2010 saw the birth of Libotero.com which initially featured family trips around Luzon from the previous years. I’ve always had the passion for travel but was limited by my fear of travelling alone. June 2010 marked a breakthrough as I embarked on my first solo trip ever, and to Mindanao at that. From that point up to the end of last year, I was able to visit 5 new provinces in Visayas and Mindanao.

There are various reasons for travelling. As for myself, I’ve always been inspired by these travel shows on television and wanted to personally experience the places away from home, to discover a colorful mix of cultures in different settings, and more.

Travel has shaped me. It made me realize that life can also be about doing things you love, and not just about things you’re supposed to love. This blog is a reflection of how I live the dream and I’d like to grab a few lines from a song, “Believe in the dream, believe in the promise, that you can be all that you wanted to be…”

And so, for the 3rd part of this Year-Ender series, I share to you a round-up of my travels and lifestyle gigs for the 3rd quarter of 2011 (EDIT: Actually September isn’t included in this post. Read why at the end of the page).

Read Part 1 here.

Read Part 2 here.

July

July 1 – Kawasaki Leisure Bikes’ Roadgasmic Bikers’ Party 2011 – Kawasaki Motors Philippines landed in Cebu City, taking center stage at Luxx, Vudu for the Kawasaki Leisure Bikes’ Roadgasmic Bikers’ Party 2011. Launched during the 80s themed event were the new Kawasaki KSR 110, Ninja 250R, Vulcan 900, Ninja 650 & Ninja ZX-10R leisure bikes. Vrooom!

July 2 – Hoops Dome Launching – Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao spearheaded the launching of the 4,000 square meter, world-class Hoops Dome in Gun-ob Lapu-Lapu City by serenading the Oponganons through a free concert with the MP band and singer-composer Lito Camo. The celebration was one of the highlights of the 50th charter anniversary of the city.

July 8 – Oyster Bay Treat – Select Cebu bloggers were invited by Oyster Bay Restaurant to a dinner featuring their delectable seafood offerings. Oyster Bay offers a wide selection of live and fresh fish, crabs and lobsters cooked into delightful dishes. Or you may also choose from Filipino favorites like lechon kawali, bicol express, crispy pata and more! (The Baked Diwal is a must-try!!)

July 9 – The Country Style Fashion Show at Ayala Center Cebu – Shoppers were made to relive and experience the fashion of the American West with “The Country Style Fashion Show”, one of the activities prepared by Ayala Center Cebu as part of the Fil-Am Friendship Celebration. The audience was blown away as models strutted in style wearing items from some of the well-loved stores/boutiques that participated.

July 11 – Sabores de España at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu – Select Cebu bloggers were made to experience another installment of Marco Polo Plaza’s much-loved culinary journey – Sabores de Espana! The Spanish food festival showcased once more the very best that Spain has to offer. Last July 8, Spanish dances, live guitar music and giant ham & paellas jumpstarted the festival at the lobby of Marco Polo Plaza with passionate displays and flamboyant colors. The occasion was be graced by His Excellency Jorge Domecq, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Philippines.

July 14 – Ambassador’s Cafe Experience – Just a few steps away from Oyster Bay Restaurant at Bridges Town Square Mandaue is Ambassador’s Cafe. Select Cebu bloggers were invited to taste their set continental meals and breads. Interestingly, incorporated with the dining area is a “pasalubong” center. Try their pumpkin soup!

July 16 – Gensan once more! – Exactly a year after I first stepped on the SOCCSKSARGEN region, I am back, to experience the T’Nalak Festival 2011 and explore even more areas in the region.

July 17 – Hello Sultan Kudarat! – I believe one of my greatest achievements as a traveler this year is having been able to visit Sultan Kudarat. Only a few people from Luzon and Visayas dare to visit this place because of fear, caused by bad national media publicity. When I texted my parents that I was en route to Sultan Kudarat, the replies were expected. “Is it safe there?”, “Are you kidding? You might be kidnapped!”. “We can’t afford for ransom money” and the like. I was actually fearful myself but the only way to know what is actually going on in there is to go there, so I did. And here is a photo of their majestic Provincial Capitol, probably the best in the country, in terms of form and function. Sadly though, I wasn’t able to explore much of Isulan and Tacurong as it rained just moments after I captured some shots of the Capitol building, but I definitely won’t think twice about visiting the place again in the near future. After my brief visit, I returned to Koronadal for lunch at Fitmart Mall of Marbel (now Gaisano Grand Koronadal) and then attended Kuya Avel and Sir Ariel Lalisan’s Blogging 101 talk. As the talk ended, we explored the streets of Koronadal and visited the Agro-Industrial Fair and the Bahay-Kubo Competition, which are among the highlights of the T’Nalak Festival. While exploring, we bumped into Lake Sebu Mayor Antonio Fungan and had a photo-opp! Feeling a li’l bit tired and hungry, we walked to Popoy’s Batchoy and Eatery, arguably Koronadal’s best! It was getting dark already and we had to catch the last bus bound for General Santos but before that, we grabbed some sweet corn at Rizal Park! Travel time from Koronadal to General Santos takes about an hour. As we arrived at Kuya Avel’s home, we freshened up and rested for a few minutes before having dinner at Tiongson Arcade in Lagao. I swear, the Pinaputok na Tilapia is a must-try! (How many times did I use the word must-try in this post?!) I thought the night was over as we burped after dinner but then, we headed to SunCity Complex for videoke and some drinks at Music City Family KTV, which has 12 private rooms equipped with wide flat screens, two microphones and an updated songlist! High-tech!

July 18 – T’Nalak Festival 2011 – After the Kadayawan Festival last year, this is only the second festival in Mindanao that I’ve experienced and having been to several festivals all over the country, I can say that the T’Nalak Festival has its own charm. Mostly participated by teenage school-children, the festival portrays the very colorful culture in the province. Aside from drum beats, also prominent in the festival is the use of gongs and “kulintang”. The festival celebrates the T’boli’s dream cloth, the T’Nalak.

July 19 – The other side of Sarangani – Last year, I got to explore the eastern towns of Alabel, Malapatan and Glan in Saragani. This time, I explored the western side, thanks to Kuya Avel who made it easier for me by coordinating with Sir Arlex, the tourism officer of the municipality of Maitum. Passing by Maasim and Kiamba, travel time from General Santos takes at least two hours on air-conditioned vans (GT Express). Ranked as a second class municipality, my tour started at the municipal museum and when I reached the second floor, I was very amazed by some unique-looking jars bearing human face and form. Nearly 2000 years old, the anthropomorphic jars recovered from some caves in Maitum serve a very important role in retracing and recovering our country’s once rich cultural heritage. From the municipal hall, Sir Arlex brought me to the Pawikan Nesting Sanctuary in Old Poblacion where I got to meet Danilo Dequiña, a very determined simple man who saved thousands of hatchlings! He helped the local government establish the sanctuary. Along the way, I got to see the black stones in Saub River from where the town got its name. We then proceeded to witness the making of Maitum’s most popular product, which is specially marinated half-dried flying fish (bangsi). After the short eco-cultural tour, Sir Arlex brought me to one of the local households for some refreshments. Interacting with the locals really gave me a heartwarming feeling as I got to discover how they go about on their day-to-day living which was very simple considering that internet access in the area is limited and very expensive! (average per hour rate at internet shops in the area is P50). Sir Arlex offered the town’s shining star at the moment, the tourist-drawing White Water Tubing in Pangi River but I declined since I was alone and wasn’t able to bring extra clothes. I will definitely be back for that though. Finally, I rested for a while at the tourism office before catching the last ride back to General Santos.

July 22 – Sitti at Ayala Center Cebu – The Bossa Nova Queen, Sitti, promoted her newest self-titled album, “Sitti” with 8 new tracks and 3 classical remakes in bossa nova flavor at the activity center of Ayala Center Cebu. Photo-ops and CD-signing were done after the show.

July 27 – Make Your Own Havaianas 2011 at SM City Cebu – Now on its sixth year, Make Your Own Havaianas 2011 was held at the Northwing with the theme, “Travel in personalized style”. The whole MYOH area was set to fit the theme, with “boarding passes” given to each guest during the media/VIP night, and waiting lounges featuring Cebuano furniture. Make Your Own Havaianas is an annual event where you take full control on how your pair of Havaianas flip-flops would look like. You can choose from a palette of soles and straps, and set of accessories.

July 28 – Airphil Express launches direct Cebu-Hong Kong flight – I was very privileged to have been handpicked as one of the four Visayas-based bloggers to be part of the inaugural Cebu-Hong Kong flight of Airphil Express. I really did not know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised as we got in the international terminal as we were greeted with smiling APX crew putting on us an orange orchid necklace. As we moved on to the boarding gate, there was a dragon dance, which made the occasion very festive plus free breakfast buffet for all the maiden flight passengers! After all the speeches and formalities by Airphil Express’ executives, they pulled a piñata shaped as a Chinese lantern which contained a lot of prizes including a round trip ticket for two to the newly-launched destination! Wow! The flight took us almost three hours but we landed in Hong Kong thirty minutes ahead of schedule, a very good start indeed! As soon as we arrived, we proceeded to a room in the Airport World Trade Center for a press briefing with members of the Hong Kong media and also to celebrate the partnership between Airphil Express and its logistics groups and concessionaires in Hong Kong. What’s good about this new offering by Airphil Express is its day schedule so you’d be able to see and appreciate the aerial views of Cebu all the way to Hong Kong. Once more, I’d like to thank Airphil Express for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join an inaugural flight! (P.S. I’m hoping and praying Airphil Express resumes its day flights from Cebu to Singapore!)

August

August 4 – Hello Davao! Hello Abreeza! – One of the highlights of my 3rd time in Davao is a visit to their newest lifestyle destination, Abreeza! Abreeza Mall is the first Ayala Mall in Mindanao, with over 300 stores which include a wide array of retail choices with popular local and foreign fashion concepts, brands opening their first stores in Davao, carefully handpicked dining options and homegrown favorites. The mall showcases relaxed and contemporary architecture blended with signature open spaces and verdant landscaping. Inspired by the rich culture of Davao, the mall makes creative use of color, accenting classic neutral tones. It provides the Davao community with a truly unique and rewarding experience in shopping, dining and entertainment. Don’t laugh at me when I say that the mall is one of the new tourist destinations in the city..

August 6 – Eyeball with Davao Bloggers and SkyscraperCity Davao – Davao is really close to my heart, it’s like another home where I feel light and very secure. I did not prepare any itinerary for this trip as I only wanted to relax and have a few days off from the bustle of my hometown but I took the chance to meet the people who made me appreciate Davao more in their efforts to dispel the Mindanao stereotype, the Davao Bloggers and SkyscraperCity Davao. That day, the Davao Bloggers gathered at Trellis ‘N Vines in Torres for their monthly gathering themed as Geek Up or “skills enhancement” with English Grammar 101 as their topic. Thank you Ate Ria for inviting me to drop by as I learned a few tips to help my writing as well!

Shortly after, I went to Abreeza to meet Jonas, one of SSC-Davao’s active members. For those who don’t know what SSC is, it is actually the largest online forum for those who are enthusiastic about urbanity, progress and development, so if you’re sick and tired of the negative news you see on TV and read on the papers, then log-on to www.skyscrapercity.com and engage in the intellectual discussions! … We then headed to Kuya Ambie’s homey backyard, Landong’s Grill, which hosts regular SSC-Davao meets. After an awesome barbecue dinner, we then proceeded to talk about the latest buzz in Davao at Yellow Hauz and ended the night at the ever-amusing Kasagingan Kapehan!

August 8 – Davao del Norte – Once again, uncooperative weather is a bummer. I was supposed to visit Banana Beach in Tagum but it rained so hard while I was along the way so I had to cancel my plans and just have lunch at the Gaisano Grand Mall in the city. As I returned to Davao City late in the afternoon, I explored Magsaysay Park, a popular area for the locals, to breath some fresh sea breeze. I really appreciate how the Davao City government maintains public parks since these are the only places where majority of our brothers and sisters will be able to unwind without the need to spend a dime.

August 11 – i.We.U. – Marco Polo Plaza Cebu hosted the Networking Lunch for Day 2 of the MICEConvention. Gracing the event was DOT Secretary at that time, Alberto Lim, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. The best of Marco Polo’s food offerings and coffee were served!

August 22 – Welcome to Paradise! – Only the insanely expensive airfare to/from this place prevented me from visiting this island sooner but thanks to Airphil Express’ P88 promo, I was finally able to conquer the island paradise. Please don’t get mad at me when I declare that Boracay is the best beach because for me, it is. I’m not just talking about the beach itself but also the availability of facilities, establishments and other things to do while in the island. Three days and two nights in the island isn’t enough and so I’ll be back next year!

Where’s September? This post, at two thousand words and counting is already very long and I’m sure a lot of you won’t reach this point, lol, so I’m creating another post dedicated for the festive -ber months! Cheers!

(…to be continued)

2010 saw the birth of Libotero.com which initially featured family trips around Luzon from the previous years. I’ve always had the passion for travel but was limited by my fear of travelling alone. June 2010 marked a breakthrough as I embarked on my first solo trip ever, and to Mindanao at that. From that point up to the end of last year, I was able to visit 5 new provinces in Visayas and Mindanao.

There are various reasons for travelling. As for myself, I’ve always been inspired by these travel shows on television and wanted to personally experience the places away from home, to discover a colorful mix of cultures in different settings, and more.

Travel has shaped me. It made me realize that life can also be about doing things you love, and not just about things you’re supposed to love. This blog is a reflection of how I live the dream and I’d like to grab a few lines from a song, “Believe in the dream, believe in the promise, that you can be all that you wanted to be…”

And so, for the 2nd part of this Year-Ender series, I share to you a round-up of my travels and lifestyle gigs for the 2nd quarter of 2011. Cheers!

Read Part 1 here.

April

April 8 – Ayala Center Cebu Lenten Exhibit opening – Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma opened the mall’s annual Lenten exhibit which features life-size statues owned by Msgr. Cristobal Garcia. These statues depict the Passion, suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The event was memorable for me as this was my first encounter with the newly installed archbishop of Cebu. He’s one tall guy was my first impression.

April 12 – Intel launches 2nd generation core processors – Intel launched the long-awaited, revolutionary computer processor that features a smart visual experience for end-users at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel. Code-named “Sandy Bridge”, these new processors will attract everyone who are into visual content.

April 13 – Kadaugan sa Mactan launching – This brainchild of the Lapu-Lapu City Government, through the initiative of the Commission on Tourism and International Relations, the Kadaugan Street Party will be true to its name, a street party, from sun-down ’til the wee hours! It will feature a street parade wherein contingents in their Samba-inspired costumes from all-over the city and all-over the province of Cebu.

April 14 – Sumilon Bluewater launches Glamping – Perfect for that ultimately unique summer getaway, Bluewater Resorts introduced Glamping, short for Glamour Camping. An innovative camping option, glamping provides the experience of the great outdoors while enjoying the amenities never experienced before in traditional camping. With this idea, Bluewater Resorts aims to be the first to provide this luxurious adventure to the Cebuanos and visitors.

April 16 – Mr. Lapu-Lapu 2011 – The day has finally arrived when the modern day hero of Lapu-Lapu City was declared at the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob. Jumar Andrew Bilocura bested 15 other hopefuls in the search for the someone not just with a remarkable physique but a remarkable character as well.

April 17 – Pineda Family Summer Outing – I can still very well remember that the whole Pineda family often went on beach outings back when we were kids but this went to a pause when we were all busy with our school life and our parents were occupied with their work. Gladly, we all found the time to gather once more at the Costabella Tropical Beach Resort and Hotel in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.

April 21 – Holy Thursday 2011 – Every Holy Thursday, it has been a tradition of my family to observe the Visita Iglesia wherein we visit 7 churches in Cebu City after the mass commemorating the Last Supper and the Washing of the Feet to visit, pray and adore each of the churches’ Altar of Repose.

April 23 – Family Summer 2011 – Our annual family summer vacation in Luzon begins!

April 24 – Easter Sunday – We started Easter Sunday by attending mass at Festival Mall in Alabang followed by a sumptuous lunch at Racks in the same mall. We then proceeded to McKinley Hill where we did a site inspection of dad’s condo unit which is due for turnover next year. After that, we spent the whole afternoon strolling around Eastwood City. We ended the day with a dinner at Oyster Boy in Metrowalk, Ortigas.

April 25 – First International Trip – One of my dreams as a traveler finally came true as I set foot on my first international destination, Hong Kong, with my family. When I started this blog, I promised you my readers that I will not go beyond borders if I have not visited at least half of the provinces we have, and I did not break that! From Manila, the flight to Hong Kong took us one hour and fifty-five minutes. We were on a package tour so after arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport, we were picked up by a tourist bus and sent to our Hotel, Wing Sing Hotel along Temple Street. We spent the whole afternoon around the vicinity of the Avenue of the Stars where we waited for the world-famous Symphony of Lights held every 8pm. After the mesmerizing lights show, we had late dinner at a local restaurant with a catchy name and funny tagline, “Man’s Paradise: Enjoy Yourself!”. Then, we checked out the Temple Street Night Market for some good finds and called it a day.

April 26 – Hong Kong Day Two – Day Two of our package tour brought us to Avenue of the Stars (again!), Jewelry City, Ltd., and Aberdeen Fishing Village which gave us a chance to see families living on boats. Also located in Aberdeen is Jumbo, the world’s largest restaurant on three floating ships. We then proceeded to the Victoria Peak observation deck which gave us another vantage point of one of the world’s best skylines. The rest of the day was spent in the ever-magical Hong Kong Disneyland.

April 27 – Hong Kong Day Three – The whole of our 3rd day in Hong Kong was spent in Ocean Park, one of South East Asia’s largest oceanaria and theme parks. This particular attraction remains to be on the top of the itinerary of many visitors to Hong Kong, especially first-timers.

April 28 – Macau Day Tour – Located just an hour away by ferry, Macau usually has the spillover tourists of Hong Kong or those who’ve “had enough” of the big city bustle. Although Macau is a big city itself, it offers a quaint, laidback Portuguese charm. After the necessary immigration procedures, we hopped on a bus and stopped at the Lotus Square. The sculpture of a Golden Lotus Flower in full bloom commemorates the return of Macau’s sovereignty to China, a very important moment in history for Macau. Located nearby is the Macau Tourism Activities Centre. Our next stop was at A-Ma Temple, the oldest in Macau. Around the temple are several stalls selling the famed Macau beef tapa. The best thing about it is that you could actually taste a bit of everything, for free. We then proceeded to the Macau Museum, which explained the history, traditions and various cultures of Macau, and the Ruins of St. Paul, the most famous landmark in Macau. We then had sumptuous lunch at New Camões Portuguese Restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf. Finally, we conquered Macau Tower, which offers the best panoramic view of Macau. Before sunset, we were already back in Hong Kong!

April 29 – Hong Kong Day Five – Basically a free day. Free day = Shopping day. Our flight was scheduled for 9:50pm yet!

May

May 7-8 – We spent our weekend in Real, Quezon, passing through the scenic countryside of Laguna dropping by some of the churches along the way. We visited the town of Infanta and stopped by the Agos Bridge which connects the town to the next, General Nakar. We also had an awesome time at Balagbag Falls, and the breath-taking rugged coastal views along the way at the Real-Mauban Road. Finally, we settled at Ocean Blue Resort and enjoyed the fresh grilled seafood we bought from the Real Market.

May 14 – Evoliving at Nuvali – Nuvali is the burgeoning mega-eco-city of Ayala Land in Laguna. Solenad at Nuvali is perfect for a family weekend. We had lunch at Pig Out then did some fish feeding by the man-made lake. It was really a heartwarming feeling to see all the fish wrestle just to get a bite of the pellet-sized food. We then rode a water taxi which toured us around the man-made lake in Nuvali. Indeed, Nuvali is the city of the future.

May 20 – eBloc 2 tops off – Cebu Holdings, Inc. and mother company, Ayala Land, Inc., celebrate the topping off of their latest office tower development in the south, eBloc 2.

May 28 – The Amara Lifestyle – What perfect way to cap off a great summer than great food with my CTowner friends at the most-fitting venue, Amara, a master-planned community by Ayala Land Premier nestled by the sea and undulating hills accentuated by the eternal warmth of a century-old lighthouse.

June

June 3-4 – Close encounter with celebrities – Ayala Center Cebu’s Back to School Sale brought in some of the hottest stars today: Jake Cuenca, Nina Dolino, Guji Lorenzana and my ever-favorite, Asia’s Diamond Soul Siren, Nina.

June 6-10 – First solo trip of the year – ..and my first new province for 2011, Negros Oriental. Very “chillax” trip as I only visited Robinsons Dumaguete, Silliman University, Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete Cathedral and Belfry, the Provincial Capitol, Bacong and Dauin, and the ever-sweet Sans Rival. The rest of the time was spent for “soul-searching”.

June 14 – Double food events – Max’s Restaurant launched their Chicken-All-You-Can promo. For only P199, all you can eat chicken quarters! After lunch, members of the Cebu Bloggers Society were also invited to the opening of one of the latest branches of Coffee Dream in Benedicto College, A.S. Fortuna, Mandaue City where we were made to taste some of their cakes and breakfast offerings.

June 15 – Phoebe’s Cupcakery – The best red velvet cupcakes I’ve ever tasted! A home-based cupcakery in Cebu, all of Phoebe’s cupcakes are baked fresh daily from their home kitchen. Phoebe Roxanne Ouano, a young entrepreneur introduced her four initial cupcake flavors: Mocha Loca – chocolate-y with a hint of caffeine, Scarlette – the best-seller, red-velvet cupcake, Cookie Monster – cookies and cream, and Nuts for Nana – banana plus Nutella!

June 26 – Leyte exploration – I, and some blogger friends from Manila, Don, Fitz, Rina, and Alvin, flew in to Tacloban to experience the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival 2011. They arrived one day ahead of me so as soon as I exited the airport, they, together with Ma’am Ludette and Sir Gerry of Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours, picked me up aboard an e-jeepney! We then proceeded to the Leyte Landing Memorial in Palo. By sunset, we relaxed at Cafe Lucia in Tacloban. We then checked-in at Luxury Suite Hotel and freshened up before dinner at Cafe Z. The crispy tenga is a must-try! After dinner, we then witnessed Bituon Han Leyte, the search for the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival Queen! We were even fortunate enough to talk with Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla!

June 27 – Pintados-Kasadyaan 2011 – We were eagerly waiting at Bo’s Coffee Tacloban for the streetdance but it did not push through due to political conflict between the City Government and Provincial Government of Tacloban, (The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival is organized by the provincial government while the city government produced its own “spin-off”, the Sangyaw Festival, held on the same dates!) so we decided to have lunch at Gerry’s Grill. After lunch, the show must go on. The participating contingents performed for the whole afternoon at the Leyte Sports Development Center. I was really-awed by the world-class performances of the participating groups and I can’t help but appreciate that the festival is like Sinulog, in terms of production. The event was capped off by a 15-minute pyromusical.

June 28 – Torpedo-ing in Samar – Before the experience, I was very anxious but then it was a very enjoyable and rewarding experience after all. In fact, I consider it as one of the best things that I’ve experienced in my life! To get to Paranas, we had to go on a two-hour roadtrip, passing through the iconic San Juanico Bridge. Because of the early call time, we slept on our way there. The torpedo adventure involves riding a motorized banca with no outriggers to traverse the Ulot River downstream for about an hour navigating through portions with rapids. Expect to get wet! Splashes and screams made the experience more exciting. As we arrived at the tip of the ride, we trekked for about 500 meters, carefully hopping from one slippery rock to another to get to the picnic area for lunch. Lunch was packed by Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours as part of the tour packages they offer. After lunch, we also got the chance to do some water tubing. My blogger friends were more daring as they jumped off the rock and just let the river current sweep them through the river. A rope was set at some point for them to hang on or else they’ll go all the way to the Pacific Ocean lol. As we relaxed for a few minutes, rain poured so we decided to get back to our boats before the river current gets too strong. The ride back upstream was even more exhilarating. Such an awesome experience I want to try again soon!

(…to be continued)

Part 6 of the Libotero Negros Occidental Heritage Series

From Hinigaran, I took a mini-bus towards the next town up north, Pontevedra. The short trip only cost me the minimum fare of ten pesos.

The town of Pontevedra is a 3rd-class municipality, in terms of income. Based on the latest census, it is home to at least 42,089 people.

Pontevedra’s small and simple green municipal hall-cum-police station blends well with the surroundings. Cool!

Just across the street is the newly renovated St. Michael the Archangel Parish.

One of the prominent features of the church is a sword-carrying gold sculpture of St. Michael on top of the church dome

Clean and modern interiors

Pews

Inside, the church is characterized by an altar adorned with gold and brown carvings

National Highway, Negros Occidental

After offering my prayers, I went back to the highway and waited for a mini-bus to pass by so I could hop in and proceed to the next town up north.

(…to be continued)

Part 5 of the Libotero Negros Occidental Heritage Series

Across the St. Mary Magdalene Church is the town plaza of Hinigaran.

Busts of Philippine heroes greet you at the Hinigaran Town Plaza. From L-R: Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, national hero Jose Rizal, Jose Abad Santos, General Vicente Lim and Lt. Eduardo Baumann

While walking around the plaza, I noticed that there seemed to be a festive mood so I tried to look around.

Hinigaran was holding their Municipal Cultural Meet at their gym during my visit

The event was well-attended by the Hinigaranons, which actually made me feel glad as the local government unit has provided a venue for its constituents to appreciate and value culture and the arts. Nowadays, most people would rather be occupied by technology, computers and the internet, so here’s two thumbs up to the Hinigaran LGU!

Further into the town plaza is the Hinigaran Municipal Capitol

The identifying mark on the municipal building is the emblem of the Commonwealth of the Philippines which means that the structure was built within 1935-1946, when the Philippines was still a Commonwealth of the United States. Interesting!

I watched the Cultural Meet for a few minutes while enjoying an “ice drop”. It really felt great to be somehow immersed into the culture of the locals. At around 3:30pm, I finally left Hinigaran on a mini-bus bound northward.

(…to be continued)

Part 4 of the Libotero Negros Occidental Heritage Series

From Kabankalan City, the town of Hinigaran is about an hour away. Hinigaran is perfectly located just between Bacolod and Kabankalan and one of the landmarks of this bustling town is their century-old church. Since the church is along the national highway, it is difficult to miss! So, as soon as we passed in front of the church, I hopped off the bus.

The church is located directly by the highway with almost no sidewalk! Quite dangerous for pedestrians if you actually think about it

The church was built in the 19th century through forced labor under the Spanish colonization. The local faithful were said to have been required to work for 15 days and were only paid 15 centavos, thus, the place where the church stands is known today as Kinsehan or Quinchihan.

The church features Romanesque architecture which can be noted on the semi-circular arches on its facade and belfry.

The church was made using chicken eggs, limestone, corals, and bricks. The walls are 2-meters thick so hopefully the church would be able to withstand any natural calamity in the future.

At the left side of the church is a three-level belfry that is functional up to this day.The church bell is said to be made of silver and gold, that weighs an enormous 480 kilograms

Meanwhile, just beside the church, fronting the convent, are five old bells, that are as old as the church! Amazing. The church was completed in 1881.

It’s quite sad to see though that the bells look quite neglected as the immediate surroundings are full of scrap

See above photos: the bells are surrounded by scrap metal, wood, chairs, a removed gate, trash, an unused restroom, etc.

As I entered the church, I was very much surprised to see that the interiors have been heavily renovated, and in bad taste at that!

Disappointing! Sigh! I do not see any connection between the newly renovated interiors and the exterior design. Only the facade, walls and the belfry of the church remain original and untouched and I hope it remains that way, preserved for the appreciation of the next generations to come.

A funeral service was ongoing during my visit so I did not stay long inside the church. As I exited, I noticed that there seems to be something going on at the town plaza, so I crossed the street and explored.

(…to be continued)

Part 2 of the Libotero Negros Occidental Heritage Series

As soon as I got my check-in luggage and exited the arrival hall of the Bacolod-Silay Airport, I hopped into a van that would take me to Bacolod City. It’s the most affordable and practical means of transport to the city, so far. Fare for each passenger is P50. What’s nice about it is that it works like a carpool service, that is, you’re delivered right to your doorstep, that’s if your destination is along the main thoroughfares though.

Anyway, I was booked at Circle Inn Hotel and Suites and luckily, some passengers were bound for the Ceres Bus Terminal which was a few meters beyond the hotel, so I disembarked just right in front of the hotel. Convenient!

Prior to my arrival, I already made reservations with the hotel online so checking in was seamless. I was then led to my room where I quickly laid my luggage. Then I freshened up and took a cab to SM to have dinner at Greenwich. LOL. So much for my first night, oh well.

After dinner, I went back to the hotel and called it a day. I quickly fell asleep, zzzzZZzzzz.

DAY 2.

I set my alarm to 7:30am as I planned to take a roadtrip to southern Negros Occidental that day. So as soon as I woke up, I took a shower and did all my morning rituals. At 8am, I was already in a cab that would take me to Jollibee – Lacson Street for breakfast.

After breakfast, I crossed the street to appreciate the architectural marvel that is the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol.

Libotero poses at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol

Located along Lacson Street, one of Bacolod City’s main thoroughfares, the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol was built in the 20th century, on the year 1925 to be exact, featuring American neoclassical architecture. This is where the Kilometer Zero marker of Negros Occidental is located. Distances to other points in the province are measured starting from here.

One of the highlights of the structure is a three-level colonnade (a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building. source.) at its center-most portion. These columns are crowned by Corinthian capitals.

It is easily one of the most grand provincial capitol buildings in the country. With the presence of a newly-built building within the complex, the central portion of the capitol currently serves as the home of the Negros Museum.

What sets this capitol apart from its counterparts in other provinces is the presence of a huge lagoon! The placid waters reflect the relaxed atmosphere in Bacolod and the whole province in general.

While the area may be quite sleepy during daytime, it is a different story during nighttime thus it deserves another post.

Insane editing thanks to the new Adobe Photoshop CS5

(…to be continued)

Part 6 of the Libotero Baguio-Banaue Roadtrip series

DAY 1.

After roaming around and buying the much-needed essentials at SM City Baguio, it was still raining so hard!

So, we decided to buy some raw meat and cooking essentials, and just cook our own dinner at the hotel (which was apartelle-style so it had a stove and a refrigerator).

Since there was really nothing better to do on a cold night, we immediately hit the sack after dinner. Hoping for better weather conditions on our second day. Zzzzzzz.

DAY 2.

Good morning Baguio!

Foggy Baguio City at 5:55am.

To minimize expenses, we still cooked our own breakfast then we took turns in the shower. Brrr, the water was ice cold! We were literally jumping inside the bathroom!

We finally got out of the hotel at around 7:45am. It was still drizzling but climbing the Lourdes Grotto was a now or never thing, so we started our morning exercise.

The foot of the hill

The Lourdes Grotto is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Baguio City, especially for Catholics. It is located on a high hill and it takes 252 steps to get there. Surrounding the foot of the hill are stores selling candles and flowers, which you can offer when you reach the top.

Halfway up!

For the faint of heart, there is a shortcut! An asphalt-paved but very winding, narrow and steep road would lead you halfway up the 252 steps. There’s ample parking space in the area and pasalubong shops abound as well.

Taxis can also bring you up halfway through the 252 steps

And we finally reached the top.

The Lourdes Grotto. Clouds commanded for a washed-out sky.

Anyway, if you climb a few more steps from the grotto, you’ll reach those closed gates (see above photo), and on a clear day, you can actually see a strip of the Naguilian Road and a breathtaking panoramic view of a certain portion of La Union. When visibility’s really very high, you can even see Lingayen Gulf and some provinces of Pangasinan!

Upon reaching the top, we offered our own prayers and intentions, enjoyed and appreciated the view and then we started going down.

Halfway down!

(…to be continued)

Part 3 of the Libotero Eastern Visayas series.

DAY 1.

As soon as I arrived at the Tacloban airport, I proceeded to the baggage claim area to get my trolley bag. Then I texted Don, one of my travel mates for this trip, to ask how I could get out of the airport and get to the hotel. He replied and instructed me to just wait as they (himself together with Fitz, Rina, Alvin, Ma’am Ludette, Ma’am Tet and Sir Gerry) were already touring some key destinations in Tacloban and the airport is along the route towards the next destination.

Just a few minutes later, smiling faces aboard an e-jeepney were waving at me. I wasn’t really sure it was them but then they were calling my name already so I walked towards them and got aboard. Woohoo!

Before I arrived, the rest were already touring some tourist attractions in Leyte such as the San Juanico Bridge, Sto. Niño Church, Leyte Provincial Capitol, Sto. Niño Shrine, Leyte Park Hotel, Madonna Shrine, Price Mansion, aboard the e-jeep and lunch at the Rafael Farms in Babatngon, Leyte, some 30 minutes away from the city. Isn’t that cool? I arrived on time just before the tour hits its last stop. We were then off to the MacArthur Landing Memorial in Palo, Leyte.

This tour package is called the Sudoy Ha Leyte Tour and is offered by Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours. It is a basic essential tour that every first-timer in Tacloban or Leyte should avail of.*

Anyway, from the airport, we passed through the San-Jose-DZR Airport road, towards Manlurip-MacArthur Road, all the way to the memorial shrine. It is less than five kilometers away from the airport.

Crowded on a Sunday afternoon

The Leyte Landing Memorial, otherwise known as the MacArthur Landing Memorial is located in Red Beach, Palo, Leyte. This marks the spot where American liberation forces of General Douglas MacArthur landed, fulfilling their “I shall return!” promise, to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese Occupation. Soon after his landing on October 20, 1944, along with 225,000 troops and 600 ships, MacArthur personally led the swift drive against the Japanese forces thus ending their occupation of the Philippines.

The memorial consists of huge, larger than life bronze statues of MacArthur with other important personalities, including our very own then-president Sergio Osmeña, Jr., standing in a manmade pool, depicting how they waded ashore through knee-high waters.

This photo is very Pinoy!

“I have returned!” – MacArthur

“By the grace of the Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil” = MacArthur

The memorial with the markers by the National Historical Commission declaring the park as a national historical landmark in 2004

Group photo, weee!

*Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours

Calle Zaragosa Cafe, Independencia Street,

Tacloban City, Philippines 6500

Tel. No: +6353.321.7966

Fax: +6353.523.7966

(…to be continued)

Part 8 of the Libotero Pampanga and Malolos Heritage Series

DAY 2.

From SM City Pampanga, I was planning to visit Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan. I searched around the transport terminal looking for any means of transportation that would bring me to the historically significant church.

Since I was a child, I’d always look at the Barasoain Church in the ten-peso bill and say to myself, “I’ll go there someday” and my Pampanga trip was the perfect opportunity to make a short stopover at Malolos.

Fortunately, there are several jeepneys and vans that serve several points in Bulacan. A GT Express service was available for Malolos so I immediately hopped in. Fare was at P40, not bad.

For the entire duration of the trip, I was asleep, so I had no idea where we passed through, but I was quite sure we did go through the North Luzon Expressway. 30 minutes later, Manong Driver was poking me already as we had arrived at the van terminal in the Petron station along MacArthur Highway, Malolos City and I was the only passenger left inside the van. I felt quite embarrassed so I quickly jumped off the van, LOL. I immediately walked away and started looking for locals whom I could ask for directions. Passing by BPI, Greenwich and Chowking, I reached an intersection and then saw a queue of tricycles so I approached them. “Manong, sa’n po ba dito ang Barasoain Church? Malapit lang po ba? Pwede n’yo po ba akong dalhin du’n? Magkano po ang pamasahe?”, (Manong, where is the Barasoain Church? Is it nearby? Can you take me there? How much is the fare?) I asked. This old driver I asked gently replied, “Dayo ka ano? Malapit lang naman. Labinlima lang. Sige sakay na” (Hmm, you’re a tourist? Well, it’s just near. [Fare's] P15 only. C’mon hop in). And so I did. The engine started and we crossed the MacArthur Highway towards Paseo del Congreso St. We basically travelled just a straight line, about a kilometer long and in less than five minutes, we were already by the entrance of the Barasoain Church!

The Barasoain Church (also knows as the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish) was built in 1630 in Malolos. It has earned the distinction as the Cradle of Democracy in the East and one of the most important religious structures in the Philippines and the palace of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

The church is also known for its architectural design and internal adornments. The original church was burned during the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. However, it was renovated.

The church became a witness to three significant historical events, among them are:

- The convening of the First Philippine Congress (September 15, 1898)
- The drafting of the Malolos Constitution (September 29, 1898 to January 21, 1899), and
- The inauguration of the First Philippine Republic (January 23, 1899).

Because of this, the church was proclaimed as a National Shrine by President Ferdinand Marcos on August 1, 1973 by virtue of Presidential Degree No. 260.

Aside from the three events listed above, General Emilio Aguinaldo and Former President Joseph Estrada were also inaugurated in the Church as duly-elected president of the Republic of the Philippines during their time.

Right in front of the Barasoain Church is an imposing statue of Emilio Aguinaldo. He is the first president of our country and he made the church his home during his term of office. Behind his statue, are the flags used by the Philippines from the oldest to the current flag.

Even though the church isn’t part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List, I was very glad to have finally visited the church as it is the most important church in our country’s history. Some of you might find it weird that a 20-year old like me is more interested on old churches than bumming in the beach but that’s me. Although I really love the beach, and other natural attractions, I also really appreciate structures with historical value.

* The Barasoain Church is located approximately 42 kilometers north of Manila.

(…to be continued)

Have a memorable summer kick-off and be a part of history. Join the very-first “Kadaugan Street Party” to be held in Lapu-Lapu City on April 30, 2011!

This brainchild of the Lapu-Lapu City Government, through the initiative of the Commission on Tourism and International Relations, the Kadaugan Street Party will be true to its name, a street party, from sun-down ’til the wee hours! It will feature a street parade wherein contingents in their Samba-inspired costumes from all-over the city and all-over the province of Cebu (the award-winning Lumad Basakanon contingent of the Sinulog Festival is rumored to be participating!) will be performing and competing for the following prizes:

Major Awards:
First Prize – P50,000
Second Prize – P30,000
Third Prize – P20,000

Minor Prizes:
Reyna Bulakna (Individual) – P5,000
Best in RAMPA (Group) – P5,000
Best in Headdress (Group) – P5,000
Best in Costume (Group) – P5,000
Most Colorful (Group) – P5,000
Most Lively (Group) – P5,000

Trivia: As a requirement, each of the contingents must have a minimum of sixteen performers specifically with at least EIGHT female performers, inclusive of one female lead dancer who will represent Bulakna, the wife of Lapu-Lapu.

Half of the ML Quezon National Highway from the old bridge all the way to the new bridge (spanning 1.5 kilometers) will be closed to traffic (from 7pm of April 29 – 3am of May 1) to maximize the space for the performers, booths, spectators, revelers and basically everyone! See the traffic rerouting scheme and the location map below

Click on the above image for higher resolution

Tip:
- This will be the first time an event of this magnitude will be staged in Lapu-Lapu City so to prevent any hassles, think “Sinulog Mentality”: commute to the venue if possible, wear comfortable clothes, don’t be too flashy, don’t bring anything unnecessary, be vigilant and be ready to walk long distances.
- If you plan on getting to the venue with your own vehicle, there are about 800 parking slots allotted at the center island along the Street Party route (diagonal parking) and within the Gaisano Island Mall Mactan parking area (see map above)
- If you have any flights scheduled on the evening of April 29 up to the early hours of May 1, it would be better to leave for the airport earlier than usual, considering the anticipated heavy traffic that will be brought about by the traffic rerouting
- Bottles will be prohibited all throughout the venue. Stores will only be allowed to sell canned beverages and alcoholic drinks served on plastic cups and pitchers.

Aside from the street-dancing, there will be a lot of things going on along the 1.5 kilometer stretch. Six stages will be spread throughout the venue featuring DYLS 97.1′s Disco, Faces Bar Concert, Dopee Rap Battle, Letshare TV Disco, DYRT 99.5′s Disco and Loft House DJs, among others. The Food Festival that will be held at the Mactan Liberty Shrine will also be culminating at the Kadaugan Street Party at the center island of the road leading to the Lapu-Lapu City Hall (see map). About 30 participating hotels, resorts and Lapu-Lapu food outlets will make available good food at very affordable prices (from P5 to P99!)

At the intersection between ML Quezon National Highway and the City Hall road will stand the main stage which will be the venue of the main concert featuring PowerSpoonz, PG18, New Zion, Line Divides, Sound Merge and DJs from Germany.

There will also be a venue for boxing enthusiasts as a boxing show will be held as well. A tricycle contest is also among the activities for the Kadaugan Street Party. Meanwhile, motorcycle and bike groups will also have their own place in the party. Furthermore, a car show and car audio exhibition will be held right in front of the Lapu-Lapu City Hall (see map). Doesn’t this excite you? BEST OF ALL, ADMISSION IS FREE!!!

But even before the main Kadaugan Street Party event on April 30, the fun will already start on the evening of April 29 as disco mobiles will be turning their speakers on full volume with a mini car show, free concert, and acoustic and tribal beats on the sides. Plus, there will also be a Rampada teaser. Fitness enthusiasts who haven’t had enough of the Great Lapu-Lapu Run can also join the 3K fun run dubbed as Run for Japan within the Kadaugan Street Party route with no registration fee. Participants will just be encouraged to give a donation to be sent to Japan.

The organizers themselves are very excited about this new activity and are very optimistic that they will be able to attract more tourists through this event. After all, with all this merry-making, who wouldn’t be enticed to join and hop in? For that reason, the Lapu-Lapu City Government is already planning to make the Kadaugan Street Party an Annual Event to be held on the Saturday immediately after the Kadaugan Reenactment (April 27) and like any other festival, it is just expected to get bigger and better each year.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO LAPU-LAPU CITY ON APRIL 30, 2011! Mark your calendars!