Travel | 2GO Expands Travel and Logistics Operations in Davao and General Santos

MV 2GO Masigla sails to Davao and GenSan for business and leisure.

Manila, Philippines – 2GO, the Philippines’ largest integrated transportation and logistics solutions provider and a part of the SM Group, is thrilled to announce a significant addition to its operations in Davao and General Santos with the addition of new vessels for travel and logistics.

The move is part of 2GO's commitment to fostering economic growth and facilitating seamless connections in the Mindanao region. Through its investments in infrastructure, technology, and personnel, 2GO is poised to elevate travel and logistical experiences for individuals and businesses alike.

The MV 2GO Masigla, the latest addition to the MV 2GO fleet, will embark on its first operational voyage on March 18, 2024, departing from Davao and GenSan bound for Iloilo, before returning to Manila along the Manila-Davao-GenSan-Iloilo-Manila route.

Increased Travel Options and Logistical Solutions

Davao and General Santos residents, as well as visitors, now enjoy enhanced travel options with 2GO's new routes. Businesses in the region benefit from upgraded logistics, ensuring faster goods movement. Beyond their immediate surroundings, Davao and General Santos provide logistical and travel support to areas such as Tagum, Digos, Kidapawan, Socksargen, and others. This strategic positioning allows efficient coordination and seamless operations across this extended network.

Frederic DyBuncio, President and CEO of 2GO Group, Inc., expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, "Our increased presence in Davao and General Santos reflects our dedication to being at the forefront of meeting the evolving needs of our customers. We are confident that these enhancements will contribute significantly to the overall growth and prosperity of the regions."

With this expansion, 2GO is keen on strengthening its position as a key player in the travel and logistics industry of the Philippines.

In addition to its cargo transport services between Manila, Davao, and GenSan, 2GO elevates the travel experience with the MV 2GO Masigla. This vessel offers amenities similar to restaurant dining, hotel-like accommodation, a fully-equipped salon, and entertaining karaoke rooms. Passengers can also enjoy onboard retail outlets featuring well-known brands such as MINISO, QuikMart, and Watsons, along with freshly brewed beverages from Café 2GO. It's a seamless blend of business and excitement for travelers.

Sea travel reservations are available from Manila to Davao or GenSan, and from Davao or GenSan to Iloilo and Manila, starting at just PHP 1,140. Moreover, a comprehensive range of shipping services is fully operational and ready for scheduling to meet customer needs.

To know more of 2GO’s products and services, visit 2go.com.ph or download the 2GO App on Android and iOS. 

Travel | Visita Iglesia in Metro Manila

Spacious Roads during Lent in Metro Manila

The lenten season in Metro Manila isn't bad at all!

The streets are almost empty that running public utility vehicles can freely own the road and no to less traffic. An hour ride will be cut to 20 minutes! Isn't that amazing?!! Of course, it is! Anyone would want that to be forever, but nothing is forever! Therefore, it is one of the best times to tour around Metro Manila (if transportation is your concern - one of the worst in the world), but most establishments are closed! Still, it is a good time to drive along or even do commute.

Anyways, yes, it is a fine, sunny weather out there. The goal is to visit 7 churches and say some prayers with my friend, Rob, who is a bit excited to experience the holy week in Manila. Brought some water and isotonic drink to fight the heat. Alright, we are then ready for the day, commuting!

The itinerary includes visiting churches like the Basilica Minore of the Black Nazarene, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral Basilica, Binondo Church, Malate Church, Baclaran Church and Sta. Rita Church. We completed those for four (4) hours commuting and walking.

Front of the Basilica Minore of the Black Nazarene

First, we went to the Basilica Minore of the Black Nazarene. From where my friend is staying, Z hostel, towards Quiapo Church (Basilica Minore of the Black Nazarene), it took us a walk and rode jeepney twice. It was insanely a wrong move, I guess, because the place is horrifyingly untidy. But, it is not for the place that we visited, it is for the church visit and prayers. We were not able to get inside the church though because there were a lot of churchgoers. We settled outside the basilica and made some prayers.

San Agustin Church - A World Heritage Site

Next destination is the San Agustin Church.

It is located at the Intramuros or the Walled City of Manila. We walked from Quiapo to San Agustin Church as jeepneys were impossible to pass by Quiapo because of the church activities and jeepneys are rerouted. Almost a kilometer walk, we reached the church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church was established by the Agustinians and the church was erected 446 years ago. The church was well preserved even it had been witness to war and earthquake. We settled for some moments to pray and moved to another church.

We headed next to the Manila Cathedral Basilica or the Immaculate Conception Church walking. For me, as I told Rob, it is the grandest but not the biggest among the churches we will visit. We settlement for some time to pray and then we took our lunch to a fast food nearby.

After finishing our meal, the sun is still high and bright. We still have four churches to visit.

San Lorenzo Ruiz Church - Binondo Church

From Manila Cathedral Basilica to Binondo Church (San Lorenzo Ruiz Church), we again walked. It is still almost a kilometer walk. It is such a humble church. We stopped there for some moment and offered prayers.

Fourth Church then Off to the Next

Malate Church

Then, our next destination is to Malate Church which is located at Malate, along Mabini Street and now not by walking; we rode a jeepney. From Binondo to Malate, it took us around 10 minutes to get there. (I know, it is fast...) We again stopped by and offered some prayers.

Baclaran Church - Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

Then, from Malate Church, we proceeded to Baclaran Church. We rode a jeepney and it stopped nearby Baclaran Church. I told Rob that it is the biggest that we visited. It has a long aisle and can accommodate a lot of churchgoers. We again stopped for some moment and offered prayers. We also watched and heard some of the seven (7) last words being enacted.

Sta. Rita Church

Just a half a kilometer is another church, so we just walked. A pretty tiny church named Sta. Rita de Cassia Church is there. I again told Rob that it is the smallest church we visited and there are chapels bigger than it. We stopped for some moment and offered prayers.

Ended the Day at a Cafe

We completed our goal of seven (7) churches in four hours. We also offered our prayers. We then ended our day staying to a nearby hotel with a coffee shop to cool ourselves from a very hot day. Oh yeah! It was a tiring experience, yet I enjoyed it and hope my friend enjoyed it too!

I hope you will share your experience too! Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Lifestyle | Enjoying Repertory: A Little Princess

Cast of A Little Princess

There a lot of forms of entertainment that one can enjoy. Yes, things that can make your senses happy! Guess what, watching and hearing a repertory is a superb experience! Thanks to my friend, Glenn, for the invite and free entertainment. :-)

This is a 3-hour show that is full of singing, dancing and drama. The little princess is in the person of Sarah. Yes, it is a very favorite character to a lot of Filipinos. It also has lots of funny meme that says "ang pagbabalat ng patatas" or the peeling off of potatoes - a well off  to rags girl story then back to  being well off again. :-p

I am invited by my friend to watch the show. Yes, just invited, but I don't have the budget to watch so he offered me for free!!! Good thing there are tickets still available that time - the last day of show after several weeks of entertaining. Good thing also that the spirit of Christmas is there that my friend was like under the spell of Christmas to share his blessings... :-p

The Ticket

I really enjoyed the show. There is a familiarity over the story, and the thing that makes it more interesting is how it will be done through music. The show is very colorful - displaying an imaginative side of a loud girl who immensely influence other people.

The sequence of the story started with the life of Sarah being well off, being envied by Laviña and even by Miss Minchin - the head of the school. There are several incidents that played along until some news saying of the death of Sarah's father that brought to bankruptcy. That is why Sarah is urged to work, along with Becky, for the school because of alleged debt that Sarah's father has to the school. Then, Sarah is searched by her father's loyal friend which is heart-wrenching. There are struggles along the way of a then well off girl who served as a helper who is starved and got rid of comfort. Then, she is found! Escaped! Reunited! Back to being well off again!

The show is very timely for the Christmas season. People who watch are reminded to be good, positive, generous, kind, warm, imaginative and respectful. There are some negativities that may abound anybody but it should not be a reason to be rude. Certain issues should be addressed properly and should not be like a vengeance of insecurities.

Indeed, I enjoyed the show and shed a tear. I am really thankful to my friend and congratulations to all who portrayed in the show - an all Filipino show with live orchestra playing along. The message is clearly handed to the viewers.

Have you watched the show, too? Share it here in my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Travel | Interact with the Arts

My mother and I have a great bonding in one of the world's biggest 3D painting gallery in the Philippines. The whole space has been used much and maximized for such art entertainment. It is a tourist destination for fun interaction with the humongous artworks!

Art in Island at the Heart of the Metro

Somewhere in the northern part of Metro Manila where this gallery is situated. You really need to have an imaginative mind to play around the images as the artworks are more than a human size, well-lit and plays with your cameras. Be sure to bring along a relative or friends because selfie-ing is a big NO interacting with the images. You can't capture the whole view unless you will settle with a tripod positioned on suggested points in the gallery. LOL

Let's Enter the Artworks!

A registration fee has to be paid at the entrance area. There is a map guide going inside. It is prohibited wearing footwear aside from socks inside. I advise you to wear socks as much as possible since the floor will be uncomfortably cool.

Gigantic Octopus!

Surf without Getting Wet

The gallery is divided into zones. There are five (5) zones namely: aqua zone, animal zone, masterpiece zone, religion zone and fantasy zone. Aside from these zones, there are special areas too such as season's area and the central hall which a very big room of artwork!

Text with the Monkeys

It is really a cool (literally and figuratively) place to bond with relatives or friends. Just a bit pricy though yet the visit is very worthy every zone, actually priceless! The artworks are really magnificent! A fun place to be at especially to people who love to capture moments with the artworks.

Controlled like a Doll

Gonna Go on the Other Side

However, there are concerns I have in the gallery. Will the artworks last forever? Will the same glow of the artworks remain year after year? Should the artists who created the gallery do frequent maintenance efforts? Well, I know they know what to do. :-)

Fight the Fire-breathing Monsters

Hide from the Giants

This season of joy, may the art in island mermerize many families and tourists visiting the place. Like me and my mom, we definitely enjoyed it. Hurray!

Bond with the Arts

I hope you enjoyed your visit in my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Stop at the 'BookStop'

Bookstop at Intramuros

The Walled City of Manila or popularly known as Intramuros, is the place of a bookstop is installed. :-)

Erected in front of the Manila Cathedral and Palacio del Gobernador wherein the Commission on Elections or Comelec operates it office, the bookstop is visible. It is pretty accessible to all people it may be tourists, employees nearby, students, bystanders and even street children.

Be In the Predeparture Area in Less Than 10 Minutes

Many people must have watched Amazing Race. It is a fun challenge-filled travel competition from different parts of the world. Many local versions of some countries have been documented also to help explore tourist spots and be flocked by travelers for community gains.

There are many different types of ports to complete a destination. There are airports for airplane goers, seaports for overseas travelers, overland terminals for bus or van travelers.

One challenge that I always want to do whenever traveling by plane is to get in the predeparture area in less than 10 minutes. Yes, less than 10 minutes. Many might not believe but it is possible. Even you travel through one of the busiest airports in the Philippines, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. I often start my time after I get off the taxi.

Papal Visit 2015 in the Philippines

photo credit taken from online images

The eyes of the world is the Philippines as Pope Francis will visit the Philippines after a short visit in Sri Lanka.

This is the second Asian country that Pope Francis will be visiting bearing the message of Mercy and Compassion. This message is especially given for the poor. Amidst the advances that the world is experiencing, there are things that should not be forgotten; there are people who need the help of each one of us - the poor.

The 5-day visit of the Pope is scheduled with this photo at the left side. January 15 is the arrival of the Pope in the country then he will proceed to the Official Residence near Quirino Avenue, Manila. On January 16, the Pope will have a courtesy visit at the Malacanan Palace in Manila. Since the Pope is not just a religious leader from Vatican, but he is also the head of state of Rome, the Philippines government will conduct a welcome ceremony for the Pope with a 21-gun salute. After the courtesy visit, the Pope will proceed to the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila to celebrate the Holy Mass. Then, he will proceed to SM MOA Arena for the meeting of families - there are pre-registered families already to meet the Pope. Then, back to the Official Residence. On January 17, it is the schedule going to Tacloban. In Tacloban City is where the Pope will celebrate the Holy Mass and meet some poor and survivors brought by the typhoon Haiyan and the earthquake of Bohol. Then, the Pope will bless the Center for the Poor in Palo, Leyte and he will meet also some religious men and women at the Cathedral of Transfiguration. After the Pope's activities in Leyte, he will go back to Manila and back to the Official Residence. On January 18, the Pope will proceed to the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas. It is where he will meet some religious leaders and have a talk with the youth. After the event at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, the Pope will have a motorcade going to the Rizal Park, Manila. It is where he will celebrate a concluding mass with expected more than 5 million people to attend. On January 19, it is the scheduled departure of the Pope going back to Rome.

The Papal Visit in the Philippines serves as a light to everyone that there is hope in all the circumstances that the country is facing, and it leaves the message of MERCY and COMPASSION.

Enjoy the visit at ten7avenue.com!

Appreciating Sunset at the Bay

Manila bay is a site to witness a world class sunset.

It is not new to everybody that the sunset at Manila bay is such a world class. Yes, it is a matter of fact that when this is happening every day - many observers take a photo of this beautiful natural phenomenon. Domestic and foreign tourists and even locals witness it everyday especially when the weather is very good and cooperating.