Overlooking Mount Luho, Monaco Suites de Boracay enjoys a prime location on the southeast coast of Boracay. It is an excellent spot for snorkeling, wind surfing and other water activities.

Suites are spacious with private balconies that offer spectacular views and let in the fresh ocean breeze. They offer all the comforts of home with large living spaces, a dining area, kitchenette and large bathrooms.

PhilippineTravel.com – Monaco Suites de Boracay

Recreational activities are endless at Monaco Suites, with a well-equipped gym, a large i

nfinity pool and a variety of water and beach sports. There is also a health spa which provides relaxing massages and body treatments.

The stylish Monaco Suites Restaurant offers its signature lobster dish with a selection of wines. Great views of the ocean accompany meals. Alternatively, enjoy meals in the privacy of your room.

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Boracay

Manila was born out of the ashes of a once flourishing Malay settlement by the banks of the Pasig River. In 1571, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established the Ever Loyal City of Manila which, until 1898, was the seat of Spanish colonial rule in Asia. He built the city within walls and called it Intramuros.

An anchor tourist destination, Manila is the very core of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippines. It is a center for the performing arts in Asia.

PhilippineTravel.com – Makati Shangri-la Hotel

The Grandeur of Intramuros

At the turn of the 20th century, the great American architect and city planner Daniel Burnham noted that “the old walled city of Intramuros at the mouth of the Pasig River is one of the best preserved medieval cities anywhere in the world.”

But the Pacific War of the 1940′s took its toll.

Faithful reconstruction goes on today in Intramuros. A few of the gates and ramparts have been turned into parks and performing venues, including Puerta Real and Baluarte de San Diego. Chambers found along its gates are now occupied by art galleries, souvenir shops, restaurants, even a cyber café.

Fort Santiago, the site of torture chambers and dungeons where political prisoners from Spanish to Japanese times were kept and executed, is now a lush park with flowering trees and homing pigeons. Here, one may enjoy a leisurely ride aboard a horse-drawn carriage.

At the center of Intramuros is the grand Manila Cathedral with its detailed stone carvings, stained glass mosaics and rose windows.

San Agustin Church, completed in 1606, has withstood all the fires and earthquakes that have hit Manila through the centuries. One of the four Philippine Baroque Churches inscribed in the World Heritage List, its monastery has been turned into a museum housing priceless religious artifacts. Adjoining it are the restored gardens of Fr. Jose Blanco who studied Philippine botanical life during the Spanish period.

Barrio San Luis along Juan Luna Street is made up of five faithfully reconstructed colonial houses – Casa Manila, Casa Urdaneta, Casa Blanca, Los Hidalgos and El Hogar Filipino.

PhilippineTravel.com – The Peninsula Manila

Beyond the Walls

Manila has since expanded beyond Intramuros to become the nucleus of the country’s largest metropolis, Greater Manila, made up of 11 other cities and five towns.

But before it spread out of its confines, history saw Manila figuring prominently in the Galleon Trade, the first trans-Pacific commerce between Asia, America and Europe for some 250 years.

The city was also scarred by many foreign invasions, ravaged by Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese and British marauders. Shortly after the country declared itself Asia’s first democracy in 1898, the Americans invaded its shores and ruled for 50 years. And after the Pacific War of the 1940′s, when the Japanese Imperial Army reigned for four years, Manila was the second most destroyed city in the world.

The rubbles of the past have seasoned and strengthened Manila’s character today.

Just off Intramuros’ walls is the world-class Club Intramuros which offers day and night golfing. Adjacent to it is the 58-hectare Rizal Park, which runs from Taft Avenue up to the seawalls of the fabled Manila Bay.

In 1902, Burnham designed a U-shaped government complex within Luneta. Only three buildings were however constructed: the Executive House occupied by the National Museum, the Department of Finance Building which now houses the Museum of the Filipino People, and the Department of Tourism Building envisioned to become the future Museum for Natural Sciences.

Across the Pasig River from Fort Santiago is Binondo, or Chinatown. Not much has changed in terms of lifestyle in this quaint district although, now, high-rise buildings have started to appear in its skyline.

PhilippineTravel.com – InterContinental Manila

A stone’s throw away from Rizal Park is the Ermita district which, together with the Malate district, forms what is known as Manila’s Tourist Belt. Ermita is antique and art galleries, curio and souvenir shops while Malate is cozy cafes, music lounges and performance theaters.

At the heart of Manila is Quiapo. What has caught the fancy of many bargain-hunters is Ilalim ng Tulay – literally, “Under the Bridge” – where stalls sell an array of handicrafts at prices that are practically a steal.

Near Quiapo is the genteel San Miguel district, with its ancestral homes and Malacanang Palace, seat of the Philippine government. A museum of presidential memorabilia is open to the public.

A Sampling of the Country’s Best

Manila mirrors the best of this country’s 7,000 times more islands.

A few minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Fiesta Duty Free Shop in Paranaque City is Nayong Pilipino, or Philippine Village, which features the country’s famous landmarks in miniature.

Weekends are good days to visit, when the park assumes a barrio fiesta (village festival) atmosphere, complete with traditional games, indigenous music, songs and dances, and craft demonstrations.

The Sunset Strip

Roxas Boulevard, which extends from Paranaque City to Manila, is the Bay Area from where one can have a view of the famed Manila sunset.

Many landmarks are found in this area, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Senate buildings. Within the stretch is the International Trade Center complex, the Philippine Trade Training Center and the World Trade Center. Further back is the Government Service Insurance System building which houses an art gallery by the bay.

The boulevard is also home to the country’s premier performing venue, the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Within its complex are the Philippine International Convention Center, the Product Design and Development Center, the Folk Arts Theater, the Coconut Palace and the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel.

Adjoining the complex is the Manila Yacht Club and the Philippine Navy Headquarters. A little farther is the US Embassy.

Across the Yacht Club is the Bangko Sentral (Central Bank) complex which houses the Money Museum. The bank has Asia’s biggest and finest gold collection at the Metropolitan Museum, a home for the modern masters.

Roxas Boulevard is lined with posh hotels, casinos and lively nightspots.

City Lights

Greater Manila is where the country’s most prestigious business addresses and the trendiest leisure establishments are found. By day, it hums with the bustle of commerce and, by night, throbs with the excitement of varied, high class entertainment.

Makati City is the country’s financial center and the most prestigious business address. Many foreign embassies and multinationals call it home. Fashionable hotels, restaurants, discos, music bars, boutiques and specialty shops converge around the sleek Ayala Center.

In Makati is Forbes Park, home to the rich and famous. The most elite country club, Manila Polo Club, and golf course, Manila Golf Club, are nestled within the village.

Giving Makati a run for its money is Mandaluyong City, with Ortigas Center an impressive alternative to Ayala Center. Home to the Asian Development Bank and the Philippine Stock Exchange, it is also the site of three of Metro Manila’s gigantic shopping malls – SM Megamall, Robinson’s Galleria and Shangri-la EDSA Plaza.

San Juan is the hometown of former President Joseph Estrada. Built on a hilly terrain, a drive along the old residential section can be a pleasurable diversion. Its Greenhills Commercial Center houses some of Metro Manila’s vibrant music halls.

Quezon City was envisioned by the late President Manuel L. Quezon (after whom the city was named) to be the country’s government center. Many of the national government offices are located here as well as the country’s leading educational institution, the University of the Philippines.

Dominating Cubao, Quezon City’s commercial center, is Araneta Coliseum, the country’s biggest enclosed entertainment arena. For nightlife, the Quezon Boulevard, Timog Avenue, Tomas Morato Avenue and West Avenue strips offer varied, colorful fares.

Marikina City is the Shoe Center of the Philippines. The city takes pride in its 75.6-hectare River Park.

Paranaque City is generally associated with its dry goods and seafood market and restaurants, and Redemptorist Church, a pilgrimage site which houses the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Las Pinas City has retained much of its provincial appeal. Visitors flock to this city to see the world’s only bamboo organ, housed at the picturesque St. Joseph’s Parish Church.

City Flavors

Metro Manila is one big gastronomic trip of many cuisines.

In Intramuros is Illustrado Restaurant with its colonial ambiance and Spanish provincial cuisine. The old Malate district, with Remedios Circle at its core, is the favorite watering hole of artists, designers and the café society who are only too willing to try the varied international flavors offered by the many restaurants in the area. Authentic Chinese cuisine can be had at the old financial district of Binondo. Aside from Ayala Center, many fine and theme dining establishments line Jupiter Street and Pasay Road in Makati City. From theme restaurants to beer-and-grill gardens, Tomas Morato Avenue, Timog Street, Quezon Avenue and West Avenue in Quezon City have them all. Interesting clusters of restaurants and bars are found in San Juan’s Greenhills and Mandaluyong City’s Ortigas Center.

The outskirts of Manila offer many places of interest that are easily accessible by day excursions. Many of these destinations can be reached in an hour or two.

CORREGIDOR

Corregidor is a tiny tadpole-shaped island lying across the entrance of Manila Bay. Also known as “The Rock,” it was the focus of a protracted battle between Filipino-American and Japanese forces during the Second World War. The shell of the Mile Long Barracks still stands. Within the Malinta Tunnel, a light-and-sound show is staged for day tourists. It can be reached by de-luxe cruisers from the CCP Complex jetty in Roxas Boulevard.

LAGUNA

Laguna boasts one of the most beautiful country-sides in the Philippines with a plethora of waterfalls, springs, seven big rivers and the lake from which it got its name spanning all of 90 hectares, making Laguna de Bay the biggest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.

The town of Los Banos (“The Baths”) has numerous resorts fed by hot and cold springs. Standing guard over the resort town is Mount Makiling which houses at its slopes a botanical park and the National Arts Center, a high school for budding artists.

The quaint town of Pagsanjan was the setting of the Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now.” Its star attraction is the Pagsanjan Rapids and Falls.

In the town of Alaminos is found Hidden Valley which is actually a volcano crater. A number of hot, cold and soda springs lace a forest of towering fruit trees, tropical shrubs and flowering plants.

Also in Laguna is the historical town of Calamba where the ancestral house of Dr. Jose Rizal has been turned into a museum.

SAN PABLO CITY

In San Pablo City are found seven lakes. For a taste of plantation living, visit Villa Escudero. Here, bamboo cottages gird a river that flows into a dam.

TAGAYTAY

A one hour drive south of Manila is Tagaytay, a city perched on a ridge. From the Tagaytay Picnic Grove, there is an unobstructed view of Volcano Island, a volcano within a lake with a volcano within a lake, which is the standard description of the 406 meter-high Taal Volcano, the smallest volcano in the world.

BATANGAS

The heritage town of Taal in the Southern Tagalog province of Batangas features the largest church in the Far East, the Ionic-columned and Gothic-designed Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours.

In the southeast area of Batangas is the resort village of Anilao in Mabini town, the nearest scuba diving center to Manila. Anilao is also a jump-off point for island-hopping expeditions.

SUBIC

Also within Subic is a virgin forest where one can go on a 12-hour trek, visit a tribal village, and take a jungle survival course. Subic Bay is a rich hunting ground for both professional and Sunday anglers alike.

CLARK

Clark, in the Central Luzon province of Pampanga, is the former homebase of the United States air fleet in Southeast Asia. A short hour and a half drive north of Manila, Clark is a special economic zone that has a recreation network which include an 18-hole golf course, an aviation school, a de-luxe hotel, and duty free shops.

An hour’s drive from Clark is Subic, the 18,000-hectare former US naval reservation in the province of Zambales. Subic’s recreation area includes an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding trail, firing range, casinos, restaurants, duty-free shops, bowling area, a bungee jumping area, and a marina complex.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Manila is the main gateway to the Philippines and is readily accessible from the travel capitals of the world.

Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; from Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; from Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Philippine Airlines is the national carrier.

WARM HOSPITALITY

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others.

Here’s a listing of de luxe hotels in the Greater Manila Area:

MAKATI

The Heritage Hotel Manila

The Peninsula Manila

Intercontinental Manila

Makati Shanari-La Manila

Hotel H2O

Ascott Makati

more at PhilippineTravel.com Hotels in Manila

Source: http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph

Time-locked Ilocos is a broad hardy country blessed with impressive wide highways and stretches of narrow cobblestoned roads, antiquated towns dominated by heavily-buttressed grand churches and Antillan ancestral homes, and a brave people who, by sheer industry, harnessed a formidable terrain into a source of sustenance.

A seemingly tempestuous sea rimmed with uneven rock formations and ascetic mountains are the two scenic images that first impress the visitor to Ilocos. Wedged between the wild China Sea and the rugged Cordillera mountain range, the region presents a visual feast that is at once dazzling in its boldness.

Divided into Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, their capitals – Vigan and Laoag City – are anchor tourist destinations and part of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.

PhilippineTravel.com – Gordion Hotel

Old World City

Vigan, with its centuries-old edifices, is a breathing reminder of what was once a royal city.

One of the earliest Spanish settlements in the country, Vigan was founded in 1572 by Juan de Salcedo who patterned its design to that of Intramuros (Old Manila). It became the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia and was called Ciudad Fernandina in honor of King Ferdinand.

Today, Vigan retains much of the patina of 18th century Castillan architecture as seen in some 150 stone houses which stand in the town’s Mestizo District, notably Mena Crisologo Street. Many of these ancestral homes are still in good condition and some have been turned into cozy inns, museums, and souvenir shops.

Along with the homes are other vestiges of the town’s colonial past:
The majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral was built by the Augustinian friars along the distinct “Earthquake Baroque” style of the Ilocos region and features Neo-Gothic and pseudo Romanesque motifs. Standing on an elevation west of the cathedral is Plaza Salcedo, the oldest monument in Northern Luzon. The Archbishop’s Palace is a rich repository of religious artifacts from the Ilocos region. Plaza Burgos was built in honor of Fr. Jose Burgos, one of three Filipino priests who were garroted by the Spaniards for espousing church reforms.

But it is not only edifices which are preserved in this town inscribed in the World Heritage List. Viganos also remain steadfast in their traditional crafts, notably pottery (burnay) and handloom weaving (inabel).
The horse-drawn calesa (rig) is as much a presence in the streets as motor vehicles.

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Vigan

Gateway of the North

After Vigan, Juan de Salcedo pressed further north to Laoag which even before the Spanish colonial times was already a center of trade with the Japanese and Chinese.

Laoag City, today, is the major crossroads for international trade and commerce in the Ilocos region. Though bustling with business, the city has retained pretty much an unhurried, laid-back lifestyle.

Dominating the city landscape is the provincial capitol which sits atop Ermita Hill, also popularly known as Raquiza Garden. Another point of interest is the St. William’s Cathedral, built by the Augustinians in 1612 along the Italian Renaissance design. Its unique 2-story facade is held by four pairs of coupled columns. A deeply recessed niche carries the image of St. William. A hundred meters away from the church is the Sinking Bell Tower which leans slightly to the north. It sinks an inch a year to the ground.

Like in Vigan, the calesa is an integral part of the street landscape.

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Vigan

A Hardy But Beautiful Land

Because of its difficult terrain and arid temperature, the Ilocos was once described as a “God-forsaken land” and one was well-advised to have the “patience of a spider” in order to survive it. But Ilocanos, the hardy people that they are, not only survived in this formidable land but were able to turn this highland country into “God’s own paradise.”

Ilocos has many churches of distinction which include two that are inscribed in the World Heritage List. In Ilocos Sur is the salmon-bricked Santa Maria Church. Built in 1769, it sits atop a hill towering over the town proper. In Ilocos Norte is Paoay Church. Built by the Augustinians in 1596, the church looks like a cross between a Javanese temple and a European church.
The town of Bantay was the scene of fierce uprising led by Diego Silang against the tobacco monopoly in 1762. The town’s savage seascape has been immortalized in the films of Philippine Action King Fernando Poe, Jr. The town church is an architectural gem combining Baroque with Gothic motifs.

Currimao has a burgeoning beach resort industry. Visitors to this coastal town never fail to appreciate the sight of fishermen pulling in their nets shortly before dusk while performing a song-and-dance ritual for a bountiful harvest. Everybody is welcome to join in and each participant is given a rightful share of the catch.

The town of Pagudpud offers a breathtaking landscape which includes the enchanting Bantay Abot-abot, a natural sculpture carved by the wind and sea, the white sand Saud beach and the majestic Mabogabog Falls. Impressive living canvasses unravel as one traverses the winding Patapat and Calvario roads.

Aside from its church, Paoay has a national park that envelops a placid lake. Built along its edge is the Malacañang of the North, official residence of the late President Marcos in northern Luzon. The town also has stretches of undulating sand dunes, the setting of Mel Gibson’s “Mad Max” series and Tom Cruise’s “Born on the Fourth of July.” The Paoay Sports Complex is the biggest in northern Luzon.

The pastoral town of Pasuquin has many fine beaches and is known for its salt-making industry. Its hills and mountains abound with wild game. Pasuquin Cave can be reached after some 45 minutes of traveling via a dirt road. A Mayor’s Permit is necessary.

Island Flavors

The simplicity of Ilocano cookery is its own virtue.

Bitter-flavored dishes are part of the Ilocano cuisine. Purposely laced into meat stews, fish grills and salads, the bitter taste is as enjoyable as the other aspects of taste, such as sweet, sour and salty. A popular dish is pinakbet, a vegetable stew of bitter melon, squash, eggplant and okra with crisp pork belly.

The town plaza and the marketplace are the best places to savor local flavors. The hotels and resorts have their own dining outlets and serve both native and international dishes. They can prepare picnic meals upon request.

Warm Hospitality

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others.
In Ilocos, one can easily find comfortable lodgings to suit one’s budget and needs.

ILOCOS NORTE

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Vigan

7,000 Times More Surprises

Discover 7,000 times more surprises that await beyond Vigan and Laoag.

LA UNION. The stretch of white and gray sand beaches that line the towns of La Union is the main attraction of the province located in the southwestern Ilocos region. Foremost of these beaches are Darigayos-Paraoir Beach in Bacnotan, San Juan Beach in San Francisco-Canaoay, Bauang Beach, and San Nicolas Beach or “Puerto de Japon” in Agoo.

Poro Point has excellent diving spots, notably: Black Buoy, Fourteen Mile Reef, Tamyo Reef, Research Reef and Fagg Reef. Mona Liza in San Juan, north of San Fernando, is a prime surfing area.

BAGUIO. Baguio City in the Central Cordillera mountain range is noted for its nippy climate, pine trees and pleasant mountain scenery. It is a favored destination among artists, honeymooners and others looking for a cool retreat. It is also a faith healing haven and a university town. At the public market, good buys include silvercraft, woodcarvings, knitted garments and fabrics handloomed by the Cordillera tribal folk, cutflowers and fresh vegetables, and fruit jams.

BANAUE. Also nestled in the Cordilleras is the town of Banaue in the province of Ifugao. Because of its highland location, Ifugao is often described as “where land merge with the clouds and touch the heavens.”
Banaue’s claim to fame, however, are its rice terraces – part of the 20,000 hectares of engineering marvel that also span the towns of Hungduan, Mayoyao and Kiangan. The terraces were built more than 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao tribe, using only their bare hands and crude implements.
Inscribed in the World Heritage List, this “8th Wonder of the World” serves as a living testament to man’s genius at turning a rugged and forbidding terrain into a continuing source of sustenance.

Planning Your Trip

The Ilocos can be reached by land and air travel from Manila, the country’s main international gateway.

There are air-conditioned buses that leave their Manila stations for Vigan. Travel time is approximately 8-9 hours. The buses, which leave on scheduled runs, do stopovers at designated points along the route for refreshments and other necessities. Reservations are needed before boarding the buses.

By bus:

DOMINION BUS LINES
EDSA cor New York St., Quezon City
Telephone (632) 7414146/7314180
FARIÑAS TRANSIT
Laon-laan cor M. dela Fuente Sts.
Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7238580 loc. 103-105
PARTAS BUS COMPANY
Aurora Blvd. cor Bernardino St., Quezon City
Telephone (632) 7257251740/7251256
PHILIPPINE RABBIT BUS LINES
EDSA, Balintawak, Quezon City
Telephone (632) 3643477
TIME TRANSIT
Blumentritt cor. Laong-Laan St.
Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7414146/7314180

Travel time by bus from Manila to Laoag City takes 10 hours. Laoag International Airport services regular flights from Taiwan and chartered domestic flights.

By bus:

AUTO BUS
Laong-laan cor. Dimasalang Sts.
Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7436873
FARIñAS TRANSIT
Laong-laan cor. M. dela Fuente Sts.
Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7438580 loc. 103 & 105
F. FRANCO TRANSIT CO.
Lacson St., Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7312584/7314473
PARTAS TRANSIT
Aurora Blvd. cor. Bernardo St.
Cubao, Quezon City
Telephone (632) 7257303/7251740
PHILIPPINE RABBIT
Balintawak, EDSA, Quezon City
Telephopne (632) 3643477/4567659
RCJ TRANSIT
1558 España, Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7412994

The Philippines is accessible from the travel capitals of the world. Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; from Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; from Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Source: http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph

Book your Hotel at PhilippineTravel.com – Philippines Hotels

Just as enchanting is its brilliant tapestry of harmony, woven from the diverse cultural threads of its people. In Davao, the contemporary fuses with the traditional as migrant settlers from all over the country co-exist in peace with a fairly large expatriate community and numerous ethnic tribes who continue to live as they did centuries ago.

Davao is an anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. It is a natural haven for both sedate and daring pursuits.

A City that Straddles Two Worlds

PhilippineTravel.com – Marco Polo Davao Marco Polo Davao

It is the hub of commerce and industry in the Southern Mindanao region. Yet, to this day, Davao City continues to straddle two worlds – the new and the old.

Part of it is a flourishing metropolis of business districts, mechanized farms and cosmopolitan villages where “instant millionaires” live. And the other part is a rural landscape of hills that roll down into fertile valleys, dominated by the 2,954-meter-high Mount Apo, the grandfather of all Philippine mountains, and peopled by the Bagobo, Manobo, Mandaya, Bilaan and other ancestral tribes.

Land of Plenty

“Kadayawan sa Dabaw” is Davao City’s premier festival and showcases the natural and cultural bounty of the land.

A movable feast in August, the week-long merrymaking highlights the manifold tribal cultures of the region which are vividly expressed in traditional songs, dances, games and crafts. It is also on this occasion when a lively trade fair, capped by a flower-and-fruit float parade, takes place. Street dancing and popular entertainment complete the celebration.
Agriculture-based industries thrive in the Davao region. A major exporter of bananas, citrus, mangosteen and other tropical fruits, it is also the biggest producer of cultured flowers in the country. Its surrounding waters are rich sources for commercial fishing.

The world’s largest city in terms of land area, Davao covers all of 244,000 hectares.

PhilippineTravel.com – Crown Regency Residence Davao

King of the Heavens

The Philippine Eagle has the countenance of regal majesty – snowy white plumes dappled with gray, a distinct crested head matched with a pair of sharp eyes and strong curved beak, a powerful eight-foot wingspan, and lethal preying claws.

An endangered species, the world’s largest eagle has found refuge at the Philippine Eagle Research and Nature Center in the Malagos rainforest in Calinan, 45 minutes away from downtown Davao.

It was here where the first ever Philippine Eagle was born in captivity. Aptly named Pag-asa (Hope), she is testament to how seriously Davao protects its environmental heritage. To this day, more eaglets are bred and nurtured at the sanctuary.

Only too soon, the Philippine Eagle will take its rightful place in the sky. Soaring proud and unafraid as King of the Heavens.

Queen of the Rainforest

On the slopes of Mount Apo was discovered the waling-waling, an orchid of exceptional attributes – with full, velvety petals tinged in royal colors of purple, red and yellow.

So delicate is this stunning bloom that it can only thrive on fresh and balmy air. The waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana) has since been successfully transplanted from its natural environment and cultivated in many of Davao’s flower farms.

Retailing at several hundred dollars a plant, the Queen of the Rainforest has become an attractive business proposition.

Island Flavors

Davao’s claim to culinary fame is grilled “bariles” (tuna) jaw dipped in soy sauce and “kalamansi” (native lemon).

The marketplace, abundant with seafoods, meats and fresh tropical fruits, is the best place to savor local flavors.

At the Sta. Ana Wharf, Luz Kinilaw Place is famous for its local version of the Japanese sashimi – bite-size chunks of raw fish marinated in vinegar, chili pepper and other spices.

For more gustatory experiences, drop by the restaurant row along F. Torres St. and Magsaysay Park. Also check out Fiesta Dabaw and Zugba Restaurant at Apo View Hotel and Yellow Fin Restaurant at Ecoland.

PhilippineTravel.com – Apo View Hotel

Island Adventure

One simply does not get bored in Davao. There are just so many options for a pleasurable stay. Try cultural immersion. Or farm visit. Or golf. Or trek. Or scuba dive. Or shop. Or simply laze around the islands and watch the world go by. The possibilities just go on and on…

At the T’boli Weaving Center, watch the colorful tribe of bola women as they handloom the intricate tinalak fabric. More tribal art and material culture can be gleaned at the nearby Davao Museum.

Brassware, ethnic trinkets and shellcraft make great souvenirs. Splurge and indulge at the Aldevinco Shopping Center on CM Recto Street, Nieva’s Arts and Crafts in Lanang, Precy’s Creation and Handicrafts in Bajada, and Handmade Treasures at Gaisano Mall.

Orchids, whether cut or potted, are also good buys. Check out the Mindanao Flower Market (Minflo Mart) in Barangay Pampanga.

For more farm visits, go to the Bago Oshiro Experimental Station in Mintal, Derling Worldwide Orchid Corporation in Buhangin, Greenhills Orchid Farm in Catalunan Pequeño, Puentespina Orchid Garden in Agdao, or the Malagos Garden Resort (Orchid Farm) at the Baguio district in Calinan. At the Gap Fruit Farm, one can gorge on Davao’s famous sweet pomelos and oranges.

Two of the country’s most popular 18-hole golf courses are found in Davao. Lanang Golf and Country Club has its fairways laid out in an estate lush with tropical fruits while Apo Golf and Country Club in Dumoy is set on a vast coconut plantation with natural hazards. For those with less time to fore, the 9-hole New Davao City Golf Club in Matina fits the tee.

Nightlife entertainment is provided by music bars, discotheques and the casino, which also serves good food and offers live musical performances.

Warm Hospitality

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others.

In Davao, one can easily find comfortable lodgings to suit one’s budget and needs.

HOTELS, INNS & PENSIONS

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Davao

7,000 Times More Attractions

Discover 7,000 times more attractions that await beyond Davao

ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL. The Island Garden City of Samal is actually a group of islands in the Davao Gulf. The largest, also called Samal, has a number of excellent resorts, including one that was once a pearl farm. There are also many fine beaches, with good opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving. Dolphin and whale watching expeditions are popular pursuits. Within the islands are trails for trekking and mountain biking. Samal is accessible by a 30-minute boat ride from Davao City’s Sta. Ana Wharf, Sasa Pier, Km. 11 Wharf.

KIDAPAWAN. The provincial capital of North Cotabato, Kidapawan City is two hours by bus west from Davao City. It is the main gateway to the ascent to Mount Apo. In early August, it hosts the 10-day Kalibongan, a festival that showcases the old ethnic rituals, songs, dances and sports of the Manobo and other Mindanao tribes.

DAVAO ORIENTAL. The province of Davao Oriental is a peninsula that separates the Davao Gulf from the Pacific Ocean and has at least 40 places of tourist interest. At its southeastern tip is Cape San Agustin from where a lighthouse marks the spot where St. Francis Xavier was said to have celebrated Holy Mass. In the town of San Isidro can be found the mysterious lake Tinagong Dagat, or Hidden Sea, which is nestled at the rainforest slopes of Mount Hamaguitan, 300 meters above sea level. The highest waterfalls in the country can be found in Cateel – the 338-meter-high Aliwagwag Falls. The cascade has 13 rapids and looks like a stairway with 84 steps of varying heights. It plunges off a high plateau covered with luxuriant foliage. The old town of Caraga has a moss-covered 17th century church. Some 14 kilometers away from the town proper is Saukegue Cave, where pre-Hispanic porcelain jars and artifacts have been excavated. Banaybanay is the “Rice Bowl of the East Coast.” Its Chinese Cemetery with multicolored tombs, along the highway from Davao City, is a tourist attraction. The capital town of Mati can be reached by a 3-hour drive from Davao City.

MARAGUSAN. With its cool mountain weather, the town of Maragusan in the province of Compostela Valley is Davao’s traditional Summer Capital. The ethnic Mansaka community live in the coffee-growing Maragusan Valley whose tributaries are fed by numerous waterfalls and cold springs. Swathed with virgin forests, Maragusan is where the Agusan River begins its journey north to the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, the country’s largest wetland covering 19,000 hectares. Maragusan is a town bordering Davao Oriental.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY. GenSan, or General Santos City, cuts the province of Sarangani in half at the head of Sarangani Bay where as many as 2,400 species of marine life have been found. These include yellow fin tuna, skipjack and mackerel which are caught in commercial quantities. GenSan is the jump-off point for explorations to nearby Mount Parker and Mount Matutum, and their many caves. The province is bounded on the north and east by Davao del Sur and can be reached by a 3-hour bus ride from Davao City.

Planning Your Trip

Davao City can be reached by air, sea and land travel from Manila, the country’s main international gateway. It can also be reached by regular flights from Manado in Indonesia and Singapore.
Air travel from Manila to Davao is 90 minutes, with the domestic route serviced by:

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
Telephone (632) 8559999
AIR PHILIPPINES
Telephone (632) 8437770
CEBU PACIFIC
Telephone (632) 6364938

There are several calls at island-provinces before one can reach Davao Port by ship. Travel time takes three days from the Manila North Harbor. The sea route is serviced by:

WG & A SUPERFERRY
Telephone (632) 2453142 to 60
NEGROS NAVIGATION
Telephone (632) 2452919
SULPICIO LINES
Telephone (632) 2450616 to 30

Although it takes 42 hours (some 4 days) to travel from Manila to Davao by land, this is a scenic route that passes through the Pan-Philippine or Maharlika Highway. Now being developed into a Tourism Highway, it links the country’s three major islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The route is serviced by:

PHILTRANCO
Telephone (632) 8331369

Davao City is located in Davao del Sur Province which is bounded on the north by Davao Province, on the east by Davao Gulf, on the west by Cotabato Province, and on the south by the Mindanao Sea.

The Philippines is accessible from the travel capitals of the world. Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; from Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; from Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Source: http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph

Cebuanos celebrate life like no other. They strum their guitars and sing the “balitaw” when they’re happy. They strum the guitar and sing the “harana” when they’re sad. And when they pray, they dance!

It therefore comes as no surprise that the guitar is a prime product in Cebu which, quite naturally, has also produced a large share of the country’s best musicians and master showmen.

The Cebuano’s flair for showmanship and love for celebrations is manifested in the Sinulog, a colorful festival of pageant proportion observed every third Sunday of January.

Cebu is an anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.

PhilippineTravel.com – Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

The Isle of Your Tropical Dreams

Cebu is the traveler’s fantasy of a tropical island come true – balmy weather, pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and luxurious resorts with all the frills of modern living.

The island-province of Cebu was where the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity in the name of Spain in 1521. But even before Cebu became the Occidental gateway to the Orient, it was already a popular entry point among Asian merchants.

Cebu has since blossomed into a choice tourist destination, with many leisure establishments taking full advantage of its sea-valley-and-mountain location.

Metropolitan Cebu, the country’s second biggest metropolis, is the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas. Hotels, shopping malls, entertainment halls, casinos and golf fairways are ever present in the metro to cater to every tourist’s whim.

The rest of Cebu’s 166 islands and islets are fringed with sandy beaches and sapphire-clear waters teeming with marine life, perfect for divers.

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Cebu

Fiesta Extravaganza

The fiesta is when life in these islands is celebrated in full pageantry, complete with a brilliant display of sights and sounds, scents and tastes. Cebu shows us how.

The Sinulog is Cebu’s biggest and showiest fiesta in honor of the Infant Jesus or Señor Santo Niño. In a choreographed movement, “tribes” clad in dazzling costumes hold aloft images of their tiny patron even as they simulate the natural rhythm of sea waves which brought the Holy Child to their shores. The prayer-dance is synchronized to the beat of drums and shouts of “Pit Señor! Viva Santo Niño!”

The tribes wend through the city’s major streets, starting early in the morning and stretching into early evening. A big entertainment roadshow and grand fireworks display bring to a close the celebration.

The Kadaugan sa Mactan is a one-day pageant re-enacting the historic battle between the Magellan-led Spanish colonizers and the resisting natives led by Rajah Lapu-lapu. The festival is celebrated every April 27 in Lapu-lapu City at the beach area where the Portuguese voyager met his death.

While the rest of Christendom observes Holy Week with somber rituals, fasting and abstinence, Bantayan Island makes an exception. The townspeople display their brand of folk Catholicism by feasting on roasted pig and then swimming at its white sand beaches after a religious procession. The Semana Santa is a movable feast between the months of March and April.

The rustic town of Opon honors its patroness, Our Lady of Rule, with a fiesta from November 20 to 21.

Guests take the occasion of the Feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria to visit the beautiful old town of Carcar which, aside from its splendid colonial architecture, also produces a number of Cebu’s popular delicacies.

In December, Cebu culminates its fiesta celebrations with the month-long Paskuhan, a festival of Christmas songs and lantern displays.

PhilippineTravel.com – Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa

City Sights

Cebu takes pride in being the country’s oldest colonial city. Many landmarks attest to the richness of its history.

On April 14, 1521, Magellan planted a cross to mark the spot where some 800 natives – led by Rajah Humabon and his wife, Queen Juana – were baptized into the Catholic faith. The original cross is now encased in a hallow hardwood cross and can be found in a roofed kiosk along Magallanes Street.

As a baptismal gift to Queen Juana, Magellan gave a black image of the Infant Child which, on April 27, 1565, managed to remain unscathed after a fire razed Cebu to the ground. The Basilica Minor del Santo Niño was built by Captain Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres Urdaneta on the spot where the miraculous icon was found. The religious statue has since been enthroned in the basilica, with the original kept inside the convent and a replica enshrined at the church’s side altar.

From mainland Cebu, Magellan crossed the channel to the island of Mactan in an effort to spread Christianity. The chieftain Lapu-lapu, together with his warriors, resisted the attempt and killed Magellan as he reached the shore. A monument now marks the site.

Fort San Pedro, located at Cebu City’s wharf area, was the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the country. The fort has been turned into a museum-park.

PhilippineTravel.com – Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu

Colon, the country’s oldest street, was built at the Parian or Chinese District. Located at the heart of downtown, it is a busy commercial center by day and a lively entertainment belt by night.

The seat of the provincial government is an imposing building of pre-Pacific War vintage rising majestically along Osmeña Boulevard.

Located at the center of the boulevard is Fuente Osmeña, named after Cebu’s Grand Old Man, the late Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. A favorite strolling park among locals, the circular Fuente becomes even more alive in the evenings. Within the park is a skating rink.

The University of San Carlos was established by the Dominican fathers on the site of the former Jesuit-run Colegio de San Ildefonso, originally founded in 1595. Its museum on P. del Rosario Street has an extensive collection of anthropological and biological artifacts.

The Southwestern University Museum located on the Urgello Private Road, takes pride in its large collection of pre-colonial and colonial artifacts as well as its Filipiniana Research Center.

Casa Gorordo, along Lopez Jaena Street, is the ancestral house of the first Bishop of Cebu and affords one a glimpse of affluent Cebuano lifestyle, circa 1800.

The Jumalon Museum, Butterfly Sanctuary and Art Gallery in the Basak district was the private museum of the late lepidopterist Professor Julian Jumalon. His garden continues to be a haven to thousands of butterflies and his salon features mosaics made of butterfly wings.

The Cebuano’s Chinese heritage is very visible and one of the more popular destinations in the city is the Taoist Temple, located at the highest elevation of the Beverly Hills Subdivision.

Devotees, meanwhile, go to the Heavenly Temple of Charity at the Peace Valley in the Lahug district.

Yet another pilgrimage spot is the Celestial Garden where life-size replicas of the 14 Stations of the Cross are spread in a 12-hectare property within Banawa Hills.

City Lights

Evenings are hot in cool Cebu.

From downtown to uptown, Metropolitan Cebu comes even more alive as dusk sets in, with queues leading to music bars, discos and the casinos.

Cebu is a premier entertainment center. Electric high tension fills the nightlife and patrons can’t help but “shake those bodies” as they swing into the groove.

Island Adventure

For the island-hopper, Cebu is one exciting playground for daring expeditions.

Aqua sports top the list of what to do. For scuba diving, the best dives are found in the islands of Mactan, Moalboal and Camotes. The calm waters surrounding Argao, Badian and Malapascua islands are ideal for kayaking.

Because of its hilly terrain, mountain sports has created a following in Cebu. Rock climbing is excellent in Cantabaco and Malubog.

For trekkers, the 908-meter high Mount Manunggal is a steady climb in the heat.

Mountainbike your way up and down scenic Talamban. It takes less than a full day on the road, with plenty of stops along the way.

The ecotourist will find Olango an ideal place for communing with nature. A wildlife sanctuary, the island supports the largest concentration of migratory birds in the country.

For the golfer, the Cebu Country Club and the Alta Vista Golf and County Club are conveniently located in the metro, in Banilad and Pardo. There is also the Club Filipino Golf Course in Danao City, some 33 kilometers drive from Cebu City.

Island Flavors

Cosmopolitan Cebu is noted for its inexpensive gastronomy of many cuisines.

Island flavors are fairly simple with meats and seafoods cooked three ways – marinated in vinegar, charbroiled or boiled – and then seasoned with condiments. Chinese and Spanish cookery are the strongest foreign influences in local cuisine.

Here’s a listing of theme restaurants in Cebu City:

LAMI-A FILIPINO SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Address : Kapaping, Basak Lapu-Lapu City Cebu
Tel. No. : (6332) 3411840
Cuisine : FILIPINO

CAFE CESARIO
Address : MCIAA BLDG.,AIRPORT ROAD LAPU-LAPU CITY
Tel. No. : (6332) 3400722
Cuisine : FUSION

1565 CAFÉ
Address : M.LQuezon Hway Pusok LapuLapu City Mactan Cebu
Tel. No. : (6332) 3407821
Cuisine : FUSION

ABASERIA DELI & CAFÉ
Address : 39 B. Congressmen Noel St., Kasambagan, Cebu City
Tel. No. : (6332) 2338339
Cuisine : MIXED FUSION

ABACA BOUTIQUE RESORT & RESTAURANT
Address : Sitio Buot Punta Engaño Road Cebu
Tel. No. : (6332) 4953461
Cuisine : CALIFORNIAN STYLE

LA BOUNA FORCHETTA DA PAOLO
Address : Advent Business Center 139 Acacia St., Kamputhaw, Cebu City
Tel. No. : (6332) 2313398
Cuisine : ITALIAN

GINZA RESTAURANT INC
Address : Old Banilad Banilad Cebu
Tel. No. : (6332)2325406
Cuisine : JAPANESE

Shopping Spree

Shop till you drop or your money runs out in Cebu where there are fantastic bargains to be had.

The country’s leading producer of export-quality handicraft products, Cebu is a shopping haven for novelty items at bargain prices. Highly polished products also include fashion accessories, furnishings and giftware.

For mall shopping, check out Ayala Center at the Cebu Business Park, SM-Cebu at the North Reclamation Area, and Gaisano Country Mall in Banilad. Good buys can also be had at Rustan’s on Gen. Maxilom Avenue, at Rosita’s Fuente and Robinson’s Department Store along Fuente Osmeña.

For souvenirs, go to Artevalman Handicraft Market in Bakilid, Mandaue City, or Island Souvenirs at Nasipit Talamban in Cebu City.

The public markets of Carbon, Ramos and Taboan in Cebu City and the Mandaue Market are worth visiting: prepare to haggle.

7,000 Times More Attractions

Discover 7,000 times more attractions that await beyond Cebu.

Cebu is the jump-off point to satellite destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao Islands.

LEYTE

Leyte in the Eastern Visayas region is a showcase of rich history set in an unspoilt landscape.

It was here that Ferdinand Magellan first planted the seeds of Spanish colonization during the 16th century.

A key battlegound in the Pacific theater during World War II, Leyte is dotted with monuments, the most significant of which is the Red Beach in town of Palo. The historic landing site of American Gen. Douglas MacArthur in 1944, Red Beach has been developed into MacArthur’s Park, highlighted by larger-than-life statues of the liberating forces set on a man-made lagoon.

Leyte’s natural attractions include: Lake Danao, one of the loveliest lakes in the country; Mahagnao National Park, home to a pristine lake, hot and cold mountain springs, Guin-aniban Waterfalls, and exotic wildlife; and Cuatro Islas in Indang, four unsullied islands surrounded by white sand and coral reefs.

SAMAR

The third biggest island in the Philippines, Samar offers opportunities for adventure sports like trekking, spelunking, surfing and deep-sea fishing.

The capital town of Catbalogan is a major port. In the heart of town is Capitol Park, with music concerts in the early evenings. Beaches near Catbalogan include Cal-Apog, Ginsorongan, Payao and Buri.

The town of Basey is at the northern end of San Juanico Bridge which connects Samar and Leyte. It is famous for its 17th century Catholic church and the 840-hectare Sohoton Caves National Park, accessible through a 90-minute, 30-kilometer boat trip upriver.

The town of Gandara is home to the Bongahan ruins and the Blanca Aurora Falls. Further inland is Mount Hurao, with its rainforests, winding rivers, and bountiful wildlife.

Calbayog City is Samar’s principal outport and is famous for its 7-layered Dorosdos Falls and Mapaso Hot Spring.

DUMAGUETE

Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental, is a “City of Gentle People” and sits on the plains of the southeastern coast of Negros Island.

Synonymous to Dumaguete is Silliman University, founded by American Protestant missionaries in 1901. Its entire 35-hectare area is a bird sanctuary, and has an ethnographic museum which houses an extensive collection of locally-excavated artifacts. Its marine laboratory at Silliman Farm Beach offers gear for diving and exploring the fish-rich waters.

SIQUIJOR

Siquijor is the smallest of four provinces in Central Visayas. Legend has it that Siquijor rose from the sea amid thunder and lightning. A legend re-inforced by the presence of fossils of clams and other sea creatures found in the interior highlands.

The island-province is endowed with idyllic white sand beaches, coral reefs teeming with marine life, century-old churches and other scenic spots.

Excellent sites for diving and snorkeling are found in San Juan off Tongo and Sandugan Points. The beach in Maria is a popular weekend picnic destination and has coral gardens offshore.

Mystical Siquijor is also known for its Festival of Herbal Preparation held during Holy Week at San Antonio Village overlooking the Bay of Lazi and the Mindanao Sea.

CAGAYAN DE ORO

The “City of Golden Friendship, ” Cagayan de Oro is geographically part of the province of Misamis Oriental and is the gateway to the Northern Mindanao region.

Within the city is the Garden of Malasag Ecotourism Village, a mountain resort overlooking Macalajar Bay which is also a cultural haven for the 11 tribal communities of Northern Mindanao and their arts and crafts.

The Santillano Shell Collection exhibits over 1,000 priceless shells from all over the world. The Pelaez Sports Center is one of the best sports complexes in the country. In August, Cagayan de Oro holds the Kagayhaan, the local Mardi Gras festival, in honor of its patron, St. Augustine.

Cagayan de Oro offers world-class diving sites around Gingoog and Medina – and rainforest-covered mountains dotted with caves, waterfalls and springs.

CAMIGUIN

A tiny, pearl-shaped volcanic outcrop off the north coast of Mindanao, Camiguin is an ideal destination for trekkers in search of adventure and romantics yearning for a quiet corner.

Camiguin can be toured from tip to tip by land transport in two hours. Mambajao, the capital, makes a good way station to such attractions as seven volcanoes, waterfalls, springs, and white sand beaches.

This luxuriant island is equally famous for the tropical fruit lanzones. The Lanzones Festival takes place in Mambajao in October.

SURIGAO DEL NORTE

Surigao del Norte consists of a part of mainland Mindanao and 100 other islands, the largest of which are Dinagat, Siargao and Bucas Grande.

Casa Real in the capital city of Surigao is the governor’s residence and dates back to the Spanish period. A century-old replica of the Liberty Bell stands at the capitol site. Within the city vicinity are Sabtang Beach with its kilometer-long black sand shore, Ipil Beach with its white pebbles.

On Raza Island, one side has low tide while one side has high tide. In Sibaldo is the 10-meter high Zaragaza Rock Formation and the solitary rock islet of Tamulayag where trees grow without soil. In Hikdop Island is a natural rock sculpture in the form of a human skull. Danawan Island has a white beach teeming with rare seashells. Bayagnan Island has offshore whirlpools that appear and disappear with the tides.

It takes hours to reach the three big islands. Bucas Island Grande is known for Sohoton Lagoon in the town of Socorro, which can only be reached by passing through a cave at low tide. Dinagat Island is a spectacular snorkeling and diving destination. But it is Siargao Island which is best known among adventure travelers. Many surfers swear that Siargao has the best surf in the Philippines. Cloud 9 is acknowledged as one of the best, if not the best, single breaks in Asia.

Planning Your Trip

Cebu is a regional transportation hub. The Mactan Cebu International Airport services both regular and chartered flights from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

The fastest way to reach Cebu is by plane. Flight time from Manila is 1 hour 10 minutes. Three commercial airlines service the domestic route:

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
Telephone (632) 855-8888/855-9999
AIR PHILIPPINES
Telephone (632) 843-7770
CEBU PACIFIC AIRWAYS
Telephone (632) 636-49338 to 45

A leisurely way to reach Cebu is by ship, which has first-class cabins, restaurants, and music bars. Travel time from Manila is approximately 20 hours. The sea route is serviced by:

WG & A SUPERFERRY
Telephone (632) 245-3142 to 60/ 245-4061 to 80
NEGROS NAVIGATION
Telephone (632) 243-5359/245-0601 to 02
SULPICIO LINES
Telephone (632) 245-0616 to 30/245-9701 to 07

The Philippines is accessible from the travel capitals of the world. Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; from Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; from Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Warm Hospitality

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from others.

In Cebu, one can easily find comfortable lodgings to suit one’s budget and needs.

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Cebu

Source: http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph

Scenic Bohol casts an enigmatic charm drawn from the many archaic mementos spread throughout the oval-shaped island – from unique rock formations to a 45-million-year-old mammal species, from massive stone watchtowers built by the Spaniards in the 18th century. Surrounding the mainland are 73 other smaller offshore islands and islets whose palm-fringed coastlines are rimmed by white sand and sheltering coves. Serpentine coastal highways wind along unsullied beaches and rustic rivers where the tourist can stop at any point and jump in for a dip.

PhilippineTravel.com – The Peacock Garden

Bohol is the perfect arena for scuba diving, kayaking, trekking and cave exploration. For the less adventurous, it offers leisurely pursuits like cruising, swimming, snorkeling or, simply, collecting seashells by the seashore.

Town visits promise exciting cultural treats that include scheduled performances by the Teatro Bolanon, Dimiao Rondalla, Diwanag Dance Theater and the award-winning Loboc Children’s Choir.

Bohol is an anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.

Gem of an Island

Bohol is like a jade brooch set on a velvet-blue sea. Its fertile land has hills that roll gently around lush forests and grassy meadows. Marine life – from schools of tiny reef fish to bigger pods of dolphins and whales – teem in the surrounding waters.

Located east of Cebu and southwest of Leyte in the Philippines’ Central Visayas region, Bohol is bounded on the north by the Camotes Sea, on the west by the Cebu Strait, and on the South by the Bohol Sea.

Covering an area of 4,117 square kilometers, it is essentially an agricultural province, with rice, coconut and corn as main produce. Fishing is a major industry.

Bohol’s handicrafts are famous throughout the country. These include mats and baskets, raffia woven cloth, fashion accessories, woodcraft, processed food, and ceramics.

Awesome Hills

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Bohol

Chocolate Hills is a series of 1,268 perfectly symmetrical, haycock-shaped hills that rise some 30 meters above the ground. A National Geologic Monument, these unique, rock formations were cast after million years of evolution.

Spread out in the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, the hills are so-called because they resemble chocolate bonbons when their grass cover turns to brown at the onset of summer. Two of the hills have been developed and provided with facilities, including a viewdeck, a youth hostel and a restaurant.

Other hills with a commanding view of the surrounding islands include Banat-I and Elly in the capital city of Tagbilaran, Himontagon in the town of Loay, Sampoangan in Calape and Ilihan in Jagna.

Surreal Caves

With its limestone foundation, the province of Bohol is also known as “Cave Country.” An average of 30 caves are found in each ofits 47 towns, many of them still unexplored. It is said that Bohol got its name from the word boho, meaning “hole.” [ the term boho really means hole from which spring water usually gush forth, common in many coastal areas of this island].

The Francisco Dagohoy Cave in the town of Danao is especially noted for its historical role. It was once the headquarters of the Boholano patriot Dagohoy who led an extended rebellion against Spain starting in the first half of the 1700′s. One of the many crystal-studded passages within the cave’s maze has an underwater route leading to dry land. Local lore has it that every time Spaniards would enter the cave, Dagohoy would dive under and hide in the breathing space.

The largest cave, however, is Sudlon. Nestled in a lovely mountain environment, it hosts a huge population of bats which emerge like vast stormy clouds at dusk.

Dive into the Deep

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Bohol

One of Asia’s finest diving destinations, Bohol boasts of an undersea panorama filled with impressive coral gardens teeming with colorful marine life.

The dive sites of Bohol are noted for their deep, steep walls – the creation of continental shifts during prehistoric times.
Just over the causeway from Tagbilaran is Panglao Island with its spectacular drop-offs.

The crab-shaped Balicasag Island has long established itself as a dive resort. From here, island-hopping and whale-watching expeditions can be organized.

Pamilacan Island is yet another popular diving destination. Pamilacan, which means “resting place of the mantas,” is also noted for its big whales called “balilan” and the highly prized rare seashell Gloria Maris.
Pantudlan in Cabilao Island is frequented by many foreign diving enthusiasts.

Trek through Wild Country

The Tarsier Trail is a pathway from where one may become acquainted with a wide variety of local flora and fauna, including the tiniest primate on Earth.

Covering a distance of roughly 15 kilometers, the trail meanders through the gently rolling terrain of the interior towns of Corella, Sikatuna and Loboc. It traverses the natural habitat of the Philippine tarsier, one of Earth’s oldest mammal inhabitants. A 45-million-year old prosimian species, it is popularly known as “the world’s smallest monkey.”

Going deeper into the trail, one gets the chance to see some endemic birds like the serpent eagle, brahmini kite, woodpecker, rocky-tailed blue-headed parrot, grass owl, bubock pigeon and water cock. There are jungle animals like the monkey, python, cobra, macock and palm civet cat. It also teems with insects, the staple diet of the tarsier.

From the forest, the trail crosses over into Loboc River. Here, bamboo rafts are for rent, from where one may glide down the placid, green river to the seaport of Loay. One can also partake of a native seafood buffet or a hearty snack in any of the floating restaurants that cruise on the river.

Trained volunteer guides, mostly college students from Tagbilaran, bring trekkers through the 134-hectare forested area that has been set aside as the Tarsier Sanctuary.

A Whiff of History

During the 16th century, a “Treaty of Friendship” was forged between the brown and white races, sealed by the blood compact of the Boholano chieftain Datu Sikatuna and the Spanish Captain Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

Some 302 years of Spanish rule followed after the treaty. It was a rule bathed with sweat and tears, as native sons plodded in hard labor building massive fortresses and grand colonial churches. More blood was also shed in the many attempts to free the motherland from the shackles of Spanish domination. To this day, there still stands in Bohol many structures that serve as mute testimonials to its rich historic past.

Baclayon Church, is the best preserved Jesuit-built church in the region, although its facade and most of the stone structures surrounding it were built by the Augustininan Recollects in the late 19th century. The Christian community organized by the Jesuits on November 17, 1596 and thereafter a visita was erected on the site. Baclayon was canonically raised to the status of a parish only in 1717, the present stone church was completed in 1727. The Casa parroquial was built by the Augustinian recollects in 1872. An ecclesiastical museum was established in 1969/70. Its narthex has the cuadro paintings of the historically acllaimed Filipino painter Liberato Gatchalian. Paintings were executed in 1859. Declared a national historical landmark in 1995 by the National Historical Institute. Its convent has been transformed into a museum and houses priceless religious artifacts.

Other mission churches of architectural distinction include Dauis Church with its beautiful frescoes, Loboc Church with its three-story convent, Panglao Church with its ornate antiquities and ceiling murals, Loon Church, the most stunning church built by the Recollect Friars, and the 19th century Maribojoc Church.

Also found in the town of Maribojoc is the ancient Punta Cruz watchtower which used to serve as a look-out for marauding pirates. It now serves as a view deck and offers a picturesque vista of the Mindanao Sea and the provinces of Cebu and Siquijor.
Other watchtowers of note can be found in the towns of Loay, Balilihan and Pamilacan Island.

Island Flavors

At the market, one can have a pick of the day’s fresh sea catch and have them cooked homestyle at any of the food stalls.

There are also fishermen whose bancas coast along the resort row, selling Neptune’s bounty for instant grills. A river cruise through pastoral Cambuhat River in Buenavista leads one to the oyster farms from where one can indulge in real fresh “slipper oysters.”
The hotels and resorts have their own dining outlets which can also prepare picnic baskets upon request.

Warm Hospitality

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others.

In Bohol, the traveler has a pick of accommodations to choose from, depending on one’s budget and needs. There are accommodations ranging from plush hotels to cozy pensions, from luxurious resorts to the more tailored “SIR” (special interest resorts), which cater to specific sporting needs.

PhilippineTravel.com - Hotels in Bohol

7,000 Times More Surprises

Discover 7,000 times more surprises that await beyond Bohol.

CEBU. The island-province of Cebu has many leisure establishments that take full advantage of its sea-valley-and-mountain location. Hotels, shopping malls, entertainment halls, casinos and golf fairways are ever present to cater to every tourist’s whim. Metro Cebu is the second biggest metropolis in the country and rivals Metro Manila, the National Capital Region, in many ways. Cebu City is the country’s oldest city. It is the capital of Cebu which is made up of 167 islands and islets.

DUMAGUETE. Dumaguete City is a cultural haven set in a serene countryside setting. It is synonymous with Silliman University, founded by American Protestant missionaries in 1901. The university’s 35-hectare campus is a virtual bird sanctuary. The Silliman Farm Beach just outside the city is a marine laboratory and offers gear for diving and exploring the fish-rich waters. Of priceless value is its ethnographic museum which houses an extensive collection of locally-excavated artifacts, Sung and Ming dynasty porcelain, and witchcraft paraphernalia from the nearby province of Siquijor. Dumaguete City is the capital of the island-province of Negros Oriental.

Planning Your Trip

Bohol can be reached daily by super fast sea ferries from Cebu, the regional transportation hub, although it can also be reached by direct flights and by ship from Manila, the international travel capital.

Asian Spirit fields direct flights from the Manila Domestic Airport to the Tagbilaran Domestic Airport four times a week. Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific have several daily flights from the Manila Domestic Airport to the Cebu-Mactan International Airport. From the Cebu City wharf, there are many scheduled trips daily for the Tagbilaran seaport by super fast ferries.

By plane:

ASIAN SPIRIT
Telephone (632) 8401712/8403811
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
Telephone (632) 8558888/8559999
AIR PHILIPPINES
Telephone (632) 8437770
CEBU PACIFIC
Telephone (632) 63649338 to 45

The WG & A Superferry ship leaves from Pier 4 at Manila’s North Harbor for the Tagbilaran seaport every Friday and Sunday while the Negros Navigation liner leaves from Pier 2 every Monday for Tagbilaran via Dumaguete City and every Friday for Tagbilaran via Cebu City.

By ship:

WG & A SUPERFERRY
Telephone (632) 2450660/2450671/2453142
NEGROS NAVIGATION
Telephone (632) 2435359/2450601 to 02

The Philippines is readily accessible from the travel capitals of the world. Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Source: http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph

Palawan is paradise, sanctuary to an amazing variety of fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world. It is blessed with incredibly awesome landscapes that astound even the most indifferent of visitors.

Palawan is the country’s biggest province and is composed of 1,768 islands and islets surrounded by a coral shelf with an exceptionally rich marine life. Its steeply sloped mountains are canopied by broad virgin forests.

An anchor tourist destination, Palawan is one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. It is the perfect playground for the adventurous.

The Last Frontier

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Palawan

Unique to Palawan is its megadiversity.

For a long time, Palawan’s bountiful resources, abundant wildlife and extraordinary natural beauty are known only to the many ethnic communities that thrive in these islands and a few other daring settlers who wanted to live in unpolluted surroundings.

The island-province first attracted foreign attention in the 1970′s when it became a United Nations Vietnamese Refugee Center. At this time, a disturbance in Kenya also saw the transport of endangered animals from its savannas to the plains of Calauit Island.

However, it was only a sea accident in 1979 that eventually led to the opening of Palawan into tourism big time.

As the story goes, a tuna line disabled a dive boat’s propeller in the middle of the night forcing it to drop anchor in an inlet. The following morning, the divers woke up to an amazing scenery of skyscraping dark cliffs, thick green forest, white-sand beach, sparkling water and, rising above it, a series of magnificently sculpted jade islands. And thus was how El Nido was discovered.

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Palawan

Ecology awareness is at a high level throughout the province. Puerto Princesa prides itself as the cleanest city in the Philippines. To protect its megadiversity, only eco-friendly programs are adhered to by tourist establishments. And there are strict ordinances against dynamite fishing, with only net and line fishing allowed.
Palawan may have opened itself to tourism but it has also taken serious efforts to preserve this last frontier.

A Haven Far From The Madding Crowd

The most beautiful place in Palawan is the isolated island of El Nido with its incredibly astonishing seascapes.

El Nido is a secluded group of islands east of Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital city, and is virtually cut off from the mainland by three bodies of water – Luzon Sea to the north, the China Sea to the east and the Sulu Sea to the west.

Towering midnight cliffs that jut thousands of feet above mirror flat emerald waters are El Nido’s most distinguishing feature. This interplay of somber darkness and ethereal light provide the dramatic backdrop for several luxury resorts and dozens of moderately priced diver lodges on the islands.

The black marble and limestone cliffs contain large caves with whimsical names like Cathedral Cave and Disco Cave because of their formation. Though they look like barren sheets of inhospitable rock, the cliffs actually spawn the swift, or balinsasayaw, which produces the delectable bird’s nest for soups. And in some of the rock faces, yucca and talisay trees as well as wild flowering begonias do thrive in the crevices.

The town of El Nido in itself exudes a quaint charm with well-tended homes and clean streets. Many of the islands have hidden lagoons sheltered by limestone crags. Schools of fish swarm in the coral reefs, many of which are visible to the naked eye. When in season, divers often encounter the rare sea cow, or dugong.

Only small chartered planes from Manila fly tourists to the upscale resorts. Everybody else takes the sea ferry to this picturesque fishing town.

Magical Trip to the Underworld

Palawan presents a visual feast not only above the ground but also below it.
St. Paul National Park is Palawan’s most popular attraction and covers 5,349 hectares of lush forest, dark mountains, caves and white beaches. In the deep recesses of the marble and limestone peaks of Mt. St. Paul flow the Underground River, said to be the longest in the world. It is easily navigable for at least four kilometers. The caves are filled with filigree-like sculptures formed by stalagmites and stalactites. Near its mouth is a beautiful lagoon with crystal-clear water that teems with fish. Also within the park is the Monkey Trail, a series of wooden paths that winds into the forest where monkeys, squirrels, lizards and some 60 species of birds are found. The Park is inscribed in the World Heritage List.

Tabon Caves are the oldest known habitation site in Southeast Asia. It is a complex of 200 caves scattered on a 138-hectare museum site reserve, of which 33 have thus far been excavated. Seven of these caves are open to the public as a prehistoric museum where excavations have been left as they are. The caves provide Paleolithic evidence that this is where life in Palawan actually began and have yielded a woman’s skull, fossilized bones and earthenware dating to as far back as 890-710 B.C. The main entrance to the caves offers a panoramic view of a white-sand fringed bay. The caves lie in the mountains of Pipuon Point in the town of Quezon.

Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park is the country’s largest marine habitat. It hosts giant manta rays, sea turtles and hundreds of reef fish species. Located at the heart of the Sulu Sea, the marine park is 33,200 hectares of coral atoll, barely emergent islets and open water, and constitutes a unique complete open ocean ecosystem. It is inscribed in the World Heritage List as “rare and superlative phenomena as well as formations, features and areas of exceptional beauty.” It is located some 98 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa and is a premier diving destination.

Out of Africa

The drought and civil strife that struck Kenya in 1977 brought some 108 African wild animals to Calauit Island.

The Calauit Island Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 3,700 hectares and is home to both endemic and African animals. The imported giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, and gazelles, among others, have successfully bred and graze the preserve undisturbed. They share the land with endangered endemic animals like the Calamian deer, Palawan mouse deer, bear cat, leopard cat, tarsier, Palawan peacock pheasant, scaly anteater, porcupine and monitor lizard. The mangroves are home to the man-eating Philippine crocodile while offshore sea grass beds are the habitat of the rare dugong. Many endemic and migrant birds flock to the area. Safaris can be arranged with the park rangers. Modest accommodations are available for overnight stay.

Island Flavors

Although it is part of Luzon, Palawan borrows many dishes from the Visayas and Mindanao.

A distinct characteristic of the island cuisine, however, is the use of green mangoes as souring agent in many dishes.

International cookery is also widely available to serve the continuous influx of tourists.

There are many restaurants on the main and side streets of Puerto Princesa offering varied international and native cuisines. Check out the restaurant row along Rizal Avenue. The capital city is also known for its Vietnamese eateries, Palawan being once a refugee center. Anywhere, rice and fresh seafood are staple fares.

Outside of Puerto Princesa, moderate priced resorts have their own dining outlets but may require advance orders for meals. When going on expeditions, it is advised to get your food provisions and bottled water from Puerto Princesa as supplies are oftentimes limited in outlying towns and practically nil in some islands.

First class hotels and resorts have fine dining and theme restaurants, which offer catering services.

Warm Hospitality

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others.
Palawan offers a variety of accommodations ranging from upscale hotels and resorts, mid-range and economy lodges and inns to the more tailored special interest resorts. Here’s a listing:

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotels in Palawan

THE ISLANDS

AMANPULO
Pamalican Island, Cuyo
CALUMBAYAN ISLAND ADVENTURE
Calumbayan Island, Busuanga
CLUB PARADISE
Dimakya Island, Busuanga
COCO LOCO BEACH RESORT
Pandan Island
DISCOVERY RIVERS
Bayside Divers Lodge
Coron Island
CLUB NOAH
Miniloc Island
Buena Suerte, El Nido
EL NIDO RESORTS
Lagen Island, El Nido
Northwest Palawan
HARFISH SUN BAR RESORT
Honda Bay Island
LAS HAMACAS RESORT
Busuanga Island
MARINA DEL NIDO
Malapacao Island, El Nido
NEW LUNCHEONETTE LODGE
Culion Island

Planning Your Trip

The fastest way to reach Palawan is by plane.

There are two daily flights each fielded by Philippine Airlines and Air Philippines from the Manila Domestic Airport to the Puerto Princesa Domestic Airport in Central Palawan.

Those bound for the Calamian Group of Islands in North Palawan may board the small planes fielded at least once daily by Asian Spirit, Air Ads and Pacific Air from Manila to the YKR Airport in Busuanga. There are jeepney shuttles bound for Decalatiao Wharf where speedboats ferry visitors to their island destinations.

Soriano Aviation flies to the El Nido Airport.

By air:

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
Telephone (632) 8558888/8559999
AIR PHILIPPINES
Telephone (632) 8437770
ASIAN SPIRIT
Telephone (632) 8403811
PACIFIC AIR
Telephone (632) 8322731
AIR ADS
Telephone (632) 8333264
SORIANO AVIATION
Telephone (632) 8333852

By sea:

WG & A SUPERFERRY
Telephone (632) 2453142 to 60/ 2454061 to 80
SULPICIO LINES
Telephone (632) 2450616 to 30/2459701 to 07

The Philippines is accessible from the travel capitals of the world. Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; from Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; from Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Source: http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph

The palm-studded island of Boracay – with its white, talcum-fine beach, balmy weather and warm, crystalline waters – is like a hypnotic magnet that lures many to a lotus existence.
In this tiny, butterfly-shaped island at the northwestern tip of Panay in Western Visayas, days can be spent by simply lazing on the beach and nights are for indulging in the tropical party lifestyle.
Boracay is an anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.

Barefoot in the Beach

The code in Boracay is strictly informal.

PhilippineTravel.com – Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort

There is an undeniable easy atmosphere in Boracay where walking barefoot than shod is the rule rather than the exception. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby powder! No wonder, even swinging discos have the beach for a floor, giving dance a new twist.
There are no hang-ups either in this island. At daytime, tourists having a soothing massage under the shade of a coconut tree beside the shoreline is a common sight. And from dusk to dawn, Boracay turns into one big party place where everyone is welcome to join in…But first, let’s toast that sunset cocktail!

Diversions are certainly no problem in this tropical eden with leisure activities calendared throughout the year and amenities offered by some 350 tourist establishments.

A Little Bit of Daring

For the adventure-driven, “Mambo Number 5″ is 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.
There’s plenty to do in Boracay other than beachbumming and partyhopping.
On the eastern side of the island is Bulabog Beach, a boardsailor’s mecca that draws enthusiasts from all over the world, especially during the peak season of November to March. In January, it is the site of an International Funboard Cup.

PhilippineTravel.com – Discovery Shores Boracay

Sailboating and kayaking are popular sporting activities, with Boracay playing host to the annual Paraw Regatta, an international sailboat race that makes use of the native outrigger.
Dive sites surround the island and are learning venues to both novice and professional divers, guided by competent instructors of the many dive shops that operate in the area.

Trekking or mountain biking can also bring the intrepid to the island’s quaint interior villages and to the edges’ scenic rocky cliffs, discovering along the way many hidden coves with isolated beaches far from the tourist crowd.

And for golf bugs, Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf and Countryclub has an 18-hole championship course.

Hala Bira! Let Go!

January is the time to hang loose in the “Land of the Atis.”
Kalibo, the capital town of Aklan, is the gateway to Boracay. Every second weekend of January, it celebrates the Ati-Atihan Festival where frenzied streetdancing is performed by costumed and black-sooted “tribes” as they wend through the main streets from dawn till the witching hours.

The Ati-Atihan is celebrated for three days and commemorates the 13th-century land deal between 10 migrating Bornean chieftains and the aboriginal Ati King Marikudo. It also honors the town patron, the infant Santo Niño.

To the accompaniment of hundreds of lyres and drums, merrymakers throw all inhibitions to the wind as they join the tribes in a mad jig punctuated by rhythmic shouts of: “Hala bira! Puera pasma! Hala bira! Viva Santo Niño!” (Loosely translated, means: “Let go! Don’t get sick! Let go! Hail the Holy Child!”)

Kalibo is also famous for its handloom weaving industry where fine silken fabrics are produced from the fibers of the piña (pineapple) and abaca plants.

Island Flavors

The taste of the region is simple with charbroiled chicken as common fare. Another favorite dish is raw fish marinated in spicy vinegar.

Dining, however, is no problem in Boracay with most resorts having their own restaurants that serve both Filipino and international cuisines. Small snack bars and fastfood outlets line the island.

Warm Hospitality

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others.
Resorts in Boracay range from the posh “AAA” to the more tailored “SIR” (special interest resort).

PhilippineTravel.com – Boracay Hotels

Boracay Hotels at PhilippineTravel.com

7,000 Times More Surprises

Discover the 7,000 times more surprises that await you beyond Boracay.

CAPIZ. The island-province of Capiz, on the northeastern part of Panay Island, is the birthplace of the fifth president of the Philippine Republic, Manuel Roxas. It is known as a Seafood Basket with its bountiful harvest of milkfish, lobster and other shellfish.

Among its attractions are the centuries-old coral churches of Panay and Dumalag. The islands of Napti and Olutaya are ideal for both snorkeling and diving. Spelunking is also favored as an activity for the adventure-driven, with a choice of caves to explore in the different towns: Quipot in Mambusao, Igang in Maayon, Suhot in Dumalag and Badiang in Dumarao.

The capital city of Roxas hosts the Halaran Festival every first weekend of October. The festival re-enacts the purchase of Panay by the 10 Bornean chieftains from the aboriginal Atis. It is highlighted by streetdancing to the beat of drums and a gift-giving ritual to the spirit gods as performed by the babaylanes, or “witch doctors.”

ILOILO. Iloilo province on the southeastern part of Panay Island is known for its gentry living as showcased by its many colonial churches and mansions scattered throughout its landscape.

Iloilo City alone is a living testimonial to the province’s rich cultural heritage. At the city proper, the landmarks include: Museo Iloilo, Muelle Loney at the city port, Fort San Pedro, a popular evening promenade at the waterfront, and Plaza Libertad. Arevalo has fine 19th century mansions, looms that weave jusi and piña, and flower nurseries. Jaro is the residential center of the elite who, to this day, maintain their grand ancestral homes in tip-top condition.

Each town along the coast west of the city has its own centuries-old church. Tigbauan has a Baroque facade, Guimbal’s is made of yellow sandstone, and San Joaquin’s, of white coral. But the most impressive is the grand Miag-ao Church which is inscribed in the World Heritage List.
The towns east of the city lead to Estancia, the gateway to the cluster of islands off northeast Panay.

Iloilo hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, the most popular of which are: Dinagyang, Iloilo’s version of Aklan’s Ati-Atihan, celebrated on the third weekend of January; the Feast of Our Lady of Candles every February 2 in Jaro; the Paraw Regatta held every third Sunday of February in the strait between Iloilo City and Guimaras Island; Pasungay, or the Festival of Bulls, in San Joaquin every second Saturday off January; and the Carabao Race in Pavia every May 3.

ROMBLON. The island-province of Romblon is a cluster of 20 islands lying practically at the center of the Philippine archipelago. Its three main islands are: Romblon, Tablas and Sibuyan.

In the capital town of Romblon is found the 16th century St. Joseph’s Cathedral which was built by the Recollect Fathers and features a Byzantine altar, stained-glass windows, and an extensive collection of religious antiquities. Perched on top of a hill is the old Spanish Fort San Andres which is now used as a weather station.

In Tablas is found the main pier and airport. It boasts many fine beaches and magnificent waterfalls spread out in several towns. In the town of Calatrava is the massive Oregon Rock, two black boulders that stand guard at the entrance of Romblon Pass.

Sibuyan Island is dominated by Mount Guiting-Guiting, the highest peak in the province at 2,057 meters. Its rugged terrain is a challenge to trekkers.
At the southernmost part of the province is Carabao Island, also known as the town of San Jose, said to have the most beautiful beaches in all of Romblon.

Planning Your Trip

Boracay is accessible by plane and boat from Manila and Cebu City via Panay Island. Alternative routes are from the island-provinces of Mindoro and Romblon in Luzon.

There are several daily flights from Manila to Kalibo, the capital of Aklan, which are fielded by Philippines Airlines, Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit. From Kalibo, airconditioned coaster, coaches and vans are available for the 1 ½ -hour ride to Caticlan, the jump-off point to Boracay. There are frequent ferry service from the three docks at the north, middle and south ends of the island to White Beach in Boracay.

During the high season, flights to Kalibo are often fully booked. Alternative flight destinations are Tablas Island in Romblon, Roxas City in east Panay and Iloilo City in southwest Panay.

The cheaper route is by ship departing from North Harbor in Manila for Dumaguit/ New Washington at the north coast of Panay then by public bus or jeepney to Caticlan or by airconditioned shuttle bus from Kalibo Airport. These trips are offered by WG & A Superferry, Moreta Shipping Lines and Negros Navigation.

By plane:

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
Telephone (632) 8558888/8559999
AIR PHILIPPINES
Telephone (632) 8437770
CEBU PACIFIC
Telephone (632) 6364938 to 45
ASIAN SPIRIT
Telephone (632) 8403811 to 16

By ship:

WG & A SUPERFERRY
Telephone (632) 8943211/8932211
NEGROS NAVIGATION
Telephone (632) 2435359/2450601
MORETA SHIPPING LINE
Telephone (632)7216480/7214066

The Philippines is accessible from the travel capitals of the world. Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; from Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; from Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Source: http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph

Towards the turn of the 20th century, the American city planner Daniel Burnham carved on a valley in the upland Cordillera region of northern Luzon a summer recreational center, the city of Baguio.
With its nippy climate and pleasant mountain scenery, Baguio is a favored destination among artists, honeymooners and others looking for a cool retreat. It is also a faith healing haven and a university town.

Also nestled within the Central Cordillera mountain range is the postcard-pretty town of Banaue.

Banaue’s claim to fame are the rice terraces – part of the 20,000 hectares of engineering marvel that also span the towns of Hungduan, Mayoyao and Kiangan. The terraces were built more than 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao tribe, using only their bare hands and crude implements.

Inscribed in the World Heritage List, this “8th Wonder of the World” serves as a living testament to man’s genius at turning a rugged and forbidding terrain into a continuing source of sustenance.

Baguio and Banaue are anchor tourist destinations and part of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.

Baguio of Leisurely Pursuits

PhilippineTravel.com – El Cielito Inn Baguio

One of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country, Baguio is made for sightseeing. And for strolls and boat rides and gentle trots around the park. And for golf. Kennon Road, completed in 1905, opened Baguio to tourism. The zigzagging path previews the scenic highlights of the city. Along the 32-kilometer highway are the Bridal Veil and Colorado waterfalls.

Synonymous with Baguio is Burnham Park. Located in the heart of the city, the park’s features include a man-made lagoon ideal for boat rides, a skating rink, an athletic field and stadium, basketball and tennis courts, a biking zone, tree-and-flower lined promenades, and a plant market.

A popular golfing destination, the city takes pride in its Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay. What used to be the rest-and-recreation base of American military personnel, the Camp is being transformed into a world-class resort and is also Baguio’s biggest pine tree conservation area. Its newly refurbished 18-hole golf course rivals that of the Country Club which has pretty garden-patched cottages surrounding its fairways.

Ornate iron gates open to the Mansion House, the official summer residence of Philippine presidents. It offers tourists with great photo opportunities with its rectangular reflecting pool along a tree-lined walkway. It also houses a museum of presidential memorabilia. Near the Mansion House is Wright Park where neophyte riders can trot around an oval track guided by trainers who lead horses with a hand-held leash. At the Mines View Park, tourists can have a panoramic view of the old mines of Benguet. At the park entrance is a flea market for souvenir items.

PhilippineTravel.com – Baguio Burnham Suites

Sitting on top of a hill in Upper Session Road is the twin-spire Baguio Cathedral, a city landmark. Another pilgrimage site is the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes which sits on top of Dominican Hill. Devotees prefer to climb the 252-step ascent than drive through a winding road to reach the shrine. Bell Church holds a religious service of mixed Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and Christian dogmas but tourists come here to have their fortunes told.

Located on an elevated pine-forested ground is the Philippine Military Academy, the country’s foremost military learning institution. Its Saturday morning Parade in Review by cadets in full regalia never fails to attract visitors. Also within campus is a Military Museum.

A cultural haven established by noted Baguio artist BenCab, Tam-awan Village recreates a typical ethnic village in the Cordilleras with authentic tribal homes uprooted from their original locations and re-set on similar terrain. There is also an art gallery-cum-coffee shop.

Banaue of Painterly Dreams

Because of its high altitude, Banaue is often described as “where land merges with the clouds to meet the heavens” with the rice terraces as “the stairway to the sky.”

Banaue is a place for nature adventures and cultural immersion. Days are for indulging in such activities as strolling, biking, and trekking. Evenings are for campfire chats at a village or warm indoor cosseting at the lodges and inns.

PhilippineTravel.com – Hotel Elizabeth Baguio

A leading tourism destination in Asia, the Banaue rice terraces start from the base of the Cordilleras and reach up to several thousand feet high. Its length, if stretched from end to end, could encircle half of the globe.
The rice paddies are fed by mountain springs and streams that are channeled into an irrigation canal that runs downhill through the terraces.
In the village of Batad, the terraces take the shape of an amphitheater and can be reached by a 12-kilometer ride from Banaue Hotel and a 2-hour hike through mountain trails.

After trekking through the terraces, cool retreats indeed are the spring-fed stream of Guihob and the magnificent Tappiya Waterfalls which has an enormous basin for swimming.

Shopping takes a different twist in Banaue. While souvenir items are offered by curio stores, the more exciting way to shop, however, is to go on a village visit, watch a family demonstrate their native craft and then haggle for a better price on their product.

Island Flavors

It has been said that there is only one kind of lucrative business in Baguio, and that is dining.

This, of course, is overly exaggerated but then who can question this wisdom with the proliferation of food places offering all kinds of eats in this tiny city!

Star Café along Lower Session Road is noted for its excellent breads and pies and fine Chinese cuisine while the adjoining Dainty Restaurant has the best coffee in town and good noodles, too. For really great old-fashioned breakfasts, check out Casa Vallejo at the Upper Session Road. New Bonuan at the Happy Glen Loop, Jade Restaurant along Marcos Highway and Barrio Fiesta at the Upper Session Road are where you can partake of home-cooked native cooking. Kalapaw Restaurant in Chuntug Street specializes in grilled squids and tuna jaws. Inn Rocio in Kisad Road dishes out Continental food, Mario’s Restaurant in Upper Session Road has good steaks, great Caesar’s Salad, and decadent cakes. And the artsy Café by the Ruins in Chuntug Street serves eclectic, seasonal dishes. At the Hotel Monticello in Kennon Road, Hakuun Sanso Restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine while 50′s Diner specializes in traditional American staples. Rose Bowl Steak House and Restaurant in Harrison Road offers an international fare of Chinese, American and Filipino dishes. The local food chain Don Henrico’s has its beginnings at the Upper Session Road and serves yummy pastas and pizzas.

While Baguio bursts at the seams with restaurants, one has a limited choice in Banaue where most dining outlets are found in the mountain inns and lodges. Banaue Hotel has theme restaurants and offers catering services for picnic meals.

Souvenir Hunting

Baguio is a shopping destination for great souvenirs which can be bought at a steal.

The Baguio City Market in Magsaysay Avenue is a good place to start for souvenir hunting. Its stalls are filled with all kinds of ethnic products and bottled delicacies. Adjacent to it is the Maharlika Livelihood Center where there is a good selection of dry goods and woodcarvings.

Heavenly fruit jams and cookies can be had at the Good Shepherd Convent on Gibraltar Road while exquisite silver filigree novelty items are sold at the St. Louis University’s Filigree Shop along Assumption Road.

Beautiful tapestries and hand-woven linens are made at the Easter Weaving Room in Guisad Road and at Narda’s Handicraft in Upper Session Road.

Another good place to buy hand-carved curio items is at the Ifugao Woodcarvers Village some five kilometers off the city proper.

Warm Hospitality

Filipinos do not simply provide the guest with a place to rest or park their luggage, they also share the best of what they have. This warm, effusive brand of hospitality is what distinguishes Philippine hotels from the others.
There are a choice of comfortable accommodations, a number of them charming mountain inns and lodges, both in Baguio and Banaue.

PhilippineTravel.com – Baquio and Banaue hotels

In Baguio:

Baguio Hotels at PhilippineTravel.com

7,000 Times More Surprises

Discover 7,000 times more surprises that await beyond Baguio and Banaue.

TUGUEGARAO. Tuguegarao is the capital town of the province of Cagayan which is situated at the northeastern tip of Luzon. The Cagayan Museum in the Provincial Capitol Complex has an interesting collection of anthropological fossils and other excavated artifacts. St. Peter’s Cathedral, built in 1761, is the seat of the Diocese of Tuguegarao. Nearby is the San Jacinto Chapel, built in 1724 and the first church in Cagayan.
Rio Grande de Cagayan, the Philippines longest river, flows from Tuguegarao in the south to Aparri in the north. It teems with freshwater fish.

The town of Peñablanca, 24 kilometers away from Tuguegarao, is the jump-off point to Callao Caves, a series of more than 300 chambers of which only 27 are explored. The main cave – which has a Gothic chapel complete with a stone altar and pews – can be reached after a short boat trip across the Callao River and after climbing some 300 steps up a cliff wall.

LA UNION. The stretch of white and gray sand beaches that line the towns of La Union is the main attraction of the province located in the southwestern Ilocos region in northern Luzon. Foremost of these beaches are Darigayos-Paraoir Beach in Bacnotan, San Juan Beach in San Francisco-Canaoay, Bauang Beach, and San Nicolas Beach or “Puerto de Japon” in Agoo.

Poro Point has excellent diving spots, notably: Black Buoy, Fourteen Mile Reef, Tamyo Reef, Research Reef and Fagg Reef. Mona Liza in San Juan, north of San Fernando is a prime surfing area.
The Provincial Capitol is an imposing yellow building built during the American regime. It sits atop a hill in San Fernando overlooking the bay. West of the Capitol is Museo de la Union which showcases the archaeological finds in the province. Museo Iloko, beside the Agoo municipal hall, houses religious artifacts, antique furniture, porcelain wares and miniature dolls.

Christ on the Mount stands atop a hill along the Marcos Highway overlooking the town of Tubao. The miraculous image of Our Lady of Charity is enshrined in the Agoo Cathedral.

THE ILOCOS REGION. One common denominator that bonds the Ilocos region is the Church – whether it be the opulent centuries-old Catholic churches or the newer and simpler Philippine Independent churches founded by the Ilocano renegade Bishop Gregorio Aglipay in the late 1890′s – for the Ilocanos are a God-fearing and prayerful people.
To protect their grand churches from earthquakes, the Ilocanos developed an architectural style unique to the region which they called “earthquake Baroque.” The churches of Santa Maria and Paoay are two of four Philippine Baroque churches inscribed in the World Heritage List.
The Ilocos region has a scenic but sparse landscape of narrow coastal plains, sand dunes, the ascetic Ilocos Mountains and the wild China Sea.
In Ilocos Sur, the places to see are the 18th century Old Mestizo District in Vigan, another World Heritage Site, the awesome seascape of Bantay, the majestic Pinsal Falls in Sta. Maria, the location setting for many local films, and the white sand Puos Beach in Cabugao.

In Ilocos Norte, the capital city of Laoag is the gateway of international trade and travel in the region. Other points of attraction include: Paoay and its lake and sand dunes; Cape Bojeador in Burgos; the breathtaking landscape of Pagudpud; the scenic beaches of Pasuquin; and the mystical town of Dingras.

Planning Your Trip

Baguio can be reached by land and air travel from Manila, the country’s main international gateway.

The Philippines is accessible from the travel capitals of the world. Traveling time to Manila from Hong Kong is an hour and 50 minutes; from Singapore, 3 hours and 10 minutes; from Bangkok, 3 hours and 50 minutes; Tokyo, 4 hours and 15 minutes; Sydney, 10 hours and 20 minutes; London, 20 hours and 45 minutes; Paris, 21 hours and 15 minutes; Frankfurt, 19 hours and 40 minutes; San Francisco, 16 hours and 15 minutes; Los Angeles, 15 hours and 20 minutes; and New York, 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Flights are scheduled 4x-a-week from Manila to Baguio, with less than an hour of travel time.

There are also regular and air-conditioned buses that leave their Manila stations for Baguio. Travel time is approximately 7 hours. The buses, which leave on scheduled runs, do stopovers at designated points along the route for refreshments and other necessities. Reservations are needed before boarding the buses.

By air:

ASIAN SPIRIT
Telephone (632) 8403811 to 16

By bus:

DANGWA TRANCO
832 Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City
Telephone (632) 4101991
DANGWA TRANCO
1600 Dimasalang St., Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7312879
DAGUPAN BUS COMPANY
New York cor EDSA, Quezon City
Telephone (632) 7272287
PHILIPPINE RABBIT
Rizal Ave., Sta. Cruz, Manila
Telephone (632) 7349836
VICTORY LINER
EDSA cor East Ave., Quezon City
Telephone (632) 3614665
VICTORY LINER
561 EDSA, Pasay City
Telephone (632) 8330293/8335019

From Manila, Banaue can be reached by bus which passes through the central and northern Luzon provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya. Bus companies require reservation for the daily trips. Travel time is 9 hours. Banaue is also accessible by bus from Baguio. Travel time is 9 hours.

By bus:

AUTO BUS
Dimasalang cor. Laong-laan St.
Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone (632) 7432227/7436673
DANGWA TRANCO
832 Aurora Blvd. cor. Driod St.
Cubao, Quezon City
Telephone (632) 4101991

Source: http://www.dotpcvc.gov.ph

Hotels in Baguio – PhilippineTravel.com

PhilippineTravel.com – Microtel Puerto Princesa hotel

Location. 
Microtel Puerto Princesa is located in Puerto Princesa.

Hotel Features. 
Recreational amenities include an outdoor pool. This Puerto Princesa property has 1 meeting rooms. The property has a roundtrip airport shuttle, which is complimentary.

Guestrooms.
26-inch LCD televisions have satellite channels. Guests may request refrigerators, microwaves, and irons/ironing boards. Guestrooms are all non-smoking.

QUICK FACTS

• • Pets not allowed Check-out time is noon Check-in time starts at 2 PM

   

   

PhilippineTravel.com – Puerto Princesa Hotels