A recent visit to Batangas province has been a rewarding experience for our small group of trekkers looking for a unique weekend just outside Metro Manila.  The Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA) made the trip possible.

The group headed south, about 80 kilometers from Manila, via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway until we reached the idyllic lakeshore town of Talisay, where flowers bloom all around.

Mount Banahaw

Another popular destination, specially during the Lent period, is Mount Banahaw, an extinct volcano which rises 2,100 meters above sea level.
 

With an altitude of 2,250 feet above sea level, Tagaytay City enjoys a cool climate all year round.

Baguio City

Rising 1,500 meters above the sea, Baguio City enjoys a relatively cool weather throughout the year. On the average, Baguio is at least eight degrees cooler than any place in the lowlands. Not surprisingly, Baguio has become the "summer capital" of the country.
 

Witness the vast expanse of nature's splendor under the spell of cool mountain breeze. A perfect setting for romance or nature tripping, the country's mountain villages serve as a perfect hideaway from the lowlands' summer heat.

By Roderick dela Cruz
It all started when our group arranged a trip to Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel, Bulacan. Biak-na-Bato is at the edge of Bulacan and is about a two-hour drive from Metro Manila. I went there without any idea of what's in store for the group. Being a Bulakeño, I thought I have already seen the best of what the province has to offer.