Escape to Bislig, Surigao del Sur

I went to Bislig City on the weekend for work. It was my 1^st time to visit that place. It’s the city where PICOP was once running as the largest paper company in Asia. It’s a quiet city amidst beautiful nature setting. You will surely enjoy going on a nature trip. The famous place to go to Bislig is the Tinuy-an Falls the so called Niagara Falls of the Philippines. It’s the best falls I have ever seen so far. You will truly love its beauty. Caves for exploring are also in abundance in this place. If you want the beach you can just cross to neighboring islands where the beach is alluring. Marine foods are also in abundance. I enjoyed eating crabs, shrimps and 1^st class fish. Since they are in abundance, their prices are also low and we brought back enough when we went home. It was great to be in Bislig. It’s quiet and untouched and the people are warm.

My Favorite Destinations In My Country Philippines

Of all the things I love doing, traveling is my number one favorite. And I have quite visited a lot of places in my country. Each of them gave me a distinct experience and learning. I loved my every travels and I’ve collected wonderful memories and a bunch of photos. I want to share with you the places in my country which I think is the best :) Here are my top 10 but excluding my own place Davao, it will always be my number 1 ;)

Baguio

I love Baguio! I love its cold weather. It’s the only cold city in the Philippines where the climate is tropical. I love Baguio because of its picturesque and manicured setting making it different from any other places I’ve visited in the Philippines. In fact, I’ve visited it twice last year, one during the summer and one on December :) where the weather in the Philippines is hottest and coldest respectively.

Bohol

Bohol is an island with lots of activities to do and really beautiful beaches. You’ll fall in love with the beauty of Panglao and its wonderful diving sites. Not only resorts but places to visit like Chocolate Hills and cruising and dining along Loboc River. Meet the small creatures Tarsier that can only be found in Bohol.

Laoag, Ilocos Norte

Laoag feels different also. I always have a different feeling when I visit places and it’s the most homey and tranquil place I have ever visited. It was like a soul connection no kidding! Hehe I fell in love with Fort Ilocandia and San Agustin Church. I love the winds in Bagui where you can find the only windmills in Southeast Asia. There’s also the somewhat old and eery lighthouse in North Ilocos.

Vigan, Ilocos Sur

This place gives you the feel of being in Spanish time. The whole Crisologo Street was preserved up to this day you will truly drift to the old days :)

Cebu

The Queen City of the South shines more than ever with its chic metropolis. Love the lively beat of its everyday rhythm.

Island Garden City of Samal

Of course our neighbor city Samal won’t be left out. There’s so much to explore and do in this place that I can’t get enough that’s why I go back for more.

Bukidnon

I love the manificent landscape of this province. The weather is very cool too. Lots of mountain springs.

Tagaytay

Meet the beautiful Taal Volcano which can be viewed above in the main attractions in Tagaytay. Perfect for a nice vacation.

Leyte

This is a silent place where it hasn’t really bud into its fullest. But it has a unique beauty too and great history. You’ll meet Daddy Douglas Mc Arthur in Palo, Leyte. Went there very early in the morning and dipped my feet in the water around the American Army statues which is 150% the real size of daddy Doug and his army. I was also able to cross the longest bridge in the Philippines which connected Samar and Leyte, the San Juanico Bridge.

Albay

Albay is a silent and quite sad place but what I like about it is the majestic and perfectly shaped Mayon Volcano standing magnificently in vast fields.

Will You Pack Your Bags For The Philippines?

I read a post in Singapore eFinancial Careers about Singaporeans and people from Hong Kong (http://news.efinancialcareers.sg/formhandler.cfm#viewAllComments) working in finance losing jobs in their country with the ongoing financial crisis to pack their bags for the Philippines. I was somehow realizing that jobs from the west will soon come in the Philippines. In order for the financial institutions in US to save on cost and save their business they will probably operate their business and go on outsourcing from the call center hub Philippines and this time in finance and accounting where business and talent is cheap.

Big financial institutions are hiring financial professionals to work in the country. This may be great for the professionals for our neighbors in Singapore and Hong Kong but also great for the locals who may benefit of the expanding business and greater opportunities. As Filipinos have done good in call center industry there would be no reason that they can't do it in the financial industry. Many Filipino talents are already at par with the rest of the world in the financial industry. The Philippine financial market may not be that complex in bigger and richer countries but given the same set of brains and hard work there can be no reason that Filipinos can't do well in Wall Street.

As for our neighbors whose considering our country, welcome! :) We also have a lot to offer. Salary may be lower in here but luxuries are cheaper and very cheap to live an average life. Philippines is still a work in progress. And with business activity growing and relocating of giant companies in here will surely help to improve Philippines.

The Bubble Story

I once have read something about the bubble story. I can't remember when or who wrote that but all I can remember is that, when a bubble is pressed on one of its side, the other part would enlarge. With that in mind, I was thinking of the world today as a bubble. The financial crunch have weighed down the west part of the bubble makes me wonder if the east part would enlarge?

Thousands of jobs have been lost since the start of the financial crisis. You can read it anywhere. And I've read some articles that some of these "lost jobs" in the west are flying to the east. And they're eyeing for the Philippines. In order to cut cost, giants are going to operate in the Philippines where talents and business operation is cheap. Business activities would soon fuel the economy. Entrepreneurs will have new vision for opportunities. Seems like there is really a bubble story happening right now. Somehow, the crisis have brought blessings to the small players in this big world. Maybe its time for us to take this chance to help ourselves.

I Fell In Love With Laoag

I never really thought that Ilocos is a beautiful place to be and it never came to my list of “must go” places here in the Philippines. But when my friend Aleks arranged a trip for me to Ilocos, I can’t help but give it a try. Well, I didn’t know what to expect but since he said it’s beautiful and I got no place in mind and I’m ready to go on a side trip, so I went. It was a very long travel from Manila, about 8-10 hours. We traveled on evening so we can save time and hotel hehe Everything is arranged. We already have booked our dorm at MSSU in Laoag and contacted the dean courtesy of my good friend Aleks. Our itinerary would be from Manila to Laoag, Ilocos Norte then back to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, then to Baguio City where we are supposed to be heading for the 62^nd PICPA Annual National Convention. And so we went to Ilocos and I never thought it’s so beautiful, not only the place but also the people. They are so welcoming and hospitable. The dean asked one of the instructors there to tour us. They provided us with transportation, meals and accommodation and to think that request was not official. Aleks just asked them to help us in our trip but then everything was provided.


At the top of the old light house


Bangui Wind Mills


Fort Ilocandia

Paoay Lake


We went to Paoay first and looked at our then President Marcos and bought my big hat :) Then to San Agustin Church (one of UNESCO's heritage site) then ate empanada. After that, we headed to Paoay lake took pictures and headed to Fort Ilocandia. It's a wow resort. I never thought, a place as silent as Ilocos has that. It's so nice to stay there. We went to the Malacañang of the North but it was closed during that time too bad. But anyway, we went back to Laoag proper to have our lunch passing by the sand dunes as we go back (wow! there's a desert up there) After lunch, we headed up north to the old light house (sorry I can't remember it's name hehe) then to Bangui wind mills. The place was so windy and serene, I think I could stay there forever hehe just kidding. Might be scary at night :) We'd like to go straight to Pagudpud, a breathtaking world class beach resort but we were out of time.




San Agustin Church or Paoay Church


All in all, it was a great trip even if we weren't able to go to Pagudpud. After all, the place we've visited were already beautiful. Such trip was more than we can ask for and that was one of the travels I couldn’t forget.

Marcos Museum


Pictures below are not in Laoag, it's in Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur but I included it here because it's part of our Ilocos tour