|
|
Manila
 Manila, the somewhat daunting capital and pulsating hub of the
Philippines, is situated on the east coast of Luzon, the most northerly
island, also the largest and the most developed. The city was founded in
1571 on the site of a Muslim settlement. Its major tourist attraction is
the old Spanish walled city, known as Intramuros, which contains some
historic buildings and ruins.
Modern Manila is a morass of traffic and people, polluted and chaotic,
an industrial metropolis that grew from the ashes of war when in 1945,
the United States' forces fought to recapture it from Japanese
occupation. It is also a city of theatres, libraries and museums, and
the home to the University of the Philippines. The neighborhoods of the
metropolis vary from wide avenues full of palatial homes to squatter
camps where the poorest of the poor scratch out a living.
 Visitors to the Philippines cannot avoid using Manila as a starting
point for their exploration of the other provinces and islands, because
most charter flights to the outlying islands leave from the city's
airport. The city is also within reach of day and weekend getaways on
the island of Luzon; this makes it a good base for travelers intent on
touring. One thing no visitor should miss is a famous Manila Bay sunset:
a light show created out of the high humidity conditions coupled with
the effects of cloud over the city's harbour. This remarkable sight
allows a short respite from the more unpleasant aspects of the sprawling
city. View the sunset from Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard or from a cruise
boat that plies around Manila Bay.^top^
Cebu
 The island-province of Cebu sits in the centre of the Philippine
archipelago and is served by international and domestic charter flights to and
from its airport; Cebu is also a shipping crossroads. It is therefore a good
jumping-off point for island hopping to the tropical islets of the central
Visayas region. Within easy reach are the caves and lagoons of Calanggaman and
Gato; the beaches of Argao, Oslop and Carmen; and the favorite dive spots of
Moalboal, Badian, Mactan and Olango.
 The Cebu metropolitan area is the country's second biggest city, and,
along with its adjacent Maktan Island, has become a bustling package tour
destination, particularly for Japanese visitors. It abounds with shopping malls,
fast food outlets, casinos, golf courses and all-inclusive resort hotels to
cater for the holidaymakers who come to enjoy the sandy beaches and glorious
balmy weather.
Cebu's main claim to fame is its colourful festival, held every third
Sunday in January, known as the Sinulog. The festival is a religious celebration
wherein various tribes in dazzling costumes hold aloft images of the infant
Jesus. The revellers wend their way through the city streets from early morning
to evening, singing and dancing.
Cebu is also the country's oldest Spanish colonial city and has several
historic landmarks, including the original cross, planted by Magellan in 1521
when he baptised the first group of Filipino natives into the Catholic faith.
The cross is now housed in a roofed kiosk in Magallanes Street. Downtown Cebu is
dominated by Colon Street, the oldest street in the Philippines, dating from the
16th century and today lined with stores, shopping malls, office buildings and
movie theatres.
^top^
Davao
 Davao is the gateway to the southern Philippines, a hub of commerce,
industry and transportation (sea and air) in the southern Mindanao
region. Although as an urban metropolis Davao has little to recommend
it, the attraction of the city is its accessibility to a beautiful
surrounding rural landscape of hills and fertile valleys, dominated by
the massive 9,692ft (2,954m) Mount Apo, a dormant volcano that is the
Philippine's highest mountain peak. Among the valleys live the ancestral
tribes of the Philippines, like the Bagobo, Manobo, Mandaya and Bilaan,
with their rich and colorful cultural heritage, ethnic art and
handcrafts.
 Davao is centre of the Philippines fruit and flower-growing region, and
an annual festival (the Kadawayan Festival) is held in August to
celebrate the bounty of the fields and the different tribal cultures.
The region is also home to the endangered Philippine Eagle, and the rare
Vanda Sanderiana orchid. Like the rest of the Philippines, of course,
the Mindanao region and its many islands also offer thousands of
tropical beaches and dive sites, most accessible only by the most
intrepid of adventure travelers.^top^
BoracayBoracay boasts of sparkling white beaches, and is becoming a very popular resort
destination. However, its pristine beaches belie the murky waters that wash the
shores. In fact water contamination was a major concern for a period of time.
However, there has been a concerted effort at cleaning up and the spectacular
coral reefs teeming with tropical fishes are once again safe for tourists. This
is one of the best spots for sailing, wind surfing and snorkeling.^top^
Mindoro IslandThe Mindoro Islands are noted for their white beaches and crystal clear water
and multi-hued coral reefs. A popular diving spot is near Puerto Galera on the
northern coast. Mindoro also has extensive sugar cane plantations, forests and
mountains.^top^
Palawan IslandFor the best diving spots in the Philippines, one should head for El Nido on
Palawan Island. Apart from good diving sites, a visit to the St. Paul
Subterranean National Park is an amazing experience with its underground river,
which is actually a long meandering network of caves.^top^
|
|
|
