The Sweet 16 of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental

While everyone is going gaga over the exciting and colorful Masskara Festival - I'm guilty about this one too before - did you know that Negros Occidental, primarily, its capital, Bacolod City, has a lot more in store for all of its guests. I was lucky enough to somehow see and experience its Sweet 16 that I think Masskara party-goers could and enjoy and made them realize why they should keeping exploring the province.

Sit back, and enjoy the ride as I take you to the City of Smiles and the Sugar Bowl of the Philippines!

One: The Ruins

5 Reasons to Visit and See Quezon City this Weekend

If there’s one place or city you should be or must be in this weekend, make sure you are in Quezon City! Celebrating its 75th Jubilee Year this October 11-12, the city which is named after the Father of Commonwealth, President Manuel L. Quezon, has prepared a stunning and worth remembering spectacle not only for the country to see, but for the whole world!

Quezon Memorial Shrine

I was able to list down five of the must-see and must-experience happenings in Quezon City this weekend, and all I can say is make sure you drink a bottle or two of energy drink because this Saturday and Sunday is one helluva jam-packed weekend made to excite you, satiate your taste buds and take you back in time where Quezon City is the passage through of history and its people.

A Sneak Peak at Ocean Park Hong Kong's Halloween Fest

Personally inviting Filipinos to its spookiest and exciting festival, Ocean Park Hong Kong's management team visited Philippines last September 11 for the launch of its all-day-and-night fun and scary Halloween Fest.

Made more fun and exciting, this year's Ocean Park Hong Kong's Halloween Fest will feature the first-ever reservation-only limited-admission H-14 attraction including the haunting series of locked chamber, Asia's first super-sized Doraemon-themed Halloween celebration and the mega Scaremonies show.

Sam YG hosting the launch in Manila

Hosted by Radio DJ Sam YG, the launch here in Manila has brought some of Ocean Park's colorful characters who performed some of their tricks that added excitement to the air. Though, he isn't present at the launch, the day was also made exciting by Doraemon, which will be highlighted in Doraemon Halloween Party. For the very first time, Doraemon and friends will showcase their new Halloween looks in Asia at Ocean Park's Whiskers Harbour. Be the first to experience Doraemon's favorite gadgets "Time Machine" and "Anywhere Door" in Doraemon House of Gadgets.

Bohol Beach Club is Back!

All along I thought we will never see it again. Thank God, someone pumped in some blood and after some months, Panglao, Bohol's oldest hotel resort is back, beating its heart again and ready to share Boholanos beauty at its primest moment. Yep, I'm talking about none another than Bohol Beach Club.

After 8 months of hiatus, Panglao's premier hotel resort opens to the public once again sharing the very essence of Panglao, Bohol. Though I must admit that it lost some of its beauty, Bohol Beach Club is proud to share again its timeless appeal made more memorable by its lovely Boholano staff and delicacies.

If you are looking for a decent and family-friendly spot in the beautiful island of Panglao, I can assure everyone that Bohol Beach Club is the place to be. With 88 rooms classified into De Luxe and Beachview Suites, amenities such as swimming pool, business center, game room, beach-side restaurant, pool side bar and club aqua sports complete the whole new beauty of Bohol Beach Club.

Hamilo Coast's Pico de Loro Cove: A Balance of Everything

While most of you are busy booking flight through  "Piso Seat Sale" to see and experience your dream destination at an affordable price, two hours away from the busy and crowded Metro Manila lays a beautiful, peaceful and maybe adventure-filled spot hiding behind the green slopes of Hamilo in Nasugbu, Batangas. And yes, you don't need a long weekend to enjoy the beauty that Hamilo Coast's Pico de Loro has to offer.

Passing through the nice and smooth CAVITEX, reaching the quiet and clean Hamilo Coast is so easy and surprisingly breathtaking. Famous for its well-preserved diverse marine life, Hamilo Coast is currently gaining popularity as a haven for fitness activities like triathlon. But of course I didn't went there to chase time, you know me. I went there to put my feet up and experience the talked about Pico de Loro luxury, only few people can really afford.

I must say, price-wise, staying here for a night is quiet expensive, most specially if you are not a member of its Beach or Country Club. But knowing that  we now have  a chance to see and feel the place, I guess price doesn't really matter at all - most specially if you are staying at their Pico Sands Hotel.

Vote for Vigan City as New 7 Wonders - Cities!

The exciting and pushing-to-boundaries online search is on again - and this year, the organizers are in search for the most captivating and worth-seeing cities in the world through New 7 Wonders - Cities!

After our very own Puerto Princesa Underground River bagged one of the slots of the New 7 Wonders of Nature last 2012, Ilocos Sur's capital, Vigan City is now asking for support this year for them to be named as one of the New 7 Wonders - Cities in the world. 

Competing with equally stunning and colorful cities in the world, like Bangkok of Thailand, Beirut of Lebanon, Doha of Qatar, Istanbul of Turkey, Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia, Mumbai of India, Perth of Australia, Seoul of South Korea, and Shenzen of China, Philippines' Vigan City keeps fighting for a slot in this renowned online world-wide competition.

My Dream Balicasag Island Trip

It has been a week now and I can still vividly remember how my recent trip to Balicasag Island ended. It was pitch black, the wind was howling like a danger is coming after us and the thick darker clouds were hovering above us like we can't escape it anymore. Our boatmen had to kill the motor of our boat so as not to hit the corals below - yes, it was low tide too. And though, our boat was moving, I can sense the tension in the sealed mouth of ours. This is not how I dreamed of my first-ever Balicasag Island trip, this is not a dream to start with, it was some sort of a nightmare.

To most of us when we heard of Balicasag, the first thing that comes right up in to our minds is its pristine white beach barely touched or abused by people. Considered as a Panglao, Bohol's pride, my recent trip to this paradise has almost turned differently if not for the determined Panglaoanon guides who tried all their best to bring back us to the Panglaoshore safe and sound.

On the second day of my coverage of Panglao International Dive Fiesta, we were invited by our host - the Panglao Tourism Board - to see and experience one of the hottest dive sites in the country, the Balicasag Island. Boasting with rich marine life that has been attracting foreign divers, Balicasag is actually in my must-visit list here in Bohol.

The First Ever Panglao International Dive Fiesta

In an island surrounded by beautiful beaches with pristine white sands, Panglao, Bohol is now ready to take a different kind of challenge that aims to make their municipality a must-visit place in the world. World, say hello to Panglao International Dive Fiesta.

Boasting with thousands of unique underwater species, which can be seen in 16 famous diving sites off the pristine and captivating Bohol’s crown jewel, Panglao hosts the first ever International Dive Fiesta that is set to showcase the province’s well-kept and protected gems beneath its clear, blue seas.

Started today June 12, this 4-day event, which consists of diving training and seminars, search and rescue capability exercise, exhibit, underwater photo contest and food market among other will last until this Sunday, June 15.

Cintai Corito's Garden: Balinese Escape at Balete, Batangas

Flowers are in bloom, pastures are green as ever, different species of birds chirping and clucking and trees swaying along the refreshing breeze brought by the nearby Taal Lake – it feels like I am dreaming my great Bali dream, but actually, I am not. Everything was real and the only thing I was asked to do is savor every minute of my stay at Balete, Batangas' Cintai Corito's Garden.

If you Google the word “Cintai” (pronounced as Chin-tai), you'll see how this word is related to romance, passion and love. In Indonesia, where this place got its inspiration, Cintai simply means love. A place that is actually made out of love – the love of the children to their mother and the love of a husband to his wife – Cintai Corito’s Garden is overflowing with love that is set to captivate every guest’s heart, soul and mind.

When I visited the place with some friends a few days back, we were surprised to see such beauty exists just around 2 hours away from Metro Manila. Specifically located at Sitio Pandayan, Malabanan Balete, Batangas, Cintai Corito's Garden is currently managed by Paramount Property Management Company, the same group that handles Microtel Philippines.

The La Loma Lechon Festival 2014

Proving that La Loma, Quezon City still holds the title of Lechon Capital of the Philippines, on this year's festivity, La Loma offered more than just the typical lechons in costume parading down the street - they offered the start of a new beginning for La Loma Lechon Festival!

This year, the Tourism Board of Quezon City injected more activities to this filling celebration that gives guests and locals a reason to smile and weigh more. From the traditional Lechon Parade, last Sunday's festivity also includes Drums and Lyre Parade, Boodle Fight, Culinary Competition, Street Dance, Band Performances, Fireworks and more that made 2014 La Loma Lechon Festival more memorable.

I got there around lunch time, where I witnessed a crowd all gathered up at N.S. Amoranto Street. With drums and dragon dancers entertaining some of the town's guests, La Loma Lechon Festival also host a cooking contest that gave a new meaning to lechon eating.