Essays and Short Stories


Storytime is a series of stories about my most memorable travel experiences. Read more here.
The day we arrived in Coron, it was drizzly. On our way to our accommodation – Sophia's Garden – the downpour let on, making me even more drowsy. I flew straight from an assignment in Northern Samar (a repeat of what happened during the Agal-agal Festival in Tawi-tawi – more on this later) and I was still exhausted from the previous week exploring its uncharted parts. The cold, rainy Coron weather seemed to be lulling me to sleep.
After going on a leisurely trek around the island of Sumilon, we were delighted at the thought of meryenda. So, we let ourselves be herded towards the playground. Only it wasn't a playground anymore. It had been temporarily converted into a tea party venue.
Water Canon Salute to welcome flight AK590.
AirAsia has celebrated its inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Davao, Philippines. The new route will operate with four times weekly flights between Davao and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Coron Accommodations
Coron Accommodations | Rainy Days Made Better By Sophia's Garden
Thursday, December 21, 2017
I've already been on the road for a week prior to me flying to Coron, but I haven't been to this side of Palawan so I was still quite excited. Additionally, we were flying via Sky Jet. It was my first time to ride one of their 90-seater BAE-146 which is, interestingly, manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace. It only took us 30 minutes to get to Busuanga Coron Airport! It was a comfortable and quick flight! Unfortunately, the insane weather foiled our plans and we ended up spending most of our time staying in. Luckily, Sophia's Garden hosted us.
Named after the owners' granddaughter, Sophia's Garden Resort is a 5,000-square-meter property located about an hour from the Busuanga airport. It follows an "old Spanish" style, and boasts comfortable rooms amidst what is basically a large garden.

I never minded getting dirty and I love me a bit of competition. So, when I got invited to a "Bloggers Camp" by our friends over at Timberland Heights, I did not have any second thoughts.

Up in the hills of San Mateo in Rizal is a quick escape from the urban jungle. Offering various outdoor activities, Adventure Farm is all about good, clean fun for the whole family.
I was able to visit the place the first during Sandugo's Camp Adventure. The second time, it was for the "Bloggers Camp" where my colleagues and I were pitted against people from Timberland Heights in a round of contest across the obstacle course that is the Adventure Playground. Before going into the said contest, we were able to experience what Adventure Farm was all about.
Foodscapades
Pasko Sa Bluewater: All the Best Things About Filipino Christmas
Friday, December 15, 2017
Nothing can compare to holidays in the Philippines – cheerful company, the merry atmosphere, and the ever excellent food. Taking this into account, Bluewater Resorts decided to put the Filipino holiday spirit front and center.
Foodscapades
Zamboanga Foodserye: A Taste of Moro Cuisine at Bay Tal Mal
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
After our foray into Merloquet Falls, we headed back to the city center for lunch. Wanting to try the local fanfare, our friend-cum-guide Errold of iTravel Tourist Lane took us to Bay Tal Mal.

After a week of covering Tawi-tawi's duo of festivals – Agal-agal, and Kamahardikan – Marky, Christine, Ferdz, Potpot, and I still had a whole day to spare in Zamboanga City where our flight back to Manila would be. Determined to make the most of our trip, we contacted iTourist Travel Lane to give us a quick tour of the city.

Dawdling Drabbles is a collection of 100-word (or less) attempts at remembering every moment in my travels, but they really are just ramblings, to be honest. Here's more of them.
Breakfast at Zamboanga City is fascinating. Satti – three bits of either beef, pork, or chicken in a skewer, and slathered with red sauce – is the staple morning food. Paired with puso, it makes for a filling meal. Throw in this dishes' etymology and you can't help but be amazed. According to our guide Errold, satti comes from "satay" which makes sense. A little digging, however, told me it is derived from "shaitan" – the devil. Hence, it's "devil food". The delicious red sauce signifying the fires of hell. Nothing like a macabre origin story to wake you up.




We were the first ones to wake. Marky, Christine, Ferdz, and I sat in the dining hall of the hotel, wondering where the others were. It was almost 6AM – our call time – but there were no signs of our other companions. We sent a message to our group chat on Messenger but no one was answering. We decided to go ahead and have our breakfast.
Travel News
AirAsia and AJ Hackett Gather Bungy Battlers For Crazy Jump Day at Macao Tower
Tuesday, December 05, 2017
Macau Tower on December 4 hosted the seventh annual Crazy Jump Day, powered by the world’s best low-cost airline AirAsia and organised by the world’s top adventure tourism company AJ Hackett.

Screenshot from Drone Video provided by Ash Malong of the DOT-ARMM
After taking part in Tawi-tawi's much celebrated Agal-Agal Festival held in the town of Languyan, my companions and I forged through torrential rains towards the province's capital: the island of Bongao.

To go to Tawi-tawi was a dream I never thought would come true so soon. But it did. And it came with gifts. To reach it, I got into a ship with the Coast Guards at the helm. The trip was long and eventful – a middle-of-the-sea raid that turned out to be a false alarm and a feast where instant noodles were the only thing I ate. It didn't matter though, same as the shaky legs and the roiling stomach. In the end, it was a voyage. An adventure that turned strangers into friends and the sea into home.