By: Andressa Niña V. Flores

Sometimes, it’s not a question of where you’ve been, but rather what you’ve tasted.

A travel experience will remain dull, until one has sampled the best and most exotic local dishes of the country he visited.

I love feeling the authenticity of local food from the tips to the bases of my taste buds. Walking into different pubs, bars, and restaurants - wondering what I’d get and how I’d find it - gives me a sense of joy and surprise. And most of all, I think it's amazing how different one country’s cuisine is from another’s – different and yet delectable in their own unique way.

Indeed, food is identity.

By Charry Fatima D. Garcia

Deuce Bigalow’s been to places, but one of the most remarkable he visited is that city covered with red lights at night – Amsterdam.

Amsterdam, the capital city of The Netherlands, is not covered in red on daylight after bloodshed, but at night because the Red Light District had opened its lights and is now ready for business.

It was after we rested from the long flight that we headed straight out and our cousins introduced us to the city they grew up in. It was a cold afternoon and it was raining snowflakes, so we slipped into coats and boots on ready to explore the “red” city.

The Philippine Archipelago has a beauty bursting with colors and adventures. Some of these beautiful spots have been internationally acclaimed and have been visited by thousands of tourists over the time. These places are just waiting to be discovered by Pinoys, who are hungry for adventure.

Anawagin Cove, San Antonio, Zambales
by Anne Kathleen Vicho

Probably the best cure for the stress brought by city life would be to go somewhere peaceful; away from the problems about budget, politics, and traffic.  I suggest you try Anawangin Cove. Anawangin is known for its white sand shore lined up with beautiful pine trees instead of the usual coconut trees. The fine white sand was mixed with ashes from the last Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Turn your eyes left and right and you will see picturesque rock mountains that made the place looked ethereal and absolutely perfect. With the clear blue sky, oceanic pristine water, white sand shoreline and the rock formations, you wouldn’t believe that this place is so near from manila and so accessible to many. 

In the small town of San Antonio in Zambales lies barangay Pundaquit, a small barangay wherein the main livelihood is fishing and bringing tourists in the cove in 45-minute boat rides. Deeper into the cove, a small lake-like body of water that is connected by the water from where the ocean is located. The fallen branches and needles of the pine trees rest in the base of the water formation and can be seen only because of its clear waist-deep water level.

By Maria Velli Badillo

As soon as you enter Rizal Park, it is quite astonishing to see how spacious it is. The plants are luscious green and well-trimmed, music can be heard from a bench you choose to sit in and different colorful horse-carriages, locally know as kalesas, can be seen parading around the park. It is definitely a place that could offer silence and excitement for tourists or Filipinos alike.

A couple of years ago, I never found the time to fully explore Manila. It felt too laborious and I settled to a plain mall visit. A few months ago, when I was working, I came go to the office very early and had nothing to do. I remembered that Luneta (commonly called by the locals) was nearby and curiously strolled to it. The park was enveloped by sunlight and joggers were zooming through the place. I heard the music embracing the place and saw a line of empty benches; I bought a cup of cheap coffee from a nearby vendor and listened to Manila wake up.  I had a full hour left and decided to see the stretch of the park. Apart from the uniformed plant boxes, you could see a planetarium, several fountains, an animal-kingdom-themed playground, an amphitheatre and the Chinese and Japanese gardens.

By: Andressa Niña V. Flores


At 18, I knew very well that I was ready enough to break free from the comforts of my home, travel to the other side of the world, and for some time, live alone while doing something worth my while – and that is exactly what I did last summer.

With nothing more than pure excitement and a spirit for adventure, I flew out of Manila on the 22nd of March to undertake a cultural education exchange program in the Czech Republic.

Having travelled a number of times in the past with my family, I thought I’ve had enough training to face whatever comes my way during my trip and sojourn. But I was wrong.  

By  Charry Fatima D. Garcia

It’s exciting to go on a trip abroad, but it is more exciting to see one of the most famous and most visited cities in the world. When you hear “Europe”, the first thing that come into your mind is that city in France.

The world famous city I am talking about is the much-loved Paris. This word can be found everywhere; on shirts, bags, notebooks, pens, and some even on toilet paper. But, what’s the buzz about this city and what made it so popular?

My family set foot on Paris last summer to celebrate my 18th birthday. It’s a wonderful experience because instead of wearing sunglasses and sleeveless dresses, we wore jackets and scarves on a summer vacation.