Country Cuisine at Abe’s Farm, Pampanga

Food and travel really go together. More and more tourists are planning their destinations around food, and local cuisine is playing a big part in food tourism in the country.

abes farm pampanga pinoy food

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Photos: Independence Day Freedom Ride 2013

Last year on June 12, 2013, motorcycle riders in Manila held a Freedom Ride to mark the 115th Philippine Independence Day. The event, organized by the Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO), started at the People Power Monument, EDSA to University of The Philippines Diliman via C5 Avenue.

independence day motorcycle ride 2013 01

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Gear Review: Targus EcoSmart Messenger Bag

It’s good to know that more companies are doing their part to help the environment when manufacturing products. The EcoSmart Emerald Green Messenger bag from Targus, a manufacturer of accessories for the mobile lifestyle, shows how companies are blending environmental sustainability with a functional product ideal for urban use. I was surprised to find out that the bag (along with other products in their EcoSmart line) is made from polyester material sourced from recycled plastic bottles and PVC-free material.

01. targus emerald green messenger bag biking

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Travel Guide: Itbayat, Batanes

Batan and Sabtang Island are amazing enough. But then I got to Itbayat, the northernmost inhabited island of Batanes, and I was floored. While Itbayat is more rugged and more difficult to explore, it has a unique charm of its own. Hiking over rough roads, hills and steep paths can be grueling, but you will be rewarded with amazing views of caves, cliffs and coasts.

Poverty incidence in Itbayat is high, yet the people are friendly, honest and generous. Itbayanons pride themselves on having no casualties when typhoons hit, since their stone and lime houses were built to withstand calamities. And just like their vernacular houses, the people are strong, resilient, and hard-working.

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Batanes: Hiking up Mt. Iraya

On our last day in Batanes, after biking around North and South Batan, motorcycling around, and separate trips to Sabtang Island and Itbayat, Outside Slacker and I met up again in Basco to hike through a forest maze up a mountain. The thickly forested Mt. Iraya has an elevation of 1,009 metres (3,310 ft) above sea level, and is a major landmark of Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines.

02. mt iraya batanes from basco lighthouse

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Regina Rica in Tanay, Rizal

While most people are probably heading out to their home provinces or hitting the beaches this Holy Week, riders are probably looking for their next destination. With the streets in Manila virtually devoid of traffic during the Lenten Season, this is just the perfect excuse to gear up and head to religious destinations. Riding to visit churches and sites of religious significance can be a meaningful way to celebrate the Holy Week.

regina rica tanay rizal motorcycling travelup

Last year, I found myself motorcycling a total of 232 kilometers South of Manila for a Holy Week themed ride, passing through the churches of Pakil and Paete and the Tatlong Krus a pilgrimage site in Paete, where three crosses sit atop a hill.

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Sonya’s Garden Bed & Breakfast, Tagaytay

Sonya’s Garden has long been a family favorite for road trips. This bed and breakfast and restaurant is one of the most romantic getaways near the metro. It’s actually the first place I think of whenever someone mentions Tagaytay. With all the new establishments, hotels and Metro Manila chains that have set up in Tagaytay. Sonya’s Garden still offers a refreshing escape where you can enjoy healthy meals in a lush garden setting.

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Microtel Eagle Ridge, Cavite

Tagaytay City in Cavite is the most popular destination near the metro for a day trip. However, with the traffic and high cost of gas and toll fees, sometime’s it’s best to make the most of a road trip by staying overnight somewhere. This way, you can visit the more sights at a leisurely pace.

microtel eagle ridge cavite facade

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Tomb Raiding a Jungle Temple

Towering trees perched from temples ruins; their roots spilling over like tentacles over the crumbling walls. A maze of secret paths led to doorways hidden in the rubble. Faded carvings in concrete seemed to hide secret codes just waiting to be deciphered.

beng melea temple cambodia tomb raiding

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