The Girl Behind the Pen

I thought it would only remain a dream until June of this year, I found myself setting my feet on the solid grounds of Batanes.

Before going to Batanes, I've always thought why "Breathtaking Batanes" appears on geo tags on Instagram. I wondered if there's such place, but there's none.

When I saw Batanes, I finally understood why it's called "Breathtaking Batanes." Its vast greenery, hills, stunning sunset views everywhere, and crashing waves from the ocean surely take one's breath away.

Racuh A Payaman which many refer to as Marlboro Country is something I'd never forget. Once up there, there's an unexplainable pleasure you'll get that only nature can give. I've gone there twice, yet same feelings arose.

At Racuh A Payaman, you'll get a view of the Mt. Iraya, Diura Beach, Tayid Lighthouse and the Pacific Ocean.

I also noticed, there are no huge establishments, fast-food restaurants or malls in the province. Most of the houses and buildings are small. From my research, there were lesser structures back then than now. Some structures stand in the way, blocking views, but not tall enough to block the hills and clouds like in Manila.

Traffic is nonexistent here. The primary mode of transportation in Batanes is motorcycle or tricycle. If you know how to drive a motorcycle, it's better to rent one because it's cheaper than tricycles or vans. 

Another iconic sign of Batanes is the lighthouse. They never run out of lighthouses. Some that I saw are the Basco Lighthouse, Sabtang Lighthouse, and Tayid Lighthouse. To me, the most beautiful is the latter.


The Honesty Shop is also a must-visit for the tourists. It's the famous coffee shop in the province where no one mans the store. Customers can buy food and souvenirs there and put the payment on the counter. What surprised me was there's a kubo and hammocks down the shop and in front of it is a serene view of the beach.

Although Batanes is not known for palm trees and beaches, they too, have beautiful beaches to boast of. One is the Morong Beach in Sabtang where you'll also find the Nakabuang Arch. The sand there is finer than other beaches in the province.


Add also to your list the Valugan Boulder Beach. Taking it from its name, the beach is full of boulders and less sand.

I'd also have to say that Batanes is very clean. Labeled trash cans are everywhere, locals' backyards are neat. I almost bowed to Batanes government for keeping the province incredibly clean, until I saw plastic wrappers lying on the sand and one floating on Blue Lagoon. But, these are not as worse as Manila Bay's trash. 

Of course, no Batanes trip is complete without visiting the stone houses. Good thing the traditional Ivatan houses made of stones and cogon still exist. You can see more in Sabtang and only few in Basco, the province's capital.

I live in a small town dubbed as the place where everybody knows everybody. Same goes in Batanes. It's the smallest province in the Philippines after all so it's not impossible to know everyone. My relatives said, Ivatans are some of the nicest people in the country. And they're right. 

I was told to greet the elderlies even if I don't know them, to show respect. Because this was something I'm not used to do, it was awkward for me but I had to so I did. Ivatans greet everyone by honking, waving and simply smiling to one another.

Words aren't enough how happy I was visiting Batanes because even for a short period of time, I was away from the urban mess and the pressures of modern life.

Through the eyes of a first-timer, Batanes is undeniably fascinating and worthy to come back for.

But on Get Name Necklace, you don't have to worry anymore. They are a jewelry manufacturer that offers fashionable yet affordable accessories. These include name necklaces, monogram choker necklaces and family pendants that have good quality without hurting your pocket.

You can buy necklaces with your photos and infinity pendants as well on get name necklace.

But if a plain infinity necklace is boring for you and you want to amp up your fashion game, the Birthstones Infinity Love Necklace is the answer. You can put a name and birthstone of you and your loved one on the pendant. Discretely declare your infinite love for your significant other with this necklace.

If you want a simple and classy necklace, they also have the basic custom-made infinity name necklace in sterling silver. You can get up to two words on each loop of the infinity symbol, there are also diamonds on the central part of loop that makes the necklace more sophisticated. This is the perfect personalized infinity necklace to wear. This is perfect for your everyday wear, an office meeting and a date night. You can check out this product 841 to fit your needs.

And for a Christian who wants to declare faith through fashion, this infinity and heart cross necklace is perfect for you. Product 1026 comes in gold and silver.

I've always loved light and pastel colors but lately, I'm so into neutrals and earthy tones. Like in this case, I'm wearing colors that Mother Earth gifted us.

Top from Uniqlo | Trousers from Dresslily | Shoes from Topshop

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When choosing iPad cases, the first thing we consider of course is how it looks. It's very important that it looks good and is a plus if it's instagrammable like this pink case from FYY Case. 

Aside from looking good on the outside, one you should also consider is the material of the product. Some prefer to have a metal, plastic, or rubber cover. But others want a Genuine Leather Case for iPad Pro 11 . 

The quality should be a factor as much as the design of the case. Sure, you've got the most beautiful design iPad case but it breaks easily. I'm sure you don't want that.

Personally, when I'm buying a case, I consider the pockets it has and how much I can store in it. I love cases with many pockets because I can store everything in one place and I don't need to bring a lot of purse or bags to store all my stuff.

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If there's one place in Zambales that will give you a rich gastronomic experience, CASA San Miguel's Backstage Cafe is the best spot. I loved everything that was served to us. Their pizzas are really something! Their breakfast, one meal you shouldn't miss while you're there. 

And last but not the least, their famous carbonara. I've read so many good reviews about it so I got curious how it tastes. Lo and behold, the news is true. CASA's carbonara is one of the bests I've ever tasted. It satiates your appetite with its rich and creamy flavor which will not get you fed-up. They also have different varieties of carbonara. During our stay, we had the classic carbonara with bacon bits and carbonara with tuyo. Both pastas are mouthwatering.

Apart from building a bed and breakfast facilitiy and cafe, the owner also built a foundation. So proceeds from the cafe helps fund Coke's advocacy in helping his scholars. Since the 1990's, Coke has been helping the underprivileged kids in town to fulfill their dreams and learn about music. This is his way of giving back, thus, the birth of his program Playing it Forward.

Overall, my stay at CASA made me feel at home. The staff is very accommodating, the place is cozy, the food is great and the advocacy and story of CASA is definitely worth-sharing.

How to get to CASA San Miguel: From Manila, ride a Victory Liner bus to Iba, Zambales and alight in front of San Antonio Public Market (3-4 hours). Then take a tricycle to Casa San Miguel. 

CASA San Miguel is located at Evangelista St., Brgy. San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales.