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.
On Bakasyon.ph, Mika focuses on practical trip planning: realistic itineraries, transport choices, weather-aware backup plans, food and culture, and calmer ways to explore the Philippines and nearby destinations.
Editorial approach: Bakasyon.ph guides may combine firsthand observations contributed from family travel with independent research from official tourism, transport, weather, and local sources. The byline identifies the site author and editorial voice; it does not imply that every observation on every page came from one person. Time-sensitive details such as fares, schedules, fees, and operating rules should always be checked close to travel.
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.
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.
Some of the most meaningful travel moments don’t happen at famous landmarks, but in quiet jeepney rides, sari-sari store chats, and shared cups of kape with strangers who suddenly feel like friends.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hundred Islands National Park is often seen as a busy playground of zip lines and banana boats—but it can also be one of Luzon’s most peaceful getaways. This guide to Hundred Islands escapes focuses on quieter islands, unhurried swims, boatmen insights, sustainable island etiquette, and soft day and overnight itineraries so you can savor the park at a calmer, more human pace.
From ferries in Bohol to backstreets in Manila, the right travel tech Philippines kit can turn chaos into calm. This long-form guide walks you through essential gadgets, apps, SIM and eSIM tips, pocket WiFi choices, digital wallets, drones, and tech safety and sustainability habits—so you can move confidently across the islands with just the right amount of gear.
Standing in front of Mayon on a clear day feels like stepping into a living postcard. This Bicol travel guide walks you through the best Albay volcano views, from classic Cagsawa Ruins to tranquil Sumlang Lake and wide open horizons at Quituinan Hills—complete with timing tips, fees, routes, and a 2-day itinerary.