A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
A year before the most recent eruption of Taal Volcano and the start of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020, we rode our motorcycles from Metro Manila circling Laguna Lake and Taal Lake. Back then, it was just for the thrill of the joyride and so we could hike to the crater lake on Volcano Island afterwards.
Want to travel around the Philippines by sea for free this summer? 2GO Travel is inviting budding content creators to the 2GOKada Creators Cruise sailing this May 2023.
In partnership with the Department of Tourism, 2GO Travel is giving a new breed of content creators a chance to experience the best of the Philippines by sea.
Continue reading “2Go Travel invites content creators to cruise for free this summer”Clark Freeport Zone (or simply Clark) in Pampanga is a former U.S. airbase in the Philippines that has been redeveloped into a modern industrial area. These days, it’s known as a center for leisure, fitness, entertainment, and gaming in Central Luzon. Clark is home to several family-friendly theme parks, casinos, and the Clark International Airport, a major airport near Manila.
For cyclists, Clark offers a great, bike-friendly destination near Manila. Since the pandemic hit, a lot of improvements have been made to appeal to cyclists and leisure bikers. Aside from the large open spaces and greenery and natural canopies provided by trees in the whole area complex, there’s a very good network of freshly painted bike paths, safety signages for bikers, and facilities to host cycling festivals and events.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Biking in Clark, Pampanga”Zamboanga City is one of my favorite destinations in Mindanao. With its stunning natural sights, vibrant culture, preserved history and amazing cuisine, it’s a place I don’t mind revisiting again and again. “Asia’s Latin City” is known for strong Hispanic and Latin influence. Zamboanga City is the center of economic activities in Mindanao, with its modern international seaport and airport serving as the entry point in the country to many destinations in Southeast Asia.
UPDATE: In September 2022, the province of Maguindanao was split into two, so the Philippines now has 82 provinces. This travel guide was originally completed and written in 2019 before the split and the pandemic, but has been updated to reflect the new province and newer photos from more recent revisits.
The Philippines is made up of 82 provinces, spread out under three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanano. Currently, there are 38 provinces in Luzon, 16 in Visayas, and 28 in Mindanao. The provinces are grouped under different regions based on their geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: 82 Provinces of the Philippines”International travelers have returned to the Philippines and social gatherings are back to normal. For tourists in transit in Manila for a few days and urban dwellers who need to entertain visiting balikbayans and relatives near the Intramuros area, the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) complex’s three central museums, namely the Museum of Fine Arts, Anthropology and Natural History, are worth a visit.
Entrance is free and no reservations are required to visit the three museums, which are located within easy walking distance of each other. These three major museums are fairly large, and contain over four to six floors each. Going around each museum could easily take 1-2 hours.
Continue reading “GUIDE: National Museum of the Philippines – Fine Arts, Anthropology & Natural History + Site Museums”When you think of Zamboanga City, the images of the rainbow-striped vintas immediately come to mind. But aside from the colorful sails of the outrigger boats, did you know you can find a colorful Rainbow Mosque in the city as well?
Masjid Al-Islamia, also known as the Rainbow Mosque, can be found in Brgy. Sta. Maria along Tumaga Road (Veterans Ave. Ext.) in Zamboanga City. The mosque was repainted sometime after the Marawi Siege in 2017 as a tribute to the fallen heroes. It was painted in vibrant colors as a call for peace and unity.
Continue reading “Rainbow Mosque in Zamboanga City: Masjid Al-Islamia”Zamboanga City’s cuisine is just as festive, colorful and diverse as the culture of the region. Because of their location near the Sulu Sea, you get a variety of fresh seafood. With Zamboanga’s rich history as a former Spanish settlement, Hispanic flavors and food preparation have been infused into dishes.
The presence of ethnic tribes from the Sulu archipelago and the Malay peninsula, known for their use of exotic spices, have added a unique touch to the cuisine that you can’t find anywhere else in the country.
Continue reading “Food Trip: Zamboanga City (2023)”Lucban in the province of Quezon is best known for celebrating the Pahiyas Festival, one of the Philippines most colorful harvest festivals, every May. The town is also known as a religious destination for pilgrims since it’s home to the 50-feet high Kamay ni Hesus Shrine, reportedly the third biggest Christ the Redeemer statue in the world.
The towns of Angono and Binangonan in Rizal offer an alternative destination where you can admire art and enjoy food trips near Manila. Angono, known as the “Art Capital of the Philippines,” is home to quirky folk art museums, art galleries like the Blanco Family Museum, and homegrown restaurants that serve native and exotic cuisine.
The neighboring town of Binangonan is also considered a cradle of arts in Rizal. It’s here where you can find the famed Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs (the oldest known work of art in the country) and ArtSector Gallery and Chimney Cafe, an art and food spot that’s grabbed the interest of folk from Metro Manila.
Continue reading “Food Trip: Where to eat in Angono and Binangonan, Rizal (updated 2023)”
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