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The Tattooed Women of Kalinga
In the last five years or so, the last living Kalinga tattoo artist of her generation, Apo Whang Od, has received so much attention both in the Philippines and the rest of the world. Her village is now a seeming pilgrimage site with tourists scaling its mountainous terrain in the hopes of receiving her three dots–the only tattoo she can give these days because of her health and failing eyesight. Indeed, Whang Od has become a rockstar of sorts, the poster girl of a thousand-year-old art form that was almost on the brink of extinction. But visit Buscalan and you’ll realize that Whang Od is only one of the many…
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The Kunming International Cherry Blossoms Festival
I have always wanted to see the cherry blossoms in Japan. The Japanese call this practice Hanami which literally means “flower viewing”. But the plan to do that was set aside because of an unexpected trip to China earlier this year. Little did Hubby and I know that we were going to be in for a wonderful surprise! We flew to Yunnan Province in China for a film festival (which I’m going to tell you all about later). After the three-day event, we decided to explore its capital Kunming before going back to Manila. As luck would have it, we were there just when the 19th Cherry Blossoms Festival opened! Our friend,…
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ILOCOS NORTE: SUN, SEA, & SAND
Where better to experience the sun, sea and sand this summer than in ILOCOS NORTE? Soak some rays and catch some waves in the beaches of PAGUDPUD. Bask in the golden sun and be blown away by the towering windmills in BANGUI. Beat the summer heat and rest your tired feet in a heritage resort in CURRIMAO. Flex those muscles and take the ride of your life in the sand dunes of LAOAG. I enjoyed all these and much more in my northern exposure trip in Ilocos Norte. A peaceful respite in Ilocos Norte Located in the small town of CURRIMAO lies an enchanting heritage resort where art…
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TARLAC: A Feast for the Senses
From ylang-ylang oil extraction, animal raising and vegetable farming, to modern churches and classic dishes, TARLAC is truly a feast for the senses. It’s an agricultural province that is often overlooked, yet its offerings can be smelled, seen, felt, and tasted in every town. Follow your nose The hint of floral notes wafting in the air welcomes visitors upon arriving at ANAO – the ylang-ylang capital of Tarlac. The place is buzzing with activity, as locals sort out flowers and prepare them for oil extraction. The first step is harvesting the flowers, which takes place early morning, around 4 am. After they are weighed, they will…
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Rolling and Learning in Bulacan
by Jazel Kristin Take a break from the bleak and dreary landscape that is Manila and take in the mix of colorful history, gastronomic delights and rich cultural heritage of Bulacan. Take a break from the bleak and dreary landscape that is Manila and take in the mix of colorful history, gastronomic delights and rich cultural heritage of Bulacan. Looking through an artist’s lens, I see things in sepia in Malolos, Bulacan – the ash tones of concrete relics and the brown hues of wooden structures stands out in this desaturated Malolos image – with matching film scratches just like in old movies. Malolos, the capital city…
a Filipina's take on travelling the world
