heritage tour

A Heritage Walking Tour of Silay City Heritage Zone

Posted on October 31, 2022

The gateway to Negros Occidental by plane, Silay City is one of the best-preserved heritage towns in the Philippines. More than 30 ancestral homes, built between the late 19th century and early 20th century, have been officially recognized as Heritage Houses by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) within the Silay City Heritage Zone. These opulent mansions of various architectural styles were erected by wealthy landowning families who reaped from the economic boom of the cane sugar industryRead More→

Romblon Island: Remarkable Heritage Tour of Romblon Town

Posted on April 19, 2022

As soon as I got off the ferry, I spent my first morning on Romblon island attending the local festivities at the capitol grounds. Romblon town is the geopolitical heart of the archipelagic province of Romblon, which includes the larger islands of Tablas and Sibuyan. Serendipitously, my arrival last March 16 coincided with the province’s 121st Foundation and 77th World War II Liberation Anniversaries. A scaled-down edition of the Marble Festival, usually held in January, was also held. The RomblonRead More→

Bike with Elena: Discover Kuala Lumpur’s Hidden Heritage On A Guided Bicycle Tour

Posted on May 5, 2018

Just when you think you’ve seen all that Kuala Lumpur has to offer, local tour operator Bike with Elena offers an eye-opening bicycle tour of the Malaysian capital’s hidden heritage – some of them vanishing as urban development quickly transforms the cityscape. The following day after checking in at the all-new Hilton Garden Inn along Chow Kit Road, our media group bussed to the KL City Gallery at Merdeka Square to meet up with tour guide Elena Mei Yun andRead More→

A Heritage Walking Tour of Malolos Historic Town Center

Posted on April 16, 2018

Heritage buffs need not look far from the Philippine capital for historical gems. Located an hour’s drive of Metro Manila, Malolos – the provincial capital of Bulacan – occupies an importance place in the history of the Philippines, especially when one mentions it’s most popular landmark: the Barasoain Church, which was the site of the First Philippine Republic. But little did I know that the city has whole lot more to offer, especially when it comes to built heritage. OnRead More→

Carcar City, Cebu: A Heritage Walking Tour of the Town Plaza, Rotunda and Ancestral Houses

Posted on July 17, 2015

Carcar City – the one of the newest cities in Cebu— is also the best-preserved heritage town in the province, established in 1599. Together with Vigan, Taal and Silay, Carcar is recognized as one of the most important heritage towns in the Philippines. I’ve passed by this bustling town countless times on road trips to my mother’s hometown of Argao farther south, admiring the weathered mansions along the highway, but I’ve only explored it once before. I recently revisited the heritage townRead More→

Balayan, Batangas: Heritage Tour of the Immaculate Conception Church and Ancestral Houses

Posted on July 10, 2015

A day after the Parada ng Lechon in Balayan, Batangas, we enjoyed a heritage tour of the town, which has an impressive church and a number of well-preserved ancestral houses, just like the neighboring town of Taal. One of the oldest towns in Batangas province, Balayan was once the capital of a Moro sultanate called Bon-bon, which occupied a large territory from Cavite to Mindoro. From the 11th to 14th centuries, the bayside settlement prospered with native Moro and lumadRead More→