Masskara Festival, Bacolod City

Another postcard sent by my celebrated boyband friend, Jescia, when I was in Japan last year.

Masskara: Spanish for mask and many faces

If Germany has the Oktoberfest, then the people of Bacolod City have a 20-day Masskara Festival to trump those groß mugs of white beer and lederhosen.  Originally meant to commemorate the hardships of the people of the region, the Festival has now become a tool for escapism.

All right, the Masskara Festival is an awesome event where people dance in the streets, drink beer, be merry,  wear masks, climb poles, and stuff.

This website describes the Masskara Festival better than I can so just check it out and get out of here: http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_festivals/masskara_festival.html

Miag-ao, Iloilo

Last year, my friends and I spent a week in Iloilo.  As you may or may not know, Iloilo is home to many old churches, which date back to the time of the Spaniards.

One of the oldest churches in the country is the Miag-ao Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo.  I have no idea why Miag-ao  has to have a dash (-) in between.  Anyway, the church was constructed in 1786.  One of the church staff told me that the walls were actually made from egg cement.  Awesome!

Unfortunately, the church was being renovated when we visited so I didn't get to take really good photos.

The Miag-ao Church is under renovation.

Miag-ao Church's well-maintained lawn, if you like

Inside Miag-ao Church

So after the unsatisfying visit to the supposedly breath-taking church, we went to UP Visayas.  We took pictures by the Oblation, the symbol of the University of the Philippines.

Here's my friend, Stef, posing behind the Oblation.

I'd love to go back to the Miag-ao Church when it's no longer being renovated.

El Nido, Palawan

My first plane ride was to El Nido, Palawan when I was in first grade.  I was with my parents and grandfather.  The year was 1997, if I'm not mistaken.

El Nido had an amazing beach.  Crystal clear salt water brushed the shore of fine white sand.  I was young and stupid back then and I took for granted the awesomeness of the beach.  The most I did was to construct an average sand mountain as I absolutely had no knowledge of sand castles, much less how to build one.

We went boat-riding, island-hopping, snorkeling, and my parents went spelunking.  Back then, I wasn't as intrepid as I am now, so I didn't join them into the dark caves.  We also fed bread to fishes.  

All beaches after El Nido were no match.

My dad scanned some of the pictures of our trip.  Here they are:

Here's 6-year old me with my mom by the El Nido airport sign

Here's me and my Lolo standing on the shores of El Nido

Here's us riding what I then called a torpedo boat

I'd love to go back there someday. :)