Philippine Sunset: Currimao, Ilocos Norte

There's no place like home. Especially during sunsets. For some strange reason, the sun sets more beautifully in the Philippines. 

Here's one example. This was taken in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, a few kilometers away from the majestic Paoay Church. 

Can't wait to see you again, my dear Philippine sun. 

Just Conquered Anawangin!

I was planning on going to Anawangin since 2008. And it was only on Valentines' weekend of this year that I was finally able to see the beauty and mystery of the famous beach in San Antonio Zambales.

It was amazingly mysterious how the pine trees got to live in a not-so-cold climate such as the beach shores of Anawangin. You normally see these trees in Baguio while strolling around Camp John Hay, but to see such trees living in the hot beach sides of Anawangin is really a marvelous site. This is one of the major highlights of this cove, making it a talk-of-the-town among photgraphers and travelers.

When I saw it on February 13, it was no longer as mysterious as before. This is probably because a lot of campers have already discovered the beauty of Anawangin. People have already flocked the Pine-tree-rich cove. Campers and photographers hovered the vicinity, while avid sun bathers and swimmers gathered in the shores.

Well we can't blame them for coming because this is one of the very few quality beach destinations near Manila. If you want a good beach you need to travel by plane or by boat. But this one is just a 3-hour drive away, especially now that the SCTEX has been opened. Also, going to Anawangin is relatively cheap, with jsut a little over P2,000 as your budget, all in.

Of course I wouldn't want to waste the opportunity to take pictures of Anawangin's beauty. I took a few pictures using my handy NSLR (Not SLR):

Pine Trees!

Anawangin Stream

Bach Front

7-Eleven Anawangin Branch

The Anawangers: Emman, Paola, Maan, Grape, Joan, Me

The Anawangin Swamplands

A boatman rests under a very young pine tree

Happy campers under the pine trees

Boat ride to the Cove

Fine white sand, pine trees, urban legends. These are just few of the reasons why Anawangin Cove in San Antonio, Zambales is one destination hotspot in the country today. Thanks to Emman and his F21 Photography Club buddies for tagging us along and using us as subjects. Good choice pare! :)

Wow Corregidor!

One destination often neglected because of its proximity with the metropolis is the historical Corregidor Island. Bubbles and I had the opportunity to visit the island and made this our last out-of-town destination in 2009, before she departed for the States.

Getting to the island is relatively easy and cheap. For only P2,495, you can be able to go overnight in the island. The packages comes with a free day tour, buffet lunch (Day 1), and accommodation in the Corregidor Inn. If you want additional attractions/activities, you can pay extra P150 for the lights and sound show in the Malinta Tunnel. Also, an evening and day two morning tour which includes sunset-viewing, hospital ruins tour, Malinta tunnel-by-night tour, sunrise viewing, and cave dwelling costs only P150!

Meal prices range from P100-250, depending on your appetite. All in all, you will get to spend between P3,000-P3,500, and in exchange for that, you get to catch a glimpse/experience a piece of our nation's history.

I'd say every Filipino should visit Corregidor at least once in their lifetime. The island experience will make anyone appreciate the gallantry, courage, and nationalism of our Filipino soldiers during the Second World War.

What is corregidor island anyway?

Well, based on history books and wikipedia, Corregidor is the nation's last fighting island. It was the last island to be occupied by the Japanese in December of 1941. It was the island where the last few executive decisions were made by then Philippine President Manuel Quezon before the country was forcefully turned over to the Japanese. This was a military stronghold, a fortress.

The island was, during that time, high-tech. Irrigation and sewerage were well-engineered, high-powered batteries/cannons were in place, soldiers and their families had all sorts of recreation from stadiums, movie houses to gymnasiums. It had schools, hospitals, markets. It had a strong tunnel system via the Malinta Tunnel, with a decent railing system. It was a society on its own. It was more like the Subic/Clark of the 1930's. But of course, the war broke off and all that were beautiful were brought to ruins.

The morning tour took us to significant monuments, batteries, and other sites in the island:

1. Japanese Monument - Several years after the war, families of the Japanese soldiers who died in Corregidor put up a foundation in Japan to finance a historical monument to honor the bravery of their own Japanese soldiers.

2. Battery Way - One of the several batteries in the island. Battery is not the small cell-charged power sources we know, but these are what lay men would call cannons. Battery Way had four strong cannons that fired up all the way to Bataan to defend against Japanese forces. This was one of the last few cannons that surrendered to the Japanese.

3. Malinta Tunnel - The Malinta Tunnel had a lights and sound show, directed by National Artist Lamberto Avellana. It narrated and demonstrated via life-sized statues and pictures how life was lived inside the tunnel.

4. The Middleside Barracks - this used to be the barracks for the enlisted men in the island. a myriad of shelling by the Japanese turned what used to be a haven for military personnel into ruins.


5. The Battery Grubbs - this is where we can find what Americans called the disappearing gun because of its high-technology capability of hiding in the walls of the battery after firing a strong blow. Japanese had a hard time looking for this cannon that fired all the way to Bataan and nearby islands.
6. Battery Hearn - This battery possesses one of the longest guns in the island! It was said to have a reach of as far as Batangas and Ternate, Cavite.

7. The Pacific War Memorial - Being a war veteran himself, then President Ferdinand Marcos constructed memorial for all the heroes in Corregidor. It was built with the help of famous Architect Leandro Locsin.

This monument symbolizes the camaraderie of Filipino and American soldiers during the war. In this statue, a Filipino guerilla helps the wounded American soldier.

8. Spanish Lighthouse - It was built by the Spaniards during their occupation. This was used as a guide by boats docking the shores of what used to be a penal colony. Eventually it also became an island for customs inspection and a site for docking boats to have their documents checked and corrected. Thus, the name Corregidor, which came from the word "corregir, "meaning "to correct."

It is seldom that we see an island so beautiful, yet so full of stories to tell. Corregidor not only made me appreciate the beauty of our islands, but it also made me realize how our grandfathers bravely fought and died for our sovereignty and freedom.

If I were a teacher, I would require my students to visit this island. It has much more value than a physics experiment in a theme park, and much much more than a study tour in a mall!

Revisiting Bohol

Bohol... There is somthing about it that makes me want to keep coming back. The old churches and the lush greens are just a few of what Bohol has to offer. I was able to experience the Loboc River Cruise, see the world-famous Chocolate Hills, and swim in the shores of Panglao about two years ago. I could say that the trip was one of my most cherished experiences.

I was fortunate to see Bohol once more last week. I went there for an official visit but I was lucky to insert a few hours to see a few sights. :)

Bohol Pier

The Bridge that connected the mainlad island of Bohol to Panglao Island. Photo was taken from the backyard of the Dauis Convent

Bohol Cathedral. One of the famous old churches of Bohol.

If you are looking for place to spend your long Christmas vacation, why don't you stay in beautiful island of Bohol? For accommodation and tour needs, contact Coco Grove Tourist Inn at http://www.cocogrovebohol.com/. They are just a few minutes away from the air and sea ports of Tagbilaran, and they are also within the world-class island of Panglao!

For more inquiries, contact Ms. Dory Penales at 0917-3040948. She is very friendly and accommodating. :)