VIVA STA. MARTA

Pateros commemorates its fiesta of Sta. Marta every February... It's nice to see this celebration in their colorful costumes during the parade. Local government and religious group have joined hand in hand for the preparations of their community's festivity. 

Pateros, officially the Municipality of Pateros (Filipino: Bayan ng Pateros), is a first-class municipality in Metro Manila, Philippines. This small town is famous for its duck-raising industry and especially for producing balut, a Filipino delicacy that is boiled duck egg. Pateros is also known for the production of red salty eggs and "inutak", a local rice cake. Moreover, the town is known for manufacturing of "alfombra", a locally-made footwear with a carpet-like fabric on its top surface. Pateros is bordered by Pasig City to the north, Makati City to the west, and Taguig Cityto the south.

Pateros is the only municipality and the smallest, both in population and in land area, in Metro Manila, but it is the second most densely populated at around 29 thousand people per square kilometer after Manila. Wikipedia

THINGS TO KNOW

• Language
• English
• Can able to understand and speak since most of schools and local offices use it as medium language.
• Tagalog 
• Can do speak and understand
• Transportation
• Jeepney
• From Edsa you can take a ride along shaw boulevard going San joaquin, Pateros via Pasig
• P11.00
• From Pasig palengke take a ride going pateros 
• P8.00
• Foods
• Inutak
• Bibingka
• Sapin-sapin
• And a famous BALUT
• Where to stay
• Maplandia
• Financial Establishments
• Remittances and banks can be found in town proper

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PAILAH

Pailah Festival named after from its town's ancient name Pila, Laguna. "PAILAH" also derived as Palay (Rice) as their major crop since Hispanic era, Isda (Fish) since the municipality is also near in the lake, Tilapia is also one of their livelihood, Lilok Antigo (Antique Carvings) along the district not only from the crops farming and fishing they have dependent but they also have handicraft products to make this town also known as one of the best suppliers of native products and wood carvings which is Laguna is famous to its talents and skills. Halaman (Ornamental plants) they have produced a lot of supplies for different places of Manila and its neighboring provinces for their premier class of ornamental plants.

This event were duly attended by Nayon Photographers' Club who were invited to cover the yearly event. From manila we prepared to depart as early as 5:00 am to witness this event by 8:00 am. As we arrived we have ample time to set up and prepare our things. One you can observe if you are in Pila is like you are travelling back in time, the old houses are well maintained and preserved its Hispanic architectural designs, same as the church as well. This municipality of Laguna is a sleepy town but were not affected by war for its excessive bombardments during Japanese American battle, up to now the evident of the town is still on its finest preservation of heritage village such as their houses, church and other structures that you can find here.

 

BEAUTIES

The beauties of Pila is an evident of true Filipina beauty, in fact Pailah Festival held a Lakan and Binibi ng Pila every year's event, the first day celebration always a start of an awarding for its Mister and Miss Pila Laguna. The crowned winners is always in part of the parade and street dancing.

Pailah festival ends up with an awarding of great performers of parade and street dancing competition held at grand plaza in between old parish church and municipal hall. Defending champion of last year's competition where not so luck to get the recent award but still placed as one of the top winners.

THINGS TO KNOW

• Language
• English
• Can able to understand and speak since most of schools and local offices use it as medium language.
• Tagalog
• Transportation
• Land-Bus
• P127.00 Cubao to Sta. Cruz Laguna, Via Pila Laguna. HM and Jam bus serves the public transportation along the area 
• Foods
• Not all favorite fastfoods can be found in the town proper, but for the budget travelers take our recommendation to look for a short orders cafeterias, foods is very good.
• Where to stay
• check hotels here http://www.maplandia.com
• Financial Establishments
• Banks at the town proper as well as ATM
• Remitance centers are also available here

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BILIRAN PORT

Biliran is the oldest municipal town of Biliran province and divided by 11 Barangays such as Bato, Burabod, Busali, Hugpa, Julita, Canila, Pangumhan, San Isidro (Pob.), San Roque (Pob.), Saggalang and Villa Enage (Baras). Located at the northern part of Leyte, A century old municipal is a remnant of pre-Hispanic era in the Philippines it has been told that the original settlers were the Moros which have had waged several war from the Spaniards.

Lot of hidden gems of natures to be found here in Biliran, it is truly blessed with natural resources and eco-tourism and still unexplored areas awaiting to discover. Clean environment, clean air abundant fresh foods and crystal clear sea waters. It is a must to visit place where you can enjoy a peaceful and tranquil vacation.

THINGS TO KNOW

• Language
• English
• Can able to understand and speak since most of schools and local offices use it as medium language.
• Tagalog 
• Can do speak and understand
• Waray
• Local dialect use
• Good Morning - Maopay na aga
• Good Afternoon - Maopay naudto
• Good Evening - Gab-i
• Let's eat - Mangaon kita
• How much - Tagpira
• Transportation
• Sea
• You can do access by boat but the nearest port is in Naval municipality, biliran and take a jeep or a van to biliran municipal.
• Air
• There is no airport serves the area the nearest airport is in Tacloban. Access it by riding a car or a van from tacloban.
• Land-Tricycle-habal-habal
• P8.00 in short distances from the terminal to any point.
• Foods
• Short orders restuarant are available here, known fastfoods is in Naval, Biliran.
• Where to stay
• M and M Hotel is the nearest you can stay with contact Ms. Marichu Opao for reservation CP # 09497175182
• Financial Establishments
• Banks at the town proper of naval

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WAWA PORT

Wawa port is located at Brgy. wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas. This place is very familiar to some photographers who loves landscape for its grandeur view during sunrise and sunset of ever well known Payong-payong point. A crust of stone carved by the nature due smashing waves, an off shore stone formation during high tide and noticeable during low tide. Mostly the landscape photographers took advantage during sunset for its vantage point.

Going to payong-payong point must have to ride a banca (small boat) to take you to the other side of it, from wawa port it might cost P10.00 per person. Right and there you can have your rest or you can leave your belongings to the interlink beach resort. They called it interlink because some times long ago the owner of the cottages along the shoreline have connected with a cable and an Internet link that serves the area, it was named after the company who brought fort for their connection and it was an Interlink. Cottages are own by Nanay Precy Morales a well accommodating owner with her family leaving near the Payong-payong point. 

Barangay Wawa beach shorelines have offered a brownish sand, an irresistible to dip into its crystal clear sea water, where you can also over see the fortune island. Most of the beach goers often stayed at the Interlink, a mini sari-sari store that have offered a groceries and small products for a quick relief of a hungry stomach. The place is familiar since it has been a venue before of one of the most prestigious fantateleserye Mutya.

LOMI

Noticeable delectable foods have found here on the nearby place where we stayed during our shoot. This small short orders restaurant is simply decorated with a canopy and umbrella with a table serves as a dinning area. The place is not that huge like restaurant, but the foods are great tasting, we only have noticed it while we were on rest, looking for a place to stay for awhile. At first we ordered an 11 cups of Halo-halo to chill down our exhausted bodies after having a very tiring but enjoyable photo walk in Nasugbu. I forgot to take a picture of Halo-halo, but I will try to describe as good as we have tried the best halo-halo in town, comparable to some fast food's halo-halo? The sweetness is not just sweetened by a sugar, a mouth watering tasty is a well balance made just right for our taste, from a secret sweetened ingredients made specially for this merienda food. Well this is something special just hidden in the inner most community of Brgy. Wawa, Nasugbu. A not so well known fastfood but some customers where coming from the other side of town just went here to order, in fact some have a cars. Great are foods and budget is good.

We tried also their Lomi, the special taste of this food is not what you get from its appearance or how it has been offered but it is how they have prepared and can call it a master piece of every dishes they have made. The taste itself can do make you more than satisfied for an affordable cost you might spend. A single order of this one have been tried by a more than 10 photographers and convinced enough for what they have tested. Look for Lomihan sa Kanto by Mr. Willie Sarasa located at Malasugi St. Brgy. Wawa Nasugbu, Batangas, just right beside the grocery store of Tita Helen, who dearly welcomed us into their home a very well accommodating person as well as her family.

We would like also to acknowledge the effort of our friend Kanayon Caloy Iblasin through his initiative to make this trip possible. 

See more Seascape photos >>>Here


THINGS TO KNOW

• Language
• English
• Can able to understand and speak since most of schools and local offices use it as medium language.
• Tagalog or batangas tagalog(Batangueneo) also known as "Ala eh"
• Transportation
• Sea
• You can do access by boat but it is practical to take a landtrip and park your car at the wawa port and take a small boat to the Interlink resort.
• Air
• There is no airport serves the area the nearest airport is in Manila. Access it by riding a car or a bus.
• Land-Tricycle
• P8.00 in short distances from the terminal to wawa port.
• Land-Bus
• P150.00 Pasay to Nasugbu, Vice versa and then take a tricycle to the wawa port.
• Foods
• There are plenty of restaurant you can find it here, favorite fastfoods can be found in the town proper, but for the budget travelers take our recommendation to look for a short orders cafeterias, foods is very good.
• Where to stay
• check hotels here http://www.maplandia.com
• Financial Establishments
• Banks at the town proper as well as ATM
• Remitance centers are also available here

Read more »

LANSONES FESTIVAL

Camiguin celebrating lansones festival every 3rd week of October, it is their beliefs from their ancestors that the lansones festival started when the couple have wished to grant a child in a fairy living in a lansones tree. Who therefore took back their son when the fairy have taken the spirit of the young boy in replacement for being so forgettable to thank the said fairy, so the offering and rituals have took place honoring the fairy and the couple have granted in a second time to win back their son, so the celebration have started on that day. Until such time the ritual have celebrated annually to commemorate the ceremony of their great ancestors honoring thanks to the Gods for their bountiful harvest.

The commemoration of festival usually held in a one week celebration, it shows the rich cultural diversity of the island. Lots of tourist come here from different places to witness the great festivity of Lansones. During celebration you can see colorful displays on parade, street dancing, talent and beauty search for Ms. Camiguin.

LANSONES

Lansones in Camiguin is said as a sweetest lansones in the country. It is their main livelihood and major crops that made the camiguin known as a Lansones Capital of the Philippines, aside from the other tourist destinations that camiguin have to offer, from its white sand bar, old and ruin church, waterfalls, cold and hot springs and a very well known sunken cemetery. Make sure you don't missed to bring home some lansones if you are to visit camiguin. LEAVE NO TRACE

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LINAMON

Is a Municipal of Lanao Del Norte province located in Northern Mindanao. Its boundiries are divided by  Lanao Del Sur province in the south, Bukidnon in the east and Iligan City in the north. Five Municipalities of this province are Kauswagan, Maigo, Kulambugan, Bacolod and Linamon a boundery of bridge that links to Iligan City.

The province of Lanao was divided into Lanao Del Sur and Lanao Del Norte on July 04, 1959 with the passage of Republic Act 2228. Iligan City was once served as the capital of Lanao Del Norte until June 24, 1982. The capital of the province was moved to the municipality of Tubod in pursuance to the Batas Pambansa 181. Text from Province of Lanao Del Norte blog

Lanao provinces is rich in cultural diversity, where Christians and Muslims lives harmoniously. Unlike from what we have heard in the news, not all parts of Mindanao were affected of the arm conflicts. This part of municipalities of the province is peaceful and crimes were just an isolated incidents.

FRUITS

This is usually seen in some part of Mindanao, they called it "MARANG" it is similar to a jackfruit. It is juicy and sweet with a small seeds inside rich with protein and minerals, this is familiar to all parts of Mindanao, it is a must to try fruit if you are to visit Mindanao. Durian, Jackfruit, Pomelo and Mangostain are also can be found here in Lanao.

How to get there, from Cagayan De Oro you can take a bus to Iligan City or Marawi, look for Bulua terminal in CDO. There are two buses company serves the route going to Lanao Del Norte. There is no taxi available in Lanao Del Norte, you can go from point to point by commuting through a jeepney or you can get a ride by single type passenger motorcycle.

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