“Have you been enjoying Coron so far#8221; I asked a German national in the same island-hopping tour I was in.

He is 71 years old, like me, and traveling with his wife and sister-in-law. Though he’s been to the Philippines several times, it was also his first time in Coron.

In typical German frankness, he said wryly, “so far, I have not seen anything that impressed me.”

“Amen to that,” I said to myself.

Our negative impression of Coron may be taken as an act of sacrilege by those who have been there and enjoyed it.

If you haven’t and are contemplating going there, this article is a primer so you will know what to expect when you get there.

So read on.

Welcome to Coron

Do you know that there are two Corons Yes, Coron Town and Coron Island.

To get to both, you have to fly into Busuanga Island – one of the three largest islands in the Calamian Group of islands (the others are Culion and Coron).

Busuanga Airport is small but clean and orderly. It is dainty. And for an airport its size, it is busy. Several flights fly in and out on a daily basis. All of them are either from or bound for Cebu, Manila or Pampanga – all local destinations.

Outside is hot and sparse, with hardly any shade. But you won’t miss the endless line of tourist vans discharging or picking up tourists. If your reservation is in order, a driver will be there to greet you.

From the airport, it is a short 30 min drive along a well-concreted hi-way, devoid of traffic, to Coron town 22 kms away.

Town of Coron

Town church – the epicenter of any Philippine town

Coron is a first-class, seaside municipality on the northwestern tip of Palawan. It is built on a hillside and all roads, except those following its contour, go up or go down – depending on your destination.

Most roads are concreted but are small and narrow. Some even look nothing more than alleys. And they are often clogged with traffic – from private cars, delivery and tourist vans and the ubiquitous tricycles, the only mode of public transportation in town.

There is no evidence of any urban planning or a traffic management blueprint.  And all its facilities and utilities, i.e., hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, etc., are like Lego blocks dumped haphazardly on a hillside. They are everywhere and nowhere.

So make sure your hotel is a walking distance away from a decent restaurant. Otherwise, dining will be a problem since most hotels only serve breakfast.

Coron Island

Across a narrow strait and 17 kms away is Coron Island.

Coron island from a distance

It is a forbidding limestone mass of 71 sq km of mountains and craggy hills that was pushed skyward from the bowels of the earth millions of years ago – as shown by the series of perpendicular and parallel shear lines – bottom to top – along its entire inhospitable surface.

Up close

Nothing thrives in Coron Island but the hardiest of vegetation and the Tagbanwas.

Tagbanwa young men – haircut on the rocks

The Tagbanwas is one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Philippines found in central and northern Palawan and is thought to be the earliest settlers of the island. By official edict, they, and only they, are settled on the island.

They oversee the tourist spots in the entire Calamian Islands. On the side, they gather birds’ nests like that in El Nido.

State of tourism in Coron

There are more tourists than residents in Coron. In fact, in 2018, when there were 51,000 natives of Coron, the ratio between residents to tourists was 1/4. And there are no signs of abating since then.

Coron thrives on tourism, nothing else. The fishermen of yore no longer catch fish but tourists who hunger for island-hopping tours.

And the group that is orchestrating, and raking in windfall profits in the process, are the tourist agencies. There are almost a dozen of them and they share one thing in common – maximize profits to the detriment of the paying tourists.

Consider these:

• More often than not, tours have no tourist guides. If there is, he or she falls short of what a guide is supposed to do. He/she is more of a passenger than a source of useful and important information about a destination.
• Food served during island-hopping tours is horrible even for the palate of local tourists.
• Boat dispatching – where tourists are assigned boats – is crude and primitive. The dispatcher, with a list of tourists for the day, sits on a small stool under the shade of a banyan tree while tourists, under the heat of the sun, jostle to check what boat they are assigned to.

To aggravate things, Coron travel people don’t take to criticisms lightly. They are defensive, always hiding behind the argument that “they are just starting in the business.” 

Maybe that’s true. But there is no shortage of noteworthy tourist destinations in the Philippines to learn from. For example, Puerto Princesa is just a few kilometers to the south.

What to expect in Coron

Don’t expect anything breath-taking or something spectacular or awesome in Coron.

There is none. It is over-rated; pure hype. It’s a product of word-of-mouth and social media advertising embellished by heavily-edited images.

But expect to have the town tour and island-hopping tours.

Town tour:

This is a short road trip that makes stops on interesting points in town. Foremost among theme are:

• Mt. Tapyas: It’s drawing power is the observation deck 210 meters up. The top offers an unobstructed panoramic view of the entire environs of Coron and Coron Island – a few kilometers to the south.

Getting up there is a challenge for people with weak knees (like me) because it requires scaling a series of 900 or so steps uphill. So I passed.

• Maquinit Spring is one of the very few hot saltwater springs in the world. With traces of sulfur and temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 degrees C, it is a perfect place to relax after coming down from Mt. Tapyas.

Exercise caution, though. By any measure, it is a public pool. And just like any public pool, hidden health risks abound. It may be therapeutic – if you are alone. But if you are with a platoon of people, think twice before taking a dip.

Island-hopping tours:

There are almost 50 islands that make up the Calamian Group. Therefore, there is no shortage of islands to hop around.

For example, there are the islands of Bulog Dos, Malcapuya, Banana Island, Banul Beach, etc. They come and go like a blur; their names are soon forgotten after the boat lifts anchor to go to the next.

But they offer the same thing – a thin stretch of whitish/light brown sand surrounded by clear and clean waters. There is nothing much of value other than a short dip or taking selfies or group pictures. After a while, it becomes a drudgery.

Francis Bacon once said,

“Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced with variety.“

Perhaps recognizing this fact, tour groups put in some non-beach destinations in their package. But, except for one, Kayangan Lake, they all are frustrating than pleasing.

So don’t expect to see any “Wow” factor in these:

Coral Garden is, of course, submerged and can only be appreciated by using a snorkel. The catch is you have to be a pretty good swimmer because the boat drops anchor a few meters away.

Skeleton Ship is on old Japanese naval vessel that was sunk by the Americans during the last war. But it may as well be called Phantom Ship because you cannot see it unless you scuba or free-dive 6 meters down.

Twin Lagoons is a pair of lagoons – the small and the big – adjacent to each other. The small lagoon is not really a lagoon as lagoons are defined and it can only be reached by wading through chest-deep water (short people not included).

The big lagoon in a real bummer because it is off-limits to tourists for safety reasons.

Yikes!!

Kayangan Lake

Kayangan Lake is a good place to de-stress after the big let-down from the previous three. Not for the lake itself but the sense of adventure the destination provides.

It is one in seven lakes in Coron Island. Getting there is a challenge – scaling more than a hundred steps up and two hundred or so down along a narrow mountain trail.

At the crest is a ledge to take pictures of the amazing bay beneath your feet.

Though dubbed as one of the cleanest lakes in Asia, it lacks the charm and the bewildering beauty of either Sugba Lagoon, or Bucas Grande in Siargao.

Coron could easily spruce it up by putting in things to engage tourists who labored long and hard to get there. A diving platform in the middle, or kayaks or foot-pedaled boats could go a long way to make a tourist’s visit memorable.

Or put up a small shop selling Tagbanwa artifacts or souvenir items.

There are currently a few tourist destination sites in the Philippines that are equal to or better than Coron. And there is no doubt that many more will come into the picture in the near future.

When that happens Coron’s fishermen may go back to fishing for a drought of tourists to take island-hopping tours. I’ve traveled to quite a few places in the country. While some are worth re-visiting, Coron is not one of them.

~oOo~

s.

The post Things You Need to Know about Coron first appeared on Age With Charm.

In 2018, more than seven million tourists visited Siargao.

Those who have not been to Siargao or heard of it may go for a mad scramble to Google it and wonder why such a huge horde of people will visit this dot of an island in the southeast extremities of the Philippines.

Well for one, it is a surfers’ haven. Surfers and surfing enthusiasts from all over the world converge on the island from the months of April to October. And, for non-surfers like me, the island is a treasure trove of natural wonders difficult to find anywhere else.

But before I go into that. let me get you up to speed about this island that merits about 3 million searches a day.

What and Where is Siargao

Siargao is a teardrop-shaped island in Southern Philippines. It belongs to the CARAGA region. Caraga, in early chronicles, means the Land of Brave People and Fierce People.  But there is nothing fierce about the region comprising of Agusan del Norte and del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte,  and del Sur. Its capital, Surigao City, is 62 kms to the west of the island. Connecting the two is a ferry boat ride that can take an hour-and-a-half.

Surigao City – Siargao Ferry Boat Service

On the contrary, the Surigaonons are friendly and nice people. Communicating with them is no problem. Depending on who they are talking to, they can manage English, Pilipino (the country’s national language), or Cebuano – the dialect heavily used in Central Philippines.

On average, 10 flights (PAL and Cebu Pacific) land in Siargao each day. They come from any of the country’s three international airports, namely Clark, Manila, and Cebu, and they land at Sayak Domestic Airport in Del Carmen, Siargao.

Flying time from Manila, the country’s capital, is about 2 hrs and 40 mins, while that from Cebu is an hour. Each flight carries a sprinkling of residents and a horde of tourists, both local and foreign. From there, hired vans or tricycles (motor-driven cab) can take them anywhere on the island.

By “anywhere,” I mean Gen. Luna – the ultimate destination of all visitors. In fact, when people talk of Siargao, what is really meant is this small town at the southern tip of the island.

Gen. Luna, Siargao

Siargao has jurisdiction over 48 islands and nine towns. Gen. Luna is one of these towns, and responsible for its placement on the map.

Gen. Luna is a 45-min to an hour’s drive from the airport. Along the way, you will be afforded a glimpse of some Siargao towns. They all have different names but share one thing in common – they are rural and under-developed. Sans the modern-day vehicles and ubiquitous telecommunications towers, they could very well be the Sleepy Hollow of the Philippines.

Except for Gen. Luna.

What makes it stand out over the rest is the long stretch of a two-lane concrete road running parallel to the coast –  the Surfers’ Row (I coined this because the town has no street names or house numbers).

Surfers’ Row, Gen. Luna

Surfers’ Row is like a modern-day version of an old and dusty mining town in the Wild, Wild West era –  a one-street affair with cheap-looking restaurants, bars, and hotels on both sides of the road. Except that nothing is cheap in Gen. Luna, especially food. Compared to Puerto Princesa in Palawan with much better tourism infrastructure, the cost-of-stay in Siargao is nothing short of hi-way robbery.

Typical street scene, Surfers’ Row

And that’s because of Cloud 9.

Siargao’s Cloud 9

Cloud 9 is at the northeast corner of Gen. Luna. It is almost at the end of Surfers’ row and the place where beach-bummers from all over the world converge to show their mettle.

As an adjective, it is defined “a feeling of well-being or elation.”

Cloud 9 Observation Deck

To a surfer, Cloud 9 is that kind of wave that gives the highest feeling of well-being or elation. It is a surfer’s quest – the wave to ride, to conquer.

They come, majestically, one after the other from the wombs of the great Pacific Ocean. From a distance, they look like nothing more than a swell, building in size and force as they near the shore. Then they start to break, forming a froth at its crest before they rumble towards the shore where they break with a roar.

A Cloud 9 surfer looking for his perfect wave

Watching this endless cycle of wave forming, growing and breaking are mesmerizing to a non-surfer. To surfers Tony Arruza and Steve Jones who came in 1980 looking for the “perfect wave,” it was a Eureka moment. They have found their Holy Grail of waves. They called it the Jacking Horse (how it got its present-day name is a mystery).

But it did not hit the big time until 1992 when John Callahan, a famous surfing photographer took pictures of famous surfers John Slater, Taylor Knox, and Kevin Davidson riding huge waves of Cloud 9 and published them in a well-subscribed magazine.

Since then, an international surfing event is held in Gen. Luna each year. This year was held last Oct. 9 and was won by Philmar Alipayo, a local surfer (see video).

For a surfer, the tale and stories of Cloud 9, and Siargao will never end. For those who don’t, the story ends there. And in a sense, the story is a dud; Siargao is overrated.

Fortunately, Siargao has a lot more to offer than surfing. But you have to venture out of Gen. Luna by taking a tour offered by any tour agency near you.

How to enjoy Siargao if you are not a surfer

Siargao was on my bucket list. For a while, I thought it shall remain there. Lately, it became a wish-come-true. My initial impression, however, was very disappointing. After an impressive stay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Siargao is a rut. It is backward, dirty and expensive.

Until I joined two tours that covered the following places. They put me on Cloud 9.

Sugba Lagoon

Sugba Lagoon is in Caub Island, 4.5 kms from Poneas Island (see map). Going there takes about 35 mins by motorized outrigger boats from Del Carmen. The route is dotted with numerous islands, lushly covered with mangroves, and is so scenic to keep your senses alive.

Then before you know it, and through a small inlet impossible to see from a distance, you are there.

And behold. To say the place is mesmerizing is an understatement. It’s kind of being transported into another world – a world, a world fantasy, and fairy tales.

Sugba Lagoon scenes

Sugba Lagoon is unbelievably breathtaking. It’s placed emerald green waters make a soothing contrast against the thick vegetation that surrounds the place. The water is so clear you can see the bottom and is free of that scourge of humankind – trash.

I am a sea-lover and the waters of Sugba Lagoon stirred in a deep desire for a reunion. So I took a short swim.

Bukas Grande

Equally enchanting, albeit more stunning, is Sohoton Cove. It is a National Park and is located at Bukas Grande – a group of small islands within the jurisdiction of Socorro.

Getting there is not for people with a severe case of sea-sickness. But if you brave it, the two-hour boat ride is worth the ordeal.

It was for me – upon seeing it I was transfixed like a statue and was gripped with a sudden rush of emotion I was not able to say anything but, “Wow.”

Bukas Grande reception cottage

On its own, Bukas Grande can stand toe-to-toe against the world’s best natural wonders. But its magic is not of itself alone, but of these two breathtaking sites within its bosom:

Sohoton Cove

Sohoton Cove is a challenge. It is inaccessible during high tide and getting inside is a touch-and-go when the tide is low.

The entrance is through an inlet wide enough for the boat to squeeze through and the ceiling is so low you have to bend to avoid getting an ugly bump on the head.

Entrance, Sohoton Cove

But inside is a totally different world – a world of stunning beauty.

Seven small islets, all covered in lush vegetation, placidly sitting on clear, clean and tranquil waters. It’s so peaceful and quiet, except for the merrymaking of outsiders like me.

Inside Sohoton Cove

To cater to tourists’ adrenaline rush, a diving platform is built about 20 feet up a cliff. The challenge is in getting there – it is through a small inlet to get to the footpath that perilously winds up to the platform. Once there, you only have one choice – to jump – because going back is more difficult than going up.

Jellyfish Sanctuary

Inclose proximity to the Sohoton Cove is the Tojomon Lagoon – the jellyfish sanctuary.

The locals can’t explain why this species of jellyfish  (Mastigias Papua) congregate in that area of Bukas Grande, but the tourism authority knows how to turn them into a tourist attraction.

It is so fascinating to see so many small brown critters undulating beneath the surface unmindful of the so many pairs of eyes looking curiously at them.

Contrary to other scary types, the jellyfish in Bukas Grande are harmless. You can swim with them, and touch them. But taking them out of the water is tantamount to murder – you may be fined if you caused the death of one.

The 3-Islands Tour

When the Earth’s crust was undergoing violent upheavals eons ago, strings of magma escaped to the surface. The sea nymphs must have been in a jovial mood at that time, they shaped some into things to suit their playful mood when these escapees colled down and formed islands.

This playfulness can be seen on these islands:

Naked Island

Naked Island is, well, naked. It is nothing but a white sand bar jutting out of the Philippine Sea. Nothing grows on it. Even hardy coconut trees will grow no more than a foot-high sapling then die.

On dark stormy nights, with thunder and lightning making a good light-and-sound background, Naked Island is where sea nymphs build sandcastles or sculpt sand figures of sea gods.

On the more serious side, Naken Island is not typical to Siargao. A similar island can be found in Camiguin Island. But that in Camiguin is not reported to move and change shape as Naked Island do, depending on tidal and wind conditions – so said our boatman.

Daku (Big) Island

Not far from this “sandlot of the gods,” is Daku Island.

Big and flat like a huge dining table, the sea nymphs must have intended Daku to be banquet venue of the sea gods.

It has an elementary school for the locals and a resort for tourists. It also has a long and wide sandy beach for sand games like volleyball or tug-o-war.

Guyam Island

Roughly 10 mins away by boat, is Guyam Island.

From afar, Guyam looks like a giant cupcake – a fitting dessert for the kingly banquet at Daku.

Guyam is small, and a quarter of its periphery is rocky and constantly battered by huge waves from the Philippines. There is no resort on Guyam but on its southwest side, there’s a cute little beach that attracts small crowds like honeymooners and lovers seeking a more quiet place to enjoy the sea, sand and lots of togetherness.

The group started winding its way back to the main island of Siargao when the sun was beginning to cast longer shadows and darkness started creeping on the eastern skies. We were all silent, rapt in our thoughts.

While fatigue was taking over my entire body, my mind was held in disbelief for having just seen and experienced some stunning sites that will soon become pleasant parts of our memories.

You will feel the same way after having gone through these Edenic parts of the country.

~oOo~

The post How to Enjoy Siargao if You are not a Surfer first appeared on Age With Charm.

If you are looking for a place to unwind over the weekend, or get away from it all for a week or so, then Dumaguete City is your cup of tea.

Dumaguete, like a charming woman, is captivating from the inside out. It’s difficult to put a finger on why it is so alluring. It cannot boast of high-rises or expensive boutiques, but its naked simplicity and beauty can permeate the soul of a visitor.

It is small (33.62 km²) compared to Cebu or Bacolod, 167 and 315, respectively, and does not have an industrial base like those of the two cities, but is older than both (it was founded May 1, 1901).

And perhaps because of that, it is wiser – as proven by the many antique, albeit well-preserved buildings right in the heart of the city. And it is cleaner and more civilized. LOL!

Dumaguete prides itself of being the City of Gentle People. And for a good reason. Compared to that of Cebu’s crime rate, Dumaguete is a children’s playground. This is evident by taking a stroll along the Rizal Boulevard – Dumaguete’s showcase to the world – at night.

I’ve been to Dumaguete thrice. The first time was a breeze through on our way to Siquijor. The next was more memorable because, together with my daughter and her hubby, we stayed overnight at enchanting Forest Camp Resort in Valencia.

This time around will last forever in my memory because it was with family. Aside from my daughter and her hubby, my younger sister, two nephews, and their families also came. In a sense, it was a family affair that made a swing through two neighboring towns of Dumaguete (see map) – a three-car convoy of fun and camaraderie.

Sibulan

Sibulan is our debarkation point in Negros Oriental, after a 30-min ferry ride from Cebu. Soon as we hit land, we went right to our first destination for the day – The Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao.

The two, declared a protected area in 2000, are crater lakes 875 meters up the slopes of Mt. Talinis. Lake Balinsasayao is the larger of the two at 76 hectares, 90 meters deep.

Lake Danao is smaller at 30 hectares, 58 meters deep. A thin strip of forested land separates it from her bigger sister, and a short boat ride over placid lake-waters is necessary to get there.

Once on the other side – the ordeal begins. To see Lake Danao in its unspoiled beauty, you need to climb a series of stone steps to get to the viewing tower. It took every ounce of my osteoarthritis-ravaged knees to scale it all the way to the top. But it was worth it.

The view is so stunning to make a photo op irresistible.

We were so enraptured by the tranquility and beauty of the place, and leaving it is like leaving a life-long friend. But we have to after almost an hour of filling our senses with its magnificence.

The experience gave us the much-needed respite from big-city life, but exhausted us all over – and hungry.

To ease both, on the way back we dropped by Jo’s Chicken Inato for a much-needed rest and lunch.

Jo’s Chicken Inato

When our muscles were rested and stomachs filled, we rolled for the next stop.

Dauin

Dauin is a fourth class municipality 19 kms southwest of Dumaguete. But don’t be fooled by its low-key stature. The town hosts several hotels and resorts for travelers looking for a nice and relaxing place to unwind. And its proximity to the world-famous Apo Island, make it a haven for scuba divers.

It is also where we were booked for the night – at the Sea Dream Resorts.

Sea Dream exemplifies the saying, “small is beautiful.” It is clean, peaceful and quiet; the staff is efficient and courteous.

It has 24 rooms of various accommodations, but what rooms! They are large, well-appointed and with enough pillows to make a pregnant woman sleep comfortably.

At the back is a swimming pool long enough for lap swimming, which I did early the following morning. And the lawn is perfect for bonding.

Breakfast, however, is not included in the accommodation. But with nowhere to go early in the morning, you have no option but to take it in-house – which is not bad, anyway.

Dumaguete highlights

A visit to Dumaguete is not complete without having had a stroll along Rizal Boulevard at night. It is a sight to behold and experience. And that we did – the best for last, kind of thing.

Rizal Boulevard, named after the country’s National Hero, is 780 meters long and was built in 1916. That was foresight of gigantic proportions because Dumaguete would not be complete without it.

It is the centerpiece of the city. Looking seaward is an unobstructed view of the Tañon Strait while a long line of restaurants, coffees shops, bars, entertainment gigs line its entire landward length.

It bristles with people at night, either to dine, chill out with friends or just take leisurely walks along its clean promenade.

We were there for all three. But first, we dined at Hayahay Seafood Restaurant. 

Hayahay serves a delicious menu of native dishes like this bowl of steamy clam soup.

Coffee after a heavy meal may affect your body’s capacity to absorb the food you ate. But it’s ok to take it in moderation – especially if taken with sweets baked by the famous Sans Rival.

Before we headed back to the hotel, we made a final stop – an open-air, table-and-chair setup that sells native tempura. I was too full to take anything but a perfect shot of the Silliman Hall thrusting into the darkness – as the university has been thrusting into the darkness of ignorance since 1901.

All our bags are packed

“All good things must come to an end,” Geoffrey Chaucer.

It did the following day for us. After a hearty brunch, we started finding ourselves back home with the plan of having lunch in Oslob, Cebu. Which we did – sans the whale sharks.

Please share this travelogue of a senior.

~oOo~

The post Dumaguete is Worth Every Minute of Your Visit first appeared on Age With Charm.

I spend most weekends alone, pining for those days when the children were young and my wife was still alive. We always spent it together. That was many years ago. With her gone and both my children married, weekends torment me with melancholia.

So if an opportunity comes to break it, I never let it pass. It came on the last week of last month when my daughter asked if I was interested to go with her and her hubby to Bacolod. In a snap, I said, “Of course, I am.”

And it was a weekend of fun – for a change.

But first things first…

A few things about Bacolod you should know

Bacolod City, or Bacolod for short, is one of the leading business centers in Central Visayas, together with Cebu to the east, Iloilo to the west (see map).

A long drive of fun

Our road trip was not a single-car affair but a part of a 12-car convoy of Toyota FJ Cruisers – those big, expensive cars men-of-means love to drive on or off-road. Most came with family members except for one (or two) who were alone.

The group converged in a McDonald outlet in Talisay City at dawn, two Saturdays ago. After an hour or so of friendly greetings and filling stomachs (and emptying them, too), the convoy started rolling for Toledo City – for a ferry boat ride across the Tañon Strait to San Carlos City.

A member of the group greeted us on the other side, with a sumptuous lunch to boot. After we’re locked and loaded, we started rolling for Bacolod.

Around half-past two, we checked into our hotel, the MO2 Westown Mandalagan. It’s not 5-star, but the rooms are clean and big and the two twin beds were a welcome sight after being on the road for roughly 12 hours.

And I slept…

The total distance between Cebu and Bacolod is only 191.3 kms, but our travel time was stretched because of the numerous stops along the way, i.e. leg-stretching, bladder-emptying and, yes, the photo ops.

But there was never a dull moment. Each car has a kiddie hand-held radio to coordinate with each other and to exchange endless chatter.

The Ruins

My daughter woke me up around 4 pm and told me to get ready as we are rolling. “To where#8221; I asked. She answered “The Ruins.”

The Ruins is an awesome sight to behold. It is dubbed as the Taj Mahal of Negros – with a bit of hyperbole, of course. But it was built for love, too.

Here’s its story…

Maria Braganza was the wife of Don Mariano Lacson. Between them were 10 children. On the last term of her 11th pregnancy, Maria slipped and fell. This caused a miscarriage resulting in her untimely death. That was in 1911.

Her death left Don Mariano inconsolable with grief. To take his mind off his loss, and in remembrance of his beloved wife, in 1920, he built a mansion in his 440-hectare sugar plantation in Talisay, Bacolod (Talisay is now a separate city).

During the Japanese occupation, Don Mariano allowed the invading forces to billet in his mansion. In retaliation, Filipino resistance fighters burned it to the ground in 1942.

It remained in ruins until 1980 when Raymund Javellana, a great-grandson of Don Mariano,  resurrected it as a tourist attraction.

And he did a marvelous job.

In its heydays, this mansion of Italian architecture had 10 huge rooms decorated with furniture from Philippine hardwood and floored with Machuca tiles (handmade cement tiles).

What is left now is an empty shell, albeit, echoing its past beauty and grandeur.

There is a pavilion for functions and conferences and another serving as a diner. A huge,  well-manicured lawn is perfect for guests to stroll around and take photos with The Ruins as a backdrop.

The group was so engrossed with the enchanting aura of The Ruins not to notice that it was time for supper.

Chicken House – Capitol Shopping

Bacolod is probably enamored with chicken. There are so many chicken houses in the city it’s difficult to know which one is the best. In a dilemma like this (especially when one is famished), the best way is to let the locals do the choosing. And he made a perfect choice – the Chicken House Capitol Shopping.

Never mind the awkward business name, but its grilled chicken tastes great. Oh, they only serve chicken. But the size of our group depleted their stock of a certain chicken part those who ordered it had to settle for another part. LOL!

I was so hungry I dispatched mine with haste – keel with garlic rice downed with a cold bottle of Coke – and didn’t take any pictures of the riotous and hungry crowd.

For a nightcap, a few members drove to a new arcade (it’s so new it still smells paint) where the well-heeled crowd of Bacolod goes for a nightcap and conversation. As usual, I had brewed coffee.

Knowing Bob’s

Bob’s is, of course, Bob’s Restaurant and Pastry Shop – the group’s place of choice for breakfast. A Trip Advisor reviewer dubs it as the place that serves the “best burger in town.”

Being an early riser, I was not very optimistic about it. I knew that the group can’t be up and ready before 7 a.m. So I had mine at the hotel – after a few laps of jogging around the parking lot.

True enough, it was past 8 a.m. when the group started trickling out of their rooms.

But Bob’s did not disappoint. Even at mid-morning, the parking lot was already full. The place is well-appointed, the service is good and the patrons belong to the B and A categories.

I cannot say about the food as I only had coffee. My daughter and her hubby had a full serving and later raided the pastry shop to gift some people back home.

We almost missed it

While at Bob’s, word came that our 3 p.m. ferry back to Cebu was canceled for mechanical problems. Phone calls were immediately made to secure a space in Lite Ferries, an alternative carrier.

Once done, we made haste for San Carlos City (after the women made a quick shopping at Bong Bong’s Gift Center).

We arrived way past noon with most restaurants already closed except La Grotta where we had lunch. It is a dainty little Italian Restaurant in the middle of a subdivision. Since we had no more plans to go anywhere, we stayed there until boarding time.

We left San Carlos before 6 p.m., and I got home past 9 p.m. Though tired and hungry,  deep within was a feeling of unimaginable joy for having a weekend of fun.

~oOo~

The post A Weekend of Fun and Wonderful Company first appeared on Age With Charm.

If Bohol is not on your bucket list, add it now. You won’t be sorry, I assure you.

But before I go into why it is such an amazing place to visit, bear with me for a while.

I love to travel. It is my balm against loneliness, plus it is a good exercise. In other words, it is good for the health – both body and mind.

Often I travel alone. Sometimes my daughter and her hubby ask me to tag along. Two weeks ago they did just that – they asked me to go with them to Bohol.

Of course, I did not say “No” even it was against my personal rule to never visit the same place twice.

Here’s the reason why…

Bohol is simply irresistible. It has a certain allure not found somewhere else. There are lots of things to see and experience in this speck of an island in the navel of the country.

It is one of nine major islands comprising Central Philippines. Its sisters to the west are Cebu, Negros, Panay, Siquijor, and Guimaras. To the east are Leyte, Biliran, and Samar.

Barely 4,821 sq kms in land area, it has captured the attention and delight of the traveling crowd – as shown by the island’s tourist arrivals.

In 2016, more than a million tourists, 1,000,186 to be exact, visited Bohol – a hefty increase of 37% over the previous year. Getting there is fast and easy – slightly over an hour’s flight from Manila or two hours by boat from Cebu.

Aside from its charming white-sandy beaches, good food, comfortable accommodations,  and super-friendly locals, the province has plenty of interesting and educational sites to quench your thirst for a peaceful, exciting, yet stress-free weekend.

For example, the Chocolate Hills. These are a number of geographical formations concentrated in the town of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan.

Nobody knows how these almost perfectly-symmetrical hills formed or their exact number. Rough estimates put them from 1,200 to 1,800.

But believe me, you don’t want to count them when you get there but be overwhelmed by their breath-taking beauty and snap as many pictures as you can.

They are the top crowd-drawers of the province.

Then there is the Philippine Tarsier, considered one of the smallest primates in the world.

When fully grown, it stands barely 16 cm tall. The tarsier is cute and cuddly with its large, round eyes and head that can turn 180 degrees.

They lay idle and still during daytime but jump into action when darkness falls to hunt for insects – their staple diet.

Tarsiers seldom live long as pets. They are easily stressed out and die.

Not far from the Tarsier Conservation Area, is the Man-Made Forest.

Unlike the Chocolate Hills, no mystery shrouds this incredible drive-through site of Bohol.

Its origin goes back to 1947 when the provincial government set aside 19,410 hectares of land (covering 13 towns) to rejuvenate Bohol’s dwindling forest cover.

This part of the project, however, began in 1960 through late 1970.

You don’t want to miss this if you visit Bohol. It is enchanting to stroll along this 2-km stretch of mahogany trees, savoring their cool shade and,  of course, take pictures or selfies.

After having covered all these, it would be lunch time and you will be frantic for food and rest. If you can hold on for a few minutes, and you should, you will have both at the Loboc River Cruise.

The Loboc River Cruise is an hour’s cruise up and down the Loboc River in motor-propelled wooden catamarans.

Aside from the delicious buffet lunch of Filipino food served on board, you will also be treated to various alluring natural sites along the way including a short stop at an entertainment station where local belles perform to the beat of popular Filipino songs and dances.

If you are like me, you would like a short rest after a heavy lunch. And you would like to make your way to Panglao to claim your reservation.

But hold on…

Before you plop into a cool and comfortable bed, make a swing to the Bohol Bee Farm.

The Bohol Bee Farm is an example that going organic if coupled with a bit of imagination, promotion, and entrepreneurship makes good business sense.

It grows its own spices and condiments, sells ice-cream in dried cassava paste and home-processed honey of different varieties.

Or a mug of hot brew…

The resort also has a coffee shop for those who cannot go without caffeine in their veins and a wifi.

The above must-see sites compose a very small fraction of what’s to discover and visit in this irresistible island. If you Google Bohol, there are still a lot of places to add to your bucket list.

Come and have fun.

~oOo~

region.

The post Visit Amazing Bohol. You Won’t be Sorry first appeared on Age With Charm.

Contrary to what younger people think, the life of a senior is never dull. It is full of excitement – either the DIY kind of thing or be a part of the exciting life of others.

Of late, I had a full serving of excitement with members of my family.

Here’s why…

Late last month, my daughter and her hubby took me to a mountain resort – right in the midst of unspoiled Nature – for a weekend.

Two Sundays ago, my entire clan had a field trip to the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park.

While both were serendipitous, the Safari is more so than the Resort.

Let me explain…

Cebu is an island right in the belly of the Philippines. It is one of the leading business centers of the country and the tourist hub of the region. An inordinate sense of pride pervades the province making it label everything it does as “world class.”

Of course, nothing is farther from the truth because, except for the Shangrila in Mactan and a few more hotels and resorts which can fit the bill, most are still doing business the  “Mom and Pop dime store” way.

I was, therefore, totally dumbstruck when we drove through the gate of the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park. Though a different kind of business stands at par with the world-famous resorts in Mactan.

The infrastructure is faultless, it is clean, the staff courteous and knowledgeable and it is efficient – qualities difficult to find in a lot of business entities in Cebu.

I am a very difficult person to please, but I was bowled over by the Cebu Safari. It is awesome. And I enjoyed every moment of it (though I was not able to go all the way. I will explain later).

What to expect at the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park:
Cebu Safari and Adventure Park is located on the gentle hills of Carmen, a small town 43 kms north of Cebu City. From the town proper, it is a long and slow climb west to barangay Toril, the site of Cebu Safari.

Michel J. Lhuillier, the pawnshop king, and owner of Cebu Safari did not leave anything to chance when he built this 170 hectares of amusement and fun.

Everything is laid out for the comfort, ease, and safety of tourists.

Visitors tour the zoo on board trams that make stops at major points of interest. In each stop, a staff will accommodate any question visitors may ask about the animals therein.

The atmosphere in each tram is electric from the gleeful cheers of children who have never yet seen such exotic animals like antelopes, giraffes, cheetahs, tiger, crocodiles, etc.

At lunchtime, visitors are taken to rest areas where meals are served. The food, which comes with the price of the ticket, is not bad. It is delicious and filling.

Note: After lunch, I told my daughter that my knees have had enough. So I hitched a ride back to the reception area where the cool breeze from the hills lulled me to sleep.

Cebu Safari and the future:
Since its opening last December, Cebu Safari has created a loud buzz in Cebu and nearby provinces. Thousands visit it on weekends making parking difficult.

If you come, be early to avail of the main parking lot. Otherwise, you may have to agonize over a long hilly walk to get your ticket.

For now, the collection of animals is limited but plans are afoot to secure more. I would love to see the day when the surrounding hills will reverberate with the loud roar of a male lion.

Not only animals, mind you. There is still a huge room to accommodate such fun activities like riding a giant swing, an obstacle course, a spider walk, sky bike and a tour of Carmen’s eight waterfalls.

So far, however, visiting Cebu Safari is worth your while; it is a weekend well-spent.

~oOo~

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The post A Serendipitous Sunday at the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park first appeared on Age With Charm.

At the foot of Mt. Talinis, Negros Oriental, Philippines, is a perfect place to have a respite from the stress of city life; from the noise and pollution that come with urban living.

This is no idle talk, or a smart marketing ploy because Forest Camp is 2.5 hectares of unspoiled nature.

Situated in Valencia, a town 11.5 kms west of Dumaguete City, the resort has been giving physical and emotional relief to weekend travelers and guests, both local and foreign.

For a good reason…

At 800 feet above sea level, the air is cool and clean because it is far from human traffic and pollution. Various species of local and foreign trees provide a soothing ambiance to the eyes, and the cacophony of sounds, i.e., rustle of the leaves, love calls of crickets and cicadas, melodious songs of the birds, and the gurgling waters of a nearby river, all conspire to ease every fiber of your soul.

Forest Camp Amenities:

Forest Camp has a staff of local young men and women who know what customer service is and attend to your needs with a courteous and unpretentious smile.

They treat their guests, regardless of accommodation, i.e.,  cottages, lofts, tents, or day-trippers with the same warm cordiality.

And if you are audacious or lucky enough, you can have a lively conversation with either Mrs. or Mr. Vicuña, the resort’s owners.

Campers may bring or cook their own food. For the more genteel guests, its tiny but tidy restaurant serves delicious local and foreign cuisines – with a heavy organic accent.

Other than immersing yourself in the beauty of Nature, you can have a cool splash in either of its two swimming pools which are continuously fed with pure and fresh river water.

For the past 23 years, Forest Camp has been a favorite destination for weekend trippers, young backpackers, newly-weds, and people who want to enjoy short moments of solitude.

How to get there:

Forest Camp is accessible through Dumaguete, the major city of Negros Oriental. From there, WAZE can lead you the way – as it did to me and my daughter.

Getting to Dumaguete, however, can be arduous, depending on your point of origin. Ours was a long five-hour drive from Cebu.

But it was well worth it. Stepping into the reception area of the resort is like stepping back in time when Mother Earth was covered in lush vegetation and life was simple and uncomplicated.

The atmosphere, cool and refreshing.

Amenities

After we checked in, we were immediately shown our accommodation – a cute cottage for four right after a beautiful hanging bridge.

Our cottage is like a two-room dwelling with two single beds in each room. Though not richly-furnished, it was suitable for the environment

Outside is a piece of lawn furniture where I spent long and precious moments soaking in the beauty, tranquility, and magic of the place.

Since I became a bachelor again, I’ve done some traveling, either long drives or an evening in a resort. Most of these travels revolved around beaches and the sea. Last year, I spent an evening in a mountain resort with my daughter and her hubby. But that was nothing compared to Forest Camp resort.

Forest Camp is a class by itself because it feeds on the primal need of man to be reconnected with his roots, his origins, which is the abundance and the beauty of Mother Nature.

You should not miss this.

~oOo~

The post Forest Camp: Perfect Place for the Weary of Soul and Body first appeared on Age With Charm.

I am not anti-social, but more often than not, I relish to be alone.

While most people take being “alone” as solitude or loneliness, it is not. At least, it does not have the same negative connotation as its cousins.

Being alone isn’t bad if it is a deliberate choice. On the other hand, it can be healthy and something we all must have more of.

As a writer, being alone is a part of the trade. But if I want to have a temporary respite from it, I do either of two things: spend an evening in an island beach resort or take a long drive.

I did the latter two Sundays ago by driving north of Cebu, then turned west towards the towns Tabuelan, Tuburan, Asturias, and Balamban.

I started off at 6:30 am and, 242 kms and 9 hours later, was back home, tired and hungry but joyful for having fulfilled another item on my bucket list.

Long drives are physically demanding, but a lot cheaper than flying somewhere, and each has different things to offer, yet gratifying to mind and soul in very much the same way.

Benefits of long drives:
I take long drives to scratch an itch – the itch of hitting the road and breeze through places I’ve never been to before, punctuated by short breaks to stretch, eat, talk to people and take pictures.

These apparently senseless way to spend a day are beneficial the following ways:

1.  It is fun:
Doing something outside of your routine is fun. Being out there with nothing to care about is fun, and living out the things you want to do is fun.

To be in a strange place, talking to people you haven’t met before, nor will ever meet again, is fun.

There are risks, of course. But they make long drives even more fun. Calculated risks test your mettle, your resourcefulness, and your ability to survive in unfamiliar conditions.

2.  Relieves mental fatigue:
Most people relate fatigue with physical fatigue. It is rarely mentioned when people feel tired, sluggish and drowsy for no apparent reason.

Physical fatigue is done with after a few hours of sleep. Mental fatigue is more difficult to handle because it has different symptoms such as insomnia, loss of appetite, anxiety, depression, forgetfulness and feelings of lethargy without any reason.

It’s like a brain-crash. You lose interest in doing anything because your mental processes freeze.

Mental fatigue is often caused by medical issues. But if you are healthy, yet feel its symptoms, take a long drive before it becomes one.

Long drives relax your brain and allow it to sort the kinks that are keeping it from functioning properly.

3.  Informative and educational:
Long drives provide a wealth of information along the way. Some are funny, strange, and even worrisome like when I lost one of my bakes in the first town I passed through.

Luckily, I was led to a mechanic who condemned my rear right wheel brake. He did a marvelous job that I was able to go on my journey with three brakes functioning.

I love to take photos of street scenes and talk to people in every stop. The things you learn from them may not be useful, but getting connected with others is an excellent mental exercise.

The Filipinos are a friendly lot, bordering on being over-felicitous. They never pass the opportunity of making strangers feel at home.

This is probably due to his strong religious culture as manifested by the presence of a church in every town, no matter how small.

4.  It beats boredom:
Aside from the itch to hit the road, getting away from boredom is another reason why I often take long drives.

The nemesis of live-alone seniors is to be cooped up in the same four walls of home day-after-day. While the home may be where the heart is, after a while, it can feel like a cage.

You see the same thing, smell the same thing, feel the same thing. Everything is the same making your world look like an empty box of gray.

Before it drives you nuts, get in your car and drive wherever you want to go.

The feeling is liberating. To feel the gust of wind against your face is therapeutic. To see different colors swirling around you, different songs of the birds, and hear the waves hit the shore are an excellent way of breaking the humdrum of home.

5.  Gives you control of yourself:
My friends find my solo long drives weird. They think it rather dangerous, if not boring.

But that is the whole point of being alone – to be free from the influences and hindrances a companion would certainly cause.

Solo long drives give you total control of yourself, i.e., when to start or stop, or go to a toilet to pee; you can eat wherever and whatever you want without having to discuss the matter with someone.

You can take your own pace and not be stressed along the way.

It is the only time where you can entirely have a space of your own without having to consider other’s thoughts, ideas, or opinions. There is absolutely no disagreement or comprises if you go solo

Should you, at your age, drive Why not

Though there is a running debate whether elderly people should drive or not, if you still can, you should.

Age does affect our vision, our responses, our sense of direction and many other medical conditions that limit a senior’s ability to handle the physical demands of long drives, but they should not deter you from giving it a try if you can still get behind the wheel.

Today is the time of doing something different, something exciting and something you may not have done before, or ever will.

To make it safer, get a medical clearance before hitting the road and turn on your smartphone’s GPS to be constantly connected with your loved ones.

During my drive, I texted my daughter in each town I was in – even my brake problem.

Please share with others so other seniors can appreciate the joys and benefits of long drives.

~oOo~

The post Do You Want to be Alone Take a Solo Long Drive first appeared on Age With Charm.

When I feel the itch (and I am always itchy), I travel, one of the nice things about being healthy and single.

It can be a simple as a long drive, or a flight or boat ride to an island. In all cases, the destination is always the same – an evening in a quiet beach resort.

Every now and then, my daughter and her hubby bring me along for a ride. I like this type of travel because it has a touch of class (they have more money than me). LOL!

I have already lined up several destinations this year and they all promise to be exciting and fulfilling

What about you Have you made a list of travel destinations If you haven’t, start doing it now. Don’t let the year pass (and it can be over before you know it), with much regret for not having scratched your itch.

Why travel?
First, it is the best way of getting out of the confinement of your home, your boring and stifling environment. It is to have a whiff of fresh and invigorating air, an unobstructed view of the sunrise or sunset.

Other than the romantic aspects of travel, it is good both for your body and mind.

Exploring new cities, visiting museums, talking to new and different people and learning a few foreign words are all nourishing to the mind.For example it…

–  Improves social and communication skills;
–  Gives you peace of mind;
–  Helps generate creative and original thoughts;
–  Broadens your horizon;
–  Makes you a take chances and uncertainties with a smile;
–  Boosts your self-confidence;
–  Gives you real-life education.

In summary, Dr. Margaret J. King, director of the Center for Cultural Studies & Analysis, says this of the mental benefits of travel: “With a short list of activities each day, freed up from the complexities of ongoing projects and relationships, the mind can reset, as does the body, with stress relief the main outcome.

Traveling also requires a lot of physical activities like walking around museums, exploring city streets and malls, running after public transports, etc. Studies show that a tourist walks an average of 10 miles a day. That is a lot of walking for better health.

Of course, travel has its risks. Some places are better avoided to avoid getting into the midst of a local unrest, while the rest can be mitigated by ample preparation.

Here are a few safety tips to make your travel an unforgettable experience.

Tips for a safe travel:
A lot of things can happen while you are away from home. I know of a friend who had a heart attack while going around St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. So before leaving, be sure to:

1.  Get cleared by your doctor:
Get a go-signal from your doctor that you are fit to travel. Some airlines will require it if you have a known medical conditions.

Let your doctor know your destination, how long is your stay and what will be your expected activities.

If he recommends prescription drugs to carry along or certain immunization, don’t ignore it.

2.  Don’t forget your drugs:
If you are on prescription drugs be sure to bring along enough to cover your entire stay. Bring along your prescriptions, too, just in case.

It would not be a bad idea to bring along other drugs for allergies, headache, cough and cold or painkillers. Better be ready than sorry. The new environment may affect you in ways you never expected.

3.  Keep your family in the loop:
Let your family know of your travel plans.

My children always know of my travel plans, i.e., my departure and arrival dates, where I am going to stay, etc. And when I get there, the first thing I do is to let them know of my arrival.

It will give you and your family peace of mind.

4.  Be sure to get travel insurance:
Don’t scoff at the idea of travel insurance. It can come in very handy. A lot of my friends who are residing abroad benefited from it when they came home to have surgical operations.

It costs a pittance compared to the potential benefit you get from it in case you need it. Don’t wait until it rains before running for an umbrella. Bring one along.

5.  Know your destination:
Know as much as possible your destination, i.e., weather, hospitals, recreation areas, places of interest, crime rate, currency conversion rates, etc.

Have a general idea of the area around the place where you will be staying, how to get around, available transportation types, and many others.

Groping around in a place you are not very familiar is a great spoiler of could have been a wonderful travel.

6. Take it easy:
You are on a pleasure trip, so take things easy. Wake up as late as you can or go to bed as later than usual.

For a short time in your life, discard your habits and adopt new ones. You are there to enjoy, to enjoy and savor each moment.

Don’t push yourself too hard, though. Don’t rush through things. Take your own sweet time to cover everything in your itinerary.

And treat yourself to a nice warm bath and a glass of wine to end each day. You owe it to yourself.

Please share so other seniors will relish the wonders of going away for a change.

~oOo~

The post Do Something Different this Year – Travel first appeared on Age With Charm.

Nothing is over until it’s over- no matter how old you can be.

I found this out over the weekend in a place I thought I may never have the chance to see, feel and experience in my lifetime – the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (The Filipino Houses of Acuzar), a heritage resort in Bagac, Bataan, Philippines,  150 kms west of Metro Manila.

Through Google, I had a fairly good idea what to expect. But it was too far below from what I saw when we got there.

The Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is not just like any resort. It is a resort with a difference – it takes you back to between mid-Spanish colonial times and early American occupation.

In a touch of insanely creative genius (and lots of cash), the owner, Mr. José “Gerry” Acuzar, an architect, built replicas or bought Filipinos houses of the era, dismantled them “in situ,”  and rebuilt them, piece by piece, into his 40-ha lot in the province.

The result is like a storybook that is seen and felt, not read.

Mr. Acuzar’s eye for perfection left nothing to chance – from the cobbled paths along each house, to the stone bridges that span the resort’s waterways, and the attire the staff wears – all are reminiscent of that important period of the country’s history.

And it has paid off. The Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is now one of the Philippines’ most visited travel destinations and a favorite wedding venue.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar:

The food is great, but the interior is astounding (this is where we had lunch).

A tiny glimpse of the past (taken along the beach front) – how it must have looked in the mid 1800s, sans the passenger jeep.

Fantastic view from elegantly made stone bridges – taken from the back entrance of our hotel

Old but stately – El 82 – the hotel we stayed in. It belonged to the famous Ongpins of Manila.

Lola Basyang and children eager to hear her stories:

“Lola Basyang” is the pen name of Severino Reyes (February 11, 1861 – September 15, 1942), a Filipino writer and playwright and famous for his anthology of short stories that regaled children at the time.

Bridge of monsters:

Lola Basyang’s favorite evil characters, beautifully sculpted, attached beneath a breath-taking stone bridge (l to r:  kapre (ogre), mananggal (vampire), and the tikbalang (centaur)).

Hotel del Oriente – regal and colorful, then and now

Hotel del Oriente was a first class hotel in Manila and the entire archipelago built by Don Manuel Perez Marqueti in 1889.

If you missed it then, don’t miss it now.

The one and only – its plate states that it was the only red brick house during the period.

Then and now, it is still a sight to behold.

Want a ride?

Tourists having a field day in a horse-drawn colorful carriage. At the back is Casa Hagonoy.

The other face of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar:

As unique as this resort is, it is also unique in its facility to provide beach-lovers an unparalleled space to romp, play games, or simply bond – barefoot – on the sand.

Its beachfront is as broad and deep and clean (probably cleaner) than that of Atlantic City’s.

The beach – as long and wide as your legs can take.

Or bond with friends in the midst of sea, sky sand – the elements of a happy and contented life,

Or enjoy the spectacle of carabao racing.

And when the sun starts it journey to the far side and make today a yesterday, it is the best place for contemplation and gratitude for having lived a day that will soon become a memory.

As a writer, I pride myself with having a deep vocabulary. Yet, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, left me speechless. I can use all the superlatives in the English language, but deep in my gut is the nagging feeling that I have not described it well enough.

Note: All photos were taken from my new Huawei Nova 2i – courtesy of my daughter. LOL!

~oOo~

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The post The Filipino Houses of Acuzar – a “Must See!” first appeared on Age With Charm.