Philippines Vacation: 2025

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. Literally had dinner with my Alltel crew, then drove out to Los Angeles the next morning for the Doctor Who convention, called Gallifrey1, then got home in time to eat and head out to the airport to fly to Frisco Texas for a team meeting, then got home with enough time to do a quick load of laundry spend a quick minute with my wife, then fly out with my son to meet my family out in the Philippines!

This is going to be quite a long post with a lot of pictures.

My son and I flew to San Francisco about 9PM on the 21st of February and then caught the red-eye from San Fran into Manila. Altogether it was about 17-18 hours total with layover, landing on the 23rd of February, we lost a day due to travel and time zone change.

The long flight was really tiring, and we sort of slept a bit, and they woke us for snacks, refreshments, and food. Our seats were nice and they came with some cool things, like ear plus, eye masks, blankets, etc…

The Uber/Lyft in the Philippines is called Grab, so we took one to the hotel. My uncle had to get some work done, but he gave us local smartphones so we could remain connected. Because he set them up under some aliases, our friends reported our profiles as clones; which I think is really cool that they let us know and did that. Great friends!

Enough of staying in the hotel, we immediately started site-seeing. We called my cousin Omar over to drive us around. I really wanted to visit where my grandparents are resting, so that was our first stop.

Then we went to visit my cousin Gerry and his wife, Gemma, and to invite them to dinner.

We got hungry and had a little bit of lunch at the mall

After lunch, we swung by our ancestral home that no longer belongs to us. It’s changed so much and is not the beautiful house it used to be. I fondly remember staffing the storefront, eating fresh mangos from the tree out front, and climbing the wall to visit my friend George who lived behind. Its a little sad to see the place like this now.

We went back to the hotel for a bit to rest up from our flight and to get ready for our dinner with the family.

A quick nap later and we were ready to mingle with the family. I don’t think I’ve met my nephews in person prior to this.

We ate until we were full and then said our “See You Later”‘s, Uncle had a big day for us tomorrrow. Before that, Omar took us on a quick nighttime tour of the city. (too dark for any worthy pictures)

Not a bad first day.

The next day, on the 24th, Uncle Richard came over to do a tour. We toured so many places. Starting with Luneta/Rizal park, a Jeepney ride to Quiapo, where there is a bit of apparently criminal activity is higher so we had to keep situational awareness heightened, and I bought some fighting sticks and a bunch of souvenirs. We walked all over to and through china town and then to Intramuros. We saw beauty of the city and poverty. We went and toured areas of Intramuros that required payment so that kept beggars away. Some of it was solemn.

We took all the steps out of Uncle Richard, so he ended wanting to sit and talk so we had some good conversation until we were ready for dinner at Aristocrats. When we returned to the hotel we packed up and went to sleep.

First part of the tour, Luneta/Rizal park with a little bit of the Chinese Gardens

Then a quick Jeepney ride over to Quiapo for some market stuff and souvenirs

Then to China Town to wander and get something to eat

Then over to Intramuros to check out the walled city and see the museum bit

We finished up the night at Aristocrats for dinner

and that concludes our second day in the Philippines!

Early the next morning, on the 25th, we went to the airport to go to Cebu!

When we landed, my cousin (my cousin’s wife’s sister) Jacqueline and her husband Malvin, picked us up from the airport and took us in! They were super cool!

What an awesome start to day 3 of our vacation!

After we ate (and was so full) we went to see Datu (chief) Lapulapu.

Datu Lapulapu was a native chieftain of Mactan, an island in the Philippines, who is best known for leading the resistance against Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. He is considered the first Filipino hero for successfully repelling the Spanish expedition, which resulted in Magellan’s death.

Lapulapu’s defiance symbolized early resistance to colonial rule, and he remains a significant figure in Philippine history. Today, he is honored with statues, his name is used for various places and institutions, and he is celebrated as a national hero.

Datu Lapulapu did not create Arnis (also known as Eskrima or Kali), but he is often associated with it because of his skills in combat and his resistance against Spanish colonization.

Arnis is a traditional Filipino martial art that predates Spanish colonization and evolved over centuries through tribal warfare and self-defense practices. It involves the use of sticks, knives, and empty-hand techniques. While there is no direct evidence that Lapulapu specifically practiced Arnis, he and his warriors likely used indigenous fighting techniques that influenced its development.

Today, many Arnis practitioners honor Lapulapu as a symbol of Filipino warrior spirit and resistance.

We then went to the Temple of Leah, high up on the mountainside! It was so beautiful!

The Temple of Leah in Cebu is a grand Greco-Roman-inspired structure built as a symbol of undying love. It was constructed in 2012 by a wealthy Cebuano businessman, Teodorico Adarna, in honor of his late wife, Leah Albino-Adarna. Often called the “Taj Mahal of Cebu,” the temple serves as a mausoleum and a tribute to Leah’s memory.

The sites from Temple of Leah was really cool, but wait! we can go higher!

We went to Tops, a huge viewing platform on the top of Cebu

It started to get cold so we drove out to get some dinner and get near the water. A really awesome 3rd day!

We woke up while it was still dark, we are headed to Oslob with Jacqueline’s brother, Oliver.

It was near a 3 hour drive and we stopped to use the restrooms here and there. We had some yummy rice wrapped in leaves for breakfast. Once we got to the area, we opted to scuba dive, which put us at the front of the line. It cost more, but it got you definitely a better experience as well as priority.

There was two whale sharks doing their rounds and we weren’t allowed to touch them. Some snorkelers got in their way so they can get bumped by it while taking selfies. We unfortunately didn’t have any cameras or phones, but luckily, Oliver had the full set up and took all the photos (above) and videos (below) of the ordeal. Swimming with whale sharks feels… I’m going to guess that its like this:

They’re massive, and it feels almost prehistoric, and I noticed I would breath faster when they came by me, they were literally breath-taking! It was amazing!

My son did really good for it being his first time doing scuba. We gave him a quick course and he was always accompanied by someone. It was so memorable when a whale shark came by and he squeezed my hand tightly!

After diving, we got a bit of an appetite, so we ate nearby.

We left shortly after eating to go check out Kawasan falls, one of the beautiful, Instagram worthy waterfalls!

We drove home afterwards, with some stops for the bathroom and snacks. A wonderful end to 4 days into our trip!

Damien and I woke up with sore jaws and ears from diving and biting down on the regulator mouthpieces from scuba. Malvin made some delicious food for breakfast. We took a little tour around Talisay (Cebu) and visited Magellan’s Cross and hit up the Alegre Guitars shop. We also moved to the Tambuli resort and had Jollibee for lunch! I know, there’s a Jollibee in Phoenix, but we’ve never had it.

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who led the Spanish expedition to the Philippines in 1521 under the sponsorship of King Charles I of Spain. His mission was to find a westward route to the Spice Islands (Maluku, Indonesia) and expand Spanish influence. Though Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan, his expedition became the first to successfully circumnavigate the globe (completed by Juan Sebastián Elcano after Magellan’s death).

Magellan introduced Roman Catholicism, converting local rulers like Rajah Humabon and his wife, Hara Humamay of Cebu. He gave them the Santo Niño de Cebu, a religious icon still venerated today.

A quick flight back to Manila, from Feb 27th to Feb 28 as it was a red-eye, we were met at the airport by my Uncle Richard and our distant relative, Frederick who drove us to Malolos, to stay at my Aunt and Uncle’s house there.

The next day, we again woke up early, and headed out to Taal Volcano in Tagaytay, and Taal City. We also swung by the balisong district to get some butterfly knives! Super cool. Its being told that this may be the last generation that will make them as their children want to get jobs in tech. I get it.

I’m told that there is an island in a lake in the volcano, in a lake, in a caldera. The official place to see it was kind of hard to see, but driving around we found some better places to take pictures. It is very much like taking pictures of the moon where its huge then in camera its tiny.

We rested good that night and packed up for our trip to Buscalan. The next day we went to swing by the other ancestral home, which is a compound of houses.

The ride to Buscalan came after midnight, where Click, his girlfriend Joann, Damien, Jasmin, and I, crammed into a van and drove into the night. A crappy, bumpy, tired, ride with some sleep and we woke to the sun rising over Banaue mountain tops with clouds randomly scattered in the valley.

We got to the rice fields of Banaue. It’s very beautiful. I got to pick up a guitar in a restaurant and play a little next to the scenic view of the rice fields. We saw some old people in traditional garb that we took pictures with.

We made it to Buscalan and was offered the zip line tram thing. They definitely could have sold it better because about halfway up the other side of the canyon, I warned Damien that I might pass out. It felt like the last time I did. I had to close my eyes and control my breathing. The waters I brought were quickly drank and when we got to the buildings in the village, I bought and swallowed another huge bottle of water.

Holy shit what a hike. I’m so glad my mom skipped this. She would have been so angry about the hike. It’s a challenge, especially for those from a flat area… Like Phoenix.

We had lunch, our drivers were also our cooks and they made food. It was tasty and I tried not to eat too much. Being out in the road and the bathroom situation in the Philippines is definitely different.

We got a number to meet Apo Whang Od and while we waited, a nice girl named Claire started doing our tattoos or as the locals say, Bartoks as the family picked from the little bit of selection. As I was grimy outlining done to get bartoked, we got called down to see Apo. The village is very third world and gross and beautiful in its own way. Apo showed up and took a seat and after a few people, got to us.

First Damien, then Jasmin, then me, followed by Richard’s girlfriend and then Richard himself. We had Vogue magazines signed and got the traditional Whang Od 3 dots. I got to give her a little gift for her birthday.

When we returned, it was my turn to get bartoked by Claire. Oh boy it hurt!

All in all, Damien got 3 tattoos, Click got 3 tattoos, his girlfriend got 2 tattoos, I got 2 tattoos, and Jasmine got 3 tattoos. So many!

I’m really happy that Damien, Jasmin, and I got the matching Whang Od tattoos. We’re going to have to get Pat on board. I know we’ll make him a little jealous in the meantime.

A good nights sleep barracks-ish style and we woke to the roosters all over the village announcing its time to get up.

Our guides were already working on breakfast for us. The coffee here is delicious and didn’t need sugar or milk.

We changed and got ready for the day. Lumai (sp?) our local guide is a beast. Sitting around smoking, then moving quickly carrying all our bags at this altitude through the narrow and small (and tetanus requiring sharp rusty metal jutting) pathways of the village. I can imagine how someone raised in this village can live a long time, like Apo Whang Od. Their lungs and leg muscles are adapted to this crazy environment.

We took the zip line back to the van, saving about an hour or so in time. If I ever come back, definitely taking the zip line up!

video goes here

Off to Sagada to see the hanging coffins. Driving through Segada reminds me of parts of Flagstaff. Other parts near the hanging coffins is just like Bisbee. We first went to Masferre’s place, he’s a famous photographer. His place below

Then we took a walking tour of the cemetery which included the hanging coffins. To be honest, the stairs the other day took me out so I had a hard time going up these, plus my foot started swelling.

We went to a vegetarian restaurant for lunch and prepped for a long drive to Atok, the highest point to drive to.

Atok was cool. Like cold cool. We drove over and up many mountains to just get a selfie at the top of the mountain. We bought some snacks and souvenirs, then off to Baguio via Benguet.

It was dark when we got to Baguio and my foot started to hurt. I think it is infected.

We did see the giant Lion head in Baguio and DJ and I got some selfies at it.

It was late and hot when we got back to Bulacan/Malolos.

Mom got our ride to drive us to Subic Bay. That was cool. I had my foot looked at by a pharmacist and got a topical ointment. We toured a museum in Clark.

After the museum, we went to Subic Bay to check it out

Dasmariñas is in Cavite and it was a bit of a drive. It took a bit and we missed the house blessing and Ycea was already asleep but we got to meet a lot of the family. We took a bunch of photos and ate quite a bit.

We left so that I could go to urgent care in Carmona. My foot is still swollen and hurting. Hopefully we see what’s going on. The nurses seem nice and it’s helpful that my cousin Omar, is a nurse who can help navigate this place.

The outcome was I had a blood test and they saw infection via high wbc and they gave me new tetanus shots and prescribed me antibiotics and some pain medication. It took about an hour and a half and cost about $100 bucks. They had a pharmacy in the hospital so I didn’t have to go anywhere.

When we got home, the masseuse was there for Omar, Jasmin, and mom. With them was Sheryl’s sister, Michelle and her son, Prince James. After too long, they left.

A restful sleep and a late morning, i woke to a message that Sue and Dave are on their way, and we met Danilo’s sister, Lina who was waiting at the door while mom was at church.

We packed up and Frederick and his friend took us back to the Golden Phoenix hotel. We spent the afternoon wandering SM MOA, getting food and snacks and an extra bag to bring home.

Uncle Richard came over and we went down to the lobby to meet up with my old friends, Sue and Dave! They brought stuff for us from Australia. I treated them to breakfast and we had a real quick call with Jaime. After a quick catch up, we headed out to Quiapo for a bit of site seeing, and half way through China town, it started to rain really hard. Immobilized for a while, we finally decided to call it, get a Grab, and head to the Mall by the hotel. Some food court, then some light shopping more, we said our farewells and we went back to the hotel.

Before too long my mom’s sister and family came over and we had dinner in the hotel restaurant. Our final meal! Lots of pictures and we said goodbye.