Camsur Water Sports Complex

CAMSUR WATER SPORTS COMPLEX

This would probably be one of the biggest reasons why Camsur became a very popular destination in the Philippines. The park is located in the Provincial Capitol Complex of Cadlan, Camarines Sur and Pili. This is design for wakeboarding and water skiing. If you enjoy this kind of water sports then this is the first place you should visit in Camsur. They also have a BMX trail, motor cross and skateboards.

The Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC) is a world-class 6-hectare watersports park located in Pili, the capital of Camarines Sur in the Bicol region of the Philippines. The park offers facilities for various water sports, especially for wakeboarding, wakeskating, kneeboarding, and waterskiing, day and night. Various types of accommodations, a restaurant, a spa, a swimming pool, and different entertainment and sports facilities are also found within the complex. The park is run by the provincial government of Camarines Sur.

There is a wide range of accommodations in and near the complex, including huts, cabanas, containers, and first class hotel rooms.

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Mt. Bulusan

MT. BULUSAN

Mt. Bulusan, or Bulusan Volcano, in Sorsogon, rises to 1565 MASL and is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines. Recent eruptions in 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2011 intermittently closed the mountain for several years, until it reopened in June 2012. In that same month, PinoyMountaineer.com and team visited the volcano, and the stunning beauty of Mt. Bulusan was revealed to us.

These features and views make Bulusan Volcano easily one of the most beautiful climbs in the Philippines, not to mention that biodiversity that has the potential to attract birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. Considering that it is also one of the most active volcanoes in the country, hikers interested on this mountain should climb it soon, before it erupts again! The impressive local organization of trained and very friendly guides, caretakers, and even an EMT officer gives me no hesitation to recommend Bulusan as a must-try hiking destination in the Philippines!

Bulusan volcanic complex is located at the southern extremity of the Bicol arc in the south-east of Luzon. It consists of the active cone of Mt. Bulusan, 11 km wide Irosin caldera, and older dissected volcanic centres that include the Gate Mountains at the

southern tip of the peninsula and Mt. Bintacan to the west.

At the summit, however, with favorable weather conditions, the view is absolutely breathtaking. The crater, traditionally known as the "Blackbird Lake" is a gaping void surrounded by fragile rocky ridges where sulfuric steam continues to emanate from; and on the other side, Lake Aguingay looks very tranquil under the shadow of Sharp Peak. Beyond Bulusan's realm, the towns of Sorsogon can be seen and on a blessed day, the distant perfect cone of Mayon Volcano can be spotted.

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Basilica of the Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia

BASILICA OF THE NUESTRA SENORA DE PENAFRANCIA

The Basilica Minore del Peñafrancia is located at the outskirts of Naga City. The “Our Lady of Peñafrancia” is the Patroness of the entire Bicol Region and because the number of devotees continues to grow and multiply, a new and bigger church was built to house the Lady.

The concept for the building came from Archbishop Pedro P. Santos in 1960. Construction began on April 18, 1976, but was delayed for a number of years due to finance problems and was not completed until September 1981.

The Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peña de Francia serves as the home of the revered Our Lady of Peñafrancia, and is one of the important landmarks of one of Bicol's foremost cities.

This beautiful church in Naga City is steeped in a beautiful story and a rich history. The Peñafrancia Basilica Minore houses an image of the Virgin Mary that was sculpted in 1710. It was commissioned by Dominican priest Miguel Robles de Covarrubias who, as stories have it, was personally blessed by the Virgin and was witness to some of her miracles.

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Rodeo Filipino Festival

RODEO FILIPINO FESTIVAL

Try and plan your visit to coincide with one of Masbate’s captivating festivities. Rodeo Filipino (every April) is second to none and features young cowboys proving their prowess riding wild steers and wrestling with fearsome bulls. It has a real ‘wild west’ atmosphere complete with open air barbecue feasting and lots of lively traditional music. Even more of an eye opener is the annual Corn Festival at San Ramon. This is a wild celebration best remembered for dance displays on glowing embers and fearless visitors are encouraged to take part.

The festival has stamped Masbate’s identity as the cattle center of the Philippines, and Masbate City’s fame as the rodeo capital. The province’s expanses of gently rolling hills are perfect for cattle ranching, and Masbateños have been honed by the decades to be exceptional riders and herders.

A typical Rodeo Masbateño festival kicks off with a grand horse parade, the longest of its kind staged in the country and probably in the whole of Asia. Such a parade would see hundreds of horses ridden by professionals and students alike strut down the city streets.

When we say professional, we mean world-class: homegrown talents have participated in international rodeo festivals such as in Las Vegas.

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Mayon Volcano

MAYON VOLCANO, ALBAY

Mayon Volcano (Tagalog: Bulkang Mayon, Central Bikol: Bulkan Mayon), also known as Mount Mayon, is an active volcano in the province of Albay, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Renowned as the "perfect cone" because of its almost symmetric conical shape, the mountain was declared a national park and a protected landscape on July 20, 1938, the first in the country. It was reclassified a Natural Park and renamed Mayon Volcano Natural Park in the year 2000. 

Classified as a stratovolcano (a volcano made up of layers of lava alternating with cinder and ash) Mount Mayon or Mayon Volcano is very much active and is located in the in the Bicol Region, in the province of Albay, on Luzon Island, Philippines.

Located just fifteen kilometers from Albay’s busy city of Legazpi, Mount Mayon is famous for it perfect inverted cone shaped appearance which is instantly recognizable because it is probably the most photographed volcano in the country.

Mount Mayon’s most devastating eruption happened on the 1st of February 1814. Though lava flowed, it did not flow as much as it did in 1766. The volcano instead belched black ash and ultimately bombarded the town of Cagsawa with tephra (dust and ashes) and eventually buried it. Only the town church’s belfry tower was left on the surface. All vegetation in the area was burned and waterways were predictably damaged. 

Areas nearby were also damaged by the eruption as ash accumulated to a depth of 9 meters.

Over two thousand residents of Albay locals died in what is believed to be the most deadly eruption in the history of Mount Mayon.

The longest recorded uninterrupted eruption of Mayon Volcano happened on June 23, 1897 and it lasted for 7 continuous days of fire raining, seemingly, from the heavens. The village of Bacacay was buried under tons of lava which flowed and buried the town and rose to height of nearly fifty feet.

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Puerto Galera

PUERTO GALERA

Just a few hours’ travel time from Manila, this gorgeous collection of bays and islands is one of the country’s top dive destinations. Puerto Galera is Spanish for ‘port of the galleons’. Its deep natural harbour, sheltered on all sides, was a favoured anchorage well before the Spanish arrived in 1572, and today it remains a favoured anchorage for long-term yachties and short-term vacationers.

Puerto Galera (‘PG’, or ‘Puerto’) typically refers to the town of Puerto Galera and the resort areas surrounding it – namely Sabang, 5km to the east, and White Beach, 7km to the west. Each has its own distinct character, spanning the range from sleaze to sophistication; you’d be well advised to choose carefully.

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Mt. Guiting-Guiting

MT. GUITING-GUITING

Mt. Guiting-Guiting rise 2,075 meters above sea level in the middle of Sibuyan Island. Wild and unexplored, it is a challenging mountain for seasoned climbers. Before hiking, hiring experienced guides is a must. Wild ferns, orchids, and bonsai dot the rocky trails. The entire island and neighboring Romblon and Marinduque can be seen at the summit of the mountain.

Romblon's highest peak. It is an attraction to mountaineers and is the province's major source of timber and metallic products. It is also abundant with wildlife, plant species, and waterfalls.

At 6,750 above sea level, Mt. Guiting Guiting is not nearly one of the tallest peaks in the country and yet it is one of the most sought after mountains in the record of Philippine Mountaineering. Dubbed by some local and international natural scientists as the “Galapagos of Asia,” Mt. Guiting Guiting boasts of its thick and old growth vegetation and forests. Sure enough, the mountain doesn’t have the freezing temperatures in Pulag or the height of Apo and yet it has caught the attention and gained the respect of mountaineers.

Mt. Guiting Guiting is notable for its rocky ridges -- three of the few are the “Knife Ridge,” “Kiss the Wall,” and the “Peak of Deception.” The rocky ridges are all steep and jagged and definitely sharp. You should be very careful on where to step and where to hold on the rocks.

Located in one of the three major islands of Romblon province, Sibuyan Island, Mt. Guiting Guiting is considered as one of the most difficult and challenging mountains in the country. Only mountaineers with enough stamina are advised to try the challenge that Mt. Guiting Guiting holds.

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EL NIDO

EL NIDO

The so-called El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area is the largest marine sanctuary in the entire Philippines.[22] The Protected Area status accords the areas of El Nido and portions of its neighboring town of Taytay[18] a place among the eight priority sites[11][23] in the country in need of conservation. The Protected Area covers a total of 903.21 square kilometers, of which 40% are terrestrial and 60% marine.

The provincial government has mobilized its citizenry to actively participate in various environmental conservation and protection programs, such as the "Bantay Gubat" for forest protection, and the "Bantay Dagat" for the marine life preservation.[20] Patrolling within the Protected Area especially in the marine zones is regularly conducted with the help of the World Wildlife Fund - Philippines that allocates funds to support the said activity. Other logistic support is by the concerned municipal governments. The Palawan Council for Sustainable Management (PCSD) provides legal assistance during the litigation of cases filed by the Protected Area Office (PAO).

As a protected area, the Philippine government needs approximately US$ 180,000 annually to protect and manage its natural resources.Tourists are encouraged to pay US$ 0.50 per day as conservation fee for the duration of their visit at the Municipal Tourism Office or the Office of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), which are housed in the Municipal Building in Calle Real.[25] This was embodied in the PAMB Resolution No. 08 series 2000 from the National Integrated Protected Area Program (NIPAP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

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Puerto Princesa Underground River

PUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park, where the Underground River is found, has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1999. It has also been chosen as one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World.

This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia.

Each group is assigned a boatman with paddle boat equipped with a search light. The boatman gives a running commentary while viewing the formations inside the pitch-dark recesses. A most impressive area inside would be the 'cathedral', towering some 800 meters in height.

This is the main reason why I went to Puerto Princesa. Not only is it one of the 7 new wonders of nature, but imagine being able to see formations that took millions of years! Pretty humbling and awesome in my opinion. Yes, travel time and waiting time is a bit long (1.5-2hrs by van to Sabang port, wait in the port to ride on your assigned boat, arrive at the island and wait for your turn to ride the paddle boat) that will take you to the underground river) but it's all worth it! Plus you'll have a nice view in the island and the possibility to see wild monkeys run around (or steal some food from other tourists) and see large monitor lizards walk by. 

The boatmen who will be your guide during the actual underground river tour are funny and very entertaining. They will point out different stalactites and stalagmites which looks like something else. Beauty and imagination combined! 

Word of caution, it may smell a little different inside because if the thousands of small bats but for me, it was part of the attraction.

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Battle of Pulang Lupa Marker

BATTLE OF PULANG LUPA MARKER 

Battle of Pulang Lupa Marker was built in memory of the Marinduque revolutionary forces who fought the Americans, a marker stands at the site of the bloodiest battle ever fought in the island, and was the first known major battle won by the Filipinos over the Americans.

 “The marker stands at the site of the famous battle won by the Marinduquenos over the well-armed American forces on Sept. 13, 1900. The Americans led by Capt. Deverieux Shields surrendered to the Marinduque Revolutionary Forces led by Col. Maximo Abad. They were held captive for a month and were released on October 14, 1900 upon orders from the Revolutionary Government in Cavite.” – says the Battle of Pulang Lupa Historical Park Signage in Poctoy, Torrijos, Marinduque, courtesy of the Department of Tourism, LGU Torrijos and Philippine Tourism Authority.

This battle has been commemorated from the early 60s when September 13 was first declared as ”Marinduque Day” under the administration of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, then by President Ferdinand E. Marcos who issued a proclamation referring to it also as “Marinduque Day”. It was only during the term of President Corazon C. Aquino when a law was passed (RA 6702) in 1988 declaring September 13 of every year as “Battle of Pulang Lupa Day”.

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Polillo Coral Reef

POLILLO CORAL REEF

Located just before the entrance to the cave of Polillo town, the coral reef has a length of about five kilometers and a width of about two kilometers. It is also a good spot for snorkeling and diving. Some parts are so shallow that any type of ship and banca will have to make a detour to avoid the reef area. Some parts have so-called walls which are more than a hundred feet deep.

Polillo’s coral reefs are characterized by fringing reefs around the islands with underwater coral islands just below the surface in many places. During low tide, the extensive reef flats become exposed.

The coral reefs drop down to about fourteen meters in most places, after which it changes into a sandy bottom with coral patches.

Many of the species found are adapted to murky waters such as Soapfish (Diplorion bifasciatum) and Sand Bass (Psammoperca waigiensis).

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Angono Petroglyphs

ANGONO PETROLGLYPHS

The Angono Petroglyphs Site Museum is situated at the municipality of Binangonan, province of Rizal, three and a half kilometers southeast of the town of Angono. It was discovered in 1965 by National Artist, Carlos “Botong” Francisco during a field trip with a troop of boy scouts. He reported to the National Museum the existence of a cave with drawings of a primitive quality.

In October 1965, a National Museum interdisciplinary research team headed by archaeologist Alfredo Evangelista recovered four stone tools from the site. Subsequent excavations in the cave and its vicinities also yielded fragments of earthenware, obsidian flakes and shells. Jesus Peralta, an anthropologist and former Assistant Director of the National Museum, brought the Angono Petroglyphs to the public’s attention through his research. To heighten consciousness on the cultural value of the site, the National Museum in 1998, established a museum showcasing the cultural and artistic heritage of the province of Rizal. 

On a small rock wall a short drive from Metro Manila, enigmatic carvings that are believed to date back 5,000 years are in danger of disappearing before their mysteries can be solved.

The 127 engravings of people, animals and geometric shapes are the Philippines' oldest known artworks, but encroaching urbanization, vandals and the ravages of nature are growing threats.

"Eventually they will disappear... preservation is out of the question," veteran anthropologist Jesus Peralta, who did an extensive and widely respected study of the carvings in the 1970s, told AFP.

The artworks have been declared a national treasure, regarded as the best proof that relatively sophisticated societies existed in the Philippines in the Stone Age.

"They show that in ancient times, the Philippines did have a complex culture. It's a recording of our ancestors," said Leo Batoon, a senior researcher of the National Museum.

Museum scientists believe the carvings date back to 3000 BC, based on carving tools and pottery shards discovered at the site, indicating they originated before the use of metal tools.

This makes them far older than the country's second oldest known artworks, a series of geometric shapes in the mountainous northern Philippines that are believed to date to 1500 BC, according to Batoon.

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Enchanted Kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM

Enchanted Kingdom (EK) in Santa Rosa, Laguna is the country's first and only world-class theme park. Enchanted Kingdom was recently cited by the government of Laguna for generating the biggest tourist arrivals in 2008. That's no wonder since kids and adults alike are especially thrilled to ride the various attractions that the park and recreation center has to offer.

Enchanted Kingdom abbreviated as EK is a theme park in the Philippines. It is located in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, about 39 kilometers (24 mi) from Manila. It has a land area of 17 hectares (41 acres). The park is managed and operated by Enchanted Kingdom Inc.

Enchanted Kingdom is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA).

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Pico de Loro

PICO DE LORO

Highest Peak in Cavite that has a shape of a sleeping beauty.

Mountaineers who visit Pico de Loro discover that it is as enchanting as its name. High on Cavite’s highest point, they could behold the rocky tower that the Spanish sailors once saw as the parrot’s beak, and they could gaze towards South China Sea where the galleons once sailed, all the way to the historic island fort of Corregidor. Gusts of sea breeze reach the peak, refreshing hikers after a four-hour climb. The peak’s rocky outcropping is dramatic, and sharply contrasts with the plains of Cavite and the waters of South China Sea.

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Taal Lake and Volcano

TAAL LAKE AND VOLCANO

Lake Taal is the third largest in the country (240 sq km) and it cradles a 23 sq km island with a 1.2 sq km crater lake within. It has 37 tributaries flowing into it and only one outlet to the sea, the 8.2 km Pansipit River which flows out to Balayan Bay. It is home to 15 species of migratory fish and 4 species of endemic fish (e.g. tawilis and maliputo), as well as reptiles like the fresh sea snake known as duhol. The basin is composed of 9 watersheds.

Taal Volcano is a unique geological masterpiece and a major landmark considered to be the heart of the province of Batangas. It is a sought after destination accessible through the municipalities of Talisay, San Nicolas, and Balete.

Taal Lake is a freshwater lake in the province of Batangas, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The lake fills Taal Caldera, a large volcanic caldera formed by very large eruptions between 500,000 and 100,000 years ago. It is the country's third largest lake after Laguna de Bay and Lake Lanao. Volcano Island, the location of Taal Volcano's historical eruptions and responsible for the lake's sulfuric content, lies near the center of the lake. There is a crater lake on Volcano Island, which is the world's largest lake on an island (Volcano Island) in a lake (Taal Lake) on an island (Luzon). Known as the Yellow Lake or the Main Crater Lake, it contains its own small island, Vulcan Point.

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Anawangin Cove

ANAWANGIN COVE

The province of Zambales has been blessed with untouched forests, mountain ranges and 107 miles of pure beach, making it one of the top travel destinations in the island of Luzon.   One of the province’s pride is the Anawangin Cove—a long stretch of almost white volcanic sand that is set in a unique and picturesque landscape.  

 Anawangin is derived from the Ilocano word Nuang which means carabao, since there is an abundance of it in the mountainous section of the area. It is part of the town of San Antonio which is at the southern part of Zambales. Over the years, Anawangin Cove has been a favorite spot for adventure seekers, especially those who are fond of camping out.   

There are two ways to get to Anawangin Cove. First option is to hire a boat from Pundaquit Beach (jump-off point) that will directly bring you to Anawangin Cove in 30 minutes (prices of renting a boat depends on your ability to negotiate with the bangkero).

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The Aquino Center Museum

THE AQUINO CENTER MUSEUM

The Aquino Museum is housed in a spartan modern structure inside the Hacienda Luisita complex. The center is not government owned nor government run, as was made clear to us before the tour started. Funding from it comes from the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation.

 The Aquino Center and Museum in TarlacIt would be better to visit the museum by dropping one’s political leanings first. Well of course, that would be hard, especially for Marcos loyalists and Pnoy haters. Because yes, here at the Aquino Museum, the yellow ribbon surely rules. 

But this museum really isn’t about the current Pnoy administration nor Kris Aquino (although you can see glimpses of them, when they were still cute LOL) throughout the museum. But this is about Ninoy and Cory. Two of the most memorable figures in recent Philippine history.

The exhibit hall is divided into two parts, that of Ninoy’s and those of Cory’s. Both are arranged by era, starting with Ninoy’s young stint as a journalist covering the Korean War, his exceptional rise to politics, and up to his execution at the Manila International Airport.

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Dinosaurs Island

DINOSAURS ISLAND

With over 30 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs roaring while you follow the Dino Trail, don’t be surprised if you see some kids crying and screaming out of fear.

If you want an even closer encounter, hop on the Jurassic Safari Ride to experience what it’s like to have dinosaurs popping their heads inside your tramcar.

Aside from the animatronic dinosaurs, they also have a Fossils Museum where you’ll find dinosaur skeletons and other types of exhibits to give you a preview of life in the Mesozoic Era.

Entrance fee costs Php 350 per person.

We all have been awed with the history of the dinosaurs that is why scientists keep on studying how these first inhabitants of our planet ruled the earth. How they lived and why they came into extinction.. 

Now, thanks to DINOSAURS ISLAND at CLARK, PAMPANGA, we will be able learn more about the amazing dinos! The Dino Amusement Theme Park has been designed for us to understand better the dinosaurs and what transpired in the Mesozoic Era as we emerge into the forest with them. It will make us go back in time and relive how it was living with the Brontosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brachiosaurus, Spirosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Iritator, Raptors, Rhinoceros, Iguanodon, and many more!

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Church of Barasoain

CHURCH OF BARASOIN

Barely an hour’s ride from Manila, the Barasoain Church stands on a wide imposing patio. The church became the sanctuary of the Philippine Republic that was born out of shattered battleflags and bloody battlefields.

Almost a decade after the founding of Manila, a settlement was made by the Augustinian missionaries in Barasoain and a church of nipa and bamboo was constructed near the river between Maluslos (Malolos) and Barasoain, in front of the Casa Tribunal (Presidencia) commonly called “Casa Real“. A big fire in the 17th century destroyed the new church.

Another church was constructed on a new site, at its present location—corner of Paseo del Congreso and Republica streets. The church constructed under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Francisco Royo, O.S.A., was also made of light materials. In 1884, during the celebration of the Feast of the Lady of Carmel (Nuestra Señora del Carmen), Patroness of the Parish, the temporary church was burned.

The following year, Rev. Fr. Juan Giron, O.S.A., supervised the reconstruction of the now famous Church of Barasoain, with a certain Magpayo, the contractor and builder of the church.

Like any other church built during the Spanish era, the edifice was of the church-convento style, a typical portrayal of the Spanish colonial architecture in the Philippines and in Spanish-America. At its right is a bell tower, just a few meters higher than the main building.

Symmetry is the predominant theme of the architectural structure of the facade, with balanced formation of arched windows on the sides and two small doors beside the main entrance. To suggest movement, ribbed vaulting had been done in the doors, arched windows and rose window at the middle.

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Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

BATAAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Another thing that can be found in Morong is the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The plant was completed in 1984 but was never fuelled and until this day remains unoperational. The government is making the most of this white elephant, however, by turning it into a tourist spot. Folks can now take a tour of the controversial plant without worrying about the effects of fallout.

Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power plant, completed but never fueled, on Bataan Peninsula, 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Manila in the Philippines. It is located on a 3.57 square kilometre government reservation at Napot Point in Morong, Bataan. It was the Philippines' only attempt at building a nuclear power plant.

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