Iloilo is also caleld the economic capital of the regions in the south western part of the Philippines. Iloilo is the city with some of the progressive establishments including the restaurants.Their economy is booming also because of tourism.There are good places where you can eat with your family or friends while you stay
to visit Iloilo.
1. Kublai Khan’s Mongolian Restaurant- This restaurant is at
the third level of the Robinsons mall in Iloilo on Ledesma Street.
They serve unique dishes focusing on mostly Mongolian dishes. The
cost of the food is two hundred pesos. Guests can choose from different dishes that have unique taste. They also have other specialites. The whole restaurant is overflowing wtih an ambience so positive and lively. They always give the guest the good feeling. Their best sellers are check-a-bowl,eat-all-you-can and one-time fill all you can serving. They also have the super bowl, warrio's bowl and emperor's merienda.
2. Numtah Bar and Restaurant - This is located on the Huervana
Street. In La paz,Iloilo. Numtah is a restaurant that gives guest
the chance to chose among several international dishes. The people
can enjoy a casual atmosphere inside the restaurant. Many locals
celebrate their birthday and get togethers in this restaurant. It is
a good place to spend time with your friends too. The price of the complete meal can range from two hundred pesos up to five hundred pesos. Their best sellers are Basil pork Kretek, Crispy Pata and Numtah pizza. Dining here is considered fine. Their drinks are best sellers as well which include dewberry and jackieberry juice.
3. Pizza Hut- You can find this restaurant at the first floor of Robinsons Place Iloilo along Ledesma Street. This is an international pizza chain that is also a hit in the Philippines. Their best seller of course is their pizzas.They aslo serve other dishes from Italian and American cuisine. Guests also like trying their potato mojos and drinks like shakes. Many locals also celebrate their birthdays in this restaurant. Their best sellers today include cheesy pizza, cheesy pops. You should bring a budget of at least five hundred pesos. Foreign tourists like ordering the spaghetti with the tasty meatballs and the spicy chicken wings.
4. Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy - This is a restaurant on the lower level of the Robinsons mall. Ted's is a restaurant for the ultimate fine dining experience. Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy is an extremely fine dining facility that serves original Filipino cuisine. Inside, the great-tasting food blends well with the casual atmosphere of the place. A person must have two hundred pesos with him to enjoy the best selling batchoy. They also offer other variations of the Iloilo's favorite dish.
5. Mango Tree - This is restaurant inside Mandurriao in the city. The give a relaxing ambience to the guests. The owners have adorned the whole restaurant with grasses, bamboos and candles. Their best sellers are beef shank,bulalo steaks and the sizzling gambas. The price of the food is between two hundred pesos up to five hundred pesos.
It's a rather unfortunate reality that out of more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines, only a handful are being explored and appreciated by Filipinos and foreign tourists alike. We're guilty of patronizing the same island resorts over and over again, we leave no room for new discoveries. These popular resorts, in turn, start to suffer from commercial abuse and exploitation. Take Boracay, for example. Scientists and environmentalists have been raising warning signs for quite some time now, alerting us of the island's danger of extinction due to over-accumulation of human and industrial waste. Only a small minority heed to these calls for help while the majority still frequent "Bora" and frolic around without a care.
So how can we prevent more cases of probable island extinction? The answer lies in discovery and in exploration. Again, there are 7,107 islands in the Philippines. Surely, there are hundreds of islands that are as magnificent as Boracay, if not, more so. One of these undiscovered beauties is Quinamanukan Island.
Where in the world is it?
Aptly dubbed as the Virgin Pleasure, Quinamanukan Island and all its pristine glory is your ultimate island in the sun. Situated within the Pacific waters of San Miguel Bay, southeast of Vinzons, Camarines Norte. From Manila, the island is roughly 300 kms towards the south, 12 kms from the airstrip of Daet in Barangay Bagasbas, and only 5.5 kms away from the municipality of Vinzons. Virgin Pleasure is also visible from San Jose Beach in Talisay, especially when it’s low tide and the waves are not that rough. The island’s clear white sand gleams in the sun dotted by fields of green and surrounded by the deepest blue, the vision tempting enough to lure you towards it.
How to get there?
There are several ways to get to Quinamanukan - by land, by air, and by sea.
By land:
From Manila, you can take an 8-hour bus ride to Daet via Philtranco Bus Line, Amihan, or Superlines or a 6-hour drive by car. Head towards Bagasbas Beach, roughly 5 kms away from the town proper of Daet, rent a boat for P500/whole day, and sail away for an hour towards the island.
By air:
You can reach Virgin Pleasure by taking a 45-minute flight via charter plane from Manila to the Daet airstrip in Barangay Bagasbas, and then take an hour long boatride to the island.
By sea:
Granted you're already in Bagasbas Beach, hire a boat and head towards the island. It only takes 45 minutes to an hour, depends on the water conditions.
If you're in San Jose Beach in Talisay, it only takes a 30-minute boatride to reach the island of your dreams.
The island's main entrance is by its northern shore through a natural canal of coral reefs. It boasts a rich and colorful marine life, making it not only the ultimate vacationer's dream paradise, but of every scuba diver's dream sanctuary as well.
Once there, you can expect a 6-hectare stretch of powder white sand and as fine as the world-famous Boracay sand which gradually slopes into the clear blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. You can explore, contemplate, and reconnect with nature without any unnecessary disturbance.
It's a shame to miss this one-in-a-million beauty. So, for your next island getaway, make Quinamanukan Island part of your escapades. Experience firsthand all that Virgin Pleasure has to offer, before commercial-hungry forces take a hold of it.
Not too many dive sites in the world can offer about $40 for two dives. Like most dive sites in the country, Balicasag Island, in the Philippines, can offer this great service and add to it many wonderful locations.
Balicasag Island, Philippines, is a flat island four kilometers southwest of the Duljo Point off what is known as Pangalo Reef. The sandy coraline beach of Balicasag Island is a site to behold making it ideal for vacationers. The whole of Balicasag Island can be toured in a day.
Balicasag Island is fringed by a narrow reef about nine to 49.5 meters wide, one of the many reasons why Balicasag Island is a favorite destination of many foreign and local divers. Other than this, the locals exhibit the homegrown Filipino hospitality that makes visitors come back again and again.
You will find hard coral covering the submarine cliffs' tops and sponges and gorgonians at the base. The Balicasag Island is also home to a huge community of fish.
Here are some interesting places you can check out when you visit Balicasag Island.
Diver's Haven is a dive site that features a grand array of fish and marine life. Because of the many features of this dive site, it becomes a place of bliss for many divers who visit Balicasag Island.
Another interesting dive site in Balicasag Island is called the Turtle Point. This dive site is located on the eastern side of the island. It features caves about 60 to 75 meters down. The dive site is called Turtle Point due to the fact that the place is a haven for turtles. They make the caves their own lair to hide from perceived hazards.
Located on the southwest side of Balicasag Island is the Cathedral Wall. This dive site is a section of a wall that has many recesses where divers can explore. You may need to bring a torch to have a grand view of the marine life. Reef fish, sponges, and big jacks can be found here along with other forms of marine life.
The north side of Balicasag Island is covered with thick coral forming a kaleidoscopic multi-colored reef full of an assortment of tropical fish. This dive site is amply called the Royal Garden.
A dive site you can't afford to miss is the Black Coral Forest. You can actually have the rare opportunity to swim through the black coral that abounds in this part of Balicasag Island. Black coral is rarely found on a shallow 90-foot depth.
Balicasag Island is an hour and ten minutes away from Manila to Tagbilaran or Cebu by air. You can get to Balicasag Island from Cebu through Bohol via a connecting bridge and get to Alona beach, which is the jump off point. Accommodations on the island are usually worth Php 2,500, an average price for accomodations in the Philippines. Take note that prices can change without notice.
Balicasag Island is the location of the best dive sites in this part of the Philippines. The place offers rare experiences that anyone can afford even on a tight budget.
[Tags]Diving, Philippines, Dive Sites, Scuba, Balicasag, Bohol, Divers, Philippines Diving, Island, Reef Fish, Coral[/Tags]
Imagine tasting the wonderful flavor of coconut milk, vegetables, and seafood in every bite, wouldn't that be heaven boiling in your tongue? Add to it a spicy taste that would accentuate the rest of the flavors in your mouth (that is if it doesn't send you running for water). That is Pinangat, a wonderful delicacy in the Bicol Region of the Philippines.
If you ever wonder which of the many people in the Philippines would eat spicy chili peppers for snacks, then all you ever have to do is visit the Bicol Region.
The locals are called bicolanos, and are known to be a people who have a rooted fear of spicy chili peppers out of their chests. One spicy specialty bicolanos are known for is their ever-famous Pinangat.
Pinangat is part of Philippine cuisine that espouses coconut milk as a major theme. It is reminiscent of other dishes from the neighboring pacific islands. Since the Bicol Region in the Philippines is a large producer of coconuts, a major theme among the local cuisine is based on coconut milk (locally known as gata).
Pinangat is made from local "gabi" leaves (i.e. taro). Every neighborhood in the Bicol Region will have these planted nearby. These leaves will either be sun dried or cooked fresh to become a major ingredient in almost every bicolano delicacy including Pinangat.
Other than gabi leaves, coconut milk, and chili peppers, the succulent flavor of Pinangat won't be complete without the tasty seafood that makes this delicacy a huge hit in the local cuisine of the Philippines.
You can use crabmeat, fish meat, or shrimp meat to make Pinangat. At times, when you get to visit the Bicol Region in the Philippines, you might even be treated by the local folks to Pinangat with shark meat (expect killing sharks to be illegal in the Philippines though).
Pinangat is simply made by wrapping your favorite seafood meat, chili peppers, onions, garlic, and spices in gabi leaves. This is sometimes tied up using gabi leaves that are cut lengthwise into strings, but it's totally up to you if you want to do it that way.
The vegetable wrap (Pinangat) is then set aside while the coconut milk is set to a boil. Once the coconut milk is brought to a boil the vegetable wraps are dropped in. You let the whole thing boil over adding salt to taste until the vegetable wrap has absorbed most of the coconut milk.
And that's how to make the Bicol Region's famous Pinangat. Just prepare yourself for a tasty meal that sends you begging for water.
Getting to know some information some information on a certain vacation spot should always be considered before going into the place. It does not really matter (unless the trip is all about serious investigation) whether the information is noteworthy or not the point is; information gives a sort of an idea of the place in a way or two.
The island of Samar is located within the central Philippines. It is specifically, an island of the Visayas Region. It is actually the easternmost island of the Visayas Region. Before the Spanish regime, the island had couple names attached to it. Names like Tanday, Samal and Ibabao were attributed to this island until the late 1500’s. The rough physical features of the place were the main reasons it was named 'Samar' (from the word 'samad' meaning a wound or cut). The province of Samar involved the island of Samar as a whole until it was divided into three main provinces namely Western Samar (officially known as Samar), Eastern Samar (capital-Borongan) and Northern Samar (capital-Catarman).
The island of Samar has been showered by nature's beauty like other noted places in the Philippines. Tourists could enjoy unexplored terrain and caves defined by exotic flora and fauna or wildlife. Sohoton Cave, which is located inside the Sohoton National Park is a cathedral-like ground with a parabolic arch-type entrance for approximately fifty (50) meters high. The Panhulugan Cave 1 and 2 are also considered places to check in Samar. The Panhulugan Cave 1 is recognized with a cliff-forming letter 'H' and snow-white gleaming stalactites of various proportions characterized Panhulugan Cave 2. Both wonderful caves are located at Sohoton National Park in Basey. Another special spot at Sohoton National Park is the Sohoton Natural Bridge that extends through the Sohoton River. This huge arch-shaped rock has a vertical clearance of about 23 feet. It is natural bridge is 40 meters long and 8 meters wide.
The wonders of the island of Samar and of some proximate islands or spots are the main reasons why there is a steady influx of tourists in the Visayas Region. As we all know, tourism means a lot to have a more stable economy. One of the travel agencies that answered the heed to maintain and tourism as a vital industry is the Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours or LGTT. They are specialized in setting up educational and family tours around the Visayas Region. To further enhance tourism, Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours is trying their best to unravel undeveloped and untapped tourist destinations in the said region. The name 'Samar' may bear a tinge of imperfection in its name; nonetheless, Samar Island is the one of the perfect places to enjoy the wonders of nature.
This is the right time for all the parents around the world thinking about the safety of their little ones and sending them into summer camp activities. If you are looking for something different because summer is the hottest season, why not try a scuba summer camp? Children may find it very keen and interesting observing and being part of the underwater world. Not only that it allows them to learn something that once they learned it, they will never forget it plus it may chill them up. It is the greatest gift they will ever get and the greatest skill they ever learned.
Located in the Central Visayas of the Philippines; east of Cebu and southwest of Leyte is the island Bohol. It is surrounded by the Camotes Sea on the north; by the Cebu Strait on the west; and by the Bohol Sea by the south. Bohol is sometimes called the “Jewel of the Philippines,” probably because it is filled with great history and landmarks.
Covering an area of 4,117 square kilometers, and essentially an agricultural province, corps and fishes are likely the major industry. It is one of Asia’s greatest scuba diving destinations, Bohol has an undersea paradise waiting to be observed and populated by remarkable coral reefs with wonderful marine life. They even offer island-hopping where you can go from one place of the island to the other and whale-watching voyages can be organized.
Scuba diving not only gives the diver the sense of excitement but also the sense of belonging with the marine life as well; and giving them a wider thought and knowledge about the inhabitants of the deep seas.
Bohol is not only the home of beautiful beaches. It is also the home of the famous Chocolate Hills and the World’s Smallest Monkey Tarsier. Aside from its pristine white-sand beaches and the Chocolate Hills, Bohol also includes old churches, magnificent falls and caves and the famous historical landmarks. Different tourist destination sites are being developed by the Department of Tourism to boost their industry even higher. Don’t forget the generosity and hospitality of the Filipino people that gives the other nation the sense of belonging, it’s just amazing.
Bohol is not only the tourist attraction in the Philippines which offers scuba diving. Boracay, is another tourist spot of the Visayas not only by the foreign people but as well as celebrities. With its pearly white sands, people can’t resist admiring the island even more.
Welcome to the land of the chili pepper eating people! The heart of the Bicol Region of the Philippines is Naga City. The place is well known for pili nuts, coconut products, hosts of bright talented people, and chili peppers.
The name Naga City comes from the sturdy and tough narra trees that were abundant in the area way back in the pre-Spanish times. Naga City is on the southern portion of the Philippines' Luzon Island in the province of Camarines Sur.
It's about 377 kilometers south of Manila, Philippines. Estimated travel time from Manila to Naga City is about eight hours long by bus with travels scheduled daily. Flights from Manila to Naga City are also scheduled daily. Estimated travel time from Manila to Naga City by plane is 45 minutes.
You can also get to Naga City by train. The Philippine National Railways have daily trips to Naga City leaving at five o'clock in the afternoon. Estimated travel time by train to Naga City is eight to nine hours.
Like the rest of the Philippines, you can enjoy the tropical climate in Naga City. The rainy season is from June to October, the cool dry season is from November to February, while the hot summer season is from March to June.
Naga City comes alive when the sun goes down at dusk. The nightlife in Naga City is second to none in the region. The streets are lined with karaoke bars, pubs, bars, bistros, and cafes. After you've come from the mountain treks, beaches, and coral reef dives it is a great way to top it all with a really crazy night in Naga City.
Naga City is also known for its natural spring resorts at the foot of Mount Isarog. If you are into backpacking or mountain climbing the Mount Isarog National Park is the place where you should go for a great nature trek. You can set up camp if you would like to stay overnight. You can also visit the Malabsay, Yabon, and the Nabontolan waterfalls.
Naga City has first-class hotels where guests are treated warmly with the trademark hospitality of the Philippines. You'll find that the room service, cuisine, and facilities in Naga City's hotels are quite a treat.
From sun up to sun down Naga City has many reasons to be a place to visit in the Philippines. Just be careful when the locals invite you to try at eating the homegrown chili peppers, be prepared with water if need be.
Dumaguete City, being the capital of Negros Oriental, has many interesting places to visit for a tourist. Different kinds of activities like sightseeing, nature-tripping, swimming, diving can be engaged in by travelers. Parks, animal sanctuaries, historical landmarks, museums, religious shrines, natural landmarks and beaches are destinations that will make tourists enjoy their visit to Dumaguete City.
Right inside the city are destinations for different kinds of activities. Aquino Freedom Park is an ideal place for promenading. Another good place for promenading is Rizal Boulevard. One can stroll along the street and enjoy the waterfront scenery. Perdices Avenue, on the other hand, has many shops for dining and shopping. Meanwhile, the Center For Tropical Studies in Siliman University is an ideal place for nature-loving tourists. Animals endemic to the area like the spotted deer (Cervus alfredi) are showcased in this zoo. For tourists who love arts and culture, the Mariya Gallery and Silliman University Ethno-Anthro Museum are the places to visit. The Dumaguete Belfry in the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Dumaguete City Hall, and Provincial Capitol are places to visit for history buffs.
Beaches near Dumaguete City are not just for sightseeing and swimming. Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular activities in some of the beaches. Antulang Beach in Siaton boasts of white pebble beach, clear blue water, magnificent rock formations and lush marine life. Apo Island in Dauin is a popular spot for diving. The beaches of Camangyawon Beach, Lag-it Beach, San Moritz Beach,White Sandbar Reef and
Talisay Beach Park are ideal for swimming or just strolling around. Mina’s Undersea World and White Sandbar Reef are ideal places for snorkeling. Diving enthusiasts will enjoy going to Balatong Point.
The more adventurous tourist will not be disappointed with Dumaguete City. Cave formations and mountain trails are available for tourists who want to go trekking. Mabinay Caves has many places to offer for a spelunking tourists. Cayaso Cave boasts of an underground river while Odloman Cave was just cited as the second longest cave in the Philippines. Other caves worth visiting in Mabinay are Baliw Cave, Crystal Cave, Mambajo Cave, Panligawan Cave and Pandalihan Cave.
Mountaineering and trekking are popular activities in destinations like Camp Mapot and Mountain Park, Makawiliwili Ridge, Mount Canlaon and Mount Talinis. For picnics and camping, Forest Camp, Whuthering Heights and Veranda of the World are the places to visit.
Nature and animal lovers have several destinations to choose from. One can visit Bais City for dolphin and whale watching. Talabong Mangrove Park offers tourist to see the diverse flora and fauna within the mangrove forest.
Lorenzo South Resort in Barangay Manoc, Boracay Island, Aklan in the Philippines is one of the best hotels on the island. Aside from its superb facilities and over friendly crew, its location is so convenient. It's on the southern end of the kilometer-long White Beach, the main disembarkation point.
From the Caticlan jetty in the mainland, it would take about 30 minutes for the motorized banca to reach Boracay's resorts.
If you are the athletic type, then Lorenzo South Resort in Boracay is it. First, you have the luxury of hiking toward the hotel. While walking you may get acquainted with the beachcombers.
Second, the view from the beach of Lorenzo South Resort is relaxing because of the coconut trees dotting around the hotel.
Third, it is relatively far from the crowded White Beach. Therefore you have a complete privacy with your partner during your stay at Lorenzo South Resort.
Lorenzo South Resort, which is a 3-star hotel, has 24 air conditioned suites with balconies that face the powdery white beach. The relative distance from most of the hotels would guarantee you peace of mind and quite afternoons.
If you want to hold your company outings there, do so. It has a conference room, cable TVs, satellite phones and Internet hub. Getting there is not a problem. There is a daily flight to the mainland through the Caticlan airport or via Kalibo town, the capital of the province.
From Kalibo, you may hire vans or ride minibuses for about an hour leisurely trip over paved road to Caticlan. From Caticlan you take an outrigger that leaves the fishermen's port almost every 30 minutes or more often depending on the number of tourists wanting to go to Boracay.
Compared to other 3-star hotels, room prices are reasonable because others charge you more than $100, particularly during peak periods.
Of course, Lorenzo South Resort is not a Shangri-La. There were recent guests who complain of the long walk. Others have complained of pests. Complaints, however, are expected since the hotel is not a 5-star hotel. But in general, you get your money’s worth with all the conveniences available at South Lorenzo Resort in Boracay.
Actually it is not really far. But for the elderly, the place may not be ideal because of the distance from the disembarkation point. But if you don't like to walk, you may use a for-hire motorbike or motorcab for you trip to the hotel.
A plus factor is that you can swim or snorkel in front of the hotel with less distraction because most swimmers are at the White Beach area.
Philippine fiestas are a lot of fun. In general these fiestas include native sports which are referred today as games. Let’s take a look at them.
The most popular Philippine fiesta game is “Palasebo” or the lard hobby. Allegedly, this used to be an athletic training technique which later evolved into a native community pastime. A tall bamboo standing in the middle of an open space is lavished with lard or oil from top to bottom. A small flag is placed on top. The idea is to have one contestant climb the pole without any climbing implement, and half naked. Moreover, contestants of this Philippine fiesta game must have their bodies poured with oil to further toughen up the climb. At times they have all contestants simultaneously climb the pole. The lone survivor to take the flag down is champion of this Philippine fiesta game.
Hitting the hanging earthen pot, or “Palayok” is another favorite Philippine fiesta game. This can well pass for a Zen meditation technique but for the noisy crowd around. A small earthen pot is hanged through a net in the middle of a wide open space. The contestant of this Philippine fiesta game is blindfolded and given a small wooden bat. The idea is to find the way to the pot and hit it solid to break it. The net secures the broken pieces from flying away and hitting someone. At times this Philippine fiesta game varies a bit and the hanging pot is made to dangle for a more challenging hit.
Breaking lose several pigs in a secured perimeter is another Philippine fiesta game. The ground is kept muddy and the male contestants are topless. The idea is to go after the pigs and at least catch one and bring it to the judges. This Philippine fiesta game is a lot of mess but everybody enjoys it.
Another is “Pabitin” or hanging dole outs. This Philippine fiesta game uses a mat of bamboo sticks forming a flat lift. It is suspended in the air. Lots of goodies and toys hang from it, practically covering it. Children stand below waiting for it to be randomly lowered and raised. As the flat lift is lowered the kids jump to grab what they can from the goodies. Then it is raised again for another round.
Philippine fiesta games are distinctly Filipino and are designed for rough, rustic play. They are athletic activities good enough to become sports.