Category: Philippines

Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

With Taal Volcano’s ongoing eruption, everybody’s on edge. Thousands of residents who live near the lake have been displaced and animals have been abandoned on the island. The landscape of Taal’s Volcano Island will probably never be the same again.

View of Taal Lake from Tagaytay (pre-2020 eruption)

It’s scary to think of what could happen in the future. It makes you wonder how prepared we are considering that the Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands, most of which are volcanic in origin. In fact, there are at least 300 volcanoes in the country.

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Bike Ride to Wawa Dam via AFP Housing

Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal is a favorite weekend destination for mountain bikers based in Manila. Situated in the 360-meter high Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge, a water gap in the Sierra Madre Mountains, these headwaters of the Marikina River used to be the primary water source of Manila before La Mesa Watershed. The scenic destination is roughly just an hour’s drive away (depending on the traffic) from the big cities in the East of Manila.

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Travel Guide: Romblon Island, Romblon

Romblon is one of the three main islands and capital of the province of the same name in the Philippines. Formerly a trading post during the Spanish period, Romblon Island is popularly known as the “Marble Capital of the Philippines.” It’s also a rising ecotourism destination home to stunning white-sand beaches and uncrowded diving spots.

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Travel Guide: Tanay, Rizal

The town of Tanay in Rizal province is one of my favorite destinations near the metro for motorcycling road trips. Its proximity to Manila, refreshing mountain scenery, cooler climate, and generally uncrowded destinations makes it a good alternative to Tagaytay on any given weekend. Parts of Tanay pass through portions of the Sierra Madre mountain range, making it a great motorcycling and biking destination.

For weekend warriors and families, Tanay has lots to offer in terms of natural attractions. The resorts and leisure camps in the area also make it a popular destination for team-building activities as well.

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Things to do in Escolta, Manila

Calle de la Escolta or Escolta Street is one of the oldest and most historic streets in Manila, Philippines. Located in the old downtown district of Binondo, it was once dubbed as “The Queen of Streets.” In fact, Manileños used to flock to Escolta to shop, work, and dine, making it a leading commercial district during the 1800s to the early 1930s.

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Ricardo’s Vista del Cielo in Tanay, Rizal

The Marikina-Infanta Highway or Marilaque in Tanay has always been a favorite for solo breakfast and date rides during weekends. With all the Christmas madness, I find myself just wanting to get away from the city, even if it’s just to drink coffee or have breakfast with a view of the mountains, away from all the cars and traffic of Metro Manila.

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Things to do in El Nido on a Motorbike

El Nido in Palawan is famous for its beautiful beaches, lagoons, and outdoor activities. While some people choose to explore this magical place by island-hopping tours, others may want to explore at their own pace on rented motorbikes.

While most of the main highways in Palawan are now fully paved, some alleys in smaller towns are pretty narrow. The road leading to beaches and natural spots are usually a combination of pavement, dirt roads and gravel, making motorbikes and scooters the perfect mode of transport. Here are some great places you can visit on two wheels while you’re there.

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Road Trip Guide: Dingalan, Baler & Dipaculao, Aurora

The province of Aurora is an underrated beauty. While its capital Baler draws international tourists and surfers, there’s more to the province than just riding the waves. For riders and road trippers, Aurora’s proximity to Metro Manila, the scenic views of the mountains and sea, and the quality of roads getting to and from different points in the province make it a great destination for road trips where you can just chill out for the weekend.

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Bacau Bay Resort Coron

Coron, a tropical island in Northern Palawan in the Philippines has been drawing tourists from around the world because of its world-class WWII-era wreck diving, limestone karst landscapes, crystal-clear freshwater lakes, and white sand beaches.

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Mythical Destinations in the Philippines

Aside from traveling and motorcycling, one of my favorite hobbies is playing video games. A couple of months ago, I celebrated the completion of my Project 81 quest by finally buying a PlayStation 4. I’ve since finished Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and loved exploring the massively beautiful world of Horizon Zero Dawn.

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