April 2013

🇵🇭 VIGAN • World Costume Festival: Vigan Conquers the World

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Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Monday, April 29, 2013 4

Stories of town explorations.

"The heart and soul were poured to those costumes. Passion was indeed evident."

Vigan, the city I have always loved, my dearest hometown and where my dreams and my whole being is shaped, is evolving so fast. The nostalgia flows through my veins so swiftly, almost instant. Change is inevitable and I have to absorb and accept that fact that it is the only permanent thing in this world where we live. To note, "there's nothing permanent in this world except change."

And then the World Costume Festival came. So it is another festival; an addition to Vigan's existing festivals.

The small city turned so colorful. It was filled with arts and creativity. Genius minds in the field of costume designing from different parts of the world found their home in Vigan.

The first person wearing a costume that I was able to witness face to face came out. He (a gay) was wearing a red costume that made her look stunning before my eyes. This is it, the festival is really happening, another one.

Another one in red came close to where I was standing. Then many more followed. Everyone was just fantastic. The heart and soul were poured to those costumes. Passion was indeed evident.

As the different delegates from different parts of the world came out, I can't believe what I am seeing -- that my hometown is now the venue of international events like this. It changed a lot within a small span of time.

The Calle Crisologo metamorphosed. Each street corner was decorated with arches so lovely and beautiful. It was not just the quiet Calle Crisologo I have known. It improves with tendencies to over-improve. It glows beautifully with tendencies to be overdone. It charms the people with tendencies to become an eyesore. There was a thin margin between attaining the optimum and what is maximum, and the maximum could be a threat.

Anyways, there's no issue here. I am just so glad that some eyes of the world have been turned to Vigan. So far, nothing was overdone. It was within the optimum limits.

World Costume Festival | Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Smiles were everywhere. It opens the joy corner of my soul, expands a bit, then when I can not contain it, it bursts out to my lips. Smile could turn to laughter at times.

I am guilty for not being able to take plenty of photos of the costumes. However, they retain to my memories and I can access it with or without the internet.

Another Vigan event to be proud of. About 2 dozens of international contingents have to fly to this little heritage city to join the celebration. Also, most major festival dancers in the Philippines came to Vigan to join the parade and showcase to the world that Philippine costumes can kick ass.

With the Japanese delegates and Enrico Dee of Byahilo.com

Above: Photo grabbed from Enrico Dee (without his permission, lols!)

Forgive me, I was not able to take photos of the costumes from other countries. Indonesia actually received the most prestigious award in this festival. Never mind the meager photos, as for me, the experience is already more than enough. [end]

#Vigan Exploration Series

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NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

[Guest Post]

GP • Year-Round Holiday Destinations (Guest Post)

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Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Sunday, April 21, 2013 1

Stories of town explorations.

Sometimes it can feel like the UK has just one season: winter. So if you're fed up of feeling cold, scraping ice off your windscreen or trudging through yet another snowfall, don't despair - you don't have to wait until the summer to escape to sunnier climes.

There are more than a few glorious year-round destinations that can offer a bit of sunshine and warmth even during our winter, and it doesn't require a trip to the other side of the world. The Canary Islands are a prime year-round holiday hotspot. As holidays go, this sun-baked archipelago is packed with fantastic experiences for all ages and for holidaymakers from all walks of life.

In Tenerife, you'll find buzzing resorts in the south for lively days and non-stop nightlife. It's typically at its busiest in the summer months, but come winter, Tenerife's famous clubbing central takes the volume down a few notches and becomes a much quieter resort with a smattering of nightlife options.

Further north, Tenerife holidays become much more focused on scenery and stunning natural landscapes. Here you'll find dramatic coastlines, tiny fishing villages clustered around lovely little harbours, and the buzz and bustle of the island's capital, Santa Cruz.

Lanzarote, another Canary Island, also makes a great winter escape. On those days when it's just a tad nippy for the beach, you can head off on any one of stacks of different excursions and day trips, taking in the sights and experiences of this magnificent volcanic island. Discover the sprawling Timanfaya National Park, enjoy the island's gorgeous old town and forts of Arrecife, or head off to explore one of local visionary Cesar Manrique's famous creations.

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

Bontoc Cordillera Administrative Region Luzon Mountain Province Philippines Rice Terraces WATERFALLS

🇵🇭 BONTOC • Bayyo Rice Terraces and Waterfalls - Highland Paradise Living

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Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Sunday, April 21, 2013 9

Stories of town explorations.

"The presence of the rice terraces is an evidence of an engineering expertise of the Igorot ancestors..."

There are lots of beautiful rice terraces in the Philippines but not everything is known. The Banaue Rice Terraces (including those in Batad) is the most publicized -- undeniably these are the most gigantic, most extensive and of course one of the the most breathtaking. Now, allow me share to you the less known rice terraces in the Cordilleras and let us start with Bayyo Rice Terraces.

Bayyo Rice Terraces - Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines

The chapel and the rice terraces

Totally verdant

The #TownExplorer and Bayyo Rice Terraces

Bayyo Village

Bayyo Village and the Rice Terraces

Bayyo Rice Terraces is located along the Bontoc-Banaue Road. You can view this stunning vista along the road. It is around 30-40 minutes of jeepney ride from Bontoc Poblacion.

To get here, go the the Bontoc-Banaue PUJ parking area beside the Bontoc Town Hall. Tell the driver to drop you to Bayyo rice terraces (this is optional since you can view it while riding on a jeep -- unless you want to take photos, so you have to stop for the matter).

What else? You can also see some waterfalls in Bayyo which are view-able from the road. But you have to spot keenly for you to notice them.

Photo Gallery: Bayyo Waterfalls and Rice Terraces

I have this desire in me to get up close to the waterfalls but the chance was just too thin. As I ascend to Bayyo, the air gets cooler and looking to the higher parts of the mountains are waterfalls cascading unrestricted.

Then I looked to the right. There is a mountain range. But one of those mountains is unusual and it does not look like the rest of the mountains -- that mountain is the home for the Bayyo villagers and the slope of that mountain has been turned into rice terraces.

What makes it interesting is that the mountain is steep but the villagers have been resilient to live in this kind of environment. I admire them for being adaptable.

Indeed, I consider this a paradise, specifically a heritage and cultural paradise. The presence of the rice terraces is an evidence of an engineering expertise of the Igorot ancestors that in spite of the absence of modern technology those days, they were able to create an engineering feat that survived the test of times and of the seasons. This is a living cultural treasure and heritage; truly a paradise for those fascinated with culture and history. /end

Bontoc #TownExploration Series

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NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

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THE TOWN EXPLORER

Born and Raised in Vigan, Philippines. Travel blogging since 2010. Hardcore Ilocano-Cordilleran.

I created this travel blog as a platform for my long-form storytelling.

My goal is to explore all the towns in the Philippines. I don't think I could explore them all in my lifetime, but it is still a goal regardless of the result. I will write my town exploration stories in this blog.

For blogging collab, PR partnership, or invitation to visit your town, you may send your proposal to admin@edmaration.com.

To check the towns I've explored, follow this link: Where Have I Been?