Villa Escudero, Quezon

A spanish vibe, a museum of antiques, a picturesque lake, a greenery hacienda - these are what Villa Escudero offer.

Riding in their carabao calash and taking buffet lunch near man-made waterfall are some of the unique experiences you can enjoy.

Lion City, Singapore

After 2 months, I was back again in Singapore for an official business trip. For my free time, not even the rain could hinder my wandering feet to check out the city's  attractions and cheap finds.  A food trip at Lau Pa Sat with my colleagues was a good experience to cap off my day.

El Nido, Palawan II

If there is one place I want to visit again and again, it is El Nido, Palawan. I was enthralled by its majestic beauty. The crystal clear water and the limestone formation of the islands are instagram perfect for travelers. El Nido is also a melting pot where you can meet and greet various people across the Globe, share experiences and take pride of the culture you can share with the other fellow travelers.

In a simple chat with foreign tourists,  locals can even discover new stuff related to new Philippine destinations such as the Port Barton in San Vicente, Palawan. While exploring the town of El Nido, you can have an idea  how the town's income is driven mainly by tourism. Various restaurants, hotels, inns, stores and travel agencies can be found in El Nido.

Gigantes Islands

Iloilo is known for its melodious language - the "Ilonggo". Hearing the locals speak their native language adds to their warm personality and hospitality, making Iloilo more attractive to the tourists.

I've been to Iloilo twice. Aside from the  famous lapaz batchoy (noodle soup) and sea food, my travels here were memorable as I got to visit various marine schools for a customer satisfaction study. Iloilo is one of the top sources of Filipino seafarers. In addition, Iloilo became my access point to visit Boracay for the first time.

This year, I had an opportunity to visit Iloilo again; not the city but the northern part of the region - Estancia, Iloilo. Our entry point is Roxas City since it is just 1 hour and 30 minutes to Estancia. What I loved about Estancia - the seafood!. I ate various sea shells, scallops, oysters, fresh fish and crabs. I described it as a seafood festival in a normal day.

One thing not to be missed in Estancia is the island hopping activity in Gigantes Islands. Travelling across the ocean all the way to Gigantes islands reminded me again of the strong waves in my Calaguas tour. The waves are big and strong; passengers on the front of the motorboat are literally soaking wet (including me 😂 ). All the anxiety brought by huge waves for more than an hour was all worth it when you reach the islands.

Sepoc Beach, Batangas

I have been visiting Batangas a couple of times already but it seems that there are so many tourist places left to wander in that province. It is just 2-3 hrs drive from Manila and it is the best option for travelers who wants to feel the ocean breeze.

Apart from lying on the beach, exploring the nearby islands  in Batangas is a good alternative. Sepoc Beach in Maricaban Island, part of Tingloy, Batangs, is a pivate beach where the main entry point is via motorboat from the Eaglepoint Beach resort in Anilao, Batangas. In this beach, you can do some sort of short hiking and you can take pictures of the flora in the island. It is definitely away from the crowd which is relaxing to the mind, body and spirit.

Ilocos

I remember having a group tour in Ilocos back in my UP college days. That trip was my first encounter with the cute baby Tigers at Baluarte. The Pagudpud beach (blue lagoon) at that time was unspoiled yet without  any infrastructures. I also had the opportunity to meet the beauty guru Cory Quirino in Ilocos.

Singapore

It is convenient to travel in Singapore by trains. You do not even need a wifi for google maps since the MRT pamphlet and the color coding of trains are very easy to follow. Noticeable are the fast escalators! Singapore is very friendly to the tourists.

Three (3) days in Singapore is not yet enough to tour this beautiful country. Very modern, sophisticated, clean and tropical - that is how i described this island country. Majority of station stops has landmarks and tourist attractions.

Upside Down Museum

For a weekend full of fun, visit the Upside Down Museum in Pasay, Manila.

Keep your inner child alive. Enjoy the inverted scenery inside this museum.

Wow Davao!

Reminiscing back to my first visit to Davao City, it was a memorable vacation as I enjoyed it to the fullest:

• my first zipline adventure in eden nature park
• visited the Samal Island with free entrance on Pearl Farm as sponsored by my banker friend
• my long habal habal ride from Samal Paradise resort to Pearl Farm
• met the PMA ladies @Pearl Farm
• food trip at tuna restaurants in Davao
• visited crocodile farm and Philippine Eagle park, toured Davao city riding non-aircon taxis which are common that time.

This 2018, I got to enjoy new beautiful places in Davao City. In case you stopped by at Davao, you may include the ff: in your itinerary:

• Prayer Mountain (by appointment)
• Malagos Garden Resort 
• Eagles Ridge Resort (for gatherings/reunions)

La Luz Beach Resort

Laiya is my safe haven. I can go here at my most convenient time.

Trying out various beach resorts in laiya is fun since it offers new travel experiences and different kinds of relaxation. I even dreamed of owning a resthouse in San Juan  since the area is just hours ride away from my home.

This time, I have tried La Luz Beach resort and I enjoyed the serenity of this place. Having a lazy day at the cabana to hear the sounds of waves is a form of relaxation which I enjoyed the most.

Enjoy the view and ambiance of the place.