2. Toiletries / Medicine – Just bring travel-sized versions of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush in a zip-lock bag. Well, for liquids just put it in a small bottle, 3 ounce to be exacts for you to be able to hand-carry it. Then also pack some first aid kit and your medicine. It is prescribed by your doctor just bring the prescriptions for custom inspection procedure if ever.

3. Chargers and Adapters – Well, if you’re traveling abroad you should definitely bring this. You don’t want to miss out on your photo op right? And never plug your chargers directly into a wall outlet without asking the hotel front desk or the owner (if you’re staying with friends and family) for some need a voltage converter. You don’t want your charger to explode right?

4. Guidebook and Maps – This will be very useful when you are traveling. A map will guide you to all the local places to see, while the guidebook could help you with shopping, events, best places to go, best restaurant and could help you with some local handy words.

5. Mobile Phone – You will need this to communicate with your love ones back at home, especially with important matters and unforeseen events during your trip. But don’t forget to buy an International Sim. SIM card in a GSM cell phone can help you save money on roaming charges for receiving and sending text and calls abroad.

6. Gadgets (iPods, Netbook, camera) - this will come in handy during a long travel/drive and for passing time. Also bring cameras to document and capture your adventure.

7. Good Book – Bring one so that you have something to do if you get stranded and during the long wait so you won’t get bored.

8. Money Belt/Neck Pouch – Aside from a daybag or purse, bring one of this for your money and passport.

9. Comfortable Shoes – You don’t want to ruin your trip with blisters right? So, pack comfortable shoes since you will have a lot of walking to do in exploring the place.

10. Insect Repellents / Sun Block – Always bring Insect repellents to protect you from mosquito bites that can cause serious illness such as malaria, dengue and AH1N1. And sun block is to protect your skin from sun’s damaging rays.

All you have to do is stay up late and simply visit PAL’s website at www.philippineairlines.com from 12:01AM to 6:00AM (Manila Time) on July 18,2010. This is in celebration for Philippine Airlines’ 70th Anniversary.
PAL Midnight Sale Part 13 is valid only at www.philippineairlines.com.  Limited seats only!

Of course, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta’s success and claim to fame is attributed to a mix of stunning race location, nearly impeccable management and organization, and a marvelous fare of side events.

And like no other sport, the race of native outrigger or paraws test both physical and mental ability, and with so many tactical decisions needing to be made throughout a race, it is no wonder that many have described paraw sailing as water chess. The cerebral side of the Paraw Regatta can be the most challenging, frustrating and rewarding aspect of sailing that can confront any local seafarer.

Indeed, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta brings out the best in sailing skills. Local sailors take pride in applying and displaying their sailing abilities which include being able to leave shore swiftly, navigate, negotiate and match their wits against their competitors and against whatever Mother Nature throws their way before returning safely to the beach to claim their portion of fame and fortune.

However, the Iloilo Paraw regatta is more than simply an extravaganza of striking sails. It is more than just the flood of color that the said events bring to fill the beaches of Arevalo during regatta time.

It is a celebration of the Ilonggos’ reverence for life, expressed through their enduring love of the sea, love for sailing and aquatic adventures that show their abilities to survive even under adversity and the harshest of conditions. It strives to bring people and families closer together and provide them with pure fun and release from the stressful hustle and bustle of modern living.

And like the ones before it, the 38th edition of this wonderful event intends to do just that and promises even more.

Around 3,500 Catholic devotees witnessed the ceremonial re-enthronement of the two-foot statue Thursday afternoon.

The ceremony took place after the owner of the original statue removed the image and pledged to replace it with a Ten Commandments Tablet last week.

But the Catholic Church was furious with the owner’s decision.

For 20 years, the grotto has become one of the most favorite places to shoot by passing tourists.

With the support of the local council declaring the rock as owned by the government, the grotto has been reconstructed and a new Virgin Mary image has been installed.

Fr. Placer said that tourists coming to this resort island would be going back to the Boracay Rock and once again shoot photo of the new image. (PNA)

We got to South Bus Terminal at 7am. The newly-renovated terminal is now airconditioned and has a relaxed environment. There were no airconditioned bus available that day though so we opted to ride a non-airconditioned bus. The one-way fare from Cebu City to Badian, Cebu was 126 pesos. I enjoyed the view and the breeze in our 3-hour trip pretty well. From Cebu City, you will pass by 3 cities 7 municipalities before reaching Badian. We got off the bus when we saw the church with tinted, colorful windows along the national road. That is the landmark for the road going to Kawasan. One of our companions said that we have to hike for about 10-20 minutes to get to the
waterfalls.

Abbie with friends at Kawasan Falls

Before the hike, there’s a group of people who will give you a flyer about what-to-do and what-not-do in the vicinity of Kawasan Falls. If the old news hasn’t reached you, a Korean died when he jumped off the biggest and highest falls in Kawasan. No wonder my mom was so worried when she knew that I went there. Anyway mom, I won’t, in my right mind, jump off a waterfall because I don’t know how to swim above 6feet. So scratch the jumping-off-the-waterfall activity. You can go rafting under the waterfalls for an hour for 300 pesos, not including the rafters’ talent fee which is more or less 100 pesos per rafter. Nonetheless, it was very exciting to go rafting. The water is so cold and refreshing plus when the raft go through the waterfalls, you can get the ultimate back massage. The first waterfall that you’ll see is the main and biggest waterfall in Kawasan. There are a few more waterfalls above the big one. There are cabanas and little huts for rent all around the waterfalls and they also have lunch food that can be bought from the one and only food provider there who is also in charge of the cabanas, rafts, lodging, and lifesavers. But they don’t prohibit you from bringing your own food though and you can sit down among the rocks if you don’t want to rent a cabana.

All in all, the experience was very exciting. For city-dwellers like me, going out of town is a really big event. You can’t see any waterfall in the city. Kawasan falls is just so big and the waters look so mystical you’ll just stand in awe.

By Lagawan’s Guest Blogger – Abbie
discoveringpinas.com

Patapat Viaduct is a 1.2 km long winding road connecting Ilocos Norte and the province of Cagayan. It is located at the foot  of the North Cordillera Mountain Ranges and was built in 1960’s to reduce the problem of landslides in the area that has caused many mishaps in the past.

Well, it was really a breathtaking view with lush green mountains and blue sea. What could one ask for? Right? And some also say that one could actually see Taiwan from here in good weather. Well, if you’re into Taiwanese songs you could actually tune in to Taiwan’s local frequency here. Woot! Woot!

Group photo at Patapat Viaduct – by Bert

Anyways, after Patapat Viaduct we went directly to Blue Lagoon for dinner but because of the bad weather we decided to go back to the resort instead. Well, maybe I could visit the Blue Lagoon next time. *crossfingers*

Our first stop was the Bangui Wind Farm – the first and the largest wind farm in South East Asia. It is located in the coastline of Barangay Baruyen in the sleepy town of Bangui in Ilocos, Norte. The 20 giant windmills are really amazing! I could say, it is one of the most beautiful man-made mechanical structures I ever saw.

View of Bangui Windmills from Kangkang Windmill Cafe

The Bangui Windmills are located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The windmills, officially referred to as the NorthWind Bangui Bay Project, were a project by the NorthWind Development Corporation as a practice renewable energy sources and to help reduce the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The project is the first “Wind Farm” in the Philippines consisting of wind turbines on-shore facing the South China Sea and considered to be the biggest in Southeast Asia. The project sells electricity to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) and provides 40% of the power requirements of Ilocos Norte via Transco Laoag. (Wikipedia)

When we were in the coastal of Bangui, only 17 turbines were working but after an hour or so, while we were having our lunch in Kangkang the remaining 3 turbines started to work. The people in Kangkang said that the 3 turbines were under maintenance for a couple of days already.

Each windmills is 70 meters tall with 41 meters blades that is capable of producing electricity up to a maximum capacity of 1.65 mega-watt, totaling to 24.75 mega-watts all in all. The windmills started supplying electricity to 40% of Ilocos Norte in May 2005. And this is the first source of clean energy introduced in the country.

Well, after lunch and videoke time, off we went to our next stop – the town of Burgos to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Cape Bojeador.

Getting There

From Laoag, take the Laoag – Cagayan route towards Burgos. After reaching Burgos, watch out for the directional marker on the left side of the road that leads to the Bangui Bay. Follow the dirt road leading to the bay. Some wind mills will already be visible from this point then make a right turn to the bay. Travel time from Laoag will approximately be an hour and a half.

This trip to Ilocos was very different from the previous trip I had with my friends last December for this time I was here to cover the Friendship Kayak Expedition 2009 – Thanks to GMCI and Primer. And fortunately, we had a lot of sidetrips before the final leg of the first kayaking trail. One of the places we went to was the coastal town of Burgos to visit the famous heritage site in Ilocos Norte – the Faro Cabo Cape Bojeador or Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

It was a dark and dreary Wednesday afternoon but when we arrived at the lighthouse the weather improve a little – with sunshine, even just for a couple of minutes. Well, there is something about the place that is eerie – I have this feeling of someone watching us while exploring the place. Well, maybe because it’s old, rusty and so isolated since it is located up the hill of Vigia in Burgos with no nearby house or structures. But even though it’s eerie Cape Bojeador lighthouse is definitely an amazing historical structure and a must place to see when one is visiting Ilocos.

The lighthouse is also called by locals as Burgos lighthouse and it is located on top of Vigia de Nagparitan Hill in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is the highest-elevated lighthouse in the Philippines at 160 meters above sea level and the northwestern most in location. It was built in 1892 and is still functioning to date, serving ships passing by the northern part of South China Sea.

Lagawan in Cape Bojeador

Built on March 31, 1892, Faro de Capo Bojeador was designed by Engineer Margin Pers y Pers in 1887. It was reconfigured and constructed by Engineer Gulliermo Brockman.  The lighthouse has been guiding sea vessels passing the northern part of South China Sea and the rugged coast of Cape Bojeador. Despite of its age, it is still being used today. The lighthouse has been declared as a National Historical Landmark and a National Cultural Treasure. ( Read More: Heritage Conservation Society – Cape Bojeador Lighthouse )

Mamang caretaker was kind enough to let us go up the lighthouse tower. And to get to the top, we climb a series of steps and guess what? It wasn’t that easy especially if you have a fear of height and is claustrophobic for you must really have a will power to conquer the rusty, slippery metal spiral staircase and the steep-steel ladder plus the heavy blowing of winds to reach the lens room. But once you’re on the top it’s really worth it for the view is really fantastic. You can see the South China Sea, the town of Pasuquin, the windmills and coastline of Bangui and other neighboring towns.

View from the top…

Getting there:

Cape Bojeador lighthouse is approximately 35 kilometers north of Laoag by car.

Just follow the northwestern coastal national highway from Laoag, Vigan or La union going to Ilocos province until you’ve reach the town of Burgos. There is a large sign board along the highway which serves as the landmark for Cape Bojeador. You won’t get lost if you follow this sign since the road leads you to the base of the of the Cape Bojeador lighthouse complex.

There is no Public Transportation like jeepneys or tricycles found here, so it’s either you walk along the winding road to the lighthouse or bring a car.

More Photos:

looking at the town of Burgos from the lighthouse window

Another coastal view from Cape Bojeador

Friendship Kayak Expedition 2009: DoT, Media, GMCI, Primer, Blogger

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