Cagayan: Journey to the northern tip of the Philippines

Light rain today. Probably, why I’m here in front of a makeshift workstation at home, having a cup of black coffee and a piece of local sweets called ‘piaya’, reopening an almost forgotten blog and recollecting memories of August 2016. Cagayan has always been a dream destination. What is it like in the northern tip…

General Trias, Cavite: two stews, one hello, one goodbye.

When there is an important life event, there is good food. From the day we were born, birthday anniversaries, marriage and even parting with love ones, all are graced by food. Food is life. Brillat-Savarin once said, “The universe is nothing without the things that live in it, and everything that lives, eats.” Food is closely…

Haiku. A reverie.

I was walking in our office alley after lunch. The weather is cold. The look of the outside is bland. Suddenly, I remember a Sunday jog. The trees. Flowers. Pavements. Dried leaves. And, I wanted to make a poem. Then, a sharp image of my dream of Japan came alive. Could I see the cherry…

Silang, Cavite: Tarragon tea and the quest for organic goodness.

Organic farming. Organic food. They are becoming a trend these days. We are becoming more and more health conscious. Life is good and we want to live it long. Philippines is keeping up with the trend. In a 2015 report, Department of Agriculture said that Philippines rank as the 4th leading organic country in Asia. It is…

Sunset: light, dark and colored.

Do you love sunset? Do you love the seeing the daylight as it meets darkness? When was the last time you waited for the sun to go down. Burst of colors. Light vanishes like leaves in autumn. Darkness sprouts like a fresh spring. They say that when you like something, there is no need to…

Taal, Batangas: Not the volcano, but the heritage town.

When I moved in to Cavite for work, I set a goal; to visit nearby provinces of Southern Tagalog. Batangas is definitely on the radar.  Batangas is a popular daytrip destinations these days. Due to its diverse geography, it has lots to offer. Its eastern side faces the West Philippine sea. It has beautiful beaches…

Binondo, Manila: Good food evokes curiosity.

If I have a favorite weekend getaway destination these days, it would be Binondo, the Manila Chinatown. I’m still not certain about the exact reason but it is my most liked placed in Manila. It can be because of its history. Established in 1594, it is the oldest and largest Chinatown in world. It can…

Palawan: The island that started it all.

Backtrack: November 2014. A friend invited me to book a flight. I was in a confusing part of my life. I’ve just moved into a new job and I’ve lost a person that is very dear to me. Lots of responsibilities roll on; all at once. Things are falling apart. Everything was blurry but clear at the…