Every corner of Miss Bibimbap felt like a hand-drawn dream. The chairs, tables, walls, even the picture frames were all painted in striking monochrome outlines, giving the illusion that I had stepped into a two-dimensional sketch. It was playful and surreal, the kind of place where you can’t resist taking photos because it blurs the line between reality and art. The design was clever and cohesive, whimsical but not overdone, immersive but relaxing.
Category: Wandering
Hotel Alejandro Tacloban
Built in 1932 as the ancestral house of Dr. and Mrs. Alejandro Montejo, Hotel Alejandro in Tacloban once stood witness to the turbulence of World War II. During the Japanese occupation and the liberation of Leyte, its rooms were filled not with guests, but with officers and soldiers, strategies and uncertainties. To this day, that sense of history lingers, gracefully preserved in the hotel’s polished wood, framed photos, and timeless air.
Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño in Tacloban
The Archdiocesan Shrine of the Santo Niño in Tacloban traces its beginnings to 1770, when it was founded by the Augustinian missionaries. On June 30, 1889, the image of the Santo Niño, once believed to be lost at sea, mysteriously arrived at the Port of Tacloban. The timing of this miraculous return coincided with the sudden end of the epidemic, which the people gratefully attributed to divine intervention. From that day on, the Santo Niño was venerated as the city’s patron, and Tacloban’s annual Sto. Niño Fiesta has continued to celebrate this miracle with heartfelt devotion and vibrant cultural expression.
Rainbow Mosque of Zamboanga City
Repainted sometime after the Marawi Siege in 2017, the Rainbow Mosque stands as a living tribute to the fallen heroes who fought for peace in Mindanao. The decision to cloak its walls in radiant hues was not merely aesthetic, it was deeply symbolic, a visual prayer for harmony and coexistence in a region long shaped by diversity. The mosque’s vibrant palette, visible even from a distance, has turned it into a cultural landmark, an emblem of hope shining brightly for both locals and travelers.
Nuestra Señora del Pilar Shrine in Zamboanga City
Standing proudly within the historic walls of Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City is the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Shrine, one of the most revered Marian pilgrimage sites in Mindanao. Facing the sea and open to the sky, the shrine is both a spiritual sanctuary and a living symbol of the city’s deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, known locally as Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, the patroness and protectress of Zamboanga.
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Zamboanga City
The Zamboanga City Cathedral, now standing along La Purisima Street, was originally situated at the front of Plaza Pershing, where the present Universidad de Zamboanga is located. Built in 1870, the first cathedral was made of wood and concrete, featuring a main altar dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, flanked by statues of Jesuit saints Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier. When the Diocese of Zamboanga was established in 1910, the church was formally elevated to the status of a cathedral.
Plaza Cuartel
In December 1944, something tragic happened in Plaza Cuartel. More than a hundred American prisoners of war were locked in an underground tunnel inside the fort. The Japanese soldiers poured gasoline into the area and set it on fire. Only eleven men managed to escape by jumping into the sea and swimming all the way to Iwahig.
Saint Ezequiél Moreno and the Puerto Princesa Cathedral
In the heart of Palawan’s capital stands the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. But beyond its pointed arches and Neo-Gothic towers lies a deeper story—one rooted in missionary zeal, colonial history, and the unwavering devotion of a man who would one day be canonized a saint: Fray Ezequiél Moreno.
Vietnamese Refugee Village in Palawan
Tucked away in Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, lies a place that tells a story beyond the turquoise waters and limestone cliffs that Palawan is known for. Viet Ville, or the Vietnamese Refugee Village, is a quiet community built in the late 1970s as a haven for thousands of Vietnamese “boat people” who fled their country after the Vietnam War. Palawan became their sanctuary, and with the support of the Philippine government, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Catholic Church, the settlement thrived as a temporary home until the refugees could be resettled in other parts of the world.
Macau Giant Panda Pavilion
In the quiet, green area of Coloane, the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion offers visitors a simple and peaceful place to see animals up close. Located within Seac Pai Van Park, the pavilion is part of a larger nature park that houses various animal species, including gibbons, flamingos, monkeys, and, of course, the famous giant pandas.
Ruins of St. Paul’s in Macau
One of Macau’s most iconic landmarks, the Ruins of St. Paul’s, stands as a symbol of the city’s rich blend of Portuguese and Chinese heritage. Located at the top of a small hill near Senado Square, the stone façade of the former 17th-century church is one of the most visited and photographed sites in Macau, often regarded as the face of the city.
Tai O Fishing Village
Tai O is one of the few remaining traditional fishing villages in the region. It’s famous for its stilt houses—simple wooden homes built over the water, where generations of Tanka fisherfolk have lived.
Amoj In Wanderland 