What is ordinary for some is extraordinary for others. This is a story of how something ordinary was turned by its community into something extraordinary. For the resident community that lives its daily lives in any Philippine city, one sees the surroundings as ordinary stuff one sees day in and day out. Because of familiarity, many fail to see the elements—geography, nature, streets and plazas, architecture—that make their city different, that make their city stand out, that make their city unique.
Visit the great Baroque churches of the Philippines; Daniel Esparza; Aleteia

Philippines – Baroque Churches of the Philippines
Spanish colonists arrived in the Philippines in the 16th century with two main goals: getting a slice of the Pacific spice trade mainly dominated by the Portuguese, and spreading Catholicism both in the Philippines and China.
Stairway To Heaven: Top 10 Things To Do In Banaue, Ifugao; Liezl; Trip101
This article recommends the top 10 things to do in Banaue, guaranteed to give you a better glimpse of the rich Ifugao culture who built the majestic rice terraces.
New Frontiers: Why Batad and Hungduan are Worth Your Time and Effort; Ria Gamboa; WindowSeat
Batad and Hungduan may not be the name on everybody’s lips when it comes to Northern adventures, but they are proof that there is always merit in trying something new.
Our big surprise in Tubbataha—diving with Destiny; Alya H Honasan; Inquirer Lifestyle
It was a quintessential Tubbataha dive—volatile currents, tons of fish, and a big surprise.
Source: Our big surprise in Tubbataha—diving with Destiny | Inquirer Lifestyle
Exploring Unesco world heritage site Mt Hamiguitan and its new natural science museum; Louie Lapat; Rappler
A new interactive facility, Mt. Hamiguitan Natural Science Museum, showcases the wonders of this beautiful Unesco world heritage site…
Source: Exploring Unesco world heritage site Mt Hamiguitan and its new natural science museum
Vibrant Vigan; Pinay Solo Backpacker
Vigan has always had a bevy of things to attract tourists. This pulsating city is the capital of Ilocos Sur, and one of the few existing age-old historic cities in the Philippines. Be dazzled by the affluence of this metropolis brimming with kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) and ancestral houses stirred by Spanish and Chinese architectural flair.
Source: Vibrant Vigan
That morning in Tubbataha; Jose Ma Lorenzo Tan; Rappler
Tubbataha Reef celebrated its 25th anniversary as a Marine Protected Area last August 11…
Source: That morning in Tubbataha
The Jewel of the Coral Triangle; WWF
25 years after Tubbataha was awarded World Heritage Status by UNESCO, the site stands as a stunning example of how a marine protected area can handle illegal fishing, funding shortfalls and other challenges — and inspire others.
Source: The Jewel of the Coral Triangle