Visayas
The Visayan islands,scattered helter-skelter in the middle of the Philippine map.Nowhere in the country can you have immediate travel access to such a wide varietyof the people,culture and history.The oldest cities and churches in the Philippines are located in the Visayas.And so do some of the best regional culinary cuisine and the most malambing(charming)people.
Cebu
As the Philippines second most important city after Manila,Metro Cebu today is an independent metropolis with a people proud of their own style of doing business as well as having fun,the"promdi"(from the province)way.
Sinulog
Cebu Province,made up of 167 islands,has five cities and 48 municipalities.The provincial capital is Cebu City located on Cebu Islands eastern coast.It is like Manila with half the traffic and pollution.New office building,malls,hotels and condominiums have sprouted up recently in the city to meet the growing needs of the people and their changing lifestyle.Accomodation is no longer problem in Cebu.Rates are very reasonable and comparatively lower than Metro Manila Hotels.Many of the beach resorts are on Mactan Island,connected by two bridges to Cebu and just 30 to 40 minutes drive from the city center.
The Cebuanos,as the locals are called are very proud of their culture and language,preferring to use it over tagalog or Filipino,the national language.As with the people the people from the southern islands,the Cebuanos are among the most hospitable of hosts.Entertaining guest usually means at the very least,being trated to a sumptous meal,as evidenced by the ever growing number of restaurants and food outlets all over the island.
Made for day Tour
Cebu has the stuff where day tours made of.Its compactness and easy access make it an ideal destanation for any visitor,however transient,to have a short tour of the city or any other nook and crany of the island.While the citys landscape is rapidly changing with the increase of high rise buildings and malls,there is still a lot of culture and history that can be seen.
The fastest way and more convenient is ti hire a taxi and work on a package rate for four hours.You can ask local friends for the usual hourly taxi rate.The itinerary will depend on the time of day and traffic status but generally,a good place to start is the Sto.Nino Basilica,the city's cathedral and whose patron,the Holy Child Jesus,has devotees coming in by the droves,climaxed by the islands major festival every January,the Sinulog.Right beside the cathedral is the Magellan Cross monument,with painting showing how the world first discovered the Philippines in 1521.Just a block away is Fort San Pedro,which one time in history serve as an Amirican armx barracks and prison camp.
From the heart of the city,you head up the hills to the Taoist Temple which offers the best view of the island.Depending on the time of your visit,you may even have an opportunity to have your fortune told.Carbon Market which has the best bargain-price food stuff to take home.Best buy include magoes fresh,dried or pureed,and delicious type of dried fish called danggit.Or you can head straight to Mactan and visit a guitar shop.Cebus guitars are famous in the country.
Feeling hungry after seeing the sights?Chances are the taxi driver will take you to Mactans best seaside wet market and eatery called Sukhutil which is right beside another tourist spot,the monument of Lapu-lapu,the islands first hero best remembered for killing Portugese discoverer,Ferdinand Magellan.The market epitomizes the rustic wet markets in the provinces where humble stalls sell freshly caughr fish and seafood.All you have to do is buy whatever you fancy and bring it to any of the nearby restaurants to have them cooked the way you want it.While the food is prepared,you can while the time checking out the Lapu-lapu Monument or the nearby shellcraft stores.An extra bonus of eating at Sukhutil is that it is only a few minutes away from the airport,making the meal ann ideal way of completing the tour...
Bohol
The countrysides pride is the 403-year old Baclayon Church,which has small museum with artifacts from life in the 1500s.Another old church exuding Old World charm 300-year old Dauis Church. Among the other interesting places to visit on the island the Sandugo Shrine which is the site of the blood compact between Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Bohol chieftain Sikatuna which sealed their treaty of friendship.Another must -see is the underground pool of Hinagdanan Cave
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Baclayon church
A river safari on clean,mangrovededged Loboc River is the best way to do lunch in the island.A few floating restaurants ply the waters.The cruise takes about 30 min. and ends at another attraction,the Busay Falls.
The Chocolate Hills remain Bohol's major attraction.About an hour and 45 minutes ride from Tagbilaran,this area consists of 1,200 haycock hills that look like giants scoops of chocolate dropped in the center of the island.One of the hills has cottages.swimming pool and restaurant,while another hills has an observation deck.If you are lucky,your guide or the natives can point you to certain areas that may have on showcase the tarsier.the world's smallest primate.It inhabits Bohol's forest of Corella,Loboc and Anda.
Boracay
'One of the best Beaches in the World'
If you want the best of island living in the Philippines,then Boracay has it.Indeed,no modern day visitor can say they have seen the bestof the country has to offer without going to this white sand island resort.Visitors to this butterfly-shaped island of the northwest coast of the main island of Panay have multiplied in recent year.
Boracay is rated as the number one favorite honeymoon destination and
vacation spot among the locals and justifiably so.Veteran foreign beachcombers
who have been in Bali,Phuket and even the Caribbean vouch that nowhere in the
world have they seen sand as fine and soft as talcum powder than in Boracay.The
sand is so white that it is cool to the feet even under the scorching high
noon.The west side beach area also offers the best sunset view in the
country.The waters depth level has a long,even gradation a delight to small
children and people who do not know to swim but love seawater.Even at knee-high
water levels, you can clearly see small shoal of fish darting between your legs.
Take your pick from nearly a hundred hotels and cottages on the island,ranging from triple-A resorts with plush air-conditioned rooms to simple hut cooled only by electric fans or just by the sea breeze.Top resorts accept all major credit cards and offer domestic and international phone service.They also offer all kinds of watersports equipment like banana boats,snorkels and diving gear.The island offer international cuisine.You will see Indian or Japanese restaurants next to Spanish,Italian and even dining areas with Carlifornia or Tex-Mex motifs.Several outlets on the beach front also offer good value eat-all you can seafood buffets.
Guimaras
For the Sweetest Mangoes in the Philippines
Guimaras used to be a sub province of Ilo-ilo until it gained its independence in 1992.Easily connected via a 15 min. ferry ride from Ilo-ilo City.
Isla Naburot
The best time to visit is during the mango harvesting season.Guimaras mangoes are not only the sweetest but also the pest free in the entire archipelago.The rich soils of the island province encourages the growth of other orchards raising such fruits as kalamansi(the local lime),cashew,passionfruit,pineapple,guava,coconut and duhat(a local blackberry).
Leyte
McArthur's Landing
In the seaside town of Palo,about 8 miles from the capital,Tacloban City,is Red Beach.This is where Allied forces led by General Douglas McArthur landed during World War II.Now,largernthan life-size figures of the American general and former Philippine President Sergio Osmena and Gen.Carlos P.Romulo stand on the beach.
For a day in the sun,there are beautiful islets on the San Juanito Strait which are worth a day trip.You can also go hiking or horsebach riding to Danao Lake whish is a great swimming spot.Daguitan Rapids offers exciting rafting.Mahagnao National park has hot springs,volcanic craters and lagoon.Those wanting a more strenuous adventure can trek from Maghanao Park to Danao lake and on to Tongonan National Park in Ormoc about 40 miles all together.Another challenging climb is Biliran Volcano,the highest peak on the island.
Negros
Sugarland
Negros is akin to sugar plantations,mainly responsible for 60% of the country total production.Its terrain,however,makes it an island of dramatic contrast,There are cool mountains and a fiery volcano,serene lakes and exciting dive sites.On the eastern side of the island is Negros Orienral.
Adventure seekers can try climbing Mt.Talinis.Start off from Bacong or Dauin.On the way up.watch for Casiroro and Pulang bato waterfalls.Another challenge to mountain climbers is Kanlaon Volcano in the northern part of the island.The physically strong and perserving can climb up to the crater over8,000 feet above sea level.There are 21other caves in Mabinay including Pandalihan,Panligawan,Cayaso and Kopie caves.Visit Apo Island site of the Negros Oriental Marine Conservation Park.Beautiful coral gardens and exciting marine lifes.Have fun with the locals and join one of their fiestas,particularly in May and December.And if you want to bring home some of the provinces handicrafts,the Sidlakan Negros Showroom in Dumaguete is the place to go.There you can find pottery,baskets,stonecraft and handwoven fabrics.
Negros Occidental,is located on the western part of the island.Its capital,Bacolod City,is about 55 min.by plane from Manila and 19 hrs.by boat.Bacolod is the place to go in October when the whole city wear a real smile or a papier mache version as it celebrates the Masskara Festival complete ala Rio's Mardi Gras.
Masskara Festival
Likes the other part of the Visayas,Negros Occ. has beautiful beaches with white sands and offshore coral formations.Ride banca to nearby islands like Llacaon Island or pumpboat to Inampulugan Island,about 45 min.from the Negros coast.Visit Mt.Kanlaon National Park and go bird watching.You might just chance upon some of the rare species like the bleeding heart pigeon.
Finally.dont leave Bacolod without sampling the local cuisine which has been enriched by the fluence of the different peoples that settled on the island.Try the inasal(barbeque Chicken)batchoy(noodle soup)or the many seafood dishes with diwal(shellfish)alimusan(eel)or bulgan(fish) as the main ingredients.This is also the city visitors with a sweet tooth.Native candies from butterscoth to various fruits made into sweet preserves are must buys.
Panay
Ati-atihan country
Panay
Molo Old House
On the southeastern part of the island of Panay,the province of Ilo-ilo was already an important trade center in the mid-19 century.It is known for many churches like Miagao Fortress Church,Sta.Barbara Church and Molo Church.From the capital,Ilo-ilo City,visit some of the interesting islands and dive sites like Guimaras Island,Sicogon Island,isla Naburot and tatlong Pulo.For the culinary traveler,noteworthy is the fact that Ilo-ilo is also the home of the famous original La Paz Batchoy,a noodle soup os exquisite flavor.Natives will point you to the humble shop which has first served the dish to the nation.
Capiz
capiz abundant sea food
The province of Capiz is suituated on the northeast part of Panay.Only 45 minutes away by plane from Manila,it is rich in natural resources and is considered the "Seafood Capital of the Philippines"During the season ,locals claim fesh oysters can be bought for 1$US per jute sack.Milkfish or bangus is also grown extensively in this province and the best sold in the local markets across the country.
Aklan
The province of Aklan,best know for the Ati-atihan festival in the mid-January.People from all over come to let their hair down and party in the street of Kalibo,the capital.The three-day fiesta in honor of the Sto.Nino.Revelers come in colorful costumes and dance to the frenzied beat of the drums.Kalibo is also known as the jump-off point to Boracay.