Irene Bawer, Kalinga Weaver

In Kalinga, where modern clothing has reached even its highest mountains, there are still people who keep their indigenous fabrics alive.

Irene Bawer-Bimuyag, a tradition bearer of the exquisite art of Kalinga weaving, is at the forefront of conserving, protecting & promoting her people's folk art.

Baguio - UNESCO Creative City

Baguio has received its UNESCO designation as a Creative City under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

No other city in the Philippines inspires and encourages not just the flourishing of the arts, but the cultivation, nurturing and strengthening of critical thinking, exploration, discovery, and imagination. There is no shortage of poets, film makers, visual artists, dancers, artisans, tattoo artists, weavers, musicians, scientists, philosophers -- all bent on the creation of new ideas as well as the formation of different avenues and modes of expression. The true measure of a people's sophistication is the depth and breadth of its creativity and culture. Baguio is our shining beacon.Our culmination.

The Aeta of Subic

The Aetas are among the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines who have existed even before the great Austronesian migrations. They are an indigenous people who once ruled the isolated mountains of northern Luzon.

Today, modernity is displacing the Aetas into extinction. Their forests are flattened and their rivers are dried up.

The Giant Clams of Silaki

In the tiny island of Silaki in Pangasinan, a team of marine biologists protect and preserve endangered “taklobos”, as they create a nurturing ecosystem to fight against their extinction.

The Tamborin

The tamborin is a beautiful, elegant and exquisite piece of jewelry painstakingly handcrafted in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. The pendant is intricately conceived and elaborately decorated, while the chain is adorned with granulated beads. To wear one is to have history wrapped around your neck.

Sagada Pottery

Sagada Pottery is a testament to the longstanding ties between Sagada and the Episcopalian missionaries who came to educate the highlanders. Local potters Siegrid Bangyay and Tessie Baldo continue to manage and run the Sagada Pottery Center, an initiative of Archie Stapleton, the son of a missionary who returned decades later to the place where he had lived as a boy, to set up an alternative livelihood for the community. As Siegried attests, the tedious process of pottery making is not merely just a craft, but an activity that builds patience and character.

The Isabela Oriole

The Isabela Oriole is a rare bird unique only to Luzon and is believed to be extinct for many decades. But in the early 90s, its songs were heard once again and finally in 2013, the elusive bird was sighted in Baggao, Cagayan.

Ms. Joni Acay, a young biologist, and the team from Mabuwaya Foundation continually fight to save this critically endangered species from extinction.

Liquido Maestro

Mixologist Kalel Ervin Demetrio, also known as Liquido Maestro, is an artist who spends his time on the road, in search of spices and ingredients he would concoct into different brews and drinks. He experiments with tastes and flavors as he devices interesting mixes. He interacts directly with farmers, buying produce in bulk, to reduce intermediation costs. He runs the Agimat Foraging Bar in Poblacion, Makati.

The Santos Mansion

The Santos Ancestral Home in Malolos, Bulacan is regarded as the finest manifestation of an art deco residence in the Philippines. The mansion was rebuilt in 1933 by Dr. Luis Santos, a renaissance man and renowned eye-doctor trained at Johns Hopkins University, who created a house that reflected an identity that was uniquely his.

Elements of art deco are evident throughout the entire house. The works of two National Artists, Fernando Amorsolo and Guillermo Tolentino, are prominently displayed in the premises.

Strawberry Taho

For many Filipinos, taho is a childhood staple that satisfied sweet cravings in the morning, after school or before church. The cup of sweet goodness is a mixture of soy, brown syrup (arnibal) topped with tapioca (sago). What's great is taho can be found anywhere in the Philippines but in Baguio, taho has a fruity twist.

Baguio's must have snack with a strawberry swing.

Alonzo Saclag, National Living Treasure

Alonzo Saclag is a fierce Kalinga in the field of traditional arts and one of the few recipients of the National Living Treasure award from the National Commission for Culture & the Arts for his passion in preserving the music & dances of his people.

His beautiful performance stage called Awichon is tucked in the mountains of Lubuagan, Kalinga Province.

Kidlat Tahimik, National Artist for Independent Cinema

Kidlat Tahimik is a renowned filmmaker, environmentalist, artist and an icon of the Cordillera region.

Today, he is in a pursuit of yet another opus - an evolving work of art known as the Ili-Likha Artist Village: a creative otherworld built in honor of Baguio’s fallen trees, and dedicated to artists and independent filmmakers.

Kidlat Tahimik is a National Artist, a prophet attempting to build a piece of utopia for future creators in his place in the world, found in the heart of Baguio.

Pancit Batil-Patung vs. Pancit Cabagan

Northeastern Luzon is known as Pancit Republic, inundated with panciterias and eateries, and with both Cagayanons and Isabelinos laying claim to have the best version of the noodle dish.

Tuguegarao’s signature batil patung involves placing (patung) carabao beef, pork liver and poached or fried egg over miki noodles.

Isabela’s pancit cabagan is believed to be the concoction of Dianga, a Chinese trader who brought miki noodles to the area. His recipe consists of lechon de carajay (crispy pork belly), pork liver, julienned cabbage and carrots, hard-boiled quail eggs over thinner round noodles.

Puni

Puni entails the use of palm leaves for the design and creation of toys and food containers. Nicanora Teresa Hernandez, an advocate of this dying art form, marvels at the excellence of forefathers who have developed this fine tradition. Intrinsic in this craft is simplicity, the ability to create a source of joy from ordinary things.

Our Lady of Manaoag

She is known to many as “Our Lady of Manaoag” but to her countless of devotees, she is called “Apo Baket”; an Ilocano term for reverence & endearment for a wise woman. Her shrine is one of the most visited religious sites for prayers in Luzon.

Devotees put their faith in the healing of the Blessed Virgin Mary, found in a hill in Pangasinan.

Hundred Islands

The 124-island wonder that is the Hundred Islands is believed to have risen from an ancient seabed two million years ago. These islands are made of pre-historic corals shaped by the tides & ocean currents and form a national park and protected wildlife sanctuary that contain diverse flora, fauna and marine life.

The Ilocos Norte of Dr. Cuanang

Perhaps there is no better spokesperson for his province than Dr. Joven Cuanang, Ilocos Norte's finest son. The renowned neurologist and patron of the arts and heritage has a deep understanding and love for his roots and has put up Sitio Remedios in Currimao, Ilocos Norte so that his kababayans and visitors alike can immerse in the wonderful culture of his province.

Mt. Pinatubo

In 1991, Mt. Pinatubo exploded, unleashing its wrath this side of the modern world has never seen. But out of its madness came beauty washed in white, turquoise & emerald greens that travelers adore.

Her story now lay in the archives of her ashes but the lore of Apo Malyari, the Aetas' supreme deity, still lurks within.

Las Casas de Acuzar

As most of our heritage sites are demolished and replaced by urban vertical landscapes, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is pushing back by developing a heritage town in Bagac, Bataan, restoring historical architecture brick-by-brick, for a new generation to marvel.

Kalawang, Tattoo Artist

Kalinga tattoos are markings of the sacred, and are only reserved for a chosen few. And as we move into a modern world, these traditions must evolve to survive. Kalawang, the artist who has studied the contemporary ways of tattooing all over the Philippines, preserves the disappearing culture of the “mambabatok”.

Binunguey

Nothing quite like the rice cakes we know, this sweet & salty snack called Binungey is cooked in bamboo tubes creating a very distinct aroma from its fresh bamboo & banana leaf wrap. As every town may have its own version of this delicacy, the easiest place to find Binungey is at the Bolinao church.

The Last Tattooed Women of Tanudan

Hidden among the mountains of Tanudan is a tiny village regarded as the last frontier of Kalinga. But more than its untouched environment & preserved ways of living, it is also the place where Kalinga tattoo all began. Sadly, there are only a few women left with full sleeve tattoos. Naty Sugguiao is reviving this tradition of keeping this precious skin art amidst the challenges of modernity & social stigma.

Batanes Survival Food

A lot can be gleaned from the cuisine of a region. The availability of the ingredients and cooking practices are influenced by weather conditions, the lay of the land, farming methods, the desired shelf-life of food, tradition, among other factors. Discover why Ivatan food is considered "survival" cuisine.

The Syquia Mansion

The magnificent mansions in the mestizo district of Vigan suggest old world ambience and tell tales of prosperity and affluence. In this feature, the beginnings of the Syquia Mansion and the people, descendants of a migrant from China, who called it home, will be brought to light.

The UNESCO Heritage Sites of Ilocos

The historic city of Vigan and the baroque churches of Paoay and Sta. Maria in the Ilocos region are among a handful of World Heritage Sites designated by UNESCO in the Philippines. These heritage properties are of the utmost universal value, embodying a distinctive and incomparable legacy and exhibiting an exceptional creative accomplishment from the Spanish colonial period. Properties included on the World Heritage List are the collective patrimony of the world. These sites are a source of pride for all Filipinos.

The Agta of Maconacon

Project Katutubong Pilipino is photographer Jacob Maentz's advocacy to document the indigenous peoples of the Philippines. He returns to Maconacon, Isabela to see how much the Agta have changed since his first visit in 2011.

Nuestra Señora Immaculada Concepción de Salambáo

Nuestra Señora Immaculada Concepción de Salambáo (the Virgin of Obando) is so named because of the discovery of the image in a salambáw, a fishing net. The patroness only leaves the interiors of Obando church twice a year, during the fertility rites in May and the Marian festival held every December in Intramuros. New vestments are designed and made for these occassions by local Bulakeños, funded by a generous donor.

Steve Rogers

Steve Rogers, an American based in Sagada, guides adventure-seekers and tourists across the region's bike trails and canyons. As a long-term resident married to a local, he is in a unique position to observe and immerse in Sagada from within and also from a distance. He shares his insights on raising his children, the inherent strength and character of people of the highlands and how change and development will be addressed by the locals on their own terms.

Aris Bagtas

Obando-native Aris Bagtas draws inspiration from the local culture of Bulacan. His folkloric and ecclesiastical paintings can be found in the walls and ceilings of the famous churches and basilicas of his home province. His son Dale, an artist in his own right, follows in the footsteps of his father, imbibed with the legacy that was passed on to him.

Mt. Ulap

40 minutes away from Baguio City, sits a friendly mountain in Benguet. A day-hike that suits even beginners, Mt. Ulap is a climbable mountain all year round. Ascend her peaks and she will welcome you with majestic views of pine tree ridges, slopes of grasslands and nearby mountain ranges of the Cordillera.

Aching Lilian

Famed for her purist style of cookery, Atching Lillian Borromeo is one of the most respected pillars of Kapampangan Cuisine. The most famed of her recipes are her San Nicolas cookies. Those cookies and her age-old cooking secrets have made “Kusina ni Atching Lillian” an icon in Pampanga.

Casa San Miguel

Casa San Miguel is more than just an ancestral house in San Antonio, Zambales. Under the tutelage of world-renowned violinist Coke Bolipata, it now provides a learning environment for Zambales’ young music protégées.

The Pundaquit Virtuosi play their music in the place where their dreams are built, honed & fulfilled.

Salt Flats

Pangasinan is derived from the word “panag asinan” which means, “where salt is made”. It is a popular livelihood of the coastal communities on the western side of the province. But salt making is more than just a source of living. It is a tradition that makes its culture, people & place.

The Batanes National Science High School Chorale

Nilo Castilla is a choir master who returned to Batanes to make good on his promise to give back to the Ivatan after a good Samaritan had sent him through music school. He took on the challenge of developing Ivatan kids to mold them into a formidable singing ensemble, and more importantly, into decent and responsible human beings.

Veterans

History remembers the gallantry of our Pangasinense soliders, the biggest troop that ushered the liberation of Luzon from the Japanese invaders during World War II. 72 years since the historic 1945 Lingayen Gulf Landings, only a few are alive in passing on the tale.

Callao Cave

Tucked in the western foothills of Sierra Madre in the town of Penablanca, Cagayan is Callao Cave, a limestone cave that can be found along the ridges of the Pinacanuan River. This is an other-worldly site of light & shade, shadows & shapes.

This National Park is a premiere attraction in the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape, the largest protected area in the province of Cagayan. It boasts of a seven-chamber show cave wherein, the most popular is the Divine Room where light strikes through an altar of saints.

Teofilo Garcia, Katukkong-Maker

Because the traditional kattukong headgear is made from bottle gourd (tabungaw/upo), the quality of the final product depends not just on the construction and the finishing of the piece, but also on the caring and cultivation of the vines which yield the perfectly-shaped fruit that will be transformed into the useful accessory.

National Living Treasure awardee Teofilo Garcia is the last of the gourd hat makers, involved from the planting of the seeds to the varnishing of the hat. He intends to pass on the knowledge and skills to preserve the practice.

Yogad

Nanay Melba is a Yogad, believed to be the smallest minority group in the Philippines. She practices the ritwal ng bangka, a rite which makes use of a miniature boat to heal the afflicted.

Etag

Etag refers to the traditional method of preserving meat in the Cordillera region. Slabs of pork are cured in salt and either sun-dried or smoked. In the “smoking” process, the meat is suspended over a hearth and is exposed to the smoke from burning wood of the alnos tree which is preferred for its aromatic smell. To the locals, flavor is a function of the duration of this aging process. The longer the meat is cured and smoked or dried, the tastier it is. The Etag Festival is held annually in Sagada during the first week of February to celebrate and showcase this unique delicacy.

Rene Robles and the Sta. Monica Ceiling Paintings

In the late 1990s, artist Rene Robles was commissioned to paint a mural on the ceiling of Sta. Monica Church in Angat, Bulacan. The parish priest then wanted Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes replicated in his 400-year old, Baroque-style church. Though generally welcomed, the initiative had its share of critics. There were those who questioned whether enhancements should be allowed on heritage churches.

Rene Robles looks back and talks about his thought process when he took on the project more than 20 years ago. He shares the philosophy of Assertionism, an art movement he established.

Fidel Go, Burnay-Maker

National Folk Artist awardee Fidel Go is one of the last burnay makers in Vigan. He inherited his passion for jar making from his grandfather, a migrant from China, who moved to the Philippines to set up a pottery business in Ilocos Sur. A trip to Vigan without visiting Ruby Pottery, his factory in Gomez street, would not be complete.

The Philippine Rise

The Philippines owns a 13-million hectare continental shelf, 250-kilometers east of Isabela. This underwater plateau is rich in biodiversity and has been designated as a "protected food supply exclusive zone". It is now called the "Philippine Rise"

On June 12, 2017, in celebration of our independence, the Philippine government declared its sovereignty over it by planting our flag underwater, a reminder that the Philippine Rise will forever be under the vigilant watch of the Filipino people.

Mt. Cloud Bookshop

Mt. Cloud Bookshop has been a piece of literary heaven for Baguio since 2010 and is second home to many literary giants.

Betis Ecclesiastical Carver

Betis is a small town in Pampanga, famous for its woodcarving community. One man stands out to champion these artisans: Wilfredo Layug, a master in creating ecclesiastical art who has even earned recognition from Pope Francis.

The continuance of a tradition that is acclaimed all over the world rests on the brushes and aspirations of his son Joseph.

Saked

These humble brooms that are used in most households actually take so much time & patience to manufacture. The traditional broom weaving culture often goes unappreciated by the modern world.

Children of the Storm

An ode to the people of Batanes, whose traits, traditions, values and lifestyle are determined and shaped by their relative isolation, the rugged interior of their landscape and the trials and tempests that batter their islands. The Ivatan are resilient and self-sufficient, yet in possession of a deep sense of community. Kindness is the currency in a battered land where people come together to share.

The Ivatan are a people who embody the gentler and better parts of ourselves, of our humanity. A people we aspire to be.

Maconacon Lobster

For the past eight years, the municipality of Maconacon has celebrated the Binaging festival, to exalt lobster which are found in abundance in the rich waters of the coastal municipality of Isabela. The festival showcases the diverse ways of preparing the crustacean (from traditional to modern) by a wide range of people (from indigenous folk to housewives to trained chefs).

Butaka

The butaka is a chair synonymous with Isabela province. It is strong and sturdy, made from premium narra hardwood and rattan, and put together by skilled craftsmen. In this feature, meet an unexpected skilled artisan who embodies similar qualities that his creations represent, and is unhindered by his disability.

Abe Rotor

Lolo Abe Rotor is an icon in Ilocos Sur. Tourists include a trip to his house in their itineraries to view his murals and to meet a man overflowing with knowledge and wisdom.

Sagada Cellar Door

Binggirl Clemente and Andrew Chinalpan opened the doors of their home Sagada Cellar Door not only so that guests could indulge in their freshly prepared highland dishes and crafted local beers infused with local flavors, but more importantly, to help facilitate an experience wherein visitors can completely commune with nature.

Ola Farms

Joseph "Ola" Bogenggeng was resolute to grow coffee beneath the pine and alnos trees on the mountain slopes of Aguid, Sagada. Despite the numerous challenges and the initial skepticism of the local community, Ola Farms became successful and has now evolved into a full-fledged agricultural training facility which encourages and promotes farming.

The Palanan Plot

Jholo Sagao is the steward of Palanan Plot, a forest reserve inside Northern Sierra Madre National Park dedicated for the study of forest dynamics and biodiversity. He patrols and protects the forests from illegal loggers and poachers on his own.

Around Ilocos Sur

A sojourn to Ilocos Sur and Vigan, its renowned capital, is to step back in time. The melding of Spanish, Chinese and Filipino cultures is clearly evident in centuries-old churches, ancestral homes and town layout and spread. Immerse in a wonderland of bricks, burnay jars, handcrafted heirloom jewelry, tile roofs and cobblestone streets. Experience the charm of the old-world, its glorious past, its prominent statesmen, martyrs, and poets, the flavors and wonderful delights.

Yaru

Yaru is the highest form of cooperativism in the Ivatan dialect and is also the name of the artist collective in Batanes.

Through their choices of medium, canvas and form, and drawing inspiration from the immense and ruggedly beautiful landscape they call home, Batanes artists express their aspirations, and provide social commentary on the state of their world and the delicate way of life which is slowly fading with the advent of modernity.

Around Kalinga Province

Delight in the lush forests and raging rivers and the stories of tattoo traditions, weaving & performing arts of Kalinga, the homeland of the brave Cordilleran warriors.

Swordmaking

All around the world, swords carry a special power---in real combat, films & even in fairytales. In the Philippines, one of its kinds is called “tabak” and was used from the time of Urduja, the legendary heroine of Pangasinan to the episodes of revolution led by the Katipuneros.

Though sword & knife smithing are vanishing trades, in the town of Pozzorubio, Pangasinan, Neneng’s Cutlery keeps this craft alive.

The Provincial Capitol of Pangasinan

Designed by Daniel Hudson Burnham, a prolific urban designer in the 19th century, the Provincial Capitol of Pangasinan with its palatial structure and beautifully landscaped gardens is an outstanding example of state architecture in the Philippines.

Kalinga Pottery

Fanga or banga is one of the most important piece of item in any household in Kalinga. This ceramic vessel is not only a practical art but it is also an integral part of any religious ceremony.

This ancient folk art is made using bare hands, utilizing all-natural resources & skills that have been passed on for many thousands of years.

Around Isabela

Take a journey through Isabela, the second largest province in the Philippines in terms of land area, and named after Queen Isabela II. Life revolves around the sweeping stretches of rice and corn and the Sierra Madre mountain range. The province is home to centuries-old places of worship with their imposing bell towers. The soil is extremely fertile and festivities come with abundance. Fiestas are held to celebrate the land’s bounty. The Sierra Madre, the predominantly unexplored mountainous rainforests that is home to yet undiscovered species of flora and fauna, accounts for the other half of the land area. Over 100 kilometres of lovely white sand beaches make up stretches of the Isabela coast, and in the summer, bustle with revellers and sun seekers.

Isabela is truly a province fit for a Queen.

Baguio Artists

Meet three artists from Baguio who repurpose materials into works of art. From stitching stories with used clothes, making mosaics out of broken tiles and breathing new life into garbage to make beautiful installations.

Vakul

The vakul head dress and the kanayi vests, the protective gear worn by the Ivatan to shield them from the elements, are easily recognizable and instantly attributed to Batanes. But little is known of the vuyavuy, the date palm tree, whose leaves produce the fiber for these handicrafts. This resilient and endemic tree is a manifestation of the Ivatan spirit in its simplicity and sturdiness.

Sierra Madre Traverse

An 82-kilometre road is being constructed to link the coastal municipalities of Maconacon and Divilacan with Ilagan, the capital of Isabela province. The isolated towns are currently inaccessible by land transportation can only be reached by small plane and pump boat. The road passes through the Northern Sierra Madre National Park.

The road project has experienced much delays but is now scheduled to open in 2019. Migrant workers and residents of Divilacan and Maconacon have already begun making the difficult crossing on the partially-completed road. The entire traverse takes four to five hours.

Sustainable Tourism in Batanes

Genes Galarion, an Ivatan and member of various tourism and heritage councils in Batanes, shares his insights on how his province has changed with the massive influx of tourists.

A timely reminder in this momentary pause before explorers and holiday-makers eventually hit the road and return to travel destinations that responsible tourism will always be very relevant and crucial to the sustainability of industry. Destinations are communities, first and foremost, and that respect for the people and their culture should always be paramount.

Kaliwanagan - Sapi Bawer

Kaalaman. Karunungan. Kaliwanagan.

In this virtual campfire, well respected culture-bearer, community leader, educator and folklorist Cirilo “Sapi” Bawer performs several traditional songs with his daughter and provides insights on Kalinga traditions like the Bodong (peace pact) and way of life.

Kaliwanagan - Dr. Cuanang

Kaalaman. Karunungan. Kaliwanagan.

In this virtual campfire, we gather around Dr. Joven Cuanang -- neurologist, heritage advocate, owner of nostalgic Sitio Remedios, and one of Ilocos Norte's finest and reputable citizens. He talks about the Ilocos Norte of his youth, the legend surrounding an acclaimed landmark of his province and its lessons, the rationale behind prominent Ilocano traits and characteristics, and other things that only someone with the depth and breadth of his experience can provide.

Kaliwanagan - Kidlat Tahimik

Kaalaman. Karunungan. Kaliwanagan.

In this virtual campfire, National Artist Eric “Kidlat Tahimik” de Guia explains the symbolism of his iconic bamboo camera and why he shuns the formulaic framing of contemporary stories in favor of an approach anchored on local, personal and unique points of view.

The Know Your North Trailer

A Cinematic Journey. To tell the Deeper Stories of the North.

Revisiting the Great Outdoors

Take unforgettable journeys to peaks, craters, islands and falls. In the confines of your own unique isolated safe corners, travel vicariously to the great outdoors through this compilation. In your minds and imagination, feel the chill of a running river. Follow the never ending trails to lookout points with the grandest views. Bask in the afterglow of a glorious sunset. Set your spirits free.

Batanes Chorale Performance

The Batanes National Science High School (BNSHS) Chorale sings "Numerations," a Lithuanian folk song.

Cañao

Cañao is a sacred ritual of the Kankanaey people, done during feasts or celebrations in the highlands of the Cordillera. It represents the Igorot essence of thanksgiving, as everyone gathers in an ancient dance.

Performed by Prof. Melanio Cabanag from Pinsao National High School in Baguio City, this Canao is a call to preserve this ancient tradition in the midst of modernism.

Eduardo Mutuc, National Living Treasure

Eduardo Tubig Mutuc of Apalit, Pampanga is the finest metal craftsman in the country and a National Commission for Culture & the Arts National Living Treasure awardee. Tatay Eddie is a master of the age-old metal craft locally called “pinukpuk”, a practice by which designs are stamped on metal sheets as embellishments in religious articles like altar tables, candelabras and tabernacles.

Diplomat Hotel

A seminary in the early 1900s, destroyed during WWII, restored, and then turned into the Diplomat Hotel in the 1970s. Today, its ruins are known as one of Baguio’s most haunted places.

Hardin sa Hapag

Baguio is not only known for fresh air but fresh produce from La Trinidad, Benguet. Follow the journey of leafy greens from farm to table.

Pony Boy

Wright Park has been a part of many Filipino childhood photographs but who are the people behind its colorful horses? Meet one of the guides behind Baguio’s iconic horse trail rides and understand a man’s connection with his horse, and how this relationship transcends to being more than just his job.

Singkaban

Many regard the bamboo as a symbol of the Filipino -- strong and sturdy, yet flexible and able to adapt. In Bulacan, the bamboo is the main material of the singkaban, a decorated arch widely used in fiestas and other festivities. Filipino artistry and creativity is on full display as the simple bamboo is transformed into something beautiful.

Around Batanes

Batanes, a distant land of rugged coasts and green carpets over undulating hills, laid out in full grandeur under a vast sky. A sojourn to this dreamy landscape is as much about the journey within, the self discovery, as it is about the glorious sceneries.

Batanes is a refuge of the spirit. Where worries give way to deliverance. Where there is an unburdening of the soul. Where one is renewed.

Ben Kristo

Ruben Enaje once feared blood. But after being miraculously saved from an accident, he made a vow of gratitude to nail himself on the cross every Lenten season for the past 31 years. Huge nails are buried deep into his palms & feet, leaving him in pain as he is hoisted on the cross wearing a crown of thorns.

He earned the name “Ben Kristo” in his real life portrayal of the agony of Christ.

Anawangin

Its long crescent-shaped shore, laden with white volcanic ash & pristine turquoise water make Anawangin one of the most picturesque beaches in Zambales. Without electricity & concrete structures, this cove creates a castaway feel that beach lovers adore.

Anawangin, a paradise that is no secret to travelers, whose beauty remains coveted.

Faith Healer

Faith is an unfathomable concept and how a man believes in it gives even more power to it.

In a country filled with powerful stories of faith, open your eyes to a story of devotion and cure of a mystical healer, at the Virgin’s Well in Manaoag, Pangasinan.

Around Sagada

Sagada continues to be idealized, and fittingly so, the romance having started long before paved roads that now lead all the way to its doorstep were completed. This tranquil and laid-back enclave, cool in terms of both temperature and temperament, has drawn backpackers, wanderers, artists, the unsettled, and ordinary folk to its fold. A throw back to what Baguio used to be but no longer is, it is a world of log cabins and dense mountain vegetation, of isolation and wonder, instilled with a calmness that has sadly been lost everywhere else.

(Gabriel Malvar, Viajero Chronicles)

Haight's Place

Benguet is regarded as the salad bowl of the Philippines due to the massive production of vegetables in the area. It is not widely known that the beginnings of vegetable cultivation in the southern portion of the Cordilleras can be attributed to an American engineer working on Kennon Road, who was forced to retreat higher upland from Baguio because of health reasons. It is due to Franklin Guy Haight's intervention that Benguet was transformed into a major vegetable hub.

Buntal Hat Making

Hat weaving using buntal leaves was not just an art but a cottage industry in Baliuag, Bulacan in the early 1900s. Every household became a production center as housewives contributed their skills and time to make buntal hats. The weavers specialized in different parts of the hat and the assembly was a collective process.

Buntal hat-making is a dying tradition. Most of the weavers are elderly. The tedious process to create buntal hats does not appeal to the young. There is demand for the hats but sadly, not enough people with the skill and interest to produce them.