#It&039;s More Fun in the Philippines

[thewanderingfeetandmind]

Where to Find the South Sea Pearl in Manila

One of the mindfulness exercises that I do whenever I visit our youngest sister’s house in Malate is seaside walking along Roxas Boulevard. I also intend to conclude it with the same activity on Mall of Asia’s SM by the Bay. The latter is still a part of the boulevard stretch and is a relatively new spot to me, visit frequency wise. Setting foot on the esplanade again of this part of the…

[realtyhubph-blog]

Manansala Rockwell NEPO Virtual Tour

Manansala Tower Virtual Tour at Rockwell NEPO Angeles

Soon, the heart of Nepo Center will be home to Rockwell Center Nepo, Angeles City Pampanga VIRTUAL TOUR Rockwell’s first beyond the north of Metro Manila will bring together a refined culture and a beloved distinct lifestyle to a 3.6-hectare mixed-use development. It will feature four mid-rise residential buildings and the first Power Plant Mall outside Makati. The future Rockwell community of…

[liberatingjepoy]

How Tourism Biz is Adopting to the New Normal?

Rise Up Ph is one of the Facebook Groups where I get constant updates from biz colleagues, particularly on how to network and pivot to the New Normal caused by COVID 19 pandemic

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=778383352924029&id=109368722381

The episode earlier was hosted by Exlinkevents with Orly Ballesteros as host along with co-panel of speakers:

Exlinkevents has been…

[jamieiswriting]

Random

Random phone camera shots

[solapeach]

Museo Orlina

People have always thought of Tagaytay as the closest holiday destination with a cool climate. Families and groups have always visited the popular spots like the Picnic Grove, People’s Park in the Sky, and now the Skyranch. If you are looking for something unique, and if you are quite artistic, Museo Orlina is the place for you to go. (more…)

[margewrites]

What Gives You an Edge?

What Gives You an Edge?

I was bothered by something life-changing. It wasn’t a plan. It just came to my mind all of a sudden so I took the risk. Even though I have no idea what I gotten myself into, I jumped into it, and fell in the process. So that situation forced me to question myself, “what is my edge?” It may be a question projected to my career, life, or love life…or it can be projected to all of these all at…

[jazperjay]

Indak Indak sa Kadalanan 2019

Indak Indak sa Kadalanan 2019

I’ve always admired the different festivals in the Philippines. It’s also a dream of mine to be able to attend the famous Festivals in the country. When I was still living in the Philippines, I didn’t get the chance to visit different cities and witness their festivals. However, I ensure that I always attended my city’s very own festival – The Kadayawan Festival.

The Kadayawan Festival is…

[slvrdlphn]

TPB boosts efforts to attract Korean tourists

TPB boosts efforts to attract Korean tourists

To boost efforts in attracting Korean tourists to visit the Philippines, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, will be participating in two major travel fairs happening in South Korea —The Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) on 06 to 10 June 2019 and HanaTour International Travel Show on 07 to 09 June 2019.

KOTFA

KOTFA is the biggest international…

[thewanderingfeetandmind]

You Can't Go Wrong with the Beach!

And just like that, I was again in the middle of recollecting the pieces of a recent vacation as the scorching heat of summer dominates the Middles East! What l most love about weekends is when the longing for loved ones turns into an inspiration for writing a blog post, which in my case has become increasingly rare these days. Catching up or keeping up with the teammates at work is…

[im-with-dramione]

DISCLAIMER: I inserted gifs that may trigger seasickness(?)

The trip was such a reward for me especially when I just graduated college – being free from the professors, plates, the dreaded thesis on your last year of college, and our practicum. This definitely lifted my dead and tired katawang lupa when I stepped on the warm soft sand of the islet, yes, it’s an islet because it’s small and you can practially walk around it – I would’ve if it wasn’t mid to high tide and blazing hot at the time we went there.

You can search for the aerial view of the island to see just how small it is, I only have the next few photos as proof of it being an islet. (I don’t have a drone nor a gopro LOL that’s what I’m investing in next.)

Our travel from our home in Cam Sur to Aguirangan Island was a total of 2 to 3 hours.

We rode a van we rented from our place that took us about 2 hours (from what I remember) to arrive at Sabang Port  (IMPORTANT TIP: the lady island keeper in Aguirangan told us that there is a cheaper boat ride that’ll take a longer drive but a shorter distance of a boat ride.) You’ll see below what route we took and what the island keeper told us about, respectively.

The route we took

What the island keeper said

Mt. Isarog covered behind all the rain clouds. Can you imagine how my sister and I felt when it started raining on our way to Sabang Port? D:

One thing I’ve learned from staying in the province of Bicol with my grandmother is that we can disregard any weather forecaster on tv by just simply looking outside and seeing weather (hehe pun) or not Mt. Isarog is hiding behind the clouds or is ‘cloud-free.’

Just as we arrived at the port, we rented a boat that’ll take us to and from the island which was about Php 2,000 (roundtrip na ‘to) because it was a special trip. There aren’t any regular trips going to the Rose Island, only to Caramoan. What I noticed when we got there is that per boat rented, there are two people operating -call it a buddy system- where one is tasked to handle the engine and the stirring while the other is somewhat the lookout or the Sailing Master tasked on navigating and piloting.

The motorized boat we rented, you can see the difference of the waters near the land past the reef. (Moana moment, “What if we go beyond the reef?”)

A larger vessel that came from Caramoan

The boat ride from Sabang Port to Aguirangan Island was about 45 minutes to an hour. Please do keep in mind that it can be a rough ride/sea since the boat is going somewhat against the waves (you’ll see later in this post of what I mean). If you’re easily sea-sick this boat ride isn’t for you, I’d suggest you take the longer car ride with lesser boat ride time. Unless want the “thrill” of feeling like your boat was going to go titanic on you at any moment, then just take bonamine.

The going-to-the-island part was a calmer version of rough seas I experienced.

Also, wear sunscreen before riding the boat because if you are at the very front of the ride, chances are you can get sun burnt because the shade of the boat doesn’t really protect you from the harmful UV Rays.

Wear sunscreen!!!

The Sailing Master

Just as we neared the island, I heard one of the two handlers of the boat stop its engine making our ears hear the calming splash of the water against the shore and of the boat we rode. The boy on the photo you see above walked across the boat to the very front and guided his buddy in stirring us to the right direction with the help of the waves pushing us to shore.

It took a minute of two before I felt the boat make an abrupt stop signaling us that we’ve “parked” already. Helping my aunt and Mama (what we call our lola) with their bags, my sister was the first to get off and then myself.

Just as I hopped out of the boat, my feet was immediately submerged in the wet sand as the waves crashed on the shore and reached my ankles. The contrast of the warm sand and the cool water felt so good that it made me feel like a kid again where back then, I had no care whether or not I was wearing sunscreen because I would immediately jump in the water and play.

What I meant by “uphill”

BEFORE (Photograb from Google)

AFTER

After taking every single thing we brought with us off the boat, we headed ‘uphill’ and inside the foresty part of the island. From what my sister told me (she already went to Aguirangan before with our dad and uncles), where we were headed was new to her too because the last time she went there was that the huts (as seen above) were lined outside of the forest area of the islet and not inside. I guess, since Aguirangan is starting to get known to tourists – God forbid an over population of visitors, the island keepers and owners decided that it would be much more comfortable if the people who visited weren’t too heated with the trees being the 1st line of defense against the sun.

After settling ourselves down on the cottage/hut we rented (it was Php 500 from what I remember, overnight stays are a few pesos higher and the island keeper told us to bring your own tents.) we readied ourselves with sunscreen – like a lot of it because there isn’t much shade from the shore to the treeline.

It was honestly a first for me to be able to go to a beach that has crystal clear water. Compared to all the beaches I went to, this is by far my favorite one because not only did I get to experience my 2nd boat ride (my first boat ride was when we went island hopping in Cagliliog – another beach in Bicol – and I barely remember it if it weren’t for the photos) but I also got to see somewhat an ‘untouched’ beach that not many people are going to because of it’s neighbor Caramoan – which is this ‘go-to’ of the people right now.

With the crystal clear water, I got to enjoy “fish watching” as well as other sea creature watching that I can’t help but ponder how nice it would be if all of the waters of the Philippines were like this.

If it was possible to submerge my phone without it getting damaged, I would; to show you how beautiful some of the corals we found while snorkling on the other side of the islet. We even found some sea urchins hiding underneath some seaweed (when I found them I immediately swam away and told the others to not go near the seaweeds.)

We even found Mt. Mayon and Mt. Isarog. “Yung magkapatid,” they called it when they pointed to the horizon with the two volcanoes in view, one active and the other inactive.

Sadly, all trips must come to an end.

We went home just before 4PM and the waves were simply unforgiveable. When I tell you that it’s a rough ride, it’s a rough ride – for me that is. My sister was enjoying it at first but when it became non-stop, her laughter of joy and thrill was slowly turning into a nervous laugh – which was hilarious to me if we weren’t getting wet as the water got into the boat and the thought of the boat tipping over wasn’t clouding my thoughts.

The two people who handled the boat looked so unphased by it since they were used to it but to me and my family, we were praying for our lives when the waves got bigger and bigger. Since my sister and I were at the very front of the boat, we were the first to get wet (you can also see the orange towel we were holding to shield ourselves from the saltwater…but it was in vain.) and we can see when exactly our boat was going to capsize (Thank God it didn’t!). Because it goes like this, once the roll of water (wave?) goes under the boat, it creates this large indent in the water where the boat has no choice but to go down with it.

The waves crashing against our boat splashed at us, the towel we used was of no use. At all. Coz it got wet. And heavy.

We arrived safely on dry land and I can confirm that we were indeed praying for our lives because our aunt said that she was praying the rosary over and over at the back seat.

Although my sister lost her glasses because of this LOL!

TRAVEL BLOG #1: Aguirangan Island (photos & clips included) DISCLAIMER: I inserted gifs that may trigger seasickness(?) The trip was such a reward for me especially when I just graduated college - being free from the professors, plates, the dreaded thesis on your last year of college, and our practicum.

[liberatingjepoy]

Support Philippine Tourism during COVID19

Join us on Facebook!

Bayanihan 2 is a trending topic among Tourism stakeholders and as our politicians will be presenting the final bill, the private sector which is affected massively by COVID19 pandemic continues to explore options to remain optimistic to embody the slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”

More organizations are asking to alot funds in Tourism as Cong. Lray Villafuerte…

[frenchraisins]

Bohol Travel Guide + Itinerary (Updated)

Bohol Travel Guide + Itinerary (Updated) Full guide here:

This Bohol travel guide is a collection of the most incredible sights in this Central Visayan province.

Bohol is a province teeming with natural wonders as well as incredible heritage spots. It is most famous for Chocolate Hills and tarsiers but Bohol is also known for its stunning beaches that are touted as some of the best in the Philippines.

In 2013, Bohol suffered a setback when a massive…

[vipinsuranceus-blog]

FPG Travel | The 'Lost in the Philippines' Guys at the ...

FPG Travel | The ‘Lost in the Philippines’ Guys at the …

Ben Gullick, Ed Broomfield, and Matt Steeley, collectively known as the ‘Lost in the Philippines’ share their travel plans and stories, and why they have FPG …

“VIP Insurance – Let’s Insure Your Life – Auto – Health – Travel – Pet”

“Home Insurance Companies, Life Insurance Quotes, Auto Insurance Quotes, Health Insurance For Small Business, Liability, Travel, Pet Insurance”

“Please Join & Support…

[hyperthalamus]

Chasing Summer in Isla de Gigantes

Chasing Summer in Isla de Gigantes

If there was one place that has been long overdue in my travel list, it would be the province of Iloilo.

Sparking my interest after making a video about it for work back in 2018, I was easily captivated by this Visayan province because of its beautiful and well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings and heritage sites that…

[margewrites]

Don't Let the Little Things Rain On Your Parade

Don’t Let the Little Things Rain On Your Parade

It’s funny how, sometimes, the little things could mean so much to us. The words that have carelessly escaped from our loved ones’ lips or even the gestures of the people we hate. It’s funny how we notice them and slightly, we get hurt, or we judge them so ruthlessly. But then those little things demand to be noticed. They either make or break us. It’s just a matter of perspective. Keep Reading!

[18megapixel-blog]

Hurry and Avail TravelBook.ph’s B1G1 (Buy 1 Get 1) Promo

Hurry and Avail TravelBook.ph’s B1G1 (Buy 1 Get 1) Promo

This summer season, TravelBook.ph, one of the country’s leading online travel agencies, lets you experience the best in fitness and leisure. More than being the cheapest online reservations portal for hotel accommodations, TravelBook.ph has its tours and activities platform ranging from theme parks and museums, outdoor activities, tours and sightseeing to beauty and wellness, sports and…