Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Gotad Ad Ifugao

Gotad is an Ifugao term which refers to a large gathering of people. This is a celebration which represents phases of prestige rites in which people living around the community meet on the village of the family conducting the rites.

Gotad Ad Ifugao is a long week prestige festival celebrated every year by the Ifugaos to commemorate the Ifugao Foundation. This is celebrated after the harvest season of palay locally known as "tinawon" meaning yearly or every year wherein Ifugaos from the different municipalities are gathered in Lagawe, the capital town of the province to perform various activities. This is a form of thanksgiving celebration after a long year of hard work.

The theme for 2014 Gotad Ad Ifugao is "A Celebration of Cultural Heritage as Foundation for Self Determination and Sustainable Development". Different municipalities of the province will participate the activities that will feature them, their culture and the progress of their own lands. Olympic sports and indigenous sports competition, ball games and cultural competition including beauty pageant are among the list of activities prepared by the province for this year's celebration. Featured indigenous sports are bultung (wrestling), hinnukting, guyyudan (tug of war), akkad (kadang kadang) race, uggub and others.

Schedule of Activities
A Celebration of Cultural Heritage as Foundation for Self Determination and Sustainable Development
Float Parade contest 









Street Dancing Parade and Contest






Different products from the municipalities of Ifugao 







Friday, May 30, 2014

Halo-Halo

Halo-Halo is one of the treats popularly known in the Philippines. It is a mixture of different ingredients like kidney beans, jackfruit, sweet potato, nata de coco, gulaman, ube, pinipig, coconut, sugar palm, cheese, banana. Fruits, beans and other sweets are all placed first in the tall container followed by the shaved ice, evaporated milk and topped with leche flan or purple yam.

Halo-Halo

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

White Sand Beach, Puerto Galera

We took the Jam Liner Bus Terminal in Buendia along Taft Avenue, Pasay going to Batangas City Pier at around 5 in the morning. It was almost 8 am when we reached the pier. We boarded a ferry going to White Beach from the pier after almost 20 minutes talking with the men offering cheaper fares and packages.
One of the stalls offering ferry services to the different
ports in Mindoro.

Passed by Sabang, another place in Puerto Galera
Finally arrived at White Beach. We were welcomed by the local people offering us a place to stay. There are a lot of affordable accommodation nearby the front beach from Php 500 to Php 1000 depending on the room and its location. 
One of the restaurants at the front beach
Typical activities are swimming, snorkeling, island hopping, nature walk etc.
Different live shows are seen during the night. 
Beach volleyball
Banana boat ride
Parasailing

Island hopping


Cave under the sea
The beach is a bit crowded like Boracay but White Beach is nearer to the country's capital. It very accessible to people who want to escape the busy life in Manila.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Paradise Palawan Adventure

I and my friend were so excited for our trip going to Coron, Palawan. We will be going there without any reservation except for our plane tickets. We tried searching via internet for cheaper hotels or inns but we could not find a place for our liking. We were wondering though if we could find a local family who could accommodate us in their house (of course we will pay) but we did not know. I prefer to stay or live with a local family or with a group of local people rather than hotels or inns. For me, socializing and interacting with the local will let me know more about them, their culture, beliefs etc. This will give me more contentment aside from the beautiful and scenic islands that Palawan offers.

An experience I will never forget. Here  are some of the pictures we had during our trip. Enjoy!


While we were at the boarding area of NAIA Terminal 3, there was a woman who asked about our itinerary. She looked nice and like a mother to us so we talked to her. She later found out we did not have any hotel bookings, hence, she offered her house and left us to decide the amount we would like to give. We could not decide so we said we wanted to see the house first. Jeez!
We got on Cebu Pacific plane to reach Busuanga and then rode a van going to the town proper which took us almost an hour trip for Php 150 per person.

Going up to Mt. Tapyas which is a 30 minute trek from the town
proper. 
It was already dark when we arrived at the town. The woman showed us her house which was I think about four story and was still under construction. The place was nice and so with the room so we agreed. She still left us to decide about the amount to be paid.                                                                                      
She and her husband were very accommodating. The house was actually for tourist inn once the construction is done.
A huge cross seen at the top of  Mt. Tapyas


                                                                                                                                                                                           
A panoramic fantastic view overlooking the town and the neighboring islands. 

After an early morning trek to Mt. Tapyas, we headed down to an office to book for our island hopping. I forgot the names of the islands we visited but there was a package deal for the whole day visit to the different islands. Amount per head depends on the islands to be visited. We did not know any good island so we just paid the cheapest package deal inclusive of lunch and tour guide fee on that day. We tried to haggle for a lower price and the owner told us she would be giving it the next day. When we went to the port,  the boat aboard some tourists inside was ready and only waiting for the two of us. Good thing they were all nice and understood when we apologetically explained we just came from Mt. Tapyas. :)

We were 8 inside the boat. Two locals as our tour guide and captain of the boat, a couple from Spain and another couple from Manila. On our way to the different islands, we talked with the other tourists about their stay and the places they already visited. We also learned from the foreigners that they paid at least Php 3, 500 for that day's island hopping only while the other paid  Php 10,000 for three days inclusive of 2 days island hopping tour, meals and accommodation in an inn. For us, we paid less than a thousand peso per head  for that day's tour only. They were surprised about it when we told them. 

It was on this day that I enjoyed especially snorkeling. Wow! It was my first time to see those sunken ships, different lively corals, different school of fish, etc etc. Though those sea creatures look beautiful, I was still nervous every time I thought I got near them. I felt like they could just swallow me anytime. 

On our second day, we took another package which was second to the most expensive deal just  so we could see the difference.  We kept on bargaining with the owner to lessen the price as she promised. She actually changed her mind because the islands we will be going were a bit far and depends on the entrance per head and per island. We got late again and the boat was only waiting for us. Jeez! 

We saw familiar faces as we approached the boat and they were waiving and joking about us being late. They were the Spanish couple. Someone (couple from Manila)  from the other boat containing at least 20 tourists who were mostly Koreans waved and teased us being sad to be separated from us.  They wanted to join us but they were declined by the man who booked them for that trip.

We entered the boat and met new faces this time. A couple from Thailand (a German and Thai), a tanned skin teenage girl sitting next to an older man (Briton or Aussie, not so sure), our captain of the boat and another tour guide for a total of 11 people. On our way, the German asked this Brit/ Aussie man if the girl beside him was his friend. When he said yes, their conversation continued. When I looked at the Spanish couple, they were smiling towards us.

We went at the back end of the boat and found our tour guides busy grilling the fish. We talked and joke with them while taking pictures. We learned from them that they know the young girl and lives in this place. 

We stopped on our scheduled first island visit and had our swimming. We bonded with the others especially the Spanish couple and the tour guides. Later that day, the young girl joined us already while the two guides kept on teasing her about her friend. This gave us the chance to talk to her about them. I and my friend did not want to lecture her on  what she must and must not do. We only advised her to be wise. We were surprised when she asked us questions and our opinions. We shared our thoughts based on our experience dealing with different people. 

Now comes the picture here there and everywhere moment. Everyone was busy posing and taking pictures when suddenly, this Brit/Aussie man approached the German who had a nice DSLR camera and asked him to take picture of him with the young girl. I think at that moment, everyone had their own opinions already but just kept it to their selves.

Back to the islands. There's not much difference with out first day island visit except for the Barracuda Lake. The water is a mixture of fresh and salt water. We were not able to visit Culion Island which they say was once the world's largest leper colony. We did not have much time for the travel since it would take at least a day to be able to enjoy the island..so sad.

I hope to go there again in the future. 

Coron Island, Palawan

Coron, Palawan

Coron Island

Coron Island