Dabawenya's Madventures

Breathtaking Agusan Marsh: A Surreal Experience Agusan del Sur, Philippines Text and Photos by Jojie Alcantara “Please do not take photos without a proper ritual…we do not want you to be harmed,“ Boyet Reyes, a Manobo who approached us from a small wooden boat, quietly told us in the vernacular….

Hinatuan Enchanted River in Manila Bulletin May 22 2011 (click to view large image) Once upon an enchanted blue river Published article and photos by Jojie Alcantara As a proud Mindanaoan, I am happy that my photo gallery online has gained a small following who appreciate my island travel adventures. …

  In Awe of Ancient Angkor (written and photographed by Jojie Alcantara, published in SunStar Davao and Manila Bulletin, 2011) Long before Angelina Jolie made Angkor Wat a thrilling destination to visit through her movie Tomb Raider, I was dreaming of seeing this mystical location in the dense jungle of…

Davao Oriental’s White Capitol Building Text and photos by Jojie Alcantara (Published in SunStar Davao) The beautiful three-storey white Capitol Building loomed in the sky like an imposing presence, described to have been patterned after the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the US White House. Many years ago, I…

Boracay from Above! Text and Photos by Jojie Alcantara (published in SunStar Davao and Manila Bulletin) Rainy season can be a letdown for those who want to soak in the brilliant sun, powdery white sand, blue skies and sea of this famous landmark in the Philippines. But it doesn’t have…

Bukidnon’s Unique Kaamulan Festival Published article by Jojie Alcantara Nothing keeps me up at night than preparing for a road trip to an exotic festival in Mindanao, more so when it was a last minute decision to pack. Dying to cover the highly regarded Kaamulan Festival in the neighboring highlands…

CLOSE TO PERFECTION: MAJESTIC MAYON by Jojie Alcantara Mayon Volcano is the Philippines’ most active stratovolcano. It is considered to be the world’s most perfectly formed volcano for its symmetrical cone. A basaltic-andesitic volcano, the upper slopes are steep averaging 35-40 degrees and are capped by a small summit crater….

Cagayan de Oro and beyond My latest article in Mabuhay Magazine, PAL’s international inflight magazine, is a road trip around Mindanao’s best destinations:  Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Davao,  Samal, Tagum, and Mati.  Photos courtesy of Rhonson Ng and mine. Click each file to view large image or read the…

Beyond Mati’s Sambuokan (Published in Manila Bulletin in my column, Scene Stealer — unfortunately it was retitled to Beyond Mati, which sounded like I was featuring other destinations outside of Mati ) Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental province, was once a quiet seaside community now laden with beach…

Puerto Princesa and its river flowing under (article by Jojie Alcantara published in Mabuhay Magazine, April 2009) Puerto Princesa, the capital and only city of Palawan, was historically named by Spanish colonizers after Princess Eulalia who was born in 1864 to the reigning Queen Isabel II and Dr. Francisco de…

“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.” ~ Leo F. Buscaglia  (American guru, tireless advocate of the power of love, 1924-1998) These…

“Out of the water, I am nothing.” – Duke Kahanamoku Siargao Island’s ‘Cloud 9′, a powerful hollow right-hander, has been hailed as one of the ten best waves in the world and has been frequently compared to the renowned surf of Hawaii and Indonesia.  Lying at the veritable edge of…

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Lens: 15mm Aperture: F/4.5 Shutter speed: 1/320 sec ISO Speed: 1600 From InFlight.ph: BIG FISH: Photographer Jojie Alcantara captured this proud moment at the General Santos Fishport Complex of a local fisherman carrying his day’s catch of one of two large opahs, also known as moonfish…