Travel Philippines – Page 5

10 Foods You Must Try in Philippines

November 26, 2017 By FAQ Leave a Comment

Food is a part of a culture. Tasting a country’s local food does not only make travelling experiences more fun, but it also gives better insight of the cultural diversity.

The Philippines is one of the popular tourism destinations in Asia and its local cuisines can be quite challenging for some. Well, here are its top ten local dishes that will take your travelling and culinary journals to the next level:

1. Pork sisig

This local delicacy was first introduced in Pampanga. It soon became popular throughout the country, though. As the name suggests, pork is the main ingredient for the dish. However, it is not the meat that becomes the highlight. Instead, it uses the face and ears of a pig’s, which are chopped and grilled along with chicken liver. Served in both restaurants and bars, pork sisig is one of the country’s favourite appetizers.

2. Balut

This dish is unquestionably the country’s most popular dish. It is almost always exposed in every TV program covering the Philippines. Once, eating balut was even used as a challenge in an American TV show. Despite the worldwide exposure, a lot of foreign tourists visiting the country still find it nerve wrecking to get a bite. The repulsive thing about balut is the egg contains a duck embryo with its almost complete body parts, like a beak, eyes, and feathers. Not only that, the incubated duck egg is simply boiled and normally eaten right from its shell. Balut has normally had this disgusting reputation to those who have not eaten it yet. But, one has to eat it and decide what it tastes like.

3. Halo halo

When talking about the local dessert, nothing beats halo halo, especially if you are enjoying the hot sun near the beach. Not only the rich colours that make it appealing, but its ingredients are also a total delish: coconut, ice cream, kidney beans, milk and some other local sweet components. The name halo halo means mix together and that is why all the ingredients should be mixed altogether to get the best taste. Almost every restaurant has its own version, though, some throwing in sweet potato or jackfruit to up the ante.

4. Adobo

While the main ingredients for the dish may vary: chicken, pork or squid, the dish is named adobo because of the way it is processed. The Spanish originated word means marinate, and so the meat is marinated in some kind of sauce that is commonly the result of mixed vinegar, garlic and soy sauce, but for squids, there is usually an added ingredient in the sauce: squid ink.

5. Lugaw

It is also known by other names: goto or arroz caldo. Basically, the three refer to rice porridge, but the differences lie in the dish components. While goto is enriched with beef or pork, and arroz caldo with chicken, lugaw has no additional ingredients, but the plain porridge, which is quite similar to congee, but with thicker consistency. The local tend to consume this along with shallots, chili, and soy sauce. This dish is especially popular during rainy season.

6. Pork barbecue

Quite similar to the popular satay from Indonesia and Malaysia, the Philippines has its own version of grilled and bamboo skewered meat to enjoy. However, the meat used is pork instead of chicken, lamb, or beef. These are grilled until the pork is cooked and it is also being basted during the process to add flavor and keep the meat moist. The tradition in the country to celebrate a kid’s birthday by serving the dish with hot dogs and local spaghetti.

7. Silog

If you ask Filipinos what their favorite breakfast is, they will easily tell you one or more of the famous silog. It is indeed a popular breakfast menu. Silog actually refers to a combination of fried rice, egg and meat. The name silog is usually adjusted depending on the meat used. When beef is added, the name is changed into tapsilog, tosilog for pork and longsilog for the fried rice combined with local sausages, which are name longganisa.

8. Chicken inasal

Having been popular during the past decade, the Visayas originated chicken dish is made and served with a lot of ingredients, such as lime, annato, pepper, vinegar, soy sauce, chili and dipping sauce. it is a popular specialty in the city of Bacolod, as well as in neighboring cities and towns of Negros Occidental.

9. Chicharon Bulaklak

Chicharon Bulaklak or deep-fried ruffled fat is a popular Filipino appetizer. It is another local dish that uses a pig’s body part. This time, it is the thin layer of the animal’s intestines that looks like web. The innards are deep fried and served with vinegar, onion and chili sauce. This dish is extremely easy to find on the local streets.

10. Sinigang

This can be said to be the most distinguished dish of the Philipines. While other popular dishes are either grilled or fried, sinigang comes in the form of soup. As it contains tamarind, the dominating taste is sour. Those who care about healthy diet may find the dish agreeable to their expectations as it has got lots of vegetables (radish, eggplant, spinach, beans) and various kinds of meat (chicken, shrimp, fish, beef, pork). Most Filipinos like to cook sinigang with green long peppers in order to enhance the taste and add a little spice to the dish.

10 Most Beautiful Beach in Philippines

November 13, 2017 By FAQ Leave a Comment

Blessed with more than seven thousand islands, the Philippines is one of the top leisure destinations in Asia. It has got quite a lot of white, sandy beaches with crystal clear water. However, to make it easier for you to choose, the top ten are already picked!

1. Boracay, Aklan

Boracay is a small island in Northern Panay island. Having been awarded and noted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with its one-of-a-kind 5 km white sand, this beach is a magnet for tourists. Thanks to the world wide recognition and exposure from online tourism giants like Tripadvisor and Yahoo, a lot of foreigners from the Western countries enjoy their leisure here. Equipped with diving spots and facilities, bars, clubs, spas, hotels, resorts and restaurants, this island is perfect for both romantic and adventurous getaways.

Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Boracay 3rd best island in the world for 2017 alongside Palawan (also Philippines) and other world-famous islands like Santorini in Greece, Maui (Hawaii), Bali (Indonesia) and Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

When to Visit: The best time to visit is from November to May. The temperature during this time ranges between 25 degrees and 32 degrees Celsius.

How to Get There: The fastest (and the most expensive) way to travel is from Manila to Caticlan airport. Then, you need to take a vehicle to Caticlan Jetty port for the 10-20 minute boat ride to Boracay.

2. Coron, Palawan

Coron is both the name of an island off the coast of Busuanga and the name of Busuanga’s largest town. It is one of the beaches that stun their visitors with its breathtaking views. Many who have visited this beach tend to find the place fiction-like. It is in the form of a lagoon with clear, blue water, rocky mountains and beautiful coral reefs. Enriched with some historical value with the Japanese shipwrecks from the World War II under its water, this beach has been nominated in The World’s Top Ten Scuba Diving Sites by Forbes Traveler Magazine.

When to Visit: The Dry Season runs from December to mid-June. Coolest months are from December to February. On average hovering in the 30 degree celsius range plus humidity.

How to Get There: Flying is the easiest and fastest way to reach Busuanga Airport from Manila then take a van to Coron town (takes about 45 minutes).

3. El Nido, Palawan

Located in Palawan, just like Coron, the beach offers clear water, white sand and astonishing view. The added benefit of visiting the beach is enjoying nature and wildlife through its beautiful forests. El Nido in Palawan is ranked No. 14 among the CNN’s Top 100 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World.

When to Visit: The best time to visit is December through March because the weather is nice and dry.

How to Get There: Most tourists coming to El Nido land on Palawan island in Puerto Princesa International Airport, though a direct flight from Manila. The journey usually continues with a van direct from Puerto Princesa airport up to El Nido bus terminal.

4. Panglao Island, Bohol

The beach is on Panglao Island. Its beauty has earned the place a cute nickname the little paradise of pure hearts. The tourism spot is suitable for those who fancy relaxation and taking a stroll along the shore.

When to Visit: The dry, cool season between December and March is the perfect time to go.

How to Get There: The easiest way to reach Bohol is via Cebu, where there are ferries heading to the direction every day.

5. Siargao Island

Despite the tear like shape of the island, the place is best known for its beach and waves. In between August and November, they can reach as high as twenty feet. The blue water beautifies the surfing spot. No wonder, several prestigious surfing events, like the 2017 International Women’s Surfing Cup, Cloud 9 Surfing Cup, and Surfista Surf Camps have been conducted there. Furthermore, the island has the largest mangrove forest in Mindanao which is a source of rich marine biodiversity.

When to Visit: For those who plan to go surfing, the best months would be August to November.

How to Get There: The most convenient way to get to Siargao to take a flight from Manila or Cebu city to Sayak Airport, Siargao.

6. Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Although the beach has been compared to Hawaii due to its magnificent blue water and the seemingly endless white sand, it is not so crowded yet. It may be the result of its location on the northern part of the Philippines’ main island, Luzon, with not-so-accessible route. However, for that reason, the beach is perfect for intimate and relaxing getaways.

When to Visit: From December to March is the best time to go to Pagudpud to head out to the calmest waters, and bluest skies hands down.

How to Get There: You can fly from Manila into Laog City in Ilocos Norte and then hire a bus or a car from there.

7. Bantayan Island

The island, which is located in the northern part of Cebu, offers not only a fun and adventurous holiday, but also a theurapetic one. Those seeking fun and adrenaline rush can enjoy cool sandbars and various thrilling activities, like skydiving, while the gentle waves, warm breeze, and soft white sand create peaceful atmosphere in the area.

When to Visit: Best month to visit is from January to June.

How to Get There: Most tourists go here via Cebu City, where one can take a bus to Hagnaya Port and a ferry to Bantayan Islans.

8. Camiguin Island

Those looking for a tourism spot that has more to offer than a plain beach may find this place suitable for their taste. This island indeed has a unique topography with its pear-like shape. Camiguin has more volcanoes per square kilometre than any other island on earth. Therefore, tourists coming to the place are also spoiled with mountainous terrains other than the beach itself. Some who have been mesmerized by its beauty have even referred to the place as the Garden of Eden. In addition, there is the Cross at the Sunken Cemetary that many have found intriguing.

When to Visit: If you get the chance, visit Camiguin during the Lanzones Festival, which is celebrated on the third week of October.

How to Get There: The most convenient way to Camiguin is obviously a plane trip from Cebu to to Camiguin Airport (Mambajao, Camiguin).

9. Dakak Park Beach Resort

Tourism business seems to have grown in this place. Here, there are a lot of resorts and hotels to choose. Those who enjoy the combination of luxury and beauty of the nature are likely to have a great time in this tourism destination.

How to Get There: Dakak Beach Resort is a 30-minute drive from Dipolog City and Dipolog Airport.

10. Mactan Island

Mactan Island which is located in Cebu is home to 430,000 people. It is the most densely populated island in the Philippines and has many tourists spots and attractions. There are also numerous water sports activities, like jet skiing, sailing, para-sailing.

When to Visit: From January to May are the driest months, and you should expect rain the rest of the year.

How to Get There: You can fly or take a boat to Mactan. Mactan Island is also connected by two bridges to Cebu city.

For additional information, while it may be easy to reach some of the top ten beaches (like Dakak Park, Boracay, El Nido, Siargao in Surigao, and Puerto Princesa) by air via direct flights, the other places are likely to require you to combine a flight and land or sea transportations (the popular ones are ferries). Nonetheless, most tourists find the tiring journeys worthwhile.

7 Reasons Why You Should Travel To The Philippines

November 1, 2017 By FAQ Leave a Comment

Asian countries have always been popular tourism destinations. Not only do they offer a wide range of different experiences and adventures, but many also find that the budget is not burdening.
The Philippines is one of the countries worth visiting. Why? Because it has got a lot of things to offer. Below are the top seven reasons why:

1. Beaches

The country has got thousands of islands, which means a vast collection of pretty beaches. Sometimes people have their own ideas of a perfect beach. Some may look forward to romantic sunsets, others a chance to snorkel and enjoy underwater beauty and the others an experience to swim with the giant whale sharks. With thousands of choices, it will not be impossible to find one that matches your personal criteria. As long as you do not mind browsing a bit, it will be easy to find out that the best sunset can be found in Boracay, the beautiful reefs in Palawan, and the whale sharks in Cebu.

2. One-stop holiday destination

If beaches are not for you, there are still other natural wonders awaiting to be explored: volcanoes and rice terraces.
UNESCO has, in fact, listed the rice terraces in the northern Luzon to be one of the world’s heritage sites. Beyond the beauty that the paddy fields offer, the geographical conditions in the area, like the cliffs and waterfall, also allow an exciting trekking adventure for its visitors.
As for the volcanoes, there are two well-known sites: Camiguin in Mindanao and Mount Mayon in Bicol. When visiting the inactive volcanoes, tourists can try climbing the volcanoes, yet be aware of mini eruptions that may happen. To be on the safe side, it is better to hire a guide who knows the areas well. After all, climbing the volcano(es) can be rewarding and soothing, what with the agenda of bathing in natural hot tubs or springs nearby afterwards.

However, if you are not into nature, big shopping malls and street foods can be a different kind of adventure in the country. For great shopping experiences, you can go to Manila or to Quezon where the South East Asia’s biggest shopping mall is located. Alternatively, you can also try visiting the world’s fourth biggest shopping mall in Pasay.

3. Local people

Many who have visited the country seem to find that the locals are nice, friendly people with a good sense of humour. Even the traditional people who still live in tribes welcome wefie invitations. Some others have reported polite treatment from the locals as they constantly address tourists with miss, ma’am, sir, etc. Additionally, over 90% of the Filipinos speak English. With less language barrier, blending in appears to be easier to do.

4. Affordability

This is especially true for tourists coming from the United States and European countries. With the different currencies, everything in the Philippines may seem affordable. The rent for some great bungalows right on the beach is around $35. Even the price for alcoholic drinks is reasonable. Some 0,5l drinks is for sale at $0.5 while the 0,7l bottle costs $2. Practically, it is fun to have a holiday in the country as there is nothing to hold back, including your spree for good drinks.

5. Local taste

Not only are they cheap, but they can also take your culinary experiences to the next level. Mostly dominated by pork, some of which is either grilled or fried, the country’s most popular dishes come with healthier options, like sinigang, which refers to tamarind based soup garnished with a lot of kinds of meat and vegetables and balut, which is a boiled duck egg. While foreigners may find the first dish agreeable to their taste once they get used to the sourness, many find the second one repulsive or at least challenging to eat. Balut has indeed gained its notorious reputation for a long time as it is not common for people outside the Philippines to dig in an already anatomically complete duck embryo from its egg shell.

Not keen on trying the dishes? Not to worry, the country also has halo-halo as its most favourite dessert. The reason for the love of this dessert is obvious: it is colourful, healthy with kidney beans, coconuts and some other local ingredients and refreshing with the ice cream on top.
If you do not fancy the combination, eating just the local fruits can be appealing for your taste buds. The pineapples. mangoes, papayas, durians, and coconuts are simply fresh and tasty.

6. Non-extreme weather

The Philippines is a tropical country with around 26.6° C yearly temperature on average. With such friendly temperature, tourists can easily adapt to the country’s weather although rainy season is to be expected from June to October. The best time to go is between November and May.

7. It has one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature

The Underground River is a 8km navigable river in the island of Palawan, in western Philippines. It’s the longest river underground and boasts incredible geological formations, lagoons and caves.

Perfect beaches. Friendly locals. Beautiful nature. Non-Extreme Weather. Plus, it’s a cheap country to travel, you’ll get a great value for your money. So, there you go, the seven main reasons why the Philippines is a must-visit country.

10 Longest Bridges in the Philippines

October 20, 2017 By Marydel Mitch Flores Leave a Comment

Bridges are important structures especially for an archipelago like the Philippines. It helps people reach their destination easily by land without spending much by traveling air or risky travel by water. In fact, bridges are also created to be a sign of boundaries of two places.

And now, when we talk about longest bridges in the Philippines, there are amazing architectures you may want to check. Below are the longest bridges in the Philippines.

1. Metro Manila Skyway
The Metro Manila Skyway is the country’s longest bridge with 10 km long and 17 km long including Bicutan-Alabang section and is the first fully grade-separated highway in the Philippines. It is elevated highway in Metro Manila crossing over existing South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

2. Candaba Viaduct
Candaba Viaduct is also known as “Pulian-Apalit Bridge.” It is a 5 kilometers bridge in the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), consisting of four lanes. Construction Development Corporation of the Philippines (Now, Philippine National Construction Corporation) built it and was designed by Aas-Jakobsen. Also, the viaduct is raised over Candaba Swamp, which keeps the highway open to traffic even when the swamp gets flooded during the rainy or monsoon season.

3. San Juanico Bridge
San Juanico Bridge is one of the longest bridges in the Philippines with a length of 2.16 km. It is part of the Pan-Philippine Highway and stretches from Samar to Leyte across San Juanico Strait. A steel girder viaduct is its longest length and its main span is of an arch-shaped truss design. It is accessible by passenger jeepney, motorcab, bus, or private vehicle. The construction was worth $21.9 million, which started on 1969 and completed four years later. The bridge was also dedicated to Ferdinand Marcos’ wife, Imelda Marcos.

4. Narciso Ramos Bridge
Narciso Ramos Bridge is located in the Province of Pangasinan, Ilocos. It has a length of 1.442 km that connects the towns of Asingan and Sta. Maria in the province of Pangasinan. The bridge was opened in year 1997 and is one of the most important projects of former President Fidel V. Ramos.

5. Buntun Bridge
Buntun Bridge is considered as one of the longest bridge in the Philippines. It has a length of 1.369 that stretches from Tuguegarao City to Solana, Cagayan and spans over the mighty Cagayan River (the largest river basin in the country). It was constructed for the sake of the travelers who want to cross Cagayan River. The bridge has also been known as the gateway to the City of Tuguegarao.
The Buntun Bridge has a total of 15 spans, long enough to carry more than 18 tons of vehicles. The construction was worth 4.6 million-dollar and was contracted to the Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines (now the Philippine National Construction Corporation).

6. Patapat Viaduct
Patapat viaduct is located at the municipality of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. It is elevated 31 meters over sea level and has the length of 1.3 km that connects the Maharlika Highway from Ilocos Region to Cagayan Valley. It is also one of the most scenic and photographed destination in the province.
The concrete coastal bridge has two lanes of traffic. It was constructed by Hanil Development Co, Ltd . and was completed in October 1986. San Juanico Bridge and Patapat Viaduct are both projects done under the Marcos administration that’s why the roads has similarities.

7. Marcelo Fernan Bridge
Marcelo Fernan Bridge is an extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge located at Metro Cebu, which has the length of 1.237 km. It is the second bridge that connects the mainland Cebu to Mactan and has four lanes. It was also constructed with the help of the Japanese Government and was opened in August 1999.

8. Magat Bridge
Magat Bridge is a road bridge located at Cabatuan, Isabela with a length of 0.926 km and was completed in 1991 under the administration of Corazon Aquino.

9. Macapagal Bridge
Macapagal Bridge is the longest bridge in Mindanao; it is located in the outskirts of Butuan City in the province of Agusan Del Norte. It has a length of 0.9076 km that connects the Butuan-Cagayan-Iligan Road and the Philippine-Japan Friendship Bridge. It was completed in May 2007 and was a project funded by Japan bank for International Cooperation for the people in Butuan.
The bridge was lobbied to former President Fidel V. Ramos, then was approved by former President Joseph Estrada, and finally implemented under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

10. Mactan Bridge
Mactan Bridge is officially the Serging Osmeña Bridge that connects Mandaue City with lapu-lapu City in Metro Cebu. It has a length of 0.864 km and is one of the two bridges that spans across the Mactan Channel. It was constructed during the term of late President Ferdinand Marcos, which began in 1970. It was then inaugurated in 1972 at 65 million pesos.

People have been using bridges to facilitate mobility since the ancient time. Bridges cross valleys and waters to shorten distances and also reduce travel time. With its the amazing construction that people have accomplished over time, it is interesting to see how these lists changes as bridges become longer.

10 Visa-Free Countries for Filipino Citizens in 2017

September 7, 2017 By Marydel Mitch Flores Leave a Comment

Have you ever wonder how far can your Philippine passport take you without a visa?

Well, as someone who wants to travel around the world, I know it can be a pain to get visas. Filipinos love travelling yet compared to big countries who’s allowed to travel as much as 173 places, Philippines is only allowed to 56 countries and territories to visit without a visa.

I know everyone of you are looking for beautiful places to travel without a visa. So, I listed down visa-free countries for Philippines Passport Holder, which is a good way to start your around the world trip.

Singapore-30 days

Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia. It has become one of the world’s most prosperous countries and brags the world’s busiest port. Singapore is constantly evolving, reinventing, and re-imagining itself with people who are passionate about creating new opportunities. Aside from that, it is also the place where explorers, action seekers, foodies, collectors, culture shapes, and sociolisers meet.

Hongkong- 14 days

Hongkong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China. It is located on the southeast coast of China, facing the South China Sea. Hongkong offers visa-free access from about 170 countries, including the Philippines. There are a lot of reasons why you should visit Hongkong, aside from it is visa-free, it is a fusion of East and West cultures, a shopping paradise bringing all the world famous brands together, a world of mouthwatering international cuisine, has a highly developed transportation network, and is the ideal springboard for trips.

Thailand-30 days

Thailand is the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland and is also called the”Land of smiles”. Aside from having a comparably good infrastructure with Bangkok being an intercontinental fight hub, it is also the gateway to the region for most foreign visitors. Thailand also serves great food, it has a tropical climate, fascinating culture, and superb beaches.

Vietnam- 21 days

Vietnam is a home to wealth of attractions that will seduce both budget and top-range travelers. It has stunning and varied geography, amazing cuisine, plentiful beaches, and near-endless-shopping that you won’t regret visiting the place.

Maldives- 30 days

If you’re looking for white-sand beaches and an amazing underwater world, Maldives is the best choice to visit. It is a place where sands are white as the smiles of the locals, fish swim happily in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the weather is a dream, and the deep rays of the sun waits to surround you in their arms.

Image Credit: Pixabay

South Korea- 30 days (ONLY if arriving at Jeju Island or after visiting Korea for 4 times with Visa.)

South Korea is littered with fortresses, temples and palaces. Travelers will enjoy the grassy burial mounds of ancient kings. It is also a wonderfully diverse with spectacular national parks, remote sandy beaches, hot spring islands, and rugged mountain peaks.

Macau-30 days

Macau is a tiny Chinese territory, it is known for its huge casinos and being the world’s top gambling city. It brags some popular attractions for tourist to visit. It is also a place where you do different things you like exploring the city’s famous casinos, walk around old Tipa Village, enjoy duty-free shopping, try some Macau’s unique cuisine, and appreciate its historical and cultural heritage.

Malaysia- 30 days

Malaysia is a mix of the modern world and a developing nation. It is not only a melting pot of ethnic cultures but also a blend of many different customs, cuisines, and religions. The country’s geography is very bit as diverse, from large island groups to mountains, fertile highlands, and tropical rain-forest.

Image Credit: Pexels

Indonesia- 30 days

Indonesia was formerly known as the “Dutch East Indies” (Netherlands East Indies). The country also offers and adventure like exploring ancient temples and hiking active volcanoes to diving in largely untouched waters.

Laos- 30 Days

For such a small country, it is surprisingly diverse in terms of its people. The country is combined with atmospheric Buddhist temples, places of interest and enigmatic heritage sites.

There you have it! I hope the lists above helps you decide which country to visit the next time you plan to travel around the globe. However, visa restriction can change from time to time, due to new updates so check the immigration website of the country or territory you will visit.

Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival 2017: Leyte’s Festival of Festivals

September 5, 2017 By Marydel Mitch Flores Leave a Comment

The Pintados Festival in Tacloban Cty is a Filipino Festival with its own unique flavor. It recalls the Pre-Spanish history of the native Leytenos from wars, epics and folk religions. The most expected aspect in Pintados is the festive dancers, painted from head to toe with designs that look like armor to resemble tattooed warriors.

This year, the Pintados Festival once again showcase the unique culture and history of the people from Eastern Visayas. It is one of the local traditions of the province that celebrates the ageless art of body painting. So I am here to bring you all over the event by experiencing the Pintados Festival.

A boy with ageless art of body painting.

It was 27th of June, around 7 am when I and my boyfriend went to Grandstand for the Pintados grand parade. I can see a lot of people roaming around the area and there were also police officers securing the place. And since we have an I.D. it was easy for us to enter and exit the vicinity. But as usual it didn’t start immediately; it was around 9 a.m. when the parade started.

Contingents at the Grandstand while waiting for the parade to start.

The procession started at Grand Stand going to Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Paterno Street, Sta. Cruz Street, Juan Luna Street, Avenida Veteranos, Real Street, Justice Romualdez Street, Rizal Avenue, and then back to Grandstand.

Under the heat of the sun, the different contingents in an amazing array of colors fill the streets of Tacloban City. At first sight, they may seem outrageous as grown men pour into the streets decorated in such dazzling colors as luminous blue or neon green. But as one gets used to this and sees the dances depicted, one gets a glimpse of the history of the people that once lived on the islands of Leyte so long ago.

Kaplag festival of Mahaplag

Tribu Mangirisda of Tanauan , Leyte

Patiklos festival of Sta. Rita

Despite of the heat of the sun, the sweat, the exhausted feeling dancing all over the street, I can still see each of them smiling without any hesitations. And though I feel like I’m a dead beat that day, while taking pictures of them. I still enjoy experiencing the music, the parades, and the warm atmosphere of a fun, local festival.

Around 10:30 a.m. the parade is over, the contingents were about to prepare for the program and ritual dance which will start at 1:00 p.m. So, we decided to eat our lunch first before going back to the Grand stand.

After taking our lunch, we witnessed different ritual presentations from the contingents. Joining the festivals from the Leyte province were the Lubi-lubi festival of Calubian, Buraburon festival of Burauen, Tolo-Usa festival of Tolosa, Buyugan festival of Abuyog, Sanggutan festival of Barugo, Kaplag festival of Mahaplag, Maisayaw festival of San Isidro; Ibid festival of Caibiran, Biliran province, Patiklos festival of Sta. Rita, Samar, and Tribu Mangirisda of Tanauan , Leyte.

Seven competing contingents are from Leyte, one from Samar and one from Biliran and while all contingents were bursting with their energy, massive and colorful props that completely filled the streets as well as the basketball court sized stage.

Contingents were bursting with their energy, massive and colorful props.

Ibid festival of Caibiran, Biliran province.

Maisayaw festival of San Isidro

Patiklos festival of Sta. Rita

This year’s Kasadyaan competition was won by Buraburon festival of Burauen with P750. 000 cash prize. The second place went to Buyugan festival of Abuyog with P500, 000 cash prize, while the Sanggutan festival of Barugo was the third place winner with P250, 000 cash prize. All the participating contingents will also receive P 50, 000.

Third Place: Sanggutan festival of Barugo

Second Place Winner: Buyugan festival of Abuyog

Grand Champion: Buraburon festival of Burauen with Best in Street Parade, Best in Festival Music, Best in Costume, and Bitoon han Leyte 2017

The superior story line, dance execution, and set designs of Burabon Festival stood out and earned the nod of the judges. Huge and larger than life images of the Senior Santo Nino de Tacloban were the common props of the participants that expressed the adoration and filial piety of the Leytenos to the Señor Santo Niño.

Huge and larger than life images of the Senior Santo Nino de Tacloban.

Meanwhile, Kasadyaan which means “merriment” in the Visayan dialect plays an important role for it strengthens the sense of pride and portrays the local folklore and legends of the municipality. This marked the beginning of the Pintados Festival, which was first celebrated in June 29,1987. In 1995 the foundation started the Leyte Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival and was henceforth called as the “Festival of Festivals.” Little did they know that they were laying the groundwork for making the festival a national cultural event depicting the rich cultural past of Leyte and its colorful customs and traditions.

The Pintados Festival managed by Pintados Foundation, Inc. was formed by the people of this city in celebration of the feast day of Sr. Santo Niño. Years later, it was merged with the Kasadyaan Festival chaired then by now mayor Petilla.

Sangyaw Festival 2017 in Tacloban City

September 5, 2017 By Marydel Mitch Flores Leave a Comment

Sangyaw Festival is a religious, socio-cultural event and a popular native festival held every 29th of June in Tacloban City. Sangyaw means “to herald news” in the local dialect. It was created by former first lady Imelda Marcos in the 80s.

The festival has been revived in 2008 by her nephew and former Mayor Alfred Romualdez. The revived festival became a big success and participated by cultural contingents from different performing groups of various festivals in the country to compete on this side of the region.

128th fiesta celebration of Sangyaw Parade of Lights, brightly colored lights with the conceptualized floats.

This year, the Sangyaw Festival once again showcase the unique culture and history of the people from Eastern Visayas. Thousands of Tacloban residents were mesmerized and amazed on Wednesday night (June 29) by the Sangyaw parade of lights with its theme: Unity in progress, an annual event hosted by the City Government in line with its 128th fiesta celebration.

It was around 5 p.m. when we head to downtown area and witnessed the parade of lights. And as usual, some roads were closed to pave the way for the 128th fiesta celebration. We were just standing in front of Real Mcdo while waiting for the parade to pass by in our area.

At MacDonald’s Real while waiting for the parade.

Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Tacloban City.Patterned after the previous year’s Sangyaw Parade of Lights, brightly colored lights with the conceptualized floats and the dancing Street performers coming from Tacloban’s barangays, schools and community based contingents were seen during the parade.

Competing contingents of the 2017 Sangyaw festival of lights were: the Barangay Contingents (Brgy. 77 Fatima Village; Brgy. Aslum Sagkahan; Brgy. 39 Serin; Brgy. 23-A.P. Burgos; Brgy. 49 Youngfield; Brgy. 2 Jones Street; Brgy. 6-A Sto. Nino Ext.; Brgy. 70 Rawis Anibong & Brgy. 92 Apitong.

Brgy. 58 Aslum Sagkahan

Brgy. 2 Jones Street

Brgy. 70 Rawis Anibong

School participants were Collegio de la Salle Foundation of Tacloban City; Northern Tacloban City National High School; Kapagian School; Eastern Visayas State University; Palanos Elem. School; Cirilo Roy Montejo National High School; Sto. Nino Sped Center; Scandinavian National High School & Fisherman’s Village and the Merry makers (Jolibee; Taebo jammers Asso. of Tacloban; Rising Star Movers; Tacloban Institute of Technical Studies Inc. & SMART Float with Migo Adecer).

Fisherman’s Village (School Category)

Parade of lights School Category.

Together with the City Government and barangay family Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez was joined by her husband former Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez, daughter Sofia, 1st Dist. Leyte Congresswoman Yedda Romualdez , Atty. FM Romualdez, guest Sen. Sonny Angara, DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes and the SANGYAW Foundation Inc. family.

Sangyaw festival also featured celebrities like Joseph Bitangcol, Michelle Vito, and Neil Coleta.
Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Tacloban City.

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Joseph Bitangcol, Michelle Vito, Sofia Romualdez, and Sen. Sonny Angara

This year’s Sangyaw competition winners of each category were: Barangay Street dance Champion- Brgy. 92 Apitong; 2nd placer- Brgy. 49 Youngfield; 3rd placer- Brgy. 58 Aslum Sagkahan with awaiting cash prizes of 70K, 50K & 30K. While for School Category Street Dance Champion- Palanog Elementary; 2nd placer- San Jose Central School; & 3rd placer- EVSU with cash prizes of 50K, 30K & 20K.

Meanwhile, the winners for the BEST Float were: Champion- Kapangian Central School; 2nd placer- San Jose Central School and 3rd placer- Sto. Nino SPED with awaiting cash prizes of 80K, 50K & 30K.

On the other hand, the Merrymakers competing categories were: Champion- Taebo jammers; 2nd placer- Rising Star and 3rd Placer- Jollibee with awaiting cash prizes of 10K, 7K & 5K. Other joining barangay contingents got 5K each.

The week-long celebrations peaks on the 30th of June, the Grand Fiesta of Tacloban celebrated with the traditional turn-over ceremonies of the “Teniente” made by the immediate past Hermano Mayor to the incoming Hermano Mayor. This is accompanied by the ritual of giving the medallion containing the names of all Hermanos Pasados and the Standartes. Fireworks and grand parades mark the occasion. Every house in the city prepares a feast and opens its doors to guests and well wishers.

15 Reasons to Visit Museo ng Katipunan-Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine

March 21, 2017 By Ayesha Sayseng Leave a Comment

Every time people ask me where San Juan City, Metro Manila is, I usually answer them, “It is where Greenhills Shopping Center is.” They easily recognize it since it is one of the famous landmarks in the area. However San Juan City is not just about the shopping center. Less known to many that this city holds a lot of memories significant to the Filipinos. San Juan City has been a witness to numerous historical events.

Passing by the street of Pinaglabanan, you will find the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine and just within the shrine is the Museo ng Katipunan. The shrine and the museum have many interesting stories to share. If you have not been there, these are the things that will make you want to visit the place: [Read more…]

A Beginner Traveler’s Guide: Visiting Coron, Palawan

November 15, 2016 By Charm Villalon Leave a Comment

The Philippines is one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world, having been recognized by several travel websites as the primary gateway to the best and most beautiful locations of island paradise on earth – and I am not exaggerating.

In fact, each region in the country’s entire archipelago boasts thousands of islands that are worthy of being called, “travelers’ dreamland”, adored by locals and foreigners alike.

It is a bit surprising however that most Filipinos have not been able to visit and experience the magnificence of these natural wonders that are sometimes just a plane ticket away from wherever they are. Several reasons could explain this, but one of the main ones is that, some of them are afraid even just to try the first step: planning.

A newbie’s panic [Read more…]

Langun Gobingob Cave: Getting Inside the Largest Cave in the Philippines

October 9, 2016 By Victorino Q. Abrugar

It’s my dream to explore all the greatest places in the Philippines, including the highest mountain (Mt. Apo in Mindanao), the largest waterfall (Aliwagwag Falls in Davao Oriental), the cleanest lake (Kayangan Lake in Palawan) and the biggest cave in the country (Langun Gobingob Caves in the island of Samar).

As a native of Samar who was born in Catbalogan City, Langun Gobingob caves in Calbiga came first as my target. So when cave master Joni Bonifacio of Trexplore the Adventures invited me to join a 1 day caving in Calbiga Caves last September 24, I did not hesitate to say YES!

I have previous two spelunking experiences, one in Sohoton Caves in Basey, Samar and the other one in Linao Cave in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. However those were only for the easy or beginner’s type of caving adventure.

The Langun Gobingob caving is a different level of quest, as it requires 8-9 hours of trekking outside and inside the country’s biggest cave. Yes, there are mountains to cross to reach the cave openings and rock mountains inside the caves where you have to traverse from one cave entrance to another. [Read more…]

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