TravelswithCharie

Würzburg, Germany (Fodor’s Go List 2026) Afar Best Places to travel in 2026  Afar’s list explores 24 less touristed and often overlooked destinations. It includes Adelaide, Bucharest, Eleuthera Islands, Lakipela and East Antarctica, among others. Check out the list here:  https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-best-places-to-travel-in-2026. American Express Trending Destinations  The American Express list is based on 2025 travel bookings by its card members as well as the travel trends observed by Amex travel consultants worldwide. These trending places include Killarney, Marbella, Malaga, Marrakech, Panama City and no surpirse, Las Vegas, among others. https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/discover/get-inspired/trending-destinations . Conde Nast Traveler  Best Places to go in 2026  Conde Nast’s list includes places that “already feel familiar and yet are imbued with fresh life” like HongKong. Get to know the places on the list here: https://www.cntraveler.com...

  Parol from Pan-ay One of the most endearing Christmas holiday traditions in the Philippines is the hanging of star shaped lanterns in homes, public buildings, streets and markets. It’s always a welcome sight. Some lanterns are made of bamboo and paper while others are made of Capiz shells with metal frames. During the Spanish colonial era, lanterns or “farol” (lantern) were lighted with candles as Filipinos walked to church during the wee hours of the morning to attend “simbang gabi” or night mass. These masses begin on December 16 and end on Christmas Eve. The parol is the symbol of hope and faith. The star is a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem that shone brightly to guide the Magi to Bethlehem and the manger of Jesus. Parol from Pan-ay Parol from Pilar The parol has since evolved from the simple bamboo and paper lantern to gigantic 30-foot marvels with LED twinkling lights that are shown annually at the Pampanga Lantern Festival.  This festival is a fine display of Philip...

I was pleasantly surprised on Thanksgiving Day when I was informed by Philippine Global Explorers (PGE) that I was nominated as one of the Most Impactful Globetrotters. PGE is a worldwide organization with some 1700 members. This is a huge recognition and I am truly honored. The basis for this nomination are my charitable works through my foundation, BalayniCharie School Supplies Program. The winner will be decided on December 6th at the organization’s annual party. As a nominee, I feel I’m already a winner! I feel deeply honored to have been nominated by members of the Philippine Global Explorers as one of the Most Impactful Globetrotters and to be in the company of distinguished nominees. It is quite a huge responsibility to bear the title "Impactful Globetrotter" and something I cannot take lightly. Having the privilege to travel, I feel it is important to reach out to my community and share this good fortune. My work with providing school supplies to children in Capiz, Ph...

Scoglio di Santa Rita Roccaporena or Rocca Porrena is a tiny mountain village in Umbria. It sits at the foot of Mount Rucino and was isolated from most of the world until after the Second World War when a road was built connecting it to Cascia . It took ten minutes for us to reach this serene community from Cascia.  There is a trail that leads up the mountaintop where it is believed that St. Rita spent time to pray and meditate. The chapel on the mountaintop is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie di Roccaporena. Marital House of St. Rita Saint Rita of Cascia was born in Roccaporena. She was a widowed woman with two sons. After her husband was assasinated around 1406, she worried that her sons might resort to violence against the family that murdered her husband. She prayed that they would not avenge his death. Her sons died not long after from natural  causes.  Saint Rita joined the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in 1407 where she remained until her death in 1457. In ...