If summer getaway means being in a lovely and captivating white sand beach and party all night long ambiance without the hassle of long travel and heavy luggage. Then, the place called Puerto Galera is definitely the best place to consider.
Puerto Galera is a comforting image of gleaming and glistening aquatic place bounded by blossoming terrains and mountains. It is regarded as one of the most attractive, beautiful and developed beach resort district or community in the Philippines.
Puerto Galera's charm started as 'backyard tourism' wherein native and locals accepted foreign and city dwellers (from Metro Manila areas) as stay-in tourists. From then on, tourism had blossomed and had taken a radical level. Throughout the place's development and progress, various restaurants, inns, resorts and hotels have thrived within the vicinity.
Upon the arrival of guests, visitors or tourists, they will board customized motor boats (or bancas) on their way to several resorts or accommodations around the area. As soon as tourists, guests or visitors set foot in Puerto Galera, fun begins! There are a lot of things a tourist could do in Puerto Galera. Activities such a stargazing, watching the sunset, beach-hopping, play some beach volleyball, chatting and bonding with friends around a bonfire and pitching tents could be done in Puerto Galera.
Never the less, Puerto Galera’s main asset is still its crystal clear water and its white sand coast or shoreline. For this reason, aquatic activities, other than swimming, like diving and snorkeling are very popular among tourists and visitors in Puerto Galera. The place is perfect for family gatherings, team buildings, and also for individual relaxation and unwinding.
For the past years, Puerto Galera has been one of the favorite getaways, especially for call center agents, because of its proximity to Metro Manila area. This means, just a little preparation and some arrangements should be considered going to Puerto Galera. One of the travel agencies that promotes and provides vacation packages in Puerto Galera is ActiVentures Dive, Golf and Adventure Tours.
The travel agency's forte or specialty is setting up or arranging diving itinerary in Puerto Galera. ActiVentures Dive, Golf and Adventure Tours travel agency offers a complete package for tourist from accommodations to all related travel itineraries within Puerto Galera.
Getting relaxed in a white sand beach or ambiance does not always mean taking a long journey. There is always an alternative. However, considering the beauty and wonders of Puerto Galera, it should definitely be the first option to take.
Ever wondered living in a place called 'The City of Smiles'? Bacolod City, is dubbed to have that description. Bacolod City is in the Visayas Region in the Philippines, particularly at the northern part of Negros Occidental. 'Stonehill' was the literal meaning of the word 'bacolod' (from 'bakolod' a Hiligaynon terminology). The place was established on a literally mound-like terrain and it was stony. The place is now of Granada District. Muslim raids during those days forced the new settlement to be pushed along the shoreline in 1787. The old site was regarded as the 'old town' or Da-an Banwa.
Sugar plantations have been the archetypal scene along the main roads of Bacolod. This has been the source of the natives' bread and butter and as of the present moment, almost 9000 hectares of agricultural or rural land are dedicated for sugarcane planting. Other source of income and livelihood are fishing, pottery and being engaged to livestock. Knocking in at the doors of international competency in economy, local government established some language centers catering foreigners. This type of business scheme has been giving English tutorials and instructions especially to Koreans. Other subjects and courses are also being offered. The usual colleges and universities around the city are also offering English language instruction for foreign students presently residing at Bacolod City. The onset and the emergence of the so-called business process outsourcing or BPO in most companies had changed the international market big time. In order for most business ventures to survive, they have to adopt this type of market scenario. The city of Bacolod is one of the cities in the Philippines that implemented this business wave. For this reason, there are distinguished BPO companies working in the city like, TeleTech, Transcom, Focus International Teleperformance and Convergys.
The city is highly regarded as the most livable city in the Philippines. Bacolod City is the province of Negros Occidental's capital city. The city prides itself as the only city in the Philippines to achieve a grand slam award for being the greenest and the cleanest highly urbanized city. Traffic jam is never a problem in the city because of the wide roads that prevent congestions. Bacolodnons, the natives of Bacolod, really love to enjoy life and that is the fact behind the moniker the 'City of Smiles'. Their noted festivities are the Pana-ad Sa Negros Festival and Maskara Festival. Making arrangements with some notable travel agencies would make the trip and stay to Bacolod City a reason for tourists to smile. T3 (Trips, Tickets and Tours) Centre is one of the tours agencies of Bacolod located at G/F Bargain Square Mall. Décor Travel Agencia situated at Goldenfields Commercial Complex also provides travel related services. For accommodations and travel needs, SN Travel House and Tours could make special packages for visitors (located at G/F Sea Breeze Hotel, San Juan St.). Mariton Air Travel is another office for tourists' itinerary and lodging needs. These travel agencies have served a lot of tourists who really and literally 'smiling' after their Bacolod adventure. As a travelers' tip, always check the internet for updated information regarding these travel agencies. As a final note, for a lovely vacation, always wear a smile.
The boom of tourism in Bacolod has led to the addition of hotels and restaurants to better cater to a wider market. What makes Bacolod a favorite tourist destination is not just the fine establishments that have been built, but the ease that Bacolod transportation provides.
The quickest and most convenient Bacolod transportation from Manila and Angeles City is via plane. The Luzon region has 2 airports, one in Manila and the other in Angeles City. Getting to Bacolod via plane is as easy as booking online, going to a ticketing office or a quick phone call with one of the major airlines that fly there daily. Bookings can be made through Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific to get to Bacolod from Manila and Angeles City and these airlines have at least one flight a day to that destination. The ride is less than an hour, in fact it only takes forty five minutes from Manila and Angeles City. The plane lands at the Bacolod-Silay International Airport and one will be surprised that although this facility is in the province, it can compete with the airport in Manila in terms of world class service. From the airport, Bacolod transportation that will get one around the city is just outside and one can choose to ride either a bus or a taxi. Of course, one also has the option of arranging airport transfer with one’s hotel so that upon arrival from Manila and Angeles City, a car or a van is ready and waiting.
Another Bacolod transportation from Manila and Angeles City is by sea and there are many ferries that travel to this destination daily. WG&A and Negros Navigation are among the biggest shipping lines in the country but of course as compared to a plane ride, the travel time is longer which lasts a day.
Similar to any highly urbanized city, there are several ways to get around Bacolod and it doesn’t matter whether one arrived via plane or docked at the seaport. Near the Bacolod-Silay International Airport, a bus terminal is within walking distance and this will get one around the capital. If one is headed somewhere nearer, there are also jeepneys there but for those who are not too familiar with the place or have never been there before, there are also taxis in the area.
I learned to appreciate a lot of things because of being informed. I appreciate things if and only if it is possible to have a direct experience with it. When I started to learn appreciating music, it was not enough for me to just listen and watch concerts and see the bands play their stuffs. To satisfy my 'appreciation', I needed to learn music by playing and making them by myself using a musical instruments. Same goes with other things, like going to a place and exploring it. Before trying to be in a new place or location, I really try to have bits and pieces of information to really appreciate and 'understand' what is going on (well, my point here is for me to have a 'feel of the place'). As for me, appreciation is more of setting expectations for myself than others trying to set expectations for me. It is like throwing questions to the tour guide than have the tour lead have it all the way. As for now I would like to discuss some facts about Leyte. I would be acting as a virtual 'tour guide'.
Leyte had been actively trading with merchants from neighboring nations particularly with the Chinese until Spanish set foot to Limasawa in 1521. The local chieftains had been amicable in accepting the Portuguese navigator none other than Ferdinand Magellan. Since then the rural place had taken transition from simple rural living to a relatively modern lifestyle. However, some asserted that it was Ruy Lopez de Villabos was the first Spanish conquistador to be in the island in 1543 and coined it Las Islas Felipinas. One of the most significant historical events that took place in the surrounding seas of the island was the 'Battle of Leyte Gulf'. The event occurred on October 1944. Its historical significance was the reclamation of the Allied forces of the island that spelled a crucial element for the victory of both Americans and Filipinos against the invading Japanese in the Philippines during the Second World War.
The island of Leyte is composed of three (3) cities and forty (40) municipalities. The municipalities had been gathered into six (6) legislative or congressional districts. Tacloban City, the island’s main city had been declared highly-urbanized city way back 2008. However, the city of Ormoc is an independent component city. These two (2) cities have independent administration from the island itself meaning residents of these cities do not participate in electing provincial officials. The other city (technically speaking) is Baybay City.
The main commerce or business in Leyte is mainly depends on agriculture. Planting rice is the main thing especially in the lower flatter areas like in Tacloban. Another economic drive for the island is coconut farming and making coconut oil has been an income generating trade for the island as well. Fishing is another main source of income among locals. Having the largest geothermal plant in Asia, Leyte has become one of the Philippines' resource-rich provinces
The Festival of Festivals which is the 'Kasadya-an' showcases the uniqueness and colorful history of Leyte. The word 'Kasadya-an' itself means gaiety, merrymaking or fun. The festivity is defined by lively, lovely and colorful parade that everybody would enjoy to see! The natives, in honoring the miraculous Señor Sto.Niño de Leyte, have their bodies painted (as Pintados). This has been a practice since the early times of the locals' conversion to Christianity. This festivity has become one of the landmark occasions in Leyte. It only happens annually on the month end of June.
Leyte Island's significance can never be completed without understanding or being aware of its history. I honestly had some goose bumps before getting to the island as I read the complete account of the battle of Leyte. I even pushed a simple tour around some safe locations in the Leyte Gulf just to fully understand and at least be one with those who had fought and offered their lives for the sake of freedom and this island. As for me, experiencing is 'experiencing as'.