sidetrip

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Dinagyang 2015 Schedule

The Dinagyang in Iloilo City is a version of the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo Aklan Province. The festival is a showcase of the rich heritage, colorful history, passionate devotion and fun-loving spirit of the Ilonggo people.

Pope Francis inspirational message

Pope Francis visit the Philippines for 5 days and he manage to give an inspirational messages that inspire us.

Here are the collection of quotes from Pope Francis:

"The central message of this trip will be the poor, the poor who want to carry on; the poor who suffered from typhoon Yolanda and who are still suffering the consequences; the poor who have faith and hope... I'll think of them them whenn I'm in the Philippines." -Pope response to journalists aboard the plane to Manila

"Only by becoming poor ourselves, by stripping away our complacency, will we be able to identify with the least of our brothers and sisters."- Pope Francis on embracing poverty and rejecting materialism (Manila Cathedral

"We don't need young museums. We need holy young people"

"Let us know that we have a Mother, Mary, and a great Brother, Jesus. We are not alone"

"We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected."

"Some of you have lost part of your families. All i can do is keep silence and walk with you all with my silent heart"

"We have a lord who is capable of crying with us, capable of walking with us in the most difficult moments of life"

"Women are able to pose questions that we men do not understand."

"The Philippines needs holy"and loving families to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God's plan."

"What is the most important subject you have to learn in life? To learn how to love. And this is the challenge that life offers you."

“We don’t need young museums. We need holy young people.”
- Pope Francis

Monday, September 22, 2014

Banaue-Sagada-Baguio Experience (Part 2)

Note: Mostly of my Itinerary are base from research. Thanks to google my Banaue-Sagada-Baguio Tour was successful.

Note: As soon as you get off from Bus in Banaue, locals will approach you for service vehicles to various destinations.

Our actual itinerary, from Banaue we are going to take a jeep bound to Bontoc then from Bontoc another jeep going to Sagada. But we are approach by some local to ride on there van together our fellow passenger in Ohayami Bus.

Fare: PHP180.00 per person

Other Transport:
At the Banaue bus terminal there are jeepneys, and sometimes mini-buses or vans, waiting to take passengers to Sagada. But the jeepneys will only go to Sagada when there are at least four (4) passengers. The trip would cost Php 300.00 per person and it take another 3-4 hours to get to Sagada

Banaue-Sagada-Baguio Experience (Part 1)

Note: Mostly of my Itinerary are base from research. Thanks to google my Banaue-Sagada-Baguio Tour was successful.

I always dreamed to visit and witness the famous Banaue Rice Terraces. Back then I only read and saw it on my grade school textbook, but finally i got a chance to witness the beautiful serenity of Banaue. Me and my travel buddies decided to travel to Sagada.

How to Get There: From Manila to Banaue

Bus					Ohayami Bus
Terminal					Cor, J. Fajardo t., Lacson Ave., Sampaloc (Near UST)
Travel Period					9 hours
Depart Time					10:00PM
Arrive					7AM
Fare					Php 450

Note: There are other bus line going to Banaue such as Florida Bus that leaves Manila at 8:35pm bound for Bontoc Mountain Province. You could also take that as it passes by Banaue, Ifugao.

Alternative Route: If Ohayami or GV Florida buses are full (especially during peak season), you can take Victory Liner or Florida Bus going to Tugegarao City in Cagayan Alight in Solano Nueva Vizcaya then take a jeepney to Lagawe Ifugao then take another jeepney to Banaue.

BANAUE TOUR
First Thing to do: Municipal Tourism Center register and pay Php20.00 environmental fee.
Tourist Tip: 1000 Pesos note the rice terraces appear on the older bill.

Travel Expenses: Banaue-Sagada-Baguio

Day 1 (Sept 12, 2014)	Destination	Group Expense	Expense per Pax
	Cebu Pacific Promo Fare		Php 1,382.04
	Terminal Fee		Php 200.00
	Airport Food		Php 27.00
	Going to Baclaran (Bus)		Php 20.00
	Water (7/11)		Php 18.00
	Baclaran to Ohayami Terminal (Taxi)	Php 290.00	Php 58.00
	Dinner (7/11)		Php 29.00
	Terminal CR		Php 5.00
	Banaue Ticket (Ohayami Bus)		Php 450.00
Total			Php 2,189.04
Day 2 (Sept 13, 2014)	Destination	Group Expense	Expense per Pax
	Banaue Arrival
	Banaue Tourist Fee		Php 20.00
	Breakfast (People's Lodge)		Php 125.00
	Banaue to Sagada		Php 180.00
	Souvenir		Php 15.00
	Viewpoint- Igorot Picture Taken (Donation)		Php 20.00
	George Inn (Lodging)	Php 1,000.00	Php 200.00
	Lunch (Rock Inn Cafe)	Php 955.00	Php 191.00
	St. Mary Chruch and Sagada Bell
	Sagada Weaving
	Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins

Sagada Tour Guide Rate

Base from Sagada Municipal Hall Map

Regulation

Visitor must register at the Municipal Tourist Information Center and pay Php35.00 for the environmental fee/registration fee.
Mutilating, defacing and destroying of natural beauties is punishable by law and with community sanctions.
Observe proper waste management
No urinating inside the cave.

Cave Connection
Lumiang/Burial Cave and Sumaguing/Big Cave

Last entrance to the cave : 4:00 PM

Guide Fee: Php800.00 for 2 visitor or less and Php400.00 each additional visitor

40 minutes walk from the town center to the entry point at Lumiang/Burial Cave.

At the cave entrance are piles of coffins. Deeper into the cave are awesome rock formations, some rock climbing and crawling.

The exploration usually takes about 4-5 hours, ending at Sumaguing/Big Cave

Route: Dokiw Hanging Coffins viewpoint, Lumiang/Burial Cave entry point, Sumaguing Cave Exit Point and Rice Terraces view point.

Optional: Two way transportation Php400.00

Short Course Caving
Sumaguing Cave

Last entrance to the cave: 4:00 PM

Guide Fee: Php500.00 for 4 visitors or less, Php1000.00 (2 guides) 5-8 visitors and P1500.00 (3 guides) 9-12 visitors.

An hour's walk from the town center.

The cave is one of the most frequented destination in Sagada. Remarkable rock arts, rappelling and boulder climbing are in store for brave explorers.

It would take about 1 1/2 hours to explore the cave.Route: Dokiw Hanging Coffins viewpoint, Lumiang/Burial Cave entry point, Sumaguing Cave Exit Point and Rice Terraces view point.