The Most Romantic Places in the Philippines
Romantic, adj.—marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized. (Merriam-Webster)
It is the love month, and in keeping with the season, the Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ 4th Blog Carnival is about the most romantic places in the Philippines. From white sand beaches to high mountain peaks, these 15 entries take us into what travelers define as “romantic”—what they consider “adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized.”
Needless to say, emotions varied throughout the entries. Certainly, there were joys and celebrations, but there were regrets, too, as well as sadness and longing. The definition of romance, in this issue of PTB’s blog carnival, has been both validated and reinvented. Seen through the words and images of these 15 Filipino travelers, you will never look at these places the same way again.
(However, if you’re looking for ideas on where to take your special someone on a romantic date in Manila, consider the Manila Bay Sunset Cruise.)
Bittersweet permeates the tone of some entries, when the places they have been to were associated with happy times long gone. In Bantayan Island: Stamping Passage into Each Other’s Lives, Marky of Nomadic Experiences talked of going to the island where he had once meant to explore with a childhood sweetheart. Their plans had been waylaid and he ended up going alone. Though his memories of the place were replete with melancholy, he said in the end that he has learned to hope, and hope he will.
My post, Timeless Memories of El Nido, took me back to the white sand beaches of El Nido in Palawan where time stood still. That chapter in my life has been closed long ago, but El Nido will always have a special place in my heart.
Estan of Langyaw Travel’s heartfelt I want us to go back to Baguio is another bittersweet post of a lost love. In his brief entry, he entreats her to go back with him to the city in the highlands again, where the cold weather and the smell of pines meant romance and happier times.
Beyond regrets and longing, the bloggers’ most romantic places can be sources of joy and celebrations too. Claire of Lakwatsera de Primera fondly remembered her and her now-fiance’s climb to Mt. Guiting-Guiting. They trekked 20 hours, got (almost) dehydrated, and were totally exhausted. Yet, it was here in this grueling and trying condition that she found her most romantic moments.
In the third highest mountain in the Philippines, Angel of Lakwatsero found Love at 10,000 Feet as well. Indeed, it can be hard not to feel romantic with the sea of clouds below and the mountains all around you! Angel witnessed the marriage proposal of friends there, and Pulag became the perfect backdrop to two people’s celebration of life and love.
Ron and Monette of Fliptravels also found love in the mountains. In the small town of Sagada in the Mountain Province, they found out how it felt to “surrender to fate” and lose yourself in your loved one.
Some travelers, though, loved a place regardless of whether they had a partner or not. Jerik of Pinoy Boy Journals, for example, fell in love with Guimaras, the island which made him whole. He praised her beauty endlessly in It’s been one thousand four hundred sixty days, My Love, fondly remembering the days he spent with her.
The same passion ran through Edcel, too, of soloflightEd, when he went to Malapascua Island in Cebu. He saw her as deadly, A Silent Killer, as she slowly but surely insinuated herself into his system and he became hopelessly ensnared in her charm. There’s one thing he vows: that someday, when he finally finds his special someone, he will take her to Malapascua and share with her the beauty of the island which first took his fancy.
Mica of Senyorita can certainly relate with Edcel! She feels the same way about Bolinao, Pangasinan’s Romantic Paradise. From the waterfalls to its lighthouse and beaches, Bolinao is the perfect romantic getaway for Mica, a place for proposals and hugs and stolen kisses with a special someone.
Karlo of the 4AM Chronicles looks at Bacolod the same way too. In his 5 Reasons Why I Heart Bacolod, he tells of his fascination with this city in the Visayas. He doesn’t know exactly what keeps him going back there—is it the food? The low cost of living? The beautiful women?—but there is one thing he is sure about; he will always find himself in Bacolod.
The love affair of Journeying James with Batanes started with a love letter which led to a dream come true. Winning a SeaAir blogger contest, James finally found himself in the shores of Batanes, and he wasn’t disappointed to find her as beautiful as he thought she would be. “Ichaddaw ku imu” (I love you), he told her, and vowed to be back in her embrace again someday, never mind her rocky feel and salty taste!
Like James, Doi of Travelling Feet vows to go back to her most romantic place. In her Calle Crisologo: Fond Memories of You, she remembers her hurried encounter with this charming street in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Although filled with regrets at the lack of time she spent there, Doi promises to let the town’s heritage engulf her the next time she comes back.
Bridgette of Pinay Wandergirl, in her entry the Most romantic place is the place where I’ve moved on, reflects on the similarities of love and traveling. Both can make one feel excited and sleepless, but as she said, “unlike travel, some love affairs do not always end well.” Heartbroken at the end of a love affair, she went back alone to Iloilo, and there she found her redemption. They might be over as a couple, but her love affair with traveling alone has just begun.
RV sees traveling and love go hand in hand too. In his Love, Sex, and Travel, he mentions examples of strangers falling in love at first sight. However, his post highlights the poems he wrote in Apo Island, creative works of art which drew forth images of a passionate love affair reduced to unopened letters and untold love stories.
Providing a comic relief to the understandably mushy entries for this month’s blog carnival, is Cedric of GalaPinoy’s heartfelt lament. Why, he asks, does Love Always Find This Insanely Good-Looking Traveler? In Bantayan Island, Cebu, he had a hard time fending off the attentions of a pedicab driver and a young boy, proving beyond doubt the difficulties one could have for being handsome!
These 15 entries are truly wonderful glimpses of how beautiful the Philippines could be. How about you? What is the most romantic place in the Philippines for you?
Aleah Taboclaon is a freelance writer and editor. She likes running (completed one marathon, training for the next!), diving (PADI open water diver), and traveling with her Kindle. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. You can also email her; she would love to hear from you! Share and Enjoy
Wow, congratulations girl, saludo sa pagpupuyat para sa blog carnival
lakwatsera de primera recently posted..5 Amazing Things About The Whitsundays
Great work, Aleah! This is so far my favorite PTB theme. I simply hope my future special someone gets to read this haha
Belated Happy VDAY to all!
nice and neatly done aleah! now you now how hard it is to host a blog carnival. sino kayang susunod?
ka-inlove ng mga post!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Karla Natasha Stride and Marky Ramone Go, james betia. james betia said: must read this love month! RT @ALEAHphils: The Most Romantic Places in the #Philippines! http://tinyurl.com/6cflbe9 #travel #helpDOT #LP [...]
Great compilation Aleah, nice job with hosting this month’s Blog Carnival…
Marky recently posted..Pyrolympics at the Mall of Asia
Congrats to Aleah for a very wondrous compilation of entries. You guys inspired us as newbies in profession.:-).
Bonzenti [Con Tour Blog] recently posted..Unexpected A Pre-Valentine Experience
good job aleah! now, let’s paint the blogosphere red.
RV Escatron recently posted..Egypt inside my head
brilliant!! hahaha. now i undertand the blog carnival haha
Marco recently posted..Who said Kids can only do FIELD TRIPS Philippine Eagle Foundation- Davao City
@Claire: Mahirap talaga pala mag host ng blog carnival. Wait till you try it hehe
Mica, we all wish that hehe. Syempre pag about love maganda talaga! ^_^
@James: Nakaka-kilig kamo ang picture nyo ni Batanes kissing! hehehe. Salty and rocky ano? LOL
@Marky: You used great pics too. Thanks!
@Bon: Participate in next month’s blog carnival. It can be fun
Thanks RV! It wouldn’t be good without all your entries! Ang gagaling! Inspired kasi.
@Marco: You haven’t joined one yet? Join ka na. It’s fun!!
Kudos to everyone who participated! All the entries are exceptional and each has a unique take on the theme.
@AJ: I think everyone was inspired. It does show in their entries
Very nicely put together in one post. Amazing job! Well done! Now, I’m going to visit those mentioned here. Hehehehe!
Sayang, di mo nabasa ang EPOL post ko. Waterfalls yun sa suburban Davao kung Saan the coined it as Everlasting Power Of Love (E.P.O.L) kasi maraming couple nauuwing magkapakasal duon.
Thank you, Jorie. What’s your most romantic place?
@ Olan: Sayang nga. I haven’t heard of that waterfalls before. The pics look really nice. Maybe I can visit that the next time I’m in Davao. What is its “real” name? Or is it really known to all as EPOL?
Very nice compilation
Let love linger even if it’s not Valentine’s day.
[...] *** This is my official entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival under the ‘Most Romantic Place in the Philippines’ hosted by Aleah of Solitary [...]
Thanks Nel. Valentine’s Day should be everyday, not just one day in the year!
[...] is my entry to Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival themed Most Romantic Place which is hosted by Aleah of Solitary Wanderer. Click on the Blog Carnival Logo on the left to see [...]
Great job Aleah! it is an easy read to have compilation such as this. Thanks for your time and patience1 Now I know what this PTB blog carnival is.I hope I can join one in the future. The problem really with me is that I can’t write about something because I have to. My blog entries are just about something that comes to mind when I get bored with drafting and reviewing contracts hehehe. So it is not as intellectually nor artistically written if compared with what you guys can write!
[...] is in response to the Most Romantic Places in the Philippines theme of Pinoy Travel Blog Carnival as compiled by Aleah of Solitary Wanderer. For information on [...]
@Mhe-Anne, joining a blog carnival can be fun. It’s monthly naman so you can prepare for it
Aleah recently posted..Day Trips from Manila – The Adventure Challenge in Corregidor Island
Hello Everyone!
Philippines is such a wonderful place to visit because of its natural and well-preserved spots. The photographer is also appreciated because as I was looking to it I feel like I’ve been to that beautiful place. I wish I can spend my next Valentine’s day here with my labbydoods!
Cloudy9 recently posted..How To Tell If a Guy Is Single
@ Cloudy9: Yes, there are so many beautiful places in the Philippines, perfect not only for Valentine’s but for other holidays as well!
Aleah recently posted..Danakit Cave- Spelunking in Tandag- Surigao del Sur
I love your blog!! I dreamed of getting a marriage proposal in Batanes. HAHA!
Shareee.
Wow ang ganda, kaka-in love! <3
wow!Tnx! Its very informative and really lovely places. Sorry for me, my motorcycle can’t reach those places.Southern Tagalog region is my playground.
wow! nice blog
Thank you for sharing your very informative blog to us.
This is a great find with an interesting twist of telling everyone to try and prove that these places in the Philippines are indeed worthy to be called most romantic. In my opinion, Batanes will always be on the top 3 of anyone’s list. All the best in your blog. Cheers!
- Phoenix Pathfinder
Philippines really a blessed country when it comes to beautiful tourist spots. We are very grateful that we have this.
travelph recently posted..Philippine Discounted Accommodation: What You Need to Check
i love it so much!!!more power!!!
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