Lifestyle – Page 2

Top 12 Richest Politicians in the Philippines

October 23, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido Leave a Comment

Richest Filipino politicians

The life of a politician in the Philippines is as controversial as the life of actors and actresses in the showbiz; their lifestyle is always scrutinized by the people. Most of the time, they are blamed for the poverty experienced by their constituents.

In accordance to Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, politicians are required to submit their duly accomplished Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to declare their assets such as real properties and cars, their liabilities such as loans, debts and dependents. And of course, their net worth or what is left of their assets minus the liabilities.

Based on the summary report of filed Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) for 2014 of members of the House of Representatives and Senate of the 16th Congress, it shows that Senator Cynthia Villar remains to be the richest politician in the Philippines. While, ANAKPAWIS Party List Representative, Fernando “Ka Pando” L. Hicap remains to be the poorest with a net worth of only P95, 572 although this figure has already increased compared to P37, 722 back in 2013. [Read more…]

Palawan, still the Best Island in the World

October 22, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido Leave a Comment

According to Readers’ Choice Awards 2015 conducted by luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, Palawan, Philippines was again chosen by their readers as number one among the best Islands in the world.

In the survey, readers of the said magazine ranked the best islands for them from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia and Palawan got the first spot with an overall rating of 85.937.

Palawan is an island province in the MIMAROPA region, it is the biggest province in the Philippines in terms of total area of jurisdiction which extends from Mindoro to Borneo. It is made up of Palawan Island other surrounding islands including; the Calamianes Group of Islands (Busuanga Island, Coron Island and Culion Island), Durangan Island (Dulangan), Balabac Island, and Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea. Its capital, Puerto Princesa City is also one of the new seven natural wonders of the world. While El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area is the biggest marine sanctuary in the country.

Other Philippine Islands who made it to the Top 20 are; Boracay which landed on the 15th spot with an overall rating of 80.856 and Cebu ranked #19 with an overall rating of 80.404.

Other Islands which made it to the Top 20 are:

#2. Bora Bora, French Polynesia with an overall rating of 84.756
#3. Moorea, French Polynesia with an overall rating of 84.656
#4. Waiheke Island, New Zealand with an overall rating of 84.447
#5. Bermuda in the North Atlantic with an overall rating of 84.245
#6. Great Barrier Reef & Whitsunday Islands, Australia with an overall rating of 83.420
#7. Vancouver Island, BC, Canada with an overall rating of 82.495
#8. Bali, Indonesia with an overall rating of 82.330
#9. Santorini, Greece with an overall rating of 81.947
#10. Tasmania, Australia with an overall rating of 81.810
#11. Cook Islands with an overall rating of 81.326
#12. British Virgin Islands with an overall rating of 80.960
#13. St. John, USVI in the Caribbean Sea with an overall rating of 80.939
#14. Mykonos, Greece with an overall rating of 80.938
#16. Maldives in the Indian Ocean with an overall rating of 80.833
#17. Orkney Islands, Scotland with an overall rating of 80.603
#18. St. Lucia in the Caribbean with an overall rating of 80.569
#20. Hvar & Dalmatian Islands, Croatia with an overall rating of 80.264

Palawan also claimed top spot last year based on over 76,000 votes in Conde Nast Traveler.

This survey just proves that the Philippines is truly blessed by nature. We Filipinos should do our part in preserving this beauty. Surely more tourists would flock in the island for a chance to visit the best island in the world.

There’s good and bad effect about this, though. The good side is more tourists would come to our country, more tourist means more chance of employments for the locals and more income to the government. The bad side is the more people who would visit, the more garbage they leave behind which could sooner or later ruin this island paradise.

It is up to the local officials and other concerned government agencies to make sure that the beauty of Palawan and other islands in the country are well preserved for the next generation to see the same exquisite art made by the hands of Mother Nature.

The 10 Poorest Provinces in the Philippines

October 14, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido 22 Comments

Artesian well in Mercedes, Eastern Samar, one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines.

The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) will be commemorating the National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty from October 17-23, 2015 with the theme, “Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination”.

The said event is in accordance to the Presidential Proclamation No. 269 series of 1993, declaring October 17 as National Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty, and Presidential Proclamation No. 717, series of 2004, declaring October 17-23 as National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty. It is likewise in line with the United Nations’ “International Day for the Eradication of Poverty” on October 17, 2015. This is conducted to encourage various sectors to help in putting an end to poverty.

According to NAPC, poverty incidence in 2014 increased to 25.8%. Meaning, 1 in 4 Filipinos lives in poverty (20% or 1 out of 5 Filipino families) which is 1.2% higher compared to the 2013 first semester poverty statistics. The higher count of poor people is because food prices and the result of super typhoon Yolanda.

What is poverty incidence? It is the proportion of poor individuals/families to the population; those whose income fall below the poverty threshold or those who cannot afford to provide for their basic needs.

To be considered non-poor, a family with 5 members must earn at least P8, 778 a month. An individual also needs to earn at least P10, 534 for six months so he or she won’t be considered poor.

Following are the Top 10 provinces in the Philippines that have the highest poverty incidence among families from 2006 to 2012: [Read more…]

Top 10 Languages Used in the Philippines

October 12, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido 5 Comments

Baybayin known as Tagalog alphabet is an ancient Philippine script.

I used to think that the only language we have here in the Philippines is Filipino. It may be our national language, but there are actually more languages here in our country than we know.

Because there are more than seven thousand islands in the Philippines, it is no wonder why we have many languages which most of us consider as dialects. There is a difference between dialect and language, though. According to Dictionary.com, a language is used by people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition. While the dialect is a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary.

Here are the top 10 languages used in the Philippines:

1. Tagalog

Our national language was based from Tagalog. It is used mainly in Manila Area and nearby provinces such as Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, and Laguna. This is the only Filipino language that is generally used and can be understood around the country. Based on the Philippine census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, there were 26,387,855 Filipinos who speak this language in the country.

Example:
Good morning – Magandang umaga
Good evening – Magandang Gabi
I love you – Iniibig kita or minamahal kita

2. Cebuano

Cebuano is the next most spoken language in the Philippines with a total of 21,340,000 Filipinos using it. This is mainly used in Cebu City and some areas in Mindanao, such as Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos City.

Example:
Good morning – Maayong buntag
Good evening – Maayong gabii
I love you – Gihigugma ko ikaw

3. Ilocano

Ilokano or Ilocano is a combination of other languages from other countries such as Chamorro of Guam, Indonesian, Hawaiian, Malay, Samoan and Tahitian. It is mostly spoken in the Northern part of the country but because Ilocano speaking people have spread throughout the Philippines, it ranked as third of the most spoken language with 7,779,000 Filipinos using it.

Example:
Good morning – Naimbag a bigat
Good evening – Naimbag a sardam
I love you – Ayayatenka

4. Hiligaynon

Hiligaynon or Ilonggo is the language used in Aklan, Antique, Bacolod, Capiz, Iloilo, Panay Islands as well as in North and South Cotabato in Mindanao. This language is distinct for having a sweet intonation. And as of 2000, there were 7,000,979 sweet speaking Filipinos in the country.

Example:
Good morning – Maayo nga Aga
Good evening – Maayo nga Hapon
Goodbye – Asta sa liwat.

5. Waray-Waray
If Hiligaynons are known for being sweet, the Waray people are known for being tough and strong. Waray is spoken in the Eastern Visayas, particularly Samar and some parts of Leyte and Biliran Province. The Waray comes fifth with 3,100,000 Filipinos using this language as of year 2000.

Example:
Good morning – Maupay nga aga
Good evening – Maupay nga gab-i
Thank you very much – Damo nga salamat

6. Kapampangan

Kapampangan or Pampangueño are spoken by 2,900,000 Filipinos. This is mostly spoken in the northern part of the country particularly Pampanga Province, and portions of Bataan and Tarlac.

Example:
Good morning – Mayap a abak
Good evening – Mayap a bengi
Thank you very much – Dakal a salamat

7. Bicolano

Bikolano or Bicolano is the language used in the Bicol Region. Bicol is one of the biggest regions in the Philippines and there are about 2,500,000 Bicolanos speaking the language.

Example:
Good morning – Marhay na aga
Good evening – Marhay na banggi
I love you – Namomotan ta ka

8. Pangasinense

Pangasinense is the language used in Pangasinan Province in Central Luzon. It has a population of more than 2 million and 2,434,086 of which use the language. Pangasinense is like the Ibalio language used by the people of Baguio City and Benguet in the mountain province.

Example:
Good morning! – Maabig ya kaboasan!
Good afternoon! – Maabig ya ngarem!
I love you – Inaro ta ka.

9. Maranaoan

Maranaoan is the language spoken by 2,150,000 Maranao people living in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur Provinces. It is a Western Austronesian language likewise used in Sabah, Malaysia.

Example:
Good Morning! – Mapiya kapipita
Good Evening! – Mapiya gagawi-i
I Love You! – Pekababaya-an ko seka!

10. Tausug

Tausug is the language used by 1,822,000 people in the Sulu Archipelago, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and Southern Palawan. It is likewise used in the eastern part of Sabah, Malaysia, and North Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Example:
Kalasahan ta kaw – I love you
Kamaya daran – Take care always
Magsukul – Thanks

Other languages in the Philippines are as follows:

Maguindanao – used by 1,800,000 residents of Maguindanao and some parts some parts of Mindanao.

Chavacano – is from a Spanish word “Chabacano” which means tasteless. It is one of the oldest creole languages in the world and the only one in Asia. There are various dialects of Chavacano including, Zamboangueño, Caviteño, Cotabateño, Castellano Abakay (Chabacano de Davao), Ternateño (Bahra), and Ermiteño (Ermitense) with a total population of 1,200,000.

Kinaray-a – is a Visayan language spoken in Antique Province and used by 1,051,000 Filipinos.

Surigaonon – is mainly used by Surigaonon people from the province of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and some portions of Agusan del Norte especially the towns near the Mainit Lake, Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental. There is more than 1,000,000 Filipinos using this language.

Foreign languages that became an official language of the Philippines

Spanish and English are two languages we Filipinos got used to when we were still under the governance of Spain and America.

Spanish – used to be the official language in the Philippines back in the 16th century but now, only around 2,000 Filipinos use this language.

English – is a foreign language commonly used by Filipinos until today. In a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations(SWS) back in 2008, around 76% of Filipinos says they understand English. It is the language mainly used in schools, in the government, in the business world, and etc. This foreign language became an official language of the Philippines under the 1935 Constitution added alongside Spanish. Under the present constitution, approved in 1987, Filipino and English became joint official languages of the country.

Although we have many languages most of us use Taglish or a combination of English and Tagalog. This is often used by the younger generation of Filipinos when texting or talking to friends. Filipinos abroad who have forgotten how to speak Tagalog use this too.

Example: Please call a policeman(English) Pakitawag ng pulis(Tagalog) Paki-call ng police(Taglish)

Our languages just show how unique we Filipinos are. But no matter which part of the country we are from or what language we use we can always use Filipino or English to understand each other.

10 Things to Do when in Biliran

October 7, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido Leave a Comment

Biliran is a small island province in Eastern Visayas which got its name from a native grass which grows abundantly in the island called Borobiliran. During Spanish occupation, the island used to be a part of Cebu Province and was called Isla de Panamao then it became a part of Leyte Province in 1768 and in 1992 it became an independent island province. The island is about two and a half hour drive from Tacloban City.

Biliran may be a small being the 4th smallest province in the Philippines with a total land area of 53,601 hectares but it is blessed with beauty and offers the finest beaches one could expect in a tropical island. If you are looking for a place to go for swimming, relaxation and sight-seeing, Biliran Province offers that and more.

What can you expect from an island province? White sand beaches, waterfalls, hot spring, and of course, friendly locals who would always greet you with a warm welcoming smile.

If you are wondering what you could do in such a small island, I say A LOT! And here are 10 things you could do when in Biliran:

1. Go island-hopping

The province of Biliran is composed of the main island and other smaller islands such as Puro Island which connects the province to Leyte, the island municipality of Maripipi, Higatangan Island which is well-known for its shifting sandbar, Sambawan Island and Dalutan Island known for its white sand beach and pristine clear water.

If you are planning to go island-hopping, you might want to take a longer vacation leave because I am sure you would want to spend a whole day in each island I have just mentioned.

2. Enjoy swimming under the bright blue skies

When visiting Biliran, make sure you have your sunblock lotion ready because it’s gonna be a long day under the sun. Since the island is surrounded by beautiful beaches, swimming is an absolute must do. The clear blue water which reflects the color of the sky looks so inviting! I’m sure no one would be able to resist plunging in.

3. Try scuba-diving

Biliran Island is not only beautiful in the outside, but there is also a beautiful underwater world waiting to be explored. I’m talking about the beautiful coral reefs and colorful fishes you can see when going for a scuba-diving.

For as low as 1,800 Php. you can go for a Fun Dive with scuba gear at Agta Beach Resort in the Municipality of Almeria.

4. Dip yourself in a soothing hot spring

Did you know that Biliran is a volcano island? But there is no need for you to be alarmed because according to Phivolcs, there is only one historic activity which happened on September 26, 1939. But because of that volcano, you can enjoy a warm bath at the Mainit Hot Springs in Caibiran, Biliran. You can dip yourself in a warm and soothing water to relax sore muscles.

5. Visit the Nasunugan Watchtower Ruins (burned ruins)

Biliran, just like other islands in the Philippines have a very colorful history which dates back to pre-Spanish era. During the times when Moro raids were rampant the people of Biliran built a watchtower near the church but in one of those raids the Moros burned the settlement and only this watchtower made of stone and coral blocks remained standing. Hence, the place is now called Nasunugan located in Brgy San Roque, Biliran.

It was reconstructed in 2000 and was recognized by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines as one of the country’s historical landmarks in 2008.

6. Try an outdoor Wall-climbing

Aside from swimming, beach resorts in Biliran also offer other amenities. If you are into wall climbing, why not try this climbing wall in Agta Beach Resort?

You would not miss it for sure because it is just right at the entrance of the resort. It is a fun way to start a day with friends before plunging into the sea.

7. Hike your way up to Binongtoan (Padre Gaspar)

Hiking up to Binongtoan is like a pilgrimage for Biliranons. It is the place where Padre Gaspar Ignacio de Guevarra brought the town folks during the so-called Biliran Religious Revolt from 1765 to 1774. From Biliran town proper, you can ride a motorcycle up to Brgy Hugpa or Brgy Canila and from there you can start hiking. Before reaching the peak, people would stop by at a spring water to drink sweet, cold and refreshing water which some people believes to be miraculous. When you reach the peak make sure you have your camera ready for the picturesque view in front of you.

Usually, people go there during Saturdays to light a candle at a huge white rock. People of Biliran built a small chapel there where a priest would celebrate mass during the celebration of a Fiesta in honor of Padre Gaspar every February 19-20.

8. Fall in love with stunning falls in the island!

No one could resist the tempting nature’s beauty which Biliran possess. One of the province’s tourist attractions are the numerous falls which can be found in almost every town.

Taste the sweet water of Tomalistis Falls in Caibiran which made it to Guinness Book of World Records for being the “sweetest-tasting water in the world.”

There are also other falls to choose from like Kasabangan Falls in Cabucgayan, Kinaraha Cascades in Caibiran, Pundol Falls in Almeria, Busai Falls in Kawayan, Tigbaw Falls in Brgy Julita, Biliran , Ulan ulan Falls in Almeria, Tinago Falls in Caibiran and many others.

9. Experience the culture

Municipalities of Biliran Province preserve the historical significance of local festivals, which showcases their cultures and histories.

Hudyaka or merriment is one of the best parts of the celebration of Biliran Provincehood held every May 11. Just like Pintados, it showcases various festivals of the municipalities in the province.

Other festivals are; Bagasumbol Festival in Naval during town fiesta every 1st Saturday of October, Ibid Festival in Caibiran during town fiesta every 25th of July, Ginalutan Festival in Maripipi during town fiesta every 29th of September, Bucgay Festival in Cabucgayan every 2nd week of October, Gapnod in Almeria during charter anniversary every 1st of September, Subingsubing Festival of Kawayan every 24th of October and Borobiliran Festival in the town of Biliran during the celebration of its Pueblo Day every 9th of September.

10. Eat Fresh sea foods to your heart’s content

Since Biliran is surrounded by seas, fresh seafood is abundant. You can fill your stomach with freshly caught fish, shrimps and crabs at a low cost.

Aside from the sumptuous seafood there are also restaurants in the island which serve Italian and American cuisine. Plus you can also try some of the sweet delicacies such as sampilot and mamban. Or find out why Balintawak is the famous pasalobong from Biliran, it is a suman or rice cake which is a combination of black and white sticky rice wrapped in coconut leaf.

When in Biliran, you can EAT seafood to your heart’s content, fall in LOVE with the scenery and PRAY that you could visit the island again. Biliran may not be a well-developed tourist destination but seeing its natural beauty is truly exhilarating. If you are looking for a place to relax and forget the stress a city life gives you, Biliran is the place to be.

15 Things Usually Found in Filipino Homes

September 29, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido Leave a Comment

There are customs we Filipinos follow which for some other culture find weird but for us they are part of who we are. There are things that only we Filipinos know how to use, things we would find a day hard to live by without.

These are the things which we have learned to use since we could remember. Despite the modern life we have now, there are still things we use today which our forefathers have used.

Here are some of the common things you would usually find in Filipino homes: [Read more…]

In Photos: Catbalogan City’s Manaragat Festival Parade 2015

August 23, 2015 By Rig Man Leave a Comment

Manaragat is a Waray-Waray term that means fishermen. The Manaragat festival is an August month-long city festivity to honour St. Bartholomew, the miraculous Patron Saint of Catbalogan who maintains the richness of Magueda Bay as a fishing ground for Catbaloganons and all Samareños.

As one of the highlights in their month-long celebration, the people of Catbalogan hold a colourful parade every 23 of August, a day before the city’s fiesta (kaadlawan). The Manaragat Festival Parade is joined by various tribes or groups representing different barangays and schools from the City, as well as visitors from other parts of the Philippines.

During the parade, several festive dances characterized by colourful costumes and complex movements of different marine species inhabiting Maqueda Bay are presented by dancers. The dances are also executed in harmony with the sounds of drums and bugles that echo the culture of the long-lived fishing industry in Catbalogan.

In this year’s Manaragat Festival Parade, we had an opportunity to witness its grandeur. It’s our tradition to take photos of different festival parades from the different cities and towns of the Philippines, and we do it from an ordinary citizen’s point of view (no VIP or special media access) :).

Whether you missed the parade or you were there to watch it, here are some of the photos of Catbalogan City’s 2015 Manaragat Festival Parade. [Read more…]

10 Remarkable Facts You Should Know about Stonefish

August 20, 2015 By Lyza R. Sabornido 5 Comments

Coron, Palawan is known to be one of the most beautiful places in the world that is why foreign and local tourists flock to have a once in a lifetime experience in this paradise. Sadly for one man, his dream vacation cost him his life.

According to a report, a 25-year-old man allegedly died after he accidentally stepped on a poisonous sea creature, thought to be a stone fish, while on vacation in Coron, Palawan last Friday (August 14, 2015). Now what exactly is a stonefish?

Here are some facts that you might want to know about the stonefish, a sea creature which is believed to be the most venomous fish in the world: [Read more…]

5 Reasons Why Free Internet Data should be Stopped in the Philippines

August 20, 2015 By Rig Man 1 Comment

Before you react to this article, I just want to clarify that we love free Internet data. Of course who doesn’t want freebies? Who doesn’t want free access to Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Viber and other great websites and applications on the Internet.

It also gives us the opportunity to know what’s happening in the world and to communicate with our loved ones wherever they are on Earth without extra charges. We can even write our own list of reasons why free data should be continued in the country.

However, not all good things bear good consequences, especially if they aren’t used the right way. So here are 5 reasons why free yet limited Internet data should be stopped in the Philippines. [Read more…]

What is the Total Land Area Occupied by all SM Supermalls in the Philippines?

August 2, 2015 By Rig Man 2 Comments

Are you interested to learn what’s the total land area that is currently occupied by all SM Supermalls in the Philippines? To fill your curiosity, here are some fascinating information we’ve gathered on the Internet about the largest chain of malls in the country.

As of this writing, there are 52 SM Supermalls across the Philippines.

According to this list compiled by Wikipedia, which we’ve summed up, the total estimated land area occupied by those 52 malls [Read more…]