The Backpack Adventures

Located at Barangay Malinao, Gabaldon in the province of Nueva Ecija, Mt. Sawi is a fairly new but totally must-try hiking destination of the province.  Mt. Sawi Mt. Sawi Details: Height: 594 MASL Trailhead: Stone 8 Resort, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija Climb Time: 2-3 hours to the peak Originally called Mt. Sawing Balete , taken from the story of one person's tragic suicide at the balete tree near the peak, the name was shortened to Mt. Sawi to be "in" with the growing popularity of the " hugot " lines introduced by the numerous Filipino romantic comedy (RomCom) films. Others, including me, believe that it was shortened to disassociate the mountain from ghost stories and suicides. Ironically, the word sawi still means "die" in Filipino... so thank goodness to those RomCom films for giving the tragic word a new meaning.  Mt. Sawi as seen from the highway Mt. Sawi jump-off point We started our hike with 10 members... ... however, t...

Takayama City is currently the largest municipality in Japan in terms of land area. Located in the mountainous northern part of Gifu Prefecture, Takayama City has its fair share of unique culture and tradition worth seeing and experiencing.  Top 10 Things To Do in Takayama City For those who are planning to visit Takayama City , here's something that might help you make your visit a memorable one - the Top 10 Things To Do in Takayama City . 1. Take a stroll at  Sanmachi Suji District  (Takayama Old Town) The Sanmachi Suji District is a historic district in Takayama City . It has numerous well-preserved Edo Period houses that presently serve as museums, stores, and restaurants. 2. Witness the Takayama Festival Held every April 14 and 15 and October 9 and 10, Takayama Festival is regarded as one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan. The highlight of this festival is the parade of floats called yatai .  3. Visit the  Takayama Matsuri K...

Located at Plaza Mabini Street, Balayan in the province of Batangas, Balayan Church is one of the Spanish colonial era churches in the province. It is also listed as a National Cultural Treasure. Balayan Church Balayan Church History Also known as Immaculate Conception Parish Church , Balayan Church was constructed sometime in 1591 under the directives of the Jesuit Order right after the Franciscans turned over the supervision of the town to them.  Balayan Church - Balayan, Batangas Balayan Church facade with the newly constructed biblical images at its plaza. The red brick bell tower of Balayan Church NHI Marker of Balayan Church The first church was made from light materials mainly wood, bamboo, and nipa which were abundant in the area. However, due to the growing number of devotees and the frequent damages brought by Mother Earth, a new stone church was built in 1795. The church was dedicated in honor of the  Immaculate Conception  which is t...