VENICE GRAND CANAL MALL, McKinley Hill

I saw a friend posting a photo on Facebook that looks familiar. Out of curiosity, I asked my friend where the photo was taken and she told me the details. I told my travel buddies about this place and they already knew it. Without any plan, we visited Venice Grand Canal in McKinley Hill, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The Venice and here's what we found:

TAU'T BATO: TRIBES IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Tau’t Batu or Tao't Bato or Taaw't Bato (translate's to "people of the rock" in English) are indigenous people located in some high lying areas on Mt. Mantalingajan. As of right now, most of them are still using the ancient mode of living, like hunting and farming. They also use caves as their home but some already have houses made of light and sturdy materials like nipa, coconut leaves and woods. During our visit, I noticed that most of the women use cloth to cover their bodies while shirts and G-strings for the men. READ: MT. MANTALINGAJAN 

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SAN DIEGO CHURCH, SILAY TOURIST SPOTS

San Diego Pro-cathedral formerly known as San Diego Parish Church or St. Didacus Parish Church before, it was declared as a pro-cathedral in 1994. It is the only church in Silay City that features a dome which is like St. Peters in Vatican City.

Mt. Binacayan: 2024 Hike Guide, Location, Height, Difficulty

Another famous mountain in Rodriguez, Rizal is Mt. Binacayan, a small but tiring to hike because of its terrain. Though, separated by Wawa River from Mt. Pamitinan, they almost have the same features in terms of the difficulty and trails types. There are fruit bearing trees, shrubs that bloom like ornaments, and the lullabies from birds can be heard. You will be certified as a "revel in trekking" because of the rock climbing and scrambling on the boulders and limestone cliffs with sharp edges.

Mt. Marami, Cavite: 2024 Hike Guide, Location, Height, Difficulty

Mt. Marami is one of the hiking destinations in Southern Luzon because of its proximity from Manila. Not only that, it is also one of the most visited mountains in the province because of its simple and gradual trails. Walking on its terrain can give you relaxation because everything is surrounded by green while the mountain slopes from afar are picture-perfect. You can't stop yourself from a death-defying pose on the rock formation called "silyang bato." Fruit-bearing trees, coconuts, bananas and other crops can give you a farmville feeling while the birds are singing their lullabies.

Mt. Talamitam, Batangas: 2024 Hike Guide, Location, Height, Difficulty

Though, no trees are dancing and birds singing, the nude shape of Mt. Talamitam makes it one of the hiking destinations in the Province of Batangas. Considered as a friendly mountain for beginners, this Talamitam can still bring a remarkable hiking experience to those seasoned in this field because of its soil type which is slippery and muddy during the wet season and hot during summer. As you can see on the photo above, this mountain is covered with green which brings a relaxing aura to the eyes.

Mt. Pico de Loro, Cavite: 2024 Hike Guide, Location, Height, Difficulty

Mt. Pico de Loro is also known as Mt.  Palay-palay located in Ternate, Cavite. Its name was given by the Spanish sea-fairer because it looks like a ‘parrot’s beak’ from afar. This mountain has a combination of beauty and trekking adventure. It has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty and richness. Birds are singing, colorful flowering plants on the ground, orchids hanging on the branches, bananas, and fruit-bearing trees like coconuts and mangoes. Reaching the top of the Monolith or the Parrot's Beak is a must-have because it will measure your fear and agility.

MT. DAMAS: HIKING GUIDE | TARLAC TOURIST SPOTS

Until now, Mt. Damas, the pride of Tarlac, is in debate if it’s really a minor or a major hike. Others would say it’s minor because of its elevation but others would say its major because of its trail type and technicalities. During our ascent, they are both correct, the entire journey was composed of an uphill and downhill trek with river crossing.  That doesn't end there, since it was the wet season, the muddy and slippery terrains made our journey remarkable. By the way, this mountain is the home of the eatas who protect the forest from illegal activities.

Mt. Daraitan + Tinipak River: 2024 Hike Guide, Location, Height, Difficulty

Mt. Daraitan, Tanay - when we saw the gorgeous photos of this mountain, we thought it's a perfect place to relax and re-energise with the positivity that nature possesses. Hiking this mountain and crossing the Tinipak River can definitely give you a unique experience because the place is surrounded with relaxing greens and the sound of the rushing water by the river preserves tranquility. Aside from this mountain, the province of Rizal has a lot to offer, from arts, crafts, food, rivers and mountains.

Mt. Maculot, Batangas: 2024 Hike Guide, Location, Height, Difficulty

I'll place Mt. Maculot as the second must climbed mountain in Batangas because of different factors. Can also be one of the best options for day hikes because of its minor trail type, and terrains that are covered with trees and surrounded by grass and shrubs, the air is the fresh, cool ambiance and a perfect location for a stunning shot with the world famous and most active Taal Volcano on the background. In addition, the Rockies is the best and famous part of Maculot.