Must-sees in the Philippines

By: Karina Melissa Y. Ibabao

With some simply stunning natural attractions and a rich history, the Philippines truly have a lot to offer to adventure-seekers and travelers. Here is a list of some must-see places in the Philippines:

The Banaue Rice Terraces

Have you ever seen a staircase that’s been carved into a mountain? Set your eyes on the stunning Banaue Rice Terraces and prepare to be amazed. The Ifugao tribe made the terraces some 2000 years ago, to optimize the cultivation of rice. The terraces are located 348 kilometers from Manila and can be reached by taking an eight to ten-hour bus ride. While the trip may seem like a tough challenge, the views on the way make up the long travel hours.

The Wonders & Beauty of Mindanao, the Philippines

By: Gen V. Caracena

The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of three large island groups. The biggest island group is Luzon, the smallest is Visayas and the second largest is Mindanao located at the eastern most part of the country with an area of 94,630 square kilometers. In terms of world population Mindanao ranks eighth. The colorful people, rich culture and splendid nature make Mindanao an attractive and interesting place to explore.

Mindanao: Flora, Fauna and Mountain Resorts

The tropical rainforests are blessed with a diverse flora and fauna and the region’s mountainous terrains are ideal for jungle tracking.  For nature lovers who like an adrenalin rush, Mount Apo is a great attraction. Located between Davao City and Davao del Sur province in Region XI and Cotabato province in Region XII of the island, Mount Apo is the country’s highest mountain measuring 3,144 meters above sea level. On average, the summit can be reached in two days. The mountain is volcanic in nature, but history has no verified record of eruption.

Filipino Books for the Lazy Reader

By: Jesse Pizarro Boga

It's never too late to make reading a habit. If you have short-attention span like me, consider the following Filipino titles that turned me from a lazy reader into a mad page turner.

The secret: each book houses short stories that are equally entertaining and interesting. These titles are sure to make you forget the Internet jargon “TL;DR” (too long didn't read).

Take your pick. And if you have a book title to share, leave a comment below.

PicLyf, a Filipino photo-based social network

By: Jesse Boga

Is PicLyf something I’d want to add to my social networking routine? Yes.

This Filipino-made photo-based social networking site has all kinds of awesome in it. It’s almost hard to believe that, for someone who spends alot of time on the Internet, I’ve been missing the fun all since the site was made available to public just October of last year.

The Sinulog Festival in the Philippines: PIT SENYOR & Grateful Hearts!

By: Joan Mae Soco-Bantayan

PIT SENYOR! The Sinulog Festival is one of the most interesting times of the year for Filipinos; especially for the devotees of the Holy Infant Jesus of Cebu.

Wherever you are in Cebu, you’ll be reading and hearing the catchy phrase ‘Pit Senyor!”’all over. Pit is a contraption of the Philippine vernacular ‘Sangpit’ meaning ‘to call upon’. Senyor, on the other hand, is an endearment to the Holy Infant Jesus of Cebu. Sinulog means ‘like water currents’ movement’; it actually describes the dance movement of the festival.

The festival takes place in Cebu, the second largest city in the Philippines. It takes place every third Sunday of January but when you’re there, you’ll experience a weeklong celebration involving just about everyone! This year, an estimated 3 million people flocked to join Sinulog to give thanks and praise to the Holy Infant Jesus.

Christmas in the Philippines – A testament of tropical rejoicing!

Joan Mae Soco-Bantayan

The Philippines, being the only Christian nation in the whole of Asia, takes joy in the celebration of the Yuletide Season. It is the time of the year when Jesus Christ is believed to have been born by Mary, with Joseph, in a manger.

But unlike in other Christian countries where solemnity is the ‘it’ word for the occasion, this country celebrates with laughter, booze, karaoke, and yes, with fireworks in many homes!

Filipino Christmas Recipe: Puto Bumbong

By: Joan Mae Soco-Bantayan

Your Christmas in the Philippines won’t be complete without being able to taste the locals’ signature rice cake. It is named after the bamboo tube in which it is steamed. If you’re aching to try this at home, prepare your steamer and wrap that apron around so you can do this step-by-step guide to this piece of heaven.

Jun Rodino Artajo: Filippino Fashion Designer Steals the Show

By: Jesse Pizarro Boga

He’s a fashion blogger when he’s facing his computer. He’s an active Lookbook.nu user when he’s trigger happy with his camera. He’s a fashion design instructor when he’s at the Philippine Women’s College of Davao.

Jun Rodino Artajo seems to be doing to too much. And he doesn’t know when to stop.

And why should he? He’s definitely going places (in fabulous outfits, of course) now that his life in the fashion world has taken off after he waves in a design contest that’s said to be a gateway to the fashion industry.

His creation called Dreamweaver was selected as one of the top 50 (out of 2,500!) to strut the ramp of Meguro Gajoen Hotel for the Japan Fashion Design Contest. And being a finalist wasn’t just what he ended up with: Dreamweaver zoomed past the others as it won second place in the competition, beating designs of fashion students and designers from France, Russia, Belgium, and Germany.

Cross-Cultural Couples: Romano and Rochelle

By: Joan Mae & Emma Kwee

Get to know another cross-cultural couple, this time from the Philippine Islands! This couple started out as friends but ended up as lovers! Now, they are happily settled in the southern part of the country, Davao City. Read the stories of the other couples featured in Latitudes Cross-Cultural Couples Series and don’t hesitate to drop us a line on info@latitudes.nu if you’re interested in joining.

Please introduce yourselves, what are your names, where are you from, how old are you and where do you live? We are Romano (Swiss-Italian) and Rochelle (Filipino) Venuti, our family lives in Davao City, Philippines.

How did you meet and where? We met in Bali, Indonesia. I was singing with a band playing in the Hyatt Hotel and he was the pastry chef of the same hotel.

Manny Pacquiao Punched his way out of Poverty

By: Rudolph Ian Alama

Even when he was still young, poverty already stalked Emmanuel ‘PACMAN’ Dapidran Pacquiao just like a dogged challenger aiming to take the best out of the champion.

Born to a poor family, Emmanuel or Manny had to stop school and work in a bakery hawking breads in the streets of General Santos, a city in southern Mindanao, the Philippines.

The young breadwinner quickly found he had a talent: boxing. The city’s mean streets would toughen out Manny, while taking a break from street peddling; he would join boxing tournaments held in General Santos barangays (villages).

Manny Pacquiao’s Early Years

As a teenager he had a knack of fighting and knocking out bigger and older opponents using his trademark speed and power-innate pugilist’s gifts which ultimately would lead him to great heights.