Planning your next getaway? Here’s a fresh way of experiencing local tourist traps

With 7,107 islands to choose from, there’s always a new spot that gets hyped as the next must-visit destination in the country. And while it’s great to broaden our horizons by flying into new territories every now and then, there’s still a lot to be said about time-tested favorites that continue to draw crowds year in and year out.

My Philippines, a new show at CNN Philippines, will have viewers re-treading six of the most popular vacation spots in the country with fresh eyes, with a true-blue local playing as host. For its back-to-back episode this Saturday, December 2, the show will highlight the north, La Union and Baguio in particular.

The waves are cool and all, but there’s more to La Union than just surfing.

With hip eateries and equally hip hostels sprouting up around San Juan, La Union, this northern surf haven has been consistently attracting more than just the surfing types. El Union Coffee is a popular breakfast stop for many visitors, and its owner Kiddo Cosio will be revealing some of San Juan’s other popular attractions. On top of his mini-travelogue, Cosio will also share his insights about raising a young family by the beach.

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Kiddo Cosio will take viewers around La Union.

As for Baguio,there’s more to the country’s summer capital than what we’ve known of it, and singer Ingrid Payaket—a self-proclaimed true-blooded Igorota—hopes to give lowlanders more reasons to make the long drive up to the chilly north.

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Produced in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, My Philippines aims to highlight the unique qualities of different destinations in the country and convince both first-time and frequent visitors to discover and re-discover these places again and again.

Other destinations to be featured are Pampanga, with chef Jam Melchor hosting a gastronomic tour through the country’s first culinary destination; Cebu, with theater and film actress Chai Fonacier highlighting local enterprises that promote sustainability; Batangas, with Lea Lantayan, the first woman to travel the entire country through biking, exploring the province’s more adventurous side; and Albay, with Miss Bicolandia 2017 Kayesha Chua playing the gracious host.

My Philippines airs every Saturday at 7:30 pm on CNN Philippines Free TV Channel 9.

Photos from El Union Coffee‘s and Ingrid Payaket’s Instagram accounts and CNN Philippines.