2011 In Review | It's More Fun In The Philippines

Year 2011, for us, had 37 wonderful destinations. Cramming up places to see from one vacation after another, it was really a great year of traveling. We stepped on top of the highest peak in our country, touched twice the roof-top of Luzon and had 18 summits in total, all mixed up this past year alone. Check-out our summary video for 2011 and current DOT slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines”.

Out of the 53 weekends of 2011, We've been out of Manila 37 times. About 70 percent of our Saturday-Sunday combos spent on traveling/climbing. Let's have a look at some of the memorable trips we had this past year.

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Mt. Batulao, Batangas - We've been here 4 times the past year and still, the place never gets old. One of my favorite mountains.
Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/mountaineers-are-high-misfortunes-1st.html

Mt. Tapulao, Zambales - The mountain I underestimated.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/09/mt-tapulao-zambales.html

Tarak Ridge, Bataan - We've been to this ridge twice in 2011. Once was during an unforgettable night trek experience.

Mt. Makiling, Laguna - One of the training climbs for our Mt. Pulag traverse. Ironically, this traverse dayhike was much harder than path of Akiki Trail.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/09/mt-makiling-traverse-dayhike.html

Mt. Samat, Bataan - I brought my family to the top of one of the mountains in Bataan. Thankfully, they never had to endure the hike up as the road leading to Mt. Samat's "Dambana" was accessible even to normal-sized automobiles.

Mt. Pulag, Benguet - The mountain that can turn any person to a mountaineer. Reached its summit twice, first via the Akiki trail and second via the one on Ambangeg
Read article here:

Akiki: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/mt-pulag-akiki-ambangeg-traverse.html

Ambangeg: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/11/mt-pulag-beauty-of-ambangeg-trail.html

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte - In my humble opinion, the best beach in the Philippines.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/calaguas-island-camarines-norte.html

Mt. Natib, Bataan - The almost double dayhike.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/mt-natib-dayhike.html

Dingalan, Aurora - The province of our very own beach-home. We swam on its meter-high waves twice this year.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/dingalan-aurora.html

Puting Buhangin, Quezon - One of the most underestimated beaches in the Philippines. Almost all of the persons I knew that had an encounter with the island had the same first reaction as mine; caught of guard by its surprising beauty.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/padre-burgos-beach-camp.html

Dampalitan Island, Quezon - The island you should camp on when swimming the beaches of Padre Burgos, Quezon. I can describe it as a lower, but still beautiful, version of Calaguas.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/padre-burgos-beach-camp.html

Sagada, Mountain Province - One of the most awe-enticing and diverse places I've been to.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/sagada-mountain-province.html

Mt. Ampacao, Mountain Province - The bonus mountain of Sagada. After only an hour of hiking, you will be gifted with the magnificent top view of the province and other surrounding Cordillera mountains.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/sagada-mountain-province.html

Mt. Cristobal, Quezon - The dayhike of the so-called "Devil's Mountain"

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/08/mt-cristobal-dayhike.html

Malapscua Island, Cebu - The most serene and tranquil Island I've been to.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/09/malapascua-island-cebu.html

Bantayan Island, Cebu - The most famous beach in the whole of Cebu.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/09/bantayan-island-cebu.html

Calanggaman Island, Leyte - The small island getaway hidden at the open seas of Leyte.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/09/malapascua-island-cebu.html

Sipalay, Negros Occ. - Home of the brown sugar beach.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/11/negros-occidental-weekend-backpacking.html

Bacolod, Negros Occ. - The most friendly place we've been to. It is definitely the city of smiles.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/11/negros-occidental-weekend-backpacking.html

Murcia, Negros Occ. - Whether you are planning to climb the 7 waterfalls or just relax at the hotsprings, Mambukal Resort really is the place for all types of tourists.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/11/negros-occidental-weekend-backpacking.html

Talisay, Negros Occ. - Located at the heart of a sugar-cane plantation, The Ruins of Talisay is one of the places a tourist should visit when backpacking through the city of Bacolod.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/11/negros-occidental-weekend-backpacking.html

Silay, Negros Occ. - Dubbed as the "Paris of Negros" due to the towering structures of old houses that was built for the wealthy families during the Spanish times. It's also the home of Bacolod's new and improved airport.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/11/negros-occidental-weekend-backpacking.html

Mt. Palali, Nueva Viscaya - The cleanest and most serene mountain we've climbed.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/09/mt-palali.html

Pico de Loro, Cavite - Strategically placed next to my cleanest mountain, this popular peak is, in my opinion, the dirtiest mountain I ever hiked on.

Pantingan Peak, Bataan - The highest point of the Mariveles mountain range.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/10/pantingan-peak-dayhike.html

Mt. Apo, Davao del sur - Need I say more? Every Filipino mountaineer's dream. The highest mountain in our country.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/10/mt-apo-kapatagan-kidapawan-traverse.html

Davao city - The place that made me a fan of the fruit, Pomelo.

Samal Island, Davao del Norte - Our post-Mt.Apo-climb treat.

Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/10/island-garden-of-city-of-samal.html

Talicud Island, Davao del Norte - Again, one of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches I ever dipped on.
Read article here: http://trampingphilippines.blogspot.com/2011/10/island-garden-of-city-of-samal.html

Tagaytay, Cavite - The world famous place that houses the island within a lake within an island within a lake within an island.

Laur, Nueva Ecija - Home sweet home.

2011 was really a blessing and I hope 2012 would take me even higher in terms of strength, success and adventures. God speed everyone!

*Thanks to my bro for some of the photos in this post.