Pearl Of The Orient Seas

Welcome to Rizal, Philippines

2007-05-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

RIZAL

MINI-PROFILE
CAPITAL : ANTIPOLO (IN PROCESS)
AREA : 130,383 HEC.
POPULATION : 1,312,489

OVERVIEW

Rizal is one of the provinces closet to Metro Manila. It is clubbed by urban planners as the country'' next business capital.

The province still has many green area and is exciting to watch on account of its wide low lying valleys and rolling hills. Rugged ridges are found near the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges, which overlooks the entire province. An encompassing vista of Metro Manila can be engaged at certain points along the Sumulong Highway leading to the town of Antipolo. A number of restaurants with viewdecks can be found here.

The province has also so much to offer to both foreign and local tourists like the breathtaking view of the Laguna Lake and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. People residing in the 14 towns which today compose Rizal engage in traditional arts and crafts, and hold colorful yearly fiestas that function as accessible major attractions. Its strategic geographical location makes it one of the fastest growing provinces in the CALABARZON in terms of economic development. The province was named in honor of the country's national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

In the early 90's the province gained sudden prominence worldwide with the discovery of the Petrolyph Artifacts in the mountainsides of Angono and Binangonan. The petrolyphs are considered remmants of the stone age which were carved by hand and mortar as a unique form of "rock-art." The discovery led art observers to theorize that thse towns possess some kind of a mystique for having given ascendancy to a lineage of natural-born artists. The Department of Tourism and the Commission on Culture and the Arts have teamed up to preserved the site and protect what remains of the blocks.

Todays, world-class artist and painters continue to be spawned by Angono and Binangonan, close to the very sites where the petroglyphs were unearthed. However farfetched, it is easy to assume that the predisposition toward visual arts and the indigenous creativity of the people raised within the lakeshore communities, is a priceless inheritance for countless of generations. Some of the art luminaries spawned by the province are Vicente Manansala, Carlos "Botong" Francisco, Nemiranda, and the Jose Blanco family of painters. In this regards, not to be missed in the Rizal tourist itinerary are the Blanco, Nemiranda and other private artists' galleries and the Angono Artists' Village.

Angono is equally famous for its Carabao Festival held in May during the feast of San Isidro Labrador. Rizal is also a nearby picnic ground for Metro Manila. Talim Island, a swim and picnic spot situated in Laguna Lake has excellent potentials for further development.

The province of Rizal has lately assumed the title of being the Convention and Conference Center of many clients from Metro-Manila business, commerial and social service entities. A number of religious houses have sprouted for the benefit of spiritual retreat in search of a nearby yet conductive venue. Thse facilties can be found in Antipolo and Binangonan which offer good accomodations, refreshing pools, and gournet-wise, dining specialities sourced from water ponds.

A stellar attraction of Rizal is its fabled Lenten rituals in the town of Cainta which turns out stage presentations of the Senakulo performed by folk theater artists for a series of evenings during Holy Week. The Good Friday parade of the Crucifixion replete with horse-riding Roman soldiers and characters of the New Testament, and the famous month-long Pilgrimage to the Image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage for the whole month of May in Cathedral of Antipolo. The multiplicity of stalls that selling local handicrafts, hot cashew nuts, native rice pastries and freshly-picked duhat (local blackberry) surround the church grounds at this time. An industrial center is now on the rise in the town of Tanay, over a 328-hectare lot. It is expected to locate medium to large-scale industries, and to pave the way toward an alternative eastern growth corridor involving the provinces of Rizal, Laguna Quezon.

A visit to an old town, a tour of the early Spanish centuries-old churches and artists' galleries, shopping for native products, delicasies, fruits and fresh fish from nearby fruit orchards and lakeshore fishermen - all these tour possibilities would create new touring patterns for local and international vacationers.

A. Brief History

With the organization of Tondo and La Laguna during the Spanish regime, Rizal Province was composed of towns. Some of the towns like pasig, Parañaque, Taytay and Cainta were already thriving because long before the Spanish conquest, the Tagalog settlements had already carried on trade with the Chinese.

From 1582 to 1583, the Encomienda (Morong was under the jurisdiction of La Laguna and Passi (Pasig), Taitai (Taytay), Tagui (Taguig) belonged to Tondo. In 1591, the Encomeindas of Moron and Taitai were under the jurisdiction of Franciscan Order in La Laguna. The Augustinians in Tondo had jurisdiction of Nabotas (Navotas), Tambobo (Malabon), Tondo, Parañaque, Longalo (Dongalo), Taguig and Pasig.

A new political subdivision was formed in 1853 consisting of the towns of Antipolo, Boso-Boso, Cainta, and Taytay from Tondo and the towns of Morong, Baras, Tanay, Palilla, Angono, Binangonan and Jalajala from La Laguna. Then in 1860, Tondo became the province of Manila, placing its towns under the fiscal supervision land control of the Governor of the new province. It was during the revolutionary government of General Emilio Aguinaldo when Mariquina (Marikina) became the capital of Manila. In 1898-1899, Antipolo became the capital of Morong, then in 1899-1900, Tanay became its capital.

On 5 June 1901, the first Philippine Commission, headed by president William Taft and Commissioner Wright Ide and Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera proposed the unification of Manila and Morong which resulted in the creation of a new province named after Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippines' National Hero.

Rizal Province was officially and legally created by virtue of Act No. 310 by the Philippine Commission. It was composed of 26 municipalities, 13 from the old province of Manila comprising Las Piñas, Malabon, Makati, Parañaque, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Navotas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pateros, Marikina, San Mateo and Rodriguez (formerly Montalban). The 12 other municipalities were from the district of Morong which include Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Antipolo Cardona, Jalajala, Morong, Pilila, Tanay, Taytay and Teresa. But in 8 November 1975, the formed Metro Manila area was created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824 which resulted in the incorporation of the 12 towns of Las Piñas, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Malabon, Navotas, Pasig and Marikina. The remaining 14 towns were left to Rizal.

When the Metro Manila Commission incorporated Pasig, the former capital, Rizal became the only province in the Philippines to have no capital town. But there is a proposal to make Antipolo as the new capital of the province.

B. Geography

Rizal Province is Metro Manila's most immediate eatern neighbor. It is bounded on the north by Bulacan, on the east by Laguna and Quezon Province, and on the south by Laguna de Bay. It has a total land area of 130,383 hectares, 27 percent of which is suitable for intensive agriculture, pastures and forests, 62 percent for high density urban development and 70 percent for fish and farming and wildlife conservation.

Its terrain is mostly flat mostly flat-lands on the western part, but is also endowed with rolling hills and rugged ridges on the eastern portion. With a temperate climate, Rizal is protected from violent winds by the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges on the east and by the Batangas and Laguna mountains on the southwest.

C. Political Subdivision

Rizal comprises of 14 municipalities divided into two (2) political districts. The first district comprises the towns of Angono, Antipolo, Binangonan, Cainta and Taytay while the towns of Baras, Cardona, Morong, Jalajala, Pililla, Rodriguez, San Mateo, Tanay and Teresa constitute the second district.

MUNICIPALITIES OF RIZAL

Angono - Antipolo - Baras - Morong - Cainta - Cardon - Jalajala - Tanay - Pililla - Rodriguez - San Mateo - Taytay - Teresa - Bionangonan

D. Climate

The climate in Rizal consists of two seasons: the wet and dry. It is relatively dry from December to May and wet during the rest of the year. Northeast prevailed over the province. The province is not directly hit by typhoons, low pressure systems and high winds.

E. Population

As of 1995, the population of the province was 1,312,489 with an annual growth rate of 68 percent.

F. Languages/Dialects

The predominant language is Tagalog with accents, while the English language is used as medium of communication in business and education.

G. How to get there

Rizal is the Metro's most proximate eastern province hence, mobility poses no problem. Take a metro bus, taxi or jeepney to EDSA/Crossing or the Farmer's Market in Cubao, Quezon City and proceed to the jeepney terminal within the shopping area. These vehicles are bound separately for Antipolo, Taytay, Cainta, Binangonan, Angono and Tanay. There are many public utilities making it easy to return to Manila destinations any time of day and even night time.

H. Getting around the place

Jeepneys, tricycles and ferry boats take passengers to various sites within the towns.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Rizal boats of several tourist attractions like Daranak and Batlag Falls, Villa Virginia Resort and Conference Center, Hinulugang Taktak National Park, Boso-Boso Ruin Church, Baras Church, Antipolo Cathedral, And Kalbaryo, Manansala Landmark and other galleries.

It is also rich in cultural heritage. Various cultural plays, enactments and dances are held throughout the year to commemorate certain occasions. The town fiestas are celebrated during the birth of patron saints of the different municipalities.

Perhaps the most outstanding point of its heritage is in the field of the arts created by many distinguished artists. Some are world renowned and already proclaimed national artists. Thus, the title, "Crade of Philippine Art".

A. Historical

Ang Kalbaryo
Kalbaryo is known not only for its religious significance but also its historical value. According to the old folks, a cross-shaped rock suddenly grew out of the summit but was destroyed by lighting and earthquake. The people then erected on the same spot, a wooden cross in place of the original cross in 1783. A chapel was built on top of a hill overlooking Laguna Lake in due respect for the cross.

Location: Barangay Libid, Binangonan]
How to get there: From the town proper, the top of the kalbaryo is walking distance.
Travel time: 30 minutes' walk

B. Cultural

Rafael Pacheco Finger Painting Gallery
Rafael Pacheco, a local artist, has a unique way of expressing his artistic talent. He uses bare fingers, knuckers and palms to complete a masterpiece in 20 minutes mainly on flora, fauna and underwater life.

Location: No. 332 Tomas Claudio St. Morong
How to get there: Take the Morong-bound bus at the EDSA Central Complex, Mandaluyong City. From the town proper, the gallery can be reached by tricycle.
Travel time: 90 minutes from Manila

Nemiranda Arthouse and Atelier Gallerie
The Arthouse filling up the whole 1,012 square meters lot (one block) is the product of Nemiranda's natural wit and ingenuity, all poured into transforming Angono's indigenous and recycled materilas like bamboo, nipa, sawali, abacca, old wood as well as its artifacts into this function art. Like a labyrinth, the Arthouse is an environment-friendly architecture concept where trees, birds and ornament plants play a major role. It has become the venue for countless art lessons, sysposia, art competitions, exhibitions and other complimentary activities primarily for the artists of Rizal, making it a credible witness to Nemiranda's commitment to elevate the province into an Artists' Village. A wide collection of the artist's paintings masterfully implying figurative realism in the artworks portraying rural life and folkloric art is on display.

Location: No. 10 Doña Elena St., Doña Justa Village, Barangay San Roque, Angono
How to get there: Take a tricycle from the town proper or from the Manila East Road or Angono Highway to the gallery.
Travel time: About 10 - 15 minutes

Vicente Manansala Historical Landmark
Declared by the National Historical Institute as a historical landmark in June 1978, it now houses the relics of national artist Vicente Manansala. It is also features some of his well-preserved original paintings and paraphernalia.

Location: No. 73 Gloria St. San Carlos Hights Subd., Tayuman, Binangonan
How to get there: Take a tricycle from the second gate of San Carlos Heights Subdivision

Tiamson Art Gallerie
A painter, a musician and transmedia artist all rolled into one - this is the young Orville Tiamson. His style ranges from the conventional to new age.

Location: No. 203 Doña Nieves, St. Angono
How to get there: It will take a one (1) minute walk from the municipal town hall to reach the place.

Blanco Art Gallery
Jose V. Blanco is the partriarch of an entire family of painters. A protégé of Carlos "Botong" Francisco, he is the father and indisputable master of Philippine genre painting. He projects what it is to be a Filipino in folk tradition and contemporary ancestry. His works and those of his wife and sons are frequently displayed in world expositions in Europe and the United States of America.

Location: 312 Ibañez St., Angono Rizal
How to get there: A jeepney ride from Cubao takes one to the main streets of Angono. From the center, take a tricycle to the Blanco Art Gallery
Travel time: 3 minutes from the town center..

Angono Artist Village
Rizal is the province of choice and a definite tourist destination particularly in the field of arts and crafts. It is known as the home of recognized and national artists and musicians. It is for this reason that the Angono Artists Association prodded the creation of an Artists' Village located at the foothills of the Sierras.

Location: Angono
How to get there: Take the Angono-bound buses at the Shaw Boulevard Terminal. Upon reaching the town proper, take a tricycle going to the area.
Travel time: 45 minutes from Shaw Boulevard

Tariki Dance
The Tariki dance was copied and adopted by the natives from the movements of the "tariki" birds seen hopping from one bundle of palay to another. It is performed by five pairs of boys and girls dressed in white shirts and pants and blouses and skirts, respectively.

Location: Tanay
How to get there: Take the Tanay-bound bus at the EDSA Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong.
Travel Time: 2 ½ hours from Shaw Boulevard

World Sikaran/Arnis Brotherhood of the Philippines
Sikaran/Arnis (Foot game/Sword Play) are a combination of two kinds of martial arts that are unique Filipino. In sikaran, the players move around like boxers. Each one aims to knock his opponent down by kicking the latter's legs. The kicks are delivered with considered force and agility and sudden upward and backward movements of the foot. The use of the feet is necessary in winning over the opponent thus, the name "sikaran" which menas "to kick" came about. In playing the arnis, the players use rattan or wooden sword and strike each other's sticks. The player who is able to touch his opponent's body first with the point of his wooden sword or force him to drop his weapon is declared winner.

Location: No. 20 Katipunan St., Barangay San Jose, Baras
How to get there: Baras town is accessible from Manila by bus from EDSA Central Complex at shaw Boulevard]
Travel time: 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic situations.

C. Natural

Angono and Binangonan Petroglyphs
A recent archeological breakthrough of the 90's is the discovery of ancient petroglyphs in the mountainside of Angono and Binangonan. The petroglyphs were validated by the National Museum, the UNESCO and KOMOS as one of the oldest in the Asia-Pacific Region. They can be traced back to the third millennium, B.C. It has been declared as aheritage site. The Deaprtment of Tourism in coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, is now engaged in the development of the site, the protection of the walls from damaged caused by man the elements, and the construction of viewing and rest areas.

Talim Island
The island which lies in Laguna de Bay, is a typical fishing community with 17 barangays of Binangonan and 8 barangays of Cardona.

Location: It is a nearby which forms part of the mainland of Binangonan
How to get there: It is accessible by an outrigger boat from the Pretel Wharf. It takes an hour and a half to reach the last of the coastal barangays
Travel time: 90 minutes by boat

Daranak/Batlag Falls
It is 14-meter high falls which stands majestically beneath a running stream. A short walk over the wooden trestle to the top of Daranak are the smaller streams known as the Batlag Falls.

Location: Barangay Tandang, Kutyo, Tanay
How to get there: From the town proper, jeepneys ply regularly going to the Manila East Road or Tanay Highway
Travel time: 30 minutes to 1 hour from the town proper

U-Ugong Arts and Cultural Parks
A place owned by Rafael Pacheco where he conducts his art workshops, demonstrations and lectures is also a perfect hideaway from the maddening crowd of the metropolis and a nature's sanctuary. One can enjoy a three-in one view of the Ugong Falls on one side the Laguna Lake on the other and the town of Morong with its four-century-old bell tower.

Location: Sitio Butig, Barangay Bombongan, Morong
How to get there: From the town proper, it can reached by jeepneys and tricycles.
Travel Time: 20 minutes from the town proper

Calinawan Cave
Calinawan Cave got its name from the word "linaw", a Tagalog term for "clear".
It is said that during the 15th to 18th centuries, opposing parties used to convene inside the cave to settle disputes, thus, the name Calinawan came about. This cave also served as a shelter and a hideaway from the Japanese during World War II. It was also in this cave where Japanese soldier surrendered to the Liberation Forces.

Location: Barangay Tandang, Kutyo, Tanay
How to get there: Take a jeepney bound for Barangay Tandang Kutyo and get off at the cave site.
Travel time: 20 minutes from Barangay Tandang Katyo

Hinulugang Taktak
The town of Antipolo was traditionally known for its Hinulugang Taktak Falls even before World War II. This mountain resort has picnic cottages, a swimming pool, artificial paths and steps down to view the waterfalls. During the month of May, cultural concerts and plays are held in the area fronting the waterfalls.

Location: Taktak Road Antipolo
How to get there: Jeepneys bound for Antipolo are stationed at the Araneta Commecial Center (Cubao) right across the Quezon City Post Office. From the town proper of Antipolo, take a tricycle for the one kilometer ride to Hinulugang Taktak.
Travel time: 1 ½ hour from Cubao

D. Man-Made

Igorot Village
The Village covers one and a half hectares and is situated within the residential area of Valley Golf which is sloping downward the hill. There are several clusters of semi-modern houses covered by iron roofs which house Igorot families who settled in the area turned it into a traditional Igorot Village with the support of the local government. An authentic Igorot Village within the heart of Cainta provides tourists a glimpse of the culture and lifeways of the Cordillera people.

Location: Valley Golf 4, Barangay San Juan, Cainta
How to get there: Valley Golf can be reached by jeepneys bound for Antipolo or Angono and from the main road, tricycles are available to service passengers to the village.
Travel time: 15 minutes from main road.

Wawa Dam
Wawa Dam is located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains. It supplies water to Novaliches passing through large pipes. It has a gorge which lies between two limestone mountains and through it passes the upper Marikina River. Four caves are visible on the way to the dam. These caves are said to have been inhabited by the Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. A historical marker can be found at the entrance of the one of the caves in memory of the dead Japanese soldiers.

Location: Barangay Wawa, Montalban
How to get there: From Cubao, Quezon City, take a jeepney plying the Montalban-Cubao route. This will take one to as far as Barangay San Rafael from where jeepneys to Barangay Wawa are stationed.
Travel time: 1 hour from Cubao

Philcomsat
The Philippine Communications Satelite station nestles on a 700-hectare site at the foot of Sierra Madre mountains whose thickly forested ranges act as a natural barrier and protection againts radio interference. Facilities in this station include two huge dish-shaped antenna-the "Pacific Ocean Region" and the "Indian Ocean", used receive signals from satelites in space. A third relatively smaller but flexible antenna, Pinugay-3, serves as a reserve that can handle telecommunications requirements for both ocean regions.

Location: Barangay Pinugay, Baras
How to get there: Philcomsat is accessible from the town of Baras. To reach Baras, take the Sumulong Highway until you reach the Antipolo T-junction. Turn right leading to Morong until you reach Baras town. To visit Philcomsat, travel through a 15 minute car ride that will bring you to the earth station.
Travel time: 1 ½ hours from Sumulong Highway

D. Religious

Baras Church
Baras Church is one of the oldest in the area, having been completed in 1686. The first church in Baras was built by the Franciscans in 1595. The town of Baras was transferred to Ibayo in 1682. It was the Jesuits who administered the parish from 1616 to 1679. The interior of the church was simply done. The altar and lecterns store artifacts unearthened beneath the church.

Location: San Jose St., Baras
How to get there: Take the Antipolo by-pass to reach the town proper.
Walking distance from the poblacion.
Travel time: 1 ½ hours' drive from Mandaluyong City

Boso-Boso Ruin Church
A remnant of a centuries-old church which was destroyed during the Second World War. It stands in the gradeur of old stones with wild vines and plants growing on top of the church.

Location: Barangay Boso-Boso, Antipolo
How to get there: A 45 minute ride by jeepney from the town proper will bring you to the ruins.
Travel time: 45 minutes

St. Jerome Church
St. Jerome Church which stands high above the town of Morong, was built in 1615 by Chinese craftmen as evidence by the two Chinese lions sculptured at the entrance to the steep driveway. It took three years to construct the church. The stone and the mortar church has a steps leading up to the front. The cross on the tower, is illuminated at night and can be seen clearly from the surrounding countryside. It has a tower in front about 100 feet high with the statue of St. Michael the Archangel on top. The three-storey façade which was built in 1850-1853 to support a new bell tower is one of the most splendid examples of baroque architecture in the Philippines. It is in graduated levels with a four-storey octagonal bell tower of European influence, and paired columns at the four exterior corners.

Location: Barangay San Jose, Morong
How to get there: Walking distance from the town proper

Tanay Church
Built in the 17th century. The construction of the stone church was completed in 1680 but by 1773 it had deteriorated. The church had to be demolished and rebuilt with good local stones from the Tanay quarry. The strong and solid structure standing today was completed in 1783 with slight restoration. The church is a mixture of Philippine colonial design and with some integration of baroque in the façade which has two layers of columns. The main entrance is flanked by lateral niches and the side portal has a elaborate designs. It has five altars with rococo designs. The main altar is silver-planted. The stations of the cross are made of wood relief structures.

Location: Barangay Plaza Aldea, Tanay
How to get there: Accessible by public transport from the town proper.

Our Lady of Antipolo Shrine
Antipolo is known to be the home of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje. History says this miraculous icon has sailed back and forth between Manila and Acapulco eight times and, on several occassions, was credited with saving her galleon from destruction by pirates and Dutch and British blockades. The galleon's safe arrivals were attributed to the miraculous powers of the statuette. It was on 26 November 1626 when the Blessed Virgin from Acapulco was canonized by the Arcbishop of Manila, Michael O'Doherty. Thousands of devotees pay homage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

Location: Town proper of Antipolo
How to get there: Walking distance from the bus and jeepneys terminal
Travel time : 1 ½ hours' from Manila

F. Festival

Palaspas/Domingo De Ramos Festival
Date: Palm Sunday
The most colorful celebrations may be witnessed in Angono. The parish priest, sacristan and disciples parade around the town together with the townspeople and a brass band. As the procession commences, people wave their palm fronds in the air and sing religious songs. The men lay down their mats and the veils of the ladies for the barefoot priest to walk on as they visit and bless four floral stations located in the four corners of the town. The stations also serve as platforms for children to stand on a as they shower abd bless the townsfolk with flower petals and confetti while they beat the ryhthmic pattern of the tunes which the brass band plays.

Cenaculo
Date: Holy Week
A re-enactment of the Passion of Christ which starts on the night of Palm Sunday (Palaspas) up to the night of Easter Sunday (Salubong). The Cenaculo, is conducted in the Plaza square on public theaters constructed for purposes, with the participation of village thespians with perpetual vows. They render their services for fee.

Penitencia
Date: Good Friday
Rituals in observance of the suffering, passion, and death of Jesus Christ are observed with steadfast intensity throughout the province, specially in Cainta, sometimes with the actual enactments of the stations of the cross and mailing. From early morning until noontime each Good Friday, members of non-sectarian "cenaculo" companies, walk throughout the main streets of Cainta, usually in the company of penitents.

Pabasa
Date: Holy Week
This is a Holy Week practice which includes religious singing of the Passion of Christ. Salagat and other native dishes/delicacies are served during the activity.

Giwang-Giwang
Date: Good Friday
It is a play executive every Good Friday by replaying the funeral of Jesus Christ through a procession.

The Subok
Date: Good Friday
A group of men, after feasting and overnight meditation, gather around the church to wait for the flowerdecked carroza of the Santo Sepulcre, a wooden statue of the dead Christ. They rush forward to insert various objects in the folds of the robes, under the feet, in the hollows of the hands. The image is then loaded with handkerchiefs, bronze medals and pieces of paper inscribed with Latin phrases. The float is encircled by the men with linden hands. After the procession, these men retrieve the objects from the image. Now it is the time for the "subok"-the testing of the talismans by using whips, revolvers, knives and machetes (bolo) throughout the afternoon and evening, or till Saturday. Each one tests the effectivity of his talisman by requesting another man to shoot , whip or stab him.

Salubong Festival
Date: Sabado de Gloria/Easter Sunday
Black Saturday is highlighted by a 3-hour presentation at the patio of the church wherein high-tech stage decorations and sound system are used. Trained production staff assist in the presentation of the "Vigilia ng Muling Pagkabuhay." Easter Sunday Celebration is held in a place called Galilea where the reunion of the Risen Christ with the Virgin Mary is re-enacted. It is facilitated by the removal from Mary's head of the mourning veil by a young girl inside an inverted giant paper flower suspended from bamboo trellis. The petals are mechanically opened by giant toy birds toy birds to reveal the girl inside. It is then followed by a religious dancing of young ladies called Kapitana and Tenyenta, to the tune of "Bati"

Santakrusan Festival
Date: May
This evening parade is usually graced by the town's crop of beauties portraying the Marian Litany of Titles and assorted biblical characters, dressed in the fairytale clothes and escorted by good-looking bachelors. Under flower-decked arches held by aides, they walk down the towns thoroughfares like kings and queens of yore.

Flores de Mayo Festival
Date: May
The Flores de Mayo or Flowers of May is an offering to the blessed Virgin Mary. On the first day of May, a procession is held where little girls are dressed immaculate white finery and carry flowers (mainly sampaguita) as an offering to the Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A mass is held everyday and devotees offer flowers up to the end of the month.

Paalay Festival
Date: May
The traditional celebration of the month of flowers in May is celebrated by processions of little girls, offering flowers-locally called the "Paalay". Another activity held is the "Salapang" a practice among townsfolk wherein local officials and their wives offer foods to the people who joined the procession.

Tayo na Antipolo Festival
Date: May
A month-long celebration to honor the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. Devotees are seen taking the much-trodden pat leading to Antipolo. The image, which is already three centuries old, is said to exhibit supernatural powers. On the evenings of April 30, thousands of pilgrims from several places in Metro Manila and the nearby towns begin an annual trek on foot.

San Isidro/Carabao Festival
Date: May 15
Farmers pay tribute to the carabao during the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, their patron saint. On this day, before all the festivities begin, the carabaos are shaved, leaving aesthetic patterns on their back. They are bathed and scrubbed till they glow, theirs toes manicured, their tail combed, plaited and beribboned, and they are crown
With colorful flowers and buntings. A mass is held followed by a procession that ends at the town square where prizes are awarded to the strongest, healthiest, longest- horned, most beautiful and best-trained carabaos. The climax of the day's activities occur when the carabaos race each other across the ricefields.

Higantes Festival
Date: November 22 and 23
This is also a thanksgiving festival in honor of San Clemente, the patron saint of the fishermen. On the actual feast day, the image of San Clemente is carried on a barge on the lake with a fluvial procession participated in by most of the residents of the town. Little children of every barangay called "parehadoras" are dressed in colorful costumes bearing boat paddles and bakya. Then the townfolk and the "higantes" (giants) accompany the image back to the church through a joyful parade with a brass band and "parehadoras."

Santo Entierro
Date: Good Friday
On Good Friday, Christ symbolically dies at three o'clock in the afternoon. His carved image is interred in a niche-like carroza or float covered with glass. Hundreds of male devotees scramble for the chance to bear the image and bear towards the church where it is laid to its final resting place.

San Clemente Festival
Date: November 23
One of the major festivals celebrated by the townfolks of Angono. San Clemente is the patron saint of fishermen, highly revered by the people of Angono, most of whom are fisherfolk. On the actual feast day, the image of San Clemente is carried on a barge in Laguna Lake, in a fluvial procession joined in by most of the residents of the town. The fishermen and their families are dressed in their fishermen's clothes bearing occupational gear- boat paddles, fish nets, traps, etc. and accompany the image back to the church. Little children called "parehadoras" are dressed in colorful costumes and put up a mardi gras-like procession in salutation to the image of San Clemente.

G. Special Interest

Golf
The land area, terrain and topography of the Valley meet the criteria for a standard championship golf course. The clubhouse is the venue for social events of its members and guests.

Valley Golf & Country Club
Sumulong Highway, Antipolo
P.O. Box, 706, Manila
Tel. No.: 665-8565 (club house)
How to get there: There are two alternative routes going to Valley Golf. One is through Ortigas Avenue and the other is through the Sumulong Highway (which offers a scenic, easier way to the valley).
Travel time: About 9 kilometers from EDSA and about 6 kilometers from the poblacion.
Facilities: Club house dressing room with 1,500 lockers, the viewing decks for the 9th and 18th greens, bar room for 150 pax, game room for parlor games functionq room for 200 persons, swimming pools with sun deck, driving range with 10 covered berths, pitching putting areas, Parking Area for 200 cars, Restaurant, Chapel, Pro-shop Gymnasium and Sauna.

East Ridge Golf Club
Binangonan, Rizal
Tel. No.: 727-4066 to 69
Booking Address: Antipolo Properties, Inc.
2/F Agora Complex
N. Domingo St., San Juan, Metro Manila

Bowling

· Sta. Lucia East, Imelda Avenue, Cainta
· Mia Mall, M.L. Quezon Ext. Antipolo
· Suburban Lanes, Cainta
· Imperial Lanes, M.L. Quezon, Antipolo
· Gardenville II Resort, National Road, Tayuman, Binangonan

Art Appreciation Tours
Take a trip to the galleries of Rizal, notably to the Angono, Binangonan, Tanay or Morong art houses where with mere eyesweeps of traditional and contemporary paintings and masterpieces, atraveller can imbibe the culture and the psyche of the Filipino. Visit the galleries of Vicente Manansala in Binangonan, the galleries of Blanco and Nemiranda in Angono, the Angon Art Galleries, and the Pacheco gallery in Morong.

Nature Tripping
Nature tripping near Manila can be had to heart's contest in any Rizal's well appointed natural sites. Try the Daranak Falls in Tanay, and troop to Talim Island to taste the finest catch of the Lake.

Churches
Take a tour of churches, in particular during Lenten Season when the entire province turns out in mass to observe the rites of the church. Watch passion plays especially along the streets of Cainta when the folk theater re-enacts the Crucifixion of Christ replete with Roman soldiers in horses and flagellants. Witness the colorful tableau of the Cenaculo, a theatrical presentation performed for free by the townsfolk as a devout practice each season.

The 8 Waves Waterpark

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NAME: 8 WAVES WATERPARK
ADDRESS: Ulingao, San Rafael, Bulacan
OWNED & DEVELOPED BY: Villamar Construction & Development Corporation
MANAGED BY: Univill Corporation

8 Waves waterpark has been called "8 Waves" for two (2) reasons: (1) the Owner has 8 children, and , (2) the Main Attraction - The Wave Pool - creates "8 Kinds of Waves" namely:

* Diamond Waves
* Vertical Waves
* Single Rolling Waves
* Double Rolling Waves
* Inverted Waves
* V-Waves
* Right Diagonal Waves
* Left Diagonal Waves

The project started with a dream of the owners way back in 1998 to offer to the community a place where the family could get together more often while having leisure and fun. The concept of a leisure park that would be very affordable to all people of different walks of life which its facilities would be at par with the international standards of providing recreation to the family.

Indeed from the very beginning, the management has been very optimistic on providing every guest an "experience"- such experience to be noted as "unique" in the sense that he/she would feel not only satisfied but as well as delighted everytime he or she leaves the place.

With this in mind, the theme under the sea (water world) finally became the final concept to which gave the park its present image. The biggest attraction, the waves at the 2,788.52 sq. m. pool has become the centerpiece of the project.

From the Noah’s Arc at the kiddie pool, to the Neptune’s Diner, every guest is promised an unforgettable experience.

From the imaginative minds of eight (8) managers/co-owners of the Corporation - The young, talented, dynamic descendants of the owners, and from the regular tedious meetings of board members for almost a year and a half has finally materialized, 8 Waves Waterpark was conceived in July, 2000 in the province of Bulacan, in the town of San Rafael. Surely, every Bulakeño will be proud of 8 Waves Waterpark - the biggest wave pool attraction in the country today.

Their Vision:

To be a premier resort/themepark destination in Bulacan, providing quality re-creational experience to every guest.

Their Mision:

* To adhere to every set quality standards for operation in order to ensure guarantee guest satisfaction on every service rendered by our staff/crew.
* To continuously upgrade resort facilities for the family to enjoy.
* To provide only quality meals at affordable price to our customers.
* To promote an atmosphere of happy, well-rounded employees working harmoniously for the company.
* To ensure quality human resource training and development for our employees.

Their Value:

1st our customers - give them the BEST!
2nd our employees - give them the FULLEST!
3rd our company - give them the BREAK!

Their Motto:

"Be CHRIST all the time"
"We are quality people, serving quality customers"

Company Core Values: Be CHRIST all the time!

C - Committed, Cooperative, Courteous
H - Hardworking, Honest
R - Reliable, Responsive, Responsible
I - Industrious, Innovative, Imperturbable
S - Sincere, Sensible
T - Trustworthy

Typical fruit in the Philippines

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Sun, sea, beach and fresh fruit. These are the ingredients of a relaxing stay in a tropical country like the Philippines. For the utmost feeling, it's a must to learn to know the typical tropical fruit. Though nowadays you can buy most of this fruit in the USA and in European countries, the taste is at the best in the tropical country itself. So, if you be there, go to the market, buy the fruit and explore the taste of the tropical fruits!

Atis
The atis fruit has a scaly skin. The fruit is almost round and about 10 cm wide. It is called a 'sugar apple'. The taste of the flesh of the ripe fruit is slightly sweet and soft. The many black pips are scattered through the flesh of the atis.

Bananas
n the Philippines grow many different varieties of bananas. There are bananas which are not sweet and only used for cooking and there are sweet and tasteful bananas. Bananas can differ remarkable in size as well as in color; from yellow to red-skinned to green bananas. One variety is not loved by foreigners. That is the banana, rather small in size, with seeds in it. Bananas healthy? They regulate bowel flow.

Coconuts
The coconut is a large, hard-shelled nut. On the inner side of the hard nut, is a white shell of about half a centimeter. It's the coconut flesh, nice to eat. The nut has a hollow center filled with milky fluid. Very good to take if you are thirsty! The coconut palm tree is known as the "tree of life". It yields timber, food, coconut milk, alcohol (tuba), vinegar and the tree delivers material to make all kind of products like for instance baskets, rope, brushes. The palm tree also gives the opportunity to make oil for food and cooking and is used for feeding domestic animals and for fertilizer. Last but not least, the coconut oil is used for health benefits as well. Coconut is rich in B vitamins.

Durian
The durian is considered as
"the king of all tropical fruit". The durian fruit is very big and heavy. A durian can weight up to 10 pounds. The whole skin consists of big, sharp and hard spines! Asian people are really fans of this 'king'. To open a durian, you need to insert a knife between the spines. The durian is high in proteins, minerals and fats. The durian is one of the most expensive fruits. For Asian people it tastes so good that it is worth the money!

Guava
The fruit is green on the outside and almost white in the inside. There are some small seeds in it, which can be eaten. The fruit can be compared with a common pear. The taste is very light sweet. In the Philippines it is also known as "bayabas". Guava healthy? Guava is rich in vitamin C.

Jackfruit
Jackfruit is the largest tree-born fruit in the world. The jackfruit can reach 40 kilos in weight and up to 36 inches long and 20 inches in diameter! The exterior of the jackfruit is green or yellow when ripe. The interior consists of large bulbs of yellow, banana-flavoured flesh. Opening the fruit, will bring you a nice and soft odour like the pineapple or banana.

Lemonsito
This fruit is very small , about 3 cm. It is cheap and commonly used to make fresh lemon juice. By pressing the fruit the juice that comes out can be mixed with water. It is very refreshing. The leaves can be used in cooking. In some places the fruit is used to make a shampoo that is insect repelling. Lemons are healthy too. Rich in vitamin C. More advantages are: it kills bacteria when applied to seafood. Moreover, it disinfects wounds and, important in the tropics, it reduces the itch of insect bites.

Mango
The mango is considered "the most majestic of Philippine fruits". Mango's have a green, green-yellow, yellow-red or yellow-red-green colour. Most of the mangos in the Philippines will turn their colour from green to yellow as they ripen. The mango fruit can be up to 20- 25 centimetres long. At this maximum length they can have a weight of two kilos. For export, mangos of 8 to 12-centimeters long are preferred. Mango is rich in sugar and is a source of vitamin A, C, and D.

Mangosteen
Mangosteen is a delicious fruit. It has a thick, dark-red (or is it purple-brown?) skin. The fruit has the size of a mandarin. Inside the fruit you will find nice creamy and sweet white segments. The taste is delicate, sweet-acid and the pulp seems to melt in the mouth. Some think that mangosteen is "the finest of all fruits". Mangosteen is for that reason known as "the queen of the fruits".

Papaya
The papaya has a long shape like a pear and can have a yellow or orange color when ripe. Each fruit may have a weight of about one pound to even more than 3 kilo! The length can be 75 to 500 mm. The shape of papaya can differ from a rather long to a rather round shape. It is very rich in vitamin A en C

Pineapple
Pineapple, try it if you are thirsty and if you want to eat something which is good for your health! The taste is not too juicy or too sweet, just nice. Many Filipinos will eat this fruit in the way like they eat (unripe) mango or other fruit: with a bit salt. Pineapple is very rich in vitamin C

Rambutan
Rambutan fruit has a thick skin that is covered with fine, short hairs. It's a small fruit, not bigger than the size of a hen's egg. Inside is a small seed covered with half transparent flesh. The color of rambutan is red or yellow. The fruit has a soft sweet taste. The name "rambutan" comes from the Malay world "rambut", which means 'hair'. There is a great demand for this fruit. This resulted in the establishment of many plantations, among others on the islands of Mindanao, Panay, southern Luzon (region Batangas) and Mindoro

Santol
Ask children what their favorite fruit is and a big chance that they will say "Santol".
The santol fruit is round and as big as a big apple. Inside the fruit there is a white juicy pulp around 3 to 5 brown seeds. The seeds are up to 2 cm long. The pulp is mostly sub-acid or sour. When the fruit is not ripe, the fruit is very sour. The Filipinos like it in that (sour) condition and eat this fruit with some salt. The fruit is usually consumed raw without peeling. In the local markets of the Philippines the santol is always for sale. Santols are also used to make marmalade. In glass jars the marmalade is exported from the Philippines to oriental food dealers in Europe and the United States.

Starfruit
Star fruit is a five-angled fruit, shaped like a star. The star fruit is about 10-15 cm in length. Some varieties are slightly sweet, some are sour. The fruit is easy to use: it doesn't need to be peeled to be eaten. In the Philippines the more sour varieties are common. People will eat it, as they do with so many fruit, with a little bit of salt.

Tambis
Tambis is a small, red (rose) round fruit of about three cm wide. It is known as a water apple because it is a rather watery fruit. It is a common fruit in Southeast Asia. It is one of the favorites of children.

Active volcanoes

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The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7100 islands. Most of these islands are of volcanic origin.

There are 37 volcanoes in the Philippines, of which 18 are still active volcanoes. It means that an eruption occurred in the last decennia and that a new eruption can be expected in the future. All the other volcanoes are 'sleeping' or 'dead' volcanoes. Scientists think that an eruption of these volcanoes is unlikely. The most known volcanoes in the Philippines are Mount Pinatubo, Mount Mayon and the Taal volcano. They are all located on the Northern island Luzon.

The most active volcano

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 thousands 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 (molten rock) and pyroclastic flows (flows with mixtures of hot, dry rock fragments and hot gases.

They flows may result from the explosive eruption of molten or solid rock fragments, or both) came out of the crater in the top of the volcano. It killed 68 people and 60.000 people had to be evacuated.

Volcano type

Mount Mayon is a splendid example of a strato volcano. Mount Mayon rises up 2462 meters above sea level.

This type of volcano is typically steep-sided and composed of alternating layers of lava (the melted mass - magma - which came out of the crater) and other volcanic material, especially ash layers.

The lost village of Cagsawa

In 1818 enormous flows of lava came over the village of Cagsawa. The whole village disappeared under the layers of 'lava' and 'pyroclastic flows'. Only the the top of the church reminds of the period that once there was a village.

Climbing Mount Mayon?

For some sportive tourists it is a challenge to climb the Mount Mayon. The best start is at a height of 762 meters above sea level, the location where a research- station is situated. From the research station a trail creeps upwards through a tropical secondary forest. It is not easy to reach the summit. Especially the last 540 meters to the top. At the height of 1921 meters the rocky slopes begin. The last 240 meters have a 40 degree ascent on loose volcanic cinder and lava sands. To climb further to the summit is not without danger for life. Especially the danger of poisonous fumes, which can sometimes come down alongside the slopes when the wind makes a sudden shift in wind direction. So, the best, safe trail just stops at 1921 meters altitude!

Mount Pinatubo

Mount Pinatubo is situated in the southern part of Luzon. It is one of the biggest volcanoes in the Philippines. In 1991, the Pinatubo became in a few months one of the most known volcanoes in the world. In that year the Pinatubo erupted violently.

The summit of the volcano collapsed!

The violent explosion on the 15th of June in 1991 broke away a big part of the top of the Pinatubo*. The summit of the volcano collapsed into the under laying magma chamber. The result was an enormous depression, the caldera, with a 2.5 kilometre diameter!
The new summit of the volcano was 145 meters lower than before the explosion.
More than 700 people were killed. Huge masses of volcanic material** flew out of the crater and covered in a few days an area of more than 400 km². At the beginning of the eruption enormous ash clouds*** were blasted out into the air.

The eruption in 1991

At first there were earthquakes, small explosions and emissions of steam and minor ash. The earthquakes and emissions continued and increased. After more than 2 months of increasing activity, strong explosions culminated in one of the largest eruptions of this century. During more than 15 hours, volcanic ash plumes went straight up to 30 km altitude into the sky. The ash plumes spread out in the air in the days after the first explosions. Within ten days, the cloud formed a nearly continuous band that stretched 11.000 kilometres from Southeast Asia to Central Africa!

Beach

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With 7,107 islands, and a coastline twice the length of that of the United States, the Philippines can claim to be Asia's Beach Capital. Enjoy the warm crystal blue waters of both the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Mention the Philippines and images of long, white sand beaches and bodies of water blessed with a variety of marine life come to mind.

Boracay

Boracay Island, with its sugary white sand beaches and azure blue waters, is located on the northwestern tip of Panay, Western Visayas. The best of the island is the 4 km. White Beach, touted as the “finest beach in the world.” The water surrounding the island is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago.

Pagudpud

In the Northern part of the Philippines is a beach reputed to have the longest contiguous white sand with mighty waves and strong winds that can compare to Hawaii. Wind and wave surfing are the outstanding activities that Pagudpud beach offers its very discriminating clientele. Not to mention the inviting views, clear blue waters, and white sand. Pagudpud promises its visitors a magnificent experience in a secluded paradise.

Mactan Island

Lying in the heart of Cebu is the island of Mactan. This tropical-island getaway endowed with a variety of colors – from its beach, hotels, resorts, nightlife, music, food, drinks – will guarantee to spice up every tourist.

Panglao

Panglao is a perfect for a great dive and beach holiday. It is a small island on the Philippines southwest of the bigger island, Bohol. On the southern beach of Panglao there are several resorts that line up on the beach.

Camiguin

Camiguin, which rhymes with “come again,” has been regarded as the most beautiful island in the country. As such, it is also referred to as the Philippines’ “Garden of Eden.” The presence of a number of majestic waterfalls that create both hot and cold springs is only one of the many attractions of this island-paradise. The topography is unmistakably tropical but the ambience is uniquely occidental. A study in contrast, Camiguin is sure to mesmerize anyone who visits with the itch to be back again soon.

Dakak

Dakak Park Beach Resort is located on the sunny white beachfacing the exotic turquoise Sulu Sea. The 750 meter private beach is blanketed with purepowdery white sand. Natural spring water and tumbling waterfalls feed the resort's twopools, whilst the ultimate hideaway is provided at a private open-air jacuzzi where youcan relax in the sauna and whirlpool amidst an atmosphere of blissful solitary refinement.

Honda Bay
Framing the rugged and intriguing coastline of the capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa City is Honda Bay. Its blue cool waters are dotted with islets that assure one of a pure-pleasure experience. From snorkeling in its clear waters to the more adventurous island hopping within its enclaves to simply having a picnic in the fine sand of its beach areas, Honda Bay is sure to leave a lasting impression on the visitor.

El Nido

Dominated by towering marble cliffs that are homes to a number of tropical birds, El Nido is the source of one of the most delectable soups specially found in Chinese restaurants – the Nido Soup. This soup consists mainly of the birdnests that abound in the area. But El Nido is more than this. It prides itself in having the most beautiful seascapes in the province of Palawan, known as the country’s last frontier. Because of its utter splendor, it has also been called the island of the gods – heaven on earth, that is El Nido

Pearl Farm

Pearl Farm is located in the Samal Island off the coast of Davao City, Southern Philippines. The premier beach resort, which lies in the pristine island of Samal, used to be a pearl farm. There thousands of white-lipped oysters, transported form the Sulu Sea, were once cultivated for their pink, white, and gold pearls. Today, beach lovers all over the world visit this world-class beach resort for its white sand and panoramic landscape and seascape, bringing with them the memory of a lifetime – a relaxing private retreat in a tropical paradise.

Siargao

Siargao, located in the province of Surigao del Norte, is renowned for its curling waves that soar from nine to twelve feet high. It is frequented by surfers from all over the world. Besides surfing, the island of Siargao is well-known for its unspoiled beaches and its rural charm.

Palawan

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Beautiful landscapes

The province of Palawan is one of the most attractive regions of the country. Not only the 1770 small islands, but also the main island Palawan! Beautiful landscapes on this 425 km long and 40 km width island are like a paradise on earth for nature lovers. For 'nature lovers' and 'adventurers, the coasts on the west side of the island with their rock formations and the underwater river near Sabang, are real attractions. Palawan island distinguishes itself too by its tropical forests.

Discover the tropical rainforest of Palawan!

For an adventure in the tropical jungle you should visit Palawan. The rainforest on the island is well known because of its huge trees. Many are rare. You can only find them on this island! With a little bit luck, you'll meet some of the typical tropical animals, who live in this still original tropical rain forest. Almost 25 percent of all the animal species in the Philippines live only on Palawan. Among these rare animals are the Cobra king and many butterflies, some of them as big as your hand

Campaign to save the forest successful!

Logging is the threat of all rainforests in the Third World. In the Philippines too. Much of the forest has already been lost because of logging.

Many ancient trees have been cut down. For many years already there were campaigns of action groups against the illegal logging. At last they were successful on Palawan. The Philippine government took the necessary measures to halt large-scale logging. Even the former logging bosses now profess to be environmentalists. In other parts of the Philippines however, the government didn't succeed yet to prevent all illegal cutting of the tropical giants.

A must for physical geographers and geologists

In the Northern part of Palawan the fishing-village El Nido is located in a picturesque bay. High and steep marble rock formations give shelter to the settlement and offer a splendid landscape scenery. Trips into the blue lagoons by boat gives a good possibility to explore the steep rock formations. The white sandy beaches and the nearby colorful coral reefs give this place a little bit the idea of a little paradise on earth.

The underground river

For many foreigners a visit to the underground river near Sabang on the west coast, is a sensational adventure. After a walking-tour of several hours through the rainforest, you'll arrive to the cave. From there, canoes will bring you for a stay of proximately four hours in the darkness of the cave. Only the light of the electric torches of the guides will give you the opportunity of seeing the presents of the bats and the stalactites (hanging from the roof of the cave) and stalagmites (rising from the floor of the cave). Water in the river is bubbling while the canoes are slowly gliding in the cave.

The underwater world of the coast waters of Palawan

Last but not least, Palawan main island and many of the small islands in the province of Palawan, offer sun, sea and white beaches. Diving, snorkeling or just relaxing on the beach or in the accommodations of one of the resorts. This is what many tourists wish when they travel to a tropical country. When you visit Palawan, you can make a nice combination of adventure with relaxing near or on the beaches and the sea. The Palawan province offers it all.

Colourful festivals and processions

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Influence of the Catholic religion

Typical for the Philippines are the many festivals and processions.

The explanation for the most of all these fiestas has to be found in the domination of one specific religion in the Philippines. The majority of the cultural celebrations is closely related to the Catholic religion. Nearly 90% of the Filipinos are Roman Catholic. If you like fiestas, it is really worth to visit the Philippines, especially in January, April, May and June. The most known and biggest fiestas take place in these months.

The most known fiestas

For the Filipinos themselves, every year the festivals and processions are days of great joy and happiness. Fiestas or any community celebration usually feature music, dancing, and food feasts. The most known are the procession of the Black Nazarene, the Ati-Atihan, the Sinulog, the Flores de Mayo and the Santa Cruzan. The colorful dress is most of the time not traditional. To see really traditional clothes, you have to visit the remote areas on Luzon and Mindanao for example.

Ati-Atihan

A three-day fiesta in the third week of January on the island of Panay (Visayas)

The wildest among Philippine fiestas!

The festival is a Catholic festival in honor of Santo Niño. During the last day of this festival (fiesta), a parade is characteristic, with celebrants who paint their faces black, wear sometimes masks and rather exceptional costumes.

The origin of the Atis dances dates from the period before the Spaniards arrived on Panay. The typical dance belonged already to the local Atis people in that pre-colonial period.

Sinulog

In January, in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Niño.

In colorful costumes people of Cebu make their way through the streets while dancing the Sinulog, a traditional and ritual dance. The dance is accompanied by the sound of the drums: all the time moving two steps forward followed by one step backward.

The Sinulog was already danced by the natives long before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines. It was only in 1980, that the first Sinulog parade was organized. From then on it grew up to an enormous festival with a very large parade.

Flores de Mayo
Flowers of May

A month-long festival in May in honor of the Holy Mary

Flores de Mayo is a Catholic festival introduced by the Spaniards. The last day of the festival is highlighted by a pageant called Santa Cruzan.

The Santa Cruzan is a procession in honor of the finding of the Holy Cross in the year 326 A.D. by Reyna (Queen) Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great. It was the wooden, Holy Cross, on which Jesus Christ was supposed to have been nailed. Long time ago Flores de Mayo and the Santa Cruzan were blended together in one festival

Black Nazarene

The largest procession in the country

through the streets of Quiapo in metro Manila

Every year on the 9th of January and on Good Friday, barefooted men carry a life-sized statue through the streets of Quiapo in Metro Manila.

The procession dates from the 17th century. Thousands of men parade through the streets with the black wooden statue of Jesus (of Nazarene). Everybody who is in the neighborhood of the statue tries to touch the statue. People believe that a miracle can happen after touching it.

Mindanao

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Mindanao is one of the three islands in the Philippines where there are good possibilities to explore the tropical rainforest. Still a big part of the original jungle is conserved here. For tourists seeking adventure Mindanao offers possibilities for jungle tracking and climbing the highest mountain of the Philippines. Visiting the second largest lake of the country is also possible. Visitors of the island who are interested in culture could make a daytrip to one of the mountain tribes.

Mindanao is the second largest island of the country. It is an interesting island in many respects.
Meet mountain tribes

There are still several indigenous people living on Mindanao. They are traditional in many respects.

Discover the daily life of the Mindanao people

In the rural areas you can meet the farmers and see their traditional ways of working on the fields. In the coastal areas you can visit the fishermen villages. On the beaches you sure will be able to see the way how young children are fishing with their nets.

Bangus,

the National Fish

Children try to catch a specific tiny 'baby' fish, the 'Bangus fry'.

They catch these Bangus fry to put them in ponds on the land, where the fry will grow up to the grownup National fish of the Philippines, the Bangus (milkfish).

Climbing the sacred mountain

Mount Apo is with 3144 meters above sea-level, the highest peak in the Philippines. The name makes that clear! 'Apo' means "grandfather of all mountains". For the indigenous people living in the mountain area, Mount Apo is considered sacred. The origin of the mountain is volcanic. It is an inactive volcano. No eruptions were ever recorded.
This huge mountain is attractive for nature lovers and sportive mountain climbers. Guided trips are organized by the Department of Tourism in Davao City. The attractions during this mountain tracking are plenty. You will get the feeling of being part of the environment during your walking trip through the forest and alongside the slopes of the mountain.

The Philippine Eagle

The mount Apo area is the last remaining territory of the Philippine Eagle in the country. On the island it is possible to make an excursion into the tropical rainforest to discover the Philippine eagle, the National Bird of the Philippines, which is known as the monkey eating eagle.

The indigenous people of Mindanao

There are more than 40 different ethnic groups in the Philippines.

Each group has a distinct culture and language. Several of these ethnic groups can be distinguished as "tribal groups". They are 'indigenous groups' who still live in a rather traditional way. Each group lives in a specific region on one of the islands. You can meat them in parts of Luzon, on some of the Visayas islands and on Mindanao.

The T'boli and B'laan, two indigenous groups

On Mindanao live 18 tribal Filipino groups. The most well known are the T'boli and the B'laan (or "Bla-an"). The other groups are the Ata, Bagobo, Banwaon, Bukidnon, Dibabawon, Higaunon, Kalagan, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Mangguwangan, Manobo, Mansaka, Subanen, Tagakaolo, Teduray and the Ubo.

Most characteristic of these 'indigenous groups' is that they live in a traditional way, comparable with how the ancestors lived centuries ago.

Lumad, the collective name

On Mindanao there are in total 18 indigenous groups. The collective name for the 18 indigenous groups on Mindanao is "Lumad". It is just another word for 'indigenous' .These ethnic groups distinguish themselves by their language and culture.

Old and new elements in their life

The cultural heritage is visible in their clothes and ornaments they wear. Housing, economic activities, cultural habits and often religion are all very traditional. Some groups learned to know tourism as a good alternative to earn extra money. In general however, the indigenous groups still live like in the past

The T'boli and their subsistence activities

The T'boli (pronounce "Tiboli") people live in the southern part of the province Cotabata, in the environment around lake Sebu, west of the city General Santos. It is estimated that are between 100000 and 150000 T'boli. The T'boli practice the primitive way of agriculture "slash and burn". "Slash and burn" means that the people will clear a part of the forest by cutting the big trees and burning the lower and smaller trees and bushes, after which they use the cleared plots as arable land for some years without any fertilization. Rice, cassava and yams are the most important agricultural products. Next to that, the people will go hunting or fishing for additional food.

Religion and culture

Only a few T'boli are Christian or Islamite. More than 95 percent of The T'boli people still has their animistic religion. They were hardly influenced by the spread of the Islam on the island. The Spaniards too, didn't succeed to Christianize the T'boli during the Spanish colonial period. Main reason was that the T'boli withdrew to the hinterlands in the uplands.

The T'boli and members of other indigenous tribes like the Higaunon, still believe in spirits who live on several places in the natural environment.

Bohol

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Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines. It is one of the bigger islands in 'the Visayas', the group of islands in the center of the Philippines. Bohol is, together with 72 small islands around the main island, an island province of 4117 square kilometer. Agriculture, together with the tourism, are the two dominating economic sectors of the main island Bohol.

Main attractions of Bohol

For tourists who make a tour through the country, Bohol has three main attractions. These are the tropical forest, the smallest monkey in the world and the 'Chocolate Hills'. For 'sun, sea and beach lovers', there are a lot of possibilities for snorkeling, diving in the unpolluted waters and relaxing on the splendid beaches on some of the surrounding small islands. The Bohol province forms absolutely one of the places to stay for a longer period.

Sun, sea, beaches and diving! 3

Two of the smaller islands are Panglao, Balicasag and Pamilacan, southwest of the main island Bohol. They are the superb diving spots of the province of Bohol. The diving places are rated among the best of the world.
The Chocolate Hills

One of the most spectacular landscapes in the Philippines is formed by the Chocolate Hills on the island Bohol. The Chocolate Hills have all the same shape, but differ in the altitude. The most of the 1268 hills reach 40 meters high.

Origin of the Chocolate Hills

Geologists think that the specific shape of the hills is caused by the influences of the weather during millions of years. The breaking down of the upper layers of the limestone formations, followed by the erosion processes, resulted in these remnants in the shape of cones. In the rainy season the Chocolate Hills are green. In the dry season of each year, the vegetation on the hills gives the landscape a brown colored view, a reason to call them "Chocolate Hills".

The smallest monkey

A reason to visit the main island Bohol, is that Bohol still has tropical rainforests in the higher parts of the island. Moreover, If you want to meet the smallest monkey on earth, the Tarsier, you'll have to visit Bohol! The average size of this little creature is between 90 to 160 mm (3.5 to 6.25 inches). The weight is between 70 to 165 grams.

Cebu Island

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Cebu city, the Queen City of the south

The capital of Cebu island is Cebu City. Cebu City is the first Spanish settlement in the country and the oldest city in the country.

In the beginning of the 16th century the Spaniards arrived in the southern part of the Philippines. Since then Cebu City has been the centre of trade and commerce in the southern part of the Philippines.
Many tourists from abroad will directly fly to Cebu's airport. From Cebu they spread out by boat to the many islands in the Visayas or they stay on Cebu island.

On Mactan island tourism is well developed. Many dive centres and dive resorts (more than 75) arrange day excursions and diving safaris to the surrounding dive sites. Not only in the nearby waters, but especially to the nearby small islands. Cebu became the country's top tourist destination.

Mactan island

In the urban area of Cebu City there is an important seaport and the nation's second largest airport is located on Mactan Island, near to Cebu City. It makes clear that Cebu city is the economic heart of the southern part of the country. Modern industries, owned by foreign investors as well as local industries, brought a lot of employment.

What has Cebu to offer to tourists?

For tourists the island Cebu, its capital Cebu City and the nearby smaller islands have a lot of attractions. Many things to do and to see.

Especially:

*Sun, sea and beach, inclusive possibilities for diving

*Local industries (the production process)

*The charm of the activities in the local service sector,by day and in the evening

*Traces from the Spanish and religious past in Cebu City

Traces from the Spanish and religious past

Magellan Cross

Center of trade since the birth of "Las Islas Felipinas"

In 1521 the Spanish period started with the arrival of a small fleet in the coastal waters of Cebu. There was a long period of struggle, but at last, in the year 1565, the Spaniards succeeded to break the last good organized resistance. From that time, colonial buildings and religious places gave Cebu City more and more a Spanish, and Catholic character.

From the beginning of the Spanish influences, the islands were given the name "Las Islas Felipinas", named after King Philips II of Spain. The Spaniards made 'Las Islas Felipinas' their colony and Cebu got the function of the capital in 1565

Traces from the religious past in Cebu City

The year 1521 is been seen as the beginning of the Conversion to Christianity of the island and in fact the beginning of baptize the people in the Philippines. The following three hundred and fifty years meant at last a wide spread of Catholicism in the Philippines. Many relicts from the past are still visible in Cebu City.

The Magellan Cross

Cebu's most famous historical religious landmark is the first wooden religious cross planted by Fernao Magellan on April 14, 1521. Fernao Magellan was the Portuguese explorer, who was sailing for Spain ' in the name of the King of Spain'. The cross symbolizes the beginning of the baptizing of the people of the Philippines. The original cross (or remnants of it), it is said, has been preserved. The original cross is now encased in a newer, bigger wooden cross and since 1834 placed on a concrete pedestal inside a small building named "the kiosk". It is unclear since when the present cross replaced the original one, but it is believed since 1565.

Santo Niño

Santo Niño, the oldest religious image

The image of the Santo Niño is the oldest religious image in the Philippines. The wooden image, made by Flemish artisans, was brought to the island by Fernao Magellan in 1521, just like the Magellan cross. Magellan gave the image Santo Niño to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift.

The miracle

Forty-four years later, In 1565, Cebu was for a big part destroyed by a fire. The fire was set on purpose by the Spaniards as a punishment for hostile activities of the Cebuanos. In one of the burned houses, a Spanish soldier found the image of Santo Niño. Remarkably unscratched! Since then, the miraculous image has been treated by the Cebuanos as its patron saint. At present, the miraculous image is kept in the Parish convent, and only a replica, adorned with gold and precious stones and enshrined in glass, is hold inside the Basilica Minor del Santo.

The Basilica Minor del Santo Niño

The church was built near the place where the Santo Niño was found in the burned house. On this place the Spaniards built three times a church.

The first two times the church was built out of wood and nipa. Every time it was burned down. The construction of the present church date from 1735. In 1965 the church was given the title of "Basilica Minor del Santo Niño".

The Philippines, unique in Asia

From a religious point of view, the Philippines is unique in the Asia, because it is the only country with a dominating Christian religion. In 2003 ninety percent of the Filipinos is Christian! A remarkable difference with Indonesia, where 95 percent of the people is Islamite. A great difference with other countries in de the region too. Buddhism is dominating in countries like China and Thailand for instance.

Mountain tribes in Northern Luzon

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Traveling to the northern part of the island Luzon will bring you not only to beautiful landscapes with amazing rice terraces. It will bring you also to the regions with remote villages and colorful and traditional living upland tribal communities. Their ancestors constructed the fascinating rice terraces with the perfect working irrigation systems. These mountain tribes still distinguish themselves by their specific cultural expression and their skills.

They have skills in making bowls, baskets, weapons and clothing. It were the Bontocs and the Ifugao people who built up the rice terraces. Traveling in the provinces of Ifugao or other provinces in Luzon, will make clear to you that the way of living of these people didn't change. They are still living and working as in the past. Many tourists decide to make the long bus-trip from Manila to these provinces especially to meet the Ifugao, the Bontocs, the Kankanays or other tribes.
n the past the Ifugao were feared head-hunters, just as other tribes in the mountainous regions of northern Luzon. The war-dance (the bangibang) is one of the cultural remnants of the time of tribal conflict
This dance is traditionally held on the walls of the rice terraces by the men, equipped with spears, axes and wooden shields and a headdress made of leaves.

Typical houses of the Ifugao

The Ifugao build their houses on piles. The pyramid-shaped roof is used as a bedroom, kitchen and storeroom. All in one space! There are no windows. To please the gods, the skull of a sacrificed pig is fixed on the outside of the house. The residents still live in the same type of houses as their ancestors.

Skills of the Ifugao

The Ifugao still practice the same skills as in the past: Woodcarving and weaving clothes. They discovered the tourists as a welcome client for their products in a time that the most young Ifugao prefer Western clothes.

Not in the culture of the Ifugao. Like with the Bontocs, their funerals are not only a sad event because of the lost of the person. There is also a celebration during days, because of the believe of a better life after death. Six years after the body is buried, the bones are dug up, after which a second celebration will take place. This is one time repeated after another six years.

Visitor Information - What the Traveller Must Know

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TIME ZONE - GMT plus 8 hours.

GETTING THERE
Manila, Cebu, Davao, Clark, Subic, and Laoag are the international gateways. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila is the premier gateway. It is served by more than 30 airlines which fly to different cities around the world.

The Mactan International Airport (MIA) in Cebu handles regular flights from Japan, Singapore and Australia, as well as chartered flights from Hong Kong, the United States and other major travel capitals. Davao International Airport handles regular flights from Indonesia and Singapore. The Diosdado Macapagal International Airport and Subic airfield in Central Luzon service both chartered and cargo planes. Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte services regular flights from Taiwan and Macau.

Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier, links Manila to 14 cities in 8 countries. Major cruise liners call on the port of Manila.

ENTRY REGULATIONS
Valid passport. Except for stateless persons and those from countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations, all visitors may enter the country without visas and may stay for 21 days provided they have tickets for onward journey. Holders of Hong Kong and Taiwan passports must have special permits. Visas and special permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates.

HEALTH REGULATIONS
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers coming from an infected areas.

AIRPORT INFORMATION
Airport and Facilities: Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is 7 kms. from the city center while the Manila Domestic Airport is one km. from the NAIA. The international airports have adequate traveler facilities: duty-free and souvenir shops, meet and assist personnel at the tourist information and assistance counters, hotel and travel agency representatives, car rental services, banks and automated teller machines, postal service, national and international direct dial telephone booths, medical clinics, and baggage deposit areas.

Facilities for the Physically-Handicapped: The airports are handicapped-friendly. Wheelchairs are available on request from the airline ground staff.

Customs: Visitors are advised to fill in the Baggage Declaration Form before disembarking to facilitate Customs examination. The following are allowed duty-free: reasonable quantity of clothes, jewelry, and toiletries; 400 sticks of cigarettes or two tins of tobacco; two bottles of wine or spirits of not more than one liter each.

Porterage: Baggage carts are available for free. Porter services are also free. Tipping is traditional.

Airport Transfers: Visitors are advised to avail of accredited fixed rate or metered taxis at the NAIA's Arrival Area. At the Manila Domestic Airport, accredited transfer services are available on pre-paid coupon basis. Other airports are served by metered taxis. All airports have counters for hotel transport and car rental service.

Airport Fees: P550 for international departure and P200 for local departure (paid in Philippine pesos only). Departing passengers for international destinations are advised to check with airport or tourist information counters (Tel. Nos 525-2000; 832-2964) for prevailing departure fees which may change without notice.

Automated Teller Machine: American Express

Duty-Free Shopping: Duty-Free Philippines near the NAIA is the country's largest duty free outlet carrying quality imported items and selected Philippine export products.

CLIMATE
March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy. November to Februar is cool. Average temperatures: 78 F / 25 C to 90 F/ 32 C; humidity: 77%

WHAT TO WEAR
Light, casual clothes are recommended. Warmer garments are needed for mountain regions. When visiting churches and temples, propriety dictates that shorts and scanty clothing be avoided. Formal occasions require dinner jackets and ties (or the Philippine barong tagalog) for men and cocktail dresses or long gowns for women.

CURRENCY
Unit of currency: Peso (PhP) = 100 centavos. Bank notes: P10, P20, P50, P100, P200, P500 and P1,000. Coins: 5c, 10c, 25c, P1, P5, P10.

TIPPING
Tipping is expected for many services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. Tipping is optional on bills that already include a 10% service charge.

LOCAL TRANSPORT
By air, Philippine Airlines (Tel. No. 855-9999), Air Philippines (855-9000), Cebu Pacific (636-4938) provided daily services to major cities and towns. Asian Spirit (851-8888), Laoag International Airlines (551-9729), and Seair (891-8708) service the missionary routes. There are also scheduled chartered flights to major domestic destinations serviced by smaller commuter planes.

By sea, interisland ships connect Manila to major ports. Ferry services connect the smaller islands.

By land, Philtranco connects Manila to Bicol in Southern Luzon to Samar and Leyte in the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao.

Metered and fixed rate taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide. Jeepneys and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places. In Metro Manila the fastest way of commuting is via the railway system. The Light Rail Transport or LRT connects the northern district of Monumento to the southern district of Baclaran with stations situated at major intersections.

The Metro Rail Transport or MRT traverses the length of LRT2 EDSA and connects North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, passing through the major arteries of Makati's financial district.

LANGUAGE
Filipino is the national language. English is the business language and widely spoken.

ACCOMMODATIONS
In Metro Manila, key cities and towns throughout the country, a wide selection of de luxe, standard, economy and pension-type accommodations is available. In island destinations, there is a variety of resorts ranging from de luxe to special interest category.

The Department of Tourism has a Homestay Program in several destinations outside Manila. The program offers visitors the comfort of modest homes and an insight into Philippine life. For information, contact the Tourist Information Center at Room 106, Department of Tourism Building, tel. nos. 524-2384 / 524-1703.

DINING OUT
Filipino food is an exotic, tasteful blend of Oriental, European, and American culinary influences. There is a wide variety of fresh seafood and delectable fruits. First class restaurants offer gourmet specialties as well as Filipino cuisine.

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE
Metro Manila is the center of entertainment and cultural activities. The premier venue for the performing arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, features world-class performances by local and international guest artists. Museums located in Manila and in some parts of the country offer a glimpse of Philippine history and culture. Art galleries exhibit the works of the country's leading and promising visual artists.

Manila's nightlife is one of the most vibrant in Asia, reflecting the Filipino's love for music. The hubs of nightlife activities are the Remedios Circle in Malate, Ayala Center and The Fort at Bonifacio Global City in Makati, Timog and Tomas Morato Avenues in Quezon City, Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong and Pasig Cities, and Eastwood in Libis, Quezon City. Clubs, music lounges, pubs, and sing-along bars feature Filipino bands and singers known for their exceptional musical talent. De luxe hotels offer a variety of live musical entertainment. Concerts and stage plays form part of the country's entertainment scene.

For visitors who want to try their luck at the gaming tables there are casinos in Metro Manila and in the cities of Angeles, Olongapo, Tagaytay, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, and Laoag.

SHOPPING
Visitors can choose from an exciting selection of great buys in a country known for export-quality items at reasonable prices: South Sea pearls, handwoven cloths, embroidered fineries, fashionable ready-to-wear and haute couture clothes, terra-cota, porcelain, coral and mother-of-pearl home accessories. Artifacts, pineapple fiber shirts, prehistoric jars, native handicrafts, and footwear are interesting items, too. The Philippines also produces fine furniture, basketry, fresh and processed fruits, exquisitely crafted jewelry, and gift items made of shell, wood, and stone.

Big malls are located in major cities of Metro Manila, while handicraft, antique and curio shops abound at the Ermita District in Manila and in other nearby towns in the metro's environs.

BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS
Private and government offices are open either from 8 am to 5 pm or from 9 am to 6 pm. Some private companies hold office on Saturdays from 9 am to 12 noon. Most shopping malls, department stores, and supermarkets are open from 10 am to 8 pm daily. There are 24-hour convenience stores and drugstores.

Banks are open from 9 am to 3 pm, Mondays to Fridays, with automated teller machines (ATM) operating 24 hours.

CREDIT CARDS
International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Mastercard, and American Express Card are accepted in major establishments.

ELECTRICITY
220 volts, A.C. 60 cyles. Most hotels have 110-volt outlets.

WATER
Water in Metro Manila and in key cities and towns is potable and safe for drinking. Bottled water is available in many hotels, restaurants, resorts, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
The country has international and national direct dial phone and facsimile service, mobile phone sites, internet and e-mail facilities, and worldwide express delivery service. The postal system is efficient.

Most national dailies are in English. Foreign publications are sold at major hotels, malls, and bookstores in Metro Manila and key cities. 7 national television stations broadcast mainly in Filipino. Cable TV is available in many hotels in Manila and in many parts of the country.

CONVENTION FACILITIES
Manila, the pioneer convention city in Asia, has played host to a number of prestigious international events. The Philippine International Convention Center is equipped with modern convention facilities and services. It can accommodate 4,000 delegates in its Plenary Hall and 5,700 persons in its Reception Hall. The World Trade Center near the PICC can hold huge exhibitions and events. Smaller meetings can be held in hotels and other establishments. Out-of-town hotels and resorts are alternative convention sites.

MEDICAL SERVICES
Hospitals in the country are equipped with modern facilities to meet any medical need. In some remote towns and cities, clinics and health centers provide emergency medical attention. Most hotels and resorts provide medical assistance. Hospitals are listed in the "Yellow Pages" of the local telephone directory.

TOURS AND SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES
Tour packages, from day trips to five-day programs, are special ways of discovering the Philippines and its wealth of culture. Special interest activities include golfing, game-fishing, diving, white-water rafting and other aquasports, trekking, spelunking, and safari trips.

Information on tour itineraries may be obtained from the following:

Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa)
Tel. (632) 812-4513 / 893-0284
Website: www.philtoa.com

Philippine Travel Agent Association (PTTA)
Tel: (632) 552-0026 - 29
Website: www.ptaa.org.ph

Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP)
Tel: (632) 816-2421 / 816-2405 / 816-2422
Website: www.dotpcvc.gov.ph/hrap/HRAP.html

The Philippine Hotel Federation, Inc.
Tel: (632) 818-5160
Email: info@philhotelfed.com

DOT Tourism Information Center
Rm 106 Ground Floor, DOT Building, TM Kalaw St., Mla
Tel: (632) 524-2384
Fax: (632) 524-1703o
Website: www.wowphilippines.com.ph /
www.wowpinoy.com.net
Email: mrreyes@tourism.gov.ph

Explore the Philippines' Wealth of Wonders

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The country may be accessed through 5 international gateways. One can explore other interesting destinations and venture out of these gateways by land, sea, or air.

MANILA offers many places of interest that are easily accessible for day excursions: Intramuros, the Walled city of Old Manila; Nayong Pilipino, a theme park that showcases in small scale the country's famous landmarks; Rizal Park, a tribute to the country's national hero; museums and some of Asia's most modern and biggest shopping malls. From Manila, the country's premiere gateway, one can access the following destinations by land:
· Cavite/Tagaytay City/Laguna/Batangas/Quezon
· Isabela/Cagayan
· Banaue/Bontoc/Sagada
· Baguio
· Bulacan/Pampanga
· Tarlac/La Union/Pangasinan
· Daet/Legaspi/Sorsogon

Being the country's capital, other international gateway and secondary travel gateway cities and provinces can be accessed by air or sea.

LAOAG is the international gateway at the northernmost province in Luzon, Ilocos Norte. Aside from offering a variety of destinations within the province, the city is also an access point to:
· Ilocos Sur
· La Union/Pangasinan
· Baguio/Bontoc/Sagada/Banaue

SUBIC, the most recent addition to the country's list of international ports, offers both rest and recreation and adventure. It serves as a most convenient gateway to:
· Bataan/Zambales/Pampanga/Tarlac

CEBU, the country's first capital and dubbed as the "Queen City of the South" offers diverse attractions and facilities to cater to every tourist preference. Due to its location in the Visayas, it also acts as a major hub to cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, either by air or sea.
· Bohol, a favorite satellite destination from Cebu, may be accessed by fast seacraft

DAVAO offers an array of colors, shapes, tastes and textures that manifest a fusion of indigenous Filipino and Malay culture. In terms of land area, it is the biggest city in the world, part of which is already the base of the country's highest peak, Mount Apo. Situated in the eastern part of Mindanao, Davao acts as the international gateway to its neighboring provinces:
· Davao Oriental
· Davao del Sur
· Compostela Valley

SECONDARY TRAVEL GATEWAYS

To experience more the country's wealth of wonders, the country its dotted with strategically located secondary gateways, which can give the tourists more convenient travel connections to more remote provinces and island destinations.

BATANGAS CITY, located 3 hours south of Manila, offers its renowned dive sites and beach resorts. From the city pier, fast ferries and other sea vessels may connect the traveler to:
· Mindoro Oriental and Occidental
· Romblon
· Marinduque

LEGASPI CITY is one's front seat to the spectacle of the Bicol region, the world renowned Mayon Volcano, and the jump-off point to eco-tourism sites. Land and sea connections are available from this gateway to:
· Camarines Norte and Sur
· Sorsogon
· Catanduanes
· Masbate

TACLOBAN CITY is the gateway to Eastern Visayas, whose strategic location made it a perfect landing site for Gen. Douglas MacArthur and the American troops that liberated the Philippines from the Japanese forces during World War II. From the city, one can venture out to:
· Samar/Leyte

ILOILO CITY in Western Visayas boasts of a number of historical attractions which include churches and ancestral houses, as well as good beaches. Land and sea transportation connects Iloilo to Boracay, which is hailed as one of the best beaches in the world, and other quieter places in the region:
· Panay provinces/Aklan-Boracay
· Negros Occidental (Bacolod City)
· Negros Oriental (Dumaguete City)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY is the capital of Palawan, known for its amazing species of wildlife and marine life, and the jump-off point to:
· Southern Palawan
· Northern Palawan

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY is the gateway to picturesque Mindanao. The following destinations offer visitors an array of power-packed adventure activities such as white water rafting, kayaking, canopy walking, and surfing:
· Camiguin Island
· Misamis Oriental/Lanao del Norte
· Agusan del Norte and Sur
· Surigao Norte and Sur
· Bukidnon

ZAMBOANGA CITY offers a glimpse into the culture of 5 colorful tribal groups living in harmony with the Christian community. It is the gateway to the charming attractions and indigenous craft of the following exotic places:
· Zamboanga del Norte
· Zamgoanga del Sur

Economy

2007-02-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

Main article: Economy of the Philippines

The Philippines is a developing country with an agricultural base, light industry, and service-sector economy. It has been listed in "Next Eleven" economies. The Philippines has one of the most vibrant business process outsourcing (BPO) industries in Asia. Numerous call centers and BPO firms have infused momentum into the Philippine market, generating thousands of jobs, including Fortune 500 companies.

The resiliency of the Philippine economy is due to low foreign inflows and an agriculture-based economy allowed it to snap back from international crises as evidenced by 3% growth in 1999 and accelerated to 4% in 2000. By 2004, the Philippine economy catapulted to over 6% growth after the East Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pledged to turn the country into a First World state by 2020.^[16] In 2005, the Philippine peso was said to be Asia's best-performing currency.In 2006, the Philippine economy expanded at a rate of 5.4%, higher than of the previous year. The government plans to increase the country's GDP by 7% in 2007. The government forecasts the economy to grow at 9% by 2009.

Strategies for streamlining the economy include improvements of infrastructure, more efficient tax systems to bolster government revenues, furthering deregulation and privatization of the economy, and increasing trade integration within the region and across the world.

San Miguel Avenue in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong - Pasig City Boundary

On November 1, 2005, a newly expanded value added tax (E-VAT) law was instituted as a measure to bridle the rising foreign debt and to improve government services such as education, healthcare, social security, and transportation. As of 2006, The Philippines' economic prosperity also depends in large part on how well its two biggest trading partners' economies perform: the U.S. and Japan.

Cebu City Business Park

Despite the growing economy, the Philippines will have to address several chronic problems in the future. Income inequality remains persistent; about 30 million people lived on less than $2 per day in 2005. China and India have emerged as major economic competitors, siphoning away investors who would otherwise have invested in the Philippines, particularly telecom companies. Regional development is also somewhat uneven, with the main island Luzon and Metro Manila gaining most of the new economic growth at the expense of the other regions.

In 2006, the Philippines experienced its lowest budget deficit in 8 years. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that the nation is "making gains ahead of schedule." The Philippines' target in 2007 is to have a balanced budget. The 2006 budget deficit was at an all-time low of $1.27 billion.

The Philippines is a significant source of migrant workers; as of 2004, the Philippine government has estimated that there are over 8 million Overseas Filipinos while independent estimates by various Philippine civic organizations estimate the number at 11 million. Overseas Filipinos sent home a record $10.7 billion in 2005. The Filipino diaspora is present in 190 nations worldwide.In 2006, Overseas Filipinos remitted $12.8 billion back home and represents an almost 20% increase from the previous year. The government forecast for 2007 that at least $14 billion will be sent to the Philippines by Filipino workers.

The Philippines is a member of the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Colombo Plan, and the G-77, among others

Geography

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Main article: Geography of the Philippines

an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometres (116,000 sq. mi). It lies between 116° 40' and 126° 34' E. longitude, and 4° 40' and 21° 10' N. latitude, and borders the Philippine Sea on the east, on the South China Sea the west, and the Celebes Sea on the south. The island of Borneo lies a few hundred kilometers southwest and Taiwan directly north. The Moluccas and Sulawesi are to the south, and Palau is to the east beyond the Philippine Sea.^[6]

The islands are commonly divided into three island groups: Luzon (Regions I to V, NCR and CAR), Visayas (VI to VIII), and Mindanao (IX to XIII and ARMM). The busy port of Manila, on Luzon, is the national capital and second largest city after its suburb Quezon City.^[6]

The local climate is hot, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 26.5°C (79.7°F). There are three recognized seasons: Tag-init or Tag-araw (the hot season or summer from March to May), Tag-ulan (the rainy season from June to November), and Taglamig (the cold season from December to February). The southwest monsoon (May-October) is known as the "habagat" and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (November-April) as the "amihan".^[12] The country itself is undergoing desertification in place like Sorsogon, Baguio, Davao and the Sierra Madre mountain range.^{[citation needed]}

Most of the mountainous islands used to be covered in tropical rainforest and are volcanic in origin. The highest point is Mount Apo on Mindanao at 2,954 metres (9,692 ft). There are many active volcanos such as Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo, and Taal Volcano. The country also lies within the typhoon belt of the Western Pacific and about 19 typhoons strike per year.^{[citation needed]}

Lying on the northwestern fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activities. Some 20 earthquakes are registered daily in the Philippines, though most are too weak to be felt. The last great earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake.

The longest river is the Cagayan River of northern Luzon. The nearly circular Manila Bay, is connected to the Laguna de Bay by means of the Pasig River. Subic Bay, the Davao Gulf and the Moro Gulf are some of the important bays. Transversing the San Juanico Strait is the San Juanico Bridge, that connects the islands of Samar and Leyte.

Politics and government

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The government of the Philippines is organized as a, Presidential head of the government, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president is elected by popular vote to a six-year term, during which he or she appoints and presides over the cavinet of secretaries.

The bicameral congresscomprises the Senate and the House of Representative; members of the former are elected at large and those of the latter by geographical district. The 24 senators serve six-year terms, with half retiring every three years, while the House of Representatives comprises 250 members serving three-year terms.

The judicial branch of government is headed by the Supreme Court, with a Chief Justice as its head and 14 associate justices, all appointed by the President from nominations submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. Other courts include the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Courts, and the Metropolitan Trial Courts.

As of June 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is hoping to get agreement to amend the constitution to a unicameral parliament patterned after the Westminster model (at least according to the Lower House as of December 2006) under a federal setting similar to what they believe to be the German constitution. The country would be split into "states" with each one having a local legislature responsible for certain functions. Included in the amendments are plans to remove/ease the current ban on foreign ownership of property, land, and commercial organizations in the Philippines. Plans have been announced to decentralize government by moving departments from Manila to the provinces, such as the Department of Tourism to Cebu City, the Department of Foreign Affairs to Angeles City, and the Department of Agrarian Reform to Iloilo City.

The Philippines is a founding and active member of the United Nations since its inception on Octover 24, 1945 and is a founding member of the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN). The Philippines is also a member of the East Asia Summit (EAS), an active player in the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC), the Latin Union, and a member of the Group of 24. The country is a major non-NATO Ally of the U.S. but also a member of the Non Alligned Movement.

The Philippines, along with the nation of Malta, is one of only two nations in the world where all civil marriages are for life, because civil divorse (for violations coming after the marriage) is banned, although annulment (for violations before the marriage, although it may manifest itself after the solemnization) is permitted.

The Philippines is currently in a dispute with Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and Malaysia over the oil- and natural-gas-rich Spratly Island and Scarborough Shoal, and with Malaysia over Sabah The Sultan of Sulu, who received Sabah as a gift in 1703 having helped the Sultan of Brunei defeat a rebellion, has given the Philippine government power to reclaim its lost territory. To this day, the Sultan Sulu's family receives "rental" payments for Sabah from the Malaysian government.

See also: Foreign relations of the Philippines, President of the Philippines, and Constitution of the Philippines

Further information: Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Philippines

2007-02-23T09:49:00.000-08:00

History of the Philippines

Archeological and paleontological theory suggests that Homo sapiens existed in Palawan about 50,000 BC. The Aetas are thought to have arrived in the Philippines more than 30,000 BC through land bridges, possibly from China or the Andaman Islands.^[4]

The ancestors of the vast majority of the Filipino people, the Austronesians from Taiwan, settled in northern Luzon around 2500 BC. They spread to the rest of the Philippines and later colonized most of Maritime Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Islands. Arab, Chinese and Indian traders made contact with the Philippines during the course of the next thousand years until the arrival of the Europeans.

Sailing for the Spanish, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew were the first Europeans to arrive in the archipelago in 1521. Magellan was killed by indigenous warriors in Mactan Island while being involved with political conflicts with Lapu-Lapu. The conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565 and formed the first Spanish settlements, and paved the way for colonization. In 1571 he established Manila as the capital of the new Spanish colony.^[5]

Roman Catholic missionaries converted most of the inhabitants. In the next 333 years, the Spanish military fought off various local indigenous revolts and various external colonial challenges. Such challenges came from the British, Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, and Portuguese. The most significant loss for Spain was the temporary occupation of the capital, Manila, by the British during the Seven Years' War. The Philippines was ruled as a territory of New Spain from 1565 to 1821, before it was administered directly from Spain. The Manila Galleon which linked Manila to Acapulco, Mexico traveled once or twice a year, beginning in the late 16th century. The Philippines opened itself to world trade on September 6, 1834.

A propaganda movement, which included Philippine nationalist José Rizal, then a student studying in Spain, soon developed on the Spanish mainland. This was done in order to inform the government of the injustices of the administration in the Philippines as well as the abuses of the friars. In the 1880s and the 1890s, the propagandists clamored for political and social reforms, which included demands for greater representation in Spain. Unable to gain the reforms, Rizal returned to the country, and pushed for the reforms locally. Rizal was subsequently arrested, tried, and executed for treason on December 30, 1896. Earlier that year, the Katipunan, led by Andrés Bonifacio, already started a revolution, which was eventually continued by Emilio Aguinaldo, who established a revolutionary government, although the Spanish governor general Fernando Primo de Rivera proclaimed the revolution over in May 17, 1897. ^[6]

The Spanish-American War began in Cuba in 1898 and soon reached the Philippines when Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron at Manila Bay. Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines on June 12, 1898, and was proclaimed head of state. As a result of its defeat in the War, Spain ceded the Philippines, together with Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. By 1899, the Philippine-American War ensued between the United States and the Philippine revolutionaries, which continued the violence of the previous years. The US proclaimed the war ended when Aguinaldo was captured by American troops on March 23, 1901, but the struggle continued until 1913. The country's status as a colony changed when it became the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935, which provided for more self-governance. Plans for increasing independence over the next decade were interrupted during World War II when Japan invaded and occupied the islands. After the Japanese were defeated in 1945, the Philippines achieved independence from the United States on July 4, 1946.^[6]

Since 1946, the newly independent Philippine state has faced political instability with various rebel groups. The late 1960s and early 1970s saw economic development that was second in Asia, next to Japan. Ferdinand Marcos was, then, the elected president. Barred from seeking a third term, Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972 and ruled the country by decree. Marcos extended both his power and tenure by force. His authoritarian rule became marred with unmitigated, pervasive corruption, cronyism and despotism.

Opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. was assassinated on August 21, 1983 upon returning from exile. In January 1986, Marcos allowed for a "snap" election, after large protests. The election was believed to be fraudulent, and resulted in a standoff between military mutineers and the military loyalists. Protesters supported the mutineers, and was accompanied by resignations of prominent cabinet officials. Corazon Aquino, the wife of Benigno Aquino, Jr., was the recognized winner of the snap election. She took over government, and called for a constitutional convention to draft a new constitution, after the 1986 EDSA Revolution. Marcos, his family and some of his allies fled to Hawaii.^[6]

The return of democracy and government reforms after the events of 1986 was hampered by massive national debt, government corruption, coup attempts, a communist insurgency, and a Muslim separatist movement. The economy improved during the administration of Fidel V. Ramos, who was elected in 1992. However, the economic improvements were negated at the onset of the East Asian financial crisis in 1997. The 2001 EDSA Revolution led to the downfall of the following president, Joseph Estrada. The current administration of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been hounded by allegations of corruption and election rigging. Due to these allegations the current administration has had to suppress several attempted coups, the most recent taking place in Manila during March of 2006.