Dinagyang Festival 2015 - Are you Ready?

Ready for merry making this January 25th?

It's been said that there will be less props but more dances, a showcase beyond the usual according to the organizers of the event. Well, surprise me! I'm so excited! 

  More photos here of last years Dinagyang Festival [...]

Baler, Aurora, Quezon - Surf Surfie! Surfienation!

It's my first time... first time to visit Baler. A lot of firsts actually. For selfish reasons I'm almost hesitant to even post it here as I am wanting to have the place for myself and with some really good people. But due to it's surprisingly accessible location, I doubt.

Singapore The Lion City - Photo Essay and Snaps

 More photos here [...]

Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls UPDATE 2015

This is going to be a quick and simple post. To read more and see other photos >>>

Malaysia - Malacca Trip 2014 - Photo Essay

 More Photos here [...]

Borawan Island - Puting Buhangin - Dampalitan Island: This Summerrrrrr!!!

Borawan Island

It's the freakin summer and I really have to get out of the metro and get myself wet - beach wet! For some time now, I've been visiting places in Quezon, from Lucban - Pagbilao - Cagbalete to Baler. Reason? Well, no need to book plane tickets and file for vacation leaves. Too desperate to travel and with the feverish 37-38 °C temp... I searched, until I noticed photos online of white sand beaches lying just off the coast in Padre Burgos. And the cliche' "Bags packed and ready to go"

Pahiyas Festival 2014 Part II: Lucban, Quezon

Check my Flickr account for more photos :)

Pahiyas Festival 2014 Snapshots

A lot of butterfly decorations at this years' Pahiyas Festival

Photo Essay: Burot Beach, Calatagan, Batangas - Summer 2014

I will add details in a bit. :) More photos here

Photo Essays

Pardon for not being able to create blog posts. I'm just really busy at work with my new role.

I am still able to travel, but writing/composing will be a bit hard for me now as I focus on the new job and getting myself a lovelife! LOL. So what I'll be doing instead are Photo Essays! Weee

Photo Essays are sets or series of photographs that are intended to tell a story or at least evoke a a series of emotions in the viewers (I'm pretty sure I only have a few). This will be a lot easier for me since I wont really have to write much, just travel with my camera - point - shoot - upload and I'm good. Will try to put in a brief description at least and some important details about the trip - when I get the chance. 

Hence to all my fans, LOL. Please bear with me for the meantime as I venture into the world of career growth. Rest assured, I am not quitting and will still continue to travel. 

Happy Trails everyone! Photo essays will be up shortly. :) Enjoy!

Trappist Monastery, Solemnity in Guimaras

The Trappist Abbey or Monastery is one of the first few stops when you tour Guimaras. Best place to de-stress and reflect before heading for the island activities.[...]

How to Get to Boracay



They've got lots of promos in Cebu Pacific Airlines flying to either Kalibo, Roxas or Caticlan. Best option though for your flight is Caticlan from Manila. Please be advised that you're not the only one eyeing for the Caticlan route (regardless of the season), so make sure to book your flight ahead of time and check promos FREQUENTLY and book it QUICKLY.


From 6am-10pm,

A Serene Scene at Guisi Clearwater Beach

After disembarking from the plane that arrived in Iloilo at 5:35am, I quickly went ahead and squeezed myself in a van that's bound to SM Iloilo for P50.00. From there I took a cab that will take me to the Parola wharf with pumpboats heading to Guimaras, P40.00 metered taxi flagdown. The entry point was at the Buenavista port which took less than 15 minutes. The public boat ride costs P15.00 one way. There is another point of entry which is located at the Ortiz wharf heading to Jordan wharf.[...]

A Zippy Visit to the Archaic Age: Guisi Lighthouse

During my week-long Dinagyang trip, part of my itinerary was to visit Isla de Gigantes in Carles, Iloilo after the festival but due to sad events recently caused by typhoon Haiyan aka Yolanda, I was being cast down to pay a visit. So where to go? Asked some locals and was apprised to just visit Guimaras and go to Guisi or Alubihod beach.

Guisi? I say. That sounds new to me. Took out one of my travel buddies -- ever reliable Ipad named "Caleb" and googled "Guisi". Before I even clicked enter, Caleb's search suggestions revealed "guisi lighthouse" and "guisi beach guimaras". Thus commence my Guimaras-Guisi trip.[...]

Baguio Accomodations for the Panagbenga Festival! Book ASAP!!!

Joriz Photo via Demotix

Yes! It's the busiest time in Baguio. From places to eat, visit and of course to stay... it's going to be a battlefield.

You may check for the accomodations and available rooms here

Baguio Hotel Reservation

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Don't fret though coz when hotels/condos goes to a zero vacancy...

What's your Travel Playlist

Photo Credits to www.travelblat.com

  Let's face it! Whether you're in the car, bus, ship or on a plane... land, air or water... it can get kinda boring and at times can stir you crazy. Seeing the same old grassland or rice paddies for hours, inverted sea of clouds, waiting for that cinnamon tan and the like. So what else is there to do[...]

Revelry thuds as the Dinagyang Festival 2014 happens

You may have noticed that for the past 3 years, I've been writing about this grand event. Why? You may not know it but I actually love festivals, people all looking lighthearted and sunny and this event is just the extravagant gathering I've been to!

I haven't seen Sinulog (Cebu) and Ati-Atihan (Aklan) live - [...]

Kasadyahan Festival 2014, A Cultural Fusion

I've been asked a lot why I love going to the Visayas - especially in Iloilo. Well, aside from really charming places to go... they have lots of Festivals.

This festival fixation all started when I witnessed the Aliwan festival 5 years back [...]

Budget! Cheap! Accomodations in Iloilo

I'm in no way affiliated or associated with the following hotels, inns, pensionne houses or apartments listed on this blog unless otherwise stated. The places that i'll be listing on this post are the ones that I've been to from my past visits.


Before I make things easy for you (by just clicking on the hotel names, you'll be routed to their actual site), I must say that for the times that I've been to Iloilo, I never had a hard time looking for hotels, but booking them is a bit of a challenge, especially during the Dinagyang Season. As per my previous post, it would be almost impossible to get a place to stay if you don't book in advance. My advice, for you to get that vacancy is to look for places to stay at least 2-3 mos in advance (so you can still choose) and secure that reservation at least 2 mos before your planned arrival.

Iloilo Hotel Reservation

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Okay, so you're having a hard time getting a hotel or you're being picky because of the price [...]

Sand Bar Island Beach, Concepcion Iloilo

Sand Bar Island Beach, a photo by Kristoff de Villa Sole Escape on Flickr.

How to get there: http://kristoffsolescape.blogspot.com/2013/02/sand-bar-island-beach-concepcion-iloilo.html

Siete Pecados, Coron, Palawan

Siete Pecados, Coron, Palawan, a photo by Kristoff de Villa Sole Escape on Flickr.

Got the 1st trip for that day. :)

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2014 Schedule of Activities

"It's more than just air, it's a celebration of life" is the Philippine Friendship Balloon Fiesta 2014's slogan.

Photo via WhatsNewPH

Now I'm giving you the so far up-to-date schedule of activities for this years said event which has been surrounded by several controversies of it's cancellation, hence,

How to Get to Iloilo: Dinagyang Fever is On!!!

Book your flight!

Iloilo Hotel Reservation

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Flights from Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Iloilo City, Philippines (ILO)

By plane,

How to Get to Baguio



Photo by brayanne1999 via Flickr

Baguio City is approx. 240 kilometers from Manila. This basically is the entry point to the wonders in the Cordillera region.

Just to give you a brief overview of the highways leading to Baguio City. It is accessible from various mountain highway systems that filipinos normally call the "zigzag".