Philippines
The Village of Batad in the Philippines
August 22, 2010 by Judy Razon
Ifugao Rice Terraces
A true off-the-beaten-path experience awaits the traveler in the Cordillera mountain region of Northern Luzon. Batad is a village near Banaue, a major town in the Ifugao province. For millennia, the indigenous Ifugao people here have carved giant steps into the mountainsides as a form of sustainable agriculture to produce rice. These rice paddies ’in the sky’ have made this area into a veritable feast for the eyes, with entire mountain ranges transformed into ‘stairways to heaven’ as they have often been described. It is no wonder that this man-made, yet natural-looking phenomenon has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There are several rice terrace clusters in the region and the Banaue-Batad cluster is one of the more accessible ones. Near the town center is Banaue’s major hotel perched on a hill with a view of the terraces that is the most universally recognized; it’s the view on the postcards and on the back of the Philippine thousand-peso bill. Several hostel-type lodgings are also available within the town center. For more serene surroundings and a sense of the traditional mountain village lifestyle, travelers opt for the Batad experience.
One can ride jeepneys-for-hire for a winding…
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The World Mangrove Atlas: Hope Amid Despair
August 20, 2010 by Danielle Nierenberg
By Daniel Kandy
The World Mangrove Atlas revealed some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the loss of mangroves has slowed to 0.7 percent annually. The bad news is that that rate is still three to four times higher than the loss rate of land-based forest and one fifth of all of the world’s mangroves are thought to have been lost in the past three decades. Of the world’s original mangrove forest area, estimated at 80 million acres, less than 37 million acres of mangroves now remain.
Mangrove forests are home to an abundant variety of tropical fish, birds, reptiles, crustaceans and insects, as well as thousands of species of flora, and human populations who depend on the mangroves for their livelihoods. (Photo: Flickr Commons)
Mangrove forests exist in tropical and sub-tropical regions, with Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Nigeria, and Mexico having the largest total area of mangroves. 2010 is the United Nation’s International Year of Biodiversity and there have been some positive developments in mangrove conservation. There are 1,200 protected areas in places like the…
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Philippines: History, Culture and Economy
July 31, 2010 by Victoria Levy
The Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas [ˌpɪlɪˈpinɐs]), officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean.
To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea.
Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world.
An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila.
With an estimated population of about 92 million people, the Philippines is the world’s 12th most populous country. An additional 11 million Filipinos live overseas. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands.
In prehistoric times, Negritos were some of the archipelago’s earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic cultures. Trade introduced Chinese cultural influences.
The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the beginning of an era of Spanish interest,…
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Philippines: An Oasis in Baguio
July 28, 2010 by Judy Razon
There will be undoubtedly be comments about the Baguio City today about how it has lost its ‘mountain town’ charm because of overcrowding and pollution. While that may be true to a certain extent, there are still spots in the City of Pines the traveler can visit to find solace in the highlands.
tribal hut
One of them is found by heading out towards Quezon Hill on Naguilian Road. Here, the traveler will find the very quaint and picturesque Tam-Awan Village, a haven of tranquility in Baguio. The village was a creation of notable Philippine artist Bencab (Cabrera) and some partners. While the famous painter no longer runs it, Tam-Awan is in the able hands of like-minded folks who aim to preserve aspects of traditional mountain culture in the face of ‘lowlander’ commercial onslaught.
Several traditional Cordillera tribal huts have been transplanted here to lend a totally authentic experience. The village pays homage to the major tribal cultures of the highlands like Ifugao, Kalinga, Ibaloi, Itneg and others, collectively known as Igorot. These tribes were never conquered or subjugated by the Spanish during their 300 and some years of colonization of the Philippines. …
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Philippines-BANTAYAN Island
April 24, 2010 by Judy Razon
Off the tip of Northern Cebu lies the island called Bantayan, which means ‘sentinel’. Only a few Cebu locals, some intrepid foreigners and even fewer Manila folks knew about Bantayan some years back. It was definitely off the beaten path of most fun-in-the-sun worshippers, who headed for more popular destinations like Boracay. But as word got out, people got a glimpse of this unique and laid-back vacation destination. With its white beaches, turquoise waters, subterranean caves, old Spanish forts, friendly islanders and unique cuisine, Bantayan has piqued the interest of travelers seeking less crowded, more pristine spots.
One comes to Bantayan to slow down, to decompress from Manila and from Cebu City. After a sea crossing from Hagnaya pier in Northern Cebu, one arrives in Bantayan and immediately appreciates its rustic charm. Life here is unhurried and there is no need to rush anywhere, anytime. The cycles of nature dictate the movement of time and the peaceful and hospitable islanders are just fine with that. The islanders are very welcoming and friendly. Their main skills and livelihoods have to do with the sea, and the land.
Before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, Bantayan was already a trading center with…
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Philippines-Coron
January 23, 2010 by Judy Razon
Coron is a town in Busuanga, which is the largest island in the Northern Palawan area and is in itself a mini-archipelago. Coron is also the name of the island across the channel from the town, an island with prehistoric vibes. Only small, light turbo-prop planes can land on the airstrip in a small valley located in the middle of Busuanga.
One lands, it appears, in the middle of a cattle ranch, apparently the biggest in this part of the country as I was told. Our adventure began immediately after we stepped out of the “terminal”, basically a modest little shelter from the elements. Riding a jeepney to the harbor town of Coron, we passed tropical jungle scenery along a winding road through hilly terrain.
After about an hour of rustic views along the undulating unpaved road, we reached Coron. Towns like this are always quaint to us city-dwellers, meaning that it is small enough to not have traffic snarls. The smell of fish and the sea permeated the air and the ubiquitous Styrofoam containers of freshly caught and iced marine creatures were everywhere as we headed for the pier – being loaded into vans, on the back of small…
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Philippines-Malate
December 20, 2009 by Judy Razon
Travelers to the Philippines invariably have to spend a night or two in Manila on their way to and from the outer islands, the tourist destinations and the eco-adventure destinations within the archipelago. Most globe trekkers and lonely planetoids spend this layover time in Malate.
Malate is a bayside district of Manila with a reputation of being a Bohemian enclave. In the 60’s at Los Indios Bravos, a café-cum-art gallery-cum-music venue, poets, painters, film people, musicians, writers and moonlight philosophers would gather regularly. Los Indios, located at the heart of Malate, was where the avant-garde set of Manila would hang out. Nearly half a century later, Malate is still the place where the fringe and artsy milieu like to congregate. One finds budget-friendly hostels and B&B’s in Malate; everything worth seeing or doing here is within walking distance from the accommodations.
The bayside promenade called Baywalk stretches from Rizal Park to the north all the way to the Cultural Center/Folk Arts Complex. This is a great spot to catch the world-famous Manila Bay sunset. Grabbing a bite to eat and/or a cold San Miguel beer is no problem in Malate-cruising along Adriatico, Nakpil, Mabini or Remedios Streets, one finds an…
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Philippines-Northern Samar
November 11, 2009 by Judy Razon
Separated from Luzon Island by the San Bernardino Strait, Samar is way off the beaten path. While Palawan is touted as the ‘last frontier’ in Philippine tourism, Samar, especially Northern Samar, may very well be ‘beyond the last frontier’.
Travelers may fly to Northern Samar’s main town, Catarman, by jet from Manila – the flight takes approximately an hour. An overland trip by bus is possible (and much cheaper); however, the trip takes 12 to 14 hours and the last section is by ferry from the southern tip of Luzon in Bicol to Northern Samar. By whatever means travelers take to get here, they will be amply rewarded by some of the most picturesque and seldom seen places this side of Paradise.
Biri Island is a short boat ride away from Catarman. It is the site of awesome rock formations, huge honey-comb like steps and cavernous natural amphitheaters, arches and caves that have been carved into the rocks by unrelenting winds and pounding surf through the centuries. The Pacific Ocean’s natural tools have created an incredible array of giant sculptures along Biri’s northern shore in a spot called Magasang.
Nearby is Bel-ot, reputedly the best natural saltwater pool in the…
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Philippines- Siquijor, Island of Fire
November 2, 2009 by Judy Razon
An enchanting and, as legend has it, enchanted island in the Visayan region of the Philippine archipelago, Siquijor has a charm all its own. From pristine white-sand beaches to centuries-old relics, this island is a must-see for the intrepid and adventurous traveler.
Its moniker came from the observation of early Spanish explorers that the island at night had an eerie and surreal glow; hence, they called it the ‘Island of Fire’. There was a simple explanation to this otherwise mysterious phenomenon – the glow came from the swarms of fireflies that hovered around the trees along Siquijor’s shoreline.
Scuba diving and snorkeling along the vast coral reefs surrounding the island are a popular activity. Underwater vistas teeming with colorful varieties of fish and submarine gardens are found in Siquijor’s Marine Preserve. Over a hundred kilometers of coastline yield over a dozen fine beaches, all white-sand.
Salagdoong is a twin beach and cove separated by a rocky outcropping from where one may dive 30 feet into the clear turquoise waters below. Just down the road from here, we discovered a deserted beach in the town of Maria where we frolicked in the sand and surf and then had a picnic in…
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Philippines-Typhoon Islands
October 2, 2009 by Judy Razon
The Philippine Islands lie in the path of the typhoons that originate in the Pacific Ocean. There are around 20 of these typhoons that blow through the Philippines every year during the monsoon season. The islands are the first hit by these weather monsters before wreaking more havoc in Southeast Asia.
Last week, what was dubbed as the Philippine ‘Katrina’ slammed into the capital, Metro Manila, and its environs. A month’s worth of rain fell in just 12 hours; the result, the worst floods in over four decades. It was Katrina times 5. The death toll, still being tabulated, is so far in the hundreds. Many more are still missing. Thousands of families have either lost their homes entirely or have had all their belongings ruined by the floods. People were stranded on rooftops as the raging floodwaters rose to overhead levels. Rivers overflowed, dams spilled over, streets turned into surging canals, malls into refugee centers. Over two and a half million people were severely affected by this typhoon named “Ondoy”.
Sadly, the government was unprepared for a calamity of this magnitude. It was a case of too little, too late. The real heroes were the regular folks who stepped…
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