Alaska

Exploring the Last Frontier: a Family cruise to Alaska

Armed with binoculars, we departed from the marina under very clear blue skies, and within five minutes we saw our first humpback whale. This magnificent, graceful mammal came up around four times; then it tipped its giant tail up in the air and took a deep dive.

Angeles and Clark

Reclaiming Angeles and Clark

Even if your view of the world is not in the least left-leaning, you are still bound to see Angeles City and Clark through the prism of soul-searching–especially since these two destinations in Pampanga province are in a stage of recovery from havoc, both natural and man-made.

Angkorwat

The Way to Heaven is Via the Road from Hell

Angkor is a magical, mystical land. Once the center of an empire that occupied much of Indo-china, it reveled in its vast wealth and power. Abandoned sometime in the 15th century, Angkor today is but a ruin of its former imperial self. Situated in the northeast corner of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Angkor is now a magnet for tourists seeking adventure, the history of the past, and a quiet solitude in the centuries-old jungle that envelopes the ruins of this proud capital city.

Babuyan

Chasing a Northern Wind

The Babuyan Islands are so far and remote and so breathtakingly beautiful that when people ask me if they should go, I don't know what to tell them. They are the most beautiful islands in the Philippines, I say. The whales are there. But to embark on the arduous journey, I've come to understand, you have to be searching for something. Otherwise the power of the islands is incomprehensible, its grandeur lost on an indifferent spirit.

Baguio

The Scent of Christmas in Baguio

When the rainy days are over and the sun is always out, it is in December when one can best experience Baguio City. It is known as the City of Pines because of its thick pine forests and cool climate. On cool days, the breeze smells like Christmas. It was for me, as a child, a city filled with Christmas trees.

Bali

Bali in a Hurry

The day began quite early than I would want it to be. The strict itinerary provided a glimpse of how Balinese cooking can only be successful when made with the freshest of ingredients. The rewards for waking up early: fresh vegetable deliveries and the sight of fresh catch, fish of all sizes, in bright colors of green, red or dulled gray, still squirming, along the shores of Jimbaran port.

Banaue

Experiencing the Solitude of the Sky and the Self

Happy faces with permanent blushes, a crossing mother hen with her brood of chicks holding up the traffic and trail ways that kiss the clouds: these are the images I take with me as the twitch on my sore calves slowly becomes a memory.

Barcelona

You can stroll under the trees, admire the street artist, look at live statues and the only place where you can buy flowers and birds. Along the way we stop at the La Boqueria, a market that not only sells meat, poultry, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, but also offers varieties of nuts, chocolates, gummies, jellies, mushroom and even ready-to-roast cochinillio!

Batanes

The Dream of Batanes

I always wanted to go there to witness the landscape and life of the Ivatans. So when the opportunity came this summer I didn't hesitate to pack my bag and take a two-hour plane ride just to get there.

Beijing

Beijing in Three Days

And then you see it: the graceful Chinese characters, a perfect miniature from this height, and beside it, in the thick fog, under the magnesium lamps, the panorama had a spooky science fiction aspect.

Berlin

Berlin: a Zeitgeist of a City

It is by your feet, in the quietly evocative stones that mark where the Wall once stood. It is in the slick of the River Spree, whose waterways once separated two countries in a standoff. It is in the Ampelmannchen, the hat-wearing traffic-light man that endured the Communist years, as pedestrians now effortlessly cross from east to west on the street corners that were heavily guarded 20 years ago.

Bohol

I left My Heart in Bohol

I am now under the impression that when the seas and lands were created, and islands were set apart, the Divine Being added a little extra tender, loving care to the island of Bohol. Located approximately 626 kilometers south of Manila, this island province is blessed with a beautiful countryside, gently rolling terrain, mountainous interiors which are home to exquisite (and even rare) flora and fauna, and stunning vistas.

Brunei

Negara Brunei Darussalam: Abode of Peace

I discovered that Brunei is vast in terms of its natural wonders, its grand Islamic architecture, centuries of royal heritage, and a wealth of destinations for travelers like me who found out that it is virtually impossible to experience this Kingdom in just a day or two.

Camiguin

More than Lanzones

The famous lanzones being off-season was a blessing in disguise during my trip, because I discovered that Camiguin was more than the golden fruit with its sweet, succulent flesh. Camiguin is a thing of beauty: under the sea, on the surface, along the beaches, atop hills and towering mountains and volcanos.

Caramoan

The Pure and Simple Myth of Caramoan

As early as my first day at Hunongan Cove, one of the few beach enclaves in the peninsula, I was already certain that I would only feel affinity for Caramoan. At Hunongan, I did not resent the absence of a television, or a phone, or high-tech comforts. Hunongan is almost a resort but not quite, and the only such place in the entire peninsula. It has several cottages, all built to superb standards, but is without the distractions of the usual 'resort'.

Carcar

Carcar is a junction point for two reasons. First it is a crossroads that leads either farther south or southwest. Second, it stands at the fulcrum of Cebu's development. Heritage and preservation are buzzwords in this town, a unique draw in a province careening into progress and modernity. It is a town decked in the grandeur of the past, perhaps even reveling in its antiquity.

Chinatown

The Trail to Nui Che Shui

Following rows and rows of bright red lanterns hung above, I realized that I had reached one of Singapore's tourist hot spots popularly known as Chinatown, or locally named as Nui Che Shui. They say the area caters to magnitude of out-of-towner's needs and since the night was young I wouldn't waste it.

Cotabato

Cotabato City, a Tourist Mecca

Paramount to Cotabato City's packaging as a cultural destination, the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival is an important event celebrated every December. Thanks to the efforts of Bai Sandra, the annual festival began 11 years ago to immortalize the arrival of Shariff Mohammad Kabunsuan, an Arab missionary from Johore in the Malay Peninsula who was successful in propagating Islam in Central Mindanao.

Enchanted Kingdom

Enchanted Kingdom: A day back in childhood

We had wrist stubs for unlimited ride passes, wizard money to spend for food and drinks, and loads of adrenaline to get started on our theme park-inspired adventure. Because the lines stretched a mile long at the food carts, we decided to go on a ride to pa cool off the heat. First stop: Rialto.

Glorietta

A Pinnacle of Grace and Style

Ayala Center's Glorietta mall, previously called The Quad because of its four-cornered architectural style, has taken the art of shopping to a more sophisticated level from the barter of rocks and stones of our ancestors. Glorietta has and continued to bring infinite joy to millions of consumers, providing thousands of options and a wide variety of products for the most fastidious of shoppers.

Hollywood

Walking with Fame

Arriving at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland, H&H as they now call it, groups of tourists that seemed to have come from all over the world were walking down the Boulevard with cameras dangling, gazing down the sidewalk at the names of the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hong Kong

The Dragon's Playground

Hong Kong is a majestic creature that is both ever-changing and always the same, regardless of whether its masters hoist the Union Jack, bow to the Rising Sun or uphold the Party's ideals. Hong Kong will always be its own.

Ilocos

Northern Exposure: The Ilocos Trail

How do you traverse a huge province consisting of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte in just one weekend? We – with a group of eager students -braved the rains and the endless bus trip to experience a weekend of old architecture, climbing lighthouses, filling our stomachs with the local cuisine…in short, we fed our souls.

Greenbelt

Greenbelt: A Study in Contrast

Sitting on 1.3 million-square feet of prime real estate, this retail complex is found right smack in the heart of the country's central business district. It is the lifestyle center of the sophisticated consumer's craving for top quality dining, entertainment and specialty shopping.

Ireland

Ireland's West Side Story

One cannot truly experience Ireland without making a trip to a pub for a fresh pint of Guinness, the famous local draught beer. This is exactly what we did, and it was amazing to see what seemed to be the entire city of Clifden, cramped into one space.

Kalinga

Glimpses of Living Legacies

Another elderly woman walked around the square plot, and at the same time talking aloud—although to no one in particular—while hanging plant leaves, twigs, and woven articles. She was a mandadawak, a local healer, who set out to cure the ailing woman in the chair by performing the dawak, the healing ritual.

Kanlaon

Mount Kanla-on may not be the highest, but it is definitely the most beautiful mountain I've seen in the Philippines. Its astonishing sceneries, magical flora and fauna, and a legendary and bloody history make Kanlaon Volcano the pride of the Negrenses and mountaineers who have witnessed its beauty.

Kaohsiung

27 Hours In Kaohsiung

I should have taken our noiseless plane landing as a sign for things to come. The spic and span Kaohsiung International Airport was relatively empty, and therefore quiet. The 20-minute bus ride to the city center was smooth and traffic-free. And quiet.

Kota Kinabalu

In the Midst of Kota

I marveled at the city around me. Kota Kinabalu, or as the locals call it, "KK", is quite the clean, modern city. Five star hotels were in our midst as well as a number of shopping malls. It is easy to see that it is one of the fastest growing cities in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur

Captivated by KL

Someone once described KL to me as "Singapore, except with culture." I can see what she meant. I had heard of the fabled love of food this country had, where citizens would plan entire vacations around the cuisine they wanted to sample, and finally got a taste of it thanks to our tour guide.

London

The Best things in London are Free

I have since forgotten the boy's name and the exhibitions I saw in the museum but my memory will not fail me when it comes to remembering what I experienced without spending a single cent.

Macau

Marvelous Macau

It's hard to get bored in Macau. There's always something happening every month, be it a wine festival or one of the most awaited events of the year, the Macau Grand Prix. Some events, however, happen year-round, all of them worth watching at least once.

Mati

Davao's Next Big Thing

Mati is blessed with beautiful bays and beaches, diverse marine life, the freshest seafood that one will find, and people that are very warm, hospitable, and—contrary to how media project the southern island of Mindanao—living side by side in peace.

Negros

5 Days of Summer in Negros Occidental

It was a journey as lush as the province's thickest fields of sugar cane–I find it almost heartbreaking to forego the retelling of some parts of the trip. But as far as my eyes saw, and as much as my heart could bear of the warmth of the Negrenses, these are what shone the brightest during my adventure.

New York

New York Confidential

Where are the places that you can let your mind wonder as you let your feet wander? As a create type myself who needs to be inspired in order to inspire, I need my own space. And in the following spots, I share with you, my secret urban spots in the city where many dreamers and doers live.

Paris

Paris in a Hurry

A tip from the locals: to fully enjoy the Louvre, you must have enough time on your hands to spend an entire day there, maybe even two or three. The Museum offers free entrance every first Sunday of the month. Just be ready to spend hours just falling in line at the entrance!

Phan Thiet

Photographs of Phan Thiet

Like a ship coming in from the sea, most Phan Thiet tourists come there to rest and unwind. A quiet city in the heart of Binh Thuan province, its direct access to the sea has long made Phan Thiet an important seaport in Vietnam's history.

Phuket

Peaceful Phuket

The island of Phuket, Thailand has long been known for its wide expanse of shoreline, variety of water sports and, of course, crazy nightlife. There are 17 sandy beaches, countless restaurants, and a plethora of activities to try. Tourists and locals alike flock to Phuket's lively beaches and bars.

Qatar

A Tapestry of Splendor

There it was, all white and bare. It was like staring at the sea; only in this scenario, the water wasn't present. As we approached it, we were all required to put our seat belts on because it was going to be one bumpy ride. But boy, we had no idea what was in store for us.

Rockwell

Power Plant Mall, Rockwell

I love so many things about the Power Plant Mall. The live sounds of the piano, string quartet or saxophone almost make me feel like I'm in a hotel lobby instead of a shopping mall. It makes for the perfect background for a leisurely lunch with friends or a romantic dinner with a date.

Romblon

Romblon: La Isla Bonita

Romblon does inspire both awe and melancholy, a mix I was able to explore further when I went there on assignment. I first encountered the island in the mid-70s when Negros Navigation offered tours to different destinations in the Visayan islands.

Serendra

Serendipitous Serendra

Serendra, which is situated at the heart of Bonifacio Global City, is indeed a place where one would choose to live. Who wouldn't want to come down to a multitude of restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, personal services, and home and fashion accessories?

Singapore

Singapore Swing

Singapore has always been a center of things. Caught in the middle of major shipping routes, Singapore's port is one of the busiest in the world. Such trading activity can only mean one thing – cultures coming together and coexisting with one another.

Sta. Ana

A Summer of Surprises at Manila's Sta. Ana

It is not popularly depicted in art or in literature, unlike Tondo, which has scores of Philippine books and films bearing its name. Neither has it hosted a popular T.V. show, like Paco with Paco Park Presents, which I grew up watching.

Suntec

Sunshine and Technology at Suntec

What I know of Suntec is through TV advertisements, thus I had immediately assumed it was a shopping mall with a set of activity centers.

Tagaytay

Top Ten Tagaytay Destinations

You know you are in Tagaytay the moment you see those ubiquitous hawkers along the road selling orchids and ornamentals, buko pie, and señorita bananas and other exotic fruits. You know it's time to turn the rollers of the car window down to let in some pine-scented Tagaytay freshness to replace the stale, artificially lemon-scented air inside.

Vigan

An Escape Towards a Remnant of the Past

The afternoon sun was at its peak when we got off at the bus terminal. I instantly heard the tapping of the horses' hoofs amidst the sound of the engines of cars and tricycles. I instantly became excited about the thought of my first calesa ride in Vigan.