Monday, January 28, 2013


Philippine Flow Fest will soon bring fire, art and world class performances at the Venice Piazza, Mckinley Hill in Taguig. This weekend, February 2, let us join in a celebration of lights, sounds, art and fire with the best performance artists from all over the globe.

Ibon Ebon Festival (literally means 'bird - egg') features the municipality of Candaba as the home of thousands of migratory birds from different parts of the globe.

The most awaited light show in the sky in the Metropolis will be seen from February 9 to March 16, 2013 at SM Mall of Asia.

Sunday, January 27, 2013


Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City Complex in Pasay City wherein contingents compete in dance parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant.
WHITE CORAL HOTEL
Infront of Balabag Plaza. Aircon room for as low as Php1,500.00 per person/ night during 
Off Peak season ( June to October )
Peak Season Room Rate: Php2,500.00 /per person/ night ( Nov to May)





Sandugo Festival is a spectacular month-long celebration featuring cultural and historical presentations, agro industrial fairs, pageants and other variety shows. The highlight of the festival is the street dancing competition where contingents show off their ingenuity and creative movements.

Saturday, January 26, 2013


Pabirik Festival is the annual Festival of Paracale, Camarines Norte every Last week of January up to the day of town Fiesta on the second day of February. Pabirik is a tool made of wood perfectly shaped like a circular pan, slightly coned, with a smooth surface. ParacaleƱos use this tool to gather gold since the early days. This tool became the inspiration of the creators of the festival in 1998 as it symbolizes the whole purpose and significance of the celebration.

Kaamulan started as a festival on May 15, 1974, during the fiesta celebration of the then municipality of Malaybalay. A town official thought of inviting some indigenous people to town and made them perform a few dance steps at Plaza Rizal to enliven the fiesta celebration. The celebration however proved very popular and together with national coverage the Kaamulan festival has become the regional festival of Northern Mindanao.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013


Hello Socsargen! was in my mind, It was my first time to discover the region's tourist attraction. My first stop is at Gumasa beach, it was not a well-known tourist destination, but if you come over and see for yourself it's wonderful seascape and alluring surroundings, you will surely spread the news.

Monday, January 21, 2013


After my challenging Hagimit adventures, my next stop is the home of abyss, Maxima Aqua Fun. The resort is lack of white sandy beach for which Samal Island is famous for but it is home to the first giant tarpaulin water slide in the country and host to several other fun-filled water sports activities like swimming, jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, banana boat ride, water trampoline, and even fishing.

This area is the last trip of my Davao del Sur exploration. I am very curious of the place because of the trade mark as "Little Boracay".  Thus, the name  reminiscent of a part of the world-famous Boracay. The clear waters are inviting swimmers to take a dip while one end of the resort invites explorers to explore its rocky secrets.

Sunday, January 20, 2013


My first "Lakwatsa" in 2013 was in Hagimit Waterfalls in PeƱaplata District in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS). My first visit here was when I was in College, with my classmates in University of Mindanao  ten years ago. That time, the falls was free to the public because it was not maintained and no cottage at all.  

Samal Island is blessed with beautiful coast having white sand beaches, abundant marine life, magnificent rock formations, and flourishing flora and fauna. It is home to the famous Pearl Farm Beach Resort. But the beauty of the island is not just with its white and unspoiled beaches or its diverse natural attractions but to its warm and lovely people as well. All these make this island a potential world-class eco tourism destination in this part of the Philippines.

Saturday, January 19, 2013


Sinulog festival is one of the grandest, most distinguished and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. The major festival is held each year on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City to honor the Santo NiƱo, or the child Jesus, who used to be the patron saint of the whole province of Cebu (since in the Catholic faith Jesus is not a saint, but God). It is fundamentally a dance ritual which remembers the Filipino people's pagan past and their recognition of Christianity.

Dinagyang Festival 2013 Opening Salvo

The Venue Party Boat is Davao's first ever and only cruising, dining, and party boat that offers events cruises between Davao City and around the Samal Islands. It is a perfect venue for parties, social gatherings or corporate events, promising each guest a unique and totally new cruising experience.

Friday, January 18, 2013


It is not my plan to visit Magsaysay Park. While walking along the street of Magsaysay, to wait for a bus going to Samal Island, I took the chance to take photos and simply walked inside the park. This city landmark was built in honor of the most-loved and revered president of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay who, in March 17, 1957, died in a plane crash in Mount Manunggal on Cebu Island while en route to Manila. He was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines.

The long wait is over because the famous and the biggest food chain in the Philippines has finally opened in my home town Calinan. Most of Calinenyos and neighboring barangays flocked to Calinan Poblacion to witness and took the first bite of Jollibee products.

Monday, January 14, 2013


The Bangsi Festival celebrates Maitum's prosperous fishing industry, particularly on bangsi (flying fish). The festival features street dancing performed by representatives coming from different schools. Dance themes portray marine life and the dancers wear colorful costumes symbolizing life in the sea.

The Rodeo MasbateƱo Festival is an annual event which takes place in Masbate City which showcases skills in livestock handling, such as lassoing, wrestling, and riding cattle. Also included in the event are a fair and exhibitions and trade of cattle and horses. The event has taken place every summer since 1993 in the province of Masbate, which is traditionally considered the “Cattle Country of the Philippines.” 

Sunday, January 13, 2013


Tuna Festival showcase the various activities, program events and shows are held; spread-out during the entire one week celebration of the festival. A colorful parade of floats is one of the highlights of the festival, as well as street dancing by students donning beautiful costumes.

Cagayan de Oro sky was painted by colorful fireworks. It gives delight to the Kagayanon's eyes at the same time it gives appreciation to the artistry of fireworks technology.

MassKara Festival is one of the most popular festival in the Philippines. This is the world renowned special event that Bacolod "The City of Smiles", in the Province of Negros Occidental is celebrating. MassKara festival is a Mardi Gras like celebration that masked and costumed street dancers, with fairs and carnivals. MassKara Festival is celebrated in the third weekend of October.

Camalaniugan was founded on June 15, 1596, a rather early date because of its proximity to Nueva Segovia (Lallo). San Jacinto de Polonia was selected as their patron saint. The early settlers were the Ybanags and Ilocanos, both peace-loving citizens. They built their houses along the banks of the Cagayan River. They brought with them their knowledge of farming and skills in making weapons.

Kalilangan Festival is an annual celebration in General Santos City held in the Month of February. It coincides with the city's founding anniversary and is held in celebration of the arrival of the pioneers of General Santos City which was led by Gen. Paulino Santos and the warm welcome of the local residents mainly the Maguindanaoans and B'laans that created a harmonious relationship between them.

The celebration includes a parade of uniquely designed floats, trade exhibits, fairs, and competitions. The Suman is a sweet sticky native rice cake, and it is used to decorate the main streets and houses in Baler during the festivity.

Tinagba Festival showcases the tradition of offering the first harvests and coincides with the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. It features a long parade of carabao-drawn colorfully decorated carts carrying newly harvested crops and fruits. The festival also features revelers in beautiful decorative costumes who dance around the city.

The Pamulinawen Festival celebrates the city’s founding as well as the feast day of its patron saint, William of Maleval, who died on February 10 way back in the year 1157 AD. The festival’s highlight is a parade and a street-dance competition.

Moriones Festival is a festival held on Holy Week on the island Province of Marinduque. The “Moriones” are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks. The Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals.

New Corella is a Philippine municipality in the province Davao Del Norte in Region XI Davao Region which be­longs to the Mindanao group of islands. The municipality of New Corella is seated about 15 km north-north-east of province capital City Of Tagum. 

Saturday, January 12, 2013


Once again Davao City will be celebrating their 76th Araw ng Dabaw. A month-long celebration  is expected to bring thousands of visitors, tourists, transients and travelers to the city.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Jaro Cathedral
Thousands of devotees gather at the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo City every 2nd day of February to celebrate the feast of Nuestra SeƱora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candle). 
It is the site of the miraculous image of Virgin Mary, which was canonically crowned by Pope John Paul II in 1982. It is the only religious image in the Philippines to have personally crowned by a Pope.

Iloilo Paraw Regatta 2013 Schedule of Activities

When I was walking in Downtown Dumaguete, I was curious with the restaurant name Blue Monkey Grill. They used monkey as their model to invite people to come inside and dine. I was amused with the idea and it even made me laugh. Sad to say, I was not able to try their dishes because it was close when I arrived. The restaurant is open only in night time.

When I was in a ride going to Tinuy-an Falls, I noticed the big lake. According to my tour guide, It was LAKE 77, a vibrant name with historical significance and soul-searching meaning. Lake 77 is a man-made lake containing 77 hectares of land constructed by then PICOP Resources Incorporated to provide adequate water supply for its paper plant operation. The City government decided to develop lake 77 as new tourist destination, a potential source of employment, livelihood and revenue generation.

The Butterfly Sanctuary of Malagos Garden resort is a house of the biggest butterflies in the Philippines, the Triodes Radamanthus and Triodes Megallanus. When I visited the resort, I had the chance to see and take pictures of different Butterly in the museum. They are carefully preserved in a fragile glass frame. It reminded me to be more extra careful with my movements. I'm not a butterfly lover, but since they have a big contribution in our environment, I was motivated to use my blog. The resort is promoting eco-tourism as part of their project. It showcases and preserves some of the many different species of butterflies.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Culion Town

Culion was called the Island of the Living Dead or the Island of No Return. Once the largest leper colony in the world, it stands today as a stark reminder of life in the Philippines when leprosy was still an incurable disease, and a testament to how leprosy was eradicated not just in the Philippines but in the entire world, and how technology and advances in medicine have improved and changed the way we live today.


Chinese New Year is considered to be the most important festival for the Chinese community in the Philippines. It does not follow a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar, which is widely used in many countries. 

Monday, January 7, 2013


Zamboanga Sibugay celebrated their first Sibugsay sa Sibugay Festival last July 1, 2012 with the theme "Our Sibugay, Our Tomorrow", due to some pragmatic reasons, replaced their Sibug-Sibug fest originally held every February. 

Experience the excitement of Minasa Festival 2013 on January 12-20, 2012.

Panagbenga Festival is a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. The term is of Malayo-Polynesian origin, meaning "season of blooming". The festival, held during the month of February, was created as a tribute to the city's flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake. The festival includes floats that are decorated with flowers unlike those used in Pasadena's Rose Parade. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from the Cordillera region.

Ati-Atihan Festival is an annual feast celebrated in honor of the Santo NiƱo, concluding on the third Sunday of January, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines. It is a season for Kalibonhons and Akeanons together with its guests to witness local ingenuity as the participating Ati tribes, in their colourful costumes, flock the major streets of Kalibo, dancing to the thunderous beat of the drums, and shouting with enthusiasm the chant “Viva kay Senior Sto. Nino!”

Hinugyaw festival is a week long celebration of the Foundation Anniversary of Koronadal City, the center of the Province of South Cotabato. Hinugyaw is a colorful merry-making depicting the evolution of the distinct cultures of B’laans, Maguindanao, and Christians into a singular wave of rhythm as a tribute to the creator, and in celebration of the spirit that Koronadal is known for dynamic and persistent in its bound for sustainable development.

Sunday, January 6, 2013


Calinan is part of my life.I'm living in this beautiful place for 7 years now. A brief history, I met my wife here and we both graduated at Holy Cross College of Calinan. Presently, we are living a happy and simple life with our two healthy angels. Its not easy to live here because there are no fastfood like Jollibee and Macdonalds. I have to travel downtown for 40 minutes just to fill my eagerness.

Davao City is the biggest city in the Philippines in terms of area, population and commercial trading. 
Davao hosts the most number of first class resorts in the country, serving as a major attraction to visitors and businessmen from within the region and elsewhere. A safe haven in Mindanao, and a melting pot for all culture that despite the differences among its people, they live together in peace and harmony.


Feast of Black Nazarene 2013

Friday, January 4, 2013


Its already 12 noon and my stomach is already complaining. By asking from some people in the city I was able to go to the best restaurant in Tandag, the GoldBar Restaurant. The restaurant was perfectly situated facing the Pacific Ocean . The owner created a platform by the seaside for customers to get a breeze of sea air while enjoying their meal.

It is not my plan to go to Siquijor but because of my passion for travel, I had a strong feeling that I have to go in that Island. I was a bit nervous on that day because Siquijor is said to have magic potions, shamans, sorcerers and witches and a lot of Filipinos will not stay overnight on this island because of this superstition.

The people of Tandag foresees Tandag Boulevard in Mabua as the land mark of the City in the coming years. It will boost tourism and will hopefully attract investments just like the Dumaguete Boulevard. Half of it is readily open for the public since the other half is still under construction. This project is named after the late Vicente L. Pimentel who was the Governor of Surigao del Sur way back 1946. He was the one who created and named the province as Surigao del Sur.

Thursday, January 3, 2013


My last destination on my 2 day trip in Surigao del Sur was in Tandag City. After my Cagwait exploration, I rode a Bus bound for Tandag where I waited for almost 1 hour. Its not easy to travel in that area especially when the vehicle is loaded with passengers, similar to what I had experienced. Still I was able to get a ride but I have to stand elbow to elbow with other passengers. Cagwait to Tandag was almost a 30-minute of ride.

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