The Backpack Adventures

Do you want to witness and be part of the exciting and colorful cultural activities in the Philippines in this month of July ?  Please check out the list of popular fiestas or festivals happening this July . Sandugo Festival Location:  Tagbilaran, Province of Bohol Details:  The festival is celebrated every 1st to 31st of July. Its highlights are street dancing and mardi gras. This festival is a commemoration of the Blood compact between Rajah Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The word sandugo means blood compact. Kinabayo Festival Location:  Dapitan City, Province of Zamboanga Del Norte Details:  The festival is celebrated every 25th of July. Its highlight is the colorful pageant re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish wars, mainly the Battle of Covadonga. This festival is a way for the locals to show their spiritual side. The word kinabayo means to ride a horse. Subayan Keg Subanen Festival Location:  Ozamiz City, Province of Misamis Occidental Details:  The festival

Located in the northeastern part of Brgy. San Vicente in Santa Ana in the province of Cagayan, Anguib Beach has a long stretch of fine white to creamy sand kissed by pristine blue waters. Anguib Beach Anguib Beach Details: Anguib Beach is one of the hidden gems of North Luzon. It is probably the northeasternmost beach on the island of Luzon. In fact, my group had to brave ferocious waves in order for us to reach the beach. However, there is a much safer route for those who easily get seasick. You can rent a tricycle or drive directly from Sta. Ana to Anguib Beach. The main difference is the travel time. If you take the boat you'll probably have an hour of travel time compared to the more than an hour's worth of travel time by land. Anguib Beach - Santa Ana, Cagayan Anguib Beach - beautiful, clean, and isolated Upon reaching the beach you can choose between the P100 or P30 beach area. The P100 part of the beach has a panoramic view and is basically a beach lover'

Located along Cagayan Valley Road in the town of Lal-lo in the province of Cagayan, Lal-lo Church is the last of the three old churches built in the town during the Spanish colonial era. Lal-lo Church Lal-lo Church Details Also known as St. Dominic Parish Church /  Santo Domingo Parish Church , Lal-lo Church was built in the early 1600s after Pope Clement VIII created the Diocese of Nueva Segovia in 1595. Lal-lo Church - Lal-lo, Cagayan However, due to the constant threat of the rampaging waters of the Cagayan River, the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred to Vigan, Ilocos Sur. To avoid confusion the town's name was reverted back to Lal-lo. That's the backside of Lal-lo Church as seen from the main road One of the side entrances of Lal-lo Church The bell tower of Lal-lo Church The Evangelization Cross near Cagayan River was installed 300 years ago. Lalloc - Tocolana NHI Marker Lalloc-Nueva Segovia NHI Marker The transfer of the diocese a

Situated almost a kilometer away from the northern coast of Palaui Island in the province of Cagayan, Dos Hermanos Islands is a collective name that refers to the two islands which often serve as a backdrop of the seascape pictures taken from Cape Engaño Lighthouse. Dos Hermanos Islands Dos Hermanos Islands Details For the locals, the word " dos hermanos " means two people. However, the locals have separate names for each of these islands. They are referred to as   Hermano , which means man* and  Hermana  which means woman*. On a side note, there is also a  Dos Hermanos Islands  in Pagudpod in the province of Ilocos Norte. However, I informed my guide that the Spanish meaning of  hermano  is brother, while  hermana  is a sister. He said that the local meaning dates back before he was born. In my mind, it was probably an effect of what is dubbed as the " localization " of foreign words. Much like the English word " salvage " which means to save, but in th

Palaui Island is located in the Northern part of the province of Cagayan near the town of Sta. Ana. It gained its popularity when it was chosen as the venue of the hit reality show Survivor. Since Palaui Island is fairly new to the tourism business, there are only a few write-ups offering tips and contacts for tourists. Best Tour Guide in Palaui Island ... And that was my dilemma. Before I go to unfamiliar territory, I always make sure that I have a contact. It's not because I don't trust my itineraries but because sometimes I need a "local factor" to help me succeed in my planned adventures. In the case of my Palaui Island expedition, I needed a lot of that "local factor" and a boat of course.   Fernando "Kuya Nanding" Cabutin Kuya Nanding with the group That "local factor" came in the form of Kuya Fernando "Nanding" Cabutin . Honestly, he was not my first choice. I googled and contacted two other guides before him but K