I used to backpack, tibak style during my college days and the whole while I was with the College Editors Guild of the Philippines. The CEGP generously provided travel opportunities to all of us full-time national officers and we enjoyed every chance we got.

Sadly, there were still no regular and affordable internet access at the time, digicams were still very expensive and still no blogs and other sites such as Flickr or Multiply to capture and preserve all the fabulous events I’ve gone to. The period was 1994 to 2000.

I’ve been to lots of local places and thanks to Guilders from all over, we were treated to the sights and sounds of our country’s many islands and provinces. Many places left indelible marks on my mind: Tabuk in Kalinga, New Washington in Aklan, Samal Island in Davao, Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, Vigan in Ilocos Sur, and plenty of other places.

For a complete list of provinces I’ve visited, see this previous post. I got a respectable B- rating from Lakbayan and I really encourage you to do so, if only to find up how much of the country you still need to discover.

My last out-of-town trip was last 2006, which took me and my officemates to the Hundred Islands for a much-deserved rest and recreation. Here are some photos:

Which brings me to the blog Ivan About Town which I envy 100 percent, and whose author I wish to know badly.

The blog author describes himself thus:

Ivan is a travel freak, frustrated historian and heritage activist. A member of the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Conservation Society, he is a feisty advocate for the preservation of Philippine architectural heritage. The heritage conservation and cultural revival program he spearheaded in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga was among the Top Ten Best Practices of the League of Cities of the Philippines and a Trailblazing Project of the Gawad Galing Pook in 2004.

Ivan About Town is about his travels across the country, complete with photos and stories. He is undeniably an activist, one who champions our national heritage and invites Filipinos to find out why our country gives many foreigners a nagging urge to own us. Such model activism truly inspires.