Benjie Layug: Adventures of a Savvy Traveler

22/05/2023

Saddened by the recent fire that hit this iconic American-era structure. May the Manila Central Office Building be resurrected like the Phoenix and be restored to its former grandeur ....

Check out http://benjielayug.com/2021/10/manila-central-post-office-building-manila.html

Manila Central Post Office Building (Manila) Posted on 31 October, 2021 by Benjie Layug — Leave a reply Manila Central Post Office Building The Manila Central Post Office Building (often called the Post Office Building), the center of the Philippine postal services and the headquarters of then-Bur...

09/05/2023

09/05/2023

Interacting with whale sharks (locally called butanding, in other parts of the country they are locally known as bailan, kulwano, tawiki or toki) is the first thing that comes into mind when you’re in the province of Sorsogon.

This activity had its beginnings in 1998 when the then sleepy town of Donsol gained international prominence when over 90 whale sharks (scientific name: Rhincodon typus) congregated at the mouth of the murky, nutrient-rich waters of the long and winding Quipia (or Donsol) River. The other Sorsogon towns of Castilla, Magallanes and Pilar are also noted for butanding sightings. Since then, these gentle giants, have kept coming back and the area has become one of the biggest draws in Southern Luzon.

It is believed that these whale sharks, about 30 to 40 of them at any one time, converge off the Donsol waters to feed on plankton, krill and juvenile fish. They allow humans to swim or interact with them and this phenomenon has attracted hundreds of tourists around the world eager to interact with these gentle giants of the sea. Time Magazine featured it as the Best Animal Encounter in Asia.

Check out http://benjielayug.com/2023/03/whale-shark-interaction-donsol-sorsogon.html

Whale Shark Interaction (Donsol, Sorsogon) Posted on 29 March, 2023 by Benjie Layug — Leave a reply Whale shark (butanding) Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour After breakfast and checking out at the 15-room, 3-star Elysia Beach Resort, we were all transported, via our coaster, to the nearby Whale I...

08/05/2023

Check out https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/05/06/sorsogon-revisited-tales-of-the-sun-sand-and-sea/

Sorsogon, the southernmost province in Luzon, has a close affinity with the sea, being almost completely surrounded by water (except for its overland link with Albay to the north). Bounded by the West and East Philippine Seas, its capital Sorsogon City and almost all its municipalities (only Irosin....

15/04/2023

Check out http://benjielayug.com/.../bulusan-lake-eco-tourism...
The 1,002.5-sq. m., Php60 million Bulusan Lake Eco-Tourism Center was inaugurated, after a massive two-year restoration and rehabilitation, last March 5, 2022 by then Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Bulusan Mayor Michael Guysayko (with DOT Regional Director Herbie Aguas , DENR Bicol Director Francisco Milla, Jr. and other officials in attendance), it is accredited by the Department of Tourism as a Tourism Recreation Center.
The center has a registration booth, an alfresco coffee shop and a restaurant called Sagurong Restaurant, a spa massage spa, and a souvenir shop where one can buy pasalubong including local arts and crafts.
From here, e-jeeps (there are three available) takes visitors to the entrance to Bulusan Volcano National Park (dubbed as the “Switzerland of the Orient”), a 3,672-hectare protected landscape located at an elevation of 635 m. on the southeast flank of Mount Bulusan, an active stratovolcano, where Bulusan Lake, a small. Round crater lake, is nestled within.

15/04/2023

The pristine Subic Beach (locally called “La Playa Rosa”), in Calintaan Island off Matnog, is one of two places in Sorsogon (the other is Tikling Island) with sand that has a pinkish hue. This is due to a combination of creamy white sand with crushed organ pipe coral (Tubipora musica).
There are actually two adjacent Subic beaches – the quieter and less developed Subic Liit (Little Subic) and a longer stretch called Subic Laki or Subic Dako (Big Subic), both separated by a short stretch of land.
The latter is the more popular of the two due to the presence of basic amenities that allow visitors to rent native-style nipa huts with anahaw roofing for day use (Php400), pitch tents and cook their own food.There are also sari-sari stores and grilling stations. Potable water is also available.
There are also two or three resorts (the best is Holy Trinity Beach Resort which has airconditioned rooms and a swimming pool) for overnight stays, . Calintaan Island has electricity thanks to a wired connection with Matnog town in the mainland.
Check out http://benjielayug.com/.../subic-beach-matnog-sorsogon.html

06/04/2023

Check out http://benjielayug.com/2023/03/zoes-resort-eco-adventure-park-bulusan-sorsogon.html

Zoe’s Resort & Eco-Adventure Park, eco-tourism site a 10-min. drive from Lake Bulusan, offers outdoor activities for adventure-seekers and laid-back facilities for visiting families and children.

Here, visitors can trek to three waterfalls (Kambal Busay, Hidden Falls and Hulugan Falls). Tour guide assigned to visitors as they can get lost in the vast space inside Zoe’s Resort and the waterfalls are quite far from each other.

For those who want to stay longer in the resort, Zoe’s Resort has different varieties of cottages: umbrella, casa and hall. The halls are two casas combined. The resort also has two swimming pools (the Cold Spring and the Bloody Pool). The one for the adults has a depth of 7 ft. and one for the kids has a depth of 3 ft.

06/04/2023

Check out http://benjielayug.com/2023/03/mateo-hot-and-cold-spring-resort-irosin-sorsogon.html

Formerly known as San Benon Hot and Cold Springs (locals still call this place simply as San Benon), Mateo Hot and Cold Spring Resort is now owned and operated (starting April11, 2012) by ARAMARU Resort Corporation of Mr. Reyrold A. Mateo. The resort was named the Dr. Eliseo Mateo, the original owner.

Located at the foot of 1,547 m. high Mt. Bulusan (one of the most active volcanoes in the world) in a forest 4 kms. northeast of the town, it has three man-made pools with a mixture of sulfuric, steaming (Hot Swimming Pool), lukewarm (Lukewarm Swimming Pool) and cool waters (Cold Pool).

This is a nice, well maintained place to balance and harmonize our body and mind, to unwind, relax, enjoy and find peace in a quiet and secluded place or just have a picnic with the family and friends during weekends and holidays. Soaking in its hot, crystal-clear waters have many health benefits.

A good therapy, soaking in the heated pool is extremely beneficial to those who suffer from arthritis plus the buoyancy of the water relaxes the muscles (increasing their range in motion), supports and reduces stress on the joints (encouraging freer movement), and increases the heart rate (while lowering the blood pressure than raising it as does other forms of exercise) with less strain on the heart. A nice place to visit.

13/06/2021

My article "What You Need to Know Our Independence Day and Many More" which came out in today's Business Mirror.

On June 12, we celebrate the 123rd anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence and the focus of this celebration will be at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit (originally Cavite el Viejo), Cavite where the Philippine declaration of independence from Spain was declared and the Philippine fla...

06/05/2021

Today is the 79th Anniversary of the Fall of Corregidor. Still many people don't know that.......Check out http://benjielayug.com/.../ten-things-you-may-not-know-of...

09/02/2020

This 3-star, 3-storey boutique hotel, with its chic, dark brown and white motif, was opened in Cauayan City, Isabela in 2013. It currently has 110 air-conditioned non-smoking rooms with ensuite bathroom and flat-screen cable TV.

It also has an on-site restaurant. The hotel also has 2 swimming pools (adult and kiddie), poolside bar, cabanas and sun loungers.

The new grand hotel lobby (the old lobby was located where the function room is now) was huge, with several seating areas, comfortable sofas, area rugs, high ceiling, gold trim, ritzy chandeliers, winding stairway, fanciful artwork, flat-screen TV and 24-hour Front Desk.

Cauayan Airport is just a few steps (300 m.) away but The Hotel Sophia is 5.2 kms. (a 15-20-min. drive) to the city. The hotel, being near the airport, is very convenient for those flying in from Manila (Cebu Pacific has morning flights from Manila). The Hotel Sophia has the potential to be one of the best, if not the best, hotel accommodation in the whole Cagayan Valley Region.

Check it out at https://firingyourimagination.blogspot.com/…/hotel-and-inn-….

Date of Stay: January 27-31, 2020 RATING (Scale of 1 to 10) Location: ******* Rooms: ******** Condition and Cleanliness: ******* ...