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Mt. Apo. The image shows a view from the peak. At 10,311 feet, Mt. Apo is the highest peak in the Philippines. It is home of the Philippine Eagle. It is also the breeding ground of the exotic Waling-Waling, one of the rarest and most beautiful orchids in the world. Mt. Apo is a popular trek destination and can be climbed in 2-3 days. Among its exciting sites are Agco Blue Lake (at 1,200 m), three summit lakes including Lake Venado (2,440 m) and the sulphurous volcanic cone. |
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Shangri-La Mactan. Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort, the largest and most exclusive deluxe resort in the Philippines, gives its guests the ultimate tropical paradise vacation experience. Located in Cebu, this idyllic resort, with its beautiful private beach, offers an exciting range of recreation activities and superb cuisine. Every guestroom blends tropical decor with modern amenities and private balconies provide panoramic views of the Visayan Sea and outlying islands. The white sand beach is man-made using sand from other provinces.
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White Dendrobium Orchid. There are more than 1,000 Dendrobium species that are native to Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. They can also be found in India and Sri Lanka eastwards to Japan and Korea and south to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. These orchids are one of the easiest to grow. The genus Dendrobium was established by Olaf Swartz in 1799. The name Dendrobium comes from the two Greek words dendron (meaning tree) and bios (meaning life) and probably refers to their epiphytic habit.
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San Juanico Bridge. This bridge crosses the San Juanico Strait that divides Leyte and Samar islands in the Visayas. It is the longest and most beautifully designed bridge in the Philippines. It offers many picturesque views, especially of the strait itself with its thousand whirlpools as well as the lovely islets of the province. It is approximately 10 minutes from Tacloban City and is accessible by passenger jeepney, bus, motorcab or private vehicle.
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MacArthur Landing Park. The statues of US Army General Douglas MacArthur and his officers stand in Palo, Leyte as a grateful reminder of the October 1944 landing to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation. He had with him 700 vessels and 174,000 army and navy servicemen. Behind MacArthur was Philippine Herald (1942) war journalist Carlos P. Romulo, who was MacArthur’s aide-de-camp during the war. Romulo was an important person in Philippine history as parliamentarian, soldier, educator, U.N. Charter signatory, diplomat and foreign minister.
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Caliraya Lake. Kayaking is one of the favorite recreational activities in Caliraya Lake. The various resorts in the area also allow you to jet ski, wind sail, play tennis and many others. The man-made lake was built by American engineers in the 1930s to provide hydroelectric power in the region. Lake Caliraya is situated at 1,200 feet above sea level. It is endowed with cool winds, clear water, and the surrounding greenery.
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El Nido Resorts. El Nido is in the northernmost tip of Palawan. The government established the Bacuit Bay area, where the El Nido Resorts are located, as a Marine Reserve. El Nido's majestic 250 million years old limestone cliffs stand guard over clear waters with 200 species of tropical fishes, more than 100 species of corals, and three species of endangered sea turtles. El Nido's forests are host to more than 100 species of birds, mostly endemic to Palawan.
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Panglao Island. Bohol. Panglao Island lies just opposite Tagbilaran city, and is accessible via two bridges. It has two municipalities, Dauis in the north and Panglao in the south. The island has a number of wonderful white beaches. No wonder Panglao is host to most of Bohol’s hotels and resorts. Most of these are concentrated around Alona Beach, a very nice stretch of white sand at the southeastern end of the island.
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Sea Turtle (Pawikan). Scientists refer to sea turtles (“Pawikan” in the Philippines) as the only living remnants of the dinosaur age, having existed for more than 150 million years. There are seven turtle species that thrive on saltwater. Five are present in the Philippines. A typical Pawikan weighs between 180 to 210 kilograms and, unlike land turtles, cannot retract its head and limbs under its streamlined shell. It can travel as fast as 32 km per hour using its long paddle-like fore and hind flippers.
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Boracay. Voted the world's best beach by the Sun Herald, Australia and Harper's, Boracay is the perfect island getaway, with its warm blue waters, powder-fine white sand, and a palm fringed 4-km beach. It would have remained a national secret if not for some foreign travelers who accidentally stumbled upon the place. Word spread very quickly and now, Boracay has become a melting pot for beach lovers around the world. Visitors can hear English, German, Korean and French spoken fluently at any point in the island.
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