A few bare branches stick out from the dry earth, swaying with the ferocity of the breeze. The wind whips half-hearted waves and sends a spray onto the shores of the embankment of Pantabangan Dam where I stand. Loose earth crumbles beneath my feet and I walk back towards the gravel lined path near the center of the hill to admire the view.

Lake Pantabangan is said to be the largest man-made reservoir in the Philippines and one of the largest in Asia. On the horizon is one side of the Sierra Madre Mountains cradling the earth-filled embankment of the reservoir. Pantabangan Dam covers an area of 80,000 hectares. To put that in perspective, an international-sized rugby field is roughly one hectare, so the sheer size of the dam is daunting.

The picturesque lake was created by damming the Pampanga River. Now, its blue-green waters teem with largemouth bass, a species of black bass native to North America. Other species thrive in the lake including carp, snake murrel, and tilapia according to a loqal news report on the popularity of fishing in Pantabangan.

But it’s the bass that draw in fishing enthusiasts from different countries to come all the way to this otherwise sleepy town on the northern fringes of Nueva Ecija. Locals say that bass in Pantabangan Lake are particularly large, which has made it a favorite spot for foreign anglers to engage in sport fishing.

As I board one of the rickety wooden fishing boats, the sun casts its last rays on the landscape bathing everything in a dusky veil. Unfortunately, the bass don’t bite. It seems they’ve had their fill for the day. My boatman tells me that mornings are better for fishing. He used to live and work in Quezon City, but he prefers it in Pantabangan. He’s lived here for a little over a year now.

“Mas tahimik dito,” he says, as he casts the fishing line further into the water. “Ang daming bisyo at gastos sa Manila. Dito, simple lang ang buhay.” I can’t help but agree. He recounts a trip with some foreign clients just the week before as we circle the lake a few more times. I hope to still catch some lone fish despite the late hour, but our fishing expedition is in vain. Soon we’ll be boarding the bus towards our next destination, but for the moment everything is serene and still.

The clouds blaze into a slow fire as the sun sets. It’s not a bad way to spend the afternoon.

Proposal while Scuba Diving 

Rina and Don got engaged while scuba diving in Arthur’s Rock, a marine sanctuary in Mabini, Batangas last May 2010. To pull this underwater engagement off required careful planning, conspirators (everyone in their group including the driver) and precautionary measures to ensure that the ring would not be carried away by the current, which was really strong that day. Don brought a slate where he had written the proposal down and attached the ring to a carabiner to keep it safe.

(Screenshots grabbed since I can’t post the video  here due to Facebook’s privacy settings.)

“What happened was Don showed me one side of the slate first, which says “Mahal na mahal kita, Rina” then flipped it to the other side, which says “Pakasal na tayo.” Later I realized that technically, it wasn’t a question…but he said he put it that way because he wanted to make it a point to propose in Filipino. My “yes” was when he made the “OK” sign after putting the ring on my finger, and I made the “OK” sign back, and we were engaged!” — Rina

Proposal while Mountain Climbing

How romantic is it to get engaged on top of the world while watching the sunrise on a sea of clouds? Leo’s sweet proposal to Mithi last December 2011 was done during a mountain climbing trip to scenic Mt. Pulag, the highest mountain in Luzon with a peak of 2,922 meters above sea level. The borders between the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya meet at this mountain’s peak. Though it rained during their climb to the base camp on the first day, the sun came out during their hike to the summit for a picture-perfect proposal.

(Photos by Mithi’s friend Josh Villaruel grabbed from her FB page. Congrats!)

“It was our first time to climb Mt. Pulag together. Actually, I wanted to surprise him because it was his birthday so I even brought cake for him which the guide carried up, but he had the bigger surprise planned. After camping at the base camp the night before with a group of friends, we climbed to the summit early in the morning to watch the sunrise. While we were taking photos, he pointed to a spot where there weren’t any people and said we should go there, and I thought it was just to get a better angle for the photos. Then, he faced me and took out the ring hidden in his camera bag. I couldn’t hear everything he said because of the cold and my excitement. I just heard the beginning of what he said: “We’ve been together now for more than 5 years….” and then “Will you marry me?” — Mithi

Sweet! Congrats again!

Proposal while Motorcycling

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to include my own engagement details here, but not a lot of people know that Art actually proposed to me during a motorcycle ride aboard Falkor, his Kawasaki Eliminator that we’ve shared a lot of great rides on. At the time, I wasn’t driving my own scooter yet and he invited me to go for a ride with him during one cold and windy night in October 2009, when he popped the question out of the blue. Since I had no means of getting back from where we were if he left me on the side of the road, I had no choice but to say yes. He didn’t give me the ring until we got back to safe grounds since he was afraid one of us would drop it. We don’t have any photos of the actual moment, but here’s one of our pre-nup photos taken in Marilaque a few weeks before our wedding.

(Photo by Kix Tavora / Resonance Photography)

Know any other adventure-related marriage proposals here in the country? Share away!

SURFING IN PAGUDPUD

Surfing is the one of the oldest board sports that involves riding a board on the crest of a wave towards the shore. There are numerous surfing spots in the country, including La Union, Baler and the Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, which is one of the most picturesque spots I’ve tried surfing. Mike Oida of Kapuluan Vista Resort gave us a brief orientation on the basics of surfing.

For the first 30 minutes of our surf session, I just enjoyed the view from the lifeguard tower where I got a good view of the other people in our group attempting to surf. Some were born naturals and smoothly rode the waves like pros even on their first attempt. Others struggled a bit and swallowed some water before they were able to successfully ride the waves.

Ivan B. of IvantoTravel

I don’t know if it was just my imagination, but the waves seemed to be stronger when it was my turn to get on the board. I thought I’d be able to manage, as I’ve tried surfing before in La Union and was able to stand (at least long enough for a photo op), but the waves just kept me off-balance throughout my attempts .

James of JourneyingJames.com

At one point, I almost collided with another companion, and we both hit the water, protecting our heads from the boards. It was all in good fun though and the thrill of trying to catch a good wave was exhausting yet exciting. I definitely want to go back for a longer surf session or maybe spend a week or more in Pagudpud.

Difficulty Level: 4/5. Though it’s not the easiest sport to learn, the more time you put into it, the better you can get. Seasoned surfers practice every day, so don’t be disappointed if you can’t stand on the board during your first lesson.

For surfboard rentals and surfing lessons, check out Kapuluan Vista Resort, Sito Baniaran, Barangay Baloi, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Website:  www.kapuluanvista.com, E-mail: kapuluan_vista_resort@yahoo.com, FB Page:  Kapuluan Vista Resort Hotel and Restaurant

SANDBOARDING IN LAOAG

Sandboarding is a recreational board sport similar to snowboarding but it takes place on sand dunes rather than snow-covered hills. Sandboarding involves riding down a sand dune while standing with both feet strapped to a board, though some sandboarders use a board without bindings. There’s also the option to sit on the board and hold on to two handles to maintain one’s balance and just slide down.

Ever since sandboarding was introduced in Ilocos Norte a couple of years ago, this extreme sport has gained buzz among adrenaline junkies and travel/adventure circles heading up North. During our LN3 trip, we got to visit the Suba Sand Dunes just for a quick photo op. Good thing, I got to try sandboarding during LN2 last year.

Ida of Isladida.com

The boards used in sandboarding are usually made of laminated plywood with a formica or laminex base. The bottom of the board is waxed prior to a run to ensure that it glides down easily on the sand. Riders have to maintain their balance going down a steeply inclined dune.

The hill may not seem so high when you look at it from below, but once you step on the board and look down, fear sets in. However, sandboarding is amazingly fun and the ride down provides an instant adrenaline rush. The ride down is a blur and is over in seconds. This is a definite must-try for thrill-seekers!

Difficulty level: 3/5. No prior snowboarding or skateboarding experience is required to try out the sport and falling down on the sand is not painful at all. Most of the exercise here comes from climbing up the hill again carrying the board after cruising down.

For sandboarding, contact the LEAD Movement, the group that has pioneered sandboarding in Ilocos Norte. Laoag Eco-Adventure Development (LEAD) Movement Inc., Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. +63 (77) 772 0538, +63 (919) 873 5516, FB Page: Ilocos Sand Boarding

PADDLEBOARDING IN PAOAY

Stand-up paddleboarding or SUP is said to be an ancient form of surfing. I would describe it as kind of like rowing a kayak while maintaining your balance on top of a surfboard. Unlike the two earlier board sports mentioned here, paddleboarding is definitely more laid-back since it doesn’t involve the rush of trying to catch a wave or rushing down a hill at breakneck speeds.

Stand-up paddleboarding uses a board where the surfer stands and a paddle used to propel across the water. The sport benefits athletes with a strong ‘core’ workout. (Just look at Mike’s body in the photo below.) I’ve seen some surfers do this on the beach when the waters are calm, but we got to try it out for the first time at the historic Paoay Lake, just outside the Malacanang Ti Amianan.

I found that paddleboarding forces you to concentrate and focus your mind on the task at hand. It was a pretty gusty the day we tried it, so some of us got drifted by the winds towards the middle of the lake even if we were just supposed to go one short round so everyone could have a chance to try it out.

Ed of SoloFlightEd.com

Thankfully, Mike of KVR, who gave us our surfing lessons in Pagudpud, provided one-on-one instructions during our paddleboarding session. His instructions on how to use the paddle to turn, to lower knees in order to maintain balance, and “just paddle as hard as you can” guided me back to shore.

Difficulty Level: 1/5. Paddleboarding is very easy to learn compared to surfing or other board sports. Mike says women often master paddleboarding faster than men because of their lower center of gravity.

The Ilocos Norte provincial government is exploring stand-up paddleboarding in Paoay Lake National Park as part of its tourism master plan. They also plan to eventually offer kayaking and other watersports in the area. For inquiries, e-mail: ilocosnorte.mediabureau@gmail.com, ilocosnortetourism@yahoo.com, FB Page: Paoay Kumakaway

Check out this video by Ivan Henares of Ivan About Town which contains clips of our surfing and paddleboarding sessions during the Lakbay Norte Media tour.

These activities were made possible through Lakbay Norte, a media familiarization tour of Northern Luzon organized by the North Philippine Visitors Bureau.

I found that this motorcycle-themed resto  is fast becoming a favorite pit stop for cross-country bikers heading down South. During one visit, I got to chat with the Bill Fernando, a Naga-based motorcycling enthusiast who owns the restaurant. Bill, who often rides to Legazpi, Sorsogon and Daet from Naga, says he was inspired to turn the restaurant into a biker-themed place since it was a favorite hangout of riders (NOTE: Bill named the place after his mother). The vintage motorcycle posters, photographs, artwork and other motorcycle memorabilia all add to the biker-theme vibe.

The restaurant features a cool display of big bikes. A featured motorcycle is put on display on a revolving platform in the middle of the restaurant while different bikes are displayed around the restaurant and open-air patio. On my first visit, a classic black and silver BMW 1959 R50 Vintage model was displayed at the turntable. The next time I dropped by the restaurant for a snack, it was a sleek-looking green Kawasaki Z1000 that was center stage.

Bill shared that they try to mix up the display so visitors won’t get bored. Bikes that have gone on display include a Harley Davidson Road King, a yellow Ducati 748, a Honda 954, a Honda CB100R, Harley Softail Heritage, Honda Nighthawk 750, Honda XR200, and a Yamaha R1 (among others). Last Christmas there were three really cute mini-sport bikes.

While Bill only seriously started riding at the start of 2011, his passion for motorcycles is evident. From owning only one big bike at the start of the year, he has already acquired six motorcycles which he displays and uses for joyrides and everyday use. Other motorcycles are loaned by individuals and groups based in Bicol, where the riding scene is pretty vibrant. Aside from seeing all the impressive bikes, another reason for bikers to head here is because it sits just next to JB Bikeworks, a repair shop managed by big bike racing mechanic Jojo Blanco. Bikers can rest, eat, unwind, and have their bike fixed all at once.

Aside from the eclectic range of dishes, including Korean, Mexican and Mediterranean fare, which aren’t normally found under one restaurant roof, Florespina’s offers aptly named “Hungryman Meals.” For only 90 pesos, you can get your fill of Mexican beef burritos, Turkish Shish Kabob, or three pieces of tacos and beans. If you’re really hungry, there are full meals like the pork adobo and rice pilaf, Beef Bulgogi, or Bicolano Fried Chicken – fried chicken with a generous helping of natong (dried gabi leaves cooked in rich an spicy coconut milk). Meals are served with soup, rice and pickles. I found the burrito pretty filling for a snack (couldn’t finish it though it was pretty good as a midnight snack on the PNR train on the way back to Manila).

Aside from catering to bikers, the restaurant is also becoming very popular with families, who come in for the good food and ambience. Dishes are reasonably priced, with main dishes (like stuffed chicken and calamares) large enough for 2-3 persons. If you’re in a group, eating here comes out cheaper than eating at a fast food joint. According to restaurant staff, bestsellers include the lemon chicken with pesto, salpicao and tenderloin dishes.

The restaurant also offers secure premises and ample parking space for bikes and cars. As a bonus, they also have a bar, a couple of wide-screen televisions for sporting events and free Wi-Fi. It’s definitely a cool pit stop to pass if you’re riding down South.

Florespina’s Restaurant. Open Daily from 11am to 12mn. #1 Tacolod Road, Haring, Canaman, Camarines Sur. (054) 4740148.

NOTE: A version of this article is forthcoming in Motorcycle Magazine.

Day 1: Bulacan

3:30 am Call Time at Victory Liner, Spelunking in Pinagrealan Cave, Norzagaray, Bulacan; Kakanin, Crispy Pata and other local delicacies for breakfast.

Day 1: Nueva Ecija

Travel to Cabanatuan; Lunch at Liquid Restaurant; Sea bass fishing in Pantabangan Dam; Dinner at Villa Reyes Lakeside Resort; Travel from Nueva Ecija to Tuguegarao (Sleep in bus)

Day 2: Kalinga

Toploading to Kalinga; whitewater rafting in the Chico River; Lunch at Tabuk; Check in and dinner at Las Palmas de San Jose Hotel in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

Day 3: Ilocos Norte

Breakfast in Las Palmas; Travel from Tuguegarao-Pagudpud; Lunch at Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpud; Surf Lessons at the Blue Lagoon; Travel Time from Pagudpud-Laoag; Dinner at Johnny Moon Restaurant in Laoag, Check in at Plaza del Norte/Rosewell Hotel

Day 4: Ilocos Norte/La Union

Breakfast at Malacanang Ti Amianan, Paddleboarding in Paoay Lake; Travel from Paoay to Batac; Lunch at Batac (Miki and Batac Empanada); Travel from Ilocos Norte to La Union; Dinner and Cocktails at Thunderbird Resort; Check in at Kahuna Beach Resort in San Juan

Day 5: La Union/Baguio

Breakfast at Kahuna Beach Resort; Travel from San to Bacnotan; Trek and Tree Planting at Holcim Ecotrail; Lunch at Provincial Capitol in San Fernando; Travel from La Union to Baguio; Snack at Te Quiero (Microtel Baguio)

Day 5: Baguio

Airsoft in Baguio Country Club; Check-in and dinner at The Manor at Camp John Hay

Day 6: Pangasinan

Breakfast at The Manor; Travel from Baguio to Pangasinan; Dawell Rivercruise, Bangus Harvest, Mangrove Planting; Travel from Dagupan to Urdaneta; Lunch at Matutina Seafood Restaurant

Day 6: Tarlac

Travel from Urdaneta to Tarlac; Go Karting, Dinner and videoke night at Kart City Tarlac; Check in at Microtel/La Maja Rica; Breakfast at Microtel

Day 7: Subic

Travel from Tarlac to Subic; Jungle Survival and Riverside lunch; Massage and Free Time at Ritz Thai Spa; Travel from Subic to Clark; Dinner at Mimosa Restaurant; Check in at Hotel Vida

Day 8: Clark/Pampanga

Breakfast at Hotel Vida; Off-Road 4×4 Ride to Puning’s Hot Springs; Lunch at Historic Camalig Restaurant; Travel from Clark to San Fernando; Snack and visit Prado Farm; Dinner and shopping at Robinsons Starmills.

Thank you North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB), Manila North Tollways Corporation(MNTC), Victory Liner and all the corporate sponsors for letting us rediscover the North. Stay tuned for more in-depth posts on each destination!

Boarding!

HeadWare is a  local brand that is pretty affordable and makes the products out of good material. The fabric is more breathable than the cheaper knock-offs you can buy at bazaars and it actually keeps you cool during hot weather and warm during cold weather. Unlike the cheaper headwear, the print designs don’t fade when washing and the fabric itself doesn’t get stretched out of shape.

Last December, I saw a teaser on HeadWare ‘s FB page saying that “something MARVELous is happening to Headware”, and one by one, they revealed some really cool Marvel-themed designs that I just had to have. These Limited edition babies are only available in selected stores and from what I heard, some designs are getting quickly sold out. I ended up buying four of the 20 available designs.

1) Spiderman Mask

The design featuring Spidey’s mask has been one of the most popular designs of the series according to HeadWare staff. Spidey’s signature red and black web costume is noticeable even when bunched up, while the eyes are unmistakable. I’m planning to use this on my next long bus ride so I can sleep in peace without anyone bothering me. Plus, wearing this will boost your spider-senses by at least 20%.

2) Marvel Comics – Collage

Every geek will love this design that features a collage of comic book covers including Fantastic Four, X-Men, Captain America, The Amazing Spider Man and the Hulk. This is my favorite design of the series because of the retro comic book vibe and just overall cool factor. I plan to wear this to watch the upcoming Avengers movie!

3) Icons

This classy design in white and two shades of blue features different logos of prominent Marvel teams and characters including X-Men, Fantastic 4, Punisher, Spiderman, Silver Surfer and a few others I can’t name. (If you know what the nuclear logo and other icons I missed represent, please let me know!) I picked this one since it’s a little more subtle compared to the more graphic designs that may attract younger kids. (Note: I hope I’m not the only one who thinks that these designs are perfectly fine for adults.)

4) Tiled

This colorful mosaic features faces of of Marvel characters on different color blocks  including Wolverine (yellow), the Thing (orange), the Hulk (green), Spiderman, Daredevil and Juggernaut (red), etc. Even from afar, it’s bright and eye-catching, though you appreciate it more once you see the details up close.

Check out Headware’s FB page for the list of stores where you can buy these cool travel accessories. There are 20 Limited edition Marvel designs which cost P490 each while regular HeadWare cost P390. The number of regular designs are just so overwhelming. Some other notable designs I wanted to buy include patterns mimicking banig, tnalak and alibata and
a few featuring artwork of local artists including WeeWillDoodle. You’ll probably want to frame these instead of using them. For more info on HeadWare, visit www.theheadware.com

1) To avoid getting lost, refer to your mini-map.

Whenever my family and I traveled before, we would have one of those huge printed maps to refer to. Last Christmas, when Art and I made this drive ourselves, we stepped this up a notch by navigating the roads using his tablet, which has GPS. Though we accidentally missed the Santa Rosa exit (and ended up in Tanauan), we were able to successfully find our way back to the main highway using the tracking system. Even if we sometimes went off the map and not all landmarks and roads were plotted, the GPS was really accurate. What was cool is that it was like consulting a mini-map the whole time to see exactly what towns we were in or where the next junction was. This was really helpful at night (it happened to be raining pretty hard when we made our way back to Manila) and the signs and welcome arches were unreadable.

2) Select good background music.

Our car does not have a CD player, so we mostly rely on the radio. When you pass through different towns and provinces, radio signals will get cut off and you may be stuck listeneing to local newscasts and advertisements about agricultural feeds or afternoon dramas between all the static. Having a fully charged phone (loaded with good music) to play out loud can help a lot to counter boredom. When traveling as a passenger, having earphones to connect to your phone with music (or MP3 player, ipod, whatever) can be also be a lifesaver if you can’t sleep or if you get stuck with overly chatty companions and you just want to be left alone. If you’re not driving, playing phone games like Angry Birds is always an option.

3) Keep spare change handy.

It’s a given that you will need money for gas and toll fees along the way. In specific places, like Bitukang Manok (a steep road that zigzags through the Quezon National Park) and mountain roads of towns like Liliw and Nagcarlan, children (and adults) also set up their own “toll gates” by blocking the roads with string/rope, and won’t let you pass until you give them money. Though I think this is literally highway robbery, if you have some coins to spare, then stop to hand it to the people as you drive by or toss it out the window (if you’re driving on a cliffside area and can’t stop). Spare change (usually P5) is also needed to use paid restrooms in gas stations stops. If you’re in a really remote place, you can also stop to buy some small item from a sari-sari store and then ask politely to use the store owner’s bathroom.

4) Stock up on food items.

Food items are very important for long road trips. These can be purchased at gas stations and sari-sari stores along the way, but it helps if you have one whole bag with everything you need prior to the trip so that you can just snack on mindlessly as you go on your journey. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most useful food items to have (in my opinion) with what I perceive as their energy equivalent: (HP = Health Points)

• Mint candies: +1HP
• Boiled peanuts: +5HP
• Water: +5HP
• Fruits (bananas, oranges): +10HP
• Skyflakes: +10HP
• Juice: +10HP
• Junk food/chips: +10HP
• Granola bars: +15HP
• Canned coffee: +15HP
• Chocolate: +15 HP
• Red Bull: +20HP

Photo shows the remnants of my seatmate during a long bus ride.

5) Pre-book your inns.

If you’re planning to stay overnight somewhere during your road trip, it helps to pre-book a hotel or inn, lest you end up in some place that could be the setting for a horror movie, as we almost did. After inquiring at several inns/hotels along the highway in Gumaca and Atimonan, Quezon, which were either fully booked or too expensive, we stopped by to inquire at Acasian Hotel.

Cellphone photo of where we considered staying

From afar, the white and maroon structure didn’t look too bad. What was strange was that there didn’t seem to be anyone in sight. The large parking lot was empty and a lone dog guarded the premises. The entrance led to a large cafeteria which was completely dark except for the flickering of a light bulb somewhere in the back. Old papers were stacked on the dusty tables. Finally, after looking around for someone to talk to, a woman appeared from a back room. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: May available po kayo na rooms?
Innkeeper: Meron naman.
Me: Magkano po yung rooms dito?
Innkeeper: Ano, yung pang short-time?
Me: Umm….(slowly backs out the door)

After stopping by a few more hotels (which were all fully booked), thankfully, my dad called me up saying he had an invitation from his friend to stay in a resort in Tayabas, Quezon that we could use. It was getting dark and raining by this time, and we were really just ready to crash at any place that had a free room. But at my dad’s insistence, we pushed through to Lucena through the diversion road of Bitukang Manok. The road was supposed to be a longer but safer route. Unfortunately, the road was terrible with huge potholes every few meters. After a tense ride that seemed to last forever we finally arrived at the gas station in Lucena, where we touched base with my dad’s friend who guided us to the luxurious Graceland Estates and Country Club, checked us in as his guests to a spacious room, and treated us to a great dinner. The next morning, we took a walk around the 10-hectare resort with a gorgeous view of Mt. Banahaw, a boating lake, deer farm and several swimming pools. The place was off our mapped route and set us back a couple of hours on the way back, but it was definitely worth the drive. We ended up detouring through Lucban and Los Banos on the way back to Manila.

Where we ended up staying. Not bad!

On second thought, maybe it’s best not to make too many plans and just go with the flow. Where you end up might just surprise you.

Aside from being a great place to visit, this trip to Lingayen was really memorable because it jump-started a whole series of trips for the year. Special thanks to Bernard Supetran, PR Consultant and travel writer for the invite! Here’s to hoping for a great year of travel this 2012.

For more information about what to do and see there, check out the published features in Sunday Inquirer Magazine and Zest Inflight Magazine.

• First Step: Start a Travel Blog
• Gain 300+ Fan Page Likes
• Exceed 40,000 page views in less than a year
• Acquire and learn to ride a motorcycle
• Travel more than 1,000 km via motorcycle

• Improve Lakbayan Map Exploration Rate of the Philippines to B
• Travel locally at least once a month
• Travel abroad at least once a year
• Travel by air more than 5x in the same year
• Travel by land, sea, and air in the same year
• Travel to Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao in the same year
• Pilgrimage: Visit 20 different churches in the same year
• Chasing Waterfalls: Visit 5 different waterfalls in the same year
• Lighthouse Hunter: Visit 5 different lighthouses
• Beach-bumming: Visit 20 different beaches in the same year

• Memory Lane: Ride the Bicol Express Train after more than 10 years
• Long Road Trip: Drive a car for more than 8 hours
• Ride in the Rain: Travel by Motorcycle in the Rain
• Ironbutt Ride: Drive a motorcycle continuously for more than 5 hours
• Travel by Bicycle in the Rain
• Key Enthusiast: Collect photos of 15 hotel keys where checked in
• Hotel-Hopper: Sleep in 5 different hotels on the same trip
• Get Lost: Travel without a map and no plan
• Travel on Foot: Trek for more than 5 hours
• Board to be Wild: Try 3 different board sports (sandboarding, surfing, wakeboarding)

• Drunken Master: Sample 50 out of 99 different beers
• Food Mashups: Collect 10 strange food combinations
• Food Tripper: Eat in 3 different provinces in one day (Breakfast in Nueva Vizcaya, lunch in Ifugao, dinner in Nueva Ecija)
• Exotic Eats: Consume 5 different exotic dishes

• Participate in more than 5 PTB Blog Carnivals (7 out of 14 since joining PTB in June)
• Host the PTB Blog Carnival
• Be an “extra” in a newspaper article (Manila Bulletin – The Invasion of Lingayen)
• Be selected as a participant in Project Headshot Clinic
• Be featured as a contributor in Smile Magazine’s Trip Journal

• Publish more than 35 travel articles and photos in mainstream media
• Contribute articles and photos to 10 different publications
• Shoot This: Upgrade Weapon (Camera)
• Surreal Tweet: Have something you write be Tweeted by someone famous (Geeky Goodies)

• Acquire actual trophies

On a serious note, aside from all the travels done this year and symbolic trophies, I’ve gotten a few real-world trophies as well, for stories which involved some traveling out of town.

In June, I was selected as one of the Finalists in Holcim’s Journalism Awards for Sustainable Construction for a story on the launching of solar bottle bulbs in a community in Laguna which was published in Inquirer.

This December, I won the Best News Reportage Category in PLCPD’s 7th Popdev Media Awards for a series of news stories I wrote for IPS, one of which was about how a school in Cavite lets its students turn trash into tuition.

A few weeks after, a post I did on the First Aeta Forest Food Festival in Tarlac which I featured on this blog as a blog carnival entry on Awesome food was recognized as one of the  Outstanding Stories on Indigenous Peoples (Photo Essay Category) in the International Labor Organization’s Media Recognition Program.

It’s been an exhausting but really fulfilling year with all the travel happening in between my day job, freelance work, family obligations, rackets on the side, and hobbies. I plan to slow down a little bit in 2012 and focus on more meaningful travel and posts. I also want to try doing more documentary photo essays this coming year. Oh, and I just bought myself  Skyrim, so I plan to spend some weekends indoors.

See you in 2012!

• Cagayan Food-Trip + the Luxurious Sun City

Day 2

• Island-Hopping in Palaui and Cape Engano Lighthouse
• Eastern Hawaii Hotel in Cagayan

Day 3

• On the Road to Ilocos Norte: Buguey and Claveria
• Eco-Friendly Kapuluan Vista Resort in Pagudpud

Day 4

• Adventure in Adams, Ilocos Norte
• Bread, Salt and a Business Hotel

Day 5

• Kapurpurawan Landscapes
• Sandboarding and 4×4 Ride in Ilocos Norte
• Bewitching Balay da Blas
• Currimao Gems: Playa Tropical and Sitio Remedios

Day 6

• 10 Tried-and-Tested Ilocos Norte Favorites
• Lakbay Norte 2: Hotel-Hopping in the North

Thank you to North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB), Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) and all the other sponsors who made this trip of the year possible!