Laiya Coco Grove (San Juan, Batangas)
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, Where to Stay on March 2, 2010
Summer. The most wonderful time of the year, for some. It’s also the time when El Nino throws an extra punch. Low in water, which in turn means less electricity supply and more blackouts. The heat . . . well, could you say more except people are dying from heat stroke? We need an antidote to the heat, and while at it, have fun, too. Read the rest of this entry »
Summer Getaway at Laiya, Batangas
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, Tips and Reminders, Where to Stay on March 1, 2010
Have a confirmed reservation. I know this much and my wife made it a point to remind me every hour or so before we headed towards Laiya, Batangas. We haven’t taken a break for some time now and my sense of adventure made my whole body itch. Just go, I thought. And so we embarked on a journey of discovery one sunny, warm (or really hot?) Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »
Mary Grace Cheese Roll: Love at First Bite
A cheese roll is, well, just a cheese roll. A cheese roll that you buy from any bakery would contain the same basic ingredient, cheese. Nothing new. Or so I thought. Read the rest of this entry »
Vacation, Beach and Tsunami: Aftermath of Chile Earthquake
Posted by Fred in Tips and Reminders on February 28, 2010
All work and no play isn’t good. So, from time to time, we take vacations on weekends to unwind and get ready for more work on the weeks ahead. This time we chose Laiya, a coastal haven found in San Juan, Batangas. Read the rest of this entry »
Sing at your own Risk: “My Way” of Frank Sinatra
Posted by Fred in Tips and Reminders on February 12, 2010
We’re supposed to write mainly about the good things about the Philippines in this blog, but I find myself revisiting this rule when I read about a recent article in The New York Times about a particularly significant song. It reminds me of a previous article I wrote, reproduced below. Consider this a reminder: When you visit the Philippines and you get this irresistible urge to sing in a karaoke/videoke, always be mindful of this cardinal rule. Read the rest of this entry »
The “Unknown” Clark Cemetery and Death March Marker
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, To See on February 7, 2010
“One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.” Read the rest of this entry »
Cebu Dancing Inmates: Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Really Care About Us”
Ahhh . . . Cebu. When you say Cebu what comes to your mind? Sinulog? Lechon Cebu? Otap? Sutokil? Lapu-lapu and Magellan’s Cross? The Edge Coaster? Badian Island? Mactan Island? The nice beaches? We could spend the whole day sharing what we remember most about Cebu. But you probably don’t realize that the world-famous Dancing Inmates are ALL found in Cebu. Read the rest of this entry »
The Jolly, Red Bee known as Jollibee
He dances. He jumps, giggles and give high fives. He goes around the entire area with the same level of high energy. He hugs everyone and that smile never leaves his face. He’s round and always jolly. He’s a bee but he’s red. And he doesn’t fly. Read the rest of this entry »
New Year Mist at Agas-Agas Bridge
The rain, I thought, would ruin my chance of finally witnessing the whispered beauty of a bridge down in Southern Leyte. The province of Southern Leyte, a one-hour flight from Metro Manila, is the lower half of the Leyte Island. (And if you think that the other half is called Northern Leyte, which is but logical considering that the lower half is Southern Leyte, you’re wrong. The northern province is simply called Leyte, which is unique, I believe.) The province is a vital link between Luzon and Mindanao, part of the national road network in an archipelagic country composed of more than 7,100 islands. It’s also accessible by ship from many points, including direct trips from Metro Manila or Metro Cebu. Read the rest of this entry »
What’s your Ghost Story?
Posted by Fred in Things To Do, To See on November 1, 2009
They say that the spirits of the dead return to where they lived during Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve). It is said that witches and demons become active during this time, which is the last day of October. The evening before All Saints’ Day. That’s now. Read the rest of this entry »
Directions and Surprises in Mount Samat Trip (Bataan)
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, Tips and Reminders, Transportation on October 30, 2009
There are two long weekends in November 2009 and maybe some may be interested to drop by the Dambana ng Kagitingan in Pilar, Bataan. Maybe when we remember and pray for our dearly departed on All Saints’/ Souls’ Day or undas, we should also whisper a prayer for the heroes that fought and died for our country during WWII. Let’s talk about the directions and the welcome surprises of a trip to the Dambana ng Kagitingan. Read the rest of this entry »
Road Safety for Long Weekends
Posted by Fred in Tips and Reminders, Transportation on October 27, 2009
There are two long weekends in November. Holidays for the rest of 2009 and for the full year of 2010 had long been announced. Filipinos go home to provinces for undas. With long weekends, our roads will be full. Traffic will be heavy. Patience will run thin. So, wherever you are, please remember these road safety tips (most are from emails floating around): Read the rest of this entry »
All Saints Day (November 1 Holiday)
All Saints’ Day, or also called Todos los Santos, is a regular holiday in the Philippines that falls every November 1. As the name suggests, it’s a day to remember all the saints and is a traditional Catholic holiday. You can continue reading or proceed to tell us who you spend your undas, through the comments section below. Read the rest of this entry »
Mt. Samat Trip: Journey to Dambana ng Kagitingan in Bataan
Posted by Fred in Places to Go, Things To Do, To See on October 25, 2009
It was a slow Saturday. The Friday before that was capped with a client dinner-meeting that extended until late at night. Add the trip home and it was already past midnight when we slept. The problem with having a regular waking hour is waking up on that particular hour; even if you don’t want to wake up to extend your rest hours. Read the rest of this entry »
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