2011: A Retrospect of Lakwatserong Tatay's Adventures

by lakwatserong tatay

Thank You 2011 !!!!!.........Welcome 2012 and hope to have more DIY travel and camping activities this year!!! I would like to take this chance to show my appreciation to all of my travel companions, the new and old ones.....hehehehe.... It was really nice to be with you and hope to be travelling with you again this Year of the Dragon. Thanks for entrusting me to be your travel buddy/companion and one of your friend. I do promise that our escapades and adventures will not be ended but it will be surely pursue up to the end....nonstop na galaan and tipid trips ang gagawin natin muli ngayon 2012......cheers and more travels to us!!!!!!!!

2011 has ended, but the memories, places and travel is been part of my life. It was really a jam packed year for me, inspite of having nonstop OT's at work, different travel opportunities together with my travel buddies..."Xplorerboyz" and another set of travel/blogger buddies "Tropang Tits & Pips". It is nice to look back on all of those things...the chance to visit different places. Travelling via plane, bus, jeep, tricycle, habal-habal and small boats and roro transfer. Visit different churches of our country, Chasing of Waterfalls, and  Encourage other trippers to make their own blogs to share their own stories. There are two happenings in my life that i would not be able to forget in the year 2011: The chance to be seen in GMA News TV for Weekend Getaway Show with Drew Arellano as Weekend Warriors for Vigan Episode and of course the Birth of my Third Angel "Gabriel".

Here to share my adventures, travels, climbs, events, and happenings in 2011:

JANUARY:
San Pablo, Laguna : DIY Trip of Seven Lakes (Bunot Lake, Lake Calibato, Lake Pandin, Lake Yambo, Lake Palakpakin, Lake Mohicap and Sampaloc Lake). Trek to Mt. Malauban

Nagcarlan, Laguna :  Underground Cemetery, Presedencia Nagcarlan, St. Bartholomew Church and Bunga Falls.

FEBRUARY:

Antipolo, Rizal : Gift Giving at Precious Heritage Children's Home

FEBRUARY:
Puerto Princesa, Palawan : Food Trips (Bilao't Palayok, Kinabuchs Grill & Bar Restaurant, and Balinsasayaw Chicken Grill & Restaurant), Trip to Binuatan Creations, Manny's Guest House, Mitra's Ranch, Baker's Hill, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, Crocodile Farm, Tiangge Tiangge, Palawan Museum, Plaza Cuartel and Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

Taytay, Palawan :  Parish Church of Santa Monica and Stone Fortress: Fuerza de Santa Isabel

El Nido, Palawan : Marina Garden Beach Resort, Trek to Nagkakalit Waterfalls, Island Hopping (Small Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Seven Commandos, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cudugnon Cove, Snake Island, Natnat Beach, Bukal Island) and Parish Church of Saint Francis of Assissi.

MARCH:
San Antonio, Zambales : Church of Holy Infant Catholic

Pundaquit, Zambales : Anawangin Cove, Capones Island, Camara island and Faro de Punta Capones.

MARCH:
Biñan, Laguna : Family Trip at Splash Island Resort

MAY:
Tagaytay : Overnight Stay at Foggy Heights Village and People's Park in the Sky.

MAY:
Nasugbu, Batangas : Caleruega Church.

JUNE:
Vigan City : St. Paul Cathedral, Vigan Heritage Street (Meztizo District): Calle Crisologo, Vigan Plaza Hotel, Vigan Heritage River Cruise, Arce Mansion, Plaza Burgos , Plaza Salcedo, Pagburnayan (Jar Making Factory), Baluarte (Mini Zoo), Vigan Airport, Food Trips (Irene's Empanada, Hidden Garden, Los Mojitos de Vigan, Cafe Leona, Legacy Super Club)

Here's the first part of my Weekend Getaway (Vigan Episode) taped last June 9-12, 2011 and aired to GMA News Channel 11 
For the rest of the videos just click this link (lakwatserong tatay)

Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur : Pinsal Falls 

Cabugao, Ilocos Sur : Cabugao Beach Resort

JULY:
Kalibo, Aklan : Kalibo Airport, Solina's Residence

Boracay Island : Helmet Diving, ATV Ride Adventure, Everland Aviary Farm and Amigos Beach Resort

JULY:
Rosario, Cavite : POD Outing at Mount Sea Resort

SEPTEMBER:
National Capital Region (Quezon City) : La Mesa Eco Park.

SEPTEMBER: 
Cayagan De Oro : White Water Rafting Experience, Victoria Suites, Food Trip (Street Food Dining at Plaza Divisoria and Hammer Time Bar and Grill).

Misamis Oriental : Balingoan Port and Roro Boat Ride Experience. 

Camiguin Island : Taguines Lagoon, Giant Clams Sanctuary, Sto. Niño cold Spring, Gui-ob Old Church Ruins, Sunken Cemetery, Mt. Vulcan/Walkway to the Old Volcano Station of the Cross, Bura Soda Pool, Katibawasan Falls, Ardent Hibok-Hibok Hot Spring, Pabua Cottages, Island Hopping (White Island and Mantigue Island). 

Bukidnon : Camp Phillips Del Monte Plantation and Dahilayan Zipline Adventure.

OCTOBER :
Iligan, Lanao del Norte : NPC Nature's Park, Maria Christina Falls, Tinago Falls and St. Michael the Archangel Church.

NOVEMBER:
Tanay, Rizal : Daranak Falls, Batlag Falls and San Ildefonso Parish Church.

Paete, Laguna : Mt. Humarap (Tatlong Krus), Matabungka Falls and St. James the Great Parish Church

Antipolo, Rizal : Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Cathedral) and 3B Resthouse 

My Greatest Achievements for 2011:

Last March, 2011, my wife gave birth of a bouncing baby boy named as "Gabriel Rein Enzo", youngest of my three adorable kids. My son Gab just have his christening few months ago that happened at Antipolo Cathedral and reception follows at 3B Resthouse.

Last 2010 when me and wife finally decided to purchase a house and lot. Our house is located near Thunderbird Resort (Rizal). After 6 months of paying the equity our house was started and had the chance to visit just last quarter of 2011 and 1st floor was almost done and just last December, together with my wife our house is finally built and ready for turn over and hopefully this year we could already transfer to our dream house were also my brother bought a house and lot too......^_^

I'm proud to say that i've influenced some of my fellow newbie tripper to create their own blogs with their own taste, on how to share something about their self, trips, and etc. Although their all newbie when it comes to blogging, im pretty sure that they do more than what did i do for the past 2 years in blogging.
Anak ng Kidlat (Ichan), Lady Traveler (Judith),
Valiant Wife (Lorna) and Batang Kaladkarin (Aleli)   
and hoping that Jheng would follow....

I just want to thank this time to give THANKS TO YOU ALL.......who is behind why am i called the Lakwatserong Tatay now........My travel buddies (The Xplorerboyz and Tropang Tits and Pips), thanks to all funny memories and activities we've shared on 2011 and hope to travel with you more this 2012.

To all my kabundukeros.....SPIMC and YABAG MC....i really miss you guyz, it's been a while since the last time i've joined any of your mountaineering activities...i'm hoping this 2012, i could get back on trails and reach again each of every mountains that i'll be walking and trekking on....^_^

To my online friends, especially the Pinoy Travel Blogger community, that is always there when it comes in sharing different travel tips and helpful guide in everytime one of the member of this community is in need of  TRIP GUIDE, im proud to say that i'm part of of this blogging community that shares the passion for traveling. Even though as of now i'm not really active in making out of my blog stories....hehehehehe.....

To the readers and followers.....Thank you so much for making me more comfortable sharing my travel trips and showing appreciation by simply saying that i helped some of your trips, getting you more reliable contacts, and plan your dream getaway. I promise that to update my site by early quarter this year and continue to share my upcoming trips, the funny stories behind it and make it very easy to you my readers to plan your dream getaway......^_^.....Thank you for the visit, shares, likes, tweets (bago palang ako dito....), and comments. Hope that someday we could meet and join any of your travels.....^_^....

Finally, to my family and friends, who is always supporting me and keeps me comfortable doing all of this trips. to my travel buddies/friends that is always on the go when i planned an unexpected trip......to my tatay, at mga kapatid, who is always reminding me every time when i'm in out of town, that it is always show respect to other and be courteous to greet each everyone....and of course to my loving wife, that understand my passion of travelling even though sometimes...galit na talaga siya kasi ba naman...sa isang buwan 2 -3 times ako gumala (day trip or overnight man siya)...Thank you so much Hon....sana this year payagan mo parin ako sa mga trips ko....hehehehe.....and lastly to my three adorable angels....Kuya Gian, Ate Gayle and Baby GabGab, this passion of sharing my stories behind my travels is for them. That hoping someday when they know how to read, write and understand things, they will be proud of me....and follow my footstep in exploring our countries beauty and share it to the world the unique sights, festivities, food and people in the Philippines...once again Thank you so much!!!!!!!

I hope this year 2012 will be more fruitful and very jam packed trips again for me and also wishing that someday we could meet and bump within our travels....

Cheers....and more travels to you all this 2012!

My Sidetrip: Mt. Sungay (Tagaytay's People's Park in the Sky)

Mt. Sungay (Highest Point in Tagaytay)
by lakwatserong tatay

This is one of my co-sidetrip when i visited Tagaytay last May, together with my co-tripper, Ichan, Roger, Aleli, Jheng, and Ritz. This place is known to be the highest hill in Tagaytay where you will have a good view of Manila Bay, Laguna Lake and Taal Lake. We all knew that Tagaytay is one of the famous getaway near Manila area. One of the closest option to Baguio City because of its awesome ambiance and cold temperature like.

People's Park in TH Sky signage....tsk..tsk..

This park was previously known as Palace in the Sky, built by the former President Marcos to house President Ronald Regan and his first lady for their visit in the Philippines. Unfortunately, the palace was unfinished because the Marcos regime ended and this palace is still under construction that time. Today the formless structure of the palace remained, and does story tell a part of Philippine history making it a landmark and one of the best tourist spots in Tagaytay City.

the entrance....^_^

Part of the Tagaytay Ridge, starting from west is Mt. Batulao and in the east is Mount Sungay, currently known now as People's Park in the Sky, the highest point in the province of Cavite at 709MASL. This area serves the best spot to see Taal Lake and Taal Volcano and some other picturesque spots like Manila Bay & Laguna Lake. If you and your group were lucky to get a good weather in your visit, the view here will surely give you a breathtaking experience. But most of the time, do expect thick fogs that blocking the spectacular scenery.

the walkway up to the palace....

The park entrance fee is Php15 per person. Here's a guideline post for the tourists/visitors but sad to say this was not really happening if you will happened to be here....tsk..tsk...

Guidelines in the park

The building to the front of main park area is the Shrine of Our Lady, Mother of Fair Love. The shrine was inaugurated in February 2003 in honor of Mama Mary. the top of the shrine is accesible to visitors and is good vantage point for taking photos of Taal lake and the whole Tagaytay city as the background.

The shrine of our lady mother of fair love

The Lady Mother of Fair Love

the inauguration marker

the big sculpture at top..

This one big sculpture of our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the perfect spot to view the whole town of Tagaytay, but sad to adjacent to this spot this sculpture was not been treated good enough and maintained by the government, as you can see below i could not really recognized the name of the sculpture due to vandalism/graffiti around it, even the base of statue has different vandals/graffiti around it, list of names, date and time that they visited this park and this is one of the saddest part when i used to travel seeing this kind of distraction in of one historical landmark for our country make me sometimes shamed of, aside from seeing some tourist also reacting negative why the visitors have to do this kind of activities....

Sculptured by Marcial G. Bimalo

As you arrive, do expect a palace that looks like an abandoned building. I can imagine it appearing amazing if this was only finished. You can see a mini amphi theather, a huge pond that has a bridge up on it but now currently looks like a garden. There's a shrine and a constructed satellite communication tower right beside the shrine. A dilapilated 3 storey building that only the ground area was used by souvenir shops, where at least tourist and visitors could get some souvenir items like shirts, native delicacies, house decors and furniture and wood crafts. But at least this building could be used as a roof deck viewing where the tourist could enjoy the 360 scenery of Tagaytay.

one of the umbrella shed....

this was supposed to be pond...tsk..tsk...

unfinished mini amphi theater (?)

the ground floor: souvenir stores....^_^

But even though this park really need some major maintainance, i'm still happy to see this majestic and awesome view when your in this park. Where some of the tourist, family groups and even students touring around, enjoying the cool and fresh air, and as you roamed around the park you will be impressed with the wonderful scenery of Taal Volcano from a far. In a sunny day, you will  have the chance to see the Manila Bay and Laguna Lake. This is also a good point to see the neighboring towns of Tagaytay, which offers an uplifting view of greenery of the whole place.

The subdivision view in the palace...(?)

The Taal Volcano view in the Palace in the Sky

The road up to this People's Park

Here's is one of our photo souvenir at People's Park Mini Amphi-Theater....thanks...roger...^_^.

group photo opps while were on chilax mode...^_^

How to go People's Park Tagaytay:

If you're going to Tagaytay via public transportation, ask the driver to drop you off at your destination at Tagaytay Rotonda or 7-11 Convenience Store where you can ride jeepney or tricycle to your target place/spot in Tagaytay. The cheapest way is to ride public buses that can be found in Lawton area in Manila of Pasay/ Rotonda Terminal.

People's Park in the Sky can be reached by riding jeepney from Tagaytay Market. Be warned that riding jeepney going to People's Park during weekends and holidays is not easy were you have to compete with other people, just like when you're riding a jeepney in Metro Manila...^_^....Or you may opted to choose tricycle but this may cost much bigger in your transportation cost. People's Park jeepney's also passes Picnic Grove, one of the most famous park of Tagaytay.

Lakwatserong Tatay x-plored People's Park of Tagaytay....

All in all our visit to People's Park is fine, because i really love nature, seeing those majestic landscape when your in a highest place of Tagaytay is one remarkable experience. I do hope that park administration or government of Tagaytay would renovate People's Park before i will have the chance to go back again and hopefully together with my wife and kidz....^_^.