When Joey took me around Zamboanga City on our first day, he first explained what he’d meant by the city not following the rules. He was mostly talking about traffic and public transportation, and by my third day, I’d seen them all with my own eyes. For one, jeepney passengers whose destinations are near (say,… Continue reading Travel Tales: Mt. Abong-Abong and Pasonanca Park, Zamboanga City
Day 2 of my Zamboanga trip took us to the Great Sta. Cruz Island, touted as one of the best beaches in the Philippines because of its pink sand. I’d already been to Subic Beach in Sorsogon so I was prepared not to be too overwhelmed. Then again…
Months ago, there were a few who were somewhat worried when they learned that I was going to Zamboanga City for a three-day trip. There was always the misconception that it’s unsafe, that there were terrorist threats and bombings and Muslim insurgents. I have several friends and acquaintances, though, who hail from the city, and… Continue reading Travel Tales: Zamboanga City
Here’s what many a morning boat ride in the Philippines is like: You wake up at dawn, take a bath, and pack your things as the rain pitter-patters on the roof. Once it stops, you walk to the shore. You see your boat docked on the beach, foregrounding the sunrise breaking through the clouds in… Continue reading Travel Tales: Bulusan and Barcelona, Sorsogon
Yep, you read that right. I took this picture in Binondo during the Chinese New Year. I couldn’t get a better picture, though. For the uninformed: this is quite a common sight in marketplaces and town plazas here in my country. Children buy them (or get their parents to), and these colorful little chicks presumably grow… Continue reading Some colored chicks
The following is something like my official summer poem. It evokes to me those images of sea waves and lovers, in a background of the sunset or of moonlight reflected on water. But unlike in the typical summer romance, the lovers in this poem seem to have already had their life behind them. For are… Continue reading Poetry Wednesdays: Pablo Neruda, “Sonnet IX”
This is Part Three of my Vietnam-Cambodia trip. See the other parts here: Part One: The breathtaking Angkor and the laid-back Siem Reap Part Two: Tonle Sap and the Angkor’s great circuit We left Siem Reap at 7 PM; we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 at 9:30 AM. Our flight back to… Continue reading Travel Tales: A Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour (plus some travel tips)
This is Part Two of my Vietnam-Cambodia trip blog entries. You can find other entries here: Part One: The breathtaking Angkor and the laid-back Siem Reap Part Three: A Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour Also, while I studiously fact-check all my entries, I’m the only one to blame should there be any wrong information in… Continue reading Travel Tales: Tonle Sap and the Angkor’s great circuit
This trip was months in the making following a frantic scrounging for money when Cebu Pacific announced its summer seat sale. Andy, my friend and co-teacher, had planted the idea of going to Cambodia via Vietnam. I think this trip has effectively stirred my wanderlust again. Upon arriving at Ho Chi Minh City way past… Continue reading Travel Tales: The breathtaking Angkor and the laid-back Siem Reap
One day last week, while I was thinking about the beaches I should see next, I got a text from my friend Edison. The message went something like this: “Join ka Camsur? Caramoan. Eto ang maganda dun sa Thursday na wahahaha” And two days later, I was on the bus station going to Naga, on… Continue reading Travel Tales: Caramoan is something like paradise
Ang Lakwatserang Guro 