IMAGINE going head on with a 70-degree assault of trail with sparse forest cover under the blaring sun in the middle of the day.

​This was the ordeal Traveling Journo Ph had to face in Mt. Kaypaye in Tanay, Rizal last November. I had to scale and traverse it along with RAK Ph Mountaineers in preparation for an outreach activity, as well as training for an upcoming major climb.

FOR designated campsite cooks, dishes they prepare and serve may already be repetitious. Adobo, sinigang, tinola? We’ve all had them. While sustenance is what’s required after a long and tiring hike, there’s nothing wrong with a little indulgence, especially when it can be easily prepared.

The secret to achieving this is potatoes! Well, dehydrated ones to be exact, which are now available in the market thanks to Potatoes USA-Philippines.

What exactly are US dehydrated potatoes (US dehy)? 
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​To bring understanding, appreciation and respect toward IPs, October has been proclaimed as the National Indigenous Peoples Month in the Philippines. Every year during the IP Month, their unique identities and their ways of life are celebrated all over the country. Dayaw Festival, lead by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, is one such celebration, which the province of Capiz is hosting this year.  
 
Traveling Journo Ph is one in honoring and recognizing our fellow IPs this month.

FOR over a century, Cape Engaño has been a reminder of a lost time atop its hill of solace in Palaui Island. Built from 1888 to 1892, the lighthouse and its architecture is a testament to the Spanish colonization in the Philippines.

Now in ruins, Cape Engaño has surpassed its original purpose by becoming an iconic tourist destination in Cagayan province, Luzon. It invites visitors and travelers from around the Philippines to take that arduous trip to Palaui Island in Sta. Ana municipality.

HOW does a life moment qualify to be precious? For this author, the moment has to have moved you in unspeakable ways, to have made you escape reality, and to have left a lasting mark in you. 

Take for example, that moment when a bunch of young ones rode on top of a jeepney for the first time, after a long and tiring traverse of Mt. Ugo in the Cordillera. Only, it was going to be a “topload” ride with a good chance of shower.

Dark clouds descended with us from the mountain and just as the jeepney hit the road, the rain did fall. Then something precious happened.

I saw their eyes lit up with wonder, their lips smiled from glee as raindrops tickled their skin, winds kissed their faces, and adventure filled their hearts. All the while, the formidable views of Cordillera stretched and crawled before us. 

LICUAN-BAAY is one of Abra’s upland municipalities nestled in and surrounded by mountains that hide plenty of treasures: the hospitable Tinguian, scenic waterfalls and rivers, and even highly prized gold.

Located east of the capital Bangued, it is accessible via the Abra-Kalinga Road that connects the two said provinces. The public utility jeepneys, as well as private motorcycles, serve as the main mode of public transportation to and from Bangued and Licuan-Baay.

This was how this author, together with cousins and friends, reached Licuan-Baay for a short vacation and exploration in April. Why there, you may ask? Our family hailing from the municipality of San Quintin married into Pogyao family from Licuan-Baay—the wedding, held just a day before our trip! After the celebration in our family’s place, we decided to go to our new in-laws’ place.

TECHNOLY has transformed the ways people travel nowadays. Take for example the rise of online booking apps, which has made private properties accessible as accommodation instead of the more expensive hotels and resorts. 

But even before the rise of AirBnb and the likes, home-staying has been preferred by nomads, backpackers and budget travelers. They arrive at a destination without accommodation and hope and pray there is a host willing to accept them under their roofs. Why do this? Not just because it is cheaper but also because it allows them to know their destination better through its people and their ways of life.

​While this concept is taking the backseat, it remains to be practiced by RAK Ph Mountaineers, an outdoor-advocacy movement in support sustainable and ethical tourism. This author is a proud member.

In March, RAK (meaning Random Act of Kindness) went to Palaui Island in Cagayan province not only as ordinary tourists but also as guests of the Agta tribe of Punta Verde. We were billeted at the household of Erick Agcaoili and his family, a warm and welcoming bunch. 

INHALE deeply—if not a little sharply—and fill the lungs with much needed air. Panting now, both organs expand and deflate as the heart in between beats faster and wilder. All this in rhythm with the feet that keep stepping forward and upward.
 
But while we were straining from a challenging trail, we managed to be mindful in both our breathing and our surrounding. We were meeting Mt. Palali truly for the first time, not only physically but also visually and emotionally.
 
Indeed, this mountain accessible via Quezon town in Nueva Vizcaya lives up to its reputation as the northern counterpart of Mt. Makiling and Mt. Arayat in southern Luzon—especially in terms of difficulty.
 
But while all three mountains are nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Mt. Palali is much farther from Metro Manila making it less popular with the ever-booming hiking tours and the new-wave of outdoor enthusiasts. 

IF you’re out to discover Singapore’s diverse cultures, there’s one neighborhood you should not miss.

This is Kampong Glam known for its “rich history, living traditions, excellent eateries, and trendy shops,” according to visitsingapore.com.
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Located right at the mouth of Rochor River, Kampong Glam was originally a fishing kampung (or village) where the gelam tree (Paperbark tree), used for building ships and boats, grew—thus, the neighborhood’s name.

During the occupation of the British in the 18th century, key Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, allocated the area to the Malays, the original settlers of the Singapore led by Sultan Hussain Mohammed Shah, along with other Muslim communities including the Arabs and Bugis. As such, a grand Sultan Mosque was built at the heart of the neighborhood.

Its dome gleaming in gold to this very day, the mosque serves both as a historic landmark and an icon of heritage. Surrounding it is a hodgepodge of Asian and Mediterranean cultures present in shops, restaurants, and the istana or sultan’s palace, which now houses the Malay Heritage Center.

So vibrant is Kampong Glam that even in a gloomy, rainy day, it splashes colors to the surrounding.

(Disclaimer: What you are about to read is an unpopular opinion.) 

BEAUTY comes with a price --a hefty one at that --when in El Nido.
 
Harsh as it sounds, the observation holds true for this author and family who have traveled to the top tourist destination in Palawan. A paradise famed for its tropical islands, clearest seas, teeming marine life, unspoiled beaches, bluest lagoons and so much more, El Nido also brings about inconveniences — especially to budget travelers.
 
And contrary to belief, traveling on a budget doesn’t mean it is cheap in terms of experiences, food, accommodation and transportation. Things are just not luxurious but nevertheless, decent. Believe me for I have traveled on both ends of the spectrum.
 
Unfortunately, affordable in El Nido meant poor quality. And it isn’t even affordable in Filipino standards to begin with.