Capones Island has always been famous for its white sand beaches and the Spanish colonial lighthouse perched on top of a hill.

Read more… 

Anawangin in San Antonio, Zambales is fast becoming a popular destination for those seeking a beach to getaway from it all. There aren’t too many amenities on this secluded beach. In fact, there are none. It’s a favorite of those who want to camp out with nothing but bare essentials. And that’s because there are only two ways to get there, by pump boat or via a 5-hour hike up Mt. Anawangin.

Read more… 

Starting April 8, 2008, SEAIR will have flights every Tuesdays and Saturdays from Manila to Basco, Batanes! The return flights from Batanes to Manila are on the same days. The flights are in partnership with Batanes Cultural Travel Agency (BCTA). BCTA is where the SEAIR tickets and packages to Batanes can be purchased.

The flights to Batanes will be using SEAIR’s Dornier 328 planes which can fly to Batanes in just 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The Makati office of Batanes Cultural Travel Agency (BCTA) is at 219 ODC Plaza Bldg., Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati. BCTA can be contacted at tel 8100988 (Makati) and 0906-376-6778 /0917-811-2282 /0917-526-6333 (Batanes).

You can also visit the website of Batanes Cultural Travel Agency (BCTA) at www.batanestravel.com.

Bookings for flights starting April 8, 2008 are accepted now. Please call 8100988 for bookings on the Batanes flights.

(Manila, Philippines, March 26, 2008) — The city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan is now making a name as one of the country’s most exciting vacation and business destinations, and is attracting more refined travelers, says Francis Patrick Favoreal, Vice President of Legend Hotels International Corporation, a chain of 100% Filipino owned and managed value hotels.

One of LHIC’s most successful ventures, The Legend Palawan has spearheaded and developed a haven of tourism in Puerto Princesa. “When I first came to Puerto Princesa, the place was still struggling. There were few flights going in. But we rallied behind Puerto Princesa with all our resources,” said Favoreal. For over 10 years, LHIC has adopted a distinctive Filipino character for its hotel chains. It now operates eight hotels catering to a variety of local and international travelers.

With Palawan now a major tourist destination, flights to Puerto Princesa have increased and transportation in the city has vastly improved. “The Legend Palawan doesn’t exist solely as a hotel. Our overall mandate is destination management because Puerto Princesa is, in fact, the gateway to Palawan,” according to Favoreal. He adds that the “Palawan Experience” or PaX is among their ongoing efforts to encourage tourism in the city and its islands.

PaX offers three kinds of tour packages that are specially designed for couples, families, and friends — the Twosome Holiday, Family Island Vacations and the Extreme Expedition. Favoreal says that PaX is all about getting the best value, whether it’s good food, accommodations, trips to the Honda Bay islands or the World Heritage site, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

“PaX is the only vacation package that delivers all the needs of any business or leisure traveler,” Favoreal said. “We train hosts to accommodate the diverse requirements of our guests. All of them even undergo survival training and licensing to qualify for PaX.”

The success of The Legend Palawan has spurred major developments in the city and nearby areas. The company recently launched the dolphin watching and firefly tours as part of PaX. It is also partnering with non-governmental organizations and the local government to launch ecotourism initiatives.

“Palawan is a complete destination. And we are dedicated to create the best tours for everyone,” Favoreal explains. Currently, The Legend Palawan’s occupancy rate is 75%, and growing at a rate of 28 to 32% each year. Puerto Princesa attracts mostly business travelers and seasoned vacationers who crave for better value and an even more engaging set of experiences.

Aside from being a pioneer in Palawan, LHIC was also the first hotel corporation to put up a 24/7 Customer Care center exclusively for inquiries and reservations. “We have invested in technology to beef up our customer care center and ensure that our front and back end operations are well managed,” Favoreal said.

“Since we are already successful in Palawan, other players are seriously considering setting up there. The challenge now is to consistently place ourselves on top,” Favoreal said. “From the coffee that we’ll serve our guests tomorrow to the memories that they will bring back home, everyday we seek to make their visit as enriching as possible.”

Sorry folks but the much awaited 3rd World Pyrolympics was moved again to May. But the organizers said that this is final since they will start selling tickets next week. For the new schedule of the World Pyrolympics, click here.

The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines invites you to a guided birdwatching trip to Candaba Marsh, Pampanga on April 6, Sunday. Watch Garganeys, Little Egrets, Common Kingfishers, Barn Swallows and other migratory birds as they feed to store up reserves for the long flight back to northern Asia. Listen to the bird guides from the club explain the role of Candaba Marsh as an important stopover point of migratory birds. Assembly time is 1:00 pm at the ROX, Bldg 1, Bonifacio High Street. Tour fee of PHP750.00 per person is inclusive of round-trip transfer, use of binoculars and scope, guiding fee, snacks. Registry and details at ROX (Tel. No. 8564638 to 39). Only 20 slots available. ROX Adventure Tours is brought to you by ROX (Recreational Outdoor Exchange), Aigle and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.

They say Alubihod Beach is the best beach in Guimaras. And it surely did not disappoint! Don’t worry about the oil spill since it’s in a different part of the island.

You can reach Guimaras by taking a boarding a pump-boat at the Ortiz Port near Ateneo de Iloilo. The ride is about 15 minutes and costs PHP11. At the Jordan Pier, you can arranged for a minicab to take you to Alubihod Beach (they have rates at the tourism office at the port based on distance). Or you can take a public jeep to Nueva Valencia, and from the town proper, take a tricycle to the beach.

Freelance Beach Resort - Mobile (0920) 3029757
Raymen Beach Resort - Mobile (0918) 5207271
Rico Beach Resort -
Villa Igang (formerly Puerto del Mar) - Mobile (0926) 3753634

SEMANA SANTA AT DARLOK HILLS
March 16 to 23; Balintokatok, Santiago City
(078) 6828110 / 6825872

SEMANA SANTA AT IGUIG CALVARY HILLS
March 16 to 23; Iguig, Cagayan
(078) 8441621

MALIBAY CENACULO
March 17 to 23; Malibay Plaza, Pasay City
(02) 5510523

MORIONES FESTIVAL
March 17 to 23; Boac, Gasan & Mogpog, Marinduque
(042) 3321018

CENACULO
March 17 to 23; Cainta, Rizal
(02) 6550846 / 6772320

SENAKULO (WAY OF THE CROSS)
March 20 to 21; San Dionisio, Paranaque City
(02) 5418016

PASKO SA KASAKIT (SEMANA SANTA SA BANTAYAN)
March 20 to 21; Bantayan, Cebu
(032) 3525190

PAGTALTAL GUIMARAS (GOOD FRIDAY)
March 21; Jordan, Guimaras
(033) 23481331 / (0927) 4185523

TURUMBA (GOOD FRIDAY)
March 21; Pakil, Laguna
(049) 5570211

SAN PEDRO CUTUD LENTEN RITES
March 21; San Fernando, Pampanga
(045) 9637561

SENACULO (GOOD FRIDAY)
March 21; Paracale; Camarines Norte
(052) 4820712

PAMALANDONG HA PALO (GOOD FRIDAY)
March 21; Palo, Leyte
(053) 3232480

TORUGPO (BLACK SATURDAY)
March 22; Carigara, Leyte
(053) 3312004

PINTADOS DE PASSI FESTIVAL
March 9 to 16; Passi City
(033) 3116072

KALANGUYA FESTIVAL
March 11 to 15; Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya
(078) 8059287

ANAO TOWN FIESTA
March 13 to 15; Anao, Tarlac
(045) 4932023

PMA GRADUATION RITES
March 15; Baguio City
(074) 4473686

MT. MANUNGGAL CLIMB
March 15 to 17; Balamban, Cebu
(032) 3439268 / 3460661

HOMONHON LANDING
March 16; Homonhon, Eastern Samar
(055) 2612155

KARAYAPAN FESTIVAL
March 16; Guiuan, Eastern Samar
(0915) 4043125

BACAO FESTIVAL
March 16 to 20; Echague, Isabela
(078) 6722001

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
March 18; La Trinidad, Benguet
(074) 4222601

SOLI-SOLI
March 18; San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu
(032) 4970296

DINGRAS FESTIVAL
March 18; Dingras, Ilocos Sur
(077) 7847124

BANANA FESTIVAL
March 18 to 19; Baco, Oriental Mindoro
(043) 2867876

FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH
March 18 to 19; Penablanca, Cagayan
(078) 8440394 / 8446254

SULYOG FESTIVAL
March 19; Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro
(043) 4480057