The Backpack Adventures

The month of May is known in the Philippines as the month of Festivals. Most Filipinos travel to their provinces to join their town's annual fiestas. However, going against the flow, my wife and I traveled to the biggest city in the National Capital Region -Quezon City, to attend a different kind of fiesta. ASAP 18  What kind of fiesta is that? It was the Fierce De Mayo in ASAP 18 , Yup! You read that right! The floor director briefing the audience Filipina actress Kim Chiu doing a "fierce" dance number ASAP, which stands for All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party is a musical variety show that aired live in ABS-CBN Channel 2 every Sunday from 12NN to 3PM. The Sesionistas serenaded the audience Modern English got the audience hooked up with their song from the 80s ASAP is the longest running musical variety show in the Philippines. On January 6, 2013, the show was renamed ASAP 18 to commemorate the show's 18th anniversary. A fierce d

Probably the most famous street food in the Philippines, balot or balut is a fertilized duck egg that is boiled and eaten in the shell. What's unusual with this food is that you eat the duck embryo that's waiting for you inside the egg. (Imagine it as a glorified Happy Meal.) Balot Balot  is also found and eaten in some countries in Southeast Asia, such as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It was said that Chinese traders brought the idea of eating balot to the Philippines. The Filipinos on the other hand localized the craft of balot-making. Balot from Pateros are well known for their superb quality and taste because the balot-makers there have mastered the art of selecting and incubating the eggs. Let's try out the balot Slowly open the balot Put your favorite seasoning for maximum flavor Then sip.  Balot-making literally takes time. Filipinos prefer the traditional production by hand thus a duck egg takes 17 to 21 incubation days before it is final

Located along General Luna Street in Paco district in the City of Manila, Paco Park and Cemetery is a recreational garden area which was once Manila's municipal cemetery during the Spanish colonial period. Inside Paco Park Paco Park Paco Park was originally a municipal cemetery for the well-off and established aristocratic Spanish families. The cemetery was built in the late 18th century but was completed several decades later in 1822. Paco Park = Former Paco Cemetery Paco Park entrance Entrance to the inner circular fort The cemetery has a circular shape, with an inner circular fort that was the original cemetery. As the population continued to grow, a second outer wall was built. A Roman Catholic chapel was built inside the walls of the park and it was dedicated to St. Pancratius. Here lies the three martyred priests -GOMBURZA Jose P. Rizal's original burial ground Can you guess what RPJ stands for?  The park was famously kno

Located in Compol-NIA-Mainit Road, Catarman in the island province of Camiguin , Bura Soda Springs is one of the many springs and pools found in the province of Camiguin . However, don't think that this place is just one of your ordinary springs. So what's unique about this place? Bura Soda Springs Bura Soda Springs Details What sets Bura Soda Springs apart from the other springs in the province is its taste. You heard that right, from that name itself  Bura Soda Springs , has water that tastes like soda some says it's more like champagne. Welcome to Bura Soda Spring Bura Soda Spring - Catarman, Camiguin I've googled for information regarding the reason why the spring has that unique taste. Some say that the water has minerals that give it a unique taste, in addition to that it is also said that drinking the water from the springs would reduce osteoporosis, decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, and lower blood pressure. Read these first before you