The Backpack Adventures

Planning to visit Tagaytay City soon? I have come up with a series of budget day tour itineraries that is aimed to maximize your visit to a specific place in the Philippines without having to break your bank. For today's itinerary, I'm featuring a Tagaytay by car itinerary.  Tagaytay City Day Tour Itinerary Disclaimer: 1. Transportation from your accommodation going to Tagaytay City is not included in this itinerary. 2. The accommodation budget is also not included. 3. The itineraries start at 8AM as most destinations open at 9AM. 4.  The exploration time in a place is pegged at an hour per destination. However, you may opt to cut it shorter or stay longer.  5.  It is also assumed that you are traveling light. Tagaytay City Day Tour Itinerary Tagaytay City By Car Course 8AM   Arrival at Tagaytay City .   8:15AM   Drive to Starbucks at Tagaytay-Calamba Road. Purchase coffee and something to eat for breakfast.  

Summer is the best season in the Philippines not only because you are free to roam around the country's countless beaches but also because most of the delicious Filipino foods are better eaten during this season. Halo-Halo One such food is the popular Filipino dessert -the Halo-Halo . Derived from the Filipino word halo which means " to mix ". Basic Halo-halo Halo-halo in buko  The halo-halo is a mixture of shaved ice, various boiled sweet beans, and fruits. It is served in a tall glass or bowl topped with evaporated milk and finally a scoop of ice cream, leche flan , or ube. Team Nicerio's do it yourself Halo-Halo The ingredients of the halo-halo vary depending on availability or location. The essential ingredients that are irreplaceable in the halo-halo are the shaved ice, sugar, gulaman, and fresh/evaporated milk. Common Ingredients for Halo-Halo:* Shaved ice Red Gulaman Home-made Leche Flan Ube (Purple Yam) Nata de Coco sugar gulaman leche flan

It was a decade ago when I first visited Taal Basilica . Since then, I have revisited it several times during pilgrimages and school field trips. I got to recently revisit Taal Basilica during my Cuenca - Taal Road Trip 2021 with my wife and daughter.  Taal Basilica Revisited 2021 Taal Basilica History For those who are unfamiliar with Taal Basilica , here's a brief history of the basilica for you guys. Also known as the  Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours , Taal Basilica was built in 1575. It was named after the town's patron saint - St. Martin of Tours.  Taal Basilica stands around 148 feet high and 315 feet wide making it the biggest Catholic Church in Asia. Taal Basilica - Taal, Batangas It witnessed numerous eruptions of Taal Volcano and was also damaged several times by the earthquakes that caused these eruptions. It also stood as a silent witness to the town's historical events like the end of Spanish Colonization, the Philippine Revolution, the American occupat

Located in Barangay Poblacion 3, Cuenca in the province of Batangas, Cuenca Church is a Spanish Colonial Era Catholic Church found in the heart of the town.  Cuenca Church Cuenca Church History Formally called San Isidro Parish Church ( St. Isidore Parish Church ), Cuenca Church was established in 1879, the same year the town of Cuenca was founded.  Cuenca Church has elements of Gothic architectural style which is evident in its arches and buttresses and arches. Cuenca Church - Cuenca, Batangas A convent was also built sometime in the same year under the supervision of Fr. Guillermo Diez. The convent doubles as a parochial should where the young people of Cuenca learn catechism, reading, writing, and basic arithmetic.  The convent was enlarged in 1898 under the supervision of Fr. Dionisio Ibanez. It was also during his time when the corridors and cemetery were added to the church convent.  Welcome to Cuenca Church Cuenca Church - Cuenca, Batangas Cuenca Church facade Cuenca Chu