Mindoro Black Beach in Vigan

The not so familiar beach in Vigan is located in the coastline of Brgy. Mindoro of the said city. Playa de Oro Resort, is the only resort that caters to the Black Beach that is comprised of fine grain black sand, it faces the West Philippine Sea and a picturesque sunset can be best viewed here.

As Black Beach is not popular to Filipno beach goers, the opposite goes to foreign tourist who will die for a black beach sand. According to some locals that i've talked to, the beach was legally and illegally mined in the previous years before the locals protested and halted the quarrying. As it turned out the sand is rich in iron ore or magnetite, a precious mineral commodity. 

It's a nice place to visit when in Vigan, the place is not crowded - fresh air and calm waves from the sea will greet anyone who wishes to relax and be alone with nature.

How to Get There:

1. Once in Vigan, just tell the Trike driver that you are interested to visit the Mindoro Black Beach. It's way above the normal fare. 

Venice Grand Canal

Located in McKinley Hills in Taguig City, the Venice Grand Canal opened last February 2016. It is a mall which is a replica from the famed Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The design was inspired from the Venetian Gothic architectural style that combines the use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Moorish architecture influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence of Byzantine styles from Constantinople.

Gondola ride is available for 500 pesos per person and will let you experience the romantic feeling of the emerald waters of the canal together with Italian tune that plays on the background. Restaurants and food stores are located in the mall that is still doing some finishing touches.

How to Get There:
1. You can ride a Citylink buses that are bound for McKinley Hills. 

Baguio Botanical Garden

One of the most popular tourist attraction in Baguio City is the Baguio Botanical Garden. The garden is also known as the Igorot Village where you can find authentic Igorot Nipa huts set in a picturesque landscape adorned with well cultivated landscape of plants, trees and different species of highland flora and fauna. Japanese Tunnel, Chinese/Korean friendship park and different stores that sell different items and "pasalubong"can be found inside the garden.

At the main entrance a group of Igorots are dressed in their authentic native attire and they are more than willing to pose with visitors for a souvenir picture. 

How to Get There:

1.) From Baguio City ride a jeep that passes Leonard Wood St. (Mines View, Pacdal and Itogon)

Manaoag Basilica Minor Church

Manaoag is a first class municipality in Pangasinan bordered by Pozorrubio in the north, Urdaneta City and Mapandan in the south, Laoac in the east, and San Jacinto in the west. Manaoag came from the Pangasinan  word "Mantaoag" which means "to call". The town is a popular local pilgrimage site for Catholics as it enshrines a 17th-century ivory statue of Mary under the title of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Manaoag.

All sorts of Pasalubongs, religious relics and local delicacies are sold outside the church's premises such as Tupig - a popular native delicacy which is made out of ground glutinous rice and coconuts strips wrapped in banana leaves then cooked over charcoal  &  Patupat - an Ilocano version of suman, a glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and sugar then wrap in banana leaves and steamed.

Eventhough I am not a Catholic, but as a traveler and photographer I admire the picturesque facade of the church - it is  comparable to European renaissance structures. 

(Patupat)

(Tupig)

How to Get There:

1.) There are buses bound for Manaoag from Cubao.

2.) It is a popular stop over from Baguio.

Revisiting the Philippine Military Academy

On May 20, 1950 the Corps of Cadets went to occupy the current site of the Academy in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City near the Loakan airport.

"I came from the land of kings where everyone can do what he wishes, I hiked the plains of Luzon and hurdled the mountains of Baguio just to reach my precious destination, the Philippine Military Academy." Now I'm here not as a Plebe but as a Traveler and Blogger.

If a cadet is a larva, the Philippine Military Academy is his cocoon where transformations take place, where the larva slowly develops into a beautiful butterfly. PMA is the cocoon that molds a young boy into a man of character and wisdom. The Academy with it's mission: "To instruct, train and develop the cadets so that each graduate shall possess the character, the broad and basic military skills and education essential to the successful pursuit of a progressive military career", equips him the necessary  skills and attributes he needs to be able to face  the many uncertainties of life as he performs the multifaceted role in the society as a soldier.

The cadet's training starts the moment he is received as a plebe. Throughout the  four-year stay in the Academy, he will undergo rigorous physical training to develop stamina to continue even if he feel like quiting, the endurance to withstand pain even if he is pushed to the limits. It is demanding but he has to take it all because he knows that there are more difficulties in the future and he needs all the preparations he can get to be able to meet the demands of an ever-changing environment.

(wordings are excerpt from Peemayer and Gray Notes) 

How to Get There:
1. Once in Baguio City, you can ride a PMA bound jeepney with signboard PMA - Kias

2. Sandals and slippers are not allowed inside the academy, be sure to wear proper shoes.

Urbiztondo Beach of San Juan, La Union: Surfer's Paradise of the North

Located in the town of San Juan in La Union, Urbiztondo Beach is the closest surfing spot from Manila (6 hours). Urbiztondo Beach may not have fine grain and white sand, but what makes it special are the powerful waves ideal for surfing. It is the entry point of surfing spots in the Ilocos region and  surfers, most especially beginners loves this area which is  known for its peeling waves and short rides. 

Learning to surf here is very inexpensive compared to other surf spots around the world. The town’s surfers have organized themselves into a club, and they give lessons to everyone who are interested to learn surfing. 

How To Get There: 

1. From Manila, ride a bus bound for San Fernando, La Union.

2. Once in San Fernando, you can ride a jeep/bus bound for San Juan (Bacnotan, San Juan, Candon), tell the driver to drop you off in Urbiztondo Beach.

Ma Cho Temple in La Union

I visited San Fernando, La Union and was fascinated by this wonderful Chinese  architecture known as "Ma Cho Temple", which is actually the biggest Taoist temple outside China. The wordings are not mine, taken from the historal artifact of the temple.

Nestled atop a hill overlooking the beautiful San Fernando bay of the town of San Fernando, La Union, the MA-CHO Temple was constructed in honor of Ma-cho hailed from the scenic island of Moichow, province of Fukien in Southeastern China. In the Philippines among christians Ma-Cho is known as the virgin of Caysasay. The image of the Virgin of Caysasay first appeared in Taal, Batangas in 1603.

It was constructed on September 11, 1975 through the initiative of then Tourism Minister Jose D. Aspiras and cooperation of the Chinese community, this majestic Taoist Temple is located on a hill 70 feet above sea level at Barangay II, San Fernando City, facing the China Sea. Here, people form all walks of life come and pray for change of luck from Ma Cho, a Chinese deity, whose eight inch wooden image surprisingly has a counterpart in the Roman Catholic faith known as the “Virgin of Caysasay” who is enshrined at the Basilica of Saint Martin in Taal, Batangas.

According to Chinese history, Ma Cho was born in 960 AD during the sung Dynasty. According to legend, she did not cry at all during her first month of infancy, thus, she was first named “Mo”, meaning keeping silent. Intelligent, gifted with a photographic memory and blessed with healing powers, she became a monk at the age of 10. Growing up in the fishing village of Meizhou in the province of Fu Jian, she actively participated in rescue operations for fishermen during typhoons. It is also believed that she can accurately predict the weather in upcoming days in the sea, earning for herself the titles “Dragon Girl”, “Goddess of the Sea” and “Queen of Heaven”. Dying at the young age of 27, it is believed by Chinese sailors and fishermen that her spirit, dressed in red, continues to save the lives of those who are in distress in the high seas.

Devotees offer incense, food and money at the shrine. Every other week, a “Buyong” session is held where temple elders read or interpret Ma Cho’s message to the faithful. 

How To Get There:
1. Once in San Fernando, La Union ask the locals for the direction of Ma Cho Temple.