South Luzon Loop – Day 2: Our New Year’s Day ATV Adventure at Cagsawa Ruins
After celebrating and welcoming the New Year at PROXY by The Oriental Albay the night before, we were greeted on the very first morning of 2026 by the majestic view of Mayon Volcano in Albay, Bicol. I honestly couldn’t think of a better way to begin the year than by waking up to one of God’s most beautiful creations. When we first arrived at the hotel the previous afternoon, the summit was hidden behind thick clouds, almost as if Mayon wasn’t quite ready to reveal itself. So waking up to a perfectly clear view the next morning felt like a little reward after our long journey. I found myself staring…
South Luzon Loop Day 1: Manila to Bicol + New Year’s Eve at Proxy by The Oriental Albay
Road trips have always been one of my family’s favorite ways to unwind and escape the busyness of everyday life. My mom, especially, has always loved spontaneous drives and discovering new places. Over the years, celebrating the New Year together as a family has become one of our most treasured traditions, and every year, we make it a point to welcome another chapter side by side. This year, however, our celebration unfolded in a way none of us could have predicted. For months, my mom had been talking about visiting Albay, but it always remained just a plan—one of those trips we’d “hopefully” take someday. Little did we know that…
Baguio Family Escape That Somehow Ended Up in Sagada
The original plan was simple: take my parents’ newly purchased Nissan Terra out for a proper break-in drive, enjoy the cool weather in Baguio, eat good food, and spend some quality time together as a family. Since Baguio has always been one of our favorite quick escapes from the city, it seemed like the perfect destination for our first long drive in the new SUV. We packed our bags, planned to simply look for and check into any available hotel upon arrival, and looked forward to a relaxing getaway in the City of Pines. But as travel often goes, things didn’t quite go according to plan—in the best way possible.…
Quezon Province Motorcycle Escape: From Misty Roads to Sunset Horizons
Some trips start with a detailed itinerary. Ours started with a simple conversation. For weeks, Shiena and I had been talking about riding to Ridges and Clouds in Tanay, Rizal. That was the only part of the plan. What we didn’t expect was that one stop would turn into an entire day of exploring, with each destination leading us farther down the road and into new adventures. The morning welcomed us with rain, fog, and cool mountain air as we left Angono on our motorcycles. Despite the gloomy weather, there was something exciting about not knowing exactly where the day would take us. One stop became another, then another, until…
