I arrived at Baguio city 4am in the morning on November 24, 2010. I first stop by at Dunkin Donuts to drink hot coffee cause 4am in Baguio is really freezing cold. While waiting for the sunset, a lot of people staring at my folding bike, but I knew that there is one person in Baguio who owns same folding bike as mine, maybe people in Baguio still doesn't aware of folding bikes.

After that I bike straight ahead to the botanical garden and ate my lunch at the 50's Diners, one of the best restaurant in Baguio city. If you haven't tried 50's Diners, you may want to visit there when you got to Baguio. Their food is worth the price

My last destination is Burnham Park. While riding on my foldie, the security guard stopped me from entering the park, he said that bikes are not allowed inside the park, so I've got no choice and fold it in front of him. While folding my bike, he start smiling and saying good things about the bike, and asked me where to buy one, fortunately the smiling security guard let me pass the Burnham Park and spend the rest of my time in the park while I wait for the next trip of the Genesis Bus lines going back to Manila.

And for the month of June 2010, I was really blessed to visit the northern most part of the country for 5 days which is Batanes. One of my unforgettable travel, a must visit destination for all the travelers out there.

First of all, I want to start my story by thanking our Lord Jesus Christ because He's the one who made a big change in my life. Here's the story about the changes that happened in my life.

Ten years ago, when I was in high school, I was just like the other student bullying other people, teasing them and making them cry, not listening to the teacher's discussion and etc... I'm not focusing on my studies and on my mind was all fun, games and going out with friends(barkada) to spend money on worthless things. One of the worst thing was that I often go home and slept over at my friends house. Going to bar and spend time with my friends rather than my family, never listen to my parents and always believe on my own understanding which is really a big big mistake. Up until one day, a friend from a different section was introduced to me by a friend and I learned that we have a common interest which is music, and starting on that day I always go with him and we talk about music, guitars, drums and everything about music. When my classmate noticed that I always go with my new friend, they got jealous and start saying bad things about me. But i still chose to be with this friend cause I see something on him that my classmates don't have.

After we graduated on high school, this friend of mine invited me to attend their church, he introduced me his churchmates and I was really amazed by their approached because its really different, all of them were smiling and shaking hands with me, that was the first time in my life that I've encountered those kinds of people, they were kind and they accepted me like their brother. That same year, my friend share to me the gospel and ask me to accept Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour of my life. and by the time I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I really felt something inside me, something fulfillment that I never felt before.

Time by time my friend teach me the word of God and that is the Holy Bible. He teaches me like a child, he discipled me and nurtured me to become a leader. And as time pass by, I realized that all my doings when I was in high school were a big big mistake, never thought that I've done all those things, all I can say is that up until now, I will never forget the day that this friend of mine approached me and shared to me the gospel. No words can explain the joy, the fulfillment that I'm feeling right now cause no one can make a big CHANGE in our lives except our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Divine ice cream pleasure is HEAVEN Ice Cream.

Give in to the richest, smoothest, and creamiest by NESTLÉ Ice Cream. Revel in the exquisite goodness of its four sophisticated flavors—Belgian Chocolate Bliss, Strawberry Dream, Vanilla Almond Secret and Butter Pecan Obsession. HEAVEN Ice Cream is made with only the finest ingredients and contains no artificial food colors. Available in 800mL(Php 175) & 450mL(Php 115) tubs across supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores nationwide.

First of all i want to thank our Lord Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity to travel to the northern most part of the Philippines (Batanes) and to thank Him for the protection, guidance and the for good weather on the time of my travel. Unlike all my other travels, this one's the best and really a dream come true, cause I've been planning to travel here almost couple of years and now it was a success.

Batanes is the northern most part of our country overlooking Formosa Taiwan. Batanes is compose of many islands but only 3 islands are inhabited namely: Sabtang, Itbayat and Batan Island, where Batan is the main island among the three and Itbayat is the northern most part. I spent my first day at Batan Island and visited the must-visit places in town of Basco, Mahatao, Ivana, Uyugan and Itbud.

On my first day I visited the following places: Basco Church, Basco Lighthouse, Rolling Hills, Mahatao View Deck, Town of Mahatao, Mahatao Church, Marlboro Country, Valugan Bay of Mahatao and back to Basco Lighthouse for the sunset. It took me whole day to visit all these place and didn't expect that riding a bike will took me whole day unlike if i rented a van it will just take half day and will still have time to rest in the afternoon but still worth the effort cause the view and nature is indescribable really indescribable. Never thought that there's such a beautiful province here in our country. Bike rental is ranging from P200-P500 depends on where will you rent, i rent my mountain bike at Shanedel's Inn and Cafe cause I also stayed there for only P300/room/night (Fan Room). They also have air-con room and family room ranging from P800-P1500/night/head. She is so kind and will attend all your needs all through out your stay in Batanes and also she can arranged your tour if you want to because she has contacts of tour in Batanes. She can also prepare your breakfast and dinner just inform her one day earlier so she can prepare a delicious meal for your group. You can also call her 2 or 3 weeks earlier for your reservation at Shandel's cause there's no assurance that there will be vacancy on the day of your arrival because Shandel's is always full and loaded with tourist. From Basco Airport you can reach Shanedel's Inn by walk or riding a tricycle. A lot of tricycle awaits at the airport because they are waiting for tourist for them to take to their Inns. Tricycle will cost you from P30-P50 to take you to your hotel. Here's Nanay Delly's (Shanedel's Inn and Cafe) contact number - +639204470737. More picture of Day 1 click here.

An early wakeup for 2nd day tour to catchup for the Falowa boat to Sabtang Island, the 2nd inhabited island of Batanes. Woke up at 4am in the morning, wash up and prepare things needed like water, snacks and of course don't forget your camera. From the Shandel's entrance you can wait there for a public jeepney to take you to Ivana San Vicente Port where the Falowa boat waits. Jeepey will cost you P25/head from Basco Town to Ivana, but if you want you can also ride tricycle to the port but more expensive than Jeepney for about P150-P180 from Basco. I was alone so i need to take the jeep rather than tricycle cause it will cost me too much but if your group is 2-3 pax, you can ride tricycle for private and comfort, but still riding jeepney is less expensive. From Ivana San Vicente port you will ride the Falowa boat for almost an hour to reach Sabtang island, boat fee is P50/head and make sure that you come early before the boat leaves cause schedule of falowa boat leaves at 6am or even earlier if the passengers are full it immediately leaves for Sabtang s make sure your group arrive early at the port. Along the travel to Sabtang, cover your things with plastics specially your gadgets cause it might get wet cause of big waves, you are traveling where South China Sea and Pacific Ocean meets so better cover your things with protections. Upon arriving the Sabtang island, you'll see a sari-sari store, you can buy snacks and juices there, just want to remind you Sabtang Island has no mineral water, there's no place there you can buy one so better bring mineral water along with you from Batan. Sari-sari's store owner is "Ate Beth", she' very nice and will also help you arrange you for freelancer tour guides if your not engaged with BCTA or private tour. She has contacts on single motor and tricycle motor in Sabtang. She gave me a contact where I can rent it for whole day, he called "Kuya Roelle" to tour me in Sabtang island. You can also request ate Beth to cook you for a lunch when you come back after your tour and she'll kindly prepare it for you for a cheaper cost compared to the package tour of P300 for the lunch, of course if you are a budget traveler you'll definitely choose to eat at ate beth's karinderya, i myself is a budget traveler so i chose to stay at ate beth's a lot cheaper ad practical foods to eat.

Started the tour when kuya Roelle arrived at ate beth's store, I told him my itinerary and the places I wanted to visit, he's kind and will definitely follow the things you wanted to visit. first we visit the Savidug town where all the houses are built with stones and corals, also my guide kuya Roelle lives there. he showed me the stone houses and also the Savidug Church/Chapel where they go during Sundays. After we headed to Chavayan town, the last town in the west, same in Savidug, their houses are also made up of stones and corals, so that when typhoon or storm come, it will protect them from it.


Along the highway between Savidug and Chavayan, you'll pass by the so called "Chamantad Tinyan-Sitio" Kuya Roelle told me a story that this is the place of their Sanctuary (Picture on left). After our stopped, we headed to Chavayan town and upon arriving all I see is houses and the road, no sign of people walking, truly a quiet and very peaceful province, their weekdays is like x2 Sundays of Manila.