Top Philippine destinations for 2009

It's time again to look back at my local trips last year and choose my top Philippine destinations for 2009. I visited my 63rd province last year! For my list for 2009, I'm not limiting my choices to ten since there were a lot of destinations which I consider very memorable.


1. Banol Beach, Twin Lagoon, Kayangan Lake and Siete Pecados Marine Park in Coron, Palawan

Coron is one of those places in the Philippines that we can truly call paradise. There are so many things to see and do there, you can spend a week or two and not get bored at all. I definitely enjoyed the trip. In fact, I also came out with a list of Things to do in Coron, Busuanga and Culion, Palawan which outlines the many different activities in the area.


2. Batanes: Valugan Beach, Vayang, Nakamaya Burial Grounds, Diura Fishing Village and Naidi Hill
My second trip to Batanes and I got to visit new places! On this trip, we trekked to the Nakamaya Burial Grounds and visited the Diura Fishing Village as part of the Ultimate Batanes Tour. Speaking of Ultimate Philippines, we have six Batanes tour dates for this year. Slots are going fast so I suggest you book now. Last year, we closed the tours weeks before since we were swamped with bookings as soon as we came out with the dates.


3. Puraran Beach is surfing capital of Catanduanes
Another well kept secret, but not for long, Puraran Beach is a major surfing destination of the country, and very popular among foreign surfers. In fact, when I was there, I was the only local visitor. The beach was very picturesque as well!


4. Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan
It was my first time to visit the Hundred Islands. And it surely did not disappoint! An iconic attraction of the Philippines, I hope it remains that way. And the good thing I like about the Hundred Islands is that you can choose your own secluded island and enjoy the rest of the day in a beach all to yourself.


5. Surfing, kayaking, rappelling, mountain biking and more Aurora adventure activities
I was back in Aurora just last month. And I discovered that there is now more to Aurora than just surfing. In fact, it's poised to become the next major adventure tourism destination. I also got to visit Ditumabo Falls which was off limits to visitors the last time I was in Aurora some years back. I'm sure once the roads are completely paved, the mad rush to this Pacific paradise will go full speed ahead. So enjoy it while it's still all yours!


6. Tondol Beach in Anda, Pangasinan
This beach was a revelation. It can become one of the most fantastic beaches in Luzon, especially when the sun is out and shining and when the tide is low. I enjoyed wading the powder white sand which streches a kilometer or so from the shore. Always visit the beach during low tide and the summer months since the thing about this beach is the view and experience is not consistent. But be there at the right time, it's picture perfect!


7. MassKara Festival 2009 in Bacolod City
I was in Bacolod for a grand family reunion of the Henares Clan. And we made sure it was the weekend of the MassKara Festival so that we could enjoy the festivities!


8. Bantayan Island, Cebu is rich in heritage and great beaches!
Another great discovery, Bantayan Island is on its way to becoming another Boracay. Give it another ten or fifteen years. Right now, several foreigners already settled in the town of Sta. Fe and have opened some very interesting restaurants most defintely worth visiting.


9. Corregidor Island day trip via Sun Crusies
I've always enjoyed visits to Corregidor Island which is a silent witness to the Second World War. And early last year, I got to visit the island twice, one of the visits an overnight trip where I got to explore the Malinta Tunnel at night!


10. Bohol: Loboc River Cruise, Baclayon Church and Panglao Island
I was lucky to get invited to a test drive of the new Honda City in Bohol. We got to drive around most of Bohol island and stay in Panglao Island for a night.


11. Capul Island's lighthouse and old fortress church
Although I mentioned this trip only this year, I made the trip to Northern Samar late last year. Capul Island is for those who really want to experience the rustic beauty of the country. It's doesn't have any travel amenities whatsoever. And you'll definitely immerse with the locals since the readily available accommodation is homestay.


12. Viva Vigan! Binatbatan Festival, Tres de Mayo and more Vigan festivities
While I try to avoid trooping to festivals due to the crowds, I enjoy watching them. We got to experience an old tradition of Vigan, the centuries-old Tres de Mayo Fiesta held annually, as part of the Ultimate Ilocos Tour. And we're doing it again this year. So book now!

13. Visita iglesia in Leyte and Southern Leyte
Another off the beaten track trip I did early last year. And I got to experience how it feels being stranded!


14. Cagayan: Callao Cave, Pinacanauan River and Iguig Calvary Hills
We had a barbecue picnic along the banks of the Panacanauan River which to me was the highlight of this visit to Penablanca. We'll be back again in Tuguegarao this month for even more adventure activities. So watch out for it.


15. Mairaira Cove (Blue Lagoon) in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Beyond touristy Saud Beach is this secluded Pagudpud cove called Mairaira. Tourists are fast discovering this surfing destination on the northwestern tip of Luzon Island. So better troop there while it's still relatively a secret.


16. Around Clark: Mt. Pinatubo Sky Tour at Omni Aviation
Last but definitely not least of my top Philippine destinations is Clark. And one the more memorable things I did last year was riding on a Cessna plane over the crater lake of Mt. Pinatubo! I even came out with a list of Things to do in Clark Freeport and Pampanga.

Read also Top Philippine destinations for 2008.

Northern Samar: Capul Island's lighthouse and old fortress church

Capul Island in Northern Samar is most known for its lighthouse and old church. There are daily pump boat services from Allen. There is usually one trip early in the morning and another early in the afternoon. The boat ride is a little over an hour.

Unless you’re hiring your own boat, you definitely have to stay overnight in Capul Island. A trip to Capul is definitely not for those who are not adventurous. There aren’t that many places to stay in Capul. In fact, we went on homestay while we were there. You can easily ask the habal-habal driver to take you to one.


Before proceeding to the lighthouse, we checked out the town’s fortress church. The walls that comprise the fort are still intact, a stark reminder of how pirate attacks were a major consideration and problem during the Spanish colonial period.

The Capul Church is dedicated to San Ignacio de Loyola. It was built by the Jesuits by the 18th century and renovated by the Franciscans in the late 19th century. The fortified church is in good condition but the interior and convent were renovated after damage by typhoons.


The Capul Lighthouse is several kilometers on the northern tip of the island. Again, we had to hire a habal-habal to get us there.

Sadly, the Faro de Isla Capul is very rundown and badly in need of attention. But the view from the cliff where it stands is so picturesque, with strong waves crashing on large coral rocks down below. It’s actually perfect for a picnic.

There aren't that many places to eat dinner, just one or two carinderias. And make sure you eat early since the food supply does not last long. Remember also that by 12 midnight, electricity is shut down. So make you charge your phones before midnight.

Part 1: Busay, Veriato, Pinipisakan and more waterfalls from Northern Samar

Northern Samar: Busay, Veriato, Pinipisakan and more waterfalls from Northern Samar

Northern Samar is one of those rarely explored provinces which have so much to offer. For those on a bus ride all the way to Davao, the town of Allen, Northern Samar is, more often than not, merely a gateway to Southern Philippines. But given the chance, there's a lot to see and do there.

For one, there are a lot of waterfalls, attractions which are also plentiful in neighboring Samar, particularly Calbayog City, the City of Waterfalls. Some of the waterfalls are accessible by road. Others require treks. While others require boat rides upstream to get to.



Busay and Veriato Falls in San Isidro are among the falls accessible by road which I got to visit during my recent trip. I had visited Veriato Falls as well during a previous trip to Calbayog City. Another waterfall in San Isidro which requires trekking would be Kangpongkol Falls. Looking at photos, it reminds me of Bangon-Bugtong Falls.



On the opposite end of the province, in Las Navas, is Pinipisakan Falls. If you arrive early, you could consider a trek to it. But you can hire a banca and go on a 45-minute boat ride to the falls. It's not really that impressive. I guess it's the canopy of green around it which makes it feel quite refreshing when you're there. If you have more time to trek, you could go even higher up the river to Ginagatusan Falls.

There are more waterfalls in Northern Samar which includes Lulugayan Falls in Bobon, Matikawol and Bag-ot Falls in Gamay, Bangon and Malarag Falls in San Roque, and Victoria, Budoy and San Abner Falls in Victoria. You can contact the provincial tourism office to find out how to get to the different falls.

Northern Samar Tourism Office
info@northernsamartourism.ph
+63 55 2518292
+63 55 5009124

Aurora: Old Baler and the Quezon legacy

Baler and the Quezons - Pres. Manuel Quezon and Dona Aurora Aragon-Quezon - will always be synonymous with each other. The fact that they were both from Baler is very much evident. Aurora Province, for one, is named after the former first lady. Its mother province, the former Tayabas Province, was renamed in honor of President Quezon.



Aside from gearing itself to be an adventure tourism destination, Baler is poised to restore its historical heritage. As a sign of local pride, the Quezon and Aragon homes have been reconstructed and restored as well. A replica of the nipa hut where President Quezon was born now stands beside the Museo de Baler where a statue of the former president can also be found.



Only a few months ago, the reconstructed home of Dona Aurora Aragon-Quezon was completed. Beside it, the National Historical Institute has placed on display Quezon's presidential car.

I was told that there are plans to restore the Baler Church, a National Historical Landmark, bringing it back to its 1899 look, a reminder that it had been the site of the last stand of Spanish forces in the country. As the Siege of the Church of Baler marker mentions, a Spanish garrison of four officers and fifty men was besieged in the church by Filipino forces from June 27, 1898 to June 2, 1899. Check out a previous post on Baler heritage for more details.

Philippine holidays and long-weekend schedule for 2010

Here is the schedule of Philippine holidays and long-weekends for 2010 based on RA 9492 and Proclamation 1841:

• January 1 (Fri) - New Year's Day (five-day long weekend from December 30 to January 3)
• February 22 (Mon) - EDSA Revolution Anniversary (holiday for schools only, three-day long weekend from February 20 to 22)
  
• April 1 (Thu) - Holy Thursday
  
• April 2 (Fri) - Good Friday (four-day long weekend from April 1 to 4)
• April 9 (Fri) - Araw ng Kagitingan (three-day long weekend from April 9 to 11)
  
• May 3 (Mon) - Labor Day (three-day long weekend from May 1 to 3)
• May 10 (Mon) - National Elections (three-day long weekend from May 8 to 10, make sure you vote and vote wisely)
  
• June 14 (Mon) - Independence Day (three-day long weekend from June 12 to 14)
• August 23 (Mon) - Ninoy Aquino Day (three-day long weekend from August 21 to 23)
• August 30 (Mon) - National Heroes Day (three-day long weekend from August 28 to 30)
• September - Eid'l Fitr (to be announced, calculated September 10, possible three-day long weekend from September 10 to 12)
  
• November 1 (Mon) - All Saints Day (three-day long weekend from October 30 to November 1)
• November - Eid 'l Adha (to be announced, calculated November 16)
  
• November 29 (Mon) - Bonifacio Day (three-day long weekend from November 27 to 29)
• December 24 (Fri) - Non-Working Holiday
• December 25 (Sat) - Christmas
  
• December 27 (Mon) - Rizal Day (four-day long weekend from December 24 to 27)
• December 31 (Fri) - Non-Working Holiday
• January 1 - (Sat) New Year's Day (three-day long weekend from December 31 to January 2)

Time to plan your travel calendars! Check out the destination search box at the top of the sidebar for particular travel destinations and more travel ideas.

Aurora: Surfing, kayaking, rappelling, mountain biking and more Aurora adventure activities

Aurora is poised to become a major adventure destination in the coming months. More than just the surfing in Baler, which is already very popular, the province of Aurora has even more activities to offer.

During our first day, we went rappelling at Ermita Hill courtesy of the Aurora Tourism Office. What's good about the rappelling activity is that you can contact them for whole-day or half-day rappelling set-ups anywhere in Baler and its environs. In fact, the Ermita Hill rope down turned out to be a preview of an even more exciting descent.

Before going back to Manila, we rappelled down Digisit Falls which is also in Baler. That was quite an adventure. In fact, it was more of a challenge climbing up than rappelling down. Again, I regret not bringing my trekking sandals since my shoes ended up dripping wet! But it was fun!

Another activity you might want to try in Aurora is kayaking. The river system is clean and the views picturesque which makes the ride all the more pleasant. The Aurora Adventure Center not only has kayaks for rent. You can opt for an adrenaline rush by jetskiing.


Take note that their core offering is scuba diving. Maybe it's the first time you've heard of diving in Aurora. But the Philippines' Pacific side, particularly Aurora, is fast becoming a popular dive destination, especially during the southwest monsoon.

And since it's located in the heart of the magnificent yet fragile Sierra Madre Mountains, the hiking and trekking possibilities are endless. We got to visit Ditumabo Falls which is an easy trek from the National Highway. But for those who want to take it to the next level, the lush forests of the Sierra Madre provide a refreshing backdrop to more challenging mountain trails.

In fact, the forest cover of Aurora is still at 78 percent (and I hope it remains that way) with a high concentration of plants and wildlife, and a lot of endemic species. So aside from hiking, nature lovers could go birdwatching or deer or wild boar tracking.

Of course, when in Baler, make sure to take surfing lessons. Said to be the birthplace of surfing in the Philippines, Baler is a great place to learn surfing. You can easily arrange surfing lessons with your hotel or with the help of the tourism office.


But for the pros, Baler can offer more than just beginner waves. Which is why it's a popular destination even for foreign surfers.

Off-road driving is also becoming very popular. Traverse Aurora's rugged terrain and it's many off road trails which include Dibut, Dibutunan, Dicadi, Dikildit and Diteki. There's also mountain biking, caving and spelunking, rock climbing and orienteering. You can also go whale shark watching (it's closer to Metro Manila than Donsol, Sorsogon) or interacting with the sea cows. Also in the pipeline are white water tubing and a zip line. Indeed, Aurora is the next province to keep an eye on! One destination... endless adventure!

Aurora Tourism Office
tourism_aurora@yahoo.com

Aurora Adventure Center
divetrainor@gmail.com
+639183961167
+639164528197

Part 1: Road trip to Baler and Ditumabo Falls in San Luis, Aurora

Related entries
Unspoiled nature in Aurora
More summer fun in Baler

Aurora: Road trip to Baler and Ditumabo Falls in San Luis, Aurora

Aurora is a rough and wild adventure for now. While there are still several kilometers of rough unpaved road to get to this Pacific paradise, hopefully in the next two years, the roads will be fully-paved. But if you have a 4x4 or are fine with bus rides, then it's about time you pack your bags for Aurora!

Said to be the birthplace of surfing in the Philippines, Aurora is more than just surfing as we found out during our recent trip. But as soon as we arrived in Baler, we checked in at the Bahia de Baler 2 and dozed off for the rest of the morning. After some afternoon meetings, we went rappelling at Ermita Hill (I'll tell everyone more about the rappelling in Aurora in my next post) which was quite an activity.

The next day, we visited Ditumabo Falls in the town of San Luis. The jump-off point is right by the Ditumabo Bridge. The trekking time to the falls depends on how far your 4x4 can drive. If you're taking a jeep, you trek starts at the National Highway. Some vehicles can go as far as the first stream. We were able to go beyond the first stream and parked before reaching the second. From there, it's a 30 to 45-minute walk to the falls.

Make sure you were the proper hiking shoes. Trekking sandals would be best since there are several more river crossings before you actually get the the falls. There are also several smaller falls along the way. But the mother falls, which is another name they use for Ditumabo Falls, is nothing less than magnificent!

The water was really cold and very refreshing for a swim. I'm sure you could chill a can of beer or softdrinks there. Make sure to bring back your garbage with you and keep the waterfall area clean. You could also do our environment a great service by picking up any plastic wrapper you see along the way.

We had to rush back to Baler for a lunch meeting. But we first visited the centuries-old Balete Tree in Maria Aurora, one of the oldest trees in the entire country. You can climb up the tree both inside and out. Inside, the roots have created a hollow cavern all the way to the top. In fact, you can also rappel from there.

Related entries
Unspoiled nature in Aurora
More summer fun in Baler

Where to stay in Baler, Aurora
Bahia de Baler
Buton Street, Sitio Labasin
Brgy. Sabang, Baler
+63 916 7701980
+63 928 6875424

How to get to Baler, Aurora
Genesis Transport Bus is the only direct bus service to Baler from Metro Manila. Their terminal is along EDSA in Pasay City. You may call +632 5510842 or +632853-3115 for inquiries. Remember that their buses leave only in the morning. If you plan an afternoon trip you'll have to take a bus to Cabanatuan and hop on a van to Baler and vice versa. Last trip is between 4 to 6 p.m. so make sure you're at the terminal before 4 p.m.

Pampanga: Giant Lantern Festival 2009

Masayang Pasko ampong Masaplalang Bayung Banua kekayu ngan! Like every year, I attended the annual Giant Lantern Festival of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. And every year, the lanterns never fail to amaze me. Congratulations to Dolores, Telabastagan and San Jose for winning this year's competition!

I've written a lot on the Giant Lantern Festival here so if you want to learn more about the festival, see the previous entries. You can still catch the giant lanterns in the next few days. They'll be on display in Robinson's Starmills Pampanga beginning tomorrow.

Related entries
Giant Lantern Festival 2005
Giant Lantern Festival 2006
Giant Lantern Festival 2007

Here are Christmas greetings from all over the country:
Aklanon - Malipayon nga Paskwa ag Mahigugmaon nga Bag-ong Dag-on!
Asi - Maadong Santos Paskwa ag Masadyang Bag-ong Tuig!
Ata - Maroyan na Pasko woy Kaopia-an ng Bag-ong Tuig kaniyo't langon mga sulod
Bikol - Maogmang Capascuhan asin Mamura-way na Ba-gong Taon sa indo gabos!
Blaan - Pye duh di kaut Kristo klu munt ug Felemi Fali!
Binubolinao - Marigan Nabidad
Boholano - Malipajong Pasko
Cebuano - Maayong Pasko ug Bulahang Bag-ong Tuig!
Chavacano - Felices Pascuas y Prospero Año Nuevo con todos!
Dibabawon - Marayaw na Pasko aw Bag-ong Tuig kaniyo tibo na mga soon!
Gaddang - Mangamgam Bawa a dawun sikua diaw amin
Hiligaynon - Malipayon nga Paskua kag Malipayon Nga Bag-ong tuig!
Hungduan - Maphon au nitungawan. Apo Dios Kituwen baron di toon
Ibanag - Mapalupaguiya nga Pascua
Ibaloi - Eshadsak ja Paskua! Eshadsak ja Badon Tawen!
Ifugao - Malinggop an Baro an Tawon
Ilocano - Naimbag a Pascua ken Naragsac nga Baro nga Tawen!
Kankanaey - Gawis ay Paskua ya Nalagsak ay Balo ay Tu-en!
Kapampangan - Masayang Pascu ampong Masaplalang Bayung Banua kekayu ngan!
Mandobo - Mepiya Pagasaulog sa pagka-otawni Jesus aw maontong kaling Omay!
Mangyan Buhid - Fiya Pagpasko
Mangyan Hanunuo - Mayad paq Pasko
Mansaka - Madyaw na Pasko aw malipayong Bag-ong Tuig kamayo, mga lumon!
Masbatenyo - Malipayon nga Paskwa
Onhan - Mayad nga Paskwa kag Masadya nga Bag-ong Tuig!
Pangasinan - Maabig ya Pasko! Maliket ya Balon Taon!
Romblomanon - Malipayon nga Paskwa kag Masadya na Bag-ong Tuig!
Sambal - Maligayang Pasko at Masayang Ba-yon Taon!
Subanen - Piak Pasko pu Piag Bago Tawn!
Surigaonon - Malipayon na Pasko sanan Bag-on Tuig!
Tagakaolo - Madyaw Pagsalog sa Pagka-otaw ni Jesus
Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!
Tala-andig - Maayad ha Pasko daw Bag-ong Tuig!
Waray-waray - Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-o nga Tuig!

...wishing for a united Filipino nation this Christmas!

Pangasinan: Puto Calasiao, talaba and more from Pangasinan

This year, I've seen Pangasinan quite often. During the latest trip to distribute Northbound Magazine, we drove again fron Tarlac all the way to Bolinao. Along the way, you could stop by the churches of Mangatarem, Aguilar, Salasa, Lingayen, Alaminos and finally Bolinao.

We stayed at Puerto del Sol for the night. It's definitely the best hotel in Bolinao. We weren't able to pass by Patar Beach or Tondol Beach anymore the next day since we wanted to find some nice beaches in Dasol. On the way to Dasol, we visited the Agno Church.

The bad news was the roads to Dasol's white sand beaches were quite rough and no way was I going to drive my car through the rough road. So we turned back and made our way to Dagupan. Between Lingayen and Dagupan is the town of Binmaley. The Binmaley Church has a really massive belfry.

As we entered Dagupan, one thing I noticed was the abundance of talaba, kampis, kalansipay and lukan sold in stalls along the National Highway. I was told they come all the way from Alaminos.

Before driving back to Manila, we made one last stop in the town of Calasiao. The Calasiao Church is of course a National Cultural Treasure. But the town is better known for producing sweet white puto which we all know as Puto Calasiao. Aside from the kutsinta also being sold there, the puto now comes in various flavors which include mango, banana, strawberry, pandan and ube.

Ilocos Norte: Empanada, miki and more street food from Batac, Ilocos Norte

A trip to Ilocos Norte would not be complete without a food trip in Batac, the home of the Ilocos Norte version of the empanada.

The Batac empanada has a lot of variations. There's the ordinary empanada (just the papaya, bean sprouts and egg), ordinary eggless (just the vegetables), special empanada (with longganisa and egg), special eggless (with longganisa but no egg), special w/o mongo (everything except bean sprouts), jumbo empanada (with hot dog), double special (double longganisa and one egg), double egg (one longganisa and two eggs), and the heaviest of them all, the double double (double the longganisa and egg). They even serve just the crust which they call pinais. For more on the Batac empanada, read Ilocos empanada! Dissecting the Batac and Vigan empanada.

But there's more to Batac than just the empanada. In the empanda stores, they also serve longganisa, kudil (fried pork skin), isaw (fried chicken intestines), pusit (fried dried squid), balut and kwek-kwek among others. It's basically fried stuff! Talk about cholesterol and uric acid high!

But across the street is another treat. Batac is also known for its miki (noodle soup) which they serve for Php20 for the plain miki or Php25 if you want a hard-boiled egg in it. The noodles are freshly made and you can see it still has its flour coat when its dropped in boiling water.

In another store, they served grilled pig parts. There was pig snout, ears, tongue, intestines, pork sausage (longganisa) among others.

Related entry
Street food in the Philippines

Ilocos Norte: Carasi road trip to Sabo Dam

Carasi is one three Itneg mountain towns of Ilocos Norte, the other two being Adams and Dumalneg. It's an hour away from Laoag by private vehicle passing through the towns of Sarrat and Piddig. You'll need a 4x4 to get there. At the moment, there's nothing much to do in Carasi except a visit to Sabo Dam and several waterfalls which would require trek quite a distance.

One thing we noticed was the water was crystal clear. I hope it remains that way. It was explained to us that the reason behind this is that nobody lives further upstream.

But plans are bright since in the next few months, they'll be opening and promoting bike trails, and organizing white water rafting activities and treks to the different waterfalls. In fact, we're inviting people to try the trails soon.

On the way back we stopped by Piddig Church and Sarrat Church which are very much intact. Sarrat is a bit closer to Laoag so it's usually visited as part of a church tour. Piddig is further away so not many people know about it. But it's one old church worth visiting for anyone interested in old architecture.

Manila: Malabon's Immaculate Concepcion fluvial procession

Like our Southeast Asian neighbors, the Philippines is known for its water festivals. Some are wet and wild, others are solemn religious fluvial processions, others are both. I was invited to witness the fluvial procession in Concepcion, Malabon last December 9.

Why December 9? The Concepcion, Malabon fiesta actually lasts three days from December 8 to 10. December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception nationwide. Aside from the fact that they did not want to compete with the significance of the nationwide commemoration, December 9 is the Pista ng mga Mangingisda (Fishermen's Festival). That's why the fluvial procession is held on that day. December 10 is the Pista ng Parokya ng Concepcion (Feast of the Concepcion Parish) when a grand procession of the image of the Immaculate Concepcion is held.

I'm used to the day time fluvial processions. The one in Concepcion in contrast, left at sunset. The pagoda that bears the image of the Immaculate Concepcion is constructed on top of two cascoes (traditional trading boats dating back to the Spanish colonial period that are fast disappearing) and elegantly lit with blue and white lights.

From the Rufina Patis factory in Concepcion, it goes as far as the mouth of the river close to Manila Bay, then back all the way to the San Bartolome Church, before finally making its way back to Concepcion. Despite the water pollution, the slow and solemn movement of the procession and the elegant lights make the trip an enchanting one.

Through the years, some traditions disappeared. They used to stopover in Navotas (said to be the original home of the image) to sing praises which made the procession last until the wee hours of the morning. But when Martial Law was imposed, together with curfews, this practice was stopped.

The pagoda also used to go as far as Manila Bay as well where boats participating in the procession would honor and salute the image by circling the pagoda. But after the Bocaue tragedy, the Philippine Coast Guard became very strict. And that practice was stopped as well.

After the procession, we feasted on a sumptuous dinner prepared by the Lucas Family that owns Rufina. Pardon the quality of the photos. It was a spur of the moment trip and I only had my camera phone with me.

Related entry
Malabon, Metro Manila's hidden gem

Japan: Nagoya Castle and more from Nagoya

The next day, we left for Kyoto for Nagoya via the Shinkansen. We were flying back to Manila from the Nagoya Airport. The reserved section Shinkansen tickets from Kyoto to Nagoya cost Y5440.


We took the noon train and got to enjoy the scenery along the way. The train took 37 minutes to travel the 108-kilometer distance between the two cities. The first thing we looked for was lockers to keep our big luggage and then we were off to visit Nagoya Castle.

We found out there was a Y500 day pass on the Nagoya Sightseeing Route Bus. And that gave us discounts to the attractions such as the Nagoya Castle. What a way to end our Japan tour walking around a grand Japanese castle that towered over the landscape. The entrance fee to Nagoya Castle is Y500. But with the bus day pass, you just pay Y400.

The Nagoya Castle is a wonderful sample of a Japanese castle. This was actually reconstructed in 1959 after it was destroyed by U.S. bombs in 1945. How I wish we restored our own Intramuros churches after the Americans carpet bombed Manila during the Second World War.

On the grounds of the castle was a colorful display of chrysanthemums. The next thing we knew, it was time to get to the airport which was another train ride away. Airports are no longer located within main cities (which is why they are proposing to transfer NAIA operations to DMIA). But again, the transportation system was so efficient, it was a breeze to get to the Nagoya Airport.

On my next Japan trip, I’ll definitely purchase the 7-day Shinkansen pass so I could simply hop-on and hop-off the train from Hokkaido to Kyushu!

Japan: Buddhist monuments of Horyu-ji (Ikaruga, Nara)

Our plan was to go a little further down the road to the town of Ikaruga to visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Horyu-ji Temple (法隆寺 or Temple of the Flourishing Law). The full name of the temple is name is Horyu Gakumonji (法隆学問寺 or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law).

From the JR Nara Station, it’s only three stops away (Koriyama, Yamato-Koizumi, and Horyuji) and very convenient to visit. Tickets cost Y420. I really love the efficiency of the Japanese public transportation system!

When we got there, we were met by a Y1000 entrance fee. But with all the temples, shrines and palaces we entered and paid for already the past few days, the group was content with taking photos outside. We wanted to make sure we had enough for our last day in Japan. So after Horyu-ji, we went back to Nara, and back to Kyoto where we stayed for our last night.