#laagnitantong

As promised that once the family car in the metro I will tour the family around, so Tagaytay was first in line, considering that one, it's adjacent to Metro Manila, two, it's Sunday and the city's places of worship run aplenty, three, ther e's plenty of tourist points, and last but definitely not the least, the climate is colder.  Our journey started with attending a Holy Eucharist at the Pink Sisters, then ala-picnic-breakfast at People's Park. Attending a Sunday Mass is free, it only cost us P20.00 for the parking space inside the church's vicinity. The picnicking however cost P50.00 entrance fee per head (free for children aging 4yo and below) plus P35.00 parking fee and P100.00 table charge. Fun rides here have separate charges at one's choice, but the viewing of the Taal Volcano and the lake is totally free. Followed by a visit to the Puzzle Museum and a lunch of "bulalo" at...

I intend to do staycation in June 2014 following my 11-month project with AARC (Ireland) providing technical assistance to DepEd in implementing public financial management reforms. It turned out to be a 7-day vacation however, since my parents were insistent in starting the journey, which is landtrip from our place in Surigao to Manila, driving our Toyota Innova. Two times we boarded the Roll on - Roll off boat, one in Lipata (Surigao)-Benit (Southern Leyte) and another in Allen (Northern Samar)-Matnog (Sorsogon) Montenegro Liner, one of the Roll On - Roll Off (RORO) boats crossing the straits of Norther Samar and Sorsogon That was sunset when we passed San Juanico Bridge New tourist spot within Cagsawa Ruins It was when we passed some municipalities in Albay when the beautiful Mayon Volcano showed herself to Papa Tantong and Mama Dulcing We  (Papa, Mama, Celoy our alternate driver, and Tiyo Mauro, my father's bro) made a sidetrip to Cagsawa Church Rui...

Banza Church Ruins It's a shame! It's only this time of visit that I discovered Banza Church Ruins. Been to Butuan City for countless times that I regret I missed this interesting piece of Philippine Heritage. As can be read in the concrete bank below, Banza Ruins was established in 1622 by the Augustinian missionaries. Just like most histories, the village mushroomed along the Agusan River and so was the church. What can be seen now is the symbol of history, the belfry of the church. Once there, you will notice some ruins. I presumed the ruins is not the original church building but a replica. Capturing it added the historic mark of the experience that you have been to the Banza Church Ruins .   Being in the city for another official business, the rollout training of eFRS accounting system for the Caraga Region, I invited my colleagues (Ms. Cholet and Ms. Mayet) for the sidetrip to the ruins. We initially thought of commuting to the site from the hotel...

A call of duty led me to Malvar, Batangas for a week. A week is too long to stay in one place, so I googled on the potential tourist spots or natural wonders in the town or nearby places like Lipa City or Tanauan City. Then I found one very interesting plac in Malvar town itself, the Calejon Falls. Located in Brgy San Gregorio (trivia: Calejon was the old name), I took the usual and only transport around here - tricycle. Those who have been here said in their blogs that the trip cost 50 pesos, but the driver (I didn't get his name) charged me 55 pesos per way. It was around 10AM when we crossed the STAR Tollway and reached the dropoff point.   One there, I noticed no signage, nor guide posts, no indication of which way, where to go, what must and what not to do. I realized that this supposedly interesting natural wonder, which should have been a touristy spot, is not maximized by both the municipal and barangay local government. I suspect the spot is privately owned....