jillcutie

I’ve been visiting Baguio City since I was a kid, but never did I experience the event which made the city famous for - the Panagbenga Flower Festival. During the month of February, tourists from all parts of the country go up north, not just to feel the cold breeze of Baguio ambiance but also to witness the month-long colorful celebration. This year, I seized the chance to fulfill yet another entry in my travel wish list. Together with my office pals, we wrestled with the Friday’s night traffic, and dozed off the five -hour journey or so just to get to the City of Pines. At 2am, Saturday morning, just as some vendors were just wrapping the day off, we were already in Burnham Park, searching for a decent place to park. With nothing to ... read more

Of all the beautiful places that I have visited, Palawan is the place that is closest to my heart. The fresh breeze, the fine white sands of its beaches, the abundant marine life, and of course the warmth of the people - these are just but a few reasons why I couldn’t get enough of this wonderful place. This year, Culion, Jericho’s birthplace, is celebrating its Centennial Year. When we’ve learned that Nanay & Tita Malyn will be going home to join with the celebrations, we were ecstatic enough that I’ve immediately purchased our online Super Ferry tickets. We couldn’t afford to miss this momentous commemoration of the town’s founding year. Super Ferry has regular trips to Palawan every week. The ferry leaves at Manila on Friday, 8pm and arrives at Coron, Palawan after 12 hours. ... read more

Being the only Catholic nation in Asia, the Philippines observe the Lenten Season religiously. The eight-day celebration starting from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday is filled with spiritual and religious rites commemorating the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Visita Iglesia Every Maundy Thursday, the Visita Iglesia is being practiced by devote catholics. The traditional Visita Iglesia is said to be the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s journey through the streets of Jerusalem to the hill of Golgotha. Supposedly, as there are 14 Stations of the Cross, 14 churches should be visited. But as far as I can remember, we only visit 7 churches. This year, we visited the churches along our place in Pampanga - our Parish in Mexico, Sto. Domingo, San Jose, Chancery, Dolores, San Agustin, and lastly in St. Jude. As we go ... read more

The province of Laguna is endowed with pristine bodies of water. Pagsanjan & Majayjay falls, Lake Caliraya, and innumerable hot springs originating from the mystical volcano Mt. Makiling in Pansol & Los Banos are just a few which makes the province an ideal place for outings and nature-tripping. Fresh air, cool mountain breeze, hot spring - Splash Mountain Hotel Resort has it all. Just an hour away from the metro, the five-hectare resort has a lot of amenities to offer making it a stand-out among the numerous hot spring resorts in Laguna. ... read more

The Philippines, being a tropical country, has a warm weather reaching up to 35 degrees centigrade during summer. Still, there is one place which is relatively cooler by 9 degrees from the lowlands - Baguio City. With this, this highland lives up to its title as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Approximately 250km north of Manila, just a 4-hr drive away, one can experience the cool climate, taste the sweet strawberries, and be captivated with the marvelous sceneries in the highlands. Various transport companies serve the Manila-Baguio route, so its accessibility is also one of the many pluses why tourists flock to Baguio. Local transportation are also available - one can hire a taxi to go around the city. Places to Visit: Camp John Hay - Former recreation area of the US Military. This camp ... read more