Things to do in the Philippines
SEE some sights
There are a lot to see in the Philippines . The country is blessed with a beautiful environment and skilful people whose talented hands created some of the most magnificent man-made structures in the world.The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banaue Rice Terraces; The well-preserved Spanish-style architecture in the historic town of Vigan, Ilocos Sur; The Baroque-style Philippine World Heritage site churches: the San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, the Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila, and the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo.
The smallest active volcano in the world Taal Volcano in Batangas; the volcano with the most perfect cone, Mt. Mayon in Legazpi, Albay; the unique land formation that is the Chocolate Hills in Bohol. Marvel at the endemic Philippine fauna: Tamaraw, Tarsier, Phillipine Eagle
GO on a beach holiday
DIVE
The
Philippines is Asia ‘s Dive Capital. If you are a diving enthusiast—
amateur or professional, or someone who is looking for an underwater
experience of a lifetime, then you must go to the Philippines if only
for the reason that the country has the highest density of coral species
in the world. Philippine seas are some of the most bio-diverse and
marine-rich waters in the world and home to a diverse species of aquatic
resources. Amateur divers can train and get their licenses at any of
the diving training centers located in diving spots Anilao, Puerto
Galera and Boracay, and once done with training, they can dive
side-by-side with professional divers in the country’s other must-see
diving spots: the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tubbataha Reef and the
location of some of the best wreck diving sites in the world, Coron both
in Palawan; Verde Island in Mindoro Oriental; Apo Reef National Park in
Mindoro Occidental, the largest atoll-like reef in the Philippines
which includes 285 species of fish and 197 species of corals (featured
in the SHEDD Aquarium permanent Philippine reef display in Chicago,
Illinois, USA) ; the Apo Island Marine Reserve & Fish Sanctuary in
Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Balicasag and Pamilacan Islands in Bohol;
and Malapascua and Moalboal/Pescador Islands in Cebu.ENGAGE in your favorite outdoor sport or activity
The
Philippines offers a wide variety of sports adventures. Different
locations cater to a specific activities: play a few rounds of golf in
the different golf courses around the country designed by some of the
most famous golf celebrities in the world; Snorkel and interact with the
“gentle giants”— the whale sharks— in Donsol, Sorsogon; Surf in Siargao
Island, Surigao del Norte, Baler, Aurora, Daet, Camarines Sur and in
Catanduanes province; climb the country’s highest peak at 9,689 feet-
Mt. Apo- in Davao City, Davao, trek Mt. Pinatubo or explore the Callao
caves in Tuguegarao, Cagayan province; go white river rafting in Chico
River or in Cagayan de Oro River; go kayaking and canoeing at the Bacuit
Archipelago and at the St. Paul Subterranean Cave both in Palawan;
windsurf in Lake Caliraya or in Taal Lake, kitesurf in Boracay,
wakeboard in Pili, Camarines Sur.RELAX in a spa
There
is nothing more relaxing than enjoying the traditional Filipino
“healing” massage or touch therapy called Hilot. The soothing touch of
this massage relaxes and heals tired muscles and aching joints. Try this
and other spa treatments at the Nurture Spa in Tagaytay, Mandala Spa in
Boracay, Sanctuario Spa in Manila , Chi Spa Village in Shangri-La
Mactan, Cebu , and at The Farm at San Benito in Batangas. Another option
may be to book a Batangas cheap hotel that offers luxury spa treatment packages too.FEAST
Be
ready to put on a few extra pounds as you satisfy your cravings by
indulging in a Filipino feast. Dishes to try: Lechon, spit-roast whole
pig served with liver sauce; Adobo, pork, chicken or a combination of
both, marinated in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic and stewed until
tender; Kare-kare, meat and vegetables cooked with peanut sauce served
with shrimp paste; Sinigang, pork, or seafood in tamarind soup; or the
freshest seafoods— fish, squid, shrimp, lobsters— grilled to perfection.
The more adventurous should try Balut or boiled duck eggs containing a
partially formed embryo, and Dinuguan, the pork blood stew eaten with
steamed rice or Puto, rice cakes. All around the country, there are
restaurants offering different cuisines from American to Chinese, from
Indian to Greek, from Japanese to French.SHOP
Shopping
in the Philippines is an experience both in bargain and variety. Most
shopping places or Malls in Manila , Makati , Cebu and Davao virtually
have everything that you will need— from designer western brands to
items specifically designed for the tourist market. Around the country,
specifically in city centers, Tiangges or the Filipino version of flea
markets abound offering quality items at bargain prices. In Manila shop
at the third largest mall in the world Mall of Asia, Robinson Place,
Balikbayan Handicrafts, Tutuban Center Mall and at the San Andres Market
(for fresh fruits and other produce). In Makati and its surrounding
areas, shop at Greenbelt, Glorietta, Landmark Department Store,
Greenhills Shopping Center, Megamall, Shangri-La Mall and at
Tiendecitas. In Cebu , check out the Ayala Center , the Gaisano Malls,
Robinson’s Place, SM City, and for native delicacies, fresh produce and
fresh and dried seafood, go to the Carbon and Tabo-an Markets. In Davao ,
shop at Aldevinco Shopping Center (for fabrics, batik, carvings)
Victoria Plaza, Gaisano Mall and at the New City Commercial Center
department store.An experience not to be missed in flea market-shopping in the Philippines is the ”bargaining” where shoppers can buy items with big discount, depending on charm and good bargaining skills.
EXPERIENCE Philippine culture
Philippine
culture is best experienced in events and activities that highlight
what Filipinos are passionate about— faith, love for country, family,
beautiful women, and celebrations. Filipinos love to celebrate, and
there is no better way of celebrating than by having festivals:
Ati-atihan in Kalibo, Aklan, January, the best and biggest in the
country, it commemorates the feast of the Sto Nino with a week-long
street party. Groups of dancers dressed as the aboriginal Atis,
representing different communities from the city participate in the
festive weeklong street party that highlights during the feast of the
patron saint; Pahiyas in Lucban, Quezon. May 15, the annual harvest
festival and feast of San Isidro Labrador. Witness the colourful display
of kiping and other thanksgiving offerings hung in the houses that line
the street where the procession of the image of the patron saint will
pass. Giant papier-mache effigies join the parade to add to the
spectacle of a celebration; Masskara Festival in Bacolod City , October,
coinciding with the city’s charter day celebration, the festival
features carnivals, fairs and a mardi gras-style parade by costumed and
masked street dancers. There are as many festivals as there are towns in
the Philippines and when you attend and enjoy a Filipino celebration,
you come closer to understanding the culture of the people.Other unique Philippine cultural events and activities include the cultural spectacle Santacruzan—a Maytime procession of beautiful Philippine maidens staged as a re-enactment of St. Helen’s quest for the Holy Cross; the awesome display of Filipino religiosity in the frenzied Black Nazarene procession during the Quiapo fiesta every January in Manila; the Holy Week rituals in San Fernando, Pampanga— proof of the Filipino’s and Philippine culture’s deep Catholic roots; and the displays (giant Christmas lanterns), rituals (dawn masses) and traditions (noche buena feasts) that mark the Filipinos’ celebration of Christmas.
NIGHTLIFE
There
is an abundance of places to go to and enjoy a night out in the
Philippines . Every major city of the country has a number of nightlife
activity hubs with restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs and karaoke bars all
promising a good time of fun and entertainment. In the country’s
financial district Makati , there is the Greenbelt , Glorietta, The
Fort, Jupiter St. and Makati Avenue . In the city’s capital, Manila ,
nightlife is diverse. There is something for everybody in Malate, and in
the newly revitalized Roxas Boulevard and its Baywalk. Quezon City is a
popular destination of locals as the club prices are a little lower
than those in Makati . Try the establishments along Timog & Tomas
Morato Avenues and Quezon Boulevard , and in Eastwood City in Libis.
Outside of Metro Manila, there are a number of popular places to go to.
The nightlife of Subic in the province of Zambales , is known all over
the world because of its history as a former rest and recreation center
of the US Navy. The city is still teeming with nightlife activities as
the Subic Free Trade Port is home to a lot of expatriates from other
foreign countries as well and it is now a major Tourist hub. Foreign
Navies still use the port as a rest and recreation spot every now and
then. Check out Subic International Hotel and the Magsaysay Blvd.
Angeles City in Pampanga, formerly the home of the US Air force in the
Pacific, is also known for its Angeles City nightlife stayed almost the
same as a lot of retired US and Australian citizens decided to make
Angeles City their second home. Establishments in Balibago are still
popular. The central Philippine city of Cebu is a popular destination
among tourists because its nightlife is at par if not better than in
Metro-Manila. Big development companies have opened up operations in the
city as well as major club chain operators have set up their presence.
Be sure to go to Ayala Mall and in the different establishments that
abound Osmena Blvd. The ultimate island-nightlife location in the
Philippines is Boracay Island in the province of Aklan . The island is
known for its carefree attitude, and the island is home to a lot of
clubs and bars on the beach: Bazzura, Hey Jude, D’ Mall, and the Station
2 establishments.WATCH a performance of World-class Filipino artists
The
Philippines is home to a number of world-class artists. Occasionally,
the Cultural Center of the Philippines , show performances by the Ballet
Philippines, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, and the Bayanihan Dance
Troupe. World-renowned artists Lea Salonga and Cecile Licad, from time
to time, give performances in big concert halls in Manila . The Center
of Arts in San Antonio (CASA) in San Miguel, Zambales features violinist
Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata and his Pundaquit talents. Other groups that
showcase the Filipino performing talents are Repertory Philippines , the
Loboc Children’s Choir, and the Amazing Philippines Theatre.In the Visual Arts, works of world-class Filipino masters Juan Luna, Felix Resurrection Hidalgo and Fabian de la Rosa, National Artists Fernando Amorsolo, Carlos Francisco, Victor Edades, Vicente Manansala, other Philippine painting greats and contemporary visual artists can be viewed at the Philippine National Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the Ayala Museum and in some galleries and University museums around Metro Manila.
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