Lakbay Norte Diary Day 7: Subic

The day we were all looking forward to, the day seventh of Lakbay Norte 3 was for jungle survival and massage treat in Subic. After our breakfast at Microtel Inn and Suites Luisita we headed to Pamulaklakin Forest Trail in Subic Bay Metropolitan Area for the jungle survival demonstration. We were welcomed by indigenous aetas who performed a traditional dance. The group is led by... Read More

Lakbay Norte Diary Day 6: Pangasinan and Tarlac

Our sixth day began with a breakfast buffet at The Manor. A wide selection of early morning treats were waiting for us that I had two plates full of whatever my eyes deemed good – breads, sausages, pork tocino, baked tomatoes, fried fish, fruits and more. The Manor at Camp John Hay By seven in the morning, our bus left Baguio for the Pangasinan leg of the tour. We arrived... Read More

Lakbay Norte Diary Day 5: La Union and Baguio

The daylight revealed the beautiful waves that made the town famous. Good morning San Juan, La Union! I sat in the restaurant of Kahuna Beach Resort for breakfast and watched as the perfect long swells break on the shore. The waves were fantastic and tempting, I wished we could stay longer and surf but we have itinerary for the day and surfing was not on it. A giant picnic tent... Read More

Lakbay Norte Diary Day 4: Paoay and Batac, Ilocos Norte

January 25, “Boarding! Boarding!”, Ivan Henares and Karlo de Leon‘s famous line echoed in the lobby of Roswell Hotel where our group converged. We will pick up the others from Plaza del Norte where they spent the night before going to Malacañan Ti Amianan for breakfast prepared by the local government. Overlooking the Paoay Lake, Malacañan Ti Amianan is the official... Read More

Lakbay Norte Diary Day 3: Pagudpud and Laoag, Ilocos Norte

January 24, everyone was already up by six in the morning, all eager and ready for our third day of more fun in Lakbay Norte. Not even a trace of the previous day’s strenuous activity in Chico River can be seen, in fact everybody seemed excited for another adventure – surfing in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte! Edcel Suyo of soloflighted.com in Patapat Viaduct We traversed the... Read More

Lakbay Norte Diary Day 2: Cagayan and Kalinga

January 23, we traveled for eight hours from Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija to Tuguegarao, Cagayan for our second day of Lakbay Norte adventures. At half past four in the morning, our bus stopped in Las Palmas de San Jose, Lakbay Norte 3′s home in Tuguegarao. I was partnered with Ivan Bautista, the official photographer/videographer of the tour and we checked-in to a twin bed room... Read More

Lakbay Norte Diary Day 1: Bulacan and Nueva Ecija

January 22, twenty three media participants showed up before sunrise at the Victory Liner terminal in Kamias, Quezon City for the third year of Lakbay Norte, an eight day media tour of northern Philippines aiming to rediscover the North. I was lucky to have been chosen as one of the six blogger participants which include Edcel Suyo, Gael Hilotin, Marcos Caratao, James Betia and... Read More

I Survived Shotgun!

For mountain bikers based in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, a mere  mention of “Shotgun” will surely elicit anxious faces. Not the anxiousness of excitement but more of challenge and restlessness. Shotgun is a famed and prized destination for mountain bikers in the  Metropolis. Located in Mt. Mararat, San Mateo, Rizal, it is popular for its  notoriety and difficulty.... Read More