About the Philippines
The Philippines is one of the most sought after travel destinations for tourists and that is because Filipinos are known to be fun-loving and friendly people.
The Philippine archipelagos consist of 7,107 islands with 3 main islands: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Climate in the Philippines is hot, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 26.5° Celsius.
Getting around the country is easy since most Filipinos understand and speak English. What’s more, the Philippines is not left behind in technology: there are mobile phones everywhere, foreign currency exchange and you can pay using your credit card.
Here, we will feature the most frequently visited tourist spots in the Philippines:
Manila City
Manila is a vibrant metropolis with centers of business in Binondo, Makati and Ortigas Center. Almost everywhere you go you will find small and large stores, shops, boutiques.
Tourists can dare paint the town red in Manila’s bars, restaurants, discos, karaoke lounges, and cafés found mostly in Timog, Makati City and Manila. There are also 3 major casinos for those who enjoy a game of bet.
The walled city of Intramuros is a must see for tourist. According to Philippine history, this was built to defend Manila from invaders. Remnants of the canyons and barricades are housed here. However, today the walled city also offers cozy restaurants where tourists can take a snack while they shop at souvenir shops.
Baguio City
If you’re uncomfortable of the hot and humid weather of the Philippines, why not visit Baguio City - the summer capital of the Philippines? Tourists usually take their summer vacation here because the year-round cool climate is akin to the winter climate near the equator.
Banaue Rice Terraces
Banaue rice terraces is listed among the eighth wonders of the world – this multi-layered terraces of rice was amazingly manually engineered 2000 to 3000 years ago by the Ifugaos, when there were still no machinery or equipment to help them. Tourists enjoy hiking in the many trails of the rice terraces.
Bohol Island
The Bohol island in the Philippines can be considered a paradise – and that is because it is famous for its white sand beaches, numerous caves with underground pond, the Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier, the smallest primate in the world. Bohol is surrounded by beautiful beaches and corral reefs, something nature-lover tourists would enjoy.
Boracay Island
Boracay is world famous and is almost always the first beach mentioned when tourists talk about vacation places in the Philippines because of its white sand beaches.
Boracay is a nice place to picnic during the day or to play golf, may be do some diving or snorkeling is at the Crocodile Island. There are also bat caves to explore on the northeastern coast of Yapak.
Cebu City
Cebu City is where you’ll find the shrine of the Battle of Mactan – Lapu-Lapu’s shrine and Magellan’s Cross.
Davao
Davao is where you’ll find the Philippine Monkey-Eating Eagle, an eagle that preys on monkeys.
For the food enthusiasts, Davao offers their local cuisines at very reasonable prices: fresh seafood especially grilled tuna and tiger prawns. Not to be missed when in Davao is the famous durian which has awful smell but many find delicious – and nutritious too!
Palawan
With over 1,700 islands and islets, Palawan is known as having one of the most beautiful seascapes in the world.
The Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary is a home of exotic and endemic species of animals found in Palawan such as the Palawan bear cats and Philippine mouse deer.
Vigan
One can see precious remnants of old Spanish architecture throughout Vigan. Historians say Vigan is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the Philippines.
One of the fast-developing cities in the southern part of the Philippines, Dipolog City plays home to numerous natural and manmade tourist attractions. Aside from these spots, many people visit the city for its interesting and attractive festivals. Hence, for travelers who have interest in visiting the place, there are Dipolog travel guides that can help them be informed and knowledgeable about the city. Additionally, these guides also offer information on places to stay, dine, and visit in Dipolog City, Philippines.
Accommodations
When it comes to accommodations, most Dipolog travel guides offer sections on hotels, lodges, and inns that people can find when they visit Dipolog City, Philippines. For those who are in search for places where they can have a luxurious stay, they can always take a look at the facilities of some famous hospitality service providers in the area such as Top Plaza Hotel, Hotel Camila, and Elizabeth Hotel. Meanwhile, for those who are in tight budget, they can make advance reservations at any of the lodges and inns that provide affordable accommodations, including West End Court Inn, CL Inn, and Rodriguez Inn. Above all, Dipolog travel guides also feature pension houses where travelers can experience the comfort of being in their own homes.
Dining
In terms of dining,
Anot Dipolog travel guides feature restaurants that offer delectable and sumptuous meals to everyone. For those who crave for Filipino dishes, they can always check the menu of some dining places in Dipolog City, Philippines, which include CL Fastfood, Chip’n Lechon Manok, and Morgia’s BBQ and Lechon Manok. Hence, those who prefer to have a wonderful dining experience, they can always visit Roadside Café and Restaurant, Seafoods Park and Restaurant, as well as Seven Treasures. For the convenience of all travelers, Dipolog travel guides include the location of restaurants that they feature in Dipolog City, Philippines.
Tourist Destinationsher significant feature of Dipolog travel guides is the section that features tourist destinations in Dipolog City, Philippines. Some of the natural attractions in the place are Villaester Hot Spring, New Castle Mountain Range, and Ads Hot Spring. Meanwhile, for those who like to visit manmade attractions in the city, they can look at Patriot Monument, Linabo 3002 Steps, and Cogon Eco Park.
Travel guides will surely help tourists have a great and memorable vacation and trip to Dipolog City, Philippines. With the special features on accommodations, dining and tourist destinations, people will not experience hassles and problems during their stay in the place.
Found in the southern part of the Philippines General Santos is one of the most frequented tourist destination in Mindanao. What draws people visitors to General Santos is the inherent need in every individual to be in touch with nature once in a while and appreciate its beauty. Indeed, many General Santos destinations are unspoiled and for many years have been maintained that way.
Lake Sebu is where the indigenous group T’boli tribe first settled and one can just imagine that this place was found suitable to meet the needs of the community. Lake Sebu is impressive because of how serene it looks and makes one feel. In fact, many visitors go to this General Santos destination once and keep coming back. The water of Lake Sebu makes one feel that no matter what one is going through, everything can be held together. The water is also very clear at this General Santos destination, a sign that the T’boli group has made every effort to make sure that it stays in exactly the same way as when they first settled here. The local tribe also believes that Lake Sebu is a place of miracles because even during the hottest and driest months, this never goes dry. Another good reason to visit Lake Sebu is the chance to interact with the T’boli tribe.
Ranked high on the most visited General Santos destinations is the Kalaja Karst Area found in Barangay Conel. The General Santos destination is a national reserve that is good for anyone who knows how to appreciate nature. One does not have to be a nature lover to be able to enjoy the Kalaja Karst Area because once here, one will realize that nature is something that’s truly wonderful and should be preserved. Aside from picnics and camping, a tour guide awaits at the Kalaja Karst Area to bring one to the Kalaja Cave and the different waterfalls in the area. This General Santos destination is a one stop for those who want to go on a picnic, swim, go trekking or camping. Because of the many options offered by the Kalaja Karst Area, one will definitely not get bored and the rugged environment is something that is very laid back. Even children can enjoy this tourist destination and it’s a good idea to bring them to Kalaja Karst Area so that they learn to appreciate nature at an early age and feel the need to preserve and protect it as they get older.
Most Filipinos never let their guests go hungry. That's one Filipino way of taking care of their guests. To give a warm welcome to their homes, they often serve Tinolang Manok to their guests.
One of the many popular dishes in the Philippines is known as Tinolang Manok. It is otherwise known as Chicken Ginger Soup. Pretty much like the chicken soup our moms used to make with an Asian twist due to the ginger. Each province in the Philippines would its own version of Tinolang Manok. They're all based on a single theme -- chicken and ginger.
You can't say that Tinolang Manok is Tinolang Manok without the ginger. The ginger gives the Tinolang Manok a special Asian aroma and taste. Without ginger, the Tinolang Manok would lose its identifying zest and appeal.
Now here's how to cook Tinolang Manok. Let's begin with the ingredients of this dish. We would need the following to make Tinolang Manok:
A half kilo of Chicken, chopped into pieces.
Four cups of chicken stock. (If you don't have chicken stock you can use a chicken bullion cube mixed in four cups of water. This can be bought in any Filipino store)
One medium-sized green papaya, peeled and cut into cubes.
Three cups of chili leaves, spinach, or pechay.
Two cloves of garlic, crushed.
One tablespoon crushed ginger.
Two tablespoons of sliced onions.
Four tablespoons cooking oil.
Two tablespoons of Fish Sauce (Patis)
Now that we have all our ingredients, here's how we cook Tinolang Manok. First, we heat the oil in a stockpot and saute the ginger, onion and garlic. Remember to saute the ginger much longer than the onion and garlic. This is so you can enhance the essence of the ginger of the Tinolang Manok (big cooking secret, keep that in mind).
After you saute the spices, add the chopped chicken and saute until the chicken is partly cooked. Put in the fish sauce (this can also be bought at a Filipino store), stir for few seconds and add the chicken stock. Let it boil and simmer until 20 minutes. Add the papaya into the pot and let it cook. Turn off the heat and add the chili leaves and toss. Serve the Tinolang Manok while it's hot. It is best served with rice.
There are many popular dishes in the Philippine islands. One of these is the famous Tinolang Manok. Like our mom's homemade chicken soup, it is relaxing, tasty, and the chicken meat is in perfect harmony with steaming rice. Tinolang Manok is a Filipino dish that will welcome you to every Filipino home.
[Tags]Filipino Cooking, Filipino Cuisine, Food, Cooking, Chicken, Recipies, Filipino Recipies, Filipino Dish, Tinola, Manok[/Tags]
Heavy traffic used to be as seldom as ice hailstorms in the country. But today, light traffic is almost like a miracle in Philippine transportation. Heavy traffic has become a rule rather than an exception. But enter the scooter. Both motorists and commuters have discovered a new way of surmounting heavy traffic problems through the scooter, the latest fad in transportation.
Scooters have become a popular transportation option, not only on inner roads, but even on main avenues and highways. When going to the office, the mall, or making an inter-city trek, or just plain roaming around the vicinity or visiting the park, the scooter, as a new transportation alternative, has become a favorite among a growing number of people, in cities or in provinces.
The scooter is definitely cheaper transportation than a car or a van. It takes up less diesel or gasoline. It has lesser parts to maintain, repair, or replace in case of a breakdown. It is easier to troubleshoot. And in a worst scenario---in case of a breakdown in a major thoroughfare, this transportation vehicle is easy to push, or even carry, to a safer lane for repair. No need to worry about being towed.
Parking is never a problem. This transportation option needs a mere niche for a parking space. In fact, 12 scooters can be jam-packed in a car parking slot. This mini transportation is even more a wonder at home. Especially in today’s growing concern on availability of garages at home, owning a scooter is never a problem. Scooters can be parked right inside the living room or bedroom.
This road wonder of transportation is never daunted by any heavy traffic. No matter what traffic may be threatening out there, scooters can easily squeeze in and out of road jams and bottle necks. Some scooter motorists even use the sidewalks to bypass long queues of cars. Scooters may not be as fast as other posh cars on the road, but they are able to circumvent any Manila rush-hour heavy traffic. In that sense, they’re “faster” even than the fastest sports car in the world.
Finally, even on rainy days, this transportation vehicle is still on the go. By just cladding oneself in an armor of a raincoat overall and boots, the scooter driver can be back on the road as in sunny days.
This versatile Philippine transportation trend today, riding a scooter, seems to be the perfect transportation choice very compatible to the country’s declining traffic situation.
One of the best holiday destinations in the Philippines is Palawan. The island has retained its natural beauty and has kept most of it untouched by man. A great welcome to any visitor of Palawan is the majestic Honda Bay.
The Honday Bay frames the fascinating coastline of Puerto Princesa City, the capital of Palawan. The many islands and beaches will guarantee a lot of pleasurable experiences to the visitors of Honda Bay. Clear water snorkeling, picnicking in the fine white sand, and island hopping are just some of wonderful activities that refreshes the heart of the guests at Honda Bay, Palawan.
Honda Bay is an ideal place for snorkelers, offering great spots like Bat Island, Starfish Island, and Cannon Island. These islets at the Honda Bay all have coral reefs that break into white sand beaches mostly untouched by human development. These are only a few of the 1,770 islands that can be explored in Honda Bay. Visitors can hire pump boats to get to these islands, and some of them even have accommodations for an overnight stay.
Other than being a perfect place for sun seekers and snorkelers, Honda Bay also has been known to have some of the best dive spots in the Philippines. Honda Bay has become a much-loved destination of swimmers, divers, local vacationers, and foreign tourists due to the beautiful setting of the islets with shallow reefs that border many wonderful beaches.
Here are some of the well recommended must see places at the Honda Bay, Philippines. On top of the list are the Cowrie and Bat Islands As you might have guessed the names come from the species of large fruit bats found on the islands.
Next in the list of premiere Honda Bay sites is Snake Island. No, there are no huge man-eating snakes here. The name is derived from the shape of the island -- like a long curvaceous snake.
Other must see islands in Honda Bay are Canon, Pandan, Starfish, and Lu-li (an island that is visible only during low tide), Senorita (lapu-lapu fish breeding site), Arreceffi Island (location of the luxurious Dos Palmas Resort), and Meara Marina. Most of the islands of Honda Bay are thirty minutes away by pump boat from Puerto Princesa City.
To get to Honda Bay visitors travel from Puerto Princesa City to Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua, that's about a 12 kilometer distance. It's about 25 minutes away to get to the Sta. Lourdes wharf. From there you can go by boat to any island of your choice at the Honda Bay.
Another way is go island hopping in Honda Bay is to go to the boat station at the city, and rent a boat for a day or two. The boat station is about half an hour away from the city proper.
Hotel room rates at the Honda Bay would cost about an average of US$ 62 to US$ 507 (includes taxes and service charges). The flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa is at Php 2,835, it's an hour long trip with flights scheduled daily.
Visit the Honda Bay, a premiere vacation area in Palawan, Philippines. You'll even be treated to a reception in paradise and have an experience to touch your soul for a lifetime.
[Tags]Palawan, Philippines, Diving, Snorkeling, Scuba, Resort,Honda Bay, Travel, Tourist Sight, Snake Island, Puerto Princesa[/Tags]
Balintawak is a historical place in Quezon City where Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan’s founder, was said to have led his men to renounce Spanish atrocities with a loud cry. How did such a strange name as “Balintawak” come about? This folklore has this to say.
Long ago, the folklore begins, before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, there came an Indonesian to a certain part of the highlands north of Manila. The Indonesian, with his family and men, after some exploration, decided to settle in that area. There they introduced to the natives their arts and handicrafts for bartering these with foods and other household needs. The Indonesian wares and crafts were all interesting and quite unique from what the natives have been accustomed to with their trades with the Chinese, according to the folklore.
But what really amazed the natives were the Indonesian metal swords. The folklore describes them as being designed with interesting curves and crescents and other odd-shaped symbols that other Asian swords they have seen did not have. The Indonesians, from Bali, were also warriors and taught the natives some moves from their war dances using the special swords. The natives started calling the Indonesians and their dances Bali, and later, Balin. The folklore adds that soon the dance was called Balin Tabak locally, referring to the swords or “tabak” in the vernacular used in the dance.
And so one day, the folklore says, the Spaniards came, and when they first reached the area they wondered what the place was called. After everybody was introduced (and it was quite a scene with the different languages used), the local chieftain decided to entertain the guests with an evening feast. At the community center, a presentation was given, and of course their newest cultural dance was presented---the Balin Tabak. The foreigners were amazed and asked what the place was called so they can report back to headquarters their remarkable found. The folklore paints this scene with confusion because the natives, thinking the guests were asking what the dance was called, shouted “Balin Tabak!” The Spaniards started calling the place Balin Tabak. After some time, the name evolved to Balintawak.
Well, afterwards, history ironically tells us that this place of folklore hospitality later turned out to be the place where the first rebellion against abuses to that hospitality was shouted with raised “tabak” in protest.
Filipino hospitality figures mostly in most local folklores. The trait is not only reflected in folklores, it is also historically true.
Fiestas are eagerly awaited events in the Philippines. The festivals celebrate the happy nature of the Filipinos. Whether it be for honoring the patron saint, or a harvest rite or commemorating a historical event, Filipinos celebrate every event.
Some of these Philippine Festivals even attract local and foreign tourist. Street dances, fluvial processions, floral parades, reenactments are some of the attractions of Fiestas. Below are some of the Festivals that are celebrated in the Philippines.
Every Ninth of January, Filipinos from all walks of life congregate in Manila’s Quiapo Church to honor and give thanks to the Black Nazarene. Many Filipinos claim that the church’s Black Nazarene statue is miraculous. Devotees claim that the Black Nazarene has answered their prayers.
The religious devotion of the Filipinos is showcased in this day. The statue of the Black Nazarene is place on a carriage and pulled by thousands of male devotees along the streets near Quiapo Church.
The Ati-Atihan Festival is celebrated every third week of January in Kalibo, Aklan. This Philippine Festival is a combination of historical commemoration and religious homage. It commemorates how Bornean chieftains and the local Ati King Marikudo reached a deal to settle the land during the thirteenth century. Locals also give thanks to its patron saint Sto. Niño during this celebration. The main feature of this Philippine Festival is the street dance where soot-blacked people dressed in Ati-Atihan costume dance in the street along the accompaniment of drums.
Every last week of February, residents of Baguio take to the streets and celebrate Panagbenga. A parade of floats decorated with locally grown flowers is the highlight of this Philippine festival. Another attraction of this festival, is the street dance. Local schools compete in a street dance competition. Students of each school are dressed as Baguio flowers and perform in a choreographed dance. Thousands residents and tourist line up the sidewalks to watch the schoolchildren dance in the streets.
In Lucban, Laguna, residents give thanks to its patron saint San Isidro every 15th of May. Houses are colorfully decorated with fruits, vegetables and kiping (leaves colored with dyed ground rice) as materials.
Lechon or Roasted Pigs has made Balayan, Batangas famous. This locally delicacy is in demand around the Philippines. To showcase this famed Balayan product, residents dress-up their roasted pigs as politicians, celebrities, even saints. These dressed-up lechons are paraded around town. On-lookers can partake of the lechon as they are paraded around town.
Celebrated every September 16 in Naga City in the Bicol Region. This Fiesta honors its Patron the Virgin Mother Mary. The highlight of this event is the fluvial parade.
Very last week of November, residents of Angono, Rizal honor their patron saint San Clemente by paraded giant paper mache puppets. Another feature of this festival is that residents are dowsed with water as the procession marches on.
San Fernando, Pampanga is famous for its beautifully made Christmas lanterns. To showchase this artistry, the Giant Lantern Festival is held every December. Enormous Christmas lanterns with intricate designs and elaborate twinkling light bulbs compete with each other for the festival’s top prize.
Fire works accompanied by a loud band marching in the streets, people clad in aboriginal costume, and people racing to get in line for a front-seat view of the parade... These and more are the common sights of the Philippine fiesta celebrating the so-called religious feast of the Sto. Nino.
Commemoration of this Philippine fiesta goes on around the country in different seasons, depending on the date of a sighting tale of the Sto. Nino. Long ago the “boy Jesus” was said to have landed on Philippine shores and made several miracles in different parts of the archipelago. This was, according to tales, when the boy Jesus “disappeared” from biblical accounts, when he was aged 12 to 30. And those times, according to this tale, he went to the Philippines. Allegedly, where the boy Jesus did miracles, a Philippine fiesta emerged.
Other versions of the religious feast say an old image of the boy Jesus from Spain or other religious country was brought to their place. The said image did lots of miracles, again triggering a religious feast, falling on a date when the miracles started. This again made for another Philippine fiesta of the Sto. Nino on a different date.
This religious feast is celebrated various ways. Some parade an image of the Sto. Nino around the community to be kissed and caressed by devotees. This is accompanied by band playing, parade of marchers in aboriginal costumes, several native games at the plaza (town center), special numbers on a makeshift stage, and a feast or a grand supper later in the community or each home. A Philippine fiesta is always characterized by much eating and merry making, and outsiders and tourists are often invited to witness this religious feast.
In other places, an image of a “urinating” Sto. Nino is paraded. As people gather to touch it, a mechanism triggers the statue to “urinate” on the crowd. Anyone who got pissed on is supposed to receive favors of healing or fortune. Other places observe this Philippine fiesta by parading the image aboard a “pagoda” or a makeshift elevated raft where lots of people join the image in touring the river banks of the town. The rest of the crowd catch up with the pagoda by following it by the river banks on foot.
Though these religious feasts may differ in dates and styles, they all agree that the celebration of this Philippine fiesta ought to be fun---as befits the birthday of a kid. Some mischiefs are allowed to make the religious feast a semblance of a children’s party.
Just like all the highly progressive cities and municipalities in the Philippines, Bacolod City offers students good quality education and unforgettable learning experiences. As part of the extensive Bacolod education system, these universities and colleges offer young individuals wonderful opportunities to grow, learn and develop into mature, morally responsible and competitive professionals in the future.
People can find University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos along Lizarez Avenue, which was established in 1941. This school offers interesting scholarship programs for financially challenged individuals with very good grades. Its academic programs are very good including that of its College of Arts and Sciences. Under this, students can enroll in various courses like Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication. It also has the College of Engineering, the College of Business and Accountancy and the College of Information Technology. Additionally, it also features the College of Nursing, which is definitely one of the most popular these days.
Founded in 1952, the University of Saint La Salle is a private educational institution situated along La Salle Avenue. It promises academic excellence through its various programs including the Graduate School of Management, College of Nursing and College of Medicine. Under the College of Engineering and Technology, the university offers Electronics and Communications Engineering, Computer Engineering and Chemical Engineering. Meanwhile, the College of Business and Accountancy offers courses like Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Information Management and Business Economics. For those who want to enter the College of Arts and Sciences, they can enroll in courses such as Mass Communications, Inter-Disciplinary Studies and Computer Science.
Established in 1961, Riverside College Inc. is a highly regarded medical school for training and educating students in preparation for careers in the field of medicine. It offers non-degree courses like Certificate in Special Education, Certificate in Practical Nursing and Certificate in Live-In Caregiver Program. It also provides baccalaureate degrees such as Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology, Bachelor of Science in Psychology Major in Special Education and Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. It also runs a Graduate School for nursing students.
Established by Augustinian sisters in 1919, La Consolacion College-Bacolod is definitely one of the oldest colleges in Negros Occidental. People can find this prestigious private college at the corner of Gatuslao and Galo Streets, which offers new academic programs, all with outstanding quality. These include the English Functional Course, the Call Center Pre-Employment Training Course and the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program. More importantly, it provides students with highly convenient services that are highly beneficial in their learning such as the Speech and Science Laboratory, the Learning and Resource Center as well as the Guidance Service Center.