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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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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Photowalk in Bukidnon (Malaybalay City)

A successful event sponsored by the Bukidnon Photographers and Bloggers Society (BPBS) participated by the Bukidnon Photographers (BukPHO) the first joint photowalk and photo contest in landscape and street photography genre held in St James School of Science & Technology, Malaybalay City last July 20, 2013. The activity started with a photowalk as scheduled and photos taken was submitted for the day contest in the street photography category, the walk lasted well-nigh 4 hours in fair weather condition.

As one of the judges, it was a humongous decision on which to pick for the submitted entries were all fine work of arts. All photos were composed well incorporating the rule of thirds, leading lines, framing and et cetera. So the wow factor shall be the definitive ways in means on who might get the highest rating among the judges.

Photowalk is highly recommended to all photographer hobbyist or pro alike for it serves as a platform to gain technical knowledge from other group member and opportunity to meet up new friends in the same field of interest.

Winners for the Landscape category
First Place: Biboy Adorabl
Second Place: Drey Roque
Third Place: Topee Babida Acaso

Winners for Street category:
First Place: Drey Roque
Second Place:
Third Place:

(Photo credits: Biboy Adorabl)

                                                               (Photo credits: Biboy Adorabl)

Group shoot with Bukidnon Photographer & Blogger Society,  Bukidnon Photographers,models and  HMUA.

Together with the Bukidnon Photographers is Bonzenti Panganiban (1st left) author of www.contourblog.com and organizer of the event. 

The Bukidnon Photographers chockablock, one of the awaited portion after the photowalk and loaded lunch. Shoot with models sponsored by Mary Kay products.

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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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