Viaje Western Pangasinan | Whole Day in Bolinao

The long bus trip was over, we finally reached our destination for the day.


Day 1 - June 2, 2011 | The Town of Bolinao

We were very excited to start our day trip in Bolinao, though no one from our group knows this town, all were first timers. I only based our directions from the blogs I read from the previous days of preparation (I am the "punong abala" for this trip - meaning, it was I who made the IT's and the reservations).

| Bolinao Town is a 3rd class municipality found in the western most tip of the Luzon Islands. Part of the province of Pangasinan in Region I - Ilocos Region. People speak Ilocano, Pangasinense and Bolinao.

Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 | The Dark Side of the Project

Doing the Lakbay Rizal @ 150 is fun and very fulfilling so far. I've learned a lot and enjoyed the trail in Calamba, Manila and Antipolo. As of now, I had my passport stamped with 12 sites already (but BULLSH*T, it should've been 14 already).

I just came from Malolos and Pampanga just a few hours ago. I was hoping to get my 13th and 14th stamp there, unfortunately both the Malolos City Hall and Pampanga Provincial Capitol know nothing about this DOT/NHI project.

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Not So Ordinary Six Hour Trip

It was a chilling morning in the middle of a long road trip to Bolinao, Pangasinan. Seated beside the window of a Five Star Ordinary Bus, the gusts of wind (constantly striking my face) kept me awake for the past 4 hours. Ecstatic and excited, I together with my BFF's from high school were about to experience Bolinao and Alaminos. 

Day 1 - June 2, 2011 | Ordinary bus to Bolinao

It all started in Cubao Five Star Terminal, midnight. We were expecting an airconditioned bus that would ply directly to Bolinao, Pangasinan. We did not reserve our trip because they're not catering any reservations, everyone in the terminal was a walk-in passenger. We patiently waited but there's still no bus going to Bolinao, Five Star's buses that ply directly to Bolinao do not go well with the schedule.

at the bus terminal in Cubao

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Trip to Bolinao and Alaminos

I had my last minute trip at Bolinao-Alaminos, Pangasinan last June 2-4. It was a dream come true, I finally reached the Hundred Islands National Park, yahoo! This is the preview post of my Viaje Western Pangasinan Series, a three-day trip full of adventures.

Binondo Food Trip | Shutter Clicks, Long Walks and Lots of Eating

It's a success, 13 flavors from 7 food stops, all in 7 hours, the Binondo food trip experience was great, extremely satisfying, a must-do in Manila.

It was I who planned this one day food trip in Binondo held a few weeks ago. Actually, I've been planning to do this ever since I've read The Creative Dork's Ultimate Binondo Food Trip, but the lack time and company hinders me from doing it, not until the 5th of June of this year. Joined by 5 bloggers including the Creative Dork himself, we really had a superb Binondo food experience.

A Walktour in Manila | Awesome Binondo Experience

If you want to experience China in the Philippines, then Binondo is the place to be. With the Chinese establishments (restos, chinese remedies, red stores) that line this old district's streets plus its significant number of Chinese and Filipino-Chinese population, Binondo is indeed the "Chinatown of Manila".

Binondo Fast Facts with a Kick of History

• Binondo is the world's "Oldest China Town".
• Binondo is the home of Tomas Pinpin, the first Filipino printer. 
• Binondo is one of the most mentioned places in Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo"
• Binondo is also the home of Roman Ongpin, a Chinese businessman who helped the revolucionarios through financial support in the Philippine Revolution and Filipino-American War.
• Binondo, in Escolta street, is the country's center of commerce before Makati.
• Binondo is the home of our first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz.

Kalayaan 2011 | A Visit to Kawit

A great way to celebrate the Philippine Independence is to pay a visit at Kawit, a first class urban municipality in the province of Cavite. Previously known as Cavite del Viejo, this was the site of the first proclamation of Independence.

Last June 12, as we celebrate our 113th Independence Day, I did a trip to this old Cavite town.

Rizal @ 150 | Happy Birthday Lolo Jose

Who would not know Lolo Jose? Every Filipino knows him for sure. He is the man whose head is placed on our 1 peso coin. He is the man whose name is now the name of a province, a lot of parks , a lot of streets, avenues and boulevards, a lot of schools, and hospitals. He's the man whose body is immortalized in almost every plaza of town halls and churches in the Philippines. He's the man whose works are giving headaches to third and fourth years high school students. He's the man who fought the cancers of society in his time. He's the man, a great man, who died for our nation's freedom. He is José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, Dr. Jose Rizal for short and today, we are celebrating his 150th Birthday Anniversary.


On his special day (a rainy day), a lot of events/parties are celebrated all over the country. One is the unveiling of the tallest Rizal Monument in Calamba, Laguna, wherein PNoy is their honorable guest. Another is in Zamboanga, particularly Dapitan City, where they are holding street parties and concerts. And in Manila, the officials of NPDC together with Intramuros Administration will not let this special day pass without taking part of this day's celebration.

Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 | Manila Sites Complete

Yey, I have stamped my passport with all the 10 Manila Sites of the Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150. All of them are situated close to each other (I started at 2:30 PM, finished stamping by 5:00 PM).

1.) PRISON CELL AND RIZAL SHRINE - Fort Santiago, Intramuros Manila
This was where Rizal was incarcerated during his trial from November 3 to December 29, 1896
Stamp Area:
On site

stamp # 1

Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 | Huling Yapak Tungo sa Kalayaan

Ilang araw na nga ba ang lumilipas

mula nang buhay mo'y binigyang wakas

Wakas na nagbigay daan sa kalayaan

kalayaan na matagal nang ipinaglalaban.

Rizal's Chapel Cell

Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 | It All Starts at Room 106

Just ten days before the 150th birthday of my idol, Jose Rizal, I finally got my own Lakbay Rizal@150 Passport. Yey!

| Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 is a project launched by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with other agencies like National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Heritage Conservation Society, Intramuros Administration, Cebu Pacific and the National Parks Development Committee. It encourages people to travel to the various Rizal sites all over the country, it’s like a pilgrimage or site visit to actually see and experience the sites.  

 

Itinerary | Mauban and Cagbalete

Our trip
Date: May 20-22, 2011 (3D/2N)
Destinations: Cagbalete Island and Mauban Town
Budget: P1200
Trippers: 4 persons

Viaje Mauban | Mauban Town

Day 2 - May 21, 2011 | Explore the Town of Mauban

It was around 5 before evening when we reached again the town of Mauban. We were still tired from the long trek we just had so we headed straight to our lodging. We stayed at Fiesta Royale Apartelle (our stay there was sponsored by Jonas' father).

| Fiesta Royale Apartelle is a very nice place, perfect for budget travelers. Located several meters from the Maapon bridge, 1km from the town center. They have airconditioned rooms and a suite too. 

this is the Fiesta Royale Apartelle

Viaje Mauban | Dahoyhoy Falls

The chillax part is over, we're now entering the part of my Mauban trip that is full of adventure.

Day 2 - May 21, 2011 | Long Walk for Dahoyhoy

As soon as we arrived at the Port of Mauban, we took a tricycle to the town market. Our top priority was to buy new pairs of slippers (kelangan nila ibalik ang Havaianas kila doctors Fe and Cristy the next day).

at the port of Mauban

Jonas buying the tsinelas

We proceeded next to the Tourism Center (located beside the Municipal hall) to ask for directions to our next goal, the Dahoyhoy falls.

the Tourism Center