Foot and Fire

 After the Tinagong Dagat trek, 2009 This is how I looked after traversing the Bacolod to Talisay route using the trail via Tinagong Dagat.  No hiking experience, fresh from 8-5 desk job, no gears (not even a raincoat), I ended up like a Vietnamese finding refuge anywhere in the Mekong River paddies. If you can picture that, you know what I meant. Meanwhile, the expert hikers have raincoats, as pictured below. In short, my first travel tip is: Be prepared to look ridiculous!

  It has been in my mind for quite some time now the fact that one day, I will be telling my readers about my travels through the necklaces and braceles I bought along the way. Here, I quickly run down some favorites. I divide the story into two, Philippines and outside the Philippines. This is the first of the two-part story.  In 2015, I had a chance to observe four ordinary days of the Panay Bukidnon of Calinog, Iloilo. It was an immersion of sort. Nothing is extraordinary at face value unless one looks closely with one's heart. The community struggles to survive amidst the challenges of modernization. But I am happy that the tribe still try hard to preserve the culture like the Panubok or embroidery and it is still hand-made as opposed to all things made by machines and the easy entries of ukay-ukay. I bought a set of sash, bracelet, choker and arm band which at that time I am thinking of wearing as accent to my office clothes. And I am happy I did. Found a remar...

We feasted at the KCC mall with these array of dishes. They have this bowl of bulalo soup with the option of having the broth only. We had this sweet beef, sweet and sour Malasugue fish, Beef and Sweet corn, and halo-halo. *** *** *** *** *** *** Halo-halo, a treat to the weary travelers! *** ***

       The Farm @Carpenter Hill is highly recommended to us. We were not able to enjoy it the night before we left Marbel because it was drizzling and we were tired of our Lake Sebu day trip. So, before we left the homey city of Koronadal, we went to this famous place.Usually, the place has an entrance fee of P100 which is consumable. But since we were in a hurry, we requested the front desk to allow us to take a few pictures for souvenir considering we were catching the 10 AM yellowbus going Gen.San. and we were allowed sans the fee. Telephone #        : (083) 228-1888 / 228-9010 Telefax #              : (083) 228-9010 Mobile #               : (Smart) 09189210425 / (Sun) 09228489098 / (Globe) 09177260721 Email Address    : info@farmatcarpenterhill.com Website                 : www.farmatcarpenterhill.com...

After eating the voluptuous Tilapia at the Punta Isla Lake Resort, we went on boating (P600/boat) for about 40 minutes. We had an overview of the wide lake that is home to the famous Lake Sebu Tilapia. We were guided by an educated T'boli lady who does not smile but very well memorized her English entertaining lines. She can also name all the datus or the rich people who own some part of the land that can be found near the lake. Nothing is spectacular about the tour but it sure made me bring some nature shots and the activity is a sure good way to buy time while digesting our lunch and also to put a period to our day in lake Sebu! *** The tummy-full tourists! *** Our non-smiling guide! *** The signature Punta Isla Lake Resort floating resto. *** Here are the captured stars of our 40-minute boat trip: *** *** *** *** *** ***

We enjoyed all Tilapia cookery in Punta Isla Resort at Lake Sebu. My favorite is the Pinaputokang Tilapia , a steamed tilapia wrapped in banana leaves but their bestseller is the appetizer Chicharon Tilapia. Punta Isla Resort features a restaurant overlooking the serene lake. This lake is the home of the community-grown Tilapia. When one is in South Cotabato, everyone claims that their Tilapia came from Lake Sebu because the Lake Sebu Tilapia tastes better than anywhere else in the province. Chicharon Tilapia as appetizer! This was a hit. *** We ordered their Sinugba na Tilapia but the fish were dry and surprisingly,  we all loved this Pinaputokan na Tilapia because of the savory taste of the steamed fish preserved inside the banana leaves. *** This is their breaded fried tilapia with breaded mixed vegetables to. *** Kinilaw na Tilapia. Awesome. *** Pinaksiw tastes like home. *** While we were waiting for the...

Tita Nida and I paired up! *** Julie-Ann went on a solo flight! *** Father and Mother did it together! *** We dit it! *** She did it! *** The heavyweights did it! YOU CAN DO IT TOO! For a fee of P250 for weeekdays and P300 for weekends, one can enjoy the zipline twice.  One in the 600 ft above the ground at 700 meters and 400 meters ride.  Please see related video posted earlier.