Over 300 meters above sea level, it is cool like Baguio in the highlands in northern Philippines. Rice fields abound and even some rice terraces, which we saw along the way. But unlike the steep Ifugao rice terraces in the Philippine Cordilleras, the rice terraces in Ubud spread out gently on gradual slopes. There is nature and lush greenery all around, which have most likely served as inspiration to many native artists who call this place home. Many villages in Ubud are known for their intricate wood and stone carvings, as well as unique bamboo crafts and furniture.

When one hears the name of the southern province Negros Oriental, chances are one would immediately think of its capital city, Dumaguete, where the iconic Silliman University can be found. A ‘must see’ for first time visitors, Silliman, built by the Americans in 1901, is the first university outside Manila and the first Protestant school in the Philippines.

A young woman carrying her newborn son is hiding in a cave. Accompanied by her husband, there they wait until it is safe to go out again. The Holy Family took shelter on their flight to Egypt to escape the Slaughter of the Innocents ordered by Herod, the King of Judea at the time of Christ’s birth. There’s a plaque at the cave entrance where it’s written that when Mary was nursing the baby Jesus, a drop of milk “fell to the floor of the cave, turning the rock white and giving rise to the chalky stone.” This is the Milk Grotto.

Summer is synonymous with swimming. In the Philippines, you’ll never run out of places you can go to for a swim, what with its countless beaches lining its long kilometric coastline. And then, there are its numerous lakes. One of the best is Kayangan Lake, said to be one of the cleanest lakes in Asia.