Category: Philippines

PHILIPPINES

“The Philippines is defined by its emerald rice fields, teeming mega-cities, graffiti-splashed jeepneys, smouldering volcanoes, bug-eyed tarsiers, fuzzy water buffalo and smiling, happy-go-lucky people.” – Lonely Planet

On the Go in 2015: At Home and A Bit Away Too

“Marmotjes!”

My husband and I just visited their museum somewhere at the mountain top in Grossglochner.   I had already expected that I’d only see these creatures on screen or at their “most preserved” forms.

“Turn around. Look!” hubby was calling me out in a forcibly hush tone, so as not to scare them and run away.

We stopped walking, and I couldn’t believe what I saw.

“For real, I’m finally meeting my furry kinds at last!” I jokingly reacted.

Marmots are large squirrels living in mountainous areas such as the Alps.  These fluffy animals typically live in burrows and often within rock piles, and hibernate there through the winter.  Most marmots are highly social and use loud whistles to communicate with one another. Read more

Photo Diary: Perpie in Pinas 2015

My Lakbayan map is a constant reminder for me on how much I’ve explored the Philippines. Despite that I’ve been living away for over four years now, my latest map tells me that I’ve traveled around my home country more than ever before. I’m happy to report that my Lakbayan grade is moved a notch higher. It’s C+ now.

Our visit to Cebu and Dumaguete last year definitely added up.  After that holiday, we actually didn’t expect that we would come back soon. Yet for some reason, we’re able to manage to visit the Philippines again. Though I also wanted to explore other places that I haven’t been, our return to Pinas for a holiday was another revisit of sorts for me. Read more

Perpie in Pinas 2014: Wandering Around Dumaguete

We initially planned to visit Bohol this year, but an earthquake struck the said province last October that we decided to forgo the trip and go somewhere else. It was a choice between Camiguin and Dumaguete. We chose to go eastward.

A very promising itinerary was prepared for our visit to Dumaguete, but somehow along the way, it didn’t go everything smoothly as we planned.

First, we weren’t able to go directly to Dumaguete. Instead, we spent the night in Bohol to take the ferry from there. Well, this overnight stay ain’t so bad at all. It suddenly became my husband’s surprise visit to the island, getting a quick taste of what it has in store. Read more

Perpie in Pinas 2014 – Cebu Once More: A Day in the Metro

This is the third part of CEBU ONCE MORE series. If you missed the first part, read it here – BE in Mactan. And the second part? Check it out here – Mactan Shrine & Sutukil.

Part of this post has been first published at The Filipino Expat. You can also check it out here – On Pinoy Malling and Cebu Lechon.

It was beautiful and sunny the following day we arrived, fitting for what we planned to do first in the city of Cebu. Since I’ve been here several times, as expected, I prepared an itinerary for the first-timer – my hubby of course! He had also been looking forward to this tour, as this was going to be the start for him to truly explore what my home country has in store, beyond the beach life that he’d ever been acquainted with. Read more

Perpie in Pinas 2014 – Cebu Once More: Mactan Shrine & Sutukil

This is the second part of CEBU ONCE MORE series. If you missed the first part, read it here – BE in Mactan.

Mactan Shrine Park is a must for first-time visitors in Mactan island. Here, you will see the shrines erected in honor of the two most significant figures in the Philippines history – Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who led the Spanish-commissioned expedition for the Spice Islands that resulted in the first circumnavigation of the world and the commence of discovery of the Philippines; and Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain of Mactan who bravely defended his sovereignty, through which it led to a battle that eventually killed Magellan. Read more

Perpie in Pinas 2014 – Cebu Once More: BE in Mactan

While everybody was getting ready to return home after celebrating the New Year in Boracay, my husband and I continued our escapade in the Philippines. Our next stop was the island hailed as the “queen city of the south.”

Cebu is not new to me; this must be my third visit already. The latest one was just two years ago, when my mom and I went to see the mall and the churches, and taste the popular lechons. And we succeeded; for just an overnight stay, we were able to do it all. In fact, this itinerary was specially crafted for first-timers like my mom (at that time). Now that it’s my husband’s turn, I felt the need to follow it again. Yet of course, it would be a bore for me if I didn’t add a few new things to do for our stay in Cebu. Read more