Local Expert
Knox Balbastro
Having grown up outside the Philippines, Knox was raised on a diet of Macaulay Culkin movies, Barbie dreams, and the sounds of MTV. When she returned to the Philippines during her teens, she began to…
Having grown up outside the Philippines, Knox was raised on a diet of Macaulay Culkin movies, Barbie dreams, and the sounds of MTV. When she returned to the Philippines during her teens, she began to seek out a distinctly Pinoy culture. So far, she loves what she’s seeing. Manila for her is a fertile ground for art, music, fashion, and fun. Living in a little known, third world country definitely has its perks. Adventures are affordable and discovery doesn’t come in the usual package.
Her best advice for travellers new to the Philippines is to go out on the streets where faces, traffic, and landscape can create a collage of experiences that’s gritty and real.
Knox is a 24 year-old dreamer who also happens to be an advertising copywriter. She loves to travel and dreams of bag packing throughout the entire Philippine Archipelago. She hopes that through this blog, people all over the world will find a reason to drop by.
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Freedom Riding at U.P.
I’m back to work from a three-day long weekend. Monday was declared a holiday in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. I took full advantage and had my most liberating, not to mention one my cheapest Sunday gimmicks ever. If ever you’re looking for a great way to unwind and you’re low on dough, then head to the University of the Philippines Diliman Campus.
U.P. is the largest university in the country with its own jeepney system, fondly called, “ikot” and “toki”. This place is where students from all over the country converge and create a microcosm of the Philippines. Usually, the sprawling campus is bustling with bright eager minds. Because it’s the seat of education for a lot of liberal minded youth, it can sometimes get riotous. But on Sundays, it empties out and the people who go to U.P. are laidback characters. People from all walks of life converge at Osmena street to jog, run, bike, skate, and rollerblade.
I went over there to skate because of the supposedly long stretch of smooth pavement. It didn’t disappoint but it definitely attracted a ton of other pavement chasers. There you can see kids as young as 3 riding as well as the 20 yr. olds. A father with his short shorts exposes his pale thighs while his son hides his with long basketball shorts. You’ll also observe a weird divide between the two factions of skaters. The easy-going longboard skaters and the trickboard skaters stay in their separate unmarked zones. You’ll have people who are there just to be part of the scene, lovers and families frolick about while photographers and picnickers get their fill of eye candy.
A U.P. Sunday is not complete without sampling roadside culinary treats. You’ll find the famous Filipino dirty ice cream being sold by the wandering Sorbetero. Don’t worry, it’s not dirty, more like dirt cheap. Then, there are vendors that sell fishballs, squidballs, and kikiam. There is also the traditional street food that’s called bananaque (Basically fried bananas coated in sugar). On this trip, I gathered the courage to try out Mang Larry’s isaw. Isaw is a grilled delicacy made up of animal intestines. Seeing all the unusual animal parts like liver, ear, and even blood being sold can get someone squimish, but don’t knock it until you try it. What do you have to lose? Most of these foods sell for less that P10.
Overall, I spent less than P50 and had an amazing time. Liberating indeed.