Come again to Camiguin

CAMIGUIN is a small volcanic island province in Northern Mindanao with a total land area of 238sq.kms. It lies 10kms off the coast of the Province of Misamis Oriental. It has 7 volcanoes, unmatched by any other small island in Southeast Asia.

How to get there

To get to Camiguin, one has to travel 1½ hours from Cagayan de Oro City to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental, and take any of the hourly scheduled ferries across the channels of Mindanao Sea, which dock in either ports of Guinsiliban or Benoni. There are regular sea and air transfers from Cebu to Camiguin and vice versa. The island can also be reached by air from Manila. Once in Camiguin, one can go around the 64-km circumferential road in just 1½ hours by public or private transport.

Where to stay

www.parasbeachresort.com (standard room about US$50, dormitory type room also available)

Places to see

Ardent Hot Spring, PHIVOLCS Station, Sunken Cemetery, Gui-ob Church Ruins, Katibawasan Falls, Mt. Hibok-hibok, White Sand Bar

Eats @ Camiguin

Lanzones and pastel de camiguin

Don’t miss this pizza joint!

Quezon Province, Philippines

My hometown!

Quezon is an agricultural province southeast of Manila, bounded by Aurora province in the north, Bicol region in the south, and Pacific Ocean in the east and other provinces of the Southern Tagalog Region (CALABARZON) in the west. Fishing and palay and coconut farming are the main industries, thus customs and traditions in this area revolve around activities related to fishing and farming. How to get there: Take the JAC/Lucena Line buses from Manila (Cubao or Buendia/Pasay) to Lucena City. www.jacliner.com

Some Interesting Places to Visit:

VILLA ESCUDERO – relaxed hacienda living in a vast estate! Enjoy a carabao ride while serenaded by a sweet Filipina and her guitarist. Visit the two-tiered church-looking museum filled with curious things collected by the Escudero family. Take a leisurely bicycle ride around the village and observe friendly hacienda workers in their laid back country life. Wade in the swimming pool or board a romantic raft ride for two and paddle around the river (see photo). And satisfy your cravings in a sumptuous buffet lunch while soaking your feet in a friendly little brook that runs under the lunch picnic tables. You want more? Overnight accommodations are available. Visit their website: www.villaescudero.com

UGU BIGYAN’s Pottery Workshop in Tiaong, Quezon is just a few minutes’ drive from Villa Escudero. Commuting?

Take a tricycle to Ugu’s house from the highway (Lusacan National High School). Lunch may be arranged for a group of 10 or more, with prior reservation. Send me a message so I can give you his mobile number.

KAMAYAN SA PALAISDAAN – Lick your lunch of freshly caught Tilapia and crisp vegetables, right off your fingers “kamayan style”, while enjoying the cool breeze and the beautiful countryside inside your exclusive floating lunch huts! You’ll find this famous restaurant between the towns of Tayabas and Lucban, just a short jeepney ride from Lucena City.

TAYTAY FALLS (also known as Imelda Falls) is not actually in Quezon province but in Brgy. Taytay, Majayjay Laguna; it is, however, accessible by a jeepney or tricycle ride from Lucban town proper. An easy 10-minute hike on a concrete foot path atop a ravine beside a stream of crystal-clear waters provides the perfect teaser for a refreshing dip in the falls basin and an overnight camping experience. There are tents for rent, but it is better to bring your own. There are comfort rooms with running water in the campsite. A day trip is also good.

PAHIYAS FESTIVAL is held every 15^th of May in the town of Lucban, in honor of San Isidro Labrador and the pagan gods of nature and harvest, featuring a fusion of Catholic and pagan beliefs. Pahiyas means decoration. During this festival, houses are decorated with farm harvest.

KAMAY NI HESUS, where special healing Catholic masses are held, is another interesting place, just in the town’s outskirts. They offer accommodations now, inside Noah’s Ark!

MT.BANAHAW – A majestic mountain popular among mountain climbers and religious pilgrims. Visit the center of the religious sect who reveres the Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal or enjoy the surrounding nature either in an easy hike or a more adventurous spelunking / mountain climbing activity. Don’t forget to have refreshments at Kinabuhayan Café. (Jump off point from Dolores Town, Quezon Province)

PINAGBANDERAHAN Hike Trail is in the middle of the Quezon National Forest Park (also known as Old Zigzag) in the town of Atimonan. Pinagbanderahan means “where the flag was hoisted” (during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines). This place boasts of a 360^o view of the province and a cliff perfect for rock-climbing.

GUISGUIS (BEACH) SARIAYA – ideal for company outings www.villadelpradoresort.com

Bohol, Philippines

My favorite destination!

Bohol is an island province southeast of Cebu, about an hour plane ride from Manila (to Tagbilaran Airport) or ferry ride from Cebu (www.supercat.com.ph)

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Countryside Tour

(This arrangement is the most efficient use of your time)

Chocolate Hills (note: morning is the best time to visit)

Tarsier, ET’s cousin / the smallest primate in the world!

Loboc River Cruise with buffet lunch on board

Baclayon Church and Museum (in photo above)

Shopping (look for cool earrings, bags/wallets, sweets like peanut kisses and papaya soap)

Dinner at Bohol Bee Farm (highly recommended! www.boholbeefarm.com), can’t get enough? Stay overnight!

Love the beach? Stay at Bohol Beach Club (highly recommended! www.boholbeachclub.com.ph)

or a resort in Alona Beach for cheaper accommodations

TIERRA AZUL BEACH HOUSE, Alona, Danao, Panglao, Bohol, Tel # +63385029065 / Telefax # +63385000694, Mobile # +639128952165 / 09085401784, email: tierraazul_beach@yahoo.com

Not fond of the sea? Try www.darundaymanor.com

Or back to Cebu by ferry (The usual ferry route is Tagbilaran-Cebu, but the shorter much cheaper route is Tubigon-Mandaue.)

Day 2: Island Adventure

Early morning dolphin watching

Diving/snorkeling and picnic lunch in Balicasag Island

Dinner at the hotel

Day 3: Off-the-beaten-path Adventure (optional)

Choice of

Fishing and hefty lunch at Inabanga Fishing Village

Tree-planting at Sikatuna Village Park

Planting rice or simply living a day in the farm at Balay sa Humay (‘humay’ is the local word for rice, ‘balay’ is house) in Batuan town, along the way to the Chocolate Hills

Kayaking in Asia's largest mangrove forest in Getafe

or go Tarzan-ing in Danao www.eatdanao.com

Day 4: Departure

Rent-a-Car: http://traveltreats.wordpress.com / travel_treats@yahoo.com ; angelswg@bohol-online.com (yup, I’ve tried them, they’re good)

Best Tour Deal: Palakbayan (for more info, visit www.philippineairlines.com)

Cebu Pacific flies to Cebu and Tagbilaran daily (www.cebupacificair.com)

Brunei, the Abode of Peace

Brunei is one of the countries where it is easiest to move around, albeit without commuter train. Its capital is known as Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB).

From the airport, take the purple bus to BSB for B$1/pax/way. Buses operate from 6:00am to 6:00pm. Buses numbers 11, 23, 24, 36, 38 and 57 are the ones that will pass the airport, but be sure to tell the driver where you’re going else he may take a detour. A taxi ride costs about B$25 from the airport to the center of the city. Airport service charge at departure costs B$12, so make sure you save at least B$12 because they don’t accept US$.

Exchange Rate (April 2011) 1 US Dollar = Brunei Dollar 1.274

Photo: View of SOAS Mosque from Yayasan Complex

Where to stay

We stayed at Terrace Hotel on Jalan Tasek Lama, BSB (www.terracebrunei.com, email terrahtl@brunet.bn) –basic hotel in a good location at a reasonable price (B$65/night). Other hotels: www.radisson.com, www.jubileehotelbrunei.com

For Brunei, I think it’s better to book directly than through a third party.

Places to see

Being a small country, there’s actually nothing much to see in Brunei, but the things that it offers are nonetheless a must-see. The city is super clean, no pollution, there are birds everywhere, and true to its name: peaceful.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque – the centerpiece

Yayasan Complex – the king’s shopping center, right across the centerpiece

Kampong Ayer – water village, Brunei’s humble beginnings (entry to the museum is free of charge, last admission at 4:30pm)

Istana Nurul Iman – king’s residence (actually hidden by a dense forest, but if you’re curious ask a water taxi to take you to the palace on your Kampong Ayer tour)

More museums: Royal Regalia (located across Terrace Hotel), Handicraft Center, Brunei Museum, Malay Technology Museum (take bus 11 or 39 to visit the rest)

Jerudong Park (bus 55, 57, 58)

Ulu Temburong National Park (day tour costs about B$130/pax with lunch; tours to the beach and to the oil refinery are also available)

On to other destinations in Malaysia…

Eats @ Brunei

Rice meals start at B$1 at hawkers, mostly Malaysian dishes with chili and sweet kicap manis

Cheap flights to Brunei

From Manila www.cebupacificair.com

From Kuala Lumpur www.airasia.com

No Mountain High Enough

At 73, Nelly Dunlao has never been to the mountains. She grew up by the sea. With her children all grown up now and have their own families, Nelly spends most of her mornings cleaning the shores and picking up mangrove seedlings. She is the oldest member of a group called Balaring Mangrove Planters Association (BAMPA) in Silay City.

In her younger years, Nelly would recall how her family and neighbors worried about the water washing away their houses to the sea. This is not the case anymore, after their association has succeeded planting mangroves along the shores of Barangay Balaring. This is not the only benefit of the mangroves. Mud crabs and other harvests from the sea is boosting livelihood in the village. Today, Balaring is synonymous to a sumptuous seafood dinner in Silay City. Nelly Dunlao plants mangrove trees in Balaring.

A Japanese non-governmental organization (NGO) named Ikaw-Ako (Tagalog for You and I) played a big role in the development of Balaring. “Bago dumating ang Ikaw Ako, wala pang restaurant dito. Ngayon mga pito na (Before Ikaw Ako came, there was no restaurant in Balaring. Now there are about seven.),” Barangay Chairman Joy Doromal attested.

In 2007, JICA partnered with Ikaw Ako for a three-year mangrove reforestation project, not only in Balaring but also in other parts of Negros Island. This included the towns of Ilog, Hinobaan, Cauayan and Sipalay. Now, Ikaw-Ako and the people of Silay are ready to bring their success to the next level. On October 1, Ikaw-Ako and the local government of Silay City embark on a new environmental project, this time in the mountainous part of the city, a barangay called Patag.

In Tagalog, Patag means flat; but Barangay Patag is anything but flat. The village sits on rolling hills more than 400m above sea level. According to Mari Kurata, Project Manager of Ikaw Ako, the project site was chosen to demonstrate the harmony of ecosystem from the mountain to the sea—the latter being the site for the previous project. “They are connected,” Mari added.

Nelly, along with beneficiaries of the previous project, will learn from this new undertaking the relationship between the environment in the mountain side and by the sea. Environmental education and ecotourism goes hand-in-hand in this new project.

Experts say that cordoned off tourist routes are passé, as more tourist desire to be part of the places that they visit, or at least leave something good behind. With this trend, the city tourism office and the people of Patag are on the right track; through this project, Ikaw Ako will help them create a system where visitors and students can participate in watershed reforestation while enjoying their stay in Patag Like water flowing from the mountain to the sea, Ikaw Ako will see to it that knowledge about taking care of the environment trickles down to the people of the community. Ikaw Ako likewise counts on the support of the Department of Education in Silay City, to incorporate environmental education in the high school program. An aggressive info campaign to be led by the city government, through its tourism office, is also set.

And as for Nelly, she did not expect she could visit such place as Patag; but through this project, she just did. It is people like her and experiences like this that make the success of grassroots projects doubly meaningful.