It was once a rest house to famous people and celebrities like Fernando Poe Jr. It then developed to a zoo due to a fact that Chavit loves nature and exhibits passions for animals. The zoo is open to the public from 7AM to 6PM everyday. Entrance is free! Rides are free! Also it is remarkable to note that the place has free WiFi internet access (all smiles lol) so you can definitely checked in on your foursquare account.

My visit to Baluarte was also my first time to see a live tiger and a deer. If the dinosaurs were real then it would also be my first time. I salute the management of Baluarte for their efforts of conserving these wild species.

Not my first time to see an ostrich but a few of them exist in Baluarte.

Baluarte ni Chavit open ground.

Tourists flocking to the Baluarte signage.

Ana Mae welcomes you to Baluarte. hehe

Ducks?

The dinosaur.

Rusa Deers (Cervos timorensis) are recognized by their large ears and overly large antlers for their body size.

Ana Mae afraid to get near the ostrich. Long neck!

Beautiful bird. Not sure if this is a parrot.

Tiger found in Baluarte.

Wanna ride this Tiburin? It is for free. Caution: it was hot the time we got there. So we did not take the ride. haha

Visit http://chavitsingson.net/baluarte/index.html for more information. Thank you for visiting.

I then saw beauty… magnificent view right from the window. I saw two bridges over a peaceful river. Adding to that, the rising sun ready to bring its light made the whole view poetic. We should stop on the bridge, my inner voice demanded. Glad thing, our van stopped by. Each of us in the van immediately got out with their phones/camera in their hands.

Cool winds touched my face. I breathed fresh air. I thanked God that we traveled the whole night safely. Quirino Bridge or Santa Bridge in Ilocos over Abra River.

The place that we stopped by is called Quirino Bridge or sometimes people call it Santa Bridge since it is located in Santa, Ilocos Sur. The bridge connects over Abra River. This was our first stop and the whole tour already made an impression to me. The whole tour should be fun! Well, first impression lasts.

According to Sir Keemo our tour facilitator, extreme activities like Zipline can be found in the area. But I was not able to see any zip line activities during our time due to the fact that it was early in the morning.

Ana Mae stopped for a moment. I don’t know what she was thinking that time. lol

The new bridge on the background. From where I was at I think is the old Quirino Bridge. This I am not sure. Correct me if I am not.

My tour mates did their crazy pose. They were funny to look at. They were enjoying with the cameras.

Another view of the bridge.

Lovely Ana Mae doing her landscape photography.

After we satisfied ourselves with the beauty found in Quirino Bridge, I was already excited what was going to happen on our tour. I was a bit tired knowing my sleep was all on and off but that should not ruin the tour. Uhmm, It was time to recover and prepare some energy for the whole day – we needed to eat our breakfast. Also, sipping a cup of hot drink was a great idea.

About 30 minutes of travel from the Quirino Bridge, we arrived in a restaurant called Hidden Garden Lush Tropical Plants and Coffee Shop. This is where we ate our breakfast. The name of the restaurant pretty speaks for itself. The restaurant has lots of plants. They also grow bonsai and a lot of them decorated the whole place. The foods were fine. Ana Mae just got her dental schedule and she could not eat hard foods so she ordered spaghetti while I ordered Tapsilog.

Hilarious bonsai trimmed to form something that will go hard if you touch it. LOL

Spaghetti with Iced Tea for Ana Mae.

Tapsilog for me. With hot Milo.

Hidden Garden decorations.

Lush Tropical Plants? I do not know the name of this plant but I did see the same plant in Manila Ocean Park.

Green love birds present in the Hidden Garden?

As soon as we finished our breakfast, we explored the whole garden. Best place to do a photo shoot if you are well in front of the camera. We had our own photo shoots in the hidden garden. lol Thanks to our tour mates who took us pictures. I guess this is all for now. I will continue to blog more about my Ilocos Trip on my next posts! Thank you for reading.

HIDDEN GARDEN OF VIGAN

Francis A. Flores
Landscape Artist
Brgy. Bulala, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
viganhiddengarden@yahoo.com
http://www.hiddengardenvigan.com
(077) 722-1450
(0917) 922-2827
(0921) 664-0737

HIDDEN GARDEN LILONG AND LILANG RESTAURANT
Rafaela “Glo” Flores
Owner/Manager
(Located At The Heart Of Hidden Garden Vigan) Brgy. Bulala, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
viganhiddengarden@yahoo.com
http://www.hiddengardenvigan.com
(077) 722-1450
(0906) 332-8309
(0928) 965-9190

Ilocos is one of the top holiday destinations in the Philippines. Just so you know many movies were shot in Ilocos – I can mention one. Have you watched “Suddenly It’s Magic” starred by Mario Maurer and Erich Gonzales? Or I can mention another – Panday? (Ipaglalaban ko ang ating pag-ibig.)

Erich Gonzales and Mario Maurer in Suddenly It’s Magic movie. The scene was shot in Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Ilocos. I had a feeling of being star strucked when I got there. This photo is not owned by me. Copyrighted by StarCinema http://www.starcinema.com.ph

Being first timers to the said place, we did not do the Do-It-Yourself DIY tour thingie. Ana Mae will easily get her temper if we go there unplanned – you know being stuck in a place because of no idea where to go next – things like that she does not like. And she’ll get mad at me… and for sure that would make our holiday a disaster.

I was glad that I found Parana Tours on Facebook. They arranged tours to Ilocos and luckily they still have available slots for two. I reserved two slots like only a day before the tour. I am thankful to Rson Parana for being so quick in replying my questions. So Kudos to Parana Tours!

6AM Nov. 30, 2012. Ana Mae in Santa (Quirino) Bridge Ilocos Sur

The rate for the two of us was PhP 8, 000. Rson sent me the itinerary and this was his e-mail (excluding the pictures):

Like us on FB:
http://www.facebook.com/ParanaToursPh

Ilocos Vigan Pagudpod Tour

4000 per pax for 2 (double occupancy)

Inclusions:

-3 days 2 nights tour Ilocor Sur, Norte
- Resort  accommodations at Pagudpod Klasik or Cathy’s Beach Resort  (2 pax in a room)
- Van Transfers Manila-Ilocos-Manila
- Entrance Fees
- Local Guide Fees
- Taxes and surcharge
- Freebies
- Gas, Toll Fees, Driver’s Meals and Accommodation
- Taxes and Surcharges  (With Official Receipt and Itinerary of the tour)

*Optional: 4×4 Ride Sand Dunes 2500 per hr (4-5 pax in a 4×4)

*Quotation for other Hotels and Resorts are also available upon request

6:30AM Nov. 30, 2012 We ate our breakfast in Hidden Garden Lush Tropical Plants and Coffee Shop. I like the ambiance of this restaurant – well decorated with plants and flowers. The name of the restaurants speaks for itself.

Sites to visit:

Sta  Bridge
Hidden Garden
Vigan
Baluarte
Burnayan
Crisologo Museum
Bantay Bell Tower
Batac
Marcos Mausoleum
Paoay
Paoay Church
Malacanang of the North
Sand Dunes
Laoag
Sinking Bell Tower
Bangui Windmills
Kapurpurawan
Pagudpod
Saud Beach
Bantay Abot cave
Blue Lagoon Beach
Patapat Viaduct
Paraiso ni Anton
Kaibigan Falls
Cape Bojeadar

*Meals are not included for personal preferences
*Always remember to pack light

7:40AM Nov. 30, 2012 We visited Baluarte ni Chavit. Baluarte is 80 hectares of gently rolling terrains, hills and mountain sides, the structures of facilities and amenities, its phases of construction is in its best possible realistic and natural habitat for good and sound animal care. See http://chavitsingson.net/baluarte/general-info.html

8:55AM Nov. 30, 2012 Burnayan. Pottery in Ilocos Sur owned by Ruby Jar Factory. See http://www.vigancity.gov.ph/ac.asp?index=1

Sample Itinerary:

Day 00
0900pm Assembly Trinoma Open Space Parking Facing Sm North (Near PUV terminal)
1000pm ETD from TRINOMA to Ilocos

9:28AM Nov. 30, 2012 Crisologo Museum. The mansion of the Crisologos is open for public viewing throughout the week. Visitors may find it in Vigan’s Liberation Boulevard. One may enter for free the museum and view the antiques, memorabilia and other prized possessions of the Crisologos steeped with history. See http://www.vigan.ph/crisologo_museum.html

Day 01
0530am Sunrise viewing Sta Bridge
0700am ETA at Vigan, Breakfast Hidden Garden
0800am Tour around Baluarte, Crisologo Museum, Burnayan, Bantay bell tower
1000am ETD from Vigan to Batac
1130am ETA Batac, Lunch
0100pm Tour around Marcos Maosoleum, Paoay Church, Malacanang of the North, Sand Dunes
0330pm ETA at Laoag and visit the Sinking Belltower
0430pm ETA at Bangui Windmills
0630pm ETA Saud, Check-in, Dinner

10:20AM Nov. 30, 2012 Bantay Bell Tower, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. The picturesque belfry sits on a hilltop overlooking a vivid vast green pastureland and the mountain view of the province of Abra. It was used as a watcher tower for invading enemy forces during World War I and II because of its strategic location. The Bantay Church and bell tower are monumental witnesses to various atrocities, uprising and others. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantay_Parish

1:30PM Nov. 30, 2012 The Marcos Museum and Mausoleum integrates both memorabilia storage and the current resting place of Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. It is situated in the heart of Batac City, Ilocos Norte. The museum shows memorabilia of the late president, from his stint in the armed forces down to his presidency. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcos_Museum_and_Mausoleum

Day 02
0600am Wake-up call. Breakfast
0700am Treking to Kabigan Falls
0900am Tour around Patapat Viaduct, Bagong Lipunan, Paraiso ni Anton
1100am Bantay Abot Cave
1130am ETA Blue Lagoon, Lunch
1200pm Lunch, Swimming, Explore Blue Lagoon
0530pm Return to Saud
0600pm ETA Saud, Dinner, Socials

2:27PM Nov. 30, 2012 Paoay Church is the Roman Catholic parish church of the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. In 1993, the church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one best examples of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paoay_Church

3PM Nov. 30, 2012 This is the main highlight of our day – Paoay Sand Dunes. We took the 4×4 ride and it was FUN!

5:38PM Nov 30, 2012 Bangui Windmill. The wind farm uses 20 units of 70-metre (230 ft) high Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines, arranged on a single row stretching along a nine-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay, facing the West Philippine Sea. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui_Wind_Farm

Day 03

0500am Wake -up call
0530am Breakfast, Check out
0600am ETD from Pagudpud
0700am ETA to Cape Bojeador Light House
0730am ETD from Cape Bojeador
0800am ETA Kapurpurawan rock formation, explore and picture taking
0900am ETD to Vigan
1100pm ETA to Vigan, Lunch, walk around Calle Crisologo buy pasalubong and souvenirs
0100pm ETD from Vigan
1100pm ETA Cubao

7:40AM Dec 1, 2012 We started our trekking to Kabigan Falls. It was an hour activity.

9:40AM Dec. 1, 2012 Patapat Via Duct. Such majestic view of the northern sea of the Philippines. It is the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines.

10:02AM Dec 1, 2012 Paraiso ni Anton. Not sure how this place got its name. 

We were all 11 tourists – Anamae and I, 1 married couple, 2 female ex-officemates, a group of friends of five. Sir Bugz was the name of our driver and Sir Keemo was the tour facilitator. So we were all 13 people in a van. We spent the whole night travelling from Manila to Ilocos. I thought I could not sleep inside the van but I did.

The cast excluding Sir Keemo who took the picture. This is before leaving Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

So the above was our itinerary. I crashed out the place that we were not able to visit due to time constraints. It is very much expected to follow the time allowance given to your tour guide so you can follow the itinerary properly. What happened during our time, our fellow tour mates over spent their time in Bantay Bell Tower and Sand Dunes – ending we were not able to visit the Sinking Bell Tower and Malacanang of the North – to add, we were not able to witness the majestic sunset in Bangui Windmills because when we got there the sun was already out of sight. Sad. But yeah, Sir Bugz did his job as a driver.

This is the resort we stayed in somewhere in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

We stayed in a resort named Klasik Beach Resort. The room we occupied was fine – nothing luxurious. It is air conditioned with own toilet and bath room. No TV inside. Sad to note because there was no WiFi in the resort. I did bring my Sun WiFi mobile internet but it only had EDGE/GPRS signal. Globe and Smart has 3G/HSDPA signals though. I guess Globe and Smart are the only Internet Service Providers in the Philippines.

10:48AM Dec. 1, 2012 Blue Lagoon Beach Ilocos Norte. We spent most of our time here on the 2nd day.

4:09PM Dec. 1, 2012 Bantay Abot Cave.

Never miss tasting their empanada. Quite a delicacy in Ilocos.

For our food, what we did is we only bought them raw in the market and have the staff cooked it for us. There is a fee for each dish. I forgot how much it cost. Sir Keemo/Parana Tours helped us where to buy the food. They know which market to drop off.

9AM Dec 2, 2012. Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. Kapurpurawan Rocks are rock formations created by forces of the ocean on the rocky coast of Burgos, located just a few minutes further from the lighthouse. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgos,_Ilocos_Norte

10:17AM Cape Bojeadar It is the highest-elevated lighthouse in the Philippines and the northwesternmost in location (the northeasternmost being Cape Engaño Lighthouse in Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan). It was established on March 31, 1892 under the Spanish government on a high hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador, where galleons passed by. Its purpose is also to guide ships away from the rocky coasts of the town. It still continues to operate with new lenses run by solar panels. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgos,_Ilocos_Norte

1PM Dec 2, 2012 Vigan City Heritage Village. It is a World Heritage Site in that it is one of the few Hispanic towns left in the Philippines, and is well known for its cobblestone streets, and a unique architecture that fuses Philippine and Oriental building designs and construction, with colonial European architecture. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigan

I am not sure how much would it cost if we do the tour by ourselves. Maybe we can save a lot if we do it by ourselves but the fact that we do not have to worry where to stop and go next, the time we save from booking any resorts etc was already worth it.  I did not regret that we chose Parana Tours. We also became friends with our tour mates, though I forgot their names but at least we have known each other for 3 days for the rest of our lives. I can definitely recommend the services of Parana Tours. And no, they did not pay me for this post. Just a fact that if you plan to go to Ilocos Norte, you may consider their services.  You may also see our picture in their Facebook page: click here

I guess this is all for now. I will continue to blog my Ilocos Experience in my next posts.

For inquiries and reservations:

Parana Tours
Blk 2 Lot 8 Phase 2-C Pacita Complex 2 San Pedro, Laguna
http://paranatours.com/
Contact Numbers:
Landline (02) 847-4415
Globe 0917-8242223
Smart 0949-1244654
Look for Rson Parana (rson68@yahoo.com)

Before the Skywalk Experience. Stopping for a picture could be worthwhile.

So Egis and I decided to accompany Ritchie while she spent her remaining time here. It was after all her vacation. She only had less than 24 hours to enjoy. I thought of roaming around SM Mall or Ayala Mall was boring or going to a beach in Mactan was time consuming. We decided to go just nearby. Yet we thought… going extreme was a good idea.

We spent the whole afternoon that day only in Crown Regency Jones Ave. Cebu City. We had the Skywalk Extreme and Edge Coaster adventure. We took their (around) PhP 1,000/per head package which includes Skywalk Extreme, Edge Coaster, Dinner Buffet in Sparkz Resto, Entrance to Sky Level and 1 4D movie. And they also gave us certificates to certify that we surpassed their skywalk and edge coaster which was quite prestigious. LOL And they also gave us free souvenir t-shirts.

Brave Ritchie who just stepped near the edge. I tell you I am afraid of heights and I definitely can’t do that.

That is Fuente Osmena Circle on the right. The floor which is made of transparent glass makes the skywalk more extreme. I can not even stand looking below.

I kinda enjoy their edge coaster. I was not scared at all. haha

So pictures above are courtesy of Crown Regency Staff. You can not take or bring your own camera while you do the skywalk and edge coaster activity. So part of their business is they will take a picture of you using their own DSLR camera. It is PhP 50.00/picture if you want to get a copy. Quite expensive.

After gazing the 360 degree view of Cebu City right from the sky level of Crown Regency Hotel, we spent another time in watching their 4D movie. It was not my first time to watch such 4D movie but we had fun. We were the only people in the theater so we felt special. lol

After watching the 4D movie. It was a short horror movie. It was fun.

Our buffet dinner in Sparkz Restaurant was great! They had a lot of dishes to choose. I can say that the PhP 1,000 I paid was all worth it. If only I knew their buffet dinner was that lavish, I should have emptied my stomach before hand. But yeah, that dinner was something not so usual.

Ritchie and Egis getting their plates full.

Garden Salad.

The swan carved on the watermelon looks interesting. Such an artwork.

Uhmmm. Desserts. Sweets. Cakes.

Later that night, we went to the top most level of the building where they hold the wall climbing and zip line. It felt good because that time there was some fireworks. The whole evening was just gazing the lights of Cebu City. Kinda mesmerizing.

Welcome signage found along Jones Ave.

Fuente Osmena Circle, Fuente Osmena Ave up to Cebu Capitol.

Gen. Maxilom Ave at night. Or also called Mango Ave.

Jones Ave.

Fuente Osmena Circle.

Crown Regency’s Wall Climbing.

Fireworks seen from Crown Regency Hotel.

This is actually a long over due post. We went there last Dec 2012. To view more information go to their website: http://www.skyexperienceadventure.com

Thank you guys for reading.

Sugar Beach Resort in Bantayan Island is perfect for typical Filipinos who loves to go to beach. The available rooms are budget friendly. The cottages on the picture prove that the beach is not luxurious and it is for everyone.

It was a team building activity of my company. We held it for one night and two days – March 25 – 26, 2013. It was my first time to go there and man I can totally say this country has a lot of beautiful beaches to offer.

GETTING THERE

Going to Bantayan Island is purely land and sea travel, well, unless you have a private jet or helicopter. First, go to Cebu North Bus Terminal. (click on the link to view the map) Air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses are available that transfer you from Cebu City to Hagnaya Wharf. I believe it is the only pier that caters sea transportation from Cebu mainland to Bantayan Island. Vans for hire are also available. Just be sure to haggle the price.

This is the van we rented which only took us less than 3 hours to travel from Cebu City to Hagnaya Wharf.

In our case, we were 13 and we rented the whole van. We paid PhP 230.00/head. So that makes PhP 2,990 to rent the whole van. That is a one way travel – Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya Wharf. Per my friends, estimated travel time is 4 hours but with the van, it only takes less than 3 hours. We left Cebu City by 6AM and we arrived in Hagnaya by 8:40AM.

Air conditioned bus rate is PhP 170.00 per head while non air conditioned bus is PhP 130.00 per head.

Inside the roro ship. All laughters shared among team members.

As soon as we arrived in Hagnaya Wharf, we immediately purchased our ferry tickets. The ferry ticket is PhP 170.00 for non aircon while PhP 180.00 for air conditioned seat. Plus there is PhP 10.00 terminal fee.  Sea travel time is about an hour and thirty minutes.

ISLAND SHIPPING SCHEDULE:

HAGNAYA TO STA. FE – 1:30AM (tue & fri), 5AM, 6:30AM, 9:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 3PM, 5:30PM

STA. FE TO HAGNAYA – 3AM (tue & fri), 5AM, 7:30AM, 9:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 3:30PM, 5:30PM (sat, wed & fri)

The Island. The Beach.

I can totally say Philippines has a lot of beautiful beaches – even bitches. lol As soon as our ship docked the pier in Bantayan Island, I already wanted to swim. It felt though that I wanted to jump off the ship just to feel the clear blue sea waters surrounding the island.

I looked down outside the ship and I found the waters inviting.

Bantayan Island, Cebu

The island is composed of 3 municipalities: Sta. Fe (eastern part), Bantayan (the central part) and Madridejos (northern part). The main means of public transportation is trikes. Renting a motorbike is also popular. Our fare from Sta. Fe pier to Sugar Beach Resort which is less than 10 minutes is PhP 15.00 per head. ATMs are also available in the island. If you have mobile internet, you can freely use it while in the island. Globe and Smart have 3G/HSDPA signals in the area while Sun Cellular only has EDGE/GPRS.

This trike can accommodate up to 10 persons or more. Powerful!

Bantayan Island is known for dried fish and salted fish. You might want to buy one for souvenirs or pasalubong.

Sugar Beach Resort

The resort is perfect for team building. The family room we booked is good for 4 persons only – though we were more than 4. You can pinch your own tent in the resort with a fee. I do not know their rates, I am sorry. You can buy raw meats in the market and have the staff of the resort cook for you. Of course with a fee per dish.

The white sand beach in Bantayan Island is one of the best beaches I have gone so far. I love the Philippines for having so many beaches. In fact, it is more fun in the Philippines. haha

During my time there, I did not see any other beach activities other than island hopping, chit chatting and drinking beers. No activities like banana boat riding, helmet diving, para sailing etc. So my expectations were actually met. I do not like a lot of people. Just a few people is fine with me. I walked a few steps of the shoreline and I saw that the beach was quite long. I can imagine a lot of tents would be in placed if during Holy Week.

That afternoon. Sugar Beach Resort, Bantayan Island

The next day morning. 5:50AM. Sugar Beach Bantayan Island.

The one who took this picture was under the shades of coconut tree. haha obviously.

The simplest way to build a team is to talk and listen. Shots of beer and long sentences of chatting.

The next day, we went for Island Hopping. We were able to get a good price for only PhP 1,000.00 for 12 persons.  Plus a small amount for snorkeling gears. I forgot the price for the snorkeling gear. We hopped to Virgin Island but did not stay there because we did not bring any money during the activity. Entrance to Virgin Island is PhP 500.00 for the first 2 persons then PhP 100.00/extra person. I find it so expensive though. I thought it was a “Virgin” island but why was there an entrance fee. They should change the name at least. There are already a lot of virgins Island here in our country. lol The next island we hopped was Hilantagaan Island. There was also an entrance fee of PhP 200.00 per boat. After we visited these two islands, we headed back to the resort.

The coast of Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island 

My team mates preparing for take-off. hehe

We just love the waters. Precious moments.

Bantayan Island is another great place to hold your team building. You just need to spare extra time and effort considering that the travelling time is quite long. I hope you learned something from this post. I guess that is all for now. For questions, please feel free to comment. Thank you.

This dancer really caught my attention. Aside from her being pretty, the way she danced and held the Sto Nino sculpture blew me away.

These kids are just lovely to look at.

And boy you are doing it good. Keep it up!

I’ve been here in Cebu for more than 3 years and never did I experience watching the Sinulog Grand Parade for the past 3 years. This time, I decided to try and surpass the madding crowd just to watch the grand parade.

January 20, 2013 Sunday as early as 5AM the time I got off from work, people already started to fill the area of Fuente Osmena Circle. I could already see the dancers from different places prepping for the mardi gras and floats which were ready to showcase the grand parade. I still had to go to work at 8PM that night. I got around 3-4 hours of sleep and by 10AM I walked straight ahead the Osmena Boulevard to see the colorful grand parade.

Forcing oneself in a madding crowd is just natural especially if you intend to see the Sinulog Grand Parade. I had my own share of how I did that. I went there alone and I basically went there just to capture photos of the grand parade and show them on my blog. There were a lot of photographers who got access on the center street. (Photographers who registered and paid PhP 1000.00 for the Sinulog Photo Contest got IDs and had access to any activities of Sinulog Festival) I, having no access, had to stand on the side street just to get a good shoot. But as time went by, I was able to get into the center street without being caught by the security guards. A lot of them did it anyway. lol

I felt the heat of the sun slowly burning my skin while I enjoyed taking pictures. Sinulog Festival is indeed a colorful and an extravagant celebration for Sto. Nino devotees in Cebu City. It was a 3 hour activity for me and by 1PM I decided to go home. I had to work at 8PM thus I had to get enough sleep.

So these are photos I captured. Hope you like it. Just click on the picture if you like to enlarge it.

Balloons for sale.

The crowd in Fuente Osmena Circle during the Sinulog 2013 Grand Parade.

The yellow contingent.

Each dance is not complete with out the drum and bugle corps who are do the Sinulog beat.

Tourists love to see this. Ya know, group of lovely kids with colorful costumes dancing on the street.

This dancer was a feast to the eye of the photographers.

The gorgeous professionals of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center attract the crowd.

Michele’s Wine float

Higantes portraying the characters of Mary and Joseph.

Orange and red dancers are still attractive even watching them at the back.

Mojitos’ float

Smart Communications’ float.

The models. I do not know if they are famous actors or not.

Oh yeah. Keep it up kids.

Let’s hold each others hand and dance. haha

I wonder what they will do with theirs prop on their back. Will they use to form a flower?

Drum and Bugle Corps. Everyone of them wears sun glasses.

Props for the street dancing.

Fairy looking dancer holding the Sto Nino figure.

Another contingent came in violet dress. This makes the event more colorful.

Rose Pharmacy’s rainbow float.

The crowd cheered when the group did this step.

Oh yeah. He totally did the steps and nailed it. haha

BPO company Stream float. This company gave hats by throwing them to the crowd.

GMA Network float. The crowd went topsy turvy when this float passed by maybe because of the famous local actors present on the float. There was Bong Revilla Jr.

Is she Rhian Ramos? Correct me if I am wrong.

I do not know this actor but maybe the crowd knows. A lot asked an autograph from him. Seriously, who is he?

This girl knows how to face the camera. Isn’t she?

I like the performance of this group.

The dancer with the Sto Nino figure.

This group definitely knows how to use their props. Stunner!

She is really pretty. Do you know her?

She was a feast to the eye of the photographers. She is amazing.

I believe the group interpreted the life of the sea in their dance.

This group interpreted the Negritos who worship Sto. Nino, the child Jesus of the Catholics

Beauties of Mutya ng Pilipinas graced the Sinulog Grand Parade.

All our eyes went to this lady as she carried the Sto. Nino and danced it through the middle of the street.

Accenture Cebu employees ready to do the Accenture beat for Sinulog.

I just like how the face of this gentleman perfectly blends with his costume. He is like one of the supporting actors of the defunct TV series Mulawin.

Smiling contest. It is More Fun in the Philippines. lol

This innocent kid was just curious how to play the xylophone.

UP Pep Squad did their jaw dropping formation in Osmena Blvd as part of Accenture Sinulog Beat.

Another group of kids on the street dancing.

Float.

I AM NIKON float.

This dancer took a short rest and smiled when she learned that my camera faced her direction.

So those are all the pictures I can share. Thanks for dropping by.

Baguio City. The houses are all scattered.

It was always my dream to visit Baguio City someday. Since my elementary days, the place has always been the subject being one of the most favorite travel destinations among Filipinos. We had this exam before in our Civics and Culture where it asked “What city is the Summer Capital of the Philippines?” Of course, I know the correct answer. Baguio City.

When we had our trip to Manila last September 2012, Baguio City was part of the itinerary. We did not really prepare before we got there. We did not book any room accommodation. We did not hire a van or a driver. We just went there unprepared.

MANILA TO BAGUIO CITY

At 11:30 PM that night, we found ourselves comfortably seated inside the Victory Liner bus in Pasay City ready for departure. I can still remember that before that we had to purchase our tickets first, of course LOL. One Way Fare is around PhP 455.00 per head. Never forget to show your student ID so you enjoy the discount.

The chairs inside the bus are enough to let you sleep on a long hours of travel. Bring your coats or blankets if you plan to travel at night because the temperature inside the bus can literally freeze you to death. Also, it is notable that there is a free WiFi connection inside the bus, I guess powered by Sun Broadband. http://instagram.com/p/PmvuXPqAPV/

TOUCH DOWN BAGUIO CITY

We just got out in the bus. Chills in our body. The temperature in Baguio City at dawn is insanely cool.

Around 5:35 AM the following day, we arrived in Baguio City. The temperature is really low. Like I said, we had no preparation before we arrived so our next activity that time was to look for a place to stay where we can leave our things then look for a van or a driver that will tour us around the city.

Good thing because as soon as the girls have done their toilet monologues, this helpful old man showed us a brochure of hotels and inns. He is from Tourist Information Center which is just a few walks away from the Victory Line Bus Terminal.

The old man introduced us to the driver, Mang Luis. We were a group of 9 and were able to get a deal of PhP 3, 500 for the van rental and driver’s fee. Since Mang Luis is very kind and patient, we paid more than the amount as he deserve.

Meet Mang Luis, our driver.

I forgot the name of the place we stayed in but I do remember that we paid PhP 1, 700 for the non aircon room, good for 5 persons. The hostel is also a walking distance from Victory Liner Bus Terminal.

Group picture. This is outside the hostel.

START OF THE CITY TOUR

As soon as we made a deal with Mang Luis, he started driving the van at 6:00AM. From Victory Liner Bus Terminal, he drove us to our hostel. And from the hostel, he looked a place where we can eat our breakfast. Uhmm. Well, we ate in Jollibee along the famous Session Road.

Outside Jollibee along the famous Session Road.

I noticed that the roads or streets in Baguio City are not on straight level but always sloped or elevated. This explains why the taxis in Baguio City are bigger than the usual taxis.

PLACES TO SEE IN BAGUIO CITY

Mang Luis brought us to several places in Baguio City.

LOURDES GROTTO and MIRADOR HILL

Before climbing up the stairs.

At 7:32 AM, we stopped by in Lourdes Grotto and Mirador Hill. It is located on a high hill in the western part of the city where you will find the image of the Lady of Lourdes. 

The grotto is a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week most especially during Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Access to the top of the grotto could be made by climbing the 252 steps or by driving a light vehicle through a winding, narrow and steep asphalt-paved road. Devotees who go up to the grotto to pray usually light up a candle at an altar below the image. There are also vendors at the shrine who are willing to light up a candle for you and say a prayer for whatever personal intentions you might have. (Source: http://www.cityofpines.com/lourdesgrotto.html)

The Lourdes Grotto, Baguio City

 DOMINICAN HILL

This place is located nearby the Lourdes Grotto. The building is antique and local residents say that this is a haunted place. Scary. haha Well, I was there and this place was featured once on Rated K by Korina Sanchez.

The antique building which was once a vacation house.

Dominican Hill.

The garden inside the building.

The cross. At this point you can have a bird’s eye view of Baguio City.

TAM-AWAN VILLAGE

8:36AM. There is an entrance fee of PhP 50.00. The place is perfect for people who appreciates arts and handicrafts of igorots.

There are a number of Igorot huts within the village which will allow you to see how the homes of the mountain people really look like. You do get a chance to climb up the wooden ladder and see what is inside each hut. This will give you a chance to feel what it is like to be living in one of these huts. Since these huts were set up on different locations on a hillside, visitors have to climb up the steep pathways to go from one hut to another. (Source: http://www.cityofpines.com/tamawanvillage.html)

Us, with the replica of the house of Igorot on the background.

BELL CHURCH AND CHINESE TEMPLE

9:50AM.

The Bell Church is located north of the downtown area of Baguio along the road leading to the town of La Trinidad, Benguet. Within its compound are intricately designed arches and buildings adorned with flags, bells and dragons.

It has a pagoda, and beautifully landscapped gardens. There are some artifacts about Buddhism that you will find at the Bell Church as well as some literature about the history of China.

It is during the Spring Festival or what is more commonly known in the West as the Chinese New Year that local and foreign Chinese tourists flock to the Bell Church. Like all Chinese festivals, the date of the new year is determined by the lunar/solar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar. (Source: http://www.cityofpines.com/bellchurch.html)

Entrance to Bell Church.

A hill we saw in the church.

These statues tells me that this is indeed a Chinese Temple.

LA TRINIDAD STRAWBERRY FARM

10:30AM The strawberry farm is situated in the City of La Trinidad, Benguet which is outside of Baguio City – just a 30 minutes drive. Sad to say the time we got there is not a season for strawberries. So we were not able to pick a fresh strawberry. We ended up wandering the farm looking for a single strawberry to miraculously appear. We were able to find one though.

My friend Rea who posed like a farmer.

BOTANICAL GARDEN

12:00 PM This place is also known as the Igorot Village. Filled with towering pine trees, the Botanical Garden serves the dual purpose of providing visitors and residents valuable beathing space and re-greening a fast developing city with greenhouses and nurseries designed to propagate the flora and fauna species that will eventually find their way to parks and gardens around the Summer Capital. (Source: http://www.gobaguio.com/botanical-garden-baguio-city.html#.UNGQG-R184c)

Baguio City is indeed a city of Pines. The Botanical Garden is filled with pine trees.

The Japanese Cave in the Botanical Garden. This is used to be a hide out of the Japanese during World War II.

Big statue of an Igorot.

By 12:50 PM We headed to SM City Baguio to eat our lunch. Mang Luis went home to take his lunch. He did instruct us to text him once we were done so he could fetch us.

KENNON ROAD VIEWING DECK

2:08 PM Apparently, buses are not allowed to pass by the Kennon Road. We were not able to get a picture of ourselves with the famous Lion’s Head. It is far from the viewing deck. If we did not take the bus and rented a van from Manila we would have passed by the Lion’s Head. Anyway, we did not miss it that much!

The breathe taking view of the Kennon Road. No wonder why the road has so many accidents. The road is Zigzag. You can see the Lion’s Head from the viewing deck.

The Kennon Road Viewing Deck.

THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY (PMA)

2:30PM This is the place where all of the ladies inside the van are excited to visit. They wanted to flirt a cadet. haha I don’t know if “flirt” is the right word. haha Maybe, “make fun” is the right word. PMA is the premiere military institution in the Philippines where the graduates become officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is situated in Fort Del Pilar.

Please make sure that your cameras are fully charged when you get here. You’ll be amazed with the disciplined cadets doing their formation walks and also the antique battle tanks, mortars etc. are favorite spots for picture taking. Also, wearing sandals is not allowed in the vicinity. You also need to leave an ID before entering the premise.

The ladies in our group are trying to do the military walk.

These cadets who were on duty were not allowed to pose with visitors. So what Nelly did he just posed with them on the back ground.

One of the extinct battle tanks in Fort Del Pilar.

CAMP JOHN HAY

3:50PM This place is sometimes called the recreational area of Baguio City. Elite members would go here to play golf. Tree Top Adventure also offers extreme activities like Zip Lining, etc. Convergys Baguio is also situated in Camp John Hay. We did not really spend much of our time. We were short of time.

The Manor Camp John Hay

THE MANSION

4:10 PM This is a vacation house for Philippine presidents.

The Mansion Baguio City

The gate of the Mansion

WRIGHT PARK

4:10 PM This park is located in front of the Mansion. It has a long pond called as the Pool of Pines. We did not really spend much of our time here. But if you prefer to stay long, you may opt to walk up to the other end of the pool. Also, I heard that you can ride on a horse here.

The Wright Park Baguio City

The long elongated rectangular Pool of Pines. The Wright Park Baguio City

MINES VIEW PARK

4:22 PM In this park you can see the panoramic view of the mountains of Benguet where gold and copper mines are situated. Thus the place is named Mines View Park. Not only that, this park housed St. Bernard dogs, ready to wear Igorot costumes and horses for souvenir photo purposes.

3 shots for this St. Bernard dog costs PhP 50.00 and of course you have to present your camera. Igorot costumes cost PhP 10.00 per person while the horse riding costs PhP 10.00 per shot.

This is the biggest St. Bernard dog we found in Mines View Park.

Our Igorot costumes.

Nelly riding on a pink haired white horse.

The Mines View Park

The view of the mountains of Benguet.

A family at the Mines View Park.

BURNHAM PARK

5:14PM Burnham Park is centered around a man-made lake located at the heart of the city. It was named after the city’s planner, Daniel Burnham. The park is a favorite place of local residents and visitors alike. There are different facilities for recreation and relaxation that are available in the park. You can row a boat, have a picnic, attend an outdoor concert, watch a football game, go biking, or just take a leisurely stroll around the park. (Source: http://www.cityofpines.com/burnhampark.html)

We enjoyed rowing a boat. The lesson I learned from our Water Rafting in Cagayan De Oro was applied here. I basically know how to paddle a boat. The boat we rented is PhP 150.00/hour

Rowing a boat.

The boats we used.

By 6PM we finally went ahead to SM City Baguio to buy some pasalubongs and eat our dinner. SM City Baguio is a tourist attraction itself, it is the only mall I know that does not use an air con. We dined in at Greenwich and the temperature that time was totally freezing.

SM City Baguio. Fog covers the viewing deck of SM City Baguio.

We made it obvious. Baguio City is insanely cold.

We were all tired from touring all day. By 8:30PM, we were all settled in our hostel. The cool weather makes you sleep. By 6 AM, we had to wake up and leave Baguio City as early so we can catch our flight in the afternoon.

The experience we had in Baguio City was truly memorable and a remarkable one. The feeling of being there brought me back to watching the 1998 romantic comedy Labs Kita Ok Ka Lang where they filmed it in Baguio City. I hope to go back there sometime.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Victory Liner Bus Schedules
http://www.victoryliner.com/schedules/

Mang Luis Driver – 0910 8783 757

Thank you guys for reading and I hope this article helps.

Manila Ocean Park is stragetically located near the famous landmarks in Manila – Rizal Park and Quirino Grandstand. Basically if you plan to visit Rizal Park, never forget to drop by in Manila Ocean Park which is just a walking distance from Rizal Park.

Entrance to Manila Ocean Park

It was rainy when we went there. We just came from Manila Divisoria and just took a trike. If you are not sure how to get there, you can ask help from Google. Or better, take a taxi.

By just getting in the entrance, I can already say that Manila Ocean Park is more spacious than Singapore Underwater World. We walked a few distance from the entrance gate to the main hall.

Excited crowd at the main hall of Manila Ocean Park

Upon arriving at the main hall, we followed the line to getting our own entrance tickets. I recommend visiting their website first so you will know which package to choose. Out of the few packages they offer, we got their Marine Life Encounter for only PhP 500.00 – this includes entrance to the Oceanarium, Jellies – Dancing Sea Fairies and Sea Lion Show.

We got the Marine Life Encounter Ticket.

What I like about the park is how they divided the oceanarium into parts: Agos, Bahura, Laot, Buhay na Karagatan, Kalaliman, Pagi and Pating. All are in Tagalog names.

The very first thing to see in the oceanarium is Agos where they exhibit species that live in fresh waters.

Arapaima inside the aquarium.

I don’t know this type of plant but it looks great.

Alligator Gar Fish

Gold fish and koi. One of the staffs just fed these hungry carps. See the bottle he holds?

The shark embryos.

My friend Egis striked a pose before entering Bahura section of the oceanarium.

Lovely coral fishes inside the Bahura section. I do not know the name of this fish.

Laot or simply means Fishing ground.

That is me with the large aquarium on the background. I honestly don’t know the name of the fish. hehe

Give me that big smile! This big fish is pretty aware that I am taking a picture.

This is how the Laot section looks like. Each specie is put in a themed aquarium.

The main part of the oceanarium is called Buhay na Karagatan or Living Ocean. According to their website, it is Asia’s largest underwater viewing tunnel, stretching 25 meters long and curved at 220 degrees, where visitors can witness how different reef fishes interact with each other.

Buhay na Karagatan

The 220-degree curved tunnel as compared to the standard 180-degree curved tunnels seen in other Asian countries.

This is me with their diver.

The Sharks/Pating area.

The oceanarium is quite impressive for me. At least we have this kind of attraction in our country. Marine lovers or those students who are fond of marine biology should visit here.

Okay so after exploring the oceanarium, we went to another attraction called “Jellies: The Dancing Sea Fairies”.

Jelly fishes.

I guess Jelly fishes are transparent because they illuminate to the changing colors of the aquarium.

The dancing jelly fishes in green color.

Entrance to Jellies: Dancing Sea Fairies aquarium.

The Sea Lion Show started at 4:30PM and it was raining that time. Sad thing because the venue does not a have roof that protects us from the rain. They instead gave us cellophane rain coats which did not fit. We ended missing most of the Lion Show because we had to protect ourselves from the rain. We did not want to get wet.

Overall, the experience is fun.

For more information, visit Manila Ocean Park website at

http://www.manilaoceanpark.com

The infinity pool of Lalimar Beach Resort. The view of Tanon Strait right from the pool is just magnificent.

While we were in Guihulngan City to celebrate the birthday of my friend’s mom, we went to a nearby resort located in La Libertad to spend the rest of the afternoon. The resort’s name is Lalimar Beach Resort, it is operated and owned by the Local Government Unit.

The resort is a great place to spend your vacation. They have an infinity pool with a breathtaking view of Tanon Strait and also you can see the island of Cebu from a far. The cottages are simply beautiful. Plus the price is cheaper.

Since the resort is about 2 hours drive from Dumaguete City, it is a sweet escape from the madding crowd.

We had the whole afternoon in Lalimar Beach Resort and we were all pampered by the beauty of this resort. The cottages that are made of indigenous materials, the eco friendly landscape, the cool plunge of their infinity pool, the friendly staff and their mouth watering pizza – these were just some of the things that we experienced and brought us into the state of peace and relaxation.

This is the view of the resort right after I got out the vehicle.

May the picture paints my first impression of the resort. hehe

The function hall as seen near the swimming pool.

The swimming pool as seen near the function hall.

Another view of their infinity swimming pool.

Lalimar Beach Resort have Filipino and Italian cuisine. And this pizza is just so delicious. Never miss their pizza!

The landscape is beautifully designed. It conforms nature.

Lalimar Beach Resort Restaurant

This is how the indigenous cottages in Lalimar Beach Resort look like.

Last glimpse of their swimming pool.

We left Lalimar Beach Resort with a smile to show how we enjoyed our time while we were there. So if you happen to be in Negros Oriental, consider staying in Lalimar Beach Resort.

===

Below are the published rates I got last August 2012.

Air Conditioned Cottage w/ Hot & Cold Shower

1. Cottage Nos. 1 – 4 – PhP 1,540.00
2. Cottage No. 5 – PhP 2,420.00
3. Cottage No. 6 (Whole Cottage) – PhP 3,740.00
4. Cottage No. 6A – PhP 2,640.00
5. Cottage No. 6B – PhP 1,760.00
6. Cottage No. 7 – PhP 3,080.00
7. Budget Room with Fan – PhP 220.00/head

Lalimar Beach Resort
San Jose, La Libertad, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Cellphone No: 09082127683 – 09177071409
E-mail: resortlalimar@yahoo.com

My friend Joe who hails from Negros Oriental happened to go home that day to celebrate her mother’s birthday. I, being a travel junkie, asked him if we can go with him. We were not invited but I (on behalf of the group) asked Joe to invite us to his place. See how crazy I am. Good thing, Joe is so kind that he agreed.

This is the ferry boat about to dock in the temporary port of Guihulngan. The original port stopped operating after it was damaged by the Feb 2012 earthquake.

We are all from Cebu City and getting to Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental takes a few hours of bus and ferry travel. We gathered ourselves as early as 1AM in Cebu South Bus Terminal. We had to take a bus going to Tangil, Dumanjug Port.

The group in Dumanjug Port.

Dumanjug Port. I am not sure what they were doing on the picture.

We arrived in Dumanjug Port by 3AM. We expected that the RoRo ferry would depart by 3:30AM but the time we got there we were told that the scheduled departure would be at 5AM. So we had to kill 2 hours of our time waiting.

There are stalls present outside the port selling food like bibingka, biko, bread etc. We stopped by and had some snacks.

Let us take a break and have some biko and hot coffee.

The RoRo ferry that we took I believe was not suitable for passengers but for cargoes. The seats available were limited. It was very uncomfortable. On a side note, there is a fast ferry that travel between Tangil, Dumanjug Port and Guihulngan City but I do not know its scheduled trip.

Passengers standing inside the RoRo ferry.

Guihulngan City is located in the nothern part of Negros Oriental. Traveling to Bacolod City and Dumaguete City from Guihulngan City takes about 4 hours. This city was greatly affected by an earthquake that occurred last February 2012. The damaged structures that I saw that time were the evidence of the said earthquake. (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/140881/quake-kills-52-in-negros-oriental)

Peaceful Guihulngan City

I tried to take a picture of a damaged structure but the vehicle was too fast.

By 7AM, the boat docked in Guihulngan City. And I finally stepped in to the land of Negros for the first time.

At last we stepped in to the land of Negros.

Check Google Maps to know more information how to travel from Cebu City to Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental

View Larger Map

TRAVEL DATE: August 18, 2012