Philippines

If you prefer DIY tours, then knowing how to haul yourself and your stuff from one point to another via public transport helps a lot. It’s economical and allows you to touch base with everyday people which makes travel realistic and multi-dimensional. In the Philippines, public transport can be a …

As much as Filipinos are religiously devout, they are also hopelessly comic. Leave it to them to put a mundane (and hilarious) twist to liturgical celebrations. St. John the Baptist’s festival on June 24 is observed all over the country with water dousing ritual. Generally, the people do it the …

One may think that paganism is a relic of the past in a country steeped with Vatican influence, but such is not always the case. Pagan festivals have managed to survive in the Philippines, even if they evolved to accommodate religious elements that were introduced when the Spanish arrived in …

Having a row with the neighbor occasionally happens, and that’s what has been happening to Malaysia and the Philippines lately (although the “fight” is more like between the Filipino heirs of an ancient sultanate and the Malaysian government). The two countries are presently involved in a territorial dispute concerning Sabah, …

It’s easy to see Manila as a city of bumper-to-bumper cars in rush hour and overlook the pockets of charm that it exudes when the monsoon rains come. But look past its urban trappings and the vagaries of weather to experience the city’s character that provides an apt introduction to …

It used to be that getting to the (now world-famous) Puerto Princesa Underground River was a straightforward business. You walk into the tourism office onsite, you pay the entrance fee, you get in, you get out. And you enjoy the entire experience. Now, you are likely to be turned away …

“Kadayawan sa Dabaw” started as a tribal festival in the 1970s to showcase the indigenous peoples’ rituals of celebration after a bountiful harvest. To entice investment into the region after a tumultuous Martial Law regime, local executives decided to bring to the fore the agricultural and natural bounty of Davao …

Consider these numbers for a Philippine province: 1,780 islands (out of the country’s more than 7,000); 52 living dialects and languages (of the more than 120 in the Philippines); 279 bird species, 27 endemic to the country. There is also that 2,000 kilometers of coastline and two UNESCO World Heritage …

The number 7,000 (islands) figures prominently every time any article about the Philippines is written, and for good reason. The country is archipelagic, and it pays to toot one’s own horn and flaunt statistics, especially if it serves the purpose of attracting curious travelers. Not all tourists coming to the …

If you feel like bungee jumping is too much of a risk but would like to be like Superman for the moment, what other activity could you engage in to slake your thirst for adventure? There are actually several: hang gliding, parasailing and ziplining are a few. Of the three, …

If you’re making your way to the Philippines any time this year, check out this “Long Weekend Guidelines for 2013” by Jonas Roque. At a quick glance, you’ll be able to know which days in a month are declared as official holidays, and which dates are marked as non-working days. …

Mangroves enchant me in the same way underwater worlds do. They appeal to my sense of wonderment that I cannot quite verbalize, as if some primeval part of me responds to the shrill cries kingfishers make as they flit from tree to tree. Everytime I find myself in a mangrove …