Tag: City
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In Vancouver, My Brother Finally Found His Place
My brother Joseph has built his life in Vancouver, navigating Granville Island, Stanley Park, and city streets with ease. On a visit for his graduation ceremony, we see how he has woven himself into urban Canada, reflecting a life rooted in the city’s unique mix of culture and nature.
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Pasay: A Future Flight Attendant’s Day in the City of Travel
Carla, a tourism student aspiring to be a flight attendant, spends a day in Pasay City. She explores some of the city’s sights, such as Mall of Asia and Star City, discovering why the self-named City of Travel reflects her dreams.
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Quezon City Unfinished: A Day Exploring the Legacy of the Man Who Started It
Quezon City is defined by a grand vision that went largely unrealized. Despite that, it is still alive and evolving. I spend a day exploring parts of the city—from the anachronisms in Elliptical Road and Quezon Memorial Circle to the chaos of Cubao—tracing the ironies in Manuel L. Quezon’s ambitions and legacy.
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Bukit Mertajam: Exploring Penang’s Old Town Beyond George Town
A trip through Bukit Mertajam uncovers the old-world charm of its shophouses, the spiritual calm of St. Anne’s Church, and the lively atmosphere of its markets and food stalls. Wandering the quieter streets offers a contrast to George Town, revealing a side of Penang that feels both authentic and unhurried.
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George Town, Penang: What the Kids on a Bicycle Taught Me About Traveling at 40
In George Town, Penang, a mural of two children on a bicycle becomes a mirror into a journey of history, food, and reflection. From clan jetties to kaya toast, colonial forts to Peranakan mansions, I explore the city’s layered past and how modern travel shapes changing perspectives.
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Lipa City, Batangas: A Barako Coffee-Fueled Day Trip Through Culture, Lomi, And A Big Red Barn
Lipa City is often seen as just a stopover on the way to more popular destinations in Southern Calabarzon. On a weekend, we give it the attention it rarely gets, visiting its heritage structures, trying its barako coffee and lomi, and exploring its quieter pockets of nature like the scenic Old Grove Farmstead.
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Marikina After the Storm: A Walk Through a City That Prepared for Floods
Walk through Marikina on a rainy day and discover how this riverside city has learned to live with water. From resilient infrastructure and historical stops to food spots worth the detour, we learn how Marikina rebuilt itself, and what other cities can learn from its example.
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The Last Ascent: Conquering Mount Kamuning Before It’s Gone
In this tongue-in-cheek expedition log, we attempt an unassisted summit of Mount Kamuning—Metro Manila’s most unforgiving footbridge. With aching legs, commuter lore, and a Sweet Ecstasy burger at the end, this piece reimagines a daily ordeal as a mountaineering feat before it’s flattened in the name of progress.
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Parqal Is a Chill, Upscale Escape—But Will It Catch On?
Parqal in Aseana City offers a relaxed, upscale alternative to MOA’s chaos, with open-air spaces, stylish dining, and fewer crowds. But with limited foot traffic and selective tenants, can it really take off? Here’s our Sunday visit to this emerging lifestyle destination, and why it might (or might not) work.
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Revitalized Manila: A 70s-Style Photowalk From Pasig River Esplanade to Intramuros and Back
Manila’s Pasig River Esplanade and Intramuros are leading the city’s cultural and urban revival. On a photowalk one damp afternoon, model Mary Grace and I explore revitalized spaces, from riverside promenades to heritage cafes, showing how Manila is weaving its past into its future, one restored walkway at a time.
The Tourist Gaze 