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Sumaguing Cave: A Journey Through Darkness, Doubts And What-Ifs
They say you can’t change the past. But somewhere between the ice-cold waters and slippery rocks in Sumaguing Cave, I kind of wished I could travel back in time. It started with a phrase uttered by a Caucasian tourist after exploring this underground labyrinth in Sagada. “I saw my life flash right before my eyes,” he said. I admit. That’s not exactly the most encouraging and comforting thing to hear right before a Sumaguing Cave adventure. Yes, I was once a fearless hiker and thrill seeker, with years of experience in hiking and exploring caves. But I no longer had the confidence and the athleticism I once had in my…
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Mount Pinatubo Tour: A Wild Adventure That Proves Disasters Are Beautiful
Some disasters leave nothing behind. Ruthless and unrelenting, they erase towns, reshape landscapes, and swallow rivers. Yet, beauty can also emerge from catastrophe and chaos. On our Mount Pinatubo tour, I realized that disaster and beauty are not always opposites. Sometimes, they rise from the same eruption. Even though my Mount Pinatubo day tour wasn’t exactly a breeze, it was a surreal and eye-opening experience. It led me to an iconic sight I once saw only in my childhood textbooks. And it proved that even the most violent endings can lead to something new and beautiful. It reminded me that ruin and wonder can coexist, and we must burn before…
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Hanging Coffins of Sagada: A Hauntingly Beautiful Reminder That Life Won’t Wait
The dead don’t talk. Or at least, that’s what we’ve been told. As I admired the hauntingly beautiful Hanging Coffins of Sagada in Echo Valley, I felt the echoes of their voices, carrying the wisdom of the past. And that was when the questions came. What if the dead never truly left? What if they had learned a different way of talking? The thing is, even in their dead silence, the dead can teach you more about life than any living politician. And every burial ground holds stories, lessons, and silent reminders of what really matters most. Unfortunately, in a world too distracted by noise, we rarely have the patience…
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Sagada: That Thing Called Adventure (And Sofia)
A few weeks ago, I invited my friends on a weekend trip to Sagada. Nothing fancy. It was just a quick escape and a break from life’s never-ending cycle of deadlines, responsibilities, and grind. Most of them had excuses. Some were too busy, and a few left me on “seen.” But one of them replied with a yes. The only problem? She had been dead for over two years. The person I’m talking about is Sofia. At first, I thought it was a mistake. Maybe there was a glitch in the Matrix. Or perhaps it was one of those weird moments that made you question reality for a second. But…
