The Island Explorer

I am not a big fan of churches, since in the Philippines, they pretty much look the same to me. There are some though that mesmerize, like the Miag-ao Church in Iloilo and this one, the Basilica of our Lady of Charity, more known as the Agoo Church.

On this day, December 20, I was expecting smiles and a lot of fun from our Mindanao Christmas party in a lovely resort in Jasaan.  Today, we visit them with smiles to cheer them up. I have come to love Mindanao, and CDO has been special to me this year. This is what Emily Homes looks like now, which is reminiscent of Ondoy's wrath in my former home in Provident Villages. It has happened again, and will happen again soon.  Help CDO and Iligan and all the other affected areas of Sendong, by donating in whatever way. We are here to help.

Guess where my next destination is. More on one of the country's top tourist draws up next! Merry Christmas everyone!

I I wanted to end my Camotes blog with Santiago Bay, but if there's one thing that made my trip memorable, it was the impromptu bicycle tour that we took on our last day.

When one mentions a beach in Camotes, one would probably say Santiago Bay. After visiting Timubo and Lake Danao, we decided to grab a snack at Santiago Bay Garden Resort, perched on the cliffside of Santiago Bay.

Just like most islands in the Visayas, Camotes has primed up its popular tourists spots. The island has its share of destinations, making a day trip around the countryside worth your while. We hired at multicab to take us around for P2,000 a day. We were also picked up from the wharf with this  fee. We also had a bubbly and informative tour guide, who took us to the right spots. Our first stop was the Timubo Cave.

I find great satisfaction in discovering new places. The Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort was an accidental find, since we were really supposed to stay in Mangodlong Rock Resort beside it. When I saw the new resort, I was already lured towards it.