Category: Philippines
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Laoag: Sand Dunes For Breakfast
CLUTCHING THE METAL FRAME of our 4×4 navigating a rough terrain, I try to keep my balance. The vehicle hits the bottom of a sand dune and scatterings of beige sand are strewn from the tires. The force of the descent sends my chest hitting the metal frame and I let out a weak “ow.” I forget for…
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Palo: Liberating Moments
A day after I landed in Tacloban and immersed myself in the city, I jump on a multicab going to the neighboring town of Palo. I figure I might as well visit the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park now that I’m in Leyte. The site is a protected area commemorating the landing of General Douglas MacArthur on…
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Tacloban: A City Rises Again
The MV Eva Jocelyn can still be found in a coastal village just west of downtown Tacloban. The cargo ship was swept inland when Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) swept into the city and other parts of Eastern Visayas almost two years ago, causing a powerful storm surge that left thousands dead in its wake. Now being…
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Marikina: More Than Shoes
Marikina, the easternmost frontier of Metro Manila before the roads spill onto Rizal province, has always registered to me as far-flung, in part because I rarely ventured in these parts growing up, plus the LRT-2, which connects the city to Manila, didn’t exist until around a decade ago. But the city quickly progressed over the last two…
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San Pablo: The Seven Lakes
San Pablo City, nestled in the heart of Laguna, is often known as a mere stopover along the Viaje del Sol road trip route. Yet, this city has a hidden gem: its seven stunning lakes, formed by geothermal eruptions from the Laguna Volcanic Field. These once destructive forces have left behind serene, cool bodies of…
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Dine In: Beni’s Falafel
Arguably the best falafel are available 24/7 at Beni’s Falafel, a hole-in-the-wall in the “it” place in Makati.
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Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo: A Must-Visit Destination for Filipino Contemporary Art
Explore Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, Rizal, a haven for Filipino contemporary art. Discover the stunning artworks, peaceful surroundings, and rich history of this unique destination.
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Dine In: Pino / Pipino
Chef Ed Bugia’s Pino serves playful renditions of Filipino dishes, while its sister restaurant Pipino dishes out the vegan versions. It’s a perfect place to have a birthday lunch with companions who are on a meatless fast.
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Dine In: Your Local
Having my early birthday celebration at Your Local, a restaurant in Legaspi Village serving great Southeast Asian-inspired comfort dishes
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Batad: Stairs of Wonder
The Batad Rice Terraces in Ifugao are a display of endurance and ingenuity by the tribespeople who made them.
The Tourist Gaze 