Postcard Series: Ground Zero | Marawi

Marky Ramone Go August 27, 2018

If seeing the images on news TV isn't bad enough, the moment we walked inside the Marawi siege’s 'ground zero’, reality shook me real bad. Tilted buildings plastered with bullet and rocket holes, homes beyond recognition and personal stuff strewn on the road—clothes, suitcases, stuffed toys—left by fleeing civilians, are too much to process. Outside ground zero, we met some survivors eager to tell their stories. After losing everything, all they have now are narratives of survival. I took a few photos and with each click of my camera, I feel the grim scenes stabbing my heart.

a stuff toy remains in Marawi's Ground Zero

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Postcard Series: Marantao | Lanao del Sur

Marky Ramone Go August 16, 2018

The town of Marantao, which is almost next to Marawi is a picture of quaint countryside life. It was also here where we visited a demo farm program of the Peace Crops in cooperation with #ForMindanao. I was glad to learn about the many livelihood projects and community empowerment being implemented all over Lanao del Sur by various volunteer groups, as part of the many positive responses to the Marawi siege

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Black Pencil Project Celebrates 10 Years of Sheer Volunteerism with TPB

Marky Ramone Go August 15, 2018

I was sitting atop our jeep staring at the spectacular landscape of Ifugao when we came to an abrupt halt. A single roar of the engine gave it a kick a few inches forward, followed by complete standstill. Deep mud had accumulated on the dirt road where a few meters away, large boulders from a landslide occupied half of the passage. What was a minor roadblock in our journey back happens to be everyday occurrence for people living in the village of Cambulo in Banaue, Ifugao.

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On Travel Assignment | 2018 Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart

Marky Ramone Go August 14, 2018

Another thing I dig about being a travel writer is the opportunity of being invited to various conferences about the travel industry. In the last couple of years, I have covered some of the biggest travel-related symposiums and talks such as the 2017 World Travel and Tourism Global Council, the 2017 ASEAN-INDIA Summit, both of which were held in Bangkok, Thailand and this year’s Mekong Tourism Forum held in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand.

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Sailing Soon in the Philippines: Things to do Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas

Marky Ramone Go August 01, 2018

Soon to hold regular cruising schedule in Manila, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas – which is also the biggest luxury ship to sail the waters of Asia, has already given a hint of what’s to come for Filipino travelers willing to get a taste of high sea living. After making numerous port of calls in Hong Kong, Ovation of the Seas made its double maiden call in Subic and Manila on June 8 and 9, 2018. Although Ovation of the Seas’ upcoming cruises will cover nearby countries like Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and even Australia, it will be just a matter of months before they call Manila a regular home port.