Category: Philippines

Souvenir Guide: Lake Sebu

The serene town of Lake Sebu in South Cotabato is home to various indigenous tribes including the T’bolis, who are well-known for their traditional skills in weaving and handicrafts. If you find yourself in Lake Sebu, be sure to drop by the Cooperative of Women in Health and Development (COWHED), a nipa hut on stilts designed after a Gono Kem Bo-I (T’Boli Princess House) where you can buy a range of lovely souvenirs made by T’boli women. I was fortunate to visit and interview several members of the cooperative who rely on handicraft making for their livelihood and supply these crafts to the souvenir shop for a writing assignment. I couldn’t help but take home the souvenirs as well. Here are a few things you can buy to bring home a piece of culture from Lake Sebu.

1) T’nalak

T’nalak or Tinalak is the indigenous fabric woven from threads of abaca by the T’boli tribe, with striking colors of red, black and white.  Continue reading “Souvenir Guide: Lake Sebu”

Things to Do in Lake Sebu

With its rough, steep terrain and narrow mountain roads, Lake Sebu is best explored by habal-habal (motorcycle). Located at the southwestern of the province of South Cotabato, this idyllic town is home to a host of natural attractions and points of cultural interest. However, there aren’t a lot of paved roads, so getting around is a thrilling experience in itself. Aboard a motorcycle, you can reach remote areas that can’t be navigated by jeepneys and tricycles.

lake sebu 7 falls rainbow

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Hiking up Bongao Peak, Tawi-Tawi

Standing majestic and proud, Bud Bongao or simply Bud (Bongao Peak), is the major landmark that greets visitors to the island province of Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost province of the country, located in the Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

This mountain cliff is considered sacred by locals, who believe that it has a power to heal people of sickness and cleanse them of their sins. Many locals hike up to ask for blessings for good health, to pray in the Muslim shrines along the way, or as a form of thanksgiving. Continue reading “Hiking up Bongao Peak, Tawi-Tawi”

Food Trip: Tawi-Tawi

Tawi-tawi is the Philippines southernmost province. Due to its relative inaccessibility as well as concerns about the peace and order situation in the surrounding areas, the island hasn’t been attracting as many travelers and tourists as other provinces in the country. This is a pity since it has lots to offer in terms of beautiful and historic sights, as well as interesting food.

Since Tawi-Tawi is an island province, I presumed that seafood would be plentiful. I also knew that pork would not be available, as it’s predominantly Muslim. I found out that most of the inns/hotels in Bongao, the capital town, have their own restaurants which serve regular Pinoy fare (mostly beef, chicken and seafood dishes). There are also a lot of carinderias (small eateries) and cafes if you want to try local specialties. If you’re planning a trip to Tawi-tawi, here are some of the dishes you can try out.

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Secrets of Sohoton, Bucas Grande Island

“The main entrance and exit is only accessible during low tide” said our guide as our pump boat glided through the water in the dark cave half-submerged in water. The hard hats we had been issued shielded us from the stalactites that hung precariously above our heads. The boatmen expertly maneuvered through the cave entrance towards a pinprick of light that slowly opened up into a vast lagoon. I stared in awe at the stunning landscape I saw before me.

We had just entered Sohoton Cove, a natural haven that is the pride of Bucas Grande Island in Surigao del Norte. Continue reading “Secrets of Sohoton, Bucas Grande Island”

Backpacker Haven in Manila: MNL Boutique Hostel

With its comfortable rooms, convenient location and hip vibe, MNL Boutique Hostel is an ideal place for backpackers to spend a night or two in Manila.

LOCATION

The hostel is centrally located near Makati’s tourist center, right behind a mall, with banks, convenience stores, embassies and easy modes of transportation just around the corner. But what sets it apart is its fun vibe that just oozes with character and its mission to let travelers experience local Pinoy culture and hospitality at its best.

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Binondo Food Trip with Ford

Binondo is a vibrant district in Manila and is the world’s oldest Chinatown. This historic Chinese quarter is known for its affordable eats, heritage sights and rich culture. While the place itself is very interesting, getting to and from here and finding a space to park is usually not that pleasant when you have to drive. The traffic in general and congested alleys makes Binondo one of the most difficult places in Manila to drive a car. If I have to go here, I’d rather commute or take a motorcycle instead. But a few days before Chinese New Year, I found myself driving through Binondo’s streets and actually enjoying it.

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DIY Puerto Princesa City Tour by Motorcycle

Puerto Princesa is a gateway to some really great areas in Palawan that require longer land travel. We planned to spend some time in El Nido and allotted most of our travel money for this. But since the city itself is a great destination, we decided to spend a couple of days there before and after El Nido with a more modest budget.

On our first full day there, we decided to rent a motorcycle to explore the city’s most popular tourist spots. If you can drive a bicycle or motorcycle, you can save costs on the standard city tour and spend more time exploring the places you want without being tied to a tour group. During our visit, motorcycle rentals cost PHP500/for 24 hours use from Alex Motorcycle Rental(Rizal Ave.) We drove around the main city, weaving through the busy side streets and alleys, passing by the port, Baywalk and at Kamarikutan Café for a quick look around. Continue reading “DIY Puerto Princesa City Tour by Motorcycle”

Shooting Range in Isabela

In the event a zombie outbreak happens (and it will), one of the most useful survival skills you will probably need to know aside from running for your life is how to shoot a real gun. Though I play the occasional first-person shooters like Left4Dead and have tried shooting games like lazer tag, paintball, and airsoft, nothing beats target practice at a shooting range.

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Corregidor on Foot

Old Manila Walks recently launched The Corregidor Walking Tour, dubbed “Of Bombs, Big Guns & Lost Gold.” The walking tour, which is concentrated on the “historic core” if the island, provides a broader, more contextual, insightful and critical understanding of World War II in the country. Throughout the tour, Ivan Man Dy, the founder and lead guide of Old Manila Walks, shared interesting stories of military strategies, enemy invasion, lost treasures and conspiracy theories on WWII. This was actually my third time on the historic island, after taking the traditional bus tour and the Adventure Challenge and overall, I found the whole experience to be a great workout for both body and mind! Below are a few photo highlights & some useful info for those who want to try it out themselves.

For more walking tours, check out my article “History on Foot: Old Manila Walks” in Zest Inflight Magazine, March 2013 issue. Continue reading “Corregidor on Foot”