Endless Adventures in Coron, Palawan!

Travel… it’s in our genes….having such adventurous parents results to a fun family of adventure seekers. Our next stop: to the beautiful island of Coron in Palawan, Philippines!

Not a newbie here, my 3rd time, so I decided to be tour guide of the group. Need I say, I’m impressed even though it’s been 5 years since I last visited this place.

Coron is in the province of Palawan, Philippines on Busuanga Island. It is the largest town on the island and has the largest share of accommodations.

Coron is both the name of the largest town on the island of Busuanga, and the name of a different, smaller island just offshore. The area is famous for its World War II wreck diving, and the site has been named in many lists of top dive spots in the world. In September 1944, a fleet of Japanese ships hiding in the harbor were sunk in a daring raid by the US navy. The result is around ten well preserved underwater shipwrecks surrounded with coral reef.

In 1902 that Coron was registered as a town and the name of the town was officially changed from Penon de Coron to Coron.

From 1939 to the outbreak of World War II, the municipality experienced the mining boom. Labor shifted from farming to mining. In July 1942, the Japanese occupied the mining camps and resumed operation of the manganese mines. On September 24, 1944, a group of Japanese ships were sunk by American warplanes in Coron waters as the ships retreated from Manila Bay. To this day, about 10 or 12 of these World War II Japanese shipwrecks comprise what is considered one of the best dive sites in the world.

On June 17, 1950, Busuanga was officially created as a separate municipality from Coron and in 1954, Coron was further reduced by the official creation of the Municipality of Linapacan. On September 12, 1992, Coron was finally reduced by the official creation of the Municipality of Culion.

The first inhabitants of Coron were the Tagbanuas who belong to the second wave of Indonesians who migrated to this area some 5,000 years ago. They were a nomadic, seafaring people, living mainly by fishing and subsistence agriculture. Although they are now sedentary (with the young using cell phones, etc.), they maintain many of their old customs, traditions and beliefs. Today, the Tagbanuas remain the dominant if not entire population of Coron.

Must Visit Places in Coron:

Mt. Tapyas – countdown to 750 steps to reach the peak of the mountain that houses a huge cross and is overlooking the wonderful city of Coron. This year while I was climbing up, I had a 2 people who recognized me as a TV Sportscaster and they had to take my photos while I was drained in sweat as I climbed up this mountain.

Maquinit Hotspring –  The only known salt water hot spring in the Philippines and probably the only one in Asia. The hot spring is just about 25 minutes from the town center and is perfectly located between a hill and the blue sea whose shores are lined with mangrove trees and floating bamboo cottages.

Kayangan Lake - This view is the most photographed area in Palawan. It is also judged as the cleanest lake in the country and the 3rd in the world. Before approaching the lake, go over the cave and glimpse at the great view on top of the mountain.

Twin Lagoon - The water and towering rocks are great photos. On low tide, experience kayaking under the hole of the rock. At high tide, one can swim through the hole of the rock or a walkway can be used to get to the other side of the lagoon.

Barracuda Lake – don’t forget to bring goggles or snorkles to observe underwater rock formations of this lake.

CYC Island - is nice but gets very busy. It's the only free beach in the area. 

Banol Beach - is very picturesque with its flower trees set against the rocky island. It has sugary fine white sand in its beachline.

Siete Pecados - among the best sites to snorkel in Coron. It was popularized by the shoot of a local television show of a mermaid love story. Experience swimming in an aquarium, beautiful corals and a great variety of fishes. Myth suggests that seven kids swam from the main island to escape it and follow their parents. They all drowned and the place where they drowned is where the islands are now present.

Culion Island - the former leper colony where it offers a medical museum and presentation of the old leper colony highlighting the cure of leprosy. 

Sangat Island - black limestone island with white sand beaches near most of the major WW2 wrecks in the area.

Malcapuya Island – My fave island of all islands in Coron because of its stunning very fine white sand beach just like Boracay (or better) but without construction. 

Banana Island - A longer boat trip from town is beautiful Banana Island, with it's white sand beaches and numerous Pacific Giant Clams (local accommodations recommended as it is far from Coron, but it is available as a tour along with Malcapuya)

Black Island - another limestone island with white sand beaches located far from town. Did you know that this is where Survivor Slovakia was held?! ….. but because they didn’t give credits to the Philippines and claimed the island as theirs, they weren’t able to go back to this limestone island again.

Calumbuyan Island - no water, no electricity just a beautiful island with beautiful corals.

Calauit Wildlife An island inhabited by imported African wildlife living in harmony with Palawan wildlife. Safari tours available. (local accommodation is required as it is about a 4 hour boat trip from Coron)

So if you're yearning to know what living in paradise really feels like, consider a trip to Coron and experience for yourself the endless adventures this place has to offer. 

The Power of Being a Smart Woman

Being a Smart Woman means more than merely having an immense intellect. She is savvy and responsive and progress through her life with power and grace. She has an internal compass to direct her. How many of these traits are you willing to obtain and embrace as your own? 

1. A Smart Woman knows she has the power to create her life the way she wants. She does not rely on other people to get her needs met. She knows her self-esteem comes from within.

2. A Smart Woman acknowledges that she is a spiritual being on a human journey. She knows she is connected to a power greater than herself. She contributes her energy to the betterment of the planet.

3. A Smart Woman is in constant motion towards well-being. She resolves her unfinished business. She is committed to her physical and emotional health.

4. A Smart Woman seeks understanding and alignment with her higher purpose. She embraces and expresses her authenticity. She knows that she has value and worth.

5. A Smart Woman minds her own business. She doesn’t gossip. She doesn’t get emotionally invested in the decisions/choices others make.

6. A Smart Woman has a private profile and a public profile. She has clear boundaries around sharing her personal details. She trusts the people she lets into her private profile.

7. A Smart Woman accepts that making mistakes is human. She admits her mistakes as soon as she makes them and moves on. She does not apologize when she is not wrong.

8. A Smart Woman radiates personal power. She makes her choices and decisions from a place of power. If she does lose her balance, she easily regains it through her sense of self.

9. A Smart Woman knows that looking after herself: ‘being selfish’, isn’t a bad thing. She knows that everyone benefits when she is healthy and well She understands that she can’t give what she doesn’t have herself.

10. A Smart Woman seeks balance in all areas of her life. She is aware of her work to home balance. She is committed to taking excellent care of herself in all respects.

11. A Smart woman has excellent social skills. She is comfortable representing herself in a professional manner. She conducts herself with power and grace.

12. A Smart Woman surrounds herself with positive energy. She chooses empowering and supportive friends. She seeks a career that affirms her passions, skills and intelligence.

13.A Smart Woman trusts her inner self and her instincts. She doesn’t play little so some one else can feel big. She affirms her intelligence, skills and creativity and does not hide these qualities.

14. A Smart Woman asks for help when she needs it. She humbly acknowledges her need for support. She is ready and willing to offer her support when appropriate.

15. A Smart Woman knows that she is a work in progress. She knows that ‘perfect’ is an illusion She knows that ’she will never finish growing and she will never get everything perfect.

So, there you have it. Can you affirm that you are a Smart Woman? Take a moment now to feel good about your worth, your competence, your Woman Smarts. Because being a Woman is Power!

Miss Independent: Embracing Change to My Next Grand Adventure!

“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” ~Karen Kaiser Clark

Life can be a persistent teacher.

When we fail to learn life’s lessons the first time around, life has a way of repeating them to foster understanding.

Over the last few years, my life was shaken up by dramatic circumstances. I resisted the impermanence of these events in my life and struggled with embracing change. When I resisted the lessons that change brought, a roller coaster of changes continued to materialize.

When I was twenty-four years old, I had plans of working in the US of A where my course, Sports Therapy is in demand. Yet it turned to be a misfortune that I was deported at my arrival in Detroit Airport due to harassment of these black officers.

The deportation was sudden and unexpected, catching my family and friends by surprise. I felt devastated that my hopes of becoming a Sports Therapist and probably taking up further studies didn’t turned up to be the way I planned it.

Fortunately, I got back to my old track in TV Sportscasting and got blessed with a lot of job offers. This time I prayed for something else, a career where I can experience the World and luckily after 6 months of waiting came an International Cruise Ship offer for being an Activity Supervisor.

Life was moving much faster than I was able to handle, and that was the same time I had my first relationship with someone I didn’t expect would come along. I was torn of leaving him because I knew I prayed for him, yet I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime I couldn’t spoil away. He didn’t want me to leave but I did it because I had to grab that opportunity to grow and fulfill myself.

I felt overwhelmed by my new environment in the cruise ship, new faces, different cultures, new friends and a world all on my own --- kind of easy knowing how Ms. Independent I can be. Although, the distance grew us apart and I had to end the relationship because my focus that time was for my personal growth.

Unexpectedly, after my contract that same guy who I pushed away pursued me. I didn’t had the face to see him because I tore him apart yet his persistence and determination of wooing me made me decide to give it another chance. Little did we know that it will still throw us again several tests in the relationship that made us both decide to separate ways.

It was a difficult decision, because I thought I’d found my best friend for life in Him...yet perhaps He didn’t see me in that future. My life became engulfed with changes once again as I tried to close the doors to this relationship, start a new business and go on with my usual life, the old Ms Independent me that people loved. 

I met the closure of our relationship first with strong resistance and then with profound sadness and loss. How could something that I valued so much, went home for and believed to be forever, cease to exist?

As much as I fought back and resisted each of these events in my life, I’ve since learned to embrace the impermanency of my life and the changes that come my way.  

Here are 6 lessons life has taught me on embracing change:

1. Reduce expectations.

In each of my life’s circumstances, I had high expectations for my career, business and my relationship. I had expected each to remain constant and to last forever. But I’ve learned that nothing lasts forever. Nothing.

You can have reasonable expectations of how you’d like something to turn out, but you can’t marry yourself to that result. Reducing or having no expectations about a relationship, a business, or a situation can help you accept whatever may come from it.

When you set reasonable expectations, and don’t expect or demand a particular outcome, you’re better able to manage any changes that do come your way. Unreasonable expectations of life, however, will likely be met with loss, disappointment, and pain.

2. Acknowledge change.

For the longest time, I refused to believe that change was in the realm of possibility in a situation. I’ve since learned that change can happen quickly and at any point.

Be aware that change can happen in your life. This means understanding that things can and will be different from how they are now. Acknowledging change is allowing it to happen when it unfolds instead of approaching change from a place of denial and resistance.

3. Accept change.

I desperately tried to prevent and stop change from happening in my business and relationship by trying to forge ahead even in futile situations.

Instead of resisting, allow change to unfold and try to understand what’s transforming and why.

Circumstances will not turn out the way you want them to, and it’s perfectly all right. Embracing the situation can help you deal with the change effectively, make the necessary shifts in your life to embrace the change, and help you move forward after the event.

4. Learn from the experience.

If you accept and embrace change, you will start looking for and finding lessons in it.

When dramatic changes were happening in my life, I refused to acknowledge them at first, so change left me distraught and without meaning. Once I reflected back and finally accepted the changes, the lessons I started absorbing were profound.

Change becomes your greatest teacher, but only if you give yourself permission to learn from it.

5. Recognize you’re growing stronger.

When you accept, embrace, and learn from change, you inevitably grow stronger. The ability to continuously accept change allows you to become as solid as a rock in the midst of violent storms all around you—even if you feel afraid.

6. Embrace the wisdom.

The more I permitted change and impermanence in my life, the more I grew as a person. Embracing change has brought newfound strength into my life and surprisingly, more inner peace.

When you proactively embrace change and learn to accept it as a part of life, you are filled with more calmness, peace, and courage. When life fails to shake you up with its twists and turns, you realize that changes can’t break you.

You’ve reached a level of understanding in life that some might even call wisdom.

While by no means have I reached that place called wisdom, I’m working through my aversions to change. I now openly welcome and embrace it.

When we can accept change, learn from it, and become all the better for experiencing it, change is no longer our enemy. It becomes our teacher.


Today Ive learned to embrace the wisdom that these changes have brought in my life. To never settle for anything we don’t deserve (if it doesn't want to compromise, don't force it) and to walk by faith in God to surprise us everyday! 

So if you want to be truly happy, then don’t be hesitant to embrace change! For the single ones out there, embrace this season and start packing your suitcase again with those non-negotiables you WANT and NEED in your next relationship. God is telling you to pack your suitcase and things you’d like to share with your future partner and be open to Gods suprises because one of these days He will definitely take you on a Grand Adventure at the right time with the right person. I hope you enjoy your next cruise or flight!

Catching Waves: SURFING for Life!

Being a self-confessed travel junkie, I am an adventurer and explorer in life.  I have tried Paragliding in Croatia, Bungee Jumping in South Africa, Riding a Yellow Submarine in St. Barths, Walking Around the Walls of Dubrovnik, Eating a Live Octopus in Greece, American Regatta in St. Maarten, River Tubing in Grenada, Diving in Tobago Cays and a lot more interesting things…and how can I miss surfing at one of the best surfing spots in my own country?! 

That very first wave on the beach in San Juan, La Union seems like months ago, but somehow I can remember it like it was yesterday.  Every time I think back to the first time I stood up and found myself able to repeat that again and again throughout that surf session, I can’t refrain from smiling and think just how much the pursuit of waves has changed my life. It has defined me in ways I never thought it would, and left me with the constant desire to be stoked for life.  With all of that it’s also brought a variety of lessons that are of significance throughout every part of my life.

SURFING has taught me:

1. Discipline

It is the kind of discipline that I’ve never had in my life. It’s the kind of discipline that I believe you need to make your dreams a reality.  It’s a discipline that requires no authority figures to enforce and it’s the kind of dispcline that teaches you the importance of just showing up everyday.

2. Commitment

Somehow after the first wave I made a commitment to myself that I will have the courage to stand up on every given wave. I was determined to do whatever it took as it tested my patience and built my character.  It meant putting on a wetsuit and forgetting about the hot sun burning your face and body because I had experienced the greatest natural high in the world. It meant forgetting about the small things, riding out the storm, and giving it everything I had to be able to stand up and surf with the waves. 

3. Patience

Ah mother nature, how I love you for your inconsistency, your temperamental nature and your leisurely schedule. As much as I’d love for you to be on my schedule, I’m clearly on yours. If there’s anything that surfing teaches you it’s patience. You are on the schedule of the ocean and you’ll wait patiently sometimes for 45 minutes, for a 10 second moment of happiness because it’s just that good. One last wave is the curse of every surfer because the moment you utter those words you’ll either catch a perfect wave and paddle right back out for another one. Or you’ll catch on that isn’t quite good enough to call it a day. But the moment you utter those words, that final wave seems to take forever and eventually you become truly patient.

4. Persistence

I’ve persisted through conditions beyond my skill level and emerged with an addiction so strong I go through withdrawal on days out of the water.  When you’re so damn persistent, some day define you as stubborn. Pay no attention to them and charge forward. They might eventually label you just stubborn enough.

5. Courage

Every single time you paddle out, knowing that all it takes is one good wave, you put yourself in a situation of uncertainty and potential danger. No matter what you keep going back for more and everyday and every moment you conquer fear just a little bit.  You find the courage to just keep going because of the ear to ear smile that you’ll be rewarded with.

6. Humility

The power of the ocean will always leave you humbled.  A force larger than life with a mind of its own is what your faced with on a daily basis. It teaches you humility and puts things in perspective. Suddenly  things that seemed to matter no longer do, even it is for the briefest of moments.

7. Presence

Those of us on a spiritual journey continually seek presence without really ever understanding it. We know logically that the only moment we have is now, but the experience of now, of flow is one we struggle to grasp. Riding waves has taught me presence.  When you drop into a wave your mind goes blank and all your thinking about is what the wave you’re on is going to do next. Is it going to close out? Is it going to pummel me? Is it going to take me for the ride of my life?

It may not be the hardest adventure I’ve ever been, but It was the adventure of a lifetime that brought me to some realities in life. I believe that from time to time, the Universe throws us a test, a challenge. It’s life’s way of reminding us that we’re still alive. To shake us out of our comfort zone, to force us to evolve a little more. To see how far we can stretch.

Now, I wake up everyday knowing that I will always have the ocean (life) to look forward too, and no matter what happens, riding waves (challenges in life) will always keep a smile on my face….because it’s these challenges in life that keeps us going and growing! 

Chasing Adventures in the Mountain Province of Sagada!

The tranquil Sagada in Mountain Province, a remote town that is fifteen hundred feet above the sea, 275 kilometers north of Manila, a town that has so much to offer to anyone who chooses to experience its distinctive charm. With its cold weather, marvellous cliffs and caves, supercilious rice terraces and waterfalls, delicious foods and delicacies, wealthy heritage and traditions, Sagada guarantees everyone an extraordinary experience with nature and culture.

Ganduyan  is the old name of this exquisite town in Mountain Province. During the Martial Law, Sagada was the hideout of hippies, political activists and some artists. 

Having relatives in the town was a huge factor for us to easily go around, take pleasure in and go for an unlimited escapade. Need I say, my relatives were the ones who started weaving since the 1960s, hence they were popularly known as Sagada Weaving.

...and so discovering this spectacular Sagada begins with these places that you must visit:

Church of St. Mary the Virgin which was established by the American missionaries. It is a vibrant Protestant Episcopal parish considering that Sagada is the only town in the Philippines with only less than 5% catholic population.

Echo Valley and its Hanging Coffins that serves as a view point if you want to see the famous Hanging wooden coffins of Sagada. Note that a local tour guide is required to trek closer to the hanging coffins where it is believed that it will prevent the departed bodies to be taken by beasts and also they strongly believe that souls would rise up easily from there compared to burying them underground.

Burial Caves of Lumniang that shelters coffins from what they believe the bad elements. Stacks of coffins are neatly organized so as to prevent the people from stealing bones as souvenirs. 

Bokong Falls (the small falls) which is just a few minutes rice field walk from the town center. It is about 20 feet high and the depth that is approximately 17 feet just under the drop off point. There are no shower areas or dressing areas nearby so it’s just letting your clothes dry as you walked back to your hotel.

Bomod-Ok Falls (the big falls), which is a challenging 2 hour trek in the Bangaan Rice Terraces (the real life Farmville) in search for the Mother Falls where tourist can do some cliff diving. 

Sumaguing Cave creates the challenge among tourists of getting inside the cave and being rewarded with stunning rock formations, stalactites and slagmites. It also makes your creative mind work as you can think of too many things as to what a certain rock formation is. It was dark inside that every guide brought a lamp to help us see the trail. Steepy and slippery, one must hold tight to the rock formations and also the trek was also made hard by the bats' guano all over. At some point, you'll need to remove your footwear as it would be easier to walk barefooted on the steep rocks. You'll surely disregard all the snags in getting inside with the cave's amazing and spendid beauty. There were various rock formations with funny and interesting names. Some of these formations were called rice terraces, turtle, chocolate cake, king's curtain, bear, pig pen, elephant and a pregnant woman. It took us about 4 hours to explore the cave. 

Last but not the least is the prominent Sagada Weaving which is the home of quality woven products since 1968 where you can purchase some souvenirs.

Dont limit your challenges. Challenge your limits by chasing adventures in this spectacular Sagada!

The nicest views in Nice, France

What’s nice around Nice, France?

The Old Town (or Vieux Nice as the locals call it) this triangle-shaped Old Town is one of the city’s main lure and a must-see for any tourist. Aside from the huge amount of historical sites, there are also heaps of activities buzzing both day and night, which makes it perfect to wander around, to get lost in and to get a drink or a good traditional meal at the same time as enjoying the distinctive baroque Mediterranean vibe. 

So here’s a quick tour to make sure you don’t miss any of Nice nicest parts, even though I’d advise the most audacious is to just get lost in the rove of the streets – after all, it’s too petite to get really lost and the sea is never too far away.

Starting from Place Massena, just take the pleasant rue St François de Paule, which is lined with sophisticated shops with the striking Belle Epoque Opera of Nice on the right.

Just after the opera on the left, you will get a glimpse of the large Palace Square and straight down the road until you hit the pedestrian area where the street becomes the “Cours Saleya”.

The Cours Saleya is running parallel to the sea, is one of the liveliest streets of Old Nice.

In the morning, the central part of the street becomes a market: mostly for flowers but also for clutter sales or fruits and vegetables depending on the days. The strip is also lined with plenty of restaurants which are reasonably priced.

Once you get to the end of the Cours Saleya, you can either turn right and head towards the waterfront and enjoy some extravagant views over the whole Baie des Anges from the Castle Hill, or else go further left is the rue de la Préfecture which heads back towards Place du Palais and comes to life in the early evenings at around 5 or 6pm. The street is lined with bars mainly English-style pubs  and some pretty decent restaurants.

North of the rue de la Préfecture, towards the top end of the triangle, the streets get narrower as cars are banned and this is the ideal place to just wander around the area up to Place Garibaldi to the north.

This area is full of bars and restaurants, especially the southern end, around Place Rossetti, which is another of the nerve centres of the Old Town and an ideal place to just sit down and have a drink on a terrace, under the shade of the beautiful baroque Cathédrale Sainte Réparate, built in the late 17th century.

As you head north of Place Rossetti, towards Place Garibaldi, the roads get slightly less lively and a bit more down market with plenty of kebab and fast food shops and a few excellent restaurants.

Just bear in mind when walking around Old Nice that it’s not just a tourist area but also a prime residential neighborhood – plenty of expats and locals live there due to its central location, mainly the younger ones given that most buildings are 4 or 5 stories high and don’t have lifts. This explains why there are plenty of grocery stores and regular shops catering for the locals, especially in this part of the neighborhood.

Once you’ve reached Place Garibaldi, you can either walk towards the port or head up the Castle Hill for some stunning views over Old Nice.

The French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), this sprawl of pebble beaches and zillion-dollar houses has always captivated sun lovers, socialites and myself. The French Riviera which still remains to be my fave destination in the World.