Blessed with a tropical climate, the Philippines offers a perfect treat to sun-worshippers with its abundant unspoiled beaches and first-class resort facilities. Lying in Southeast Asia and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the South China Sea, and the Celebes Sea, its extensive coastlines boast of deep blue and crystal clear waters with 40,000 square kilometers of coral reefs teeming with a wide variety of marine life, including succulent lobsters, tiger prawns, giant crabs, and other delectable seafood for the culinary wonders.
The Philippines has some of the best beaches and scuba diving sites in the world. The world famous Boracay Beach in Aklan, with its unsullied fine talcum powdered sands and tranquil crystal clear waters, has tourists from all over the world wondering how this place can be so close to paradise… the place is ideal for swimming, sailing, fishing, and sunbathing. Boracay also boasts of sapphire seas and spectacular sunsets. Countless hidden coves dot the island and tall coconut trees line up along the beaches. The province of Bohol also features some of the finest beaches the country can offer in Panglao Island with its long stretch of white sand beaches. A few hours of countryside driving and one can reach and view the spectacular Chocolate Hills made from limestone that seem to rise from the ground like droplets of chocolates. A few kilometers away is the Loboc River that offers weary travelers a river cruise with locals serenading while one enjoys the scenery and simultaneously feasting a sumptuous lunch buffet of native dishes.
The exotic beauty of Palawan remains pristine. Considered as the last frontier of the country, Palawan is a sanctuary of an amazing variety of flora and fauna that are found nowhere else. With more than a thousand islands and islets, this province in Luzon boasts of white-sand beaches, scenic rock formations, the breathtaking Underground River in St. Paul’s Subterranean River, magnificent caves and stalactites and stalagmites of a thousand shapes and colors. Palawan is also home to Tubbataha Reef, the only national marine park that made it to the World Heritage List and whose grandeur is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. It is also in this province where one can see the natural beauty of Busuanga Island. Its natural beauty can only be described as seductive and awe-inspiring, giving first-time visitors and repeaters alike a sense of wonder that is hard to shake off. If Aklan has Boracay, Ilocos Norte has Pagudpud, located in its northernmost town bordering the South China Sea. This town is the perfect setting for panoramic movies and photo shoot for travel magazines. Its main attractions are Saud Beach, known for its fine white sand stretching for hundreds of meters and Maira-Ira Point, which hides a secluded beach called Blue Lagoon. The province of Ilocos Norte is closest to China and Hong Kong. It has the excellent Fort Ilocandia Hotel for one to stay and luxuriate. Batanes, the northernmost province of the country has windswept landscapes and reminds a traveler of the moors in Europe and greenfields of Scotland. Most often visited by typhoons, the natural calamities have made the natives, Ivatans, sturdy and gentle in character. It is only here where one can find a store unattended. You get the thing you want and pay the amount in a basket without the presence of a store-keeper.
Still found in the Luzon island is the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces traversing the rugged terrains of the Cordillera mountain ranges. It can be an immense traveling experience for someone who has the guts to look down into the depths of mountain cliffs to get a good view of the rice terraces as backdrop and cool breeze shuttling between mountain peaks as background. A journey across the rice terraces exposes one to an atmosphere strangely different from the daily offering of Manila and its lowland areas. Also interesting is Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines and nestled on top of Benguet province. Built by the Americans, this city has alpine-scented air brought about by the pine trees. Its invigorating and cool climate offers a welcome respite from the lowland dwellers seeking to escape the tropical heat specially during the summer months.
With more than 7,100 islands and 81 provinces, the Philippines has many other natural and man-made beauties to behold. Being occupied by the Spaniards for more than 300 years, by the Americans for several decades and other foreigners in subdued ways, it is a melting pot of many cultures. Take a peek into the Filipinos’ history and culture and it is mirrored by century-old Catholic churches and ancient forts. The San Agustin Church, considered as the oldest Catholic church in the country, is located in Intramuros, Manila. Built by the Augustinian friars in 1586 and declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the church has imposing baroque features and is an exact replica of the Puebla Cathedral in Mexico. Other notable Catholic churches include the Manila Cathedral, the Baclayon Church in Bohol which is the second oldest church, the Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, and hundreds more thereby strongly affirming the Catholic faith of the Filipinos.
Endowed with endless white beaches, a tropical climate, luxuriant pastoral lands, cool mountain villages, numerous churches, man-made resorts, and dazzling islands, what set the Philippines a MUST place to visit, is more than anything else, its people. Imbued with their strong Christian faith, the Filipinos are generally kind, gentle, and hospitable. They have known a lot of hardships, yet they are resilient and hard-working. Constantly smiling despite difficulties, they express their sorrows and joys through dancing and singing. Filipinos are some of the best singers and dancers in the world. Their strong sense of family ties has forced them to work in far away lands and face immeasurable loneliness just so they can earn a little bit more money to send to their loved ones. They are willing to work hard and serve their employers well. Surely what makes the Philippines a fantastic country to visit is the hospitality and friendliness of the Filipinos who always serve with a genuine smile. Being a Filipino of Chinese descent, I, for one, can attest to the loveliness of the country and the gentleness of its people.
Come, visit the Philippines and be marveled by it. As the saying goes: “Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan.” (Do not be a stranger to your own country.)
No comments:
Post a Comment