It was my day off when I visited the Manila Post office last week to pick up the package I bought from Ebay. It took almost two weeks for them to send me the notice that my package has arrived, Oh well, at least it didn’t get lost.

Since most of my travel gears, travel books, camera lenses, cook books and other travel stuff are purchased from eBay, It had to go to the Manila Post Office for Customs and duties purposes. I’m not complaining, I actually enjoy walking around this part of Manila since its near Quiapo, Binondo, Intramuros, SM Manila and Luneta.

Manila Central Post Office Facade

The Manila Post office Building is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the Philippines. Located in the district of Intramuros, at the bank of the Pasig River. The front of the building faces the Liwasang Bonifacio plaza (now known as Plaza Lawton). Continue Reading

A visit in the Islamic City of Marawi will not be complete without visiting a traditional Maranao House called Torogan. The Torogan is the ancestral house and the royal residence of the upper-class Maranao. It is commonly found in Marawi City and other areas in Lanao del Sur province.

Within the sultanate, no one can have a house bigger than the Torogan which is the dwelling place of the datu along with his wives and children. Living in a traditional Torogan house signifies rank, prestige and wealth.

Torogan Replica

Jolo in Sulu has its own version of Torogan which is mainly made from Nipa and huge Bamboo. Just like in Marawi City, Torogan in Sulu, The torogan is also used for a variety of socio-religious gatherings such as weddings, funeral wakes, conferences and even for court proceedings.

The existing torogans in Marawi City were built by the community and the lower class citizens for the datu in 1800s. In Intramuros, A replica of the Torogan can be found right beside the Clamshell.

I’ve been to Koronadal City twice already but I never got the chance to witness Hinugyaw Festival. Good thing I visited Intramuros last Saturday to checkout Clamshell since they are featuring Southern Mindanao’s arts, food, culture and festivals.

Hinugyaw Festival

At exactly 4:30pm, they started the show by showcasing the colorful and upbeat curltural dances of Hinugyaw Festival of Koronadal City also known as Marbel. The Festival is a weeklong celebration (January 3 -10) of merry-making, street dancing, beer and food festivals, concerts and musicals, funfare and trade exhibits and the most celebrated Hinugyaw Street Dancing Competition. Continue Reading

The 2nd Batobalani Festival of Bato, Leyte was deemed successful with the participation of seven festivals from different municipalities of Leyte and Southern Leyte.

Just like Ati-Atihan, Batobalani Festival is being conducted as a tribute to Senor Sto. Nino who is also the Patron of Bato, Leyte.

This year’s participants to the Batobalani Free Interpretation Dance Competition, include the Tribu Indang from Hindang, Leyte; Karatong of Dulag, Leyte; Tribu ni Nanay of Ormoc City; Baybayanon of Baybay City; Tribu Malitboganon of Malitbog, Leyte; Karatong sa Kabukiran of Bontoc, Southern Leyte and Pasaka of Tanauan, Leyte.

The Karatong of Dulag, Leyte won the first prize of P70,000. The Pasaka of Tanauan got the second place with a cash prize of P50,000. The Tribu Malitboganon won the third place and the cash prize of P30,000.00.

The Festival organizers aims to develop the Batobalani Festival into a better and bigger festival in the years to come.

Filipinos never run out of reasons to celebrate, in fact all of towns and cities in the entire archipelago have their own Festivals. Ati-atihan in Kalibo started it all, then equally colorful festivals followed honoring Santo Niño, the child Jesus.

The Kalibo’s famous Ati-atihan festival is considered to be “The Mother of all Philippine Festivals”, which was eventually copied by other similar festivals across the Philippines such as the: Dinagyang of Iloilo, Halaran of Capiz, Binirayan of Antique, MassKara of Bacolod, Biniray Festival of Romblon and Sinulog of Cebu.

Just like Boracay, several towns of Aklan, Antique, and Capiz also hold their own localized version of Ati-Atihan festival. In each festival the participants paint their faces with black soot and wear bright tribal costumes as they dance on the streets shouting “Hala Bira” or “Viva Santo Niño.

I was also in Boracay last January 2008 and that was the first time I witnessed the Ati-atihan de Boracay. When I learned from Jing of The Taj Guesthouse that the festival will be held on the second sunday of January, I immediately booked my ticket with SEAIR and planned my trip. Continue Reading

This eastern Pangasinan town celebrated its annual ‘Talong Festival’ (Eggplant Festival) Sunday, with a cooking contest of the well-loved Filipino dish– pinakbet.

In the contest, only the five main ingredients of pinakbet – eggplant, okra, ampalaya, pepper and tomatoes – were given to the contestants. It is up to them to add other ingredients. Contest organizers said, however, the only seasoning not to be used is MSG or vetsin.

Barangay Zone 1 emerged the winner for the tastiest pinakbet. Peter Duzon, a 40 year old cook, led his barangay mates in cooking the winning recipe which has chicharon bagnet, longanisa plus patani and kamote as added ingredients. Continue Reading

After series of impressive performace from 27 contingents in the “Free Interpretation Category, Tribu Buyoganon from Abuyog Leyte won the grand prize for their best interpretative dance performance in this years Sinulog Festival in Cebu City.

Abuyog Town hosts Buyugan Festival in Leyte every year and this years “environmental theme” definitely impressed thousands of spectators in the most recent Sinulog Festival.

Tribu Buyoganon won P500,000 while the second placer took P300,000 each, the third placer brought home P200,000 and the 4th and 5th placers received P150,000 and P100,000, respectively.

Tribu Buyoganon Performance Youtube Video

Lumad Basakon from Cebu, Last years winner only placed second this year while the Sinulog Tribe from Carmen, Cebu won third place; and the festival of Lanao del Norte, fourth place.

I was not able to experience the fun and excitement of this years Sinulog Festival but I will definitely go there in Cebu for the Sinulog Festival 2010.

Five tribes are set to compete in this year’s Tribe Competition of the Salakayan Festival of the municipality of Miag-ao which starts on February 8.

These tribes are the Tribu Kabugwason of Miag-ao National High School, Tribu Bantalaan of San Rafael National High School, Tribu Tabun-ak of Palaca-Damilisan National High School, Tribu Salagyawan of Alejandro Firmeza Memorial National High School and Kiryanon of Kirayan National High School.

The tribes’ contest is one of the highlights of the annual festival, which will run from February 8 to 15 that coincides with the 293rd Founding Anniversary of the municipality. Continue Reading

Sabtang is one of the islands in Batanes known for its unique cultural heritage. If you are a true adventure lover, then a tour of the Sabtang island is a must for you. In 1994, the Philippine Department of Tourism chose Sabtang as one of the 12 best destinations in the entire archipelago.

Our adventure began when we left the port of Ivana, the 45 minute faluwa ride was quite rough but we were mersmerized by the island’s beauty, it’s rugged but majestic terrain and the steep cliffs made us feel like we were in a foreign land.

Nakanmuan Arc

Sabtang Island compare to Batan is less modern, in fact, It is the only town in Batanes that has preserved the traditional Ivatan house made of lime and stone. The heritage houses can withstand the strongest of winds during trying typhoons. If you find a windowless stone house, that means that it faces down wind of the strongest blowing wind. Sabtang is a municipality in the province of Batanes that is politically subdivided into 6 barangays which includes Chavayan, Malakdang (Pob.), Nakanmuan, Savidug, Sinakan (Pob.), and Sumnanga. Continue Reading

On a recent repors I read from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, I learned that another heritage site in Laoag is endangered of being demolished to give way for the construction of a shopping center project, according to the report was already a done deal.

This endangered historical landmark is a Gabaldon building which is part of the Laoag Central Elementary School. Some of Gabaldon buildings that can be found all over the country were built before World War II and these buildings were primarily used as a garrison by the Japanese soldiers and were converted into field hospitals by the American soldiers during the liberation.

LCES Gabaldon Building

The teachers and PTA members of LCES oppose the school’s conversion and relocation and here’s what they said on their manifesto, “The Laoag Central Elementary School (LCES), for its more than eighty (80) years of existence, has become a historical landmark of the City of Laoag as a “Bastion of Education.” Continue Reading