Experience Philippines

Experience the wonders of the Philippines! View exotic, exciting and enticing sites from north to south, and east to west sites of the country. Trek to the grandeur of the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces carved out of the ingenious engineering design of indigenous peoples of Ifugao. Go west from Ifugao and see the caves of Sagada and equal beautiful rice terraces of Kiltepan. A visit to the natural attractions of this haven north of the Philippines links you to the mystical connection of the soul to the physical self.

While in the north, travel to Baguio,the summer capital of the Philippines. Indulge in Camp John Hay, a vast expanse of captivating landscapes and greeneries. Take a trip further north and have a chance to visit age-old Spanish ruins including Sta Monica Church and the Dingras Ruins of Ilocos Norte and be transported a hundred years back of the colonial times when natives went on forced labor to build these churches.

Take a breather to the captivating Chocolate Hills of Bohol which look more like giant mole hills. Located in Tagbilaran, south of Manila, these enchanting creations of nature turns chocolate brown at the end of the dry season from its grassy green look during the rainy days.

A little down south of Bohol is famous Boracay known for its white sand beaches. Enjoy the sun, surfing or waking barefoot on the sand. Get on that adventure spirit and find yourself in nearby Puerto Galera known for its refreshing pocket beaches. A popular snorkeling and diving destination,see more of Puerto Galera’s natural wonders of corals, waterfalls, virgin forests and captivating terrestrial and marine landscapes.

If you love mountain climbing, travel further south of the country to get you to Mindanao. That big mass of island located near Indonesia and Malaysia hosts towering mountains one of which is Mt Apo, the highest mountain range in the country with an elevation of 2,954 meters above sea level. Also, you wouldn’t want to miss not putting on your climbing shoes and get a feel of DiwataMountains located in Surigao del Norte to Cape Agustin in southeast Davao.

Filipinos love festivity and their many festivals speak of this. January greets you with the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan. The rhythmic dancing of soot-blacked street dancers pounding on the drums beckons you to join them. Baguio’s Panagbenga (Flower Festival) lets one glimpse a parade of flowers in full bloom during the month of February and March.

Santacruzan greets the merry month of May with a parade of the town’s beautiful ladies celebrated in almost all parts of the country. Mindanao abounds with indigenous peoples. During the Kadayawan Sa Dadaw in Davao held in August, ethnic tribes come out with their colorful costumes and dances and join in the street parade. One among the costume parades in this country is the Maskarra Festival in Bacolod held in October. A fitting title for a festival, revelers put on a smile amidst the tensions and hardships of routinary life.

What are we celebrating in Cordillera month?

That was 22 years ago when rebel priest Conrado Balweg signed a peace accord with then President Corazon Aquino at Mt Data Hotel in September 13, 1986. A year after, Aquino signed Executive Order 220 in July 15, 1987 which gave birth to the establishment of Cordillera Administrative Region paving the way for Cordillera autonomy. Republic Act No. 6766 followed on October 23, 1989 which provided an Organic Act for CAR and policies set for the proposed Cordillera autonomous government to exercise governmental functions including tax generation.

On the Cordillera region’s 21st anniversary and its ideals of what it purports to be, what do we see now? As we can obviously note, the dream of slain rebel priest Conrado Balweg to see a freely determining and progressive Cordillera is yet far down the road. For one, the region’s natural resources are still within the absolute control of the State.

Consider Magat River which flows in the jurisdiction of Isabela and Ifugao. While rules provide that the share of local government units in taxes which accrue from the use of respective territories will be provided to LGUs, this does not come automatically.

Ifugao Gov. Teddy Baguilat has to lobby for the release of Ifugao’s share in taxes from SN Aboitiz due the province from operations of the Magat Power Plant. The amount of P28 million share of Ifugao still awaits legal mandate from the Department of Energy for them to release the tax share of Ifugao.

MORE: Northern Philippine Times

Local visitors top arrivals in tourist town

SAGADA, PHILIPPINES – Nearly 17 thousand local tourists or 74 % of the total travelers, came here the last quarter of 2007 to May this year.

Municipal records here revealed that 16,841 Filipino travelers visited this tourist town during the peak months of October last year to May 2008 of the total 22, 871 visitors the past 8 months.

Of the total visitors, 18, 876 tourists or 83% came from Asian countries including the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and China. Among Asian tourists, Filipino visitors were followed by 1,525 Koreans and 162 Japanese.

The rest of the 17% visitors came from the continents of Europe, America, and Australia. Most European travelers come from Germany, Austria, Czeck Republic, France, Italy, Denmark, United Kingdom, Spain, and Switzerland corresponding to at least 13% of the total visitors.

Four African travelers came from Namibia and Ethiopia.

Tourism here is one major source of income especially among the residents of the Poblacion area where local business cater to meals, lodging, sale of souvenir items, and guiding tourists. This, aside from transport and retail of goods.

Sagada is a popular tourist destination peaking its arrivals in the months of October to May. European tourists mostly from Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark along with some Americans had been the initial tourists during Sagada’s early tourism years in the late 1970s to the 80’s. Local tourists took their peak in the ‘90s to the present.

The pine-clad town offers refreshing sites for walks around the vicinity of the town. Its famous caves including Sumaguing Cave are favorite spots for spelunking aside from invigorating rice terraces of Kiltepan in nearby Antadao barangay, and cool Bomod-ok Falls in Bangaan to indulge in a dip after a leisurely one hour hike from the main town.

Former town legislator Jane Bawing estimated that revenues collected from tourists adds to nearly half a million pesos for the whole year. Tourists each pay P10.00 representing environmental fees used to maintain cleanliness and security of the tourist attractions including the caves and the vicinity of the town, aside from other community purposes.

The amount collected from tourists could also accommodate employment of a tourism officer to focus in tourism concerns, Bawing said. She hoped that the municipal government will also raise the environmental fee. Said 10.00 per visiting tourist was then being collected by the Sagada Environmental Guides Association (SEGA) in the early ‘90s. The municipal government assumed collection last year./ginadizon@yahoo.com