Ilocos Norte Travel Guide: Places to Visit in Ilocos Norte

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I personally suggest that one Filipino should at least experience an Ilocos Norte tour at least once in their lifetime. Imagining one province giving you so must to see and experience within a day. From old heritage churches to white beaches to windmills up to a coastal desert, there are so many things to do here making one day jam-packed.

Ilocos Norte is a special place for me as this was the first place I traveled miles away from home out of my hard-earned money. I remembered myself packing stuffs for our Ilocos tour years back, I was too excited that I even bought a new backpack just for this trip. The 11 hour travel didn’t bother nor scared me but it made me too excited that I can finally start my journey of seeing the beauty of my country. So for now, I listed some of the most visited tourist spots of Ilocos Norte. I am planning to write a more detailed blog about other less known spots of the province once I get back.

Knowing Ilocos Norte:

Ilocos Norte is a Region I (Ilocos Region) province located on the northwest corner of Luzon Island. It has Laoag City as its capital city. Ilocos Norte became known as the hometown of the former president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, who used to be the longest serving president of the country that lasted 20 years.

Places to visit in Ilocos Norte:

  • La Paz Sand Dunes

This is one of my personal favorite in Ilocos Norte. It was actually my first time seeing a desert-like area that actually lies beside a sea! Lapaz Sand dunes, probably the most visited place on the province, is an 85-square km protected sand coastal desert and beach. It’s a desert-like landscape is such a scene that it became popular to be a shooting location for movies and TV shows locally and internationally. Fill your adventurer heart with a thrill of experiencing the landscapes by having a rollercoaster ride on their 4×4 vehicle or by trying the sandboarding.

  • Paoay Church

Paoay Church, completed in 1710, was declared as a collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993. This Baroque architecture has walls made of coral stones and bricks that said to be Javanese in architectural styles. A three-storey coral bell tower stands separately at some distance from the church that served as observational post for the Filipino revolutionaries against the Spaniards in 1898 and Filipino guerillas against Japanese soldiers during World War II.

  • Malacañang of the North

Malacañang of the North served as an official residence of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and family in Ilocos Norte. This two-storey mansion was opened to the public last 2011 as a museum. It resembles a 19th century bahay na bato with an overlooking view of the alluring Paoay Lake.

  • Marcos Museum and Mausoleum

It is a museum in Batac, Ilocos Norte exclusively devoted to our former President Marcos. The museum, that used to be the ancestral home of the Marcoses, showcases large cluster of collectibles of the late president all throughout his years up to his presidency. It used to house as well the preserved body of Ferdinand Marcos encased on a glass coffin until he was transferred at the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” last 2016. Today, they still display a wax replica of Marcos body inside the glass coffin.

  • Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

An intricate natural art that was formed thousands of years by the natural forces and phenomena. It is a breathtaking sculpture by the shore with creamy white limestone formations. It came from the word “puraw” which means “white” as its color suggests. The place is windy and a little walking is needed to reach the formation.

  • Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

This lighthouse was structured by the Spanish government as part of their plan of lighting up the Philippine archipelago during their colonial period. Also known as Burgos lighthouse, it stands 65 feet tall and was first lit up on March 30, 1892 and still functions up until today.

  • Bangui Windmills

Your Ilocos Norte tour wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t visit the iconic Bangui Windmills. This will usually come into our minds every time we heard of Ilocos Norte to the point that the province became synonymous with windmills. This famous spot highlights a series of windmills standing in a row on the shoreline of Bangui Bay.

  • Patapat Bridge and Viaduct

Patapat Viaduct is a coastal bridge that connects Maharlika Highway in Laoag to the Cagayan Valley. It is more than just a typical bridge, it wreathes around the mountainside while having a beautiful view of the Luzon coastline on the other side. Tourists and tour coordinators will usually park their cars on the side of the road to take photos along the scenic bridge for few minutes.

  • Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon is one of the beautiful beaches found North of Luzon. It’s a stretch of shoreline with white to off-white sand and azure waters. So if you’re thinking of spending time to relax under the sun and swim your heart out of the waters, this is the spot for you!

Minalungao National Park: Travel Guide 2020

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Every time we heard about Nueva Ecija, I am sure that boundless rice fields will first pop out of our minds. Being dubbed as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines”, it is the number one producer of rice yield in our country. But this silent province of Nueva Ecija is more than just their rice fields. It has one of our country’s best-kept secrets. Located on one of its towns, General Tinio, is the Minalungao National Park which is being promoted by our government as an ecotourism destination.

Knowing Minalungao National Park:

Minalungao National Park is located in General Tinio (formerly known as Papaya), Nueva Ecija. The park covers an area of more than 2,000 hectares along the scenic Peñaranda river and high limestones skirted on both sides. It is just around 4 hour ride north of Manila and it is said that during summer is the best time to visit the park to see the emerald-green river at its best. But regardless of the day or season, you can’t deny the beauty of the place has to offer.

How to get to Minalungao National Park:

  • From Manila, ride a bus going to Cabanatuan/Gapan. On our case, we took a Five Star bus route directly to Gapan. Fare is P163 and travel time may take around 2-3 hours depends on the flow of traffic.
  • Upon reaching Gapan, charter a tricycle that will take you directly to Minalungao. (We read about jeepneys from Gapan to Gen. Tinio but upon reaching Gapan, we were told by the locals that there are jeepneys and bus that heads to Gen. Tinio but there’s no specified time of departure and most of the time it only departs later in the evening). We hire a tricycle to Minalungao for P800 (two way). There is no standard fare as of this moment but it may cost you around P500-P800 (two way) and travel time may took around 1-1.5 hours (per way).

What to do in Minalungao?

Upon reaching the park, you need to pay the standard entrance fee of P100/person. Once settled, you are now free to do activities you wish to try. Due to the rain that occurs the day before we visited Minalungao, we didn’t witness the river on its full grandeur. Regardless of the color of its waters, it is still a beauty that needs to be seen and adored.

One of the best way to see the beauty of the river is to ride a bamboo raft. The raft will tour you around the river and will take you to its swimming areas. The bamboo rafts also have a built-in cottage perfect for your picnics and lunch.

If you won’t be taking any bamboo rafts, you can trek a bit on the sides of the river to reach some of its cliff diving spots and viewpoints. With this, you can have a chance to walk through its scenic rock formations and have a hands-on experience with its 16m high limestone walls. Just be careful walking as some of the spots are slippery. Please take note that if you wish to swim, a life vest is required that you can rent for P20 each within the area.

There is also a hanging bridge that you can cross for free. Standing in the middle of the bridge can give you the best spot to take a high angle photo of the river.

Upon crossing the hanging bridge, you can start your trek going to the other must-see spot of the park, the grotto with a glass cross. You have to take a 1000-step journey to reach the top. This activity can be tiring but you will be rewarded with a panoramic view and you can enjoy the solemnity of the place from above.

Another activity you can try is riding a zipline (P100) and buy souvenirs in various stores in the park. These souvenir stores sell T-shirts, ref magnets, keychains and many more.

After all the tiring activities that you can try in the park, it is best to reward yourself with a sumptuous meal to end the day right. Families and “barkadas” usually rent a cottage and bring their own foods to eat but if you don’t have and food with you, you don’t have to worry as the place has food stalls that offer foods in affordable prices. We had our lunch at Minalungao Cafe and Restaurant with an overlooking view of the river.

More photos:

Other things to know:

  • Minalungao can be crowded especially during weekends so if you will be given a chance, it is better to visit during weekdays to have a better experience in the park.
  • Don’t expect an emerald-green or clear water during the rainy season. It is said that summer is the best time to visit the park.
  • Comfort rooms take additional charges.
  • There are no phone signals within the park’s vicinity.

Fresno Agro Forestry and Eco Tourist Campsite: Journey to Mt. Kulis and Noah’s Ark

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The municipality of Tanay is probably the must-go destination now in terms of mountain hiking due to its accessibility from our country’s center, Manila. And one of its newest attraction is Fresno Agro Forestry and Eco Tourist Campsite or also known as Mt. Kulis or “Bahay ni Cardo” that made fame from Coco Martin’s TV series “Ang Probinsyano”. The campsite is the perfect venue to catch a beautiful Sea of Clouds that won’t require a radical hiking to reach the top. Yes, you read it right. It was an easy hike (pabebe hike as they say) that you can only reach Mt. Kulis peak by around 15 minutes from the registration office.

Getting to Know Fresno Agro Forestry and Eco Tourist:

Camping area in Mt. Kulis

The campsite is located in Sitio Maysawa Brgy. Cuyambay/Laiban, Tanay, Rizal just few meters away from the entrance gate of Treasure Mountain. The difference is that, Fresno is on a higher location which means a better chance of getting a nicer view. The place is new as well so there are lesser crowd here for you to enjoy the sight. One of its major attraction is the house built for the TV show “Ang Probinsyano” starring Mr. Coco Martin, the place was made as a shooting area for few months before it finally opened to the public.

Mt. Kulis, Sambong Peak and Noah’s Ark:

When we contacted the campsite through their official facebook page, we were given options where to pitch our tent for our overnight stay. First option is on Mt. Kulis where “Bahay ni Kardo” is located and where most of the campers spend the night. Second option is in Sambong Peak which is the peak next to Mt. Kulis or third option is on Noah’s Ark which is our main purpose of visiting. We heard and read about that as early as 5am there are already a long line of people wishing to ride the arc and take pictures on it. So we decided to take the third option so we could be the first in line to ride the arc and as recommended, this vantage point has the higher chance of seeing the Sea of Clouds.

According to our tour guide, we were the first group of campers to pitch our tents beside this distinct vantage point of Noah’s Ark! Take note that there is no proper camping area beside Noah’s Ark. We only pitch our tents on the man-made bamboo bridge that they made where the long queue of people stand while waiting for their turn to ride the arc. As per our tour guide, Kuya Lolong, the camp area on Noah’s Ark can only accommodate up to five tents.

Our Overnight Journey:

We supposedly start our trek at around 4pm but due to the heavy traffic and the heavy rain upon reaching Tanay, we started our trek at around 5:40pm. We first settled our bills and entrance fees on the registration office before starting our ascend. It’s almost dark and we were wearing raincoats as it is still raining when we reached Mt. Kulis and picked up the tent we rented. It’s already dark when we head to Sambong peak where we met another set of campers who were already set for the night on Sambong.

The trail after Sambong peak became a bit complicated as the trail is pitch black and we only have one headlight with us and the rest used their cellphones to see through the dark. And since there was a heavy rain on the afternoon, the trail is too muddy that you can’t even step your feet properly due to the heavy mud that piled up on our shoes and sandals. A lot of sliding into the muds happened that made our clothes and bags full of dirt.

After more than an hour, we reached the Noah’s Ark. No more rain, we assembled our camping tents and washed ourselves to had a dinner. After an hour or two, the Sea of Clouds started to show from our camping area and it’s one of the most beautiful overnight scene I’ve ever witnessed. Though it’s night, you can still see the Sea of Clouds as the moon shines so bright from above. I keep on getting out of our tent from time to time and we had the Sea of Clouds view all by ourselves on the middle of nowhere. I can’t still believe with the beauty that stays right in front of my eyes.

We slept for few hours and manage to wake up at 3am. As early as 4am we already saw a group of trekkers from afar making their way on the Noah’s Ark so we started to fix our tents and things so we could start the line and wait for the sunrise. In order to take a photo within the arc you needed someone to climb a rock formation in front of it. Good thing, we had Kuya Lolong to take a photo of us and he was a good photographer.

As we ride the arc, we saw from above the long queue of people waiting for their turn and its kinda awkward to pose with all eyes on you (lol). I can’t imagine ourselves waiting on that long line and it’s really such a good decision to spend the night in Noah. We started our trek down to take photos on both Sambong Peak and Mt. Kulis as we didn’t get a chance to get good photos the other night.

People line up while waiting for their turn on the arc
One of the rock formation in Sambong Peak

Upon reaching back Mt. Kulis and “Bahay ni Cardo”, there is a small store that offers “silog” dishes for P100/meal only. We tried their tapsilog and tocilog. Other attractions of the site that you can visit are the Lion Falls House, the Hanging Bridge and the newly open Spider web.

Tapsilog for P100
Bahay ni Cardo
Recommended tour guide, Kuya Lolong

Rates and Charges:

Day trip– P150/pax (4:00am-3:00pm)

Overnight– P200/pax (4:00pm-1:00pm)

Tent Rental– P500 (Good for 2 persons)

                      P800 (Good for 4 persons)

                      P200/tent pitching (Bring your own tent)

Guide Fee– P500/5 pax (Day tour)

                    P1250/5 pax (Overnight)

Note: Mandatory guide if you go on Noah’s Ark and Lion Falls House

How to get there?

Via Cogeo

Ride a jeepney or van to Cogeo Gate 2. Jeepney fare is about P25 and van fare would be P35 each. Walk towards the end of the City Market to reach the jeepney terminal bound to Sampaloc. Tell the driver to drop you off in Maysawa Circuit and fare will be P48 each. Upon reaching Sitio Maysawa ride a tricycle that will take you to Fresno Agro Forestry and Eco Tourist. One tricycle ride would cost you P150 good for 4 pax.

Via Tanay

Ride a jeepney or van going to Tanay town proper. From Tanay Public Market, ride a jeepney that will take you directly to Sitio Maysawa. Upon reaching Maysawa charter a tricycle that will take you to Fresno.

Additional information:

Address: Sitio Maysawa Brgy. Cuyambay/Laiban, Tanay, Rizal

Contact number: 09465523659

Official website: Fresno Agro Forestry and Eco Tourist

Official Facebook page: Fresno Agro Forestry and Eco Tourist

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Campuestohan Highland Resort: Travel Guide 2019

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Campuestohan Highland Resort is probably one of the famous, newest and radiant attractions when visiting Bacolod or the Island of Negros. This is a vast resort with a picturesque view that is perfect for kids and family outings. This resort is situated on the highlands and boundaries of Bacolod City and Talisay City, stationed 800-meters above sea level is your next venue for your family and barkada trip!

Knowing Campuestohan

Campuestohan Highland Resort is a 5-hectare property that offers various attractions and facilities anyone would love. Since the resort is located about 800-meters above sea level, the climate here is cool all year that you can even get a chance to see a fog surrounding the place. The cold breeze can be compared to Tagaytay plus the resort has Mt. Makawili standing beautifully as the resort’s backdrop. What a beautiful view! The entrance fee would be P200 each while children below 2 years old are exempted in paying the entrance fee.

How to get to Campuestohan?

Option 1

From Bacolod City, you can ride the resort’s shuttle (a 30-seater Sarao Jeep) located in Imart-Caltex gasoline station right across Lopues East. Fare would be P70 each.

Here’s the schedule of resort’s shuttle:

Bacolod to Campuestohan 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM

Campuestohan to Bacolod 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM

Option 2

 From Bacolod City, you can ride a taxi or tricycle that will take you directly to Campuestohan but this opt might be costly.

Getting Around Campuestohan

The resort is too vast that is full of attractions and activities that will fill your heart’s content. Upon entering the place you’ll be amazed by many things going on that will make you hard to decide which activity or facility you should be visiting first. On the entrance, you will be greeted by the life-size forms of dinosaurs and a mammoth (Mammoth is actually a room!). One of its original structure is its log cabin that resembles the cabins from the mountains abroad.

Due to the progress that the resort went through, Campuestohan continues to expand and adds attractions. The place now showcases Bonita Huts that bears a resemblance of houses in Hobbits of the Kingdoms of Middle Earth. Another one of its kind lodging found here are the teepee huts located in their Indian Village. The huts are like huge triangular tents with so many appealing colors.

campuestohan
One of the Bonita Huts
Teepee Huts on the Indian Village

Aside from the swimming pools and wave pool that the resort have, anyone can enjoy their extreme activities such as the 340-meter zipline (P200/person), Rope course (P200/person), Horseback riding (P100/15 minutes), Sky bicycle (P100/person), Hamster Wheel (P100/person) or walking on their Hanging Bridge (free) that offers a commanding view of Bacolod and Talisay City.

Sky Bicycle for P100/Person
The resort's hanging bridge
Rope Course for P200/Person

The resort features as well the giant gorilla, King Kong, that has a sound system that produces a growling sound like on its movie. Another picturesque feature is the Raphaella Mill which is a large windmill structure with various accommodation types.

Have a photo with the Gorilla Room
Facade of Raphaella Mill

Once you get tired of all the activities that you have to try, you can make your tummy full with a sumptuous meal on their resort pavilion that serves as their restaurant. Eating in this facility is much like staying in a traditional cabin. We didn’t really expect this, but their foods are delicious and very affordable for their serving.

Room Rates: (Rates are inclusive of an entrance fee and breakfast)

Overnight lodging

  • Raphaella Mill Presidential Suite- P15,000/night (4 persons)
  • Raphaella Mill Junior Suite- P12,000/night (4 persons)
  • Raphaella Mill Regular Room- P8,500/night (6 persons)
  • Raphaella Mill Barkadahan Room- P500/head (no breakfast)
  • Mammoth Room- P9,500/night (10 persons)
  • Dino Park Rooms- P4,000/night (4 persons) P6,000/night (6 persons) P9,000/night (10 persons)
  • Indian Village

         Teepee Huts Family Room- P5,000/night (6 persons)

         Teepee Huts Suite Room- P6,000/night (6 persons)

  • King Kong Room- P6,000/night (6 persons)
  • Log Cabin- P3,000/night (3 persons) P4,000/night (4 persons) P5,000/night (5 persons)
One of the Teepee Huts

Daytime Accommodation

  • Big Cottage- P1,200 (20 persons)
  • Small Cottage- P700 (15 persons)
  • Wave Pool Cottage- (15 persons)
  • Umbrella Hut- P500 (10 persons)

Room rates are subject to change without prior notice.

For more details about their accommodation and attractions, you can go to their official website. Here’s the link.

Visiting The Ruins: The Taj Mahal of Negros

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Visiting Bacolod or Negros Occidental wouldn’t be complete without visiting the iconic structure called “The Ruins”. Being dubbed as the “Taj Mahal” of Negros, this beautiful structure is a result of the undying love of a rich sugar baron for his wife who died before giving birth to their 11th child. The Ruins is located in Talisay City just few minutes away from Bacolod City and unquestionably one of the must-see place when visiting the province.

Taj Mahal of Negros

Portrait of Don Mariano Lacson and wife Maria Braga Lacson

Don Mariano Lacson was a sugar baron who came from a rich and known family in Negros. On one of his travels abroad he met this Portuguese lady named Maria Braga who eventually became his wife. They were given ten children and before giving birth to their 11th child, Maria had an accident that caused her death. Out of his lasting love and longing for his wife, Don Mariano decided to build a mansion located on his 440-hectare plantation. The mansion was built in 1920 and was considered as the “Taj Mahal” of the province of Negros.

Knowing The Ruins

It was 1920 when the mansion was built for Don Mariano and his children to live in. It’s made of cement and egg white as finishing. The walls and pillars are articulately designed making it undeniably a sight to see. The fully built mansion was burned in 1945 by the Filipino guerillas as they disagree to make the mansion as a military headquarters of the Japanese soldiers. They burned the grand abode for 3 days but due to the high-quality materials used for the structure it was not totally burned and its framework is still intact and still standing beautifully up until today.

The Ruins is now being managed by Don Mariano’s great grandson, Mr. Raymund Javellana. It is now open to the public since 2008.

Getting Around The Ruins

The ruins is open every day from 8am-8pm with an entrance fee of P100 for adults, P70 for PWD or senior citizens and P60 for students with valid IDs. Upon paying the entrance fee you have to walk a few meters to reach the hidden mansion and I can say that every corner of the ruins reminds you of its colorful and endearing past. The concrete framework stands gorgeously on a garden and blue skies as its background. I must say that it is best to visit it during the late afternoon so you can wait until it lights up through the dark night.

Playing around on its every corner and pillars will give you various photo ideas. Walking inside, though empty, will still make you feel walking in the past. There are also available local guides on the vicinity that will tell stories about the mansion’s interesting history. Their guides are naturally funny and can crack jokes anytime making your visit worthwhile.

What it looks like inside the ruins
A local guide tours around guests

Your visit wouldn’t be complete without taking a photo outside the ruins, standing on the garden and having the grand concrete framework as your background. Just be patient having a good picture as there might be a lot of extra people on your background.

The Ruins lodges as well a restaurant which is for me the highlight of our stay on the place. After a tiring hour of taking pictures, we decided to eat on their restaurant to kill time while waiting for the sun to set. While enjoying a meal, there is this local singer that sings live on your scene and his voice is one of the most romantic voices I’ve ever heard. Hearing a piece of sweet live music on an open air while staring at the lit up ruins is one of the most romantic and most chill nights you could ever spend.

Facade of The Ruins during the night

More photos we took during our stay:

How to go to The Ruins?

From Bacolod City (Along Lacson St.), ride a Bata-Libertad signed jeepney. Fare will be P9.00 each. Asked the driver to drop you off on the tricycle terminal near Pepsi Cola plant. Upon reaching the terminal, charter a tricycle that will take you directly to The Ruins. Fare will be P50.00 per person.

Jomax Peak Travel Guide: A Sanctuary Found In Don Salvador Benedicto

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For this year’s celebration of my birthday, it took me a while to decide where I would be spending my few days of vacation leaves to set as my celebration of being a year older. I wanted to be in Sagada, visit my relatives in Albay or experience Bohol on my own but all those choices were all went down with the decision of booking for a plane ticket back home in Iloilo and just spend a 2-day trip in Bacolod. It was actually a good decision as I can see my family back on my hometown which is Iloilo and still visit new places in Negros Island to still keep up on my yearly tradition.

I lived in Iloilo for seven straight years but I haven’t stepped my feet on the island of Negros which is just more than an hour away from Iloilo City. So to start my series of blogs for this Bacolod/Negros trip, here’s a travel guide that you can check when visiting Jomax Peak.

Knowing Jomax Peak:

For the past few years, I’ve been seeing photos of Jomax Peak online and since then it started to get my attention. Jomax Peak is a picnic and camping ground located in the highlands of Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental. It is a perfect spot to encounter ‘sea of clouds’ during habagat or monsoon season.  Imagine yourself sitting on its veranda with a mountain view and sea of clouds right in front of you. It will be definitely a must view to see. I am sure you can truly enjoy the place especially Jomax Peak doesn’t have the crowd. They limit their guests and doesn’t accept walk-ins. Everyone who wished to visit the place needs to have a reservation through their website.

How to get to Jomax Peak?

From Iloilo

Take a ferry or fast craft from Iloilo City that will take you to Bacolod. Fast craft fare will be around P275 for economy while it may cost you around P325 for tourist (aircon). Travel time may take around 1.5 hours. Upon arriving in Bacolod port, ride a tricycle going to South Terminal and fare will be P40 each. On South Terminal ride a bus bound to San Carlos via Don Salvador Benedicto. Just tell the driver that you are heading to Jomax Peak and drop you off on Brgy. Kumaliskis. Fare will be P85 and travel time is around 1.5 hours.

From Bacolod

If you will be coming from Bacolod just follow the same instruction once arrived in South Terminal.

Rates and Accommodation:

Since Jomax Peak doesn’t cater walk-in guests, all visitors must book a reservation through their official website. Here’s the website link. Check the availability of your preferred date and once booked, payment details will be provided. Payment can only be done through Palawan Express. A reservation code will be given for payment validation once payment has been done.

Here’s the rate as of October 2019:

Tuesday to Friday

Day Tour (9am-4pm)

Sun Shade- P750 (5 guests)

Veranda Shade- P1500 (10 guests)

Pavilion- P2,250 (15 guests)

Wholeday exclusive use- P8000 (guests)

Overnight camp (4pm-8am)

Overnight camp outside structures- P1000 (5 guests)

Overnight camp with exclusive camping grounds- P3,500 (15 guests)

Overnight camp exclusive use of all structure- P7000 (15 guests)

Saturday- Sunday

Day Tour (9am-4pm)

Sun Shade- P1000 (5 guests)

Veranda Shade- P1750 (10 guests)

Pavilion- P2500 (15 guests)

Whole day exclusive use- P12000 (35 guests)

Overnight camp (4pm-8am)

Overnight camp outside structures- P1000 (5 guests)

Overnight camp with exclusive camping grounds- P3,500 (15 guests)

Overnight camp exclusive use of all structure- P8000 (15 guests)

*In addition for inclusive number of guests, a fee of P150/head for day tour and P200/head for overnight camp will be required.

*Half day exclusive photo or video shoot rate is P3000 inclusive of 15 guests. (Mondays only)

Getting around Jomax Peak:

What I love about Jomax Peak is its serenity and exclusiveness. There’s no crowd that can limit you in enjoying and appreciating the beauty of the place. It’s main attraction would probably its public veranda where you can sit right across a mountain range while taking a sip of their unli native coffee. From there, you can hear the birds chirping, the heavy flow of a waterfall nearby and just reconnects you with the nature. Every side of the public veranda is effortless beautiful perfect for a travel photo. You can play around every side of the deck for a photo spot. I even sit on the railings which I don’t recommend as it can be dangerous.

When we arrived on the place, the other groups were almost leaving so we were left and had the place all by ourselves together with their few staffs. So aside from the shade we rented, we are free to go around the other shades such as the pavilion and veranda shade. We had the chance to roam around the area and took photos on our own pace.

The entrance fee that we paid for is already inclusive of unli drink of their in house native coffee and free use of their small swimming pool. Aside from being a picnic and camping ground, Jomax Peak is a flower sanctuary as well so the place is full of blooming flowers.

The place is clean and well-maintained complete with amenities. They also offer food choices that they can cook upon request for P70-P150.

Jomax Peak is located as well few meters or kilometers away from other tourist attractions such as Malantan-og falls and viewing deck, Stonepeak café and Café La Guada.

Goshen Resort and Hotel: A Roman-inspired resort in Bamban, Tarlac

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Goshen Resort and Hotel made a social media craze since it debuted on the public last 2017. The resort is inspired by Roman architecture and has a “colosseum-like” structure as its main attraction. Visiting the place would give you a feeling of stepping on the grounds of Rome, Italy without spending a thousand pesos just to get there. The place is located in Bamban, Tarlac just a few minutes ride from Clark, Pampanga or around 2-hour ride from Manila. Due to its accessibility, having a day tour or a quick weekend trip is really possible.

How To Get There?

From Manila, ride a Dau bound bus (Victory Liner, Five Star, Solid North etc.) from Cubao and drop off at Dau Bus Terminal. Fare will be P152. Upon arriving at Dau Bus Terminal, walk through McArthur Hiway and ride a jeepney bound to Bamban (just look for a jeepney that has “Bamban” signage). Just tell the driver to drop you off at Brgy. Lourdes and fare will be P20 each. Upon dropping off, you can rent a tricycle that will bring you directly to Goshen Resort and Hotel. Fare will be P70 for one way.

Fees and Operating Hours:

Entrance fee and swimming pool access

Adult- P250

Kids- P200

Ocular Visit

P150 which P50 is consumable in Cafe Roma and Royal Bar

Day Tour– 9am-5pm

Night Tour– 5pm- 10pm

Room Rates:

Resort Room

Standard Room- P5,500 (4 pax)

Suite- P7,500 (4 pax)

Hotel Room

Standard Room- P3,000 (2 pax)

Standard Family Room- P5,500 (4 pax)

Deluxe Family Room- P11,000 (8 pax)

Premium Room

Family Suite- P7,500 (4 pax)

Standard Suite- P4,000 (2 pax)

Presidential Suite- P17,000 (12 pax)

AOD Presidential- P20,000 (4 pax)

RG Deluxe Room- P15,000 (6 pax)

RG Family Room- P10,000 (4 pax)

Bluehouse- P8,000 (4 pax)

Penthouse- P8,000 (4 pax)

Others

Guesthouse- P12,500 (8 pax)

Bunkhouse- P8,000 (16 pax)

Dorm Type- P4,000 (8 pax)

Cottages

Cottages rental ranges from P500-P3,500 depending on the size of the cottages.

Note: Prices are subject to change without prior notice

Getting Around Goshen Resort and Hotel:

Every corner of this resort is picturesque so getting around the vicinity is quite overwhelming.Their main attraction is what they call “Dambana ni Yahweh” which is the structure inspired by the famous Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater in Rome, Italy. It has engraved words on it that states “Makes His Praise Glorious”. They have these Roman-inspired columns, a bridge and Roman gladiator sculptures around the place that is perfect for your photo ops.

They also have swimming pools that you can enjoy. Around its pools are cottages that you can rent, Roman-inspired columns and their Royal Bar. Taking a dip on its waters would make you feel like taking a bath in Europe.

Another main attraction on the resort is what they called “Ancient of Days” or AOD which is a structure inspired by the Lord of The Ring’s ASMR-Rivendell which is a perfect venue for celebrations such as wedding. The view from above is scenic as you can see the mountains from afar and said to be a perfect spot for sunset viewing. Engraved on its facade is “In Aeternum Te Amabo” which means “My Love for you will last until eternity” making the place extra romantic. It has an iron throne as well inspired from Game Of Thrones that will add to your Instagram worth photos.

Once you get tired of roaming around the resort, you can take a rest and enjoy a sumptuous meal on their very own, Cafe Roma. The cafe is beautiful and imagine taking a drink while having a nice-looking view of colosseum and AOD, a moment you should look forward to.

Smoked bangus
All meat cheesy lasagna

Overall, visiting Goshen Resort and Hotel would be worth it especially for those who wants to take a break and relax over the weekend. It’s such a bonus to relax and enjoy its ambiance while seeing its sinuous and alluring Roman-inspired constructions. Take a visit and be amazed on the beauty that awaits you!

Other Things To Know Before Going:

  • Day swimming is from 9am to 5pm while night swimming is from 5pm-10pm
  • Proper swimming attire is required when using their pools
  • They also have other activities such as ATV
  • The resort is located in Brgy. Lourdes, Bamban, Tarlac
  • You can contact them through their email address: goshenresortandhotel@gmail.com
  • For booking and inquiries you can contact them as well on these contact numbers: 09267857787 (Globe) 09432281605 (Sun) 09227018747 (Sun)
  • There are still ongoing constructions on the area so better watch out for your safety
  • You can go on their official websites for further details: Here’s the link

Baguio City Travel Guide: 14 Places to Visit in Baguio City

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Baguio City has always been part of my childhood dream. I often heard about its cold climate and cool breeze on televisions and book articles that added fuel on my desire of visiting it someday. It was 2016 (I was 21 years old then) when I first stepped my foot on the grounds of Baguio City and the city didn’t failed to capture my heart.

Knowing Baguio City:

Baguio City is often tagged as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” or “City of Pines” and continuous to encourage tourists to visit it and experience the cold breeze of its air. Situated about 1500 meters above sea level, its cool temperature made it a suitable place for growing flowers and vegetables. The city is known as well for its Panagbenga Festival which means “Flower Festival”, cheaper fresh vegetables and of course, strawberries!

How to Get to Baguio City?

Getting to Baguio City from Manila is quite easy since it is just one bus ride from few bus terminals around the Metro. Here are some of the list of bus companies that offer Manila-Baguio trip:

  • Victory Liner- Pasay, Cubao, Caloocan
  • Genesis Transport- Cubao
  • Joy Bus- Pasay, Cubao
  • Dagupan Bus- Cubao

I’ve been to Baguio twice and we always choose Victory Liner as our bus line. There’s no particular reason but probably it’s the bus line that stucked on my mind when I watched the movie “That Thing Called Tadhana”.

Regular aircon bus to Baguio would cost you around P485 and travel time would take 6-7 hours with two stop overs. Victory Liner and Joy Bus offers first class and premier bus service that would cost you around P750-P800. It is a non-stop ride with own CR, lazy boy chairs with wider leg room, free snacks and provided blankets for you to use. Trip would take around 4-5 hours.

For full bus schedule of Victory Liner, here’s the link.

Getting Around Baguio City:

Getting around Baguio and visit its attractions is fairly stress-free since public jeepneys are highly available. If riding public transpos with various signage confuse you, taking taxis can be your alternate option. Taxis would not cost you that much since taxi fares in Baguio is relatively cheaper than Manila.

Most jeepney terminals are located beside Baguio Public Market and Burnham Park so if you are a budget traveler, I suggest that you book a stay near Burnham Park so jeepney terminals and other tourist attractions are just a stone throw away.

Places to Visit Around Baguio City:

  • Burnham Park

Burnham Park is one of the most famous and most visited park in Baguio City. It is a huge park where a lot of leisure activities can be done. You can rent a boat and paddle around its lake, rent a bike and ride around the park, visit its orchidarium and attend various Zumba sessions every morning. It is a leisure park perfect for families and friends.

  • Mines View Park

Another most visited park in Baguio is Mines View Park. It offers an overlooking view of Cordillera’s copper and gold mine and it is said to be a good venue for sunrise watching. The park’s current attractions/activities are its Cordilleran native outfit rentals and its souvenir shops that sells various Cordillera delicacies.

Don’t forget to drop by at Good Shepherd which is just few meters away from the park to buy pasalubong and its famous ube jam!

How to get there? Ride a jeepney with Mines View sign located at Lower Mabini Street.

  • Wright Park

Wright Park is famous for its horseback riding activities with plenty of horses (pink pony) to choose from. You can pay for a picture taking only or ride the horses itself. You don’t have to worry if you are a beginner since you will be accompanied by the “Pony Boys” who is an experienced trainer or owner of the horses.

How to get there? Ride the same jeepney bound to Mines View Park and asked the driver to drop you off in Wright Park.

  • The Mansion

The Mansion is just located right cross the Wright Park and used to serve as an official residence of the US Governor-General in our country. Today, it is the official summer palace of the President of the Philippines.

  • Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden is located in between Teacher’s Camp and Wright Park. The place is quite wide and full of various flowers and of course, pine trees. Huge statues of Cordillera folks can also be seen on the park and you can be welcomed by some native Igorots who can happily pose a photo with you in exchange of a small token.

  • BenCab Museum

BenCab Museum is one of the most scenic museum I’ve ever seen and it is being owned by our very own National Artist for Visual Arts, Benedicto Cabrera. The museum showcases the colorful and rich art of the Cordillera Region.

Though the museum is located in Tuba, Benguet it is just 15-20-minute ride from Baguio City. I wrote a more detailed blog about BenCab Museum. Here’s the link if you wish to read.

How to get there? Ride a jeepney bound to Asin Road. Jeepney terminal is located in Kayang Road. Fare will be P11 each.

  • Camp John Hay

It is one of Baguio’s known attraction. It served as a recreation facility of the U.S Armed Forces and now known for its lined-up pine trees on its roads and beautiful backdrops. Some of the activities and attractions you can try doing here is to try extreme activities in Treetop Adventure, visit Bellhouse, do food trip to full your tummy on its iconic restaurants or simply do a photo walk around its picturesque pine trees.

  • La Trinidad Strawberry Farm

Baguio City is known for its strawberries but the most visited and most known strawberry farms are located in La Trinidad, Benguet which is around 20-30 minutes away from Baguio City. Strawberry picking is available from November to May which would cost you around P400 (twice of its market price). Outside the farm there are a lot of souvenir shops and vendors that sells strawberry dirty ice cream and strawberry taho.

How to get there? Ride a jeepney bound to La Trinidad. Jeepney terminal is on front of Baguio City Hall and fare will be P12.

  • Valley of Colors (Colors of Stobosa)

Stobosa is a word formed from the names of three sitios that made up Valley of Colors namely: Stonehill, Botiwtiw and Sadjap. It is a hillside communal where houses are painted in various colors by the artists of Tam-awan Village. It’s such a vast artwork that will never failed to amaze you.

How to get there? Ride the same La Trinidad jeepney bound to the strawberry farm just asked the driver to drop you off in Stobosa. Fare will be P9.

  • Bell Church

Bell Church is a Chinese temple that was founded on 1960 located between Baguio City and La Trinidad. The street that leads you to the temple is just beside La Trinidad welcome arc. It is open from 7am-5pm for both worshippers and non-worshippers. Bell Church is just few walks away from the Valley of Colors so you can ride the same La Trinidad bound jeepney to reach it.

  • Mt. Kalugong Cultural Village and Café

One of my favorite spot in Benguet! Mt. Kalugong is located in Brgy. Tawang, La Trinidad and famous for its rock formations with an overlooking view of strawberry farms and local houses of La Trinidad. They also have a beautiful café on the top that serves in-house coffee and cakes. Trekking is required in visiting this spot.

I wrote a more detailed blog about Mt. Kalugong. Here’s the link if you wish to read it.

  • Lourdes Grotto

It is a shrine and a place of prayer located in Mirador Hill in western part of Baguio City. You have to take the 252 step stairs to reach the top and be stunned by the excellent view of Baguio City. Inside the grotto is a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.

  • Igorot Stone Kingdom

Igorot Stone Kingdom officially opened to the public last June 2021 and became one of the popular destination when you visit Baguio City since then. It is an Igorot theme park based on the legend of Sab-angan, an Igorot Kingdom that once existed but lost a thousand years ago.

How to get there? Ride a jeepney bound for Tacay-Longlong in Otek St., Baguio City or Tam-awan bound jeepneys in Kayang Street, Baguio City.

I wrote a more detailed blog about Igorot Stone Kingdom. You can read it here.

  • Mirador Heritage and Eco Park

The park houses the famous torii gate and bamboo forest that you probably seen online. If you want to experience Japan without flying, this is the right place to be. It is just located in Mirador Hill just near the famous Lourdes Grotto.

How to get there? From Kayang Street in Baguio proper, ride a jeepney bound to Mirador. 

I wrote a more detailed blog about Mirador Heritage and Eco Park. You can read it here.

When was the last time you’ve been to Baguio? Share your thoughts below!

Ili-likha Artist Village: A Food and Art Hub In Baguio City

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Aside from visiting the strawberry farms and enjoying the cold breeze of Baguio City while walking on Session Road, a Baguio itinerary wouldn’t be complete without a food trip! And if you wanna try something new then Ili-likha Artist Village is the perfect place for you.

About Ili-likha Artist Village:

Ili-likha Artist Village also known as “Ili-likha Artists’ Wateringhole” was conceptualized by film director, Eric De Guia or known as “Kidlat Tahimik”. It is a food hub where good food and art collides. It is located along Assumption Road in Baguio City just near the Session Road so it’s very accessible if you’re just staying within the city proper.

What To Expect:

When we were walking along Assumption Road we almost missed the place as the entrance is not too visible or almost “hidden” along the way and you wouldn’t imagine that this small entrance will actually lead you to something delightful world.

Ili-likha Artist Village's entrance

Upon entering the vicinity, you will feel like entering another world, a very beautiful and imaginative world. The place is like a tree house with few floors and paths or holes that will lead you to its different food stalls. The entire place is made of overgrown trees, recycled materials such as woods, steels, tiles, a wall that is made of glass bottles, Ifugao sculptures, and many more that you couldn’t imagine. Those materials are perfectly put up together to make a very artistic place. The place is such an oasis that I couldn’t put on words on how I can fully describe it so I highly recommend for you to pay a visit and witness its creativeness by yourself.

We arrived on the place around 11am and not all of its stalls were already open and there were few people which is a good thing because you can appreciate it more and enjoy its serene ambiance with less people. Ili-likha Artist Village offers various food choices, promotes healthy living and affordable food choices.

Here are the foods we tried:

Quesadilla and fries for P150
Bellychon from Balbacua
This is from Cafe Cueva
Mango smoothie from Lihim ni Maria

After we enjoyed our food, we took the opportunity to go around and see more of its hidden exquisite. Since the place was designed on a very arty way, there are path walks and staircases that you wouldn’t imagine will take you to another chamber or facility of the area.

Here are some of the snaps I took around the hub:

We had our recent trip to Baguio this 2023 and here’s the list of food stalls you may try: Cafe Cueva, Copper Fusion, Waynu, Kapi Kullaaw, and Leandro’s Bistro.

Carbonara and Bacon Slab & Egg Rice Meal of Leandro's Bistro
Ongoing expansion of Ili-likha Artists' Wateringhole

Additional Information:

Location: #32 Assumption Road, Brgy. Kabayanihan, Baguio City

Business Hours: 10am-6pm

Facebook page link: Click Here 

BenCab Museum Travel Guide: Visiting A Scenic Museum

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BenCab Museum is one of the most scenic museums I’ve ever been to. It’s in the movie “That Thing Called Tadhana” that I first saw the museum and after few years I finally had the chance to see this iconic museum of the country. The museum is owned by our National Artist, Benedicto Cabrera, and this is where he showcases his artworks highlighting the rich art of the Cordilleras. Bencab Museum is located on Km. 6 Asin Rd, Tuba, Benguet about 15 minutes away from Baguio City.

How To Go To BenCab Museum:

In Baguio City, ride a jeepney bound to Asin Rd. Jeepney terminal is located on Kayang Road near Baguio Market. Fare will be P11 and travel time may take around 15 minutes.

General Information:

  • BenCab Museum is open from Tuesday-Sunday 9am-6pm (last entry would be 5:30pm)
  • The museum is close every Monday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
  • Taking pictures with flash and video recording is not allowed.
  • Entrance fees: P150- General Admission, P120- Student with valid ID, P100- Senior Citizens or PWDs with valid government ID

Getting Around BenCab Museum:

BenCab Museum's facade along Asin Rd.

The museum is a four-storey museum underlining several galleries. Each storey has its own viewdeck where you can appreciate the beauty of the forest surrounding the vicinity.

BenCab Gallery– This gallery features BenCab’s own artworks and collections for more than four decades in the art industry.

Museum's viewdeck where you can enjoy the nature's view

Cordillera Gallery– This gallery showcases artifacts and items of the indigenous people of the Cordilleras. It also displays the artist’s collection of “bulol” or “Ifugao Rice God” which is a human like figure made of wood to guard rice crops.

Erotica Gallery– This gallery displays art works in form of paintings, sculptures, and drawings with erotic theme. As the advisory reads before entering the said gallery: “This gallery contains works with imagery that may be offensive to minors and certain individuals”.

Philippine Contemporary Art Gallery– This gallery highlights BenCab’s collection of paintings, sculptures and other artworks by other Filipino artists.

Wag mong damdamin ang mga bagay dahil ang mga bagay ay walang damdamin

On the museums lowest level, you will find Café Sabel which is the museum’s in house restaurant. I love their chic and colorful interior. It is a good place to sit back, relish their foods while feeding your soul with the beautiful overlooking view of their garden, pond and mini forest.

There are available seats as well outside Cafe Sabel
Museum's garden, pond and gazebo
Museum from the garden area

BenCab Museum Eco-Trail Tour:

BenCab Museum offers an eco-trail tour which is basically a walking tour that passes through BenCab’s organic farm and gardens, waterfalls and greenhouses with herbs and vegetables. Along the tour you will be seeing indigenous Ifugao huts, a hanging bridge to pass Sallipan river and enjoy its forested mountain.

You have to pay an additional P150 to avail the eco-trail tour. P120 for students, P100 for Senior Citizens and PWDs and a guide fee of P100 per group of 15 or less.

Have you been to BenCab Museum before? Share your thoughts below!