Other races on earth are also familiar with the black cat superstition, how it’s bad luck when it crosses one’s path. But the Philippine tale on black cats has a moral story on the side. The tale warns people not to be like a black cat. So, here’s how not to be like a black cat.
The tale says long ago there was a delinquent dark-colored boy in a barrio who kept doing mischief in the neighborhood. It was not the kind that most rustic lads would do. The tale says the boy stole food, tools, utensils, money, and even farm animals. Nobody knew where the boy came from; he just appeared out of the blue---and the bad tales started going around.
The tale says he was stealing from everyone in the village, so the whole village came together to cast a spell on him. Philippine myths and folklores are full of tales that have to do with cursing and casting spells on an antagonist---and the thing actually worked.
The tale says that the whole village agreed on wishing that the boy one day crawl on all fours to beg for mercy but to no avail. The kind of creature he will turn to will be quite unsightly that everyone would shoo him off on sight. The creature, according to the tale, would forever be untame to all and carry the stigma of being an omen of bad luck.
Soon, a black cat was seen prowling in neighborhood backyards. Sure enough, the tale adds, everyone who saw it was aghast at the sight and shooed the cat off. Since then the tale went around of meeting any black cat as a sure omen of bad luck. But tales aside, most black cats are sweet pets to have.
A last side story on black cats: this Philippine tale further adds that killing a black cat hands-on at midnight during a Good Friday endows special powers to the perpetrator. After killing the poor thing, the tale says it is to be buried at said day and time. The following year, same day and time, it is to be exhumed. The remains are said to be magical.
Black cats are just like people; they’re here for a purpose---and it’s not to carry bad luck or any evil omen. And Filipino boys are sweet and kind with potentials to turn into good citizens someday---not into black cats.
La Union is a province in the Philippines that belongs to Region 1. Situated in the west side of the Luzon Island, La Union has a number of reefs that are excellent sites for diving.
The Research Reef is a 10 minute travel by boat from Ocean Deep, a diving center in La Union. The dive site is from 25 feet deep which has a gradual drop down to 100 feet in the sandy seafloor. There are several caverns with tunnels large enough for a diver to swim through. Small cleaner shrimps and lobsters are abundant in the dive site.
The Tamayo Reef is located at the northern side of the Research Reef in La Union. The dive site has large coral heads. Tall valleys are also abundant. A certain area in the dive site is called Grouper Gulch because of the several sightings of large groupers in the area.
The Hashi Maru is a wreck dive site when a Japanese freighter sunk in 1941 in La Union. The dive site is in a sandy and muddy area so there may be times that visibility is not good. A diver will always have a fun dive in the Hashi Maru because of the many interesting things that still remains in the wreck.
The Radar Domes of Wallace, The Wallace Lighthouse, and The Voice of America are dive sites that are all situated in the Poro Point Peninsula. The reef of the dive sites starts at the shore and extends to about 300 meters away. There are many crevices and small holes within the coral formations and lots of fish species made homes in these dive sites. If there is rough weather, this would be the best dive site to go to in La Union because this is the last area to have bad visibility and the first also to get clear.
The Fagg Reef South starts at 20 feet and has a drop off of about 600 feet. The dive site has a gradual slope but its wall is not well defined. There are some timber on the south end of the dive site that are possibly remains of an old ship.
The Fagg Reef North is a dive site that contains a well defined wall from the north to the south end. There are also some coral heads with a number of fish species present in the dive site.
The Fagg Tanks is a wreck dive with M10A1E tanks that was dumped in La Union after World War II. Originally, there were 675 tanks on this site, but today, only 300 are left.
These dive sites in La Union are really worth a visit for beginners and experienced divers. Exploring the waters in La Union is an exciting indulgence.
The bustling province of Zamboanga is the southern jewel of the Philippines and those who have been here before will all agree that this place holds many natural wonders. Zamboanga sightseeing is a must because the City of Flowers has many attractions that are simply endearing. In addition to the many different places to see in Zamboanga, the residents are also very hospitable end exhibit Filipino warmth.
Topping the list of our Zamboanga sightseeing list is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. This Zamboanga sightseeing destination is not just for the devout Christian, many visitors from different religions have found that this place has a certain solemnity. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception is the home of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga and this location carries very significant Roman Catholic artifacts.
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception was first built 11 years ago but the ground where the cathedral stands has always been a parish dating back to 1810. An aerial view of the grounds will show that it looks like a giant cross and a candle, symbolic of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception has two floors with the ground floor dedicated to chapels and the top one exhibiting several saints.
There are also religious edifices on display here, collected and preserved from the 19th century. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception is often visited by devout Catholics who feel that this is a good place to find peace and have a conversation with a Higher Being.
The next Zamboanga sightseeing destination that one should definitely not miss is the infamous Pasonanca Park. The Pasonanca Park was constructed in 1912 during the time of then Governor Pershing and this Zamboanga sightseeing destination was only finished during the term of Governor Carpenter.
A lot of planning and attention to detail went into the construction of this Zamboanga sightseeing destination and from the very first time it was opened to the public until today, there is no other park like it. The Pasonanca Park is where one will find a diverse fauna and there is close to a thousand different kinds of orchids and trees.
The Pasonanca Park epitomizes the ‘City of Flowers’ and presents it in such a beautiful light and one will definitely not regret having visited this place. Whether one goes to Pasonanca Park to take pictures of just admire the scenery, this Zamboanga sightseeing destination provides an experience like no other.
Getting sick in Dumagauete is something unavoidable especially if you are not accustomed to the climate in the city. The good news is that there are several tertiary and public hospitals that can cater to your medical and health needs. Here is a look at Dumaguete hospitals and health care serving the needs of its patients.
Silliman University Medical Center is one of the top and most preferred facilities in Dumaguete. It specializes in various fields, such as pediatrics and obstetrics. It is normal for patients to see students undergoing internship and residency in the hospital. It has 140 beds so it has room for several patients in the city. It also has various facilities such as medical laboratory, surgery rooms, and pediatric ward.
For those who cannot afford to spend for their medical care, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital is just one of the facilities providing medical assistance to poor patients. Despite being a public hospital, it offers state-of-the-art equipments and facilities, such as coulter hematology analyzers, CT scan, and an automated microbial detection system. Compared to other facilities in the city, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital can provide medical help to more patients because it has 250 beds aside from the highly-qualified physicians, nurses, and medical technologists stationed in the hospital.
This 85-bed capacity medical facility provides emergency care to patients so it is accessible any time. It provides services in the field of pediatrics and dentistry. It has modern equipments that can be used for diagnosing the state of health of patients.
If spending for medical expenses is your problem, Dumaguete Doctors Medical and Dialysis Center is the place to go as the fees in this facility are affordable. The establishment provides outpatient care. It is equipped with medical facilities such as a laboratory room, dialysis, and emergency room. Majority of the doctors in the facility are experts in the field of nephrology.
Dumaguete City Regional Hospital is a public hospital providing free medical consultations to patients. It is a teaching facility, similar to the Silliman University Medical Center, and has an emergency room, medical laboratory, and surgery room. It also has a pediatric ward.
As it provides assistance to those who cannot afford, Dumaguete City Regional Hospital sells cheap medicines. The personnel employed in the hospital are licensed and qualified.
These Dumaguete hospitals and health care can help ensure that your trip to the city will be worry-free and healthy.
Traveling has always been a great way to expand our knowledge about the different cultures and peoples around the world. Experiencing the beauty of a country firsthand and not from just pictures or a movie on TV or something gives our senses a wonderful treat.
The Philippines is known for its pristine beaches, breathtaking dive spots, rich culture and its warm, hospitable people. Situated in what some people call the ring of fire, the Philippines boast more than 7,000 islands. There are 3 regions, namely, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. The capital of the Philippines, which is Manila, is located in Luzon.
There are so many must see spots in the Philippines, not only for their beauty but also for their cultural significance. Needless to say, you can travel all over the Philippines and see the beautiful beaches almost everywhere. Dive spots on the other hand need to be scheduled but are still easy to find.
Let’s start with Luzon. The Banaue Rice Terraces are entire mountain sides transformed into layers of rice paddies creating a staircase look. The natives in the region still plant and harvest on these terraces. Along with the spectacular view of the terraces, some natives also perform tribal dances and songs.
Another tourist attraction found in the Luzon area is the Mayon Volcano, regarded as having a near perfect cone. Yet another volcano worth going to is the Taal Volcano found in Taal Lake. Not only the view is awe inspiring but local restaurants and food stops in the area catch and cook the unique fish which can be found in the crater lake and serve them to hungry tourists. Still in the Luzon area, is Sagada, where one can see the hanging coffins. These were placed in the rock face of the cliffs by the earlier inhabitants of the area as a tribute to their dead, making them closer to the heavens.
The Visayas area is known for the white sand beaches and marine life rich dive spots. The more famous beach resorts in the Philippines are here, namely, Boracay and Bohol Island. Bohol is also famous for having many beautiful old churches dating back to the Spanish era. Another tourist attraction in Bohol is the Chocolate Hills. These are similarly sized hills which abound in a particular area of Bohol. These are named Chocolate Hills because during the dry season, they look like mounds of chocolate dotting the countryside. Also found in Bohol is the Loboc River Cruise. A boat ride going up and down Bohol’s popular river where one can see the local residents going about their daily lives and also the beautiful flora and fauna of the area.
Just a hop, skip and boat ride (or a plane ride) away from Bohol is Cebu. It is one of the more progressive islands in the Visayas region. Cebu also has more than its share of beach resorts and dive spots. Here we can also find the Magellan’s Cross. Famous for being the cross which Ferdinand Magellan brought from Spain during his exploits. There is also the Santo Nino Church where many a devotee makes their pilgrimage. Another uniquely Cebuano event is the Feast of the Sto. Nino. Otherwise known as Sinulog, this fiesta has locals and visitors lining the streets of Cebu city to watch the parade and participate in the “blackening” of the body or face.
Cagayan de Oro City boasts being the gateway to Mindanao. From here you can travel by boat or by land to anywhere in Mindanao. Cagayan de Oro is famous for white water rafting in the upper Cagayan de Oro River and several nature parks in which one can zip line from tree to tree or take a walk on a rope bridge.
In Malasag Gardens, visitors can go inside real tribal homes and see handicrafts being made. Makahambus Nature Park allows guests to rappel down into Makahambus gorge, almost 50-70 ft. In this gorge is an underground river connected to the city’s main river.
A stone’s throw away from the gorge is the Makahambus Cave which ends up to a rock face overlooking the river. A short drive from Cagayan de Oro is Del Monte Plantation in Bukidnon. This is the home of the famous Del Monte Pineapples and Del Monte world class golf course.
One can also experience an Ati-atihan Festival in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon during the summer months. A little further ahead of Bukidnon, is Davao City. It is said to be the largest city in the Philippines. In Davao one can see the Philippine’s highest peak, Mt. Apo. Here we can catch a glimpse of one of the world’s largest eagles, the Philippines Eagle. Considered to be endangered, the city of Davao has established a Philippines Eagle Sanctuary for this avian treasure. The sanctuary also houses several birds of prey other than the Philippine Eagle.
Iligan City is called the City of Waterfalls. The two more famous waterfalls here are the Maria Christina Waterfalls and the Tinago Waterfalls. The former is used to generate power for some parts of Mindanao while the latter is primarily a tourist attraction. A short land trip from Cagayan de Oro to Balingoan Pier brings us to Camiguin Island. The beaches in this island are mostly black sand due to volcanic rock. The island itself has seven volcanoes although not all are active. All around this small island are different kinds of springs and waterfalls. Found also in Mindanao is Siargao Island. This is where surfing enthusiasts of the Philippines live their dreams. All over Mindanao, one can experience and see traces of their tribal or native ancestry.
This is just a very short description of the beauty of the Philippine Islands and its people. There are more treasures to be experienced as one visit the Philippines.
[Tags]Philippines, Tourism, Tourist, Manila, Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon, Philippine Islands, Cagayan de Oro, Philippine Eagle, Waterfalls, Pinoy, Filipino[/Tags]
Pearly shells anyone?
The Philippines have more than enough of them. Trooping to the splendid beaches of this archipelago would take more than your usual summer vacation time. They do have more than 7100 islands and most are gifted with stretches upon stretches of pristine white sands surrounded by sparkling blue waters and some of the best diving spots in Asia!
So, relax! Leave those stuffy suits behind and get ready for an experience of a lifetime! This tropical country has it all, ready to provide you with the best vacation your hard-earned money can buy. Most hotels and resorts offer value for money accommodations for those on a budget. Cottages and hotel rooms with spectacular ocean views are up for grabs! For the high-rollers and guests who want nothing but the best? The red carpet to the most exclusive and first class facilities awaits you.
Here's a glimpse of Boracay, Palawan, Cebu and Bohol as heavenly getaways.
Boracay
The tropical paradise of beach lovers! Its seemingly endless stretch of white sands and great accommodation is what makes this beautiful island popular. You can take a pick from the numerous hotels lining the beach, ranging from those offering complete privacy, with hotel rooms and cottages tucked within the lush greenery or the ones situated amongst the hottest and most happening places. Take a stroll down the beach as the sun bade goodbye and watch one of the most spectacular sunsets allotted to mankind. Boracay is definitely the place to enjoy the sun, the sea and to party!
Palawan
Located just north of Malaysia’s Sabbah Island, it has a total of 1769 islands and islets that are mostly unexplored. Aptly known as the last frontier, it has the largest wildlife reservation here and is home to the most beautiful, exotic orchids, the Palawan peacock, the dugong or sea cow, the Tabon birds as well as some of the most breath taking caves in the country. The Calamian group of islands, popular for its magnificent white beaches, the clearest water and a wide range of marine resources ideal for diving, houses some of the most beautiful and exclusive resorts in Asia. This is nature at its best. Cottages and villas are strategically located to provide optimum privacy to guests. Stay secluded in a villa amongst magnificent trees or wake up in your cottage on stilts with the sea as your playground.
Cebu
Cebuano bai! Cebu has one of the friendliest atmospheres in the Philippines. Its rich history offers a wide range of activities for everyone. Visit the Magellan's Cross, join the Sinulog festival held every 3rd Sunday of January (our own version of Mardi Gras), taste the rich flavors- the tablea, the famous mouthwatering lechon Cebu, the puso (rice wrapped in coconut leaves), crispy danggit and much more for a gastronomical blow-out! Visit the Malapascua Island, Camotes Island among the numerous unspoiled beaches of Cebu. First-class resorts are also located in the heart of the city.
Bohol
Its famous chocolate hills continue to be the most popular must-see attraction of Bohol. It is also home to the smallest known primate, the Philippine tarsier. It has already carved a reputation for having one of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the country. Explore the centuries-old churches of Baclayon, Loboc, Maribojoc, Loon and other magnificent structures. Take the River safari! From the town of Loboc, cruise along Loay River with the boat ride ending in Busay falls with ample time for a refreshing swim. With over a hundred identified caves scattered around the island, Bohol is ideal for spelunking adventures. Diving is also a must, for Bohol has one of the most wonderful corals reefs that are worth the trip alone!
[Tags]Bohol, Palawan, Beach, Philippines, Boracay, Tarsier, Loboc, Cebu, Beaches, White Beach[/Tags]
Scooters are fast becoming a popular Philippine transportation today. However, there are some disadvantages in using scooters. A careful consideration of these disadvantages would help make scooters still a much preferred Philippine transportation.
Scooters are too light to take on major roads, let alone on highways. They can easily be side-swept by fast cars especially in Philippine major thoroughfares. Trucks are much heavier side-weepers that pose a greater danger to scooters. This light transportation is often taken in fast lanes where it virtually becomes impossible for scooters to assume effective defensive driving. Scooter-riding on major roads and highways poses a great danger to both its passengers and other motorists. The wise thing is to keep scooters on secondary roads and minor street systems.
Scooters are easy transportation targets for car-nappers and car-jackers. There have been many instances in Philippine transportation of scooters snatched or grabbed from owners. The same is true with parked scooters. Transportation thieves can easily get away with such light transportations. Some car-nappers load them in small vans and easily get away without being noticed. So the safe thing to do is to use scooters only in safe and secure vicinities, and keep them parked inside the house or in buildings.
Scooters expose its passengers to the elements. This transportation mode offers no protection to its riders against rain, searing heat from humidity and nearby vehicular engine heat, harmful sunlight, dust, pollution, and flying debris. Helmets and jackets or raincoats are not enough transportation protection, especially in extreme cases. Water splashes from accumulated water on streets are also potential dangers to this open transportation vehicle.
So it’s best to schedule travel on a scooter on sunny days, early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Aside from wearing a gas mask, helmet and jacket, bring an emergency raincoat and a pair of boots as a regular transportation preparation. And make sure to plan a transportation route that affords plenty of sheds and covers, like a tree studded lane and tall buildings along the road.
Finally, scooters cannot accommodate a family. They are inappropriate as a family transportation, or even for simple family roaming in the park. Most importantly, scooters cannot be used for emergencies. It can hardly be used to rush a pregnant mother to the hospital, or a seriously ill or injured patient.
Scooters are a good Philippine transportation option to meet the growing challenges of traffic in the country. But there are disadvantages that need to be remedied to keep scooters a wise option.
Celebration of life and all the blessings received are the central themes of Samar festivals and for those who like watching Filipino merrymaking, nothing compares to how the inhabitants of this region celebrate. It is said that the best of all the Samar festivals are held mid year, in between the start of the summer in March until the rainy season August.
Some Samar festivals are confined to certain towns but the Embajada Festival is something that is celebrated by the entire province albeit at different dates. The very first towns that celebrate Embajada Festival right after New Year, in January, are Catubig and Laoang. Similar to a domino effect, the nearby towns follow and come mid June, this Samar festival would have reached Catarman. The Moro-Moros, an indigenous group in Samar is said to be the first Filipinos ever to celebrate the Embajada Festival and being a tradition, they have been celebrating it for centuries.
This Samar festival depicts a time in history when conflict prevailed between the Moro-Moros and the Spaniards although nowadays it is presented in a comical fashion. During the Embajada Festival, street dancing is common and there’s always the delicious array of food served in the town center as night sets in. The Moro-Moros themselves take part in the Embajada Festival and this Samar festival is also a good opportunity to learn so much about one of the oldest tribes in Samar.
The main source of livelihood of the inhabitants of Samar is farming and harvesting is something that is celebrated, being considered by the locals as a time of abundance and blessing. The Parayang Harvest Festival is just one of the few festivities that center on harvest but this Samar festival is primarily held in the town of San Roque. The Parayang Harvest Festival is a day filled with celebration with several contests being held throughout the day such as cooking competitions and beauty pageants.
There’s also street dancing during the Parayang Harvest Festival where both young and old practice both modern and traditional dances prior to the event. There are of course prizes given out to winners of these competitions and at the end of the Parayang Harvest Festival, families and friends gather to enjoy a sumptuous feast together. The Parayang Harvest Festival is so much a part of Filipino tradition having been celebrated for a little over a century now.
Almost nothing comes close to the beauty and splendor that world-famous Boracay Island has. A small island in the province of Aklan south of Manila, Philippines, it is a grand travel destination with so many marvels to explore and experience.
One of the world’s finest, Boracay boasts of powdery white sand beaches, azure clear waters, lush landscapes and spectacular sunsets.
No wonder it is known as the Paradise Island of the Philippines and has been consistently voted as one of the best tropical beaches in Asia and the rest of the world.
Beaches
Boracay, which can be reached via plane, boat or bus through Caticlan or Kalibo, has more than thirty beaches and coves, including the famous White Beach, rated among the world’s best beaches by international publications with its “baby powdery” white sand.
Aqua Action
Boracay never runs out of exhilarating action. With its breathtaking waters, it is truly irresistible to be in a smorgasbord of thrilling aqua sports – from swimming and snorkeling to diving, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking, sail boating and boardsailing.
For a different twist, one can also go banana boating and flying fish boating.
The waters of Boracay offer a perfect haven for boardsailers that attract enthusiasts from all over the world. A boardsailer’s Mecca, the island’s Bulabog Beach is the site of the annual International Funboard Cup.
Sail boating and diving are also fun things to do on the island. Boracay, a common site for sailing on slender hulled boats called Paraw, plays host to the annual Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat race that makes use of the native outrigger.
The island is also surrounded by many excellent dive sites, including Yapak, Boracay’s great deep dive.
Adventure-seekers can also enjoy the thrill of hiking, trekking, caving, mountain climbing and biking along the island’s many trails discovering its interior villages, scenic rocky cliffs, and hidden coves with isolated beaches.
Island hopping by motorized bangkas and paraws offers splendid encounters in Boracay. There are stop-offs at the Bat Caves, northeast coast of Yapak, inhabited by giant bats locally called “Flying Foxes,” the “Kar-tir” Sea Shell Museum in Ilig-Iligan showcasing Filipino shells, and the Puka Beach on the island's northern tip, home of Boracay's famous puka shells.
“Mambo No. 5” offers a different taste of adventure with a little bit of boating and wind surfing, a little bit of scuba diving, a little bit of trekking, a little bit of mountain biking, and a little bit of golf.
Permanent or henna tattoos also offer out-of-the-ordinary fun for the adventure-driven.
Dining/Partying/Shopping
Boracay is dotted with hundreds of beach resorts offering accommodation of all types, and numerous restaurants, bars and souvenir stalls spanning the whole stretch of the beach that make dining, nightlife and shopping in the island exciting and lively.
The island’s diverse selection of restaurants ranges from native food stalls to establishments that cater to the diverse nationalities of its visitors.
Relaxation
Not to be missed out on are Boracay’s spectacular sunsets while taking a sip of mouth-watering fruit shakes at the beachfront bars or while walking along the lovely shore.
The serenity of the ocean combined with the sunset is a perfect match for relaxation, beach bumming, and even for a relaxing massage by the island’s skilled masseurs.
Boracay is an idyllic travel haven matched with nature’s splendor and sheer island adventure. It offers an enchanting escape from humdrum routines and is guaranteed to enthrall visitors into a fascinating experience of tropical island life. A paradise on earth, Boracay is the destination to be.
[Tags]Boracay, White Beach, Beach, Swimming[/Tags]
Laoag City, a lively and energetic development core in the northern part of the Philippines, is definitely a one of kind destination or spot that offers delightful surprises, panoramic sand mounds, flourishing plant life, picturesque beaches, cultural and historical sites. The place is certainly a must for tourists and visitors a like. The industry of tourism in Laoag City has been recognized and awarded several times for obvious reasons.
Laoag City is more or less 500 kilometers away north of Metro Manila and six (6) hours away from the Philippines' Summer Capital, Baguio City. One of the noted landmarks of Laoag City is the Saint William Cathedral's bell tower which is also known as the Sinking Bell Tower. The Tobacco Monopoly Monument and the Iloko Museo are spots that should not be missed as well. Laoag City’s location is very strategic to tourism because of its surrounding area.
These sites are must-see for visitors and tourists alike. Tourist sites Karinking Falls of Solsona, Badoc Island, Kaangriyan Falls of Burgos, Patapat Viaduct and Kaibigan Falls, Maira-ira Cove, Coral Formations of Currimao, Paoay Coral Cliffs and Paoay Lake National Park, Santa Monica Church, Bacarra Belfry, Burgos Lighthouse, San Agustin Church and the Suba Sand Dunes never fail to amaze tourists who love nature and value cultural heritage. As for information, the city of Laoag is the gateway of tourism to the North Luzon Tourism Hub and Growth Quadrangle.
Laoag City Commercial Complex is one of the business monument of Laoag City that showcases Ilocano trade and products like Sukang Iloko, Longanisa, Bagnet, Inabel and various local products. As the trading capital of Ilocos Norte, business related establishments are thriving and flourishing in the city.
The progress of economic stability and the industry of tourism of the city of Laoag have been made 'accessible' by just doing some few clicks browsing the internet. The local government of Ilocos Norte, particularly of the Laoag City made use of the power of networking through the internet. Laoag City official website (http://www.laoagcity.gov.ph/) is filled with noteworthy historical and cultural write ups and real-time or updated information regarding the city.
Checking the site as a tourist or an entrepreneur, checking the website is definitely the best thing to do or consider. Through the World Wide Web or the internet, the Sparkling Gem of Ilocandia is just a few clicks away.