Scrolling down my Facebook and Twitter timeline, I noticed that a lot of young people like me are…read moregoing to mountainous regions near Manila to try out hiking. I'm not really a fan of hiking or physical activities in general, but for some reason I got a bit jealous. I also wanted to go hiking with my friends as part of our yearly barkada goals. When my friend heard that I was interested in hiking, he immediately planned a trip to Tanay, Rizal. He told us that he knows this really cool place where we could hike. It took us 1 and a half hours to get to Tanay, Rizal. We first went to Brgy. Daraitan to contact a tour guide. When we finally found a tour guide for our day trip, we decided to head out to Mt. Daraitan. We only assigned one person from our barkada to take pictures, because we heard that a girl fell down the mountain while she was taking selfies (Yikes!). During our hike, there were many campsites and way points where we rested. There's also a super clean river down the mountain where some of my friends bathe in. If you want to visit an ecotourism site, you can take an alternate trail to Mt. Lugang, a beautiful mountainous region deep within Sierra Madre. This place will surely make you appreciate the beauty of mother nature. It was a very tiring adventure. At first, I was really scared, but the tour guide told me that I'll be safe as long as I follow all of his guidelines. This experience is definitely one for the books!

I was so amazed with how the river looks. Although the ride going to this scenic view is quite long…read moreand bumpy, its actually worth the wait. You have to go in groups though so you will not ripped off your pocket. Its also better if you have your own private car because the only means of transportation is trike going to barangay Daraitan. Just make sure the vehicle will endure the rocky road, literally its super bumpy and kinda steep. Also you have to pay for registrations, mandatory tour guide, bridge and so on.. that's why its better if you're in groups. Locals were nice and friendly though.

One of my best friends grew up in Angono, Rizal, and she has always told me about this…read morearchaeological site that was discovered several years back in the nearby Binangonan town, which shares Angono's border. During one of their town fiestas, she took me up there to see it. Only roughly an hour away from Manila (and several minutes away from Antipolo) is the Binangonan Petroglyph site, which is a protected historical and cultural site. Apparently, the national authority for arts and culture have been testing the veracity and the authenticity of the site, but the marker from the National Museum must suggest that there has to be a certain level of credibility to the discovery Just a few minutes away from Angono's town proper, one would have to take a very steep mountain road to get to the developed uphill town near Thunderbird Resort and Casinos. Though the trail to the site itself is well-established, it is still recommended to wear your good hiking shoes because the dirt could be a little loose and rocky, especially during hot weather. There is a vast quarry that has a manmade, roughly hewn tunnel cutting through it which connects the highway to the other face of the mountain, where the Petroglyhs are located. With a minimal entrance fee, you will be able to see the Petroglyphs (stone drawings) which were apparently done by our cavemen ancestors hundreds of years ago, possibly even during the Neolithic age (broken vessels, remains and other artifacts were found in the site as well).The petroglyphs are known as the oldest form of folk art in the country. The said stone drawings featured tribal motifs for animals, humans and other natural objects, and they are etched to the faces of the rocks that jut out of the mountain. Some of the areas have been vandalized by people before the National Museum stepped in and built a barrier, restricting close access to the rocks. It is said that the cavemen who etched the designs onto the rocks are the ancestors of the people of Angono, who later on spurred an artistic Renaissance in the town, smaking it the Art Capital of the Philippines. Thankfully, preservation efforts have been done to keep the petroglyphs from being damaged by human activity and the elements. The site is also being petitioned to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

What do you think would be the oldest artwork in the Philippines? Definitely not the oil paintings…read moreon canvas or stone sculptures, but paintings too, or rather etchings on rocks, of our indigenous ancestors, long before civilization as we we know it was created. The Binangonan-Angono Petroglyphs are rock drawings of what looks like human and animal figures. There are about 127 still-visible drawings on a huge rock shelter on the hills bordering Angono and Binangonan. To get there, my travel companions and I rode up a hill before coming to an entrance of what seems like a cave. The guards told us to pass by the tunnel to get to the petroglyphs on the other side. We just walked straight and when we emerged out of the tunnel, we saw a structure that seemed like a house but which actually holds replicas of artifacts like stones and plates of baybayin, the ancient Filipino writing system. And then we went up a stone then wooded walkway to get to the rock shelter with the cave drawings. They do look like the real thing, though I read in some accounts that it is not yet proven without a doubt that the artworks are indeed authentic. But in any case, they indeed look beautiful and ancient, with some etchings deeper and more visible than others.

A top Philippines hiking destination [PAMPANGA, ZAMBALES, TARLAC Philippines]…read more I am not a seasoned hiker but I went along with my brother, sister (her hubby) and cousin. There were 5 of us. We booked this tour with Alvin and Angie Bognot Mt. Pinatubo Guesthouse and Tours located at the base of Mount Pinatubo in Sta Juliana, Capas. They offered an unforgettable tour to what was once one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Mt Pinatubo erupted after 600 years of being dormant. Our tour included Mt. Pinatubo Day Tour with Tour Guide, Toblerone Hills and Crater Lake. The hike to the crater didn't seem long at first but to me it was! Mt Pinatubo has an elevation of 4875-feet above sea level. Getting there we had to ride a 4x4 jeepney from the guesthouse. We had tour guide assistance with us throughout our entire climb and they were excellent companions especially for beginners like me. The1.5-hr 4x4 drove through sandy and rocky terrain and even through little streams. It was crazy... hold on to your ears 'coz you'll be bouncing left and right and hopefully not fall off the jeep. We reached the foot of the mountain and passed by a group of hilly mountains shaped like triangles resembling the Swiss chocolates Toblerone. They called this Toblerone Hills. We had a chance to take some photos here. Then the hike... it was a bit of a challenge for me and while it took me awhile (almost 3 hrs) to reach the top I was feeling accomplished... the sweat, dust, dirt, and muscle aches were all worth it! I was glad I did it. We were rewarded with a panoramic view of the majestic caldera on a gorgeous backdrop of alpine-like rock formations. We rested and took in the beautiful landscape and scenery. By the way, there are three known trails of Mt. Pinatubo and this was the easiest. Happy trails... Review #3308

Normally when I take a trip somewhere, hiking is on the agenda. On my first trip to the…read morePhilippines, I learned about Pinatubo via a museum visit in Angeles City. I couldn't make the logistics work during that trip so I made sure it was at the top of the list for my 2nd visit. Before visiting Pinatubo, you should learn about it. Considered the 2nd largest volcanic explosion of the 20th century. When visiting nearby villages and areas, you get the sense that the area rose from the ashes of the eruption. It hits hard with the resilience of the Philippines and the people. The eruption was in 1991. After the primary eruptions, the area experienced numerous quakes, and smaller eruptions with a huge ash cloud. Some reports have some of the ash reaching as far as Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. The one thing that differs with hiking significantly in the Philippines as opposed to America. In America, you just go. You're on your own usually. Take your medkit, water, and anything to survive. One thing that took getting used to in the Philippines is that some things are locked down or there is usually a need to hire a guide to make it to remote areas. And trust me, without those guides... you'd be lost even if you could make it in. Pinatubo in particular is now part of a military base so you could very well see the military conducting exercises during your drive and hike. We hired a company to shuttle us to Pinatubo. Numerous companies do this. The one we used started super early(2 AM) in Manila. We didn't have to meet them until around 4:30 AM at the Dau bus terminal in Angeles. One thing with Pinatubo is that since it's on a military base, you have to be in and out of there by noon-1 PM so you're forced to start early. From there, it was about a 1-hour ride to the gate. From there, you're handed off, sign your life away, get to know the group you're with if you're with a group, and head off. The first 1-1.5 hours are spent offroading by jeep back to where you start hiking. The offroading part can wear you out in itself but it's fun. We were in the back with two other girls. You get to know your group simply because you're knocking knees during part of the offroading. The mask you're given... WEAR IT! I wore it about half the time and ended up paying for it that night/following days. The offroading stirs up quite a bit of dust. Who knows what I breathed in from metals, clay, rock, or whatever the eruption brought to the surface. After that, the hike starts. It's not a painfully difficult hike at all. You do cross numerous streams. Wear or bring shoes/sandals that drain well. I didn't think it would be so bad but you do cross quite a few knee-deep streams that keep you cool during the hike. At a few spots along the trail, some locals come out from their villages and have things to sell. Had I known that, I might not have brought so many snacks. I would've bought a couple of bananas from the little girls selling them if I didn't have any. I did come across a few young boys selling coconuts. We couldn't pass up a fresh coconut. I think with us buying one... it made others that come along buy them too. I can't believe that the locals still live close to the crater/lake. Aside from the lake and the final jungle trek, there's not much back there. It's almost like driving/walking through this rocky space-like planet. The last 500 meters being jungle is a nice welcomed shelter from the sun after the first few miles. After that, you make it to the lake. It truly is a beautiful place but there's not much to it. You can take an extra walk down these steep stairs to get closer to the lake. Our guide let us go but he wasn't going...lol. It seems like they would build some extra little areas so that you could walk around the lake and get other views. I guess it's hard because who knows if it'll ever erupt again. One thing our guide told us is they're working on extending the road back meaning... less hiking and possibly more tourists(because of that). Overall I'm glad we went but I'm not sure if it's a hike you need to do more than once or twice. On the way out, a local flagged us down so that he could get a ride back to town with his wife. His wife was painfully sick. I do hope they got the help they needed. She was hunched over in her husband's lap for most of the ride back. Feeling bad and offroading over all that rocky terrain... I think I would've just jumped off a cliff than go through that while feeling bad. The company we hired also prepared lunch for us. We were given a menu before to choose what we wanted. I went with chicken curry and she went with tinola. Both were delicious! We also ordered more coconuts to drink and eat and to top it off, our meal was in a treehouse.

On a good day, Tagaytay is only about 40 minutes away from the southern parts of Metro Manila so…read moreaccessing this cooler part of the Philippines is pretty easy. Since most people also have this in mind, it can get pretty congested. If you've gone there several times in the last decade and you feel like you're running out of things to see, consider the Taal Volcano Hike. You'll find some boatmen along the highway offering this experience but for the more adventurous type you can actually do this on your own. Just drive down to Talisay via the road in Tagaytay (there are signages everwhere). Then, when you get there, you need to grab a boat to cross over to Taal Volcano. Boats are cheap and if you are travelling to as a group, you can actually split it because rental is per boat and not per person. When you get there, you have a choice of hiking up or getting a small horse. Of course, I got a horse but the rocky road leading to the top really made me think that I should have gone up by foot instead. The view from the top is exhilarating. Just the thought of peering down into an active volcano is so mind-blowing. Definitely a must-try experience.

In college, we had a course on Earth Science. Naturally, we studied about the physical aspects of…read morethe earth. It was an easy subject to coast through and what's more was that the professor announced a field trip! We were going to Taal Volcano! What the professor neglected to mention was that it was a rigorous hike. The field had tall grasses, the path wasn't very defined. We had to climb several hills and go down on our butts because the the ash was loose. All of us didn't know what to expect and at the end of the day, we were all sunburned and tired to the bone. Later on, we discovered that the path we took was for the horses. OMG. With a horse, the hike would have been really fun. The horse being a larger animal, could manage the terrain. On foot as a mere human, however - torturous. Don't get me wrong; it was really beautiful. Just be prepared.

The place is just an hour and half away from manila. You just neeed to take the South Express way,…read moreexit on Santa Rosa tollway, keep right as you exit turn right, then follow the National Road going to Tagaytay. After Vista Mall, you will see Nuvali on your left. What I like about Nuvali is that, even though it is an hour away, the environment is completely different from Manila. Apart from the malls and outlet stores, there are so many activities you and your family can enjoy while in Nuvali. You can bring your bike and ride their trails. You can jog with your family and have a picnic. Seda Hotel is also nearby so you and your family can stay over for a weekend gateaway from the hustle of the city. Right beside Nuvali is another mall called Solenad. Just walk over there and there's more to see and do especially during weekends. A day or two is good enough if you want to explore that area. Also, there is a huge pond beside the restaurants where you can sit, relax, and people watch. If you are with your kids, buy some fish food and see hundreds pack together when you feed them!

A few years back, my cousins and I decided to go on a road trip to Tagaytay on a weekend. Nuvali,…read morethen newly opened, was part of the itinerary. Since we left very early in the morning, we arrived there around the opening time. We had many other places to visit but we stayed in Nuvali for an hour or two. After having light snacks, we tried some lake activities - riding a boat and feeding fish in the pond. The school of fish in the pond were amusing to watch. Like a mob, they huddled in the area where fish feeds fall. The victor would then open its mouth - yes, you could actually see their mouths open - and eat the prize. But, the more exciting one of the two activities was riding the boats. Since it was very early in the morning, the wind was cool and fresh; I enjoyed how the wind touched my face as the boat transported us from one end to the next. After one roundtrip, we left Nuvali for we had to visit other places too. Our stay was only short but it was definitely fun.

Relaxing, hidden, and far away from the hustle and bustle of Manila. Despite the distance, this…read moreresort was worth the 3.5 hour drive from Metro Manila. Crystal Beach is in the town of San Narciso in the Province of Zambales. The resort features air-conditioned rooms, cottages, and beachside camping tents. They also have WiFi in the main area. There are a few bon fire pits and grilling stations for anyone to use. We opted for a day entrance just to experience the food, beach huts, and the sand. The admission fee, parking, and cost of food were very reasonable. The long journey from Manila definitely made us hungry. We decided to try out their restaurant located in the main common area. Seating was easy and we also chose the table closest to the fan for comfort. We ordered sisig, tuna salpicao, halo-halo, rice, and sinigang na hipon. The sisig has a nice mix of crunch with a citrus-pepper marinade. The tuna salpicao was tender and flavorful. The shrimp sinigang, which is a true Filipino favorite, was sour and savory. Halo-halo came last as a dessert. The bowl was filled with various sweet toppings and a generous scoop of ube ice cream. Post lunch coma started to kick-in and we decided to relax in one of the many beachside huts. Beach chairs were available along with the perfect view of the mountains and blue waters. The beach was almost empty and quiet. There are available surfboard rentals and surfing lessons for anyone seeking to ride the small waves. Showers are available near the common area. I would recommend this resort to anyone seeking a tranquil escape.

Very disappointed on this beach..first the sand of the beach is not that clean as you see on their…read morewebsite 2nd price of shake..120 pesos for melon and 100 pesos to mango!!! Any differnce? Cabin itself no restroom, lights need update, outlet for 15 person capacity have 3 electric fan!!! Food is so pricey..restroom is to far for the cabin ..not recommend this beach for my friend

I've been looking all over Manila for Philippines fighting sticks, made from a special tropical…read morehardwood. I found them at Metro Department Store in Cebu, but figured they'd be just as easy to find in Manila. I'd been all over town, and finally found a beautiful set at Chris Sports. This is a small, but very complete sporting goods stores. The other ones I found were either outdoor gear or tennis shoes. And there were so many helpful employees, nine of them. Like I told them, in the US they'd be lucky to have 3 people working at a store of that size.