Ilocos Norte is just more than churches, gigantic wind turbines and empanada. At it’s western coastline, a desert like landscape awaits the traveler who is bold enough to go to this out of the way geographic wonder. But once you get face to face with the Ilocos Norte Sand Dunes as it unfolds before you, just prepare to be bowled over.

My Busuanga aerials that I featured before will be in a unique exhibition. Entitled Earth & Art, this is Net 25’s Tribe offering for the environment. As one of the featured artist/photographer, I will be showing my work, “Busuanga: From Forests to Farmlands.”

Last January 2010, I was invited by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau to join a media tour of travel writers and bloggers to experience North Luzon for seven days starting in Cagayan province all the way to Pampanga to sample the various local cuisines and experience the attractions offered by the various provinces along the route.

Titillated at the Manila Ocean Park? It’s possible but that’s going ahead of the story…

I immediately confirmed my participation to visit the Manila Ocean Park upon the invitation of a friend for a media tour. Even if it has been open for sometime, I still haven’t been there since I was procrastinating time and again. When I did made the tour, I was wide eyed with wonder.

Finally arriving in San Carlos City, I was just too tired and accepting of my fate spending the night here. Two hours and a half hours ago, the last ferry bound for Cebu left and during that time, I was still tracing the meandering mountain highway in Don Salvador Benedicto.

The Murcia – Don Salvador Benedicto road is my highway of dreams. It’s one of the best highway experience that I’ve had in the country that kilometer after kilometer, I can’t just help but be in awe at the natural scenery unfolding before me. Stunning mountain ranges, cool weather and the scent of pine trees make this a trip to remember.

The image of the Black Nazarene, or Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, to many of its fervent devotees will be on its yearly translacion, Saturday, 9 January. This is a commemoration of the 1787 transfer from the Recollect Church in Intramuros to it its current shrine in Quiapo, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.