Philippines – The Hidden Panorama

1st Philippines Independence Day (Freedom) Climb – Remembered

There is nothing special for this year 2018. But I just realized that one of the celebrations I did for Independence Day (June 12, 2009) of my country (almost 9 years ago) was not published here in this site but was partially posted in my old blog site which focused in featuring solely of my country Philippines. This time, I just wanted to remember and celebrate even in simple ways that my country got its own sovereignty more than 100 years ago, to be exact, its celebrating 120 years of Independence Day since 1898 today.

The mountaineering group that I belong was invited and selected to join Independence Day Climb or Freedom Climb last June 2009. And we are assigned to climb Mount Maculot located in Batangas. And our group successfully completed the climb for the celebration.

In this post, I collected all the previous posts that I created from my old site. A reminder to myself that there was part of my life that I got a chance to raise my country’s flag in the mountain together with other mountaineers around the country on a special occasion, the days to celebrate Independence Day. The post is not describing chronological order of experience, but a mixed one.

“Taal Lake At Different Perspective”

Photos above were captured during the 1st Annual Freedom Climb happened across the whole country. These were taken after starting to trek Mount Maculot from the jump off area. The lake seen here is Taal Lake, the view is another perspective of the lake since I have photos captured of Taal Lake came from Tagaytay City in Cavite. This time, photos taken from the base of Mount Maculot. These were captured last June 13, 2009 – Saturday in the afternoon.

Think Green But Using A Rubber?

The photo above was a capture of sleeper I brought and used at the summit of Mount Maculot. The picture was taken last June 13, 2009 during the night where the group was having fun at social activities.

One thing struck my mind in this sleeper, well there was a written message “think green planet”. It seems the message and the sleeper convey contradicting ideas. “think green planet” leads to taking care of environment while the sleeper was made using a rubber material which appears to have issues againts the safety of environment.

Post For A While

Here are some of the photos with a human or people concept. I never used to take pictures of people, but there are moments that I myself tend to do it naturally like the moment that we are waiting for the public jeepney that will bring us to the jump-off area of Mount Maculot, before the climb formally started and while resting in the middle of the trek.

Jump-off Area – Cuenca Batangas Municipality Building and other Municipal Government Offices

This is the place where we prepared ourself before climbing Mount Maculot. The mountain behind this building (which cannot be seen in this photo) is Mount Maculot itself. This is the municipality building of Cuenca, in Batangas province.

Looking Beyond Batangas And More

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The photos above are some scenery that can be found while trekking Mount Maculot in Batangas. The climb held last June 13 to 14, 2009 as part of our both fun and historical first freedom or independence day climb.

Amazing Outlook of Taal Lake From Mount Maculot

While climbing Mount Maculot, this was one of the best or I can say the most stunning view I ever see while trekking the mountain. By just looking into it, I can feel that I can see beyond what I can. And the wonderful color of the lakes made me feel I am seeing a paradise that so near on me.

Mount Maculot Marker

This is the mountain marker which can be found facing the rocky part mountain of Mount Maculot. We found this when we descent the mountain partially to transfer to rocky part of the mountain. This photo was still part of freedom climb held last June 13-14, 2009.

The Maculot Trail

Here are some of the photos that I was able to capture while we started trekking the Mount Maculot. The last picture shows the mountain itself.

The Maculot Mountain Itself

Mount Maculot from a far, after we reached the bridge that we are going to cross before reaching jump-off.

Mount Maculot Mountain

Here are some photos of Mount Maculot, the mountain that we climb for the 1st Freedom Climb held across the whole country. Photos are still part of my photo collection captured last June 13-14, 2009.

Taal Volcano In The Middle Of The Lake

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The above photos captured before darkness after reaching the summit of Mount Maculot last June 13, 2009. These were taken when I tried to view the rocky part of Mount Maculot which I will showcase in another day.

The photos above were captured last June 14, 2009 during the time we raised the Philippines Flag in the rockies of Mount Maculot as part in Independence Day Celebration.

The mountain part that can be seen here is the Taal Volcano lie in the middle of the lake.

The Critters At Mount Maculot

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Butterfly, Bug, Grasshopper, Millipede and Centipede

Panoramic View : Pinatubo Crater Lake

Panoramic View (Post#34) : Pinatubo Crater Lake

Pinatubo Crater Lake is one of the lakes that I can say met my expectations. Because of crystallized scenery, I thought that is was similar to lakes that I found in Banff, Canada. These photos are part of Mount Pinatubo Trekking Adventure Photo Collection January 2017.

Precious Moment In The Mountain : Mount Pinatubo

Precious Moment In The Mountain (Post#27) : Mount Pinatubo

Before my hike in Mount Pinatubo, seeing similar photos before made me felt envy with people who were able to hike the mountain. And when I got a chance to be within the crate of Mount Pinatubo, one of my wishes became true. These photos are part of Mount Pinatubo Trekking Adventure Photo Collection January 2017.

Name Of The Place : Pinatubo Crater Lake

Name Of The Place (Post#36) : Pinatubo Crater Lake

When we reached the crater lake of Pinatubo, it was an achievement for us. The trek was not really difficult but since we walked around 7 kilometers, it was a tiring trek. At the viewing area of the lake, there are people having rest and lunch and enjoying the scenic view in front of us. The photo is part of Mount Pinatubo Trekking Adventure Photo Collection January 2017.

Chromatic Outlook : Lahar Carved Canyons

Chromatic Outlook (Post#40) : Lahar Carved Canyons

During our trip towards the jump-off area of the walking trail towards Mount Pinatubo, I did not expect that there are scenic wonders that we will see along the way. I am referring to Lahar Carved Canyons. Seeing these lahar carved canyons made me felt that I was in another world while we were taking the river bed. These photos are part of Mount Pinatubo Trekking Adventure Photo Collection January 2017.

Transportation : Zambales – 4X4 Owner Type Jeep

Transportation (Post#9) : Zambales – 4X4 Owner Type Jeep

Trekking Mount Pinatubo requires 4X4 to be able to reach the walking trail towards the mountain. Because of Lahar that flows in the river, the change in the Lahar deposits that became concreted after years that passed had major effects on the river bed that used by 4X4 to send tourist and hikers near the walking path which still kilometer distance to the Pinatubo Crater Lake. These photos are part of Mount Pinatubo Trekking Adventure Photo Collection January 2017.

Travel Diary 101 : Flight Bound to Taiwan

Today is my flight bound to Taipei I decided to work from home to avoid too much traffic from the city since its Friday and to give me a chance to prepare my stuff as I am avoiding to miss anything in my backpack. While I am packing, I’m still working, monitoring all incoming emails from time to time. I am lucky as not much work for me today since it’s just few days after New Year, most people at work has still hangover from recent major holidays. It is a quiet day for my work life which is great.

I left home 5 hours before my scheduled flight. I traveled at least 1.5 hours from home to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, to Terminal 3 to be exact. I withdrawn few cash to pay for my travel tax. There are self check-in kiosk available at the front of Air Asia counter, which is my airline for my travel. I felt at ease at first since I don’t have luggage to checked-in. After checked-in at the kiosk, I got my boarding pass from the machine, but when I checked the boarding pass printed, I saw that there is travel document verification mark on it and instructing to go to document verification counter. I inquired in one counter of Air Asia about it, I was advised the travel document verification is the same as checked-in counters. This means the self checked-in I did earlier in their kiosk is useless because I have to queue in the long line too. I wondered why they put those self checked-in kiosk, when they cannot provide a counter that only checks travel documents. It’s one of the disappointments that I experienced today.

I queued more than 1.5 hours just for travel document verification. When its my turn, I only spent around 5 to 10 mins. I was advised for the gate for my flight and instructed that the next step is immigration. If there was separate counters for verification check, the 1.5 hours may have been spent to other things than queuing and waiting, but that is reality of life when dealing with budget airlines.

I went to the immigration gate and passed easily without questions. Then, I passed the last scanner and I walked straight to the gate for my flight. One hour to go before my flight and I thought all will be good and then, as we approached the time of the flight schedule, there was announcement that the plane is being serviced and therefore the flight will be delayed for at least 40 minutes. Like other passenger, I can’t do much about it but to wait.

Next announcement was past quarter of 11 PM that night and they mentioned that we will be boarding soon. Then after few minutes, boarding the plane has been started. The plane took off past 12 AM in the morning. Estimated time to arrive Taipei was almost 3 AM, 2 hours delayed than scheduled time.

The usual experience inside the plane happened, the flight crew checks everything, demonstrated safety procedures and evacuation process during emergency. Then, the plane took off, after we were stabilized in the air, the crew started to do their chores, since I booked my flight with food, they served the food to the people who ordered it prior to the flight. I know that we cannot expect too much quality of the service in a budget airlines, because customer service comes with a price nowadays. That’s why I have to order my food together with my booking so that I can take advantage of serving the food at the earliest. Ordering food on the spot while inside the plane, can be daunting, as most of the time, your order will take sometime and if unlucky, the food you wanted to order is not available anymore.

My food served at the earliest and I ate and finished early, while the other crew still serving the other passengers. Because the flight was not too long, I just closed my eyes and took a nap. When I woke-up, the crew announced to prepare for landing to Taoyuan International Airport and I knew that in a matter of few minutes, I will be in Taipei, Taiwan, new city and new country for me. Until then

Written this diary last January 6-7, 2017.
Updated, June 8, 2017

We’re the Travelers – My First Post Published

I joined one of the travel blog site not only to promote my blog but to experience as well to write articles to another website. Honestly, I am quite nervous because its first time that probably more people going to read my post who are traveler enthusiast and writer or blogger as well. So fingers crossed that my first post will be appreciated more by many people.

Please visit the site link below:

Trekking Mount Pinatubo – A Tragic Creation of Natural Attractions

I hope you enjoy the post.

Walking, Crawling and Climbing the Trail of Mount Mariveles – Tarak Ridge

I had vacation in my country last October 2010 since at that time I was still employed in Singapore. But to be honest the main reason I came back in my country after around 6 months (I had vacation last May 2010 too) was to sign a job offer for my next job back home. Yes, I returned to my home country to work (other people surprised because there are lots of Filipinos dreamed to work abroad and yet I am returning to my country). And I used the climb event as a reason when I requested for approval of my vacation leave so that I can return to the country without so much effort of reasoning.

The climbed that I joined in was a training climb for all the members of the group that will climb Mount Pulag which happened the following month as preparation since they took the difficult trail of the said mountain. I was not able to join that climbed as I went back to Singapore to formally submit my resignation letter to the company I was working with.

The climb happened last October 16-17, 2010 and the mountain was Tarak Ridge. Before my flight back home in my country I informed the group that I will be joining the climb. I missed the group because I was away in my country for almost a year. I was both excited and worried because it’s been almost a year that I wasn’t climbing. As most of us knows that there’s no really mountain in Singapore aside from Mount Faber.

The whole group that joined the climbed met in 5 Star Bus Terminal in Cubao early Saturday morning . We took the bus that goes to Mariveles Bataan. After almost 3 hours of travel from Metro Manila to Bataan, we reached our destination and we got off the bus near the jump-off area which located in Barangay Alas-asin.

Barangay Alas-asin

Barangay Hall Alas-asin and nearby local stores (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

When we reached the jump-off, we spent sometime in preparations (buying water, food and other essentials) and registrations in barangay hall before we started the formal trek. Then, we begun our journey to reached the base of the mountain. I remembered that the climb was still unique from the past mountains that I climbed. I cannot really compare every mountain. They are like human with distinct personality inside.

The Group before the climb (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

Jump-off point before the start of the climb

At the start we had a long walk in a wide grassy plains before we reached the base of the mountain. Then it followed the forest trail. After a long walk, the real climbed started. The walk and trek up to Papaya River can be considered as the easiest part of the climb.

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The pathway to reach the base of the mountain

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The pathway to reach the base of the mountain (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

Like every mountain that I climbed, we passed trails where there were rocks besides the trail. Most of the time, if I can pass the trail normally like walking while standing and does not require me to sit down it will be an easier one, I used big rocks to hold myself or sometimes I used to stepped on them.

The Group while waiting inside the forest before reaching Papaya River (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

The Group while waiting inside the forest before reaching Papaya River

At the forest trail

As I remembered Papaya River, it was one of the river that is still used by people as a main source of water in the area not only for household use but for safe source of fresh water to drink. Yes, we drank the water from the river. That was why when we rested a bit for lunch near the river, we were prohibited to use dish washing or any soap detergents when we were in Papaya River.

At the forest before Papaya River (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

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At Papaya River

At Papaya River (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

After lunch, our lead in the group gave us a heads-up that there were no more gradual trail ahead of us. This means that the trail all the way are all steep and it’s all assault. I was a bit nervous because I really don’t know what to expect. We got our backpack again and prepare for full assault climb.

The next trail we need to pass was the trail where the only way to do was to crawl to the roots of trees strayed and branched in the ground. Trekking pole cannot be used in the trail, both hands must be free from holding anything to be able to hold tightly the big roots while trying to push ourselves upward with the help of our feet. That moment of my climbed, I felt like we were spiders as we were crawling to the roots and branches of the trees, its similar to rappelling and the difference, we were not holding on to the rocks but were holding to the tree roots that we can grab on so we can hold on of ourselves while ascending in the trail as the roots were only our support.

I thought that the trail will never end. I reached the end of the assault trail. One of my group member experienced muscle cramps and it’s a good thing that before it become painful, he still able to reach the end of the assault trail. We advised him to rest a bit and one of us gave him pain reliever. We continued our trek, we carefully passed the narrow trail until we reached the campsite which near before the summit.

Just after the crawling trail (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

Tarak Ridge campsite is like an open area similar to Gulugod-Baboy mountain that I climbed. The summit is at the other side of the camp site. And for what I heard, the summit trail is not an easy task as well.

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Surroundings of the campsite before the summit

Like the most climbed I had, we pitched our tent so we have place to stay at the top of the mountain. Next thing happened, the group prepared for its dinner and followed by “socials” (group activity where most of the members were gathered together to talk and chat about anything) that the group always does if weather in the mountain permits us. After hours of “socials”, all of us concluded the day.

The next day, we woke up early to climbed the summit of the mountain. The good thing about it was, we don’t have our backpacks anymore. We left everything in our tent.

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On the way to the summit from the campsite (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

We started our trek to the summit. Like what I heard, the trail was not simple, though there’s some difficulty along the way, the group safely reached the summit. It was a fulfilling task. I felt it was really great to be at the peak of the mountain again.

The common hikers does when it reached the summit were the same things we did. We spent time for photo shots, individual and group pictures. At the summit area, there’s a huge rock where it is slightly hanging and some of my group went there for a great individual shot.

We came back to the campsite and started our break camp. We had the last moment of group pictures with the summit and we started descending the mountain.

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Group Picture with the summit of the mountain (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

We used the same trail when we climbed the mountain. Therefore we passed again the treacherous trail where we become a spider. And because we have backpacks it’s more challenging to go down as our bags scratching to the roots and branches in the ground. Even it was more difficult, we successfully passed the trail and reached Papaya River again. We used the place to rest a bit and refill our bottles for water. Then, we moved on and passed the grassy wide plains.

Group Lunch (Photo Courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

After the climbed, we had lunch altogether and we had a great time going back to the city to return once again to the real life that we have.

Abeling Tribe Outreach and Mount Tangisan Side Trip Climb

The mountaineering group that I belong did a lot of adventures, trips and climbs. Some were in abroad but mostly were within our beloved country. This group gave me a chance to see a lot of places, unforgettable and unique experiences.

Another type of adventure that the group involved with are doing outreach activity mostly to remote places. The group does it regularly, at least twice a year for the past recent years, which gives us a chance to give back something to community.

One of the outreach activity that I got a chance to join was the event held last June 30 – July 1 2012. The group selected a school in a remote community which located in the middle of vast farmlands in Tarlac. The event held in Sitio San Pedro Elementary School, Barangay Iba in San Jose, Tarlac.

I knew it’s been a long time when it happened, it was more than 4 years had passed but I still remember a bit something about it.

In every travel that I did with the mountaineering group I belong to, I usually join them. I never really got involved in planning. Honestly when roaming around my own country, I was not really good at it. The planning of itineraries are far more difficult compared to other countries. The planning does not only involve a research, it involved communication to people, groups or even individuals. It requires network and connections to different people.

We traveled to the designated place of outreach. From Metro Manila, we took NLEX (North Luzon Expressway), followed by SCTEX (Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway). Then we exit at Luisita Access Road.

One of the thing that I cannot forget in this event was when we were on our way to Barangay Iba. We traveled a bit in a rough road and we took some rough roads in the middle of the farm (not a typical or common concrete road). For me it was an experience because I never really been inside the vehicle in middle of the farm. Yes, I saw farms or rice fields almost all around me, but never really drove in the middle of it. After a while, we reached a small community, the Abeling Tribe one of the indigenous community in my country where the school located which we planned to visit. I was surprised because I never thought that there was such community in the middle of rice fields. Most of the time, communities are near in main roads or local roads.

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Outreach Event Photos (Photos are not mine, photos courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

Every time the group does its outreach activity, the group usually prepares before the big day. The group does ocular to see the school and the people whom we will collaborate the event. Next, we solicit to friends, colleagues and some corporations for some voluntary funds which within the network of all members of the mountaineering group. Then, all the funds we received were audited as the mountaineering group is non-profit group. Everything is transparent to all members specially when we do this kind of activity. Finally, the group prepares activities for the outreach. In the planning, it involves creation of games and entertainments for children. It will follow by providing food and giving school supplies. We also provided equipment that the school basically needs such as speakers or generators.

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Outreach Event Photos (Photos are not mine, photos courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

With these experiences with children that lives in provinces specially in remote places and all of them usually lives in poverty, during outreach, it feels something special part in my life. Sometimes I am thinking if there’s still better way to help them aside from what we were already doing. Then, somehow there’s sadness that I felt too because children in the city lives comfortably while the children we visited lives in frugality. But, I knew as well that’s the reality of life of communities that outside the major cities in my country. And the outreach activities that we did may not really address the problem but at least it alleviates some of the gaps that the government should be doing.

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Outreach Event Photos (Photos are not mine, photos courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

The next day, the group did a side trip activity which climbing the mountain just beside the community that we visited. The mountain we climbed was Mount Tangisan with an altitude of around 490 masl (meters above sea level).

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Climb Event Photos (Photos are not mine, photos courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

What I like about this mountain? First thing was its trail (not too difficult), next was its altitude (just enough to see views from the ground), third was its location (located in open space) and finally the scenery at the top or the summit surrounded by farmlands.

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Climb Event Photos (Photos are not mine, photos courtesy of SMB Mountaineering Group)

I really enjoyed the activities that includes both of outreach and nature adventure, I felt both alive. It is one of the contentment that I treasure in my life.

Abeling Tribe Outreach and Mount Tangisan Side Trip Climb

Photos that I captured while at the summit of Mount Tangisan

Baguio – A City at the Top of Mountainous Region

For as long as I remember it was my fourth time that I went to Baguio City. First was a long time ago during my senior year in high school, next was during college, then with my deceased sister in year 2007 and the most recent and up to date was last May 2010 together with my mother and my youngest sister. It’s been more than 5 years that the trip happened and I wanted to remember everything as much as I can about the place and the photos that I still have really helped me a lot to write this post. Some part of the writings supported by photos and some were from the memories that I still remember. Some stories added influenced by reminiscing the visit during my high school and college year.

At that time, I was still working in Singapore and I rendered two weeks vacation back to my country. In those two weeks, we spent three days including our travel time to and from the Summer Capital of the Philippines which is Baguio City. I did not have a solid plan on what we were going to do in Baguio, what I only prepared was the hotel where we stayed during the visit.

We stayed for two nights in Hotel Veniz which located at the heart of its Central Business District near in Burhham Park. I preferred the hotel in CBD as we do not have our own car and I don’t even know how to drive, accommodation near in public transportation was the best option for us.

We left Manila at early morning and we slept inside the bus as I targeted that in the morning we were already in Baguio. As budget traveler, I wanted to maximize the hotel and the days that we were in the city. Around 7am or 8am in the morning we arrived at the Victory Liner Terminal in Baguio. We took a jeep to our hotel to leave our luggage before we started our self-guided adventure in the city.

Day 1 (Sunday)

Baguio Central Business District – Session Road

We left the hotel, though it’s been a while since my last visit in the city, I just followed the road from the hotel. The hotel location was at Shanum Street corner Harrison Road. We crossed Harrison Road and we reached Magsaysay Avenue where we started our stroll in the famous road in the city which is Session Road.

Hotel Veniz

Shanum Street and corner of Harrison Road

As we walked in the same road I just reminisced the first time I saw the road. As I understand that time that the road represents the center location of the central business district of Baguio where commercial business can be found such as banks, restaurants, shops, boutiques and others. The part of the road started in Magsaysay Avenue is inclined road up to the part that it split into two. For me, the road is very appealing as it maintain its neat ambiance even though it is location of major businesses where most people comes and go.

Session Road

After we reached the top of Session Road before it split into two, there is famous catholic church in the area called Cathedral Baguio. We stroll in the area and the three of us had some photos in one of the nipa hut displayed in the garden near the mentioned church.

While I was thinking out of nowhere which places that I can bring my mother and my youngest sister with consideration that it’s their first time visiting Baguio. I remembered all the places that I had been before. And then, we took a cab. I made a deal with the driver to rent his cab for the day for a minimal amount, the trip started around 10AM, we ended the trip in the afternoon before 4PM as we had appointment before evening of that day.

The Mansion

The Mansion is the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines. At the time that we visited Baguio, we only able to see the residence outside the gate. For many visits that I did in the city, I haven’t got a chance to see what’s inside the President’s house.

Philippine Military Academy (PMA)

Camp John Hay

After visiting Philippine Military Academy, we went to Camp John Hay. The camp became United State military base station at the time that US started controlling the country from Spain around 1900. Since it is located in mountains with a cool and mild climate, it was chosen as their station. Aside from being US camp, it also became Japanese post when Japanese controlled the country and they forwarded up north while fighting with Filipino and American soldiers until their regime ended, few years after World War II.

The major part of Camp John Hay that we spent time were Cemetery of Negativism which is a unique garden that showcases different negative thoughts that we should not be thinking at all and the Bell House Museum which named after General Franklin Bell, a general during Spanish-American War. The general also managed the constructions of the amphitheater (photos not available) near the museum.

Cemetery of Negativism

Bell House Museum

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Inside Bell House Museum

Botanical Garden

One of the famous garden not only in Baguio but all over the country is Baguio Botanical Garden. This garden is near from Teachers Camp (the first accommodation I had during my high school trip). And because my mother loves flowers and gardens, she enjoyed our short visit in the place.

Mines View Park

I remembered that we visited Mines View Park too, another famous tourist destination in the city. At that time, my mother and my sister tried to ride a horse and post their selves for photos. The park is one of the best and most accessible lookout area at the mountainous region around or within Baguio. The lookout in observation deck was a great location for photos as it reveals scenic background. Because it’s popular, it is expected that a lot of people coming with the same reason to take photos with a picturesque background. We did enjoy the place as there are lots of local shops in the area to enjoy our eyes and to buy souvenirs too.

During college time, I remembered that Mines View Park was one of the places that we used to take photos with my college mates, the thoughts made me smile because everyone wanted to be in the photo under the Observation Deck of the lookout area.

Day 2 (Monday)

Baguio Central Business District – Burnham Park

It was our second and last day to spend for touring around the city, we concentrated enjoying Burnham Park in the morning. We walked in the gardens and played around in Burnham Lake.

Rose Garden

Rizal Park (Baguio)

At Rizal Park Looking Towards Shanum Street and Rose Garden (Burnham Park)

At the park we started walking at Rose Garden and we went up to Rizal Park crossing Shanum Street. We took photos at the statue of Dr. Jose Rizal my country’s National Hero. Next we walked back to the Rose Garden until we reached Burhham Lake where people used to paddle duck boat with their feet. The three of us tried it as well and spent our time paddling around the lake. Because of this, I was able to take snapshots of the lake in many angles as much as I can.

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Burnham Lake (Part 1)

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Burnham Lake (Part 2)

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Burnham Lake (Part 3)

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Burnham Lake (Part 4)

Walking Area (around Burnham Park)

Burnham Biking Area

The open ground of Burnham Park reminded me that this was the place we used to play games during high school trip and I will never forget that this was the same place we had our team building during college.

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Burnham Park (Open Ground)

Harrison Road (near Burnham Park)

Baguio City Public Market

La Trinidad

The last place that we visited which is outside the city of Baguio was La Trinidad, a municipality which famous for its strawberry farm and vegetable plantation where you can pick strawberry and pay for it. We had a great time in the farm.

While writing this article, I just recently learned that the municipality earns the Guinness World Record for baking the Worlds Largest Strawberry Shortcake last 2004 (Wikipedia). That’s good to know.

Note:
For the places that no photos available, not sure if all of them were lost when my hard drives got failed. I will just update this if I still found available pictures related to this travel post.

Philippine Military Academy – A Military Institute with Touch of Tourism

When we roamed around Baguio City, one of the places we spent our time was Philippine Military Academy which happened last May 2010. As we took our way to the said academy, I remembered the first time that I visited the academy when I was in high school, we visited the academy during Rizal Day which is a national holiday in the country that pays respect to the country’s national hero – Dr. Jose Rizal. Every 30th of December, the date that Dr. Jose Rizal died, the academy conducts military parade and we were able to witnessed it. I was reminded again with some amusing activity we did as we were young and playful that time, we saw some soldiers standing seriously on their post after the parade and we tried to make funny faces to test how focused and disciplined the soldiers in their duty. We tried some tricks and the soldiers we tested passed our expectations because we felt that we are not existing in front of them, as if they did not saw what we did, doing some crazy stuff in their front but they never smiled nor moved and never wavered on their post. Since then, even if I saw soldiers that seriously standing in some statue or similar to what we saw, I understand how serious they are in their post.

Main Gate

At the road inside PMA

Relics Point

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Relics Point

Our cab took the road after we passed the main gate. The first thing we saw inside the academy was the Relics Point. This area is in the middle between roads not too far from the main gate and displaying historical equipment and weapons used during World War II.

Korean War Memorial

At Relics Point, we also found a Korean War Memorial which built to commemorate the Filipino soldiers who were members of Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (Peftok) which was contingent of the United Nations forces that fought in the Korean War happened between 1950–1953. After Korean War Memorial, the next thing we saw was Cavaliers Park and Cadet Circle.

Cavaliers Park

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Cadet Circle

Our walk continues until we reached Quezon Avenue, the road where most of the academy’s building can be found. We saw one of the main building which is Melchor Hall. At the opposite of the building are Sundial and Lim Hall (PMA Headquarters). At the side of the Lim Hall, we found helicopters, planes and jets displayed in open Air Force Museum.

Quezon Avenue (Inside the academy)

Lim Hall (Headquaters)

Sundial

Looking towards Lim Hall with Sundial

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Air Force Museum

Tree House

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PMA Grand Stand

Lopez Hall and Magilas Visitors Center

PMA Souvernir Shop

There is a Tree House just beside Air Force Museum where everyone can enjoy the view around the academy from the top. There is an open ground where they call it as PMA Grand Stand which it is like a sunken garden with Bermuda grass. Other buildings that we saw were Lopez Hall and Magilas Visitors Center. We found the PMA Museum as well and here we saw related artifacts about Philippine Military and its history which. And it was our last destination in the camp as we ended our tour inside the academy.

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PMA Museum (Part 1)

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PMA Museum (Part 2)

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PMA Museum (Part 3)

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PMA Museum (Part 4)

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PMA Museum (Part 5)

Home : Tabunan Beach

Home (Post#25) : Tabunan Beach

Last year of my travel in the island where my family roots begun, I had a quick visit and a bit of walk in Tabunan Beach at Banton Island in Romblon province. Above photo is just one of my collection during my walking tour along the beach. The beach is located at the western side of the Island in Yabawon where my uncle Napo lives. Photo captured last March 2015.

Juncture With Folk(s) : At Silanguin Beach

Juncture With Folk(s) (Post#3) : At Silanguin Beach

Summer Season is the period that most of Filipinos got a chance to go to beaches and because my country home is an archipelago and surrounded by body of water, there are lots of beaches available in the country that we can adore and enjoy. Last March this year (2016), I got a chance to join the mountaineering group that I was affiliated with and this year’s summer season I was able to be with them after such a long time. It’s been 6 summer seasons that I never joined them because I was out of the country and for other scheduling conflict reasons. I was glad that this year I was able to go with them once again.

San Pablo Seven (Crater) Lakes or Seven Lakes of Laguna

I was invited to join an adventure which not carefully thought and planned. It was an out of the box adventure wherein it was discussed few days ago and then last September 30, 2011, we were on the road to San Pablo City. The city is located at the southern portion of Laguna Province.

The specific reason why we were in San Pablo was because of the Seven Lakes. Some people says it is Seven Lakes of Laguna but to be exact it is called as Seven Lakes of San Pablo. All the Seven Lakes are near to each other. Before I came to the city, I had no idea that there is such Seven Lakes until I got a chance to see all of them with my own eyes. We were five people who made it to the said adventure and all of us were belong in the same mountaineering group. All of us were just enough people to fit a 4×4 vehicle that brought by the person (Jimmar) who popped out the idea to us for an adventure.

I researched and I learned an interesting information about the Seven Lakes. The Seven Lakes are not just common lakes as they are all crater lakes which means that all the lakes was formed from inactive volcano crater. I cannot imagine if San Pablo were composed of seven inactive volcano or just one huge volcano with lots of craters? Well, I will leave that idea to the Volcanologist to think about that.

The Seven Lakes of San Pablo are:

1. Lake Bunot

Panlalawigan Pagamutan ng Laguna

Barangay Concepcion

The road to Bunot Lake or Lake Bunot

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As we started our journey to find all the seven lakes in San Pablo. After passing “Panlalawigan Pagamutan ng Laguna” (Laguna Provincial Hospital) in General Luna Street in the city, we found Bunot Lake or Lake Bunot as we reached Barangay Concepcion. Here we had a chance to walk at the side of the lake to see it closer.

2. Kalibato Lake / Lake Calibato

On our way to Calibato Lake or Kalibato Lake

Our way to Calibato Lake with the 4X4 that Jimmar brought

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Calibato Lake with Mount Banahaw

This is the lake where we drove down a rough road until we were able to park the vehicle to the nearest distance it can to the lake. We trekked going down the lake for a little bit until we reached it. As per Wikipedia, Kalibato Lake is the deepest lake in all seven lakes (as Lake Muhikap does not have existing records for its depths).

3. Pandin Lake

On our way to Twin Lake (Pandin and Yambo Lake)

Pandin Lake is one of the Twin Lake (the other twin is Yambo Lake). After coming from Kalibato Lake, we drove again for few minutes and we got lost as we can’t really see the Twin Lakes name or lake sign name. We were forced to asked locals to gave us the hints where it is until we realised that we already passed the sign of the lake and we had to turn around to see it.

Walkway to Pandin Lake

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Pandin Lake

Pandin Lake (Photo courtesy of Jimmar Lagazo)

We walked few minutes before we were able to see the lake. This is the lake that it seems it is exposed to tourist as I saw a lot of bamboo boat with seats for the visitors which seems that the boat is used to go around the lake.

4. Yambo Lake

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Yambo Lake (Photo courtesy of Jimmar Lagazo)

Yambo Lake is one of the Twin Lake (the other twin is Pandin Lake) and my favorite among the seven lakes that I saw. First thing, we need to climb a bit of high altitude of land (like hills) to be able to see this Lake. And it was worth when we were at the top because we saw the lake that looks like it was untouched though there are some fish ponds existing in one side of the lake but comparing it to other six lakes this one for me was the most likely unused by people in terms of fishing and recreational activities. I saw the water on it very serene state.

And I was also wondering why we need to hike just to see the beautiful lake if there is another way to see it.

5. Palakpakin Lake

Palakpakin Lake (Photo courtesy by Jimmar Lagazo)

Palakpakin Lake is just near from Muhikap Lake. This Lake like Kalibato Lake has photographic scenery with Mount Banahaw though this lake is farther than Kalibato Lake.

6. Muhikap / Mojicap Lake