El Nido

El Nido is really a magical place and top destination for island hopping. From its ageless towering marble cliffs to its white sandy beaches with crystal clear water, many refer to it as paradise. There are over 50 beaches to discover, so many in fact that sometimes you feel as if you are on your own secluded private beach. You will also find enchanting lagoons with tranquil turquoise-green water, caves that can take you to hidden beaches, and a very diverse variety of wildlife.

Philippines National Language

The concept of a national language was formed after the Spanish-America War in 1898, but it wasn't until 1936, a year after the formation of the Philippines Commonwealth, that the Institute of National Language was established. President Manuel Quezon declared Tagalog the national language in that year and the appropriate bill was incorporated into the Philippine constitution in 1946.

There were several other contenders for the role of the main language in this multilingual country - among them Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Ilocano. The compromises reached during the 1970s still hold; the constitution of 1973 confirms Filipino as the national language. It is based on Tagalog but contains certain linguistic elements from other Philippine languages. Since 1978 Filipino has been taught in schools and universities.

Gestures and Signs

As well as the spoken and written language, the Filipino use various gestures and signs.

* Instead of pointing with your finger, you indicate discreetly by pointing pursed lips in the direction you want.

* The hand movements which means "go away" to us signify "come here" in the Philippines.

* People used to hiss to gain attention, for example, when calling one of the waiters in a restaurant. Nowadays, it's not so common and may even cause of fence.

* The brief raising of the eyebrows is generally meant positively.

* When you want to pay the bill, look out for one of the waiters and draw a rectangle in the air with your index finger and thumb. Should the waiter or waitress be looking the other way, just hiss briefly or clap your hands two or three times. The bill is called a "chit" in the Philippines.

* The thumb is not used to indicate numbers; you indicate two beers, for example, with ring finger and the little finger.

* If Filipinos don't understand a question, they open their mouths

Zamboanga

Some people find it hard to see why Zamboanga has been praised a "the exotic pearl of the south Philippines". A few Muslim in an otherwise Filipino populated city are not what most people would call exotic, and the colourful and very expensive sails of the Vintas are only seen at festivals or when one of these boats is chartered. Plain sails are normally used.

The popular description of City of Flowers comes from the Malay word jambangan, meaning "land of flowers" and may have been used when the first Malays settled here. It is more likely that the name comes from samboangan, a word made up of samboang, meaning 'boat pole", and an, meaning "place".

As well as speaking English, Filipino, Cebuano, Tausug and Samal, the locals in Zamboanga also speak Chabacano, a mixture of Spanish and Philippine languages ironically known as Bamboo Spanish.

Eden Nature Park

Eden Nature Park is another tourist spot in Davao City. This place is very popular mountain resort located at Toril, 40 min away from the city center. It is situated 3000 ft above sea level, giving it a cool and moderate climate. It is 95% man made with pine trees dotting the landscape. During we visited this park I was amazed how huge it was.It covers 40 hectares worth of developed land. Eden Nature Park has the following activities and facilities:


Basketball Court and Filipino Games where areas for "piko" and "patintero" are situated.

Campsite and Camphuts where one can enjoy outdoor adventure by pitching tents and camping.

Fishing Village where one can catch his own fish and be able to bring it home.

Swimming Pool that is situated at the highest point of the resort.

Vista Playground where children love to play especially in the IndianaJones ride.

Trading Station where one can buy plants, seedlings, etc.

Mountain Trail carved along towering trees, creeks and boulders.

Vista Restaurant where gastronomical experience awaits you.

Souvenir Shop that features native handicrafts and various knick-knacks.

Pagsanjan Falls

Pagsanjan Falls is a popular tourist destination, Pagsanjan Rapids and Falls is a series of 14 rapids punctuated by mini-waterfalls on the way to the main falls. Pagsanjan is a small Laguna town which served as the setting for Fracis Ford Coppola's film "Apocalypse Now."

The terrain towards the main falls offers a lot of excitement. As one negotiates the waterway, the trips becomes wilder, with the river flanked by towering cliffs lush with vegetation. Waters from the Cavinti and Luisiana dams cascade down Pagsanjan Falls and into a segregated part of the river which is about 150 feet deep. Here, one can rent a raft and enjoy riding under the falls.

Dakak

Dakak is located in Dapitan, is on the northwestern coast of Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao. Since 1963, the city is known for the Rizal Shrine where the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal spent his last four years in exile. Its newest attraction, Dakak, is fast becoming a popular dive spot. Also is most known for its strikingly shaped bay and powdery white sand. Perfect blue waters, tremendous dive sites with great quantity of coral reefs, and a wonderful sunset scope characterize this tropical Eden. So, if you love to travel in the Philippines and never been to this area, I encourage you to visit this place.

Philippine Eagle Center

If you are planning for vacation in Davao City, Philippines. Don't forget to visit Eagle Camp. This camp known as the Philippine Eagle Nature Center and has been set up at Malagos, near Calinan in the Baguio District, about 36 km northwest of Davao by road. A trip to this establishment run by the Philippine Eagle Foundation Inc is really worth the effort not only for ornithologists. The grounds are very well maintained and laid out like a botanical garden. They also have some typical Philippine animals in a small zoo, which includes the whole range of Philippines eagles.The people at the camp, who observe the nesting habits of the Philippine eagle, are very friendly and prove to be a mine of information on these birds.

Siargao Island

Do you believe that one of the world's most excellent surfing spot is part of Philippines? Yes and that is called SIARGAO ISLAND. Siargao Island is the biggest island in the miniarchipelago to the east of Surigao, though still relatively unknown amongst travellers. It is blessed with a tropical backdrop that in places could have straight out of a picture book, with more palms than you could count, white beaches, an azure ocean and deserted offshore islands. The infrastructure for tourist is still modest, so it's too early to expect much in the way of transport and accommodation. Most international visitors chiefly value the island because of its excellent surf, especially from August to October on the east coast which faces the Pacific. At least a dozen breaks have become popular, including Tuason Point, Cloud Nine, Rock Island, Pilar Point and all north of General Luna and reachable on foot or by boat. And in south of Union there's Pansukian Reef, and further south out on the island of La Janosa and Antokon huge breakers are just waiting for surfers to experience them. The annual Siargao International Surfing Cup takes place in October. So, if you are planning to go for vacation in the Philippines, I encourage you to visit Siargao Island I'm sure you like it.

Beautiful Beach

Boracay is a beautiful small island surrounded by coral reefs and located one km north-west of Panay island in Visayas of the Philippines. It is the most popular beach in the country as the most visited tourist spot in the Philippines. Before the middle of 1980s, it was a famous hidden resort but known to limited numbers of sea lovers. Now many tourists visit there from all over the world, America, Europe, korea, Taiwan and so on. The climate from March to June are the summer months in Boracay, with temperatures ranging from 28 to 38 degrees Celsius. November to February bring enjoyable winds, cooler temperatures, and occasional rain showers. July to October are the rainy months.

Paradise Island

Paradise Island is the most popular beach resort among the locals of Davao. This resort is located in Samal island off the coast of Davao it owe’s its huge visitor base to it’s accessibility, friendly staff, affordable price, pristine waters and powdery white sand. When we visited this resort I'm so amazed at how obssessed the staff are with cleanliness as you will immediately notice the absence of litter in the area. Not to mention the constant raking of the fine sand at the beach to maintain the symmetry of the beach front. For me, a trip to Davao is not complete without visiting Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort.

Tagaytay

Tagaytay is one of my favorites tourist spot in Luzon area. Tagaytay is located about 70 km south of Manila and was once intended to become an alternative to the summer town of Baguio. It's high altitude (600) and cool climate would seem to make it ideal to take over this role. However, in the end nothing came of it, although the idea was brought up again after a serious earthquake rattled Baguio in mid 1990, and shares in the exclusive apartment buildings which is had been built in the meantime were offered. So if you are planning to visit Luzon, don't forget to visit Tagaytay.

Cagayan De Oro

Cagayan de Oro, the "City of Golden Friendship", is the capital of the province Misamis Oriental. It is a clen and friendly university city with numerious schools. Golden Friendship Park, also known as Divisoria, is the right at the heart of the city.

An old legend explains how the name Cagayan is derived from the word kagayha-an, which means shame. The legend tells of an attack on a Manobo tribe by another tribe. The defeated villagers planned to retaliate, but before they could, their chieftain fell in love with the daughter of the enemy chieftain and married her. His disgusted subjects refferred to their village as a place of shame or Kagayha-an. The Spaniards pronounced it Cagayan and after they discovered gold in the river, it become Cagayan de Oro.

Pagadian

Pagadian is discribed by the Department of Tourism of Pagadian is a "land of lakes, caves and waterfalls". Sounds good, but is perhaps gilding the lilly a bit. What may interest the traveller is that the small town of Lapuian, 40 km from Pagadian, and other parts of the two Zamboangan provinces are home to the Subanon, which means "river people". American Protestant missionaries brought Christianity and the English language to this cultural minority in their isolated mountain world.

Iligan City

Iligan is an industrial town with factories in the outskirts. The nearby Maria Cristina Falls will be the main source of power for the neigbouring districs as far as Zamboanga. The hydro-electric power station so dominates the landscape that it's more likely to appeal to the technically minded than to nature lovers. To get to the falls, take a jeepney from the pier to Agus Bridge, about sevem km away, turn left after the bridge and walk for about half an hour. You can't swim in the pool as the river is a raging torrent and far too dangerous; the attraction is to look down on the falls from above by going about 200m back towards Iligan from the Agus Bridge, where a path and concrete steps lead straight to the waterfall.

In contrast, the Tinago Falls also known as the Hidden Falls have been left in their beautiful natural state and are not marred by contruction. They must be amongst the most beautiful waterfalls on Mindanao. It is a real pleasure to go for a dip in the big, natural pool there. At the entrance to the Tinagao Falls you will find the Tinago Residence Inn, a resort with a small zoo, children's play area and overnight accommodation, including a few tree houses.

Rice Terraces

Rice Terraces is one of my favorites tourist spot in Baguio City. The rice terraces around Banaue have been called the eighth wonder of the world. It took the Ifugao tribes people, with their primitive implements, over 2000 years to create this imposing landscape. Unfortunately, the younger generation no longer feels the call to be rice farmer and carry on the labor intensive tending of the fields, so the preservation of the rice terraces is in danger. UNESCO could soon provide the neccessary financial support to save the terraces, as they now appear on the ENUSCO World Herritage list. In 1997, the American Society of Civil Engineers honoured this unique terrace landscape with the prestigious International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark award.

There are a number of things to do around this area. YOu can visit several Ifugao villages, take some of the paths through the rice terraces, enjoy the panorama from Banaue View Point or take a refreshing dip in the water of the Guihon Natural Pool. So, if are planning to visit Baguio City, Philippines, don't forget to visit this beautiful Rice Terraces.

Mount Mayon

As far as I know Mount Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines. Since 1616 there were 47 eruptions. From 1616 until 2002 at least 1300 people died and tons of people got homeless as a result of all the eruptions. The most recent eruptions were in 1947, 1984 and 1993. In 1993 the activity started with explosions. Half an hour later, flows of lava and pyroclastic flows came out of the crater in the top of the volcano. It killed 68 people and 60.000 people had to be evacuated.