From the hedonist’s pleasure dome to the adventurer’s hidden trails, there’s always something awe-inspiring in the Philippines. As the country lures in the world for Visit Philippines 2015, Panorama lists all the compelling reasons you should book your trip to this precious gem in Southeast Asia.
Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol (Image by Angelo Garcia)
BEST BEACHES IN THE WORLD
Whether it’s a party by the beach you’re after, an adrenaline-inducing dive spent exploring sunken Japanese gunboats, or a getaway that’s all about mastering the art of doing nothing, the Philippines is teeming with stunning seaside destinations for travelers of every persuasion.
There are more than a handful reasons Boracay remains a persistent blockbuster hit among travelers. Off the top of our heads: spine-tingling massages by the beach, dive bars and discos that open ’till dawn, cliff-diving, kite surfing, and worshiping the sun for hours on end.
In El Nido Palawan’s Bacuit Bay you’ll find majestic limestone formations, isolated white beaches, radiant lagoons, prehistoric caves, and waterfalls.
If you’re heading to the southern islands of the Philippines, a visit to the relatively unexplored Dahican Beach in Mati, Davao Oriental is a must. A three-hour drive away from Davao City, this seaside destination faces the Pacific Ocean and offers idyllic beaches for skim-boarding, beginner surfing, scuba diving, and even just space-out time.
Known as the Island of Fire, Siquijor is often overlooked by travelers because of its “shady” reputation as a place of witchcraft, voodoo, and black magic. Much as we’d like for Siquijor to remain largely uninhabited by travelers, it would be quite a disservice as the island is home to virgin beaches, gorgeous limestone formations, and sunsets that set the sky on fire. —Tricia V. Morente
SURF TRIP
Apart from the toothy smiles, and the relatively good command of English of its people, the reasonably low costs of getting around the country, and accommodations make planning a surf trip to the Philippines, a truly sound plan.
For Metro Manila dwellers, the more popular surf spots are found in San Juan, La Union, Baler in the province of Aurora, and Zambales, chiefly because they are all within reach six hours by land from Manila.
But if you’re going to talk about surfing in the Philippines, you have to talk about Siargao. With consistent waves all year round, and guaranteed powerful to barreling swells from October to April, this is maybe where you’ll find the surf spot to line up in. Cloud 9 surf beach in Siargao is ranked the eighth best surf spot in the world by CNN Go, and regarded as one of Asia’s best surfing gems.
Depending on who you ask and what their wave preferences are, other destinations such as Puraran Beach in Catanduanes, or Gubat in Sorsogon might come up as surf trip suggestions. Wherever you choose to line up, you’re bound to meet a community of surfers eager to share the joys of surfing, the quintessence of a lifestyle you definitely need to get a taste of. —Timothy Jay Ibay
Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, Mt. Mountain Province (Image by Angelo Garcia)
PROUD HERITAGE
Since many of us have been bitten by the proud-to-be-Pinoy bug, we might as well rediscover what else is there for us to take pride in so that we can properly introduce our country and ourselves as its people to those who eagerly visit us.
UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention has included five properties in the Philippines in the World Heritage List. Those on the list are: Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras, the Historic Town of Vigan, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, and the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, which include Santo Tomàs de Villanueva in Miag-ao, Iloilo, San Agustin in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Nuestra Señora dela Asunción in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, and San Agustin in Intramuros, Manila. All of these sites are nothing short of awe-inspiring, if only by the fact that they have stubbornly borne the ravages of time.
The government has done its bit in making parts of our heritage more prominent. For one, the new designs of our currency now feature the Mayon Volcano, the Chocolate Hills, and the Banaue Rice Terraces along with the different animals and weave designs of the various regions. These are just some aspects of our heritage that deserve the attention and concern of everyone who wishes to truly get to know a place and its people. So the next time you’re thinking of visiting any of our islands, try looking beyond the beaches. Check out our old rivers and mountains. Perhaps you can pay some of our old folks a visit and get to know a little bit more about our home. —Maricris D. Martin
Sisig served on a sizzling plate (Image by Rudy Liwanag)
CULINARY ADVENTURES
No longer are meals mere food breaks between sightseeing and shopping. Meals have now become The Adventure.
The Heritage City off Vigan, declared one of the New Seven Wonder Cities (N7WC) of the world, is famous for empanada (deep-fried pie), langonisa (fresh pork sausage), and bagnet (pork crackling).
Among Kapampangan dishes not to be missed are betute tugak (sausage-stuffed ricefield frogs), cured meats like tocino and sausages, sisig, and fiesta fare of beef and pork (morcon, embutido).
In the Bicol Region, guests get initiated into the area’s most famous dish: the spicy chili-infused, coco-cream thickened Bicol Express. Variants of the recipe sometimes use prawns, crabs, pork and fish.
With fresh seafood available all year round, the best way to sample Visayan seafood fare is in the form of kinilaw, a dish similar to ceviche. Visayas is also famous for lumpiang ubod, a fresh spring roll stuffed with heart of coconut palm sautéed in pork and shrimps.
Lastly, food in Mindanao is known for its spice and colors. Giant tuna is delivered to Mindanao processors by international fishing fleets and served at all restaurants in herb-scented stews, grilles, and soups. A local hot sauce called satti is used on almost all dishes. Currries and broiled fish are always freshly made, using only local ingredients. —Sol Jose Vanzi
Enjoying the view from the peak of Mt. Pulag
TREKS AND TRAILS
Views of mountains and valleys all over the Philippines are stunning. But while there’s fulfillment within us who wander the country to experience such sights, there’s a surreal, almost mystical feeling when you commune with these natural wonders up close, among the clouds.
Easily one of the best places to go for a nice trek is Mt. Pulag up in the Cordillera highlands. Known as the “Playground of the Gods,” it’s the highest peak in Luzon, the second highest in the country behind only Mt. Apo of Davao. Regular travel tours take hikers up Mt. Pulag offering varying trek difficulty depending on which trail you choose.
For those looking for thrilling treks, a trip up the high and mighty Mt. Pinatubo should prove to be well worth the trouble. Similar tours are also in place, which begins with a rugged 4×4 ride to the foot of the mountain and ends with water activities up top, which is, by the way, at the mouth of this still active volcano.
Aside from the major peaks, there are half-hidden trails in almost every locale that offer a humble yet pleasing view of the Philippine landscape. There’s the Consocep Mountain Resort in Tigaon, Camarines Sur nestled under the tropical canopies of Mt. Isarog, the trek toward the pristine Anuplig Falls in Adams, Ilocos Norte, and of course the scenic Eco-Trail in Baguio’s Camp John Hay. —Ian Garcia
Diving in the Philippine seas
DEEP SEA WONDERS
My memories of diving are so strong they fuel my art. Indeed, I’ve been mesmerized by the beauty of the Philippine seas, its marine biodiversity, and its colorful corals, which I try to translate in my work to this day.
I strongly suggest to both avid and amateur divers to visit Puerto Galera, only three and a half hours from Manila. Designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973, it has some of the most diverse coral reef ecosystems in the whole world, truly a prime diving destination in the Philippines with the widest variety of different dive sites: deep, drift, wreck, and more. Not far from Puerto Galera is the Verde Island passage, “the center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity.” The area has more than 300 species of corals and so it is considered one of the largest concentrations of corals in the country or even in the world.
The Philippines is strategically located within the Coral Triangle, known as the “Amazon of the seas.” Unlike me, Janelle Pimentel, a good friend of mine, has gone diving all around the world from Micronesia to Malaysia and all over the Philippines. She says that diving in Puerto Galera, as well as other prominent dive sites in the country (Cebu, Palawan, Bohol, Dumaguete, the list goes on) is an extremely unique experience. The corals and reefs are alive, beautiful and vibrant. Our challenge is to protect and conserve the corals reefs which we all depend on. —Olivia d’Aboville