ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands[9] in the western Pacific Ocean.

 

The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of about 90 million people. Its national economy is the 47th largest in the world, with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$ 168.6 billion (nominal). There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, about 11% of the population.

 

The Philippines constitutes an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 square miles). The country is divided into three island groups: Luzon (Regions I to V, NCR and CAR), Visayas (VI to VIII), and Mindanao (IX to XIII and ARMM).

 

The Philippine territorial waters measure as much as 1.67 million square kilometers, producing a unique, and diverse marine life. Of the 2,400 fish species found in the Philippines, 65 have good commercial value. Other marine products include corals, pearls, crabs, and seaweeds.[51][59] The rain forests offer prime habitat for more than 530 species of birds, including the Philippine eagle, some 800 species of orchids, and some 8,500 species of flowering plants.

 

The islands of the Philippine archipelago are volcanic in origin and are mountainous. The islands are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Mt. Apo (2,954 meters above sea level) in Mindanao is the highest peak, while the second highest peak is Mt. Pulog in Luzon. It rises 2,842 meters above sea level. The Philippines have numerous rivers, volcanoes, streams, narrow coastal plains and beautiful sandy beaches which foreign and local tourist enjoy. The country has a total of 36,289 kilometers of coastline.

 

Natural resources

The Philippines provides a high environment of natural resources in areas such as agriculture, nature, and minerals. It has fertile lands, diverse flora, and fauna, extensive coastlines, and rich mineral deposits.Endemic species include the tamaraw of Mindoro, and the tarsier of Bohol. The Philippines have a lack of predators, with the exception of snakes, such as pythons, cobras, and birds of prey, such as the national bird, known as the Philippine eagle. Other native animals include the palm civet cat, the Mouse deer, the Visayan warty pig, and several species of bats.

 

Rainforests boasts an array of flora, including several types of orchids, and rafflesia. The narra is considered as the most important type of hardwood while banyan trees or the balete. The islands' major crops include rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut, abaca, and tobacco. Rice is the most important source of food along with corn. The coconut, mango, watermelon, and other native fruits are an important contributor to the nation's income.

 

Due to the volcanic nature of the islands, mineral deposits are abundant. This also allows the Philippines to become a powerhouse with regards to geothermal energy.

 

Climate

The country’s climate is hot, humid, and tropical. The average yearly temperature is around 26.5° Celsius. Three Seasons which are Summer, Rainy Season and Cold Season. Summer is from March to May; Rainy Season during June to November and Cold Season during December to February which is moderate to folks from temperate countries.

 

Religion

The Philippines is one of two predominant Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being East Timor. It is composed of several diocese, and archdiocese. More than 90% of the population are Christians. About 80% belong to the Roman Catholic Church while the remaining 10% belong to other Christian denominations, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventist, United Church of Christ, Iglesia Ni Cristo, and the Philippine Independent Church.

 

Several Baroque churches are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the San Agustín Church in Manila, the Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Santa María) Church in Ilocos Sur, the Santo Tomás de Villanueva Church in Iloilo, and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu.

 

About 5% of the population are Muslim, most of whom live in parts of Mindanao, Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelago, an area known as Bangsamoro or the Moro region. Some have migrated into urban, and rural areas in different parts of the country. Most Muslim Filipinos practice Shafi'i, a form of Sunni Islam, while other tribal groups such as the Bajau, practice Animism.

 

Religions such as Buddhism, the Bahá'í Faith, Hinduism, Sikhism, Atheism, and other spiritual beliefs form the remaining 5% of the Philippine population.

 

Language

Over 180 native languages, and dialects are spoken in the Philippine. Filipino and English are the official languages. Filipino is the de facto version of Tagalog, spoken mainly in Metro Manila, and other urban regions. Both Tagalog, and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business.

 

Transportation

The Jeepney is a public transport used by people to travel into certain places. These vehicles were originally made from World War II jeeps. Buses, taxis, and motorcycles are available also when getting around the major cities and towns.

 

Train service is provided by the Strong Republic Transit System, which unified the three main railway networks that provide service of different areas of Metro Manila, and parts of Luzon, that includes the Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRT), the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

 

Seaports can be found throughout the islands. The busiest seaports are Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga, which are parts of the 3,219 kilometer of waterways, and seaports. Inter-island passenger ships, and other sea vessels such as Superferry, Negros Navigation, and Sulpicio Lines serves Manila, with links to various cities, and towns. In 2003, the 919-kilometer Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) was established, and this is an integrated set of highway segments, and ferry routes covering 17 cities.[88]

 

Rivers, such as the Pasig River, and Marikina River, have air-conditioned commuter ferries run by the Pasig River Ferry Service, connecting their numerous tributaries in Manila, Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Pasig City, and Marikina City.

 

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the main airport. Other important airports include the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and Francisco Bangoy International Airport. The Philippine Airlines, Asia's first commercial airline, and Cebu Pacific, the leading domestic airline, are the major airlines serving most domestic, and international destinations. Other airlines are Zest Air, Southeast Asian Airlines and Air Philippines (PALExpress).

 

Communications

The Philippines has one of the most sophisticated cellular phone industry in the world, and one of the highest concentration of users. The telecommunications company is dominated by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, which is also the largest company in the country. Other telecommunication providers are Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Sun Cellular.

 

There is an estimated 41 million cellular phone users, the reason that the Philippines has been named as the "Texting Capital of the World", and the ownership rate is increasing. Text messaging have fostered a culture of quick greetings, and forwarded jokes among the Filipinos. Out of these growing number of avid texters, 5.5 million of them use their cellular phones as virtual wallets, making it a leader among developing nations in providing financial transactions over cellular networks.

 

Radio, television, and internet is used frequently. There are approximately 381 AM, and 628 FM stations, and 250 national, and 1,501 cable TV stations, as well as 14 million Internet users or 16% of the total population, being served by almost 100 Internet providers.

 

Culture

Philippine culture is a mixture of Eastern and Western culture. The Hispanic influences are derived from that of Spain, and Mexico. These influences are most evident in literature, folk music, folk dance, language, food, art, and religion.[71] Spanish settlers introduced Iberian-Mexican customs, traditions, and cuisines. Philippine cuisine is a mixture of Asian, and European dishes.

 

Philippine tradition exhibits festivities known as Barrio fiestas (district festivals) to commemorate their patron saints. One of the most visible Hispanic legacies is the prevalence of Spanish surnames, and names among Filipinos. This peculiarity, unique among the people of Asia, came as a result of a colonial decree, the Clavería edict, for the systematic distribution of family names, and implementation of the Spanish naming system on the population. A Spanish name, and surname among the majority of Filipinos does not always denote Spanish ancestry.Islamic instruments of gongs, and a drum that make up the Philippine kulintang ensemble, an example of pre-Hispanic musical tradition.

 

The majority of street names, towns, and provinces are in Spanish. Spanish architecture made a significant imprint in the Philippines. This can be seen in the country's churches, government buildings, and universities. Many Hispanic houses, and buildings are preserved, like the towns in Vigan, and among others. The kalesas, horse-driven carriages, were a mode of transportation during the Spanish period. They are still being used today.

 

Philippine culture has also received influence from various Indigenous culture, and other Cultures of Asia. This includes the Malayo-Polynesian, Islamic, Chinese, and other cultures.

 

Food

Philippine cuisine is Malayo-Polynesian in origin with a predominant Hispanic base, and has received varying degrees of influence from Chinese, American, and other Asian cuisine.

 

Filipinos traditionally eat three main meals a day. This include agahan (breakfast), tanghalían (lunch), and hapúnan (dinner), plus an afternoon snack called meriénda (another variant is minandál or minindál). Dishes range from a simple meal of seafoods, pork, vegetable, and rice, to paellas, and cocidos. Popular dishes include lechón, chorizo, tapa, adobo, kaldereta kare-kare, crispy pata, sinigang, pancit, and lumpia.

 

Today, Philippine cuisine continues to evolve in techniques, and styles of cooking dishes, in both traditional Filipino and modern cuisines. Fast food is also popular.

IN THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT

The alluring beauty of the Far East is seen through its contrasts of culture, lifestyle, and climate. Somehow everyone of us has the desire to live and settle into a paradise that would provide ease and quiet enjoyment. To many the East could provide such a place: a place that would satisfy every transient and visitor in their desires for a great deal of pleasure ? where life could be more interesting and exceptionally unique. The PHILIPPINES is an archipelago that is known as the "Pearl of Oriental Beauty and Enchantment" because of its rare scenic views and tourist attractions. It consists of more than 7,000 islands and islets; it is located off the southeast coast of the Asian continent. It has three principal Islands: the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The Philippines has a total land area of 116,000 sq. miles; its neighbors are Taiwan to the north, Hong Kong to the northwest, Brunei and Malaysia to the southwest and Vietnam to the west. It lies within the Pacific basin and has a tropical climate. Rainy season normally occurs from June to December. Summer starts in January, but without a doubt the months of March and April are the warmest. Mountains, caves, rivers and lakes are numerous in the Philippines. There are three large mountain ranges in the Luzon area. Its highest peak stand at the Caraballo Del Sur, located at the intersection of the boundaries of Ilocos Norte, Abra and Cagayan Valley provinces. The largest river system is in the Mindanao region, which is known as the "Rio Grande de Mindanao". Volcanoes and waterfalls, on the other hand, are the most popular attractions in the Philippines. The Iraya in Batanes Island, Taal in Batangas, Banahaw in Quezon Province, Mayon in Albay (having the perfect cone), Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin Island, Apo in Davao province and the Makaturing in Lanao are the most famous Philippine volcanoes. Taal Volcano is recorded as the smallest volcano in the world, situated in the southern part of Luzon. Another fascinating view, which can be seen in the Philippines, is the amazing Banaue Rice Terraces in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Beach resorts are famous in the Philippines: the resorts of Dos Palmas in Palawan, Dakak in Dapitan, resorts in the Camiguin islands, Pearl Farm Paradise in Samal Island, resorts in Cebu Island, Boracay Beach in Aklan, resorts in the Oriental Negros and the beach resorts in Bohol Island are some of the favorites of foreign tourists. There are, indeed, countless places I have visited during my past travels in the Philippines. One of the places that is most memorable to me is the city of Baguio in the Cordillera Administrative Region. It is situated on the highly-elevated provinces of northern Luzon. It is said to be the "Summer Capital? of the Philippines due to its distinctly cold climate. Baguio City is a far distance from the city of Manila (capital of the Philippines). Estimated travel time from Manila is 6?7 hours by land. There are of course considerable numbers of historical landmarks in the Philippines because of the long period of colonization.

Author: By Junfil Olarte

ISLAND PHILIPPINES

METRO MANILA

Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) is the metropolitan area of the city of Manila, the national capital of the Philippines. Its residential population as of August 2007 Census is 11,553,427. Including suburbs in the adjacent provinces (Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan) of Greater Manila, the population approaches 20 million.[1] Metro Manila is one of the twelve defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines.

 

In 2005, it ranked as the 42nd richest urban agglomeration in the world with a GDP of $108 billion according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Metro Manila is expected to climb to the 30th spot by 2020 with a GDP of $257 billion and an annual growth rate of 5.9%.

 

As proclaimed by Presidential Decree No. 940, Metro Manila as a whole is the Philippines' seat of government although only the City of Manila is the capital

 

LUZON

Luzon is the largest and most economically and politically important island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country, with Visayas and Mindanao being the other two. Luzon as an island group includes the island of Luzon itself, plus the Batanes and Babuyan groups of islands to the north, and the main and outlying islands of Catanduanes, Marinduque, Masbate, Romblon, and Mindoro in the south. Luzon was once split among Muslim principalities and pagan tribes, who had trading connections with Malaysia, India, Japan and China before the Spanish established their rule. The first European explorers recorded it in their charts as Luçonia or Luçon and inhabitants were called Lucoes. Under Spain, Luzon also came to be known as the Nueva Castilla or the New Castile.

 

VISAYAS

Visayas is one of the three island groups in the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea. Its inhabitants are referred to as the Visayans.

 

MINDANAO

Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also one of the three island groups in the country, along with Luzon and Visayas. Historically the island was also known as Gran Molucas or Great Mollucas.

EIGHT PHILIPPINES SIGHTS TO SEE

The Philippine archipelago is blessed with beautiful sceneries, miles and miles of white sand beaches, a year round tropical weather, historical sights and structures to admire, underwater creatures and caves to explore, natural resources to treasure and wildlife to protect.

 

It is truly a country that has God’s wonders spread across its more than 7,000 islands.

 

Here are eight attractions you might want to see when vacationing in the Philippines.

 

Banaue Rice Terraces

The Ifugaos built the Banaue Rice Terraces more than 2,000 years ago. It is about 5,000 feet above sea level and covers about 400 square miles of mountainside. This beautiful engineering of mankind is very unique in every sense of the word. They believed that the Batad ancestors of Ifugao carved this “staircase to the sky” with minimal tools and mainly used their hands to put the walls up one stone at a time.

 

Chocolate Hills in Bohol

These perfectly cone-shaped hills are a subject of debate whether it is an act of God or if they are manmade. There are about 1,268 hills and they are very much uniformed.

 

During the rainy season, the hills are actually green. However, venture to them during the hot days of summer and they turn into a chocolate color—hence the name.

 

Intramuros in Metro Manila

Intramuros used to be the center of political, religious and military power during the Spanish era. This walled city in Manila was built on the ruins of a Malay settlement some 400 years ago. It was home for thousands of Spanish colonists and their families during those times.

 

The walls suffered a tremendous damage during WWII. The Philippine government restored and reconstructed Intramuros in 1980 and it’s now a major tourists attraction in Manila.

 

Some of the attractions within the walls and the vicinity of Intramuros you must see include: the Fort Santiago, the Manila Cathedral, the San Agustin Church, the walls of Intramuros/Puerta de Santa Lucia, and the Casa Manila.

 

Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach)

This is the second largest beach in Boracay, Aklan. It is less populated, since tourists and locals alike hang out at the white beach. It is not as remote as it used to be, but still more private than the white beach. It’s beautiful and the water is crystal clear. This is paradise.

 

Metropolitan Manila

The Philippines capital, Manila, is a center of all things in the country. It is known as the city by the bay. Although humid, busy and a very congested city, you can find almost anything in Manila. It has a lot of attractions to see and it’s a mecca for shoppers. They also have the biggest mall in Southeast Asia. The nightlife in Manila is like no other.

 

Filipinos love of music is evident in bars, pub, and restaurants where live bands are featured. It is also the center of cultural and entertainment industry. Sunset at Manila Bay is a sight to see. Many photographers from all over the world capture it. It is by far the best I’ve ever seen.

 

Tagaytay

Only about an hour’s drive from Makati or Alabang Metro Manila is the province of Tagaytay, where you can breathe fresh air and the climate is cool just like Baguio City.

 

While there, take some time to view the smallest volcano. A lake surrounds it. The scenery is breathtaking. Tagaytay has a lot of attractions to offer besides the volcano. It’s a great place to hike too. You can either spend a night or two and explore the city or just spend the whole day relaxing and enjoy the beautiful sights around you.

 

Corregidor Island

This tadpole-shaped island is the place where the Americans and Filipinos fought side-by-side to save the country from falling to the hands of the Japanese during WWII. You can see remains of the barracks and the canyons used to fight the enemies. This is the island where General MacArthur left for Australia before it was attacked. It’s where he proclaimed his famous words, “ I shall return.”

 

Rizal Park

The Rizal Park is located in the heart of Metro Manila. This 148-acre park was named after the Philippines National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. It’s a place where people do their early morning walks and Tai Chi exercises before it gets too hot. Families take their children here to play and at night you’ll see plenty of lovers strolling along the park holding hands. This is also one of the few places left where you can ride the calesa (a horse drawn carriage made of wood). The Rizal Park has playgrounds, fountains, an open-air concert arena, and a Japanese and Chinese garden.

 

Whether you enjoy relaxing at the beach, soaking up nature, exploring historical spots, or strolling in the park, the Philippines is a wondrous place to do all of these things and more.

By: Philippines Vacation

BORACAY ISLAND

Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay), and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.

 

History

The island was originally home to the Ati tribe. Boracay is part of Aklan Province, which became an independent province on April 25, 1956. Formerly undiscovered, it wasn't till the 1970s that tourism began to develop in Boracay and the island became popular with backpackers in the 1980s.

 

Years ago, Boracay Island was a well-guarded secret, almost possessively so that only a few knew of its existence.

 

It was only in the 70s when, it is said, a foreign movie crew accidentally "discovered" this island paradise. Others maintain that it was the German traveler, 'Jens Peters' book, which included rave reviews of Boracay that changed the island’s pace from that of being a quiet secret to eventually being voted as having the best beach in the world.

 

Whichever story is true, it was around this time that Boracay Island slowly ceased to be a private travelers hangout and eventually became a favorite tourist destination in the Philippines. In a span of a mere 10 years, the whole world, it seemed, discovered Boracay and the once, nearly deserted stretch of beach became a teeming vacation and leisure spot for upscale tourists from all parts of the world

 

Geography

Boracay Island is located off the northwest corner of the island of Panay, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region VI, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.

 

South-facing Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay's main entry and exit point during most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as an alternative entry and exit point.

 

Boracay's two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island's narrow central area. White Beach faces westward and Bulabog Beach faces eastward. The island also has several other beaches.

 

White Beach is the main tourism beach. It is a bit over four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. In the central portion, for about two kilometers, there is a footpath known as the Beachfront Path separating the beach itself from the establishments located along it. North and south of the Beachfront Path, beachfront establishments do literally front along the beach itself. Several roads and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay's Main Road, a vehicular road which runs the length of the island. At the extreme northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around the headland there and connects White Beach with Diniwid Beach.

 

Bulabog Beach, across the island from White Beach, is a secondary tourism beach and Boracay's main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.

 

Boracay is divided, for land use and conservation purposes, into 400 hectares of preserved forestland and 628.96 hectares of agricultural Land.

 

Climate

Amihan and Habagat. Sunset on Boracay's White Beach.Weather in Boracay is generally divided into two seasonal weather patterns known locally as the Amihan and Habagat seasons. In the Tagalog language, Amihan means a cool northeast wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind; south-west monsoon. Amihan and Habagat seasons are generally associated respectively with the El Niño and La Niña global weather patterns. The Amihan season is characterized by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the east. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the west.

 

On Boracay, the main indicator of the switch between the Amihan and Habagat seasonal patterns is the switch in wind direction. In most years this transition is abrupt and occurs overnight. In some years there is a period of perhaps a week or two where the wind will switch between Amihan and Habagat patterns several times before settling into the pattern for the new season. As a general rule of thumb, Boracay will be in the Amihan weather pattern from sometime in September or October to sometime in May or June and in the Habagat weather pattern for the remainder of the year. These dates can vary in individual years, though.

 

Daytime temperatures on Boracay generally range from 77-90°F (25-32°C) from the beginning of the Amihan season into February or March, increase to the 82-100°F(28-38°C) range until the onset of the Habagat season, and moderate back to the 77-90°F (25-32°C) range with the return of the Amihan season. During Tropical Storm periods, temperatures can fall below 68°F (20°C). Tropical Storms can impact Boracay at any time of year, but are most likely to be seen during the Habagat season

 

Tourism

Partly because of its wind and weather patterns, tourism in Boracay is at its peak during the Amihan season. During Amihan, the prevailing wind blows from the east. Boracay's main tourism area, White Beach, is on the western side of the island and is sheltered from the wind. During the Amihan season, the water off White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island, hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore, onto Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side. This makes the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding / kitesurfing.

 

Accommodation

Boracay's White Beach.A number of accommodation types are scattered all over the island, ranging from luxurious hotel types to budget, spartan rooms. Guests can also choose according to location--Station 3 is where most of the cheaper lodgings are located, while Station 2 is meant for those who want to be within proximity of the bars. Station 1, meanwhile, is where you can find the more isolated accommodations, offering peace and quiet to those looking for a respite from the usual action-packed Boracay night scene. These are usually for the more upscale vacationers.

 

Boracay is the site of a world-class 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh. In addition, Boracay now has in excess of 350 beach resorts with more than 2,000 rooms ranging in quality from five-star to budget accommodations, so tourists are sure to find whatever they are looking for.

 

Boracay also offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs that bop until morning.

 

Most Boracay hotels and resorts have Low and High Season price levels, with High Season prices generally coinciding with Amihan Season dates. Some have additional "Super" Peak Period pricing during periods of heavy tourism (usually including Christmas / New Year, Easter / Holy Week, and Chinese New Year periods).

 

Transportation

Boracay island is separated from Panay island by a narrow strait. The island is located opposite the barangay of Caticlan in the municipality of Malay, Aklan Transportation across the strait is provided by boats operating from the Caticlan jetty port.

 

By air. Two airports in Aklan province serve Boracay, Kalibo Airport in Kalibo and Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (commonly referred to as "Caticlan airport") in the Caticlan.

 

By sea. The western part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) passes through Caticlan, with car ferries from Roxas, Oriental Mindoro docking at the Caticlan jetty port. Several bus companies operate provincial bus routes from Manila which pass through Caticlan via the SRNH.

 

On the island. The two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beachfront Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.

 

To explore around the island's coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.

BOHOL PROVINCE

Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of 4,117.3 square kilometers (1,589.7 sq mi) and a coastline 261 kilometers (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.

 

The province is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formation, is the most popular attraction. The island of Panglao, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is famous for its diving locations and routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Numerous tourist resorts dot the southern beaches and cater to divers from around the world. The Philippine Tarsier, considered the second-smallest primate in the world, is indigenous to the island.

 

Boholanos refer to their island homeland as the "Republic of Bohol" with both conviction and pride. A narrow strait separates the island of Cebu and Bohol and both share a common language, but the Boholanos retain a conscious distinction from the Cebuanos. Bohol's climate is generally dry, with maximum rainfall between the months of June and October. The interior is cooler than the coast.

 

It is the home province of Carlos P. Garcia, the fourth president of the Republic of the Philippines (1957-1961) who was born in Talibon, Bohol.

 

Geography

Mainland Bohol is oval-shaped, having a gentle rolling terrain, ideal for commercial and industrial site development. Bohol's mountainous interior is home to rare and endangered flora and fauna. At certain points, hills drop steeply to the coast from a maximum elevation of 870 meters (2,850 ft) above sea level. The interior uplands are fit for agro-forestry and high value agricultural production. The central and northern lowlands have also fertile grounds and abundant water supply. Over a hundred caves have been identified, the biggest of which is found in the eastern part which makes Bohol ideal for spelunking adventures.

 

Hills dominate the island of Bohol. Two ranges run roughly parallel on the northwest and the southeast. An interior plateau is dominated by limestone hills. In Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, these hills form near perfect cones in great numbers and are collectively referred to as the Chocolate Hills. The Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol are considered one of Philippine's natural wonders and Bohol is often referred to as the Jewel of the Philippines. They are hills made of limestone left over from coral reefs during the ice age when the island was submerged. They turn brown during the summer, hence their name.

 

White sandy beaches dot the coast of the island. The sand is often of such high quality that it is exported to other beaches in the world. The most well known of these beaches are in Panglao Island, and there, numerous islets have similar, yet untouched and pristine beaches.

 

There are four main rivers that run through Bohol with Loboc River being the most famous for its river cruises, running from the center of the island to the southeastern coast. The largest, Inabanga River, runs in the northwestern part of the province. The Abatan River in the southwest, and Ipil river in the north.

 

Numerous waterfalls and caves are scattered across the island, including the beautiful Mag-Aso falls in Antequera. Mag-Aso means smoke in the native tongue.

 

Climate

From November to April, the northeast monsoon (amihan) prevails. Except for a rare shower, this is the mildest time of the year. Daytime temperatures average 28°C, cooling down at night to around 25°C. The summer season from May to July brings higher temperatures and very humid days. From August to October is the southwest monsoon (habagat). The weather during this season is not very predictable, with weeks of calm weather alternating with rainy days. It can rain any day of the year, but a higher chance of heavy showers occurs from November to January.

 

Airport

Tagbilaran Airport terminal buildingDevelopment programs at the Tagbilaran Airport involve the extension of the runway length to 2,500 meters, to handle the A320's that will serve the direct route to Manila. The small Fokker 50 planes that used to fly the Manila-Tagbilaran route have been phased out and are now replaced by Philippine Airlines' as well as Cebu Pacific's Airbus A319s . Improvement of the ramp area will soon accommodate bigger aircraft and a modern airport building will also be constructed.

 

Though a number of national flag carriers are already servicing the Tagbilaran City Airport, a proposed international airport (see Panglao Island International Airport) has been planned on the nearby Panglao Island to accommodate bigger aircraft and handle larger volumes of passengers and tourists to the province. The said International Airport in Panglao is built-up with controversy. Accordingly, lands located in the right-of-way (ROW) owned by the private sectors that were bought cheap are being sold expensively and are giving the project a slight glitch. Thus, creating further issues and delays.

 

Seaports

The Tagbilaran City Wharf, now called the Tagbilaran City Tourist Pier, has port facilities such as:

·          265.8 meters — berth length and 2 dedicated berths for fast boats

·          2 roro ramps, 1,820 m² storage area

·          average cargo handling capacity of 49,000 tons accommodating 10 to 20 footer vans

·          container traffic of 5,142 TEUs

 

There are 9 daily ship calls to Cebu, 5 being fastcraft ferry trips. Daily passenger traffic is approximately 4,000. Other regular destinations are Manila (four times a week), Cagayan de Oro City, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Iligan, Larena, Plaridel and Ozamiz City. There are other smaller ports that cater to Cebu and northern Mindanao routes. The Port of Tubigon, the busiest among the smaller ports offers more than ten daily round trips plying the Cebu-Bohol route. The Catagbacan Port in Loon serves the roll-on roll-off services between Cebu and Bohol for those who have vehicles plying this route. The Port of Jagna offers services that ply between Bohol to Cagayan and Camiguin (with roll-on, roll-off) route. The other ports are Ubay, Talibon, Getafe, Buenavista, and Clarin.