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Flight chronicles of the backpacker Tutubi, with travelogues, pictures/photos/videos, travel guides, independent and honest reviews, affordable, recommended resorts and hotels (including inns, guesthouses, pension houses, lodges, hostels, condotels, bed and breakfast and other cheap accommodations), commuting guides, routes (sometimes street maps and GPS coordinates/waypoints) and driving directions to answer "how to get there" questions, information and tips on tourism, budget travel and living in Philippines, Exotic Asia and beyond!

Backpacking, independent travel, and flashpacking are cheaper than the "cheapest package tours" and promotional offers around but you can also use travel information for family vacations, even romantic honeymoon destinations.

More than the usual tourist spots and "places to see," this blog advocates heritage conservation, environmental protection, and history awareness for Filipinos, foreigners, and ex-pats wishing to explore Paradise Philippines and Exotic Asia!
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    The Historic Apatot Beach, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur

    From Candon City, Tutubi tried to find the way to Santiago Cove in Santiago town but unreliable locals couldn't point him in the right direction. Tutubi's Garmin Nuvi GPS navigator was also useless in the area as it is unmapped (if Tutubi was able to find it, he'll update the map himself like what he's now doing to places he has visited)

    Due to the problem encountered, he opted to go straight to the next Ilocos Sur "tourist spot" on his list: Apatot Beach, San Esteban town. This time, was able to find the right road to turn to with locals who directed him to the two beach resorts plus the modern lighthouse beside a barangay hall.

    Apatot Beach, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur

    apatot beach Apatot Beach with lots of bancas docked, no place to frolick, picnic et al

    apatot beach san esteban ilocos surApatot Beach's sand up close, is not really fine white but rocky at most. the water has very visible green algae too, irritating to swimmers and beach bummers

    Tutubi's verdict:
    Listed by Ilocos Sur Tourism office as a come-on for tourists, Tutubi finds it ordinary and not worth your time if you come from faraway Manila. It's a nice picnic place for locals though where the usual palce to stay at nearby beach resorts and while away time with the videoke machine at full blast.

    Apatot Beach Resorts:

    There are only two beach resorts on Apatot Beach seen by Tutubi with
    typical facilities and amenities. No phone numbers posted on the resort
    walls, no official websites and published room rates, cottage fees,
    entrance fees and overnight accommodations. Probably due to the fact
    that they cater mostly locals. No swimming pools sighted.

    Don Coronel Beach Resort
    Contact Number: +63.919.660.4132

    Ursa Major Beach Resort

    No information if there are suitable snorkeling areas as well as dive sites nearby too

    World War II History in Apatot beach, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur:

    For history buffs, this cove in San Esteban, Ilocos was the site of a
    submarine surfacing during the latter part of World War II to unload
    arms and supplies for the United States Army Forces in the Philippines
    - Northern Luzon (USAFIP, NL. Remember in an earlier post, the Tagudin
    Town Hall served as USAFIP, NL hospital).

    The old historical marker that was washed away states: "
    San Esteban Landing Site
    Twice surfacing at Santiago Cove on November 21, 1944, the
    USS GAR landed on this beach. Commandos of the Army of the United States
    with equipment, arms, ammunition and supplies led by Capts. William
    Vaughn and William Farell were Lts. Fred Behan and Donald Jamison with
    two other Americans and Larry Guzman with other G Filipinos of the First
    Filipino regiment. The landing was effected by USAFIP-NL under Col.
    Russell W. Volkmann with other paramilitary and guerilla units. By order
    of Volkmann, Jamison and Maj. Ferdinand E. Marcos sneaked through the
    cordon of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita to an air strip in Isabela and flew to
    Camp Spencer”.

    Tutubi would have believed the story completely but there's mention of
    Ferdinand Marcos as a war hero. Take note, no offense to many Ilocano
    brothers who still put the Marcoses on a high pedestal, Ferdinand Marcos
    was president with a very well documented dictatorship and falsely
    documented exploits of war heroism. His medals of heroism during World
    War II were all fake custom-made to glorify himself. Such vainglory!
    Tutubi's glad the historical marker was washed away. It should've been
    replaced with a properly verified marker by historical scholars of the
    National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP, formerly NHI).

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    posted by GingGoy @ 9:09 PM, ,

    Big Bad Blogger, Blogging Ethics and Full Disclosure

    It took a private message from R.O., Tutubi's long time friend and blogger, to alert him and look up this Big Bad Blogger issue hounding the net and found this Inquirer.net article by Margaux Salcedo.

    The article's about a restaurant owner Georgia, a certain PR firm and the "influential" yet unethical blogger aptly named Big Bad Blogger. The article says:

    "Big Bad Blogger ate at her restaurant. He smiled, ate like a regular blogger, took pictures with his ginormous SLR, and paid for his meal. He wrote a raving review about the restaurant. She thought it was a sincere review.

    However, a few days after THAT, The Firm called Georgia again. “Have you seen Big Bad Blogger’s post?” they asked. Of course she had. “He works with us. We have an arrangement with him. We can make sure that more bloggers write about your restaurant the same way if you hire us.”

    How much? Georgia asked. The price demanded: P120,000 a month for a year. “What?!” Georgia thought. “These guys are crazy.” And again she gently declined. They lowered the offer to P80,000. (That’s P80,000 per month x 12 months or P960,000; almost a million bucks.) Georgia still declined.

    Cut to a year later when Georgia opened another restaurant. Big Bad Blogger visits. Again, he smiled, ate like a regular blogger, took pictures with his ginormous SLR, and paid for his meal. This time, though, he wrote a scathing review. A few days after that, The Firm called Georgia again. “Have you seen Big Bad Blogger’s post?” they asked. Of course she had. “He works with us. We can make sure he retracts his comments and clarifies that your restaurant is not bad but really good after all.” For the same price."

    If we're to read the whole story, The Firm may or may not have hidden affiliations with Big Bad Blogger but it's also an open secret that mainstream media, like other bloggers, receive payola, freebies or any form of payment for a feature or review (if you don't believe it, you may be living in Mars). What's so gross from the article though is the extortion part.

    Isn't it obvious to you readers that even mainstream media like food writers, travel and lifestyle get special favors, freebies or paid in cash or in kind just to feature a new restaurant, establishment? Travel writers get invited to a hotel, resort or destination for free? Of course, the story will always come out positive or neutral at worst, the Filipino trait of utang na loob plus the lack of "element of surprise" for the establishment and anonymity for the reviewer. For a review to be really be effective requires multiple visits, unannounced and anonymous, for a single visit that turned out bad may be the exception.

    Bloggers can't bring down a really good restaurant for not all people read blogs, and those who read blogs don't really believe everything unless they have no mind of their own. Even if Big Bad Blogger writes scathing remarks, his reputation is at stake when other bloggers find out it's the other way around. (but who trusts Big Bad Blogger anyway? A few names were floated on the identity of Big Bad Blogger, the most famous one, however, is not really trusted by Tutubi). Reading posts of some bloggers is akin to inducing a bit of high-blood-pressure-inducing substance --take it with a grain of salt!

    Tutubi's for full disclosure of blog posts, yeah, it can't be mandated since this is a free country. It's not really bad to get free invites, and other freebies but, please, disclose them and don't make your post look like it's unsolicited. There are a few bloggers out there who still maintain independence, ethics and dignity either through full disclosure or no freebies at all.

    Tutubi is not a celebrity blogger nor aspires to be one (heck, he doesn't even want to publish his real name and picture here), but for the record, Tutubi is not affiliated with anyone related to travel or any restaurants occasionally featured on this blog. He's able to travel mostly using personal funds and official trips of his day job that takes him to many places (he's an engineer working in the banking industry and gets to visit mostly rural banks and cooperatives in faraway places of the archipelago). It's those sidetrip adventures, after finishing his official work duties, that you always read on this blog. He's not working for the Department of Tourism (DOT), which is actually his favorite whipping boy due to laziness and lack of brain power of most people there.

    This blog may not give you the best stories and pictures but there really are no paid advertorials, no sponsored posts, no free meals/trips, freebies of any kind, just honest reviews and feedbacks unbiased and as independent as you can get...there are only ads to help him defray the costs of travel and buy some personal gears!

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    posted by GingGoy @ 8:08 PM, ,

    St. John Sahagun Church, Candon, Ilocos Sur

    After the very brief visit to Santa Lucia Church, another short visit ensued, this time to Candon City when Tutubi noticed the plaza and the church to his right with a giant Christmas tree beside it.

    candon city ilocos surThe welcome arch of Candon City, Ilocos Sur

    candon churchSt. John de Sahagun Parish's facade with the giant Christmas tree

    san juan de sahagunCandon Church's colorful interior

    saint john sahagun church candon ilocos surSt. John Sahagun Church altar

    The church ceiling and walls are adorned with colorful murals and windows of stained glass. the altar with gold leaf, typical of old stone churches of the Philippines.

    Saint John de Sahagun Church
    Candon City, Ilocos Sur
    GPS Coordinates: N17° 11.603 E120° 26.93

    Did you know that Candon was named after the kandong? A tree already extinct in the city, much like Manila no longer has the nila tree (you got that right, nila tree, as there's no such thing as nilad tree like most of use were made to believe)

    As usual, Tutubi visited the place for only a few minutes, took a few pictures then sped off...

    Next stop, a quiet beach in San Esteban town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site

    ---

    Other possibly interesting places to check out in Candon in the future:
    1. Darapidap Beach: probably a gray sand beach
    2. Tobacco Festival, every March as thanksgiving for the city's claim as "tobacco capital of the Philippines"
    3. Candon Kalamay (or Calamay): stalls selling this Candon delicacy can be found on the road side near the city hall and Candon Church, nice pasalubong stop from the Ilocos too.

    How to get to Candon, Ilocos Sur:

    For commuters, Candon City can be reached via the following bus lines:
    Partas, Dominion Bus Lines, Sta. Lucia Express and Martinez Trans and Candon Bus Line

    Directions to Candon, Ilocos Sur:

    It's easiest via NLEX and SCTEX then a straight drive on MacArthur Highway to La Union then Ilocos Sur til you reach the city famous for the kalamay. It's quite easy but quite far :(

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    posted by GingGoy @ 9:27 PM, ,

    How to Apply for Indian Tourist Visa (Visit Incredible India)

    Tutubi was able to visit India in April 2003 for a business trip sponsored by his former company who shouldered his business visa fees, requirements and certificate of financial capacity. He was able to tour the commercial capital of Mumbai, where you can find the Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Hotel, the house of Mahatma Gandhi and the the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Elephanta Caves. He was unable though to visit the romantic mausoleum in Agra near Delhi due to high prices of airfare and travel time required to reach most traveler's dream destination.

    With the impending resumption of Philippine Airlines direct flights to New Delhi (plus 3 daily flights via Bangkok), India also relaxed it's rules to Filipinos applying for a tourist visa to entice more Pinoys to visit the Indian subcontinent.

    herewith is the procedure on How to Apply for an Indian Tourist Visa:

    1. Buy your round-trip tickets to India. Return date of ticket should be within 30 days from arrival.
    2. Fly to India and present your passport at the immigration for a visa-on-arrival plus proof of availability of funds to spend during your stay.
    3. Pay India Visa fee of $60.00. Tourist visa is valid for thirty days, is non-extendable and non-convertible. Maximum of two visas-on-arrival a year, with each visit spaced by at least two months.

    Yes, it's that easy. it's a recently relaxing of Visa rules for Filipinos and other Southeast Asian nationals (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) to entice people from ASEAN to visit the culturally rich subcontinent

    Just in case you need to apply for a different Indian visa, herewith is the procedure on how to apply for one in Manila:

    1. Download the Indian visa Form

    2. Submit the visa requirements to the Indian Embassy Manila

    a. 2 passport size photos
    b. Passport valid at least for 6 months w/ photocopy
    c. Return Ticket or Airline Computer Print out with Ticket Numbers

    did you notice they no longer require bank accounts or financial capability? :P

    2 Pay the corresponding Visa fee price of P2,100.00 (cost is less than those for other foreign nationals)

    3. Wait for you visa to be issued with processing time of 3 working days

    4. Visa validity of 6 months (Tutubi's visa was still valid when he lost his passport)

    Indian Embassy Manila:
    Address: 2190 Paraiso Street
    Dasmariñas Village, Makati City
    Postal Address: P.O. Box 2123, MCPO, Makati City

    Telephone No. (632) 843-0101/843-0102 and 8945767 (Trunk line)
    Fax No. (63-2) 8158151 - Chancery
    Fax No. (63-2) 8445757 - Ambassador's Office
    Fax No.for consular section-8927301

    Embassy Working Hours: Monday to Friday 0900 to 1300 hrs. and 1330 to 1730 hrs.

    Source: www.embindia.org.ph

    How to get to Indian Embassy, Manila:
    Since it's inside Dasmariñas Village in Makati, you can ride the MRT up to Magallanes station then hail a taxi from there to take you to the embassy. No public transportation inside the exclusive subdivision.

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    posted by GingGoy @ 9:27 PM, ,

    A Glimpse of Sulyap Gallery Cafe: A Restaurant in San Pablo, Laguna

    A trip to a place for Tutubi won't be complete without looking for nice places to eat that's not the usual fastfood restaurants in every corner of almost every town, even with the advent of SM City San Pablo, he wanted a different kind of experience.

    He got this wish during his second "official" visit to the City of Seven Lakes when he was asked by his contact on his wish on where to eat and promptly replied "I want to catch a glimpse of Sulyap Cafe and they took him there.

    Sulyap Cafe stands at the site of the former school inside Cocoland in San Pablo, 2 minutes from Sambat Intersection (hmmm, such a redundant name, Sambat means intersection or junction in Tagalog, many places called Sambat in Sta. Cruz and Pagsanjan towns for example.)

    sulyap gallery cafe san pablo lagunaSulyap Gallery Cafe is an ancestral house from Real, Quezon sold by its owner then transplanted to its present home.

    While Tutubi's companions ordered not interesting items on the menu (e.g. cheese sticks, cheeseburger, tapsilog et al), Tutubi ordered house specialties like the following:


    pinais na kabutePinais na kabute (Pinais recipe, simply means the main ingredient, wrapped in banana leaves, is simmered in water, vinegar, garlic, ginger salt and pepper). In this recipe, kabute (mushrooms) were used)

    Crispy tilapia in oyster sauce. The tilapia is fried, well done with no salt; the oyster sauce with spices for dipping.


    ensaladang pako fern saladensaladang pako (edible fern salad using fresh fiddlehead fern abundant on the slopes of Mt. Banahaw and Sierra Madre mountain range). The fern was fresh and crispy with the great balance of the saltiness of the itlog na maalat (salted egg) and sourness of the vinaigrette-like dressing. (a similar take of this exists at Chef Mau restaurant, Liliw, Laguna, another favorite place of Tutubi)


    sulyap bed and breakfastThe newly relocated bahay na bato soon to be turned into an inn/bed and breakfast for those looking for overnight accommodations. That will surely compete directly with the nearby Casa San Pablo bed and breakfast.

    After Sambat, Tutubi opted to go to the tour of Lake Pandin but was spoiled by a sudden heavy downpour and just decided to go back to Manila. The rafting tour of Lake Pandin occurred on his third visit.

    Tutubi's take: Sulyap Cafe deserves a second, third...many looks, not just a short glimpse!

    ---

    Sulyap Gallery Cafe
    Brgy Del Remedio
    Cocoland Compound, San Pablo City, Laguna
    Telephone number: +63.49.562.9740; +63.49.562.9735
    GPS Coordinate: N14 04 37.2 E121 18 46.7
    Official Website: www.sulyap.net

    Budget: P200.00++ per person

    Other Recommended dishes:
    Kulawong Puso ng Saging
    Kulawong Talong with flavor of smoked coconut meat similar to the minanok recipe of Paete, Laguna and nearby places.

    No reservations required but limited space available around 8 tables. Call Sulyap's contact numbers to be sure.

    Other notable San Pablo restaurants:

    Kusina Salud
    Cafe Lago, on the lakeshore of Sampaloc Lake
    El Mare Bulalo on the national highway (opposite the El Mare Buko Pie and Chicken Empanada and pasalubong shop)

    Where to eat in San Pablo on the cheap, there's
    Clydenjosh Luto sa Lawa for cheap meryenda plus the "al fresco" grills (barbeque, isaw, betamax and other street food) on the lakeshore promenade near the park.

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    posted by GingGoy @ 8:33 PM, ,

    The Church of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur

    Sandwiched between the town of Santa Cruz and Candon City is the town of Santa Lucia where Tutubi made a short stopover just to check out Sta. Lucia Church that made the whole trip sound really like an Ilocos Visita Iglesia itinerary. The church is listed by Ilocos Sur tourism people as a must-see and Tutubi went there to verify.

    From the national highway, Tutubi caught sight of the church to the left and beside a basketball court and quickly turned to pay a short visit to the church dedicated to St. Lucy (Santa Lucia) whose feast day falls on December 13 (the Virgin of Santa Lucia (St. Lucy) is the patron saint of people with eye problems (that's why Catholics with failing eyesight pray to her for intercession).

    santa lucia church ilocos surPhoto of Sta. Lucia Church facade at a time most photographers won't even dare touch the camera due to bad lighting and harsh shadows. The best time take a photo of the church's facade is really in the early morning for it's facing east.

    The interior of the church sports typical baroque style with the four evangelists depicted on the four columns supporting the apse (the technical term for the dome near the main altar) and the presence of an. There's a nice colorful pattern on top of the altar, Rennaisance style, that could've been captured brightly if the lights were on but Tutubi, ever lazy to bring a tripod, just made use of the limited available light.

    parish of sta. lucia ilocos sur

    After the very brief visit (just about 15 minutes) to the old stone church of Santa Lucia, Tutubi headed next to the neighboring city also famous for their own version of kalamay...

    ---
    Sta. Lucia Church
    Location: about fifty meters west of the national highway between Sta. Cruz and Candon City, Ilocos Sur
    GPS Coordinates: N17 06 58.6 E120 26 52.4

    Labels: , ,

    posted by GingGoy @ 9:49 PM, ,

    Ilocos Sur: Tagudin Sundials and St. Augustine Church

    First of the Tour of Ilocos Sur series...

    The southernmost town of the province of Ilocos Sur that straddles La Union province possess a timekeeping tradition used by ancient men using shadows cast by the sun to tell time.

    The two sundials were constructed in the town of Tagudin by Father Juan Sorolla in 1848. One is located inside the 100 year old Saint Augustine School compound and the other stands in front of Tagudin town hall.

    spanish sundial tagudinclaimed to be the first sundial in the Philippines, Tutubi had to ask permission from the principal of St. Augustine School to see the sundial inside the campus (na-opis si Tutubi). You can't tell the time from this sundial as it's shadowed by a tree


    sundial tagudin ilocos surthe second sundial in Tagudin is just on the town square right in front of Tagudin town hall. You can see it's almost 12nn when Tutubi visited the historic town

    The Church of St. Augustine, made of brick and stone and earthquake baroque style started construction in 1796 and finished in 1832. The belfry, detached from the main church typical of earthquake baroque architecture was built in 1881. The church convent is now a school run by the Immaculate Conception of Mary Sisters.

    st augustine church tagudin ilocos suras seen from the sundial picture above, it's high noon when Tutubi passed by, not a good time to take pics but just to document...the bell tower not in view

    The Tagudin town hall served as a hospital during World War II with a National Historical Committee, now National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP, formerly National Historical Institute) marker in front of the government building just beside the old Spanish sundial.

    tagudin town hallthe Tagudin Municipal Hall (munisipyo/municipio) with the sundial and NHI marker in view

    NHI marker reads: "The Base Hospital USAFIP, NL

    The base hospital was transferred to this town on 27 May 1945. Bringing it closer to the frontline where the battle were tremendously heavy. Headquarters was installed at the municipal hall while big tents set up on the town plaza and on the market site as well as the big residential houses bordering the town plaza were utilized as hospital wards. Manned at the height of the campaign by 881 military and civilian personnel, this hospital was biggest installation of its kind in the country during the Philippine liberation campaign."

    a list of world war II veterans is engraved on a commemorative plaque also in the plaza where the names of officers and enlisted personnel and soldiers at the former military hospital. (Tutubi can send you high-res copies of the honor roll upon request)

    Other interesting places in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur for verification if they're really interesting as no information can be found even on the official website of Tagudin (such a shame, similar problem to most towns and cities of the Philippines)

    1. Becques Beach, said to be good but has to be visited to confirm
    2. Baracbac Falls, a waterfalls in Brgy. Baracbac
    3. Farola Lighthouse in barangay Farola (is this an old spanish lighthouse?)
    4. The 200m long Ambalayat Hanging Bridge in Brgy. Ambalayat

    Tagudin Sundial GPS coordinates: N16 56 01.8 E120 26 42.0
    Tagudin, Ilocos Sur was not yet included on OpenStreetMap when Tutubi visited. He was able to add the two major roads to the map of Tagudin as well as the Tagudin Municipal Hall, St. Augustine School, the two sundials, and the town plaza.

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    posted by GingGoy @ 11:11 PM, ,

    Latest Hike in LRT, MRT Fare 2011

    With skyrocketing and unjustified gasoline prices here in Pinas, coupled with the inreases in toll fees of SLEx, NLEx and SCTEx, and the impending taxi fare increase, there's also a looming 50-100 percent rate hike for Metro Manila’s train lines to take effect on March 1, 2011

    Currently on the the LRT lines 1 and 2, the fares are P12.00 for the first four stations and P15 for the rest of the route. Stored-value ticket (SVT)holders are charged P12 for the first four stations, P13 for five to eight stations, P14 for nine to 12 stations and P15 for 13 to 15 stations. (SVT riders are entitled to a bonus ride, meaning even if the remaining balance in their SVT is just one peso, they can use to any station)

    The new LRT and MRT fare structure represents a boarding fee of P11 and P1 more for every kilometer. (fare matrix to follow once available)

    LRT 1 fare: Baclaran to Roosevelt Station via Rizal Avenue and Taft Avenue

    P15.00 for the first three station (about 4 kilometers)
    P20.00 (for the next 5 to 9 kilometers)
    P30.00 (for rides loner than 9 kilometers)

    The Roosevelt Station to Sen. Gil Puyat Station (Buendia) LRT fare is P20.00 and will soon be P30.00

    LRT 2 fare: Recto to Katipunan via Aurora Blvd, Legarda and C.M. Recto avenue

    MRT Fare: Taft Ave. to North EDSA via EDSA

    The current MRT fare is P10.00 for the first three stations, P11.00 for four to five stations, P12.00 for six to eight stations, P14.00 for 9 to 11 stations and P15.00 for 12 stations or to the end of the line at North Edsa or Taft Avenue.

    Currently, Nort Ave to Buendia or Ayala station is P14.00 but will also increase to the same level as LRT 1 and LRT 2 from P15.00 to P30.00.


    Labels:

    posted by GingGoy @ 10:11 PM, ,

    "Green Water Rafting" Tour of Lake Pandin, San Pablo, Laguna

    Tutubi visited The City of Seven Lakes that is San Pablo in Laguna twice but on both occasions he was not able to to do a sidetrip to the still pristine lake due to, first, usual busy Tutubi, and, second, sudden rain spoiled the day.

    On the third take, he was able to finish work early and while waiting for his peers to to finish theirs, "sneaked" out to tour the cleanest and greenest of San Pablo City's Seven Lakes: Pandin Lake.

    After about 15 minutes on Schetellig Avenue from San Pablo Cathedral, Tutubi saw the Lake Pandin sign on the left side of the road (just near another sign of Lake lanot), he stopped to park his car at the "parking lot" then asked around for Mang Tano, the leader of the caretakers of the lake.

    Another 10 minutes of slow trekking, Tutubi spotted Lake Pandin before descending to the lake shore. He was greeted by a large group of tourists going home with smiles on their faces and even told him it's going to be dark soon but he didn't mind.

    the first sighting of Pandin Lake

    the foot trail markers with banners of Laguna's governor

    Several bamboo rafts with huts and benches were waiting for passengers. When he inquired how much was the cost to board the rafts and tour the lake, he got P180/person (even if you're alone or with a group) which takes about 3 to four hours that includes. He begged off from the long tour due to limited time and just opted for the one hour crossing the lake on the bamboo rafts guided by a rope to the other side of the lake where a grotto and spring water was fetched before going back.


    several bamboo rafts moored waiting for visitors and tourists

    an oarswoman of green pandin lake

    fresh buco juice prepared on board Lake Pandin "Cruise." Tutubi paid for two persons at the standard rate of P180.00/person even if there were only two of them on board

    The ones steering the raft were women, call them the oarswomen of Lake Pandin, while the barangay captain joined the fun. They were mostly game with joking around and telling stories and legend of the origins of the seven lakes of San Pablo to the joking Tutubi.

    Lake Pandin is quite deep, claimed as the deepest besides the cleanest and best preserved of the seven lakes. Thanks to the efforts of some citizens of the city and cooperation of lake side dwellers. Several sources of "mineral" water can be found on the lake shore with various species of trees and shrubs. Fish pens can also be found but regulated to occupy only a small portion of the lake (as expected, people claimed their tilapia and ayungin taste better than those caught or raised elsewhere)

    the oarswomen of Lake Pandin

    the grotto at the end of the guide rope. There's a "saluno" where locals fetch natural mineral water for drinking

    Once back to the "docking" area of the lake, the women suggested a tour of Lake Yambo, Pandin's twin lake via a small water link between the two and is inclusive of the P180 Lake Pandin tour price but he declined due to his very limited time.

    Complimentary buco juice was served and enjoyed "lips-to-lips" style due to the absence of straw (it's really better since plastic straw may just end up polluting the lake).

    After the abbreviated "green water" rafting tour, he went back to the city center, near CARD Bank on Quezon St., only to find out his peers still were not ready to go home.

    What Tutubi did next to while away time? A tour of Sampaloc Lake!

    ...to be continued.

    -----------------------

    Lake Pandin tour
    Contact: Mang Tano
    contact number: +63.929.978.9565
    Tour rate per person: P180.00
    Note: inconsistent reply on tour cost for children
    additional P180 per person for lunch (pre-ordered in advance) composed
    mainly of locally caught fish
    Safety: mandatory wearing of life vests. rafts don't tip over and will only slightly submerge if overloaded but not completely sink unless the bamboo poles are unbound.

    Seven Lakes of San Pablo City:
    Lake Bunot, Lake Calibato (Lake Kalibato), the twin lakes of Yambo and Pandin, Lake Palakpakin (Palacpaquin or Palacpaquen), Lake Muhikap (as Lake Mojicap or Lake Mohicap) and Lake Sampaloc (or Sampalok Lake, the largest of the seven lakes)

    How to get there:

    GPS Coordinate of jump-off point/parking area: (to follow)

    Commuting from San Pablo City center near San Pablo Cathedral, ride a jeepney with signboard "Ilog" or those plying the San Pablo - Nagcarlan -Liliw route and request the driver to drop you off at the Pandin Lake sign along the road of barangay Sto. Angel. There's another five minutes or so walk to Pandin lake shore.

    If you're from Laguna, you can ride the jeepney to the capital town of Sta. Cruz and transfer to a jeepney going to San Pablo City.

    Driving directions: from San Pablo city center Schettelig Avenue all the way to barangay Sto. Angel. You may park your vehicle near the Lake Pandin sign (you can see this to your left) with approximate travel time of twenty minutes. They have someone to watch your car while you're away and the guide will fetch you from the parking space.

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    posted by GingGoy @ 10:08 PM, ,

    January Sto. Niño Festival Schedules and Other Fiestas in Metro Manila

    For people who can't fly out of Manila to witness Cebu's Sinulog festival, Kalibo's Ati-atihan Festival or Iloilo's Dinagyang Festival (4th sunday of January), herewith are your alternatives that's easier to reach and lighter on your pocket:

    January 9 (Sunday): Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila

    Feast Day of the Sto. Nino (Child Jesus)

    On the third Sunday of January (January 16, 2011), here are festivities that coincide with the Sinulog and Ati-atihan with the all too familiar street dancing in colorful costumes, some patterned after the hugely popular Mardi Gras of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    Caracol Festival in Makati City. "Parade" route starts at the Gabriela Silang Parking at the corner of Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue (Opposite Makati Shangri-la Hotel and the Peninsula Manila) and the performing
    stage built at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas (Good vantage points from Ninoy Aquino Monument, The Enterprise Center, Insular Life Building and BPI Building). (Warning: This doesn't start on time though as experienced by Tutubi last year, so much for the premier city of the Philippines but with lousy organizers. Festival dance contest lasts deep into the night with mostly students from Makati's
    schools as performers)

    caracol festivalCaracol festival participant still smiling despite the heat of the searing sun

    Buling-Buling festival in Pandacan, Manila (Pandacan Church area)

    Lakbayaw festivity in Tondo, Manila (Sto. Niño de Tondo Church)

    Pajotan de Sto. Niño in Maypajo, Caloocan City

    Bambino Festival in Pasig City

    Feast of the Sto. Niño at Sto. Niño Parish, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
    (area behind SM City North EDSA)

    Recommend also the Salibanda of Paete, Laguna (Tutubi's hometown) where water splashing is done to festivity fun hunters and devotees. It's just a 2 hour drive away from Trinoma Mall in Quezon City via the scenic Antipolo, Baras, Tanay, Teresa Rizal route. Salibanda parade starts at 12nn from Paete Church, goes around town then proceeds to Wawa Park on the lake shore of Laguna de Bay in the afternoon for a fluvial parade of the Sto. Niño.

    Should you know of the actual festival schedules and street dancing festival parade route (map desired), please hit the comment along with the proper attribution)

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    posted by GingGoy @ 9:45 PM, ,

    Manila Taxi Meter Rates / Fare Increase

    Another bad news for 2011 along with the SLEX, NLEX and SCTEX toll fee hikes, impending MRT, LRT and PNR fare and skyrocketing (and really aboveboard gasoline prices), starting January 14, 2011, taxi fares will increase.

    The present metered taxi fare is pegged at P30.00 for the first 500 meters with P2.50 for every succeeding 300 meters plus P2.50 every two minutes of idle/waiting time and last increased years ago.

    The impending 2011 taxi fare increase is now 33% more for the flagdown rate and 40% increase for every succeeding 300 meters (and possibly for the waiting/idle time)

    P40.00 flag down rate for the first 500 meters
    P3.50 for every succeeding 300 meters

    Manila Airport Taxis:

    P70 for the flagdown rate for the first 500 meters
    P4 for every succeeding 300 meters

    manila airport yellow taxiyellow cab: the manila airport metered taxi (sighted in Frisco, QC)

    There posts here with estimated taxi fares to/from various points of metro Manila. Will update posts from time to time.

    Even if Tutubi no longer takes the taxi regularly, he can still estimate taxi fares from different points in Metro Manila particularly from Manila airport terminals (NAIA), Makati, Ortigas Center (Pasig) and Quezon City (Munoz, Trinoma mall and SM City North EDSA area) so he can detect tampered taximeters, called batingting, installed by miscreant taxi drivers that should have been flushed out by the LTFRB (via thei useless LTFRB hotline splattered on public utility vehicles including cabs)

    Updated: November 2011

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    posted by GingGoy @ 11:30 PM, ,

    Holy Cross Memorial Park's Famous Citizens:The Vizconde Massacre Victims

    Today would have been Carmela Vizconde's 38th birthday. How did Tutubi learned of it? She has no Facebook account to update but he simply found out when he visited Manila Memorial Park Holy Cross in Novaliches, Quezon City and found something...

    The graves of the three victims -- Estrellita Vizconde, Ma. Carmela Vizconde and Anne Marie Vizconde -- of the grizzly crime of June 30, 1991 where the three were brutally murdered inside their home. Ma. Carmela was also raped before she was stabbed multiple times.

    vizconde buried at manila memorial park holy crossThe graves of the "famous citizens" of Manila Memorial Park Holy Cross (GPS Coordinates: N14° 42' 2.8" E121° 1' 44.6") which is quite far from their home in Paranaque

    ma. carmela vizconde massacre
    Picture of the graves of the three victims in gray marble with stained glass located near the central lagoon and chapel of Holy Cross Memorial Park (near the P. Cruz gate of Holy Cross)


    A few days before Christmas, Hubert Webb and company were acquitted by the Supreme Court who ignored the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro and gave more weight to the alibi of Hubert Webb that he's in the US when the crime took place.

    Lots of media coverage on this one even with Ramon Tulfo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer vouching for the truth of Hubert's alibi while a weeping Lauro Vizconde, the patriarch who was in the States at the time of the crime, was shown inconsolable.

    Did Hubert Webb really not commit the crime? Reading parts of the dissenting opinions of the 4 Supreme Court justices where one mentioned that Hubert Webb could be in the US at the time but it's also not impossible for him to come home, commit the crime, then fly back.

    One of the justices' opinion also claimed the original passport was never presented as evidence, not even the boarding pass, but the prosecution didn't focus on it's authenticity and the defense only presented the immigration officer, identified as Ferdinand Sampol, who testified he was the one who stamped the passport (how easy was it to produce fake green passports and departure stamps in 1991, unlike the present e-passport? Mr. Ferdinand Sampol now is reportedly hounded by human trafficking allegations according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima).

    If the 7 Supreme Court justices dismissed Jessica Alfaro's testimony like the original trial court justice who saw her sincerity "prima facie" during the entire trial (thus the convention), how about the testimony of the former househelp of the Webb's who testified she washed the bloodied shirt of Hubert the morning after the crime?

    If we're also to believe that "flight is an indication of guilt," then why are the two remaining suspects Artemio Ventura and Joey Filart still in hiding (Joey Filart was already verified to be a real person hiding in the US according to the present NBI and DOJ)

    If Hubert Webb and company didn't really commit the gruesome rape-murder, then they've really lost 15 years of their prime. They're guilt was never really proven beyond reasonable doubt when even the semen sample taken from Carmela was lost, something that could have really proved Hubert Webb did or did not rape the young woman by using DNA testing. The logbook of the security agency manning the BF subdivision gate was also "coincidentally" lost and was not presented as evidence.

    Even if re-investigation of the case pointed back to them, they can't be tried again due to the "double jeopardy" rule but can apply to the fugitives Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura. But at least there'll be closure and the public will know the truth.

    Who really raped Carmela Vizconde? Who killed all victims of Vizconde Massacre? It's one classic case of one witness vs one alibi, similar to the case, yet different ruling by the SC, for the Abadilla 5.

    ...And Justice For All...Err...Justice for the Vizcondes remain elusive and may forever be!

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    posted by GingGoy @ 12:01 AM, ,

    Looking back at 2010 and Forward to 2011

    Said goodbye to 2010 with a rant post then welcome 2011 with a string of travels and explorations. Here's a review of past travels in 2010and what's in store for 2011 for this blog that's also nearing it's 5th year anniversary.

    2010 Trips and Travels

    Cebu City
    Lipa City Batangas (The Farm at San Benito)
    Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa Laguna
    Baguio City
    Tayabas, Quezon
    Ilocos Sur (from Tagudin to Vigan and every town in between)
    City of Seven Lakes

    Herewith is Tutubi's latest Lakbayan grade and map for your appreciation:


    My Lakbayan grade is B!

    How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

    Created by Eugene Villar.


    Expected Explorations for 2011:

    Possible return trips to:

    Ilocos Sur, Quezon Province, Pampanga, Bataan, Davao City, Palawan, Bohol, Cavite and of course, Laguna (Tutubi's home province)

    New provinces to be explored, blogged and mapped, inching closer to explore all of the Philippines' 79 provinces and, hopefully, all chartered cities.

    Surigao del Sur, Cagayan, Maguindanao (yes, the peaceful part only), Tutubi's first time to set foot in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is coming!

    No foreign trips eyed this year (though eyeing Tokyo, Japan to catch Sakura in bloom in 2012) but expect a new theme/blog layout and blog contest on or before this blog's fifth year anniversary!

    Happy New Year!

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    posted by GingGoy @ 10:28 PM, ,

    MMDA Number Coding Window, Suspension: Makati, Taguig, EDSA, C5, Roxas Boulevard, Macapagal Avenue

    Formally called Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) and simply called the MMDA Number coding scheme, it's a traffic reduction rule on Metro Manila roads to lessen the number of vehicles by about 20% where the last digit of the vehicle's plate numbers are used to determine if it's allowed to ply the roads on certain days from peak hours between 0700HRS to 1900HRS Monday to Friday.

    Herewith is Tutubi's take on the MMDA Number coding scheme for 2016, with verified information from a friend working at MMDA head office on EDSA, Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City.

    UPDATED: October 2016

    MMDA Number Coding Scheme basics:

    Vehicles with plate numbers ending with 1 or 2 are banned from 7am to 7pm on Monday; 3 or 4 Tuesday; 5 or 6 on Wednesday; 7 or 8 on Thursday and lastly if it's 9 or 0, it's a no-car-day Friday. Private cars are allowed to go out on the streets between the MMDA number coding window hours of 10am to 3pm.

    It sounds easy until you get to know that the MMDA number coding window is not honored in the Republic of Makati and Las Pinas City while there are no number coding schemes in Taguig, Paranaque, Muntinlupa and Marikina.

    Number coding for dummies for the 16 cities and lone Municipality of Metro Manila:

    1. Caloocan Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in Caloocan City follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles.

    2. Las Pinas Number Coding Window: No number coding window hours in Las Pinas City. Number coding is strictly 7am to 7pm (same with Makati Republic)

    3. Makati Number Coding Window: Number coding in Makati is strictly 7am to 7pm with no number coding window, even the "Eagles of Makati" sticker on Tutubi's car does not grant exemption from number coding in Makati. Avoid the stretch of Kalayaan that connects C5 to EDSA, it's part of Makati territory, where MAPSA traffic enforcers await. You can, however, drive on the Makati segment of EDSA from Guadalupe to Magallanes during number coding window hours of 10am to 3pm.

    4. Malabon Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in Malabon City follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles.

    5. Mandaluyong Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in Mandaluyong City follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles.

    6. Manila Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in the City of Manila follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles. No number coding on June 24 (Araw ng Maynila/Manila Day)

    7. Marikina Number Coding: No number coding in Marikina City, drive around anytime but be mindful when crossing city boundaries with Pasig City and Quezon City

    8. Muntinlupa Number Coding: No number coding in Muntinlupa City (including Alabang, of course), drive around anytime but be mindful when crossing city boundaries with Las Pinas (where there are no number coding window hours)

    9. Navotas Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in Navotas follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles.

    10. Paranaque Number Coding: Window: Number coding hours in Paranaque is from 7am to 7pm with window hours from 9am to 4pm window hours for private vehicles only in the following areas:

    Macapagal Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, Airport Road, and MIA Road are still exempted from number coding

    10.1 San Antonio Avenue, Pres. Aguinaldo St., Dominique Savio St., Japan St., Michael Rua St., and France St. in Barangay Don Bosco.
    10.2 E. Rodriguez St. in Barangay Moonwalk, Doña Soledad Extension and Doña Soledad Avenue in Barangay Don Bosco.
    10.3.East Service Road from Dr. Santos Avenue up to FTI Parañaque area.
    10.4 West Service Road from Dr. Santos Avenue up to Merville Park Subdivision Parañaque area


    11. Pasay Number Coding Window : Number coding hours in Pasay follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles. However, major roads in Pasay City leading to the four Manila Airport Terminals(Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (NAIA) and Manila Domestic Airport) are exempted from number coding scheme:

    a. Andrews Avenue (formerly Airport Road, where NAIA Terminal 3 is located)
    b. Aurora Blvd (formerly Tramo, connects EDSA to Andrews Avenue)
    c. Domestic Road (links Andrews Ave and NAIA Road, where the old Manila Domestic Airport Terminal is located)
    d. NAIA Road (formerly MIA Road, links Macapagal Boulevard, Roxas Blvd, Manila- Cavite Coastal Road, Domestic Road and Ninoy Aquino Ave, where NAIA terminal 2 (Centennial Terminal), is located)
    e. Ninoy Aquino Avenue (formerly Imelda Avenue, where NAIA Terminal 1 is located)
    Sales Road (connects SLEx with Andrews Avenue [near Villamor Airbase) and Lawton Avenue to Fort Bonifacio, Taguig)
    f. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia, Pasay Segment only from Macapagal Blvd., Roxas Blvd. up to Taft Avenue vicinity)

    12. Pasig Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in Pasig City is from 7am to 7pm with 9am to 4pm window hours for private vehicles. Note the two hour difference from the regular MMDA number coding window hours.

    13. Pateros Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in Pateros follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles.

    14. Quezon City Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in Quezon City follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles. No number coding on August 19 (Quezon City Day)

    15. San Juan Number Coding Window: Number coding hours in San Juan follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles.

    16. Taguig number coding: Number coding in Taguig is not implemented (including Bonifacio Global City (The Fort, Bonifacio High Street) except on C5, East Service Road and Manuel L. Quezon Avenue (national roads in the City of Taguig). Be mindful too when crossing boundaries with Makati particularly Kalayaan Ave. that connects C-5 to EDSA where it's strict 7am to 7pm "color coding" with no window.

    17. Valenzuela Number Coding Window: Number coding in Valenzuela City follows the MMDA number coding schedule from 7am to 7pm with 10am to 3pm window hours for private vehicles.

    Vehicles exempted from Number Coding:

    Motorcycles, ambulances, fire trucks, police patrol cars, military vehicles, diplomatic vehicles with diplomatic plates (blue plate numbers), government vehicles, vehicles with perishable goods in commercial quantity, and those exempted by law or those with proper number coding exemption permits from the MMDA e.g. shuttle buses, school bus service vehicles (those yellow-colored vehicles with grilles and corresponding franchises), media vehicles, medical practiotioners during emergency.

    Streets exempted from number coding during window hours (meaning you can drive by the length of these roads between 10am and 3pm, worry-free)
    EDSA, C5, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, Skyway, SLEX, NLEX

    New vehicles with still no LTO plate numbers (registered but no plate number available) use the last digit number of the conduction sticker to determine the number coding day.

    Vehicles with commemorative plates are not exempted from the number coding, per MMDA. Don't push your luck too far. It's really unfair for those who can't afford to buy those expensive plates issued by various agencies and organizations (PNPA, LEAP et al)

    Number coding is suspended during national holidays (non-working holidays except during the time of PGMA using holiday economics) and weekends e.g. January 1 (New Years Day), May 1 (Labor Day, November 1, December 25 (Christmas Day), National Heroes Day (Last Monday of August 26, 2013), Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21), December 30 (Rizal Day), Eid Al Fitr (Muslim End of Ramadan), Eid Al Adha (Islam's Feast of Holy Sacrifice) Traditionally, Number coding is not suspended on February 25, (EDSA People Power) since only classes are suspended and still a working holiday.


    MMDA Number Coding Holy Week suspension is now traditionally from Holy Tuesday to Good Friday (April 17 and April 18 2014)


    If you're smart enough to know where the MMDA traffic enforcers are (plus the city's own traffic enforcers like MAPSA of Makati), you can take a route that avoids them to make your own Number coding route but it's not recommended. Just follow the law ('wag pasaway), unless you're in an emergency situation.

    What happens if you violate the MMDA number coding? You get flagged down on the road and issued a traffic violation ticket (TVR) with corresponding fine P300.00 for the MMDA

    For the latest news and updates on MMDA number coding, you can follow MMDA Twitter account or call MMDA hotline 136

    Tutubi's take on number coding for dummies, don't use your cars during number coding days if you're not too sure of your route. Tutubi takes the MRT or LRT to get to Makati during Thursdays. For the past years, he only got to go out during number coding day last December 23, 2010 for he works in the Republic of Makati with it's own set of rules not aligned with the MMDA.

    Related Posts:
    MMDA Number Coding Holy Week
    Baguio Number Coding

    You may be looking for the following entry keywords too:
    Number coding exempted, MMDA number coding suspended, Color coding, January 1, February 25, April 9, April 14, 15, 16, May 1, June 12, July, August, September, October 26 29 30 31, November 1 2, December 25, 30, 31

    UPDATED: October 2016

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    posted by GingGoy @ 10:24 PM, ,

    Latest Skyway, SLEx, NLEx, SCTEx Toll Fees 2014

    What a way to welcome the New year for motorists going back to Metro Manila and finding themselves paying much higher toll fees on SLEx from the south and NLEX, and SCTEX from the north.

    Tutubi passed by SLEx last December 30 to attend a baptism reception at Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa where the toll fees where just P65.00 for the Nichols to Filinvest Exit and P21.00 for the Alabang to Calamba exit.


    UPDATED February 2014: SLEX Toll fees and exits (without Skyway)



    SLEX exits: Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Filinvest, Susana Heights, San Pedro, Southwoods, Carmona, Mamplasan, Sta. Rosa, Eton City - Greenfield, Cabuyao, Silangan (Batangas), Calamba

    NLEX Toll Fees 2014

    Balintawak to Bocaue exit from P36.00 to P41.00

    SCTEx Toll Fees 2014 (complete information to follow)


    On returning to Quezon City from Paete, Laguna, Tutubi took the scenic, shorter and "no toll fee" route via Rizal province that takes a little more than 2 hour hours to get to Trinoma. The via Rizal route should be the main route to the fourth district of Laguna and to Quezon and Bicol provinces, and not the alternate route. :P

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    posted by GingGoy @ 10:18 PM, ,