Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

"Banaue Rice Terraces, which has been recently named as one of the 50 greatest travel destinations in the world, has gained another distinction on the pages of TNT, one of the top travel magazines in the United Kingdom. The premier travel and lifestyle magazine came out with a four-page, full-color article, and a front-page mention of the rice terraces.

Prior to this, the National Geographic Traveler magazine, in its October 2009 anniversary edition, included the Rice Terraces of the Cordillera in the 50 places of a lifetime, highlighting the world's greatest travel destinations. The National Geographic described the rice terraces as "masterpieces of agrarian art."

On the latest article by TNT, seasoned writer/photographer Mike Stratton featured a stunning view of the Banaue Rice Terraces, with the expanse of the green mountains. The Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed that it hosted Stratton’s summer visit to Banaue, in cooperation with Cathay Pacific Airways and local ground handlers and suppliers"


“The Philippines is definitely a place that tourists would not forget about even after they have returned to their home countries. Our diverse attractive spots and rich culture leave lingering impressions that travel enthusiasts just couldn’t resist---so they keep coming back,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

Stratton shared that Filipinos have long regarded the over 2000-year old rice terraces as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.

A chat with a local guide added thoughtful insight to Stratton’s article as he found out that younger locals prefer going to the cities for better-paying jobs, making the effort to preserve the Banaue rice terraces a difficult feat.

“Every country is faced with the challenge of safeguarding its natural sites. What’s important is that we are bravely addressing these concerns, and are continuously boosting community tourism through dialogues and active campaigns,” said Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions.

Stratton underlined Batad as the finest place to view the rice terraces, and described how Batad’s rustic way of life, its people, and its wildlife have made Banaue truly awe-inspiring.

As if bringing along the readers to the tricky path he treaded to Tappiya Falls, Stratton also engagingly described his Batad rice terraces hike survival. Beholding his destination, he wrote: “…Tappiya falls was more cappuccino than skinny latte—its powerful, foamy flow plunged 40m, thudding with real fury into a pool. At that moment I didn’t need to be told that I was experiencing one of the great natural wonders of the world. I knew it.”

Another highlight of the article was the travel guidelines provided by the author, alongside the Banaue main feature. From Filipino food choices to the best time to visit and how to get around, to the best islands to suit one’s activity fancy, and the story of the jeepney, Stratton has provided readers things they need to learn and anticipate for a visit in the Philippines. Cloud 9 in Siargao Island, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, and the Philippine jeepney were among the Philippine sights featured in photos."

Zamboanga Philippines

"This Zamboanga sightseeing guide will give you a tour of the place known as the Little Spain in the Philippines. You’ll immediately notice the heavy mix of Spanish with the vernacular the minute you talk to any of the locals. Nowhere has there been heavier Spanish influence here in the Philippines than in Zamboanga City.

Let’s begin our Zamboanga sightseeing guide with the natural attractions you’ll find here. Zamboanga has a lot of beautiful beaches that bring in local and foreign tourists. Three of the most popular beaches here are Bolong Beach, the pink sandy coral beaches Santa Cruz Island, and ever-famous La Vista del Mar. Another interesting place to see here is Pasonanca Park, which is also known as Little Baguio. Pasonanca Park is famous for camping and a cool retreat from summer due its elevation of 500 feet above sea level.

We now move on to the man-made attractions in our Zamboanga sightseeing guide. You’ll find traces of Spanish architecture all over Zamboanga City. Some of the surviving structures you’ll find would even date back to the Spanish era. For instance Fort Pilar was built in 1635 to ward off marauders. Today it stands as a shrine that marks a historical site in the Philippines.

Zamboanga’s City Hall was built in 1905. The construction was initiated by the Spanish but was taken over by the Americans when they took over. Five minutes from the city hall is the Pettit Barracks, named after James S. Pettit, a colonel in the United States Army when they captured the city.

Another reason to visit Pasonanca Park, aside from the cool soothing temperature, is its aviary. Located seven and a half kilometers from the city proper, you’ll find various local and foreign species of birds on display. It won’t be uncommon to find families spending an afternoon here.

We’ll now look into some of the delectable highlights in our Zamboanga sightseeing guide. A tour of Zamboanga won’t be complete without sampling the delicacies that make it famous. You can visit any of the alfresco and outdoor restaurants to sample the best of Zamboanga cuisine. Much of the food served are Spanish with a local twist, which is a bit unique in this part of the Philippines. Some of the must sample dishes are pochero, callos de andalucia, and arroz valenciana.

To cap off our Zamboanga sightseeing guide we have the cultural celebrations that occur year round. Zamboanga City is famous for its cultural activities that include enchanting song and dance festivals. The city streets become one of the most colorful ones in the Philippines. The most popular festival here is the Regatta de Zamboanga. It is a festival of many colorful sailboats that highlights a race across the nearby waters.

This Zamboanga sightseeing guide highlights many of the unique features of the city. It is truly one of the peculiar places in the Philippines that deserves the title of Little Spain."

CEBU Philippines

"Cebu is the traveler's fantasy of a tropical island come true - balmy weather, pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and luxurious resorts with all the frills of modern living.

The island-province of Cebu was where the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity in the name of Spain in 1521. But even before Cebu became the Occidental gateway to the Orient, it was already a popular entry point among Asian merchants.

Cebu has since blossomed into a choice tourist destination, with many leisure establishments taking full advantage of its sea-valley-and-mountain location.

Metropolitan Cebu, the country's second biggest metropolis, is the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas. Hotels, shopping malls, entertainment halls, casinos and golf fairways are ever present in the metro to cater to every tourist's whim.

The rest of Cebu's 166 islands and islets are fringed with sandy beaches and sapphire-clear waters teeming with marine life, perfect for divers."

Tinago Falls, Philippine

"Tinago Falls which is also known as ” Hidden Falls ” is basically located in between the City of Iligan and province of Linamon, Lanao Del Norte. Its was one of the beautiful spots in Iligan which is highly visited by a lot foreigners nor even those local people who wish to explore and experience the beautiful paradise of Tinago Falls.

Tinago Falls is one of the main tourist attractions in Iligan, a city known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls. Tinago is a Filipino word meaning “hidden”, the falls being hidden in a deep ravine. Trekking to the falls requires approximately 500 descending steps called the winding staircase. It is said that Tinago Falls is a sanctuary for weary souls seeking to commune with nature. The trip to the falls actually exposes you to a variety of wildlife. Today, the trail is refurbished into a wildlife park hosting different species of wild animals.

The falls is approximately 240-feet high, its very cold waters cascading beautifully into a deep and calm basin-like pool which appears like a blue-colored lagoon. Under the falls is a small cave where people can enter and listen to the rumbling waters. The foot of the falls is a very ideal place for swimming. The place also has man-made swimming pools for children. It is truly a majestic place that resounds an atmosphere of serenity, a perfect escape from the noisy metropolitan.

As of this present time, Tinago Falls is still highly visited by a lot of people who wanted to witness the amazing its beauty and people who wish to have a great time in this place. But if you use to be in this place you have to follow some guidelines to avoid any serious matters ’cause before you reach the said falls you have to take for about 500 staircase. So, those people who do have a heart problems is not encourage to visit this place. I’m sorry for that but its actually one of the specific standards.

So, if you guys are eager enough to visit this place better grab it now! Been to this place already for a couple of times since, Iligan is my native town!… Enjoy everyone!"

Pearl Farm Resort Samal Philippines

"If your looking for a great destination island hopping escape in Southern Philippines, Then you are looking for a world class destination getaway in Davao. The Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Samal Island Davao is one of the popular and great destination for island hopping in Southern Philippines.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort is located in the southern part of the Philippines in Samal group of Island that consists of an archipelago of nine islands that stretch out over a land area of 26,000 Hectares. The Pearl farm is situated on the hillside cliff covered on the quiet side of Samal Island off Davao City with lush vegatation, a beautiful area that is transformed into a world class resort. The Samal Island is known to be very beautiful with a tranquil and very exotic island with magnificent white sand beaches and an excellent and very abundant marine life. Samal Island in Davao has a beautiful landscape with excellent rock formations, mangroves, coconut elements, flowering plants and fruit-bearing trees. Saml Island is indeed an island paradise that is good for holiday getaway so that you can have peace of mind and can totally relax that has excellent batural attraction sceneries and flourishing flora and fauna.

This is called Pearl Farm because it was once an 11-heactare spread pearl farm with thousands of white-lipped oysters, transported from the Sulu Sea, were cultivated for their pink, white and gold pearls. Now this farm is transformed into a world class beach resort called the Pearl Farm Beach Resort that gives local visitors and tourists a perfect setting for a relaxing and escape to a busy and stressful work in the city. The Pearl Farm Island Resort is a precious gateway where guests can revel in tropical pleasures, relish life’s flavors and feast on nature’s bounties.

The Pearl Farm beach resort is also known for its air-conditioned Samal Houses that are patterned after the stit houses of seafaring Samal tribes of the Sulu archipelago. You can see schools of tiny fishes that frolics between the sturdy poles that support the houses. At night time, you can hear the relaxing sound of waves of the sea that is very soothing to your ears and can ive you peace of mind. You will get tempted to the prestine crystal clear blue waters of the Pearl Island beach resort because it is so inviting.

There are lots of things to do to enjoy yourself in Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Samal Island. There are lots of water activities can be done like Jetskiing, hobie cat sailing, scuba diving and many more for water sports enthusiasts. Beacuse Samal Island is very abundant in marine life, you can see lots of rare aquatic species underwater such as pawikan (marine turtle), the giant taklobo clams and colorful marine life species. Explore the vast of unexplored depths of Samal island and see the beauty that lies underwater. Great opporunities awaits to the enthusiastic beginner or an expert scuba diver. It is also great for underwater photography.

If you want to explore the or sail around the calm seas of Samal island, you can get a bance and do some island hopping. Explore the magnificant and dazzling coral gardens of Samal Island. See the beautiful surrounding landscape of the Resort and follow the wooden footbridges and walkways as they meander through the exotic gardens of the resort. Island structures are made of natural materials such as bamboo, wood, rope, stone and coral.

The Parl Farm Beach Resort is landscape and designed to reflect the rich culture, heritage and history of the indigenous tribes that once live here in the past. The Maranao Restaurant features delicious Filipino and International Cuisine with fresh seafood specialties. A wide assortment of exotic tropical fruits uch as bananas, durian, santol, papaya, green mandarin, mangosteen and mangoes grow abundantly in the fertile landscapes of Davao and neighboring provinces, as well as Samal Island itself, giving Pearl Farm the ease to serve them fresh at the Maranao Restaurant. The Parola Bar was once a lighthouse lookout post when this Resort was once a pearl farm. The Parola bar has an ambience with great music, drinks and conversation that is very inviting to the guest to spend the night in the resort."

Camiguin Island Philippines

"Camiguin is an island well-endowed by Mother Nature with a wealth of volcanoes and numerous waterfalls, hot and cold springs, as well as a covey of outlying islands ringed by white-sand beaches.
In the heart of the island bubbles the flowing mineral pools of Ardent Hot Springs. Mists rise from the heated waters running down from the vents of Hibok-Hibok Volcano, the only active one among the seven on the island. Revel in the therapeutic waters. Picnic beneath the sheltering trees. Enjoy a game of darts or table tennis, comfortable dormitory - type rooms and duplex cottages are available for overnighters.

By day, take a side trip to some of Camiguin Island's attractions: the clear pools of Sto. Nino Cold Spring, the slender beauty of Katibawasan Falls, and the isolated white-sand bar called simply White Island. This is also the favorite jump-off point for trekkers and mountaineers in search of adventure in the slopes of Mt. Hibok-Hibok."

Nagtabon Beach, Palawan

"Nagtabon Beach is one of the popular tourist spot in Puerto Princesa City. It is a 45 minutes drive from the City Proper. It is located in Bacungan, one of the Southern Barangays in Puerto Princesa. The beach boast of a white sand beach with crystal clear waters. It has a breathtaking view of the South Cina Sea. Many tourist visits or frequents the place."

Baguio

"Rumored to be haunted, the former Diplomat Hotel stands on top of Dominican Hill, near the Lourdes Grotto here in Baguio City, Philippines. The hotel ceased its operations and was declared an off-limits zone when Tony Agpaoa, the owner/manager of the hotel died of a heart attack (link here).

The building was a rest house and seminary (Year 1911) before it was turned into a hotel.

During the 2nd World War, Dominican Hill was occupied by refugees fleeing from the Japanese Army Liberation Forces. Later the Japanese forces bombed the refugees out which resulted in extensive damages to the main structure and the surrounding area. Reconstruction work started in 1947 and was completed in about a year. (Source)

We were asked by the guard what our purpose was in going there. Then he let us sign the logbook. I think it’s best to go here early in the morning. I think the fog in the afternoon will contribute more to the ‘eerie feeling’ of the place.

I have to admit, after reading stories in the internet, I felt quite nervous when I entered the former hotel. Water was dropping from the ceiling. It is dilapidated and eeriely quiet.

I think it will be made into a first class hotel named “Baguio Heritage Hotel”.

This coming 2009, the former hotel will be made into museum showcasing photographs and documents of the city’s development over the years."

Davao City

"Close to Davao City is Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak and home to the monkey-eating Philippine Eagle, an endagered species, and the waling-waling, a rare ochid of exceptional beauty.

BACKGROUND
Davao City is one of the most alluring gateways to the Philippines. There are two reasons which make Davao unique: its people and its warm hospitality. Within bucolic highlands, migrants from all over the country live in harmony with indigenous tribal folk.
Close to Davao City is Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak and home to the monkey-eating Philippine Eagle, an endagered species, and the waling-waling, a rare ochid of exceptional beauty.

Of late, Davao has become a booming tourist destination as evidenced by the rise of leisure establishments in the region.
Davao is also the biggest cutflower producer in the country and a major exporter of tropical fruits.
A tour of the city and its outskirts will bring the visitor to Dabaw Etnica, a tiny settlement of the Mandaya Tribe; Dabaw Museum whose diaplay includes tribal artifacts and costumes; and the Taoist and Lon Wa Buddhist Temples.
Davao is also known for its exquisite beaches, there is even an old Perl Farm that has been converted into a world-class resort. These beaches are all easily accessible by banca (out-rigger boat) or land travel."