HOW do you define a long drive? Some travel books define it as a journey that requires an individual to travel a significant distance within a given period of time. It may require several hours or days to reach a specific destination or a series of destinations.

Old city hall in Iriga St. Augustine Church in Paoay Mayoyao Rice Terraces Mayon Volcano from Daraga Apo Whang-Od in Buscalan Mayoyayo Rice Terraces Old house in Iriga Mayon Volcano from Daraga Church Sili ice cream in Daraga Paoay San Dunes Tinglayan poblacion Buscalan village in Tinglayan

As a frequent traveler, I define any trip to places that are 400 kilometers (km) or more from Manila as a long drive. I use 400 km as a threshold because driving anywhere in the Philippines takes an average of 40 kph, and a 400-kilometer distance means driving for at least 10 hours.

St. Anthony de Padua Parish in Iriga

A long drive means getting the car ready to go long distance. This means taking time to visit your friendly service shop to ensure that preventive maintenance is done even before you leave the house. It also means bringing anything you may need along the way, such as snacks, car chargers, umbrellas, flashlights, and so on. Lastly, make sure you have an alternate driver, as driving long distances can be tiring and lonely if you are doing it all by yourself.

Mayoyao waterfalls

Usually, driving 470 to 480 km from Manila will already take you to Laoag, Tuguegarao, and Legazpi, where you might see the same attractions you have already seen several times. We have listed five alternative destinations that you can visit to make the long drive from Manila worthwhile.

Mayoyao, Ifugao (425 km)

Located 381 km from Manila, you can try the newly opened, more scenic mountain road from Isabela via Magat Dam, which is 44 km longer. Mayoyao is for intrepid travelers and the unhurried, as it offers a wonderful experience of exploring its hidden attractions, meeting its friendly people, and learning more about its heritage and culture.

It has one of the five rice terraces of the Philippines included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage Sites, the most extensive among the five. It has a mountain peak that challenges climbers to traverse the hidden villages of Ifugao and Mountain Province. Mayoyao also has several waterfalls with refreshing cool water and mountain parks that offer a breathtaking view of the terraces.

Iriga, Camarines Sur (413 km)

This place in Bicol became famous for its daughter, who once sold water at the Iriga Train Station and is now a National Artist. Her name is Nora Aunor, and there's a small museum in Iriga dedicated to her.

Iriga is also where you can explore the 1,196-meter stratovolcano Mount Iriga (or Mount Asog), which last erupted in 1641 that caused the side of the mountain to collapse, forming a lake now known as Buhi. This lake is famous for "sinarapan" (Mistichthys luzonensis), considered the world's smallest harvested fish.

Staying in Iriga means exploring its city attractions like the acacia-lined City Park, is located beside the Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church that dates back to 1585. Across the church is the old city hall, which has been repurposed into a bank and a drug store. There are also several restaurants in Iriga that serve the best sinarapan dish cooked in coconut milk and chili.

Paoay, Ilocos Norte (467 km)

This municipality of 25,000 people in Ilocos Norte has a heritage church, a lake, and a sand dune. Its Saint Augustine Church, built in 1710, is a Unesco World Heritage Site under the collective group of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993. Its most striking feature is the 24 huge buttresses on the sides and back that were conceived to prevent possible destruction from earthquakes.

It is also home to the famous Suba Sand Dunes, which were used as locations for movies like "Ang Panday," "Himala," and "Born on the Fourth of July." The Sand Dunes is where you can try the 4X4 adventure riding at the back of a jeep as it navigates along sharp curves and steep inclines. After the adrenaline rush, the best way to recover is at Kusina Valentin, located in front of Paoay Church, known for its famous pinakbet pizza.

Tinglayan, Kalinga (424 km)

People take the 12-hour drive to Tinglayan to visit the village of Buscalan to get the signature tattoo of the 106-year-old Apo Whang-od. This means driving several kilometers on a narrow road from the main road, trekking for an hour to reach the village, and waiting for several hours to get the three dots.

But there's more to do in Tinglayan than getting a tattoo. There are many trails leading to breathtaking peaks and remote rice terraces. There's also the Chico River, which hosts world-class white-water adventures, and the majestic Sleeping Beauty, which beckons mountaineers to conquer.

Daraga, Albay (475 km)

Every Filipino traveler dreams of going on a long drive to see Mayon Volcano. Mayon can be seen in Ligao, Legazpi, Camalig, and other places, but the best view of the volcano is still in Daraga in two locations: at Cagsawa Ruins, a church submerged in mudflow after the 1814 eruption, and atop Santa Maria Hill at Our Lady of the Gate Parish, a church built in Baroque architecture in 1773.

Nowadays, one can see Mayon flying from Manila to the new airport in Daraga, but this does not give the same pleasure as seeing its perfect cone from a long drive.

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