Melo Villareal
Awesome Ideas for Summer Barkada Trips
Summer is the time when the climate gets so hot and humid, and you don’t want to move at all because every move you make makes you perspire, and you don’t want to go outside because the sun is scorching hot, and you don’t want to talk to anyone because the air feels heavy, and you don’t… Enough! Don’t let this year’s summer heat ruin your vacation! Shake off some of that heat by moving. Wipe off your sweat with a towel. Hydrate yourself with lots of water. Outshine the scorching sun with your smile. And go do all of these Summer Barkada Trips with your friends.
Summer is not the time to laze around; it’s the time to explore the country with your barkada! Summer is hot, so chill out with your tropa! Here are 10 excellent ideas for your summer barkada trip:
1. Dance, eat, and make friends in Liliw, Laguna
Come to Liliw, Laguna, this summer and celebrate Liliw’s Gat Tayaw Festival, more popular as the Tsinelas Festival. Witness the locals’ creative twists to the pair of tsinelas we all know, and see how they transform these ordinary objects into costumes, ornaments, and even floats! Oh, and did I mention that there are food stalls everywhere too?
There aren’t any announcements for this year’s Tsinelas festival schedule yet, but it’s most likely to occur this April. Make sure to keep an eye out for that.
2. Test your hiking skills at Mt. Pulag
Tired of walking? Why not go hiking for a change? Come to Mt. Pulag this summer with your friends, and trek the third-highest mountain in the Philippines. When you reach the top, you’ll probably just see clouds and dots of trees and rocks below, but the view above isn’t what matters. It’s the climb. (But, who are you kidding? The peak will probably be the best spot to take a groufie!)
You and your friends may choose to book tours, or if you want to explore by yourselves, you can request permission from DENR to do so.
3. Shoot paint at your wacky friends in Global Gutz Paintball
Are you and your friends gaga for military-themed or first-person-shooting games? Then you’ll be stoked to know that you can bring to life your fandom by hanging out at Global Gutz Paintball in Taguig. Hide behind barricades, and walls, and shoot like crazy with your paintball gun. Get colorful! Do you have the Gutz?
4. Get lost in La Mesa Ecopark
Who said summers have to be hot? Chill out, go sightseeing, walk around, or simply appreciate nature here at La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City. Be surrounded by cool, lush greeneries and fresh air. Going here doesn’t require much energy; you just have to unwind.
(Tip: Bring your own bike here and bike all you want around this green paradise.)
5. Ride on a horse like a kid at Wright Park
Who doesn’t love horses? They’re vegetarians, furry, friendly, and neigh neigh too, waaaay before Silentó did.
Take pictures with the horses, or ride on one of them and gallop through the rest of Wright Park (which is full of trees, almost like a forest) like a prince charming looking for love. Or just take a selfie with your friends.
(Tip: After Wright Park, you can bid your neighing friend goodbye and shuffle along to The Mansion. It’s just a few minute’s walk away.)
6. Soak in Los Baños’ hot springs
Do you know an excellent way to spend your humid summer nights? Soak in a hot spring with your friends under the night sky while talking about random things. Afterwards, get a nice, tall, ice-cold lemonade or apple tea. Then sleep soundly in one of the nearby resorts you can book a room. And do it again the next night after a long day.
Let the hot water take your worries and stresses away, and laugh all your problems off with your friends.
7. Grab a freshly-grilled milkfish at Dagupan City’s Bangus Festival
Dagupan City is known as the “Bangus Capital of the World”. As such, it is only normal to celebrate the city’s best produce, right?
Come to Dagupan City in time for the annual Bangus Festival (usually in April; there are no announcements yet) and see colorful street parades, live band performances, and kilometers of grillers grilling bangus. Buy your own fish to grill or simply hang out and get one cooked for you. There’s an abundance of other seafood in this seaside city, too, so you and your friends have plenty to choose from.
8. Ride all you can at Star City
Who said only the kids can ride?
Drag your friends to Star City, buy ride-all-you-can tickets, and watch as your worlds twist, turn, and flip upside down (just make sure not to eat heavy meals before this). Conveniently, Star City will offer a promo that you can’t say no to—wear a red shirt on Valentine’s Day and get 50% off ride-all-you-can tickets. Ride all you can? Yes, please.
9. Time travel at Corregidor Island
If you and your friends are tired of bustling city life, come unwind here at Corregidor Island. Wander around one of the most war-stricken places in the historical Philippines, and see how time froze in ruins, ancient buildings, and historical landmarks like the Malinta Tunnel.
(Tip: Make your trip here more fun by testing your courage—go ghost-busting with your friends. There are rumors of ghost sightings here, especially in Malinta Tunnel!)
10. Find a quiet spot in one of the waterfalls in Maragondon, Cavite
There are four waterfalls in the rustic town of Maragondon, Cavite. There’s Kaybiang Falls, Pico de Loro Falls, Balayungan Falls, and Ragatan Falls. Soak in the cool waters or just sit by the falls and listen to the wonderful sound of water crashing on the rocks and flowing calmly to the stream.
If you get bored doing so (which is highly unlikely), you can visit Maragondon’s other wonders of nature, which include humorously-named mountain peaks, the heavenly Carabao Island, or buy some of this town’s colorful fresh produce being sold cheaply at the markets.
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