The Queen's Escape

Storie of connection from the summits to under the seas.

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  • 2026 EL NIDO PALAWAN DIY TRAVEL GUIDE

    July 5, 2026 / 11 Comments

    I was welcomed by an extremely stunning sunset the moment I set foot in El Nido Palawan for the first time. The sky gradually turned into a gorgeous pastel palette. A few settled at the beach too – in awe of the evenfall hues reflecting into the ocean creating an entirely calming mood. The restaurants ashore started to be filled with people who are tired and famished from exploring the best of the islands. I could hear distant chatters and merry laughter. The small waves softly crashed into the shore – a great music to my ear. I took it as El Nido’s way of telling me that I might…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    A Tour Around San Agustin Church and Museum

    January 16, 2020

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    Baluarte de San Diego in Intramuros, Manila

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  • 2025 Puerto Galera DIY Travel Guide (Itinerary + Budget)

    January 3, 2025 / 16 Comments

    Puerto Galera is not dead. While a lot and other provinces in the Philippines make its way into the list of top tourist destination in the country and in the world, this doesn’t make the other places seem less as people speak less of it. One of those in the latter sadly, is Puerto Galera. Consequently, people are missing out a lot on the wonders this town lowkey holds. If you wish to see and be amazed by these in flesh, here’s an updated Puerto Galera DIY travel guide to help you with! At the edge of the grotto in Virgin beach About Puerto Galera Puerto Galera is a Spanish…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    A Tour Around San Agustin Church and Museum

    January 16, 2020

    Balangagan Cave: Southern Sagada’s Underground Wonder

    November 11, 2022
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    Panag-apoy: A Night of Remembering the Dead in Sagada

    November 5, 2022
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    Balabac, Palawan Ultimate DIY Travel Guide 2025 (Itinerary + Budget)

    January 1, 2025 / 40 Comments

    My emotions started to well up at the sight of the island but extreme happiness took over. My insides fluttered with joy – ah, euphoria. I drowned into a whirlpool of words. A million drifted through my open mind but none escaped from my very mouth. My lips turned into an upward curve instead that only God knows how long it was like that. I was just staring, lost in the reverie – grateful for the moment, amazed by the incomparably pure and unspoiled beauty. So this is Balabac. How mornings are like in Onuk Island I hankered to run barefoot and feel the fine sand on my feet, the…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Baler DIY Travel Guide 2025 (Places to Visit + Itinerary)

    January 1, 2025
    Top Places to Visit in Sagada

    Top Places to Visit in Sagada, Mountain Province

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    DIY Travel Guide to Layag Layag Beach Camp with Budget and Itinerary

    July 11, 2017
  • 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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    Baler DIY Travel Guide 2025 (Places to Visit + Itinerary)

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    A Tour Around San Agustin Church and Museum

    January 16, 2020

    2025 Puerto Galera DIY Travel Guide (Itinerary + Budget)

    January 3, 2025
  • Garin Farm, San Joaquin Iloilo 2023 Travel Guide

    October 6, 2020 / 1 Comment

    Take a break and reflect how good your life is as you take a 360 degree view atop Garin Farm Pilgrimage Resort in San Joaquin, Iloilo. Garin Farm Pilgrimage Resort is a 14-hectare land managed by Mr. Oca Garin uniquely designed to offer you a variety of awesome scenery and fun-filled activities as it is a farm, resort and pilgrimage resort in one. The location is quite accessible from any point of departure in the sixth largest island of the Philippines, Panay Island. This has been a part of backpackers’ and travelers’ itinerary should they explore the island per se, including Aklan and Antique. WARNING. Foul odor approaching. Don’t worry,…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Pampanga Food Guide: What and Where to Eat

    January 2, 2025
    the famous Kayangan Lake of Coron, Palawan, Philippines is among the Reasons Why You Should Visit Coron

    Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Coron this 2025

    December 31, 2024
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    Domelis Camping Site: A Haven for Campers in Cavinti, Laguna

    July 13, 2021
  • a girl with a backpack looking up

    Packing Hacks and Tips with Traveler’s Bag Raid

    April 14, 2020 / 0 Comments

      After years of traveling, I learned a lot of things about backpacking including packing hacks. With that, I am sharing with you my packing hacks for traveling light and the stuff inside my travel bag.   Packing for a trip is truly exciting. It reminds us that we’ll be out on an adventure in few days. Consequently, it is vexing (especially for us, women) because as much as we want to take a lot of things with us to our trips, we need to be practical. We need to carefully weigh and choose the right stuff to save ourselves from a lot of hassle. Pre-packing Hacks and Tips Planning…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Ten Safety Tips for Solo Travelers

    August 1, 2020
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    Amazing Travel Tips for Teachers

    January 21, 2021

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    April 4, 2023
  • An aerial view of islets and a blue-green lake below

    My Top 5 Backpacking Trips in the Philippines

    April 10, 2020 / 0 Comments

    Organized joiner tours used to be my thing because it’s convenient and cheaper as we get to split expenses with the others. Consequently, I started imagining how great would it be to be traveling around on my own.  Also, I wanted to bring out the street-smart traveler in me who goes from one point to another by myself. That’s when I started backpacking. After a few trips, I realized how greater the experience is! I even met and became friends with a lot of locals who introduced me to their respective provinces and cultures. Most importantly, I realized how learning was more valuable in DIY backpacking trips. With that, I…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    2026 EL NIDO PALAWAN DIY TRAVEL GUIDE

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    Hello K-Kit: A New and Fun Way to Enjoy Korean Food at Home!

    January 16, 2021
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    Top Places to Visit in Sagada, Mountain Province

    January 19, 2024
  • 10 BEST Things to Do in Camiguin Island, Philippines

    September 29, 2019 / 0 Comments

    The “Island Born of Fire” does not disappoint. This pear-shaped island located at the Northern Mindanao may be the second to the smallest island that is a province in the Philippines but it holds a great adventure for everyone. I marveled at the great wonders Camiguin offers and it truly got me in awe. With that, I am sharing with you the ten things that you can do if you visit the island that will surely make you feel Camiguin (come again). 1. SCUBA Diving The island of Camiguin is situated in Bohol sea and is surrounded with ocean bearing a rich marine life. There are also nearby marine sanctuaries…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    APO REEF NATURAL PARK TRAVEL GUIDE 2026

    January 1, 2026
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    Freediving in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

    January 19, 2024
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    Best Dive Sites in Batangas 2023

    January 19, 2022
  • Bookaway: An Online Express to a Transit from a Paradise to Another

    June 21, 2019 / 0 Comments

    I recently went on a 17-day solo backpacking in Palawan and it’s seriously one of the best thing I’ve ever done in my entire existence (so far). Considered as a home to some of the best islands not just in the Philippines but the world, Palawan indeed has a lot to offer which can effortlessly make everyone fall in love with it. I have heard of and seen people who have shared their backpacking trips and stories to a town or two of this province. Given a long break from my job and in the best season of the year, I thought of doing a long backpacking, too. Good thing, planning…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    THE ULTIMATE BORACAY DIY TRAVEL GUIDE (ITINERARY + BUDGET) 2026

    May 21, 2026

    Requirements for Local Travel: Where and How to Get

    September 12, 2020
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    SIQUIJOR TRAVEL GUIDE 2020 (Budget and Itinerary)

    May 17, 2018
  • Cebu-Siquijor Backpacking: Places to Visit, Where to Stay, Activities, Itinerary and Sample Budget

    May 22, 2018 / 0 Comments

    Cebu, dubbed as the Queen City of the South, has been eyed by both foreign and local tourists due to the vast enthralling scenes and activities that the history books didn’t mention yet will surely quench one’s thirst for some adrenaline rush and give one an infinite capacity to be amazed and thankful for the adventure and experience. It never runs out of something new for people always breaks into another piece of paradise in the province that is yet known to everyone. The same thing goes with its neighboring island, Siquijor. If Cebu is an open book, this off the beaten path province is gradually making its way to…

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    Anne Elizabeth Gumiran

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    Balinmanok Cove: Home of a Shipwreck in Pangasinan

    March 15, 2021

    Pampanga Food Guide: What and Where to Eat

    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
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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

  • Sagada Travel Guide with DIY Itinerary and Budget 2026
  • Ratio RTFL Review: A Diver and Traveler’s Perspective
  • 2026 EL NIDO PALAWAN DIY TRAVEL GUIDE
  • THE ULTIMATE BORACAY DIY TRAVEL GUIDE (ITINERARY + BUDGET) 2026
  • Best Things to Do in Boracay in 2026

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