OUR AWESOME PLANET

BICOL: Awesome Journey to Bicolandia (Infographic)

Our Awesome Planet in partnership with Caltex presents Awesome Journey to Bicol Infographics:
(Download: Awesome Journey to Bicol PDF File for Printing)

Awesome Journey Infographics Series:

• PAGUDPUD: Your Awesome Journey to Pagudpud (Infographic)
• BICOL: Awesome Journey to Bicolandia (Infographic)
• PAMPANGA: Your Awesome Journey to Pampanga Food Trip (Infographic)
• TAGAYTAY: Your Awesome Journey to Tagaytay Food Trip (Infographic)
• BAGUIO: Your Awesome Journey to Baguio Food Trip (Infographic)

BICOL LOVE
written by Anton Diaz for the Awesome Life Planner 2012 

Unique cuisine, fun adventure destinations and the ever-majestic Mayon Volcano await you in Bicol. The best time to go would be during the summer months when you can also travel all the way to Donsol to swim with the whale sharks. To get to Naga or Legazpi City, you can take a 12-hour road trip or a one-hour plane ride from Manila. 

8 Compelling Reasons to Visit Bicol

1. Climb Mayon Volcano!

When we were kids, we often drew volcanoes as perfect triangles with perfect cones. Beholding Mayon Volcano, as it towers over the Bicol region, is like seeing those childhood drawings come to life. You can hike the lava trail or go up to the halfway point of Mayon. The best viewpoints are in Daraga Church and the zipline in Lingon Hill.

The Misibis Bay Experience: How much and How to get there? (3 of 3)

Misibis Bay Resort is one hour away from the Legazpi airport by land. You can also get there via a fast craft from Embarcadero in Legazpi City.

OAP | The Misibis Bay Experience Series
1. The Misibis Bay Experience: What to do?
2.The Misibis Bay Experience: What to eat?
3.The Misibis Bay Experience: How much and How to get there?

Here are some tips on how to plan your trip to the resort and how much to budget:

The Misibis Bay Experience: What to eat? (2 of 3)

Good food is part of our criteria when deciding where to travel next. Our travels and food adventures have made us realize that just because an establishment is charging high-end prices, the quality of food will also be high.

OAP | The Misibis Bay Experience Series
1. The Misibis Bay Experience: What to do?
2.The Misibis Bay Experience: What to eat?
3.The Misibis Bay Experience: How much and How to get there?

Here is what you can expect with the quality of food in Misibis:

The Misibis Bay Experience: What to do? (1 of 3)

Misibis Bay Resort in Cagraray Island in Albay, Bicol is marketed as "Your Luxury Island Playground". It is a beach escape where you can relive your childhood fun with a lot of sports and adventure activities that both adults and kids can enjoy.

It is located on an exclusive cove in Cagraray Island, which is an hour away by land from the Legazpi Airport. You can stay in pool-side or beach-side villas, enjoy good buffet food, and relax with all the urban comforts of cable TV + Wifi.

OAP | The Misibis Bay Experience Series
1. The Misibis Bay Experience: What to do?
2.The Misibis Bay Experience: What to Eat?
3.The Misibis Bay Experience: How much and How to get there?

Here are the top activities you can do with your family in Misibis (biased towards those with kids below 7 years old):

Candelaria's Crispy Pata!

Candelaria is known for having one of the best crispy patas in the country. :) You'd be hard-pressed to find good crispy pata like this (cooked the old-school way) in Manila.

On your next road trip to Bicol, don't forget to stop over for Crispy Pata -- either in the main town of Candelaria or in San Antonio Village.

Top Meals - Makati's Secret Bicol Comfort Food

Thousand Bears for Bicol Project Successful

Thousand Bears for Bicol Project (Bonakid Aidan not included)

I'm sure most of you were skeptical (like me) when I posted Cathy's Thousand Bears Project for Bicol. But there is something in me that made me post that article on Thousand Bears Project. This is a great psychological help for the trauma that the kids experienced during typhoon Reming. I was following the development via her blog Midlife Mysteries, and I was amazed that she reached 1,000 bears last Dec. 17, Sunday. I was touched also when Cathy wrote in his blog post, A Thousand Bears and More!!:

"In a text message from Col. Mike Asperin, who had just returned from Albay I found my affirmation. Last Wednesday, Col. Asperin brought with him the 500 bear pillows that were donated by KFC earlier this week. " I'm now in Manila. Got you tons of pictures for the teddy bear giveaways. I gave one to a child who embraced it and uttered words I could not understand. The lola who was accompanying the child was so overjoyed because it was the first time her apo spoke since they lost their family. It was a heart-rending scene and I cried so hard... the bears are helping the kids cope. None of them would let go of the teddy bears!" The tears just flowed after I read his message. It was then that I realized then how a little gesture could make such a huge impact on the life of a child. I thank the Lord for the inspiration of TBB. Truly, when HE plants a dream in your heart, He will see it through, all the way."

I was soo busy these past few days and still been battling with my cough sickness until today. But I'm glad I was able to finally send our family of bears to Cathy yesterday after my visit to the doctor. The first batch of the bears have been shipped out already (see Bears, bears! By land, sea and air!) and I'm not sure if my bears made it to the batch last night or this morning. Anyway, the Bears project will continue with a second mission: Bearhugs for Bicol that has been set for February. So keep the bears coming and send them to Cathy.

HE indeed works in mysterious ways :)

Related Posts:
A Thousand Bears for Bicol and Red Cross

A Thousand Bears for Bicol and Red Cross

pdi foto, originally uploaded by cathyguballa. (Philippine Daily Inquirer's (PDI) Edwin Bacasmas Photo)

I knew that Typhoon Durian/ Reming would be devastating since it was a Category 5 typhoon (the highest ever category) and a lot stronger than Typhoon Milenyo (category 3). After seeing the photo of this devastation from Cathy's Nancydrewandme Blog, I'm determined to help out in any way I can. My mom's province is in Catanduanes, Bicol and the devastation left the island with estimated 6 months without electricity and water. In Legaspi, our family friend Sarah's father died of heart attack because of the sound of the typhoon as the entire city was engulf by water-shed-deep mud flood. The worst thing about Typhoon Durian was not only because it was a category 5 typhoon but also it stayed steady in Bicol for 4 hours.

We are blessed that the typhoon did not pass Metro Manila. You can send some bears over to Cathy @ A Thousand Bears for Bicol, 41 Milkyway Drive, Blue Ridge, Quezon City with a some noodles or canned goods. Please help in any way you can via this Thousand bear project or in cash via Red Cross.

From the Red Cross Site:

Typhoon Reming has left death and destruction in its wake. Many families have lost their homes and property after a series of mudslides and flash floods struck their villages. Schools and other makeshift centers are now crammed with thousands of evacuees with no other place to stay. They are in dire need of your help. You may send you donations to the Philippine National Red Cross through: Metrobank Port Area Branch

1) Peso Account
Account name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Account number: 151 – 3 – 041 – 63122 – 8 – MBTC

2) Dollar Account
Account name: The Philippine National Red Cross
Account number: 151 – 2 – 151 – 00218 – 2
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

B. Globe G-Cash
Just text: DONATE <space> <AMOUNT> <space> <4-digit MPIN> <space> RED CROSS then send to 2882

C. Globe Donate-A-Load
Just text RED <space> <AMOUNT in 5/25/50/100/300> then send to 2899

Related Posts:
A Thousand Bears for Bicol from Nancydrewandme Blog
More bodies found in mud-swamped Bicol villages from Inq7.net