Chance to be better..

People have different approach to what happens in their lives. 

Some talk of their problems, and some don’t. Being quiet doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t want to talk about anything, but there’s so much peace in stillness. Let’s just say I talk more of my happiness more than my down moments. When I feel like wanting to lay low, I hide in my cave and kept my silence. If difficulties persist and I can no longer carry the burden, it’s the only time I talk about it and ask for a hand. Life is too short to waste a minute for those negative thoughts. 

Live without regrets. Live without stress. 

They’re just problems, everyone has it. I don’t want to own it. 

Boracay and the Adventures

 If there is a place worth visiting despite of the noise, the partying crowd, and the too commercialized establishments around, that would be the island of Boracay. This is a piece of heaven on earth where fun, food, booze and excitement never cease.

It is a wrong notion that visiting this island paradise would cost you a fortune. Just take extra precautions on what you wish to buy and the services you wish to avail. Haggle like a pro. Leave when ignored. 

You may want to go on with the water adventures. Most tour coordinators around are under the same operator, so before making a deal, be sure it won't hurt your pocket. Haggling is island-wide, be smart enough on how to lower their rates especially if you're on a group.

 Since I've tried helmet diving, parasailing is one super fun venture.  

  The next day, you may want to pursue on island hopping to see the other side of Boracay Island, from beach hopping to snorkeling to another adventure of "flyfish-ING".

 Before sunset, you can go on ziplining in the island's highest spot.

Just some of "What To Do's" while in the Philippines famous beach. 

If you just wish to relax and enjoy the beach, the island is big enough to accommodate everyone even on peak season.

Real Buy to Boracay

Boracay is one of the liveliest tourist paradise in the the Philippines.
May it be summer or rainy season, people would always flock the island for its beautiful beach and its fine white sand.

A tour to this island can cost a fortune if you fell on traps. The island is too marketable that everything seems to be at a premium. Disregard those people asking your information for a free buffet dinner. Ignore agents asking you to try the adventure packages nicely, and if in case you avail one, haggle to 50% right away, especially if you're on a big group. They won't give it half the price though, but they will lower their prices to  more moderate rates.

Airfare can be costly too, so plan your trip months before. Grab the promos offered by most budget airlines. Kalibo bound routes are often on sale.

First timers to Boracay need not be afraid of what to do next once landed in Kalibo. From the airport, there are are numerous shuttle vans going to Caticlan Port. Do not avail of the "transfers" offered by the hotels for this will cost you double. Instead, take the shuttle van from Kalibo airport to Caticlan Jetty Port. Then secure a boat ticket at the ticket booth once in 

Caticlan Pier going to Cagban harbor.

Once you've reached the Cagban Port, take the tricycles to bring you to your hotel or where you wanted to be dropped. Maximum of 3 people per tricycle or pay the "special" ride so it can leave.

Hotels aren't that expensive if you have the chance to scan their rates.
Since you're in Boracay and your agenda is to walk the shore barefooted and to stay outdoor most of the time, pick the popularly priced accommodations.

Foods aren't that pricey at all. There are fastfood chains around with the usual meal value.

Your trip to Boracay isn't complete without spending a night to whatever kind of partying or celebrating that suits your mood- may it be jazz, soft, live or loud dance music, name it, it's all there! 

"What happens in Boracay, stays in Boracay", so party your heart out! :-)

Boracay is not Bora

 When talking of white sand beach, the first place on my mind is Boracay, voted many times over as the finest beach not just in the Philippines but the entire world. 

Unfortunately, the island is too commercialized and the ingrate businessmen are flocking the island, building establishments without concerning the natural environment. It is only fair that those establishments listed as "destroyer" of the beautiful island of Boracay must be put down.

For a traveler like me, I am not after those 5-Star accommodations that proudly showing the magnificence of the establishment's architecture. Even if I have the money, I won't stay to such a place that damages the environment and its natural assets. I won't even take a picture of how beautiful the engineering behind the pricey property. 

If for some the place is tiring and misquoted, the island of Boracay isn't just a paradise, it's my sunny place. Been there many a time, but always excited to land my foot and walk the exceptionally fine white sand of the famous beach of Malay, Aklan. 

Click on thumbnails to show larger picture.

The Ruins

One of the must visit place in Negros Occidental is the remnants of the mansion of Don Mariano L. Lacson in Talisay. 

In the early days, the bachelor Mariano was a traveler, who fell in love to a foreign lady by the name of Maria Braga while in Hong Kong. 

They got married and had 10 children.

Maria met an accident in 1911. Mariano was so devastated of his wife's untimely demise, he decided to build a memorial in remembrance of Maria.

In the middle of his extensive property, a mansion was built, constructed to be a monument of their love.

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Today, we see the ruins of the immortal past. The mansion was burned down during the Second World War upon the instructions of the then authority to elude the Japanese from holding a base. The estate was said to be burning for three days, but the fire would not eradicate the architectural inspiration of the house, leaving the testimonial of the very foundation of the mansion.

Time come and go. Though the mansion is irreparable, it was acclaimed as one of the most fascinating ruins of the world.

Directions: 

Along Locsin, hail a PUJ going to Bata. 

Tell driver to drop you off at the tricycle outpost (yellow printed body) going to "The Ruins". 

Ask the tricycle driver for an "express" ride, so the tricycle can go and won't wait for another passenger. Fare is inexpensive at less than P100 compared to cabs, one way.

Leaving the area is easy too, tricycles are just outside, near the olden smokestack.

Disclaimer: Information contained in this page is accurate at the time of this writing. However, no liability or responsibility is accepted arising from reliance upon the information contained in this page.

Click on thumbnails to view larger image.

Guisi Point Lighthouse..

Based on history, the Guisi Lighthouse is the oldest in the Philippines.

Situated on top of the hill along the beach of Guisi.

Guisi Beach is located in Barangay Dolores in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.

The stretch of the beach is enthroned with golden-yellow sand.

The Lighthouse can be reached by a short hike, starting from the marker of Guisi Point, reach for the Guisi Beach and the shore butresses-like trail will lead you to the gated passage.

Before ending at the olden Lighthouse, you'll pass by the ruins of a settlement during the Spanish era.

Walk a little and you're on the charm of the olden lighthouse built in the 18th century.

The historic wall of Guisi Lighthouse is like talking to you out of magic spell. And the view of the seacoast  is like telling the stories of how this lonely sentinel of the sea in the antiquated days managed to guide vessels that passes through.

A modern lighthouse is erected to serve it's purpose of guiding passing crafts. 

Today, the remains of the olden Lighthouse is magically standing to tell its magnificent story in stillness. But the feeling of some sort of enchantment just can't go. I am obsessed by its charm.

Going to Guisi: From Nueva Valencia (beach resorts in Alubihod), hail and ask the tricycle to bring you to Guisi Point in Barangay Dolores, look for the marker (usually, they will unload you to where necessary, tricycle can't go up and down the trail). Walk a little and you're on the charm of the olden settlement and lighthouse of Guisi. Descend before it gets dark.

Historic Miag-ao Church

The Santo Tomas de Villanueva church is one of the many 

well known tourist destination in Iloilo. 

Situated in the town of Miagao or Miag-ao, 

one can relive the past with this olden treasure of Iloilo.

A monument of universal value and worthy of preservation.

A proudly standing testament of the historic Fortress Church.

A structure boasting of remarkable craftsmanship.

 The facade depicts of how this magnificent edifice was built.

Fusion of the early people of Miagao's daily living and 

religious icons illustrate the building front.

The thick boulders and buttresses  withstand natural disasters,

and its belfry served as watchtower during the ancient days.

Miag-ao church was over 200 years old, built in the late 1700s

by the Augustinian Missionaries, the known church builders.

The Miag-ao church is a living testimony of Catholic faith in Iloilo.

Going to Miag-ao will take you about an hour from

the downtown City Terminal.

Look for the PUJ with signboard "Miagao - San Joaquin" 

and tell the driver to drop you off at Miag-ao Church.