Cabangan is one of the thirteen towns that make up the province of Zambales. It sits right in the middle of the province, bordered by the towns of Botolan on the north and San Felipe on the south. Its western side directly opens to the West Philippine Sea. It’s about two hundred kilometers from Manila, which would take around four to six hours travel time.

It was once a laid-back town with just a handful of resorts and tourists, with residents mostly farmers and fisher folks. Within the last couple of years, resorts have started to mushroom all over its beachfront and tourism started to pick up, due probably to the booming surfing scene at the neighboring town of Liwliwa.

Even with this, Cabangan is still pretty laid-back. If you’re looking for a beach getaway with not much tourists, Cabangan may just be the weekend getaway for you.

Located on the southernmost tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga City is one of the major gateways to Mindanao. And there is indeed no better way to start your Mindanao adventure than from here. Its city center is filled with history and culture, the food scene is very vibrant, and there are beaches which you can easily access.

Dubbed as Asia’s Latin City, Zamboanga City’s identity is deeply intertwined with Spain—from the way they speak, to the food they eat. Their culture is a colorful mix between the conquistadores of yore, to Christian and Muslim customs.

This Zamboanga travel guide aims to help both first time and returning visitors on how to get there, where to eat, where to stay, and what to see and do in and around the city on a modest budget.

“Tatay, the beach is not pink at all!” exclaimed our toddler as soon as we disembarked from the boat and touched sand at Zamboanga City’s Great Sta. Cruz Island—the home of the so-called Pink Beach in the Philippines. And indeed, if you take a glancing look, our son, cannot be more right. The beach does not look pink at all, but looks rather like any other white sand beach in the country. But, why is it dubbed as one of the few pink beaches not only in the country, but in the world? Is Zamboanga’s Pink Beach really pink? Well, let’s find out.

Tagaytay is the nearest and most accessible weekend getaway from Metro Manila. Located in the province of Cavite, a Tagaytay daytrip from Manila is very popular with tourists. And even with its proximity, it hosts a number of scenic spots, delectable food places, and fun activities suited for couples, families, barkada, and even the solitary traveler. It is, arguably, one of the most famous and loved tourist spots in the Philippines. 

The city provides a cool and breezy holiday—the so called Tagaytay weather—to soothe frayed nerves and bestow a renewed sense of vitality to city-worn souls. Much has been written about this place, but for those new to the city, this Tagaytay travel guide (with a sample itinerary and a budget guide) is an invaluable resource for a trip to literally one of the coolest places this side of the Philippines.

The sea glittered with artificial stars, reflecting the electric lights of the buildings surrounding Kaohsiung Harbor. It was our first and last day in the city, having docked at noon, and now departing mid-evening. A brief but fun tour of Kaohsiung—a cross section of what the city has to offer. I was at the top deck of Resorts World One, on a cruise visiting two southern Taiwan locales, musing over the day that was.

Boracay Island is one of the most loved and most hated island beaches in the Philippines, depending on who you ask. It has one of the finest—if not the finest—white sand in the country, has clear aquamarine waters, and boasts of, not one, but ten white beaches throughout its coastline. The island is also a favorite for watersports; parasailing, banana boats, and jetskiing, you name it, Boracay has it. Below the surface, there are quite a few snorkeling and diving sites around its immediate vicinity. And all these has led to the island being voted by numerous travel publications as one of the best beaches in the Philippines, and even the world.

Ironically, this is also why people steer clear of Boracay. The island has now become so famous that people arrive in droves and development has mushroomed uncontrolled. Add in its wild nightlife, and you get people shaking their heads and moving on to quieter vacation places.

But the reality is that this island really isn’t for that idyllic holiday; this is the Philippine’s party island. Once you accept that, you’ll find that a trip to Boracay can be quite unforgettable.

BGC stands for Bonifacio Global City. Located in Taguig City, it’s not really a proper city but rather a small part of Taguig under Barangay Fort Bonifacio. 240 hectares, to be exact, it’s a mixed-use area developed in part by the Ayalas.

THE BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY SKYLINE

BGC used to be a military base, literally an empty grassland. Now, it’s one of the Philippines’ top financial districts, an upscale place to live in with several posh condos, and a trendy place to hang out in with its numerous parks, restaurants, bars, and malls.

The BGC High Street, a busy open-aired arcade comprised of shops, restaurants, open spaces, and parks form its heart—the central hub of BGC.

El Nido is one of Palawan’s top destinations for tourists wanting to hit the beach. Conde Nast and CNNGo has listed it as having one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and it is the inspiration for The Beach, a popular backpacker movie that starred Leonardo DiCaprio. And indeed, the most stunning beaches can be found here. Besides having fine white sand, El Nido boasts of incredible islands and islets towering with cathedral-like limestone karsts similar to those found in Vietnam’s Halong Bay, China’s Guilin, and Thailand’s Krabi. Its underwater marine life is also not to be missed, boasting of healthy coral beds—perfect for both snorkeling and diving.

Among the top three tourist spots in Palawan, El Nido edges Coron, albeit barely, in terms of beauty. Getting to El Nido may not be as easy, but the travel time is very much worth it.

This El Nido travel guide will discuss how to get there, where to stay, what to eat, and where you must go, on the cheapest possible budget. El Nido can be affordable, if you travel the right way.

The morning was bright and the sky was cobalt blue in color. Shaded from the morning sun by a huge rock cliff facing the beach, we spread our blue blanket on the sand—laying our toddler’s sand toys right beside it. Completely ignoring his toys, he ran straight towards the waters—us, quickly scrambling to catch up with him. It seems Diniwid Beach’s aquamarine waters has won our son’s heart on first sight.

We were in Boracay and it was time for the sunset. The water was clear and calm, the sand—pristine and fine. Except for a few tourists and local kids swimming and playing about, we almost had the whole stretch of beach to ourselves.

Not really a common statement when in Boracay. But, if you’re at Bulabog Beach, you can definitely experience this.
But, Bulabog Beach? That dirty backside beach? Really?

Well, after Boracay’s rehabilitation, Bulabog Beach has been revived to a good enough alternative to the more famous Boracay White Beach.

Baguio City has been called a lot of things—the City of Pines, the Summer Capital of the Philippines—but what it is, really, is my favorite city in the Philippines.

It is arguably the hub of tourism in Luzon, especially during the month-long festivities of the Panagbenga Festival every February. It has the best thrift shopping places with its ukay-ukay stores. A food trip paradise with its numerous restaurants lining Session Road. And a weekend-getaway haven with its numerous tourist spots and general accessibility from Metro Manila. Its year-round cool and temperate weather only adds to its charm as a tourist destination.

I know I’m not alone in nominating Baguio City as their favorite city, but if you’re still unconvinced, here’s a travel guide to convert you to become a certified Baguio Junkie.

Iligan City is known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls. It’s not a claim based on air. This city south of the Philippines boasts a total of 23 waterfalls in its vicinity, making it one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Mindanao, both for backpackers and tourists alike.

Located in the province of Lanao del Norte, it is the industrial center of the south. Its name is derived from the Higaonon word Ilijan. The name of the city originally means fortress of defense, being the site of frequent pirate and Muslim attacks during bygone eras. The area was initially settled by sea dwellers before being invaded by Visayan migrants from the island of Panglao in the 16th century, making Iligan one of the earliest Christian settlements in Mindanao.