PHILIPPINES

The Poblacion area is trendy. It’s becoming increasingly popular as a food and arts hub in Makati. Cultured but unpolished, hip but a little seedy, it reminds me of what Malate in Manila used to be.

A boodle fight is a Philippine military tradition where a central mound of food – typically consisting of white rice and a variety of viands, fruits, and vegetables – would be piled high on banana leaves for soldiers to share. Gathered around the table, diners are meant to eat while standing without the use of cutlery.

Ren and I prefer boutique hotels over large chains which is why I was instantly drawn to La Casita Mercedes. It’s exactly the type of place we look for on our travels.

Batad is a remote village of around 1,500 people in Ifugao province. It’s said to be home to the best and most well-preserved rice terraces in the Cordillera region. These terraces are between 2,000-6,000 years old and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

If you’re familiar with our blog, then you already know how much we love eating local food when we travel. A lot of that traveleating involves street food, which in many countries, has a reputation for being less than sanitary. The Philippines is one of those countries.

Masungi Georeserve is a geological park and conservation area in Baras, Rizal about an hour-and-a-half away from Manila. There you’ll find a hiking trail featuring rope walls, hanging bridges, and unique viewing platforms suspended over limestone karsts and a lush tropical rainforest.

Davao is a model city. It’s one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines and one of the safest in Southeast Asia. We got to experience this first-hand on our trip to Davao and with this guide, we hope you do too.

Located in Anilao, Batangas, Cozy Reef is a 5-bedroom property that you can rent off AirBnB. It’s a private house, not a commercial resort, but it’s marketed as “your own mini dive resort” because the vast majority of people who go to Anilao do so to dive.

City Garden Grand Hotel in Poblacion, Makati is a great choice of hotel for business and leisure travelers to Manila.

12 stunning unspoiled islands of El Nido as described by Carmela Alvarez of Let’s Palawan. Palawan wasn’t named the world’s best island for nothing!