Manila Guide Online

If you have seen movies with a large cross in the middle of the sea, then you’re probably looking at the glorious sunken cemetery at Camiguin. Due to a fatal volcanic eruption of Mount Vulcan, the sea now hides the old capital, which was founded during the Spanish era.

According to local historians, Mount Vulcan had four historic eruptions. The first one was in 1827 but records of this eruption were nil. The second one was in 1862 when thick ashes from the crater flowed and overtook people who were fleeing towards the sea, resulting in 326 fatalities. The third one started in 1871. Previous experience had taught some of the Camiguin people of the dangerous whims of Mount Vulcan. Thus, when earthquakes were felt, they fled as far away as possible from the volcano, but some stayed behind. There were spasmodic eruptions and the people who fled decided to stay away until the time when the volcano finally subsided in 1875. But when they returned, they have lost their land and their friends.

The scene is simply dramatic as the sun rises and sets. Its amazingly beautiful and captivating to see such an intense view. Aside from that Camiguin also offers the best white beaches in the Philippines. You can reach Camiguin either from a boat or by plane.

This year, Valentine’s day is going to be very busy. On top of it falling on a Sunday, it’s also going to be Chinese New Year. There are lots of festivities going on. It would be a Valentine’s Day that’s not just for lovers, but for the whole family. Here are some suggestions you can do to make this day extra special and memorable:

1. If you are planning on dining, you should have already made your reservations weeks in advance. All restaurants should be teeming with guests that Sunday. You cannot be just dropping by, expecting to be seated. Pick your restaurant now and call up. Don’t do it the last minute.

2. For the whole family to enjoy, you can check out these family activities that only take place once in a year:

• The Hot Air Balloon Festival in Pampanga, You can check out the website for the details.
• The World Pyro Olympics at the Mall of Asia. It is actually running for a whole month, commencing on February 14. You can check the website for details.
• The Big Binondo Food WOK happening in Chinatown on Chinese New Year should be something you can also look forward to with the whole family. You can check the website for details.

3. Lastly, Valentine’s Day is a time not only for dining, but also music. There are several Valentine concerts set. Check with the SM Ticketworld or Ticketnet for which stars are going to have Valentine’s shows and make your reservations already.

However you spend your day on February 14th, spend it with your loved-ones and have a great time!

It’s the latest food craze in Metro Manila. You see plenty of these yogurt stalls in the malls and you see the different food concoctions and combination for it. Called fro-yo by the hip and the cosmopolitan crowd, frozen yogurt is actually a food staple that became popular back in the 70’s. It’s like ice cream, but it comes with less fat….and because it’s made of yogurt, it has that sour and tangy after taste.

What’s the best fro-yo brand in the metro today? You can actually take your pick, because there are really many options.

Fro-yo addicts look to Pampanga for the best choice. The store is called Cold Spoon located at the Fil-Am Highway in Clarkfield. I have friends telling me it’s the best kept secret in Yogurt-land, and mostly because there is still no branch in Metro Manila (therefore, isn’t heavily commercialized). The store is owned by Koreans, I’m told, but it is managed by Filipino staff.

California Berry in Silver City Ortigas has quite a selection of yogurt toppings that I actually like it. They claim the products are all imported from the States. The serving is small but my tastebuds seem to prefer their yogurt better than most.

I’ve recently discovered White Hat in the Marikina area, specifically SM Marikina. The yogurt apparently comes from Italy, so that it tastes a bit different from the ones I’ve tried (Korean and USA). They have some unique combinations and I have yet to try most of it. But I like the fact that they have huge servings.

Yogurbud is actually one of the first ones to set the trend and I think I’ve only tried this twice. I find their yogurt really, really sour and mix it with frozen fruit, which ruins the consistency.

In Cagayan de Oro, one of its highlights is the River Rafting. The river rafting allows you to play with the currents and enjoy a splash proof adventure with friends and family.

Cagayan River, often called as Cagayan de Oro River, is one of the rivers draining the northern central part of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. The river has its headwaters in the Kalatungan Mountain Range found in the central part of the province of Bukidnon. It traverses the Municipalities of Talakag, Baungon and Libona, picking up tributaries along the way. It finally empties into the Macajalar Bay at Cagayan de Oro City in the Province of Misamis Oriental.

The river rafting can be most enjoyed by a group of people and is usually done during the day to see the 36o degree view of the river.

The stretch from Barangay Dansolihon to the city provides you with strikingly beautiful panoramic view of the river rocky walls, untouched vegetation and the sight of the resting haven of monkeys. It has breathtaking rapids that provide the more adventurous with thrills and challenges of rapids intervals not less than 10 – 15 minutes of each other. Cagayan de Oro river has everything that makes for a memorable experience with awesome roar and power of water cascading over rocks and boulders.

Upon Visiting Cagayan de Oro, I made it as my requirement to try the river rafting for a more dangerous yet adventurous day.

It has been used by many and has been made as a source of healing and meditation. It can cure certain sickness and help people mentally. It keeps you physically fit and content by practicing a whole lot more of yoga.

Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, it also refers to one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, and to the goal toward which that school directs its practices. In Jainism it refers to the sum total of all activities—mental, verbal and physical.

Yoga helps you in so many ways possible. – to overcome problems caused by excess fat, stress and disease. Yoga has objectives to cure themselves through a system of natural therapy without depending on medicines, to become physically fit, mentally relaxed and fully conscious. Another is, to learn new healthy systems of eating, exercise, drinking water and harmonious thought.

What I like about yoga is how you it can help you not just physically but also mentally. Im very happy that there is already a yoga here in Cebu which is very convenient for those who are interested in wellness.

Thrift stores, or ukay ukay shops as it is called in the local language, abound Metro Manila and major cities in other regions. These stores are our version of the Salvation Army. The items sold here are mostly used and they range from anything including handkerchief and toys. If you really have the patience to go through the racks and piles, you may just find an authentic brand of designer clothes or bag for the lowest price ever.

If you don’t have a skyrocket budget, the ukay ukay should be the best place to go if you’re looking for something fashionable and trendy. Prices of items usually range from P10 to P400. Sometimes, there are special deals, like buying three blouses for P50.00.

In Manila, the best ukay places to go to are located in the following areas:

• Blumentritt cor Rizal Ave near the Mercury Drug
• Kamuning Area, beside the Chowking fast food chain
• Araneta Center in Cubao, at the Quezon Theater Bldg.
• JP Rizal Makati Ave in the Lucky Star Bldg.
• Marcos Hi-way in Marikina Marikina City
• Cainta Junction in Cainta, Rizal
• At the back of the POEA Bldg in Ortigas.

Ukay stores also abound in Davao City along Ponciano St. Uyanguren St and at the Bankerohan Market. There, rows and rows of stores sell very good condition clothes for P10 to P120 only. Never anything above that.

In Cebu City, you can find Ukay stores in Colon St, at the Carbon District as well as in Tabunok, Talisay City.

Mind you, even affluent Filipinos who can afford to pay brand new scour the thrift stores to get the best deals.

Just two hours from Cebu is a small island filled with white sandy beaches, manmade forest, heartwarming people and a large python to look forward to.  Bohol is famous for its unique geological formation known as the Chocolate Hills, which are more than a thousand cone-shaped hills scattered in the central part of the island that assume the looks of chocolate puddings in the dry season.

Panglao,a small island in the Visayas which is virtually attached to the main island of Bohol, connected by two bridges of just 50 meters in length. All major beach resorts are located on Panglao with its pristine white beaches and clean seawater. Panglao is also the destination of choice for many divers.

Located centrally in the Philippine Archipelago, Bohol lies in the heart of the Visayas with the islands of Cebu, Leyte, Siquijor, and Negros as its neighbors. Bohol (with a land area of 4117 sq. km) is 700 km directly south of Manila, the national capital, and is about 79 km southeast of Cebu City.

What I love about this island is how you try to fit all your activities in one day. Its quite impossible because there are so many things to visit at Bohol. The Chocolate Hills which are very fascinating can’t be visited for just an hour, you need more time to appreciate it luscious colors.

First of all, one must reach the Philippines by plane, either through Manila or Cebu. From Manila, one can take a domestic flight, either direct to Tagbilaran (capital city of Bohol) with Philippine Airlines (PAL) or Cebu Pacific (CEB), or to Cebu City, again with PAL or Cebu Pacific. Please check their respective schedules, as there are frequent changes.

Aside from all this, you could also choose a whole dozen resorts to enjoy your stay at Bohol.Bohol is proud of its beautiful white sand beaches and many interesting dive spots.

If you have been around Cebu for quite a long time then it’s impossible for you not o know Carbon Market. It’s very famous for its cheap fruits, vegetables and RTW. One of my favorite cheap thrills can be found at Carbon Market. You can save a lot from your budget money if you buy at this Market. One of the very busy strips in the ‘blocks-wide’ Carbon Market is the Freedom Park. Usually on Valentines and Halloween people flock at the market to buy flowers for their loved ones.

The Carbon Market is Cebu City’s largest public market.

The Carbon Market is a lively and colorful place where you can see a huge variety of local fish, fruits, flowers, and sweets for sale, as well as handicraft items from Cebu and nearby islands (such as baskets from Bohol).The Market is a great place to find inexpensive souvenirs.

Carbon Market is similar to Divisoria in Manila; The Carbon is where a lot of produce on the island of Cebu changes hands. Located at the end of the Cebu railway line (yes, there used to be a railway), the area was used to store coal in the days when it powered steam engines that in turn generated power for the city. With all the huge mountains of coal stores, it became known as The Carbon. Visit this location but make sure to be very careful since its very crowded. Enjoy Cebu and its wonders.

Are you tired of looking at papers on your desk? Or maybe listening to your boss whine about the company’s problem? You start to imagine places where you can relax and unwind. You desire to be in a place where peace and tranquility can be felt? Its time to visit Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte Philippines. Among the many places I’ve wanted to visit is my mother’s hometown in Davao. around an hour in Davao, you will see the island Garden city of Samal.

One of the resorts I will surely recommend is rocky beach Resort. Samal Island has several beaches, but the most popular beaches flock with many tourists during peak season, which is around March to May. That’s why most people think Samal is not the perfect spot for romantic summer.

To avoid the overcrowded beach resorts, the role of Rocky Beach Resort comes into play. The name Rocky Beach was coined by the sons of the beach owner. When they first set foot at Rocky Beach many years ago, it had boulders of corals. As of now, Rocky Beach Resort isn’t that rocky as it used to be.

Island Garden City of Samal have numerous of wonderful and extraordinary resorts.Some of the resorts are Kaputain Resort, Cannibad ,Chemas , Camudmud, Costa Marina , Blue Waters , Mayumi, Isla Reta and Paradise Island

Getting to Know More About the Island Garden City of Samal - The Island Garden City of Samal is just minutes away from Davao, a city with a large economic base. With this strategic location, the Island Garden City of Samal also known as IGACOS has a lot of potential to grow as haven for.

In Cebu there is such a term as “Suroy Suroy Sa Sugbo“, which means to tour around Cebu. Suroy Suroy Sa Sugbo can either be completed going to the South or to the North. You will surely enjoy your day with fun filled adventure in store for you.

OR many years, tourists were only confined to what the bustling metropolitan Cebu can offer.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia changed that by taking tourism to the countryside with the SUROY-SUROY Sugbo packages, which expanded to four packages this year.

With the program, various towns and cities in the province opened their doors to both domestic and foreign tourists, showcasing the best their place has to offer.

The Northern Escapade which includes Bantayan island, the Enchanting Camotes tour of the four island towns, and the most sought after Southern Heritage Trail is now on its third year.

The latest addition to the packages is the first ever Urban Adventure held last September 16-17, highlighting the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-lapu and the town of Cordova where tourists were island-hopping.

The adventure doesn’t stop there. In the future more and more activities are to be done. What I like about this committee is how to faithfully allow people to see to wonders and the rich cultures of my hometown. Visit Cebu and avail their packages with a group of friends or your family.