I could not contain my excitement the night before my trip to Western Visayas, its always been a dream of mine to visit this part of the Philippines. Why? Its because I have heard so many things about it especially their culture, history and the people. We all love the sweetness of Ilonggos and their famous churches. Actually, I slept at 3AM during the day of my flight. But this trip wouldn’t be possible if again were not for Cebu Pacific, the ticket is absolutely free, no taxes and charges just Zero. My friends couldn’t believe it but its really true. I hope there’s another promo like this, now its time to fly. 

When I arrived in Davao International Airport, the gate bound for Iloilo was already closed. I am 10 minutes late before the plane will depart. Good thing Cebu Pacific is not so strict on this. This happened to me also when I visited Cebu last November 20. The adrenalin rushed when the airport paging already called for immediate boarding while I am still at the hall lining for the the terminal fee. It was like an amazing race experience, I had to run all the way to the 2nd xray machine and the tarmac. I wonder why Cebu Pacific isn’t using the aerobridges anymore on some selected flights. Anyway, it was thrilling to know that I could be left behind by the plane. All the planning will be the disaster. Although we are few minutes delayed, nobody can stop me from visiting Iloilo.

Iloilo Airport impressed me alot. It was well maintained, the floors are really shiny. You can really say that Iloilo politicians are not corrupt coz they were able to build this airport.

This is the face of the Iloilo Airport. For me, this is the 2nd best airport behind from Davao International Airport outside of Metro Manila.

Before hitting out into the city, might as well visit the Tourist Information Center. There I was greeted by a superfriendly staff and even escorted me to the Van terminal. You dont usually see this behavior unless I was a foreigner. But locals or foreigners, I can see that they all take care of their visitors well.

As I said, Iloilo City is also famous for its colonial churches. My foot have taken me to Jaro Church and Jaro Belfry Tower. Both are amazing structures, it reminds us of how the Spanish people have invaded the country. When you see the church interiors, it is so beautiful. The place where I came from Davao, doesnt have this one.

Pictures of the Jaro Belfy, infront of the Jaro Church.

Jaro Church After this, I proceed to Molo Church. This strucked me alot because of its huge doors and lovely interiors!

One of the things I did in Iloilo was to try their street food along along avenue, where St. Paul University is also located, currently the Philippines no. 1 nursing school.

  One of the streets in Iloilo.

Museo Iloilo.

Previous years, this small province in Western Visayas was once a center of controversy because a certain oil tanker sinked near the island of Guimaras that destroyed local marine habitat, it was like a nightmare for fishermen that depend on their daily catch. However, today Guimaras is bouncing back from its worst ever environmental dilemma. According to the tourist center, there are now more tourist coming after the accident because people got to know more about Guimaras, people became curious. This is exactly why I came to this island, out of curiosity.

Guimaras is widely known for its mangoes, thought to be the sweetest mango in the world. I have to find that out, so my adventure begins. I started my trip at the local fish port in Iloilo at Orlits St. From Ongbon Pension House, I rode a jeep and stopped near the University of Iloilo. The costs from Iloilo to Guimaras is very cheap, just about P13 one way. 

 Inside the pump boat vessel, it was so funny that the boat captain seems to be just relying on his instincts because the controls are below the passengers and the crew were just making signals when to stop or turn but thought it still seems to be safe though. The waves were so strong and thoughts told me this is perhaps why the oil tanker sinked at Guimaras. After 10 minutes ride, I have reached Guimaras roro port at Jordan Municipality and went directly to the tourist center which is located there too. 

Iloilo City on the background

 There are lots of drivers offering a trip to the town center and luckily I picked the right driver for that. He was very friendly and brought me to the scenic spots in the island. He was like a pro-tourist guide. Its true that Guimaras has lots of mango trees, its everywhere. It like there are more mangoes than people in the island.

Guimaras Provincial Capitol, San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras

  Jordan is the capital of Guimaras and its town center is at San Miguel. Its a very laid back town just like any other towns in the country. Good thing they have internet thanks to Smart bro and ATM Machines from Land Bank. The driver brought me to a backpacking lodge, its called Small Wings Inn. A night stay is P300, non aircon with bathroom.

Baguio? No, but in Guimaras

 My next trip was at the Tapestry Monastery, it was bit far from the town center. They also offer room accommodations there. If your looking for the best souvenir, this is the place for you.

Mangoes are far as you can see

 Guimaras scenic spot under a mango tree. Mango trees are shorter in the island but produce a very sweet taste.

 The driver told me that they also have a beach to be proud of, so without hesitations. We proceed to the beach. Along the road are mangoes, mangoes and more mangoes. I thought I could taste one but I just learned that mango is not in season. Too bad, but thats okay coz I have the reason to come back next year to taste their mango. In my hometown, Kidapawan we also have mangoes but are not produced in a large scale like this.

The beach never let me down. It was very beautiful.

Going back to Iloilo.

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Most of my friends have told me that I’m such a bigtime because despite the economic crisis I still travel. But little do they know that even with tight budget, it can’t stop you from traveling. You know there are lots of cheap deals you can see online. Just like Cebu Pacific’s All-in Zero fare. Try to catch them by visiting their website frequently or Philippine Airlines Econolight deals which can save you alot. Now, every Juan can fly with the Zest Airways (formerly Asian Spirit), they offer discounted fares too and soon SEAir which is expected to be a major low cost carrier.

When you arrive in your destination, it wouldn’t be much a problem because there are hotels that are cheap and clean. Just like my trip here in Laoag. Everyone thought that it would be an expensive destination but you are wrong. Laoag trip is affordable and worth every cent you spend. Right now, I stay at Isabel Suites located in the city-center of Laoag. It is a perfect location because its just beside the 24hour Jollibee, 1 minute walk to the bus and jeepney terminal. Single room cost about P700. Plus, they have free unlimited wifi.

Isabel Suites

I start the day with tour of Laoag City proper via the calesa. Its such a fun and cheap way to travel. Just P8 per destination. But later I realized that the horse is like being abused because the horse can inhale all the pollution from the street, the road must be very hot, it must be a calvary for the horse plus some rude drivers whipped some horses. But the calesa ride is a nice way to travel around town.

First we went to the famous symbol of Laoag, the Sinking bell tower. I was puzzled why did it call sinking tower but literally it sinks every year about half a centimeter. Finally I saw the tower not in postcard but in real life.

Just beside the tower is the famous St Williams Church.

But there’s a world famous church here in Ilocos and that’s where Im going next. But, lets stop first at the city hall and the Ilocos Museum.

The old municipal hall

Ilocos Museum

Sinking Tower view from the city hall.

As a budget traveller, high paying travel tours are unnescessary because in destination, the local people knows best than the tour guide. You yourself can make your own iterenary by searching online the best spots and tips on how to get along the place you wanna go. My favorite is Pinoyexchange.com, Ive been a member on this site for over 7 yearsm, until now Im actively posting into this forum.

My next destination in Laoag is the world famous church, a UNESCO heritage site. I always see it on post card or films that feature Ilocos province. This I got to see. 

Before Paoay Church, you can make a stopover to the old Marcos Town of Batac. You can find here Marcos’s preserved body or someway its a wax imitation. But I decided to go straight ahead to Paoay church and I was never disappointed. It was very majestic, I felt a different feeling when I saw it. It was like there’s some power or spirit that accumulated all over my body.

Side view of the church

Amazing talaga!

One of the best churches in the Philippines.

You should never miss this site when you are in Ilocos.

The highlight of my tour yesterday was going to Bangui town where the windmills are located and Pagudpud so called the Boracay of the North. The tour package on this trip in our hotel was roughly about P4000 but I spent less than a thousand on this trip. If you are a budget traveller, you must not be choosy, the cheapest transportation will do. Although tour packages has lots of advantages, like its more convenient because you dont need to transfer rides or worry about being comfort.

Before hitting out, here’s the symbol of Isabela Suites, cute!

My first trip was in Bangui town, the site of the huge electric fan, not that by the way, they are windmills that supply power to the region. They say its one of its kind in South East Asia. Have you seen the Department of Tourism Commercial with Regine Velasquez? They shot it at Bangui. Getting here is very cheap. I rode a Jeepney for only P50. Travel time from Laoag is more than an hour. I enjoyed my jeepney rides here because the Ilocos countryside is also beautiful. 

I asked the jeepney driver to stop me to the entrance of the windmills. From there, I rode a trike going to the windmills. Its very cheap, P50 for round trip. The trike driver will wait for you and will be glad to take your picture. Haha. 

From Bangui Windmills, I traveled next to one of Ilocandia’s pride: PAGUDPUD dubbed to be the Boracay of the North because of its long white sand beach. But does it really have the fine sand texture like the ones in Boracay? Thats what Im going to find out if it deserves to be named as such worldclass resort in the Visayas. The trip takes about an hour at a minimal price of 15 on this non airconditioned bus. 

Me inside the bus. Trip runs about 10-15 minutes. You will stop at Pagudpud Municipal Center from there you can take a trike going to the beachside. Trikes costs P50 one way, the only transportation in Pagudpud. 

T

The waves seem very unfriendly, its so strong. Good thing I didn’t bring any extra clothes for swimming. Virtually I cant swim here. Haha.

Pagudpud has nice white sand but I was a bit disappointed because I thought its really like Boracay, you know crystal powder like sand.

The beach here seems to be very deep.

It is very quite this time around, you can count people on but according to resort owners, they are now fully book for the Holy week. After here, I went to the Blue Lagoon. You can hire a trike going there. It costs P600 but I closed the deal with half the price.

Blue Lagoon is a surfers destination. Waves can get as much high during stormy days. Surfers flock here during storm, now thats cool.

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Yesterday, I went to the city of Vigan just south of Laoag City. Coincidentally, they also celebrated their Kannawidan Festival, it showcases the different cultures, sights and products of Ilocos Sur. When we talk ahbout Vigan, two things immediately came out in my mind, thats Chavit and UN World heritage site. They say its a place no other in the Philippines because its only here where Asian and European architecture are found. Before heading out, I took again photo with their monkey stuff today which is cute for me. Haha. Look we were so close together. Surely I will miss this cuddly monkey when I go back in Davao.  

This bus below is my ride to Vigan, its a non-air conditioned coach. One way fare was P100. I wished I didn’t choose this one because it was scorching hot yesterday. You can take Parbas Bus next time.

Kannawidan Festival

Getting ready for my ride in Vigan. The Calesa Tour costs P150/Hour.

First stop in the Calesa Tour.  

Burgos Museum

Enjoying the Calesa Ride

Hidden Garden

Baluarte Ni Chavit. This is an open park for animals, they can roam freely in the park, except for the carnivores.

Riding the pony.

Kawawa ang pony, I’m so heavy.

Jurrasic Park at Baluarte

View from the top.

Tiger Show

Open zoo just like in Singapore.

The man himself.

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What better way to start summer than going to the beach. Well everyone thinks of the white powdery beaches of Boracay, Panglao, Phuket or Maldives but why not try Siloso Beach in Singapore. Yes, this small island state is more famous for endless shopping but this time let Siloso Beach sizzle your summer, this might be the “hottest” beach destination this year. Trust me and you will know why. Let me officially open summer 2009.

A slice of paradise right in our doorstep, Sentosa offers a kaleidoscope of attractions and activities. Once you step afoot the island, be mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the lush greenery peppered with exciting attractions that will certainly blow you away! It’s a themed attraction, tropical resort, nature park and heritage centre all rolled into one. Soon, it will have Universal Studios Theme Park which is set to open in 2010. Getting here is very easy. Sentosa Station is located at VivoCity Shopping Mall just at the Harbourfront MRT station, you won’t miss it. The cheapest and the quickest way would be the Sentosa Express Monorail for $3. If you have more budget try the Cable Car or the Bus.

Siloso Beach is one of the 3 beaches in Sentosa. It is one of the coolest beach destination this summer, great way to chill, enjoy the sun and the hot Singaporeans. Probably its cheap to go to a gym in Singapore, six packs and bikinis are everywhere, it will really heat you up. You don’t see this more often in Boracay. This is why it keeps me coming back to Sentosa. You just can’t get off your eyes especially when their playing volleyball or frisbee. They night not have parasailing or diving activities, you don’t need them there.

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Manila may not be always on my list when I travel but because of the heavy storm that hit the city last week, I had a chance to rediscover what the capital has to offer and take down memory lane of this great Asian city.

My first stop was in Binondo Church, famous for the catholic feast celebrations as well as some shooting for telenovelas and movies in television. In front of the church, I noticed some old people that do fortune telling. I found a very old lady that reads  my palm and does the tarot card tricks and amazingly, 80% of what the lady said is true. 

After Binondo, I went to Intramuros. The first time I visited this place was when I was 5 years old. I never thought that Manila has this rich history. Intramuros is also called the Walled City as in literally. It was used by the Spaniards to control the people and to protect from outside invaders.  

The best way to tour around Intramuros is through a Calesa or the horse carriage, the main transporation during Spanish times. It is still evident in this place old spanish buildings.

 
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Finding a backpacker type of accommodation in Iloilo is easy, one you reached the town center, you will notice inns, pension houses and budget hotels scattered around. However, when in Iloilo I chose Ongbon Pension House because it is centrally located to shopping malls and banks. Actually, its my second time here and Im satisfied with their service; cheap food, friendly staffs and most its clean, very different from the pensions houses I know.

After checking in at the pension house. My first destination in here for this year is the famous Miagao church located in Southern Iloilo, popular for its gothic styled design and getting there is very easy and affordable. Although I’m not catholic, I’m amazed with old churches. Miagao is also a UNESCO Heritage site thats why its worth the visit. I really don’t know who are those people engraved on the churches wall but you may wanna visit http://www.exploreiloilo.com, the ultimate guide to Iloilo. 

Unfortunately, the weather is not good when I arrived in Miagao. After 5 minutes of picture taking with a local, it started raining. From Iloilo proper it takes about 45 minutes via jeepney. 

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