Our first dibs into vidcasting — Holy Week trip to Nasugbu, Batangas, Munting Buhangin Beach Resort, Lago de Oro in Calatagan, The Peak at Terrazas de Punta Fuego and Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast.

The place is a private museum or collection of artifacts called Yoki’s Treasure. It’s somewhere in one of the maze of baranggays in Indang, Cavite.

Tons of Chinese and Balinese weird stuff — form this 30-foot giant Buddha to life-size replicas of animals.

Though it’s a private area, Yoki the owner sometimes allow students to visit his place in a school tour with minimal entrance fee of Php10.

Anton and I were invited by the manager of Balay Indang in Cavite for a week-end retreat. After visiting that place a month ago, I must say that the place is a total hang out for those who want peace and quite.

A garden, a pool and cool breeze completes a week-end getaway. And the food is great too.

Check out my review of Balay Indang over at Pinoy Travel Blog.

Been to the Caleruega Church in Nasugbu, Batangas several times and each time it’s a new experience.

The place is really good for doing some nature photography.

Where is White Beach and Talipanan, Puerto Galera?

Talipanan Beach is one of the many beach resorts in Puerto Galera. About 2 kilometers from White Beach, Talipanan is the more quiet version of the former with cheaper room rates yet complete with all the amenities of a Puerto Galera resort.

Puerto Galera is just four hours away from Manila. The land-trip from Manila to Batangas takes about two to three hours and the sea-trip from Batangas to Puerto Galera one to two hours. Buses leaving Manila every hour and at the Batangas Pier a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, Balatero Pier and Sabang Beach. Another way to reach Puerto Galera is to get a ferry going to Calapan and than a jeepney to Puerto Galera. The trip takes depending on sea and road condition two to three hours.

One of the easiest way is to avail the Sikat Bus & Ferry service. The package offer a nonstop bus ride to Batangas Pier with a connecting ferry trip to Puerto Galera. The departure is at the Citystate Tower Hotel and only once a day.

Take advantage of the SEAIR Buy 2 take 10 Promo! If you buy 2 round-trip tickets to Boracay at normal fare you get 10 free round-trip airfare to Boracay (subject to taxes and surcharges). For a total of P47,644.80 you can have 12 round-trip tickets to Boracay. That’s an average of P3,970.40 per round-trip ticket!

This promo is for selected flights, but there are flights everyday. Selling period is from March 13 to March 19, 2008 only and travel period is from March 13 to June 15, 2008. For inquiries and reservations please call SEAIR at 8490100.

Note: Normal fare is P8,898.40 and taxes and surcharges for the ten free tickets is P2,984.80 each

Microtel Phillippines’ only resort-type hotel is located in sunny Boracay Island. Microtel Boracay is a cozy spot inconspicuously hidden in its own cove at the northern part of Boracay.

With over 50 deluxe and suites, the place also boasts of a beach front and a chlorine-free swimming pool.

Room rates starts at $65 in the upwards of $95, relatively cheap because of the lower peso-dollar exchange rate. And since the location is a little further up, the Microtel provides it guests with free transportation service to and from the hotel, the post and anywhere in the entire stretch of the island resort.

There’s wifi in the comfortably spaced lobby and the neatly arranged lounging area in front of the beach. Guest and visitors will surely like the nice sun and quite atmosphere as the resort is a bit secluded from the rest of the other resorts and busy establishments.

Zuzuni is a mediterranean restaurant at the ground floor and a hotel on the second floor. Located smack in the middle of the Boracay resort stretch, you’re right in front of the night partying of the island.

The restaurant has a neat layout, though a bit crowded, and the walls are full of Grecian (?) mirrors giving an impression of wider space.

There are also tents just outside, along the beach, giving you a good view of the outdoors.

I’m not familiar with Greek food but the dinner that we had was really great. You have to spare some room for the dessert. It basically made the whole dinner most interesting.

Flying SEAir on a vacation trip is unlike any other regular flight. The planes are much smaller than the usual 737s that fly the usual city routes. Sometimes, it feels like business class.

Although the planes are smaller, like the SEAir Dornier 328, and could be a little bumpy at times, there are some surprising perks. Like you get to see the landscape and the terrains much better from the cabins and taking pictures through the 35 minute trip to Microtel Boracay is much more enjoyable.

The Cabatuan Church in northern Iloilo is one of the oldest churches in the country.

My folks on my father’s side used to live there. We still have some farm lands there but we never took care of it anyway.

More pictures of my family on my dad’s side (Olandres-Bolaños family) here.