Corregidor Island

Corregidor is a tadpole shaped island on the mouth of Manila Bay. When the Philippines was yet a colony of Spain, Corregidor Island served as a fortress; an early warning outpost to warn Manila of any hostile ships; a customs outpost; and a correctional (prison). Because of the corrective effect of hard labor on prisoners, the island was named Corregidor, from the Spanish word "corregir" meaning the corrector.

Places of Interest in Corregidor:

● Malinta Tunnel

● Pacific War Memorial

● Filipino Heroes Memorial

● Spanish lighthouse

● Gun emplacements

● Eternal Flame of Freedom

● Aviary and Theme Park

● Filipino-American Friendship Park

● Barracks ruins


Where to stay in Corregidor:
Corregidor Hotel is a comfortable place to stay for visitors and tourist who would like to relax after a long day visiting the sites. The hotel has a pool, souvenir shop, bar and restaurant. For those who still have energy to spend, the hotel has tennis and basketball courts. Corregidor Hotel is walking distance to the North Dock, wharf and beach.


How to go to Corregidor:
An air-conditioned ferry departs daily at 8:00AM from the ferry terminal at the CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila and returns in the afternoon. Day tour includes the ferry transfers, fees, lunch and guided tour of Corregidor. Extended or overnight stays can be arranged with the ferry's operator, Sun Cruises at telephone # (632) 834-6857 and 831-8140. Package day tour is priced P1,690/pax (as of August 2007).

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Its been awhile since I last posted a blog. I never thought I will be missing writing a blog. Frustrated writer? I guess I just wanna enjoy or reminish what I have experience. As the month of June starts it marks the opening of school. I guess, summer vacation is over but it doesn't mean we stop exploring new adventure, places & enjoying different places.

Enjoy the holiday, Happy Independence Day Philippines!

HEROES MONUMENT

HEROES

Last Monday, declared as non working holiday, the celebration of National Heroes Day. A day to remember the patriotism & bravery of our heroes who fought for our freedom against oppressor of democracy. A yearly celebration to remind us to love our country & revive our nationalism in words & in action.

Batangas

Batangas is the capital of the province of the same name. Aside from being a popular destination for beach lovers, Batangas also possesses some of the best dive sites in the Philippines. Its proximity to Manila, about two and a half hours by car, has made the province the diving center of Luzon. Its coastline is dotted with numerous dive camps and resorts. Here, the major dive sites are Balayan Bay and Nasugbu.

Known as the "Industrial Port City of CALABARZON and classified as one of the fastest urbanizing city in the country today and the home of approximately 211,606 peace-loving, hospitable and hardworking inhabitants. It was proclaimed as a city on July 23, 1969 which became the accelerating point of trading, commercial and industrial activities in the locality. The city is presently classified as a Regional Growth center and identified as one of the sites for the Regional Agro-Industrial Center and Special Economic Zone as mandated by the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan and the Ecozone Act of 1995.

Batangas Hotels:
Acuatico Beach Resort & Hotel
Al Frontera De Taal
Bahay Marikit Resort & Hotel
Balai Anilao Resort
Batangas Country Club Resort Hotel
Balai Laiya Beach Resort
Bezo (Solana) Beach Resort
Brine Valley Resort
Canyon Woods Residential Resort Club
Carfel Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel
Coral Beach Club
Days Hotel Batangas
Dive and Trek Resort
Eagle Point Resort
El Sombrero Beach Resort
Evercrest Golf Club Resort
Kabayan Beach Resort
Hotel La Corona de Lipa
Hotel Las Corona
Hotel Pontefino
Jonhdel Resort
Lago De Oro Beach Club
Laiya Coco Grove
Laluz Resort
Las Haciendas
Lima City Hotel
Matabungkay Beach Resort
Maryland Beach Resort
Maya Maya Reef Club
Microtel Inns and Suites
Munting Buhangin Treehouse
Outrigger Resort
Pacifico Azul Beach Resort
Pontefino Hotel Batangas
Punta Baluarte
Punta Fuego
Sea Gaian Resort
The Alpha Hotel
The Farm and San Benito Spa
Twins Beach Club Resort
Verde Island Resort
Villa Cornelia Nature Park & Resort
Virgin Beach Resort
White Cove Resort

Boracay, my dream vacation

Boracay, my dream vacation, a paradise, stunning beach with fine white sand, relaxing scenery, luxurious hotel & dining place. What can you ask for? I will no longer comment nor describe it further on how beautiful the place is but rather I will be showing you guys the beauty itself through photos.

Sta Cruz, Manila

Santa Cruz is located at the left bank of the Pasig River, on the northern portion of the City of Manila, near the mouth of the river, in between the districts of Tondo and Quiapo. The district belongs to the 3rd congressional district of Manila in the Philippines.

Spanish colonial era
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors to the Philippine Islands, the district of Santa Cruz was partly a marshland, patches of greeneries, orchards and partly rice fields. A Spanish expedition in 1581 claimed the territory and awarded to the Society of Jesus or more commonly called the Jesuits.

Santa Cruz Church
The Jesuits built the first Roman Catholic Church in the area where the present Santa Cruz Parish stands on June 20, 1619. The Jesuits enshrined the image of the Our Lady of Pillar in 1643 to serve the pre-dominantly Chinese residents in the area. The image drew a lot of devotees and a popular cult grew around it.

On June 24, 1784, the King of Spain gave the deeds to about 2 km2 of land that was part of the Hacienda de Mayhaligue to the San Lazaro Hospital which served as a caring home for lepers in Manila at that time.

At the Santa Cruz Parish, a small park was built that linked the area into the headquarters of the Spanish cavalry, the building that once was the College of San Ildefonso, operated by the Jesuits. The district in the Spanish times also had a slaughter house and a meat market and up north was the Chinese cemetery.

The Franciscan fathers were given the responsibility to care for the lepers of the city and specifically the San Lazaro Hospital. A Fr. Felix Huertas developed San Lazaro into a refuge for the afflicted and it became a famous home for those afflicted in the north side of the Pasig River.

World War II
During World War II, the Japanese occupational forces caught unaware of the fast approaching the liberation by the combined American & Filipino soldiers in 1945 from the north, abandoned the northern banks of the Pasig River including Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz and much of the northern portions of Manila were spared from the artillery bombardment and to date, a number of pre-World War II buildings and houses still stand in Santa Cruz.

When the Philippine republic was finally established in July 1946, the San Lazaro Hospital complex became the head office of the country’s Department of Health.

Sta.Cruz today
Sta Cruz is a place where you can enjoy shopping and get bargains. It is also place where you can go shop for jewelries and get cheaper drugs & medical equipment especially near bambang area. Sta. Cruz today continiously developing and improving maybe not as progressive as other municipality but definitely growing.

Mindoro, home to Tamaraw

Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located southwest of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. In past times, it has been called Ma-i or Mait by ancient Chinese traders and, by Spaniards, as Mina de Oro (meaning "gold mine") from where the island got its current name. The island was divided into its two present-day provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, in 1950. Logging and the mining of marble and copper are also their source of livelihood. Tourism is a lucrative business as well, with locations such as Apo Reef National Park, Lubang Island, Puerto Galera, Sabang Beach, and Mount Halcon. Puerto Galera's beaches are the island's most known tourist attraction and are widely visited. The principal language in Mindoro is Tagalog, although in some parts it has been greatly influenced by the native Visayan and Mangyan languages. Mainstream Filipino and Taglish are, indeed, present in and around such areas as Puerto Galera, Pinamalayan, and Calapan City. Visayan and Mangyan languages, too, are spoken on the island, as are Ilokano and some foreign languages — e.g., English, Fukien, and, to a much lesser extent, Spanish. The common religions on the island fall under Christianity. The religion of the indigenous Mangyan population is animism. Though they are into animism as a religion, the Catholic Church in some of Mindoro's parts is also active. Mindoro is also home to the Tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis), which is endemic to the island. The Tamaraw is a bovine related to the water buffalo and is an endangered species. Tagalog is spoken by 69.78 percent of the people. Other dialects are Ilokano (10.63 percent), Hiligaynon (6.47 percent), and Kinaray-a (5.84 percent). The working population can read and speak Filipino and English.

Puerto Galera
The foremost asset of Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Galera is blessed with one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbors. Known as the Pearl of Mindoro, it is world-famous for splendid beaches, coral reefs, and exquisite dive sites for new and experienced divers alike. There are shallow coral gardens, interesting rock formations, and colorful species to watch, like crabs, shrimps, sea anemones, moray, and trumpet fishes.

Mangyan
The province’s existing ethnic tribal groups, the Mangyans, are gentle and withdrawn people but many of them have managed to integrate into the cultural mainstream, largely in the municipalities of Mansalay, Baco, Puerto Galera, Roxas, and Bongabong. The Mangyan tribe consists of various smaller tribes like the Iraya, Alangan, and Tadwanan. They are skilled weavers and craftsmen, producing intricate tribal finery, including baskets, mats, and other items, both functional and aesthetic.

Mt. Halcon
Towering 8,488 feet above sea level, Mt. Halcon is the country's third highest peak. It is a favourite destination for nature tripping and mountain climbing. Mt. Halcon is located in Baco. It is accessible in two hours, by taking a jeepney to Baco, the jump-off point. Tamaraw Falls. The 423-foot waterfalls, situated alongside the road, is actually a series of asymmetrical falls, leading to the grand one, dropping to a frothy waterbed below. The cascading waterfalls is a great attraction to passers-by. Tamaraw Falls is located in Barangay Villaflor, Puerto Galera. It can be reached in two hours by taking a jeepney bound for Barangay Villaflor from Puerto Galera, or Calapan.

Beaches
In nature-blessed Oriental Mindoro, you can choose your own beach among the many that abound, from fawn beige to powdery white. To name a notable few, there are the beaches of Sabang, Suqui, Banilad, Bongol, La Laguna, Small La Laguna, Talipanan, Melco, Punta Guarda, and White Sand, drawing local and foreign water enthusiasts alike with majestic sites ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Sabang Beach
The beach is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. A cluster of nightspots abound in the area, which make it popular for evening socials. Cottages with entertainment facilities stand close to each other. Low-budget accommodations are available. Sabang Beach is located east of Puerto Galera. It can be reached in 15 minutes from the Puerto Galera pier by taking a jeepney or an outrigger banca.

Banana Festival
Held every March 18 to 19 in Baco, Mindoro Oriental, the festival is a celebration of the abundance of bananas. It features a banana cookfest and a "saba"-(type of banana)-inspired street dancing competition and beauty pageant. Festivities coincide with the town fiesta held in honor of the patron, St. Joseph.