The Pinay Solo Backpacker

“I have learned to like myself for the first time and to have some serenity.”

                                                                                                         -Keith Miller

Guimaras, Philippines l February 2010

Viewed 59749 times by 8064 viewers

“Cebu is boring“,  my Australian roommate said while packing her diving gears  inside our home stay in Kota Kinabalu last summer.   Her comment staggered me, I don’t know how to react  because I honestly haven’t been to this famous city in the Philippines.  Everyone in the room has been to Cebu island – all Caucasians.  Everyone, except me.

(more…)

Viewed 59398 times by 8298 viewers

“You’re no longer traveling alone?”, mumbled a friend.

That’s just one of the rewards of solo traveling – bumping into travel buddies along the road or  finding one back home and realizing after all, you’re not really alone.

Palaui Island photo : from Jerome Baluyot's camera

(more…)

Viewed 30196 times by 1942 viewers

Left Manila groggy one cold foggy afternoon on March 2010.  After 10 years, I’m going back to Iloilo. Last time I was here we did fieldwork one summer for linguistics and anthropology in the neighboring province of Antique.  I’m a freak of remote places so I had plan to visit Buri and see their majestic rice terraces. Yes, rice terraces can’t be found in Banaue, Mountain Province alone but in almost every part of the Philippines. But due to a mad typhoon that hit the province a couple of months before my visit, I ended up in the province of Igbaras and Miag-ao.

aerial photo of Iloilo province

No definite plans, no guidebook, no research, (more…)

Viewed 27234 times by 1235 viewers

To the solemn graves, near a lonely cemetery, my heart like a muffled drum is beating funeral marches.

-Charles Baudelaire- 

San Joaquin cemetery in Iloilo

Dark and  creepy – two words often used to define burial sites.  It is invented for burying the deceased and it’s meant to immortalize them. (more…)

Viewed 39524 times by 8053 viewers

Who says one cannot travel with an injured foot?  Well I did…but with a little help of a reliable pedicab.  If  biking sounds too exhausting ( like when I biked around Angkor Wat wearing my blue dress)  then pedicab tour is a great alternative.  I wonder why we have no pedicab tours here?  I’ve seen lovely yellow pedicabs decorated with flowers in Penang and Melaka pedaled by locals touring  visitors around the city despite the unforgiving sun. Pedicab experience allows in-depth touring that’s otherwise seen only in bike or walking tours.

(more…)

Viewed 4479 times by 1086 viewers

Been pretty busy lately not to mention that I got sick  last week  and was on bed rest that I failed to write some updates on this blog.  There’s a lot of things that I should be thankful for though,  like the opportunities that has recently poured in and the huge support of my readers and friends.  My heartfelt thank you! I wouldn’t have done this if   it weren’t for you all.  Thank you for the comments, the stories, the e-mails, the messages and chats in Facebook.  I hope you know that I greatly appreciate your time and kind words.

James, Me, Nina, Ivan, Edgar and Ferdz at the Blog and Soul Travel Bloggers Forum (photo by Ryan Dayrit)

As I promised on my 1st blog anniversary, I shall be doing some changes on this blog, that’s coming soon so please do watch out for that! (more…)

Viewed 1537 times by 648 viewers

Growing up in a strict religious and conservative family, I was thought to help but never advertise about it. “You wanted to help because you wanna help not because you wanted to show to the world that you are kind-hearted.  Spread kindness but never brag it. ,” that’s what my parents instilled into me early in life. That’s why when I decided to get in touch with an organization that I really look up to, The Black Pencil Project, I wasn’t sure if I will blog about it or not,  for fear that I may look like a politician who’s helping those in need in order to get votes for the elections.  They say, it’s not what one does, but why one does it. But then I realized that I’d rather look at it in a positive light, blogging about volunteerism is one way of spreading awareness to the community and encouraging more people to help.

Sometime in February 2010,  I returned to Iloilo after almost 10 years I think.   Without any definite plans, I decided to head to Igbaras to visit Nagsadjan Falls. (more…)

Viewed 1065 times by 518 viewers

As the dawn unfolds  the  fusion of pinkish and orange sky at the horizon of  Palaui Island greeted the windows of my soul. (more…)

Viewed 31834 times by 8187 viewers

National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) in collaboration with the Department of Tourism  will develop a “One Stop” Heritage Trail at the Relief Map of the Philippines found in Rizal Park (also known as Luneta Park in Manila, Philippines).   The said attraction can be found along Taft Avenue in Manila.

The said project is meant to celebrate the upcoming 150th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal (the Philippine’s National Hero).  It will serve as an overview of all heritage sites within the country. (more…)

Viewed 1584 times by 762 viewers