Category: DESTINATIONS

Exploring the 81 provinces of my Country, The Philippines

PANGASINAN

Pangasinan is a province in the Philippines. Its provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is on the western area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf and the West Philippine Sea.
It amazed me that I have been to different provinces as a child including Pangasinan. I’ve been here several times and visited Manaoag way back and some other places within the area with my Great-grandmother.
I remember joining excursions with my distant relatives from my mother’s side in  childhood, and Pangasinan has always been one of our destinations. After visiting the church, I remember stopping over and spending half a day on the beach. Our elders at that time made friends with a few Pangasinense families, and some of them became our tenants in Nueva Ecija. I remember the delicious ripe mangoes, the shrimp paste & anchovies  they used to bring.
There were also once in my life when I wanted to learn their language, and seek help from one of our tenants to write down some words and translate in their dialect. 🙂 Childhood days!

TARLAC

Years ago, my family and I used to pass by Tarlac every time we were commuting to La Union, but just passing by as this was our stopover to ride another bus going to La Union and the same route going back to Cabanatuan City. I forgot where we exactly have to be dropped off, but it is a corner road that the other split will lead you straight to Manila, and the other split will take you to Nueva Ecija.
The very first time I’ve been here literally was when I was invited by a friend somewhere in Concepcion Tarlac and stayed there for a night.
The second time was in the City Proper of Tarlac where I only spent the day in the Mall named Magic Star and went home on the same day.
Update: December 2019
So I went to Paniqui Tarlac (DFA) on the 11th of December 2019 to apply for Jan Francisrain’s passport. Too bad that we didn’t have enough time to roam around as we spent almost half a day in the queue in DFA inside Waltermart, Paniqui Tarlac, not to mention that I felt upset at the outcome of our errand on that day as I had some requirements missing we weren’t able to get him a passport that day but we still managed to go out and have lunch somewhere around the area.
Rain’s baby photo with my sister, Department of Foreign Affairs- Tarlac

ZAMBALES

Zambales is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region in the island of Luzon. Its capital is the Municipality of Iba which is strategically located in the middle of the province.
I’ve been to Zambales just once when I was in my third year college as part of our  University  field trip where we visited a lot of places for Education purposes but I already forgot all the names, too bad I haven’t saved any of our photos taken during this trip. I just remember we went to Olongapo and Subic.
I also remember I wasn’t in my best form as I was sick on the entire trip, I spent most of the time sleeping on the bus. If it wasn’t a part of our School Activity, I wouldn’t have joined that time.
Photo not mine. For reference only.

PAMPANGA

Yep, Like some of the other provinces, I’ve been to Pampanga several times since childhood to visit some of our Relatives there particularly during their Town Fiestas.

On 2013, right before my trip to Hongkong where I’m flying from Clark, I visited one of my friend in Angeles City and stayed there for a night (she is managing one of the hotels in Angeles  and she let me stay for a night for free) and upon coming back from HK, another night in San Fernando Pampanga.

 

Boarding Plane to Hongkong
Too bad I haven’t had much of photos taken as well, but here are some photos in Clark.

ORIENTAL MINDORO

The very first time I’ve been to Calapan Oriental Mindoro   was way back childhood days to spend the Christmas with my family. That was also my first time to ride on big a ship. I’ve remembered going to Batangas port first, and then a two hour ship ride from there will take us to Mindoro. After that Holiday season, I’ve been there for another 2 times more on  the same place but as I visited there as a child, I didn’t enjoy much compared when I return several years later.
The best I’ve been was when I returned years later to Sabang Beach in Puerto Galera with friends which is also located in Mindoro.
We have taken a lot of photos from a film camera but unfortunately, I left all the photos with a friend and wasn’t able to keep some for myself.  I’ve been there twice  and stayed at a very beautiful small cottage with a pool. I’ve been with a group of Scuba Divers and experienced going out with them  in the boat while they deep dive in the ocean. Of course,   I didn’t try even once  as I do not have any experience for that. I just waited for them in the boat. 
I had a lot of fun in Puerto Gallera, having been able to experience a bunch of seafood lunch or dinner where they cook/grill different variety of seafood fresh from the water, drink and bar hop at night as there are a lot of small bars and bistros and discos around the area. Surely, if you are looking for a place to loosen up a little, enjoy the night life, have fun drinking, dancing and bar hopping, this is the best place for you!
Photo not mine.

AURORA

Baler is a town on the Philippine island of Luzon. In its center, Museo de Baler chronicles colonial history. On the coast, Cemento Beach is known for powerful surf, and Sabang Beach is lined with resorts. Nearby, Ermita Hill offers panoramic views. Inland, Baler Hanging Bridge crosses the mouth of the Tibag-Sabang River. To the east, the distinctive, angular Baler Lighthouse overlooks Dicasalarin Cove.
I’ve been here with my Family in 2013 during my Philippine vacation and it’s almost similar to the Surf capital of the Philippines in La Union, which is also equally progressive now.
There’s a lot of nice resorts to stay in. Although we went there during the month of August which is, unfortunately, a rainy season in the Philippines, we still get to enjoy the serenity of the place.
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And other photos as we explore the Province.
We have a lot of photos taken here as we explore a lot of places in Aurora along with my family but just enjoy these few snaps. This was actually one of the rare times I bonded with my elder sisters and it so happened that we were complete this time with all the piglets and pets. We have rented a van from our City direct to Aurora (as it would be very hassled commuting with these raining and all) and the same van who toured us around the Baler area. Although it was a little bit rainy, it didn’t spoil our out of town at all.

Stone8- Gabaldon Nueva Ecija

Gabaldon (formerly Sabani and Bitulok) is a 4th class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines.
The town is tucked by the Sierra Madre Mountains. It lies 171 kilometers northeast of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Tagalogs predominate this town. It is bounded by Bongabon on the north, Laur on the west, General Tinio on the south, and Dingalan by the east.
 
Stone-8
 
 
The town is tucked between the Sierra Madre Mountains

We’ve been to Stone-8 Resort in Gabaldon sometime during one of my Philippine vacation. It is one of the nicest destination to visit when you are in Nueva Ecija. They have a  manmade pool whose water comes directly from the mountain, so it’s expectedly very fresh and cold.

They have small family single-detached cottages for rent (with AC) we rented overnight for about Php1500 at that time. We also rented a videoke, and enjoyed singing the whole day until the next day.  Unfortunately, we didn’t bring any food/ drinks with thoughts in mind to order from the resort which they do not have the service yet, we had to go all the way to the market to buy some ready food. I also couldnt swim that much as I’m about to freeze that time. Couldnt stand the super cold water from the mountain so I just consumed the day singing and lying in the air conditioned cottage and doing my usual photography. 🙂

But all in, we had a great time!

LAGUNA

Our Visit to Laguna- 2012

Enchanted Kingdom, often abbreviated EK, is a theme park in the Philippines. It is the largest Amusement Park in the Philippines and it is located in Santa Rosa, Laguna.  

I went here with my family during my vacation in the Philippines 2012 before heading to Tagaytay.

Since this is my first time here, I get to enjoy all the outdoor rides they have and  managed to ride almost all of them from the one day pass we got that is unlimited for all the rides.

If you are looking for a place to bond with family as well as kids, this is a nice place to go.

And some other photos were taken with family



TAGAYTAY

Although I have been to Tagaytay several times since childhood, I haven’t had much of the photos taken aside from the time that cam phone is available.
It was three times in succeeding three different years of my vacation when I and my family visited the place, other times just passing by to have lunch.
Tagaytay is a popular holiday town south of Manila on the Philippine island Luzon. Known for its mild climate, it sits on a ridge above Taal Volcano Island, an active volcano surrounded by Taal Lake. Overlooking the area, People’s Park in the Sky occupies the grounds of a never-finished presidential mansion. Picnic Grove is a recreation area with trails and a zip line.
2012

Viewing deck facing Taal Volcano.

This photo was taken outside the small room we rented overnight in Tagaytay. It just cost us Php1500 for the entire room with bath for all of us.

2014- SKY RANCH- TAGAYTAY


We went  back to Tagaytay sometime in 2014 (again, during my Phil vacation) and this time we visit another Amusement Park named SKY RANCH.