Author: dakilanglaagan

Hello there! I am Marjorie and welcome to my backpack reflections. Dakilanglaagan contains my thoughts and sentiments about traveling, hiking, and adulting. I'm not really a superb writer, but I write nonetheless. Life is too short to be consumed by other people's comments. Let's pursue what keeps us sane.
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How to Get Rid of Those Blood-Sucking Limatiks?

Limatiks are scary. Just thinking about those creepy, blood-sucking mountain leeches already brings goosebumps into my system. Back when seasoned mountaineers share their encounters of these parasitic creatures, I would often wonder how in the world they survived such bloody attacks. So when finally I got a chance to hike mountains that are heavily infested with limatiks, I realized how traumatic the stigma we have placed upon those leeches that are just are thriving for survival.

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Mt. Kanlaon - Highest Mountain in the Visayas

ALERT: Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

The Philippines is home to approximately 300 volcanoes, with 24 categorized as active. According to PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology), this high volcanic activity is attributed to the country’s location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate converge. The interaction of these tectonic plates results in subduction beneath the Philippine archipelago, creating deep trenches along its east and west seaboards.

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How to get to Mantayupan Falls

I cried in transit to Mantayupan Falls

How to survive Quarter Life Crisis. I laughed out loud upon reading the title of the book my colleague was seriously reading that afternoon. I was twenty-two back then and had known very little of what was about to happen in my life. But instead of getting offended, she shared how helpful the book was; then she added: You’ll never know when you’ll need one.

I wished I listened to her. I wished I had read that book in advance – because right now, I really need one.

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How to get to Mantayupan Falls

No More Yearend Adventures

What will you do if you are given two weeks of paid vacation? Where will you go? Back when I started traveling, this has always been my favorite time of the year – a time to explore uncharted places, try new dishes, meet new friends, tick off activities from the bucket list, discover oneself, and so on. It is a time that I always look forward for. The experiences and stories were one for the books. And the encounters forged lasted even more because of the shared adventures.

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Photowalk around Fort Santiago

I’m NOT coming back to Manila

I’ve never thought of Manila as a destination. It has always been a stopover; a gateway; a bridge that links to all the wonderful places around the beautiful island of Luzon. Its glints and glamour may seem inviting but one could only agree that it is also a home to: as Isa Garcia says it, hot sweltering mess of angry drivers, selfie takers, Facebook trolls, political dissent, and social acrobatics with a line towed in the sand to clearly separate the haves from the have-nots. So, imagine my obvious dislike when my travel group agreed to visit Manila for the annual tour. What in the world are they thinking?! Come on, out of the 7,641 islands of the Philippines, can’t you think of any better place?