The Backpack Adventures

March is not only my birthday month, it seems to be my lucky month too. I'm happy to share that two of my articles were published in the March 2018 issue of TravelPlus Magazine . TravelPlus Magazine - Vol. 9. No.1 Ladies and gentlemen, I present you article 1 of 2, the Art in the North . It's an article that takes a new perspective about the northern provinces of the Philippines. It also tells you how these northern provinces can help you nurture the hidden artist in you. It's nice to see you again bro! Time to head north to nurture my artistic side I felt like a Padawan with this guy around Article 2 of 2, is all about my once in a lifetime interview with "The Master" Sonny Yabao titled Through the Lens . Here, he talks about his humble beginnings, his style, and what lies ahead.  Saw one in National Bookstore and got me a copy before it runs out. These articles might inspire you to become an artist someday. Please do grab your copies

After 7 long years, my wife and I finally got a chance to revisit Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte last December 2017. What makes this trip special for me is that for this road trip, we already have a daughter along with us. Aside from that, this road trip is also my first with my wife's family. It was safe to say that it was a special year-ender trip for me. Ilocos Sur - Ilocos Norte Road Trip 2017 Here's how our Ilocos Sur-Ilocos Norte Road Trip 2017 turned out: December 25 (Day 1) Our adventure started in my brother-in-law's house in Cavite. Our two-car convoy left at around 7AM. The trip was quite fast thanks to the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX. By 12NN we were already having lunch at Casantaan Bulaluhan at Kambingan Eatery in the town of Sto. Tomas in La Union. Lunch at Casantaan Bulaluhan at Kambingan Eatery Yummy bulalo After lunch, we drove straight to Ilocos Sur and reached the Ilocos Sur Arch a few hours later. As expected, we had our

Located in Barangay Garreta in the town of Badoc in Ilocos Norte, Juan and Antonio Luna Museum is the two-story ancestral home of the Luna clan which presently serves as a museum for the Luna brothers. Juan and Antonio Luna Museum Juan and Antonio Luna Museum History: Built sometime in the early 19th century, the ancestral house of the Lunas is a typical  Bahay na Tisa  which was common particularly to the middle and upper-class society during the Spanish colonial period. Sadly, the original structure was damaged by fire in 1861. The house was then ceded to the government in 1954. The Department of Public Works and Highways and the National Historical Institute completed its restoration in 1977. The house then became a museum for the Luna brothers. The museum got some technological upgrades last 2016 with the installation of touch screen TVs and the face projector which projects Antonio Luna's speaking head.  Juan and Antonio Luna Museum - Badoc, Ilocos Norte Welcome to the