Your bags are packed and you’re ready to embark on your first solo adventure for a little bit of soul searching but the one thing you’ve yet to decide is where to go. Do you take on the backpacker rite of passage better known as the pancake trail, do a full 360 degree jaunt around the world, crossing continents as you go or navigate your path via a motorcycling route? The beauty of backpacking solo is that there’s no clear cut way to do it and regardless of time, mode of transportation and everything else in between, the journey you choose is purely personal and you’re bound to make memories that you’ll carry with you for a lifetime.

But just in case you need a little inspiration on where or how to start, here are five ideas to help you map out your journey and for the savvy traveller, remember to think of Saleduck for the best deals on accommodation, tours, travel tickets,and more to help you save smart while you travel.

Do a food trail

Eating is a global pastime and if you’re a foodie who loves discovering unique cuisines, why not build your trip around food? Southeast Asia’s street food scene alone is enough to keep you on your toes as you wander from bazaar to market, sampling everything from khao soy in Thailand to char koay teow in Malaysia. Want to learn how to whip up some of the dishes you’ve fallen in love with along the way? Take a cooking class from local cooks and learn how to do it yourself for when you’ve returned home and are aching for the flavours you’ve sampled during your travels.


Get involved with volunteer work

Teach English to young children in Namibia, rebuild homes for disaster victims in Ecuador - volunteering is a great way to see the world that exists beyond your comfort zone and gain new perspectives while making a positive difference to the lives of others. Volunteers typically dedicate a few hours of their day helping out with projects and are often encouraged to socialise and explore during their downtime.Whether it's through education, eco-regeneration, disaster relief of community uplift, there are plenty of organisations that you can work with to get you started on your first volunteering trip depending on your interests, abilities, travel period and etc.


Opt for shorter journeys

There’s no rule to how short or long your travels should be so if the thought of having to leave home for a long time is still a little intimidating or if you cannot afford to take extended leaves of absence due to commitments, shorter journeys can make just as much of an impact and are often great teasers for bigger adventures yet to come. Try a week or two exploring a neighbouring country or spend a few days going on a roadtrip to cities that are close to home. Shorter breaks can help you test the waters and get a feel of solo travel without having to dive right into the deep end.


Stick to overland travel

Buses, bicycles, trains, cars and the list goes on. The only rule at hand is to avoid flying at all costs! A plane ticket can have you whizzing between continents with only hours to spare and while it is convenient, it can also be pretty expensive and you might just be missing out on some great stories that only land travel can offer. Aside from helping you cut back on your budget, taking the scenic route is often a great way to interact with the cultures and locals whose paths you’re bound to cross as you make your way from point A to B. You’ll make stops, meet new faces, exchange stories and maybe even change your route as you go. All in all, land travel is an immersive experience that lets you get up close and personal with everything you encounter.

Follow your hobbies

If you have a love for diving and marine life, plan your trip around some of the world’s most beautiful dive spots; for lovers of nature, let your journey take you to national parks and hiking trails. Mapping out your travel itinerary around the things you love allows you to have a clearer idea of where to go while travelling with purpose plus it also allows you to cross some incredible spots off your bucket list. There’s always a chance of stumbling upon places you’ve never heard off as you go along and this element of discovery is always reason enough to keep on going.

Labels: Floobydust

Tara na, biyahe tayo!

Start planning for your trips for 2015 and buy your airplane tickets at promo prices soon with the recent release of national holidays for 2015 (and long weekends) per Proclamation No. 831:


A. Regular Holidays

New Year’s Day – 1 January (Thursday)
Maundy Thursday – 2 April
Good Friday – 3 April
Araw ng Kagitingan – 9 April (Thursday)
Labor Day – 1 May (Friday)
Independence Day – 12 June (Friday)
National Heroes Day – 31 August (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day – 30 November (Monday)
Christmas Day – 25 December (Friday)
Rizal Day – 30 December (Wednesday)

B. Special (Non-Working) Day

Chinese New Year – 19 February (Thursday)
Black Saturday – 4 April
Ninoy Aquino Day – 21 August (Friday)
All Saints Day – 1 November (Sunday)
Additional special (non-working) days
– 2 January (Friday)
- 24 December (Thursday)
Last Day of the Year – 31 December (Thursday)

C. Special Holiday (for all schools)
EDSA Revolution Anniversary – 25 February (Wednesday)

national holidays for 2015, long weekends list

Labels: Floobydust

Like and Share: for every 1 new like on the Facebook Page, Tutubi will donate PhP10 to the victims of #YolandaPh #Haiyan. It's that simple

Tutubi's not rich nor is he poor. Just a simple man who loves to explore and share his travel experiences and information online.

Los Angeles Lakers power forward/center donated $1000 for every point he scores in the Lakers - Warriors game (he scored 24 points in that game, so that makes it $24,000.00)

Meralco Bolts guard Mike Cortez will donate P500 for every point that he would score in the ongoing PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup.

Tutubi's not a star, doesn't make loads of money. In fact he's not afraid of the end of the world but he dreads the end of the month when it's time to pay bills. He already set aside 20% of his banner ad earnings for December 2013 for the typhoon victims and willing to give everything if people will like and share his travel blog. He's doing this to promote the blog Facebook Page, instead of paying Facebook to promote it.


It's simply his own way of helping, to give until it hurts. He's only made quite a donation, dropped off donations of his officemates to a relief group in Quezon and intending to volunteer as a driver for Oplan Hatid but his lack of time simply did not permit it.

You can't help typhoon victims simply by ranting on social media nor the mere act of Liking or Sharing, you can only doing it by donating cash or kind to relief efforts or as a volunteer warm body at relief centers.

Tutubi's actually targeting NGOs or foundations who will help Yolanda victims rebuild their lives, either by building boats and buying nets for fishermen, seeds and farming tools for farmers and other industries. These will make them less dependent on food relief.

Note: Travel bloggers make money from blogging but if you want to know how an income statement of Travel Blogging as a Business, you may click this link

Disclaimer: This proposition refers to the actual number of new Likes on Backpacking Philippines Facebook Page starting December 1, 2013 and ends on December 31, 2013. There is a number of Likes daily, from organic traffic referred by the blog.

Instead of paying Facebook to promote the page, Tutubi will help typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan victims rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient again.

UPDATE:
January 2, 2014 This "promotion" got a total of 123 likes as Tutubi did not promote it (some people may not like the idea) but Tutubi's actual donation, excluding his time and effort ferrying donations of friends and offficemates, to his chosen NGO in Quezon City far exceeded the amount required. Modesty and his not being a politician told him not divulge the actual amount, his works will be judged not by men.

Labels: Floobydust

After more than seven years, this travel blog needs some sort of change, probably similar to other blogs' transformation.

Google has been very nice in 2012, the flagship year when traffic went all time high, when Penguin and Panda made this blog popular, even without any effort.

2013 began with dramatic, and still painful Google Image Search rolled out the new interface that took traffic away from publishers (even if they said it's more for the user experience, it's still unfair to picture owners though but who can punish big, mighty Google?)

Still, blog traffic is steady even if update frequency dropped to all time low.

Very late to adopt to social media, Tutubi's making up for lost time but the Facebook Page and Twitter followers all joined from blog traffic, none from promotions.

In spite of the drop in traffic, Backpacking Philippines still is one of the most visited travel blogs in the Philippines :P

After a few months, expect more fresh updates and probably blog promotions, Tutubi is really to busy with life and work.

Please expect positive changes soon.

No details for now...

Labels: Floobydust

If you wish to get to Bohol to visit family and relatives or help in disaster relief and rescue operations for the, the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Council (NDRRC) has status updates for you.

Tagbilaran Airport Status: Open

Flights to Bohol (Tagbilaran Airport) are currently cancelled by Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express and AirAsia Zest but flights to Bohol will resume soon

Ferry to Bohol: all ferry trips are cancelled including the Cebu-Bohol ferry trips and RORO bus trips

Several roads are not passable including bridges.

Will update this post when the situation improves

Labels: Floobydust

Look! Katy Perry's latest music video of "Roar" had her, in sexy, "jungle bikini," get a glimpse of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. The music video plot is of pop singer Katy Perry stranded in a tropical jungle after surviving a plane crash.

The music video though was not shot in Tagaytay, as the picture apparently was taken from, based on the angle of the photo world's smallest volcano located in Batangas province.

As the video explicitly says, it's "a motion theory adventure filmed in in junglescope" :)

Herewith are two screengrabs from the official video of Katy Perry's Roar on YouTube:




Nice to see beautiful places featured in music videos as it promotes Philippine tourism, instead of the bad image projected by others like the "Bourne Legacy," which featured the gritty side of Manila but also showcased the beauty of the island paradise of El Nido, Palawan in the closing scene.

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If you're curious to see what Katy Perry saw in the video, you may want to visit this How to get to Tagaytay post where you can get the same view of Taal Volcano as Katy Perry "saw".

Labels: Calabarzon, Floobydust, Metro Tagaytay, Tagaytay City, Volcanoes

In the never ending fight to solve Metro Manila traffic problem, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino proposes a new MMDA Number Coding system to include four numbers instead of the current two numbers of car plate last digits where all vehicles will be banned from the street two times a week.

The Proposed modified Number Coding System is illustrated here:




The new MMDA number coding system simply means an estimated reduction of 40% vehicles during the number coding time of 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm from the present 20% in the current system using two numbers.

Cars will then be banned from the roads two days in a week. (Disclosure: Tutubi has two cars: Scarlett's plate number ends in 3 while Juno's ends in 0, if this will be implemented, won't be affected much as his two cars are not banned on the same day. But if public transportation will be improved, he can just commute to lessen his carbon footprint :)

Question: will this apply to public utility buses and jeepneys? Tutubi thinks it should as they're really too many, blame the LTFRB for not doing their jobs. They just issue/renew franchises even if they're not really needed. They can't even enforce the phasing out of old, dilapidated buses.

MMDA chairman is laudable for really thinking and trying hard to solve the traffic problem but it's only a band-aid solution. There are many other ways to solve this. How about other government agencies?

the heavy traffic on the two-lane EDSA Ortigas flyover is the cause of heavy traffic in Cubao. See the fast moving traffic when you pass this choke point on the south-bound lane in the morning. Decongesting Ortigas Center like say an interchange at Ortigas Avenue corner Meralco Avenue and reducing the number of jeepneys going to EDSA central will have tremendous effect on EDSA Southbound traffic. Tutubi guarantees this Heavy traffic on EDSA north-bound in the evening rush hour also ends in Ortigas Center due to road constriction from 5 lanes to 2.5 lanes (Ortigas Ibabaw).

If only Tutubi can be president, he knows how to solve the traffic problem without investing something, just use political will. To solve traffic in Metro Manila, the MMDA cannot do it alone, they need the help of the following government agencies. Herewith are Tutubi's suggestions:


MMDA: ENFORCE TRAFFIC RULES, lobby to pass an enabling law on contact-less traffic violation tickets using CCTVs so as to penalize even government vehicles and protocol plates, e.g. the notorious number 8 of congressmen, (Drivers will behave if they know they will be caught) ban provincial buses on EDSA by constructing integrated bus terminals near SLEx and NLEx. Construct better waiting sheds for commuters to protect them from rain (one of the reasons why heavy traffic on EDSA when it rains is that buses compete for passengers waiting under MRT stations as they're safe from the rain there)

DOTC: improve public transportation safety and efficiency, move people instead of vehicles e.g. more LRT, monorails from Airport to BGC, Makati CBD and Ortigas Center

LTO/LTFRB: remove all colorum vehicles, implement RFID, other electronic tagging or even automatic plate number recognition of all public utility vehicles to easily identify colorum buses and jeepneys, remove redundant jeepney routes (like the Munoz-Pantranco route in Quezon City), allow car registration only upon proof of garage/parking area, rationalize the EDSA Bus routes (note: all those buses pass by the segment of East Avenue to Ayala Avenue) and jeepney routes (e.g. Espana in Manila receives all jeepneys from Quezon City, Ortigas Avenue all jeepneys to EDSA Central from Rizal) and lastly, the SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO MINIMIZE TRAFFIC IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY is to force all routes to form a single company or transport cooperative and eliminate those jeepneys and buses jostling for position, too much waiting at every street corner. Drivers will behave once they don't have to hurry to catch their boundary and transport companies will not let loose all buses even if they're not even half-full during rush hours.

DPWH: Build more roads, tollways, interchanges, flyovers, elevated roads, road widening, bridges (like linking BGC to the Kapitolyo area in Pasig). Improve traffic on Ortigas Avenue (the reason why southbound EDSA is heavy is because of congestion in Ortigas Center particularly the two-lane overpass

DOLE: remove the boundary system of jeepneys and taxis, and the commission system of buses. Give drivers and conductors fixed wages and benefits. (this is the single most effective way to solve the traffic problem that can be implemented by forcing all jeepney routes to form companies or transport cooperatives. This way, only the right number of buses or jeepneys will ply the route instead of all of them competing for few passengers, like most business do to reduce unnecessary trips (and reduce emissions and fuel imports, improve air quality)

BIR: tax all jeepney operators, get the data from LTFRB. How many of them pay taxes?

Local Governments: do not allow street parking, tow them. Do not allow people (especially informal settlers to close roads). Clear roads of sidewalk vendors (Balintawak in QC, Divisoria in Manila and Baclaran in Paranaque are three prime examples)

DRIVERS: follow traffic rules. Be considerate to other drivers and pedestrians

COMMUTERS: 'WAG PASAWAY! Sumakay sa tamang sakayan, bumaba sa tamang babaan, no jaywalking din!

Labels: Floobydust

Taipei recently released satellite records that their fishermen were fishing at these coordinates "122° 55' E 19° 59 N" when they were chased by the Philippine Coast Guard and killed one of them.

But where exactly is the area? Google Maps to the rescue: Tutubi plotted the coordinates on Google Maps and look at the resulting image map:


The scene of the crime happened southeast of Batanes Group of Islands. You can see Basco, Batanes there and Luzon Island. Now, is this Taiwan's territory or just proves further that the fishermen were poaching in Philippine waters?

Do the Taiwanese know how to plot coordinates on the map or they're claiming Batanes as part of their territory?

Now, if it's true that Taiwan's fishing vessel tried to ram the Philippine Coast guard ship, the shooting may be justified (I said maybe). In time, the video footage and results of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be made known.

Let the TRUTH COME OUT, no BULLYING!


Note:

The Filipino people regrets the loss of life, also waiting for justice. If there's a crime committed, bring the perpetrators to justice.

What we cannot tolerate are the attacks of Taiwanese mob on Filipinos working in Taiwan who have nothing to do with the incident.

Filipinos are not barbarians, lots of Filipinos killed in foreign soil and yet we do not harm citizens of the country where they died/got killed.

To the Taiwanese, please behave like civilized citizens and not bring justice into your own hands. What if you're proven wrong?

It's probable too that your president is using the incident to drum up support for his hugely unpopular government. The dirty hand of politics at work :(

Labels: Floobydust

Going to the mall on Election day after voting? Herewith is the SM Mall schedule on May 13 (Monday)

Please make your vote count where it matters most for the benefit of our country and all, not your own pocket for just a day yet suffer for three years or longer. You probably know what I mean

If you didn't vote, you have no right to complain about elected officials, except if you were in extraordinary circumstances


From the official SM Supermalls Facebook Page:
"Please be guided that on Election Day, May 13, our malls will open at 12NN except for SM Mall of Asia Official / Podium (12NN-10PM), SM Center Pasig (12NN-11PM), SM by the Bay (4PM-12MN) and SM Marketmall Dasmariñas (12NN-9PM, Wet & Dry Market – Normal Operating Hours / Bagsakan – Normal Operating Hours)"


Ayala Malls Schedule on May 13, 2013:
Malls open at 10am to 9pm

Trinoma Mall, Abreeza Mall (Davao), Ayala Center Cebu, Marquee Mall (Angeles City Pampanga), Greenbelt Mall, Glorietta, Market! Market!

No information yet on WalterMart and Robinsons Malls (Galleria, Forum Robinsons, Robinsons Place), Eastwood Mall, The Podium, Sta Lucia, 168 Mall, Lucky Chinatown Mall, 999 Mall, Victory Mall, Gaisano Mall, Power Plant Mall,

SM City Manila, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Baguio, SM Calamba, SM Novaliches, SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Bicutan, SM SouthMall, SM
City North EDSA, SM Cebu, SM Davao, SM Bacolod, SM Iloilo, SM Batangas, SM Lipa

related post:
May 13, 2013 is a Special Non-working Holiday

Labels: Floobydust

Here's a bit of good news (though the cynical Tutubi doubts if it can be implemented soon just like the much delayed SLEX-NLEX connector roads or the already scrapped NorthRail) where a high-speed rail to/from Clark Airport to link it with Metro Manila.

It's a proposed Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project by Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) finance the $3-billion Clark-Metro Manila project.

Proposed Project Information per the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA):

Proponent: Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC)
Name: Express Airport Trains
Description of Plan: Construct a bullet train line with the the new railways between the lanes of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx)
Proposed Stops/Terminals: at least three stops in Metro Manila: Balintawak or near TriNoMa or SM North in Quezon City; Manila like Dimasalang or University of Sto. Tomas; and Makati at Buendia Avenue.

Project Benefits: cut travel time from 2 hours to only 45 minutes to transport passengers from Clark to Manila, and vice versa.

Project cost: US3,000,000,000.00
Target Completion Date: N/A

Comments:

Bullet Trains are expensive, much like Japan's Shinkansen, where train fares are almost equal to airfares. Japan's bullet train technology is also mature, safe and efficient and designed to handle even strong earthquakes.

How about connecting Clark Airport to NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) and probably beyond Clark to say Baguio but it depends on economic sense and feasibility. A bullet train to Bicol crossing to Visayas and Mindanao may be there too, but someday, when the economy grows

for Tutubi, this is just a pipe dream...it's still an early proposal and may take years like other government projects.

Labels: Floobydust

Many people ask Tutubi his recommended nearest white beach to Manila. While there are beach resorts in Cavite, Batangas, Bataan and probably Bulacan, all within three hours of travel time, this beach resort inside Manila is the cheapest of all where people from all walks of life can afford



...that is if you can stand it :P

The beachfront of Manila Bay, near Seafood Wharf and Manila Ocean Park serves as a beach resort for poor families willing to escape the searing summer heat ins spite of the danger of polluted water

the next time your looking for the best, closest, cheapest and nearest beach resorts in Manila, look farther at the western side of Bataan, the southernmost tip of Cavite, the shores of Quezon Province and almost all areas of Batangas that are far cleaner and not part of polluted Manila Bay.

Summer's here, enjoy the sun, sand, and sea once again!

Labels: Floobydust

According to Malacanang, August 20, 2012 is not yet declared a public holiday, only August 21 and August 27 have been declared public holidays for now

Malacanang is still waiting for confirmation from our Muslim brothers observing the moon for the proper date to observe the end of the Islamic holiday to end the fasting month of Ramadan

If August 20 is declared a public holiday, August will have two long weekends

stay tuned for updates

Labels: Floobydust

Hollywood movie "Bourne Legacy" lead actor Jeremy Renner, lead actress Rachel Weisz, director and crew of the movie series are in town to shoot the latest installment of the movie franchise.

herewith are tips, shoot locations, schedules and traffic re-routing information for you, provided by MMDA

Bourne Legacy shoot locations:

Ayala Avenue (Makati), Intramuros (Manila), at Jones Bridge (Manila), Marikina City Market, Navotas Fishport (Navotas), and Pasay Taft Rotonda in Metro Manila, and in Palawan.

Bourne Legacy Shoot Schedules:

Wednesdays to Sundays, break on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Manila scenes for the movie will be shot from
Jan. 11 to 15 in San Andres,
Jan. 18 to 19 on J. Bocobo St. corner Remedios Circle,
Jan. 15 on Leveriza St.,
Jan. 14 at San Andres corner Quirino and Taft Avenues,
Jan. 25 on Riverside Road, Real and Sta. Lucia streets in Intramuros,
Feb. 17 to 18 on Jones Bridge
Jan. 18-19 Remedios Circle in Malate
Feb. 8 to 15 on Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Sta. Mesa.

The MMDA said there will be a "scene of actress Rachel Weisz clinging to a spinning jeepney during a high-speed chase. Another scene will involve a helicopter hovering above the Makati City business district at night."

Traffic Re-routing:

Wednesday (January 11) to Friday (January 13), Leveriza Street will be closed to traffic between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Intermittent traffic control will be implemented along Quirino Avenue and San Andres from 7 a.m. to 5 a.m.

The following alternate routes were announced by the MMDA:

- Along President Quirino Avenue from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue:

All vehicles must turn right at M. Adriatico, left at Bagong Lipunan, right at President Quirino to destination

- Along President Quirino Avenue from Taft Avenue to Roxas Boulevard:

Take San Andres, right turn at L. M. Guerero, left turn at Remedios, left turn at Maria Orosa, right at San Andres, left at M. Adroiatico, right at President Quirino to destination

- For buses along Roxas Boulevard – Coastal Road to Manila:

Right turn at Vito Cruz, left at Taft Avenue to destination

- For buses from Taft Avenue – Manila to Roxas Boulevard – Coastal Road:

Right at Vito Cruz, left at Roxas Boulevard to destination

Source: MMDA Official Website

Labels: Floobydust

For those thinking of watching live the Grand parade of floats for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2011 on Roxas Boulevard, herewith is the MMFF Parade Route and Schedule.

MMFF filfest parade of Stars to start at 2pm on December 24, 2011.

Parade aroute: start at the back of SM Mall of Asia, EDSA, left to Roxas Boulevard and into Quirino Grandstand
at the Luneta (Rizal Park)

Guest which among the filmfest participants will parade the best float and stars with them. List of Movies:
1. Ang Panday 2 (Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.)
2. Enteng ng Ina Mo (Vic Sotto, Aiai delas Alas)
3. Asiong Salonga Story (George Estregan, Carla Abellana)
4. Shake, Rattle and Roll 13
5. My House Husband (Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo
6. Segunda Mano (Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes)

(Tutubi doensn't have the complete list of movies for MMFF 2011, feel free to leave comments)

Who will be the The Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Actress?

Tutubi's bet is that Asiong Salonga will be the bottom dweller, if not a flop :(

December 25, 2011 (Christmas Day): start of official screenings at your favorite movie theaters

December 28: Awards Night at the Resorts World Performing Arts Theater with hosts Ai-Ai de las Alas and Cesar Montano.
Watch it on Jan. 1, 2012 at 10:30 p.m. ABS-CBN.

Labels: Floobydust

Time flies when you're having fun but did you know that the 3rd year anniversary of the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars falls on this day? What happened during the span of 3 years?

well, a couple of hundred people died on the tragedy, only a few survivors, not even the captain of the ill-fated ship.

case of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide filed against Sulpicio Lines by relatives of the victims still pending and unresolved (note, even cases of MV Doña Paz, about 20 years ago pending still at the Supreme Court)

Sulpicio Lines, last year, changed it's corporate name to Philippine Span Asia Corporation

Philippine Span Asia Carrier now reportedly handles freight and cargo only, no information yet on passenger ships, trip schedules, ferry fares, telephone contact numbers, even the official website.

so much for Suspicious Lines :(

Labels: Floobydust

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.

The 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


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!

Labels: Floobydust

It's New Years eve and for several years, Tutubi vented off steam in the last day of the outgoing year to welcome the new year with a "clean" state of mind.

This won't be off-topic as it's a rant post and sort of an open letter to Sec. Alberto Lim, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. After this letter, it's time to move on...Happy New Year to all!

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Dear Sec. Alberto Lim,

I don't doubt your sincerity to increase the number of tourists visiting the Philippines but I noticed your ideas on how you intend to do it won't really help you in your quest.

First, that "open skies" will bring in the tourist.

Is that so? Have you checked all foreign airlines entitlements to the Philippines? Are they all filled to the brim that they can't be accommodated or were they not used due to lack of passengers? Was this validated by the Civil Aeronautics Board who claim the opposite? It's due to lack of demand, demand that should be produced by the DOT and Filipinos, to bring the tourists, not the myth of "open skies"

Second, after the Luneta hostage taking fiasco, you brushed aside the effect and said "Hong Kong is a small market" now realizing that Hong Kong is part of China where growing number of tourists come from. The future of tourism is not from the US and Europe but from East Asia particularly China.

Third, you statement that struck Tutubi most that "Backpackers leave waste." Have to admit some backpackers leave waste but also your high-end tourists leave waste too, like those "educated" people inside SUVs throwing trash outside their window. Why is it that even with the presence of too many backpackers in Thailand, I saw the country as much cleaner than the Philippines, no urine-smelling places that Metro Manila reeks of. True backpackers and mountaineers adhere to the adage "Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures" ethical mentality.

Fourth, "Backpackers don't spend enough" that clearly betrayed you just don't understand backpacking. Backpackers scrimp on expenses, don't stay at expensive hotels/resorts (like the one he developed in Palawan some time ago) for they only need a place to sleep and rest BUT they do stay longer that your "usual tourists" to stretch the most out of their money. And most of the time, the community benefits due to the fact that even homestay accommodations and public transportation are patronized by backpackers (compared to your usual tourists come in airconditioned buses and private tour vans). You don't know the true impact since they go straight to ordinary people and not the pockets of the moneyed few who own the resorts. They impact the economy and they come in droves that's why it's really, really foolish of you not to develop the Philippines as a backpacking destination.

Fifth, “maximize its potential of being an English-speaking nation.” That too old "come on" of the Philippines as an english-speaking nation. Aren't you aware that almost half of tourists ho stayed at Metro Manila hotels in 2009 were East Asians: Koreans, Japanese, Chinese (China and Hong Kong) and Taiwanese who don't speak English at all? Their number is steadily increasing and they don't care about the negative travel advisories issued by the western world led by the US and the UK who happen to experience terrorist attacks in their own backyard.

Focusing too much on English, like the DEPED, won't cut it as the world's economy is shifting to Asia. Thailand has problems in English yet visited by tourists many times over than the Philippines, most of them backpackers.

"Few visitors also got to experience the country's rich cultural heritage since there were not that many museums to put artefacts on display"

Really, Tutubi loves museums but most Filipinos don't. They only visit museums on a field trip where they get herded out of buses/vans into the museums. Did you know that annual visitors to the National Museum of the Philippines can be dwarfed by visitors of SM Mall of Asia in a day? As such, museums are in a sorry state made worst by very few visitors. Most museums in the Philippines forbid taking photographs, such a medieval prohibition that's no longer practiced in most countries.

With your kind of mindset that resulted to your insistence of the need for a new slogan and logo that resulted in a fiasco, all made with your approval, but turned to be a fiasco and embarrassment, expect Philippine Tourism to be just the same, or worse, than previous years-- lagging with South East Asian neighbors -- due to misplaced priorities and unfounded beliefs!

I know you already know/aware of these things, here are some "link loves" to refresh your memory or update you just in case you missed the news and writings about you, not the "praise releases" of your DOT henchmen including the incredulous claim on one of the "DOT Praise Releases" where it was mentioned that you "founded the Palawan Tourism Council, which is responsible for Palawan’s rise as a veritable tourist destination."

Lim and Palawan Tourism

Chinese The Future of PH Tourism

No Need for Open Skies

Open Sky won't solve the problem

Why open skies policy will fail PH tourim

Tourism Chief Represents Foreign Interests CA Told

Myths Behind Blue Skies

Cebu Tour Operators Hit DOT Moves

Lastly, try to get more people passionate about travel and really know our country. Heck, your people can't even put up a very informative tourism website with original articles (thank the bloggers for giving alternatives) and even registered a domain name very similar to a porn website.

Happy New Year, Mr. Secretary!

Wish you realize wrong moves you had last year and correct them in 2011 for PH to truly attain our country's true tourism potential.

Tutubi

I explore, therefore I blog!

Labels: Floobydust

Of all the seventy-nine provinces of the Philippines, Tutubi already set foot and explored more than half of them and trying to explore the rest of the remaining half.

Batanes, the northernmost province of the country only seen on TV, read online or in magazines by Tutubi, has unique four seasons with rolling hills, enchanting seascapes and the enduring, unique culture of the Ivatans waiting to be witnessed and experienced. The beautiful and enigmatic island has yet to be visited, explored and mapped by Tutubi, the budget traveler, explorer and Open Street Map contributor that he is, mainly due to airfare cost constraints.

Tutubi's ultimate dream of exploring all the Philippine provinces is captured by the popular noontime show Eat Bulaga's opening song that used to say "Mula Aparri hanggang Jolo," later changed to "mula Batanes hanggang Jolo" which is still incomplete due to the fact that the southernmost province of the archipelago is Tawi-tawi so it should be "Mula Batanes hanggang Tawi-tawi" to be geographically and politically correct.

With the Batanes trip to come true in case Tutubi bags SEAIR's free trip to Batanes contest, Tutubi can make it "Mula Batanes hanggang Zamboanga" from the present "mula Pagudpud hanggang Zamboanga" then slowly work on his wish to make it: "mula Batanes hanggang Tawi-tawi." Setting foot on Batanes will not only let Tutubi share the beauty of Batanes to his blog readers, he intends to also create the GPS map of the province to be shared online with other tourists and explorers.

From Batanes to Tawi-tawi and every province in between
With Batanes on top of Tutubi's wish list of places to be and be seen.
From Batanes to Tawi-tawi, with Batanes as the country's crown;
And from SEAIR's plane, Tutubi will shout, "Batanes, I'm coming down!"


Interactive map of Batanes main island has no details of streets and coordinates of places to visit. If and when visits Batanes, Tutubi can add detail to make it routable and navigable by GPS and online users just what he's done to the online map Paete, Laguna and other unmapped places he has recently visited

"I explore, therefore I blog...and map!"


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To know more about SEAIR, you may visit SEAIR official website or their Facebook Fan Page

Labels: Floobydust

A few moons back, Tutubi setup his Twitter account together with a Facebook page but only managed to announce his Twitter page here due to his very busy schedule as well as the demands of taking care of Tutubi, Jr. where his priority really should be.

At least after a few months of hiding in the cellar, he finished setting up a Facebook page for this blog for some people who spend time on FB and Twitter to follow him or ask him questions on anything under the budget travel sun.

Follow Tutubi on Facebook.

For Twitter users, you may Follow Tutubi on Twitter.

Tutubi will make it a point from now on to announce where he's at, where he's going, upcoming posts (teasers) and other thoughts.

Lastly, save yourself the trouble of searching for the enigmatic Tutubi's personal profile on Facebook for there's really none, one of the few techies out there who really don't have one...and proud of it!

Labels: Floobydust

It's unposted on this blog but Tutubi was a victim of the flooding of Metro Manila brought about by tropical storm Ondoy (International Name: Ketsana) on September 26, 2009

Typhoon Ondoy's flood early afternoon. Flood waters rose to about 10 feet deep in Tutubi's place, a few inches before it reached the second floor of his home, while Tutubi, Jr, just a few months old and unaware of the tragedy, is sleeping on the third floor

What remained of Tutubi's Toyota Vios, two days after the flood engulped it completely

Even a year later, many people have yet to recover from the trauma and tragedy a year later, news has been filled with stories of tragedies and forgotten heroes, Tutubi's learned how to thrive after the tragedy and learned so many things.

1. He became real close with fellow Ondoy victims in the office, always exchanging stories and updates jokingly on each of their woes.
2. Preparing for a Milenyo-type storm, where he had a roof for shelter for his car constructed earlier is not enough for Ondoy is more destructive.
3. "Acts of God" or "Acts of Nature" car insurance riders are not standard with his company.
4. He has since learned how to check and troubleshoot car problems on his own, even repair car electronics like the digital instrument panel-- really awakened his electronics hobbyist blood. (FYI, Tutubi is an electronics engineer by profession that's why understanding car electrical systems is not hard for him)
5. Just in case it happens again, he can restore a flooded car and make it run again, but there's now car insurance to take care of it so why bother? He can make a business out of it :P

In these days where storms are just on the horizon, it's best to hope for the beat but expect the worst!

Life goes on...

Labels: Floobydust