Home » Travel
Category Archives: Travel
A new shop at Bohol-Panglao Airport
There’s a nice store at the Bohol-Panglao Airport. It was not yet there last year when last I was in Bohol so it was new to me. At the time, the additional coffee shops were still being fitted out.
A Nomad store greeted us as we cleared the final security check at the airport
They had all kinds of products including food and souvenir items like shirts, magnets and key chains.
OTOP stands for One Town, One Product, which is a program promoted across the country. This encourages various towns to identify, make and promote unique products including food items. Aside from those from Bohol, there are products from other provinces like otap and dried mangoes from Cebu, Napoleones and pinasugbo from Negros, pastel buns from Camiguin, and biscocho and piaya from Iloilo. I usually get frozen longanisa or chorizo at the store.
There were also stuffed toys, travel items and handicrafts
We first saw Nomad stores in Cebu’s Mactan Airport and at Laguindingan Airport (Cagayan De Oro). It is a welcome addition at Panglao though there are many small stores there already and there’s a local souvenir shop at the check-in lobby. The common denominator for these airport stores is that those airports are operated by Aboitiz, which has taken on airport operations and management as a business.
The other stores are still there including the Island Souvenirs shop and this small store selling wonderful muffins and cookies. The latter one I recommend to those who are making some last minute purchases to eat at home or at the airport while waiting for the boarding call.
Other stores at the ground floor of the airport
–
Quick escapes
We decided to take an unplanned trip to one of our happy places. Our daughter loves Panglao and this was our nth trip with her. The weather though appears to be uncooperative.
We are hopeful that tomorrow will be better. At least the forecast is fair weather for both Saturday and Sunday. I’m not sure if we will have an unplanned boat ride. This is a short, quick escape so perhaps we’ll just stay at the resort. Quick trips like this is really for recharging one’s batteries given all the stress especially at work.
–
Travel time maps for Antipolo City
Yesterday, we facilitated a workshop for Antipolo City where technical staff of the city presented on the outcomes of various activities related to the formulation of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) for the city. One interesting output from one of the groups is this map showing the travel times within selected driving times with the destination being the Antipolo Shrine (“Antipolo Simbahan” if you will refer to the PUV signboards of those plying routes to Antipolo). The maps are the equivalent of travel time contour maps that can be generated with travel speed or travel time data.
While shown are driving times and assuming car use, similar maps can be produced for public transportation, motorcycles, bicycles and even walking. It is just a matter of collecting the data and plotting them. Alternatively, the data can probably be obtained or derived from sources like Google Traffic or Waze. Some effort, of course, is required in order to have more accurate maps especially considering the road network and traffic circulation. Note that the travel times indicated are also centered on the Antipolo Shrine, which for presentation purposes was used to represent the center of the city. Other maps can be produced in aid of planning travel and transportation for the purposes of the city (e.g., how long it takes between Antipolo and Cubao for a regular commute, etc.).
–
On the reduced traffic due to the energy crisis
The past weeks have seen traffic reduced along my usual routes for my commute between my home and workplace. This could be attributed to the energy crisis as, apparently, many have chosen to plan their trips and use other options other than private/personal transportation for their travels. The reduction in traffic is probably due to reduced numbers of private cars and motorcycles as people cut down on unnecessary trips. Of course, most schools are off at this time of the year so that means a significant number of trips are off the roads (and rails in the case of Metro Manila).
My travel time is only about 60 to 70% of the usual during peak hours. And about half during off-peak. That is a significant reduction in travel time and perhaps translates to not just reduced fuel consumption in general but also reduced emissions as well. On weekends, I also observed that there are less motorcycle traffic to and from Antipolo where I reside. I am referring to the groups who usually have their recreational rides during weekends. Did bicycle traffic increase? My observation is that there seems to be an increase for the weekdays but it’s about the same on weekends. Bicycles, after all, are not affected by the fuel price hikes. Perhaps people who can bike opt for the mode instead of their motorized vehicles? The only way to determine if indeed there were significant mode shift is to do surveys. But for now, careful observation not of traffic but travel times will suffice as proof of the easing of traffic due to the crisis.
–
May-time pilgrimage
Last April 30-May 1, there was another ‘Alay Lakad’ to the shrine in Antipolo. The pilgrimage walk started in Quiapo Church (Black Nazarene) and ended at the Antipolo church (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage). Dubbed the “Walk for Peace,” there usually was a lot of people considering the number of devotees as well as May 1 being perhaps a holiday. Antipolo and Taytay LGUs at least put up stations for assistance to pilgrims.
We started hearing Mass again at the shrine last Sunday as our daughter prefers going there instead of at the chapel at our village. She’s gone to two Lenten Alay Lakads the past two years so maybe she felt this was a kind of pilgrimage for her, too.
For those walking from Metro Manila, there are two general routes to Antipolo. One is via Ortigas Avenue Extension and Tikling junction and the other is via Sumulong Highway and Masinag junction. You can take public transportation from Cubao or Crossing where there are jeepneys and buses. Many terminate at the Robinsons Antipolo mall terminal. But there are many other smaller terminals around the city including some near the Simbahan itself. There are also many tricycles that can take you to the shrine from various points in Antipolo including the Line 2 station at Masinag. Line 2, of course, is a convenient and fast way to get to Antipolo from Manila and Quezon City.
–
Impacts of the energy crisis on tourism – the transport perspective
The Holy Week holidays practically begin this weekend with an expected exodus of people from Metro Manila and its environs (NCR Plus or Mega Manila depending on which term you prefer). Many people take a vacation during the Holy Week. Most probably go for a homecoming. Taking advantage of the holidays to visit their hometowns and have reunions. We did so for most of Holy Weeks past and in my father’s hometown, they take advantage of the homecomings including those of balikbayans from overseas to have a general homecoming at the town’s High School.
Many others in the past decade have their vacations during the Holy Week. The past years saw especially after the pandemic saw people travel abroad to catch spring time in temperate countries like Japan and Korea, even in Europe. Others prefer to travel in the region as Southeast Asian countries provide interesting destinations including the usual Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Singapore. Of course, you can also do local with people flocking to destinations where the beaches are like Bohol, Cebu and Palawan, just to mention some of the choices.
The view from the Shang in Bangkok – we spent the Holy Week there in 2024
Tourism will always involve travel and transportation. The industry will suffer much with the ongoing crisis as fuel prices will eat up a lot of travel budgets as fuel-related expenses will make travel prohibitive to many. On the supply side alone, airlines and maritime companies might have to cancel trips if they cannot sustain fuel supplies. Thus, planes will have to be grounded and ferries/vessels will have to reduce trips to conserve on fuels. That means people cannot travel to tourist destinations and will have to cancel and get refunds (if they can’t reschedule) from their accommodations (hotels, resorts). Less tourists means other businesses suffer, too, including restaurants, cafes and eateries, souvenir shops, and others depended on tourists for incomes. Damay-damay na, as they say.
Let’s hope the crisis will soon be over and this Holy Week, perhaps we can have some reflections and prayers while we take our health and re-energizing breaks.
–
Landmarks: the Jaro Belltower
Here are some photos of a landmark in Iloilo that served as the reference for many jeepney routes. I recall from childhood that we rode the jeepney from Cabatuan and transferred here to another jeepney bound for city proper. Going home, we Di the reverse. We also hopped on a jeepney here to go to other towns like Leganes or farther districts of the city such as Molo or Arevalo. Of course, it’s different now after all the rerouting of public transport. Provincial jeepneys now terminate at the periphery of the city and no longer reach Jaro.
–
What’s left of NAIA Terminal 4?
When we landed at NAIA last Saturday, our plane passed Terminal 3 to what we thought were the usual spaces for transporter interface with the terminal. We passed the area and proceeded to where Terminal 4 used to be. T4 was the Manila Domestic Airport or MDA in old documents.
The terminal building was demolished last year as part of San Miguel’s airport redevelopment that included building an extension of Terminal 2 and a new Terminal (5?) where the Philippine Village Hotel and Nayong Pilipino were located. A new terminal will also be built where the old one stood. How does this relate to the airport being developed in Bulacan? Will this be complementary airports like Narita and Haneda? Or perhaps like Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi?
–
Tambayan at NAIA Terminal 3 – Part 1
I am sharing here some photos of the food hall found at Level B between the arrival and departure levels of Terminal 3. I’ve read about the renovations and improvements over the last few months but I haven’t been able to go around T3 in a while. Most of my travels last year were via Terminal 2 due to my travels to Bicol. The photos speak for themselves so I won’t be writing labels for each photo.
There are many eating options and more are going to open soon. We had our lunch at Pancake House prior to proceeding to our gate for our flight to Iloilo.
–
PNR Naga – Lupi Timetable
We went to the PNR Naga Station last Friday morning and got an updated timetable for the PNR trains. We also were informed that the Naga-Legazpi train service is currently suspended due to damages along the line sustained during the recent typhoon. Hopefully, that section will be repaired immediately and the service resumed.
Naga to Lupi timetable showing the first train leaving Naga at 4:29 AM and the last at 3:14 PM. There are only 3 trips.
Lupi-Naga timetable showing the first train leaving Lupi at 6:23 AM and the last one at 5:08 PM. Again, there are only 3 trips from Lupi to Naga. The first train arrives in Naga at 8:02AM. This is actually attractive to commuters as the LGU reports the train to be full. Unfortunately, the return trip in the afternoon doesn’t have a favorable schedule for those heading home from work or school.
There is potential here for people to shift to rail for the major part of their commutes. Unfortunately, the frequencies of service is too low at present. People will shift to rail if the service is frequent and more reliable. Cost-wise, there is a significant difference between road-based and rail-based transport especially over long distances. Fares via express vans between Naga and Legazpi cost 300 to 400 pesos while private vehicle may cost between 3,000 to 5,000 pesos depending on the model and arrangements. Compare those with the 155 peso fare for the PNR train.
We are also hopeful that the rehabilitation and upgrading of train services will eventually be realized. The NSCR project is currently underway with the northern line connecting Metro Manila to Pampanga and the southern line currently until Laguna. The work needs to be accelerated and that entails much resources (i.e., funding) for railways to make comeback and perhaps experience another “Golden Age.”
–
Caught (up) in traffic 