Viaje Pagbilao | Attack of the Jellies

...they shouted in pain. I rushed towards them and saw their arms marked with jellyfish stings.

Viaje Pagbilao | Puting Buhangin and Kuwebang Lampas

Our boat dropped us in a privately owned beach known as the Marquez Beach. Located somewhere in the coast of Isla Grande, this white sand beach is just a few meters from our sampling site, the Pagbilao Fish Sanctuary.

Viaje Pagbilao | The Way to the Beaches

It's good to be back on the road, I totally need a break. My life as a student is pulling my brain out of me. This senior college year, as it goes deeper, drains every ATP I have in my body (talagang nakaka-stress). Part of the requirement before graduating (naks konting tiis na lang, ga-graduate na ako) is a thesis paper. For the sake of sharing, my thesis topic is all about the seagrass of Pagbilao, Quezon. (Enough with this nerdy stuff!)

Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 | Calamba and Antipolo Complete

Three Lakbay Rizal stamps are located at Region IV-A

13.) RIZAL SHRINE - J.P. Rizal St., Calamba City, Laguna

A National Shrine, this is the birthplace of our national hero, born on June 19, 1861. Today, a replica of the Rizal House by Juan Nakpil is built on the site. Restored by Executive Order No. 145 of President Elpidio Quirino, it was inaugurated on June 19, 1950.

Stamp Area: On Site

Operating hours: 8:00am to 4:00pm daily except Mondays

My 7 Links | Blogposts Reloaded

My 7 Links craze now came knocking at my door, Renevic of Mandaragat-Mamumundok-Lagalag nominated me to do this 7 links of my bests, mosts and favorite blogposts. My 7 Links Project is an awesome project created by Tripbase, with a goal of uniting the bloggers from all sectors in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.

As I browsed my 8 months old blog archive of mostly travel posts, I found the following links of my not-so-old posts that fit well the given 7 categories. It's now my turn to reload My 7 Links:

Pateros | Journeying the Balut Capital

Yey! I finally reached Pateros, the Balut Capital of the Philippines.

Though dwarfed by the surrounding cities of Taguig, Makati and Pasig, Pateros is actually a highly urbanized town, a 1st class municipality. It's not new to many that this little town is the only one left non-city (Pateros is a municipality) in the National Capital Region. Being the Balut Capital, my wandering feet brought me to this small friendly town.

The Best Bibingka Vs. The Strangest Bibingka

Bibingka, as we all know, is a puto-like Filipino pastry that has a burnt sweet eggy taste. Along with Puto Bungbong, they are the most popular tummy fillers during the Christmas season. Its primary ingredients are egg, rice flour and coconut milk traditionally cooked between two coal furnaces.

In my travels I can say that I've encountered the best and the strangest of this food.

Blogs that Inspire Batang Lakwatsero

My realization:

to share your travel experience on your blog is fulfilling,
to receive positive comments and feedback is flattering,
but to inspire others to follow your travels is something different, inexplicable.

Itinerary | Bolinao and Alaminos

Our trip
Date: June 2-4, 2011 (3D/2N)
Destinations: Bolinao and Hundred Islands
Budget: P3500
Trippers: 5 persons

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Buy Your Pasalubong

Day 3 - June 4, 2011 | Souvenirs and Pasalubong

Our bodies were aching badly from the snorkeling activity we did yesterday. However, we can't let these body pains conquer us, it's our last day in Pangasinan and we still have to buy souvenirs and pasalubong.

the lighthouse at Lucap Wharf

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Seven Caves in Hundred Islands

The Hundred Islands National Park attracts tourist for its beaches, diving spots and of course its amazingly shaped islands. But not everyone knows that HINP has a lot of dark, guano-scented caves that will capture the interest of the spelunking addicts.

Now here's a rundown of the 7 caves we visited during our HINP island hopping.

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Meet the Islands of HINP

Anyone who loves traveling must not put Pangasinan's Hundred Islands National Park on the last of his list. Experience a difference when you visit its 123 islands and islets, every island offers a unique and remarkable experience.

Map of Hundred Islands National Park

Here's a rundown of some of the islands we met during our island hopping at HINP. We were able to land only on 8 of these islands.

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Hundred Islands National Park

Day 2 - June 3, 2011 | Alaminos City's Hundred Islands

The trip from Bolinao to Alaminos lasted an hour and a half. We alighted around 11:30 am just near the City Hall where we again took a trike ride to Brgy. Lucap (P80.00).

Alaminos City Hall