braggies: philippines

Showing posts with label philippines. Show all posts

Coming Back to Blogging

Though I stop blogging for quite some, my travel adventure still going on and just stopped when the pandemic kicked in.

Here some of the photos.

On-going at the National Gallery of Singapore is the exhibition of paintings of Juan Luna. The first world-recognized Filipino artist during the late 19^th century.

The exhibition is part of the special exhibition Between Worlds: Raden Saleh and Juan Luna. Raden Saleh is an Indonesian artist. These two famous artists have achieved acclaim in Europe in the 19^th century.

skywatch

Caramoan in the Philippines is one of the favourite shooting location of the tv reality show Survivor. Because of the exposure it gets from the show, Caramoan became a holiday destination for both locals and overseas tourists. Caramoan is famous for its island hopping. The several islands that scattered around the Caramoan peninsula has its own characteristics and attraction worth exploring. Some of them were close to the mainland while others were quite far away. That is why the island hopping tours are group into two trips, the short trip which is half-day tours covers the nearby islands, and the long trip that will take whole day covers the farther islands.

This post is the highlight of my trip to Caramoan, which is the island hopping. Caramoan is bless with beautiful rock formations and lush small islands having white sand beaches scattered within the vicinity.

Upon arrival at the Paniman beach and hired a boat for the island hopping, I bought food for lunch in a nearby eatery while the boat is being readied. I was advised to have my lunch first since it was almost lunchtime, but I was not hungry yet so I opted to bring along the food and have lunch in the island. Immediately after we left Paniman, the approaching scenery was captivating. The rock formation that first to appear, was a good welcome start and really made me excited for the rest of the place has to offer. There were still props used by the Survivors show challenge hanging on the rock formation wall. Caramoan Islands is now popular location shoot of Survivor shows from European countries and some other Asian countries. The last one who just left the island is Survivor India.

I took a short leave from work coinciding the 2 days holiday here in Singapore, and went home to the Philippines. I have to two reasons on going home, one is to settle some design issues of the on-going renovation of our house, and second to finally explore the Caramoan Islands. It would be my third attempt this time, so the excitement and determination to finally pushed it this time is there.

Walking along the Manila Bay in the afternoon just before the sun set, will reward you a fascinating view of the famous Manila bay sunset. It never disappoint.

Right after I arrived Manila from the Corregidor tour, I have my afternoon food intake in one of the restaurant at Harbor Square that have an overlooking view of the Manila bay. Right after that I walk along Baywalk with my Nikon in hand.

I can never get tired spending afternoon here whenever I am in Manila.

Gen. McArthur Park and the Lorcha Dock

After the hefty lunch our tour guide brought us to the Bottomside, the lower part of the island. The island has an interesting outline that shaped into a tadpole. The head rises prominently to a large flat area which coined Topside, the center of activities of the island. The plateau that interrupts the upward slope from Bottomside to Topside is the Middleside.

The Bottomside part of the island was our first stop after having lunch. Gen. Douglas McArthur Park, South Dock, Lorcha Dock, North Dock, Barrio San Jose, Administration building, San Jose Chapel, and the Gen. Wainwright Memorial are all can be found here. At the Lorcha Dock is where Gen McArthur boarded a ship leaving the island to Australia and made a promised "I shall return". A statue has been erected at the spot where he bid his goodbye and turned into a park named after him. His famous remark is inscribed at the foot of the statue. Another park nearby is the Gen Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial. Constructed in honor of his determined leadership, courage, and resolution to the very end during the war.

One of the under rated tourist attraction in the Philippines is the Corregidor Island tour. According to our tour guide, there are only over a hundred thousand local and foreign tourists who visits the island. This is very minimal I think so because the Corregidor Island has so much to offer to tourist. But I guess because of the monopoly of just one company who provide tour to the island makes it less popular and less accessible to tourists.

I was in the Philippines for two weeks. I took the opportunity of spending the chinese new year holiday back home, and by availing the remaining 5 days vacation leave for the year, and applied 3 days of no pay leave, it sum up to 14 days of extended vacation. Most of the days were spent supervising my unscheduled house renovation. The simple plan of just adding two rooms turned into a major house renovation in which I am afraid its completion will took sometime. So my planned Caramoan Islands trip again did not push through, and just hope it will be a reality on my next vacation, third attempt. I'll make sure.

Last June I got the chance to have lunch at Bonifacio. Right after we've done with the photo shoot at Mandai Orchid Garden, Kath's Eye and I agreed to have lunch at Bonifacio in Kreta Ayer Road in Chinatown area. It was a Sunday and surprisingly when we arrived only one table has been occupied by a family of 4. When I inquired to the staff if it is always the case he replied not at all and added that the day before it was full due to Independence day celebration being held nearby. It was my first time so I was excited to be there.

I heard about Bonifacio from Filipino friends and colleagues here in Singapore saying only good things about the food and even recommending a must try dish. When we were seated and looking around the place I said to myself that the restaurant is just like an upscale version of typical restaurant found inside Lucky Plaza, but the moment I opened the menu I was in for a new experience.

Last saturday I went to Singapore Art Museum for the barrio fiesta celebration which was being held for two days last weekend. It is part of the National Heritage Board's Philippines Fiesta, an on-going event that started last October and will close in April, commemorating the four decades of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Philippines. The The Land of the Morning, the Philippines and its People was part of this Philippines Fiesta event. The barrio fiesta program includes the Santacruzan procession, Ati-atihan, and the concert of Noel Cabangon and

Lounging in CamSur Watersports Complex

It was my first time to visit the place. Before, I did not pay much attention to the place since I am not into extreme sports. But the CWC become the in thing, and everybody was talking about, a must place to visit and experience so they say and I agree. I did not go there to try wakeboard nor stay longer, I don't need to as my house is just less than an hour away. But lounging there for few hours and watching the wakeboarders do their stuff was an entertainment. The place is picturesquely stunning.Though the wakeboarding is the main attraction, there are other watersports you can try at the complex.

Skywatch

I took a week off from work and where else do I spend it, but to my Philippines specifically my hometown. Homeward is different from the usual holiday trip overseas. You just don't have to buy the plane ticket, you busied yourself days before your actual flight date buying things you bring with you to your trip. But going home specially if your away for months always bring excitement and goosebumps.

I made a list of to do things for the trip. On the list are a visit to Malacanang Palace Museum. I got a chance to visit the place way back months after the Marcoses fled the Palace and the new government turned part of the palace into a Museum and opened it to the public. I was young then so my only recollection was I got to see Imelda's thousands shoes and gowns. I thought now is my chance to really appreciates our own especially that I just recently been to two countries own, the Negara Istana of Singapore and the Reunification Palace of Vietnam. But alas the Malacanang is closed to public for the whole November for general cleaning because part of the Museum was used as the relief operation center during the Ondoy onslaught.

More on the list are the ones in my home province which where I'll be spending more of my vacation days. These two are the Caramoan Islands and the CamSur Watersports Complex. Caramoan Islands became famous because of the Survivor shows. The islands was the place where the tv show contestants outwit, outlast, and outplay each other for a million bucks. The two days since I arrived, the rain continuously to pour so the plan to go to Caramoan Islands has been crossed out on the list. Caramoan is just a two hour trip from our house, the one and half hours by sea so I was not allowed to the trip and reduced to just staying home.

These completes the places I have visited while i'm on vacation.

CWC

Fort Santiago

Manila Ocean Park

People's Park, Tagaytay

Picnic Groove, Tagaytay

The world reports Corazon Aquino's death

photo credit : here

At 3:18 early morning today, the beloved former president of the Philippines Cory Aquino passed away. As expected the news of her death bannered the leading news source worldwide.

Cory Aquino dies

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Aquino, heroine of Philippine people power, dies

Former Philippines president Corazon Aquino dies

Ex-Philippine president Aquino dies

Corazon Aquino, Who Led 1986 Revolt in Philippines, Dies at 76

Corazon Aquino, first female leader of the Philippines, dies aged 76

Philippine's people power leader Aquino dies

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