Nov 24 – I hadn’t slept for 24 hours as I was packing all night, making sure we had all the necessary paperwork (which wasn’t even requested upon arrival in Manila). We were given a family one-year visa as a Balikbayan Privilege. Left home at 7:45 am to catch the train to Bristol Temple Meads. Then, took the bus at 1 pm to Heathrow Terminal 2. Met up with George, Lucy, and Claire at Heathrow.
Nov 25 – Arrived in Singapore at 5:30 pm. Our next flight to Manila is at 1:10 am, so we have over seven hours of stopover. Richard and I decided to stay at the airport while GLC took a taxi to visit Marina Bay Sands (Gardens by the Bay). We had dinner at the Marina Bay Food Court. I bought a pack of ‘fish skin’ snacks for £10, which we all enjoyed eating.
On November 26th, we arrived in Manila at 6am and checked into Hotel 101. At 9am, we went out sightseeing in Manila with Danyel. Our first stop was breakfast at Aristocrat. We then visited Rizal Park, Luneta, Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, Casa Manila and San Agustin Church. We tried the famous halo-halo dessert at the shop below Casa Manila. In the evening, we had dinner at the MOA (Mall of Asia) Food Court. Lucy and Claire bought some sunglasses while GLC bought a local SIM card called ‘gomo’.
November 27th – Manila. We left the hotel at 6 am to go to Rizal and hike Mt. Batolusong (a 3-peak hike). We hired local guides at the village for the hike. I believe we were the only foreigners on the mountain. After the hike, we had Bulalo and Mami for lunch at the local shop.
Nov 28 – Manila to Urbiztondo La Union. We left the hotel at 6 am,to go to Pasay Partas Bus Terminal for the 06:30 bus to La Union (£10 each). We had ‘Arroz Caldo’ at the lunch stop during the bus journey and beef sisig and crispy pork belly curry at Nak-Nak for dinner upon arrival.
Nov 29 – Urbiztondo. We went to CSI Mall on a tricycle to purchase an Oppo Phone with a local SIM card (£100). Afterwards we went back to our Airbnb for a siesta and later to the beach to see the sunset, and go for a swim.
Nov 30 – Urbiztondo to Vigan. Stayed three nights at Vigan Traversa Hotel (£63). Visited Crisologo Museum/Ancestral Home, and walked around Crisologo Street.
Dec 01 – Vigan: Quema House, Syquia Mansion, Bantay Tower. Unfortunately, St. Paul’s Church and the Dancing Fountain were closed due to the earthquake of 27.07.2022. We visited the National Museum of the Philippines (Fr Burgos’ House), as well as the Basi Revolt Painting Collection at the Jail House next door where President Elpidio Quirino (6th President of the Philippines) was born.
Dec 2 – Vigan. Day trip to Paoay, Laoag and Pagudpud. First stop Magsingal Church and Belfry (1732). St Augustine, Paoay Church, Suba Paoay Sand Dunes, Malacanang of the North, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse (Burgos), Kabigan Falls (Pagudpud), Patapat Viaduct (Pagudpud), Cave and Sinking Bell Tower (Laoag) and stopped at Pasoquin for food on the way back. Tour guide – Archieval Apostol (£115 for the whole day – 7am to 9pm).
Dec 3 – Vigan to Baguio (£7.50 each – bus). We arrived at Baguio at 2:30 pm and had food at Shakey’s SM. We checked in at RedDoorz @ Tita Aidz for three nights (£190 – Due to a double booking they put us in the family apartment for the first night. In the evening, we went to a restaurant/bar downstairs owned by a brother and sister. The brother visited England in 2017.
Dec 4 – Baguio. We went to the 10:30 Tagalog Mass (it was beautiful, I cried) at The Lady of Atonement. Went to Burnham Park, Street Artists, Baguio Museum, Tourist Office and BenCab Museum.
Dec 5 – Baguio. Lourdes Grotto, Mirador Heritage and Eco Park, Stobosa Coloured Houses, Camp John Hay (lunch at Ramen Nagi-Butao King for R and Ebi King for me-£21), Bell Ampitheatre, History Trail, Secret Garden, Statue of Liberty, Cemetery of Negativism, Butterfly Sanctuary.
Dec 6 – Baguio to Sagada. Stayed in Ganduyan Inn (£7.50/person per day). Van (£15 for both). Driver was crazy, overtaking on bends). Saw a van overturned today on the way here). Road diversions due to earthquake. Road only passable by van (5hrs)or small vehicles, buses from Baguio cannot use diversion road so has to go through Cervantes (8hrs).
Dec 7 – Sagada. Paytokan Walk (Hanging Coffin, St. Mary’s Church). Dinner at Yoghurt House (beef cutlets and Java chicken). Went to Bana’s Coffee ( civet coffee and strawberry yoghurt) after our walk.
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Dec 8 – Sagada. Got up at 4am to see the sunrise at Marlboro Hills – no sunrise – it was very foggy morning and then went down to Blue Soil Hills.
Dec 9 – Sagada.
Dec 10 – Sagada. Went for a walk on our own to Bokong Falls. Dinner at Sagada Brew (Halo-halo & Sweet Waffle).
Dec 11 – Sagada to Banaue. Coda Lines (4hrs). Met by Raphael our tour agent who arranged a 3 day rice terrace trek for us.
Dec 12 – Banaue. 3 day trek – Awan-Igid, Pula, Cambulo (stayed at guest house)
Dec 13 – Banaue. 3 day trek – Batad stayed at Christina’s
Dec 14 – Banaue. 3 day trek – Bangaan, Snake Lake and Ducligan River Swim
Dec 15 – Banaue to Manila. Went to the Banaue Museum in the morning and took the Bus at 4pm, arrived Manila 4am (12 hrs). The road was road so bendy and i was sick.
Dec 16 – Manila to Davao. Arrived from Banaue at 4am, had a few hours rest (Hotel 101) and flew down to Davao at 3:40pm. Flight was delayed for almost an hour. Arrived Davao at 6:20pm. Collected by Butchoy (my brother) at the airport, dropped our bags at One Oasis then met up with former PNB colleagues at MTS.
Dec 17 – Davao. Dinner with my brother (Boyet), sister-in-law (Dionalee) and 2 kids (Yssa and Alee) at Seafood Paradise.
Dec 18 – Davao. Pool day at One Oasis.
Dec 19 – Davao. Went to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to process my dual citizenship. It only took an hour to process :))
Dec 20 – met up for lunch with Jolly (childhood friend), Warren (Jolly’s husband-American) and Vanny (Jolly’s daughter-lives in Texas, just visiting for Christmas) at Cabalen (SM Extension). Jolly and Warren are now retired and living in Davao.
Dec 21 – Dinner at Vista View with my mum, Ate Baybee, my brother (Butchoy), sister-in-law (Lenlen) and couple of drivers.
Dec 22 – Davao to Kidapawan. Collected GLC (from surfing in Siargao) and my sister (Chichi), brother-in-law (Ron), nephew (Niknik) (from Manila) at Davao Airport. We haven’t seen GLC for 2 weeks. Went straight to Kidapawan. Dinner at Javelanos BBQ. This is the start of non-stop parties for the Saavedra Family.