• Sibonga And Its Therapeutic, Enriching Mountains
    Travel

    Sibonga And Its Therapeutic, Enriching Mountains

    My heart raced. With each breath, my heart pounded loudly like the rhythms of a tribal drum. As I was standing precariously on a steep slope in a secluded mountain in Sibonga, I could feel sweat dripping into my eyes and my mouth going dry.  And, with a torn left glute and 24 hours of no sleep, this outdoor exploration in Sibonga seemed like a recipe for disaster.  As I was taking a deep breath, and soaking up the scent of soil, I felt a wave of joy flooding through me.  My heart fluttered with excitement, with each step and every obstacle I conquered.  Moments later, I found myself at…

  • Gaas To Toledo: The Hunt For Insta-worthy Landscapes
    Travel

    Gaas To Toledo: The Hunt For Insta-worthy Landscapes

    The lush mountains of Gaas and Toledo are a sight that excites the senses. Picture-perfect and tantalizing, these landscapes offer a dose of optimism and an escape from the real world’s crashing depression. Every time I hit the trails of Toledo and Gaas, I always return home with a gallery of Instagrammable snaps. In fact, the pictures of these places in Cebu are a sure-fire bet, when it comes to upping your Instagram game. And, more importantly, it usually craves my wanderlust and sense of adventure. One of my fondest memories of these places in Cebu was the stunning sunset in Mount Tagaytay. With the striking shades of gold and…

  • The Eternal Pursuit Of Wonder In San Fernando, Cebu
    Travel

    The Eternal Pursuit Of Wonder In San Fernando, Cebu

    The eternal pursuit of wonder… began on a hill. It began the day when we saw a thick blanket of fog rolling over the mountainside of San Fernando, Cebu. As the crisp cool breeze brushed past me, I could hear Mother Nature herself whispering gently words to my ears. “A chain of adventures is coming”, she said. And, even with the dark grey skies and rain showers, I sensed an extraordinary and eye-opening escapade coming our way. With our happy hormones released and adrenaline running in our veins, we went on a strangely wonderful journey that turned into an endless chase of wonder. More than a year later, we arrived…

  • Campo 4 To Mount Naupa: A Beautifully Chaotic Itinerary
    Travel

    Campo 4 To Mount Naupa: A Beautifully Chaotic Itinerary

    I was watching in awe at the finale of a seemingly perfectly-orchestrated symphony. Speechless, I was blown away by a cinematic and splendid sunset in Mount Naupa. The dramatic shades of orange, paired with Naga’s trademark rolling hills, created an awe-inspiring and irresistible showcase of natural beauty. And, as I was soaking up the atmosphere and sunset, a philosophical book quote suddenly flashed into my mind. “Under the whirl and chaos of life lies a strange order”.  As picture-perfect as our ending was, our Campo 4 to Naupa hike itinerary was chaotic.   It was unplanned and full of twists and wrong turns. Heck, I even thought we were just…