Reliving Paoay’s storied history and rich culture with Guling-Guling Festival

Marky Ramone Go April 25, 2017

Believed to have originated even before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Guling-Guling Festival morphed into a religious practice in the 16th century, when the Spanish friars attached it with the celebration of the Lenten season. Believed to have originated even before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Guling-Guling Festival morphed into a religious practice in the 16th century, when the Spanish friars attached it with the celebration of the Lenten season. Happening a day before Ash Wednesday, guling, the Ilocano word “to smear,” comes to play, when the town mayor would smudge a white cross, made from damp and white rice flour, on to a person’s forehead to indicate one’s pureness. The townsfolk believe that this ritual washes away their sins.

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A ‘meaningful travel’ to the Highlands of Barlig, Mountain Province

Marky Ramone Go April 13, 2017

“Happiness and kindness is something if you give it away—then it comes right back to you,” the song reverberates harmoniously inside the classroom as the pupils of Ogo-og Elementary school sing in unison. A few minutes more and our Meaningful Travels PH group will be distributing the school-supply kits to each one of them. Everywhere, the wide smiles are in display as the little ones happily goofed around with each other, unable to contain their excitement.

wilderness Read more

Lakbay Norte 6: Shaping a Heritage in the Pottery Town of Iguig | Cagayan

Marky Ramone Go April 10, 2017

Hundreds of years after what is believed to be the earliest industry that thrived in this part of Cagayan province, the town of Iguig is picking up where its ancestral settlers left off. By continuously shaping a heritage through the delicate hands of its artisan townsfolk; the soft natural rock material called clay – finds a home and purpose here.

A local artist demonstrates his expertise in pottery making. Photo courtesy of Martin San Diego / North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB)

Luzon Read more

Lakbay Norte 6: Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) | Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

Marky Ramone Go April 09, 2017

We’ve all heard the phrase “rice is life”, each time a friend of ours orders and extra serving. Who doesn’t agree with this adage? Certainly, not me nor you. However, we all know rice as it is, served on the table oozing hot and ready to be paired with a delicious dish or toppings. What we fail to appreciate is how strenuous the process of producing “rice” from unhusked grains and the length of hard work our farmers toil just to food on our table.

Nueva Ecija Read more

Scarecrows on Parade: The Bambanti Festival | Isabela

Marky Ramone Go April 07, 2017

Bambanti comes from an Ilocano word for Scarecrow–the mythical figure depicted by a human-shaped mannequin– often seen standing in the middle of farms meant to scare sparrows and crows from casting destruction on crops. Unfortunately, when super typhoon Lawin hit Isabela in October 2016, no amount of scarecrows could save the province’ agricultural produce as the violent force of nature battered houses, highways and destroyed every rice, corn and agricultural crop land in its path – leaving in its wake, a trail of destruction only surpassed by typhoon Yolanda in recent memory.

Luzon Read more

Featured Travel Guide | Things to do in Cebu

Marky Ramone Go April 01, 2017

More than the frenzied vibe of the Sinulog Festival, Cebu is also a gateway to a number of adventure destinations. A major hub in the Philippines when it comes to tourism, shipping, commerce and also the site of many beautiful beaches, picturesque countryside and home to some of the famed local cuisines; Cebu ranks among the top travel destinations of both domestic and foreign travelers.

The province’ capital city; Cebu City might appear almost similar to Metro Manila, one would quickly wonder “What to do here” after surveying the busy roads leading out of the capital. After the initial shock of the street’s bustling activities, one could thoroughly enjoy exploring not only Cebu city but the rest of the province’ tourism offerings.