Instituto Cervantes' Open House and International Book Day

My friends and I are suckers for anything cultural - be it a classical piano recital, a jazz concert, European, French, German, Filipino, Indian or Japanese film festivals. Like travelling, these events provide insights into our own Filipino culture and other country's distinct cultures. It is probably the closest thing to visiting these countries through their films, plays, songs, poetry, music and dances. And once you've actually visited these countries and immersed in their cultures, or you've actually interacted (and yeah, have fallen in love) with the people, you gain a deeper insight and understanding not only of the countries but also of the people. Most of these cultural events organized by the embassies or the cultural centers are for free so that is also another motivation to trek to wherever the event is held.

Last Saturday, we found ourselves navigating through Taft Avenue for Instituto Cervantes' Open House and Dia del Libro (International Book Day). The festival started at 10:00 a.m. but we arrived only at 1:30 p.m. just in time to catch the award winning film "La Colmena" or The Beehive. The film was about the lives of ordinary people in Madrid during the post-civil war years. I didn't read the synopsis and just expected the film to be spectacular because it won an award. But yeah, I ended up somewhat disappointed. Maybe also because I forgot my eyeglasses (what else is new?!) and I had to squint through the entire movie to read the English subtitles.

After the movie, we feasted our senses with the saxophonist serenading at the lobby. Then we hopped to the photo exhibit. Since it was Dia del Libro, there were a lot of books on sale - from cookbooks (I was tempted to buy one :)), popular fiction and non-fiction to Spanish literature. The biggest steal for the day was the book on Filipino-Spanish Cultural Structure in the Philippines sold for only 100 pesos! Of course there were books for 20 pesos - but in Spanish :).



The event smacked of a fiesta minus the buffet with people of all ages and nationalities checking out the books, reading poetry from Spanish, French, Portuguese and Japanese authors, watching movies, learning latin dances and people like us who were there just to soak it all in (or ogle the gorgeous Spanish guys! ;)).

We were too drunk with the heat, the books and the Spanish fiesta atmosphere to actually get drunk with the Spanish Wine tasting sponsored by Rene Barbieri.

We couldn't stay until the Latin Party in the evening and just contented ourselves hanging out at the wishing well until it was time to leave. Who knows we might finally get what we wish for? :). If you want to visit Spain but don't have the budget for it yet, you can soak it all in at the Instituto Cervantes.

For more information:
Instituto Cervantes
855 T.M. Kalaw St.1000 Ermita, Manila
Tlf.:63 2 526 14 82 - 85
Fax:63 2 526 14 49
cenmni@cervantes.es

Day Trip - Pagsanjan Falls

It seems like Metro Manila's heat is getting worse everyday. I went to the bank during yesterday's lunch break and I felt like an ice cream melting under the sun. This morning, I wanted to sleep some more after staying out late last night with SSEAYP batchmates in Greenbelt but I just couldn't. The heat is really getting to me. I want to escape to Pagsanjan!

Pagsanjan in Laguna became famous as the locaition for some of the final scenes of Francis Ford Coppola's epic Vietnam war movie Apocalypse Now. Unfortunately, the place was notorious in the '80s for the pedophiles who went there preying on unsuspecting children. So, I thought the place would be crawling with toursist traps - exorbitant fees, persistent boatmen and pesky vendors. But when I went there with my meditation friends, not only were there no traces of its sordid "place for pedophiles" past, the trip to the Pagsanjan Falls was actually fun and highly recommended for the family. The place is only one and a half hour drive from Metro Manila. Of course, there were the ever-present hagglers along the highway trying to entice us to hire their boats. But we chose the easy and hassle-free way. We went to the Pagsanjan Garden Resort and hired the resort's boatmen. We paid 1,100 pesos per person inclusive of boat, 2 boatmen, boatmen tips and entrance fee.

The highlight of the trip for me was not the waterfalls but the bumpy ride going there. Two bangkeros or boatmen paddled each a canoe with 2 -3 passengers against the river's currents, through a gorge with lush vegetation. At some point, the boatmen had to carry the canoe because it was impossible to paddle through jagged rocks. The Magdapio waterfalls, popularly known as Pagsanjan Falls beckoned to us after a 1 1/2 hour boat ride.

For 90 pesos per head, the boatmen took us under the waterfalls on a bamboo raft. Be prepared for an intense hydro-massage! It was such an adrenaline rush. My Indian friends got addicted so we went under the falls three times and felt like we had the best massage in our lives :). To recuperate from that hydro-message, we went behind the waterfalls and just chilled out in what seemed like a cave. We would've wanted to swim the lenghth of the waterfalls but the currents were actually too strong and so I chickened out. Maybe next time.

Tips when visiting Pagsanjan Falls:
1. Bring plastic bags for cameras and other valuable or better yet, buy an aquapack
2. Wear aqua sandals or mojos - the rocks at the cave behind the falls are sharp
3. Wear lots of suncreen
4. And wear additional mexican hat (never mind if you look silly)
5. Ignore the ridiculous Korean tourists who visit there with full make-up and high heels!
6. Feed your boatmen or at least buy them Coke and bread when you reach the falls after the 1 1/2 hour tiring boatride
7. Take photos along the way, during the scenic boat ride. I was too scared to get the camera wet that's why I don't have any photos to share.
8. And yes, enjoy!

My Top Summer Getaways - Part 2

I feel lucky for having visited the places in my previous post. The Philippines is truly beautiful with a lot to offer to the discriminating tourist. When I was in Palawan with The Boy, my heart just swelled with Pinoy pride seeing El Nido's wonders and the Underground River's secrets. This is only the tip of the country's natural wonder. There is much to explore and experience. Here are the rest of my favorite Summer Getaways. I will just reminisce and daydream of lazing around the beach while sipping my green mango shake, and waiting for spectacular sunsets since I am stuck here melting in Metro Manila's heat.

4. Camiguin Island – Thanks to Cebu Pacific's P10 promo, I was able to visit Camiguin last year via Cagayan de Oro on a shoestring. Camiguin has a mix of everything for the adventurer – volcanic hot springs (Ardent Hot Springs – I just wanted to soak in the warm pools the whole night!), cold springs (Sto. Nino Cold Springs), waterfalls (Katibawasan Falls), volcano (Mt. Hibok-hibok) and of course a White Beach which is actually sandbar of fine white sand.

5. Cagayan de Oro – I didn't have time to explore Cagayan de Oro but the time spent in this city was one adventure after another. In Cagayan de Oro's Macahambus Adventure Park, I walked through the hanging bridge, tried the exhilarating zip line but balked at rappelling the giant tree (also because I had to pay an additional 300 pesos J). I capped my stay with its main attraction – the White Water River Rafting along the Cagayan river. It was one big adrenaline rush and worth steep 1,100 pesos per head fee (discounted rate - inclusive of gear and lunch).

6. White Beach, Puerto Galera – I went there a few years ago and the crowd was still tolerable. The snorkeling was better than in Boracay and everything was just cheaper. The island hopping was also memorable (maybe because I was with friends) plus the cheap massage (200 pesos/hour) by the beach. White Beach in Puerto Galera is for those looking for a quick beach fix on a tight budget.

My Top Summer Getaways - Part 1

I don’t really have any plans yet to fly to one of the country’s 7,100 islands for a summer holiday. I guess it’s also because I had an early summer getaway when The Boy was here last March. Among the places I’ve visited in the Philippines, here are some of my top summer getaways:


1. El Nido, Palawan - the most beautiful place I’ve visited in the Philippines. Pristine clear waters, rich marine life, friendly locals, the intimate Small Lagoon and the breathtaking Big Lagoon, the Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Seven Commandos Beach, Simisu Island, Cadlao Lagoon - these are just some of El Nido’s attractions. It was like paradise on earth and for an affordable price! We skipped the high-end resorts and stayed in Og’s Inn in El Nido town itself for only 500 pesos per night for a double room.


2. Underground River / Sabang Beach, Palawan - traversing 3km of this UNESCO Heritage site was like going to the earth’s core. It was also an exercise in stretching your imagination and creativity — imagine seeing The Holy Family, Jesus Christ on stalagmite formations! Sabang beach is a good place to chill-out after or before the Underground River trip. No pesky vendors or annoying party crowds — just you, the sea and the stars.



3. White Beach, Boracay - Aside from its enviable powdery white sand- the finest I’ve seen this side of the world - Boracay is of course famous for its party atmosphere, international crowd and cuisines and yes, celebrity sightings.



*Cross-posted from my Wordpress blog

To be continued…

Summer Getaway - Hidden Valley Hot Springs

*Cross-posted from my Wordpress blog.

It is almost the weekend and I am already dreaming of a weekend get-away. Where to go this time? Shoot the rapids again in Pagsanjan? Brave a trek on Taal Volcano under the summer heat? Or laze around Puerto Galera’s white beach? Unfortunately, I will have to content myself with dreaming and reliving past adventures and travels as I will be stuck in Metro Manila over the weekend. But for those itching to escape the city’s stifling heat, you can try experiencing a different heat at Hidden Valley Hot Springs in Alaminos, Laguna. I’ve always wanted to go there ever since I read an article in the now-defunct Colors Magazine. Last year, I finally got to visit with my meditation friends.

After painstaking research in Google to find the resort’s contact number and directions on how to get there, we set off to experience Hidden Valley’s delights. It was a 1 1/2 hour drive through South Superhighway and Laguna - I just can’t remember the exact route as I dozed off or blabbered for most of the drive. The resort itself is situated a few kilometers off the main road and is hidden behind a lush forest to give it a jungle feel. We had to pay 1,500 pesos at the entrance which already includes buffet lunch. The resort does not allow guests to bring food so we had to leave our home-cooked Indian vegetarian food in our vehicles. However, we managed to sneak them in as the resort didn’t have anything for our vegetarian friends (shhh don’t tell the resort ;))

We followed the gurgling sounds which brought us to the 3 main pools. From warmest, warmer, warm - we tried them and loved them all. I especially love just staying under the warm waterfall for a very relaxing back rub. We could’ve stayed in the warm pools for hours but other attractions beckoned.

After dropping off our bags on one of the cabanas, we headed to the “Hidden Falls.” On the way we saw this giant 100-year old tree. I felt in awe of its majesty, like I was just a tiny speck in comparison.

The hidden falls (picture at the top) awaited us after a few minutes of trekking and skipping over huge tree roots. The hidden falls was magical. It actually beckoned us to enjoy its cool waters but the resort guide said guests aren’t allowed to swim in this area. Too bad. We just watched and took photos of the kids from the neighboring barangay as they jumped from the top. Watching the kids brought Fr. Ferriols’ “Lundagin mo, beybeh” to mind.

Aside from the warm pools, Hidden Valley also boasts of a soda pool - according to the guide, the water in this pool tastes like soda; and a lovers’ pool located off the road and away from prying eyes. When we were there, the lovers’ pool was empty. Perhaps because it was more tempting to laze in the warm waters.

We left Hidden Valley’s relaxing warm waters at dusk with a promise to return. It was worth sharing bathroom space with naked Koreans and the blah buffet lunch. I shall indeed return. And maybe next time, I’ll visit with The Boy so we can verify the lovers’ pool’s claimed seclusion ;-).

Contact information:
* Hidden Valley Hot Springs Alaminos, Laguna Tel: (+63 2) 840-4112