Today we have travelled through the best part of the city of Puerto Princesa, the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines. I breathed fresh unpolluted air! And that’s because Palawenos are passionate about guarding and protecting their environment. If you’d like to stay in, discount hotels in Palawan are everywhere. Most hotels can arrange to have you picked up at the airport. Trycicle to the city center costs about PHP35. Vans are also available to hire and not too prohibitive in cost.
I suggest going on combo tours in Puerto Princesa by visiting the famous Underground River and Ugong Rock Cave exploration. Some agencies have also affordable package tours for an island hopping trip at Honda Bay, Snake Island and Starfish Island where you can dive or snorkel. I paid about PHP1,500 overall.
Following a two-hour drive from congested Manila, Sonya’s Garden is literally a breath of fresh air. You are greeted by a bed of flowers, pebbled walkways and canopied corners. But it’s not just the surroundings that will win you over. I particularly go there for the food.
The meal starts off with a salad of fresh greens that you can top with hardboiled eggs, ripe mangoes, langka and corn, drizzled with the yummy dressing Sonya concocted herself. Bread with several interesting dips follows. My personal favorite is the sun-dried tomato blend while my girlfriend is partial to the kesong puti.
In Sonya’s Garden, the fresh salad alone is worth the trip. So take your friends to a day of Tagaytay-tripping, enjoy the scenery and don’t forget to eat. Just don’t forget to call (917) 532 90 97 for a reservation beforehand and inquire how much money to bring otherwise your trip might be spent staring at the Taal Volcano instead.
After shopping in Greenhills and Makati plus a little walking around the Ayala Gardens, I got an express home massage in my own hotel room by night for only 250 pesos, which took about an hour. 88 Express Home Massage can be contacted at Tel: +63(2)6357511. best hotel spa service I’ve had so far!
Of course Linden Suites in Ortigas is the perfect hotel to rest easy any time, and I love the fact that it is surrounded by a choice of shopping malls. Friendly staff and good value for huge suite rooms. You can see that a Ministop (convenience store) is located nearby in this photo:
Makati’s not so secret garden. It is best to enter this garden from the PSE entrance – the view greens from Ayala Avenue makes one believe that he is being welcomed by nature. This 2,203 sqm of well-landscaped property is a distinct and surprising spot of green that serves as one of the lungs of the city. There’s palm and fire trees everywhere to take a walk to. Now that’s something to do every summer night.
To most adventurers, San Pablo’s best kept secret is its hidden seven lakes, which most people never get the chance to visit. But the starting point in exploring San Pablo is its Church. Its facade is of Neo-Classic with Doric couples columns. Its four-storey octagonal bell tower is crowned by a balustrated pointed roof. Upon entering the church, I noticed that the main altar piece is made of first class wood and adorned by several well-carved images of saints.
Across the town center are old stone houses dating back from the Spanish and American era. Look for the old house at Magcasi Road that was used as the set for 80′s horror flick “Tiyanak” or more commonly known as “Ang anak ni Janice”.
San Pablo is also the best place to sample traditional Tagalog comfort foods in a garden setting. Here are some pictures of the best places to try and experience southern hospitality at Laguna Philippines:
Casa San Pablo
Sulyap Gallery
Kusina Salud
Tahanan ni Aling Meding.
and P.S. for the adventurous, the Bat and Balls soup and the Goto Mami near the train station are the must-try items.
My image of San Pablo used to be confined only to the few shops around the bus terminal. I never even bothered to look outside the bus windows as we passed by the towns leading to San Pablo, as I was always too tired to care how those places look like. But my impression of San Pablo changed as I discovered the many wonders that the city offers. Its rich natural wonders and long history as commercial and cultural centre of Laguna are what make it worth to linger longer in San Pablo city and to enjoy its southern comfort.
THE FIRST TIME I’ve went on a trip to Divisoria, I never thought that getting there could be tricky. But this I’ve found out: you can ask around for the right shops. Not only are you sure to get the supplies or merchandise that you need, but if you’re also up for a walkathon adventure trip, this is the best place to get lost, distracted, and get really crazy!
Divisoria is the city of Manila’s most popular market. I usually take the jeep from Blumentritt just across the LRT1 station which ferries passengers directly to Tutuban Center Mall – one of the older establishments that have undergone renovations to accommodate more shoppers on a hunt for good bargain.
From the jeepney stop at Antonio Rivera, I walk all the way to Recto Avenue which is the road that links to the adjacent streets and shopping spots.
Inside Tutuban Mall, buyers can shop for RTW clothes, accessories, shoes, bags, toys, and other fashion items which can be bought for more than half the price they are sold in major shopping malls or even tiangge stalls around the metro.
It’s also airconditioned so for those finicky for walking under the heat of the sun, Tutuban offers the advantage of a more comfortable shopping experience. 
When you speak of Baguio, you talk about pine trees, zigzag roads, coool ambience – you get the picture. But when you line DBS, here’s what you get: waterfalls, caves, flower gardens, zigzag roads, mysterious magnetic hill, rice terraces, chocolate hills..it’s more than just a local Summer Capital!
DSB, locally known as little Baguio of Negros Occidental, is situated at the mid-center of the hinterland of the entire north of Negros Occidental. It is 47 kilometers away from Bacolod with a contant cold temperature ranging from 16-27 Celsius.
Too unusual, but DSB’s territorial formation is comprised of Barangays (7) from 2 municipalities (Brgys. Pandanon and Igmaya-an – Murcia; Brgys. Bagong Silang-Marciela and Bago-Lalong – Calatrava) and 1 city (Brgys. Kumaliskis, Bunga, Pinowayan-Prosperidad). The Salvadorians adapated the art of “KALI” as their cultural heritage, otherwise known as “Arnis” or “Eskrima”, the highlight og which is the celebration of “Kalikalihan” harvest festival every February 7-9.
