Author: Kara Santos

Weaving for Dreams: Maranao Collectibles, Marawi City

One of the things I like to collect from different provinces I visit are native weaves and textiles. There are many rich weaving traditions in the different parts of the Philippines and the fabrics often make more unique souvenirs compared to mass-produced ref magnets, mugs or keychains. With every distinct pattern are threads of culture and heritage from different tribes and the skillful artists who weave them. Each piece of cloth tells a different story.

In Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, we came across the langkit, a traditional Maranao weave made with a backstrap loom in the shop of Salika Maguindanao-Samad and Jardin Samad of Maranao Collectibles, who are working to creatively revive the vanishing art of weaving. Continue reading “Weaving for Dreams: Maranao Collectibles, Marawi City”

The Gift of Travel

Growing up, we had a framed poster of birds flying into the sunset that said: “There are two gifts we should give our children: one is roots. And the other is wings.”

My sister and I always used to fight about who got what. We both wanted the wings. But I have to say, they’re both equally important. And I’m truly grateful to my parents for giving us both.

As a freelance writer, I get to travel for work a lot. When I have free time for personal trips, I usually travel solo to places I haven’t been to and really want to explore. But traveling with family can be some of the best types of trips.


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Kowloon Walled City Park, Hong Kong

It’s hard to believe that what is now a beautiful park used to be one of the most densely populated places on the planet. Despite having been demolished 20 years ago, the Kowloon Walled City continues to captivate people today. While at first glance, it may look just like a pleasant garden in the middle of the busy city of Hong Kong, it felt surreal and disconcerting to visit a place with so much history behind it. This was the most fascinating place I visited during my recent trip to Hong Kong.

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Indian Brand TVS launches motorcycles in the Philippines

Given the rising cost of living, worsening traffic in the metro and state of our public transportation, riding a motorcycle is one of the most cost-efficient ways to get around. But many motorcycle models available can seem very intimidating to drive or are expensive and costly to maintain.

While there are a lot of big bikes out there from established brands ideal for recreation and touring, the reality is that average Pinoys just want a way to get from Point A to B easily during the week. In this case, a practical, budget-friendly and low-maintenance motorbike you can use in high-traffic areas in the city as well as provincial or rural roads is the best option.  

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10 Things to Do in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of those places that you probably won’t mind revisiting again and again. There’s just so much you can do. As one of Asia’s most popular international hubs with visa-free entry for tourists, it’s a favorite overseas travel destination for Filipino travelers. During previous visits to Hong Kong with my family, I enjoyed all the essential Hong Kong experiences for first-timers like the rides in Disneyland theme park, visiting Victoria Harbour and a day trip to Macau.

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5 Things to Do in Melbourne

Melbourne is the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. Known for its vibrant culture and rich heritage, this Australian city certainly deserves a spot in everyone’s travel bucket lists. Consistently ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities, Melbourne has been a dream destination for a lot of travelers.

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10 Great Biking Destinations in Luzon

Manila is not the most bike-friendly city in Asia. But if you venture a little further from the metro, you’ll be surprised to find that the Philippines actually has some pretty spectacular mountain biking destinations. Ok, so it may take a little bit of time, effort and resources to get there, but for cyclists looking for bucketlist-worthy places to bike in the country, I think we have a few that we can be proud of.

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Pentahotel’s Eat Street & Pizza Bar

One of the coolest features of Pentahotels in Hong Kong are their in-house restaurants and bars. Combining the hotel lobby, reception area, bar and cafe into a single venue, Pentalounge is a lively gathering place with 230 seats anchored by eatstreet@ pentalounge which offers favorite Hong Kong dishes and a variety of comfort foods and all-day drinks.

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Pentahotel Hong Kong Kowloon

Modern convenience meets old-style charm in Pentahotel Hong Kong, Kowloon. From the contemporary rustic decor, aged brick details, concrete walls adorned with street art-style murals, and other whimsical details inspired by local culture, Pentahotel Kowloon is a nostalgic step back in time. But it also manages to blends style with hi-tech comfort for modern-day travelers.

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What to Pack for a Motorcycle Road Trip in the Philippines

Touring on a motorcycle in the Philippines is a great way to enjoy both the journey and a destination. Riding a motorcycle can give you the freedom to explore places, both familiar and remote. While riding a bicycle can give you that same freedom, riding a motorcycle doesn’t require as much energy, allows you to carry more stuff, and can take you to places faster, which is great if you only have limited time to explore.

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