Author: Mika Santos

Mika Santos is a Manila-based travel and lifestyle writer who believes the best adventures begin with curiosity and a packed backpack. From hidden waterfalls in Mindoro to art cafés in Kyoto, she writes about meaningful journeys that connect culture, food, and community. When she’s not exploring, Mika curates the Wander Local column for Bakasyon.ph — inspiring Filipinos to travel smarter, deeper, and more sustainably.

Sunrise over Maligcong Rice Terraces during Bontoc highlands travel

Bontoc is more than a stop between Sagada and Banaue. It’s a highland capital where roads cling to ridges, fog curls around pine trees, and quiet villages weave their stories into cloth. This guide walks you through cool mornings in Maligcong, cliffside drives along Halsema, and respectful encounters with Bontoc culture so you can plan your own slow, grounded escape.

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Glamping and Nature Stays in the Philippines: Comfort Without Losing the Magic

You don’t need to suffer on a thin banig in the rain just to feel close to nature. From tents in Rizal to domes in Zambales and cabins in Bohol, this guide explores glamping in the Philippines as a softer, cozier way to sleep under the stars—without losing the magic of waves, wind, rain, and real connection with the places and communities that host you.

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Filipino dessert journeys kakanin and halo-halo spread by the sea

A tall glass of halo-halo in Manila, a bilao of kakanin on a Visayan ferry, a sticky slice of biko in a Mindanao barrio fiesta—Filipino dessert journeys are really about the people, places, and memories behind every bite. This food and culture guide takes you across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao through native delicacies, street food desserts, and sweet rituals that shape everyday life.

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Camping in the Philippines: Beginner-Friendly Spots and Simple Gear Tips

Curious about camping in the Philippines but scared of heat, bugs, or getting caught in the rain? This warm, practical guide walks you through how it really feels from sunset to sunrise, shares beginner-friendly camping spots in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and breaks down simple tropical-ready gear, safety basics, and easy weekend itineraries so you can sleep under the stars with confidence.

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Car parked by Aguinaldo Shrine at the start of a Cavite heritage road trip

Just beyond Metro Manila’s traffic lights and toll gates, Cavite unfolds as a patchwork of independence shrines, old stone churches, garden cafés, and coffee farms. This Cavite heritage road trip follows a relaxed loop from Manila through Kawit, Silang, and Amadeo—mixing history, food stops, and cool upland air into one driveable story you can do in a long day or slow overnight. Think balcony where the flag was first raised, quiet church plazas, and coffee sipped near where it was grown.

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Grandmother teaching island cooking traditions in a Filipino coastal kitchen

In the Philippines, many of the most beloved dishes never lived in formal cookbooks. They live instead in island cooking traditions: pots stirred by memory, recipes measured in “tansya lang,” and coastal kitchens where grandparents teach the next generation how to coax flavor from coconut, fish, rice, and fire. This guide invites you into those kitchens—across Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and in between—to listen, taste, and learn how Filipino heirloom recipes carry family stories from one island shoreline to the next.

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Raft navigating rapids during CDO river adventures

Cagayan de Oro is known as the whitewater rafting capital of the Philippines—but CDO river adventures are about more than just big splashes. This long-form guide walks you through the river’s routes and seasons, beginner-friendly courses, how a rafting day unfolds, life along the river, trails and viewpoints nearby, and practical tips for safe, sustainable fun—whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a nervous first-timer.

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Coastal merienda stories scene with snacks and families by the sea

In the Philippines, merienda is more than just a snack—it’s a pause, a shared breath in the middle of the day. Along the shore, it becomes something deeper: coastal merienda stories of fishermen coming home, kakanin on banana leaves, coffee and pandesal facing the sea, and small rituals of rest, gratitude, and community. This warm, reflective guide invites you to sit on the seawall, taste classic seaside snacks, listen to local voices, and join merienda by the ocean gently and sustainably.

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