The Queen's Escape

Storie of connection from the summits to under the seas.

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  • DIY Travel Guide to Sta Cruz Island: Pink Beach of Zamboanga

    January 1, 2026 / 0 Comments

    Our ZamBaSulTa (Zamboanga – Basilan – Sulu – Tawi-Tawi) backpacking adventure kicked off with a flight from Manila to Zamboanga City, bringing us straight to our first destination— the Great Sta Cruz Island Pink Beach. As expected, it did not disappoint. The long stretch of white beach complemented by the clear waters under the midday sun dazzled and got us excited to sink our toes in the sand and bless our skin with the brine. It was a scene straight out of a postcard. If you also look forward to seeing and soaking in the beauty of this island with your own eyes, this comprehensive DIY travel guide will walk…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    La Palmera Mountain Ridge: A Captivating Gem of Sultan Kudarat

    January 19, 2024
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    2026 Bukidnon DIY Travel Guide (Budget + Itinerary)

    January 1, 2026

    CAMIGUIN DIY TRAVEL GUIDE 2025 (Itinerary + Budget)

    January 3, 2025
  • SOCCSKSARGEN DIY Travel Guide 2026 for Backpackers

    January 1, 2026 / 4 Comments

    Missed flights, four backpackers down to three, unexpected inclement weather, no concrete plans, closed tourist spots without prior notice; yet we managed to pull it off. These misadventures actually made us consider this trip to be among our top favorites and the most epic. We sure felt like freewheeling backpackers in dealing with these mishaps and it was liberating – like how traveling is supposed to be. We’re glad that it happened in in this region which made it easier for us to turn it all around: thanks to its stunning sceneries, diverse, well-preserved culture, extraordinary hospitality and exhilarating adventure! If you also look forward to experiencing these, here’s a…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Lake Sebu Lotus Garden: Paddling through the T’boli Culture

    January 15, 2024
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    ULTIMATE SAMAL ISLAND DIY TRAVEL GUIDE 2026 (Budget + Itinerary)

    January 1, 2026
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    Top 11 Places to Visit in SOCCSKSARGEN (Mindanao)

    January 14, 2024
  • NEGROS OCCIDENTAL TRAVEL GUIDE 2025

    January 3, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Negros Occidental is a wide palette of great wonders of the land and the seas. It is more than just that sough-after flamboyant dance and parade at the streets of Bacolod City held annually or an architecture that tells a story of an undying love. The province lets you take a walk down the rustic and dainty streets of a city, sip a cup of its native coffee in a cafe nestled on a mountain side, chase waterfalls, dive into ship wrecks or protected marine sanctuary, explore its terrestrial natural resources, bask in the sun in its pristine beaches and god knows what other wonders Negros Occidental has that I…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    PHITEX 2020: The Business Unusual

    September 16, 2020

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    Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2020 Experience

    March 7, 2020
  • Puerto Princesa Underground River DIY Travel Guide 2025

    January 1, 2025 / 3 Comments

    I am a true sucker for the world’s greatest explained and unexplained events and things. I love the feeling of fascination, being curious and learning something new. This eagerness has driven me to explore one of my dream travel destinations in the Philippines, the province of Palawan. After diving into the lagoons and shipwrecks in Coron, admiring the spectacular rock formations, hidden beaches and lagoons of El Nido and basking under the sun in the impossibly perfect beaches of Balabac, I decided to do something new in my return to Puerto Princesa, the fourth leg and the last destination in my Palawan Backpacking. I visited the spot as to what the city…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    2026 Romblon Island DIY Travel Guide

    January 1, 2026
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    Lukong Valley Farm: Connecting with Nature through a Healthy Lifestyle

    December 14, 2020
    Nordic Homes Resort: A New Instagram-Worthy AirBnB Near Tagaytay City

    Nordic Homes Resort: A New Instagram-worthy AirBnB near Tagaytay City

    July 24, 2021
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    La Palmera Mountain Ridge: A Captivating Gem of Sultan Kudarat

    January 19, 2024 / 2 Comments

    “I wish I could say we didn’t sign up for this but hell I know we did.” Our bags felt heavier on our shoulders in every step in a partly uphill trail. It was 9:00 in the evening – four hours later than our expected time of arrival at the place and there we were: using up all our remaining energy for the trek. We had to walk our way to station 2 since it has been raining and the dirt road had been muddy. Our tour guides wouldn’t dare having their motorcycles stuck especially in the dark so we agreed to walk our way to our accommodation. Before our…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    DIY Travel Guide to Sta Cruz Island: Pink Beach of Zamboanga

    January 1, 2026

    SOCCSKSARGEN DIY Travel Guide 2026 for Backpackers

    January 1, 2026
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    Top 11 Places to Visit in SOCCSKSARGEN (Mindanao)

    January 14, 2024
  • Places to Visit in SOCCSKSARGEN text with an aerial view of the pier in Isla Jardin del Mar in Glan, Sarangani

    Top 11 Places to Visit in SOCCSKSARGEN (Mindanao)

    January 14, 2024 / 0 Comments

    We recently visited Mindanao for a backpacking trip in SOCCSKSARGEN and we were blown away by its beauty, people’s hospitality and harmony of a diverse, well-preserved culture. It also made us realize how safe it is to travel in this part of Mindanao specifically to the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and city of General Santos; contrary to the stigma that people have about it. If you also plan to explore this part of Mindanao, here’s the top 11 places to visit in SOCCSKSARGEN that you should not miss! Check out this DIY travel guide to SOCCSKSARGEN with budget and itinerary! Asik-Asik Falls in Alamada, Cotabato Enchanting.…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    2026 Bukidnon DIY Travel Guide (Budget + Itinerary)

    January 1, 2026

    SOCCSKSARGEN DIY Travel Guide 2026 for Backpackers

    January 1, 2026
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    La Palmera Mountain Ridge: A Captivating Gem of Sultan Kudarat

    January 19, 2024
  • Everything that You Need to Know About Danjugan Island (2024 TRAVEL GUIDE)

    December 29, 2023 / 6 Comments

        Danjugan island, is situated 3 kilometers off the coast of Brgy. Bulata, Cauayan, Negros Occidental and is surrounded by a marine sanctuary. This 43-hectare island that is 1.5 kilometers long and a half kilometer wide is rich in natural wonders over and above the ocean that has long been treasured thus left untouched and away from any destructive acts. It was said that this island was bought through the green loan to save it from over-fishing. Ever since it was acquired by the PRRCFI around 1990s, fishing around the island has been strictly prohibited. Danjugan Island is Not a Resort As the management claims, Danjugan island is not a…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    August 30, 2020
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    Reimer Residences: An Exclusive Hilltop Resort in Tubigon, Bohol

    December 16, 2021

    Bantayan Island DIY Travel Guide 2025

    January 1, 2025
  • A Solo Backpackers’ Travel Guide to Palawan (Coron, El Nido, Balabac, Puerto Princesa City)

    April 30, 2023 / 9 Comments

    Every day for 17 days, people asked me, “Why are you traveling alone?” I usually tell them that I can’t find people whom I can travel with for that long because they can’t just leave from their job or the trip might cost a fortune. I responded with those because those were the easiest answers I can give. I did not have to explain a thing because the people who asked me could understand. But deep in my heart, I know that it’s not just it. Though partly true, those were not entirely my reasons. Let me tell you, this is beyond the pictures that you see. It’s more than…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    CABONGAOAN BEACH + DEATH POOL 2025 DIY TRAVEL GUIDE

    January 2, 2025
    Aerial view of Itaytay Beach, Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines

    2026 PORT BARTON SAN VICENTE, PALAWAN DIY TRAVEL GUIDE

    January 1, 2026

    Sabtang Island, Batanes: Top 6 Places to Visit for a Day Tour

    January 20, 2024
  • Must Bring Items When Traveling by Sea for Days

    April 4, 2023 / 0 Comments

    I recently visited Coron, Palawan via 2Go Travel and it’s honestly one of the longest sea travel I’ve had. It took us about 54 hours (March 2023) before we get into our destination since the ship had to dock at the Port of Puerto Princesa City first. It was way longer compared to my trip in 2019 when I traveled to Palawan for a backpacking adventure. That may sound excruciating especially with the fact that we did not have signal nor internet the entire time. However, it turned out fun. If you’re wondering how and why, I think it’s just a matter of packing the right stuff. If you’re also…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Top Reasons Why You Should Stay at Bacau Bay Resort Coron

    June 3, 2022 / 1 Comment

    With the unique and naturally beguiling gifts bestowed to it, Coron has made it to the top tourist destinations in the Philippines and the South East Asia. Its raw islands, bone-white, fine sand beaches, limestone formations, lagoons, fascinating coral gardens and historical shipwrecks have drawn tourists from all around the world to this blessed town. I myself could and would never get enough of this beauty that I keep on coming back for it whenever I have a chance to. This year, I was able to rediscover the marvels of Coron as I found out about a new gateway to this paradise. The longer I stayed, the more that I…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Where to Stay in Coron: BACAU BAY RESORT CORON

    April 2, 2022
    Balai Lawom New Freedivers' Chill Hub in Mabini, Batangas

    Balai Lawom: New Freedivers’ Chill Hub in Mabini, Batangas

    August 5, 2021

    La Bella Tagaytay: A Santorini-Inspired Hotel and AirBnB in the South

    March 18, 2018
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THE QUEEN’S ESCAPE

Hi! I’m Queenie Anne Gumiran, the storyteller behind The Queen’s Escape, a Philippine travel and diving blog that celebrates wanderlust, culture, and sustainability. I started this space to share stories that go beyond pristine beaches and scenic peaks — from hidden islands and local eats to my adventures in scuba diving, freediving, and sustainable travel. Through every post, I hope to inspire you to explore the Philippines meaningfully, fall in love with its underwater and island beauty while protecting them, one escape at a time.

Recent Posts

  • THE ULTIMATE BORACAY DIY TRAVEL GUIDE (ITINERARY + BUDGET) 2026
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  • CORON PALAWAN TRAVEL GUIDE (Budget + Itinerary) 2026

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