Zamboanga City

Posted on March 16, 2008

Nestled on a southern peninsula of the Philippine archipelago is Asia’s Latin City, which boasts of a rich Hispanic heritage, evident in its local Creole tongue called Chavacano, a distinct mix of Spanish and FIlipino dialects. A symbol of Zamboanga City’s cultural heritage is Fort Pilar, a 17th century Spanish fortress built to protect the settlement from pirates and invaders. Today, this military bastion is an outdoor shrine and museum in honor of the patron Virgin of Spain, Our LadyRead More→

Quiapo: Faith & Frenzy

Posted on March 11, 2008

If you can handle the nitty-gritty of Manila, holler your way through the rowdy streets of Quiapo–the labyrinthine downtown of the Philippine capital–where a plethora of goods are sold at most probably the best bargains in the metropolis. This includes, yes, photographic goodies like vintage cameras and film! R. Hidalgo Street (Map here) is considered to be the photographer’s Mecca, where, if you’re patient (or lucky) enough, you will stumble upon a true-blue lomographic camera (like a second-hand Lubitel 166B)Read More→

Pawikan Festival (Morong, Bataan)

Posted on March 9, 2008

Let’s go to turtle town! Along the western coast of the historic peninsula of Bataan sits the sleepy town of Morong, where every late November local townsfolk celebrate marine turtle conservation with their annual Pawikan Festival. Its sandy shores are vital nesting grounds for the endangered Olive Ridley species, the smallest of the world’s eight sea turtle species. Interestingly, what was once a site of rampant poaching and illegal egg collecting has become a successful community of environmental advocates for theRead More→

Argao Capilla: Forsaken and Found

Posted on March 6, 2008

Argao, my mother’s hometown, is one of the most charming towns in southern Cebu. Known for its baroque-rococo Church of St. Michael the Archangel that boasts of detailed ceiling frescoes and a grand retablo, all within the well-preserved colonial town plaza, we’ve frequented this place for years for quick vacations and to visit relatives, both living and dead. The town, established in 1608, is one of the oldest in Cebu. Along the eastern coast of the island, it is approximatelyRead More→

Manila Baywalk Sunset

Posted on March 3, 2008

Manila Baywalk is a bit rundown nowadays, but the world-famous sunset (allegedly the best among the world’s cities according to Lonely Planet’s ‘The Cities Book’ due to the air pollution that enhances the display)–is the daily spectacle that redeems the messy urban sprawl of all its noise, sleaze and taxi drivers from hell. On Sundays, it’s a leisurely place to seek respite, basking in the orange haze of nature’s light show with peanuts and fishballs for popcorn. Just make sure toRead More→

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño & Magellan’s Cross

Posted on March 2, 2008

A place I truly call home is where I was born and raised, Cebu City: the oldest and most visited city in the Philippines. Crowned the Queen City of the South, Cebu is a dynamic metropolis, looking forward to the future as one of Asia’s prime commercial hubs, and always in touch with a past brimming with so much history. In 1521, Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan–the man who headed the first expedition that circumnavigated the Earth–first landed on the islandRead More→