Pea sits down with three young Filipina friends — Richie (engineering student), Angel, and Cindy (nursing student) — at Buglas Cafe in Dumaguete to give first-time visitors a region-by-region guide to the best Philippine destinations. The conversation covers Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Manila/Makati/BGC, Baguio, and local spots in Negros Oriental, with honest assessments of cost, safety, and what to expect.
Cebu — Cindy's pick
- Cindy calls Cebu her favorite recent travel destination: great food, lively culture, friendly people
- Wide variety of cuisine available: Japanese, Korean, and other international options alongside local food
- Nightlife reportedly excellent (though Cindy and friends didn't go to bars due to COVID caution)
- COVID protocols still in effect at the time: masks required in malls but not enforced as strictly on streets
- Both northern and southern Cebu have resorts, beaches, waterfalls, and festivals — Cindy specifically mentions the Kawasan waterfalls
- Cebu described as "the queen city of the south" — one of the richest and most populated cities in the Visayas
- Offers "the best of both worlds": city nightlife and island beaches
Whale shark swimming in Oslob (near Cebu) — Angel's story
- Angel shares a vivid childhood story: her family stopped in Oslob en route to Cebu
- She was put on a small bangka boat and taken to the middle of the ocean where whale sharks were being fed
- She didn't know how to swim at the time
- Four whale sharks were feeding nearby with their giant mouths open
- Her mother literally threw her off the boat without a life vest
- Angel learned to swim in approximately three minutes out of pure survival instinct — "I need to or else I'll die"
- She was paddling with whale sharks directly below her
- Despite the terror, she says they were "still cute"
- Lifeguards were swimming around to ensure safety
- The experience offers underwater photography with hard copy and soft copy photos provided
- Reservations can be booked online ahead of time
Sumilon Island (near Cebu)
- A very small island described as "a pimple of the Philippines"
- Features white sand and extremely clear water — "the clearest sea ever, you could see all the corals"
- Called "a very enchanted island" with great vibes
Cash and credit card situation in the Philippines
- Credit cards are accepted at some establishments, but cash is still the dominant form of payment
- The group all used cash in Cebu despite card readers being available
- GCash (mobile payment) is growing but cash is still king
- ATMs exist but are sometimes out of cash or under maintenance
- Strong advice: always carry cash no matter what, and bring your card as backup
Siquijor — Angel's pick
- Resorts everywhere — "just three blocks away, five blocks away, there's another resort"
- Clean sand, nice and friendly people
- Motorbike rental: 300 pesos for one motorbike (two riders)
- Can circle the entire island in just two hours
- Famous for love potions and witchcraft/love spells — Angel jokes if you're desperately in love with a Filipino who doesn't love you back, "you can always" go get a love potion
- Very cheap overall: they stayed at an 800-peso-a-night apartment
- Other options include resorts with pools and beachfront access
- Nice bars with lots of foreigners on vacation
- Mask enforcement was relaxed due to open-air island lifestyle
Bohol — Richie's pick
- About two hours from Dumaguete
- Major attractions:
- Chocolate Hills: small mountains shaped like Hershey's Kisses; local peanut-shaped candies called "Peanut Kisses" are sold as souvenirs
- Tarsiers: tiny monkeys with enormous eyes found only in Bohol; a protected species with a small and vulnerable population; there's a dedicated conservation area
- Giant snake: a massive black snake (described as anaconda-like) requiring 10–12 people to carry; Richie says it could eat "five to seven people" (the girls joke "five tiny Filipinas")
- Man-made mahogany forest: a road lined with mahogany trees that's free to drive through; the air is fresh and the atmosphere relaxing
- Panglao Island: white sand beaches
- Pea lived in Bohol for about a year in 2012 and confirms it was cheap and touristy
- The girls express interest in doing a diving vlog together in Bohol — Pea, Angel, and Cindy as "three beautiful Filipinas underwater like mermaids"
- Transportation options: vans, rental cars, Easy Ride, jeepneys, and tricycles (the group chose tricycles for their cute appearance)
- A tricycle driver for the whole day (8am–5pm) cost 800–1,000 pesos
- The people are described as very friendly, accommodating, and welcoming to both Filipinos and foreigners
Boracay
- Pea visited in 2015 and stayed for a week
- The beach has the clearest water she's ever seen and "what you see in pictures is what you get in real life"
- Very fine, powdery white sand
- Famous sunset views with vintas (traditional sailboats) that look "like a postcard"
- President Duterte mandated a cleanup — Boracay was closed for about a year to restore the environment
- The group believes it's better now post-cleanup
- Can be cheap but also has high-end restaurants, hotels, and resorts
- Extremely popular and touristy — one of the Philippines' most internationally known destinations
Palawan
- Three major tourist spots: Puerto Princesa, Coron, and El Nido
- Puerto Princesa's Underground River is one of the Seven Wonders of the World
- Angel describes it as "a place for angels... like another dimension" — magical and beautiful
- Also mentions the Enchanted River
Manila / Makati / BGC — for city lovers
- Pea personally prefers nature and laid-back vibes, but acknowledges some viewers want urban energy
- Makati and BGC are described as "the New York of the Philippines" — skyscrapers, high-end living, five-star experiences
- Cost of living there is expensive even for Filipinos
- Not really the Philippines' vacation identity — "when you say Philippines, it's the beaches, the waterfalls, nature"
Baguio — the summer capital
- Located in the mountains; much cooler climate
- Pea lived there for about a year in 2017 for work
- Good Taste Chinese Restaurant: a three-level building that's always packed; known for fresh food, generous portions, and not skimping
- Baguio is the main supplier of the freshest vegetables in the entire country due to its farms
- The Igorot/Cordillera culture is distinct: traditional dances with gongs, unique funeral traditions
- They exhume remains after a period (nine days or one year), dress the body in nice clothing and jewelry, and hold a reunion/celebration party
- Pea attended one and says it was "amazing" and "not creepy at all" — it's about honoring and celebrating the dead person's life
- Famous for strawberries and strawberry farms
- Local languages include Ilocano and Tagalog
Sagada (near Baguio)
- Known for hanging coffins — coffins raised up high "to be closer to the gods"
- Excellent local coffee beans — the group says possibly the best coffee in the Philippines
- Home to Whang-Od (spelled "Apo Whang-Od"), the oldest traditional tattoo artist
- She's still alive and tattooing; famous worldwide, with well-known artists traveling from around the globe to get tattooed by her
Negros Oriental and Dumaguete local spots
- The group is filming at Buglas Cafe in Piapi, Dumaguete — described as having an 80s rustic/vintage vibe with organic food from their own garden
- With over 120 local dialects, Visayan in Cebu differs slightly from Visayan in Dumaguete in words and intonation
- Nearest nice beaches: Balcong and Dauin
- Diving spots nearby
- Apo Island is called "the Maldives of the Philippines" — a white sandbar about two hours away
- Dolphin watching available in Bais
- The nearest mountains are in Valencia; there's also a volcano with hot springs and sulfur vents
Nude beaches question
- Pea says viewers have asked about nude beaches in the Philippines
- The group confirms there are no official nude beaches — the Philippines is too conservative
- One workaround: go to beaches very early (4–5am) and you'll be alone
- There was reportedly a clothing-optional resort between Dumaguete and Cebu owned by naturists, but Pea believes it's closed now
Safety in Mindanao
- The group advises that while not all of Mindanao is dangerous, there are areas in the far south to avoid
- Davao is specifically called out as "one of the safest cities in the Philippines"
- Strong recommendation to research specific areas thoroughly before visiting
- Overall assessment: the Philippines is a very safe country "as long as you're with good people"
The group's closing pitch
- "Just try out the Philippines — who knows, you might end up living here forever"
- "There's one-way tickets... this might be the best trip of your life"
- They emphasize that Filipinos are friendly, speak English, and "don't bite... don't bite hard"
- Pea offers herself as a friend and resource for first-time visitors
