I've been to Pangasinan once with my dad when I was a kid, and I remember enjoying my time in the province. So when an opportunity to visit 2 of its municipalities were given to us [April 26 to 27, 2014], I couldn't pass up the chance to explore its travel-worthy destinations.
According to Wikipedia: "The name Pangasinan means "place for salt" or "place of salt-making"; it is derived from the prefix pang, meaning "for", the root word asin, meaning "salt”, and suffix an, signifying "location." The province is a major producer of salt in the Philippines. Its major products include "bagoong" ("salted-fish") and "agamang" ("salted-shrimp")."
Most of the buses in Pagudpud usually leave town in 15-minute intervals. So you won't have a hard time getting a ride to Laoag, if ever you're heading there. Anyway, Kuya Raphie picked us up at Cathy's Homestay and dropped us off at the terminal. He waited until our bus left, which was at 9:50 in the morning.
There's plenty to see in and out of Baguio that spending a few days in the Summer Capital of the Philippines wouldn’t be enough! Making the City of Pines your destination of choice will let you experience one of your best adventures yet. The cold weather in the mountains, the warm welcome from the locals, the sumptuous food choices, and the rich culture and heritage up north makes Baguio one of the top places worth seeing in the Philippines.
It's always an enriching experience whenever I join Familiarization Tours. Not only do I get the chance to meet like-minded individuals, I also get to learn more about the locale, its culture, traditions and significant sites. And having been invited to explore Bataan for two days made me appreciate my country more.
Angono isn't just the Art Capital of the Philippines. It's also a gastronomic destination that prides on a great list of local eateries in Rizal. In between our visits to museums and galleries, we were treated to mouthwatering food and drinks, some of which I continue to dream and drool over up to this day.
According to Discover Guimaras, "Iloilo city is the gateway to Guimaras". From Iloilo airport, we took the airport shuttle to SM Mandurriao (30 minutes with no traffic) and then rode a cab towards Parola Wharf (10-15 minutes). From Parola Wharf, we rode a pumpboat that was bound for the City of Golden Mangoes. The boat trip only took 15 minutes.
We all know that Christmas is fast approaching (7 more sleeps to go!). Everyone's already rushing to the nearest mall or traveling all the way to Divisoria just to get their last minute yuletide hauls. But for those who may want to save on both time and energy, online shops are always the best go-to alternatives. Just consider Lazada Philippines for example --- one of the fastest-growing online shopping sites in the country today.
Lazada offers a lot of cool and affordable products, which ranges from the latest gadgets, best deals on books, unique home & living items, child-friendly toys, hip fashion accessories, travel gears and more.
So when I found out that Lazada hosted an array of travel goodies, I immediately browsed through their hundreds of items. And lo and behold! I found some of the nicest gift ideas for travel aficionado family and friends.
#THROWBACKTRAVEL | General Santos City is an independent city that lacks the usual tourist destinations despite being a melting pot of business industries in Mindanao. But GenSan is still worthy of exploration given its noteworthy background. The ‘Tuna Capital of the Philippines' (famous for its yellow-fin tuna), which hosts the annual Tuna Festival every September is also proud of being chosen as one of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s homes. The world champion professional boxer calls his residence in General Santos City as Mansion II.
The dynamic “Melting Pot of Central Luzon”, which is a 2-hour drive from Manila, is packed with lots of local sites and exciting activities. You will surely enjoy what Tarlac has to offer, as it features notable and exciting destinations like the Monasterio de Tarlac, Aquino Center and Museum, and Kart City Tarlac. But if you’re looking for a more laid-back escape, you can hit a few golf balls at the nearby Luisita Golf & Country Club, or go kayaking at the beautifully maintained Tarlac Recreational Park. All these and more can be found just in Tarlac.
It took us months to get all the required documents collected and authenticated. So I was surprised when our papers were approved after just a month. Everything moved so fast as soon as my entry permit to Dubai was finally issued. I was given a two month pass to enter the UAE, which was enough time to process my papers -- with that being said, getting the actual residency visa stamped on my passport, and passing my medical exam. I wasn't prepared to leave. But after much debate with my husband about my departure date, I left the Philippines half-anxious and half-excited. I just had to remind myself that “this was it!” My husband and I were one step closer to bridging the LDR gap.
If there's a specific hotel chain in the Philippines that I keep coming back to, it would be Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham. I've always enjoyed my time with them because whichever property I’m staying in, I’m sure to get the best from them. I just love their distinct taste when it comes to the design of their rooms and facilities, as the decor is very consistent in terms of style and arrangement. I also love Microtel's hotel staff (from the front desk to housekeeping), as they always provide a pleasant customer experience.
Photo courtesy of Kaiye
I was supposed to leave for a quick trip abroad. So I booked Microtel, Mall of Asia, as it was just a short drive to NAIA 3. I was able to get a nice deal for this specific hotel at Traveloka, as they offered room rates that were more affordable compared to my usual go-to booking sites. With Traveloka, I was assured that there would be no hidden charges (no more surprises upon checkout), which was a good thing. Anyhow, here's how my booking went:
Capiz isn't named the "Seafood Capital of the Philippines" just for nothing. It's a must-visit local destination, as the province has a never-ending supply of prawns, mud crabs, and shellfish. You name it, they surely have what you're craving for!
I really had no plans to travel in the last quarter of this year due to some financial priorities. But Travel Expos happen to have this charm that just seems to attract you into purchasing at least a ticket or two. As for me, I ended up booking a round trip plane ticket that was bound for General Santos via Philippine Airlines. General Santos, which is the southernmost city in the Philippines, is part of the SOCCSKSARGEN region (stands for the region's 4 provinces and one of its cities: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City). Although governed as an independent city, "GenSan" is geographically located in the province of South Cotabato. It also serves as the gateway to several municipalities such as Maasim, Alabel, and Malungon in Saranggani, as well as Polomolok and T'boli in South Cotabato.
Like everyone else on transit, looking for a place to stay-in is very important. And for a budget traveler like me, I always make it a point to find affordable accommodations that also offer quality spaces. That's when I found Microtel by Wyndham - General Santos.
I loved everything that Microtel General Santos offered us. Everything was impeccable, from the complimentary pick-up at the airport to our smooth hotel checkout. But it doesn't end there. So allow me to count the ways, as to why I loved our accommodations in the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines".
A visit to Antique has been long overdue, and all it took was a little push from friends to finally come and explore the province. And I’m glad I went because spending six days all over Panay Island was quite memorable, as it blessed me a week filled with amazing travel experiences, loyal camaraderie, new discoveries, and deep reflection. Antique has put me under its charm, completely.
Nothing beats relaxing by the beach. More so, experiencing the different wonders of the Philippines. #itsmorefuninthephilippines
I have been on and off board airplanes, hopping from one island to another in just a span of 7 days. I was just in Bohol (my 2nd time there), and was back again at the airport for another getaway. But this time, I spent the weekend in Coron with my love.
Every Microtel Hotel has its similarities, especially when it comes to its distinct architecture, classy interiors, chiropractor-approved mattresses, and room configurations (amongst other things). But for every Microtel property in the Philippines, each one is still very different from the other, just like Microtel Tarlac. While strategically positioned to serve the needs of nearby companies, this international brand also serves as a venue for both rest and recreation.
#THROWBACKTRAVEL | Nothing is ever too late for anyone, especially when you pursue your dreams. I saw myself exploring my country one province at a time, experiencing its many different cultures and traditions, and meeting different people on the road. And in those dreams, I imagined visiting South Cotabato in Mindanao to sightsee its natural wonders and to meet its amazing people, the T’boli Tribe in Lake Sebu. Everything materialized late 2014 when my friend and I finally flew in the southern part of the Philippines for an unforgettable birthday getaway.
One of the things that I love about wayfaring is having the opportunity to share my passion for it. And in the past two years, I've been offered the chance to write for a few local magazines. It is through print media that I continuously get to show more of my love for exploring the Philippines.
Good news, travel bugs! Traveling to the "Land of the Rising Sun" is now made more affordable with the latest international offering from Jetstar Japan. Japan's largest low cost carrier (LCC) has finally come to Manila. They’ve recently announced that they would start offering their low-fare services from three of their Japanese ports (Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya), which will fly direct to and fro Manila. These three Manila routes will begin their operations at NAIA Terminal 1 starting mid-March.
It's been three weeks since our 5-day trip around Ilocos, and still I miss the places that we visited and the people that we've met a long the way. Truly, Ilocos is an enchanting place -- one filled with lots of surprises! So in memory of our trip, let me share to you what transpired on our first few days there by starting out with Vigan City.
WHAT TO DO IN VIGAN
If you’re strapped on time like we were, try to put aside at least 2-3 hours for a city tour around Vigan. With us, we were able to arrange a tour with a nice tricycle driver named Roy, right after getting off the bus. We asked him to take us around town, wherein we arranged a 3PM pick-up at our lodging that same afternoon.
With Kuya Roy -- our nice tour guide/tricycle driver. :)
Budget Biyahera is about finding fun and distinct food and destinations, accommodations, products/gears and activities that people can enjoy on a ‘regular’ person’s budget and schedule.
