It's More Fun In The Philippines AVP

Video from: https://www.facebook.com/itsmorefuninthePhilippines

2nd Travel Philippines Show

           Experience the wonder of the Philippines at the 2nd Travel Philippines Expo from December 09-11, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM at the Megatrade Halls, SM Megamall.

           For more information, please contact Ex Link Events through info@exlinkevents.com or 0920-9242532 / 0920-9814376.

Pic of the Week!

            Title: Cave Mouth
     Location: St. Paul Subterranean River National Park, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Photo Taken: About 1 year ago

The Story: First time to visit Palawan and first time to enter a cave riding a banca. The world's  longest underground river until 2007. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 04, 1999. One of the most important forest in Asia. And I think this is the most recognizable place in Palawan. But the most important, it's a finalist at the New 7 Wonders of Nature. It's a little over a month left to vote. You can vote through SMS (Philippines only), just type PPUR and send to 2861 for Globe, Smart and Sun Cell subscribers. You can also vote online, just visit the New 7 Wonders website. VOTE NOW!!!

This is the Philippines

                Everytime I see foreigners around (mostly walking), I always felt delightful. Especially when they’re enjoying everything they see here in our country. Sometimes trying to speak a little Filipino, even joking around with someone they just met for the first time. But those are usually the backpackers. They just came here for a limited time, hopping around trying to go as much places as possible. They leave with their Philippine Experience, and we just hope they come back for more.

                But there are also those that don’t just leave with their experiences, they share it with the world. Here’s a video from a Foreign Exchange Student who studied here for 4 months. The Philippines as he saw it:

“Nag-driving ka na ba sa mga bayan sa baybay..?” part 2

Note: For those who missed it, here's part 1 of the series Nag Driving ...

            Long weekend is coming! Thanks to National Heroes Day on Monday (August 29) and the end of Ramadan (Eid’l Fitr) on Tuesday (August 30). I know some of you have plans already on where to go and how to celebrate this much anticipated 4-day weekend. But before driving to the beach or “mga bayan sa baybay”, you should visit first this super awesome Philippine Map and famous tourist spots and landmarks all made from LEGO bricks. This is in support of the Department of Tourism’s Pilipinas, Tara Na! Domestic Advocacy Campaign. Here are some of my shots:

The Philippine LEGO Map

Vinta of Zamboanga

The Philippine eagle, Pearl Farm and the Kadayawan Festival (Davao)

El Nido at the top, St. Paul's Subterranean River at the middle and
the Crocodile Farm (Palawan)

APO Reef and the Philippine Carabao at the back (the black one) (Mindoro) 

Rizal Park (Metro Manila)

SM Mall of Asia (Pasay City)

Paoay Church and Bangui Windmills (Ilocos Norte)

Banaue Rice Terraces (Ifugao)

Chocolate Hills (Bohol); btw there's a tarsier under the tree

Mayon Volcano at the left side, San Juanico Bridge(Tacloban) at the
upper right, and the Magellan's Cross (Cebu) at the lower right corner.

Victorias Sugar Mill and the Masskara Festival (Negros)

The Philippine Sun

The Philippine Flag

There's more! So check out the different regional wonders of the country as you’ve never seen them before! The LEGO Pilipinas, Tara Na! exhibit is open until the 27th of August (Saturday) at SM Mall of Asia. 

Don’t miss it. Pilipinas, Tara Na!

Sandari Forest Trek Adventure

Summer has ended and typhoons take turns “visiting” our country. Floods to familiar grounds, trees fallen, destruction to agriculture and infrastructure abound, and Filipinos still live in fear. One of my friends posted this on his Facebook wall:

       “...LOITERING and THROWING garbage on street should be treated as a crime serious offense. Kill them all! They make the city flood!”

            A bit harsh but he has a point. Even small garbage makes a difference. I myself am proud to say that I DON’T THROW MY GARBAGE ON STREETS or ANYWHERE. I always find time to look for a trash bin to deposit my waste. If I don’t find any, I always bring it home. It’s a good thing when some individual, organizations or company protect and promote the environment/property they have. And some even invite people to join their eco-activities in promoting not just the cleanliness but protection of our environment.

            Here in Nasugbu, there’s an annual beach clean-up where people from different walks of life volunteer to clean the beaches. There’s the initiative of SM’s Hamilo Coast and WWF-Philippines to protect the biodiversity of our seas. Even Pepsi came to town twice to promote their Ayos Pinas Project. And just last summer, Citystate Properties and Management Corporation (CPMC) the developer of Sandari Batulao organized a summer full of fun and adventures not just for families but for everyone who wants to do something different.

            Their first offering was the Sandari Forest Trekking Adventure. Set in a 52-hectare Sandari Forest Reserve sprawled near the famous Mt. Batulao, outdoor enthusiasts, week-enders, the crew of Batulao View magazine, with the assistance of CPMC staff and  the forest caretaker and trek guide Mar Salazar of Batulao Bio-Loop Farms, we enjoyed the best nature has to offer. From low-lying shrubs to gigantic century-old trees, my fellow trekkers marveled at the unique variety of flora & fauna during the more than two-hour trail while indulging our thirst for adventure. Flowering plants and fruit-bearing trees are also interspersed in the high-density growth of greens, providing color, diversity and beauty to the Forest’s ecosystem. But what attracts us the most were the distinct natural structures formed inside the forest such as the intertwining Balete trees (e.g “The Arc”) and the drooping vines.

            Here’s a short video I made… Enjoy!

            TRIVIA: Some scenes of GMA 7's Mulawin was shot there!

            One thing I would never forget on that day, it was my first time I travelled and joined such activity alone. Good thing that the staff of CPMC especially Mam Charry Concepcion-Malabo and Sir Yahoo (our Official Photographer) made me feel comfortable with their warm welcome. After the trek they’ve treated all the trekkers to a very Filipino lunch – adobo, kangkong and talong with bagoong and inihaw na tilapia.

            This was the beginning of my summer and the first of 3 activities I joined that was organized by CPMC’s Sandari. One thing I learned on this activity, it’s easy to say you love Mother Nature, but it’s a whole different level when you actually live it by heart.  For the participants, you all saw the forest, you all have your memories taken, but it doesn’t end with photo ops. What you saw, what you heard, and what you learned, share it to everyone and start living the life of a true eco-warrior.

Lakbay Jose Rizal Heritage Trail

When I was in High School I played the role of Jose Rizal on our “prelude to Lupang Hinirang”. Everything was perfect – my hair, my costume – except for one thing, my height. I’m 8 inches taller considering his height according to his statue in their house in Calamba is 4’11”. Anyway, I’ve got so attached to the role that I even took a picture of me in a full Rizal costume hours before my last performance with a black and white Kodak film (not so many digital cameras back then) to add “old photo” effects. Well that was my only picture left during my short stint as a stage actor.

Anyway, since I was so attached to the role, I wondered how it felt to be like Rizal. I’ve dreamt of going to places he has been and relive Rizal’s life and retrace his steps. The kid can dream right? But now, I will be having the chance to not only fulfill my dreams but to rediscover Rizal as a Hero. In celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Inter-Agency Working Group composed of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Heritage Conservation Society, Intramuros Administration, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the National Parks Development Committee present "Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150" (Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail Project). Launch last May 20, 2011, it is a year-long tour at your own pace to Rizaliana sites all over the Philippines, from Luzon, Visayas to Mindanao.

The One-Stop Heritage Trail at Rizal Park

There were 27 sites identified as to where tourist can go. These are the following:

National Capital Region

    1. Prison Cell and Rizal Shrine, Fort Santiago
    2. Chapel Cell of Rizal, Fort Santiago
    3. Site of the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, Intramuros
    4. Site of the University of Santo Tomas, Intramuros
    5. Site of the Trial of Rizal, Intramuros
    6. Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard
    7. Rizal Monument, Roxas Boulevard
    8. Rizal Execution Site, Roxas Boulevard
    9. Rizal Fountain, Roxas Boulevard
    10. Paco Park, Paco

Central Luzon

    11. San Fernando Train Station, San Fernando, Pampanga
    12. Kamestisuhan District, Malolos, Bulacan

Calabarzon

    13. Rizal Shrine, Calamba City, Laguna
    14. Calamba Church, Calamba City, Laguna
    15. National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Church), Antipolo City, Rizal

Bicol Region

    16. Rizal Monument, Daet, Camarines Norte

Western Visayas

    17. Molo Church, Iloilo City, Iloilo

Central Visayas

    18. Dumaguete City
    19. Fort San Pedro, Cebu City, Cebu

Zamboanga Peninsula

    20. Rizal Shrine and Waterworks of Rizal, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    21. Dapitan Plaza, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    22. Site of the Casa Real, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    23. Dapitan Church, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    24. Relief Map of Mindanao, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    25. Santa Cruz Beach, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte
    26. Dipolog Cathedral, Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte
    27. Rizal Farm, Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte

The Lakbay Jose Rizal Passport

                Lot’s of places to go to, that’s why the committees also issued a Kalakbay Passport and I’ve got mine yesterday at DOT Rm. 106. At the back of the “Passport” is the Rizal @150 Heritage trail map. Bordering it are the sites with corresponding boxes where a stamp will be affixed as proof of your visit. The good news is, the first 100 pilgrims to complete visiting all the Rizaliana sites shall receive a token and a Kalakbay ni Gat Jose Rizal Certificate subject to a validation process to be conducted by NHCP. But for those who won’t be able to be one of the 100, you can still get completion certificate provided that you will finish all the 27 sites until June 19, 2012.

                And everyone (local and international tourists) is encouraged to join the competition. For me I have to start my journey and hopefully will finish it as soon as I can. Don’t worry, I’ll be posting updates here so that my readers can dream too…:)

For more info, visit http://www.tourism.gov.ph/ or http://www.nhcp.gov.ph or call Ryan Sebastian at the DOT Office of Product Research and Development, tel. no. (632) 523-8411 local 265.