image courtesy of travel.nationalgeographic.com
Hmm, last week was Holy Week. Well I’m not a Christian so the Holy Week must have been a regular week for me. And yeah, it was a pretty ordinary week except no work. And God knows how “no work” makes my ordinary week heavenly. I stayed at my mum’s house in Batangas. I usually go with my entire family on the road for our annual Visita Iglesia but sloth got the better of me; I decided to do nothing. And nothing was FUN! Wahaaha.
Then I remembered what a friend told me last year: “If a tsunami hits Puerto Galera anytime during the Holy Week, it will wipe out 80% of the country’s gay population.” Haha.
Funny, I haven’t set foot on the sands of Puerto Galera when it is just around P300 away from Batangas. And it’s not just Gale, I haven’t experienced Boracay either! Whenever my friends would invite me to join them to Boracay or Gale, I always end up staying with my relatives in Palawan. Not that I’m complaining. It’s cheaper, since food and lodging won’t be a concern. And besides, Palawan is beyond awesome.
I consider myself a well-traveled person if we’re talking about within the Philippine borders. I’ve been to Benguet to Aurora to Sorsogon to Leyte to General Santos. But the Philippines has just too many must-see places that gaaaah, there are also too many I haven’t been to. Here are 15 famous places in the country that I have yet to conquer.
15. Bukidnon
image courtesy of Star Cinema
Even before Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin made Bukidnon a romantic setting in “Love Me Again,” I had always wanted to experience this pineapple-happy province. I remember when I was in grade school, Bukidnon really grabbed my curiosity. Grade school textbooks then had good things to say about Bukidnon, its terrain, industries and unusual climate. Bukidnon is the first thing that comes to mind whenever our teacher would ask us for an example of a plateau. Haha.
I really don’t know why but I won’t die without visiting Bukidnon.
14. Cebu
image courtesy of Tourism.gov.ph
My sister used to work in Cebu and she always urged me to come visit because there was just too much to see. But time was a bitch then. When I decided to finally pay the Queen City of the South a go-see, my sister was assigned somewhere else — Ilocos Norte. And then she completely forgot about Cebu and pimped Ilocos. Crazy sister.
One thing that makes me wanna see Cebu — history. It’s the oldest city in the country, right? So it should take me to the past and indulge me with things ancient. That’s what I’m expecting — more than the beaches, more than the culture. It’s really history. And dried mangoes.
13. Vigan
image courtesy of Philippines 101 Travel
Some say Vigan is overrated but I have a couple of friends from Vigan and they are really raving about their city. And it looks good in pictures.
Anyone here who has been to Vigan? What can you say?
12. Boracay
image courtesy of Tourism.gov.ph
“If you’ve been to Palawan, then you don’t need to visit Boracay.” This is what my friends always tell me whenever I bitch about not having been under the Boracay sun. I don’t know if I should buy that. I know Palawan is great and all but something tells me that there’s a reason Boracay is the most popular beach in the country.
11. Sagada / Banaue
image courtesy of Philippines 101 Travel and Tourism.gov.ph
Asked to choose between the beach or the highlands, I’d pick the highlands anytime. Every year, I plan to visit Sagada and Banaue. Every year, the plan fails. Wahaha. I dunno why. Maybe because of the time (or the lack thereof). Or maybe, the companion (or the lack thereof). Haha.
The northernmost dot on my places-i’ve-been-to map is La Trinidad, Benguet and I think it’s time to break the record this year! Here goes the planning again. Pffft.
Waaaaah. The Banaue Rice Terraces, I want I want.
10. Masbate
image courtesy of www.tourism.gov.ph
My father grew up in Masbate. And he used to describe the place where he spent the first half of his life. It sounded great. Other than the Rodeo-country culture that they have there, I don’t know what else Masbate has to offer. (Political chaos not included.) But for the simple reason that I want to understand my dad better, I will break into Masbate territory in the future. And I say this in the name of the father. My father, that is.
…
I should stop here. Hehe. Care to guess what’s in the upper half of my list? 
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this is sad. wala pa ko napupuntahan sa pinas! hehehe. siguro bahay at dorl lang ako. wait kasama ba camsur dyan? yun pa lang pala napupuntahan ko. hahaha!
pero kung mabibigyan ng chnace, sagada and vigan, sure na nasa list ko na pupuntahan.
sana may manlibre sa akin! hahaha! ang kapal diba?
Nakapunta ka na sa CamSur? Lovet. Taga-dun talaga kami. Hihihi.
Naiinis pala ako pag naririnig ko Cebu. Pupunta dapat kami dun nung January. Hindi lang natuloy. Kakaasar nang bonggang-bongga. Ugh!
“sana may manlibre sa akin! hahaha! ang kapal diba?”
- Ask mo si André. Hihihihi.
“And I say this in the name of the father. My father, that is.”
Love this. Hehehe.
Speaking of our fathers, wala lang. Baka magkakilala na mga tatay natin sa Heaven. Hehehehe.
CED, tara na! byahe tayo! Oy, bad yan, bumyahe kaaa. there’s so much to see! Sama mo si Andre! Hahaha
KEVIN, actually, pupunta kami ng Camarines Sur within the year. ahihihi.
Sama ako. Wag mo na lang sabihin para hindi alam. Ahahaha.
last january lang ako galing ng camsur! weee!
ang sarap sana magstay kaya lang ang mahal! hahaha
teka pwede ba magstay sa inyo next time kevin? hahaha
si andrei pwede naman syang sumama. hehehe
mukhang di na ko makakagala this year. medyo toxic na sa school. huhuhu
Sure. Sabihin mo lang kung kelan. Dun ka sa tabi ng aso ko. Joke. Hala, baka magalit si André sakin. Hihihi.
CED, nag-aaral ka pa pala?
KEVIN, hahaha. baka kayo na yung sunod na loveteam ni ced. haha
Hindi pwede un. Friends kami ni Ced eh. Hihihi. Tsaka si André gusto nya. Ako iba naman.
@yoshke -yup still studying! hehe. in fact kakaenroll ko lang kanina for the new semester. medyo sinisipag pa kasi.
@kevin – sweet mo naman. katabi ko aso nyo. hehehe. friends na pala tayo lahat dito. ang saya! hihihi
Ayaw mo maging friends tayo lahat dito? Eh di wag! Char! Hahaha! Eh ano ba gusto mo katabi sa bahay namin? Ako? Hindi pwede. Choosy? Ahahaha!
Nakapunta na ako Sagada, Mt. Province. Sidetrip kami sa Ifugao. The best. Sarap maligo sa bat cave. narasanan din namin ang zero visibility dahil sa lupit ng fog. Ang Coolit! Tapos pag gabi kahit 2 jackets na ako at may heater pag maligo, giniginaw pa din. Sana makabalik ako. Sabay tau yoshke. hehe
WAAAAAAAAAAAAH, nakakainggit!!!! Nakakainggit! NAKAKAINGGIT!!!!
AKo, laging hanggang plano lang.
Sabay tayo? Wahaha, nakow, baka may magalit. haha
Di ba kasali ang Davao? We have the Apo, Pearl Farm, Phil Eagle tsaka Durian.
Marami ako friends na taga-Davao!!!!
Saw Phil Eagle in action sa Aurora dati. Pear Farm, sounds great! Tsaka yeah, Apo!
Durian, BLEH. I never got to like it.
Gusto ko ung durian candy. Hehe
ayoko rin nun. haha
Ang choosy mo din ah! Hahaha
Haha, okay. Marami ding may ayaw nun. Marami namang prutas sa Davao eh.
Davao! the best dn dun! sobraaaaaaaaaaaah!
Kasali ba sa Part 2 neto ang Camarines Sur, Batanes, at Boracay?
Ahehehehehe. Secret vinsss.
i’ve been all over the world and i really enjoyed my first time visiting vigan. i spent the afternoon with my partner and his family riding a calesa roaming around the little urban core. calle crisologo, which is what is pictured is just one street and if you think vigan is a city full of those streets, you’ll be disappointed. its also not that far from paoay, laoag, bacarra and if you are planning a road trip, its only 2 or 3 hours from the patapat viaduct — all worth the driving to see.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Makes me feel soooo excited. Makes me wanna pack my things now and leAVE FOR vIGAN.
Thanks for the comment.
obviously nasa top half ang galera! at malamang top 1 mo ang palawan. at hula ko nandyan din ang batanes! and just to make it interesting, guess ko nandyan din ang metro manila (o manila).
tama ba? i have psychic powers, yoshke. they never fail.
wahahahaha, 50-50 yung accuracy nung psychic powers mo deejay!
Hey Yoshke! Glad to see Masbate’s on that list. Both my parents come from Masbate. Maanahao and Palanas, try to ask your father about those areas. It’s a relatively peaceful province, except when there are typhoons; when that happens, it’s just simply chaotic. Riding the horses across the green hills make you feel AWESOME.
Yeah, have you been to Davao? Or Zamboanga?
I was born in the latter, grew up in the former.
I can’t ask my father that now, he’s dead.
Riding the horses across the green hills — wow, thinking about it makes me smile already.
Zamboanga — i was there years ago so it can’t be on my list anymore!!! I bought a malong when I was there. haha.
Thanks for the comment kerwin
Wahahaha! Natawa ako nung nakita ko ung name mo @Kerwin. They made a portmanteau of my name with a male office mate na pine-pair sakin dati. Kevin + Erwin = Kerwin. Wala lang. Natawa lang ako. Pis awt!
yun yun eh!
mukhang maganda nga dun sa sagada? saan kaya sa sagada yung falls na nasa picture? hmmm…
sabi ni KAIW (sa baba): Bomod-ok Falls aka “Big Falls”, it’s at the Bangaan area of Sagada.
i’m from mindoro pero gradeschool pa ko last time nakapunta ng galera. i want to go back to bora! you should see it, masaya ang vibe. off-season nung pumunta kami at naenjoy ko ang serenity kasi hindi crowded. ultimate dream destinations in pinas – sagada, palawan, batanes.
waaaaaaaah, sana makapunta na rin ako ng boraaaa. ang loser-loser ko na. hahaha
Kung loser ka na, pa’no na lang ako?! Lahat na lang ng pinaplano ko, nauudlot. Isa lang ung natuloy.
bohol… cam sur… pagudpud… hmmm… ako din gusto ko nang makapaglibot… mura na lang plane ticket sa PAL ah… kasama na dun yung hotel accommodation… la lang..
Weh? Kasama hotel?! :O
Honga, kasama hotel? Good deal nga yun.
I’ve been to Vigan, which has a night life and booze and Sagada, nature trip. Pagudpod also, it was 15 hour drive bago makarating sa pagudpod from our place. it was nice, more peaceful than the crowded Boracay. But i’ve never been to Bora. Gaah! ang lame. Since summer ngayon ang sarap mag travel. Wishing that before this year end i’ll be able to go to the different places here in the Philippines.
Have a good day Yoshke!
true, ang fun siguro magtravel ngayon pero hindi ko magawaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Hi. Thanks for placing Sagada in your list. I’m from Sagada, and I hope that your plans to visit will soon become a reality.
To the person asking about the falls… that is called the Bomod-ok Falls aka “Big Falls”, it’s at the Bangaan area of Sagada.
Haaay, i really hope it pushes through. And thanks for the info, at least i know now where to go.
ES! game ako.
Sayang, Im going to CDO this weekend. . .baka hindi ko maavail ang Camiguin!!! Or pwede agahan. Flight ko paalis 3:00pm e. May 16-17 lang ako c/o work. haha!
I’m expecting…BAtanes, CamSur,Camiguin and CDO sa last part
Been there last year.
sa lahat ng yan? last year lang? Waaaaaaaah, kakainggit ka naman!
Vigan! yeah, my friend and I are planning to visit Vigan in June? sama ka? hehe
Sagada eez da best! love it. u should go! now na! forgot to go to Echo Valley though. and yeah, the sumaging cave’s enchanting. =) dami lang bat poop.. wiihih..
‘went to sagada a few years back, then went to bontoc (kasi dun merong jeep to banaue) tas from Bontoc, nag-topload kami to Banaue. FUN! mag-BAGUIO –> SAGADA –> BONTOC –> BANAUE –> BATAD ka, dali.. weeeeeeehh! go go!
I love bukidnon too.. had an Immersion there twice during college. It’s a beautiful place. daming plantations. =) dami ring injustices.. hehe..
went to the Talaandig Tribe House of Living Traditions. astigan. =)
I didn’t like Bora too much… too crowded.. im dreaming of palawan. =)
i like Cebu too. been there nung high school ako. very cultural. =) sana makabalik.
Camguin daw is nice.. =)
hehe.. sorry madaldal. makati kasi lagi paa ko. lakwatsera.
LAKWATSERA NGA KUNG LAKWATSERA! Grabe ka ha!
Waaah, nainggit ako sa Sagada experience mo. Haha. Parang feel na feel mo talaga!
I love Vigan! As in pupuntahan at pupuntahan ko ulit siya basta may pera at kasama. Nakakaloka lang yung feeling na parang nasa set ka ng isang period film. Love it!
allow me to guess….
Ilocos Norte… pagudpod/laoag
Pangasinan….. Hundred islands/treasures of bolinao
Bicol…. Caramoan Island
Camiguin
Batanes
Bohol….
hahaha may tumama ba?
Hi Yj. Caramoan po is a peninsula in Bicol. It’s not an island. Wala lang.
I am from Ilocos Sur but I’ve been to Vigan only twice. I lived in Baguio for 8 years and that’s the closest I could get to Sagada. Next month, we’re travelling to Cebu (finally). No plans yet for Masbate or Bukidnon.
I wanna go to Sagada, too! My friend went there a couple of years ago and she said it was one of the most amazing places she has ever visited. The pictures she took were great!
Went to Boracay last Holy Week, for the second time ever in my life. It was a blast… not so holy if you know what i mean haha.
Cebu… best place ever! wahahaha! :p
Baligtad naman tayo. Highlands versus the beach, sa beach ako. May ibang dating ang pagaspas ng tubig sa dalampasigan.
Ventured Sagada some years ago. It’s one of the best especially yung caving adventure. Exciting. Tsaka the trip na mismo to Sagada is experience in itself. Biro mo, ang haba (more than 5 hours from Baguio!).
Ako, my top destinations this year are: Mt Pinatubo, Pagudpud, Tuguegarao. Basta norte!
Next year, Visayas naman!
And then Mindanao. Magpa-kidnap sa Abu Sayyaf.
YOSHKE.
pupunta ako sa masbate with my family next week. home province kasi ng dad ko and we’re having a reunion.
ung vigan, napuntahan ko nung Ilocos trip namin. maganda, kaya lang gabi ko siya nakita. parang step into the past ang drama pag naglalakad ka dun sa place. nice!
muka ngang maganda yang masbate. mrami bang hot chick jan? lol!
We’re going to Masbate next week, reunion kasi sa side ng dad ko..
As for Vigan, it’s a beautiful place. I got there when we had our Ilocos Trip.
Gabi ko nga lang siya narating, parang walking into decades ago ang drama.
Pangasinan maganda, pero di man lang ako napapadpad sa Hundred Islands,, laging nauudlot. Tsk.
Hula ko for the top half: Batanes.
Am i right? Am i right? Right???
Haha.
Miss ko tuloy Pilipinas!!! Great post Yoshke!
you have all the time in the world.
i had to stay in Batangas over the holy week too.
hung out at Starbucks SM Batangas haha!
Saan sa Palawan? galing akong Coron last week, great great place to visit!
Been to Sagada na din.
Wanna visit Caramoan and Anawangin in Zambales!
Been back-reading through your site. Your conversational entries never fail to make me snicker here in the office. Hehehe. Pag tumatawa ako, napapatingin sakin team mates ko with a huge question mark on top of their heads. Kebs ko sa kanila. Hahaha.
Ive been to vigan and the place was really somethng. Parang feelng ko nsa panahon ako kung kelan nbuhay c crisostomo ibarra at maria clara.
Try to visit sagada soon. That place was magnificent. Been there 3x for the past 6mos and im still planning to go back for more. Cant get enough of the place!
I’ve been to Bora. Trust me, if you wanna find solace there, you might fail. Maybe it’s just me, but na-stress ako lalo. I wanted to get out of Manila, pagdating mo, parang Manila din dun…may Yellow Cab, May Shakeys, May D*Mall. Whatta? I think mas maganda kung hindi peak season…more relaxing…tsaka pag nasa dulo ka ng station 1 siguro.
Hehe. Let’s go Guimaras!!! Tsaka Caramoan Island!!!
asta pala ‘to ES.
try mo mag amanpulo
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i love your blog!!! ^_^ kung feel mo ang highland you should try mt.kanlaon in negros, go mountain climbing. the best din yung falls nila dun which they called busay.
hi yosh! hi guys! i’ve been to vigan, college outing.. your right Sagaddict, i felt that also.. parang nabuhay ka sa panahon ng mga kastila..:D we stayed at “GrandPa’s Inn” and guess what??!!! minulto kame!!!! sa diname dameng room, ung sa room pa namin nagparamdam.. anyway.. you’ll love even more our history if you visit some museums there.. nakakatuwa ung mga fastfood sa vigan kasi mukhang makaluma din sa architectural designs..:)
Is Bohol included on your list? i want to go there.. hopefully next year sa anniversary namin ng husband ko..:)
looks like one of the island at the Danajon bank in Bohol
catbalete would be better than boracy!!! that’s if you like a place to just chill out and relax!!!! but if you like the night life then boracay it is!!!!!
hi… i’ve been to bukidnon xe taga dun papa ko… yeah maganda talag yung place.. dun kami mismo malapit sa plantation ng del monte… cebu is also nice less stressful in manila… ng vigan ako pero bata pa ako nun eh… taga ilocos kasi mom ko… baguio hndi ko masyado na enjoy malamig lng thanx to madel xe may house sila dun …. caramoan camsur ang ganda feeling ko isa ko sa mga survivor… paradise sya… sayang nga lng nung ng punta kami bumagyo… pwede dun mg skim boarding and surfing… cam norte na visit ko calaguas island maganda pa sa bora xe wala pang mga establishments dunnn pinong pino din yung sand…. hehehehe La union napuntahan ko na din para mg surfing… natuto nmn ako khit papano….. boracay been their 2x… last july nga yung third time eh…. nakapunta na din ako ng bontoc, banaue,and the famous sagada 13 hrs travel by land as in tagtag ako sa biyahe… sobrang layo ng bomod ok falls yung pinaka malaking falls dun sa sagada… na visit ko din yung sumaguing cave hndi pala bast2x pwede pumasok dun sa cave kahit may tour guide ka… need pa din ng mga local tour guide na taga dun…… i really love travelling… cagayan de oro din ok na try ko na white water river rafting, sarap ng pakiramdam pati mg zipline at canopy walk…. hpefully this august punta naman kami ng subic visit zafari and ocean park with my daughter…. by september balik uli ako ng cdo and bukidnon to visit my family their… nakakamiss kasi talaga yung place malamig pa, fresh fruits pa lagi nakakakain ko haiz…. and by nov planning to go to palawan gusto ko mapuntahan ang coron…. haiz…. gusto ko talaga malibot tong pinas…
please visit your father’s province. welcome to the rodeo capital of the philippines. hope to see you next year for the 2010 rodeo masbateño festival
gusto ko mapunta han cam norte sa calaguas island…. maganda daw dun eh…. of course davao… hopefully nxt yr mapuntahan ko lahat yun…
sabi nga nila maganda din daw sa amanpulo…pero dream ko din makarating ng sagada.hanggang baguio lang ako ei…sana next tym pagbalik ko pinas matuloy na!
Vigan.. is overrated… been there.. nice place to take pictures, and buy some souvenirs..go way up to pagudpod, then down to bagui windmills, visit the lighthouse..visit Batac..Ilocos sand dunes and Paoway(correct the spelling of wrong) Church…then stop over at Vigan.
Been to Sagada! Really breathtaking! As in breathtaking kasi makapigil ang hininga pag naligo ka sa umaga at walang heater! Heheheh! Super lamig! But aside from careful planning, be better to prepare also your body. Trekking Sagada views is really very physically challenging. I remember nung nag trek kami papunta sa Big Falls, as in muntik ng mag blue paningin ko sa pagod! Hahaha! The sumaging cave, the echo valley, the hanging coffin view (although creepy), hehehe! Love to go back again! And hopefully, soon!
I have been to Vigan… and I just love it…
vigan the town has a character that i just love
sagada wanted to go there since 1996 haaaay
banawe is nice but batad terraces and falls is way better
they have the yummiest organic rice and the veggies of course
bora no plans going there
masbate bukidnon and cebu mukhang maganda soon hopefully
I’m from Bukidnon. Thanks for including it in your top 15 list. The place is simply beautiful with a climate like Bagiuo and with an ample supply of fruits not just pineapples. Though i’m not based there anymore, i always look forward to visit my hometown once a year. Hope you can visit our place too.
bukidnon is nice… calm, laidback, serene… lots to enjoy there during the monthlong kaamulan fest in malaybalay city.
i’m from cebu and i haven’t gone to all the must visit places. the beaches for sunworshipping, the seafloor when snorkeling & diving, the caves & cliffs for spelunkiing & climbing, the bistros & food places that are open ’til morning…
i cant believe you did not include Davao. all the things you’re looking for is here. cheap food, stay, fare. we islands and highlands in 1 city… the air here is fresh and the water (tap) is cleanier than your reproduced mineral water in Manila. plus all the water, air, land adventure you can find is here, what more can you ask for. i’m just lucky to live in a city where everything is provided, hey they wont call it land of the promise for nothing.
P.S.
i was born and raise in manila not very much dabawyenyo
Vigan makes you feel like you traveled thru time.. Hell, McDonalds palang nila ibang iba na ang design, mala-Spanish Building Era in Yellow!
Never been to Boracay (kahit Bisaya ako, hehe), but friends tell me Panglao in Bohol is way better than Boracay (but never been there either).
I’ve yet to see Palawan.. heard a lot of nice things about it. Time na lang kulang (sobrang busy sa work)
I have been studying in Cebu for 5 years, and I can tell you history in it is not that glamorous now, baka mafrustrate ka lang. Cebu now is what I call mini-Manila (relocate Cebu in Metro Manila, and it will blend-in perfectly, well except the Bisaya-speaking populace =P).. There are some nice historical places, pero konti lang.. Cebu now is one nice shopping and gimmick district, and there are a lot of nice beaches, too!
try checking out the southernmost part of the Philippines as well. I suggest you visit Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, it’s the summer capital of Southern Mindanao. http://saggi-space.blogspot.com/2010/07/south-cotabato-lake-sebu-tourism-video.html
Try to visit Lake Sebu in SOCSARGEN.., try to imagine serenity at the top of a 2500 foot mountain lake,to enjoy the full area, dont miss to take tha state of the art cable car and “bangka ride”..you will surely enjoy peace, calmness,fresh local grown good food (but cheap), friendly locals.
After enjoying a night or 2, make a side trip to to POLOMOLOK. along the road,you will enjoy the freshness of locally grown fruits(buko, langka, manga,lanzones,mangosteen, rambutan,kasoy,Dole-Pineapples, chiko,pomelo,durian…
30 minits from Polomolok, you will reach General Santos. prepare to indulge your-self for a fresh seafood feast…ENJOY…!!!!
i’m glad to find your blog..and getting into this article…makes me wanna make a list,too…it’s a shame that i’v not been to too many places in the homeland. will make sure i visit MORE places whenever i get chance to get home. thanks for sharing! ;p
thanks josephine! balik ka ha.