Puerto Princesa Palawan Itinerary

Day 1
2:30PM, ETD Manila
4:00PM, ETA Puerto Princesa Airport
4:30PM, ETA Lola Itang Hotel
5:00PM, Bakers Hill (Must buy: Crinkles, Ube Hopia and Pianono)
6:00PM, Binuatan Weaving Station
7:00PM, Mass at Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral
8:00PM, Public Market for pasalubong
9:00PM, Ka Lui Resto (Must try: Seafood kangkong and Kinilaw na Tuna)
10:00PM, Kinabuch Bar and Grill (Must try: Cheesecake, Tamilok or Mangrove Worm)

Day 2
5:00AM, Wake up call
6:00AM, ETD Lola Itang Hotel
7:00AM, Honda Bay

1. Bat Island
2. Starfish Island (known for its fine white sand and clear water that teems with starfish)
3. Snake Island (an island with a long stretch of fine white sand shaped like a snake)
4. Pandan Island
5. Cannon (Cowrie) Island
6. Lu Li Island ("Lulubog Lilitaw" means Floating-sinking island, depends on the tide)
7. Meara Marina
8. Señorita Island

12:00Noon, City Tour

1. Viet Village
2. Balsahan River
3. Crocodile Farm
4. Butterfly Garden
5. Mitra / Rancho Sta Monica
6. Palawan Wildlife Conservation
7. Palawan Museum
8. Plaza Quartel
9. Baywalk
10. Iwahig Penal Colony
11. Mangrove River (optional)
12. Estrella Waterfalls (optional)

Night, Dinner at Sari's Barrio (Must try: Kare-kare)

Day 3
6:00AM, Wake up call
7:00AM, Coffee at Kamarikutan Ka Kape
8:00AM, Pack-up
8:30AM, ETD Lola Itang Hotel
9:00AM, ETA Puerto Princesa Airport
10:05AM, ETD Puerto Princesa Airport
12:00Noon, ETA Manila



Related Post:
Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa Palawan

Mt. Famy, Siniloan Laguna

As everyone in the blogosphere says, Mt. Romelo or most famously known as Mt. Famy is one mountain that is perfect for beginners. Tracks are not that hard to walk through and available guides are in place for rookies to consider. With this in mind, to enter this league, Club Tourists traveled almost 3 hours from Pacita Complex Laguna going to the starting point in Siniloan Laguna. Quite a tiring and sleepy ride 'cause we started it at around 12 midnight.

The route:
Pacita Complex to Calamba Laguna, Php 30 / pax
Calamba Laguna to Siniloan (town proper) Laguna, Php 80 / pax
Take tricycle from Siniloan Town proper to drop point (aka KM 3), Php 10 / pax

For a group of 8 and above, Club Tourists recommends to rent a van or jeep to lessen the wait time and at least the travel fare.

Upon arrival in KM 3, we met Tita Merlin. She's the one responsible in the registration of all mountaineers who wanted to experience the beauty of Mt. Famy. An amount of Php 20 / pax for environmental fee will also be collected. Tita Merlin showcases a wide range of services like guides who can accompany hikers going to the camp site and even goods that can be brought up like drinks, snacks and the like. She also offers a public toilet and bath for a cost of course.

Tita Merlin's Place

For the guides, rates are as follows:

Child Guide (around 10 - 15 years old) - Php 150
Adult Guide - Php 300
Horse - Php 200 (Note: A little help with heavy stuffs and this also includes an adult guide)

The guide is ready and so are we. We started walking in a muddy uphill. Excitement overflows in the group while walking since majority of us was first timers. When in a group like this, one very important value learned is teamwork. For every obstacles along the way, a helping hand is right in front just waiting. If there's an upcoming cliff, someone will shout "Bangin! sa Kanan" (means Cliff on the right side) to warn the group of the upcoming threat. Not to mention sharing of water and heavy load.

The stretch of the path has 4 stations altogether. These stations are resting place for hikers. 2 of which are plain improvised resting grounds with bamboo seats, the other one is a mini store where fresh coconut, mountain dew and ice water are available and the last one is a nipa hut. Begin to count and after getting to the last station, its just a matter of half an hour going to the camp site.

While on top, breath-taking views cover our eyes and cold breeze embraces our bodies. Simple things that make the hike more interesting. Enjoying nature at its best!

Roughly 3 hours of trekking just to reach the campsite. As soon as we reached the camp site, flowing water is a common sound. Little rest is needed before we started building tents and cook food. Common finds are also available in the camp site since there are approximately 4 stores around. Canned goods, softdrinks, rice, snacks and even cigarettes are available.Drinking water is not a problem because there's water flowing from under. This is right beside one store in the campsite.

There are at least 4 Falls in different location and the most popular of them all are the "Buruwisan Falls" and the "Batya-Batya Falls".

From campsite, there's a need to climb downhill in a very steep cliff in order to reach the "Buruwisan Falls". This is one of the highest falls that Mt. Famy offers. Extra caution since the water is really deep. Aqua shoes really come in handy in this type of place. Get a very good one since its good for a simple trek and for rocky water such as this one.

Next stop is the "Batya-Batya Falls". Swimming in a deep water is necessary before reaching this hidden paradise. Much easier compared with the first falls. Falls is around 20 feet in height. A short jump in the water won't hurt. Because of Club Tourists curiousity, we went on top of the falls and found out why this falls is called "Batya-Batya"! There's an oval formation of rocks that looks like a "batya" (laundry tub) filled with water coming from a mini falls from above. Just be careful when climbing since its very slippery.

Mt. Famy is a very challenging yet worth it mountain to climb. In order for the next generations to experience this, we must ensure that we help in preserving her beauty. Lets be responsible with our waste. This wont hurt a thing.

How to Go to Mt. Famy:
Coming from North side,

1. Go to JAM or HM terminal in Cubao. Take bus going to Sta Cruz Laguna. When in Sta Cruz, you can either take the jeep or tricycle to Siniloan, KM 3.
2. Go to edsa central jeepney terminal in Crossing Shaw Blvd just near 7-11. The fare is only Php 80. The route would be Crossing → Ortigas → Rosario →Junction → Rizal (Binangonan, Angono, Taytay, Teresa, Tanay, Baras) → Siniloan.

Coming from South side,

1. Go to bus terminal in Edsa Taft, either in JAM and HM transit.
2. From Alabang, ride a jeep or a bus going to Calamba Laguna. Then ride a jeep again going to Siniloan.

Camiguin Island

Considered as one of the Top 25 tourist destinations in the Philippines by Department of Tourism.

Here are the Top 10 places where you can go in the Island of Camiguin. Enjoy!

1. Sto Niño Cold Springs


2. Soda Water Swimming Pool


3. Sunken Cemetery


4. Old Guiob Church (16 Century-old Church)


5. Stations of the Cross


6. Katibawasan Falls


7. Vjandep Restaurant & Bakeshop


8. Ardent Hot Spring


9. Paras Beach Resort


10. White Island


Related Post:
Camiguin Itinerary

Camiguin Island Itinerary

Day 1
7:15AM, ETD Balingoan Pier CDO
Note: Ferry schedule 7:15am, 9:00am, 10:15am, 1:15pm, 2:50pm, 4:15pm
8:15AM, ETA Benoni Pier Camiguin
8:30AM - 8:30PM, have a day tour of these tourist spots. These are already arranged chronologically

1. Sto Niño Cold Springs (swimming)
   Publish Post
2. Soda Water Pool (swimming)
3. Old Guiob Church Ruins (site seeing)
4. Sunken Cemetery (can dive here)
   
5. Stations of the Cross/Walkway (site seeing)
6. Mt Hibok Hibok Volcano (site seeing)
7. Katibawasan Falls (swimming)
8. Mambajao Market ("palengke")
   
9. Vjandep Restaurant & Bakeshop (must try! Pastel)
   
10. Ardent Hot Springs (swimming)
11. Pabua's Cottage (cook food that came from Mambajao Market, dinner)
    

9:00PM, ETA Paras Beach Resort

Day 2
6:00AM, Wake-up call
7:00AM, ETD Paras Beach Resort to White Island Camiguin
7:15AM, ETA White Island Camiguin
Note: Make sure to bring food and shade
11:00AM, ETD White Island Camiguin
12:00Noon, ETD Paras Beach Resort to Beroni Pier going to CDO
1:00PM, ETA Beroni Pier
1:15PM, ETD Beroni Pier
2:00PM, ETA Balingoan Pier CDO
2:30PM, Lunch at Izzy's Restaurant in Gaisano Mall
3:30PM, ETD Gaisan Mall
4:00PM, ETA CDO Airport
4:45PM, ETD CDO Airport
6:30PM, ETA Manila


Related Posts:
Cagayan de Oro Itinerary
Camiguin Island

Cagayan de Oro Itinerary

Day 1
4:40AM, ETD Manila
6:05AM, ETA Cagayan de Oro
7:00AM, ETA Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral Church
8:00AM, Breakfast to nearby fast food chain like Jollibee
8:30AM - 9:30AM, ETA Macahambus Cave
10:00AM - 10:15AM, ETA Macahambus Adventure Park
10:30AM - 10:45AM, ETA Baraga Dansolihon River
10:45AM - 2:30PM, White Water Rafting
2:30PM - 3:00PM, Lunch
3:00PM - 4:00PM, Travel to Balingoan Pier going to Camiguin (optional)
Note: travel time may vary on the traffic.

Related Posts:
Cagayan de Oro - White Water Rafting
Camiguin Itinerary

STK Ta Bay! Cebu City

STK Ta Bay!, Cebu City STK Ta Bay which stands for "Sugba Tinola Kilawin Tayo Pare," is located in one of the streets in Cebu City. Outside the busy lights and crowded places - one of the best restaurant when you need a little bit of grilled seafoods, exotic finds and something to crave about like in "Lutong-bahay" (home-made cooking).

A choice of several types of grilled seafoods like tuna, squid and scallop. Not to mention some of the usual favorites like pork belly, barbecue and chicken. Imagine taking these grills in a fine restaurant with an average cost of Php 350 per serving, but with STK, an insane low price of an average of Php 150 per serving. Not bad right?

Top the grilled catch with some of their "Sabaw" (soup). Tinola is their specialty here! Cost roughly from Php 100 - Php 150 bucks. This is not just a single or double servings, good for sharing with a maximum of 4 hungry folks. With a less expensive menu coming your way, better order whatever you like without cutting short of your budget.

STK also offers "Kilawin" (raw meat blended with STK's secret spices) and exotic delights like turtle and eel. Yep, you read it right, turtle. During the time that we ate there, turtle is not available, but we'll give you an idea once we go back there and tried this.

This is all for now, a must try restaurant in Cebu City. Don't leave Cebu without trying this!



For More Information:
Address: 6 Orchid St., Capitol Site, Cebu City
Contact Numbers: 2562700 / 2534732
Website: stktabay.com/contactus.html

Pacquiao vs Hatton

The author speaks:

May 3, 2009 (May 2 in Las Vegas), the most anticipated match between Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao vs Ricky "Hitman" Hatton. Both ends of the world meet with this very important match that could make or break each of their own career! Who would win? who's the man of the hour? who's gonna be the best pound-for-pound champion of the world? Will it be the English guy who's defending his current title or the Filipino pride who's boxing to unite the whole Filipino people from all walks of life.

The verdict - its the new generation hero of the Philippines that wrapped the belt on and raised the Philippine flag up high!

This is one of the best time that I'm proud to say, "I'm a Filipino, I'm proud to be One!"

During this event, together with my folks, we've decided to watch it in a low-profile restaurant near our hood. They are offering a FREE watch of the fight provided you have to order any food. Good food, 32 inch flat screen and lots of Manny Pacquiao's spectators waiting how will pacman outclass the English guy. The ambiance is basically enough for us to experience this thrilling match that our "Pambansang Kamao" has to offer.

During the undercard, we've ordered calamari, lumpiang shanghai, sizzling chicken and green mango with "bagoong". We ate it as if we just finished sparring like pacman. After getting busy with the food from Don Roberts, we ended up getting 1 bucket of San Mig Light to add-up some spice. Php 800 bucks for the 6 of us is not bad for a pay-per-view fight with our choice of food.

During the first 2 knock-outs in the first round, I was really surprised that my beer is just half-done. The match is not how I expected it to happen. 2, 3 or even 4 bottles will do before seeing my hero to knock the hell out of Hatton. I was really stunned. On the second round, last drop of my bottle was when "the smiling assassin" delivered his most patented left hook in the jaw of his latest victim.

Crowd Roars like there's no tomorrow

Crowd claps like cymbals

"Wuhooooo! Manny! Manny! Manny!"

Manny captured the IBO Light-Welterweight Championship belt!

Several critics are in place, several fans are there to cheer. Come and think of it, this is just a little place to watch the fight. Imagine the electricity watching in a much bigger place like the movie house, sports coliseum and of course - MGM Grand!

Nevertheless, watching Manny fight will definitely an event that this generation shouldn't missed to watch. This is the time when Filipino puts pride in their roots by cheering one of the most loved personality that our country has to offer.

Congratulations Manny Pacquiao!

For information about the restaurant:
Don Robert
Address: Along Rosario Complex going to Southwoods


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