Luzon – Page 11 – Travel Up

Anilao Underwater Shootout stages a successful comeback

Banner photo: Winner, Special Award – Wide Angle, Paul Joseph Aristorenas

Amateur and professional underwater photographers, divers, and marine enthusiasts once again masterfully captured the beauty of Anilao in the entries to the 7th Anilao Underwater Shootout (AUS), recently mounted by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Winner, Special Award – Blackwater, Dennis Corpuz

Dubbed as the “World Cup of Underwater Photo Competitions,” the event highlighted the town’s teeming marine biodiversity, including its world-famous nudibranchs.

Casa Escondida Anilao Resort & Dive Center, Batangas

Anilao in Batangas is known as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines. The small barangay in the coastal town of Mabini is one of the most popular diving destinations accessible by land travel for those who live in Metro Manila. Anilao is said to be the home to more than half of the Philippines’ documented shore fish species as well as over 300 species of coral.

Biking to El Deposito Underground Tunnels in Pinaglabanan Shrine, San Juan

After years of excavation and clearing, and months of pandemic-induced delays, the El Deposito Underground Reservoir is now finally open to the public! Visitors can walk back in time through a portion of the Spanish-era tunnels just sitting underneath the sprawling public park in San Juan City.

Bike-friendly cafes in the Maginhawa area (2021)

The coffee and cycling culture has really boomed in the Philippines. Since the pandemic hit, pop-up coffee kiosks coffee and minimalist roadside cafes serving good coffee catering to cyclists have become destinations on their own for weekend rides. You can find a lot of minimalist and pop-up roadside cafes situated in scenic spots along biker’s routes like Antipolo, Timberland, Boso-Boso, Marilaque, offering relaxing spots to rest during longer rides.

But for those looking for a destination for quick city rides, there are plenty of cool coffee shops in and around the metro that you can check out as well. Here are just a few cafes in my own Maginhawa neighborhood where bikers can grab a good cup of coffee and snacks for those chill Tambike sessions.

Art in Island has reopened: New Guidelines (October 2021)

Interactive art museum Art in Island in Quezon City has finally reopened to the public starting Saturday (October 23, 2021).

The biggest 3D Interactive Art Museum in Asia, known for letting visitors become “part of the art” and pose and play with its paintings and exhibits, has been closed for 19 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo from a previous visit in 2015 (face masks, face shields, and socks are now required!)

At the moment, only fully vaccinated guests are allowed to visit the art gallery as per IATF and Quezon City guidelines. Children (17 years old and below) are still not allowed to visit.

Camp Sandugo: Biking, camping & craft beer with a view near Manila

One of the things I miss the most about traveling is hunting down unique beers you can only find in specific destinations. We used to enjoy biking in the Timberland area before the pandemic hit, but sadly most of the bike trails (Blue Zone, Green Zone, etc.) through the regular route up the Wall are no longer accessible to mountain bikers except for special events.

I really wanted to revisit the area just to try out Brusko Craft Beer, the in-house craft beer served at Camp Sandugo, a popular biking and camping destination in San Mateo in Rizal, near Metro Manila.

Cebu Pacific all set for domestic travel recovery in Q4

Cebu Pacific will increase its flights in October to tourism havens Siargao, Boracay, and Bohol as the country’s leading airline push for domestic travel recovery, following the easing of quarantine restrictions.

In October, the airline will expand its flights to Siargao from five times to six times weekly; raise its frequencies to Boracay from four to five times daily; and bump up flights to Bohol from nine to 10 times weekly.

LIST: Liquor Bans in Metro Manila (UPDATED September 2021)

UPDATE: Quezon City and San Juan have both officially lifted the liquor bans as the capital region shifts to Alert Level 4 starting Thursday, September 16, 2021.

The latest memorandum published by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte states that liquor selling “may be sold at any time except during public safety hours (10 p.m. to 4 a.m.).”

Narito ang gabay sa Alert Level 4 na ipatutupad sa ating lungsod simula Huwebes, Setyembre 16, 2021.

Tingnan ang iba pang gabay at i-download ang buong guidelines dito: https://t.co/NJoTvX6zCh pic.twitter.com/5TWOINil0l
— Quezon City Government (@QCGov) September 15, 2021

“Liquor Selling. Liquor may be sold at any time except during public safety hours (10 pm to4 am). Drinking on sidewalks and other public places (i.e., not inside a home or establishment) shall remain prohibited. As an exception, the sale of liquor shall be banned inside Special Concern Lockdown areas.”

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora also announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday that the city would allow alcohol consumption again but “only inside homes and restaurants.”

Book Museum and Ethnology Center in Marikina

Do you miss traveling and going to museums? The Book Museum and Ethnology Center in Marikina announced that they’re finally reopening on July 18, 2021 (Sunday) at 50% capacity. This colorful and quirky museum offers an interesting visit for book-lovers and avid travelers. The museum contains a collection of limited edition books and published materials from all around the world, including travel artifacts from different regions of the Philippines.

Blanco Family Museum & BRKD Café in Angono, Rizal

When you think of museums to visit in Rizal, the Instagram hotspots of Pinto Art Museum and Art Sector Gallery and Chimney Café are the first two museums that immediately come to mind. But it’s always nice to visit and revisit the older and more established museums around the country.

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