The Backpack Adventures

Located in the heart of Naga City in the province of Camarines Sur, Naga Land Hotel is a very "strategic" hotel fit for those who want to stay near Naga City's famous landmarks.

Speaking of being a "strategic" location, the hotel is just a few blocks away from Plaza Barlin, Plaza Quince Martires, San Francisco Church, and Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. It is also a tricycle or jeepney ride away from Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia and Shrine of Our Lady of Penafrancia.


Aside from being near Naga's famous landmarks, the hotel is also just across a mall, a famous Filipino fast food restaurant, and several drug stores. 

I stayed in Naga Land Hotel with my family during our Bicol Road trip. What I like most about the hotel aside from its good location is its price. Even if Naga Land Hotel is a budget hotel, you wouldn't feel cheated on the price that you're paying.

The rooms are spacious, clean, and cold (it depends on how low the thermostat of the…

Our next adventure takes us 173 kilometers southeast of Kilometer 0 in Manila, Atimonan is a first class municipality of the province of Quezon -my mom's hometown.

The municipality of Atimonan was founded on February 4, 1608. However, there are several conflicting stories on how Atimonan got its name. Some believe that the name Atimonan came from a tree known as Atimon. These trees are now extinct and that made the claim hard to prove. Others believe that the name came from the phrase Atin Muna which probably is a policy or motto that bolster the spirit of unity among the residents of the town. The most popular version (and probably the locally accepted one) is the story of Simeona Mangaba. Fondly called Ate Monang by her town mates, Simeona Mangaba founded the town on February 4, 1608 when she along with several families settled along the banks of the Maling River, now called Atimonan River. The story goes that a company of Spanish Colonial soldiers passed by the area and asked …

Located in Tayabas in the Quezon province, Malagonlong Bridge is a Spanish colonial era infrastructure that is part of the Historic Bridges of Tayabas.
Construction of the bridge began in 1840 under the term of Gobernadorcillo Don Joaquin Ortega. According to the inscription on the bridge, it was inaugurated in 1850 during the term of Gobernadorcillo Don Julian S. Francisco. Also called Puente de Malagonlong, the bridge was built using forced labor. The bridge was said to be built using an estimated 100,000 adobe blocks.

Malagonlong Bridge has a total length of 445 feet. It has five arches with varying heights and widths. The tallest of these arches measures 36 feet tall and 36 feet wide. The bridge has a carriageway of about 20 feet. It also has six small balconies where pedestrians used to stop by. 

Today, Malagonlong Bridge is spared from any vehicular activities. A new bridge was built parallel to it and serves as the main passageway of vehicles going in and out of Tayabas.
I got to c…