The instant that you hear Dipolog beaches many people instantly think of Dakak. The coastal area of Dipolog is on the northwestern side of Zamboanga del Norte. Beaches in Dipolog are often described with shimmering sand that is so pure and white. The waters are always blue and clear. The beaches in Dipolog also have good diving spots. There are still more beaches in Dipolog aside from Dakak. There are beaches that are near the Sulu sea. The Dakak is a wide beach with seven hundred fifty meters. It has white sand and it is near Dapitan. Dakak beach is ranked six on the best ten beaches of the Philippines list. Dipolog is truly proud of this honor.
Dipolog is a southern Philippine city filled with culture, history and arts as well. This place has appealed to many tourists for years. The Galas Dark Gray Beach is one of the beaches many tourists and residents there frequent. The sand here is of course gray but this is an ideal place to have a picnic. The place is regularly maintained so it is always clean. From Dipolog you can go to Galas beach by using any transportation because it is just five kilometers from the capital. The color of the sand is because of the Manganese sulphate that abounds in the sand. Many people are attracted to Galas beach because it is considered a public place which means that it is cheaper to go there. The place is very clean and the ambience is very relaxing.
The attraction to Galas Dark Gray Beach is easy to understand. Aside from being a public beach making it inexpensive to go to, it is clean and relaxing. Hearing the waves lap gently on the sand at the Galas Dark Gray Beach is enough to soothe the most troubled individual and it is a place where adults and children alike can enjoy. At the Galas Dark Gray Beach, while children go swimming, adults engage in light conversation putting aside the frenzied and hurried lives we live in for most of the week.
Miputak Beach is another beach in Dipolog where many locals would go to spend time with their families. The place is open for everyone. You can do so many sports in Miputak Beach. They can camp, skim boarding, diving , scuba diving and then walking along the shore. Some locals also like treeking along the hills that are near. There are several resorts and hotels in Miputak beach. Most of them offer tour packages or diving packages.
Camping on the sand is also a good activity you can do in Miputak Beach. Families and friends can just set up one tent and sleep over near the beach. Many working adults go here to get a release from the daily stress of earning a living.
Nowhere else in the world can ingeniously innovated army jeeps be seen racing along inner roads and main highways except in the Philippines. The “jeepney,” a coined word in Philippine transportation jargon, means an army jeep in its civilian (not necessarily smaller) version. The jeepney, with its driver, is commonly referred today in Philippine transportation as the “King of the Road.”
It was first conceptualized after World War II when US army jeeps used in the war littered the war-torn streets of devastated Manila. After mapping and cleaning up operations the damaged army jeeps remained crowding up the city. The Americans were reluctant to take the huge junk back home so they left without the war relic with them. Philippine transport ingenuity came into the picture.
How could Filipinos re-use the metal scraps? The body was good and the motor was a bit salvageable. With a little imagination and tinkering skill, they came up with a demilitarized jeep they christened “Jeepney.” Furthermore, with a little art work and resourceful upholstery, the whole thing became transport-friendly and was soon test-run on the road.
The first jeepneys were short Philippine transport public vehicles with front and back seats. The back seats were lateral, making two rows of passengers facing each other. Only three persons per row could sit. The front seat accommodated three passengers, driver included. Later, these Philippine transport vehicles were embellished with waving bright colored ribbons, miniature metal models of horses or planes, toy wind mills, ribboned steering wheel and shift stick, and small mirrors and more hangings everywhere.
Much later the Philippine transport artists came in. They rendered the thing in full color, with liberal amounts of multi-colored stripes and arcs and curves, making it look like a Muslim vinta on the road. The jeepney’s ceiling was painted with rustic scenes of native huts and rice fields, coconut palms dancing in the wind. Right above the driver’s seat were painted names in wavy styles, often names of the driver’s wife and kids, or mistresses.
Today, the jeepney is a modernized 21-seater Philippine transport vehicle equipped with stereo components and loud speakers, push buttons, roving and fog lights, electric fans, tweeters, buzzers, and other fancy accessories for a hit-tech look. The driver even has a “co-pilot” beside him. Some jeepneys in Makati are even fully air conditioned.
Philippine transport has a superstar in the jeepney---this road king of a public vehicle ingeniously derived from a vintage US war jeep.
One of my favorite foods or delicacies I consider is 'Sisig'. The crunchiness, spice tingling taste and its sour based flavor made it a truly uniquely 'Filipino'. I even asked my one of my relatives to teach me how to cook 'Sisig' in her own version. Cooking the dish was a learning experience; the procedure needed a lot of effort and in order to perfect it, one must learn the secret of the 'know-how' of the dish.
I had cooked the dish twice or thrice since it needed a lot of effort, as I had said. Whenever there would be a sort of drinking sessions, 'Sisig' would definitely complete the gathering. During my college days, I was dubbed by one of the refectory servers as 'Mr.Sisig' for obvious reason. I always ordered or asked for the same dish every lunch time. I recalled searching for the origin of ‘Sisig’ for a day instead of researching for my thesis.
My girlfriend was from Pampanga and she knew about my 'obsession' with the dish. She surprised me as she asked me to accompany her at home and spend our short break with her family. Her mom cooked a special 'Kare-kare' (Philippine stew) also one of my favorite. I never appreciated peanut butter but, 'Kare-kare' was an exception. The dish was made from variety of vegetables, oxtail, tripe, beef and peanut sauce. Anyway I looked for 'Sisig' but to my surprise, it was not in the menu. It seemed that one of my girlfriend’s siblings noticed a sort of disappointment in my aura. I then observed my girlfriend and her parents whispered something and had grinned. I sensed they were up to something. The lunch continued then we rested for sometime.
My girlfriend then asked me to prepare because we would be going somewhere else and it would be a surprise. We went to SM (a famous local mall in the Philippines originally stands for 'Shoe Mart') and I observed a lot of locals gathering. As if I was hearing a count down or a loud music, all of a sudden the place was literally filled with 'Sisig'! it was the annual 'Sisig' Festival that we were going to attend to and my girlfriend gave me a sweet kiss on my cheek asked me to open my mouth then she gave me a spoonful of my favorite 'Sisig'! It was a lovely and memorable afternoon for me again with my beloved and her family. Her parents then asked me to celebrate Hearts' Day with them instead of being somewhere else with their daughter. I simply said a definite 'Yes!' to their request.
Months after the 'Sisig' Festival, my girlfriend reminded me of my commitment to her parents. I even gave her an assurance that it would be happening. As far as I could recall, we went back to Pampanga again before Valentine's Day. I was surprised that from Los Baños, Laguna, we had a non-stop travel going to Angeles City, Pampanga. We had not even had a chance to drop by at their home to leave some loads to make ourselves a bit comfortable. As we arrived at the venue, I saw a familiar sports utility vehicle and my girlfriend just opened the trunk and put all our things and headed towards the hot-air balloon field and this was actually the first (1st) time I saw such huge balloons with their pilots in them! Her dad told me that this festival had been celebrated for seven (7) or eight (8) years in Pampanga. I was really a crowd drawer. Since my girlfriend's dad was part of the organizing team, they planned to have it longer than the usual weekend affair. I was really happy that time. Spending Hearts' Day with your beloved and her loved ones as well made us even closer.
Angeles City has been transformed and has improved to a booming export processing area or zone in Pampanga. The two festivals are indeed tourist attraction and are definitely an income generating event for the benefit of the municipality. Since Angeles City has been strategically located to the busy lifestyle of Metro Manila, commerce and business would certainly flourish.
Considered as the regional center of education within the western parts of Visayas, Iloilo City showcases reputable colleges and universities. These institutions of higher education aim to provide students with the highest quality of learning possible. As part of the impressive Iloilo education system, these schools offer students modern facilities, advanced curricula and convenient services. More than anything else, they offer affordable yet high quality education for everyone.
Established on September 14, 1917, people can find Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus along General Hughes Street. This outstanding school features highly in-demand degree programs such as Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. For those who wish to enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, they can major in Front Office and Housekeeping Management, Food and Beverages Services Management as well as Culinary Arts and Kitchen Management.
University of San Agustin is famous in the area because of its extensive academic programs and student services. Founded in 1904, this educational institution has established several communication and research centers such as the Institute for Social Development Issues and Initiatives, the Mendel Institute for Natural Science and Technology Research and the Villanova Institute for Social Science Research and Cultural Studies. Since 1935, it has been offering courses like Philosophy, Political Science and Psychology under its College of Arts and Sciences. In 1936, the College of Commerce was introduced offering courses such as Hotel and Restaurant Management, Entrepreneurship and Tourism. It has a comprehensive graduate school that offers M.B.A. in Business Administration, M.A. in Educational Management and M.S. in Medical Technology.
Founded in 1947, University of Iloilo is a private educational institution that is a member of the prestigious PHINMA Education Network. It has a graduate school that offers Master of Arts in Education, Master in Public Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Education. For individuals who aspire for careers in the field of education, they can enroll in the College of Teacher Education, which offer courses such as Bachelor in Science in Tertiary Education, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education.
Founded on October 1, 1905, Central Philippine University is a very good school that offers students a number of highly convenient services. It is proud to offer food services, dormitory services and guidance services to make life more conducive for study and learning. Furthermore, it also has a campus ministry to take good care of the religious and spiritual needs of students. After enrolling in this university, students are entitled to numerous health benefits including huge discounts. Its academic programs include the College of Medicine, the School of Graduate Studies and the College of Business and Accountancy.
When going long distance travel to Central or Northern Luzon the best option is take the Northern Luzon Expressway or the NLEX. There’s also the MacArthur Highway option beginning at the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan, or the Quirino Avenue Option at the Cloverleaf Interchange at EDSA in Quezon City, but the NLEX is the fastest, trouble-free route.
What does the NLEX has to offer long-distance travelers?
Taking the NLEX will update the motorist on traffic guidelines very relevant to the vicinity to make the needed precaution or speed adjustment in a long distance travel. These are highway signage posts similar to those found in Australia andother western countries.
One of the NLEX’s objectives is safe driving. To this end, emergency telephone stops are now visible along the NLEX. Telephone stops are posted every 2 kilometers from the Cloverleaf or Balintawak to Burol (Bulacan) stretch, and every kilometer from the Burol to Sta. Ines (Pampanga) stretch. This feature makes for a safe 88-kilometer long distance travel. Some 7 rest and service areas are provided, 14 toll plazas, and 15 exit points.
Aside from its hi-tech close-circuit TV, the NLEX is equipped with underground car density censors to check vehicle weight and make. Motorists should take heed on the indicated speed limits posted along the way. There are hidden speed guns to check car speed on the road, and a violator may be in for a surprise at the toll gate when the highway patrol guys approach for questioning. The fastest recorded car speed so far is 320 km/hr made by a converted Nissan Skyline.
The NLEX also features state-of-the-art digital toll payment for fast transactions to lessen the build up of vehicles waiting in line. There are also provisions for prepaid methods for extra fast service. Best of all, the NLEX has smoothly paved eight lanes, with provisions for shoulder emergency stops and a sandy byway for dealing with loose or failing brakes. This makes the NLEX the best long distance travel highway in the country.
Speed limit in Metro Manila (at Balintawak and parts of Andres Bonifacio Avenue) is at 80 km/hr, while in rural areas it’s at 100 to 120 km/hr. However, the NLEX continues to be a favorite venue, not only for long distance travel, but also for testing fast cars. A surefire drainage system keeps the NLEX free from the usual flood hassles that not only induce motor failure but windshield obstruction in fast lanes.
The next time a long distance travel is contemplated to Central or Northern Luzon, take the NLEX and enjoy safe and comfortable driving on world class lanes.
Referred to by many people as the ‘Orchid City’ in the Philippines, Dipolog is home to numerous shopping malls, specialty stores and other commercial establishments. With all their beautiful features, efficient services and convenient locations, these facilities contribute to a very exciting and totally fun Dipolog shopping experience like no other.
As one of the newest malls in the area, Lee Super Plaza greatly helps in the continuous growth and development of the Dipolog shopping industry. Primarily a three-storey building, owner Dynamic Development Corp. has designed the place to become one of the largest, nicest and highly inviting shopping hubs in the city. It has a spacious supermarket where people can purchase their different needs including food, groceries and other important personal items. It also has a gaming area for kids and the young-at-heart, featuring a complete lineup of highly advanced videogames. For food enthusiasts, they will surely have fun at the spacious food court. More importantly, it features advanced cinemas where the entire family can watch their favorite films. People can find this mall just along Quezon Avenue.
Because of its position right in front of the public market, people find it very hard not to recognize Dipolog Shopping Center along Rizal Avenue. Comprised of three floors, this place features a number of fast food chains and restaurants inside including Greenwich. It also features Gibi Shoes, a specialty shop that offers various kinds of casual and leather footwear, both for men and women. There are also several appliance centers available inside, where customers can purchase some of the latest electronic home appliances. For medicine and other personal needs, this mall has an HBC outlet that guarantees new medicines all the time.
People can find Dipolog Friendly Mart just close to Lee Super Plaza along Quezon Avenue. Made up of four floors, this building features a grocery store inside. Likewise, it also has a bakeshop where customers can buy bread, pastries and cakes. There is also a meat shop available, which offers some of the freshest cuts of beef, pork and chicken. For those who wish to go online, they can easily do so almost anytime they want by visiting the Internet café inside this mall. In addition, a bookstore is also present, which offers affordable school supplies like notebooks, pencils and pens.
One of the highly noticeable shopping centers in the area, Dipolog Center Mall features different kinds of stalls and retail shops. For those who want to buy jewelries and other accessories, they can go to Broadway Gems. Meanwhile, individuals who want to know the latest trends in fashion can go to RRJ and purchase some of the coolest and hippest clothes including jeans, shirts and many others. Moreover, this mall also has a phone shop, numerous mobile phone stalls and a photo-processing center.
Sorsogon is one of the provinces in the south of the Philippines. It is not surprising that this region has many great beaches. Sorsogon also has the best beach where you can see great whales swimming together.
1. Donsol Beach - This beach is in Donsol town. It is just an hour away from Legazpi city. This beach is famous for being the best beach in the Philippines where you can see the great Dugong.You can stay in the Woodland beach. You can inquire their accommodation rates by calling +(63)(0921) 9699544 and +(63)(0918) 2315420.Another best resort in Donsol is Amor Farm Beach and if you are interested to stay here you can call them at +(63)(056) 4113180 or +(63)(056) 4111109.
2. Rizal Beach- This beach is situated in the town of Gubat.This is considered by many locals as one of the prettiest beaches in the Philippines. It faces the vast Pacific Ocean. This beach is not as commercialized as the other beaches. There are several resorts however surrounding the beach like Vera Maris where many tourists can sleep. There is still some sense of purity and paradise feel in this beach giving a peaceful getaway feeling. There is still no required fee for anyone to enter. The beach is still free for all.
The cottages however are for rent and they do not accept any reservations. Some people like going after three in the afternoon and stay until late six in the evening just to have a picnic and swimming for a few hours.
3. Tiklin Island has a very clean beach. The sand in this beach is also pure white. The current of the water though can get strong sometimes. You can rent a boat and go fishing or sailing.Some tourists like snorkeling and trekking some forests that are near and some caves where you can see bats.
4. Olango beach - This is a beach in the town of San Rafael. There is a point in the beach where there is a good amount of sand and where swimming is safer. Many tourists like snorkeling in this area as well. The water in this beach has an aquamarine color and the area has high coconut trees.
5. Tolongapo Beach- This is another popular beach in Sorsogon. Many divers from Luzon come here for the good diving spots. Many simple hotels and resorts surround this beach. You can also explore some caves with limestones for some spelunking adventure.
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.
The ancient place of Butuan has long since played an important role in Philippine history, having been the venue of many significant events. When one is planning on some Butuan sightseeing, one should know which places to go to, to learn about the roots of the inhabitants of Butuan and understand its culture that seems to have been preserved by time.
Mount Mayapay has always been a Butuan sightseeing destination and though one might not initially understand what's so great about a mountain, one will get a deeper understanding of why this place is so famous. Mount Mayapay stands at over two thousand feet and this mountain has been completely carved by nature in stone. The entire Caraga region stands in awe of Mount Mayapay and this is a product of centuries of work by Mother Nature.
This Butuan sightseeing destination is very close to the Agusan Valley and many climbers have been known to attempt climbing it. Climbers are after a certain natural high and they say that upon reaching the top of Mount Mayapay, the feeling is extraordinary and the adventure one of a kind. For those who are not in the mood to climb this very tall mountain, one can simply trek until the middle, take pictures of the scenic view and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Mount Mayapay is a Butuan sightseeing destination that every member of the family will enjoy.
If one is planning on doing some Butuan sightseeing, one should definitely take a boat ride along the Agusan River. A big part of the culture and a significant portion of Philippine history are preserved along the banks of the Agusan River where many locals live up to this very day. The Agusan River is said to be the largest navigable river in the entire Visayas region and the boat ride itself is close to two hours.
Once in the boat, one will notice that this is a different kind of Butuan sightseeing experience especially since one is not just confined to the waters. In fact, the boat will dock at several of these communities where tourists can mingle with the friendly locals and buy a couple of souvenirs. The importance of the Agusan River should not be undermined and a local festival is held in honor of it annually named the Abayan Festival. If one is wondering why these communities have decided to settle along the banks of the Agusan River, it's because from centuries ago, commerce was facilitated mostly on waters and not on land.
Most women (and some men too!) have been guilty at one time of shopping for things they don’t actually need to buy but just happens to purchase them because they caught our fancy. And when space starts to become a problem, we suddenly blame ourselves for buying those stuff we have not even used.
A garage sale home business is a smart way to get rid of these useless items and earn a modest income. Here are some pointers when organizing your own garage sale.
Get helpers
It is definitely not advisable to do this on your own. Have some people to assist you. Make sure that you have at least one person assigned to each section to supervise the goods as well as entertain queries form your buyers. And don’t forget to assign someone to take charge of the cash register (make sure you have enough bills and coins for the change!), inventory and packaging (be prepared for those plastic bags!). It is advisable to list every item sold and their prices so that you can check on these at the end of the day.
Advertise the garage sale
Yes, you need to advertise! People should be informed of your garage sale. Simple posters will do. If you have a computer, then just print copies. Or better yet, use some creativity and do the posters by hand. There are also free ad placements available in newspapers or the internet. Use these services. Make sure though that you announce your garage sale several times before the scheduled date.
Open early
Garage sales usually start at around 7:30 in the morning and end around 6 in the evening. So make sure that you get enough rest the night before for a busy day ahead. Do not open your sale unless every single item is on its proper place. Once people flock to your home, you wouldn’t have the time to arrange the goods. It is also better to designate the entrance and exit for your customers (and have someone in-charge of the ingress and egress). This way, you are able to ease the flow and lessen the possibility for shoplifters (they are everywhere!) in your sale.
Secure the area
If you live in a subdivision, coordinate with the security personnel. If possible, have somebody watch over or at least check on the garage sale every now and then. There is a possibility of thieves lurking around. You should be mindful of this and your customer’s safety as well. Also make sure that the cash register is in a secured place so as not to encourage a possible theft.