My Lakbay Rizal Quest Completed

in line to have a sense of reasonable purpose for being travelholic...
in tribute to the viral quest to visit all of Dr. Jose Rizal's remarkable deeds...
in support to DOT's project to relive the heroic memories of our beloved national hero...
july 09 - september 25, 2011

it all started when i planned another but not new adventure in a travel forum, a budget do-it-yourself day tour. we didn't even know what's with this passport as requested to have a copy in information center inside the fort santiago. i didn't even think that i will be getting hooked to finish the required stamps all-over the philippine archipelago.

this is my part in joining the nation's celebration on Dr. Jose Rizal's 150th birthday... to accomplish all 26 required stamps and be part of top 100 pilgrims. started the interest unintentionally during our day trip last july on binondo-intramuros loop. continued on the upcoming domestic trips i have availed during promo fares which was coincidentally the same place for the other pilgrimages. ending up availing regular round trip tickets just finish as early as possible i can.

Visit the following 26 rizaliana sites featured and have it stamped as proof of your visit. The first 100 pilgrims who have visited all the Rizal sites with proof of the complete stamps can present it to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to win a token and an official Kalakbay ni Gat Jose Rizal certificate!
source: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/Pages/LAKBAYJOSERIZAL@150.aspx

lakbay-rizal quest completed (22nd placer) token and certificates

finally, in the airport

Last Stamp to Cebu City (lakbay rizal final leg)

2nd flashpacking around the visayas region in 2 days
september 24-25, 2011 saturday-sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: finalizing my lakbay-rizal quest, completing the 26 stamps in 2 months

iloilo-dumaguete-cebu on weekend only
iloilo city morning drive (lakbay rizal final leg)
ferry and bus trip from iloilo to dumaguete
dumaguete city short stroll (lakbay rizal final leg)
going alone to casaroro falls

continued...

ferry and bus trip from dumaguete city (negros oriental) to cebu city (cebu) has estimated travel time of 5.5 hours combined (without side trip). i left dumaguete city at exactly 1120H then arrived to cebu city south terminal at around 1700H. earliest bus trip to depart is 0315H, then, 0500H, 0835H, 1120H and 1400H, at php200 fare. after 40 minutes, we arrived in the dumaguete port, php70 for the ferry fare on 30-minute journey.

dumaguete ceres bus terminal

Dumaguete City Short Stroll (lakbay rizal final leg)

2nd flashpacking around the visayas region in 2 days
september 24-25, 2011 saturday-sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: finalizing my lakbay-rizal quest, completing the 26 stamps in 2 months

iloilo-dumaguete-cebu on weekend only
iloilo city morning drive (lakbay rizal final leg)
ferry and bus trip from iloilo to dumaguete

continued...

dumaguete city at night;
i immediately alight the bus after asking the bus conductor if the one i pointed-out was quezon park. again another stamp site unforgetable adventure, at 1830H, of course tourism office inside the park was closed. i asked the guard on duty how can i have the stamp on this night since i have to leave dumaguete early in the morning the next day. this guard couldn't help me out so i decided to seek help to the other guards in the cityhall which is only infront of the park. without hesitation, this 3 security guards on duty moved in haste by texting the employee they know who has the key. at 2130H, i have my lakbay rizal 25th stamp and my first time having at this night time. thanks to this helpful filipino's, mabuhay kayo !

lakbay rizal stamp site

Iloilo City Morning Walk (lakbay rizal final leg)

2nd solo flashpacking around the visayas region in 2 days
september 24-25, 2011 saturday-sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: finalizing my lakbay-rizal quest, completing the 26 stamps in 2 months

iloilo-dumaguete-cebu on weekend only

continued...

i woke-up as early as 0215H for the earliest domestic flight i had. arrived in NAIA terminal 3 around 0300H. took breakfast first in the mezzanine area on the 2nd floor. afterwards, entered the express check-in counter for passengers who don't have check-in luggage. then paid terminal fee of php200. at 0430H, aircraft took-off at 15 minutes early departing time.

boardwalk jogging place by ilongo's

Side Trip to Daet (lakbay rizal 5th leg)

feeling the new transpo trip for the 1st time
september 09-11, 2011 friday to sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: to continue the lakbay rizal quest and explore what this province can offer at limited time

the new pnr bicol express train escapade

continued...

camarines norte provincial hall

rizal monument lakbay-rizal stamp site

Dapitan City Rizaliana Tour (lakbay rizal 4th leg)

what's with this provinces (my 10th solo backpacking)

august 13-15, 2011 saturday to monday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: to continue the lakbay rizal quest and explore what this provinces can offer at limited time

weekend journey to zamboanga peninsula
dipolog city hopping (lakbay rizal 4th part)
dakak beach resort day tour

this city is tagged as the shrine city of the philippines. the habal-habal i rode from dakak agreed to tour me also for all the rizaliana spots i requested, same rate nagotiated. most of these can be found within the dapitan plaza. i went first to rizal shrine which is along the way to dakak. no entrance fee and the security guard is the stamp authority who assisted me also on my photo-ops.

disembarco at sta. cruz beach at night

dapitan church at night

Dipolog City Day Hopping (lakbay rizal 4th leg)

what's with this provinces (my 10th solo backpacking)

august 13-15, 2011 saturday to monday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: to continue the lakbay rizal quest and explore what this provinces can offer at limited time

weekend journey to zamboanga peninsula

departure delayed at 50 minutes due to congested airport wherein our aircraft places 5th on waiting to take-off, air traffic controller's job. anyways, we arrived in dipolog domestic airport with drizzles around. after checking-out, negotiated to habal-habal bound to bus terminal for the start of my lakbay-rizal quest. then, at the terminal, rode a multicab bound to katipunan town plaza for php18 fare.

RIZAL FARM - The farm was acquired by Rizal from Calixto Carreon, a blind patient who offered it for free out of gratitude for his successful treatment. Rizal refused and paid him Php200 for the land. He cultivated it every weekend with his pupils.

rizal farm pilgrim

A Week-End Journey to Zamboanga del Norte and del Sur

what's with this provinces (my 10th solo backpacking)
august 13-15, 2011 saturday to monday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: to continue the lakbay rizal quest and explore what this provinces can offer at limited time

important note (zamboanga del norte):
Zamboanga del Norte or simply known as ZAMNORTE is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Dipolog City and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the south and Misamis Occidental to the east. Zamboanga del Norte is the Largest province of Zamboanga Peninsula in terms of land area.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamboanga_del_Norte

katipunan town plaza, zamnorte

dipolog cathedral

Rizaliana Site Touring Continues (lakbay rizal 3rd leg)

pampanga-bulacan-rizal solo trip
july 30, 2011 saturday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional task: to acknowledge another day-trip only adventure and to continue the quest for lakbay rizal spots

an adventure from the start since its hard for me to locate even the transpo to get in this places. morning of saturday, i just walked-in northbound terminals and asked bus conductors where will I head to. finally, i've come up to victory liner in pasay for an aircon bus bound to olongapo where i want to made my 1st quest to the province of pampanga.

pampanga provincial capitol

Family Splash-out in Splash Island, Laguna (lakbay rizal 2nd leg)

another 2011's family outing
july 23, 2011 saturday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional task: to acknowledge another day-trip only adventure with family and to continue the quest for lakbay rizal spots

important note (laguna):
Laguna is a province of the Philippines found in the CALABARZON region in Luzon. Its capital is Santa Cruz and almost completely surrounds Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. The province acquired its name from the Spanish word lago, which means lake or lagoon. This place is notable for being the birthplace of Jose Rizal, the country's national hero.

splash island of laguna

splash island of laguna

Keep Coming Back in Manila's Best (lakbay rizal 1st leg)

binondo - intramuros budget diy day trip

july 09, 2011 saturday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional task: to acknowledge change of new adventure, somewhere nearby for day-trip only

important note (manila):
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities comprising Metro Manila. The city is divided into six legislative districts and consists of sixteen geographical districts. Within their precincts can be found areas of bustling commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant iconic landmarks in the country as well as the seat of the executive and judicial branches of the government.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila

the planning;

july 05, tuesday, while I was in the middle of my routine work burn-out of the deadlines to finish within that week, I posted some quiries and thoughts in an online travel forum for another but not new travel adventure. asking about all possible landmarks around metro manila and metro provinces that can be roam for 1-day only. since there were lots of travelers got interested, joiners have formed and a date has set.

sta. cruz church