A kaleidoscopic festival indeed! Twinkling through the beats of wonderful Christmas carols filled the view of thousands of viewers as Robinson Starmills hosted once again the annual festival in San Fernando, Pampangga that display the true craftsmanship of their fellows on this year's Giant Lantern Festival or the Ligligan Parul 2012!
This is my first time to truly experience this very colorful festival in this part of the country. And even though I'm alone on this journey, I had a wonderful time finding some familiar places on the venue that added more colors to this trip.
Last Saturday right after my "raket", I immediately take the ride going to Victory Liner in Caloocan to reach the earliest possible bus ride bound to Olonggapo. Yes, Olonggapo bound buses takes the Starmills route, so it was kinda easy to go to this festival actually.
A lot of us are dreaming of a White Christmas, or maybe something not Oriental this Yuletide season. I can't blame you, guys, because I do too, despite of my love to our country, I still think, something different to end the year ain't that bad. Hehe. And I guess, it's just normal, we Filipinos, love seeing the world - having a lot of options. And while we are saving for that wonderful dreams of ours, did you know that you don't need to spend that much and travel that far to experience a different kind of Christmas?
Because just two hours away from Manila, specifically in Tagaytay City, lays a fine looking Swiss-inspired community that bears nothing but tranquility, serenity and luxury - yes, all rolled into one at CrossWinds Resort Suites.
A few days before December hits the whole world, I and two of my friends, had a wonderful and relaxing weekend here at CrossWinds. It's a community brought up by Brittany, and I actually had seen it from the outside before, so I know that it's really beautiful even before finally having a chance to stay there for a night.
As the Christmas season comes nearer, the amazing lights and sound show of Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City is now considered one of the must-sees in the metropolis during this festive cheers. And just like they always say "Make It Happen, Make It Makati", this year's show is made more magical and enchanting with its beats all created by renowned lighting designer Voltaire De Jesus and acclaimed musicians and composers Jazz Nicolas and Mikey Amistoso.
Last November 16th, amidst the busy rush hour of Makati City's Central Business District, people paused for some 10 minutes to witness the premiere of the well-lauded Enchanting Lights and Show at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.
Transformed into an extravagant spectrum of dazzling dancing lights and sounds, Ayala Triangle Gardens joins the fun of welcoming the Yuletide cheers with its symbolic lighting event. And though the help of Voltaire De Jesus, Jazz Nicolas and Mikey Amistoso, this years show is made mo exciting and wowing compared to the previous years that they had.
It was last year when I was first introduced and experienced Gran Prix Hotel and Resorts. With branches in Manila, Quezon City, Pasay City, Tarlac, Cebu and Boracay, it is no wonder that this chain of hotels has become a home-far-away-from-home to travelers, may they be on a budget or not, and may they be local or foreign in a very short amount of time. And last week, as I was given another chance to enjoy its hospitality in a Bloggers' Night that they hosted, it is just so nice to indulge in to something that gives you happiness and fulfillment even in a glimpse of time.
For more than 12 hours, I get to experience again the simple beauty that Gran Prix Hotel and Resorts has to offer. From its simple but welcoming reception area to its hall ways that gives nothing but breathable spaces, down to its rooms that encapsulate simple yet decent appeal, Gran Prix Manila is indeed one friendly brand giving value to every visitors of this colorful city.
Once again, the country's most prestigious Central Business District (CBD) has turned itself in to another captivating and splendid sight as its lights up for Holidays 2012! Yes, boys and girls, it's Christmas time now here in Makati City!
Joined by the local government officials, Makati Central Business District personage, headed by Mr. Jaime Zobel de Ayala, once again added glamour and prestige to the ever developing business district of the country by lighting up over a million of dazzling LED lights to celebrate the forthcoming for Holidays 2012.
From the ever busy thoroughfares - Ayala, Makati and Paseo de Roxas Avenues - these millions of LED lights will be the spectacle that one should catch on this exciting and merry season of Christmas. Designed by the country's renowned floral designer, Zenas Pineda interpreted the vibrant character and continuous growth of the district by utilizing designs that relate to Makati's leadership nature, breaking free from the traditional expectations but maintaining its commitment to protect and cherish the environment.
Who would've thought that a beautiful and peaceful looking American-inspired house like this could be that haunting and really scary at night? Well, stories say that a girl as white as ghost is seen on its windows at night looking at the passersby. Yes, you are now staring at the haunting Laperal White House of Baguio City.
Last week, right after our tree planting activity at Mount Bosol in Baguio City, my friends and I decided to pay a visit to one of the the haunted houses that's nestling just inside the City of Pines. Located at #4 Leonard Wood Street, just a few step from another haunted place - Teachers Camp, Laperal White House is said to be one of the oldest and haunted structures in Baguio City.
Stories say that it was constructed just before the Japanese occupation. But when the Japanese started invading this city, the owners Mr. and Mrs. Laperal were slayed inside this house, then the the Japanese soldiers made this beautiful house as their headquarters and raped and killed more people.
If I'm not mistaken, the first and so far the only waterfalls that I've seen was the back-to-back falls of Daranak and Batlag of Tanay, Rizal back in 2009. And the last hike that I did was when I went to see Mr. Pinatubo last 2011. These two nature trips were unforgettable, not only because such efforts were exerted, but also I barely went out to see such natural beauty as these two. And this year, alongside the fun and knowledge that organic agriculture has shared to us, I had a chance to take the road of Majayjay, Laguna to see one of its precious sights - the Majayjay Falls.
This falls is called in three different names actually - there's the Majayjay Falls, taken from the name of the town where it belongs; the Taytay Falls, which is the actual name; and there's the name Imelda Falls, in honor of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, who according to the people there financed the promotion of the tourism in this area.
So, okay, two hours from Manila, one can enjoy this stunning gift from nature flowing like a wonderful sheet of silk from the mystical mountains of Mt. Banahaw. But before you get to see this, though the roads to get here weren't really that treacherous, you have to walk some 10 minutes passing along the scenic and comforting cemented path of Mt. Banahaw. Not bad, eh?
Driving down south to see Majayjay Falls, one will see a sign first saying Costales Nature Farms just before you reach the detour to Mayjay Falls. A 5-hectare land acquired by Mr. Ronald Costales last 2005, this farm has evolved through time from just being a simple farm to a tourist destination in this part of the country now. And guys, this is where I spent one of my long weekends last August.
It's time to go back in time again and feel the love and care of nature through Costales Nature Farms!
A 3-hour drive from Manila, Costales Nature Farms served as our nest when we were invited by the Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) for their organic farming campaign. An advocacy that is now pushed by the department for us to have not just have delicious meals on our tables but also to live a healthy and safe life too, DA-ATI shared this farm, one of the credited organic farms in the country, for us to commune with the nature and experience an ideal organic life, even just for a day.
It may be that wide and lonely bridge to some, but to those who come from the far south like me, it is an achievement to be at this northern most bridge that you could only find here in the town of Pagudpud. Nope, it is not just some bridge overlooking the very beautiful Pasaleng Bay but rather a viaduct - a bridge over a valley connecting the the Maharlika Highway from Laoag, Ilocos Norte to the Cagayan Valley Region.
This is my second visit on this very windy place called Patapat Viaduct, but despite of that, it never fails to amaze me by its merely serenity and picturesque scene. Made to to solve the problem of landslides causing many vehicular accidents in the area during the early times, Patapat Viaduct was officially opened to public in 1986 under the management of DPWH-PMO-PJHK.
Considered as the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines, its bridge is elevated 31 meters over sea level and runs for about 1.3 kilometers. It rises along Pagudpud's coastal mountains, which is the starting point of the Cordillera Mountain Range and snakes through Northern Luzon.
Fourteen-hour drive from Manila, that's what you have to endure if you are planning to take a long road trip up north here in Ilocos Region. But don't worry, because after that skull-breaking and butt-sweating long drive, you'll get to see the prime beach of Luzon. As quiet as the summer wind, as serene as a sleeping baby, the Saud Beach.
One top tourist destination in Ilocos Norte are its beaches, which I'm so proud, by the way. Because with their pristine white sand and truly captivating view, they managed to stay so pure and truly relaxing. Dubbed as the "anti-Boracay of the North", this Saud Beach is just one of the beaches that you could find here in Ilocos Norte.
I had a wonderful time staying there a few months ago, and I must say that after two years since my last visit here, it is just so wonderful to see that nothing much has changed. It's mystifying peacefulness and breathtaking site of the Bangui Windmills were all kept together making it one of my favorite beaches in the country, really.
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