Lapaz, Zamboanga City

Lapaz is one of the 98 Baranggays in Zamboanga City, Philippines. It is located along the east coast of the city. This place is also know as the "Baguiao of Zamboanga" beacause the weather is colder due to its high elevation.

I've been to Lapaz recently and it is so much different now since the last time I visited. The road is paved and the many house are built. Thankfully, the trees were still alive and the fog is still within reach. However, the thought of building the paved road in this baranggay, one can conclude that it cost the lives of many trees. :( 

While we where leaving the place with a motorbike, I hastily took my smartphone when the heavens fell. I filmed the surreal atmosphere with my phone while the motorbike was speeding along the paved road. It was cold and I loved it. Too bad I left my Samsung NX200 at home. If I only had my NX200 with me, I could have taken a better quality video than the one showed below. Still, I manged to make it loo a little appealing by editing the video in Adobe Premiere Pro. I changed the color a bit, applied a colder tone. I slowed down the video for a relaxng ride. Added a surreal music to reflect the feeling I had while shooting this. (though I'm aware that music mood can be subjective)

So if you happen to visit Zamboanga City, and offered an opportunity to visit this place, please do not hesitate to say "yes". It is all worth it!

Shot with my smartphone, Cloudfone Excite Prime.

video was edited in Adobe Premiere Pro

Bunguiao, Zamboanga City Philippines

Bunguiao is one of the 98 baranggay in Zamboanga City Philippine. It is located on the east coast of Zamboanga. People here speak pure Chavacano (Philippines' Broken Spanish dialect) Bunguiao is a love place. It is a place that teaches you that a simple life would more likely bring you to happines.

I fell in love with this place. My job sent me here and this place has become my second home. This is a small 'barrio' is surrounded by forest. The air always feel fresh. The water is always cold, straight from springs and it is always free! Electric wires and posts are built but the electric company has not provided the electricity yet. So there are no TVs, internet, or any electronic entertainment. There isn't and mobile phone signal either. But people still find ways to have fun by playing cards and drinking alcohol, which is not-so-cool. 

I met many beautiful people and made friends. Life in this place is a bit harder than in the "pueblo" or downtown. Farming is the main source of money nd that is quite difficult. I hope to leave my imprint into the people in this place before I leave. 

Here are some videos I shot in this place :)

Enjoy! 

Mi Goreng Street Food in Zamboanga City Philippines

Travelling isn't only about going and exploring new places. It is also about savoring the best food that a new place has to offer. 

In Zamboanga city, one of the important things that a traveler or a city visitor should do is to indulge one's self in food. Zamboanga has so many food that can not be found anywhere else, at least in the Philippines. We have Satti, Pianggang, Daral, Pastil, Curacha and more. Most of these food are influenced by the Spaniards when we were once a colony of Spain. The Indian and Malaysian influence are also evident in these food where curry is common in some of these 'Zamboagna only' food. The indigenous Muslim Filipino tribes, (Yakan, Samal, Tausug, Maranao and more) also has their own unique taste in desserts which was further enhanced when their food where introduced in Zambonga City.  

One of the food that I really like is the Mi Goreng. I didn't know what the name meant until I googled it. It means "Fried Noodles". A simple and sensible name. The noodles is being fried in oil and mixed with their 'magic' soy sauce and served with fried egg topping.

Mi Goreng just sprouted in the streets of Zamboanga City recently. I don't remember seeing this food in the streets of my hometown few years ago. Now I'm wondering how it flourished here. Hmmm That would be interesting. 

Drool over this video and enjoy watching :) 

Shot with my Smartphone: Cloudfone Excite Prime