Where to stay in Iligan City - affordable and clean hotel

It was my first time with my kids to visit Iligan city during Diyandi Festival hoping to witness the street dancing competion, but unluckily the city administration changed the scheduled event to earlier date  due to the stand-off in Zamboanga city with the MNLF faction group. Nevertheless we witnessed the 25 bouts amateur boxing in Rizal park, the 1st Mayors cup drag race competition themed "Eat my dust VI" that takes place in Tambo highway and a rally by militant group with anti-pork barrel protest and mindanao call for peace in front of city post office same day as the nation 41st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.

I made few research in the net two nights prior our travel regarding the accomodation with the keywords in my mind "Where to stay in Iligan City?" &  "what hotel is affordable, with good service and just near the city proper of Iligan", but undecided with the information I gathered so instead I called up a friend from Iligan City and she recommended Jalexis Inn.

We took a bus from Bulua bus terminal in Cagayan De Oro City, it was a non-stop (RTMI) bus bound for Iligan City (fare 70.00 for S.P. -student priviledge) and we traveled for almost 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach our destination.

We ride a taxi just in front Iligan bus terminal, but beware prior getting a cab see to it first that they use there taxi meter for most of them are on "Pakyaw" basis.

Accomodation: JALEXIS INN

Address: 20 Zamora St., Barangay Poblacion

Rate: Single Deluxe room 530.00,  Double Deluxe room 630.00

Opinion: Perfect place to stay in the city proper, a clean and quality inn with a very spacious room. Almost all the jeepney route is passing by the place, if you want to go to Timoga Swimming pool or Gaisano mall you can take a jeepney just in front of the lobby, and walking distance to the Rizal Park and other big stablishment in the city. 

Dis-advantage: Quite old elevator system, will take several minutes to reach 3rd floor.

Contacts: 063 223-8904 ,063 223-8905, 063 223-8906, 063 223-8907

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How to get to Lake Apo, Guinoyuran, Valencia City, Province of Bukidnon

Crystal clear water of a crater lake in Barangay Guinoyoran in the City of Valencia in Bukidnon province in central mindanao. It is located in a hilly area about 640 metres (2,100 ft) in elevation, about 11 kilometres from town center .The lake was awarded the cleanest inland body of water in Northern Mindanao Region in the 1990s. The green body of water has an estimated area of 24 hectares (59 acres) with maximum depths reaching up to 26 m (85 ft).- wikipedia

I was astonished without any presage with clarity of the water and serenity of the place and a breath taking view. We rode our own motor bike with my kids travelling from Maramag for about an hour, it was a rugged trip as we began to ascend the road going to our destination and can be closely described as a dry river bed terrain, mainly cause by erosion. We were almost lost since there was not a single signage along the road, so if you are bringing your own vehicle, you must ask the locals along the road regarding directions.

  

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Cagayan De Oro City Fiesta 2013 - Bancarera 2013

During the culmination day in honor to the city patron saint Augustine, race of motorized wooden boat participated by 20-30 individuals from different part of Mindanao sponsored by the Bombo Radio themed " Bombo Radyo Kagay-an Festival Bancarera 2013 " held in San Juan of Barangay Lapasan fronting the Macajalar Bay. Thousands of espectators flock in the warf area under the scorching heat of the sun in spite the bombing that transpired few weeks before the fiesta celebration that killed 8 and wounded 40 individuals.

The first prize was said to be 20,000 pesos and a brand new marine engine for their wooden speed boats

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How to get to Hundred Islands in Pangasinan

How to go to Hundred Island National Park in Pangasinan? Its pretty fair and simple and its one of a lifetime trip you could ever had, if you cannot visit the very beautiful place in the Philippines then you missed almost half of your vacation in the land of Pearl of the Orient Sea.

We have mentioned in my previous post from my departure in Cubao via Victory Liner Bus and the Lucap Wharf in Alaminos City, and for sure it will give you some insights of the travel, and my personal opinion the Hundred Islands National Park seems an army of ancient greece formed in close rank and files ready to defend the province of Pangasinan.

 Tips: 

 - bring reading materials in your travel (its a 5-6 hours travel time depending on traffic condition) 

- bring an extension cord with lots of female outlet for you to recharge your gadgets (some budget    accomodations in the city got only one electrical outlet in the hotel room) 

- bring your own snorkel. 

- tricycle rate from city proper is only 15.00 per person (some drivers may charge more if they will notice that you are a tourist) 

- the city has frequent brown-outs, bring you flash lights and extra battery.
- Bring lightweight tripod.

- Student and Senior Citizen ID's (if you are) can avail you some discounts in the bus going to Alaminos City to and fro

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Discovering the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan (Departure from Manila and the Lucap Wharf) - Part II

The Lucap wharf is filled with merchandize you can buy for souvenir from t-Shirt's, shell necklace and key holders, dead frog skin wallet  and items you can bring to the island like food and water at regular price. Once you'll get to the wharf, many local will approach you offering their Bangka rental and it follows the standard pricing set by the local city tourism, you can ask for discount with the boat owner.

Many children will ask for coins, you can throw the coins to the sea and they will dive for it (just be kind hearted enough not to threw it far away).

CAUTION:  Just be carefull with some of the tricycle drivers, if they will notice that you are not from their place they will charge you almost 150% higher with the prescribed fare table of the city. Just bear in mind that it will only cost you 15 pesos/head going to the city proper or if you are in a hurry you need to pay the cost of the vacant seats that will sum up to 60 pesos (4 person capacity).

(The nearest local airport to Alaminos City is Loakan Airport located at Baguio City which is 72 kms , and the nearest International/Major Airport nearest Alaminos is the Clark International Airport about 159 kms)

All photos taken with CANON DSLR 60D and CANON 17-40mm L Lens

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Discovering the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan (Departure from Manila and the Lucap Wharf)

This is the 3rd tourist destination I visited in Luzon, the Hundred Islands in the City of Alaminos, Province of Pangasinan. It was just the day before the trip that I finally made up my mind to head for this destination, so its a sleepless night researching on other blogs and sites about the place about accomodation, food, culture, location and just anything for survival.

I proceeded to Victory Liner bus terminal in Cubao around 11:00 a.m., luckicly there's an aircon bus bound  to the City of Alaminos that was schedule to depart by 11:30 a.m.,the bus was not filled up with passengers considering its the month of July (not yet the passenger season time), and as scheduled the bus departed around 11:45a.m.

Its a nice and very tiresome day trip but the beautiful provincial picturesque view from the bus window, free WIFI on board with food vendors selling just anything from hard deep-fried peanut, boiled eggs, buko pie, salted peanuts, balut, dried mango, chicharon, et cetera can buffer that boredom. (just be cautious if you have a weak stomach, if unlucky with this foods you might end up with an LBM).

It took me approximately 6 hours to reach the City Of Alaminos, it's almost dark when I stepped out of the bus, since its my first time in the city, Im  worried that I might not get an accomodation nearby the Lucap Wharf (the wharf where the Bangka can be found to get you to the Hundred Islands). So I asked a tricycle driver to bring me to the nearest, not so expensive hotel nearby, I paid the driver 50.00 Php and he brought me to Rose Plaza Inn just about 5 minutes from the bus terminal.

The hotel is a Drive-inn motel, with the rate of 700.00/24hrs thats about 50% difference if you'll take an accomodation within the Lucap Warf vicinity. I highly recommend this place if you are on a budget and if you want to roam around the city during night time.

That night about 10:00pm, the heavy rain downfall outside bit bothered me about the weather and curiously checking the twitter, weeh!! The province was place under signal no. 2 of the tropical storm Gorio, simply laughing at myself thinking its the consequence for not checking the weather prior the travel.

I woke up before 6:00am, and hired a tricycle going to the Lucap Wharf for 60 pesos amidst the fury of tropical storm Gorio, and seems like luck was on my side the weather is not as bad as expected, just a bit windy and some rain shower.

Upon arrival at the area I noticed that there's only few local and foreign tourist (mostly koreans) around the vicinity of wharf planning to cross the sea going to the Hundred Islands. The shots below is the wharf area itself and the colorfull small motorized wooden boats called "Bangka" are the only means of public transport to access the most beautifull spot in Pangasinan. This (Large category- wooden boats) can be hired for 1,800 pesos for 3 islands of your choice.

(Boat rental rate)

                                           Day Tour            Overnight          Service Boat

Small (1-5 person)               800.00                1,400.00           1,400.00 

Medium (6-10 person)         1,000.00              1,800.00          1,800.00

Large (11-15 person)           1,100.00             2,000.00           2,000.00

> PART II <

(The nearest local airport to Alaminos City is Loakan Airport located at Baguio City which is 72 kms , and the nearest International/Major Airport nearest Alaminos is the Clark International Airport about 159 kms)

For clarification prior your travel you may call up their local tourism office (075) 551-2505 / 552-7406

                             All photos taken with CANON DSLR 60D and CANON 17-40mm L Lens

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Visiting the strawberry farm in Baguio City

One of the most visited place in the Philippines is the Province of Benguet just about 30 minutes from the Baguio City proper. This fruit is not usually found in the country considering the tropical climate and not suitable for this plant to thrive. It may be one of the reason why thousands of local & foreign tourist visited the place to see, harvest and taste the fruit first hand.

To harvest the strawberry in the farm is bit expensive, it will cost you around 400.00 pesos for 1 kilo or 1 basket full shown below.

                      All photos taken with CANON DSLR 60D and CANON 17-40mm L Lens

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How to get to Mt. Manalmon, Bulacan

A very beautiful place just nearby Manila, a 1 hour and 45 minutes by bus from Cubao (Baliwag Transit). Highly recommended for those who want to begin mountaineering, and photographers who wants to practice landscape photography.

Budget friendly adventure site, as of June 2013 the bus fair is 117.00 from Cubao (one way) , Tricycle from San Miguel to Sitio Madlum 200.00 (one way, good for 4 person & approximately 45 minutes ride 50% rough road), a mandatory mountain guide for 300.00 (day trekking good for 6-10 person and approximately 2 hours hike to the summit).

Below are some of my shots intented for commercial micro stock images and some of it will be submitted to the LONELY PLANET.

(Camera settings used: ISO: 100, Aperture: f/22, Shutter: 1/5-1/50, White Balance: Sunny, File format: Medium RAW, Post Production: LR5, Remote cable release: NONE-i used 10 sec timer delay instead)

The most awaited view from the summit of Mt. Manalmon, according to our mountain guide that the place was originally called "Manlalamon".. 

According to local people in Sitio Madlum that it would be best if you can visit the place during summer (or just any time of the year where the weather is fine) to see the crystal clear water of this river.

It's me with my 60D Canon DSLR w/ 17-40 L Lens and a super heavy BENRO versatile transformer tripod (wish to have a lighter tripod the next trip)

The Madlum cave

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Aliwan Fiesta 2013 Photo Contest

Aliwan Fiesta, an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals from the entire Philippines wherein contingents compete in street dancing parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant.

COMING SOON

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Camp Crame, Philippine National Police Head Quarters

As early as the 1930s, military facilities were set up in Quezon City, among them Camp Murphy (now Camp Aguinaldo) and Camp Crame. Named after the first Filipino brigadier general of the Philippine Constabulary (PC), Rafael Crame, the camp was where the General Strike Force of the PC was organized under Brig. Gen. Guillermo Francisco in 1939. Camp Crame had been used as the headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary, which was then considered part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

A major detention area during the Marcos dictatorship, it became one of the rallying points of people during the EDSA Revolution of 1986. Today, the camp is now the headquarters of the Philippine National Police, established in 1991 as an entity separate from the AFP. However, despite this separation, the titles to the land which Camp Crame stands were only turned over to the PNP by the AFP in July 2008.

The camp is currently undergoing renovation, starting with the renovation of the PNP Multipurpose Hall and the camp's swimming pool. There are also plans for the construction of a multi-storey building along the EDSA side of the camp to house the administrative offices of the PNP, as well as commercial establishments for the general public. Several high-profile personalities have been detained at Camp Crame in recent years, among them deposed President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. The ongoing trial for the Maguindanao Massacre is also held in a courtroom inside the camp, where primary suspect Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. is being detained.

( Main Office )

(The grandstand)

A view from google map http://www.panoramio.com/photo/84038542

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The oblation in the University of the Philippines

Taken during the photo walk with the group DAAN.

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