RAINY SEASON IN THE PHILIPPINES
To visit the Philippines during rainy season challenges you to make the most of circumstances that you cannot control. But don't let the less-than-ideal weather conditions discourage you. Traveling during off-season means you will have more space to take in the scenic landscapes with fewer crowds around.
When my family and I visited, we spent time with our relatives while exploring Boracay, Iloilo, Tagaytay and Manila. The rain was a daily occurrence during our two-week stay in August. Nevertheless, we enjoyed a variety of both indoor and outdoor activities. And throughout our trip, we were able to connect with our heritage and experience places important to our family history. (My dad is from Manila and my mom is from Iloilo.) Scroll down to see photos and insights from our explorations!
Boracay
Back in the 90s, Boracay was a pristine, white sand beach getaway, essentially untouched by mass tourism. It was a destination to truly disconnect from stress and live at a slower, more relaxed pace. And it was the place where my dad proposed to my mom! So returning to the island after almost thirty years made them feel nostalgic but also surprised by how urbanized it has become.
Things to Do
Tip: Keep an eye on the weather and plan ahead when to go to the beach. To avoid thunderstorms, we swam in the early morning or late afternoon.
Use the cloudy overcast lighting to your advantage, and have a beach photo shoot! My cousin (a Manila-based wedding/portrait photographer) and I had a mini portrait session with my sister as our model.
Cool off with some vegan ice cream at CocoMama. The shop serves fresh coconut ice cream in a sustainable coconut shell! Toppings include mango chunks, coconut strings, purple rice and puffed rice.
Make the most of what your hotel has to offer! At the Henann Prime Beach Resort, we enjoyed an abundant breakfast buffet, several pools, a private beach area, in-room massages and karaoke nights.
Iloilo City
Our next stop on the itinerary was Iloilo City, where most of my mom's side of the family lives. It is a city that is quite urban but also has beaches and farm landscapes. We browsed the open-air markets to find colorful produce as well as handmade accessories and home decor. And we also spent an afternoon under the palm trees of a rocky beach to see an architectural project built by my mom's brother.
Tagaytay
Then we spent some time in Tagaytay, a vacation town located south of Manila. We dined at Charito by Bag of Beans, a restaurant known for having a gorgeous view overlooking the Taal Volcano and Lake. Something else I enjoyed was buying produce from the roadside stands! And rainy season in the Philippines means enjoying tropical fruits I can't get back home like lanzones, mangosteen and lychee.
Manila
While in Manila, we hung out with relatives, escaped the rain and humidity in several giant shopping malls, prepared delicious meals and refreshing drinks at home (in the photos below, Dad is preparing calamansi lemonade!) and went out to eat. Not to mention we woke up to some pretty surreal sunrises! And we couldn't pass up the chance to eat the most popular Filipino dessert: Halo-Halo. Meaning "mix mix" in Tagalog, it is a super sweet combination of shaved ice, evaporated milk, and a plethora of toppings. The photo below has ube (purple yam) ice cream, leche flan (caramel custard), coconut jellies, sweetened red bean, and puffed rice. If you are like me and cannot resist sweets, this is definitely a must-try!
