Category: Destinations

Traversing the rugged terrains of Cordillera highlands in a span of one week is an adventure in itself and could be an immense learning experience for someone who has the guts to look down into the depths of mountain cliffs to get a good view of the rice terraces. With tall rice terraces at the backdrop and cool breeze shuttling between mountain peaks, a journey across the Cordillera mountain ranges exposes one to an atmosphere strangely different from the daily offering of Manila and its suburbs. More importantly, it provides a peek into the ancient Philippine civilization before the foreigners came.

May 14, 2007 – A study spearheaded by the Development Academy of the Philippines claimed that more than 1.142 million jobs have been created in the tourism sector over the past three years alone.

Subic Bay

Subic, the former US naval base in the Philippines, is now a hub for commerce and tourism. Just two-and-a-half hour drive north from Manila, Subic offers a full view of the blue mountain and sea and of the green background of a three-layered virgin forest.

Makati and Ortigas Districts

Across the Pasig River from Intramuros is the Binondo area, home of Chinatown. The district is filled with all things Chinese from Peking duck and Buddhist temples to gold watches, snake soup, and wonder herbs. The high chords of Chinese songs and the permeating smell of incense complete the uniquely Chinese ambiance. It is said that this quaint district was already a hub of Chinese commerce even before the Spaniards came in 1571.
 

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano has asked hotels, resorts, spas, tour operators, and transportation stakeholders to create more options and flexible packages. 

"We have a very broad range of options to offer the most picky tourist.  Group tours will also be big as we all know that Filipinos love to travel with their families and friends," he said.

Tree Top Adventure Philippines (TTA), the Subic-based company that operates canopy ride, Superman ride, Silver Surfer and Interactive Free Fall will be offering Camp John Hay tourists in Baguio City the same thrills by October 2010.
This time, Tree Top’s rides would allow tourists to accelerate above the pine trees and touch the crows, and then to plunge suddenly from a height of 120 feet.   “Only some of the rides would be longer and more exciting and the views more dramatic and breathtaking,” said Mr. Mario Montejo, CEO of Tree Top Adventure.

Rizal Park and Intramuros are undergoing a facelift, which are expected to restore the status of the two sites as major tourist destinations in Manila.  A musical dancing fountain measuring 20 by 40 metres has been erected by the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) at Rizal Park, which became an instant favorite among visitors.

About half a million tourists visited the dancing fountain at Luneta on Christmas day (December 25, 2010) alone, according to news reports.  The NPDC has also strengthened Rizal Park’s security force, which now consists of 10 policemen and 60 guards working in shifts for 24 hours. Four security cameras were also installed in the park.