It is summer vacation in the Philippines. A brief respite from academic life. You know its summer already because the weather is so warm and humid. Oh to brave the scorching sun. It is either off to the Pangasinan beaches and other Pangasinan tourist spots or to Baguio, touted as the summer capital of the Philippines.

Ginny, a high school classmate and friend from L.A. visited the Hundred Islands recently and she was impressed with the improvements and the new facilities there. What a way to boost tourism! Why go to Boracay? Pangasinan is nearer. No need to spend more. Or try Surip. It is nature unspoiled. When I went there last year, I brought my black aqua shoes so I was able to wade the pebbly coast and visit the caverns. The pilgrimage area is also near the beach. Mack, another friend who is on leave from his job in Singapore opted to try the waters of Puerto Galera.

How about me? Maybe just a beer and videoke challenge in one of the rented huts with friends at the nearby Bonuan Beach capped with a sumptuous seafood dinner at Matutina’s (the one with a large framed picture of GMA) or a day at either Sierra Vista or San Fabian PTA for my son’s first taste of the San Fabian beach or the swimming pool. And of course, to enjoy the month-long Dagupan Bangus Festival 2006.

So how would you spend your summer?