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Manila Bay Walk. The old timers in Manila speak of a different Manila Bay from what it is today. Where there used to be fine beaches, there are now reclamation areas that support the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex and, lately, the new business district in Pasay City. Very recently, the Manila City government created the Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard across Malate Church. Where there used to be dark sidewalks, there now are thriving completely-lighted parks complete with restaurants and cafes. |
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Mactan Island, Cebu. Lapu-Lapu, the King of Mactan, fought Ferdinand Magellan and his forces in this island. In the battle, Magellan was killed and the remaining Spaniards retreated to their ships. (One ship, the Victoria, returned to Spain on September 6, 1522 and became the first ship to circumnavigate the world.) Now, Mactan is a famous scuba diving and beach site. It is also the site of the Mactan International Airport and the Mactan Export Processing Zone.
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Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel. This hotel is the premier hotel in Northern Luzon built on a sprawling 77 hectares that includes gentle sand dunes and 9 kilometers of fine sandy black beach. It is situated in Barrio Calayab, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The Resort Hotel complex is composed of five buildings all inspired by Spanish colonial architecture and finished in cool red bricks. It has 267 rooms with private balconies offering a view of the sea.
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Surfing in Siargao. Siargao, in Surigao del Norte province, is home to Cloud 9, the best known surfing break in the Philippines. It has the reputation of being one of the top Surfing Waves in the world. Siargao Island is greatly influenced by the winds and currents coming from the Pacific Ocean, intensified by the Mindanao current running westward through Siargao Strait. The tide of Siargao is diurnal with tidal curves typically present especially on the eastern coast.
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APO Reef. Apo Reef, off the coast of Mindoro Occidental province, offers excellent diving opportunities. It lies north of Palawan island and southwest of Mindoro island. There are several boats from Coron in Busanga or Puerto Galera in Mindoro that offer trips to Apo Reef. You can also stay on Padang Island or Sablayan and make day trips.
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Hundred Islands. This group of islands and islets is a foremost attraction in Pangasinan province. They look like giant turtles, scattered off the coast of Lucap in the town of Alaminos. Now developed, they lie ensconced in the 1,844-hectare nature and recreational park called the Hundred Islands National Park. It is a five-hour drive north of Manila passing through Pampanga, Tarlac, and finally to Alaminos. The jump-off point is Lucap. From the wharf, it is just a short 20-minute boat ride to the islands.
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Pagsanjan Falls. Pagsanjan Falls is located in the town of Sta Cruz, Laguna. It is a popular destination about 100 km SE of Manila. To get to the beautiful falls, you have to ride a banca (dugout canoe) and be paddled upstream by skilled and strong boatmen. Lush greenery and towering cliffs decorate the river as your boatmen strain to get you upstream. Once at the falls, you can ride a bamboo raft that will take you underneath the falls and experience the force of water falling 75 feet.
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Miniloc Island Resort. This world-class Palawan resort is esconced in a cove. Visitors have the option to stay in nipa hut cottages built on stilts over the water, garden cottages surrounded by tropical flowers and cliff cottages nestled on the hillside. There are also seaview rooms with an adjoining verandah, directly overlooking the sea.
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Batlag Falls. Batlag falls are a complex of small streams cascading together to feed the 14-meter high falls known as Daranak. It is located in Barangay Tandang, Kutyo, Tanay, Rizal province. Batlag falls can be reached through a short walk over the wooden trestle on top of Daranak. Visitors are allowed to swim in the cool and flowing water of the falls. Batlag falls is one hour away from the Tanay town proper.
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Philippine Eagle. Sometimes referred to as the Monkey-Eating Eagle, this is the largest eagle in the Philippines and regarded as the largest in the world. It stands approximately a meter tall. Its wingspan is around two meters. This eagle is native only to the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. Because of the eagle's extreme elusiveness, its existence was documented only in 1986. It is an endangered species that is now being bred in captivity. The first eaglet bred in captivity was named “Pag-asa” or “Hope.”
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