In the Philippines, holidays are declared as early as a year before. Given that many of the holidays happen on the same date each year, it’s easy enough for the Filipinos to plan their vacation. The Philippines follow mostly the Gregorian calendar for the holiday planning, and many of these …
Read More »Holy Week 2014: A Time for Reflection and Renewal
The observance of the Holy Week is part of the Christian celebration of the Lenten season. Traditionally, Lent lasts for forty days, coinciding with the time Jesus spent fasting in the desert. This cycle, however, is calculated differently depending on the Christian denomination. The Holy Week is the last week …
Read More »Ukay-Ukay: The Philippines’ Take on Rummage Sale
In keeping with the Department of Tourism’s logo, shopping is more fun in the Philippines. It’s here where you can find an original and in good condition Victoria’s Secret bikinis for less than a dollar, or The North Face shirt for a dollar and a quarter. Of course, you don’t …
Read More »The Best Beaches of Visayas Part II
Simply because it’s the height of tropical cyclone season doesn’t mean you can’t hit the beach for a well-deserved break from the monsoons. Even better, this time of the year is off-season, so you are likely to get cheaper lodging, better service, and fewer crowds. If you are truly lucky, …
Read More »The Best Beaches of Visayas
Simply because it’s the height of tropical cyclone season doesn’t mean you can’t hit the beach for a well-deserved break from the monsoons. Even better, this time of the year is off-season, so you are likely to get cheaper lodging, better service, and fewer crowds. If you are truly lucky, …
Read More »How to Get to Siquijor
Siquijor was once under the administration of Negros Oriental, so the best route to get to this small island is still via its old mother province through its capital, Dumaguete City. From Manila, you can take a domestic flight to Dumaguete City (Siquijor’s airport is closed to passenger flights as …
Read More »Sibuyan Island: Way Off the Beaten Path
There is a compelling reason why Sibuyan Island should be on the radar of every eco-traveler: It is one of the rare islands in the Philippines where primary growth forest can still be seen fringing the coast. Population pressures and clearing of the land for agriculture use have markedly reduced …
Read More »Sibuyan Island: Galapagos of Asia
If there’s one thing that has become very rare in the Philippines, it is its rainforests. Rarer still is primary growth forest fringing a coastline, which have all been cleared in the past to give way to human habitation and agriculture. This sorry state of environmental affairs in the Philippines …
Read More »Only in the Philippines: Top 10 Filipino Cultural Quirks Explained Part 2
As with any culture that is not your own, certain behaviors, practices and habits may be considered odd, weird and even downright bizarre. Filipinos have a fair share of them, and often the source of endless fascination (and even annoyance) by the same people whose culture Filipinos would surely likewise …
Read More »Only in the Philippines: Top 10 Filipino Cultural Quirks Explained Part 1
As with any culture that is not your own, certain behaviors, practices and habits may be considered odd, weird and even downright bizarre. Filipinos have a fair share of them, and often the source of endless fascination (and even annoyance) by the same people whose culture Filipinos would surely likewise …
Read More »Photo Essay: San Juan, Siquijor
In a separate post, we named Siquijor as one of the top 10 beach destinations in the Philippines. While Salagdoong Beach in the town of Maria is a strong contender, it is not as long as the beaches in the town of San Juan. The latter is not only significant …
Read More »Photo Essay: Lazi, Siquijor
“Laci” is synonymous to heritage. Inferring from the sheer size of its convent to the remarkable interior architecture of its church, I could tell that this place must have been one hotbed of religious activity. As it turned out, the Lazi convent was the retreat center, in the late 19th …
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