Mt. Tagapo 2012

Mt. Tagapo 2012

by Ivan Ignacio

It was a promising day for The BACKPACKERS and friends. Despite the storm signal brought by tropical storm Ofel one to two days ago, Mr. Sunshine was unexpectedly smiling that morning. We gathered and met our guests outside McDonalds in EDSA Central. We all knew each other except for our first time guest, Miss Weng Bulaon of 'Byaheng Jologs Lakwatsera' blog. Her love for nature trips stopped several years ago due to a change in life's priority. But this year, she is coming back to what she loves: travelling. After twenty years, her comeback climb is with The BACKPACKERS. Altogether, we journeyed via chartered jeepney to the town of Binangonan, Rizal. All were excited about conquering this mountain compared by Dr. Jose P. Rizal to a maiden's breast: Mt. Tagapo.

The BP Gives Back: Give Love @ Nayon Ng Kabataan

We Care, We Share

I felt I had a very loving heart of a good Christian after I and my groupThe BACKPACKERS spent time at Nayon ng mga Kabataan yesterday and had fun with the street children who are under the custody of DSWD. Thanks Chons Zosa for this outreach. This reminded me of how lucky I had been because of my mom (wherever she is now). 
~BP Clue Fajardo

Tacloban, Leyte ~ City Tour

The last destination of The BACKPACKERS is the city which serves as the gateway of Eastern Visayas: Tacloban City. This is where the Leyte part of the famous San Juanico bridge is connecting and the location of Leyte island's only airport: Daniel Z. Romualdez airport. It is rich with history; aside from the longest bridge in the country which was the gift of former President Ferdinand Marcos to his spouse Imelda Marcos, it is also the site of the Madonna of Japan, Imelda Shrine and it is near MacArthur Landing Park; a memorial park built in the comemoration of Douglas MacArthur's landing in the Philippines during the second World War. The BACKPACKERS stayed at the affordable Grand Royale Suites in Burgos Street, a couple of blocks away from the city's downtown. Let us check out the places of interest visited by The BACKPACKERS in Tacloban City:

TACLOBAN CITY TOUR

San Juanico Bridge

Palompon, Leyte ~ Kalanggaman Island & Tabuk Marine Sanctuary

The Priceless Treasures of Palompon

by: Marion Erika Macapagal

Seeing the sunrise and sunset in the beach is like heaven everytime. Oh I so love that moment! ❤ It reminds me that there’s a beginning yet there’s an ending for everything which makes me appreciate life more. In this trip, I won’t let the moment pass without seeing a picturesque sunrise and sunset in Kalanggaman Island.

Sogod, Southern Leyte ~ Zip Southern Leyte

Waking up on that Saturday morning was associated with infectious excitement coming from all of us. It was our third day in what we labeled as "The BACKPACKERS Eastern Visayas Escapade" and what made us all ecstatic was the fact that we would be having adrenaline rush-triggering activities that day in Sogod, Southern Leyte - ziplining and riding a cable car over the tallest bridge in the Philippines, the Agas-agas Bridge!

Sugod Na Sa Sogod!

(Let's Rush to Sogod!)

By Heinz Lopez Alvarez, Jr.

The BACPKACERS with Ralph's Sheryl (second from right)

Maasin, Southern Leyte ~ Cagnituan Cave & Falls and Jalleca Hill

The group was starting to enjoy the backpacking vibe of their Eastern Visayas adventure as they rode an ordinary bus from Matalom, Leyte to Maasin, the capital city of Southern Leyte. But with fresh clean air and nice sceneries during the 30 minute ride, you will not really look for airconditioned buses in this part of the country. The BACKPACKERS were welcomed by BP Weng's relatives whose humble abode served as a safehouse for their belongings. After being introduced to the local deli of Maasin City: the circular hopia and the hanging rice or 'puso' ~ the local's eco-friendly way of cooking and serving rice, they geared up for their next adventure: checking out Guinsohotan Falls and an unexpected spelunking challenge at Cagnituan Cave.

We Survived Cagnituan Challenge
by: Ivan Ignacio

Matalom, Leyte ~ Canigao Island

The BACKPACKERS visited Eastern Visayas on October 11 - 15, 2012. Their first stop was in the quaint town of Matalom in Leyte. They were divided into two groups, the first group consisted of BPs April, Marion, Percy and Ivan who reached Tacloban via Zestair at 5:40AM. They toured the town of Tacloban before heading to their first group destination: Matalom, Leyte. After enduring four hours of travelling passing through the towns of Dulag, Rizal, Mayorca, Mac Arthur, Abuyog, Baybay, Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos and Bato, they finally reached the quiet shores of Matalom, Leyte. The four reached the island at around 5PM, pitched tent and waited for the afternoon group who arrived in Leyte at 1PM. The afternoon group consisted of BPs Chons, Weng, Heinz, Ralph and our lone guest Sheryl. Here is what we experienced in this small but beautiful island of Canigao:

Wow Canigao

by: Weng Topasi

Backpacking in Eastern Visayas

Eastern Visayas was the venue of 

The BACKPACKERS Ultimate Adventure 

for the second half of 2012

Here is a quick look at the towns and places visited by The BACKPACKERS:

Baler

Province of Aurora
P H I L I P P I N E S

Let Us Surf & Wander in Baler!

By: Marion Erika Macapagal

Boredom. Who in this world have never felt bored at one point in his life? Stress. The truth is we deal with it every single day. So how do you deal with them? What do you do every day to make your life busy yet happy and satisfied? In my case, I want to spend the next 60 or 70 years of my life (if that is how long I will live in this world) as if everyday is a blessing that I should be thankful for. And for me, the best way to appreciate it is to enjoy life to the fullest.

Perhaps the most effective way to whisk off stress and to get rid of boredom is to find a hobby or a sport that would stimulate your mind and body. Trying out things that you have not done in your life is a good idea too. Or, simply creating your own Bucket List and challenging yourself to accomplish them one by one. Tell you what… I got a hundred of things to do in my own list! And, on top of the list is to explore the beauty of the world.

Today, let me share our travel experience and introduce you to one of the many beautiful and lovely places here in the Philippines - BALER.