PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY (Baguio City)

For the past 100 years, the officers training school of the Armed Forces in the Philippines has made Baguio City its home.

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) boast of a long and illustrious history of preparing only the best Filipino men (and, in recent times, women) for military service.

Located at Fort Gegorio del Pilar on Loakan Road, visitors to the City of Pines are welcome to explore the grounds, view the cadets performing their drills, and explore the PMA museum and walk around its manicured grounds to see vintage tanks and other historical military weapons.


Soldiers marching at the grounds of PMA.


The new elected General of PMA.. ME.. Hehe!!


An old helicopter. Not anymore use for transportation. You can go near it for a picture taking.


Me on the right corner of the helicopter.


Me and my co-pilots.. hehe.. that's our plane at the back.


SOS.. Save Our Ship.. We are under attack!!


Those were beautiful sunflowers located at the sidewalk of PMA. Isn't it facinating, there's also a bee on top.


You can climb up here. Nice view!


How to Get to PMA

By car -- pass through wooded Loakan Road past a fork in the road (to the right will be Loakan Airport), keep going straight until you see the Fort Gregorio del Pilar gate on your right. About 10 km from Burnham Park and Session Road.

By taxi cab -- you may hire a taxi cab for Php200/hour to tour you around Baguio CIty, or maybe just to take you to and inside PMA and back so you can tour the grounds by car and partially on foot.

By jeepney -- take the Plaza-Loakan-PMA jeepney from the Central Business District.

THE MANSION (Baguio City)

The Mansion is the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines.

It is located on the eastern part of the city along C.P. Romulo Drive (formerly a part of Leonard Wood Road) and right across from Wright Park,

The Mansion is older than the city itself, and easily one of the most visited and photographed landmarks of the City of Pines.


A photo of the mansion.


This was posted at the left side of the gate.


It's me!!



How to Get to There

By car -- pass through Leonard Wood Road past Teachers Camp and Botanical Garden. When you reach Pacdal Circle, go towards the road which gently climbs uphill that is to the right of the Wright Park Riding Circle. You may park your vehicle at Wright Park Drive, which is directly across the Mansion.

View the interactive map of Baguio City
to find the location of The Mansion

By taxi cab -- just tell the cabbie to take you to The Mansion or even "Mansion House," about Php50.00 from Session Road.

By jeepney -- take the Plaza-Mines View jeepney from the Central Business District, about Php8.00/person

BAGUIO (Summer Capital of the Philippines)

Known as one of the industrialized cities in the Northern part of the Philippines, Baguio is hailed as the summer capital of the Philippines. Many people visit this city every summer because of its cold weather and attractive tourist spots.

Baguio City is a big city in the Northern region of the Philippines. Based on reports, the city has 130 barangays, which include the Session Road area, the barangay that is very popular for bars, restaurants and other business establishments that attract tourists and travelers to the area. Aside from the Session Road area, Mines View Park, Camp John Hay and Burnham Park are the other tourist attractions in the area.


I took a picture of a car going in an opposite direction as we are heading to Baguio City.


We've entered a short tunnel as we are heading to Baguio City


Roads are very nice. We can see mountains and places across the mountains.


I took a picture of this small Ifugao houses as I arrived in Baguio City.


A picture of myself at the middle of the flower farm. Actually this should be the strawberry farm but they got flower too.


Such lovely flowers and mind you, it's not a bee on top... It's a fly... Ahahaha!!!


I took a picture of two lovely women on a horse while riding the bus.


After having a dinner, I went out of the hotel for a night bike ride at Burnham Park. You can rent bikes here per hour. There are also bikes with side car.


Those were really great models. Hehehe!!


Going for a nightlife. weeewwww.


We bought a barrel of beer at countryside bar here in Baguio. Got drinking all night.


We pass by Rizal Park after having our nightlife.


Manila to Baguio City: Easy as 1-2-3

NLEX-SCTEX

From Manila take the NLEX up to Exit 85, to get to the SCTEX. Shift to the right lane and head for Baguio via Tarlac (going straight takes you to Subic). Drive the length of the SCTEX until the Tarlac City exit where you will turn left to a country road. Drive about 10km more, following road signs until you reach MacArthur Highway
+/- 120km total

MacARTHUR HIGHWAY

Turn right to MacArthur Highway, pass through the remaining four towns of Tarlac province, and the length of Pangasinan province making no turns, till you reach Rosario, La Union.
+/- 90km

"ZIGZAG"

Turn right at the Rosario junction to Kennon Road or go a little further (about 500 meters more) & turn right to the new entrance to Marcos Highway.
+/- 30km/40km


"How long does it take to get up to Baguio?"

By private transport, the trip from Manila usually takes just 4-5 hours during the day, and sometimes less at night. After all, the Summer Capital of the Philippines is just 240-250 km away.

Night travel is much faster because there is less vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and fewer slow-moving public utility tricycles in the lowland provinces of Central Luzon plying their routes at night. Plus it is easier to overtake when you can see the headlights of oncoming vehicles.

(But that's just me. I prefer night travel.)

KARANCHO BEACH (Mactan Island, Cebu)

The Karancho beach resort in Maribago in Mactan is private and affordable and can be a jump-off point to any of the smaller islets that ring the island city of Lapu-Lapu and municipality of Cordova.

Entrance fee to Karancho is only 20 pesos for adults and 10 pesos for kids. Cottages cost from 500 pesos (about $10) to 1,500 pesos.

The resort is located beside the Cebu White Sands in Maribago. What’s great about the resort is that it isn’t as crowded compared to more popular beach destinations like Tambuli or Hadsan.

There are also smaller boats in Karancho for anyone who want to take a ride to a man-made island nearby. The small boats can carry only four passengers and can be rented at 150 pesos (about $3) each.


This is how the place looks like after entering the gates of Karancho Beach Resort.


The waters of Karancho. Lots of people got here for it is cheaper compared to other beaches in the said location.


The shadow on the waters of Karancho.. Indeed the waters are clear..


During low tide.


School of fishes...


What is this? Can anybody tell me what this is? Corals? Stones?


What do you call this? Sea snail? Hehehe..


How about these? I don't think these are sea urchins.. Or different classes of sea urchins? Maybe..


Now this is what you call a sea urchin. Tuyom is its local name here in Cebu.


Who wants a blue starfish??


Another breed of a starfish.. How many arms does it have?


Starfish.....


A taxi from Cebu City to Karancho costs around 200 pesos.

Another way is to take the van-for-hire in the SM and Ayala terminals to Lapu-Lapu–fare is 25 per person–and disembark at the city center. From the city center, take a tricycle to Maribago (cost of the tricycle ride if there are no other passengers is from 50 to 60 pesos).

Another option is to take the jeepney to Maribago (just look for the jeepney with the signboard Maribago) from the city center. Jeepney fare is at 10 pesos per person.

CHOCOLATE HILLS (Carmen, Bohol)

The Chocolate Hills are an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. According to the latest accurate survey done,[citation needed] there are 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres (20 sq mi). They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name.


This was taken at the Viewing Deck on top of Chocolate Hills Complex. Though we forgot the most important thing in this tour, our cameras, we got to pay for every picture taken by camera mens around the place. So, we've got to pay 50 pesos for every shot taken.. So expensive!!

So never ever forget your cameras!!


Here's another picture worth 50 pesos.. Hahaha!!


By the use of our beloved cellular phone, we got this photo.. The fight between two great dragon ballz warriors..


This was taken at Panglao Island in Bohol. We had our dinner here before going back to the Tagbilaran port heading for Cebu.

How to Get There

Buses bound for Carmen town are available at the Dao Terminal in Tagbilaran City. Just ask the bus drivers to drop you off at the junctions leading to the resorts. In Carmen town, the road leading to the resort from the junction is only a 10-minute walk along a winding uphill road.

Vans are the most common means of transportation though, especially when traveling with a group. Aside from convenience and comfort, visitors can visit more places in a short span of time. Waiting for buses or public rides is time consuming.

PINOY BIG BROTHER (Quezon City)

Pinoy Big Brother (also known as PBB) is the Philippine version of the reality television show Big Brother (the word Pinoy is a colloquial term for Filipino). It follows the same premise as its many foreign counterparts around the world: twelve Philippine residents are forced to live with each other inside a house for about 3 months or at least 100 days.

It is shown on ABS-CBN Channel 2 and its international affiliate, The Filipino Channel, with snippets shown on local affiliate Studio 23. The uncut 24/7 version of the series can also be seen on the internet through streaming video and a special cable channel provided by ABS-CBN-owned cable TV provider, SkyCable.


An image of the house. Nothing really exciting. Hahaha!!!


Fun.. Fun .. Fun..


Feeling housemates! Hahaha!!


The house interior was rebuilt for the second season. These changes include the following:
*The number of cameras have been increased to 42.
*There is a secret room built behind the confession room and a large activity area leading from the garden.
*The house has a prayer room rather than just an altar.
*The flat screen monitor found in the living area is now used to call any housemate.
*The front door now leads to the Eviction Hall next door.
*Instead of watching a TV mass, the housemates have a spiritual session with Coney Reyes, the show's spiritual adviser. This has been done since the first Celebrity Edition.

BORACAY (Aklan Province)

Boracay is a small bone-shaped tropical island located approximately 200Km south of Manila and 2Km off the northwest tip of the mainland island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.

The palm-studded island of Boracay - with its white, talcum-fine beach, balmy weather and warm, crystalline waters - is like a hypnotic magnet that lures many to a lotus existence. In this tiny, butterfly-shaped island at the northwestern tip of Panay in Western Visayas, days can be spent by simply lazing on the beach and nights are for indulging in the tropical party lifestyle. Boracay is an anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.



Here's a picture of me, my aunt and cousin on a ferry or "banca" boat from Caticlan, Aklan to Boracay Island. The 20 minute banca trip will drop you off at one of the three Boat Stations on White Beach, which is on the west coast of Boracay Island.

The 3 Boat Stations, known as Boat Station 1, 2 or 3, line White Beach and are the points that designate where you will be dropped off, depending on where your resort or accommodation is. Boat Station 1 is the furthermost north, whilst Boat Station 3 is the closest to Caticlan, with Boat Station 2 is in the middle.


We were dropped off at Station 3. When you get off the banca boats, remember that you will not have the luxury of a wharf. You will be arriving directly onto the beach. I would suggest to wear slippers because you will have to disembark into the water. Whilst not deep, the water can be up to your knees.


This was photo was taken at La Carmela de Boracay. It is centrally located at Station 2, near the Tourist Center- within a few minutes walk to the talipapa (wet market).


Upon walking down the shoreline, you can see this beautiful sand castle in station 2. It's really facinating. Foreigners and local tourist gives donations to the artists.


I went snorkeling at the other side of Boracay near Crocodile Island wherein the sands of the beaches on that area are not so fine compared those in stations 1, 2 and 3. The shore here have larger sands, it is made up of broken corals. Really facinating!


Recreational activities offered on Boracay island included:

*SCUBA diving - mostly PADI courses from half day introductory to full one week certification and up to instructor level. You find plentiful of information if you search the web
*Banana boat riding - a wild fun experience for young and old
*Jet ski
*Water ski
*Para-sailing
*kite surfing
*wind surfing
*Mountain bike
*Some dancing with life music is available at various beach locations and plentiful of places to dine in more than a dozen national styles and excellent gourmet restaurants out or places to meet and socialize with the many tourists from all over the world. You find a high percentage of far east Asian tourists here fully active in a variety of water sports but as well people from Europe, Australia and USA ...
*Many dozens of small and exotic beach bars and beach restaurants / snacks to meet, eat dance and make friends from around the globe. Boracay guests are very global from several continents - from far east such as China, Korea, Japan and Europe, Australia, USA - all nicely mixed in a tropical "exotic salad" of adventurous and socializing humans amidst dozens of tropical exotic dine out places to have fun and enjoy family life and love live with your partner !
*Boracay butterfly garden - a colorful and most loving experience you may want to repeat several times. Best time to enjoy butterflies is morning hours before noon.
*and of course other activities like massage on the beach, aroma therapy courses, shopping for colorful fashion or decorative local batik and more ....

ENCHANTED KINGDOM(Sta. Rosa, Laguna)

Location: San Lorenzo South Village, Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines about 26 kilometers (16.1 miles) from Manila. It has a land area of 17 hectares (41 acres). Tel. Nos. (632) 843-6074 to 78
First Opened: July 28, 1995
History: The park was conceptualized by the Landmark Entertainment Group and modelled after Knott's Berry Farm. It was built at a cost of P1.2-billion. The park first opened on July 28, 1995.

Ticket Information: Regular Day: 400 pesos (weekday) ; 500 pesos (weekend)
Children between 36” to 47” tall: 250 pesos (weekday) ; 320 pesos (weekend); Children 35” and under are FREE.

* Enjoy unlimited use of all the Park’s rides: Space Shuttle, Jungle Log Jam, Swan Lake, Up, Up & Away, Roller Skater, Dodgem, Wheel of Fate, Anchors Away, Bump n’ Splash, Rialto, Rio Grande Rapids, Flying Fiesta, Grand Carousel, Bumbling Boulders, Boulderville Express, Air Petrodactyl, Stone Eggs, and Dinosoaurus

* A separate fee will be required for the following attractions: Xtreme Paintball, 4D Discovery Theater, Kart Trak, Jr. Kart Trak, Exodus: The ATV Ride, and Triassic Tag.


This photo was taken fronting the entrance of Enchanted Kingdom. During night time, we can see lovely lights surrounding the place.. Behing the fountain is the Carousel.


Horror time..


Another horror dancer.. nice photo shoot..


I was standing infront of Rio Grande Rapids (River rafting ride) entrance after i got wet on our rides.. That was cool.. I was the one being hit by the mini waterfalls along the ride.. You guys should bring extra clothes..


I was standing on a bench to have a good photo shoot on the Wheel of Fate (Ferris wheel) when this guy wants to have a picture too.. Darn, I wanted to have a solo picture..


This is me on a horse.. Its the Carousel..


I am on the tip of the Wheel of Fate (Ferris wheel) taking a picture of the Space Shuttle (Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster). Actually the Space Shuttle isn't available at this time.


It's the Flying Fiesta (Giant swing ride). This is your time to experience what it's like to fly..


Another picture of the Flying Fiesta (Giant swing ride).


Park Zones:
1. Spaceport - Relive the glory days of the American space exploration program of the 1960s.
2. Portabello - A replica of Portabello, a place in Panama in the Caribbean Sea where the riches of the Incas were shipped by the Spaniards.
3. Brooklyn Place - Take a sentimental journey down the streets of Brooklyn, one of New York's five boroughs, as it was in the 1940's.
4. Victoria Park - Inspired by the era of Queen Victoria's rule
5. Boulderville - Discover an era ruled by dinosaurs as you enter Boulderville, a prehistoric cartoon zone designed to capture every child's imagination.
6. Midway Boardwalk - Coney Island, known as "America's Playground" in the 1930's, comes to life at the Midway Boardwalk.
7. Jungle Outpost - The heart of the Amazon is the setting of the Jungle Outpost.

Other Attractions:
1. Space Shuttle (Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster)
2. Rio Grande Rapids (River rafting ride)
3. Anchors Away (Pirate Ship Ride)
4. Discovery Theater (4D Theater)
5. Roller Skaters (Mini Roller Coaster)
6. Jungle Log Jam (Jungle-themed flume ride)
7. Flying Fiesta (Giant swing ride)
8. Carousel
9. Condor (Spinning Tower Ride) [has not been in operation for years now]
10. Swan Lake
11. Dodgem (Bumper Cars)
12. Wheel of Fate (Ferris wheel)
13. Up, up and Away (Balloon Ride)
14. Bumbling Boulders (Teacups-Type Ride)
15. Stone Eggs (kiddie Ferris wheel)
16. Exodus the Ride (ATV Adventure Trail)
17. Kart Trak (Go-Kart Race Track)
18. Boulderville Express (Train ride)
19. Xtreme Paintball
20. Rialto (Motion Simulator Theatre)
21. 7th Portal (4D Theater)