Up north or down south?

“Where do broken hearts go?”

That one question had exacted such a flurry of interest and curiosity among moviegoers that it sent many local tourists trekking to the exact same spot in Sagada where a portion of the film “That Thing Called Tadhana” was shot. And it surely didn’t disappoint: the stunning view and cool weather alone were more than enough to have made the trip worth their while.

But Sagada is just one of the many captivating attractions and historical sites that local tourists can readily enjoy and explore, thanks to the additional road infrastructure built over the past years, and a robust economy that paved the way for improved spending power among Filipinos. A road trip is now more feasible, and prospects for travel have become even more exciting.

With schools about to go on a semestral break, and with barely two months left before Christmas vacation, it’s time to start crossing out some items from your bucket list of must-see places that should be just hours away by land, whether you’re bringing a car or taking a bus for a more adventurous travel. And if you’re based in the greater Metro Manila area, the question now is, do you go north? Or would you head off further to the south?

To help you decide on your next sojourn, Inquirer Property has drafted a shortlist of some of the must-see places in the northern and southern part of Luzon, which would allow one to indulge in a much needed quick getaway from the urban jungle.