Cebu: Sumilon Island's Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort

Sumilon Island is a 24-hectare coral island off the coast of Bancogon, Oslob, Cebu. The island hosts the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort which developed the island into an eco-friendly haven for those who want to get away from the stress of city living.

Previously, this marine sanctuary had been accessible to just anyone. Unfortunately, just like in many places around the country, locals and visitors alike left their garbage on Sumilon's beautiful shifting sandbar, which is known for changing shape and shifting locations around the island depending on the season. With the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort there, the island is well-maintained and protected from this utter disregard for the environment.


I got the chance to visit Sumilon Island over the weekend. I took the first flight to Cebu. One thing I noticed about NAIA Terminal 2 was that the lines were much longer than NAIA Terminal 3 and 4. I usually ask for front row or exit row seats. But effective March 1, 2010, PAL now charges Php224 for the seats! So I thought, since it was a full flight and I wanted convenience having had no sleep, I'd get a front row seat. Unfortunately the next step was to pay at the cashier. And the lines were even longer! So there goes Philippine Airlines' paying for convenience... FAIL!

As soon as I arrived, I was brought to the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort where the rest of the group was billeted. For the morning, we were going to make our way through various centuries-old churches of Southern Cebu (I'll talk about that in another entry), as we drove down to Oslob.


Without the stopovers, the trip from Mactan to Oslob is about three hours. But with all the stopovers and annotations, we arrived in Bancogon in six hours. The resort has its own port facilities in Bancogon. If you arrive in the evening, there are rooms available in the mainland if you're not comfortable making that boat ride to Sumilon Island in the dark. The boat ride is about 15 to 30 minutes depending on the water condition.


Sumilon Island was made a fish sanctuary in 1974 under the care of the Silliman University Marine Reserve. Which is why the island offers really great diving opportunities. There are a lot of activities available to everyone such as kayaking, snorkeling, trekking, birdwatching, windsurfing, etc. And for those who simply want to relax, they have lounge chairs by the beach, an infinity pool, and benches conveniently located all over the island for those who want to find a quiet spot for themselves to sit back, relax and enjoy the view.



As soon as we arrived, we were served a sumptuous lunch which was soon followed by cocktails by the beach and a barrio fiesta dinner. Sumilon Island is a perfect honeymoon destination. And the resort can arrange romantic beach dinners or sunset picnics on the water just for you.

The daily breakfast buffet is served by the beach which is an experience in itself. I wish I could have stayed longer on the island to enjoy it even more.

How to get to Sumilon Island
From Dumaguete City, the resort can arrange pumpboats to bring guests directly to Sumilon Island. Travel time is between 30 minutes to an hour depending on the sea conditions.

Or you can take the ferry from Dumaguete to Bato Port, Oslob where the resort can pick-you up and ferry you to the island. The earliest ferry leaves Tampi Port, Dumaguete City at 5 a.m. while the last one leaves at 6:30 p.m.

From Cebu City, you can either take a bus, van, or hire a private vehicle to take you to Bancogon, Oslob. Private cars take about 3 hours while buses could take you up to four hours. Car rentals are Php3,000 while vans cost about Php5,000. The public vans charge Php200 per head, while buses cost about Php90 for air-con and Php45 for ordinary buses. Both buses and public vans depart from the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort
(032) 4810801 / reservations@sumilonbluewater.com.ph
(02) 8175751 / 8871348

Cebu: Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort and Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort

I just uploaded photos of the Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort and Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort plus our visita iglesia in Southern Cebu in the Ivan About Town page on Facebook. Check it out!

Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort
(032) 4810801 / reservations@sumilonbluewater.com.ph

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort
(032) 4920100 / maribago@bluewater.com.ph

Manila Office
(02) 8175751 / 8871348

SEAIR is giving away discounts for its 15th anniversary!

SEAIR is offering special anniversary promos in celebration of its 15th anniversary on March 25, 2010. Check out the special morning rates of as low as Php1,999.20 per way all-in for flights to and from Boracay before 7 a.m. Selling and travel period is from February 1, 2010 onwards.

There's also a Php1,500.00 discount per way for all seats, flights and routes if you book via www.flyseair.com from March 14 to 25, 2010 for travel from for travel on June 15 to October 15, 2010. Just type iloveseair15 in the promo code field when booking. Find out the latest promos by joining the SEAIR Fan Page on Facebook.

Arnel Pineda disrespects Philippine National Anthem!

Minsan lang ako magsulat sa pambansang wika. Nakakairita na kasi! Di pa ba sila nagsawa?! Dahil nasa Sumilon Island ako noong Linggo, ngayon ko lang napanood itong video ni Arnel Pineda na kumanta ng Pambansang Awit sa laban ni Pacquiao at Clottey.

Sana may makulong na para matauhan na sila lahat. Arnel Pineda, kahit isa kang international celebrity, wala kang karapatan bastusin ang Pambansang Awit ng Pilipinas. No one is above the law!

Nasabi ko na lahat ng kailangan kong sabihin dito: The Philippine National Anthem is not a pop song! Ito ang video kung hindi pa ninyo napapanood: Arnel Pineda’s version of RP anthem criticized

How to get to Clark Airport from Dau Bus Station

Good news to Clark Airport travelers! An air-conditioned shuttle service has started operations at the Clark Airport or Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). The DMIA shuttle service utilizes new and fully air-conditioned jeepneys of the Clark Special Economic Zone Transport Federation (CSEZTF).

The service plies the route from the DMIA to the Dau Bus Terminal in Mabalacat and vice versa with stops at the Clark Main Gate and SM City Clark. The fare is Php30 from the Clark Airport/DMIA to the Clark Main Gate and SM City Clark, and Php45 from the airport to the Dau Bus Terminal.

To get to other destinations around Clark, directions to/from Clark Airport to Metro Manila and North Philippines, and the bus schedules, read How to get to and from the Clark Airport which gives the complete details of transportation to Clark Airport.

Update: There is now a free shuttle bus service for AirAisa guests from Clark Airport to Marquee Mall and vice versa. Buses leave Marquee Mall at 09:00, 10:20, 13:00, 15:00, 16:30 and 19:00 arriving in Clark Airport after 20 to 30 minutes. Buses leave Clark Airport for Marquee Mall at 10:00, 11:00, 14:30, 16:00 and 17:40. Another free shuttle is for Dau Bus Station, leaving Clark Airport at 21:20. For more information, contact Victory Liner at +63(2) 5597735 or info@victoryliner.com.

Batanes: Batanes food adventure!

Batanes food is quite unique, it would be a shame if you did not try out the local cuisine. At every Ultimate Philippines tour to Batanes, we make sure everyone gets immersed in the local flavors of Batanes.



For starters, there's (1) humet or seaweed soup, (2) supas or turmeric rice, (3) chipuhu or breadfruit, (4) tamiduk or Ivatan salad which includes steamed pako or fiddlehead fern, eggplant, string beans, chopped tomatoes, and minced onions, (5) pinasu wakay or roasted kamote, (6) vunes or dried gabi, (7) wakay or boiled yam and (8) amay or mashed kamote and taro.



Then for the main course, there's (9) payi or lobster, (10) arayu, dorado or mahi-mahi, (11) tatus or coconut crab, (12) lataven a among or kinilaw na isda, (13) lunies or Ivatan adobo made with liempo, and (14) uvud balls made with pork, flying fish and banana trunk.


For dessert, there's (15) bukayo, (16) ducay salad, (17) glorified gabi and (18) rawut or millet.

As part of the tour, we arrange buffet lunches and picnics by the beach, and cocktails and sunset dinners at picturesque attractions Batanes.

Of course we have some Filipino comfort food too. But rest assured, you'll be getting an authentic Ivatan food experience on every Ultimate Philippine food tour. Our first tour to Batanes for the year ended today. We're all flying back to Manila tomorrow. There are five more tours for this year. So book now!

Cebu: Zubuchon lechon is Anthony Bourdain's best roasted pig in the world!

The best lechon in the Philippines may be found in Cebu. And Cebu as the producer of the best whole roasted pig in the world has found an endorser in Anthony Bourdain who had ranked the Philippines as his top pick in the hierarchy of pork, dislodging Bali and Puerto Rico from the top slots!

So what lechon did Anthony Bourdain get to taste when he was in Cebu which made him declare such? Well, we found out during our trip that Market Manila served his own Zubuchon lechon. And the great thing about Zubuchon lechon is that it's available for sale to the public (while supplies last).


A kilo sells for Php450. They serve it fresh, or if you plan to bring it to Manila, frozen and properly boxed up, very convenient to bring as carry-on luggage.

There are two branches. One is in the Banilad Town Center. And the other is at the Mactan Airport Pre-Departure Area. But they only sell it at the Mactan Airport beginning at 4 p.m. until supplies last.

I got to taste the Zubuchon lechon while in Cebu. The skin itself is crispy and packed with so much flavor. Even the meat of the Zubuchon lechon is so rich in flavor, there's no need for the usual sarsa.

Related article
Lechon, chicharon and more from Carcar

Bohol: Danao and the Dagohoy Rebellion

Who is Francisco Dagohoy? Do you know his significance in Philippine history? Dagohoy led the longest revolt in Philippine history, the Dagohoy Rebellion, from 1744 to 1829. I'm sure most of us learned that from our grade school textbooks. We all know he's from Bohol and that the revolt was in Bohol. But it was only when I visited Danao did I realize that I was standing on the ground which served as the headquarters of the Dagohoy Rebellion.

Magtangtang in Danao was said to be the headquarters or hideout of Dagohoy during the revolt. People in Danao were telling us stories about the Francisco Dagohoy Cave which was his main headquarters. It is said that hundreds of Dagohoy’s followers preferred death inside the cave than surrender. Their skeletons still remain in the site. But unfortunately, like in many places of historical interest, stupid treasure hunters imagined that there was gold or valuable objects in the cave, and did irreversible damage to it.


Today, a statue of Francisco Dagohoy stands in Magtangtang, Danao, a few minutes from the Danao Adventure Park, a silent reminder to the heroism of the Boholanos. The Dagohoy Marker was installed by the Philippine Historical Committee (now NHI) in 1953 to honor his heroism.

Danao Adventure Park
E.A.T. Danao's Plunge, the only canyon swing in the Philippines!
Danao Adventure Park's E.A.T. Danao
Spelunking at Danao Adventure Park's Kamira Cave

Bohol: Organic farm tour in Danao, Bohol

Aside from the Danao Adventure Park, among the activities in Danao, Bohol are visits to an organic farm. Our accommodation, the Jose L. Gonzaga Farmers Foundation, Inc. (JLGFFI), was in fact situated in an organic farm. Which is why we enjoyed fresh greens during our stay there.

We had fresh lettuce for our salads and basil for our pasta. There's a supply of rosemary for roast chicken or tarragon for tea. Plus we had a constant supply of freshly-picked mint leaves for our mojito night!

Jose L. Gonzaga Farmers Foundation, Inc.
Ian Gonzaga (0917) 3252426
Php300/person per night

They also arrange airport and ferry terminal transfers to Danao and meals. Ask about their custom-made tour packages to the Danao Adventure Park. And I highly-recommend that you have them arrange your visit to Danao.

Bohol: E.A.T. Danao's Plunge, the only canyon swing in the Philippines!

I survived the E.A.T. Danao Plunge! Talk about wild rides! E.A.T. Danao or the Danao Adventure Park has the only canyon swing in the Philippines. And it's called the Plunge. It's can be considered the main attraction of the Danao Adventure Park.

After the visit to Kamira Cave in the morning, and a sumptuous buffet lunch (they have weekend buffets at Php250/head), we proceeded back to the cliff for even more activities. I had a second shot at the Suislide, the highest zipline in the country at 200 meters.


Then it was a challenging 60-meter rappel down the cliff. Don't worry about how to get up again since they have a motorized rope which hauls you back to the top. My arm accidentally hit the metal figure eight descender which gets really hot as you go down. So I had to contend with a minor burn. Others in the group hit the ropes which caused bigger burn marks in the stomach area, arms or neck. So you really have to be composed when rapelling down the cliff.


The most thrilling activity in the Danao Adventure Park is the canyon swing which is called the Plunge. It's a 50-meter free fall from the top of the 200-meter high cliff. Then as you hit the end of the rope, you'll be swinging over the canyon for about 5 minutes until they are able to haul you back up again. I most definitely enjoyed the experience. Thank you E.A.T Danao for one hell of a ride!

Danao Adventure Park
Booking Office: Ma. Wiena Saguid (0921)7594403 / (0917) 3021700
Tourism Office: Ana Loinda Saluan (0917) 3021701 / (038) 5100033
eatdanao@ymail.com

Suislide (zipline) - Php350/head
60m rappel (minimum of 5 pax) - Php600/head
Plunge (canyon swing) - Php700/head
...more activities in the first post

Jose L. Gonzaga Farmers Foundation, Inc.
Ian Gonzaga (0917) 3252426
Php300/person per night

They also arrange airport and ferry terminal transfers to Danao and meals. Ask about their custom-made tour packages. And I highly-recommend that you have them arrange your visit to Danao.

Bohol: Spelunking at Danao Adventure Park's Kamira Cave

E.A.T. Danao, the Eco, Educational, Extreme Adventure Tour of the Danao Adventure Park in Bohol also has interesting natural attractions. Two caves are open to visitors in fact, but on a limited capacity.

We got to visit Kamira Cave which is rated moderate for the spelunking/caving difficulty level. The other cave, Balijo Cave, is rated extreme. They used to have more caves open but due to safety concerns, they closed the others. Only ten visitors are allowed in each cave per shift, so that's about 30 guests a day per cave. So make sure you book beforehand.


From the Visitors' Center, it's a 15-minute trek down to the entrance of the cave. It's a bit complicated getting in the cave. But the well-trained guides are very helpful and will direct you step-by-step until you are safe inside.

As soon as we got in, we were already wading in ankle-deep water. Many of the cave formation are still intact that is why the guides are very strict about touching them since the oil from your hands damage the formations which take many years to form.


Just a few meters from the entrance, we got submerged under the crystal clear water as we crossed under one of the formations of the cave. So as much as possible, wear sandals and light clothing since you'll definitely swim and get wet from head to toe!

At the end of the cave is a pool of water where you could swim. Just be careful because some parts of the pool are over 5 feet deep. From here, we walked back the same route since there is only one entrance and exit. The Kamira Cave trek lasts about 2 hours.

Danao Adventure Park
Booking Office: Ma. Wiena Saguid (0921)7594403 / (0917) 3021700
Tourism Office: Ana Loinda Saluan (0917) 3021701 / (038) 5100033
eatdanao@ymail.com

Caving (minimum of 5 pax) - Php350/head
...more activities in the next post

Jose L. Gonzaga Farmers Foundation, Inc.
Ian Gonzaga (0917) 3252426
Php300/person per night

They also arrange airport and ferry terminal transfers to Danao and meals. Ask about their custom-made tour packages. And I highly-recommend that you have them arrange your visit to Danao.

Bohol: Danao Adventure Park's E.A.T. Danao

Have you heard of Bohol's E.A.T. Danao? The Eco, Educational, Extreme Adventure Tour of the Danao Adventure Park is arguably the country's best adventure attraction! I got to visit the park over the weekend together with a group who celebrated a friend's birthday. Happy Birthday Isa Silva and thanks for arranging the trip!

Danao is in the interior of Bohol. And the Danao Adventure Park is a push to bring tourism to other parts of Bohol since most of the tourism arrivals are in the coastal areas. The group flew to Cebu and from there took the RORO to Tubigon, Bohol. I hope Cebu Pacific stops those games they play on board. I always see flights as a chance to take power naps. And I found it extremely irritating to be woken up by a ten-year old kid singing at the top of her voice on the public address system like there's no tomorrow. I hope Cebu Pacific starts being more considerate to passengers who want to get some rest!


We left Cebu on the 7 p.m. RORO ferry to Tubigon. From Tubigon, it's a one and a half drive to Danao (which includes several kilometers of rough road). We stayed at the Jose L. Gonzaga Farmers Foundation, Inc. (JLGFFI) which has five fan rooms available and could accommodate up to 20 people.

The next day, we did four activities. The first was kayaking. I was still a bit sleepy and since I've done a lot of kayaking last month, I decided to take a nap while the rest navigated the Wahig River. After the kayaking, we made a short river trek to the root climb area where packed lunch was waiting for us.


The root climb is harder than it looks and is among the more difficult activities at the Danao Adventure Park. It physically drained me in fact. From the top of the 15-meter cliff, we all rappelled down back to the river bank.


The last activity was the Suislide, the highest zipline in the country! It's close to half a kilometer to cross the 200-meter deep gorge. And you cross twice, first going to the opposite side, then again when you slide back. Dinner was at the JLGFFI.

Danao Adventure Park
Booking Office: Ma. Wiena Saguid (0921)7594403 / (0917) 3021700
Tourism Office: Ana Loinda Saluan (0917) 3021701 / (038) 5100033
eatdanao@ymail.com

Kayaking - Php200/head
River trekking - Php200/head
Root climb with 15m rappel (minimum of 5 pax) - Php400/head
Suislide (zipline) - Php350/head
...more activities in the next post

Jose L. Gonzaga Farmers Foundation, Inc.
Ian Gonzaga (0917) 3252426
Php300/person per night

They also arrange airport and ferry terminal transfers to Danao and meals. Ask about their custom-made tour packages. And I highly-recommend that you have them arrange your visit to Danao.

Batangas: Taal heritage town walking tour

Taal, Batangas is one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns of the country. And it's home to a good number of heroes of the Philippine Revolution including the principal seamstress of the Philippine flag, Marcela Mariño Agoncillo.


At the heart of Taal is the Taal Basilica, dedicated to St. Martin of Tours and said to be the biggest Catholic church in Asia. In front of it is the Taal Municipal Hall which was built during the Spanish colonial period. Scattered around town are dozens of ancestral homes, old school buildings and other heritage structures. Which is why the town is perfect for a walking tour.


Last Sunday, we got to visit three heritage houses during our walking tour including the Villavicencio House and the adjacent Villavicencio "Wedding Gift" House, as well as the Marcela Agoncillo House which is a National Historical Landmark. In fact, Taal has at least seven National Historical Landmarks including the Taal Basilica, Taal Municipal Hall, and Escuela Pia.

Entrance fees to the houses are Php50 per head which is usually included in the walking tour fee. And take note that many of the houses are only accessible through the these walking tours.

From the Villavicencio Houses, you can walk down to the Caysasay Shrine through the centuries-old San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps. Also in Taal are the homes of Gregorio Agoncillo and Leon Apacible also National Historical Landmarks.


And don't forget to pass by the Taal Market to check out the piña (pineapple) fabric and barong embroidery. I always buy my embroidered jusi and piña cloth from there since it's almost half the price than if you buy your barong in Manila. Taal is also home to balisong-making, panutsa (peanut brittle) and produces a really tasty derecado longganisa.

Heritage Tours and Travel
heritours@yahoo.com
Bennet (0918) 3155634
Mayette (0918)3644549
Jaren (0910) 8110350

There are half and whole day packages with meals (see their site at heritours.multiply.com)

Where to stay in Taal
Baby Joven-Quiblat and Benny Quiblat have rooms available for visitors. You can reach Baby at (0917) 8970363 for rates and avalability.

Robert Arambulo, a balikbayan architect from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, also has rooms available in his restored Taal house called Casa Severina. Contact him at (0917) 5018060.

Casa Cecilia has eight bedrooms and a restaurant that serves great tasting Taal cuisine. Specialties are bulalo (with a twist) and their maliputo. Contact numbers are (043) 4080048 or (0906) 2225339.

Subic: Tree Top Adventure is Subic Bay's adventure attraction

If there's one thing good about Subic Bay being a former American military base, the rain forests are very much intact. Subic Tree Top Adventure is one way you can appreciate the forests of Subic Bay.

This attraction is a series of suspended trails, bridges and motorized cable rides built high up the rain forest of Subic.

We visited Tree Top Adventure in the evening. I was a bit skeptical since it would have been really dark unless they installed ample lighting. But it turns out, doing it in the evening can be fun too. And no need to worry about the heat of the sun.


We got to try their zip-line called the Superman Ride since you are suspended face down and feet up. That was fun!

There are a lot of activities there including the Tree Top Adventure (Canopy Walk and Canopy Ride) which I already mentioned (Php350), Ultimate Adventure or Superman Ride (Php200), Trekking Adventure (Php100) which is simply a walking trail around the rain forest, and the Tree-Drop Adventure (Php150) which is rappelling down the side of a 60-foot tree (try the daring Australian style which is face first). They have various packages. But if you want to try everything, take Package F (Php720).

Tree Top Adventure Subic
JEST Area, Upper Mau
Cubi Point, Subic Bay
(047) 2529425 / 27

Pangasinan: Hundred Islands boat tour in Alaminos, Pangasinan

Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan is for me, Pangasinan's best beach attraction. While other beaches such as Patar Beach in Bolinao and Tondol Beach in Anda are equally great, there's more to do at the Hundred Islands than simply frolicking under the summer sun.

For one, there are a lot of islands to explore, over a hundred of them in fact. The two most visited islands would be Governor's Island (which has a view deck with a great view of the Hundred Islands and the Big Brother House) and Quezon Island (with its many water activities and rental facilities).



During our boat tour around the Hundred Islands, we got to see some unique islands including Bat Island, host to a population of nocturnal fruit bats, and Cathedral Island, with its large cave. We also saw several islands with secluded beaches which you could have all to yourselves, such as Lopez Island, where one could stay for the day without much fuss from other visitors who usually troop to Quezon Island. On weekends, you might have to choose some of the lesser known islands for your own private beach.



Quezon Island is where most of the facilities are including picnic pavilions, huts and kayak and snorkel rentals. There's good snorkeling around the island. Notice the giant clams around the area which are a result of the giant clam seeding project at the Hundred Islands.

We had a wonderful lunch at Quezon Island hosted by Dir. Martin Valera of the Department of Tourism. If you want to have a picnic lunch as well, our caterer was Gemma (0919) 6520570. She prepared a sumptuous spread of seafood, grilled pork, vegetables and seaweed, and fresh fruits for dessert.

Hundred Islands Visitors Center
Rey Livara (0917) 6104144

Clark: Day 3 of the 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

After watching Day 1 of the 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, I found myself back for Day 3 for our Ultimate Philippines tour.

Our bus left Makati at 3 a.m. and we we're in Clark a little before 5 a.m. It may seem early but it was just right since people were already starting to arrive. In fact, just a few minutes after, crowds started to enter the venue and the ticket line stretched all the way to the street!


It wasn't as sunny as the first day but it was a great show nonetheless. Just like Day 1, the hot air balloons were gone by 7 a.m. After exploring the grounds, we left for breakfast.



And just like last year, we had breakfast at C' Italian Dining. While the restaurant opens at 11 a.m., Chef Chris always makes an exception every year for our group.


On the menu this year was (1) wood fire-baked angus steak with roasted onion, tomatoes and fresh australian mushrooms, (2) fine carved honey-baked ham with fresh sage, (3) crispy bacon with golden crisp potato, (3) Italian sausage braised in pomodoro sauce with asiago cheese, (4) smoked cherry snapper fillet with cucumber garlic dip (5) freshly baked pancake with maple syrup, (6) Italian fritatta with fresh herbs and cheese, (7) freshly baked assorted breads, (8) assorted jams and butter, and (9) orange, grape and tomato juice. Yummy!

On the way to Clark, I noticed Ayala's Marquee Mall which looked quite interesting. Next week, when I go back home to Pampanga, I plan to visit Ayala's Marquee Mall in Angeles City.

Clark: Day 1 of the 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

The 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta kicked-off last Thursday. It's one of those festivals which get people up really early since the hot air balloons are all gone by 7 a.m. Well, it got me up before the rooster did!

I was in the Clark Freeport shortly before 6 a.m. and the parking lot was already full. And to think it was Thursday. I could just imagine the crowd tomorrow when I go back for Day 3.


The reason they do it really early in the morning is because the weather conditions are usually best at that time for the hot air balloons to fly. While there are so many other activities and exhibitions during the day, the highlight of the festival are the balloons no doubt.

After the flag ceremony where paratroopers from the Philippine Military bring down the Philippine flag from the sky, the hot air balloons are inflated. It takes quite a while. They have to fill it up first with cool air using a fan. And one it takes shape, they pump in warm air using flares.


It's fun seeing the balloons in various shapes. For the 2010 Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, there was one shaped like a beer bottle. Another was Old MacDonald's Farm. There was a yellow sun with a smiling face. And yet another was shaped like a turtle.

If you missed yesterday and today, you still have the weekend to catch the colorful hot air balloons. You have to be in the Clark Freeport in Pampanga by 5:30 a.m. if you want a good spot to watch these hot air balloons take off. So it's best to leave Manila by 3:30 a.m.


I noticed in this year's schedule that they have hot air balloon flights in the afternoon of Saturday. A spectacle you should also check out is the weekend night glow activity during sunset when the balloons are lit up like giant light bulbs with the flares.

Many people ask if you can ride the hot air balloons. Well, don't count on it. It's difficult to get a slot. Make that close to impossible. You can opt for the stationary hot air balloon which takes you up in the air up to about 50 feet. But that's just about it. Entrance fee to the festival for this year is Php150 per head. Here's the 2010 schedule.

Anyway, time to troop to Ayala's Marquee Mall!

Benguet: Baguio reinvents itself as an adventure destination!

Are you sure you've seen the best of Baguio? Think again! Baguio is now promoting itself, together with its neighboring towns, as an adventure destination. These Benguet towns are collectively called BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay). Add Bokod, Benguet to the list as well, with Ambuklao Dam.

With Baguio as a jump-off point, you can kayak or river surf at the Ambuklao Dam and Tuba, visit the Balatoc Mines in Itogon, go rock climbing, river hiking, bouldering, rappelling, or ride an ATV in Camp 3, hike up Mount Pulag in Bokod and Kabayan, fish by the Agno River, or go spelunking at the Ambongdolan Caves in Tublay. Baguio City itself is also becoming a major airsoft destination. There are simply so many choices!


We went off-road go-karting along one of the rough roads by the Agno River. If we had more time, we could have tried out more stuff.

All this is being organized by the Baguio Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVB). And what's good about this new service is you can plan an adventure with style, with your own butler and waiters setting up alfresco dining for you! They even had a bar for the group!

Baguio's adventure tours are still in its infancy. And it's exciting to see how this develops. I hope I get to visit again to really try all of these cool activities.

Baguio Convention and Visitors Bureau
+63 74 4424088

Baguio: Panagbenga Festival 2010 Calendar of Events

Panagbenga Festival 2010 promises to be even bigger. The Baguio Flower Festival has already begun and continues to attract visitors to Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Here is a list of major events this year:

• February 14: Fluvial Parade featuring Camelot on the Lake, Burnham Park
• February 26-28: Abanao Nights, Abanao Square
• February 27: Grand Street Parade, Session Road to Athletic Bowl
• February 28: Grand Float Parade, Session Road to Athletic Bowl
• March 1-7: Session Road in Bloom, Session Road

Baguio: The Manor at Camp John Hay prepares a dinner feast!

The Manor at Camp John Hay served the most memorable dinner during the entire Lakbay Norte trip. You have to give it to the Baguio Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVB) for preparing a feast for us. And welcoming us to the dinner was none other than Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr.

Also there to welcome us was Atty. Damaso Bangaoet, Jr., the father of the Panagbenga Festival which is being held this month.


And to make sure the food was nothing but perfect, renowned chef Billy King, the man who brought Le Soufflé to Manila and now the secret behind the gastronomic magic of The Manor in Camp John Hay's Le Chef Restaurant, personally supervised his staff of chefs and waiters.



It was indeed a grand selection that included soup, salad, sushi and sashimi, juicy roast beef slices, grilled meats and vegetables on skewers, bowls of Mongolian barbecue, home-made sausages with salsa, and irresistible desserts (it was strawberry overload), more than enough to fill our stomachs. After our third or fourth servings, we all gave up!

For the night, I also stayed at The Manor. The rooms were spacious, cozy, and nicely layed-out. I wish we could have slept longer. But we had to be up early the next day. Breakfast would have also been a feast! But I wasn't able to enjoy it due to our tight schedule.

The Manor, Camp John Hay
+63 74 4240931 to 43 / 50 to 53
+63 2 8450892 / 8450911
reservations@cjhhotels.com