A long, long time ago, some Filipinos thought the moon was a silver crescent comb and the stars were necklaces of diamonds. The sky was said to be a mere arm-stretch away overhead. The Philippine myth goes this way.
The myth says that once, a small community lived in the middle of a rice field. They focused on rice and corn agriculture and they brought in abundant harvest each year. One of the families in the community was Maria’s family. The myth continues that people in the community were so close that they knew each other well. Maria was know there as a pretty girl.
Particularly, she was known for caring too much for her long, silky hair. The myth says it was her pride, and lots of other girls in the neighborhood envied her for it. And Maria loved it. She fancied herself the star of her village. So, the myth goes that she worked double time on her beauty, especially her long, jet black hair.
Maria cared so much for her hair. The myth says, aside from daily comprehensive herbal rituals, she regularly brushed her hair with a special silver crescent-shape comb. The myth says she let nothing touch her hair except the best material around. Even as she went about her daily chore she wore a coiled string of jewels and diamonds (supposedly common as ordinary rocks that time) to crown her hair---that’s aside from the jeweled necklace she wore.
One day, according to the myth, as she was pounding grains of corn and palay (rice stalks) in a native wooden pestle with a wooden mortar, her mother noticed the jeweled string around her head , the silver comb stuck in her hair, and the jeweled lace round her neck. She scolded her and told her to lay aside everything while working. So, continues the myth, Maria hanged the comb and jewelry on the sky above her. Wanting to finish her work in a hurry, she pounded the grains hard by raising the mortar really high. She didn’t notice hitting the sky which went up higher as she hit it with her pounding. Soon the sky went all the way up, along with her comb and jewelry. And they became the moon and the stars, according to his Philippine myth.
The myth’s lesson? Don’t be too preoccupied with vain personal beauty. Work always comes first. Too much self indulgence is bound to compromise on things that really count.
Boracay is famous for its white sand beaches and waterfront bars and restaurants. That is why swimming, dining and barhopping are some of the activities that tourist participate. However, Boracay has other attractions beside white sand beaches and dining establishments. There are many other events, activities and destinations that will make a stay in the island more enjoyable.
The famous White Beach is where most vacationers congregate. This four-kilometer street of white sand is an ideal place for just lounging and wading since the waters off this beach are shallow. Shops near this beach offer tourists the chance to shop for souvenirs and shell accessories. While restaurants offer a variety of dishes, charbroiled chicken and raw fish marinated in vinegar are popular in these restaurants. At night, the place is turned into a festive place as tourists hop among bars and enjoy the nightlife.
Since Boracay is surrounded by water, it is no wonder that visitors can participate in activities other than swimming. Resorts and establishments offer a wide variety of aquatic sports and activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing. Yapak is a popular dive site for scuba diving enthusiasts.
For the adventure seekers trekking, mountain-biking, caving, horseback riding are some of the activities that can be participated in. These activities gives a chance to discover the inner part of the island as they discover dirt tracks, hills and mountains as well as isolated coves hidden from the tourist crowd.
Near Boracay is Tibiao River. One can enjoy white water rafting in this river as it portions of the river are graded three to four. Aside from the attraction of white water rafting, Tibiao River is very attractive destination for tourists since it has clear waters, lush vegetation along its banks, spectacular views of rice terraces and majestic falls.
Another popular destination in Boracay is in Bulabog Beach. Boardsailing enthusiasts visit the islands from November to March to engage in their favorite activity. Every January, the International Funboard Cup is held in this beach. For the more experienced boardsailers, Tabon Strait offers great sailing waters.
Another attraction of the island is Paraw Regatta. This is a sailboat race. The uniqueness of this regatta is that Paraw, an outrigger native to the region, is used in this race.
Some establishments have facilities for traditional sports such as golf, tennis, bowling and beach volleyball.
Another reason to visit Boracay is the festival of Pana-ad sa Loboc held every Maundy Thursday and Good Friday of the Holy Week (it is either March or April). This festivity is held in honor of the Our Lady Of Guadalupe. This is a music and dance festivity as people dance after the rhythm of drums and gongs known as Bolibong Kingking.
Looking for the perfect getaway from all the work-related stress? Searching for that perfect honeymoon spot? Imagine yourself lying on a pristine white sand beach dotted with lush greens and grass thatched cottages, a cool tropical breeze kissing your suntanned cheeks, the sound of rushing waves from the clear blue ocean beckoning you to dip into it’s cool, soothing waters. And then head back to your private villa to relax and enjoy the scenic view. Experience all that bliss and more in Bohol’s Panglao Island Nature Resort.
Located in Bingag, Dauis, Bohol, all it takes to get there is a one and a half hour plane ride from Manila to Tagbilaran. The resort offers free shuttle bus transfers to and from the airport which only takes around 30 minutes.
Upon arriving at the resort, guests are treated to a welcome drink and a cool towel to freshen up.
Choose from either a beach front or garden view guestroom, with each cottage having its own private lanai. Or opt to have your own bungalow nestled atop the cliffs, with a private jacuzzi and a spectacular view of the sea.
The rooms in themselves are already a mini-paradise for the weary. Each room is equipped with an in-room coffee and tea maker, remote controlled air-conditioning, satellite cabled TV, IDD/NDD phone service, refrigerator, personal café, hairdryer, veranda with drying rack, and a private bathroom with hot and cold shower, (bathtub in the De Luxe rooms and outdoor Jacuzzi in the Bungalows). The large glass windows allow you to enjoy the view outside, even while taking a shower in the bathroom. Wi-fi internet access is also available throughout the resort; just take note that all electrical outlets are 220 volts.
Even dining is a delight to the senses. The restaurant features the best of Filipino and Western cuisine in an elegant yet relaxed beachfront setting. Breakfast and dinner are complimentary.
If you’re up for some fun, you could visit the resort’s natural underground Cambagat Cave, which is just a 5 minute walk from the hotel lobby. Feel free to use the fitness gym, and the lap pool at the spa or take a dip in the cool waters of their infinity pool. A game room complete with facilities for darts, chess, table tennis, and billiards is also available.
For the more adventurous, there are a variety of activities and guided tours to choose from including: scuba diving, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, Island Hopping Tour, Sunset Cruising, Bohol Countryside Tour, cave diving and swimming, Loboc River Cruise, Chocolate Hills Tour, Old Churches Tour, and Antique Shopping.
You are sure to get excellent service and exquisite pampering from the resort's staff and crew with the 24-hour room service, laundry and dry cleaning service, and dining service.
The rates are reasonable, with a Superior Room at $143 per night, De Luxe Room at $168 and the Bungalow for $183. For more information on their rates and services or to make reservations online.
The fine amenities, spectacular views, and excellent service make this island resort a natural paradise where one could simply relax, be pampered, and leave all their cares behind. A perfect getaway for families, couples, and a great venue for business gatherings, Panglao Island Nature Resort is definitely one of the best resorts in Bohol that is worth including on your list of dream vacations.
Engaging in wreck diving in Subic Bay, Philippines, in order to have a closer glimpse of the USS New York wreck, should not be a light venture to take for those who aren’t adept in diving. In fact, wreck diving for the USS New York (now, known to most as the USS Rochester) - lying deep in the mud on its port side in the waters of Subic Bay, Philippines - is said to be one of the most trickiest diving sites in the country.
The reason for this is that many earlier wreck diving attempts in Subic Bay, Philippines, had ended up losing a few good divers who had sought to gain a different diving experience while enjoying the features of the sunken USS New York ship wreck.
However, even with this danger, and although four other wreck diving sites can be found in Subic Bay, Philippines, the option of seeking out a piece of history (when wars and battlefields were a common thing that were experienced by the people) still remains with the USS New York vessel that had sunk in 1941 as the best diver’s paradise.
The Vessel:
Lying in 100’ of the clear, blue waters of Subic Bay, Philippines, the USS New York is still a rare beauty even though bits and parts of it had been damaged and its wooden parts have given way to its hard steel structure.
Although the report by HCU-1, during the Vietnam War, mentions that explosives had set the severe damages of the wreck, a closer wreck diving exploration would show that the sunken vessel is pretty much not altered. There is, however, certain blemished features that may be seen at the bow – particularly on the starboard side and on the gun decks.
Interesting Features:
Exploration within the USS New York ship wreck can be done through numerous portals: The gun deck, the boiler rooms, or the large, gaping hole in the bow.
For wreck diving in Subic Bay, Philippines to be a breathtaking experience, it’s best to explore certain areas of the vessel which includes some of the following places:
* The Main Deck
Approximately six foot high, this is the topmost deck of the ship, and divers can behold the artistic beauty of turret guns which were made a long time ago.
* The Gun Deck
The interior here is mostly amiss, and makes it easier for divers to access.
* The Engine Deck
This is the hardest place to enter since it is located at the lowest sunken point of the wreck. Around 20 feet in height, certain access points are hard to find.
Wreck diving for the USS New York vessel in Subic Bay, Philippines will continue for many years to come even though it may be too dangerous for some divers to take. This is because there are lately news reports that state that this sunken ship, and the four others that are within these waters, will be preserved for their rich historical embodiment of how the world was during those earlier times.