Indeed, Its More Fun to Pop the Question in the Philippines

We Filipinos are the romantic kind. And almost always, we are glad whenever soon-to-be-married couples comes our way.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) should be lauded, even just for this time, for a heart-tugging advertisement announcing to the world that it is more fun to pop the question with the beautiful Philippines as its backdrop.

I would like to echo the sentiments I read from Ms. Raissa Robles blog. Hats off to the DOT headed by Mr. Ramon Jimenez. This tourism ad deserves to be blogged about. It surely drove me to come out of my blogging hiatus.

It is with these kind of effort and result that makes me say that taxes withheld from my salary somehow still reaches the government coffers and is used productively for my benefit and my fellow Filipinos.

I hope that after watching the video below, all aspiring grooms out there will come up with their own unique way of popping that very serious question. Please do it in any of the beautiful places here in my beloved Philippines. I'm pretty sure my kababayans can be trusted accomplices in these romantic setups.

Indeed, it's more fun to propose in the Philippines. And look no further for your honeymoon. ;)

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More Fun, Beauty & Wellness in the Philippines

I have often read that beauty and wellness is an industry that the country can really market to entice foreigners to visit. It is only yesterday that the I stared at this truth right at my face.

Our busy makeshift office (I work in a construction site) was interrupted yesterday by two ladies enticing us to avail of their beauty and wellness products. Discounts, vip memberships and perhaps a welcome distraction has many of my colleagues signing up, including me.

I live in a city that has a lot of beauty & wellness establishments - hair salon, spa, manicure and pedicure among the most offered services.

I have a niece who always often show me her nicely done nail polish, so I can surmise that beauty isn't only for those defying age and nature but for almost everyone.

It's really more fun in the Philippines... because almost anyone can afford to remain beautiful and well long after their tour.

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August 26 - 30 2011 Long Weekend, Longer Travel Opportunity

Eid’l-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. This year it falls on August 30 and has been declared a holiday. With August 29, already declared a holiday to celebrate National Heroes Day, a four-day long weekend is in the offing to majority of employees in the country.

As Saturdays & Sundays are normally off-work days, employees who work under such schedule will enjoy a four-day weekend from August 26 - 30, 2011. That long weekend is an opportune time to tour the Philippines and know more about our country.

Image from Dreamstime Free Photos

Those planning to travel on a long weekend such as this one need to plan ahead. A well-planned itenerary is the key to making the most out of a long vacation.

Since its four days, going out of the city or your province is very suitable. Getting cheap fares for air travel would not only be cost-saving but time-saving as well.

Up north, you can fly to Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Taste the famous Ilocos Empanada. Or just went straight splashing at the beaches of Pagudpud. Then you can proceed to the Heritage City in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. It is best to walk through Calle Crisologo at night. Stepping on the cobblestoned streets is like stepping to the Spanish times.

Further down, Baguio remains a favorite except when it rains.

Feeling lazy for long trips, Tagaytay is quite near and accessible from Metro Manila. I hope you can experience Tagaytay Zipline fun, too.

Weather permitting, beach resorts further down south in Batangas are a plenty for a fun swim. Munting Buhangin is one example.

Boracay & Bohol are famous destinations in the Visayas. As it is not summer anymore, perhaps it is no longer full of visitors by the end of August. Going there on the upcoming long weekend may prove to be more enjoyable because of less crowd..

I will personally recommend Cagayan de Oro. Not that I'm from there. But if the weather allows it, you can have lots of adrenaline rush via Cagayan de Oro river whitewater rafting adventure. After which, you can proceed to the scenic beauty that is Camiguin.

Those are just passing suggestions. The Philippines has a lot of exciting and splendid places to visit on that long vacation.

I do hope that local tourism will enjoy a boost from August 26 to 30, 2011. Be safe and enjoy the Philippines during this upcoming long weekend.

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Philippine Holidays 2011

Fellow Filipinos can now start their travel plans after the Philippine Holidays of 2011 was relased yesterday.

Filipinos can now start their travel plans for next year as President Noy Aquino signed Proclamation No. 84 - declaring the regular holidays, special non-working days, and special holiday for the year 2011.

1. Regular Holidays
• New Year’s Day – January 1 (Saturday)
• Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Saturday)
• Maundy Thursday – April 21
• Good Friday – April 22
• Labor Day – May 1 (Sunday)
• Independence Day – June 12 (Sunday)
• National Heroes Day – August 29 (Last Monday of August)
• Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Wednesday)
• Christmas Day – December 25 (Sunday)
• Rizal Day – December 30 (Friday)
2. Special (Non-Working) Days
• Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Sunday)
• All Saints Day – November 1 (Tuesday)
• Last Day of the Year – December 31 (Saturday)
3. Special Holiday (for all schools)
• EDSA Revolution Anniversary – February 25 (Friday)

The dates for the Islamic holidays Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha, both are also national holidays will still be determined by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) in accordance with the Islamic or lunar calendar.

I am one those who are glad that President Aquino will not be moving the day of commemorating/celebrating these holidays of 2011. It is hard enough to inculcate the meaning of these holidays. Changing the days of no work, all the more lessens the relevance of these dates to our culture.

But for those who already have plans, I pray and hope they will include touring the Philippines in their travel itineraries for 2011..

via ABS-CBN News
Full text of Proclamation 84

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Journey to the Ilocos Region - Day 1

Fresh from an exciting CDO-Camiguin trip down south, my girlfriend learned of Cebu Pacific's promo to Laoag in April. She, then, decided that our next tour will be a journey to the Ilocos region in August coinciding with her birthday.

Technically, Ilocos Region is comprised of many other provinces in the present geographical setup. But our planned journey will only cover Ilocos Norte & Ilocos Sur, home of the native Ilocanos.

Soon, we just found ourselves boarding Cebu Pacific's late afternoon flight 5J 404 enroute to Laoag airport on the last friday of August. One and a half hour later, we hired a tricycle to bring us to downtown Laoag to meet a high school buddy.

Along the way, we sped fast a bridge seeing the provincial capitol building with a busy night market. We also passed by Laoag's Sinking Bell Tower.

When me met my buddy Andrew, he eagerly encouraged us to try out the famed special Ilocos Empanada, even boasting its the best in the region. A piece costs only 32 php and will make your tummy feel it has eaten a hearty meal.

After which, we set out to Vigan City. Andrew said it is more beautiful to see the spanish-influenced cobblestoned streets there at night. So, we took a two-hour bus ride from Laoag to Vigan City via Partas Bus.
Upon arriving in, we checked in our belongings to Gordion Hotel and walked our way to the famed Calle Crisologo. Since it was already past 9 pm, we had the street almost to ourselves.

The sight we've previously seen only in the movies is right before eyes. It was indeed a walk back in the time of the Spanish period.



Andrew accompanied us and generously took our pictures. But he has to return to Manila that same night. We tag along with him to the Florida bus station where we get to buy special bibinka from Marsha's Delicacies.

After we said goodbye to Andrew, we return to Calle Crisologo and took pictures to our heart's content. We will post sights of Vigan at night next. After that, we concluded the Day 1 of our journey to the Ilocos Region, retiring at Gordion's Inn.

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Top Dive Centre - Philippines

Image taken from HERE.

Here is another good reason to tour the Philippines - it is now one of the preferred dive centres in the world. This is proven by the number of awards it garnered from the largest diving fair in Asia, the 17th Marine Diving Fair in Tokyo, Japan.

I was ridding my room of some of its clutter when I came across an old issue of Manila Bulletin. In its Travel & Tourism section, it reported that the Philippines bested other top international dive centre in the said diving fair. Among the awards it won were;

Top 5 Diving Area
Top 10 Most Desirable Destination
Best Dive Resort (Bohol Tropics)
Favorite Dive Operator (Blue Coral Resort, Cebu)

The diving fair was participated by 65 countries represented by various destinations and tourism-related companies and it attracted close to 100, 000 visitors.

The Philippines is now at par with other top diving centres in the world like Maldives, Palau, Saipan, French Polynesia, Guam and three islands from Japan (Mizako, Zamami and Ishigaki).

This is a happy development as the Philippines is being recognized in the dive tourism niche. The Philippines boasts of a diverse marine life that can surely fulfill every diver's fantasy.

If you are planning to take a dive, why not try any of the dive centres in the Philippines. ;)

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Reminiscing Baguio City - Philippines' Premier Summer Tourist Spot

It's SUMMER and when you want to escape the city life and this super sweltering heat, Baguio City comes to mind amongst the Philippines' numerous tourist spots. In fact, Baguio City is the Summer Capital of the country.

Aside from being a Philippine Premiere Summer Tourist Spot, Baguio City is also known for the Panagbenga Flower Festival.

Some of my friends have recently been there that I can't help but reminisce my own trips to Baguio City.

So far, I have only been there twice.

The first one was a disaster. I was invited by the mother of my Grade 2 classmate to join them for a weekend in Baguio. When we reached the city, I got sick. The kind family had no choice but to cut short the trip because of me. All I can recall is that we boarded the Philippine Rabbit bus line, the Lion's head and Burnham park. Only later in life did my classmate then shared to me that she and her sisters were kinda upset with me because of it.

My more recent trip to Baguio City was 3 years ago. It was way, way better compared to my first because I was with the love of my life. We were barely starting out then and it was our very first out of town trip.

It was a late Monday morning when we booked a Victory Liner Trip to Baguio City. When we arrived, we immediately looked for La Brea Inn, settled in, bought some stuffs we forgot to bring at SM Baguio, had some dinner and called it a day.

The following day we went to see Baguio Church, Mine's View, The Mansion, the Botanical Garden, Wright Park and the Philippine Military Academy.

Our last day is not as fortunate. After conquering the hundred step staircase going up to the Grotto, rain poured over the city. We had no choice but to cut short our sightseeing. We just decided then to go to the public market and bought some souvenirs for pasalubong. A late lunch at Rose bowl proved to be our send off because after that we were on our return ride to Manila.

Indeed, Baguio City is the Philippines' tourist spot to be in during the Summer. And I am glad I have been there.

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Tour the Philippines during these Long Holidays

I just like to call upon my fellow Filipinos to utilize these long holidays to tour the Philippines.

We could help our country during the present economic woes while enjoying ourselves if we spend our hard-earned money on the Philippines' numerous tourist spots.

Here are the Holidays declared by the Government for 2009:

Araw ng Kagitingan
April 4 - 6, Saturday - Monday

Holy Week
April 9 - 12, Thursday - Sunday

Labor Day
May 1- 3, Friday - Sunday

Independence Day
June 12 - 14, Friday - Sunday

Ninoy Aquino Day
August 21 - 23, Friday - Sunday

National Heroes Day
August 29 - 31, Saturday - Monday

All Saints' Day
October 31 - November 2, Saturday - Monday

Bonifacio Day
November 28 - 30, Saturday - Monday

Christmas Eve
December 24 - 27, Thursday - Sunday

Rizal Day/New Year's Eve
December 30, 2009 - January 3, 2010 , Wednesday - Sunday

The Philippines beauty is known the world over. There is so much in here that rivals those from other countries to choose from. Remember that as you enjoy your vacation, the money you spent will boost the domestic tourism's revenue.

You can go whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro, frolicked at nearby Batangas beach resorts, splurge at the world-famous white sands of Boracay and a lot more. You can choose from the Philippines top travel spots or discover new sites that are yet to be explored.

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