View of a Local in the Philippines

Technical Support Engineer Enrico Dee spends most of his free time exploring the Philippines, where he was born and raised. In this View of a Local interview he leaves you no excuse not to visit the Philippines.

Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Enrico Dee, 28 years old and I work as a Technical Support Engineer in Makati City, Philippines. I took up Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in University of Saint La Salle in Bacolod City.

One of my greatest passions in life is travelling. During free time, I usually travel from one city to another, exploring its wonderful sights and appreciating the city’s local history and culture.

I also love seeing the various festivals of the Philippines. These festivals showcase the unique and colourful life of the people in our country.

I have travelled the northern Philippines up to Laoag City in the province of Ilocos Norte, 500 kilometers north of Manila, down to the province of Basilan in Mindanao, some 900 kilometers south of Manila. All of these journeys are documented in my travel blog called “BYAHILO: Your Journey Begins Here”. Byahilo is a combination of two Filipino words “Byahe” meaning to travel, and “Hilo” meaning nausea. Literally, byahilo means a travel sickness.

How long have you lived in the Philippines?

I have lived in the Philippines for 28 years. I was born and raised in Bacolod City, some 600 kilometers south of Manila for 24 years, then in 2003, I moved residency to Makati City, Metro Manila.

What do you like most about living in the Philippines?

The Philippines has just so much to offer. There are 7,107 islands in our country. 7,107 ways to enjoy the sun, sea and sand. More than a thousand ways to marvel at the great architectural masterpieces. More than a hundred ways to learn our historic past. There’s always something new, every day. You will never run out of adventure here in the Philippines.

Is there anything you do not like about living in the Philippines?

The politics, like in any other country, is dragging the progress of our country to a standstill. The horrendous traffic jam in Metro Manila during peak hours. The traffic jam in Manila is second only to Bangkok’s.

Why should travellers visit the Philippines?

The Philippines is made of 7,107 islands. White sand beaches are all over the archipelago. Fantastic view of the sunrise and the sunset. We have the most perfect cone volcano. The Philippines is home to hundreds of animals endemic only to the islands. We have colonial houses, churches and even cemeteries of outstanding architecture that are centuries old and well-preserved. Many of our sites have already been declared as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The Filipinos are noted as some of the most hospitable people in the world. We are known for our friendly smiles and warm welcome. There is no month in the Philippines that has no fiesta. This is because we Filipinos love to celebrate and we live life to its fullest.

What do you wish travellers would do when they visit the Philippines?

Ride a jeepney. The jeepney is the Philippine’s main mode of transportation. It’s cheaper than a cab. Also try to ride a calesa. A calesa is a horse-drawn carriage. This type of transportation was very common during the time when the Philippines was still part of Spain. But there are parts of the Philippines, especially in Manila, where calesas are still being used.

Enjoy the sun, sea, and sand in Boracay. It’s an island in the central Philippines known for its white, powdery sand beach. Explore the cool weather of the northern Philippines by going to the Banaue Rice Terraces and see how the Igorot tribe plants rice. Marvel at the beauty of the Honda Bay and the St. Paul Underground River in Palawan. Known as one of the longest underground rivers in the world. Walk through the historic streets of Intramuros in Manila. Intramuros is also known as the “Walled city of Manila”.

If a visitor had time to do or see only one thing in the Philippines, what should it be?

Visit Palawan. In Palawan everything’s already there. This province is known as the last frontier of the Philippines and the cradle of the Philippine Civilization. Enjoy the white sand beaches in Honda Bay. Explore nature’s beauty in Tubbataha Reef, and the St. Paul’s Underground River, both declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Marvel at the unique limestone formations, and dive the sunken ships in Coron.

If a visitor had time for only one meal in the Philippines, which dish would you recommend?

I think, it’s going to be the “Balut”. Balut is a boiled, fertilized duck egg seasoned with salt and vinegar. Usually the liquid part of the egg is sucked out first. The duck embryo is next to be consumed, then the yolk, and finally, the egg white. Many people also consider balut as an aphrodisiac. Balut is available all over the Philippines, but the town of Pateros is known for mass-producing this commodity.

Do you have any other insider tips for visitors to the Philippines?

Just don’t listen to any negative travel advisories about the Philippines. The media is always exaggerating what’s really happening in our country. The Philippines is a very peaceful country. Resorts and public places are always secured. There’s no need for you to worry about your security.

Note

Anni Poulsen: Enrico shares not only some nice stories, but also some fantastic photos on his blog including his latest series from the 35th Paraw Regatta. So treat yourself to a visit to BYAHILO.

Put your pin in our map

Our View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

The map below shows the places covered so far.

Use the zoom and directional buttons to navigate the map. Click on the red points to view more information and the satellite button for a satellite image.

For more information about how you can take part in our View of a Local series, please go to our View of a Local page >>

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One Response to “View of a Local in the Philippines”

1. DarLecDanDnq Rebudiao:

   Go Byahilo, soar high and hit the mark! Congratulations! We’re proud of you.

   2 March, 2007 at 19:52

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