Last week, I received an SMS from my compadre, a tour guide who’s based in Guimaras. He told me that he just gave a big discount to someone who claimed to be a “popular traveler blogger” and a “friend” of mine who visited and toured Guimaras last week.

Compadre: Comadre! How are you? Do you know J.H.P?  She went here yesterday and gave her a discount because she told me you are friends. She also told me that she’s a popular travel blogger.

ADAPHOBIC.COM is committed to a budget friendly traveling but never did an outrageous form of haggling as this blog commits to helping locals earn a decent living.

It’s so sad to hear that there are now people who pose to be my “friend” or a relative of mine just to have a travel or tour discount in the said tourist spot and even claiming to be a popular blogger. This blog is NEVER connected to any blogger or to anyone who voluntarily ask for travel discounts or deals to a company or any travel services.

If you believe that someone is trying to pose to be connected to me, please verify his/her identity this by sending me an email at adaphobic@gmail.com or Tweeting me at @adaphobic.

Update: I just found out that WHENINMANILA.com and AZRAELSMERRYLAND.blogspot.com was victimized by the same type of modus. However, in their case, fakers claimed that they were a representative or connected to them.

Aliwan Fiesta or dubbed as “The Mother of All Fiestas,” is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City Complex in Pasay City wherein contingents compete in dance parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant. Organized by Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) together with Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the cities of Manila and Pasay, with prizes totaling to P3 million (roughly US$70,000).

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The following guide will also list out the best places for first timers to visit in the island where the sweetest mangoes lie.

Mango plantation

Why you should visit Guimaras

Guimaras island is famous for producing the sweetest mangoes in the world. Located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros, there are over 50,000 mango trees planted in this island and its mangoes are reportedly served at the White House and Buckingham Palace.

Getting there

There is no direct flight to Guimaras. If you’re coming from Manila, take a direct flight to Iloilo. From Iloilo, ride a jeepney or a taxi going to Iloilo City harbor (Ortiz Wharf), and then take a 15-minute pump boat ride going to Jordan Wharf, Guimaras which is the main port of entry in Guimaras.

A pump boat ride costs PHP 14 (around $0.35 or less) as of 2013. Buenavista is another port of entry to Guimaras, although some said it’s quite expensive to tour around there and not recommended for first timers.

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Words can’t explain our summer experience at the one and only Tiger Safari in the Philippines, the Zoobic Safari. So, let me just show you some photos from our Zoobic Safari experience.

The Entrance

Upon entrance, this white tiger kept moving and moving

A 3-month old tiger

Awww! Soo cute!

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It was my first time at The Aristocrat Restaurant which claimed to be the “Home of the Best Chicken Barbecue in Town.” I’ve seen The Aristocrat Restaurant before while walking around Araneta Center, Cubao on my to Gateway Mall. The restaurant wasn’t exactly looked posh or elegant from the word itself ‘aristocrat’, instead, the place looked very homey and accommodating.

It never occurred to me to dine in this restaurant until I visited (together with my bloggers friends) their branch in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. For a first timer like me, I didn’t feel intimated upon the entrance through the door. Employees greeted us with smile and politely assisted us to our seat.

The place is neat and the colorful chairs and nice ceiling lights made the place looks very bubbly. After not more than 5 minutes, food attendants started to come one by one with food tray cart that contained our order. Wow that was fast! Perhaps Ms. Jeanne (the one who invited us) already reserved the place to guarantee a no waiting-time.

The Aristocrat Iced Tea

First thing they served was our drinks. Everyone of us ordered the Aristocrat Iced Tea, as according to one of the staffs, is their best beverage to quench thirst. And when it was finally on the table, we took a sip and almost forgotten our names. WOW, their iced tea tastes soooo good! Read more…