The journey began as I and several friends arrived and converged at Manila Airport. Our shuttle van waited to fetch us, ready to set off for Bambang - site of a special gathering for a poetry circle we would be attending. It was, indeed, a tedious long land journey. However, the enjoyable company of my friends and the vibrant view outside the car window somehow comforted me during the ongoing long hours of travel. I noticed ourselves getting … [Read more...]
About Junfil Olarte
http://www.travelwritersjourney.webs.com
Junfil Olarte is a travel writer, author and musician who started documenting his journeys in early 2004. He is also a freelance editor for poetry books working with several authors from different countries in the world.
Joined Dave's Travel Corner in 2008 as a travel writer for the Philippine Islands, Junfil is a member of the International Travel Writers Alliance, the world's largest association of professional travel writers, editors, broadcasters and photographers. Junfil believes the significance of travel as one of the best medicines that heal many pressures in life and is passionate to making friends of different colors, tongues, and cultures.
He is much into experiential travel with primary interests in historical and cultural topics, outdoor traveling, nature, including food and wine and has gone press trips with Dave's Travel Corner.
For press trip or media visit proposals contact author at Dave's Travel Corner.
Jose Rizal in Calamba
Co-Authors: Junfil Olarte, Mark Alexander Farrell Calamba in the province of Laguna is one of the most historic places in the Philippines mainly because it serves as the home and birthplace of Jose Rizal, the 19th-century Filipino nationalist and polymath and the national hero of the Philippines. The spirit of his martyrdom and patriotism still lives to this very day ever since at the tail end of the Spanish colonial period in the country. … [Read more...]
A Glimpse Of Davao City
This busy metropolis on the southeastern island of Mindanao is one of the world’s largest cities in terms of land area. Since the 1970s when the city gained the earmark of being the “killing fields” of the Philippines —a “murder city”— Davao has dramatically transformed. But since 1988 it has become the safest city in the country and one of the most livable cities in Asia. Famous as the home turf of once legendary mayor (and now Philippine … [Read more...]
Cliff Diving In Panglao
The island of Panglao is among the most important destinations to see in the Philippines. It is well known for its white powdery sand and clear waters. Specifically located in the north Bohol Sea, in the Central Visayas region, South-Central Philippines, Panglao Island is famous for its diving spots and is routinely listed as one of top ten diving locations in the world. A number of resorts also dot the southern beaches in this island. It … [Read more...]
The Highlands of Bukidnon
The 7,000+ islands in the Philippines have a colorful history painted through the varied cultures of their inhabitants and at times, dramatic history. But the country's unique setting, perhaps, reveals a more interesting story for outdoor travelers. This is especially true for the southern parts of the country including Mindanao, which is home of Bukidnon province. Its topography features an extensive plateau, however its southern and eastern … [Read more...]
Marriage, Bloodline and Leisure in Bohol
To be in the shoes of a wanderer is to fully experience life and to ponder our own existence. However some places carve out a special place in your heart - places you must return to again. There is a mystery of why this 'pull of attraction' exists within yourself and no amount of restraint can stop you from revisiting. For me, Bohol in the Philippines is that place. It has been exactly four years now since I visited Bohol, its capital … [Read more...]
The Old House in Silay
For many generations the same families have owned and preserved ancestral houses in the Philippines as part of their culture. Several houses of prominent families have become points of interest or museums in their communities because of their historical, cultural or architectural worth. Some of these houses, too, have become endangered because of negligent businesses that have no interests in preserving them. I find “preservation” of these homes … [Read more...]
Corregidor: A Legacy Of War
Roiling thuds from warship mortars, swishing sounds from fighter planes, the wailing and myriad of death probably depicts the actual scene of the blood-spattered battle in the summer of 1942. All of it reverberates in my mind while my passenger ship passes through the waters of Corregidor. Taking a quick video of the battle site, I can imagine how frightening it was: below a pale grey sky, a huge black smoke perhaps darkened overhead, old … [Read more...]
A Totally Different Light Over Manila
Docking at the wharf of Manila reminds me of my first arrival in the city many years ago: the first of many arrivals I have experienced in the Philippine capital. A sunny climate greets me. The sunlight is intense yet reflecting so vibrantly upon the waters of Manila Bay. Over the years, there have been critics moaning about the city - mentioning its smog and chaotic traffic, its crimes, not to mention the voluminous homes (if such can be called … [Read more...]
Revisiting Dapitan: A Hero’s Retreat
Dapitan became famous after the Filipino hero Jose Rizal arrived on its shores more than one hundred years ago. Jose Rizal's colorful exile in this place from 1892 to 1896 has had a very significant role in Dapitan's history making it the ultimate "Shrine City of the Philippines". Perhaps, Rizal is Dapitan and Dapitan itself is eternally tied to Rizal. Without him, this place would never be known the world over and never become one of the most … [Read more...]