Panagbenga "Flower Month", Love Month", "Month of Hearts"

Panagbenga Philippines

"Flower Month" February, also known as "Love Month" or the "Month of Hearts" is also the time when flowers bloom, serving as a perfect backdrop for the Panagbenga Festival.

Panagbenga is a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. Panagbenga is Kankaney for "season of blooming". The festival was created as a tribute to the city's flowers and as a way to rise up from the 1990 Luzon earthquake which left several parts of Baguio practically destroyed.

One of the festival's highlights include floats festooned with flowers similar to Pasadena's Rose Parade. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration from the Cordillera region.

Established as a summer hilltop station by the Americans, 'The City of PInes' has a lot to offer especially during festival season. Must-sees include the Baguio Botanical Garden, Burnham Park, Session Road, Camp John Hay, the Philippine Military Academy, The Mansion House (the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines.) In nearby La Trinidad are strawberry farms where one can handpick fresh strawberries. Food trippers can also enjoy the "pinikpikan" a popular native chicken soup, strawberry taho and a visit to the Cafe by the Ruins.

The last week of February is probably the busiest with the float parade. The colorful designs all have have themes showcasing local heritage. It is a feast for the eyes and ears as members of indigenous tribes dance to the music of school bands adding to thte festive atmosphere. A nighttime fireworks display signals that the festivities have come to a fitting end. One of the best "pasalubong stations" in Baguio is the Good Shepherd Convent in Barangay Mines View made famous by their ube (purple yam), strawberry and mango jams (Php150 per jar). Sweet delicacies such as peanut brittle, lengua de gato, snow balls and chocolate crinkles are cheap buys starting at Php 100.

Traveling should not be considered a luxury but as a discovery of the richness, history and culture of a place. And there is still much to discover in Baguio City. Visitors have two options getting to Baguio City, 1) Terminals along EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City have daily trips (Victory Liner, Cubao-Baguio, P449/ one-way) with estimated six-hour travel time. 2) Zest Air at present is the only commercial airline flying to Loakan Airport from Manila (Php2,418 / 50-minute travel time).

Carbin Reef Philippines Review, Attractions

Carbin Reef Philippines

Carbin Reef is a huge, tongue-shaped, white sandbar 15km northeast of Old Sagay and is bounded on the North by Asuncion Pass and the Visayan Sea. It is centered on the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Reserve. The sanctuary was established in 1999 and is abundant with a wide variety of underwater species such as thriving coral formations, the occasional turtles and large schools of fish.

Above the water, the reef looks merely like a strip of sand but below the surface is a wealth of natural beauty. Due to the shallow water diving is discouraged but swimming and snorkeling conditions are just about right. The reef itself can accommodate up to 100 people at low tide conditions.

How to Get There:
Sagay is at the northernmost tip of Negros. It is approximately 82 kilometers northeast of Bacolod City, the provincial capital of Negros Occidental.

From Manila, you can fly to Bacolod (Php2500++, round trip, 45 minutes). From Bacolod-Silay Airport, you can take a shuttle (Php75-100 per head), or a cab and ask to be dropped off at the nearest bus station for Bacolod-Sagay.

You can also go to Bacolod via ferry (estimated cost of Php2700++ with meal, round trip, 20-22 hours) from Manila. From the port you can hail a cab and ask to be dropped off at the north terminal bus station for Bacolod-Sagay.

Going to Sagay City, buses and vans for hire regularly ply the northbound route of the Negros highway. Sagay is approximately a two-hour drive by private car from Bacolod city.

From Sagay, Carbin Reef can only be reached by a rented boat (15 minutes from the Old Wharf). Passenger pumpboat roundtrip rates are:

·1-5 pax - Php1,000
·6-10 pax - Php1,200
·10-15 pax - Php1,500
·15-20 pax - Php1,700

Where to Stay:
Visitors to Carbin Reef can only go on a day-tour. For safety purposes, Sagay Tourism allows guests on the reef only up to 3-4pm depending on wind strength and direction. At the reef you could rent tents or a two-storey tower (Php300-600 ,all seasons). If you wish to stay overnight you could get accommodations in the city.

Peak season is between March to September while the low season is between October to February depending on the weather.

What to Do:
The clear, pristine water is the perfect enticement for swimming, boating and (best of all!) snorkeling. If you simply love just being surrounded by the sea the reef is a great private spot for a picnic or a frolic on the sand.

Rates:
·Entrance Fee - Php20
·Kayak - Php100

If you plan to go to Carbin Reef, it is recommended to book the place prior to the date of your visit. The local tourism office will facilitate your transfers and will reserve the venue for you and your group.

What to Bring:
·Don't forget to bring your favorite sunblock or tanning lotion. Before boarding the boat, make sure to lather generously on your skin to avoid skin damage. There are only a minimal number of tents in the area. You could bring your own tent also for extra shade.
·Wear your most comfortable beachwear and bring extra dry clothes.
·Bring a plastic bag or waterproof container to secure your belongings and keep you electronic gadgets dry as the ride may get wet. A separate bag for trash is also recommended.
·Water is scarce so see to it that you bring plenty of drinking water. The collected rainwater in the tower area is only suitable for washing and restroom use.
·Bring your own snorkeling gear since there are no available rentals at the site.
·Bring enough food during your stay. There are no restaurants or stores when you are already at the reef. Sagay City requires all guests to manage their own litter in line with the policy of responsible tourism and in consonance with Sagay Marine Reserve law. Carbin Reef guests should follow the "garbage in, garbage out" policy.

Bantayan Island, Cebu Review, Attraction

Bantayan Island, Cebu

Travelers looking for a laid back alternative to the bustling beach scenes in Boracay and Puerto Galera would surely enjoy Bantayan, a small island located just off the northwest tip of the Cebu mainland. It used to be the province's own little secret but word has gone out as visitors sampled Bantayan's relaxed and idyllic atmosphere. The island's name is Visayan for 'lookout' and the ruins of old Spanish watchtowers is evidence of its strategic importance to Cebu. The wonderful, little town of Santa Fe on the southern coast has stretches of white-sand beaches and peaceful resorts. If your idea of a perfect holiday is a combination of eating cheap and hearty buffets prepared by a European chef (!), being lulled to sleep by an island breeze and reading your favorite book lying on a hammock in a quiet beach setting, Bantayan will not disappoint.

If you prefer peace and quiet, avoid the Holy Week when locals pack the place (legend has it that during the 19th century, the Pope gave the townsfolk special dispensation to eat meat during Good Friday because of difficult fishing conditions) and transport hubs are a nightmare. Before and after Holy Week it reverts back to its normal, placid self.

How to Get There:

Air
From Manila, you can fly daily to Cebu City from either NAIA 2 (9-10 flights) or NAIA 3 (11 flights). (Php1200 regular plus terminal fees and airport tax; prices vary depending on season/ promotion, one hour, tip: take advantage of online promos and book in advance so you can save as much as 60% off ticket price!). From Mactan-Cebu International Airport, avoid the rented/hired cars outside the terminal and cross the pedestrian lane where you can take a cab from a taxi line (Php200 fixed rate to any destination in Cebu City).

Sea
Major shipping lines have Cebu-bound trips from both the North and South Harbors. All schedules are subject to change so its best to check several days in advance. Trips are 14 hours long and tickets are Php1200-2300 depending on class. From the pier you can either contract a cab from a taxi line or cross the road and hail passing cabs if you want a metered rate to the city (around Php60).

From Cebu City
By land: Proceed to the Cebu North Bus Terminal either by taxi or the Mabolo-Carbon or Mandaue-Cebu City jeepneys. The station is along Wireless st. in the Reclamation Area past SM City. Look for the Cebu Autobus Corp or Ceres Coach buses bound for Hagnaya (Php80, 3 hours, daily from 7.30am-5pm) where boats depart for Bantayan six times daily (6.30am to 5.30pm, Php170, 75 mins).

By sea: From Pier 1 in Cebu City, there is an overnight ferry to Santa Fe town in Bantayan that departs at 9pm twice a week (Php220, nine hours). Schedules change so its best to contact Palacio Shipping Lines (032 2554538, 032 2537700) for details.

Where to Stay/Eat:
Hard Kock Kafe 'n' Kottages (Php450/650 fan/aircon) cheap value and if you don't mind walking to the beach. Has a bar popular with foreigners.

Abaniko Beach Resort (Php750 per cottage) They have 4 cottages that are clean with nipa upholstery. Not exactly on the beach but a good deal for the money.

Santa Fe Beach Club (cottages with fan Php900-1000, with aircon Php1600-7000) has good privacy and balconies plus instant access to the Ogtong Cave Resort.

Budyong Beach Resort (Php900-1500 fan/aircon cottage) has a fine location on the beach providing splendid views. Very popular and the nipa huts are clean and the service pleasant. Perfect for the traveler who wants to keep things simple.

D'Jungle (Php 80-140, Fri-Sun buffets Php 245, 7am-onwards) This unassuming nipa and bamboo outdoor eatery offers a delightful array of international cuisine from its French-German chef. The buffet alone is a good reason to come visit Bantayan and there are as much as 40 different dishes available in one spread.

Balikbayan Restaurant (Php200-400) Offers a wide menu of salads, pizzas, pasta and seafood. The ambiance here is perfect for couples.

What To Do:
Wandering: Bantayan has not been subject to commercialization so far and is a great place to go wandering. You can either rent a bike/ motorycle (Php150/300 whole day) for a tour around the island. Bantayan town (10km west from Santa Fe, Php15 by jeepney) has been lovingly preserved and is a fine place to stroll.

The white sands of Alice Beach, Paradise Beach and Sugar Beach are great for long walks and resort-hopping. Ogtong Cave is a small subterranean cave with a refreshing freshwater pool. Its 600 meters from Sugar Beach. Go to the front desk of the Santa Fe Beach Club front desk (Php 120 for non-guests).

Snorkeling: Bantayan itself has little to offer here but you can hire a boat (Php1500 / four people) and go to nearby Virgin Island where there are coral formations. You can also camp overnight if you have the equipment.

What To Bring:
Shorts and flip-flops; sunglasses; pack as light as possible (i.e. shorts and flip-flops are perfect); bring an adequate amount of cash in small denominations since there is only 1 ATM and 1 moneychanger on the island, credit cards aren't useful here.

Corregidor Island, Cavite Review, Attractions

Corregidor Island, Cavite

A visit to this tadpole-shaped island at the entrance of Manila Bay is an unforgettable way to get up close and personal with history.

Corregidor was first developed by the Spanish for use as a fortress, a penal institution and a customs station for ships bound to Manila. It was supposed act as the first line of defense for the capital city so its concrete ramparts were studded with various artillery pieces and a lighthouse signal post. But history reveals the island would eventually fall into the hands of its various attackers- namely the Dutch, British, Americans and the Japanese.

During World War II, 'The Rock' was the scene of fierce fighting between the US and Japan- this is where Filipino and American troops made their last stand during the Japanese Invasion of 1941 and recaptured four years later after a bloody battle when General Douglas MacArthur returned to liberate the Philippines.

The 6 kilometer-long island is now one large war memorial and used to draw a lot of WW2 veterans and history buffs but nowadays local tourists come to enjoy the quite vista and the shrapnel-marked relics of the Philippines' turbulent colonial past.

How to Get There:
From Manila, the only way to Corregidor is via Sun Cruises (day tour includes round-trip ferry, guided tour & buffet lunch Php1999/1118 adult/child, 7.30am-3.30pm everyday). CCP Terminal A, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard Pasay City. Contact Nos.

From Bataan you or a group can charter a banca from Mariveles (Php2,500).

Where to Stay:

Corregidor Inn (Php2880/4450 for single/double rooms) you will likely be staying here if you avail of Sun Cruises' overnight package. The air-conditioned rooms have wooden flooring, private bathrooms and nice views of the greenery and surrounding water. Guests also receive a more comprehensive tour and can avail of a number of activities.

What To Do:

The Guided Tour: After the one-hour catamaran ride, tram buses would be waiting at the pier with an assigned tour guide each (tip: pick your bus based on the guide's personality, a few short exchanges could indicate if the guide is knowledgeable, funny, etc.). The buses would proceed two at a time to each location to avoid overcrowding. The main points of interest are:

·Malinta Tunnel - This part of the tour is optional. For an additional Php150 fee you can watch a 30-minute sound-and-light show that replicates what the Fil-Am defenders had to endure during the Japanese siege. The tunnel and its laterals were built underneath solid rock and housed the USAFFE headquarters, the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth, the Voice of Freedom radio station and a hospital. Modern additions include sculptures. There are also makeshift caverns dug by treasure hunters.
·The Ruins- These are all that remain of Fort Mills, the US Army reservation and include Topside Barracks, once the longest in the world; Corregidor Hospital; Middleside Barracks and Cine Corregidor. They have purposely not been restored in reverence to the Filipino and American soldiers who perished in the island's defense.
·Lorcha Dock - A statue of Gen. MacArthur overlooks the spot where he boarded a PT Boat en route to Australia. Contrary to popular belief it was safely Down Under when the general made his famous promise of "I shall return." and not in Corregidor.
·Filipino Heroes Memorial - This latest addition features 14 murals of Filipinos in battle from the 15th century up to the present.
·Japanese War Memorial and Cemetery - a perfect place for serenity
·Spanish Lighthouse - The refurbished structure affords a splendid panoramic view.
·Pacific War Memorial - built by the Americans at the island's highest point, it is a shrine for all of those who died during the conflict. There is a symbolic metal flame and open-topped dome that catches the sun on May 6, the day Corregidor fell to the Japanese.
·Museum small but has a good collection of period uniforms, weapons and scale models
·The Gun Batteries - Battery Way, Battery Hearn and Battery Grubbs are the most popular (a battery referring to a military unit of 3 to 6 guns covering a given sector). One can gawk at the massive artillery pieces ranging from heavy mortars to 12-inch cannons. There were 23 coastal batteries on Corregidor. Ask about the 'Disappearing Gun'. You can also explore the ammunition magazines and bunkers and if you know where to look you can spot where bombs and shells struck.

Rocket Zipline: (for overnight guests only) The 200-meter long zipline is suspended 20 feet from the ground which is perfect for beginners and affords a panoramic view of the island. It lasts around 20-30 seconds and ends at the picturesque south beach.

Night Tour: (for overnight guests only) Armed only with flashlights, thrill-seekers can go ghost-hunting amidst the decaying buildings and tunnels. Look for graffiti and names left by Sama and Tausug recruits who were said to have been secretly trained in 1967 by the military as part of Operation Merdeka, the Philippine government's effort to annex the island of Sabah from Malaysia. The young Muslims of the Jabidah commando unit, upon learning of the nature of their mission, mutinied and their handlers machine-gunned them on the airstrip leaving only one survivor who escaped. It is unknown how many died during the Jabidah Massacre but once news got out, it generated outrage and helped ignite the Moro Insurgency in Mindanao.

Corregidor Adventure Challenge: Assemble four friends into one team and attempt this race across nature trails, ruins and tunnels (there are 105km of paved roads and trails). The team with the fastest will be awarded an overnight stay with complete amenities.

What To Bring:
If you're taking the ferry make sure you arrive an hour early; The buffet lunch usually consists of regular (but filling) canteen-type fare so if that's not your thing pack something extra; Extra batteries for your camera; Make sure you have a full stomach before you board the ferry; There is no public transportation on the island but one can rent bikes; If you happened to have rented a banca make sure you leave before late afternoon as the waves can get pretty high and choppy; If you are taking children on the tram bus make sure adults sit on the outermost seats since the buses do not have doors at all.

Dolphin/ Whale Watching off Pamilacan Island, Bohol

Dolphin/ Whale Watching off Pamilacan Island, Bohol

Pamilacan Island, Panglao could be in danger of becoming a mere stopover in Bohol. The quaint town, 45 minutes by boat from Baclayon City, is known to the rest of the tourist world as the "playground of dolphins" because Its waters are home to spinner and bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales, and recently, according to boatmen, at least one blue whale. How to Get There: From Manila, you can fly to Tagbilaran City (PhpPhp3,500, round trip).

Manila-Tagbilaran flights take an hour and 10 minutes. From Tagbilaran Airport, you can take a tricycle to Baclayon (Php80-100 for two persons), or a metered taxi (Php150-200 for four persons). You can also catch the jeep, but you would first have to take a tricycle from the airport (Php10 per person) to Gallares Hospital where the terminal is, and take the jeep to Carmen or Loboc (Php7 per person), which will both pass by Baclayon. Get off at the Baclayon port for the boats to Pamilacan. If you are arriving at night, it's best to book an airport transfer with your hotel because it's hard to get a ride past 9 p.m. There are also daily boat trips from Cebu to Tagbilaran (Php400 per head, one way).

Where to Stay: Pamilacan Tourist Inn and Restaurant (Php750 per person per day, including a cottage and three full meals). Contact the innkeeper Elvie (63 9129272061) or the owner Mary Aguipo 63 (9174368369, 63 9236600809, 63 9197306108).

Pamilacan Island Paradise (Php6,000 per night on twin sharing; Php1,600 for extra person). www.pamilacanislandparadise.com What To Do: Dolphin-watching: Reliable tours are offered by the Pamilacan Island Dolphin and Whale-Watching Organization (Php3,800 per trip).

www.dolphinwhalewatch.homestead.com You can also check with the City Tourism Office at the Baclayon Port for registered tour operators. Snorkeling: Pamilacan has a fish sanctuary where only paddle boats are allowed (Php200 per boat). Visit the whaling "museum" to see remnants of the islanders' past as dolphin and whale-hunters Get an outdoor massage at the Pamilacan Tourist Inn (Php350 for an hour).