I joined Dustin's God, Gold and Glory (3G) tour together with the rest of the international…read moredelegates from a research convention and peace dialogue that was put together by the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. I was blown away by how informative the tour was, and it wasn't even that strenuous because it only focused on three main attractions in Intramuros. We first went to San Agustin Church for some really interesting trivia on the religious artwork, the construction of the church and the history of the Spanish conquest in the country. Then we went to other different parts of the nearby streets to learn more about the identity and the psyche of the Filipinos. Considering that most of the people on the tour were foreigners who are new to the country, I think the 3G tour is an excellent way to introduce the uninitiated to the values, the quirks and the psychology of the Filipinos. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to stay in the country for a while, but wants to speed up the adjustment process. Dustin's intelligent insight on the way of life of the Filipinos will bring a certain level of understanding as to how we act, think and behave the way we do, and even as a Filipino, I learned a lot about our culture and history that I didn't learn from textbooks. It is such a refreshing take on our crazy Filipino complex of dealing with things. The rest of the delegates enjoyed the tour tremendously, and had a lot of wonderful things to say about the clever guide, the depth of the tour program and the way everything was set up. The logistics were smooth despite the rain, and the tour ended on time as Dustin was very timely in his delivery. Well done!

My colleagues and I had the pleasure of experiencing Dustin's 3G (God, Gold and Glory) tour of old…read moreManila two weeks ago. Our group was a mix of backgrounds (Chinese who grew up in Canada and Indonesia, Australian) so they came with a genuine interest in learning more about Philippine history and culture. Dustin did not disappoint. He is not only extremely knowledgable about Philippine history, he uses it to contextualize the country's present culture and values. Even if I grew up in the Philippines, I learned so much from Dustin on this tour. He is an engaging and dynamic storyteller with a special talent for connecting the past and the present seamlessly, and has fun while doing so. All in all I would say this was an unforgettable experience and I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to understand and appreciate Manila more.

One of the best tours I would have to say, having done this twice. The boat ride there is…read morecomfortable, the first time there was a large group of international travelers. On my second trip, there was a large contingent of college students from an all girls school. So folks are coming because they're all eager to learn. Tip - Charge and bring your Nikon, don't make that mistake. There will be plenty of killer shots to take. I came back to learn more and for the other fun things. I do enjoy the mini bus ride and tour guide explanations for everything. You get to leave the bus at certain points so that you can walk among the ruins. Be careful - if you have uncoordinated relatives or small kids, you need to accompany them because there are no guard rails in certain places. This reminded me a little of Chitchen Itza (Yucatan Peninsula). And of course - there is a buffet lunch at the hotel which is nice. Warning - You may feel a little sluggish after this big meal as you continue to tour the island. And by the time you get back to Manila and drive home - it's an all day affair and you'll feel somewhat tired. In summary, if you're into history and can take in large amounts of information and process it accordingly this trip is for you. If you get into WW2 data points, you will really enjoy this. If you don't get into history but like a nice relaxing boat ride and tour with a huge buffet lunch - you'll have a great time nonetheless. The fresh air alone and the views will have you coming back with other touristy visitors.

The first time I heard about Corregidor Island was when I was about to board a boat to go there. I…read morehave to admit, I'm not exactly a history buff. That was the one class that I just couldn't get excited about. Fourth period History class mean Fourth period nappy nap time for Jamie. As I got older though, I developed an appreciation for history. I'm still not well-versed in World War 2 facts, but all the little stories that have Corregidor Island as a back drop make me feel more intrigued. For instance, the famous "I shall return" quote from General MacArthur was made on this island. Also, there was a Japanese cemetery that was found here decades later only after a picture was seen at a garage sale in the US. Interesting stuff. The tour around the island gave insight on the battles here. From seeing Battery Way and all the dilapidated barracks, all of it is quite amazing being there and realizing what happened but just a few years ago. While I wasn't really looking forward to this part of my first trip to the Philippines in ages, I am certainly glad I went. And, when I do go back to the Philippines, I can't wait to make another stop on Corregidor Island.

Overall the tour was an amazing tour. The tour leader Janet brought an enthusiastic vibe to the…read moretour, that lightened up the mood. Janet was a local of the slum, making everyone doing the tour feel like a local as well. She give us the opportunity to connect with the people that live there. Her ability to give information and knowledge to the people on the tour is extremely expansive. Everybody should go to the flagship Baseco tour.

From the owner: Our flagship tour is the Slum Tour in BASECO. Baseco is considered one of the poorest areas in…read moreMetro Manila. We also offer a Cemetery Tour, Market Tour and Family Tour. All our tours are guided by local Smokey Tours tour leaders, who are from the slums. This makes our tours sustainable by supporting the local community through Talent Development and Livelihood. Smokey Tours are not just bricks and mortar tours. We offer a special experience. Believing that deep experience equals deep insight. Our tours are unique and honest; a testimony of changing times and our global 'interconnectedness' It is possible to do two tours in one day, depending on the availability and tours of your choice.

Tagaytay gets all the plaudits, all the tourists and all the weekenders, but it's far from the most…read moreinteresting city in the region. It might be famous for its views, but Tagaytay is a fairly new city with not a lot of history going for it. Before the city on the ridge, it was Taal that earned its fair share of visitors. It's one of the oldest cities in the area, and there are numerous significant churches in town. A visita iglesia in the area is one way to explore Taal, and it's great how the city has been trying to improve its tourism infrastructure recently. The town has several delicacies, but my favorite is turon malagkit; the vendors and small hostels around the St. Martin of Tours Basilica has a bunch of good ones. The city is only about 3 hrs away, and it's a great stop for anyone interested in Philippine history.

When in Manila, you have to visit the area! They did so much clean up in the area. It's a great…read morewalk and picture opportunities. Ample areas to pick a quick bite. So impressive how they did the clean up ... the pictures of before and after ... so happy to I have seen the Dolomites beach in person.

Manila Bay is stunning at sunset. It is magical. Kids are running around, locals are exercising,…read moreand street vendors are aplenty. The sunset is calming and even with the crowd and the noise it is wonderful. There is a mall nearby to start your walk and a huge Ferris wheel within walking distance. If you are anywhere near there, I really would go for the sunset. Sadly, the place is not clean, not the beach area and not the water. You can not swim it, the pollution is so bad. There is a government program to clean it all up and from what I have read it is much better than it was. The smell is not fun and I would never go anywhere near there in bare feet. Keeping that in mind, it is still a lovely sunset and I love watching kids play while the day ends.

We took a bus trip from El Nido to the Underground River. The trip there was a little scary because…read morewe had to switch buses in a small area where there was only a bus stop. We weren't sure that we were in the right place. Once we got on the correct bus, we felt better. The bus ride was bumpy with a lot of turns. My son even got car sick. The town where you get the boats to the Underground River was packed with people. We had to wait in line for quite a while to get tickets. The tour included a lunch which was served in an outdoor tent like area. I even saw a rat! It wasn't very good food. The boat ride to the Underground River we really rough that day. Luckily it wasn't a very long ride. The actual tour of the Underground River was fabulous! My pictures speak for themselves.

When in Palawan, the Underground River is a must! I've toured this river in 2009 (without kids) and…read morein 2018 (with a 1- and 3-year-old) and it was effing amazing both times. It starts at a dock by Sambang Beach where you board a motorized (loud) outrigger boat with about 5 other people. Staff hands out hardhats and life vests. My hubs and I were the only folks who brought kids of any age and while they had childrens' life vests, they were too big for my kids. Yet, we made them work while holding adult hardhats on their heads. We were lucky that child protective services weren't watching. It's about a 20-minute ride to this other spot where you walk a little and switch to a simpler paddle boat you share with about 11 other people. Staff gives you an earpiece to listen to a recorded narration while your tour guide tells you more. It's a short and beautiful ride into a underground/cave part of the river. I don't have good pictures inside the cave because it was too dark, but there are lots of beautiful formations thousands of years old that your tour guide will illuminate with a flashlight within an incredibly peaceful ambiance. This part lasts about 45 minutes. My family really enjoyed it and I super recommend it! TIPS: **Wear rugged clothing (or stuff you don't mind getting f*cked) and waterproof/resistant footwear. **Expect to get your crotch wet. You have to wade at certain parts of the tour. **Try to bring a dry bag (brands like Earth Pak, Marchway, etc. which are also sold at stores along the way there) for your personal belongings. **Your tour guide will offer to take your picture with your own camera/phone. It's a good chance for a full family/group photo. **Life is simple around these parts including the toilet. Bring your own toilet paper for rest stops along the way. Hand sanitizer's also a good idea. **Bring cash to tip your boat crews and tour guide.

If you're looking for a travel agency that can really offer the full experience, good hotels and…read morehassle-free land arrangements, I highly recommend Rakso Travel Agency. Their main office is located in Aguirre St in Makati. They have really have friendly staff and great vacation packages to pretty much anywhere in the world. Check out what they have to offer in Asia - whether you're going to Hong Kong, Japan or Tokyo, they have different price ranges for the types of arrangement you need. You can also book your flights with them - which is often lower if you are getting group packages. They book you in top hotels (3-star and 4-star range). If you prefer higher class hotels, you can work with them on upgrading the package for a few dollars. They're one of the top travel agencies in the Philippines for a reason - they simply deliver the best experience.

I would recommend this service hands down. I coordinated with Erwin weeks before our Manila trip…read more He was responsive and very transparent with their rate. Kuya Alfred, our driver, took very good care of us and our family. He was very safe in navigating around tricky Manila roads and can be counted with insider knowledge on where to go when we went to tagaytay. A true stress free way to see the beautiful country of the Philippines. Thank you Kuya Erwin and Kuya Alfred. Till next time!

I just wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for such a wonderful trip. The planning…read moreand phone calls with Erwin in the beginning made the trip an easy decision, the guidance leading up to the trip from him was very reassuring and nerve settling and Alfredo, our driver guide was absolutely amazing!! I traveled alone and was very anxious about the trip. I couldn't have picked a better tour company to tour Luzon with. I felt very safe being in the hands of Alfredo. I travel often and have left my country a handful of times and this was behind the best trip of my life and I have Alfredo and Erwin to thank for that. To see the sites beyond the itinerary and gather as much of north and south of Luzon as possible in 12 days was truly amazing. Alfredo made this trip enjoyable and the whole team is so well organized with each day thoroughly planned out. Thank you so much!