Cagayan De Oro | A Walk In The Gateway Of Northern Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO | The Gateway Of Northern Mindanao A Walk At Rush Hour Note: The pictures and events I'll post here was done a month prior to the Typhoon Sendong Disaster. I like walking in Cities. Cagayan De Oro City is hardly the best city for this, but surprisingly a lot of people do walk here. As of my experience when I tried walking to their weekend night market in Plaza Divisoria, It was time to look at CDO in a different light....

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Camiguin | Giant Clam Conservation

CAMIGUIN | Giant Clam Conservation A Glimpse of the Endangered Marine Bivalves A last stop for my Camiguin road trip, this proves to be like an amazing race tour. Trying to get to as many locations in Camiguin as we can for just a day. This place is run by volunteers and situated on a secluded section of Camiguin Island. As with the quick lecture with their guides, Giant Clams require pristine water conditions to survive and flourished....

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Camiguin | The Road Through The Island via Habal Habal

CAMIGUIN | The Island via Habal Habal My One Day Affair with Camiguin November 5, 2011 Instead of spending an overnight trip in Camiguin, I opted for a whole day trip instead, so I could maximize itineraries in Northern Mindanao. One of the things I've sacrificed though is taking Sunset pictures at Camiguin Sunken Cemetery, the place looks mysterious and I know I could expect something better if I waited but time is not my friend today. ...

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Camiguin | Old Church Ruins

CAMIGUIN | Church Ruins Remains Of A Church Long Burried In Ash Travel Bloggers call this Black Tourism, were you feature places and locations that had a violent or dark history behind it. Camiguin is not called the Island Born of The Fire for nothing, as the entire island itself is littered with many volcanoes both old a new ones. The Sunken Cemetery is just one evidence of the force of nature lurking beneath the island. What I witnessed...

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Camiguin | Sunken Cemetery

CAMIGUIN | Sunken Cemetery A History of Geological Violence Now this little place in here is a keeper. Famous for what it is called. A cemetery was buried underwater following the eruption of one of Camiguin's active Volcano. They can still be viewed by snorkeling, which I didn't do. The big cross is more like a landmark of the place, a nice piece considering that a lot of folks come here and take pictures, judging by its location, this place...

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Ayala Triangle | Christmas Lights

Ayala Triangle Lights Display A Christmas Pasyalan Series | Ayala Avenue Ayala Triangle is notorious for the effort that they provide for a Christmas Pasyalan. This year is no exception, I've worked here for several years now, but this is the first time that I get to really experience it.. Maybe giving myself a break from work would do good. ...

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SM MOA Bay Area | Chasing Sunsets

Chasing Sunsets At Manila Bay Area A Pinoy Christmas Pasyalan Series | SM Mall Of Asia Pinoys Flock to this place behind the SM Mall Of Asia, and for obvious reason. That although It's not yet Christmas when these pictures were taken, this strip of family day haven is free for everyone or every family who wants to have a nice weekend or holiday family bonding.. Just sitting by the bay and watch over the sunsets does the trick. A...

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Camiguin | White Island

CAMIGUIN | White Island A Sandbar Haven Facing The Island Born Of Fire Lucky for me, I got my chance to frolic in Camiguin's white Island on a good weather. It's was too hot, this stretch of white island sandbar is expose to elements especially the sun, and even though we only stayed here for at least an hour, I was sun baked when I got back to the main land and had the extra salt rinsed off my skin....

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Camiguin | Mt Hibok Hibok Hot Spring

CAMIGUIN | Mount Hibok Hibok Ardent Hot Spring A Jump Off Site For Mountaineers And A Family Hot Tub. Camiguin is a beautiful volcanic island province, much of its natural history is centered in violence of these natural wonders, and this island is a home to one of Philippines Stratovolcano and Dome Complex, the constantly monitored Mount Hibok Hibok. Prior to this, I've only heard of Mount Hibok Hibok from Mountainers, although...

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Misamis Oriental | Balingoan Port

MISAMIS ORIENTAL | Balingoan Port Silent Watch Port In A Cold Morning Due to unforeseen circumstance in CDO, our itinerary for the day before was not followed. So my travel buddy and I thought that what if we could tour the entire Camiguin island in a day? then probably we can go back to CDO and take a trip to Iligan the next day. It's an option but one that we need to act fast. So we did. Around 2AM, we left CDO via bus that would...

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Camiguin | Katibawasan Falls

Katibawasan Falls Camiguin's Cold Shower Exploring Camiguin Island in a day, is one of the most exciting part of my Northern Mindanao Series. I originally planned to stay overnight in here, after all it's November 5, 2011, it would be a nice place to spend my birthday. After meeting Kuya Jojo in Benoni Port of Camiguin, we took an early breakfast meal and was immediately brought to our first itinerary for the day. Taking stock of...

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Cagayan De Oro | City of Golden Friendship

Cagayan De Oro City of Golden Friendship November 3 - 7, 2011 My first time in Mindanao. I don't really understand why the welcoming phrase for this place is "City of Golden Friendship." So I thought its about hospitality and the people that live here. I can hardly say that it applies for the Cagayanon's, they have a charm that's far more alluring than being hospitable. ...

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Bukidnon | Del Monte Clubhouse

Del Monte Clubhouse Munching On Steak for Lunch On the way to Dahilayan Zip Zone in Bukidnon, we passed by the Del Monte farm. It's a vast area of fruit farm, after the trip, we were suppose to have lunch at The Pinutos, one of the restaurants along the way.. Pinutos in visayan language is roughly the translation of Binalot in Tagalo...

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Bukidnon | The Dahilayan Zip Zone

Dahilayan Zip Zone Longest Zip Line Adventure in Asia November 4, 2011 A trip to Cagayan De Oro City is not complete without a visit to the Dahilayan Adventure Park. Although it is located in Bukidnon, a neighboring province of Cagayan, it's just a 2 hour drive going up through provincial boundaries and scenic mountainous areas. This Picture was shot while I'm inside the van passing through Bukidnon countryside. The combination of looming...

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Sagada | Cave Spelunking

Spelunking In Sumaging Cave Of Magnificent Caves And Timeless Rock Formations Note: This is a repost May 2011 Cave Spelunking was our first tour itinerary in Sagada. With Caves, Hanging Coffins and even cave coffins, these are the things that make Sagada famous. A visit to Sagada is not enough without a visit to them. Photography is a challenge in caves unless you know how adjust your DSLR to low lights without getting...

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Naga | Wakeboarding @ CWC

Camarines Sur Watersports Complex The Wake Boarder's Kind Of Fun August 21, 2011, a Sunday Note: This is a repost Side Trip after the Caramoan Adventure 2 hour Van Drive from Quijalo or Sabang Port CWC is inside their Capitol Complex..  Don't really know what they call the area but its in Pili, Camarines Sur. ...

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NLEX | Mega Station

Mega Station Driving at Sunset via NLEX Southbound September 18, 2011 For starters, our stopping here was more of a little snack, yosi break and pee break, but the weather is perfect and its magic hour.. I can't help but shoot a few frames. ...

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Tara Na't Magbukalbol

Bulakbol Entry Mukha sa araw ay pag takpan, katawan man ay mabilad sa ma araw na dalampasigan. Sumali ka at mag bulakbol.. CLICK HERE!!! Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, Faithful lover, True Explorer... Follow Me Facebook PageTwitter Instagram All Rights Reserved...

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Sagada | The Road Through The Highest Highways

Sagada On The Road To Sagada The long drive from Baguio and spelunking adventure. May 2011 Sagada is my 8th destination for this year, easily one of the best. I don't find the place romantic as what others would say about it. But picturesque? super! There's lot's of things you need to consider before visiting Sagada...

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Sagada | Trekking Aguid Rice Terraces and Bomod-ok Falls

Sagada Amazing Nature Trekk Adventure Note: (This is a re-post) This is Day 2. The best way to describe a Sagada Adventure is with a pictures. So this one will be full of it.  Before we did the nature trekking at Aguid Rice Terraces.. I had to stuff myself. An enjoyable ordeal really :) Here's me waiting for my order at Salt and Pepper Restaurant. I tell you, I get Emo when left hungry for lon...

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Makati Nightscape | Burgundy Corporate Tower Helipad

Makati Nightscape From A Towers Perspective This was mostly a photography adventure. A notice was sent to Sykes Photo Club members in the office, for a photo op with Synergy along with Sykes Photo Club. Of all places, they want BCT Helipad. I've been wanting to visit BCT Helipad since I started to work with Sykes. It's a perfect location to get a sweeping view of Ayala Ave with it's Towers.. I've also known a few Photographers who was...

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The Fort | A Night Stroll Haven

A Stroll In The Fort Every working day, aboard The Fort Bus that would take me from  Market Market Taguig, to Ayala Ave Makati, I get to pass by this wonderful location. The Fort is a really nice place for a night stroll. One Sunday afternoon after watching a movie in Glorietta Makati, I decided to take a photo walk on this night haven alone. I've longed to take a picture of a landmark near St Lukes Medical Center, Taguig. It...

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Zambales Weekend Getaway

Zambales, A Weekend Respite Specifically, San Felipe has become a weekend respite for me for the last 3 years. Much like Puerto Galera, when friends decide to leave the big city for a weekend to frolic in the Sun. I guess people would relate to this if you work in Metro Manila where things can be cluttered. I took this picture early in the morning before sunrise on the unfinished marina by the beach. It had been raining hard the day before...

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Liw-Liwa, San Felipe, Zambales | Surfing Newbie Adventure

ZAMBALES | Surfing Zambales It's surfing season.. Before it doesn't mean much to me but it does now that I've tried it. Did I tell before that I am such a water whore.. I'm always at home with water. Reason why most places that I like to go with must have  or least a chance for me to swim or snorkel. I can't count the many times I almost drowned as a kid, because I kept on trying to learn to swim on my own.. Not in a swimming pool mind...

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Bohol | Hinagdanan Cave

Hinagdanan Cave A Photo Journey This trip was done February 2011 Was planned, it's not even a back packing trip. Bohol is all worth it anyway, For a province steep in Tourism, a place of natural wonder. Having said that, Hinagdanan cave was a surprising natural wonder. Unlike any other caves, this was just a cavern, Naturally carved out of underground limestone rock.  In due time, it obtained a small opening from above.. Its...

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Bohol | Dauis Church

BOHOL | Dauis Church A Photo Journey Dauis Church under going restoration efforts in its front facade.   This is part of our day 2 on the last part of touring Bohol. I was tired and hungry by this time. I went to Bohol, around February 2011, I'm not yet into taking landscape pictures especially churches, I'm still in that stage where you have a camera and you'd like to take as much picture of yourself as you can....

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Pilipinas, Tara Na! v.2

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22nd Philippine Travel Mart | 2011 SM Mall Of Asia

Went to see the 22nd Philippine Travel Mart held at SM Mall Of Asia SMX Convention Center I went there on the last day, September 4, 2011 Just checking out what it can offer. Cebu Pacific was jam packed.. I guess I'll stick with following seat sale announcements. I went ahead to check and photograph the Pavilions of every provinces who participated.  There's a few colorful ones, including that of my home province, Region VI...

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Agusan Del Sur's Giant Crocodile Captured Alive

The first time I saw a live Crocodile was when I was in Puerto Princesa, Palawan having a tour of the Crocodile Farm.  There I saw their breeder for Saltwater Crocodile..  A scary 17 foot living monster. Apparently, Crocs live a very long time and they don't stop growing. The Crocodile farm's biggest captive Croc is about 60 years, almost as big as the one captured in the Swamps of Palawan years ago. This recent capture in...

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MTV | Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas

"PILIIN MO ANG PILIPINAS" is the official theme song of Choose Philippines. Produced by: Creative Communications Mangement; VP/Lyricist: Robert Labayen; Creative Acct. Head: Christina Barbin; EPs: Cidge Laxamana/ Carla Payongngayong; Directors: Paolo Ramos/ Peewee Gonzales; DOP: Jaime Proca, Ding Mendoza. Facebook: ChoosePhilippinesOfficial; Twitter: choosephils Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur...

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Pilipinas, Tara Na! Byahe Tayo!

A campaign to support Philippine Tourism Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, Faithful lover, True Explorer... Follow Me Facebook PageTwitter Instagram All Rights Reserved Pala-lagaw reserves the right for any watermarked pictures posted No pictures should be downloaded...

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Bohol | Loboc River Cruise

Loboc River Cruise A Photo Journey 5th Stop - after The Hanging Bridge is lunch time at Loboc River Cruise. Now this is a nice experience, and I like it that this was included in the package. Personally I expected this to be romantic.\ Naahhh!! It wasn't, first off.  This is a lunch cruise, meaning that you take your lunch while on the cruise. It would've been if we weren't sharing our table with other loud travelers.\ I...

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Bohol | Biggest Python

After the Tarsier Encounter Bohol's Biggest Python A Photo Journey I can't help but ask why this is included in the tour package. The animals are obviously exotic pets of someone. An animal in a cage is a sad pictur...

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Puerto Princesa | City In A Forest

Puerto Princesa City Tour July 4, 2011 I concluded a Palawan trip and spent most of my time in El Nido Puerto Princesa was on the last 2 days and I enjoyed it immensely. It is such a small city, without even a mall with cinemas but it has a lot to offer. Well, I wouldn't want to grapple a real live crocodile. But I think this is how you do it. ...

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El Nido | One With Nature

El Nido, Palawan Island Hopping Adventure Entering Big Lagoon. Kunwari swimming nako, topless pic  ...

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El Nido and Puerto Princesa, Palawan | Raw Beauty

Palawan, A Raw Beauty To Enjoy Palawan Is To be One With Nature June 30 - July 4, 2011 ...

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Bohol | Bee Farm

The Bohol Bee Farm This is part of our day 2 Tour in Bohol.. A pleasant place to be in. Here is where I had lunch, and had first tasted edible flowers. Well I don't really eat plants so I skipped that part. Weaving, and done with native materials....

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Bohol | Blood Compact

Last Stop for Day 1 Tour Blood Compact A Photo Journey Not much here but a shrine for something that was done hundreds of years ago....

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Bohol | Baclayon Church

Church of the Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion Baclayon Church, A Photo Journey Baclayon Chur...

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Bohol | Tarsier Encounter

After lunch stop from Loboc River Cruise Tarsier Encounter A Photo Journey Let's do the Tarsiernap First time I've seen a Tarsier up close. I immediately fell in love with them. As much as I love how cuddly they are and how fragile. I feel sad with this particular stop. As is, when I visited this Tarsier Sanctuary There're a lot of Asian Tourist Inside (I think they were Koreans) As is with them, they made a lot of annoying...

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Bohol | Loboc Hanging Bridge

Day 1 continuation... Now I expected something that looks fragile that I'd be scared to pass through with it. This is not it. It's made of Bamboo, yes but its enforced with steel rods. It doesn't sway much as well. 4rd Stop - After the Man-Made Forest Loboc Hanging Bridge Just me trying to have fun. Dunno why I got tricked into passing this bridge...

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Bohol | Man Made Forest

3rd Stop Day 1- from The Butterfly Conservation Center Man-Made Forest Man Made Forest. ...

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Bohol | Butterfly Conservation Center

2nd stop - Along the way from Chocolate hills is The Butterfly Conservation Center There were only a few active butterfly because of the rain. The light is not that good either, I just enjoyed much of what I can gather. Here's a mutant butterfly, either a male or female. I didn't really pay attention because the tour guide made it sound that these are gay butterflies. As if the reference is funny I should...

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