Philippines

Boracay, Palawan or Cebu – Which Is the Best Island to Visit in the Philippines?

February 20, 2022 by Bino 12 Comments

The three islands of Palawan, Boracay and Cebu have been making the rounds in various travel publications as some of the best islands in the world to visit. Indeed, these three islands offer incomparable experiences ranging from turquoise waters, limestone rock formations as well as a thriving cultural scene. If you are visiting the Philippines and thinking where to spend the bulk of your time or if you have time to visit only 1 or 2 of these islands and are trying to decide which island to sacrifice, hopefully this article will help you make that choice.

…

The Perfect Short Itinerary for Manila and Cebu (2019)

September 3, 2019 by Bino Leave a Comment

Most visitors to the Philippines are likely to end up in one of the paradise islands of the archipelago for a beach getaway but those who spend more than the requisite transit time in the two largest urban centers, Manila and Cebu, are likely to discover a treasure trove of historic and cultural sights that have unfortunately taken a backseat. This easy-to-follow short itinerary for Manila and Cebu in the Philippines aims to introduce first-timers to the best things to do in the capital as well as the queen city of the south as destinations in their own right. In recent years, Filipino food has gained prominence in the international culinary scene and this has increased the foodie factor of both cities, adding another great reason to visit.

Also check out more tips for traveling to the Philippines.

…

Dapitan City Travel Guide – Things to Do, Tourist Attractions and Suggested Itinerary For This Historic City in Northern Mindanao

May 21, 2017 by Bino 1 Comment

Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte has long been in my bucket list of places to visit in the Philippines. This town in the northern part of Mindanao has long been under the tourist radar although it has been featured in quite a few publications over the years. Dapitan City is most well-known for being the place of exile of Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal, and has plenty of historic sites for visitors to explore over a weekend. The city is also known for Dakak, a beach resort which has managed to capture the imagination of local tourists due to heavy promotion back in the 1990s.

During a recent trip across the northern coast of Mindanao, I finally had a chance to visit Dapitan. I was able to cover both this city and the neighboring town, Dipolog City over two days. These were the places I visited:

…

Solo Trip to Cotabato City and Maguindanao

July 19, 2015 by Bino 8 Comments

I almost didn’t make it to Cotabato City.

It was not because something untoward happened while I made the trip by land from General Santos City nor did I chicken out last minute.

It was because no one was willing to go with me on this trip. It was kind of like my trip to a couple of dodgy countries some years back. Only difference is that the danger associated with Cotabato seemed more compelling. Traveling by land meant that I would pass by towns such as Mamasapano or Ampatuan where people were massacred as recently as 6 months ago. I could have traveled by air directly to Cotabato which seemed to be a safer option but that was not a luxury I had at the time.

After obtaining assurances from the helpful DOT-ARMM folks, I pushed through with the trip to explore the tourist attractions of Cotabato City and Maguindanao. It’s been something like 3 years since I first got the urge to venture to Maguindanao and I didn’t want to waste this window to go. A picture of the Grand Mosque somewhere online pretty much sealed the deal.

…

Travel Guide: Bataan – From Balanga to Bagac

June 27, 2015 by Bino 12 Comments

One of the most popular weekend and holiday destinations for those living in Manila and a must-see for World War II history buffs, the province of Bataan has only quite recently entered the mainstream, thanks to new investment in hospitality and recreation.

I remember Bataan from when we used to venture out some 20 to 25 years back to Montemar Beach Club, one of the more decent beaches within a 2.5 hour radius from Metro Manila. I had not been back to Bataan until this year to check out some interesting restoration of heritage architecture in some places. Here were some of the places I discovered:

…

The Ultimate Travel Guide to the Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan

April 19, 2015 by Bino 4 Comments

One of the most stunning natural attractions within a 3 or 4 hours’ drive from Manila, the Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan is a capital idea for a quick getaway from the Philippine capital without requiring much preparation or a huge budget. This seriesof 123 islets has long been on the roster of tourist attractions in Luzon but its accessibility has often led to it being overlooked in favor of other places such as Vigan or Banaue Rice Terraces.

…

Why Pangasinan May Just Be One of the Philippines’ Most Underrated Provinces

January 27, 2015 by Bino

Within the last decade, many of Luzon’s central provinces have garnered quite a bit of attention among travelers who enjoy the balance between majestic natural attractions and proximity to the Philippine capital. Zambales has its many coves such as Anawangin and Nagsasa while Pampanga had in the early 2000’s successfully repositioned itself from a lahar-filled disaster zone to an eco-tourism destination.

There is however, one very worthy province that seems to be constantly overlooked despite having a plethora of things to see and do. Lying midway between Manila and Ilocos and serving as a transit point for travelers going to Baguio, the large but mostly underrated province of Pangasinan seems to be out of most people’s consideration as a holiday destination. This is despite having places such as Manaoag and Hundred Islands well within most Filipinos’ sphere of awareness.

It was actually by chance that I stumbled upon Pangasinan’s many attractions. I was looking for an interesting destination not too far from Manila during the Christmas holidays but found Baguio and Ilocos overcrowded, Tagaytay booked out and Mt Pinatubo too rough for the family escapade that I was planning. I eventually settled for 3 day trip covering the provinces of Pangasinan.

Here are some of the places I discovered:

…

Weekend Staycation at EDSA Shangri-la Manila – All You Need to Know

September 21, 2014 by Bino 10 Comments

For over twenty years, the EDSA Shangri-la Manila has been a formidable force among Manila’s luxury hotels. Since it opened its doors in 1992 as the first Shangri-la hotel in the Philippines, this property has become an institution, and has often been cited by respected travel publications as one of Manila’s best hotels. In fact, Edsa Shangri-la traces its origins to the rise of Ortigas Center as an alternative to the Makati CBD. SM Megamall and Shangri-la Plaza had both opened for just about a year when the Ortigas Center’s first luxury hotel was completed. Personally, this hotel was my introduction to the Shangri-la brand. It was the first Shangri-la property that I stepped foot in when I was a kid attending wedding parties!

…

Page 1 of 4

1 2 3 4 Next »