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

Trek to Mount Banahaw

Mount Banahaw is the mountain that serves as a border between Majayjay, Laguna and Lucban, Quezon. There are many hikers who visit the place because it is the nearest 2000-meter mountain to Manila. This mountain is also popular to the pilgrims as this is known to be a holy place.

Around the area of the mountain, there are some residents who adore the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal. They make Rizal as their savior. They even have a chapel where they praise the national hero.

One will love the place because of its natural beauty. It has a verdant mountain, clear water river, and small and big-mouthed caves.

The river is clean and pure. You can submerge yourself in the water without worrying if you will have skin itchiness after. There is also waterfalls here where you can jump from the top into the river. The water in one river here is believed to have a curative power. When you pass by this river, you will see people taking a bath because they believed they will be healed.


If you like spelunking, this place is also good for you. There are caves here with various sizes of exits and entrances. Be sure that the cave you are getting into is safe. When we had our field trip before, there was once who almost got injured. She exited to the dead end. It was a very small cave and you could get through it only by crawling. She should turn left, but instead, she went straight. Good thing that we had good tour guides who helped her.


Going to the top of Mount Banahaw is very tiring, but once you are on top, it is very rewarding. This is the destination of most pilgrims during the holy week because there is a holy cross at the summit of this mountain.


Mount Banahaw, Philippines
March 2006
With PI 100 students under Nilo Ocampo

Alone in Baguio

My first travel adventure was when I traveled alone to Baguio. Like some of the first time travelers, I felt scared at the beginning. However, since this was what I wanted to do in life, I had successfully overcome my anxiety.

I went at the Victory Liner Bus Station in Kamuning, Quezon City. The bus to Baguio would leave at 12 midnight and it would reach the place at 6 in the morning. I could not remember anymore the bus fare, but maybe, it was not lower than 500 pesos.

I arrived at the Summer Capital of the Philippines at six in the morning of April 2007. When I arrived in Baguio City, I felt really scared and worried. Only then I realized that it was Friday the 13th plus I was a graduating college student. According to some superstitious beliefs, something bad would happen on Friday the 13th. On the other hand, a graduating student would be prone to accident that might cause injury or death. This thinking scared me most. I even tried to ride in a bus again and went back to Manila. But then, there should be no back-outs. I should overcome my fear.

I stepped out from the bus and started my journey. As I walked outside the bus station, I could feel the cold wind. I bought “taho” so I would feel warm. I looked for Baguio Resident’s Hall (BREHA), a dormitory in UP Baguio (UP students usually have discount here once they show their UP ID). I paid for one night stay in this dormitory. I was alone in the room. Again, I was scared because Baguio had been known as a home for ghosts and other spirits. But then again, I should overcome my fear because this was what I wanted to do in my life (I keep on reiterating this to give me confidence).

I left my baggage in the dormitory and began my exploration. I strolled around Baguio so I would be familiar of the place. These were the places I had seen:

1) UP Baguio Campus. As a UP student, I should not miss the chance of visiting the UP Baguio Campus and seeing its oblation. The UP Baguio Oblation is smaller than the oblation in UP Diliman. It is color black, and it stands on a structure surrounded by flowers and plants.


2) Sunshine Park. On the way to SM Baguio, one would passed by a small park called Sunshine Park. There are colorful flowers and lush plants here that make you feel relaxed.


3) SM Baguio. Baguio is also popular because of its ancient collections. During graduation in UP, we wear Filipiniana costume. I scouted for this Filipiniana costume in SM Baguio because I knew they had the nicest Filipinana. Yes, they had the most wonderful costume, but it was very expensive. I then texted my mom and informed her that we would just buy the Filipiniana costume in Manila.


Those are the places I have visited in Baguio City. I still plan to come back to see the other tourist destinations I have not visited before.

Baguio City, Philippines
April 2007
Alone

Why I love to travel

My interest in traveling has been triggered by my history subjects during my high school years. I have been attached to Philippines and Asian History, so from then on, traveling around Philippines and Asia has been added to my goal lists.

As I start to travel, I find many reasons to continue this passion. Here are some of those things:

1) Form of Relaxation. When I travel, I am immersed in a new environment. Everything I see and experience is new to me. This gives me an invigorating feeling. I become refreshed and renewed when I go back to my real life.
2) Meet new friends. I meet several people as I travel. These people are usually the drivers, hotel personnel, restaurant staff, tour guides, tourists and many more. These people especially the local residents give me a more intensive information about the place or the tourist attractions I am visiting. I can expand my network by chatting and mingling with them
3) Learn many things. This is my fundamental reason of traveling. Travel provides me a lot of learning experiences. I explore and discover more about the place’s history, its culture, and its people.

Traveling is the best hobby of all hobbies. I spend money, but it is all worth it since the learning I get along the way is eternal and non-payable.