The main drawcards for the beach are the crystal clear water but mostly the sandbar, which links the island of Romblon to a Bang-og Island. It is possible to cross the sandbar to the island at low-tide but you must be careful not to get stuck out there when the tide rises and the sandbar becomes submerged. At high tide, the sandbar is about waist deep and at low tide, it is obviously full exposed. 

 There is no entrance fee going to Bonbon beach. Just a tricycle ride going there, which will cost you 40 bucks. There are also no resorts, structures or any commercial activities at Bonbon Beach. A few tour boats will sporadically anchor up near the sandbar and drop off visitors for a look but for the most part, it was quiet. We really did enjoy this epic spot all to ourselves for the majority of the time. Flying the drone at Bonbon beach was incredibly fun – seeing the sandbar from the air, crystal clear water and a sandbar, with us playing monopoly deal and goofing around. 

It was just one of those travel moments you never forget. 

The road going to the Akim’s Haven was a really rough and terrible one, but somehow looking back, it actually became an adventure making our destination extra special. We were surprised how the area is so near town but at the same time, is absolutely away from it.

The glass doors of our cabin gave us the perfect view of the paradise scenery - palm trees, the hammocks, sun beds and the beach. We spent the afternoon on the hammocks and the gigantic swing, and the sun beds under the palm trees perfectly shading us from the sun. At night, we had our seasonal drunk moments (read: daily) lying under the pitch-dark sky with a stretch of glowing stars.

If you need an escape and your own place of peace, this is the place. It is facing the open waters which will make you feel connected with nature and yourself. If you’ll ask me to describe the experience, I can think of it as a staying in a sanctuary. When you’re here, you feel like healing comes naturally. The secluded place, the one-with-nature feel, all combine together for a relaxing stay in Romblon.

The Looc Bay Marine Sanctuary is a protected marine sanctuary in the middle of Looc Bay. It is host to more than a hundred different marine species including different fishes, corals, clams, lobsters, and turtles. 

Tickets for the Marine Sanctuary are 100 pesos and snorkel and mask hire is 60 pesos. That is an extremely fair price for this type of attraction when considering the boat transit as well. From the tour office, you need to walk down the pier and wait for your transit boat. A small wooden boat will pick you up and shuttle you out to the pontoon on the sanctuary. The boats run ever 30 minutes or so bringing people in and out constantly. The day we went wasn’t busy and the boatmen were waiting for us and off we went. The trip is only five or so minutes and you will arrive. 

The Looc Marine Sanctuary sits within a protected 48-hectare coral reef area. At the sanctuary, there is a wooden pontoon with a roof, tables, and even a kitchen. There’s even a big rectangular hole in the floor where you can observe the fish as they fight over the breadcrumbs the staff drop into the hole. We threw our gear down and jumped into the water to explore.

عيد مبارك‎!

Like what backpackers always say, comfort and laxness are nowhere to be found in places called adventures and challenges. Admittedly, travelling to provinces further in Mindanao has made us a bit apprehensive, but the unyielding thirst for adventure and wanderlust drove our backpacking crew to take the road less traveled, and witness the beauty of SOX that may not yet be on the tourist radar.

Backpacking across Mindanao can be exhausting and confusing, but it is always affordable, challenging, and truly life changing. Mindanao gives you the chance to escape the travelling hubbub, to travel to uncharted territory, and to see some of the most isolated, spectacular, and tranquil areas in the Philippines. 

If you can keep a low profile, a backpacking trip in Mindanao will be a rewarding adventure. Hiking the countryside means encountering the uncertain and the unexpected. Some of the great pleasures of backpacking is the possibility of traveling on a shoestring and sleeping in a different place every night. Many small delights can be found for less money than you expected – enjoying the authentic cuisine in local restaurants, talking to habal-habal drivers, or simply drinking beers in front of the many sari-sari stores. These will give you a chance to rub elbows with the locals, making the evening much more interesting and exciting. 

Indubitably, in this very spontaneous trip, we had the most meaningful and genuine interactions with our Muslim brothers and the other local tribes here in Mindanao.

Deep in the mountainous forests of Alamada in Cotabato is Asik-Asik Falls, a cascade of waters coming from a lush mountain wall. 

Getting here is no walk in the park (read: I had butt cramps thrice). We took the 4AM bus from General Santos and arrived in the jump-off point to Asik Asik Falls at around 11AM (that’s 8 hours of bus, jeepney, and habal-habal. Netflx to the rescue!) From the jump-off point, be prepared to hike down a thousand steps leading down to the falls. A bottle of drinking water can also come in handy especially for the hike back up.

The road may be rough going there, but for those who brave the long journey, the reward is seeing one of the most unique and beautiful waterfalls in the country. With trekking and at times “buwis buhay” feats involved, it only makes the breathtaking view of cascading waters thundering down into a calm pool even more worth it. It is unlike anything I’ve seen in the country. It’s an unspoilt, and is an enchanting sight that will leave you mesmerized at the beauty of the region.

Considered to be a masterpiece of islamic architecture, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid or the Grand Mosque now stands as a landmark in Cotabato City. Located at Barangay Kalangan II, it was named after the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Bolkiah, who donated a huge amount for this architectural wonder and place of worship to materialize. Visitors are advised to dress conservatively. A malong or scarf, long sleeved shirts, and pants/long skirts will suffice. However, for those not in the proper attire, there’s a stall outside the mosque across the street where you can rent items for a small fee.

I admired the details on the windows, the white walls, the gray accent details, up to the golden painted crescent moon on top of the minarets. There’s a marked elegance in its simplicity in design. Despite being a Muslim place of worship, the architect and designers behind the mosque are Christians. How symbolic of two religions working together, much like the intermingling of beliefs in Cotabato City.

Settled at 1000 meters above sea level, and is sandwiched between two mountain ranges, the municipality of Lake Sebu is unsurprisingly temperate and abundantly vegetated. This Land of the Dreamweavers  offers a unique taste of Filipino culture in its most colorful and exotic form. With its amazing vistas, beautiful people, a vibrant culture which is deeply rooted in its history and exciting adventures, Lake Sebu has claimed a famed spot as one of the must-see destination in the Philippines.

Lake Sebu, mainly used for aquaculture, covers over 354 hectares in South Cotabato. It is a paradise far from the maddening crowd. It sits at the edge of the country and is a quiet, peaceful respite for tired, weary souls. Here and there, white herons would glide over the waters and come to rest on the bamboo poles stretched out to mark the fish pens. A dugout canoe slowly glided along the placid waters, its skilled helmsman guiding the craft around patches of lotus plants. We could not have asked for a more ideal morning. 

The T'boli people all around remind us how simple life should be. 

Tranquil as it may, the lake itself and the nearby areas are host to numerous activities that easily cater to travelers of varying enthusiasm. The nearby falls—all seven of them, all varying in difficulty—are also perfect for waterfall chasers.   Crystal clear water from the edges of the hills have, over the ages, carved these unique scenic masterpieces in a brilliant display of natural colours. The most sought-after adventure in town is trekking to the seven falls, or taking a zipline ride that hovers over the most breathtaking countryside scenery at a height that is incomprehensible to acrophobes.The seven falls zipline, if not the on top of the list, is one of Asia’s highest.

We got a feel of the Tboli’s royalty when we were allowed to wear their traditional attire. The colorful traditional Tboli attires are astonishingly elegant with their elaborate accessories. You would know that a T’boli woman is approaching by the tinkling of numerous little brass bells that adorn her belt, bracelets, and anklets. While Lake Sebu’s charm is primarily due to its temperate natural beauty, tourists will surely be fascinated by the ethnic vibe of the local T’boli Tribe. 

With sweet serenity, one can get lost in an inner world filled with dance, hegalong music (traditional two-stringed, boat-shaped guitar; and intricate embroideries of the dreamweavers called t'nlak (traditional abaca fabric).T’nalak is a sacred cloth traditionally woven by women of royal blood. Thousands of patterns that reference folklore and stories are known to the T’boli women by memory. It is used for ritual purposes, as an offering to the spirits and during festival celebrations. I’ve only seen dreamweavers in Cinemalaya fetivals (click me to watch the trailer of K'na), but watching them make the t’nalak firsthand is without a doubt a pinnacle in this trip.

Despite the fact that it is somehow all set for the influx of tourists, the local government is commendable in maintaining Lake Sebu’s serenity, natural beauty and delightful attractions. The scenery in this picturesque place, surrounded by serene waters, makes it a living museum, a great outdoor escape, and a photographer’s paradise.

I’m home.

I’ve lived in Cebu for a few months for my internship back in college. Being here again after 5 years, everything felt so familiar – riding the 17C multi cab, eating siomai sa Tisa with rice wrapped in woven coconut leaves called puso, the people, the busy streets, the lechon, and a lot more. Saying palihug and lami jud kaayo really hits home. 

Cebu is well known for its white-sand beaches and spectacular diving spots, chiefly off the northern tip of Cebu at Malapascua and down on the southwest coast at Moalboal, but as much as I wanted to roam around and see these places, the rain was just too hard. Nevertheless, I think I had some nice alone time in my condo [read: cooking meat loaf and eggs while dancing to Black Pink]

You’ve probably heard of 10000 Roses Café, for it is undeniably the most popular and most sought-after café in Cebu today after making a huge buzz in social media. Though really, 10000 Roses Café & More is one beautiful place. It features a wide garden with thousands of LED-powered white roses, and a coffee shop and restaurant serving drinks, pasta, pizza, panini, sandwiches, and salad. The ground floor has an alfresco dining space with modern and stylish seating areas. It is also overlooking the unobstructed vista of the skyline of Cebu City and its neighboring cities and municipalities, all in the backdrop of the island’s mountain range.

I think the best time to visit this cafe is before sunset until closing time when the roses are lit up. But if you want to avoid the crowd, go here at opening hour to mid afternoon.

Lantaw is the Cebuano term for “can be seen from a distance”, and aside from the fact that the restaurant is actually floating, diners can also enjoy a spectacular view of the hills and city of Cebu in the distance. One will fall in love with its relaxing vibe: cogon-and-bamboo huts, on top of wooden decks, interconnected by wooden bridges.

It has a homey and cozy feel that instantly perks up the appetite. While the sea breeze keep you cool, the salt water ‘scent’ acts as a natural prop to this wonderful stage. The menu boasts of a number of mouthwatering native dishes, but clearly, fresh fish is the order of the day (I equally loved their buttered crabs and kinilaw) The buko lychee fruit shake was also surprisingly good! I would totally recommend this native restaurant  – affordable, quality service, and superb food!

Wines upon a time in La Vie Parisienne!

La Vie Parisienne, which means the Parisian Life, is something I was really looking forward to in this trip. Truth be told, when I saw the photos of La Vie Parisienne, I thought it was perched on a secluded mountain – it was not. It is situated on a busy Cebu street and not at all elevated. Upon entering, it was quite intimidating. It can totally pass as a fine dining restaurant, but its actually just a really chill place. Nagbaon pa naman ako ng kaconyohan!

The frustrated French guy in me is happy – the love for wine, bread, breakfast, romance, and probably reading a book in a cafe with my morning tea. This restaurant is a combination of amazing food, fantastic wine selection priced quite affordably, and servers that are well versed with the items they sell. It was an experience.

Cold cuts of your choice are per gram and served in platter. This is a nice place to unwind and have a good chat with anyone. à votre santé! à une vie parisienne! 

Sure La Vie Parisienne has opened branches here in Manila but the vibe is different. They only have the wine cellar and a small portion of the bakery. The complete La Vie Parisienne experience with the outdoor setting, cellar, and bakery is what makes this place special for me. Best way to start our Cebu food trip!

Continuing with my Paris dream, the next stop would be the Louvre Museum in Cebu IT Park (Beyonce must be shaking rn).

The Pyramid is a new place for locals and tourists alike to appreciate Cebuano culture, art, food and of course, the people. Its form is simply provoking public interest and excitement. It’s true that you don’t see a pyramid-shaped building around Cebu, but its structure, lights, interior and everything about how it looks will surely cling to your senses. Its glass panels widen up the entire space and there are lots of nooks and corners for you to choose from whether you’re looking for a relaxing winding down sesh with a loved one, a loud get together with friends, or just a quick catch up over coffee or drinks. 

It is a food, wine and tapas lounge with fusion cuisine, and lots of other food to choose from!

Siomai sa Tisa is a gift from God.

Folks around the world might be mortified to find out that Filipinos have taken a classic dimsum dish, meant for noshing without rice, and have made it the primary viand in a meal of siomai and rice. These are no-frills siomai, consisting simply of chopped pork, salt, and some secret flavoring and spices encased and steamed in a dumpling wrapper—no shrimp, no mushrooms, no vegetables. They’re accompanied by limonsito or vinegar, soy sauce, and a chile-garlic oil that only makes you want more siomai, and at dirt-cheap street-food prices, you might as well eat a lot of them.  

These siomai arrived on a small woven bowl covered in a disposable plastic bag, already slathered with brown chile-garlic oil and waiting to be seasoned further with the soy sauce and vinegar. We can only describe the flavors as a riot in your mouth, with the siomai providing the perfect meaty, starchy base for the spicy-salty-sour combination of sauces.

You can have your lechon, but these siomai are mine (damn I really got hungry writing this post haha). 

“We travel because we need to, because distance and difference are the  secret tonic to creativity. When we get home, home is still the same, but something in our minds has changed. That changes everything.”
- Jonah Lehrer

Bali is a living postcard; an Indonesian paradise that feels like a fantasy.

The rich and diverse culture of Bali plays out at all levels of life, from the exquisite flower-petal offerings called canang placed everywhere, to the processions of locals, shutting down major roads as they march to one of their temple ceremonies, to the otherworldly traditional music and dance performed island-wide. Almost everything has spiritual meaning.

On Bali, you can lose yourself in the chaos of Kuta or the luxurious pleasures of Seminyak, surf wild beaches in the south, or just hang out in Nusa Penida. Ubud is the heart of Bali, a place where the culture of the island is most accessible, and it shares the island’s most beautiful rice fields and ancient monuments with east and west Bali. At the end of the day, Bali’s rich culture, many amazing sights and truly lovely people are what takes Bali’s sheer delight to another level.

Bali is more than a place – it’s a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind.

If you want a quaint and stylish getaway in Ubud, this is the perfect place for you to check in. 

Our experience at Naja’s Villa was fantastic. Not only is the space beautifully designed, but Naja himself, along with his wife, are outstanding hosts. Naja’s wife can also prepare traditional Balinese food. She cooked for us Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng, and prepared us fruits fresh from her garden. They are communicative, friendly, knowledgeable, and thoughtful. They were also flexible to our schedule. 

This home combines luxury features with traditional Balinese architecture. We had our own fully equipped kitchen to cook our food, but food can still be delivered (we ordered pizza, pasta, fries and chicken nuggets from a nearby restaurant named Pizza Bogus). The place was very clean and the quality and ambiance were comparable to high end hotels. The rooms are spacious and fully air conditioned, and are just beside the pool for an invigorating dip at any time of the day.

Villa Caro, our third accommodation, is a true Balinese haven within walking distance of Seminyak’s most stylish dining and shopping choices. It is also a few meters away from the beach. Each bedrooms has air conditioning, painted in calming white walls, decorated with wood furnishings, and complete with en suite bathrooms. There is a flat screen TV, a DVD player, and a large comfortable couch to lounge on. Their kitchen is fully equipped as well. This is a  nirvana for me who liked cooking mie goreng (read: pancit canton indonesian style), considering all of us are usually too drunk to function. Haha. 

During our first night, the girls slept early so us boys decided to watch a horror movie to pass the time. We watched “The Fourth Kind” (I think the movie wasn’t scary at all) while eating local chips and drinking whisky (King Roberts aka a brand of cheap, nasty, mass-produced alcohol. totally would not recommend haha). In sum, despite the bad movie, we all got drunk and started shouting babi guling randomly at each other, danced to Shanti Dope’s Mau, laughed for almost three hours, and remembered all these craziness through videos only the next morning. 

It was quite a boy’s night out. Haha!