Nomadic Video 4: Laguna Lakers (San Pablo, Liliw, Nagcarlan)

Unknown April 29, 2012

Since I started traveling around the Philippines three or four years ago, I've been to Mindanao, Visayas and the edge of Northern Luzon, doing so I was able to overlook nearby provinces like Laguna. Because of that realization, along with a couple of cool friends, Cathy and Abigail, we set out on a trip to a menage a trois of cities and municipalities in Laguna. Our first stop was San Pablo, it is known for its seven crater lakes found around the city. We started our day by having breakfast at Cafe Lago which is located beside Lake Sampaloc, it was here where Abigail first brought out her Tanduay rum. After which, we took a swim at the scenic Lake Pandin and had lunch aboard a floating bamboo raft before heading out to Nagcarlan for some church hopping and going on a creepy tour of the "underground cemetery", after which, we dropped by the "tsinelas" capital of the Philippines in Liliw and had a feast at Arabel. Here is a music video of our trip, as compiled from the very few video footage I took accompanied by the music of Sneaker Pimps' "6 Underground". I will soon write separate posts about the places we visited on that trip.

Underground Cemetery Read more

Patrocinio de Maria Church in Boljoon | Cebu

Unknown April 22, 2012

Right off the bat from our whale shark experience in Oslob (which I now regret doing after being educated by environmentalists) which followed the lone night I spent in the quaint town of Santander, we made a quick stop at the scenic municipality of Boljoon. We got off the bus just in front of the Patrocinio de Maria Church, the oldest remaining stone church in Cebu. The church was originally founded in 1599 by the Augustinians. Subsequent counter-attacks by Muslim raiders destroyed most of the original structures and the rest of the town. The jurisdiction over the church was then relinquished to the Jesuits in 1737. Due to lack of resources and manpower, the Church was again put under Augustinian's administration in 1747. In 1783, Father Ambrosio Otero spearheaded the construction of a new church highlighted by a stone fence, which adds to its fortress-like appearance.

Visayas Read more

Postcard Series: Green Tinted City | Manila

Marky Ramone Go April 19, 2012

The view of Intramuros and nearby parts of Manila as seen from the Presidential Suite of Manila Hotel, conjures a green tinted image, where trees, old buildings, the walled city, the fine golf course and small man-made lake blend perfectly to provide an appealing cityscape. It's the city I've learned to love and hate. One that I'm forever proud regardless of the batterings of daily living and the urban challenges that awaits each day I pass by. Sure, there are 100 things to hate about Manila, but more things to love about it in return.

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Santander Dubs and No Lightning | Cebu

Unknown April 11, 2012

It won't be called as such if I didn't ended up at the southernmost tip of Cebu. Santander was the furthest destination I had on my southern Cebu trip last month. Right after my quick dip at the fine white sand beach in Tingko, Alcoy, I waited at the side of the road, with my shorts dripping wet, I motioned to an incoming ordinary bus bound for Barangay Liloan in Santander, it halted with semi-screeching tires and the conductor let me climbed the bus and I sat down on a seat by the window at the back, with pure intention of taking a nap.