The Backpack Adventures

Located at Barangay Banaoang, Santa, in the province of Ilocos Sur, Quirino Bridge is a 456-meter arch bridge that connects the towns of Santa and Bantay.  Quirino Bridge Quirino Bridge History Also referred to as  Banaoang   Bridge , Quirino Bridge is named in honor of the late 6th president of the Philippines, Elpidio Quirino. The bridge is an iconic symbol of Ilocos Sur and has been shown as a backdrop to some local films particularly those of the late Filipino movie icon, Fernando Poe Jr. Update Quirino Bridge was heavily damaged by floods caused by Typhoon Egan last July 2023.  Quirino Bridge - Santa, Ilocos Sur As seen from the northern end of Quirino Bridge Crossing the Quirino Bridge The bridge was heavily damaged by Super Typhoon Feria back in 2001 and caused great traffic as it is the only bridge that connects Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur then. Although it was fixed and restored, a new bridge was built in 2007 and opened in 2009. The new b...

A Letter to 2017 Thank you for the 365 days that we've shared together. It was really a memorable one. However, just so you know, you've left me with mixed emotions as there was plenty of happiness brought by achievements of my blog The Backpack Adventures but there was also deep grief brought by the passing of several loved ones. Let's look back at those achievements and see what milestones we've crossed and achieved this year. 1. This year, there were 84 published articles. That's 14 more than that of 2016. 2. I have reached my first 1 million views. 3. Several articles and photographs were published in several magazines. 4. For the first time in my life, I was interviewed in a radio program regarding travel tips. 5. I got to travel to 2 new countries and several new destinations in the Philippines this year. Speaking of travels, here are the highlights of my travels for each month last year: January Taal , Batangas Heritage Tour Febr...

Located beside Calle Marcela Marino Agoncillo in the town of Taal in Batangas, Marcela Agoncillo Museum is the ancestral house of the principal seamstress of the first Philippine Flag. Marcela Agoncillo Museum Marcela Agoncillo Museum History The  Marcela Agoncillo Museum  / ancestral house is a  bahay na bato  built sometime around the 1780s and is one of the oldest houses in Taal . The house was built by Dona Marcela's grandfather, Don Andres Marino . Dona Marcela inherited the house after the death of her grandfather and she chose to live in the house even after being married in 1889 to Felipe Agoncillo who would later on become known as the "First Filipino Diplomat". Marcela Agoncillo Museum / Heritage House - Taal, Batangas The historical marker of Dona Marcela Marcela Agoncillo statue found outside her house Read: The Republic Act 8491 contents Museo nina Marcela Marino at Felipe Agoncillo The ownership of the house was then passed on to the ...