CEBU, Philippines - Of the 7,107 islands there are in the Philippines, the average Filipino may not even have visited seven. Anyone who has been to ten islands in the archipelago is already considered “well-travelled.” And yet, a trip to the next island, or the next after that, does not have to be hard or costly.
If one really wants to get to know his country up-close, he may choose to go backpacking around. It’s the best way to experience the day-to-day of the places to visit. It’s economical and the local peoples won’t have to put up a ‘good’ front, since the backpacker will seem to be just one of them.
With creativity and resourcefulness, it is possible to cover the Philippines on a backpacking trip. It is sure to take a good fraction of a lifetime to visit all 7,107 islands, yes – but that may not be necessary at all if the purpose is just to explore and experience the many local cultures of the national life. By identifying key points that represent the culture and other ‘treasures’ in a given region, the traveler may not have to miss out on anything significant.
Actually, it really takes some time to go around a country of so many islands. It requires very good planning to pick strategic destinations from among 1,494 municipalities and 41,995 barangays. The traveler shall also squeeze himself into crowded boats and mini-buses, even walk distances where no ride is available.
When backpacking, one shall never expect the usual comforts. Especially in exploring the nooks and crannies of the countryside, there may only be modest accommodation available, if at all. The backpacker shall be prepared to spend a night at the municipal building or barangay hall or even just under a tree.
Anyway, the backpacker is most likely to be the adventurous type, and the ‘discomforts’ may just add to the thrill. It’s the kind of travel experience that can be truly enriching – because the traveler is forced to taste the kind of life he comes upon in a place. He is likely to discover the many beautiful local truths that the tourism establishment often hides behind an artificial world-class front.
In traveling the Philippines, one will necessarily find himself in a city – even a big city – along the way. The city shall not be skipped in the itinerary. It may suddenly take on a different feel against the background of the rustic sceneries and laid-back lifestyles of the rural towns that one had just visited.
It may be necessary to do a little research in drawing one’s backpacking itinerary. The country has diverse and rich local cultures. Natural attractions abound, as well – rivers, lakes, mountains, beaches etc. The Philippines is known as one of those countries which feature diverse flora and fauna, a major attraction among those who seek to experience nature at its best.
The backpacking traveler may want to time his stopovers with the festivals in certain places – mainly the Penafrancia Festival in Bicol, the Panagbenga in Baguio, the Sinulog in Cebu, the Ati-atihan in Kalibo, among others. Festivals and fiestas peak around April and May. The festivals are usually grand spectacles, while the fiestas are the samplers of the warm Filipino hospitality. In most cases, festivals and fiestas go together.
Again, getting to know the Philippines up-close may entail certain discomforts. But the colorful experience that the traveler gets in return is definitely worth it.