The Philippines consists of 7107 islands.
Most of the islands are very small. Many of these small islands as well as the bigger islands, have a lot to offer to tourists. There are many possibilities for typical “sun, sea and beach holidays” and for specific adventure holidays.
You can even meet the whale sharks and swim close to them. For tourists who want to discover geographically interesting landscapes or who want to meet mountain tribes, the Philippines has it all!
Boracay Island is located off the northwest corner of the island of Panay, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region VI, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.
South-facing Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay’s main entry and exit point during most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as an alternative entry and exit point.
Boracay’s two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island’s narrow central area. White Beach faces westwards and Bulabog Beach faces eastwards. The island also has several other beaches.
White Beach is the main tourism beach. It is a bit over four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. In the central portion, for about two kilometers, there is a footpath known as the Beachfront Path separating the beach itself from the establishments located along it. North and south of the Beachfront Path, beachfront establishments do literally front along the beach itself. Several roads and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay’s Main Road, a vehicular road which runs the length of the island. At the extreme northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around the headland there and connects White Beach with Diniwid Beach.
Bulabog Beach, across the island from White Beach, is a secondary tourism beach and Boracay’s main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.
Boracay nightlife
Boracay Nightlife offers many night spots for drinks, dancing, karaoke and other entertainment, each with its own ambiance.The many bars on Boracay, and especially those along Boracay Beach, are more than the heat of the Boracay Nightlife. Most Boracay Bars and Restaurants are open not only at night, but in the morning and all day! During the high season in Boracay the night spots are often crowded on weekends. Some Boracay Bars and discos charge an entrance fee then. Boracay week days generally offer smaller crowds and less action. During the low season the Boracay Nightlife night spots are much quieter than in high season on both weekends and, especially, weekdays. Starting from the north end of Boracay White Beach and going south, some of the places for entertainment, the discos and the 24 hour spots are highlighted below.
SHOPPING
The most important shopping items on Boracay Island are beach-related things, such as beach wear, beach towels, slippers, T-shirts and lots of sun lotion…. Of course there is more. Much more. The central market, also called Talipapa, offers a variety of beach wear fashion shops, specialty shops, small to medium sized supermarkets and a fruit and fish / meat department. Another open-air market more to the north offers also a lot of beachwear, but also antique furniture, lamps and native woodcarvings.
Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines in terms of size. Its 1,780 islands cover a land area of nearly 1.5 million hectares. The province has one capital city and 23 municipalities, half of them found in outlying islands. Palawan has one of the lowest populations in the country, with less than 800,000 residents. Known for its bountiful resources, both terrestrial and marine, Palawan boasts of having the only two natural World Heritage Sites in the country.
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in the capital city has cathedral caves, tropical rainforests, mangrove rivers, and untouched beaches teeming with wildlife. The most prominent feature of the park is an 8.2-kilometer underground river, said to be one of the longest in the world.
In the middle of the Sulu Sea, down the southern part of the province, the Tubbataha Reef is the only national marine park in the Philippines. Its abundant collection of large marine life such as manta rays, sharks, barracuda, and sea turtles attract hundreds of scuba divers every year. Both destinations may be reached from its capital city, Puerto Princesa, the main jump-off point for dive boats going to Tubbataha and land transport going to the underground river. The southern half of Palawan has more terrestrial attractions such as mountains and waterfalls. Its highest peak is Mt. Mantalingahan, with a height of 2,086 meters above sea level. The thickly forested mountain range straddles five municipalities in southern Palawan. The second highest mountain, Victoria Peak, is found in Narra town, south of Puerto Princesa.
Waterfalls and numerous species of endemic wildlife such as talking mynahs, cockatoo, wild boar, parrots, and the Palawan peacock pheasant are found in these forests. An endangered species, the Palawan mousedeer, is found only in the island of Balabac, in the southern tip of the province.
Traditional dance
Maria Clara Suite
” Los Bailes de Ayer ”
During the Spanish period, Western European ways of life spread throughout the Islands. Along with them came European dances such as the waltz, fandango, mazurka, polka, and the jota. The Filipinos welcomed these dances and, by adding native flare and style, made them their own. Named in the honor of the heroine in Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel, Noli me Tangere, the Maria Clara Suite captures the elegance and charm of the mestiza Filipina as well as the gallantry and boldness of the mestizo Filipino. Courtship, love, and flirtation are all evident in this suite of romantic dances.
The Island of Bohol is oval-shaped mainland surrounded with 73 smaller islands, having a gently rolling terrain, ideal for commercial and industrial site development. Bohol’s mountainous interior is home to rare and endangered flora and fauna. At certain points, hills drop steeply to the coast from a maximum elevation of 870 meters above sea level. The interior uplands are fit for agro-forestry and high value agricultural production. The central and northern lowlands have also fertile grounds and abundant water supply. Over a hundred caves have been identified, the biggest of which is found in the eastern part which makes Bohol ideal for spelunking adventures.[17] The Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol are considered one of Philippine’s natural wonders and Bohol is often referred to as the Jewel of the Philippines. They are hills made of limestone leftover from coral reefs during the ice age when the island was submerged. They turn brown during the summer, hence their name.
Most beaches are of white sand. The sand is often of such high quality that it is exported to other beaches in the world. The most well known of these beaches are in Panglao Island, and there, numerous islets have similar, yet untouched and pristine beaches.
The Loboc River is the most famous, running from the southeastern coast to the center of the island. It is famous for its River Cruise going up to its water source. The largest, Inabanga River, runs in the northern part of the province.
Numerous waterfalls and caves are scattered across the island, including the beautiful Mag-Aso falls in Antequera. Mag-Aso means smoke in the native tongue. The water is cool and often creates a mist in humid mornings which can hide the falls.
Panglao is a small island southwest of the main island, connected by a causeway to Tagbilaran.
Sandugo Festival
Sandugo Festival is a yearly historical event that takes place every year on the month of March, in the island of Bohol. This festival honors the celebration of a local Philippine leader Datu Sikatuna’s blood compact and association or treaty of friendship with the Spanish king conquistador, Captain General Miguel López de Legazpi in March 16, 1565.
This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and diving spots. The area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia. The marine environment has benefited in recent years from the influx of tourist dollars. This has seen a huge reduction in the number of fishermen in the area, as they gain higher revenue from tourists.
Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and White Beach. Both have extensive beaches with first-class or economy-class accommodations and an active night life with their numerous beach-side bars and restaurants. Sabang beach is the main destination for foreign tourists, while White Beach remains popular with local travelers. Since 2001 White beach has seen uncontrolled development. New restaurants and places to stay are rapidly encroaching on the beach itself and little remains of the once charming beach. Puerto Galera town is a pleasant but sleepy Philippine town with few attractions. It has a large central catholic church and a Pier area, with a selection of bistros and cafes.
Behind the beaches are the huge and generally unexplored mountain ranges of central Mindoro. A particular local attraction is the nine hole golf course perched on the hillside above White Beach which commands spectacular views over Puerto Galera’s natural harbor and the Verde Island Passage. Mangyan tribes are scattered over the mountains sides – some of the more remote tribes have no contact with the outside world. Of the eight tribes on Mindoro, the Iraya are the largest. They are based in the Puerto Galera area.
Puerto Galera has become the top diving destination in the Philippines. Excellent diving is found less than 5 minutes from the Sabang area. The diving generally focuses around the areas either side of Escarceo Point which is famous for its current rips. Strong currents are a feature of the diving in Puerto Galera and it is good advice to employ the services of an experienced local guide or dive centre. There are upwards of thirty dive sites all within a 5-10 minute banca ride from Sabang Beach. Marine life is highly diverse. 180+ species of nudibranchs are found in the area and most species of fish can be seen A variety of wrecks have been sunk over the years in addition to the one genuine wreck of an engine of a WWII Japanese patrol boat.
Puerto Galera is also one of the main [technical diving]destinations in Asia. Technical Diving International – [TDI] has many dive centers in the area, offering the full range of TDI courses from Basic [nitrox] to advanced [trimix].
Puerto Galera nightlife
The nightlife in Sabang as in most of Puerto Galera are the bars and restaurants in the different resorts, but in the heart of sabang are three bars with dancers and GROs (Guest realtion officers). They are all pretty much the same. Each has a stage and up to 50 dancers. While ladies drinks are somewhere close to 200 pesos, san mig comes here to a 100 pesos. There is also a disco which used to be the fourth bar but was closed down due to trouble with the law and re-opened as a disco, but you can find lot`s of freelancers here to join you just like at big apple.
Pagudpud (PAH GOOD POOD) is an enormous place to visit if you’re looking for the comparatively perfect charms of the Philippines. Pagudpud is a wide and beautiful town on the northwest tip of Ilocos Norte, Luzon, bounded to the south by the town of Bangui and to the east by the Cordillera Mountain Range, the town of Adams and the province of Cagayan. The South China Sea lies to the west and north.It is considered the largest island in the Philippines. The hills and mountains are luxuriant, the valleys productive. It lies 45 miles north of Laoag City, the provincial capital, and about 350 miles north of Manila — about the equal distance between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Creeks, streams and waterfalls splash the landscape and spill into the South China Sea. All around, the ocean and sky are awash in varying shades of blue.
Pagudpud Beach, 2 hours north of Laoag City, has powder-white sand, but it’s hard to tell which is bluer: the sky or the sea. While you are making up your mind, you might also consider a stop in Pasuquin, where the famous biscocho (Ilocos biscuit) is a favorite take-home delicacy for local visitors. But don’t forget to check your watch, for while you play in the waters of Pagudpud, you may not notice how much time you have spent on these delightful shores, which are at the very tip of Luzon Island.
The island-province of Camiguin is a pear-shaped volcanic island in the northern tip of Mindanao. It is approximately 90 kilometers north of the City of Cagayan de Oro. It is bounded to the north by Bohol Sea, to the west by Macajalar Bay, to the southeast by Gingoog Bay and to the east by Butuan Bay.
Camiguin is the smallest province in Northern Mindanao, with its land area pegged at 29,187 hectares. It is composed of five towns, namely, Mambajao – the capital town, Mahinog, Guinsiliban, Sagay and Catarman. The island plays host to seven volcanoes, including the still-active Mount Hibok-Hibok. According to the National Statistics Office, Camiguin has a total population of 74,232 persons, making the province the second smallest in the Philippines in terms of population.
Among the Province’s major products are coconut, cassava, banana, camote, palay, corn, fruits, coffee and vegetables. Camiguin’s volcanic soil has proved to be a fertile ground for planting various crops. At present, the Provincial government is looking into an agricultural program that would increase the cultivation of fruit trees and vegetables in Camiguin. The Province is also among the best abaca fiber producers in the country. Camiguin is proud of its natural resources, which include sulfur deposits, geothermal energy, agricultural lands and fishing grounds.
The Camiguin culture is a mixture of both Boholano and Cebuano culture. It is very colorful and creative. The people are deeply religious, hospitable and friendly. Cebuano is the major dialect in the Province. However, in the towns of Sagay and Guinsiliban, where most of the indigenous tribes reside, the Kinamiguin dialect is still spoken. Kinamiguin is derived from the Manobo dialect with some mixture of Boholano.
Lanzones Festival
The harvest of sweet lanzones fruit is celebrated every year in October with a weekend of street dancing, parade and pageants in the town of Mambajao. This festival includes an exhibit of agri-cottage industry products, barangay beautification, indigenous sports, tableau of local culture, grand parade of the lanzones which is the golden and extra sweet fruit found in the entire province of Camiguin. Lanzones is a tropical fruit that grows abundantly on the north-central coast of Mindanao. It is said that the sweetest lanzones comes from Camiguin. Portrayed in the photographs below are typical lanzones trees found in the province of Camiguin. The lanzones fruit which has a pale brown skin and sweet translucent flesh is also shown. This fruit ripens sometime during the third week of October.
