JUAN Philippines Magazine-Your Ultimate Travel Guide

YOUR ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE

PHILIPPINES

Vol. 6 No. 1

Relaxation Defined CRIMSON RESORT & SPA Walk This Way INTRAMUROS Taking the Trail

MOUNT PINATUbO

JUAN is your Ultim

We have transformed the maga

Distributed around the different

JUAN Philippines will rev Philippines, we are the ultimate at www.juanphilippines.com! Wi

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azine to be the number one free travel lifestyle magazine in the Philippines today.

t airports in Manila, Cebu and Clark, in the different call centers in Metro Manila, several hotels, resorts and even in coffee shops around the city.

volutionize the way Filipinos travel. With tips on where to go and what to do in the tour guide on print AND online. Can’t find a copy of the magazine? Download us th our 50,000 free distribution and an average of 300,000 monthly visitors online

ed the magazine last September!), how can you go wrong in advertising with us?

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Contents

February-March 2011

24 Comfort Zone

Crimson Resort & Spa

14

Equipped

JUAN'S Feature

10

JUAN'S Destination

16

Mount Pinatubo

20

JUAN Roadtrip Essentials

Intramuros

4

Philippines 路 February-March 2011

Travel Tips

In the Philippines, it is always advised to bring clothes for hot weather. Bring light clothes. It’s alal ways safe to have those handy white shirts around.

Like in any foreign country, be careful of pickpockpickpock ets. Always bring that handy insect-repellant. When shopping, always haggle. Mingle with the locals.

They always give the best tips. Be adventurous!

Pack light. Bring only essentials like sunscreen, medicine, at least two swimsuits, extra plastic bags, a pair of slippers, one formal clothing (just in case), toiletries, camera and extra money. Plan your outfits

prior to leaving to avoid packing too much or too little. Write down all you intend to do to be more organized.

Keep your cash hidden in different places just in case you lose something. Make sure you leave some room in your luggage for souvenirs or other purchases.

Research about the place before traveling. It's best to be informed about weather conditions, local customs, hangouts, etc.

USEFUL DIALECTS ENGLISH Good Day Good Morning Good Afternoon Good Evening How are you?

Thank you Yes No How much?

Goodbye Please Im sorry What is your name?

Take Care When Who What expensive

TAGALOG Magandang Araw Magandang Umaga Magandang Hapon Magandang Gabi Kamusta ka?

Salamat Oo Hindi Magkano?

Paalam Pakiusap Patawad Anong Pangalan mo?

Ingat Kelan?

Sino?

Ano? Mahal

BICOL Dios na Marhay na aldaw Dios Marhay na aga Dios Marhay na hapon Dios Marhay na banggi Kamusta po kamo?

Dios mabalos Opo/Oho Dae/Wara po Gurano?

Paaram Tabi Patawarun mo ako Anong pangaran mo?

Mag-ingat Noarin Siisay ano? napakamahal iyan

ILOCANO Naimbag nga aldawmo Naimbag a bigat Naimbag a malem Naimbag a rabii Kumustak?

Agyamanak Wen Saan Manu?

Agpakadaakon Pangngaasi Pakawan Ania ti naganmo?

Ag aluad ka Kaano Asino Ania Nagnginan

February-March 2011 ·

Philippines

5

Publisher Teddy V. Cruz III teddycruz3@gmail.com Editorial Consultant Cori Gillego Creative Director Mike Mesina muiggz_17@yahoo.com Account Manager Joyce De Leon Marketing Specialist Francesca Therese R. Carreon Contributors Writers Dinjo Constantino, Eileen Campos, Teddy V. Cruz III Photographers Eileen Campos, Mike Mesina, Teddy V. Cruz III

JUAN PHILIPPINES is published bi-monthly by

IDEA BUBBLE MEDIA, INC. All rights reserved.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine belong to the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher.

The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject editorial material. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and artworks will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of Juan Philippines is fully accurate; however, the publisher and the printer assume no responsibility for the effects arising therefrom.

Address all correspondence to: Penthouse I, South Center Tower, 2206 Market St., Madrigal Business Park, Muntinlupa City, Philippines Tel. (632) 771-IDEA; 215-7051 Fax (632) 836-9052

Publisher’s Note The Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price. - Vince Lombardi Welcome to our 6th Volume! We’re ecstatic as we put out another issue of JUAN Philippines Magazine and bring you all the beautiful things that the Philippines have to offer. It took a lot of hard work to get to where we are. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our advertisers-- for supporting us since day "JUAN". We have come a long way from where it all began. An intention to have the Philippines get the attention and recognition it truly deserves. We really appreciate your comments and emails of support.

In this issue, explore Mount Pinatubo –an adventure you won’t forget.

Also in this issue, we take you to Intramuros--a place of history. Hear the walls tell its story.

Experience Crimson Resort and Spa and see how they define relaxation.

Juan Philippines Vol. 6 No. 1

We are now on !

Join our fan page by searching JUAN Philippines Magazine now!

Then find out where we are and what we’re up to on twitter.com/juanphilippines Visit our website www.juanphilippines.com.

We would like to thank Crimson Resort and Spa’s Mr. Sigfred Catalan for accommodating us.

Our website www.juanphilippines.com is still averaging over 300,000 hits per month! For this, we thank you.

JUAN Philippines Magazine is charting another adventure.

Discover and explore the picturesque landscape, azure beaches, captivating sunsets, warm welcoming smiles and the 7,107 islands. Experience them all here.

Just Us And No other Philippines.

Explore, Experience & Enjoy the Philippines now!

Let JUAN be Your Ultimate Travel Guide!

Teddy Cruz, III PUBLISHER

8

Philippines · February-March 2011

JUAN's Feature

Taking the Trail:

Mount Pinatubo Text and Photos by Eileen Campos

10

Philippines 路 February-March 2011

Mount Pinatubo

February-March 2011 路

Philippines 11

JUAN's Feature Waking up at three o’clock in the morning on a Monday was a mix of dread, excitement and anxiety. Today’s destination is Mt. Pinatubo and though as exciting as it sounds, prior to that day, I have never been hiking or trekking beyond a leisurely walk through the woods for half an hour or so.

Mt. Pinatubo is shared by three provinces: Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga. But the adventure trail that is quite known to the tourists is found in Santa Juliana, Capas, Tarlac.

The premise of the day’s itinerary sounded light enough for me.

After highways, expressways and tollgates, we get to the starting point at the foot of the mountain and right before the Philippine Air Force grounds. We were to take a 4x4 for an hour of intense rough roads past grasslands, flatlands, streams, uphills, through ridges and even a tiny Aeta village. From one of the two drop off points, you hike towards the crater. Stay there for a while and then trek and off road back again. The only choices to be made was weather you wanted to take the older trek trail for three hours of trekking or the newer “Skyway” trail that only took an hour by foot to get to the crater.

Engines roared and our 4x4 adventure initiated our Mt. Pinatubo day trip. You grab unto what you can but keep your eyes on the landscape. Sprawling lands that seem to lead to nowhere but somehow it led us to our drop off point. We climb out and start to head off with our trail guide. Backpack on, water bottle secured and a good swig of fresh mountain air and we were off.

You can’t help but feel very insignificant walking through this tiny canyon with cliffs on either side, giant boulders and river rocks

12

Philippines · February-March 2011

and a stream of water alongside another stream of sulfur. The trail seems never ending but that hardly mattered since the weather was immaculate, perfect amount of peeking fresh sunlight, bursts of cool mountain air that is crisp, cool and refreshing.

Then the trail takes a turn and you are then surrounded by foliage.

The incline starts to get steeper and the rocks get bigger and looser. The trees block out the sun and keep your trail narrow enough for the width of two or three people.

Before you know it, almost immediately, the vision of a crater reveals itself to you. I was stunned.

The edges of the crater reach for the heavens and the calm, still water sparkles from afar with a bright blue-green tint to it. You almost forget that this is an actual volcano crater. It is hard to believe that this was once ground zero for one of most destructive volcanic eruptions of the 20th century.

I rush down the laid out stone staircase that leads to the edge of the lake. Finally, I did get there and as you stand by the edge of the water, you feel a stillness. I spent the next hour just sitting there, basking in the sun, the wind, and just taking in the sight.

It really is filling on its own.

The trek back was swifter, easier and lighter. I’m not one to be joining the next trek up to Mt. Pulag or Mt. Apo, however, I just cannot get over the fact that my first trek towards one of the world’s most destructive volcanoes of the modern world brought me to one of the most breathtaking, enchanting and captivating sights I have ever seen in this country.

Beauty and power, all in one volcano crater lake.

Mount Pinatubo

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Philippines 13

1

p pana Sonic lumiX GF2 3D Camera goodness Imagine taking crisp photos that literally jumps out of the screen. Full HD Videos for those precious moments, crisp pictures for that picturesque landscape and YES all in 3D. Photography has gone a degree higher. Interchangeable Lens that tranforms this camera into a 3D video machine. www.panasonic.com

2

Sony EricSSon XpEria play Android is ready to play Versatility of this mobile phone has stretch my imagination . A Phone that has all the standards of a smartphone plus tons more of features. You know what they say "All work and No Play makes Jack a dull boy." With this mobile phone you get the best of both worlds, you can work while you play. www.sonyericsson.com

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Philippines 路 February-March 2011

3

BlackBErry playBook Stretch your imagination No more excuses this tablet means business . Never be out of touch again, Multimedia device that takes it to another level. Full HD resolution, full computing resolution, not just for display can be use for all applications. www.blackberry.com

4

nintEndo 3dS You got game Experience incredible gameplay featuring real 3D graphics, with no need for special glasses. Open up a whole new mobile gaming experience. Coming out this March 2011. www.nintendo.com

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JUAN's Destination

INTRAMUROS Text and Photos by Eileen Campos

I

have attended the famed Carlos Celdran’s Intramuros walking tour twice in a span of six months. Previously, when my foreigner friends ask what is there to see in the Philippines, my top three answers have always been: Boracay, Palawan and CamSur. But it was in the advent of Carlos Celdran that I now have a soft spot for the main city of Manila, most particularly the historical district of Intramuros.

It’s a recommendation that transcends into a requirement. For me, there is only way too see Old Manila, and that is through Carlos Celdran’s performance of a tour.

The tour starts in front of Fort Santiago. And as the crowds of eager tourists and locals wander aimlessly around the grounds looking for the unmistakable tour guide, Carlos Celdran walks garbed in a Spanish colonial outfit, a top hat and a swagger that almost challenges your thirst for Philippine History.

The tour is constantly moving, but at a leisurely pace dictated by nostalgic colonial music. From Fort Santiago, you work your way around the city

16

and conclude the tour in Plaza San Luis. There are several stops and photo opportunities; a light snack is even included. The tour itself is captivating. You wait for what Celdran will pull out of his everchanging-throughout-the-tour hat.

The costumes, the music, the props create the external effects of his performance but it is the script and the way he delivers the tour that will keep you hanging for each breath that he takes. You will discover Manila through the different stages of its life, pre-colonial, colonial, American and Japanese occupation and followed by what is to be Intramuros up to the present day.

Art, history, culture, politics and people all intertwine to create the walls that we now wish could talk.

The three hour long tour is entertaining at the very least, but definitely educational and eyeopening at its most basic core. And if you are like me, this could be the only opportunity in your life to ride a kalesa. And it was almost embarrassing to say that in my years of existence on this planet, the only

Philippines · February-March 2011

two times I have ridden a kalesa were both on his tours.

There is that saying about the grass being greener elsewhere and that stands true even with traveling.

With Manila and Intramuros being so proximate to everything else: universities, colleges, Bureau of Immigration, and large, romantic Catholic churches, the district of Intramuros has always been snubbed as a local destination and is only constantly swarmed by foreigners.

An American friend of mine who took the tour was impressed by the amount of Filipinos attending Celdran’s tour. There seems to be an awakening of senses in terms of the Filipinos’ immediate surroundings.

Suddenly, Intramuros is a place that needs to be discovered, needs to be studied and appreciated.

I will never stop singing praises about Carlos Celdran and his Intramuros Walking Tour aptly named “If These Walls Could Talk.”

There really is no other way to see Intramuros and in turn, you will never look at Intramuros the same way ever again.

Intramuros

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Philippines 17

JUAN fOR ThE ROAd

CheCklist: 1. Be sure to have your vehicle check before the trip.

2. Check Tire condition of vehicle.

3. Check spare tire 4. Windshield wipers

ROADTRIP TIPs Long travels can somehow be exhausting and dull; it can sometimes make you feel impatient that you end up snoring at the back seat in the middle of an exciting trip (boo you!).But not if you have travel buddies that make you feel comfy and relaxed. Consider these buddies that can make you feel the road seem a lil’ bit shorter: • Embrace comfort. Bring assorted sizes of pillows. There is nothing more comfy than having a fluffy pillow to hug whenever you feel like you want to doze off during the trip.

• Let your feet breathe. Don’t be too harsh on your feet. Please bring yourself a good pair of slippers.

During travel breaks, it’s nice to give your precious toes a room to breathe so it would feel more relaxed for the next few kilometers drive.

• Music mate. Make sure to bring your mp3 player or ipod with you (with your favorite playlist) because it keeps you away from the monopoly of a potential long journey. And also, a trip is better off with a little stomping of the feet while singing along with your travel pals.

• Comfort Food. Pack light and easyto-carry snacks like peanut butter sandwiches, granola bars and lots of chips to munch on.

• Portable Games. To keep yourself active, do not forget to bring your Nintendo DS, PSP or Ipod Touch (or even your laptop) to supplement your gaming/surfing satisfaction during the trip. It’s always helpful to have a gadget that make the miles fly. Of course, not while driving, okay?

5. First aid Kit 6. Draw up an itinerary for the trip.

7. Tool kit 8. Bottled water 9. Snacks 10. Road Map of Destination or GPS 11. Celphone Car Charger 12. Your trusty Ipod or MP3 13. Digital Camera 14. Don’t forget your luggage.

February-March 2011 ·

Philippines 19

JUAN

RoAdtRip EssENtiAls

kVH tracVision a7 Your next roadtrip will never be the same.

Leave the DVDs and videotapes at home and instead enjoy up to 185 channels ++ (depends on your satellite service provider) on the open road The sleek and stylish TracVision A7 travels wherever your vehicle goes and looks great along the way. (LCD TV not included with package) www.kvh.com

Wagan 400 Watt power dome mini Generator Never Leave Home Without A/C Power.

Charge-up the internal battery and take it on the road to power virtually any device from the two built-in AC wall sockets. You also get a built-in 275 psi air compressor, and a handy utility light. www.wagan.com

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Philippines 路 February-March 2011

JUAN ROAdTRIP ESSENTIAlS

Sony nex-5 Digital Camera Extraordinaire.

Light weight, compact with tons of features.

Full HD Videos to document those precious moments, crisp pictures for that picturesque landscape. Compact like the point and shoot digicams but capable of dynamic pictures like photos taken from DSLRs. www.sony.com

Wagan 18 liter thermo Sport-Fridge/radio Bring the party with you.

The nylon-exterior fridge/warmer, with its zipper top and shoulder strap, makes it more comfortable for travel. This unit holds up to 30 soda cans and also features a radio with input jack for your MP3 player. www.wagan.com

Garmin nüvi® 3790lmt Know the road like the back of your hand.

Even if you take the road less traveled have no fear of getting lost. No more guessing which lane you need to be in to make an upcoming turn. Enjoy the rest of the way. www.garmin.com

February-March 2011 ·

Philippines 21

Island Pride

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Comfort Zone

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Crimson Resort & Spa

Crimson Resort and Spa

Relaxation Defined

The definition of Crimson according to the Dictionary: deep red. Some words have different meaning to different people.

Find out what Crimson means for us.

Text by Teddy V. Cruz III Photos by Mike Mesina

February-March 2011 路

Philippines 25

Comfort Zone

C

rimson Resort and Spa, is the latest addition to Cebu’s collection of top notch luxury resort destinations, all six hectares of it. It’s located at the Seascapes Resort Town, Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City. With no more than being half an hour away from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, it definitely is convenient for the weekender traveler and those wanting a quick but extensively relaxing vacation.

The resort has 290 beautiful rooms, all designed with the guest’s experience in mind. Of these rooms, there are 116 Deluxe Rooms, 134 Garden Suites, 15 Ocean Front Private Pool Villas, 20 Private Pool Villas and 3 Beach Front Casitas.

26

Upon arriving at Crimson, you’ll be greeted with a warm smile and a heartfelt welcome. They have this gesture of putting their right hand on their left chest greeting you as you enter the resort (This, I would like to call “The Crimson Gesture”). As you enter, you’ll be greeted by a view that will make you pause and sigh.

It’s a tranquil way to start the day.

Definitely, relaxation awaits.

The Crimson Resort is a food lover’s paradise. They have diverse food outlets that offer a wide array of sumptuous culinary delights. Eat to your heart’s content at the Saffron Café, their main dining buffet area.

Imagine an all-day buffet, a sample of Cebu’s freshest produce and seafood, not to mention a hearty spread of Lechon Cebu (YUM) to test your

Philippines · February-March 2011

caloric limit. They also have the Tempo Music Lounge which is the perfect hangout if you want to belt out your favorite songs. All the while you can pair the microphone with a serving of canapés, tapas, wine, tea and ice cold beer. This is a great way to wind down the day with friends and family. The Azure Pool Bar is a chill-out bar with a live band & a DJ featured during Fridays and Saturdays. The Score Sports Bar will satisfy your needs to relaxingly engage in a game or two with their billiard table and wide selection of board games available. If you wish to watch the game, you can do so with a cocktail in hand while watching the action on their massive LCD TV. The experience wouldn’t be complete without you trying the Aum Spa. It is a 2,000 square meter health and wellness enclave. You are on the receiving end of a very relaxing experience with the Aum Spa staff, which is trained by expert massage trainers to provide holistic wellness services. The Aum Spa can also offer you to have your massage in the cabanas or your room.

The resort’s facilities cater to guests of all ages and needs. There is Crimzone, the kids club where you kids can spend hours and hours of fun with other guests their age. They also have a Fitness Center, a prime spot for health buffs like me (ehem).

Crimson Resort & Spa

Other amenities of this already luxurious resort extend to their indoor badminton court and a long infinity pool that can be enjoyed by both adults and kids. And if that is still not enough and you really have a need to satisfy your thirst of activities, Crimson Resort delivers with an array of water sports such as: hobie cat sailing, snorkeling, banana boat riding, parasailing, water-skiing, kayaking, wakeboarding and jet skiing.

If family getaways aren’t enough for you to fill up on Crimson, then use the resort as an alternative venue for conventions, wedding receptions and corporate and social events, birthdays, anniversaries and whatever occasion you can think of. The Coral Ballroom will comfortably fit 250 people and it can get be converted into smaller, more intimate spaces for your more personal events.

Crimson Resort and Spa is a perfect resort for families and honeymooners: the ultimate venue to celebrate any and every milestone in life. It’s an experience in itself. Definitely, it is a place to come home to, a place to relax and a place to enjoy life’s great pleasures.

I completely agree with what they say about Crimson Resort and Spa: It “offers service from the heart. It is what they do best”.

Relaxation Defined.

For more inquiries or reservation you can call (032) 401-9999, fax at (032) 401-9998 email at info.mactan@CrimsonHotel.com or visit www.CrimsonHotel.com

February-March 2011 ·

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Press Release

Feed your huNger For messagiNg with the New Nokia X2-01 Messaging is booming and Nokia is tapping into the demand for affordable and easy-to-use phones, especially for youth, with its latest QWERTY device.

The “little sister” to Nokia’s already highly successful and affordable QWERTY phone, the Nokia C3, the new Nokia X201 is designed to appeal to youth with its low price, colorful designs and optimized messaging performance.

Benoit Nalin, General Manager of Nokia Philippines, said, “QWERTY is the fastestgrowing mobile phone category in the world, with its popularity surging because of the rise in messaging and social media.

The new Nokia X2-01 is designed to keep people chatting. Its full QWERTY keyboard, combined with the 2.4” landscape QVGA display is ideal for typing, reading and editing email

28

and offers quick access to email via a dedicated messaging key. It also provides you with live updates from social networks such as Facebook and Twitter directly from the homescreen. It’s easy to set up chat and email direct from the mobile phone with no PC required.

The Nokia X2-01 is a Series 40 2G phone with VGA camera and FM radio, music player and has a 3.5mm AV connector ideal for headphones or speakers. It also has Bluetooth and can support up to an 8GB microSD memory card and has a standby battery time of up to 20 days.

Nokia X2-01 suggested retail price is PhP4,950. The Nokia X2-01 is available in a range of fun and fashionable colors including red, deep gray and silver.

Please visit www.nokia.com

Philippines · February-March 2011

FAsT FAcTs GENERAL INFORMATION The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands covering a land area of 115,739 sq. m. (299,764 sq. km.). Main island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Capital is Manila. Time Zone is GMT + 8 hours.

CLIMATE March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy, November to February is cool. Average temperatures: 78°F / 25°C to 90°F / 32°C; humidity is 77% POPULATION There are a total of 76.5 million Filipinos as of the latest national census in May, 2000. Population growth is estimated at 2.36 percent annually. Luzon, the largest island group, accounts for more than half of the entire population.

LANGUAGES Two official languages --- Filipino and English. Filipino which is based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is also widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education. Eight (8) major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.

Filipino is that native language which is used nationally as the language of communication among ethnic groups. Like any

living language, Filipino is in a process of development through loans from Philippine languages and non-native languages for various situations, among speakers of different social backgrounds, and for topics for conversation and scholarly discourse. There are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects.

RELIGIONS Some 83% of Filipinos are Catholic. About 5% are Moslem.

The rest are made up of smaller Christian denominations and Buddhist.

UNIT OF MEASURE The Metric System is used in most trade and legal transactions.

ELECTRICITY 220 volts a/c is the common standard. 110 volts a/c is also used, especially in major hotels.

CURRENCY The Philippines’ monetary unit is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotels, most large department stores, banks, and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank Americard, Master Card, and American Express are accepted in major establishments.

February-March 2011 ·

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Calendar Of Events | February 2011

February 14-19

AurorA DAy AnD sumAn FestivAl

February 16-22

sorteo grAnD FestivAl Carmona, Cavite

February 16, 23 & march 1, 8, & 15 WorlD pyro olympics

Baler, Aurora

An age-old tradition celebrating the

Mall of Asia, Baywalk, Pasay

A celebration of the foundation of the

town as an agricultural haven which

Get your cameras ready for this year's

province of Aurora and the Suman Festi-

is celebrated every 3 years. It is high-

Philippine International PyroMusical

val, which is celebrated on the birthday

lighted by an agro-industrial fair.

Competition 2011 scheduled this Febru-

of the Late Aurora Quezon.

ary and March of 2011

February 20

February 22

February 23

San Lorenzo, Guimaras

San Pedro, Laguna

Baguio City

Marvel at how the ordinary salt has

A week long festival that aims to

The Panagbenga Festival, also called

gravitated the people of San Lorenzo

promote tourism in San Pedro and to

The Baguio Flower Festival, is celebrated

into an annual gathering with all the

promote and revitalize Sampaguita

in the whole month of February with

delicious trimmings of specialty products.

industry in the locality.

peak periods during weekends. The festi-

AsinAn FestivAl

sAmpAguitA FestivAl

pAnAgbengA FestivAl

val features floral and float parades.

February 26

February 27

Feb 28-march 31

Zamboanga City

Pasig City

Tobias Fornier, Antique

Held every year to celebrate the founda-

It is a rich showcase of Filipino culture

A celebration of rites called samba/

tion day of Zamboanga City. The event

and tradition usually celebrated on the

paned. This describe two kinds of rituals,

brings together Muslim and Christian in-

Feasts of St. Martha, Held every last

one held on the hills (or mountains) and

habitants in the city for a day of cultural

Sunday of February in Brgy. Kalawaan.

other held along the seacoast perform to

DiA De ZAmboAngA

itik-itik FestivAl

and religious celebrations.

sAmbAyAn FestivAl

ask for rain, to thank the ancestral spirit for good harvest.

30

Philippines 路 February-March 2011

Calendar Of Events | March 2011

march 1

pArADe oF FestivAls

march 1- 31

march 2-14 sugbAhAn

Muntinlupa City

pAsig summer music FestivAl

One of the highlights of Muntinlupa

Pasig City

Sugbahan is a food fair that features

City’s Cityhood Anniversary. It usually

Summer Music Festival aims to revive

Davao's grilled specialties such as tuna.

features colorful parade of floats fol-

the kundiman, a great musical tradition

lowed by street dancing.

of Pasig.

march 6-12

march 8-12

AnilAg FestivAl

Davao City

march 15-18

kulAmbo FestivAl

Laguna Provincial Capitol Complex, Laguna

nAtionAl Women's month celebrAtion exhibit

nitially launched as the foundation

Clamshell I, Intramuros, Manila

dressed in Kulambo (mosquito net),

day, It is a shortened word for “Ani ng

A weeklong exhibit organized by the

parading around the town.

Laguna," (harvest of Laguna). Now it’s

National Commission on the Role of

a thanksgiving rite that showcases the

Filipino Women (NCRFW).

El Nido, Palawan An annual celebration of townsfolk

products and tourist attractions.

march 18-20

march 21-27

Albay

Tapaz, Marinduque

buhing kAlbAryo FestivAl

The event is to encourage mountain-

A festival of the moriones, colorfuly

Cebu City

climbing enthusiasts and promote

garbed and masked soldiers and cen-

It is a Cebu festival held during Lent by

mountain climbing as a safe, enjoyable

turions.

the Buhing Kalbaryo Foundation Inc.

mAyon conquest

and environment-friendly activity.

moriones FestivAl

march 21-26

This Cebu fiesta culminates with Easter Mass.

February-March 2011 ·

Philippines 31

Directory embAssies

Australia Level 23 Tower 2 RCBC Plaza Ayala Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 757-8100 Austria 4th Floor Prince Building, 112 Roda St. Legaspi Village, Makati City (63-2) 817-9191; (63-2) 817-4992 Bangladesh 2nd flr. Ayala Wing BPI Bldg., 106 Paseo de Roxas cor.

Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City (63-2) 817-5010; (63-2) 817-5001 Cambodia Unit 7-A 7th Flr. Country Space Bldg. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 818-9981 Canada Level 6-8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 867-0001; (63-2) 867-0002 Chile 17th Flr. Liberty Center Building 104 H.V. de la Costa corner Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City (63-2) 810-3149; (63-2) 810-3687 China 4896 Pasay Road, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 844-3148 Colombia 18th Flr. Aurora Tower, Araneta Center, Quezon City (63-2) 911-3101

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Cuba Penthouse, Cacho Gonzales Bldg.101 Aguirre corner Trasierra Streets, Legaspi Village, Makati City (63-2) 817-1192

Israel 23rd Flr., Trafalgar Plaza, 105 H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City (63-2) 892-5329 to 32 (63-2) 894-0441 to 43

Czech Republic 30th Flr. Rufino Pacific Tower, Ayala Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 811-1155

Italy 6th Flr., ZETA Building, 191 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City (63-2) 892-4531 to 34 19091012200 (Visa)

Egypt 2229 Paraiso Cor. Banyan St. Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 843-9220; (63-2) 843-9232

Japan 2627 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City (63-2) 551-5710

Finland 21st Floor BPI Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 891-5011 to 17

Korea 10th Flr. Pacific Star Bldg, Sen. Gil Puyat corner Makati Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 8116139-44

France 16th Flr. Pacific Star Building, Sen Gil Puyat corner Makati Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 8576900; 811-1001 to 04

Kuwait 1230 Acacia Road, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 887-6880 to 84

Germany 25/F Tower 2, RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 702-3000; (63-2) 702-3015 India 2190 Paraiso St., Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 843-0101; (63-2) 843-0102 Indonesia 185 Salcedo Street Legaspi Village, Makati City (63-2) 892-5061 to 68 (63-2) 818-4441 Iran 37 McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City (63-2) 888-4757 to 59

Philippines 路 February-March 2011

Libya 1644 Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 817-7331 to 32 Malaysia 10th - 11th Floor The World Center Bldg. No. 330, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 864-0761 to 68 Mexico 2157 Paraiso Street, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City 1222 (63-2) 812-2211/12/13 (63-2) 812-2225 (Consular) Netherlands 26th Flr., Equitable PCI Bank Tower, 8751 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City Tel. (632) 786-6666 Fax (632) 786-6600

Directory New Zealand 23rd Floor BPI Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave, Makati City (63-2) 891-5358 to 67

South Africa 29th Flr. Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave., Makati City (63-2) 889-9383 (Trunk Line)

Nigeria 2211 Paraiso St., Makati City (63-2) 843-9866; (63-2) 843-9868

Spain 5th Floor ACT Tower, 135 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, 1227 Makati City (chancery) 818-5526; 759-2971 (Embassy) 818-3561; 818-3581; (Consulate) 7592970

Norway 21st Flr., Petron Mega Plaza Bldg., 358 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City (63-2) 886-3245 to 49 Pakistan 6th Flr., Alexander House, 132 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City (63-2) 817-2772; (63-2) 817-2776 Portugal 17th Flr., Unit D Trafalgar Plaza, 105 H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City (63-2) 848-3789 to 90 Qatar 2056 Lumbang St. corner 1398 Caballero Street, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 887-4944 to 45 Russian Federation 1245 Acacia Road, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 810-9614; (63-2) 893-0190 Saudi Arabia 389 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 890-9735 Singapore No. 505, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (63-2) 856-9922; (63-2) 856-9932

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Sri Lanka 2260 Avocado Avenue, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 887-5222; (63-2) 887-5223 Sweden 16th Flr. Equitable PCI Bank Tower 2 Makati Avenue cor.

H.V. dela Costa St., Makati City (63-2) 811-7900 Switzerland 24th Flr. Equitable Bank Tower 8751 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 757-9000; 757-9001 (Visa) Thailand Royal Thai Embassy Bldg., 107 Rada St., Legaspi Village, Makati City 815-4219 to 20; 816-0696 to 97; 810-3833; 817-4262 (Consular) Turkey 2268 Paraiso Street, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City (63-2) 843-9705; (63-2) 843-9707 United Arab Emirates 2nd Flr., Renaissance Bldg., 215 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

Philippines · February-March 2011

United Kingdom 120 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Hill, Taguig City (63-2) 858-2200 United States of America Chancery Building, 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila Tel: 528-6300 Fax: 522-4361 Venezuela Unit 17 A, Multinational Bancorporation Center, 6805 Ayala Avenue, Makati City (632) 845-2841; 845-2842 Vietnam 670 Pablo Ocampo St., Malate, Manila 521-6843; 525-2837; 524-0364 European Union 30/F Tower II, RCBC Plaza 6819 Senator Gil Puyat corner Ayala Ave., 1200 Makati City 859-5100 Dot oFFices

DOT – NCR Rm. 207 DOT Building, TM Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila Tel. (02) 524-2345; 525-6114; 524-6566; 523-8411 DOT- REGION VII G/F LDM Building, Lapu- Lapu City, Cebu Tel. (032) 254-2811; 254-6077 DOT- BORACAY FIELD OFFICE Balabag, Boracay Malay, Aklan Tel. (036) 288-3689

Directory Airlines

bus lines

PAL Express R1 Hangar ATC, Gate 1 Andrews Ave., Nichols, Pasay City Tel (63-2) 855 9000 Fax (63-2) 851-7922

BLTB EDSA, Malibay, Pasay City Tel (63-2) 833-5508

Makati Shangri-La Hotel Manila Ayala Corner Makati Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 813- 8888; (63-2) 813- 5499

Phase II Bus Terminal Ali Mall Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City Tel (63-2) 913-1526

Mandarin Oriental Manila Makati Avenue, Makati City (63-2) 750-8888; (63-2) 819- 9659

Philippine Rabbit 1240 EDSA, Balintawak Tel (63-2) 364-3477

Manila Diamond Hotel Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manlia (63-2) 528- 3000; (63-2) 305- 3000

Zest Air Domestic Road corner Andrews Avenue, Pasay City Tel (02) 855-3333 Fax (63-2) 851-1804 to 05 Cebu Pacific Air 16/F Robinson’s Equitable Tower, ADB Avenue corner Poveda St. Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel (63-2) 636-4938 Fax (63-2) 637-9165 Philippine Airlines G/F Philippine Airlines Center, Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City Tel (63-2) 855-8888 Fax (63-2) 853-7725 SEAIR 1020 2/F Dona Concepcion Bldg. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City Tel (63-2) 884-1521 Fax (63-2) 844-3813 shipping compAnies

rent - A- cAr

Avis 2/F Guevent Commercial Center Libertad Street, Mandaluyong City (63-2) 533-0861; (63-2) 714-4060 to 61 Fax (63-2) 533-0785 Budget Nayong Pilipino Compound, Pasay City Tel (63-2) 888-6513 Fax (63-2) 851-0931 Nissan UPRC Building 3, 2289 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City Tel (63-2) 816-1808 hotels

Negros Navigation Company Pier 2, North Harbor, Tondo, Manila Tel (63-2) 245-5588 Fax (63-2) 247-7427 WG&A Superferry 12/Floor Times Plaza Tower corner United Nations and Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila Tel (63-2) 528-7100 Fax (63-2) 528-7107

Discovery Suites 25 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel (63-2) 635-2222 Fax (63-2) 683-8333 Hyatt Regency Manila 2702 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City (63-2) 833- 1234; (63-2) 833- 5913

Manila Hotel One Rizal Park, 1099 Manila (632) 527- 0011; (632) 527- 0022/24 The Peninsula Manila Ayala corner Makati Ave., Makati City (63-2) 810- 3456; (63-2) 815- 4825 Hotel Veniz #1 Abanao St., Baguio City (632) 4460700 to 03; (632) 4460704 09175060701 Inn Rocio #68 Kisad Road, Baguio City (632) 4424028 (632) 4426535 Microtel Inn & Suites 2/F Phinma Bldg., 166 Salcedo St, Legaspi Village Makati City (632) 6193333; (632) 6193344 09275164129 Baguio Country Club Country Club Road (632) 6192050 to 64; (632) 4427674

February-March 2011 ·

Philippines 35

Press Release

it’s all about the heart’s aFFair oN ValeNtiNe’s day at hiltoN Cebu resort & sPa It’s an affair exclusively to please every romantic at Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa. Three wonderful dating possibilities wait at this tropical escape. If fine dinning and the sweet sound of violin is what you and your partner fancy on a date, Seas Restaurant’s seafood degustation menu is perfect for a truly romantic affair. As a gift, each couple will get a 30 minute Hilot experience at The Spa to sample the latest offer of this relaxing retreat. This valentine treat is only P2800++ per couple.

However if you prefer outdoor garden venue with the stars as your décor, head to the beach garden for a valentine dinner buffet that will sate your palate and your hunger for romance as a band fills the air with love songs. And this romantic beach garden interlude is at P1350++ per person.

NO date? Then perhaps Manny O’s casual tapas and beer pairing will tickle your interest. Make your way to the marina and savor 360 degree of sea views with your favorite tapas for only P300++.

All diners will get the chance to win a 3 night stay accommodation at Conrad Bali, Indonesia.

For reservations: call 4927777 or email reservations.cebu@hilton.com.

36

Philippines · February-March 2011

which their pupils are closed down.

That’s one reason why we like pictures of people taken in subdued lighting conditions, in the shade and on cloudy days—situations where the pupils are open wider than they are in bright light and on sunny days,” said 20-year travel photography veteran Rick Sammon. We agree.

You can also learn how to use the rule of thirds. Divide your screen into three (sometimes nine) and try to see where the subject will fit best to give it a captivating feel. A mountain biker going to the right might look weird when you photograph him from the side with the biker being placed on the right side of the photo (unless he hits a politician and the politician is sprawled on the floor).

Action shots are also the best.

Someone windsurfing, a dog jumping to retrieve a frisbee. Whatever activity that captures the essence and the atmosphere of the location can make up a good travel photo.

Photography 1-0-Juan

t

he perfect sunset.

The famous (infamous?) jump shot in the beach.

The enchanting façade of a classic church. A portrait of a local. Yes, all those are just some of the travel shots that we usually see and want to emulate. Oh, travel photography—how do we master you?

First of all, you of course need a camera. Be it point or shoot, a lomo, a DSLR or even an SLR (yes, some people still actually prefer being old school), any camera can produce a great travel photo. Experts always tell us to “know your camera.” But how do we do that? We’ve read the manual already! Apparently, that’s not enough. Experiment on all your settings. You’ll be surprised at how many variations of a picture you can take just by adjusting some knobs.

Experiment on different shutter speeds and apertures as well. Nothing beats getting to know your camera.

After all, it’s an extension of your hand, right?

Second, pick a good subject. Posing in front of the largest crocodile in the Philippines armed with the perennial (and over-used) peace sign will not really merit photography awards.

Travel photography looks genuine when a subject (a person for that matter) is caught candidly. When someone is admiring an old vehicle from World War II. When someone is looking out to the sea. Remember that people always know when they are being watched. Sometimes, this helps in capturing a great photo.

“We prefer pictures of people in which their pupils are open wide more so than pictures of people in

You want your pictures to tell a story.

Even a single nail on a pavement can appear to be an interesting photo when it has a story to tell. It’s not all about the colors. Having all the colors in the world in one photograph does not make an exeptional photo (it makes for a great cause of a headache though).

There is also this thing photographers call “the golden hour” or the first and last hour of daylight. Notice that there is a certain warm glow on almost all subjects during these times.

And the flash will not always save your photo.Sometimes it burns some of your photos. Bring out the evening light (or hide your wrinkles) and turn off the flash. Keep those arms steady too.You don’t want to distort faces of your subjects.

Keep in mind that constructing a close to perfect travel photo does not really require that you are technically sound. It just has to have the feel that the one looking at the photo is transported to where the photo was taken. Remember, the photo is your postcard of your vacation.

February-March 2011 ·

Philippines 37

Parting Shot

SENd US YOUR PhOTOS: We would like to publish your travel photos in the magazine. If these includes images of your friends and family, we may require you to send paperwork in order for us to publish your photos.

For those photos to appear, we need either high resolution color scans (300 dpi) or you can send print copies of your photos.

Please do not send originals, since we may not be able to return them to you.

Email those photos to juanphilippines@gmail.com now!

38

Philippines 路 February-March 2011

Print.

Online.

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LUZON METRO MANILA VISAYAS & MINDANAO

W ' KZͳ E' > ^ McArthur Highway, Balibago Angeles City, Pampanga Tel.: (6345) 892-5073 to 74 Fax: (6345) 625-7600

W ' KZͳ> K ' Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel Laoag City, Ilocos Norte Tel.: (6377) 772-0631 Fax: (6377) 607-0193

W ' KZͳD/DK^ Mimosa Drive, Clark Field Pampanga Tel.: (6345) 599-6020 Fax: (6345) 599-6001

W ' KZͳK>KE' WK 30 Magsaysay Avenue Olongapo City, Zambales Tel.: (6347) 222-4565 Fax: (6347) 222-4567

W ' KZͳ, Z/d ' /d /d ' The Heritage Hotel EDSA cor. Roxas Blvd., Pasay City Tel.: (632) 854-8751 to 52 Fax: (632) 854-8715

W ' KZͳ,z ddͳD W ' KZͳ,z ddͳD E/> A. Mabini cor. Pedro Gil Sts. Malate, Manila Tel.: (632) 245-9763 Fax: (632) 247-1902

W ' KZͲW Z H Yh PIRC Bldg., Ninoy Aquino Ave. Bgy. Sto Niño, Parañaque City Tel.: (632) 854-1605 to 19 Fax: (632) 854-0602

W ' KZͳW s/>/KE Manila Pavilion Hotel UN Ave., Ermita, Manila Tel.: (632) 523-8691 to 97 Fax: (632) 522-1383

W ' KZͳ K>K Casino Filipino Hotel & Casino 'ŽůĚĞŶĮĞůĚƐ ŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂů Complex Singkang, Bacolod City Tel.: (6334) 434-8901 to 10 Fax: (6334) 434-4433

W ' KZͳ h Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City Tel.: (6332) 232-9888 Fax: (6332) 231-0679

W ' KZͳ s K Grand Regal Hotel Davao Km. 7, Lanang, Davao City Tel.: (6382) 234-3997 to 98 Fax: (6382) 235-0307

W ' KZͳD d E Waterfront Airport Hotel #1 Airport Rd., Lapu-Lapu City Tel.: (6332) 340-4888 Fax: (6332) 340-5194

W ' KZͳd ' zd d ' zd z d ' zd zd z E. Aguinaldo Highway Tagaytay City Tel. (6346) 413-1506 Fax: (6346) 413-2163

KZWKZ d K&&/ ^ ,LJĂƩ ,ŽƚĞů Θ ĂƐŝŶŽ DĂŶŝůĂ͗ 1588 M. H. del Pilar cor. Pedro Gil Sts., Malate, Manila dƌƵŶŬůŝŶĞ ;ϲϯϮͿ ϮϰϮͲϬϭϮϭ ŽŶŶĞĐƟŶŐ ůů ĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐ PAGCOR ,ŽƵƐĞ͗ 1330 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines dĞů͗͘ ;ϲϯϮͿ ϱϮϭͲϭϱϰϮ ͻ ŽŶŶĞĐƟŶŐ ůů ĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐ ͻ &Ădž͗ ;ϲϯϮͿ ϱϮϮͲϮϵϲϵ /ŵƵƐ ŽŵƉůĞdž͗ PAGCOR Village, Bayan Luma, Purok 6, Imus, Cavite Tel.: (6346) 471-5409 and (632) 529-8625 to 27 * calls to Manila using cellular and provincial landline phones: dial (02) + the telephone number of the Metro Manila casino branch you wish to reach. * Calls to casino provincial branch using cellular and landline phones: dial the ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ƉƌŽǀŝŶĐŝĂů ĂƌĞĂ ĐŽĚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽǀŝŶĐŝĂů ďƌĂŶĐŚ LJŽƵ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĐŚ н ƚŚĞ branch telephone number. * If you are within the area of the casino branch you wish to reach, no need to dial their area code.