The Wandering Leon

I left my hometown back when I was four years old and did not come back till 2006 when I came for a vacation after resigning from my first job. It was a great trip as it energized me and gave me time to think about what I should be doing with my life. I came back in 2009 and have been going "home" for the past three years. I schedule my annual trip to Borongan every second week of July as it is the fiesta in our small barangay, Brgy. Pepilitan. Borongan's feast is held every September but I choose to come home for Pepilitan's celebration. Christenings are usually held during this time and I was even asked to be the godparent for a cousin's daughter last year. For the second straight year I traveled alone and thanks to an office mate, I was able to buy tickets at a promo fare. There is no direct flight to Borongan so Tacloban is the usual gateway to Region 8 (where Eastern Samar belongs to), from there you just have to endure the four-hour land travel to Borong...

They say this is the male version of Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. A six-week journey of a lifetime crammed into one epic minute. How I wish I could do the same.

It was my second time to travel alone to my hometown, thanks to a friend I was able to buy a ticket at a promo fare for my annual trip to Borongan, Eastern Samar. A small city with a population of 55,141 (2000 census), it is not  on the top list of travel destinations of the Department of Tourism. Ask any traveler if they have been to my hometown and they most probably would ask, "Where is that?" The famous San Juamnico Bridge which links the islands of Samar and Leyte, Freshly caught octopus How far is Borongan from Manila? Solitary banca  Only recently, due to Tito Boy Abunda's popularity does the city gets mentioned in news outlets in the country. It is a place that is still waiting to be explored. I wish it would get its spot in future Pilipinas Tara Na music videos. More of my Borongan Homecoming in the next post. When is it? You can never can tell. :)

I am both sad and happy that I was in Dapitan last month. Happy that I finally got to see the place where the great Jose Rizal spent four years during his exile. Sad that I was there before the Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail passport was issued. I could have gotten my passport stamped, now I need to go back and retrace my steps,  Boo hoo. Enough of my dramatic meanderings, if you have not been to the heritage city of Dapitan, then now is the time to explore the sites.With the country celebrating the 150th year of his birth, a Rizaliana inspired trip is a must for every traveler. We were in Dapitan as part of our office's planning and cultural immersion program. Hint, hint, it's up to you to guess where I work. Santa Cruz Beach - Punto del Disembarko de Rizal en Dapitan, Sunset Boulevard  On July 17, 1892, Rizal landed on Santa Cruz Beach at 7 p.m. with Captain Delgras and three artillery men. They walked through Sta. Cruz Street with a farol de combate to the Casa ...

For those interested to join the Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail here are the sites where you need to go. National Capital Region 1.                    Prison Cell and Rizal Shrine Fort Santiago, Manila This was where Rizal was incarcerated during his trial from November 3 to December 29, 1896 Stamp site                   :                     On site Operating details                    :           Open Tuesdays to Sundays 8:00 am – 12:00 nn                     ...