It’s drizzling on a Monday and I’m riding at the back of a motorcycle together with my sister, it’s headlight is severely damaged. This time, the driver slash tour guide is no stranger to me. He is my biological father and he is taking us to his homeland. He was wearing a broken helmet as we weaved our way to a secluded barrio.
The sky is getting darker,and I felt it’s sadness. On the other side of the mountain, (more…)
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Aside from the reasons I stated in my Boracay entry, I must admit that one major reason why I joined the contest is my dream of becoming a part of the SEAIR adventure club. (no Sir Leo, I’m not hinting! 
).
This is the summary of the SEAIR and Microtel Boracay’s Bloggers Tour, while I’m still working on getting back the memory card that I lost in Boracay that contains SEAIR photos, aerial shots, Microtel Boracay photos , Mama’s Fish House photos, the Philippine Travel Mart photos (my souvenir photos with Dong, Tin and Melo) and everything else that happened on the 1st day of our tour! *sniff sniff* I only realized it’s missing during the wee hours in the morning, roughly 6 hours before our return flight.
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Zambales is well-known for its beaches, especially Subic,but not most Pinoy probably know Pundaquit. It is a small fishing village facing the South China Sea in San Antonio, Zambales. 
Pundaquit is a famous jump off point to Camara Island, Capones Island, Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove.
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This is one of the trips that I miss the most, a weekend get-away with my sisters. After my Pundaquit trip I couldn’t contain my excitement to go back to Zambales and do the island hopping with my sisters –> Capones Island, Anawangin Cove and the overshadowed Camara Island! 
We were already on a bus to Pundaquit from Subic when I texted the boatman, and his reply was, ” The waves are huge, we couldn’t risk the boat and your safety.” 
“Bummer! It can’t be, we’re almost there !” , so I persuaded the boatman, since he is scheduled to pick up a family at Capones Island that that camped there. He agreed, but we are to settle in the equally enchanting Capones Island only, no island hopping. Although the exquisite rock formations and the rugged coastline of this island is more than enough to call my attention, my main intent is to hike the sturdy yet lonesome lighthouse standing somewhere on the highest peak of Capones. It’s just one of the many lighthouses scattered everywhere in my dear Philippines which is featured in the monumental opus of Maximo Lopez del Castillo Noche’s “The Lonely Sentinels of the Sea “ (more…)
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Some few years back, I first read about Anawangin Cove and it’s mystical beauty. So when I went back to Pundaquit last year with my sisters, I wanted to see it. Unfortunately, the boatmen refused to take us there because the waves are so huge, we settled for the equally enchanting Capones Island instead. So when I got the chance to have a weekend day-off and my dorm mate in college Maricel, the online editor of Businessworld, expressed her intent to join me in my road trips, I planned a not-so-organized trip to Anawangin Cove. I invited some friends too, I know I won’t be alone that time since it’s a weekend get-away. Unfortunately, it’s raining hard in Manila, so some friends who were supposed to go with us were scared and didn’t make it. 
It used to be a hideaway for mountaineers but now, Anawangin is one of the famous beaches in Luzon, but beyond it’s charm, is a great danger. Sadly, some parts of the beach that suddenly drops has claim lives yearly and trekking in the mountain rages to Pundaquit during rainy or stormy season has caused unfortunate accidents leaving a tragic memory to it’s victims and their friends & family. Despite the perils and warnings I’ve read online about it’s deep spots that constantly changes not to mention the garbage and crowd, I am still drawn by it’s mystery and beauty. 
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I meant to write a happy story…
but I don’t wanna lie.
"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn't move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun."
During the early part of the year, I’ve been sorta threatened by my floating status. I used to have a plan, now I don’t know what to do. I just wanna explore the world, immerse in different cultures, meet diverse people and learn from it all and hopefully come home a better person. And of course, I wanna write about it and make the memories vivid with my humble captures. (more…)
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10 years ago I used to say that once I set foot in Guimaras then I can die. Those were the days when I’m dying of envy when my uncle would often show us pictures and tell us stories about how beautiful Iloilo and Guimaras is and how sweet and lovely the locals are, and oh yeah, the mangoes too!
10 years after, February 2010, after my trek in Igbaras, Iloilo, there I was riding a padyak heading towards the port to Guimaras!
I paid for the fare in port Ortiz Port to Jordan, Guimaras. I was given a number to board a large outrigger boat that has a capacity of more or less 25 passengers and is equipped with life jackets . All the while I thought once I get to Jordan, I could just walk and swim in a white sand beach nearby…but I was wrong. (more…)
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A spur of the moment..that’s how I ended up on a bus headed to Brgy.Polo in Pagbilao, Quezon a day after my much-awaited beach bumming this summer was canceled because of my backpack buddy’s medical condition. I’ve never had much trouble planning a trip than this summer’s supposedly beach backpacking, I never expected it’s just so hard to find a secluded white beach near the metro, like a 1-2hr ride especially when you’re on a tight budget.
Kwebang Lampas is actually one of my top options but after learning that the owners doesn’t allow an overnight stay, (more…)
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July 2009
After leaving Apuao Grande Island I decided to start the search for the virgin beach. Took me 5 hours to find the nearest fishport or pandawan. Thanks to my map, the helpful locals, & of course to the Man above. My original route was: in Daet -> board a jeepney to Vinzons or Mercedes and ask around for the fish port, hire a boat to take me to the island -> at Vinzons fish port, I will hire boats to Brgy. Banocboc –> I will rent a boat to take me to Mahabang Buhangin on Calaguas Island. But when I reached the fishport in Brgy Banocboc, no one wants to take me there syaing it’s too far. One tricycle driver offered to take me to the nearest tricycle lane to the highway with buses passing by that are bound to Paracale, Camarines Norte. That’s the nearest jump off point to the virgin beach.
The beach is called Calaguas Island, it was featured in Jessica Soho as the next Boracay (which I highly doubt because of it’s storm-stricken location ). It’s actually Mahabang Buhangin located in Pinagtigasan Island. (more…)
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A serene beach with fine sand and pine trees, Apuao Grande Island is located in Mercedes, Camarines Norte. It is one of the Mercedes Group of Islands: Canimog Island, Quinapagihan Island, Caringo Island, Malasugui Island and Canton Island.
This resort is owned by Swagman Hotel Chain (in Malate) , a group of Australian entrepreneurs and 1 Filipina lawyer . The resort used to be a famous destination in the 80′s but now it’s being sold for Php35M and has only 1 guesthouse left for rent. (more…)
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