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February 1, 2010

Lakbay Norte: Rediscover the North

1,798 kilometers, 26 people, 8 provinces, 7 days, 1 bus.

Over the past week, I went with a group of print and online media representatives in a caravan around northern and central Luzon organized by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB), a not for profit organization whose aim is to promote domestic and foreign travel in the region.

Onboard a special bus provided by Victory Liner, we visited the provinces of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga. (We also passed through, though without stopping over, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Ilocos Sur). Our accommodations, meals and activities were sponsored and hosted by local Convention and Visitors Bureaus and other local tourism stakeholders.

The tour aimed to introduce northern Luzon as a re-emerging destination for tourism and trade. With growing infrastructure in the region and with the improvement of the North Luzon Expressway, travel to the north has been easier over the years and the tour aimed to encourage more people to “Rediscover the North”.

Indeed, it was a rediscovery of the places I’ve been to in northern and central Luzon, and a pleasant revelation of the places I’ve never been to–northern Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, La Union and western Pangasinan.

If there was one word I could summon to give North Philippines, it is “potential”. The trip revealed how much is in store for the provinces of North and Central Luzon in terms of tourism and trade. The richness in he region’s natural wonders, in its culture and heritage, in its people make the north a viable destination for a robust and sustainable tourism industry. Having a rich potential also means that there is a lot that can be done in terms of infrastructure and training in order to fully harness the possibilities and so that the people of the region and the entire country may benefit from the potentials north and central Luzon has to offer.

Over the next few weeks I shall be writing a chronicle of the places we visited and the organizations and establishments that have helped us “Rediscover the North”. I hope one day, you also make the same discovery and rediscovery of northern Philippines, and encourage others to continue and explore the vast potentials of this region north of Manila.

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January 20, 2010

Sinulog 2010

Held annually on January in Cebu City, the Sinulog Festival is one of Cebu’s claim-to-fame fiestas, which attracts tens of thousands of tourists from across the country and overseas.

Sinulog is traditionally Cebu’s version of the national day of celebration for pilgrims and devotees of the child Jesus or the Santo Nino which is on the third Sunday of January. As they do in many other parts of the Philippines that celebrate the fiesta, devotees hold religious processions to the church and hold feasts in households and various establishments. In Cebu, they do the “sinulog” dance, characterized by a two-step forward one-step backward dance, that is said to originate from some historical event. In 1980 the city government of Cebu initiated the now famous street dancing parade that attracts participants and tourists from all over.

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January 2, 2010

South Korea Trip ’09: Dongdaemun & Itaewon markets, Seoul


November 09, 2009. Before we headed off to the airport for our flight that evening back to Manila, the family decided to go shopping in some of Seoul’s shopping districts. We went to two, Dongdaemun and Itaewon.

Dongdaemun Market is near its namesake ancient landmark, Dongdaemun, or the Great East Gate. It is apparently the largest shopping district in Seoul with over 26 shopping malls and tens of thousands of stores that sell everything you can think of. Unfortunately, the shopping malls were closed when we were there (not that we would be able to get around much, given that we only had an hour or so to stay). We ended up in Pyounghwa Clothing Market since we were looking for things we could conveniently bring home to the Philippines for ourselves, and for friends and relatives as pasalubong.

The place sold, obviously, things one can wear, from socks to undergarments to coats and ties to hats and caps. Since it was nearing the winter season, most of the clothes available at that time were coats and other clothes appropriate for cold weather, ergo, clothes not appropriate in the Philippines.

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December 31, 2009

South Korea Trip ’09: Korean Folk Village, Yongin

November 08, 2009. After having lunch at Itaewon, Seoul, our tour guide brought us to a “Korean Folk Village” theme park forty minutes away in the city of Yongin in Gyeonggi, South Korea. The folk village is actually an artificial recreation of Korean folk villages that showcase traditional Korean life and culture. It was apparently built partly as a way of preserving, albeit artificially, the traditional way of life in Korea in the midst of its rapid economic growth and modernization. The park is divided into different areas featuring different types of Korean homes and communities, from farm villages, to landlord’s courtyards to traditional marketplaces. The park also features live “actors” playing the role of traditional Korean folk villagers going about “normal” everyday routines, from cooking to farming. To be fair enough, the entire recreation of the folk village was highly realistic.

Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea

Some areas also feature shows that showcase traditional Korean ceremonies from weddings to dances. Since it was drizzling that afternoon, the traditional wedding reenactment show was canceled. We were able to witness, on the other hand, a show featuring horsemen doing acrobatics with their horses. It was pretty cool.

Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea Korean Folk Village, Gyeonggi, South Korea

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December 12, 2009

South Korea Trip ’09: Chogyesa & Geongbokgung, Seoul

November 8, 2009. We were booked on a half-day city tour of Seoul. I used to say I’m not a fan of packaged group tour itineraries. I still do. I dislike the feeling of being limited by a schedule or a route prepared by some other person. To make things a little more unpleasant, it was raining the entire morning in Seoul.

Our first destination was a Buddhist temple in the center of Seoul called Chogyesa. The temple, although relatively new compared to other temples having been built only in 1910, plays a major role in Korean Buddhism. It was the headquarters of Korean Buddhism during the Japanese occupation. Because it is within the city center of Seoul, the temple is more accessible to tourists and devotees than other temples in Korea, although that would also mean it doesn’t offer as serene an atmosphere for genuine meditation perhaps.

Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul

Geongbokgung is like the Forbidden City of Beijing, only smaller, but large nonetheless. It’s the grandest among the “five palaces” complex built by Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. It used to house the royal family of Korea. One of Seoul’s most famous tourist destinations, hordes of tourists were still present despite the rain. Visitors are supposed to witness an hourly changing-of-the-guards ceremony but since it was drizzling, the show was canceled. Our trip to Geongbokgung was capped by a visit to the National Folk Museum within the same complex.

Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul
Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul Geongbokgung, Seoul
One of the things I really dislike about packaged tour itineraries is that they always include a trip to a commercial tourist trap. In places my family has visited like Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore and I’m sure in many other East Asian cities, these commercial tourist traps are either jewelry stores or herbal medicine shops (which includes tea stores). In Seoul, we were herded to a ginseng complex. And like all other tourist traps like it, the trip was complete with sales people talking you into buying expensive “exclusive” merchandise.

The group tour incuded lunch at a restaurant in Itaewon, still in Seoul. After having another Korean meal, we broke off from the group tour and went to another tour, this time to a Korean folk village theme park around an hour away from the city.

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November 28, 2009

South Korea Trip ’09: Myeongdong, Seoul

November 07, 2009. Our first night in Seoul was spent walking around Namdaemun Market and Myeongdong. I had wanted to look around the rows of camera shops in Namdaemun, hoping to buy new lens for my camera, so I suggested a trip to Namdaemun Market that night. We couldn’t locate the shops, however, and we eventually ended up in Seoul’s Myeongdong district.

Myeongdong is one of Seoul’s shopping districts featuring brand name shops in the mid to high-level prices. As we were looking for bargains, we didn’t go shopping. We just had dinner at a popular pizza restaurant chain in Korea. Myeongdong also seems to be where students and yuppies hang out, as most of the people who swarmed the streets were young people in trendy clothes. It feels like one large high-end open-air mall with a vibrant night life.

Not surprisingly, Myeongdong, Seoul also claims to be the ninth most expensive shopping street in the world in terms of floorspace rents.

Myeongdong, Seoul, South Korea Myeongdong, Seoul, South Korea Myeongdong, Seoul, South Korea Myeongdong, Seoul, South Korea Myeongdong, Seoul, South Korea Myeongdong, Seoul, South Korea

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November 24, 2009

South Korea Trip ’09: Onto Seoul

November 07, 2009. After just a day in Busan, we proceeded to Seoul via the Korea Train Express or KTX. The high-speed train, running as fast as 300 kph took us to Seoul, almost 550 kilometers away (more or less the distance between Manila and Cebu or Manila and Ilocos), in less than three hours. The train was apparently only inaugurated in 2004.

Speaking of trains, apparently, all Korean cities and many towns have well developed public transit systems. In fact, the Seoul-Incheon subway system is one of the largest in the world, with over 300 stations. It’s something that we weren’t able to try out, riding the subway. Nonetheless, such an extensive subway system must make commuting to any point of destination in the metropolis a convenience. It’s something I wish we could have in Manila, but with the billions of dollars that it might cost, it may just be wishful thinking. For now, we have to make do with streets congested with public and private vehicles.

Seoul Station, Seoul, South Korea Seoul Station, Seoul, South Korea Seoul Station, Seoul, South Korea Seoul Station, Seoul, South Korea Seoul Station, Seoul, South Korea Seoul Station, Seoul, South Korea
Around the vicinity of Seoul Station, Korea Around the vicinity of Seoul Station, South Korea Around the vicinity of Seoul Station, South Korea Around the vicinity of Seoul Station, Korea Around the vicinity of Seoul Station, South Korea Around the vicinity of Seoul Station, South Korea

Upon arriving in Seoul and while trying to figure out how we can get to our hotel, I took some pictures around the vicinity of the big train station. There was a small rally being held nearby, calling for the unification of North and South Korea, in favor of the dominance of South Korean democracy, of course. All the other people were going by their own ways, most of them in a rush.

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South Korea Trip ’09: Gyeongju (Part 2)

November 06, 2009. The Seokguram Grotto in Gyeongju is a stone temple built and completed more than 1,200 years ago. It has been regarded by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.

The carved stones that make up the grotto were stacked up into a dome-shaped cave bonded together by soil and clay. The grotto houses the Bonjonbul, a 3.5 meter-high statue of the Buddha, considered one of the most outstanding masterpieces in the history of the world’s religious art. There are other sculptures surrounding the giant Buddha, though I don’t recall what they represent or what story they tell. Photos aren’t allowed to be taken inside the temple, so I can’t show you anything. Some pictures are available over the internet.

Seokguram, Gyeongju, South Korea Seokguram, Gyeongju, South Korea Seokguram, Gyeongju, South Korea Seokguram, Gyeongju, South Korea Seokguram, Gyeongju, South Korea Seokguram, Gyeongju, South Korea

A few minutes from the Seokguram Grotto is Bulguksa Temple. Bulguksa is another Buddhist temple complex that houses structures and sculptures dating to more than a thousand years ago. Like Seokguram, it is also considered as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Since it was the beginning of autumn, the trees were in their colorful orange, red and yellow hues which made the landscape look more impressive.

Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea IMG_3501 Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea
Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea Bulguksa, Gyeongju, South Korea

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November 23, 2009

South Korea Trip ’09: Gyeongju (Part 1)

November 06, 2009. A few hours drive north of Busan is the city of Gyeongju, once the capital of Silla, one of Korea’s ancient three-kingdoms. With a long and rich history spanning over a thousand years and more than a handful of impressive structures dating back hundreds of years, it has been designated by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage city.

Traditional Korean Restaurant in GyeongjuLeaving Busan at past 10 in the morning, we arrived in Gyeongju right in time for lunch at a traditional Korean restaurant. It was my formal introduction to Korean food and eating practices. We had a room in a courtyard style home with warm elevated flooring. We were served the entries in batches, every quarter of an hour or so. I don’t remember everything that was served, as most of them were terribly unfamiliar. It might take a longer stay in Korea for one to truly appreciate the food. Many of them were pickled, spicy vegetables, cold cuts of raw fish and other sea creatures, and some beef soup. The servings aren’t big, but since there were a lot of dishes, it was more than enough to fill us up. Formal lunches like this are meant for long afternoons with conversations among friends and colleagues.

Shilla Millenium Park, Gyeongju, South Korea Shilla Millenium Park, Gyeongju, South Korea Shilla Millenium Park, Gyeongju, South Korea Shilla Millenium Park, Gyeongju, South Korea Shilla Millenium Park, Gyeongju, South Korea Shilla Millenium Park, Gyeongju, South Korea

Silla Millenium Park in Gyeongju is a modern theme park that seeks to recreate an ancient Silla city. Since we only had an hour or so to spend in the park, we were not able to go around much. We were only able to see a show in the park’s Jang Bo-Go Performance Stage, depicting a battle between Koreans and Chinese invaders trying to occupy a Silla city. The Koreans win and thwart the invasion, of course.

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May 7, 2009

Malalison Island, Culasi, Antique

April 16, 2008. Early the next day after we arrived in Culasi, we all got up early and went on a short drive from our friend’s home, to the beach near the municipal hall to take a pump boat to Malalison Island.

The island is one of the three island barangays of Culasi, and is the nearest one to the coast, with a distance of around 4 kilometers. It was a 20-minute pump boat ride to the island. Ours, though, took longer because we requested for the boat to go around the entire island before docking at the main beach.

The island was a relatively small island, with still some unspoiled coves and rugged stone cliffs. One can probably enjoy taking a peaceful hike around the island, though that we weren’t able to do.

After around ten to fifteen minutes around the island, we finally dock at main hook-shaped beach. Our friend from Culasi told us the beach was comparable to Boracay (which incidentally was relatively near Culasi). Indeed, it was. Not better, but comparable. The sand was just as white, though not as fine or powdery, and the waters just as crystal clear, even clearer.

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