One of the reasons I can write so many things about this country is that I actually have been fortunate and privileged enough to travel far and wide and be where a few have gone before.
My travel privilege came when I was a sales and marketing executive at a petroleum company where part of my job was to visit prospective and actual gas station sites in my assigned territory.
And because the job required territory rotation, my 18 years in the company accorded me the experience of immersing myself in our archipelago, particularly my assignment in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces), MIMAROPA (Mindoro Oriental & Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) and the entire BICOL REGION (Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Catanduanes).
In these three regions, I have been end-to-end, going to such places as San Jose to Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro; El Nido to Bataraza in mainland Palawan; Calapan to Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro; Boac to Buenavista in Marinduque; San Pedro to Sta. Maria in Laguna; Bacoor to Mendez in Cavite; Tanauan to Nasugbu in Batangas; Angono to Jala-jala in Rizal; Tiaong to Gumaca and the Bundok Peninsula in Quezon, plus the separate area of Real, Infanta, Gen. Nakar and Polilio island; Daet to Capalonga in CamNorte; Del Gallego to Caramoan in CamSur; Polangui to Manito in Albay; Donsol to Matnog in Sorsogon; and Virac to Pandan in Catanduanes.
Aside from the entirety of Southern Luzon and Bicol, I also had a chance to visit parts of Northern Luzon (Regions 1 to 3).
As far as Metro Manila is concerned, I can probably pass myself off as a Grab or taxi driver. Mention the place to me and I will have no problem navigating the streets of the metro to your destination.
This tinge of a nostalgic journey down the proverbial memory lane of my local travels was actually triggered by the recent news in Sibuyan in Romblon, which is really an island and a long-haul marine voyage is necessary if you wanna visit the place.
Sibuyan is now gripped with tension as it appears that mining activities have been allowed, which the island community has long opposed.
This issue will have to be taken up in a separate column, but for now, I hope that the activism of the Sibuyan community would be stronger than ever, to ensure that the Galapagos of Asia retains its virginal charm and allure.
I know that there are not many who are aware of Sibuyan and where is it even located on the map.
And I am one of the lucky ones who have personally seen its pristine state.
Which I hope to see once more, with feelings!
Mark my word.