I just miss this place. Flower Island, a beautiful resort place a few hours from the coastal town of Taytay in northern Palawan was just unforgettable despite the rough seas and huge waves that seemed to test our mettle.

The best lechon (roast pig) in the Philippines is found in Cebu. And the best one in Cebu is traditionally from Talisay City. Twelve kilometers south of Cebu City and facing the rising sun, it is where my roots are from. My hometown.

There are so many things in Macau that for the uninitiated, will be surprised by the variety this small territory has to offer. It’s not at all a sin city that is governed by the roll of a dice, the flash of cards, or the turn of the roulette at the casino. Macau is one interesting enclave that is a blend of the old and the new, the exotic and the familiar.

I will be eating lechon, with its crispy and succulent skin; artery clogging and crunchy ginabot as well as melt in your mouth humba. And not to be forgotten, overpriced pungko-pungko (roadside eatery of mostly deep fried fare), plastic gloved and eating in Larsian for barbecue, and just sumptuous siomai. Cebu, here I come!

After one has visited most of the major sights, there are still some sidetrips that the traveler and tourist can do: museums, night walks, markets and beautiful modern architecture.

The Venetian in Macau is bigger than it’s Las Vegas brother. The gondolas and faux facade gives you a taste of what Venice is about with singing gondoliers, multicolored building fronts and even a mechanically moving sky. Its a shopping mecca with a spectacular Cirque du Soleil production.

With no other choice, we were at Angeles City’s red light district, near the infamous Fields Avenue for dinner as there were no other restaurants open. When we were about to leave, the owner invited us for some videoke. It was Good Friday.

Two old towns, Carcar in Cebu and Angeles City in Pampanga have antique Santo Intierro but less the attached rituals and the Good Friday procession is a bit solemn.

Across the country’s Catholic churches are full of the faithful and after the 3 PM activities, typically the Sieta Palabras and reenactments of the death of Christ, the people venerate the cross. Just like in Argao and Carcar.

It was my first time to witness an actual crucifixion, an unexpected experience as I didn’t know until I saw the poster in Angeles City. But like any other things, I was more curious on how it goes.

It was all over me, specks of red on my camera and camera bag, shorts, legs, arms and shoes as well as face. I was splattered with blood following the flagellants at Lourdes Northwest, Angeles City. Pampanga.

Taken from its storage place, the ivory image of San Pedro is retrieved, dressed and placed on its carroza for the Good Friday procession.

I was dumbfounded when I learned about it that I just have to go and peek. No, take pictures and see for myself, one of the country’s rarest image in the lenten procession. What’s more, its antique and have the head and hands made of ivory.

In tandem with Simbahan.net, Langyaw.com presents some visita iglesia routes featuring the existing Filipino Baroque churches in each featured province that are still existing, except that of Intramuros where the lost churches are shown.

Domingo de Ramos or Palm Sunday, is one of the significant days of the Semana Santa that marks the start of the Holy Week. It is a reenactment of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem when he was received by the people, waving palms while he was riding a donkey. And I witnessed this in Lucban, Quezon.