The sari-sari store in the middle of an island

We boarded the RO-RO (roll on, roll off) ferry to Camiguin from Cebu. It was my first time to ride the so-called nautical highway.

I distinctly remember being a bit anxious that day though, because I needed to access my email and do a bit of work. Despite the assurance that there is an internet café somewhere on the island, I was a bit bothered.

Thinking back, I probably could have enjoyed the trip more have I not preoccupied myself thinking about the daily chores I needed to do.

The RO-RO trip was pretty amazing, although it was a bit long. It took us 3 hours from the jump-off point to reach the small port in Camiguin.

‘Enchanting’ would be an apt word to describe Camiguin. The island typifies rural living. I would not call the island ‘unspoiled,’ as the island is steadily becoming another destination of choice for local and foreign tourists.

The quaint port is near a market, and the resort we stayed in was a good 20 minutes away.

We stayed in a nice bahay kubo inspired cottage with a nice veranda.

I consider the island hopping the next day as the highlight of the trip. We went to a nice island, which looked more like a sandbar. After a few hours wading in the crystal-clear blue water, we had a few rounds of ice-cold beer which we got from a nice makeshift sari-sari store standing in the sandbar.

You can say the store was misplaced, but hey, nobody complained.

We talked and had a few rounds until dusk enjoying the breeze and the picturesque sunset.

I clearly remember though that despite the gaily atmosphere, there was this nagging thought that I might not be able to access my email, file my stories, and do my website editing chores.

The next day, my worries all but disappeared because, yes, there was indeed an internet café and everything worked out just fine.


Postscripts: Interesting facts

A dear friend told me that SEAIR, one of the most popular airline carriers for local tourists, has just celebrated its 15th year in service. Here are a few interesting facts about SEAIR.

• South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) was set up in 1995 with two nine-seater airplanes. Aside from flying passengers then, the airline also transported light cargo such as chicken and fish.
• SEAIR remains committed to Mindanao (whereas other airlines have abandoned operations in that region), offering flights to remote Tawi-Tawi, Jolo and Zamboanga to help boost commerce and trade operations.
• SEAIR has invested over six years in its Mindanao operations and deployment of planes -- with or without full passenger load.
• In 2004, SEAIR reached the 1 million passenger mark.
• In 2005, SEAIR introduced the state-of-the-art Dornier 328.The Dornier 328 can fly to Caticlan (Boracay) in 35 minutes.
• SEAIR is still headquartered in Clark and is the only airline to do so. It is the second oldest airline in the Philippines.
• SEAIR offered flights to the most destinations in Palawan: Busuanga, El Nido, Taytay, Puerto Princesa and Cuyo.
• SEAIR currently flies to 12 local destinations -- Clark, Caticlan (Boracay), Cebu, Manila, Basco (Batanes), El Nido, Tablas (Romblon), Marinduque, San Fernando (La Union), Zamboanga, Jolo and Tawi-tawi.

The cabana at the Shangri-la

Back in 1996, I was with a group of journalists attending an event in Shangri-la Mactan in Cebu. It was my first time to visit the high-end resort hotel and nothing really fascinating caught my eye.

It did not help that the resort was still being developed during that year. I clearly remember that one wing of the hotel was still being constructed.

My second time to visit, after a few years, however totally changed my view of Shangri-la. The resort has become picture-perfect, with a really huge swimming pool, a sprawling grass-covered lawn, and a white-sand beach that is very similar to Boracay. Rumor has it that the sand came directly from Boracay, shipped to the island by the tons.

The rooms all have a view. The resort has a world-class spa, and numerous restaurants. Entertainment facilities abound, and children have several activities to choose from.

What I like the most however is the small cabana located far out from from one of the restaurants. The cabana is a few minutes walk, and is perfect for a nice night cap.

The walk way leading up to the cabana is made of gleaming and polished logs, with short lamp posts from each side.

The small group I was had a nice time exchanging stories amid a background of city lights from afar and the soothing sound of ocean waves.

It is pretty easy for me to dig from memory some of the most unforgettable and beautiful places all across the Philippines. Shangri-la Mactan is one of these places.

The high-end resort, which may seem to cater to affluent local tourists and foreigners, continues to be on my top list of places to visit with my family.

And I hope we can make that visit very soon.

La Mesa Ecopark is an oasis in Quezon City

It was in 2006 when my family and relatives made our first visit to the La Mesa Ecopark one weekend.

I read about the place from newspaper clippings and I thought we could check it out. Besides, the park was located in Fairview, Quezon City which was also fairly close to our apartment.

Quezon City typifies urban sprawl and frankly, I was not expecting too much from the weekend trip. The plan was to let the kids swim in the pool for a few hours, have a quiet picnic then go home in the afternoon.


We were pleasantly surprised though because the park has so much more to offer. There were massive, decade-old trees, carefully manicured gardens, flower terraces, orchidariums, pathways, bike trails, a nice large pond, and lots of open spaces for picnics.

It was a pleasant discovery for us, and it seems that the government was serious in maintaining the so-called nature preserve. The parking area is a bit far from the grounds, and vehicles are not allowed inside the 33-hectare "forest."

While the kids enjoyed swimming at the pool, the grownups relaxed in a nice picnic spot shaded by the massive canopies of trees.

I was told that the park was previously a watershed site and a mere backdrop for the majestic La Mesa Dam.

But the city government and a foundation by broadcasting giant ABS-CBN decided to draw up plans to officially declare the area a nature preserve or an oasis within the city.

The popularity of the La Mesa ecopark may have multiplied ten-fold by now, and the last time we went there, a zip line; a paintball arena and other team-building facilities; boating; and rod and reel fishing have been added to the growing list of activities that the park offers.

SEAIR's a fascinating story

The Philippines is an archipelago and one of the challenges or thrills that travelers could face is how to get to places that seem to be too isolated.

The more than 7,000 islands pose a mighty challenge to companies who made it their business to transport people to and from these places.

Yes, people can now easily go to Boracay, Batanes, or Palawan, but not so long ago, these places too were difficult to reach.

And with an archipelago like the Philippines, it will not be too long until the next Boracay, Palawan or Batanes, emerges. There are simply just too many beautiful islands and places that the archipelago has, which is always a good thing, and that these places are just waiting to be ‘discovered.’

It is fascinating to note that SEAIR actually had to face and overcome these challenges before the airline company eventually became the airliner of choice for many travelers when it comes to these destinations.

The story goes that fifteen years ago in El Nido, Palawan, German pilot Iren Dornier dreamed he would make travel to all the beautiful islands of the Philippines easy and accessible.

But such a wish actually first took shape in a country several thousands of miles away, across the Pacific Ocean, during a cross-country flight to Mexico.

“We discovered a breathtaking area near Manzanillo in western Mexico,” said Nikos Gitsis, SEAIR director and co-founder, and Dornier’s longtime friend and business partner. “It was in a rural area and was very difficult to get to. We thought a small air service was necessary.”

A fateful holiday trip to Palawan in December 1994 convinced Dornier that the Philippines is the perfect home for their future airline.

“I came to this country by accident. I initially planned to go to Phuket, Thailand but all the flights were booked. I ended up in El Nido instead,” Dornier said.

In 1995, Iren Dornier, Nikos Gitsis and Tomas Lopez, then president of Club Noah, founded SEAIR with an investment of a few million and two nine-seater airplanes. They set up their headquarters in the Clark Special Economic Zone, the first domestic airline to do so.

SEAIR started flying from Manila to Caticlan and Manila to Rodriguez and Busuanga, Palawan.

In 1996, SEAIR brought its first LET410 aircraft, a 19-seater plane that performs Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL). The LET was ideal for the small runways of Palawan and Caticlan.

In 1998, the airline expanded its operations and began pioneering missionary routes. It opened regional hubs in Cebu and Zamboanga to offer routes in far-flung areas such as Camiguin, Siargao, Cotabato, Jolo and Tawi-tawi, as well as interconnecting flights in Palawan: Manila-Busuanga-El Nido-Puerto Princesa and vice versa.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Baguio City memories

I first went to Baguio City in June 1989. I was going there to study. To ease my anxiety, my dear mother accompanied me during that trip.

We took a bus and the trip was pretty amazing. It was my first time to experience Kennon Road. It was my first time to experience the marvelous zigzag road. On one side of the road are mountains adorned with thin, cascading waterfalls. On another side, is a mighty river.

Arriving at the city, it was my first time to see rows and rows of pine trees, heavy with pine cones. It was my first time to see houses on the side of hills. It was my first tim to see and feel fog in the middle of the day.

It was my first time to walk along Session Road, and to see a few taxi cabs and passenger jeepneys darting back and forth the uncrowded road.

It was my first time to see the flowers blooming in Burnham Park.

I remember having a throbbing headache perhaps because of the zigzag road and the 5-hour trip. But breathing Baguio’s cool, soothing air helped ease the headaches.

Fast-forward to the present. I can no longer remember how many times I have traveled to Baguio. I have been there with friends, I have driven my family there on vacation, and have gone back to my beloved UP Baguio on a reunion.

Things might have changed, and the traffic might have gotten from bad to worse along Session Road.

But my fascination with the City of Pines will not fade and I am hoping to return to Baguio soon.

***

Postscripts: To the North via SEAIR

Good to know that just this April, Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) has launched direct round-trip flights between Manila and San Fernando, La Union. SEAIR thus has become the first leisure airline to serve the route from Manila to San Fernando through the newly upgraded San Fernando Airport .

The one-hour flights are scheduled Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. SEAIR passengers can also avail of complimentary land transfers from San Fernando to Baguio City and back. Baguio is the economic and tourism center of the Cordilleras and is popular for its vibrant city, beautiful mountain sceneries and cool weather all year round.

This is definitely good news for travelers not wanting to take the 5-hour land trip from Manila to Baguio.

Siargao wipeouts

Siargao earned its place as one of the surfing hotspots in the Philippines and in the world not only because of the awesome waves found on the island, but also because of the laid-back lifestyle that the 'surfing town' is known for.

I had the opportunity to visit the island, and try out the world-famous waves at Cloud Nine, which, we were told, are comparable to some of the swells found in Hawaii.

And yes, I had my fair share of wipe-outs, before I got the hang of keeping my balance and staying on the surf board for a grand total of 5 seconds. Not enough time for me to do a Hang Ten. Maybe next time.

The resort we stayed in was as laid-back as you can imagine. The number of the rooms was just enough for a small group, and the restaurant/lobby area offers a nice vista of the sea.

If surfing is not your thing, you can always take a stroll on the beach and do a bit of beach-combing, when the tide is low, particularly early in the morning.

The jackfish of Miniloc Island

My previous post was about my very first trip to El Nido in Palawan.
Owing to the success of that first trip (and yes, to the clamor from attendees), organizers made El Nido the destination for the next 2 or 3 Synergies. You do not get tired of Lagen Island. The event set the bar so high, that other out-of-town trips have suddenly become so ordinary.

For one particular year, Synergy organizers have decided to add a little spice to the event and decided to hold it still in El Nido but this time in nearby Miniloc Island.

It was an easy choice because the group running Lagen Island is also same group behind Miniloc.

But the similarity ends there. If I can describe Lagen Island as a honeymooners enchanting getaway, Miniloc Island is partly opposite. Miniloc visitors are actually encouraged to go out and enjoy more activities that the island offers. There is a basketball court, a table tennis table, and billiards/pool to complement the water sports facilities. Miniloc is also in a cove, but has more open spaces than Lagen Island.

For me, two activities stood out. Fish feeding and snorkeling.

You do not need to venture far, because there is an area in Miniloc where you can feed the fish and snorkel to your heart’s content. You can do the typical fish-feeding routine. Get a piece of bread, shred it into pieces, throw it into the water and watch throng of colorful few fish go to you. Or, you can take fish feeding into another level. You can don a set of snorkels, dive in, bread in hand, and watch as the fish feed right before your eyes.

You have to hold your nerves though because some of the fish you are going to feed are big. Really big. Jackfish about the size of a small child, are often found swimming on the fringes of Miniloc Island’s dock. The fish are actually an attraction, and have seem developed an affinity to the wide-eyed tourist wanting to swim alongside them. These fish are huge, even more so underwater.

They move torpedo like, and if by chance they swim by and brush you with their elegant bodies, you will feel it. The surrounding waters off El Nido are protected areas, and the jackfish have found a small sanctuary in Miniloc. And the wide-eyed tourist will be waiting bread and snorkel set in hand.

Lagen Island: Paradise in a cove

I do not mean to brag, but I have been to the wonderful islands of El Nido in Palawan many times now.

As a journalist covering the information technology (IT) beat in the Philippines, I consider myself fortunate to become part of a yearly ‘tradition’ initiated by technology companies Intel and Hewlett-Packard, particularly the Philippine offices of the two firms.

The year was 1997 when someone came up with the idea of whisking away a bunch of technology journalists, fly them to some exotic location outside Manila, have them sit down for a few hours in a press conference/ technology showcase and then give them ample time for R&R.

The idea was appealing from the onset because of its simplicity and effectiveness. The idea was not at all new or novel.

But the clincher was the location, and to a large extent, the well-planned ‘program’ for the duration of the usually 3-day, two-night stay.

Thus, ‘Synergy’ was born and the maiden destination was Lagen Island in El Nido. Lagen Island is just one of the few islands dotting El Nido.

From the dock to the spacious, yet homey receiving area, the beach-front cottages, the forest rooms, the almost supernatural forest altar, everything seemed to be in place in Lagen.

A non-travel writer like me is hard-put to really describe the place, and frankly, the first time I saw it, I was at a loss for words.

Located in a cove, Lagen Island is one of those places that you cannot easily describe. Words such as ‘ethereal’ ‘beautiful’ ‘breathtaking,’ ‘paradise-like,’ ‘tranquil,’ ‘fragile’ all seem inadequate.

In a few words, Lagen Island is a piece of paradise nestled amid tall and imposing cliffs.

On several occasions, rare hornbill birds are seen roosting on these majestic cliffs.

An eternity pool serves as a centerpiece. There is a large dining area near the pool. There is also a large cabana which serves as a bar with a perfect view of the ocean.

The surrounding waters are perfect for kayaking and snorkeling, and for the more adventurous, Scuba dives can be organized. You can also explore nearby islands.

If you are of the more laid-back type, perhaps bottom fishing is your thing.

Or, you can simply laze around the beachfront to get a nice tan, while sipping that cold drink.

Ten times I’ve been in El Nido and I cannot wait to make the return trip.

The family excursion

My fondest memory of travel were the "excursions" and out-of-town trips that my family and relatives used to take when I was growing up in the province.

My family, as well as my uncles and aunts, and my cousins, lived in a compound with several houses.

It has been a family tradition that at least once a year, the family and some family friends go on an out-of-town trip usually in the summer.


The routine was always the same: The kids are told to sleep early the night before the trip, while the grownups prepare the baon. Family members would usually pool their resources to hire a vehicle or two, usually a passenger Sarao jeepney, or a borrowed second-hand private jeepney to take us to the beach.

The matriarch of the family, our beloved grandmother (we call her Ima) was usually the first to wake up and sound off the rest of the family before the break of dawn. She would walk briskly from house to house in the compound in her worn out but still elegant baro't saya to wake up the rest of the family.

By the time we wake up, the compound will be a like a beehive of activity, with last-minute preparations in the amid revving sound of the engine of the rented Sarao.

We knew it was time to go once the driver puts a simple plastic 'Private Use Only' sign board on his jeepney. By the time the jeepney rolls along the highway, it would be full to the bream, with mostly plastic bags and the bayong where the food is kept.

We lived in Tarlac and the usual destination will be the beaches of Pangasinan up in the north. The trip can last hours, but it was always worth it.

Coming from a family with modest means, those out-of-town trips will always be a thrill and will always be unforgettable.

The travel diary

As a journalist, I consider myself very fortunate to be able to go to different places in the Philippines and abroad. These travels are mostly work-related, but they are nonetheless very memorable.

I would have wanted to photograph every trip that I have ever had, but due to financial and schedule constraints, I was not able to do so.

I will thus try to dig up from memory some of the personal highlights of these travels and write about them.

I have visited some of the most interesting and beautiful places in the Philippines and I have been to some assignments abroad including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Outside Asia, I have also been fortunate to be able to travel to the US and Italy.

I am quick to tell friends and family however that the main purpose of the travel was to work. "Work" for a journalist means attending seminars, sitting down on press conferences, and interviewing people.

I am not complaining, but the time spent for the usual travel fares such as sightseeing and shopping were almost always limited.

It was in 1997 that I first got hold of a passport. It was that year that I was able to go out of the country for the first time.

I was Singapore bound, and to this day, I've never been as excited as that very first trip compared to the other trips that I would embark on soon after.

It was also that year when blogging was just beginning to become popular.

It was in 1998 or 1999 that I seriously thought of writing my own blog, thinking that my occasional travels will provide me sufficient materials to keep the blog going.

I do not fancy myself as a travel writer, and back then, my mindset was to keep an online journal of my travels in the hopes of one day showing them to my kids, and hopefully to my grandchildren.

A blog is after all a diary.

But I never quite made that first step.

Now, after some ten-odd years, I'm going for it.