Tag: City
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Calgary in Winter: Watching the Immigrant Life Take Hold on the Prairies
Beyond the scenic awe of Banff lies Calgary, a city of sprawl, snow, and permanence. Through a weekend reunion with two Filipino families—the settled “Veterans” and the ambitious “Strivers”—we witness the entire immigrant lifecycle unfold in real time, revealing how life truly takes root on the frozen Canadian prairies.
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Victoria, BC: A Day Trip of Memories and Unexpected Reunion
Our family takes a day trip from Vancouver to Victoria, BC, visiting Fisherman’s Wharf, the Fairmont Empress, and Mile Zero. Along the way, we enjoy lunch among colorful floating homes, revisit nostalgic landmarks, and share an unexpected reunion with an old friend. The day captures the simple joys of traveling together.
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Vancouver Christmas Market: A European Holiday Magic in the Waterfront
The Vancouver Christmas Market turns Jack Poole Plaza into a bright, European-style winter village filled with lights, music, German food, and festive holiday traditions. We visit it on a cold December evening, experiencing a warm holiday atmosphere by the waterfront.
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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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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.
The Tourist Gaze 