Life is a Joni

One of Davao's pride when it comes to nature adventure is Eden Park and Resort . Located at Mt. Talomo, Toril , this place is not that hard to travel. In fact, if you don't own a car, you can reach it by riding a sidecar motorcycle. There are many of them waiting at the highway. It was Callbox Davao 2nd Anniversary celebration when I first went there. We stayed overnight at their Campsite . It's an ideal setting for group activities and recreation. There are several huts around. Trees are everywhere, birds are still in numbers---definitely a return to nature. We arrived past midday and right after we set up tents and unload our baggage, action immediately started. We had a lot of games and challenges. Group members were randomly selected. Everybody had a great time. By night, after dinner, activities still continued. We had a bonfire and few people were surprisingly put in a hot seat to answer random questions from anybody. I knew I had to save myself...

How many beaches the Philippines has? Nobody knows. With its long stretch of sands, I guess they're too many to be counted. But if we are to name some, who would miss to mention Boracay ? Like, look at the magazines, travel blogs and guide books, this beach is well-publicized that almost everybody knows about it. Whether we are looking for an adventure, exciting nightlife, a luxurious vacation or a simple break during weekend, this surely is the place to be! I was fortunate enough to be part of our company event which brought us to this world-renowned beach for 2 days and 1 night. And take note, all-expense-paid ! Of course, we took every chances we could have when we were there. We did island hopping , banana boating, wall climbing, and everybody's favorite, eating ! As it gets darker, life in Boracay becomes more exciting. More and more people leave their rooms and populate the bars. Dancing lights are everywhere. Nightlife in Bora...

Built out of love, brought down by war. Behind its grandiose facade and impressive walls is a story of loss, dedication and tragedy. I won't be going into details, but what happened to Don Mariano and Maria Braga is something you should know to appreciate more the beauty of The Ruins . Located amid a sugarcane plantation in Talisay City , the site is a favorite stop among tourists when visiting Bacolod  simply because of its proximity and accessibility. With a taxi, we reached the area in just about 15-20 minutes. It's not difficult to get directions because most of the drivers know about the place. The road is not completely concrete though. Good thing it didn't rain that day. Sugarcane is still cultivated in the area. Getting lost could possibly happen if you don't know where to turn. Upon arrival, we paid an entrance fee which I no longer remember. But rest assured, it's only minimal. There's no tour guide so we just roam around o...

Smile and the world will smile back at you. And I guess the best place to do that is where people known to be happy and friendly. Come with us as we visit the City of Smiles , Bacolod! Just an hour away from Iloilo via fast ferry, Bacolod is the provincial capital of Negros Occidental . Recently, it topped the list of "Best Places to Live in the Philippines" , followed by Makati and Davao respectively. Me, as a Davaoeño, I always admire my city and so far, I wouldn't exchange it to any. I'm not suggesting regionalism but if I have to rate Davao, it's superlative. In fact, in an another survey, it ranked #1. That is why, I'm curious how the City of Smiles made an edge and bagged the record. Ally and Glochi were my travel buddies. The trip was actually planned but we rather called it spontaneous because we never thought it would really push through. We were attending a Leader Summit and there was an event early morning and another one late aft...

Mango is the Philippine's National Fruit and where else could the sweetest variety be found but in the Province of Guimaras . When I had my first stay in Iloilo, I never missed the chance to visit the island. It's only few minutes away. I was supposedly accompanied by a local friend. Unfortunately, she woke up sick that morning so I had no choice but to travel alone. Not a problem, I was all set and no one could stop me. From downtown Iloilo, I went to Ortiz Wharf ---the ferry terminal to Jordan , the island's capital. At first, there was a confusion because everytime I ask for direction from the locals, I said "jor-dan" , like how we pronounce it in English. I forgot that they are Spanish-influenced and it has to be "hor-dan" . OK then. It was about half an hour crossing the strait. When I finally arrived, I went directly to the jeepney terminal. I noticed people are speaking another language. It's more familiar and understandable. I ...

Everybody's seeking for love. Some found it instantly. Some even went to places but ended up desperately. Some already gave up. As for me, I'm not in a rush but I know there's something great to expect from the City of Love , Iloilo! Feb 2010 The trip was sponsored by my boss. He sent me for a 2-week training after I took the researcher post. Of course, I was happy then and excited. Actually, a little bit worried. Although I'm used into travelling places but this time, nobody's with me. Well, I know I can handle...I always know. The very day I arrived, I went directly to the company's headquarter. There I met personally the managers and some leaders of different departments. It was a warm welcome. I already know some of them, I have seen their pictures from the DTR and even talked to them at times over the phone. But being acquainted with them in person was totally different. You see their smiles and hear their sweet voices---a distinct Ilonggo trai...