ILLUSTRADO Magazine April 2013

15 APRIL-MAY 15 2013

EXPERIENCE

BEAUTIFUL PHILIPPINES LIKE YOU’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE

CULINARY DELIGHTS

ECO-FRIENDLY TOURISM ON THE TWO WHEELS

OF A MOTORCYCLE

STAYCATION

73 KATUTUBONG FILIPINO PHILIPPINES GETS AN INVESTMENT GRADE: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU?

FASHION:

SIRÉNE

GETTING AHEAD IN THE GAME OF LIFE

PHOTOGRAPHY by EROS GOZE

Editor’s Note

Discover Our Philippines

Seeing Jeff Probst riding a powerboat on the picturesque shores of Caramoan, Camarines del Sur in Bicol Region on the first episode of Survivor Caramoan which premiered in September 2012, was enough to give me goosebumps.

The sight of verdant islands, the clear blue waters and heavenly vistas was enough to take anybody to dreamy vacay mode. But that was not the main reason for my excitement. More than just the breathtaking images, it was the chance to see my country, our Philippines, in full HD glory on an international channel for the entire world to see!

That jubilant feeling was repeated when I saw the end scene of action film Bourne Legacy just a couple of months ago on the small screen. There they were, protagonists Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz riding off into the sun on a boat captained by a familiar Lou Veloso (Mr. Truman, remember?), with the beautiful waters and stunning karst formations of Palawan as the jaw-dropping backdrop.

It seems that the world has finally discovered the beautiful country that we Filipinos call home. And it’s about time.

In the past year, the Philippines seems to have generated so much well-deserved interest on international mainstream media and is now fast becoming one of the world’s rising top destinations. Certainly, after tiring of the usual tourist haunts Thailand, the Maldives and Seychelles world travelers are now in search of fresh holiday offerings and our 7,107 islands have more than enough places, attractions, color and culture to keep them happy as a clam.

This year, Conde Nast has listed the Philippines as the first of its “Destinations to Watch in 2013.” According to the article featured on their website, “For travelers willing to go the extra thousand miles for a deserted beach, the Philippines has around 7,000 of the most heavenly islands in the world. It’s still not the most obvious beach-holiday destination, but it soon will be.” The article ends on a sweet note, “Sorry, Maldives... We love you, but we’ve got a new flame.”

On the other hand, National Geographic Travelers has listed Boracay at the no. 1 spot and El Nido in 11th place in its Top Beaches in 2013 list. Beautiful, hip and happening Boracay, known for its powdery white sand beaches and legendary night life has also topped the list of TripAdvisor.com’s Travelers’ Choice 2013 - Best Beaches in Asia.

Amazingly, (though unsurprisingly), our country has earned this title for the last 3 consecutive years.

While the beauty of our country is not an absolute secret - our top class luxury resorts like Amanpulo have been known to some of the world’s most privileged travelers for quite some time, it’s great to see the Philippines at the very forefront of renowned destinations around the world.

And you know what? Caramoan, Boracay, Palawan, et al are merely just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to see, and that holds true, whether you are a Filipino or a visitor to our fair isles.

So come. Discover our Philippines.

Taas Noo, Filipino!

LALAINE CHU-BENITEZ Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

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APRIL 2013

Contributors Ana P. Santos

Former banker turned writer and Illustrado’s Associate Editor Ana P. Santos would love to do nothing more than travel and write. She’s grateful that her decision to leave the corporate world has allowed her to do both on a regular basis.

She thinks that the market forces of competition conspiring to bring about cheap airfare and budget accommodations as the biggest revolution of her adult life.

Having grown up in the US, Ana saw the Philippines for “the first time” when she was 11 years old. “And it wasn’t until I was about 20 when I ventured out of Manila and saw the beauty of El Nido and Amanpulo— by accident. I was working as the production assistant of a now defunct CNN travel show. I thought to myself: They travelled all the way here to capture this beauty that was right under my nose.”

That experience forever changed Ana’s view of the Philippines..

Kara Santos

Anna Oposa

Chief Mermaid and Co-founder of Save Philippine Seas, Anna Oposa traces the origins of her wanderlust back to when she was a child.

“When my brothers and I were kids, our parents took us to different places around the Philippines, from Corregidor to Cagayan de Oro, because they believed we needed to love our own first.

Their brainwashing worked: I have been to 24 countries, but my heart will always be in the Philippine Islands, particularly Cebu and Palawan. I am perpetually frustrated and hopeful about the potential of this country to be a prime tourist destination, which motivates me to do the work that I do,” says the now well-known environmentalist.

Ishwar Chugani

Ishwar Chugani is the Managing Director of Giordano Middle East (FZE) and is also an Executive Director of Giordano International, Hong Kong. As Managing Director of Giordano Middle East, he heads the group’s business in the Middle East, India, Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Ishwar is a founding member and director of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centers and has over 35 years of retail and marketing experience in the region.

He studied business management at De La Salle University in the Philippines. His favorite Philippine destination is Bacolod, the “City of Smiles” and his birthplace.

Excel Dyquianco

Bantayan Island in Cebu is one of Excel V. Dyquiangco’s most favorite spots simply because the place is tranquil and serene with blue and crystal waters. Writing about this issue on the agri-farms has made him realize that aside from the usual destinations, there are those that promote green living and healthy eating. In fact, he is set to visit and stay overnight in one of these places this April to experience farming first hand!

HERSON NEBAYA

Jacob Maentz

Anton Diaz

Anton is the founder of Our Awesome Planet, the number #1 food and travel blog in the Philippines. He was recognized as one of Go Negosyo’s Inspiring Young Filipino Entrepreneurs in 2010. He was also featured in Go Negosyo’s 7th book: “Go Negosyo’s 50 Inspiring Stories of Young Entrepreneurs” in 2011.

Recently, Anton became the cofounder of the successful Mercato Centrale weekend markets and Cucina Andare, which became the first Food Truck Market in 2012.

Anton’s favorite place is Batanes where he says “You can experience unadulterated Filipino culture, one of the best scenic views in the country, and a unique Ivatan cuisine that uses the best locally available produce and ingredients.”

Kara Santos is an award-winning journalist, travel writer and photographer. She says,“I’ve always been fascinated with motorcycles ever since I was a kid. I used to ride pillion (backride) a lot during weekend rides with my boyfriend (now my husband) who drives a cruiser. Eventually, I bought my own motorcycle and learned how to drive it on my own so I could travel solo,” says Kara.

She was recently featured in the local TV show Motorcycle Diaries ni Jay Taruc in a segment on photography and motorcycling. She drives a Yamaha Mio Fino named Chocobo (named after a creature from the Final Fantasy game series) and her favorite travel destinations are Sagada and El Nido.

Jacob is a freelance travel and documentary photographer based in Cebu City. He is currently working on the Katutubong Filipino Project, which aims to tell the unheard stories of the most marginalized and forgotten people of the Philippine archipelago.

His work naturally requires him to travel around the Philippines a lot and it is has made it difficult for Jacob to tell which place has best captured his heart.

For me, the most memorable and enjoyable places to visit are those where you can interact with locals and see a different perspective on life. Being able to have meaningful conversations and sharing moments with people make for the best travel destination,” says Jacob.

The word ‘art’ in its practical sense is something not alien to Herson. Ever since he was a kid, Herson exhibited talent in drawing and painting and has won awards in many competitions for his works. It was not surprising that Herson became fascinated by photography because of its instant visual gratification.

Photography has challenged Herson in a way that consumes him. He has invested in learning everything he can about this craft and has vowed to perfect it. He has attended international workshops conducted by the likes of Joe Mc Nally, Kevin Ames and Louis Pang.

Currently, Herson is collaborating with some of the Philippines’ top names in fashion industry on various projects.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lalaine Chu-Benitez CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mon Benitez ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ana Santos COLUMNISTS Aby Yap Alfred “Krip” Yuson Bernadette Reyes Bo Sanchez Carlito Viriña Francisco Colayco Jeremy Baer Dr. Margarita Holmes CONTRIBUTING WRITERS – UAE, PHILIPPINES, CANADA Mary Ann Marchadesch SWITZERLAND Mary Ann “Maps” Santos Angela Mapa Nephele Kirong Anna Oposa Nikka Sartgou Barbara Marchadesch Nina Terol-Zialcita Candice Lopez Quimpo P.A. Escalante Dante Gagelonia Princes Nedamo Did Paterno Quay Evano Excel Dyquianco Rache Hernandez Johanna Michelle Lim Regina Layug-Lucero Kara Santos Sherry Tenorio Liza Lacuesta Sonny Guzman Manny Escosa CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS – UAE & Glenn Peter-Perez PHILIPPINES Mariyah Gaspacho Cristina Linaza Dr. Marlon Pecjo Donald Rosales Paelo Pedrajas Filbert Kung Eros Goze CONTRIBUTING FASHION CREW - UAE Jessie Tabla Frankie Melendez Jojo Padua Ginno Alducente PUBLISHER – UAE Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai Media City United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 72280 Office 20C Tel: +971 4 365 4543, 365 4547 Fax: +971 4 360 4771 E-mail: admin@illustrado.net Web: illustradolife.com, illustrado.net Facebook: Illustrado Magazine Twitter: Illustrado Magazine PRINTERS Printwell Printing LLC P.O. Box 18828 Dubai, UAE STOCK IMAGES Dreamstime.com (Unless otherwise specified) Copyright Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC 2006 – 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Illustrado Communications FZ-LLC.

40 April 2013 Contents Stunning Filipina beauty, model Jodilly Pendre strikes a pose against the amazing rock formations of Kapurpurawan, Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

news & features

PH Tourism Records Growth in the Middle East 6 News: Philippines Gets Investment Rating 14 Eco-Tourism 18 Motorcycle Diaries 28 Culinary Delights 64 The Nature & Nurture of Agri-Farms 72 Beautiful Philippines: Katutubong Filipino 80

columns

Editor’s Note 1 Contributors 2 Talking Loud 4 Illuminati: Jewels in the Sun 12 Trippin’: 10 Things to Do 56 Trippin’: Staycation 60 Onli in Da Pilipins: 81 Things to Do in Beautiful Philippines Before We Die 70 My Pinoy Life in Houston 86 It’s What I do 90 Doing Business: Getting Ahead in the Game of Life 92 Bayanihan Corner: Abaca 93 Scrapbook 94 Entertainment: E-Heads Reunion 96 Faces 98

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fashion

Fashion: Siréne 40 Real Style, Real People 54

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news

PH tourism records 27.49% growth in Middle Eastern tourists Country gains more international accolades

P

hilippines was off to a good start as it witnessed a 27.49 percent surge in tourists from the region for the first two months of 2013, as compared to the volume during the same period last year. Saudi Arabia remains to be the largest Middle Eastern visitor market, followed by the UAE. Both markets registered positive gains at 41.22 percent and 18.77 percent, respectively.

The country welcomed a total of 854,187 visitors in January and February.

This provided a 10.5 percent increase visà-vis last year’s figures of 772,989 for the same months.

“Tourists from this region and the rest of the world are now finding more fun reasons to visit Philippines. The statistics are not only reflective of the renewed interest for

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the country as a world-class destination but this can also be seen from the various international recognitions garnered by the top Philippine destinations”, said Angeline Rivera, Account Manager of Philippine Tourism Middle East Office.

The beauty of the Philippines keeps shining through as White Beach, Boracay tops the list of TripAdvisor.com’s Travelers’ Choice 2013 - Best Beaches in Asia 2013, holding on to this crown for the third year in a row. TripAdvisor, one of the world’s popular online travel guides, conducts regular polls of favorite vacation places and properties through its Travelers’ Choice Awards.

White Beach was described as “a stunningly beautiful white powder sand beach [with] crystal clear, warm water that you can laze on for days on end.” Also

making it to the list of 25 great beaches in Asia are the Secret Lagoon of El Nido, Palawan at number 9 and Boracay’s Yapak Beach at number 10. Secret Lagoon Beach was tagged for its “wonderful view”, while Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach) was acclaimed for its “big waves.”

Boracay has consistently made it to the poll results of the travel website, the previous one as second in the 2012 Best Beaches in the World Awards. In 2012, Boracay was also cited by Travel + Leisure Magazine in its World’s Best Awards as the Best Island Destination and one of the Top 10 Best Beach Party Destinations by Cheapflights.com.

Boracay’s protection and preservation is a main concern that is now being addressed by both national and local authorities and stakeholders. “In order for us to continue

news

reaping the benefits of development and great publicity, we ought to seriously address the environment challenges. We call on all stakeholders to come as one in preserving our country’s jewels,” Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez enthused.

The Philippines also recently made it to the Lonely Planet Traveller’s Choice 2013 and rated as one of the Top 10 popular destinations to go to for meeting locals (ranked 6th) and value for money (ranked 8th).

“We are so thrilled that these accolades keep coming, proof positive that our marketing efforts are paying off, and more and more satisfied travelers are proudly spreading the word about their many fun experiences in our beautiful country,” Tourism Secretary Jimenez, Jr. added.

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“

Tourists from this region and the rest of the world are now finding more fun reasons to visit Philippines.

The statistics are not only reflective of the renewed interest for the country as a world-class destination but this can also be seen from the various international recognitions garnered by the top Philippine destinations”

illuminati

Coron Lagoon @Olga Khorushinova-Dreamstime

Jewels in the right seas

by Krip Yuson

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I

’ve long entertained this vision of the future: Our archipelago as the incomparable leisure and recreation playground for much of Asia, count in the Western world.

We may have no quaint temples, and our vintage Catholic churches may not appeal much to foreigners who don’t quite tag those as exotica. But apart from our genuine smiles, legendary hospitality, and facility for English, we really enjoy excellent claims to that desideratum of “tropical paradise.”

No matter that we’re a cul de sac of a destination. Travelers from Europe favor Thailand because it’s more exotic, Bangkok’s a flight hub, and it’s cheaper to reach. Ditto in a way with Singapore and Malaysia. And Australians have grown accustomed to Bali and other fun spots in Indonesia because it’s their neighbor.

Getting to Manila from Central Asia and Europe will always be more expensive, and there’s no other hop beyond, unless Guam sounds attractive. But from the Americas, there’s only the Pacific to cross, and we do serve as the gateway to East Asia. I can’t see why we can’t start to attract Latin Americans to come visit for tropical sun-sea-and-surf activities and our own unique Hispanic flavor.

Maybe it will happen sometime: TransPacific flights connecting Manila, Cebu and Davao to Cartagena, Lima, Cuzco, Santiago, Patagonia, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia. Right now we still have to transit with a hard-to-get U.S. visa through California, Texas or Florida when we want to rekindle our residual ties with Mexicans and other LatAm hermanos.

I understand that New Zealand has gotten into that act, and now offers flights to cities in what is generally referred to as South America. But that still involves a swing down under for Southeast Asians. Once we get our trans-Pacific act together, the sky’s the limit for the prospects of LatAms enjoying our shores as much as tourists from Russia.

It’s been said that with our colonial history, our Filipinas finds itself strung up in the wrong waters — in satiric reference to our passion, temperament, and faith. But it makes us even more sui generis, as the odd man out in Asia, a predominantly Catholic country that still sees weirdo zealots being crucified on Good Friday, while enjoying the rest of the year under Hollywood aegis.

Our excellence in music and the other arts adds to our come-hither look. Then there are our myriad islands, stunning jewels in the sun, in what the right waters.

I’ve had this vision of the Philippines as Asia-Pacific’s playground since I lolled about one terrific day off the shores of a small island named Maonsonon, among the wonders of the Calamianes Group of Islands in Northern Palawan. Other islands, isles and islets lay within stone’s-throw radius, engendering images of those turquoise waters brimming up with heliophiles on blissful R&R — snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, surfboarding, parasailing, hopping all over the right waters that hug blinding white-sand beaches.

On a Piper Cub decades ago, the view below was of the shining sand-ringed jewels of and around Basilan Island, in our otherwise still troubled Deep South. When peace finally reigns in that area, and rightminded development is allowed to up the positive ante, why, our Muslim brothers can run their very own beach resorts.

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So many islands, so many beaches, so many hidden lagoons and upland lakes and beckoning waterfalls — plus that rich diversity of flora and fauna above and under water.

What else can a nature lover on a week’s recreation ask for?”

The Island Tip Bungalows

ILLUSTRADO 13

illuminati

A panoramic view: shimmering waters and islets

A choice between sea or jacuzzi

So many islands, so many beaches, so many hidden lagoons and upland lakes and beckoning waterfalls — plus that rich diversity of flora and fauna above and under water. What else can a nature lover on a week’s recreation ask for?

Only recently, I added a notch on my tropical-paradise belt with a weekend sojourn at the Two Seasons Island Resort and Spa off Coron — the latest topclass island hamlet offering luxurious accommodations and amenities.

Elegant bungalows, 42 of them, perch on hillsides privy to panoramic views, or face a white-sand beach alongside a multi-form pool, or straddle a rocky knoll, replete with verandahs and private jacuzzis, with easy access as well to an exquisite sandbar at low tide that leads to an adjoining islet.

Less than an hour’s flight from Manila to Busuanga airport, a 45-minute drive to Coron, a speedboat crossing of another 45 minutes, and one’s ensconced on the very lap of luxury on the Malaroyroy tip of Bulalacao Island.

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The brand-new eco-resort is run by young visionary Jonathan Peñaloza, who’s barely into his 40s. He started out on this new business a few years back with a boutique hotel he named Two Seasons Boracay.

Excursions to the Calamianes led to his purchase of a 16-hectare property in Malaroyroy bounded by western and eastern beaches.

He has designed the family resort himself, studding it with art installations, unique furnishings and décor, a chapel, a fitness center, a floating pontoon for an environmentally friendly dock, and stateof-the-art watersports facilities that include submersible sea scooters.

In a year or two he’ll open the Two Seasons Bayside Hotel & Dive Center right in Coron town, right by the bay.

He has dreams, too, of replicating his luxury resort-spa destinations in Bohol

and Batanes. One can be assured that they will feature fine restaurants and bars plus tasteful touches that assure a visitor a marvel of quality recreation.

Thanks to visionary investors like him who spare no expense in creating versions of paradise from the ground up, our jewels in equally shimmering waters — our birthright as islanders in the right seas — will continue to provide for a sunrise industry that can only be shared most generously indeed with the rest of the world.

The freeform pools between the western and eastern beaches

(The reservation office for Two Seasons Coron is at Nena Bldg, 132-A Bayani St. corner Araneta Avenue, Quezon City, with telephone numbers +63(2) 410-2075 to 80, fax number +63(2) 732-1747, and Hotline +63 (917) 566-5810 (for weekends and holidays).

Or e-mail bliss@twoseasonsresorts. com) A “Bird’s Nest” art installation spices up the tropical gardens

news

Ayala, Makati @ Don Simon-Dreamstime.com

Philippines Gets Investment Grade Photo by; Ryan LimMalacañang Photo Bureau

By Excel V. Dyquiangco

F

or the first time, last March, international rating agency Fitch gave the Philippines an investment grade.

“We are pleased to hear that this afternoon, the Fitch group announced that they upgraded the status of the Philippines from BB+ to BBB-. This marks the first time in history that our nation has been granted investment grade status by a

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major credit ratings agency,” said President Simeon Aquino III in a statement.

“This means much more than lower interest rates on our debt and more investors buying our securities. Greater access to low-cost funds gives us more fiscal space to sustain and further improve on social protection, defense, and economic stimulus, among others. More companies in the real economy can now consider us an investment destination. Investment grade for sovereign debt should also lead to lower borrowing costs for Philippine companies in the international markets, consequently allowing for higher valuations for their securities,” Aquino added.

The investment grade upgrade is good news and a boon to the Philippine economy, which has been touted as the “emerging tiger of Asia”.

The rating by Fitch is a sign that the Philippines as a borrowing country, is in a strong position to honor its debts. In turn, that tells investors it is safe to do business

in the country.

For the country, it means lowers its borrowing costs; leaving the government to use savings resulting from this for social services like education and health care.

Since the start of the Aquino administration, the Philippines has received 8 credit rating and outlook upgrades from international agencies, putting it only a notch below investment grade.

Aquino said the long-term impact of this rating includes, “Fostering a virtuous cycle of growth, empowerment, and inclusiveness that will redound to the benefit of Filipinos across all sectors of society.”

“Truly, what was once known as the perennial laggard of Asia is taking off, and is accelerating towards its goal of an equitably progressive society. The task now is to ensure that expected inflows will be used to maximum effect towards a sustainable, progressively empowering economy,” Aquino concluded.

news

FAQs: What you need to know about the Fitch Ratings’ What does an Investment Grade rating mean for the Philippines?

This investment grade rating is a seal of good housekeeping and a resounding vote of confidence in the Philippine economy.

It is strong affirmation that the Philippines is on the right path towards sustainable and inclusive growth. It also closes the gap between our market rating and our credit rating. This upgrade was achieved due to sound macroeconomic fundamentals, underpinned by good governance reforms as well as the Philippines’ good economic prospects moving forward.

How will this impact the Philippine economy?

We expect to see an increase in investment inflows, as many institutional investors allow the investment of funds in investment grade countries only.

The upgrade also means lower costs for government debt, thereby freeing more funds for social services, infrastructure and other long-term investments for economic development. It means cheaper and broader sources of funds for both government and corporate borrowers.

Domestic and foreign businesses would be more encouraged to increase investments in the country’s productive capacity such as in the manufacturing industry and in agri-business, thus generating more employment.

What was the basis of Fitch Ratings’ decision? What were the main drivers?

According to the press release of Fitch Ratings, the following are the key rating drivers for the upgrade of the Philippines’ sovereign ratings: -The Philippines’ sovereign external balance sheet is considered strong relative

ILLUSTRADO 18

to ‘A’ range peers, let alone ‘BB’ and ‘BBB’ category medians. A persistent current account surplus (CAS), underpinned by remittance inflows, has led to the emergence of a net external creditor position worth 12% of GDP by end-2012, up from 6% at end-2010. Remittance inflows were worth 8% of GDP in 2012 and proved resilient even through the shock of the global financial crisis. Fitch expects a rising import bill stemming from strong domestic demand to lead to a narrower CAS and to stabilize the net external creditor position at a strong level through to 2014.

-The Philippine economy has been resilient, expanding 6.6% in 2012 amid a weak global economic backdrop. Strong domestic demand drove this outturn. Fitch expects GDP growth of 5.5% in 2013. The Philippines has experienced stronger and less volatile growth than its ‘BBB’ peers over the past five years.

-Improvements in fiscal management begun under President Arroyo have made general government debt dynamics more resilient to shocks. Strong economic growth and moderate budget deficits have brought the general government (GG) debt/GDP ratio in line with the ‘BBB’ median. The sovereign has taken advantage of generally favorable funding conditions to lengthen the average maturity of GG debt to 10.7 years by end-2012 from 6.6 years at end2008. The foreign currency share of GG debt has fallen to 47% from 53% over the same period.

-Favorable macroeconomic outturns have been supported in Fitch’s view by a strong policy-making framework. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) inflation management track record and proactive use of macro-prudential measures to limit the potential emergence of macroeconomic and financial imbalances is supportive of the credit profile. Inflation has been in line with ‘BBB’ peers on average over the past five years.

-Governance standards, as measured in international indices such as the World

Bank’s framework, remain weaker than ‘BBB’ range norms but are not inconsistent with a ‘BBB-’ rating as a number of sovereigns in this rating category fare worse than the Philippines. Governance reform has been a centerpiece of the Aquino administration’s policy efforts. Entrenching these reforms by 2016 is a policy priority of the government.

Moving forward, how do we expect government policy and government action to change in response to the credit rating upgrade?

While we expect an investment grade rating to open new opportunities for the Philippines, it also poses a challenge to all of us to maintain it. Hence, the Philippine Government will continue to focus on sustaining the progress that we have achieved both in terms of economic growth and institutionalizing good governance reforms. We will preserve all the factors that made this investment grade rating possible-low and stable inflation, favorable interest rates and a sound banking system, a sustainable fiscal position and a strong external position. Most of all, the platform of good governance which has made such progress possible, will continue and are irreversible. Foreign and local businesses can rely on a government that will continue to be transparent, effective and responsive.

Other possible benefits of investment grade rating: • The Philippines will enjoy lower interest rates on government debts.

• The savings from lowered interest rates can be re-directed and used for public services like infrastructure, health and education.

• Lower taxes and lower interest rates for consumer loans on cars and housing • Investors will infuse more capital into the economy which will lead to more jobs.

Feature

EcoTourism

by Anna Oposa

Chief Mermaid and co-founder of Save Philippine Seas Anna Oposa goes up for air to share her favorite ecotourism sites—the happy places where ecology and economy can join hands under the sun.

“Ecology and economy have the same root word: eco, and it means ‘home,’” environmental advocate David Suzuki once said. “But what we have done is elevate the economy above ecology.”

This is the case for many tourism destinations. We built structures on what used to be bodies of water, cleared out forests to put accommodations and facilities, extracted corals to display them at resorts—all for “economy.”

Ecotourism does not necessarily equate to hiking, swimming, or any kind of tourism activity that brings one close to the environment. Ecotourism is that happy place between ecology and economy, where

ILLUSTRADO 20

we can make the most out of our natural resources without destroying it.

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN Puerto Princesa City has been dubbed as the ecotourism center of the Philippines. It has garnered local and international awards for its environmental initiatives such as the: Galing Pook Awardee, given to local government units that promote innovative and excellent local governance programs; Cleanest and Greenest City three times, elevating its status as a Hall of Famer; and

the UN Global 500 Roll of Honor Awardee from the UN Environment Program (UNEP). This is no easy task, considering that Puerto Princesa is one of the largest cities in the Philippines, with 254,000 hectares of land and a 143-kilometer road running north to south.

Puerto Princesa’s transformation from being one of the most notorious cities for pollution and crime to the “city in a forest” began in 1992, when a man named Edward Hagedorn won as Mayor.

Under his trailblazing leadership, the city launched the Oplan Linis program, where representatives from schools, business establishments, and government units,

Taraw Cliff, El Nido Palawan @ Mark Rodel dela Rosa-Dreamstime.com

including Mayor Hagedorn himself, swept the streets and gathered tons of garbage.

The city dump, once located near a school, was moved to the outskirts of the city and became the first engineered sanitary landfill in the Philippines.

Mayor Hagedorn was firm that he did not want mining to be a source of income for the city. Instead, he and his team focused their efforts on developing ecotourism destinations.

Now, Puerto Princesa has become synonymous to the Underground River, which is a National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the New

7 Wonders of Nature. Located two hours away from the city center, the site boasts of more than 800 plant species, including almost 300 trees; 195 bird species; 30 mammals; 19 reptiles; and eight bat species.

It also has a limestone mountain landscape, an impressive cave system, a 20 millionyear-old fossil embedded on the walls of the cave, and an 8.2-kilometer river that flows into the sea. A subterranean river flowing into the sea is considered a phenomenon, as all other rivers lead to freshwater sources.

The guides will keep you entertained by making you laugh with their punch lines and spiels, but they will also remind you to

throw your trash properly.

Aside from the Underground River, Puerto Princesa welcomes beachcombers and adventure seekers. Tourists can have a picnic, snorkel, and swim along the coasts of Honda Bay, Nagtabon, Napsan, and Marufinas. For those who want to break a little sweat, travelers are invited to embark on a 40-minute climb up Ugong Rock, and have the choice to rappel or try to zipline to go back down. Cap off your trip with a romantic firefly watching tour at the Iwahig River. Fireflies are biological indicators of clean air—a testament to the city’s pristine environment.

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EL NIDO, PALAWAN “Seashells belong to the seashore,” announces a sign at the El Nido airport.

“Please leave behind any shells, corals, starfish, and other wildlife you may see during your stay here in El Nido. This is their home.”

“P.S. Please leave the sand too,” it continues. “It takes millions of years for sand to form, but only a few minutes to take it away. We’d like your kids to see the same sand you did.”

This sign that greets all tourists is a reflection of El Nido’s values as a top ecofriendly tourism destination. This group of islands is bordered by the Linapacan Strait in the north, the municipality of Taytay in the south, the Sulu Sea in the east, and the West Philippine Sea in the west. The different natural resources in and around El Nido gave birth to fine white sand and coves, ancient caves with dripstone formations, and limestone cliffs that create fortresses for placid lagoons.

In 2012, 14 dive centers and over 20 snorkel operators in El Nido adopted the international UNEP Green Fins project, which focuses on implementing responsible diving practices for dive centers and operators to reduce their environmental impacts on coral reefs. @Vojtech-Dreamstime.com

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The program includes information and education materials so that tourists will be briefed properly and comprehensively on the dos and don’ts of snorkelling and scuba diving. Mooring buoys are installed in key snorkelling and dive sites so that boat crew don’t throw anchors into the sea and damage corals. The El Nido Foundation also runs ecotour guide workshops throughout the year with the tourism office for continuing education.

Armed with sunblock and swimsuit, book an island-hopping tour around the islands of El Nido. First stop can be Cadlao Island, with highest peak among the islands. It towers at 609 meters, offering a vast view of its gleaming white beaches and lush forest cover.

In Cudugnon, tourists may crawl through a hole from the main cavern to the smaller cavern that’s believed to be a burial site during the Neolithic period.

Romance is in the air in Entalula, fringed with coconut trees, and home to colorful marine life. Other notable snorkeling sites are Kalmung Point and Kulasa beach, found in Matinloc Island.

In Miniloc Island, you’ll find the Big and Small Lagoons. The Small Lagoon is enveloped in marble walls and has a “private pool” in the innermost part.

Share the seas with endangered marine turtles at the Big Lagoon.

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MT. BULUSAN, SORSOGON Mt. Bulusan is the last remaining original rainforest in Sorsogon. It is a key biodiversity area with 43% endemism, which means that they can only be found there.

Bird watchers frequent this site for a chance to see endemic and rare birds such as the Philippine duck, Philippine hawk eagle, flame-breasted fruit dove, and Philippine eagle owl. The presence of the Philippine cuckoo dove is a great indicator of the healthy environment. Hikers can also spot the Philippine baboon, monitor lizards, frogs, snakes, and other reptiles. Lucky for the abundant flora and fauna and tourists, the 3,673-hectare Bulusan Volcano Natural Park is a protected area.

A trip to the peak of Mt. Bulusan takes 1-2 days, and around 6-9 hours. Guests have the choice to begin the adventure by kayaking across Bulusan Lake, a water embankment that supplies the surrounding communities of Mt. Bulusan with fresh water. This prime watershed area serves a total of 10 municipalities, five in its immediate vicinity and another five neighboring towns.

Most of Bulusan’s springs lead to it. Household tap with fresh mountain spring water from the Bugas Spring is only at PhP25/month for almost unlimited use, making it the cheapest in the province.

Before the hike, volunteers from the Aggrupation of Advocates for Environmental Protection will give a comprehensive briefing that includes tips and guidelines for environmental protection, and safety and security. They even have first aid officers who can accompany trekkers, and take each person’s vital signs before embarking on the Bulusan journey.

This trail, after all, is not for the faint-hearted.

Visitors are encouraged to wear long sleeves, trekking pants, and a hoodie that will protect the body from head to toe. Thorny plants, cogon

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grass, and slippery slopes await those who enter Bulusan.

The care for Mt. Bulusan is deep-set in the local government and residents. In 2011, the Department of Energy wanted to start a geothermal energy exploration. The project sounded promising, considering how active a volcano Mt. Bulusan is. The last recorded

volcanic activity was on February 21, 2011.

The explosion spewed ash that reached 3 kilometers high and affected over 100,000 residents.

But this project would require drilling of wells, clearing of the forests, construction of power plants, and disposal of toxic wastes. As a response, the local government

passed a landmark resolution to oppose it.

The officials and residents are aware that the conservation of Mt. Bulusan will be for the good of the whole community and for generations to come, and not for the greedy few.

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LAKE SEBU, SOUTH COTABATO Lake Sebu was hailed by GMA News as what “may just be the Philippines’ best-kept summer secret.” This protected landscape lets endangered species like the Philippine deer and boars roam freely. The forests attract birdwatchers and wildlife lovers, because of the rare local and migratory birds that perch on the trees: the Philippine cockatoo egrets, swallows, kingfishers, herons, and kites. You may even chance upon the Philippine Eagle and tarsier.

Lake Sebu is the name of the municipality and of the largest among three lakes in the ILLUSTRADO 26

area. The lakes are used for tilapia culture, raising ducks, and growing freshwater shrimps and snails. Lake Sebu is one of the most important watersheds of the Philippines, supplying water to areas in Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. Local tribes believe that the lake is a “God-given food basket” and “a miraculous body of water that never dries up.” Explore the lake on a wooden dugout canoe, the kind without a motor and propelled by an oar.

This is the way of the locals—no carbon emissions, no noise to drown out the silence and calmness of the lake.

While in Lake Sebu, wake up early to greet the sun as it rises. When the sunlight kisses the water and mist rises from the surface, there’s a dreamlike atmosphere that is mesmerizing.

The municipality has 7 waterfalls, most of which are accessible. For a surge of adrenalin, guests may take one of the longest and highest ziplines in the country.

The short trip gives a 360-degree view of the many shades of green and blue found in the town. It starts near Falls 1 and-quite literally--breezes past another four waterfalls and brings you to a platform.

The second half of the zipline takes you to the view deck of Falls 2. If you’re afraid of heights and speed, you can drive from one waterfall to another, or hike some 700 steps.

The South Cotabato Provincial Government passed a law prohibiting open pit mining and made a strong stand against one of the world’s biggest mining companies. The province would like to divert their efforts in the sustainable development of the tilapia industry and more ecotourism options in Lake Sebu. In early 2013, there were hundreds of tilapia fish cages, 13 times more than its carrying capacity. The local government issued a moratorium on fish cage operations to save the lake.

There are big plans for Lake Sebu, both the lake and the municipality. The local government hopes to introduce trekking and wildlife tours, and a trail that connects all seven waterfalls.

APO ISLAND, NEGROS ORIENTAL In the 1970s, the fisher folk of Apo Island

used the all destructive fishing methods you could imagine, from dynamite fishing to cyanide fishing. In just a few years, they observed a rapid fish catch decline due to the badly damaged habitat.

Conservation efforts began in 1982. A team of scientists and graduate students from Silliman University in Dumaguete City partnered with the local community.

The fishing grounds were declared “notake zones,” which means that absolutely nothing, not a single fish or shell, could be taken from it.

Alternative livelihood programs were introduced. Locals engaged in t-shirt printing and weaving. The team from Silliman U taught the fishermen the basics of species identification, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Prior to such workshops, the locals assumed that corals were just rocks, with no particular value to the ecosystem and their lives.

Slowly, the marine life surrounding the small island began to recover and flourish.

Its waters hold over 400 species of corals and over 650 species of fish--that’s more than the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

There are hard and soft corals, anemones, and large schools of fish. The coral cover is astounding; it’s like submerging into an underwater meadow. You will definitely find more than Nemo did. In fact, seeing endangered marine life has become a standard. Not seeing a marine turtle or two (or three) in one dive is more surprising than seeing one.

Guidelines for snorkeling and scuba diving are strictly implemented. Only up to fifteen divers a day are allowed in the marine sanctuary. Divers and snorkelers are not allowed to wear gloves, because wearing gloves encourages tourists to hold on to corals and poke marine creatures, which could potentially disturb and destroy them.

Dive guides are equipped with GoPro cameras, so that they have evidence to show local government officials if tourists and fellow dive guides violate rules. When guests continue to disobey such guidelines, the authorities go as far as blacklisting them.

Approximately 70% of Apo Island’s residents are still fisher folk. They are also active in community conservation programs, such as protecting nesting sites of marine turtles. A local dive master

NAOMI: 2/F Mega B., SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City • Tel: (632) 636.0446 NERO: 2/F Main Bldg., SM North EDSA Quezon City • Tel: (632) 376.0168 info@naomi.com.ph . www.naomi.com.ph

feature named Mario runs the Future Apo Kids Program, where he teaches environmental awareness to children and the full junior scuba open water diver course. He believes that through such a program, the young generation of Apo won’t make the same mistakes theirs did.

Apart from snorkeling and diving, there isn’t much to do on the island. Electricity still isn’t available 24/7. It’s so small that everything is within walking distance. But perhaps, these bare essentials are part of the island’s charm. Instead of connecting with the world via the Internet, guests connect to the world by being so close to nature—and a very wealthy environment at that. Apo Island has become a conservation model that inspires environmentalists, scientists, and local governments of the country and the rest of the world.

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How can someone tell the difference between a genuine eco-friendly destination and one that just looks like one? Chief Mermaid and cofounder of Save Philippine Seas, Anna Oposa, swishes her fins and shares her ‘fish list’ of what makes a do-gooder.

1) Cleanliness. Just because a place looks clean, it doesn’t mean it’s really clean.

Sometimes, resorts and other tourism facilities bury or burn non-biodegradable wastes, or worse, dump them into the nearest body of water. Find out how and where the trash goes.

2) Care for animals. There are accommodation options that claim to be “rescue and rehabilitation centers” of animals. If they’re keeping nondomesticated animals in a confined area such as a pool or cage, ask if they have permits, how long the animals are staying in the resort, and their final destination.

A resort that keeps marine turtles, sharks, Philippine eagles or other endangered and protected species, as “pets” must be

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reported to the government right away.

3) Design. There are a buffet of options for fixtures that have less impact on the environment, such as using locally made materials and half-flush toilets. It’s a big bonus if the resort has a rainwater catchment and large windows for better cross ventilation.

4) Cared for by the locals. Enthusiastic compassion for natural resources can easily be seen in the words and actions of

residents and local government officials.

It cannot be faked or bought. If the locals love their own home, it will be maintained properly for visitors who’ll go after you.

If you come across such destinations, make an effort to give them a pat on the back, may it be literally or figuratively. Write them a positive review on TripAdvisor or send the management a commendation letter. Your support will encourage them to commit more, and hopefully inspire other facilities to do the same.

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Motorcycle Diaries: Philippines

by Kara Santos

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Riding a motorcycle gives you the freedom to explore the country at your own pace. Here’s a look at five destinations in the philippines from behind two wheels by writer and rider Kara Santos.

MARILAQUE Manila-based motorcycle riders often like to take “quickie rides” to Marilaque during the weekends. This scenic stretch of road starts in Marikina, passes through Rizal and Laguna and ends in Quezon. Though you first have to endure the smoke-belching jeepneys and potholes on the roads in the Cogeo area, once you hit the mountains, the road opens up and it’s smooth riding.

Marilaque calls out to bikers because of the refreshing scenery and cool climate. It’s easy to lose yourself in your thoughts while cruising the twisty open mountain roads just minutes away from Metro Manila’s congested streets.

Every time I ride from Manila to Marilaque on my scooter, I can’t help but marvel at the refreshing scenery and just stop once in a while to admire the view.

After driving a while, the temperature drops down a few notches. The air suddenly gets chilly and pure. From the sweltering heat of Manila, I always feel like I’ve been transported to Baguio or Tagaytay.

During certain stretches, all I can hear is the rhythmic sound of the engine and the strong wind as I speed through the scenery - a blur of greenery, rice fields and the majestic Sierra Madre mountain in the distance.

The Marilaque highway and the Manila East Road are gateways to several towns with unique points of interest. On

any given weekend, I can opt to go on a food, heritage or nature trip by motorbike depending on my mood.

I’ve visited the lakeside towns like Paete, known for its vibrant woodcrafting industry and Pakil in Laguna for a tour of old churches. I’ve sampled exotic food and native delicacies in folk art restaurants in Rizal like Balaw-Balaw in Angono and Paseo Rizal in Mayagay.

One of our favorite weekend spots for nature trips is Tanay, Rizal, where the scenic Daranak and Batlag Falls and the nearby Calinawan Cave are located.

While most would prefer swimming in a pool with all the urban comforts, I’ve always preferred natural bodies of water.

Set amidst lush vegetation, Daranak Falls

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is a 14-meter high fall that cascades from rocks to a refreshing emerald green pool where visitors can take a dip. Since its accessibility makes it a popular getaway for locals especially during summer months, try heading up during a weekday to avoid the crowds and you’ll find that it’s a very serene and relaxing spot.

Getting there takes about 20 minutes from the town proper, which is a 10-minute drive through a rough mountain path from the main road.

Tanay is roughly a 1.5-2 hour drive from Quezon City.

Pagsanjan Falls @ Don Simon-Dreamstime.com

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SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE As I checked in to St. Joseph’s Inn in Sagada during a vacation there last year, the first thing I saw at the front desk was a laminated card. It read: Motorbikes for Hire - XRM 125 (Underbone) • Now you can tour much of Sagada at the shortest possible time on your own pace • Reach the rice terraces in Banaue while stopping by at other rice terraces viewpoints • A road trip to the different parts of Mountain Province would be awesome And awesome it was. Motorcycling all the way from Sagada, Mountain Province to the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao and back (a journey of 120+ km) is probably not at the top of most people’s list of things to do. Most would prefer to try other activities such as spelunking at Lumiang Cave or trekking to Bomod-ok Falls in between sampling all the restaurants in the pleasant mountain town.

But the fact that motorcycle units were available for rent was too good to pass up.

The units are mostly suited for foreigners

with long legs, so the operator had to modify one of the units to make it lower so that I could ride it. Even then, I found the bike pretty heavy and difficult to backout and maneuver at a standstill especially when parking in inclined areas.

We left Sagada past 8 am. We were told we could reach Banaue by motorbike in about 2 hours. But with our extremely cautious pace and numerous stops for pictorials, it took us nearly 4 hours. The twisties of Halsema Highway provided a great playground for easy cruising and banking, with some of the most spectacular views I’ve seen in the country.

For the most part, we were greeted with an open road framed by a head-clearing blue vista and emerald mountains. The ridges and gullies were carpeted with pine trees and bright sunflowers in full bloom.

With waterfalls along the highways, streams and rivers snaking through the terrain in the towns below and dramatic mountain peaks in the distance, I felt like I was traversing the mountain ridges of Middle Earth.

The winding route took us up close to several rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, including the Kadchog Rice Terraces and Bayyo Rice Terraces in Bontoc.

The highlight of the trip was finally seeing the 2000-year old Banaue Rice Terraces, one of the most iconic symbols of the country. The terraces have been dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and seeing it firsthand was a feather in my cap after that epic ride.

The terraces showcase the engineering feat and ingenuity of Igorots, who are master planners and agriculturists. The Igorot culture revolves around rice and to this day, locals still plant rice and vegetables on the terraces. A number of shops here sold Banaue souvenirs including bags and items made from woven Ifugao textiles, hats with feathers, postcards and wooden Ifugao scooters, which local kids ride downhill.

Our pace on the way back to Sagada from Banaue was much better with only a few stops. The weather was bright and sunny throughout most of the ride, except for one point where a thick layer of fog transformed the pleasantly green mountains into a Silent-Hill like landscape. We proceeded more cautiously through this section since our visibility was limited, but landed safely back in Sagada as it started to get dark, satisfied with a day of great riding and the beautiful landscapes we passed through.

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“

For the most part, we were greeted with an open road framed by a headclearing blue vista and emerald mountains. The ridges and gullies were carpeted with pine trees and bright sunflowers in full bloom. With waterfalls along the highways, streams and rivers snaking through the terrain in the towns below and dramatic mountain peaks in the distance, I felt like I was traversing the mountain ridges of Middle Earth.�

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Sagada Mountain Province @ Kara Santos

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NAGA/ LEGAZPI, BICOL Long time motorcycle riders have probably taken the “South Loop,” a route that traverses several provinces in Southern Luzon including like Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and as far as Sorsogon, from where they can take a Ro-Ro (Roll-On, Roll-Off Ferry) to cross over to the Visayas Region.

The Bicol Region is rich in culinary and historical delights, making road trips here ideal for food and heritage tours. My hometown Naga City in Camarines Sur is the perfect jump-off point for a day trip to neighboring province, Albay. While motorcycle rentals don’t seem to be widely available compared to other places, during my vacations, friends who live in Naga are always willing to lend their scooters for daytrips and getting around.

During one visit, I found myself on an impromptu ride with a friend from Naga to Legazpi to visit the iconic Mayon Volcano, the symbol most associated with the province. The road from Naga to Legazpi is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.

After a couple of hours of riding, we saw the majestic Mayon Volcano looming before us. This near perfectly-shaped active volcano forms a scenic backdrop to the city of Legazpi and is visible throughout the

municipalities and cities of Albay including the surrounding provinces.

Visitors can get a good view of Mayon Volcano with the Cagsaua Ruins in the foreground in a protected park in Barangay Busay, Cagsawa, in the municipality of Daraga, Albay. The ruins are the remnants of an 18th century Fransiscan Church, the Cagsawa church, built in 1724 and destroyed by the 1814 eruption of Mayon Volcano. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area and thus makes a fitting backdrop for riders to show that they reached the place by motorbike.

A visit to the Bicol region would not be complete without savoring the spicy dishes made of chili and coconut milk like Bicol Express, laing and pinangat, which are widely available in restaurants and eateries around the province. Some specialty restaurants in Albay like Small Talk Café and First Colonial Grill even specialize in Bicolano dishes with a twist. Get a taste

Bicol landscape @ Kara Santos

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of Chili and Pili Ice Cream, and pizza and pasta dishes topped with the signature Bicolano dishes.

Church-hopping is another activity you can easily do by motorbike. Naga City has several notable churches including the Nuestra Senora de la Penafrancia (where the Blessed Lady of Penafrancia is kept), the Cathedral, San Fransisco Parish Church and Basilica Minore de Penafranca.

After a day of land-based adventures, cap your tour of Bicol with some waterbased sports at Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC), a cable park designed for wakeboarding and wakeskating. For a filling meal after, head to homegrown restaurants like Bigg’s and Geewan in the town center or stop for a bowl of steaming hot kinalas, a noodle soup dish, at one of the small eateries.

PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN Puerto Princesa is a gateway to other areas in Palawan that require longer land travel.

The city itself is a laid-back place and it’s easy enough to rent a motorcycle here to explore the most popular tourist spots in and around the city.

During one visit, my husband and I opted to do a DIY Puerto Princesa city tour by renting a motorcycle from one of the operators located on the main road.

We drove around the main city, weaving through the busy side streets and alleys, passing by the port, Baywalk and at Kamarikutan Café for a quick look around.

One spot we rode to was the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (Crocodile Farm), roughly 45 minutes away from the city. On display was the skeleton of one of the largest crocodiles that died in captivity, which measures roughly about 17 feet (5 meters) or half the size of a basketball court. In contrast, “Lolong”, the giant saltwater crocodile caught in Agusan measures 21 feet (6.4 meters). The hatchling site brought us up close to crocodiles of various sizes. For a small fee, we posed for photo ops carrying a baby crocodile. We also walked around the mini-zoo and nature park that houses some species endemic to Palawan.

Another tourist spot we motorbiked to was the Iwahig Penal Colony, a unique prison where inmates roam freely and live with their families. The long dirt road that passed through rice fields dotted with egrets grazing among the carabaos was quite scenic. Iwahig is the only prison in the country that has no bars or barriers to keep prisoners in. Prisoners in this low security work farm are free to choose vocational activities including farming, fishing, carpentry and handicraft-making.

It was interesting walking around the compound and visiting some of the buildings, including a really dilapidated structure that used to be a recreation hall.

We had a nice chat with one of the inmates managing a sari-sari store within the compound over some refreshments.

If you’re on a budget, you can stop at Vietnamese-style eateries that serve chaolong or rice noodles for affordable snacks. Bona’s Chaolong House, a small eatery on Manalo Extension, served pretty good and affordable chaolong and French bread.

If you have more money to spare and want to enjoy a great meal, head to Ka Lui on the main road or Badjao Seafront Restaurant on Abueg Road. Badjao Seafront Restaurant, which is a about a 15-minute drive from the town center, is built over a mangrove habitat. You can enjoy great fresh seafood platters here with a relaxing view of the sea and mangroves nearby.

A DIY city tour aboard a motorbike affords lots of time for photo ops and rest stops.

You can spend more time exploring the places you want without being tied to a tour group. If you have more time, other points of interest in Puerto Princesa covered in the usual city tour include Mitra’s Ranch and Baker’s Hill in Sta. Monica Heights, where you can buy specialty bread and souvenir items like Palawan pearls.

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SIARGAO, SURIGAO DEL NORTE The island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte is known mostly as a surfing destination.

Local and international tourists flock here during surfing season, eager to get stoked while riding the waves of Cloud 9, the right breaking reef waves that resemble a thick, hollow tube.

While I have no problem just enjoying the sand, sea and surf, exploring Siargao’s inroads and other land-based attractions by motorbike can give visitors a different taste of what the island has to offer.

Siargao is pretty small and it’s possible to motorbike around the whole island in just a day. Surfers even have customized motorbikes with racks for their surfboards to get around to the different resorts.

During a solo trip to Siargao, after I had gotten my fill of the sweet beach life, I rented a motorbike and decided to explore the coastal towns.

Hotels and lodging houses around Siargao offer motorbikes for rent, with rentals ranging from P500 for a full day’s use and P300 for half-day rentals if you’re driving it yourself. You can also hire a habal-habal (the modified motorcycle that seats more than two) for about P1,000/ day that can accommodate 1-3 persons, including the driver. Long-term rental, weekly or monthly can be arranged with locals for those staying longer and want their own mode of transport around the island.

First off, I rode to the row of resorts in the Cloud 9 area to check out the resorts and surfing activities there. Compared to the General Luna area, the resorts in the Cloud

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Dream Destinations North Loop 9 area are more upscale. General Luna offers more affordable accommodations for local travellers and backpackers and has a whole strip of good eating places like Ronaldo’s Inn & Resto Bar, Driftwood Surf Shop and Cafe and Patrick’s on the Beach.

After acquiring a map of the island at the souvenir shop of Patrick’s, I headed towards the direction of Pilar, where I was told that a natural pool called Magpupungko Pool was located.

Magpupungko Beach boasts of a natural tidal pool of clear turquoise water that is only revealed during low tide. The pool is framed by grand rock formations, from which it gets its name, pungko meaning “to squat.” The beach here is quiet and serene.

Other spots you can ride to include Taktak Waterfalls in Santa Monica, where you can take a dip away from the surfing and swimming scene at the beach. The town of Del Carmen, known for its rich mangrove forests, is also worth a visit.

This 4,300 hectare large mangrove area is the habitat of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna both in marine, wetland and terrestrial areas. Also found in the mangrove forest is the endangered crocodylus porosus and the Sugba Lagoon.

After riding around the island, you can take a relaxing river cruise to see the mangroves up close.

The Northern Luzon Loop or the North Loop is a dream long ride for most motorcycle riders based in Manila.

Traversing the route (which passes through Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija and back) can take several days to more than a week depending on your pace and duration of pit stops.

DumagueteSiquijor Dumaguete City in the province of Negros Oriental attracts a number of tourists, because of easy ferry access from Cebu City, the availability of beach resorts and dive sites, and the attraction of dolphin and whale watching in nearby Bais City. Motorcycle rentals are widely available in the University Town.

The mystical island of Siquijor, an hour’s boat ride from Dumaguete is another destination ideal for a motorcycle tour.

Bukidnon-Davao Highway Long-time riders share that the Bukidnon-Davao (BUDA) Highway in Mindanao offers long stretches, scenic mountain roads, gentle curves, harrowing bends, and a stretch where “you’re always sure to ride through some real mountain mists even at high noon.”

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rawan: There is a place between the heavens that is home to the gods and the land of the mortals. In this place between the divine and the earthly lies a massive formation of limestone rocks, pure in its creamy white color and soft in its smooth chalklike texture.

Some believe it is only the hand of a divinity that could have carved such spectacular beauty from a mountainside.

Others say that only Mother Nature herself could have imagined that the natural turning and movement of the earth such as weather and sedimentation

could have produced such wonder.

This is Kapurpurawan in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is a place that is far removed from earth in its appearance but also part of it, shaped by it.

The word “kapurpurawan” means “kaputi putian” or white in the Ilokano dialect.

The mighty gusts of wind coming from the sea causes the displacement of minerals, which along with chemical weathering, form various rock formations such as a giant sphinx that seemingly stands guard over the area. Locals say

that head of the sphinx sometimes also resembles the head of a sleeping dragon and changes every year depending on weather conditions.

Kapurpurawan’s pure white sand rock formation is a stunning juxtaposition against the azure deep waters of the South China Sea and the West Philippine sea and the opals of the bonsai mangroves and meadows that serve as its covering.

Gazing at this natural splendor is like floating into another universe where you, the spectator, are both divine and mortal.

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Fashion PHOTOGRAPHY: HERSON NEBAYA STYLING: ARGIE SALANGO MAKEUP: GERY PENASO ASSISTANT MAKEUP: ANTON PATDU HAIR: ROCHELLE LACUNA MODEL: JODILLY PENDRE SHOOT ASSISTANTS: BADZ ALBERT AND MARK LEVENSON OCAPAN SPECIAL THANKS TO THE TOURISM BOARD OF ILOCOS NORTE AND THE ILOCOS NORTE MEDIA INCENTIVES DESK, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA OFFICE

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SirĂŠne She calls from the sea.

Her beguiling voice heard in the soft whispers of silk; her enigmatic beauty framed in yards upon yards of allure.

She beckons to the sea.

Her beauty blinding sailors with the dazzle of her seductive promise, as the restless waves crash on the creamy limestone rocks rumbling as the giant dragon sleeps.

Gray gown with seethrough paneled sequined bustier and pleated voluminous skirt by Randall Solomon; antique flower hairpin used as earpiece by Jun Jun Ablaza; gold rings stylist’s own

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Fashion

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Gray gown with seethrough paneled sequined bustier and pleated voluminous skirt by Randall Solomon; antique flower hairpin used as earpiece by Jun Jun Ablaza; gold rings stylist’s own

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Fashion Nude serpentina gown with gold/silver treated cutouts and feather trimmings by Kathleen Que; green quartz necklace, four combined golden fishbeads and antique gold drop earrings

by Jun Jun Ablaza

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Sequined Serpentina gown with detachable peach organza train by Miguel Amante; Gold necklace with gold encrusted stone pendant and antique gold earrings all by Jun Jun Ablaza

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Fashion Silver sequined asymmetrical bodice with see-through trail by Randall Solomon. Gold zipper neckpiece and gold antique earrings all

by Jun Jun Ablaza

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Voluminous red gown with beaded bustier by Randall Solomon; Gold metal necklace with carved elephant pendant, Mekarreh ivory bangle and antique gold drop earrings all by Jun Jun Ablaza

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Fashion Red chiffon gown with ruched right shoulder detail

by Randall Solomon; ivory earrings by Jun Jun Ablaza; gold ring stylist’s own

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Fashion Tulle gown with white flower embroidery by Aris Pico; gold neckpiece and charms necklace and antique earrings all by Jun Jun Ablaza; Tory Burch gold bangle stylist’s own

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Green see-through tulle gown with belt by Eric Delos Santos; antique gold necklaces used as hand accessory and earrings by Jun Jun Ablaza

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Fashion Red halter gown with Sabrina waist twist and white pearl shoulder details by Kariz Polintan; amber resin necklace, ivory bangles and antique gold earrings all by Jun Jun Ablaza

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Sequined green A-line gown by Eric Delos Santos; antique gold necklaces and earrings by Jun Jun Ablaza

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Real Style, Real People Che Cortes Caisido in her chic white and blue dress matched with deep blue semi-precious accessories.

Dubai – based Filipino fashion blogger Ushi Sato is wearing a printed shirt tucked into hot pink shorts just in time for the coming summer

Former Dubai property consultant, Lyan Bizzet flirts a stylish cha cha skirt topped with a simple tank plus bejeweled shoes while partying in London.

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The Address Hotel’s marketing manager, Rose Tacorda in a relaxed black jumpsuit matched with oversized bangles and tassel neckpiece.

Lani Jashanman is all about spring lightness with a form-fitting dress and yellow accessories

Blogger Marishka Gaspacho spotted in her 2 piece animal print ensemble while having her coffee to start the day.

Fierce Tessie Singson rocks a monochrome destructured ensemble

Photo-ready!

Brisbane girl Marion Faye Turla stays cute in floral pants topped with mustard peter pan collared blouse ensemble.

PR exec, Tata Noor enjoys an easy afternoon shopping in a printed black and white dress.

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10 things to do

by Sherry Tinorio

Let’s kick up our toe shoes, snap some pictures and party hard this April!

GETAWAY TO THE COVE ROTANA Not too far from Dubai is the emirates of Ras Al Khaimah that boasts a number of amazing resorts where one can get away and forget the hustle and bustle of the city life. Among the roster of hotels and resorts to choose from – from the swanky Banyan Tree Al Wadi, to the RAK’s signature Al Hamra Hotel and the famous Hilton Ras Al Khaimah – the one that stands out in our eyes is The Cove Rotana Resort. It’s a fantastic destination for those looking for weekend serenity. The hotel’s rooms and villas are perfectly designed to provide an idyllic Mediterranean vibe.

From its all-day restaurant to its classy gourmet club, the resort provides many options for diners and guests. And, don’t forget the rooms that are quite homey especially the one-bedroom villas that are gracious in space. The beachfront is divine, too – allowing a scenic vision of the whole resort. For more information, visit the website www.rotana.com.

GO FOR THE CLASSICS Book a seat at the much-awaited Dubai staging of the classic ballet Swan Lake performed by the renowned Royal Moscow Ballet. Shows are scheduled to run at 9pm on May 9 which will be followed by two shows each on May 10 and 11, and will finally close off with one show each on May 12 and 13.

Tickets range from AED 250 to AED 1,500 that includes a dinner at Cavalli Club. For tickets or more information, visit www.platinumlist.ae or www.swanlakedubai.com.

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BE IN THE KNOW, BE IN FASHION FORWARD Known for being the city’s event guru, Bong Guerrero is staging a four-day fashion event that will showcase the work of more than 18 ready-to-wear, couture, menswear and bridal designers in the region. Fashion Forward (FFWD) is indeed the must-attend, mustbe-seen-at fashion event of the season. Aside from runway shows, the event will also have a series of talks, workshops and panels at the Madinat Jumeirah from April 26-29.

10 things to do

PARTY BY THE BEACH Just before humidity gets high and temperature soars to fifty, better stop by the beach for a barbecue party. Invite friends or set up family bonding over grills in Jumeirah Beach Park or in Mamzar Beach Park, or better yet see what is in Palace Beach in Al Sufouh. No matter where you decide to host your beach party, remember to take tons of stories to share, games to break the ice and guitars to hum along as you chill out after the dip.

SEE A MOVIE; WATCH “IT TAKES A MAN AND A WOMAN” Dubai seems to be acknowledging Pinoy’s taste in entertainment. From the full packed Eheads’ concert, now comes the much-awaited screening of the final installation to the hit movie series of Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz.

The romantic chick flick promises to provide Pinoys a opportunity to get a glimpse at the cinematic tandem of the popular reel couple. To be shown this month in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the movie will surely be a perfect bonding activity not only for couples and friends but for the whole family, too.

RETURN OF DAVID GUETTA The clubbing fanatics who missed his previous performances in the emirates (or who wanted to hear his music once more) can catch Grammy-award winner David Guetta live on stage in Atlantis The Palm Dubai this coming May 3rd. The French DJ will be on the Atlantis’ shores as part of his ‘Nothing but the Beat’ world tour, and is expected to play hits such as When Love Takes Over (featuring Kelly Rowland), Sexy Chick (featuring Akon) and Without You (featuring Usher), among many others. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets range from AED 275 to AED 500.

To book tickets or get more info, call 055-2004321.

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10 things to do

VISIT DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN

If you can’t beat them, join them. Jump into the bandwagon, and visit the latest destination in Dubai, the Dubai Miracle Garden. Aside from tons of crowds hoping to get their instagram-perfect pics, the garden also prides itself as the world’s biggest natural flower garden. With over 45 million flowers spread across 72,000 square meters site and flowerbeds. Spotted in here are flowers in shapes of hearts, stars, igloos, pyramids, among others, but will change season after season. Located at Dubailand, near Arabian Ranches, the Dubai Miracle Garden is best visited by tan-orexic Pinoys before summer sets in.

FUN SHOOT WITH FRIENDS Undoubtedly, photography is a popular hobby among Filipinos in the emirates. Make better use of your camera in a fun shoot that might just unleash artist in you. Ask your Filipina friends to pose in front of your lens and take photos that you can send to Illustrado’s “Faces”. The online competition runs on the magazine’s Facebook account, and provides four winners: two photographers and two models under Illustrado’s Choice and People’s Choice categories. To get the details, visit the website www.illustradolife.com or check out the magazine’s Facebook page.

EXPERIENCE ARABIAN NIGHTS Although we’re always on the look of Pinoy food or Pinoy-related activities, we should not forget that we’re in a city that boasts tons of cultural spots. So better try an Arabian-themed night by exploring the must-try restaurants at Heritage Village. Offering al fresco dining, the strip of Lebanese restaurants offering sumptuous array of authentic Arabic food as well as various options of shisha, Heritage Village is a great way of capping a work night. For those who want the view at the other side of the creek, choose to pay QDs a visit. Cited at the Dubai Creek & Golf Club (right before Park Hyatt Dubai), QDs is a go-to destination to try an urban and more modern Arabic night out.

Rejuvenating and relaxing best way to describe the Turkish Hammam at Rixos The Palm. The bathing fit for royals is now a standard treatment at the hotel, starting off with a classic scrub down atop huge hot-stoned hammam table, followed by a whole-body massage over bubbles of bath gels, and finished off rinsing with hot water splashing from the overflowing faucet. For the month of April, Rixos offers Sultan Deal at AED 400 including lunch buffet at its famous Turkish restaurant, A La Turca. For more information, call 04-4575555.

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GO FOR TOTAL SCRUB DOWN

trippin’

“Staycation!”

By Ana P. Santos

Staycation is defined as a vacation at home or somewhere nearby. And while many tourists use Manila as a transit point to hop from one island to another, Manilena Ana P. Santos discovers the l ittle pleasure treasures of the city.

Manila, which she calls home, is also her staycation away from a vacation.

Sofitel: The resort getaway in the Metropolis

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A sun that is warm and gentle, palm trees that dance and sway in the breeze and the most amazing view of the famed Manila Bay sunset. Only the Sofitel can promise a mix of resort living in the midst of urban luxury.

At the Sofitel lagoon pool, everyone moves to their own pace. Children are giggling and laughing as they splash down the slide. Adults are lounging around on the deckchairs, sipping cocktails and getting a bit of sun that they would otherwise try their best to avoid.

Time moves in pace with the setting sun and the Sofitel has the best view to nature’s dramatic display of bidding farewell daylight and giving way to dusk.

trippin’

Urban getaway There are many things to simply adore about the Sofitel like how when you first enter the lobby, you are greeted by a delcisious indescribeable scent coming from Le Spa. While sipping my ginger-lemon tea, I was given a list of treatments to choose from and a list of music tracks I would like to listen to during my treatment.

I chose ethnic music and decided to treat myself to a silhouette contouring wrap.

Isn’t it the wish of every urbanite who falls into a sedentary lifestyle to lay back, relax while being massaged in a way that will stimulate fat and cellulite reduction?

The cashmere bathrobe that is exclusive to Le Spa is a preview of the lavish treamtent I was going to receive that started with a footspa.

I was reluctant to shed the cashmere bathrobe to lie down for my massage which started with a dry scrub using loofah to open pores, followed by silhouette shaper cups that break down fatty deposits and cellulite, as well as drains excess fluid.

An activating serum serves as a primer to prepares the skin to receive the treatments.

Combined with the massage, the activating serum helps to activate the skin is to receive the specific treatment. I chose the toning complex to tighten my muscles.

A powder wrap made of laminaria algae, fucus algae, lithothamnium, essentials of grapefruit, sweet orange, green mandarin and caffeine, was generously slathered on my skin and I was wrapped in a thermal blanket called a silhouette shaper. I was wrapped like happily baking burrito.

Refreshed, invigorated and supple, I decided to cap off my afternoon with

hightea at the Club Millesime lounge, where guests staying in the hotels club rooms and suites savor VIP privileges such as executive check-in.

Depending on the time of day, free flowing snacks, hightea and cocktails are spread out for the guests’ enjoyment.

Sipping my tea and nibbling on canapes and pastries, I looked out the windows of the 10th floor executive lounge and took in the magnificent view of the Manila Bay. Ah yes. I was still in Manila, I was reminded by the view.

You don’t have to leave Manila to feel like you are in a discreet luxury bastion of it known as the Sofitel.

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trippin’

The Cocoon Boutique Hotel: Nature’s Sanctuary in the City In many ways, you can’t argue with Mother Nature, especially when it comes to the standard she set for a refuge of warmth and transformation—a cocoon.

In her circle of life, Mother Nature meant for a cocoon to be a sanctuary that covers you in softness. A home, which though temporary, envelopes you in warmth.

It is luxury that is relaxing and serene, rather than decadent and induglement. It is pleasure that is refined and subdued, rather than opulent. It is a nesting place where after a hiatus, you come out renewed and invigorated.

A green urban sanctuary Cocoon Boutique Hotel in Quezon City takes its cue from Mother Nature herself and created its own standard of green luxury. The hotel is desgined to be a meeting place where luxury just naturally flows and becomes the guiding principles of responsibility. The hotel is

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a story of balance of luxury and respect for the environment. To owners, Rafael and Gigi Vinzon, environmentally sustainable luxury is not a selling line, it is a core principle of the hotel.

It is the premier in “green” luxury, as it is the only hotel that is eco-friendly from conceptualization, construction, and in practices. The Cocoon Boutique Hotel is the first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotel in the Philippines.

Each room also uses reclaimed wood for floors, furniture, and wall accents. Extra large windows make for natural lighting to come in.

Fresh air circulation through use of natural positive-negative air pressure makes for the airy atmosphere in the rooms, along with the inverter-type air-conditioner that uses non-ozone-damaging refrigerants.

You’ll feel the difference immediately in the way that you can breathe easier.

Even in the tiny details, the green concept is evident such as in the absorption-type mini-refrigerator and coffee- and teamaking facility and the dual-piping system that separates grey and potable water to

allow re-use of the latter.

Toiletries are made of plasticized cornstarch with packaging using stone paper and soy ink.

Every inch of every room has been designed with the earth’s well-being in mind—from the use of natural lighting and energy-efficient equipment, to non-ozonedamaging air-conditioners, to reclaimed wooden furniture and wall accents, and even to ECO-CERT-certified, 100% organic bathroom amenities and products.

All these work together to further reduce your impact on the environment, ensuring that your stay will be as comfortable and as worry-free as possible.

But what I found most pleasurable in this urban sanctuary was its promise of pleasurable serenity and that all too elsuive luxury of urban living -- sleep.

The beds in Cocoon were made for sleeping and snuggling – all within the covers. The sublime softness of 400-thread count, 100% Egyptian Cotton bed linen and 90% goose down duvets and circleof-down pillows soften the transition from dreaming to awakening in the ultimate urban green haven.

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Culinary Delights and Destinations Food blogger Anton Diaz made traveling and eating an awesome experience. In this issue of Illustrado, He shares with us his palate-tested and appetite-approved culinary delights and destinations.

Mount Arayat @ Dirk Sigmund -Dreamstime.com

PAMPANGA Let’s stuff ourselves silly with the best Kapampangan fare by one of the country’s best-known Pampanga chefs.

Journey to the central heartland as we immerse ourselves in all things Kapampangan! From Baroque to betute, poke around and get intimate with the very best of Pampanga’s cultural offerings. Gawk at the jewel-box of a church in Betis while wading through the lahar-buried town of Bacolor.

A Pampanga food trip is always good for a full day without the need to stay overnight because it is now one hour away and very

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accessible via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). A trip to the culinary capital is not complete without trying the best restaurants there.

Here is a good tip: Start with the best of San Fernando’s restaurants, then travel along MacArthur Highway to Angeles City’s foodie places. You can already exit Pampanga through the Angeles City NLEX Entrance going back to Manila.

First Stop, the Best of San Fernando, Pampanga: Everybody’s Café This is an all-time favorite and considered an institution of Kapampangan cuisine.

Everybody’s Café is popular for its meltin-the-mouth, creamy morcon, pindang damulag (carabao’s meat) with rice and carabao’s milk, tidtad babi (Kapampangan dinuguan), and its “fear-factor” treats of betute (frog) and camaru (cricket). The restaurant has maintained its original turoturo ambiance, which has been around since the end of World War II.

Lilian Borromeo’s Home of Kapampangan Cuisine Lilian is a Kapampangan celebrity chef best known for her classic local fare and San Nicolas cookies. She caters to requests to serve breakfast in her ancestral home in Mexico, Pampanga and to have demos on

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Fried Hito

Begukan

Kare-Kareng Laman Dagat

how the famous San Nicolas cookies are made. She will entertain you with stories of her family’s culinary heritage and anecdotes on Kapampangan culture.

In between meals, most people would stop by and pray in the half-buried church in Bacolor, Pampanga and the Betis Church, which is called the Sistine Chapel of the Philippines. In Betis, you can also check out the different wooden furniture and handicrafts of the talented local craftsmen.

Next Stop, the Best of Angeles City, Pampanga: Claude Tayag’s Bale Dutung (House of Wood)

Ensaladang Pako & Lumpiang Ubod

It is now a popular by-reservation-only restaurant (minimum of 10-12 people) where Claude and his “darling” Mary Ann Tayag personally host an intimate 5-hour lunch. You can choose from the traditional Kapampangan meal or their special 5-ways lechon. Recently, Bale Dutung made it to the Miele Guide as one of the top restaurants in Asia. It is recommended that you have a very light breakfast if you are going to Bale Dutung for lunch.

C’ Italian Dining This is not Kapampangan cuisine, but it is voted as one of the best Italian restaurants in the country. It is best known for its thinly sliced roll-over pizza called panizza. This

kind of pizza has been copied but nothing beats the original. C’ Italian Dining is located along Friendship Highway in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga. It is great to hang out there at night because dinner could easily last for 3-4 hours.

Aling Lucing’s Sisig You can also pay tribute to the home of the original sisig on a sizzling plate, popularized

by Aling Lucing in her original grill place along the railroad. Even after the owner passed away, the place did not lose its popularity. Most people would go here just to say that they have eaten in the birthplace of sisig,one of the unofficial national dishes of the Philippines.

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feature @ Audio Science -Dreamstime.com

@ Don Simon -Dreamstime.com

Sisig Paella

Razon’s Halo-halo

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Razon’s Pancit Lug-lug

feature Last Stop, Dessert and Pasalubong: The Nepo Mart area in Angeles City is a popular stopover for Susie’s Tibok-Tibok (pudding made from pure carabao’s milk) and Rosing’s Candies of pastillas and other sweet treats all made from carabao’s milk.

You can also end your food trip with the famous Pampanga Halo-Halo, which is made with a few ingredients and sweetened to perfection. Two of the most popular halo-halo places around the area are Razon’s Halo-Halo, which is made with sun-ripened saging na saba, macapuno and leche flan with dayap rind and Corazon’s Halo-Halo, made using macapuno, saging na saba, mais and their special beans and halayang gatas.

ILOILO The birthplace of batchoy and a tiny little carinderia by the sea called Breakthrough are our must-stop-to-eat choice spots in Iloilo.

region and best eaten raw.

The restaurant is the brainchild of marine biologist Raymundo Robles, who just wanted to have a side restaurant business for his wife. It was named after every scientist’s aspiration, which is to achieve a breakthrough in his/her field.

The best part of the Breakthrough experience is being able to enjoy the glorious food, as well as their popular vinegar called Sinamak, with the fresh sea breeze blowing around you.

For a native dessert, watch for manong selling these native molasses.

Batchoy Iloilo is the home of Batchoy, and there is a never-ending debate on who offers the best version, whether it is Ted’s or Deco’s.

However, the best authentic Batchoy for me can be found in Netong’s Lapaz Batchoy.

It is located in the birthplace of this beloved dish in the La Paz Public Market in La Paz, Iloilo.

T he owner’s great-grandfather is credited with the invention of the batchoy mixture.

Batchoy or “ba-chui” means pieces of meat in Chinese. The authentic batchoy contains fresh egg noodles called miki, buto-buto broth slow-cooked for hours, and beef, and bulalo mixed with the local guinamos or shrimp paste.

Its generous toppings include fried garlic, crushed chicharon, scallions, slivers of meat, intestines and liver, with a spoonful of bone marrow added in. To complete the batchoy experience, you can order an extra bowl of the soup.

Overall, if you really want to taste an authentic batchoy, you have to eat in Netong’s complete with the Lapaz Public Market Ambiance. (Just in case you’re wondering, they have an air-conditioned dining area.)

Breakthrough is the undisputed king of fresh seafood in Iloilo and the number one tourist spot in the city.

It’s a fresh seafood restaurant by the beach with a simple carinderia turo-turo display where you order. It is famous for its aligue rice, the managat fish (also known as red snapper or mangrove jack) that they culture on their own, and imbao, a large fatty clam version which is a pride of the Visayan Batchoy

Island Ferry @ Lostarts -Dreamstime.com

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Magellan’s Cross @ Jacob Maentz -Dreamstime.com

Fort San Pedro, Cebu @ Salvador Manaois -Dreamstime.com

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St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, Cebu @ Salvador Manaois -Dreamstime.com

ZUBUCHON: THE BEST LECHON IN CEBU What is a visit to Cebu without pigging out—on Cebu lechon.

After our Danao, Bohol trip, we decided to fly out via Cebu, and our last stopover was in Banilad Town Center. We decided to stop there because it is near Our Lady of Peace by the Pink Sisters where we wanted to hear Sunday Mass. I remembered the buzz about Marketmanila’s Zubuchon before the Christmas Season, and bringing home a Cebu Lechon was the perfect pasalubong for our families.

I heard a lot of foodies raving about the lechon, so I was excited to try it for myself.

I was surprised that the stall still had a lot of supply after lunch on a Sunday.

in Cebu. It was able to justify its premium pricing because of its artisanal quality.

The first taste test was very good. The skin of the lechon is as crispy as chicharon.

The story is they would puncture the lechon skin while it is being cooked to get that crispiness.

You need to buy a minimum of 2 kilos so that it could be boxed. You have the option of having it chopped or to have it wrapped as is. If you’re asking your friends to bring you a Zubuchon pasalubong, it would easily cost you P900 for 2 kilos.

The lechon has a full flavor in itself, with no need for any sauce. It has that herby flavor from the spices. I like their claim that they don’t use MSG. I love Zubuchon because it is lechon done in an old-school manner but with a noticeable leap forward in terms of taste.

It is cooked naturally without any MSG, artificial mixes, and artificial painting of the skin. You can taste the quality of the herbs they use.

However, the problem with Zubuchon is that it is only good 2-3 hours from the time you purchase it. It is perishable, so some people buy the Frozen Lechon. The frozen ones are not that good anymore when you transport them to Manila. Sometimes it is better to buy the fresh ones from the airport branch, but P40/kilo more expensive.

Tip: You can order a large pack of Zubuchon chicharon for P200.

No doubt, this is the best lechon I’ve tasted

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81things to Do in Beautiful Philippines Before We Die by Aby Yap

As the nation mourns Kris Aquino’s public announcement of resignation from being the Queen of All Media, we find ourselves asking a very important question. No, not the one about whether she’ll remain true to her word. The big Q, rather, is: Should our expiration date come close, can we honestly say that we did all we ever wanted in this lifetime? (Esep-esep!)

So, as Pinoys in love with the one and only Philippines, we now refer to this bucket list, try to strike every one of them, and hopefully exclaim in the end that life has been one hell of a ride.

1. Get to know Abra—not the rapper fliptoppin’ but the place to go naturetrippin’.

2. Sail away and see the balanghai boats in Agusan del Norte’s museum.

3. Pay last respects to Lolong, once the world’s largest crocodile, in Agusan del Sur. 4. Join the party in Aklan’s Ati-Atihan and unwind later on Boracay’s famed White Beach.

5. Check out how perfect—and breathtaking—Mayon Volcano’s cone shape is in Albay.

6. Locate where exactly the mountains meet the sea in scenic Antique.

7. Explore Apayao’s wealth of natural spots that aren’t found anywhere else in Cordillera.

8.Leave the laptop at home and surf for real in Aurora, the country’s birthplace of surfing.

9. Immerse in the culture of Muslim kababayans in Basilan (sans the scare of being kidnapped).

10. Commemorate history in Bataan, where our forefathers displayed unparalleled valor.

11. Stay in the solid Ivatan stone house in Batanes come the stormy season.

12. Bare the barako side by drinking Batangas coffee and manipulating the balisong.

13. Go for a strawberry overload in Benguet: pick fresh strawberries plus taste the strawberry taho/wine.

14. Take a cold shower under as many waterfalls as possible in Biliran, brrr.

15. Enjoy the delicious sight of Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers’ cutesy antics in Bohol.

16. Fly like a superhero via Asia’s longest dual cable zipline in Bukidnon.

17. Get into the groove of the Obando fertility street dance in Bulacan.

18. Conquer Cagayan’s Callao Cave, where the 67,000-year-old Callao Man was unearthed 19. Start a string of water exploits in Camarines Norte’s virgin rivers, beaches, and falls.

20. Find out if you can be the next international wakeboarding champ in Camarines Sur. 21. Visit the curious Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin and see the gravestones underwater.

22. Forget about aswangs and simply gorge on mouthwatering seafood in Capiz.

23. Spend some quiet time on the picturesque beaches of Catanduanes.

24. Take a trip to the Taal Volcano, which is within an island within a lake, in Cavite.

25. Conduct a taste test of Cebu’s lechon and be the judge of the best ever lechon.

26. Marvel at the rafflesia mira, the world’s biggest flower, in Compostela Valley.

27. Discover the Kutang Bato Caves right in the middle of Cotabato City.

28. Spot the Vanishing Island during low tide in Davao del Norte.

29. Climb Mount Apo in Davao del Sur, do a photo-op, and post on Facebook.

30. Pay a visit to the great and mighty Haribon, the monkey-eating eagle, in

Davao Oriental.

31. Try the healing powers of Lake Bababu in Dinagat Islands, home of the “Divine Master.”

32. Walk around Magellan’s first Philippine island discovery in Eastern Samar.

33. Bite into the world’s sweetest mangoes in Guimaras.

34. Ascend the stairway to heaven, the Banaue Rice Terraces, in Ifugao.

35. Perform a Lawrence of Arabia in the Suba sand dunes of Ilocos Norte.

36. Travel back to the 16th century in Ilocos Sur’s Spanish colonial town Vigan.

37. Do a Visita Iglesia in Iloilo’s collection of exquisitely built churches.

38. Appreciate diverse flora and fauna in the country’s largest natural park in Isabela.

39. Be pretty and get inked the oldfashioned way (read: more painful) in Kalinga.

40. Enroll in a Billabong surf school in La Union and ride the waves like a pro.

41. Ease those stiff muscles in Laguna’s scores of hot spring resorts.

42. Behold the majestic Maria Cristina Waterfalls in Lanao del Norte.

43. Meet the Maranaos, among the country’s most artistic ethnic tribes, in Lanao del Sur. 44. Cross the San Juanico Bridge, the longest one in the Philippines, when in Leyte.

45. Play kulintang music with an authentic Muslim setting in Maguindanao.

46. Wear a Roman centurion mask and join Marinduque’s Moriones Festival.

47. Experience the thrill of Masbate’s rodeo show, the only one of its kind in Asia.

48. Swim along with rescued dolphins in Misamis Occidental.

49. Brave the rapids in Misamis Oriental

Onli in da Pilipins

for the ultimate whitewater rafting adventure.

50. Uncover the mysteries of mummy caves and hanging coffins in Mountain Province.

51. Step into the grand ancestral homes of the rich and/or famous in Negros Occidental.

52. Watch dolphins and whales spin and twirl tricks in Negros Oriental.

53. Rock on “studying” the amazing Biri rock formations in Northern Samar.

54. Be a mud-man while taking part in Nueva Ecija’s Taong Putik Festival.

55. Eat all the citrus fruits available in the Philippines’ Citrus Capital, Nueva Vizcaya.

56. Commune with nature while camping out in Occidental Mindoro’s Apo Reef.

57. Find Nemo, Squirt, and other lovable sea creatures while snorkeling in Oriental Mindoro.

58. See for yourself why Palawan’s worldknown Underground River is a wonder of nature.

59. Witness Good Friday’s real-life crucifixion of the faithful in Pampanga.

60. Embark on an island-hopping

expedition in Pangasinan’s Hundred Islands.

61. Trek your way to the top of the mystical Mount Banahaw in Quezon.

62. Plan a picnic for the whole family in any of Quirino’s picturesque parks.

63. Indulge in beautiful masterpieces by Angono’s celebrated artists in Rizal.

64. Learn about fine marble sculpture straight from the experts in Romblon.

65. Dare explore the darkness and depths of Samar’s numerous caves.

66. Catch a glimpse of ancient humanshaped Maitum burial jars in Sarangani.

67. Be a guest in Siquijor’s annual Black Saturday gathering of healers and sorcerers.

68. Go swimming with the gentle giant butandings aka whale sharks in Sorsogon.

69. Know all about T’nalak weaving from National Artist Lang Dulay in South Cotabato.

70. Remember 1521—Magellan’s arrival, first mass—in Southern Leyte’s Limasawa Island.

71. Tour the provincial capitol of Sultan Kudarat, reportedly worth a whopping P500M.

72. Pick a dive spot in Sulu’s Tubbataha Reef Marine Park and blog about the experience.

73. Practice surf tricks at Siargao Island’s massive waves in Surigao del Norte.

74. Take a dip in the extraordinarily deepblue Enchanted River in Surigao del Sur. 75. Ignore the ash and sweat; give in to Tarlac’s Mount Pinatubo hiking challenge.

76. Set out for Tawi-Tawi’s summit, Bud Bongao; make “knot” wishes; and feed the monkeys.

77. Get a crash course on jungle survival from the Aetas in Subic, Zambales.

78. Travel around Zamboanga del Norte’s Dapitan, Jose Rizal’s adoptive hometown.

79. Tackle acrophobia and conquer the terrifying hanging bridges in Zamboanga del Sur. 80. Boldly enter the Sea Snake Sanctuary of hundreds of walo-walos in Zamboanga Sibugay.

81. Hop on the jeepney, haggle in a tiyangge, and eat balut (without being grossed out) in Metro Manila.

@ Jun Pinzon-Dreamstime.com

THE NATURE AND NURTURE

of Agri-Farms

By Excel V. Dyquiangco

THE PHILIPPINES IS BLESSED WITH MANY TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. AMONG THEM ARE FARM RESORTS THAT DO NOT ONLY PROMOTE ORGANIC PRODUCTS BUT GREEN LIVING AS WELL.

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“I would like to see more farms and people in the years to come as this administration is promoting both tourism and agriculture,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said during the 26th anniversary celebration of the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute. He even encouraged entrepreneurs, farmers, hobbyists and overseas Filipino workers to set up organic farms that will function as agri-tourism spots where you can enjoy farm activities and experience life on the farm.

Costales Nature Farm (Majayjay, Laguna) Being the first agro-tourism destination in the Philippines accredited by the Department of Tourism, Costales Nature Farm is a prime destination. The farm uses an ecological and balanced farming technique and practices integrated organic farming.

“Most of our visitors are health conscious people who want to taste organic food to detoxify them of the harmful substances in their bodies,” says Farm Manager Reden Costales.

Aside from the healthy food, Costales Nature Farm also offers a three-day intensive organic farming seminar with lectures and hands-on activities. The farm also has a “Joint-Venture Program” or

“Build-A-Greenhouse” project for OFWs who are into organic farming. Once finished, the farm handles all activities such as, sowing, transplanting, plant care and maintenance, and marketing. When products are sold, income is split between the farm and the OFW. Features of the farm resort include a bahay kubo placed strategically on the highest peak of the resort with a panoramic view of Mount Banahaw. This is the place where picnics are held, and where freshlycaught fishes are roasted. There is also the Kapihan sa Duyan where one can just laze at the hammock with full view of the sun rising or setting. For aching backs and muscles, have a feel of the spa services. A special tea is served after that rejuvenating massage.

Of course the experience wouldn’t be complete without picking vegetables and tasting organically grown salads, freshly served organic poultry and pork, and fish cooked without artificial flavoring. Cap off the night at their villas which are made from recycled antique hard wood.

“The one thing that really counts is our passion for agriculture since my dad came from a farming family in Pangasinan and my mom also sells vegetables in their neighborhood during her childhood,” says Reden.

“

“The one thing that really counts is our passion for agriculture since my dad came from a farming family in Pangasinan and my mom also sells vegetables in their neighborhood during her childhood,” says Reden.

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D. Duran’s Farm and Training Center (Basuit, Bulacan) The farm started when owner Desiree B. Duran saw the need. Neighboring vegetable farmers were too focused on land preparation for their crops and were left with unhealthy seedlings. This gave her inspiration as she attended training and seminars on vegetable seedling production. farm pampering, and bee culture. Even the island hilot can give a thing or two on the art of massage. You can also indulge in the countryside tour that allows you to experience centuries-old churches and museums, cruises and the blood compact.

Of course, a visit to the resort wouldn’t be complete without the dolphin and whale watching tour.

Penalosa Farms (Victorias, Negros Occidental)

@ Tattoo Photo -Dreamstime.com

@ Helgadinson -Dreamstime.com

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Waste management, recycling and reusing garbage are what Penalosa Farms in Bacolod is known for. The farm employs probiotic spraying to cut the number of flies from spreading, and uses natural processes such as quiapo and azolla (similar to water lilies) as consumers of manure. These are then utilized as feed supplements and vermifeed to sustain other animals in the farm like the ducks, chickens and the pigs.

To sustain the cleanliness of the place and the animals, there is a windmill, which powers the water pump to make the whole place spic and span. The wastewater drains into a pond where you’d find the azolla growing.

There is also another attraction that might catch your attention. The majestic house constructed of wood and lime is all environment-friendly. The strong building blocks and the roof made of cogon gives the design of purity and sanitation. Another one to keep you off the grass is a Malayinspired pond house that rests on a body of water (like a pond) with koi and other water plants. There are trellises along the pathway and creeping vegetable vines (some with fruits) that serve as shade. For that medicinal feel, plots of aromatic herbs are placed on the sides which gives it that “secret garden” look.

The facilities available in the farm include the conference hall for seminars and trainings, a restaurant to taste the greenest of plants, guest houses, the pelletizing machine, feed mill, composting and verm facilities, brick making machines, the vegetable production area, tilapia, peking duck, egg laying, range chicken, swine production facilities and the probiotic production.

Meanwhile the services and the activities offered in the farm are the following: “come and see” with regular tours; “come, taste, and see” with an organic lunch with lectures and tours, the “hear and do” which is a four-day training on sustainable agriculture covering agri-preneurship, integrated farming systems, organic and natural farming systems and agrotourism, and consultancy, production and marketing services and linkage.

Tapia Falls, Ifugao @ Vladmax -Dreamstime.com

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THROUGH THE KATUTUBONG FILIPINO PROJECT, FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER JACOB MAENTZ CAPTURES THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE (IP) TRIBES FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE PHILIPPINES. HIS IMAGES TELL OF A LIFE WHERE MAN LIVES HARMONIOUSLY WITH NATURE; WHERE ITS BEAUTY IS HIS HOME AND ITS BOUNTY AN ABUNDANT NATURAL SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE. THIS IS HOW BEAUTIFUL THE PHILIPPINES AND ITS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE THROUGH JACOB’S CAMERA LENS.

Back In The Sierra Madres With Our Agta Friends Things often do not turn out the way you might expect them to. Such was the case during my recent trip back to the Sierra Madres. I returned to a part of Isabela and Cagayan provinces to visit some old Agta friends from last year. Upon returning this time I had a plan to go on a hunt with some of the men, a hunt for wild pig, deer or monkey. These are game items that the Agta still hunt for occasionally in the forest to eat or sell to locals. I was excited about this trip and thought with the contacts I had made everything would fall into place fairly easily.

However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Uncontrollable circumstances such as bad weather, broken transportation, and

previous obligations of my contacts lead to a serious amount of time waiting. Watching the pouring down rain, sitting on the side of a dusty road in the middle of nowhere and waiting for conditions to become just right for a hunt. Conditions that never happened during my two week visit.

Despite the many hours of waiting, we were able to make the most of the circumstances. I’m referring to ‘we’ because I was with a friend, Norman Mabborang, who without his help in the four local dialects he speaks would have made for a much more difficult trip. I am very thankful for Norman’s help and for being so patient with all the down time we had.

A lot of our time was spent visiting families in the different villages and getting a better sense of community life. Being back at the Blos River was also a nice treat as we were able to print pictures from our visit a year ago and share them with our friends.

Seeing the excitement on the people’s faces after viewing their photos was priceless and worth the trip in itself

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The Palawan Tau’t Bato Of Singnapan Valley Singnapan Valley in southern Palawan is a place I have wanted to visit for a long time now. It was a couple of years ago that I came across some images online of the Tau’t Bato tribe and it has intrigued me ever since.

The remoteness of Singnapan valley is

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what first caught my attention and then the interesting stories that the people there live in large caves during the rainy season.

Thus, their name Tau’t Bato or Dwellers of the Rock. This area is also home to Mount Mantalingahan, the highest peak in Palawan and an occasional destination for hardcore mountaineers.

The Tau’t Bato (Tao’t Bato, Taaw’t Bato) are really just a sub-group of the larger Pala’wan indigenous group. They speak the native Pala’wan language and practice many of the same beliefs of the Pala’wan.

The only difference being this particular community, those living in the area of Singnapan valley, take shelter in the large nearby caves during the rainy season.

Because of the heavy rains and flooding within the valley during the wet months, taking shelter within the caves is their best protection. During the dry season, each family has its own land and house within the valley. The name Tau’t Bato was given to these people by President Marcos back in the 70’s because of their cave existence.

Into the Mountains with the Tigwahanon Manobo The Bukidnon plateau is home to seven of the 18 different indigenous groups found in Mindanao. After doing some research I decided it would be a great place to visit for starting the Katutubong Filipino Project.

Although our travel to Bukidnon was fairly short, we learned a lot about the Lumad people. Lumad is the Visayan word collectively used for all indigenous people in Mindanao. We spent most of the week with a Manobo community high in the mountains of San Fernando municipality.

The Manobo people are just one of the 18 Lumad groups found in Mindanao, however, they have a number of subgroups with slight language differences and practices.

The different Manobo tribes are semi-autonomous from the Philippine government and have their own laws, practices and judgments given by tribal chieftains or Datus.

To get to this particular community we had to travel 45 kilometers on a motorcycle from the main highway and then hike about 5 kilometers straight up into the mountains. I was looking for a community that was a bit more traditional, more isolated from the lowland, and although I saw some of that in this village there is still a good amount of influence from the lowlanders.

Culturally, the Manobos are very distinct from the Visayan lowlanders and practice their own ways of life. Many of them cannot understand the Visayan language. Actually, this trip was perfect for the short amount of time that I had and has opened a lot of avenues for future visits. Not only that, but I am starting to get a better understanding of the struggles and issues facing many of the indigenous peoples in the country.

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Soccsksargen and the B’laan Indigenous People My travels took me to Surigao del Sur where I was working on a mangrove and coastal environmental project.

The second half of my trip took me to the southern part of Mindanao, mostly in the Soccsksargen region. This name is an acronym that stands for the region’s four provinces and one of its cities: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

It was my first time to travel to this part of the Philippines and I don’t know why I waited so long to visit. This is a beautiful area and despite the bad press that is always in the news, I never once felt unsafe or in danger. I think in time this area is going to become a major destination for tourists and visitors.

The beautiful scenery, abundant natural resources and rich culture of the different indigenous tribes and religions makes this part of Mindanao a true treasure. I’m looking forward to returning in the not too distant future.

I visited a small barangay called Landan, which is about an hour and a half into the mountains from General Santos City.

This area is made up of a lot of B’laan indigenous peoples and is in the heart of

Dole’s pineapple plantations.

None of the native IP tribes in Mindanao wear their traditional dress day-to-day anymore, which I did not know prior to this trip. Most of Mindanao’s IP’s only wear their traditional dress during special occasions such as a wedding or fiestas.

Because of time, I decided not to go to Lake Sebu and instead went to Landan in hopes to photograph some of the B’laan people. I couldn’t have asked for more from this place. It is a simple small town with beautiful surroundings and, of course, many B’laan. Many of the B’laan portraits I took were without their traditional dress, but rather the normal clothes they wear day-to-day. However, I was able to find some elder women who with honor dressed up for me to take take their picture.

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Pinoy Planet

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Pinoy Planet

My Pinoy Life in

Houston Texas I

By Socorro Pasco

I have been living here in Houston since 1983. We moved here from Silay City, Negros to join my mother who was working as a nurse here.

I love Houston; it’s a beautiful city, the fourth largest city in the US and covers an area of over 50 miles.

There are over 4 million people living here. It is also known for having the largest medical center in the world, thus, the majority of Filipinos who came here in the ‘70s and ‘80s were either nurses or doctors.

Houston is also known to be an oil and gas capital, for health care, and arts. It has the ballet, opera, the largest arts and cultural

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Pinoy Planet

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district outside of New York City and is a thriving center for ballet and opera. It also has the largest concentration of engineers and researchers in the medical fields. Of course, Houston is also known for great barbecue.

And most of all, we have the largest concentration of astronauts because of NASA. Remember the famous line in Apollo 13?

“Houston, we have a problem”.

I make my living as a therapist but I’m also a poet. My poetry book, “In the Silence of Dreaming and Selected Poems” is currently on Amazon.

I practice yoga and meditation everyday.

Adapting and assimilating: Houstonian and Visayan The Filipino community in Houston is one of the largest next to Los Angeles. There are a lot of Filipino associations divided by islands. I belong to the Visayan Association of Houston.

Then, we have other islands and their associations.

It’s difficult to determine what cultural practices I have acquired here since I’m both Houstonian and Visayan. The two cultures are so deeply integrated and inter-wowen. I do enjoy the cuisine here which rivals that of any where else in the world. Houston reminds me a lot of Silay because of the friendliness of the people as well as the diversity of the cultures present here.

It is a multicultural melting pot. So when I am asked what practices I have acquired, it is difficult to answer because I belong to both. It is hard to separate due to the seamless identity of American vs. Filipino.

For example, I feel that living here one can acquire a multicultural identity and perspective. We go to the rodeo and watch Bruno Mars and then go to the Asia Society to hear sufi music and then go to the local Filipino restaurant and sing karaoke.

I guess I’m like a lot of other Filipinos in that sense. Even though we are all over the world, in our various countries, the beauty of the Philippines and our culture are always within us.

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It’s what I do example to other Filipinos living here.

“We should support those Filipinos who excel on their own chosen fields and be proud of them instead of trying to pull them down,” she says.

Cleo Eleazar

PR Media Officer-RAK Free Trade Zone Authority Rubbing elbows with the rich and the famous is not the only thing Cleo Eleazar does as the Public Relations & Media officer for RAK Free Trade Zone Authority.

While meeting celebrities like Robbie Williams and Luciano Pavarotti easily put the glam in her work, her main responsibility really covers internal and external communications to promote the free zone services and facilities. The workload also extends to the company’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities and bi-monthly publication Free Spirit Magazine.

Given the variety of jobs to finish every day, Cleo’s typical working day also varies from being a relaxed employee, reviewing documents and attending meetings, to transforming into a maniac, running around the office and trying to do everything.

But the transformation is worth it. Her dedication to her responsibilities, earned her the trust of the company’s management. Cleo says her department winning an award in 2011 at the Stevie Awards is affirmation of what he does. The daily positive feedback and praise from the clients also uplifts her.

Despite the compliments, Cleo is full of humility. She says, “Never forget where we came from and remember the people that helped us to be where we are.” She also tells fellow kababayans to always strive to bring honor to our country and be a good

Renen Jose Navalta Web Designer-Calcium Advertising

Web designer Renen Jose Navalta’s skills are not only in converting visual designs into functional and interactive webpages for Calcium Advertising.

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Emily Carrera

Senior Brand Manager-Watches & Jewelry Emily Carrera moved to Abu Dhabi from Dubai a few months ago. She is currently the senior brand manager for a local retailer, handling luxury watches and jewelry.

Her scope of work ranges from the selection of merchandise to profitability to motivating the sales team to setting the marketing strategy. But Emily says what she enjoys most about her work is interacting with the retail team, marketeers and clients. “It gives me a broader perspective and more knowledge about everything in general.”

Travel is an integral part of her job; she travels to Switzerland at least once a year for the selection of novelties to be launched. She also goes to other countries for training exhibitions.

Emily follows the wise words about work-life balance shared by Italian designer and jeweler Roberto Coin: “No matter how busy you are, you should always come on time for meetings and have time to do relevant things in life. Being busy is not an excuse.”

She also says that as a Filipino in a foreign land, one must learn how to say what you really think and ask for what you want.

Emily says it is even a must for Filipinas, since “There is no room for mistakes and you should always give more than what is expected of you. Be assertive, self-confident and prove that a Filipino can have great talent and management skills, too.”

Working in the field for more than 13 years now, he has nurtured skills that include the ability to create flash-based audio-visual presentations that can be integrated into websites or as standalone applications. Renan Jose is also a capable 3D visualizer, interpreting ideas and creating 3D models so clients can have an idea how their exhibitions will look in the real world.

But his work isn’t only limited on the web. After the company’s creative director found out about his photography skills, he has been assigned to do photo shoots for advertisements, cover events and do site project documentation.

And he’s not stopping there. Part of his daily routine is to check new trends to be updated on new technologies.

Given his perseverance, he tells fellow Filipinos to focus on what they are doing and work hard to meet goals and objectives. He also reminds them to, “Be the best that you can be without compromising your integrity.”

doing business

Being Ahead in the Game of Life

By Ishwar Chugani

It is the season of new beginnings for many graduates. Allow me to share excerpts of my speech to the graduates of University of La Salle, Bacolod City where I was honored with the St. La Salle Award during the university’s commencement exercises.

To the Graduating Class of 2012-2013, this is a great moment for you and possibly, for your country. Today you are graduating from University of St. La Salle, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the country. Not only have you demonstrated through your hard work and perseverance, the mastery of your chosen field of study but you have also shown the drive to excel for which you have now earned a well-deserved graduate degree.

Looking back, I remember coming up on stage during my high school graduation in March 1975 wondering what I would do in college. What would be in store for me?

Again, when I graduated with a Business Management in De La Salle University in 1979, I asked myself, “What’s next?”

During my final year at De La Salle University, Manila, I had a part time job supervising an amusement center in Makati. Through work, I met some people from Dubai who wanted to set up a similar amusement center in the first shopping mall being built in Dubai and requested me to join them.

Not knowing how to set up a business or where Dubai was, I set forth. All I had was my La Sallian Education, a sense of adventure and advice from my parents on

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the importance of always being humble, sincere, and honest.

From the day I joined the company in September 1979, it was clear that I am working with them and not for them. I took a sense of ownership in whatever I was doing.

Today, thirty five years later, I am the Managing Director of Giordano Middle East (FZE) heading the group’s business in the Middle East, India, Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

You have spent the last four years preparing for the next set of challenges that you will face. Your La Sallian education provides you with the initial foundation to face the real world. It is now time to play the game of life.

There is no need to separate our personal aspirations in life from our career ambitions. Our personal lives become enriched as a result of accomplishments in our career.

Career in this context means a lot more than status and money. It is about pushing yourself to the limit so that you are able to achieve and harness your full potential.

Real motivation has to come from within. Sometimes, we set mediocre goals for ourselves, so that they would be comfortable to achieve. Success and selfactualization do not result from miracles; they are the result of taking risks and aiming to achieve what is best possible.

Each and every one of you has to set challenging goals and targets. When we set

our goals high, we succeed even if we fail.

With mediocre goals and targets, we fail even if we succeed.

Today finding the right job and career path is like finding a needle in a haystack.

We need to have patience and perseverance.

Do not only look for quick monetary gains in your life. Find out what will challenge you and give you satisfaction and then move in that direction.

Always remember to use your three H’s in whatever you do. Your HEART, so you make sure you love what you are doing, your HANDS which requires you to work hard, and your HEAD where you find the common sense and ability to judge what’s best. With all three H’s used together and in the right way, nothing can stop you from moving forward in life.

The world of today is dynamic and constantly changing and tomorrow’s world will have a totally new dimension.

In today’s era of digital and social media, information and knowledge is power. You need to ensure that you keep up with the pace of change so that you will not be left behind.

People ask me what my definition of success is. Success is a relative and subjective term. Each of us may have a different interpretation of success. In business, we may be doing well, but you may not be doing as well as your competitors. I do not think success is ever guaranteed. Every day is a new day and we have to keep reinventing ourselves to stay in the game.

bayanihan corner

Strong, resilient and exceptional, just like the Filipino

The Abaca

The Philippines is a blessed nation and a land of promise for a noble race called Maharlika. Our tropical and volcanic soil at the germinating temperature of 14 degrees centigrade gives fruit trees and other plants the capacity to produce year–round.

Our paradise, the Pearl of the Orient Seas, thanks to its rich soil, has produced the strongest natural fiber in the world the abaca fiber, also known worldwide as Manila Hemp. It is obtained from the leaf sheath of the abaca Musa Textilis Nee. Indigenous to the Philippines, the abaca plant looks similar to the banana in appearance except that the leaves are upright, pointed, narrower and more tapered than the leaves of the former. It is found in all the regions, especially in Bicol, the Visayas and then Mindanao.

Catanduanes is the top province -producer.

Our country supplies 85-90% of the world‘s need for this strongest natural fiber. Abaca is found in the hats of royalty, like Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton, and etc.

Sixty percent of the Japanese yen and the Philippine peso bills have 20% abaca pulp.

Currently, abaca is also used as a reinforcing material of Mercedes Benz cars. It is part of Philippine made furniture, like the ones that I display at the Maharlika House, the official residence of the Ambassador in Abu Dhabi. Another place where Filipinos can find Philippine-made furniture utilizing abaca is at Interior 360 – a newly-opened design shop showcasing Philippine and Emirati arts and crafts in Dubai.

Abaca which is part of the banana family, called “banaca” is fashioned into beautiful wraps by designer Dita Sandico-Ong, and says that it can also be made into dresses.

Asia Textile Mills (Asiatex) one of the last three remaining textile makers in the Philippines, started manufacturing denims made of majority abaca materials late 2012. The clothing material is made up of 45 percent abaca yarn, 40 percent silk-like abaca fabric that uses abaca and 55 percent polyester. The textile is exported to Japan since the development was a partnership with two textile experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

This strong fiber which was traditionally used as cordage and rope (mooring lines) for ships, can also be marketed in the

United Arab Emirates to be used in its shipping industry and in oil rigs to replace plastic ropes that are not environmentally friendly.

Abaca, according to Former Secretary of Agriculture Arturo Yap, as described in his introduction in the book the Story of Abaca, represents the best qualities of a Filipino. He says that this word-class fiber is strong (malakas), resilient (matibay), and exceptional (kakaiba) or MMK. Let us support the abaca industry by helping plant the top dollar earning fiber in our communities and by patronizing products using the fiber. Abaca cottage industry is now a rebel-returnee project in Mindanao. Production of the wrap, denims, hats, furniture can also generate livelihood in our barrios back home. Every Filipino should have a piece of abaca in their wardrobe or home to remind ourselves of who we are.

Mabuhay ang abaca. Mabuhay ang Filipino at ang Pilipina

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Scrapbook

MANNY F. FAJUTAG Like many others, Manny Fajutag’s educational background and work experience is unrelated to photography. He graduated from the Philippine State College of Aeronautics in Fernando Air Base with a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.

In 1998, he joined the Philippine Air Force and worked as flight crew/mechanic at the 20th Attack Squadron at Sangley Point Cavite.

His interest in photography began three years ago with a simple point and shoot camera. When he moved to Abu Dhabi and saved enough money to buy a proper camera, he began to read photography books.

Attending several photography workshops like on creative photography, wedding photography and lighting helped him hone his skills.

“Photography has always fascinated me. I am grateful that I have been able to develop this hobby and passion. I am extremely grateful to Sony for hosting a competition that allowed me to showcase my talent on a truly global level,” says Manny.

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Scrapbook

ROLDAN NARAG Roldan Narag is an independent artist born in Tuguegarao City, Philippines.

He began his photographic journey as a hobby in 2012.

He has done freelance photography and cinematography in Dubai and has worked with a range of amazing people and companies, both locally and internationally

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entertainment

MINSAN:

The Eraserheads Reunion Concert in Dubai

By Kristine Abante Photos by: Donald Rosales

I was 13, in my first year at a co-ed highs school when I first saw the Eraserheads play at the UP sunken garden. It was my first ever live concert.

I went with one of my best friends in high school and her cool older sister. There were plastic balloons flying around which I later learned were called “condoms”. We know pretty much all of the songs from Circus, Ultraelectromagnetic pop and Cutterpillow, but even if you didn’t have the CDs, there was no way you could escape them on the radio. Honestly, who could resist Ely Buendia and his witty common-guy lines about sem-break and heartache?

The pull of the Eheads wasn’t just their music. There was a reason why they were always being compared to the Beatles. They were our generation and our country’s Beatlemania. Theirs was an influence that was culturally far-reaching--everyone, young and old, even the resident “tambays” at the sari-sari store knew the lyrics of “Pare Ko” by heart.

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E-Heads in DBX: A piece of home As a music fan who spent most of her adult life working for the “pop machine”, the news of the Eraserheads Reunion in Dubai was too good to be true. When it was confirmed that they would be playing at the annual du Music Festival, all of us kabayans were psyched. We just had to see them—at all cost, quite literally.

When your monthly budget is limited, divided into remittances, loans, and other responsibilities, you think twice about spending precious hard-earned money on a concert, but the Eraserheads Reunion, was not just a want, it was a need. We needed to be there. We needed to see Ely, Raimund, Buddy and Markus play our favorite songs.

We needed to belong to that special place again. We needed a piece of home as we remembered it.

The Eheads reunion couldn’t have come at a better time. It was on the same week we launched our first Tagalog / OPM FM station in the Middle East, Tag 91.1 and all the streets had banners of either the Eheads or Tag 91.1

It felt like the whole of Dubai was looking to our community with respect, and we were finally getting the recognition we deserved.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the press conference and while waiting for the band, I met another Filipina, Maggie Lafuente. She skipped work for the chance to meet the Eheads.

“I was working in London at the time of their first reunion concert in 2008, I badly wanted to go,” Maggie shared. “I was ready to book a ticket. My sister had to stop me and told me it wasn’t practical.

Then I heard about Ely’s heart attack and I cried. They mean that much to me. I never thought I’d see them live again. You see those girls in old footages screaming, crying over the Beatles? They look crazy but I’d be just like them for the Eraserheads.”

Of course, ninety percent of the media representatives in room were Filipino. I came with former Pulp photographer and good friend Brutal Grace and for a second, I felt like I was home.

There was a bit of awkwardness at first, but Markus, the most laid back member of the

entertainment group, put everyone at ease with his clever one-liners. I asked them the most standard thing I could think of: What was their impression of Dubai, of the place, of the people.

Buddy was quick to answer, “We are impressed by the camaraderie of the Filipino community and the incredible presence and support. We also experienced a bit of the diverse culture in Dubai, like last night we tried Ethiopian food, which was really good.”

When asked if they learned any Arabic words, Markus replied, “Kebab, Kebab Dylan, Kebab Marley.” That broke the ice and the questions just came pouring in until finally somebody was brave enough to ask the obvious: Why a reunion? And why in Dubai?

“How many Filipinos are now in Dubai?

600,000? So we have 600,000 reasons to play here.”

Ely piped in with a cheeky retort, “Peer pressure.”

“It was simply natural progression,” Ely explained further. “We were all doing our own thing for awhile now and then

there was this clamor to get back together again and play, especially for those who are based outside the Philippines and have not seen us play live yet. We are music fans ourselves, and we know what its like to love a band and grow up with their songs. We are just grateful that our songs still resonate with our fans.”

About the songs they picked for the concert, Raimund shared, “We picked the ones that we enjoy playing. We didn’t really think much about what people will like, or what other nationalities would like to see us play. Pinili namin yung masarap tugtugin.”

The unwavering magic of nostalgia I would say this decision paid off big time.

There is simply nothing better than seeing your favorite band enjoying themselves on stage while singing your favorite songs. I was there during the first reunion in 2008, I didn’t feel as connected to them as I was at the Dubai show. Perhaps it was my homesickness kicking in, but I would say the Eraserheads Reunion concert in Dubai, was in the purest sense, about connection,

about all of us, including the band, sharing the familiar songs and the memories.

The band kicked off the concert with Walang Nagbago then went on to perform 27 of their best hits like Maling Akala, Ligaya, Huwag Mo Ng Itanong , Kailan, Overdrive, and With a Smile.

They also sang Super Proxy which they dedicated to the late Francis M, who was with them at their last concert in Dubai back in 1999. With over 10,000 fans in attendance, the Eraserheads Reunion at the du World Music Festival last 4th April was one of the biggest, and possibly the loudest, Dubai has seen this year.

For me and many of our other kabayans, the EHeads concert was just magic.

Everyone out in the open field of Dubai Media City was singing along to “With a Smile”; we all knew the lyrics to the entire song by heart. It was hard not to get sentimental because the song was about us, about my friends, old and new. It was also about every single struggling overseas Filipino I’ve met in Dubai, including myself.

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