The Great Chief of Mactan

Ask any grade schooler "Who killed Magellan?" and almost everyone will answer you right. Probably the most famous Filipino hero next to Rizal, Rajah Lapu-lapu is the brave Mactan chieftain who was the first to resist Spanish colonizers. He is highly regarded by the people for his bravery and that is why the locals built a bronze statue of him in honor of his heroic deed.

Under The Bridge @ Cebu

I have passed this bridge several times already going back-and-forth Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City. Everytime I wonder if it was possible to stop right there on the bridge 'coz I got a feeling that the place will offer a fantastic sunset view.

Leavin' Blue Lagoon - Roadside View

You will never run-out of amazing landscapes in the Islands Philippines. And that 10-minute strip from Blue Lagoon to Pagudpud Highway exemplifies that. Wonderful seascape on the left - blue sky, glistening shorelines, hued island and mountain scape and lush greenery on the right made this ride truly a visual delight. With this roadside view, leavin' Blue Lagoon just got harder.

Return to Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon, a popular name for Maira-ira, is one place that I will never get tired of going. I was there last year on a summer where the sky was clearer and the sea calmer. This time around, the weather is gloomier and the sea much wavier but still, the place is perfect if you long for tranquility and serenity. So, despite the very long hours spent on just going there, a return to Blue Lagoon is very much worth it.

Maira-ira's Wandering Shots

This has got to be the longest and the restless road trip I had this year. It all started with a three-hour bus ride from Cabanatuan to Manila where I met with travel buddy Dong Ho, master photographer Lantaw, adventurer-blogger Scud and sweethearts Jonee and Feigh. We planned to depart at 11 pm but because it is the start of a long weekend, Partas Bus heading to Ilocos could not accommodate all the passengers lined-up for the trip. We have to wait six hours for our bus to depart. The next twelve hours after that was an adventure in itself which included busted bus, delay due to road constructions, undisciplined drivers and ride transfers. To make, a long story short, it took us almost a whole day just to arrive at our destination.

Trekkin' and Ridin' in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a country close to Filipino hearts. And because of its proximity to the Philippines, this special autonomous region of China is a favorite destination of passport-bearing Filipinos. But once on its smoggy shores, it routinely becomes a shopping and dim sum gastronomical delights for most people.

Sagada's Church - Friendship and Devotion

The first place I visited in Sagada will be the last one I will post in this series. Nothing really melancholy but this blog is no stranger to Churches. I always believe every church has its own history from its architecture to the people who visits them.

Sagada Food Trip

One of the best parts about traveling is that it exposes you not only to different cultures but to regional foods and other gastronomical delight that made the place famous. And when you say Sagada, what comes to mind are Home-made Yoghurts and the Pinikpikan. I definitely tried those two and have discovered more. So, here are some food I have tried and the restos/establishments who made them:

NATIVE TREATS

Pinikpikan

Sagada's Marlboro Country

If you are looking for the best view on top of the world and wild horses, then Marlboro Country is the place to go. Located in Lamagan which is on the western part of Sagada, the place is one of the highest points of Sagada.

Like most of the attractions in Sagada, a trip to Marlboro Country required an accredited guide. So, the Tourist Information center provided us one. We rented a van that took us to the foot of the hill on a rough, stony path. We then trekked for about thirty minutes to reach the summit of the Lamagan.

Sumaging Cave @ Sagada

It's dark, slippery and wet but still, no trip to Sagada is complete without experiencing its caves. There are at least two caves in Sagada that are offered for exploration to its tourists. The Lumiang Burial Cave and the Sumaging Burial Cave. You can explore each cave or you can do the cave-to-cave connection linking both caves and suitable only to the reasonably fit.