Backpacking in Coron: itinerary planning

(After more than half a year of being in hiatus, PinayOnFoot is back!)

Armed with sun block and snorkeling gears, my family and I flew to Coron for a 4 days and 3 nights trip (but we ended up spending 6 days and 5 nights, not intentionally). 

A glimpse of Calamian Islands from above - Calamian Islands consist of Busuanga, Coron, Culion, Calauit and other minor islands in the province of Palawan. (Oopps, I misspelled my blog URL!)

Win a trip to Singapore by joining Discovery Channel’s Living Cities: Singapore contest

Living Cities: Singapore is a six-part series that looks into “what makes a liveable city?” It is aired every Wednesday on Discovery Channel.

To join the contest, you must select five destinations featured in the series and provide a brief explanation (up to 50 words) of why you want to visit these places. At stake are 4 days and 3 nights stay in Singapore, return air-tickets for two and passes to your selected destinations.

Missing the warmth of Pagudpud

Aside from being a night person, I am also a rain person. I love the rain and the pleasantly chilly ambiance which are perfect for cuddling on the couch while watching a movie and sipping hot coco. But when I have a cold like today, I miss the warm rays of the cheerful sun touching my skin making me long for a beach break. At times like this I am reminded of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Zip-line adventure in Antipolo

I often dream of flying even when I was a kid. Yesterday, I lived the dream. I flew 30 feet high, 106 meters far, for about 15 seconds; all this happened while I was wide awake and screaming on the top of my lungs.

Thanks to the inventors of the pulley system, without them the zip-line would not be possible. The zip-line is a combination of a pulley system on a cable attached to an incline. Zip-lines are chiefly used to traverse forest canopies. These days, the zip-line is becoming a popular outdoor recreational activity for adventurers and tourists alike.

How to apply for a Philippine e-Passport

(Update July 8, 2010: According to a source who applied for a passport on July 7, the appointment system is no longer implemented. The passport application is back to the old, disorderly, first come first served scheme. Oh my, what happened!)

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I finally got my Philippine e-Passport. Now, I’m ready to see more of the world.

The Philippine e-Passport is processed and issued by the Office of Consular Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA-OCA) at the Aseana Business Park in Macapagal Avenue, Parañaque City. On March 8, 2010, the DFA-OCA moved to its new building and at the same time implementing the DFA Passport Appointment System. Unlike before when applicants can come to DFA any day, the appointment system now requires applicants to set an appointment before going to DFA.

Applying for a Philippine e-Passport is easier now. Take it from someone who has experienced waiting in line for almost six hours at the previous site of the DFA-OCA in Roxas Boulevard, Pasig City. The new DFA-OCA office and appointment system is a lot better than the old one. No more waiting in a basketball court. No more vendors of unreasonably priced ink for thumb marking, ball pens and staples (even a single staple has an equivalent cost). No intimidating fixers aggressively trying to get you in their trap. I was finished with the whole application process two hours after I arrived at the DFA.