you can witness in Jose Panganiban. There are people with masks who carry something to hit their back. They walk around the town from a mountain (according to Corey), and they will end up at the pier where they will jump into the sea. Some of the local residents do it as a sacrifice so that their sins will be forgiven. Others do it because this is their payment in exchange of an answered prayer.

When Sunday approached, Corey’s family and I went swimming. The beach has steep stones, but the place is great for relaxation. The clean water is safe for a long dipping and soaking.


On our last day in Jose Panganiban, Corey toured me around the town. It is a peaceful place where you can see people playing basketball in the plaza and hanging out in the park. Among the nicest places I have seen is the “Il Mare”. I do not know how they call this place, but I call it “Il Mare” since it resembles the house in the movie “Il Mare”.



Camarines Norte, Philippines
March 2007
With Corey