Zamboanga City: A Melting Pot of Cultures

Fort Pilar

Built in 1635 by a Jesuit priest engineer and Spanish authorities to ward off attacks from Moros and foreign invaders. The fort was eventually converted to a shrine and miraculous powers are attributed to the statue of Our Lady of the Pillar.

Plaza Perishing is a quaint remnant of a typical Spanish square, renamed in honor of a former American Governor of the Moro Province. Pettit Barracks was established by US Occupation Forces in 1899 and named after its commanding officer.

Sand is pinkish at the Great Santa Cruz Island

The major natural tourist attraction is Great Santa Cruz Island, which is known for its pinkish sand beach. On the island is a fishing village, a lagoon and an old Muslim burial ground.

Tourist Spots

Here are some favorite destinations, beaches, dive spots in the Philippines:

Boracya Island

Arguably the best resort in the world, is located at the northwestern tip of Panay across PALAWAN Islands, in the West Visayas Region, off the Sibuyan Sea. Boracay has managed to pack its thousand-hectare area with all the elements of aTropical Paradise-- crystal blue waters, powder white sand, liberal doses of tropical palms and flowering plants, and a healthy marine life underneath the seas.



Dakak Park Beach Resort located on the sunny white beach facing the exotic turquoise Sulu Sea. The 750 meter private beach is blanketed with purepowdery white sand. Natural spring water and tumbling waterfalls feed the resort's twopools, whilst the ultimate hideaway is provided at a private open-air jacuzzi where youcan relax in the sauna and whirlpool amidst an atmosphere of blissful solitary refinement.

Bohol, Philippines dubbed as “God’s Little Paradise” showcases the attractions that make Bohol a favorite summer hideaway for locals and foreigners alike. It has information about each town in Bohol, the culture, articles and press releases that featured Bohol, a business directory, a photo gallery, travel and accommodation arrangements overviews, suggested activities that can be enjoyed in the island, and downloadable screensavers of tourist attractions.

The Chocolate Hills are some 1268 eerie hillocks, ranging from 20 to 50 metres in height, which dominate the landscape for miles around. In summer months, their grass covering dries out, turning them a 'Chocolate' brown, hence their name. In the morning if you can watch the sunrise over the mysterious landscape. As it rose, it will gradually illuminate the fields exposing the awe-inspiring surroundings of Bohol; surely one of the most stunning natural backdrops in the world.

Intramuros

The Philippines comprising of about 7,100 islands is fast becoming a tourist destination. Thanks for the efforts done by the Philippine Tourism Authority, thousands of tourists have arrived yearly and more are coming to see the beauties this country offers. Here are ten places tourists love going back to.

Built in 1571, Intramuros served as settlement of the Spaniards during their occupation of the country. It covers an area of about 160 acres. It had well-planned streets, churches, museum, plazas and the Governor’s Palace. Be sure to see these places when you visit Intramuros: The Manila Cathedral, St. Augustine Church, San Agustin Museum and Fort Santiago.

Tubbataha Reef

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tubbataha Reef is home to very beautiful corral reefs. It is located in Sulu Sea (about 150 kilometers southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan) and houses a lot of marine creatures. The reef was declared a national marine park by the then-President Cory Aquino in 1988. It is open for divers from around the world from March to June of every year.

Cebu Philippines: Magellan’s Cross, Fort San Pedro, and Mactan Shrine

Cebu has amazing tourist spots, but for beginners, the basics would be Magellan’s Cross, Basilica del Santo Nino, Fort San Pedro, and Mactan Shrine.

My friends and I went to all those places after a three-day convention, which limited us within the confines of SM Cebu.

First stop was Magellan’s Cross, where we got to see the mighty cross that made Roman Catholics out of almost all Filipinos. The cross can be found within a small chapel.

Up the ceiling were paintings depicting the story of this cross. Some believe that the cross was not the original cross brought by the renowned Portuguese explorer, and that the real one was either hidden somewhere else or had already been destroyed. Nevertheless, we took pictures for souvenir.

Outside the church were old women who offered to pray for our well-being, but first, we needed to buy candles from them. So I purchased some. No big deal. It’s for culture’s sake, and there’s nothing bad about getting some good farewell from a stranger. And yes, I did try to feel if there were positive vibes from the prayers the old lady performed.

We visited Basilica del Santo Nino right after. There was a mass going on at that time, so we didn’t get a chance to take pictures, or even get close to the altar to look at the shrine closely.

Our next stop, Fort of San Pedro, was only a block away, but since we didn’t know that it was just a few steps away, we hailed a taxi to get there. You can imagine the taxi driver all too happy about his luck.

Fort San Pedro gave us a glimpse of Philippine history, back when the Philippines was still under Spanish rule. Inside were museums and shops of bric-a-bracs as well as other hand-made and native products perfect for gifts and souvenirs. We moved around to admire the architecture and to relax on some benches underneath a trellis.

There were stairways leading to the rooftop where the fort canyons can be found. The fort served many wars, from the time it was built in 1736 up to the time of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

Mactan Shrine, a park dedicated to the heroics of Lapu-Lapu against the Spanish soldiers who landed on that part of the island, is on the same island where Cebu International Airport is located. Inside the park is a statue of the Mactan chieftain and a huge painting depicting the Lapu-Lapu in a duel with Portuguese Captain Ferdinand Magellan.

The Mactan Shrine painting shows a battle along the shoreline, although a professor in one of my Environmental Science classes suggested another story. He said that Lapu-Lapu and his men defeated Magellan’s group because of the mangroves. The shoreline back then was covered with mangroves and the Spanish soldiers had difficulty moving in the sticky mud and forest-covered battleground. Curiously enough, you can still see traces of mangroves along the shoreline, so the popular story that’s even shown in paintings could be false after all.

There’s nothing really grand or extraordinary about the park. But nearby are nice humble restos where visitors get to select the seafood they want cooked for them. We got to eat at a veranda with a view of the mangrove areas. That’s just perfect prior to us catching the flight out back to Manila.

Overall, the trip was a blast! I’ll visit the place anytime for the fresh seafood, the beautiful beaches and historic sites, and the friendly people all around.

The Top Five Island Tourist Destinations in the Philippines

1. Boracay


Number one on the list, of course, a world class resort, the most popular island destination and the number one tourist spot in the Philippines – Boracay. It is regarded as “the finest beach of all Asia”. Likewise, popularly known as, “the number one tropical beach in the world”. Everyone will surely enjoy swimming and sunbathing on its 4 kilometer “white sand beach”. You will definitely like this island paradise. It is situated in Panay Island, Philippines, about 300 km south of Manila.
2. Palawan


Next on the list is Palawan known as “the last Philippine frontier “. It is blessed with beautiful tourist attractions like Club Paradise Resort, El Nido Resort, and many others. The famous underground river is also here, and the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park which is the best place for snorkeling in Asia is also located on this island.
3. Dakak


Third on the list is another world class beach resort, Dakak. It is famous not only for its “powdery white sand” but also famous for its coral reefs and diving that is why it was named the “Diving Mecca in Mindanao”.
4. Siargao


In the fourth spot, we have Siargao, the haven of surfers from all over the world. Popularly known as, “the surfing capital of the Philippines”. International Surfing Cup is held here annually.

5. Batanes

And the last, but certainly not the least, we have Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population. You will surely love this place. It is the best place for nature lover and people who love tranquility and serenity. This is where the Pacific Ocean merges with the South China Sea. Batanes is great for summer vacation, fishing, diving and hiking.

Mount Apo Natural Park in Davao, Philippines

Mount Apo is considered a favorite destination of extremist climbers because of its slopes forest of exotic flora, steaming geysers, rainwater lakes, swift-flowing rivers, and cascading waterfalls. The Department of Tourism Regional Office usually allows climb in around March or April.

It is one of the richest botanical mountains in the region hosting hundreds of rare, endemic and threatened species of flora. There are 629 of identified floral species 42 of which are endemic and 18 species are considered at risk, including the Vanda sanderiana (Waling-Waling) which is known as the “Queen of Philippine Orchids.”

There are endangered species that lives there specifically the Philippine Eagle mostly preys on monkeys, flying lemurs, flying squirrels, and occasionally, pigs and goats. Mount Apo is also a sanctuary for some rare birds such as the flycatcher, fairy blue birds, flower catchers, coltos, doves, sunbirds, and racket-tailed parrots.

Located 32 kilometers west of Davao City, and the provinces of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato; The 64,053.00 hectares Mount Apo Natural Park is dominated by the highest mountain in the Philippine archipelago at 2,954 m. Although, there is also Mt. Talomo appears to be an extinct volcano in the area, but Mt. Apo, though it is quiescent at this time, has numerous vents producing steam and sulphurous gases.

Mount Apo was declared as National Park by late President Manuel L. Quezon on May 9, 1936 through Presidential Proclamation No. 59 with an aggregate area of 76,900 hectares. However, it was amended by former President Carlos P. Garcia through issuance of Proclamation No. 413 which converted some 3,946 hectares into agricultural areas reducing the park’s land area to 72,954 hectares. On September 24, 1996, President Fidel Ramos issued another Proclamation 882 declaring Mt.Apo as protected area under the category of Natural Park.