There are beautiful places which make you stop in awe, but afterwards you pass by. And then there are beautiful places which take up permanent residence in your heart long after you have left. Zambawood, a quiet resort along the volcanic beaches of San Narciso, Zambales, was the latter for me. The beach’s stretch of…
Beautiful fireworks and music. Together, with the goal of perfect harmony and choreography. This is what the international Pyromusical fireworks performances are about. I remember an ad for the Pyromusical (which I think was called Pyro Olympics) back then claiming to be “the greatest show on earth.” And while this may have been too much…
“Do you need a ride?” asked a sun-baked man wearing a faded shirt and jeans. He had suddenly approached me on the ordinary bus bound for Sibonga, a southern municipality in Cebu. I had to ask him to repeat what he said a few times, before, finally, we understood each other, between his limited Tagalog…
I woke up just in time to see the dark blue sky lightening and mixing with whites and oranges. One by one, the lights of Ortigas business district died, giving way to the morning sun. Slowly, the sun stretched its rays, like limbs extending after a deep slumber. And then, after watching this sky show, I…
Whether fleeting or lasting, love is always magical. For travelers who meet and deeply connect in the space of a few days, the feelings can get that much more intense. But love can be painful too. For these same travelers know that at the end of their trip, their love may also come to an…
I woke up at 6 am to the beat of drums from different directions. Here at the Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan, merrymaking starts early and ends late. An hour and a half later, the parade of competing tribes began. First off were the groups for the Balik-Ati (Return to the Ati) category. This competition…
2012 was the year I fulfilled my childhood dream of long-term solo adventure. It was such a defining year for me that I saw it as the point that thereafter divided my life into a “before” and “after.” And now that I’m in the “after” stage, the surprises, the realizations, and the moments when I…
Tomorrow it will be a month since Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) wrought destruction in Leyte and some areas in Visayas. After the initial shock and aftermath, I believe survivors still need help not just for relief, but also recovery and rebuilding. This month has made Yolanda really sink into my consciousness after the shock and has…
The week after MassKara Festival was my second time to be hosted by Go Hotels, and its Bacolod branch did not disappoint. Just like Go Hotels Tacloban, Go Hotels Bacolod is bursting with vibrant yellows and greens. I especially like its simple but striking architecture. Bright and colorful, simple design I was pleased to see…
Masks so vibrant, colorful and intricate they almost look alive. Dancers carrying the weight of these masks – some as heavy as four or five kilos – on their faces under the heat of the midday sun as they ran, skipped, whirled, and even bobbed up and down. To me, these are what makes Bacolod’s…
Traveling Light 