walking 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→

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 Dispensary

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→

DIY Walking Tour – Davao City

Posted on June 14, 2014

Location: Poblacion, Davao City Starting Point: Museo Dabawenyo End Point: Magsaysay Park  Distance: 4 km Duration: 7 hours Emerging from a small riverside trading settlement of Bagobo tribes in southeastern Mindanao, the area we now call Davao City was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1844 in opposition to the Sultan of Maguindanao, followed by the official colonization of the region in 1848. In the early 20th century, Japanese settlers thrived in the city working in abaca plantations so muchRead More→

Pathways to the Past: Taal Town’s Heritage Trail

Posted on May 2, 2012

Colonial houses lining Agoncillo Street at Taal, Batangas Taal is often associated to the popular caldera lake and volcano, admired by most tourists from the city of Tagaytay in Cavite. A lesser known destination is the town of same name in Batangas, home to heritage structures and special handicrafts like handmade embroidery and the balisong (butterfly knife). Established in 1572 in the present-day town of San Nicolas, Taal moved to its present-day location after the 1754 eruption of Taal Volcano. ItRead More→

DIY Walking Tour – Roxas City

Posted on January 25, 2012

Location: Roxas City, Capiz Starting Point: Manuel Roxas Shrine End Point: Roxas City Museum (Panublion Museum) Distance: 1.5 km Duration: 2 hours Though much father from famed Boracay Island – four hours, to be exact – the city of Roxas in Capiz province makes for a much more pleasant, laid-back gateway to Western Visayas, compared to neighboring Kalibo in Aklan or even industrialized Iloilo City. Roxas City (formerly Capiz town) was established when Captain Diego de Artieda, who was sent by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi from Cebu, movedRead More→