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Paradise Philippines - Subic Bay

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Subic Bay is situated in Zambales Province, Central Luzon Region or Region III, west coast of the main island of Luzon about 120 kilometers north of the Philippine capital, Manila. The coastal area is surrounded by mountains with lush impenetrable jungles, ideal for trekking. The bay opens out into the South China Sea.

Subic Bay is recognized as a deep safe harbor. In 17th century Subic Bay is used as a port to defend and maintain Philippines by the Spaniards. In the following decades the Spanish decided to build a navy base utilizing the safe harbor and its natural resources.

Following the loss by the Spanish to the US in 1898, the US established a naval repair and supply base in Subic Bay. Subic Bay was only accessible by sea up until 1932 when the zig zag road was cut through the mountains linking Subic Bay and Olongapo to the rest of the Philippines.

In 1941 Subic Bay was bombed by the Japanese and was held by them for the next four years, until the US took back the Philippines in 1945. The control of the navy base returned to the US. During the two invasions by both the Japanese and the US, a number of naval ships were either bombed or scuttled in Subic Bay Philippines. They have now created an underwater tourist hit, with scuba divers from around the world enjoying the wrecks in there underwater graveyards.


The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is now well on its way in becoming an economic, commercial and tourist destination. The Subic Bay Freeport is booming with international class restaurants and duty free shopping.

Subic Beaches and other Attractions

Subic Bay has a whole new dimension. Since the US Navy moved out in 1992, the whole area had to re-access itself in order to fill the gap left by the US Navy. What has now materialized in Subic Bay is fantastic; the development is something the people of Subic Bay should be proud of.

Scuba diving in Subic Bay revolves around wrecks, wrecks and more wrecks. There are wreck dives to suit every level of diver from experienced to novice alike. One of te great aspects of diving these wrecks in Subic Bay is how close they are to the dive shops. For information on Subic Bay scuba diving, have a look here.

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Paradise Philippines - Camiguin Island

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Camiguin Island is the smallest province in Northern Mindanao, with its land area pegged at 29,187 hectares. It is composed of five towns, namely, Mambajao – the capital town, Mahinog, Guinsiliban, Sagay and Catarman. The island plays host to seven volcanoes, including the still-active Mount Hibok-Hibok. According to the National Statistics Office, Camiguin has a total population of 74,232 persons, making the province the second smallest in the Philippines in terms of population.

Camiguin Island is a pear-shaped volcanic island in the northern tip of Mindanao. It is approximately 90 kilometers north of the City of Cagayan de Oro. It is bounded to the north by Bohol Sea, to the west by Macajalar Bay, to the southeast by Gingoog Bay and to the east by Butuan Bay.

Among the Province's major products are coconut, cassava, banana, camote, palay, corn, fruits, coffee and vegetables. Camiguin's volcanic soil has proved to be a fertile ground for planting various crops. At present, the Provincial government is looking into an agricultural program that would increase the cultivation of fruit trees and vegetables in Camiguin. The Province is also among the best abaca fiber producers in the country. Camiguin is proud of its natural resources, which include sulfur deposits, geothermal energy, agricultural lands and fishing grounds.



The Camiguin culture is a mixture of both Boholano and Cebuano culture. It is very colorful and creative. The people are deeply religious, hospitable and friendly. Cebuano is the major dialect in the Province. However, in the towns of Sagay and Guinsiliban, where most of the indigenous tribes reside, the Kinamiguin dialect is still spoken. Kinamiguin is derived from the Manobo dialect with some mixture of Boholano.

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Paradise Philippines - Bohol Island

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Bohol is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formation, is the most popular attraction. The island of Panglao, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is home to some of the finest beaches in the country. The Philippine Tarsier, considered by some to be the smallest primate, is indigenous to the island.

Boholanos refer to their island homeland as the 'Republic of Bohol' with both conviction and pride. A narrow strait separates the island of Cebu and Bohol and both share a common language, but the Boholanos retain a conscious distinction from the Cebuanos.

Hills dominate the island of Bohol. Two ranges run roughly parallel on the northwest and the southeast. An interior plateau is dominated by limestone hills. In Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, these hills form near perfect cones in great numbers and are collectively referred to as the Chocolate Hills.

Bohol's climate is generally dry, with maximum rainfall between the months of June and October. The interior is cooler than the coast.

Bohol is the home province of Carlos P. Garcia, the fourth president of the Republic of the Philippines (1957-1960) who was born in Talibon, Bohol.



Bohol Tourist Attractions

Bohol Museum
Once the residence of the country's fourth president, Carlos P. Garcia, the Bohol Provincial Museum is Tagbilaran is a showcase of the province's exciting history, culture and natural resources. The Museum also houses the personal memorabilia of the late president. Just a few minutes away from the Museum is the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Park where a life-sized monument of the president stands. The statue was done by Boholanon National Artist Napoleon Abueva in marble and bronze.

Chocolate Hills
Consisting of 1,268 haycock hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120 meters, the Chocolate Hils is a wonder of nature. RIghtly so, the Hills are considered as a Philippine National Geological Monument. During the summer, the dome-shaped, grass-covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown transforming the areas into rows and rows of chocolate "kisses." Indeed, a visit to Bohol is imcomplete without partaking of the province's Peanut Kisses, crisp and crunchy delicacy made of eggs and peanuts in honor of the wondrous hills.

Heritage Tour
An early Spanish settlement, the province of Bohol is filled with old churches, tree-lined plazas and ancestral houses. Visit the Bohol Museum in Tagbilaran, the Punta Cruz Watch Tower in Maribojoc (a wooden cross supposedly bestowed with mysterious powers), the Baclayon Church, and the marker in Barrior Bool commemorating Sikatuna and Legaspi's blood compact to complete your trip down memory lane.

Hiking and Cycling
Bohol's numerous hills, valleys and plateaus are ideal for hiking and cycling. In Bilar, a three-kilometer man-made forest is sanctuary to the province's endangered species including the tarsier. The towns of Carmen, Batuan, and Sierra Bullones possess cool weather throughout the year just right for long and winding walks.



Hinagdanan Cave
With its breath-taking symphony of stalactites and stalagmites jutting out of the earth, the Hinagdanan Cave is certainly a sight to behold. Bring a swimsuit if you want to swim its cool springs aptly lit from above by natural skylights. Hinagdanan is only two and a-half kilometers from Dauis town.



Old Churches and Other Religious Institution
One of the earliest Spanish settlements, Bohol is home to one of the country's oldest stone churches, the Baclayon Church. Built by the Jesuits, Baclayon features a rich collection of religious articles from vestments woven in gold thread to Latin librettos printed on sheepskin. The legendary Dauis Church, which is just a few minutes from Tagbilaran features a fresh water well at the foot of the altar. The waters are said to be blessed with healing powers. Still another religious must-see is the Panglao Church with its marvelous ceiling murals and intricately-carved antique confessionals.


River Safari
Go on an enchanting river tour. Bohol has four major rivers, INabanga and Ipil in the north and Loboc and Abatan down south. From Busay Falls, cruise down Loboc River in a pumpboat. Travel through the seaside towns of Loboc, Loay and Bilar. On board partake of a hearty lunch of fresh lapu-lapu, shrimp, and squid to the tune of strumming guitars.



Swimming and Diving
To top off this idyllic scenery, Bohol has also been blessed with pristine white-sand beaches and serene dive spots. Panglao Island has a number of beach resorts for sun lovers where various watersports are available. Near Panglao are the island of Balicasag and Pamilacan. Balicasag is considered as one of the best dive spots in the country. The waters of Pamilacan are brimming with schools of tuna, snappers, groupers, mackerel and surgeonfish. Dolphins and pilot whales can also be viewed from a distance.

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Paradise Philippine - Palawan island

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Palawan is one of the Last Unexplored Islands in the Pacific, as well as the location of the 1997 James Bond thriller "Tomorrow Never Dies." Jacques Cousteau remarked that Palawan was the most beautiful place he ever explored. Renowned underwater explorer Jacques Costeau has described Palawan as having one of the most Beautiful Seascapes in the world. Sprawled beneath the seas are nearly 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs. Myriads of fish swim in these underwater gardens.

The exotic beauty of Palawan remains undefiled. Branded as the country's last frontier, Palawan is a sanctuary to an amazing variety of exotic flora and fauna that are found nowhere else. Palawan is also home to Tubbataha Reef, the only national marine park that made it to the World Heritage List and whose grandeur is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.



With more than a thousand islands and islets, Palawan boasts of white-sand beaches, scenic rock formations, underwater rivers and magnificent caves. Other well-known attractions include Saint Paul's National Park which boasts of caves that nestle an underground river; El Nido, a world-class resort famous for its awe-inspiring seascape and limestone cliffs; and Calauit island, home of Philippine and African wildlife.

Also in Palawan is the primordial island of Busuanga, a perfect starting point for sorties to other nearby islands.In Palawan, each day is promising. The sun rises over the South China Sea and soon everything else sparkles, including the smiles of its people.

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Paradise Philippines - Boracay Island

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The Beautifull Boracay Island Paradise

Boracay Events - Boracay Beach Babes

The Boracay Island Paradise Beaches

Boracay is part of Aklan Province, which became an independent province on April 25, 1956.[2] Tourism began to develop in Boracay in the 1970s,[3] and the island became popular with backpackers in the 1980s. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers. Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay), and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.



South-facing Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay's main entry and exit point during most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as an alternative entry and exit point.

Boracay Island Beaches Boracay's two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island's narrow central area. White Beach faces westwards and Bulabog Beach faces eastwards. The island also has several other beaches. White Beach is the main tourism beach. It is a bit over four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. In the central portion, for about two kilometers, there is a footpath known as the Beachfront Path separating the beach itself from the establishments located along it. North and south of the Beachfront Path, beachfront establishments do literally front along the beach itself. Several roads and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay's Main Road, a vehicular road which runs the length of the island. At the extreme northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around the headland there and connects White Beach with Diniwid Beach. Across the island from White Beach is Bulabog Beach, a secondary tourism beach and Boracay's main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.

Impact on Tourism Operations Partly because of its wind and weather patterns, tourism in Boracay is at its peak during the Amihan season. During Amihan, the prevailing wind blows from the east. Boracay's main tourism area, White Beach, is on the western side of the island and is sheltered from the wind. During the Amihan season, the water off White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island, hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore onto Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side, making the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding / kitesurfing. Most Boracay hotels and resorts have Low and High Season price levels with High Season prices generally coinciding with Amihan Season dates. Some have additional "Super" Peak Period pricing during periods of heavy tourism (usually including Christmas / New Year, Easter / Holy Week, and Chinese New Year periods).

Facilities Boracay is the site of Fairways and Bluewater -- a world-class 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh.

Events oracay is one competitive venue for the Asian Windsurfing Tour, with the week-long Boracay International Funboard Cup competition usually being held on Bulabog Beach each January..

The well-known Ati-Atihan Festival takes place each January in Kalibo on nearby Panay island. A much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay, usually in the second or third week of January.

Dragon boat races are held annually on Boracay under the auspices of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other asian nations to compete.

The races usually take place sometime in April or May. Since 2003, the Philippine Ultimate Association has been organizing the Boracay Open Asian Beach Ultimate Tournament which is usually held during the summer.

"The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that Boracay will host the 2014 Asian Beach Games".

Around the island On the island, the two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beachfront Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.

To explore around the island's coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.

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Paradise Philippines - Pagsanjan Falls

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Pagsanjan Falls is one of the most popular tourist spot day trip in the Philippines. Located in Laguna city near the town of Santa Crus, about 100 km SE of Manila.

Pagsanjan is most famous for its falls. The town itself dates from early Spanish times and lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Balanac and the Bumbungan. Indeed legend has it that the name of the town derives from the Tagalog word "Pinagsangahan" meaning 'juncture.'

Founded in 1578 by a Spanish Franciscan friar, the town quickly became a center for local trade because of its strategic location. In 1668 the Governor of the Philippines formalized the status of "town" and the newly created parish chose Mexico's Our Lady of Guadeloupe as the town's patroness. It must be remembered that Governance of the Philippines by Spain was indirect and in fact the local Spanish authorities reported to Mexico which was the principal trade route to Europe at that time.

Indeed it is the Falls and the journey taken to reach them - the boat ride along the Pagsanjan River and shooting the rapids along the journey - that provide the main attraction to visitors. While popularly known as the Pagsanjan Falls, locally they are "Magdapio Falls since their actual location is not in Pagsanjan at all but in the adjacent town of Cavinti.

Shooting The Rapids

The journey begins along the tranquil headwaters of the river that skirts the town but the pace soon quickens as you leave behind the houses and farms to "shoot the rapids." The river quickens as it passes through magnificent scenery that combines tropical gorges with rainforest and river wildlife. The journey itself takes between two to three hours and watching the dexterity of the boatmen as they navigate the boulders as well as the other boats is entertainment in itself.

Eventually the river comes to an abrupt end in the form of a horseshoe canyon with the waters tumbling 300 feet at one end. Here you can rest for a while and swim in the pool at the base of the falls.

The boatmen usually only manage one trip a day and so you are free to linger. The trip back to Pagsanjan, in which you are traveling with the river, takes only half the time.

You can do the whole journey to and from Manila with a trip to the falls within a single day but if you have the time it is well worth it to stay over and take the time to savor the other joys of the town. Hotels are clean and comfortable and moderately priced and there are a number of fine restaurants from which to choose and which offer a combination of Filipino and Spanish food as well as international dishes. Since the town can receive up to 1,000 visitors a day during summer months, if you plan to stay it is wise to book ahead.

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