ALIWAGWAG FALLS: Road Trip to the Mighty Falls of Davao Oriental

Aliwagwag Falls, said to be the highest falls of the Philippines, stuns along the green highway of Brgy. Aliwagwag in the silent town of Cateel, Davao Oriental. One hundred thirty cascades comprise the grand waterfalls totaling to 1,100 feet high. Aliwagwag Falls, labeled as stairway to the sky, graces the forested landscape so easily accessible to any kind of transportation.

LA TRINIDAD HOMES ARTWORK: A Colorful Symbol of Pinoy Bayanihan

Officially known as STOBOSA Hillside Homes Artwork, the 200 colorful houses clinging on the side of stone hill of Km.3, La Tinindad, Benguet is the largest community artwork in the country. The artwork covers sitios of Stonehill, Botiwtiw and Sadjap, thus the name STOBOSA. The project started on January 2016 and was launched on June 23, 2016.

ABAGA NA MAPUTI: Trekking White River to White Falls

Abaga na Maputi or White Falls, not its official name, is another stunning waterfall in the interiors of Mt. Kalatungan Range in Talakag Area. White Falls streams its icy cool waters down Manupali na Maputi (White River). The falls is approximately 60 meters high. It is best accessed from Sitio Kaulayanan, Brgy. Lirongan, Talakag through 3-4 hours trek.  

PANININGAWAN FALLS: Finding a Hidden Gigantic Cascade in Talakag, Bukidnon

Paniningawan Falls is approximately 100-feet high waterfall amazingly hidden in verdant wall of Mt. Kalatungan Range in Talakag Area. The falls is accessible via Sitio Kaulayanan in Brgy. Lirongan through non-jokingly 5 hour trek crossing through rivers and ridges, in which two hours is spent for river trekking. The falls streams down to Manupali na Maliga (Red River), which meets Manupali na Maputi (White River) in an intersection locally known as Sabangan. There is no established trail going to the falls.    

KAULAYANAN: A Heavenly Village in the Mountains

Carrot Plantation with Kitanglad range on background

Kaulayanan is a sitio of Brgy. Lirongan, Talakag, Bukidnon. This small village is a Talaandig community. The village is perfectly situated at the foothills of Mt. Kalatungan Range directly facing Mt. Kitanglad Range. The cool mountain weather makes the village suitable to high valued crops. While in Kaulayanan, the barangays of Basac and Kibanggay in Lantapan are clearly visible. The ordinary setting of the village is already stunning. The amazing landscape, the contours and symmetry of vegetable gardens are just few reasons why I fell in love with the place. 

HUNDRED ISLANDS: Speckles in Snapshots

The Hundred Islands of Pangasinan is comprised of around 130 islands and islets that speckle the vast waters of Lingayen Gulf. The entrance to Hundred Islands National Park is in Alaminos City, 5 hours away from Manila. The National Park management facilitates tour packages around the scattered islands--- the most popular are Governor's Island, Marcos Island, Quezon Island and Children's Island. Island hopping, snorkeling, swimming and diving are among the activities in the park. And don't miss the almost mandatory jump to Imelda Cave in Marcos Island.  

MT. PINATUBO: Once a Destruction, Now an Attraction

Mt. Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano in Cabusilan Mountain Range stretching along the provinces of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga. Its eruption in 1991 was the second largest in 20th century next to Novarupta, Alaska in 1912. The phenomenon was among the most destructive catastrophes experienced by Filipino people. Its eruption had been causing adverse impacts to locals, mostly Aetas, for a decade. Lahar flows and volcanic ashes damaged numerous infrastructure, changed river systems, destroyed vast farmlands and even unfertilized the soil.