Category: Philippines

Anilao Underwater Shootout stages a successful comeback

Banner photo: Winner, Special Award – Wide Angle, Paul Joseph Aristorenas

Amateur and professional underwater photographers, divers, and marine enthusiasts once again masterfully captured the beauty of Anilao in the entries to the 7th Anilao Underwater Shootout (AUS), recently mounted by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Winner, Special Award – Blackwater, Dennis Corpuz

Dubbed as the “World Cup of Underwater Photo Competitions,” the event highlighted the town’s teeming marine biodiversity, including its world-famous nudibranchs.

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Casa Escondida Anilao Resort & Dive Center, Batangas

Anilao in Batangas is known as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines. The small barangay in the coastal town of Mabini is one of the most popular diving destinations accessible by land travel for those who live in Metro Manila. Anilao is said to be the home to more than half of the Philippines’ documented shore fish species as well as over 300 species of coral.

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Biking to El Deposito Underground Tunnels in Pinaglabanan Shrine, San Juan

After years of excavation and clearing, and months of pandemic-induced delays, the El Deposito Underground Reservoir is now finally open to the public! Visitors can walk back in time through a portion of the Spanish-era tunnels just sitting underneath the sprawling public park in San Juan City.

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Review: BESV JG1 Gravel E-bike

Biking, camping, and coffee rides have really boomed in the Philippines during the pandemic. Everyone wants to spend time outdoors, and going on bike rides to natural spots like mountains and forests near the city or visiting bike-friendly cafes with friends on weekends satisfies that wanderlust of traveling somewhere far by car or by air.

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Bike-friendly cafes in the Maginhawa area

The coffee and cycling culture has really boomed in the Philippines. Since the pandemic hit, pop-up coffee kiosks coffee and minimalist roadside cafes serving good coffee catering to cyclists have become destinations on their own for weekend rides. You can find a lot of minimalist and pop-up roadside cafes situated in scenic spots along biker’s routes like Antipolo, Timberland, Boso-Boso, Marilaque, offering relaxing spots to rest during longer rides.

But for those looking for a destination for quick city rides, there are plenty of cool coffee shops in and around the metro that you can check out as well. Here are just a few cafes in my own Maginhawa neighborhood where bikers can grab a good cup of coffee and snacks for those chill Tambike sessions.

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Art in Island has reopened: New Guidelines (October 2021)

Interactive art museum Art in Island in Quezon City has finally reopened to the public starting Saturday (October 23, 2021).

The biggest 3D Interactive Art Museum in Asia, known for letting visitors become “part of the art” and pose and play with its paintings and exhibits, has been closed for 19 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo from a previous visit in 2015 (face masks, face shields, and socks are now required!)

At the moment, only fully vaccinated guests are allowed to visit the art gallery as per IATF and Quezon City guidelines. Children (17 years old and below) are still not allowed to visit.

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Camp Sandugo: Biking, camping & craft beer with a view near Manila

One of the things I miss the most about traveling is hunting down unique beers you can only find in specific destinations. We used to enjoy biking in the Timberland area before the pandemic hit, but sadly most of the bike trails (Blue Zone, Green Zone, etc.) through the regular route up the Wall are no longer accessible to mountain bikers except for special events.

I really wanted to revisit the area just to try out Brusko Craft Beer, the in-house craft beer served at Camp Sandugo, a popular biking and camping destination in San Mateo in Rizal, near Metro Manila.

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Camiguin Travel Guide: New Guidelines (as of October 2021)

The island province of Camiguin is finally reopening to tourists for responsible travel starting October 25, 2021.

Camiguin was the last destination I traveled to in early March 2020 before the pandemic lockdown restrictions were imposed and I can’t wait to revisit again when I have the chance.

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5 budget tips for travel during the pandemic

After almost two years of community quarantine and working from home, most of us are really eager to go on a vacation. But with the additional requirements, risks, and extra costs of travel these days, thinking about going on a vacation feels like a lot more stressful than it used to be.

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Six destinations simplify travel: Cebu, Pagadian, Negros Occ, Guimaras, Tacloban, Butuan

Vaccination Card or Medical Certificate accepted

PRESS RELEASE – Cebu Pacific announces that there are now six destinations in its network that have simplified their travel requirements, namely, Cebu, Pagadian, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Tacloban and Butuan which no longer require RT-PCR or Antigen test. 

Travelers bound for Cebu Province must present a medical certificate stating that they do not exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 issued within 24 hours of before arrival in Cebu. 

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