Escape to Santa Magdalena

Day Two of our Sorsogon escapade initially didn’t look promising. Because of the typhoon brewing hundreds of miles out in the Philippine Sea (which also induced the thunderstorms of the previous day) we decided to give up our expedition to Tikling and Calintaan Islands, and opted for a jaunt in the beaches of Santa Magdalena instead. From among the many beaches in the town, we chose Olango Beach in Brgy. San Rafael.

After a butt-numbing 1-hr tricycle trip from Bulan to Santa Magdalena, we arrived at the beach just before lunch. We promptly feasted on our baon of inihaw na buraw (grilled mackerel..told you we couldn’t get enough of this. haha), sugpo (large shrimps) simmered in Sprite and garlic and ensaladang talong at kamatis (Eggplant and Tomato Salad) - both cooked by the harlequin vampire. Although we were all eating with bare hands while crouched on the sand under an abandoned cottage, it was a lunch fit for a king!
Olango beach is like a two-tone paradise - the sand is a mixture of golden and black, and the water is a blend of green and aquamarine. Because of the storm, large waves crashed relentlessly on the sandy shores, the force of which easily caught us off-guard and rolled us around like rag-dolls. We had a great time just rollicking in the sand and bobbing up and down with the waves while perched on a toy flotation device. The water was clean and crystal-clear. The clarity actually made it look deceptively shallow, but it was in fact a good 10-15 feet deep just a few meters off the shore.

We tried going to the off-shore reef to view the corals and probably ‘harvest’ some latô or edible seaweeds but the current was strong and it was getting late in the afternoon. Besides, because Santa Magdalena is quite far, we had to do an ‘Amazing Race’ run to the port of nearby Matnog town– the southernmost tip of Luzon - to catch the Samar-Manila bus that will get us back home. I guess Talie must have been thinking about us at that very minute because, whaddyaknow, up came a pink bus to take us home. Haha.
Even though we weren’t able to reach our goal of stepping foot on Tikling and Calintaan, our short but sweet Sorsogon escapade was well worth the time and aching muscles. I can’t wait to go back.

Check out some more snapshots from Olango:

To the ‘Moon’ and Back

I have always loved getting on the road and discovering new places away from the monotony of the familiar. That’s why I try to seize every chance that comes my way to go to places I’ve never been to. Often, even in the least well-known of destinations, there awaits a wealth of experiences. Last Saturday, our gang of misfits (Yona, Leonel, Peach, BT and Lyn) literally went to the ‘moon’.

Nope, not Earth’s satellite but the town of Bulan in Sorsogon (the Bicolano word for the moon is bulan). The trip almost didn’t push through because of last-minute hitches but our gung-ho group could not be stopped. With the goal of venturing into the treacherous San Bernardino Strait and on to the unspoiled Tikling and Calintaan Islands in Matnog, we journeyed on to Bulan, our first stop, even as a thunderstorm threatened. We arrived at Bulan early Saturday evening and trooped right away to the ancestral house of Yona’s mom.

Bulan is a surprisingly charming town with wide, well-lighted streets laid out in an orderly grid pattern. The place is very clean and tidy -- no wonder Bulan was feted as one of the cleanest and greenest local government units. The town feels like it is in the threshold of urbanization but still holds on to the leisurely and unhurried pace of provincial life. There’s even a quaint seaside park complete with hole-in-the-wall restos, promenades and cottages.

But what is definitely memorable about Bulan is the food. Because it is a coastal town facing the teeming fishing grounds of the Ticao Pass, Bulan is rich in marine products especially fresh seafood. At dinner, we couldn’t get enough of the huge steamed kasag (crabs) and inihaw na buraw (grilled mackerel) that Yona’s aunt prepared for us. The seafood was so good that the bulalo and chop suey (with shrimps) were all but ignored. We must have eaten too much kasag and buraw because we were pretty much stoned for the rest of the night. Haha.

We capped the night with a few beers and calamares at Sabang Resort, Bulan’s seaside park and a round of videoke back at Yona’s place. We all had a great time in Bulan and I definitely want to go back even if only for the seafood! :-)

Here are some more snapshots from Bulan:

Stoked at CWC

The CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) is only roughly two hours away from my city but today is only the first time we've been there. And we're glad we did. CWC rocks! To the uninformed, CWC is touted as the best wakeboarding cable park in the world today. This makes CWC and CamSur the mecca of wakeboarding enthusiasts from all over the globe.

Even though we had to wait a few hours for our turn on the cables and boards, it was all worth it. It's my first time to do extreme sports and I'm not even that athletic. Haha. We were stoked to see all those wakeboarding virtuosos doing their stuff on the lagoon with such skill and agility. But as newbies, we had to go through kneeboarding first. Kneeboarding "is an aquatic sport where the participant is towed on a buoyant, convex, and hydrodynamically shaped board at a planing speed".

It was fairly easy to do but quite tiring especially on the arms and legs. My first time on the kneeboard was a disaster. Haha. Let's just say I learned my lesson to keep my shorts tight enough. Hahaha. Too bad we only booked for an hour. But it was quite an experience and I definitely want to go back and finally learn how to wakeboard. Now that would be really cool.

Check out our photos at CWC:

Picturesque Paguriran Island

A little gem of an island is tucked away in a quiet corner of Bacon, Sorsogon - the picturesque Paguriran Island. Last Thursday, the Web Marketing Department went on a road trip to Paguriran. Of course, with the wanderlust itching in me, I had to be there too. Hehe. The Content Dev Dept. had been planning to visit Paguriran since mid-January, but a series of events kept us from going.

Paguriran is a tiny group of coral and rock islets located off the white sand beaches of Sawanga in Bacon. It is accessible from the adjacent beach by wading through crystal clear waters, the depth of which may range from ankle to waist depending on the tides. Within the island, coralline and granite crags enclose a shallow lagoon that is perfect for swimming (you have to watch out for sharp corals, though).


Meanwhile, the highest point of the island is a rocky promontory that provides a spectacular vista of the beach, the deep blue Albay Gulf, mainland Sorsogon and surrounding islands. It is said that the island used to be a sanctuary for marine turtles or pawikan. With its spectacular beauty, Paguriran Island is definitely a must-visit if ever you are in Sorsogon.

Check out my Paguriran Island set on Flickr for Hi-Res images.

Loco over the Chocolate Hills

No trip to Bohol is complete without the requisite visit to the Chocolate Hills. There are over 1,776 of these mysterious conical hills rising from an area of 50 square kilometers. It's almost an otherworldly sight if we weren't so familiar with it since we were kids leafing through textbook images of these famous hills.

Geologists have theorized that the hills were formed due to the uplift of coral deposits thousands of years ago and the result of the action of rainwater and erosion. It got it's famous name from the grass cover that turns brown during summer. The Chocolate Hills have been declared as a National Geologic Monument and is currently shortlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Meanwhile, Bicol also has geologic formations that resemble the Chocolate Hills when viewed from the air, though more irregular in shape. These hills are usually visible to airplane passengers especially when the plane is about to land at the Legazpi Airport. These undulating hills look like sand ripples to me rather than conical hills though. Here's a great photo of the undulating hills with Mayon Volcano in the background (click on image to enlarge)


Image courtesy of h8ns

Loboc: Feast for the Senses

Loboc Church Interiors & Chandelier

Laid back, off-the-beaten-track, and idyllic – these come to mind when one first sets foot in the town of Loboc, Bohol. A seemingly forgotten hamlet tucked between green hills and the mighty river, Loboc appears sleepy and forlorn. This impression of dusty inactivity is pleasantly dispelled with a visit to the Museo de Loboc, located behind the ancient limestone church of St. Paul. This is where the famed Loboc Children’s Choir holds their practices.

The Loboc Children's Choir practicing

Hearing their angelic voices wafting from out of the aged capiz windows makes one realize that Loboc has a vibrance all its own, evident in its musical traditions kept alive through the years. There’s something about Loboc that charms its way into one’s soul: a Pinoy pastoral scene that is at once both familiar and alien.

Loboc River Cruise

Meanwhile, just across the wide river from the church, the popular Loboc River Cruises carries tourists upstream in festive flat boats. In the river cruise, one can enjoy Bohol’s cuisine in sumptuous buffets while a bucolic musician croon a mix of old classics and Visayan love songs. The hour-long cruise takes tourists deep into the green heart of Loboc with occasional festive songs and dances along the riverbanks. Loboc - certainly a feast for the senses.

Lunch @ Loboc River Cruise

Bohol Wildlife: Tarsiers & Pythons

The tarsier is the indisputable star of Bohol's wildlife. The first time you see a live tarsier, it will certainly win you over with its sheer cuteness. Barely the size of a small kitten, the furry tarsier clings on twigs and branches, stoically gazing at the world with their huge eyes. They are actually nocturnal so that explains their somewhat lethargic behavior during daytime.

Here are some quick facts about the Tarsier from the WWF, where it is listed as one of the Top Ten Species to See:

• The Philippine tarsier (Tarsius Syrichta) is one of the smallest known primates, measuring about 6 inches in height (although they looked much smaller) and 115g to 130g in weight.
• It is said that the Philippine Tarsier has the largest eyes, proportionate to its body size, of any animal on the plant.
• The eyes of the Tarsier are huge, giving it very acute night vision that makes them good night hunters (they subsist on insects and small reptiles).
  
• The tarsier's eyes are fixed and unable to move like our eyes. To compensate, their heads can turn 180^o and the large ears are constantly moving and picking up sounds.
• It gets its name from its elongated tarsus or ankle bone.
• It is believed to be over 45 million years old, one of the oldest land species to continuously live in the Philippines.

From the undeniably cute to the downright creepy, Bohol has it. Another unique animal is stealing some of the limelight from the irresistible tarsiers - Prony the Python. Despite the funny name (derived from Sofronio, the owner's name), there's nothing to laugh about Prony, a ginormous, 24-foot reticulated python considered as the largest in captivity.

Captured from Bohol's rainforests back in 1996, Prony grew to such abnormal proportions because of the love and care provided by her (yes, Prony's a female) owners, who consider her as family. They actually feed her either a live pig or goat every month. There are souvenir photos available showing that grim scenario. We weren't able to see Prony in action because she just lay there like a huge shiny blob of snake leather barely moving a muscle. It would have been cool to see her devour a pig.

But on second thought, We'd rather not. Haha. We're perfectly fine with Prony just lying there peacefuly while MariMar entertains us with some Prony anecdotes in his/her baritone voice. (Right Talie? haha) I have seen the crocodile in Albay Parks and Wildlife gobble some chickens and it certainly isn't a pretty sight, LOLs.

Read more about Prony the Python here.

Breathtaking Bohol: Sanduguan

Quick brush-up on Philippine History: It was in Bohol were local chieftains Datu Sikatuna of Bool and Datu Sigala of Loboc performed the Sanduguan or El Pacto de Sangre with Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi back in the 16th century. The sanduguan or blood compact was a pact of friendship sealed in blood.

It is touted as the world's "first treaty of friendship between different races". The guys supposedly drank droplets of each other's blood mixed in with wine. A monument marks the spot where the blood compact was made. It is located along the road with a spectacular view of the sea.

There is actually a minor controversy over the exact location of the sanduguan. But I don't really care about exact locations. Besides, this supposed pact of friendship kind of paved the way for the Spanish to start their conquest of the Visayan islands. The rest is history, so they say.

Breathtaking Bohol: Panglao Island

Bohol – the mere mention of the name conjures textbook images of the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, tranquil beaches and the historic blood compact between Sikatuna and Legazpi. The mental images finally became tangible reality for my friends and I last March 8-10, 2008 when our Bohol escapade (which almost seemed doomed to indefinite postponement) eventually pushed through. There is much to see and experience in Bohol that it is but natural to have a series of posts dedicated to it.

First stop in breathtaking Bohol is the alluring Alona Beach in Panglao Island - where crystal-clear turquoise waters gently lap the creamy-white sandy shores. This is the quintessential tropical beach paradise. It is the perfect place to just forget all the cares in the world, bask in the sun with your toes in the sand, and let the rhythm of the waves lull you into a trance. As a beach person, I consider the Panglao escapade one of the best highlights of our trip

Of course, words wouldn't be enough. So, here are some snapshots of the Bohol Beach Club, Panglao Island.

Baguio: Through My Camera's Lenses

Embarcadero in Legazpi City

Citizens of Legazpi will soon have another prime destination right within the city – the Embarcadero. Formerly called Sunwest Wharf, the Embarcadero is a project of Misibis Land Inc, the developer of Misibis Resorts, Estates and Spas. This wharf development will be located in the Legazpi Port Area near the unique Kapuntukan Hill (also called the Sleeping Lion because of its shape).

The Embarcadero is a waterfront project that is envisioned to be a new world-class destination for local and international tourists with retail areas, restaurants, a civic space and a landmark lighthouse. Embarcadero will be designed by BN Group Pty Ltd, an Australian-based architectural and urban design firm which is also involved with the Suria KLCC Retail Podium in KL, Malaysia and the East Darling Harbour in Sydney.

As its name implies, Embarcadero will not just be a destination in itself but will also be a jump-off point to other destinations within Bicol including Mayon Volcano, Vera Falls in Malinao, Sula Channel, the underground river of Pototan Cave, the giant Manta rays of Ticao Pass, the whalesharks of Donsol , Nag-aso Boiling Lake of Manito, Camarines Sur Watersports Complex and Misibis Resorts, Estates and Spas. The company is already looking for a Marketing Manager for the retail area.

I hope this new development in Legazpi City will be successful and will win the support of Legazpeños and Albayanos. Along with other projects such as the Southern Luzon International Airport in Daraga and the rehabilitation of the mothballed Mayon International Hotel, these developments can further spur tourism here in our province.

Eco-tourism can do wonders to our local economy and will certainly create more jobs and business opportunities. Now that the private sector is doing its part by investing in our own natural wonders, I hope every Albayano will also do their part in making our place more tourist-friendly and progressive.

Sometimes the problem lies not only in the lack of infrastructure or the lack of government funding but also in the cynical attitude of some.

Sadly, many of our kababayans do not give a damn about their own city and province. We need 'pride of place', belief in the beauty of our natural resources and our capability for progress despite whatever problems and disasters. The site of the Embarcadero may not look promising at present, but it takes people with vision and determination to create progress and change. If we work together, nothing is impossible.

A Glimpse of Old Cagsawa

The ruins of Cagsawa Church in Daraga, Albay never fails to enthrall me even if I've stood under its austere presence for dozens of times already. For 193 years, the ruins remain as a silent reminder of the lethal fury of Bicol's femme fatale, Mayon Volcano. Over a thousand people died there after a deadly lahar swept through the town, a terrible precursor to more recent tragedies.

I have always wondered how the once-flourishing pueblo of Cagsawa looked like. What were the structures built in and around the town? Were there plazas and teeming markets with fresh produce coming in from the seaside pueblos of Legazpi or the wide, arable plains of Ambos Camarines? What was life like in 19th century Cagsawa or Budiao?

With very little recorded information, and virtually no paintings nor photographs to provide a visual clue to what Cagsawa must have been, that town now lives only in our imagination.

As for the church of Cagsawa, I came across a rare photograph of an apparently intact church, with the belfry and part of the main building still standing amidst what looks like a rocky wasteland overgrown with weeds. Of course, this photo couldn't have been taken before the eruption in 1814 because photography was not yet developed as a usable process back then. In fact the oldest photograph in the world dates back only to 1826 or a full twelve years after Cagsawa was buried by lahar.

This remarkable photo provides a glimpse of how Cagsawa church looked like in the 19th century. I think it has a bit of a resemblance to the present church of Camalig, doesn't it? The only distinct difference is the shape of the belfry: Cagsawa has a more pointed top while the one in Camalig is rounder. I'm just wondering what happened to the other parts of the church, particularly the main building. Did it crumble away leaving only the belfry, standing like an old grey tombstone amidst the greenery? Was it torn down by relic hunters?

I can only guess.

For now, we still have Cagsawa's ancient belfry to behold, still standing like a sentinel even as modern catastrophes have dealt hard blows upon our land once in a while. It is a silent reminder of our past and a grim warning of what the future may hold.

To see photos of the present Cagsawa Ruins, click here
Old Cagsawa Photo credit to Jed Llamas, DigitalPhotographer.com.ph
More information at the Albay Tourism Website

Where have I been?

Traveling is right on the very top of my i-want-to-but-some-circumstances-doesn't-allow-me-to list. I haven't even been to some of the best destinations here in Bicol. So it isn't a surprise that I got a D in this popular Lakbayan test which I think everyone in the Pinoy blogosphere already have in their respective blogs. Oh well, It seems I have 'miles to go before I sleep get an A'. hehe

Update [8.16.8]

After trips to Bohol and Boracay for this year, my Lakbayan grade is now a C-. Looking forward to the next upgrade! Hehe

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Rizal Beach, Sorsogon

Rizal Beach, Sorsogon - Originally uploaded by dxpsycho

This is Rizal Beach in Gubat, Sorsogon on our first outing this Summer 2007 (with the Marketing Department). It's my second time to visit this place. The last time was when we had a retreat here back in '03. Revisiting Rizal Beach brought back some fun college memories.

Anyway, the beach is good enough but I'm not really impressed with it though. It needs some cleaning up as it is littered with strands of seaweeds, twigs, shells, other organic debris and the occasional hermit crab scurrying about.

The sand isn't white but is of a greyish-brown color, although some say the sand there used to be "whiter" than it is now. The water is quite shallow but you have to watch out for those seaweeds that can be quite ticklish on the feet. The wide beach is perfect for a barkada to hang out in under the clear blue sky or on a starry night.

Still, we had fun in Rizal! What do you expect? When a bunch of retards get together, it's a riot! LOL. Kidding. On to the next summer destination!

Check out my Flickr for more photos of Rizal Beach

Road Trip to Joroan

Last Sunday, February 4, I and my colleagues and friends went on a road trip to the town of Tiwi, a 45-minute drive north of Legazpi City. The group attended mass at the old town church and later indulged in the famous Tiwi halo-halo. The halo-halo of Tiwi is quite popular because of the softer consistency of the shaved ice which makes it creamier and smoother. There's also a generous heap of cheese on top. And since I'm a bit of a cheese lover, that's fine with me.

After lunch, the group decided to head for the scenic road going to Joroan, a barangay of Tiwi famous for being the home of the Nuestra Señora de Salvacion, a revered and miraculous Marian image. The Hanging Road to Joroan is called as such because it winds its way up, with the mountain at one side and a steep cliff diving down into the sea on the other. The view overlooking the blue-green Lagonoy Gulf was spectacular. One can even see the island province of Catanduanes in the distance.

Of course the best part of the road trip was the company, any trip with these guys is always laugh trip!

Check out some photos of Joroan after the jump.


You can also check out my Flickr for higher resolution photos. :-)

SkyscraperCity

Ever since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated by architecture, urban planning and the art of building habitable spaces. I remember I used to doodle my own versions of skyscrapers and houses on the last pages of my school notebooks, especially when the lessons get all too boring. And in the really boring subjects, I think there were more doodles than notes. LOL. Even before PC games such as SIM City were popular, I already had my own city, complete with wide avenues, seaports and airports, residential and commercial zones, etc. haha.

I also used to pore over news articles of new and upcoming building projects in Manila, even though I barely understood some of them. I actually kept some of those full page ads of new skyscraper projects (though I have already lost them). I’d really get hyped up when a new project was announced through the papers. Back when the Petron Megaplaza was still the tallest building in the country, I conceptualized my own tallest building on the back of a pad paper using a ballpoint pen. (You may be wondering why I didn’t pursue architecture in college, but that’s a different story altogether, LOL.

Anyway, I still love architecture, urban planning and skyscrapers. Thus, it is no wonder that one of my favorite websites is related to these interests of mine. I have been a member of SkyscraperCity forums for almost 2 years now. I discovered the site while browsing for aerial photos of the Philippines. Since then, I have been hooked by the huge wealth of information (and photos) of skyscrapers, cities, towns and other development-related topics. Some of my co-forumers have also become my friends too, although only through the web. So there, if ever you have the same interest in architecture, urban planning, photography, history and general development topics, I highly recommend SkyscraperCity forums, my fave online tambayan.