Thank You!!!

2008 was a good year for traveling. I had the chance to visit places in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and even went out of the country once. I got to explore some of the famous beaches in the country like Boracay, Pagudpud and Camiguin as well as feel the awesome might of our mountains and valleys in Ifugao, Benguet and Zambales. And of course, I was lucky enough to roam around some of my country's more than seven-thousand islands like Capones, Carabao and the Hundred Islands.

So this post is a look back at some of the places I have featured in this blog for 2008 and my way of thanking everyone of you who have visited this blog and who became my friends in the process. Thank You!!!

And since this is my last post of the year, let me just share this prayer coupled with wish that may you all have a prosperous 2009 ahead of you...

Thank You Lord, for All Good Things

Thank You, Lord, for all the things that make our lives so bright...
For blue skies in the morning and evening's golden light,
For the majesty of mountains and the beauty of the seas,
For animals and soaring birds and shining green-leafed trees,
For flowers of a thousand hues and gardens where they grow,
For homes where happy hours pass and the love those hours know...
And thank you Lord, for all the things we forget to name,
For you know our hearts, will know we're grateful just the same...
We ask for just one blessing more as bright as moon or star...
Give us wisdom, Lord to know how fortunate we are!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

P.S. : I also would like to thank Fishing Guy and the creators of My World for inviting me to join their weekly meme and be given a chance to show my islands to the blogging community worldwide. To view their entries this week, please click here.

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan

The Municipality of Tayabas is an attractive and well-preserved town built at the base of the mountains. Approximately halfway between Lucban and Lucena City, this place is the site of an old church St. Michael Archangel Basilica and an old stone Malagunlong Bridge. The most well-known place, however, is this seafood restaurant which is located just 6 kilometers towards Lucban.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

"God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should ... have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Leaving Carabao Island

On the second part to end this Carabao Series, let me share to you another set of photos I have taken while on a boat ride around this island. As a direct contrast to my previous post, the sky in this post is clearer and sunnier and what's mystical is that this and the previous post were taken on the same day.

Carabao Island Boat Tour

This series started with a boat tour and will end in a two-part boat tour around Carabao Island. And to show you how fast the weather changed on that particular day, I will first show you shots I have taken on a bit gloomy or gray skies. Again, these are all taken while on our boat where the ride was a bit bumpy because of the waves. Hope you enjoy them.

Tagaytay Combot

Endless Christmas parties, year-end meetings and overtime work kept me out of my computer these past few days. Hope I can make it up to your blogs this coming Holiday Vacations. For now, let me share to you a video I made featuring clips and pics of my recent travel in Tagaytay Combot, Carabao Island in the Province of Romblon:

All pics were taken by me while the clips were taken by my guide Julius of Boracay. Thanks to the music Disco Duck by Rick Dees.

I also would like to thank Redlan for featuring this humble blog in his own Web of Arts's blog:



Thanks buddy, please check his blog by clicking here.

Walking Around Carabao Island

The way I see it, walking around Carabao Island is like wandering on a place where time stood still. I felt like I was in a time-period movie circa 1970s where you see nothing but wooden houses, farm animals on the roadside, and old lady folks dressed up in saya. If not for the Smart Banner in one store saying "Load Na Dito" and the occasional motorcycle that passes its narrow road, then one would really believe that it is still the seventies.

But that basically is the appeal of the place, very laid-back and yet very scenic specially if you head to Tagaytay Combot where the seascape is just so amazing. So for today, I will leave you with photos I have taken while I was walking around Carabao Island:

Inubahan Beach, Carabao Island

Our boat touched the powder white sand of Inubahan Beach in a very clear and blue sky. But just about half an hour before that, I have experienced one of the most turbulent boat ride I ever had wherein the promised 45 minute ride from Boracay to Carabao Island turned out to be a two-hour joy-ride amidst the wavy sea. I must admit, I am a bit worried specially that this trip wasn't planned at all.

Back to the Islands

While on the island of Boracay, Lawstude decided to pay a visit to the nearby Carabao Island in the Province of Romblon. On this and in the upcoming posts, I will share to you the experiences I had and the views I have taken starting with the boat tour around the Island of Boracay and ending with a similar one around Carabao Island.

Plaridel Church

The Plaridel Church more popularly known as Saint James Parish Church is a 400-year old parish church. It is the main tourist attraction of this quiet municipality located in the province of Bulacan. The Church boasts of an amazing interiors and a bell tower known as Simborio. A catholic school with the same name is also located within its vicinity.

Malolos Cathedral

Malolos City prides itself for having two of the most historic and centuries-old churches of the country. And they are located just a few minutes away from each other. I have already featured the more popular Barasoain Church in my previous post and now I will show you the Malolos Cathedral now known as Basilica Minore dela Nuestra Señora de Immaculada Concepcion (Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception)

Guiguinto's Garden City

If mother nature does not give your place a natural wonder that would make for a tourist attraction, then, you could make one. That was what semed to be on the mindset of Guiguinteños when they conceptualized the Garden City - the municipality’s main tourist attraction. This place features a cornucopia of greens and colorful flowers, huts and other organic fixtures that exemplifies Guiguinteños ingenuity with regards to gardening and both landscaping and hardscaping. It has been the dream and aim of Guiguinto to be conferred the title “The Garden Capital of the Philippines.”

Historic Barasoain Church

If there is one church that played a major part in Philippine political history, that has gotta be the Barasoain Church in Malolos Bulacan. Built in 1630 during the Spanish era, Barasoain Church has been around for decades and it has been one of the Philippines's pride and joy.