Manuel Uy Beach Resort, Batangas

Stunning beaches and resorts near Manila can be found in the province of Batangas in Southern Luzon; Manuel Uy Beach Resort is one of the must-visit places in the Calatagan, a 3-4 hours road travel from Manila. Travel time might be tiring but our journey to our destination was unforgettable. Our journey started after our respective shifts on a Friday. It was a bit challenging because all of us woke up early for work and passing on the roads of Tagaytay added a sleepy feeling due to its cool weather. There was a moment of silence, although most of the time, we killed that "sleepy ambiance" by talking about other people's life. If who those people are? hhmm. No comment. Aside from that, our musicality was also measured by the Whitney Houston and Celine Dion's songs played while the car window's open.

Burot Beach

The view of the golden sunset of Burot Beach.

Burot Beach is a perfect place to relax and experience adventure. Situated in the Municipality of Calatagan, Batangas—just a few hours' travel from Metro Manila—it offers fine yellowish sand and a calm ambiance while the sunset is truly magical. History: This beach was formerly known as Elizalde Beach because it was owned by a wealthy clan in the Philippines and then bought by the SM Group of Companies.

Agnaem or Agnain Cove, Zambales

Our group, group, Batang Hamog Mountaineers, is now at 8! The original plan was to celebrate in Talisayin Cove, in Zambales, however, due to inter-tropical convergence zone and a typhoon in Northern Seaboard, the Coast Guard did not allow all small motorized sea vessel to go farther. Instead, we were brought to Agnaem Cove, a secluded area which 10-15 minutes boat ride from Pundaquit.

8 Days Solo Backpacking in Regions 12, 13, and BARMM

Introduction:

So far, traveling to the provinces in Regions 12, 13, and part of the BARMM is the most expensive trip. Again, that's so far. Nonetheless, this part of Mindanao is one of the great tourist destinations in the Philippines. There are fine white sand beaches, gigantic waterfalls, lakes, historical sites, and many more.

The stunning Awao Falls of Davao de Oro

Awao Falls hides in the mountainous farming village in the Municipality of Monkayo. In terms of Eco-tourism, this stunning waterfall is the top destination in the province. There is no direct transportation to these majestic waterfalls, so having an hour bumpy habal-habal ride with a river crossing is necessary to see its hidden beauty. Getting here will certainly be challenging, but you will be rewarded with pristine and breathtaking waterfalls. The picturesque is perfect, the ambiance is relaxing, the water is cool, and the air is fresh.

Kaamulan Park

Kaamulan is definitely the most relaxing part of my travel in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. This government-owned park offers an outstanding and remarkable experience to all visitors. Why not? Inside the park, the wind is fresh, the temperature is cool, and the ambiance is relaxing because of the greens that surround the area. The landscape is clean and well-maintained. Thus, the entire area is picture-perfect - a perfect place to bond with your loved ones.

TRAVEL GUIDE: MATIN-AO COLD SPRING, Malaybalay, Bukidnon

Matin-ao Cold Spring is one of the public summer destinations in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; it is a long river system where the cool and crystal waters are free flowing. The crystal clear pool lit by a natural skylight creates the picturesque more dramatic. Not only that, the area is surrounded with hardwood trees that preserve the tranquility and also serve as a perfect backdrop. And of course, the set up is not complete without the birds singing their lullabies to welcome the visitors. There are benches and has a wide open ground for family gatherings and picnic. A habal-habal is needed to visit these spots because they are located in a remote area on an adjacent location.

The stunning Nasuli Cold Spring in Malaybalay

Nasuli Spring is one of the top tourist destinations in Bukidnon. For the locals, it's a prominent place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature, but a few travelers and backpackers know about its hidden beauty. This place is definitely a natural cold spring with cool and crystal-clear waters that can quench your body heat. Not only that, this resort in Malaybalay City is surrounded by trees, plants, and flowers, which preserves nature's tranquillity and creates a relaxing ambiance. To combine all, the landscape of Nasuli is picture-perfect and can be considered one of the must-visit attractions in Bukidnon.

Paseo de Santiago, Iligan City

My Iligan City habal tour ended at the Paseo de Santiago, a seaside complex with several food stalls and shops. Since it's seaside, of course, it's by the beach, and the sound of the waves makes the area cosy with the cool breeze - a perfect spot to relax. Others would call it a "hangout area" where you can have a few bottles of beer and "ihaw-ihaw," with someone performing on the mini stage. The area is wide with an instagrammable landscape which includes the gorgeous fortress (photo above), a wide map of the Philippines on the ground and the statue of Lapu-Lapu on the other side. The perfect time to visit this place is during sunset. It is privately owned; thus, entrance fees are being collected.

7 Days Solo Backpacking in Region 10, 11, and BARMM

Provinces visited in Regions 10, 11, and BARMM

1. Lanao del Norte
2. Lanao del Sur
3. Misamis Oriental
4. Bukidnon
5. Davao del Norte
6. Compostela Valley
7. Davao City