Benguet: Strawberry Fields are Forever at La Trinidad

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Every time you mention Baguio, the first things that comes into mind are pine trees and strawberries, aside from the Panagbenga Festival, the cold climate, and the sweet delicacies at Good Shepherd like the Ube Jam. Of course, there's the popular tourist spots like Camp Jon Hay, the Mines View, the Burnham Park, and the many emerging restaurant favorites like Oh My Gulay offering veggie dishes which we visited during our previous trip sometime last week of February of 2015.

You have to try their strawberry taho and ice cream but be warned that there's a big difference in the preparation where you buy it. It is highly recommended you buy them from places not in Baguio but near the Strawberry Farms of La Trinidad. Benguet.

It is here where you get to pick strawberries on your own together with the Ibaloi farmers. Just a friendly reminder that it will cost you twice the amount if you pick the strawberries yourselves. They say you're paying for the "awesome" experience and the delight in picking the best strawberries in the farm. Some will argue it should have been cheaper because they save on the labor or effort to harvest.

But the real reason why it costs more is because strawberries are actually very delicate compared to picking apples and oranges (like in other countries). The farm owners find it reasonable to ask for an additional cost when amateurs harvest the strawberries. Newbies would tend to damage the strawberry shrubs so half the cost was allocated for the risk. Prices will vary depending on the season. Of course it's a lot more expensive during the summer when a lot of tourists flock the already considered iconic site.

Boracay: Fascinated by the Iconic Willy's Rock

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An oddly shaped  volcanic formation that dominated the seascape of Boracay's White Beach at Station 1 just fifty or a hundred meters off shore (low tide and high tide respectively) is the most famous photographed landmark that's called Willy's Rock.

Residents say it was named after the Willy Gelito, the founder of Willy's Beach Hotel, which is located right across the formation. You can easily reach it during low tide but you'll need a snorkel during high tide.

It is during the Ber months when you can see the rock bottom of Willy's Rock without the seaweeds. Better go there during the early morning so that it's not too crowded with tourists who are also eager in taking several photos from selfies to professional photo shoots.

The Catholic devout local residents constructed several steps of stairs leading to and around the grotto where the shrine of the image of the glorious blessed Virgin Mary is situated adorned by flowers and candles, and along side are some plants and shrubs with some trees.

LPG Philippines Forum 2015: Video Blog

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Since this is my second year of being a media partner of the LPG Forum, I decided to make it more of a video blog and took several videos, aside from the photos, of the event. The two day forum was filled with several information on why we should be using LPG as one of the best alternative to other sources of fuel or power. It was surprising to know that the Philippines is still left behind in the use of the LPG because of misinformation that has caused fear among the consumers.

From the different talks given by the many speakers, you can easily distinguish the advantages of using LPG as compared to our traditional source of fuel for our vehicles but the rumors that spread during a few years ago halted the public's patronage due to health hazard concerns.

The first day was graced by the Department of Energy OIC Zenaida Monsada who delivered the keynote message. I was able to ask for a video message from her and was able to talk with her Executive Assistant to include me in their mailing list so they can send me their official press releases and announcements too. The second day had Representative Rey Umali delivering the keynote message. Both government officials speak highly of the LPG as a highly recommended power and fuel alternative and would like to encourage more people from the Philippines to make us of it for being among the safest and reliable.

There were several speakers from different specialties who participated in the forum and raised valuable points and insights regarding LPG. Some of them were even outraged why the country has not been very enthusiastic of the usage. It seems some agencies of the government had something to do with the delayed acceptance of many people of which details are too complicated to discuss here, and of course, we do not want to point fingers as to who may have caused all these obstacles.