The Philippine Traveller Volume 2 Number 1 • March-April 2012

THE PHILIPPINE

Your guide to Philippine destinations Get a copy of Portal to Puerto Galera, now available. It contains information on the resort town as well as listings of accommodations, restaurants and recreational facilities. To follow are guides to other destinations.

Call 2276074 • 491-5159 • 384-6941 www.experiencetravelandliving.com

Volume 2 • No. 1 • March-April 2012

Serving the needs of today’s traveller ISSN 2094-7941

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s far as escape from the hectic life go, it is difficult to find a remote place in Cebu than Badian Island Resort and Spa, a world class island “sparadise” that has earned for itself a reputation for being one of the most romantic places to stay. Many tourists have known many hotels and resorts in Cebu, but those who wish to discover the other paradise that is Badian, a two-hour drive from Cebu City, past the picturesque town of Carcar, will reveal more surprises.

As we headed to the island at the Badian Bay, remnants of my busy and hectic life seem to ebb away as we docked at the jetty amidst the lively singing of the staff.

Leis were placed on our necks as we were ushered to the reception where lavenderinfused cold towels were passed around as Maria Catral, our gracious host, offered us welcome drinks. Because of the warmth of the midday sun, I almost ran off to one of the hammocks to laze around for the rest of the day, drink in hand, but I had to restrain myself.

Hartwig Scholz, in his many travels around the world as an international tax consultant, came across Badian Island and saw its potential. The area has long been a favorite of divers and snorkelers as the island is surrounded by a ring of coral reef stretching to one kilometre. Charmed by the locals’ warmth and the pristine beauty of the island, he had a vision of a world-class resort sitting at the spot. Twenty-five years later, his dream became a reality. Scholz was among, if not the first, to elevate the art of wellness in the country with the creation of an island resort with a full-service spa, where wellness take a mind-body approach by incorporating yoga, meditation and sound healing into their list of services. Each guest is treated like royalty in this haven where Scholz warmly welcomes guests as if to his own home. He himself gave us a personal tour of the facilities, something that he does regularly when he finds time away from the office.

Right after our open-air yoga session at the beach, we had the pleasure of dining with him at the Coral Garden Bay the following day. The reef garden can be reached by a five-minute boat ride where a buffet had been meticulously set up for all, including the two newlyweds we espied snorkelling nearby, to enjoy. I asked one member of the staff how many boat trips they had to make to get everything ready, and they said the To page 2

Complimentary copy

The resort is the one of the most romantic places to stay

By Gesel P. Mangilit • Photos by Donald Tapan

Conscientious Luxury at the Badian Island Resort and Spa What’s Inside Catanduanes calling Page 11 Conquering Corregidor Page 13 The caves of Capiz Page 15

Dinners by the beach offer great food and entertainment

Meeting Hugo Lambrechts Page 23

Directions Conscientious Luxury at the Badian Island Resort and Spa... From page 1

The reception area

reef garden maybe reached by a twentyminute walk from the resort.

Scholz was an engaging host who related how years ago dynamite and cyanide fishing was rampant in the area. He wanted to make a difference, and building a resort meant he can help people from all walks of life.

“I can think of only two countries that are very good in terms of service: Philippines and Brazil. But first you have to educate the people on how to take care of the environment, make them understand that protecting the environment is a must because this is their livelihood,” he shared.

All the employees of the resort live in Badian Island, one of their long-standing policies.

“You can build the most beautiful resort, yes, but you cannot leave it at that because more than anything it is the people behind it that makes each resort experience a memorable one,” said Scholz.

This emphasis on impeccable guest relation is apparent in the way the staff greets you with a genuine smile and anticipates each need.

It was only past 2 P.M., and the tide had started to come in. The boat that would take us back to the other side of the island was waiting. Despite his 80 years, Scholz moved confidently to take his seat as we glided past the serene bay. On the horizon just 30 minutes away, is Pescador Island, one of the primary dive spots in the country, where PADI-certified divers of Badian Island Resort and Spa takes guests for diving.

Excursions to Kawasan Falls and glassbottom boating are offered at the resort, but the boat trips serve another purpose as well.

In one of our trips while we were there, the sense of peace was oddly transforming as we returned at sunset when sky and water had turned deep orange.

Yoga class by the beach

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Sound healing class with yoga teacher Amitabha

One of the private villas with its own thalasso pool

Dinners, by the pool or at the beach, are grand productions. The Beach Boys, senior employees who have been with the resort since it started, rendered songs while the Kalikasan Dancers, made up of highschool students and out-of-school youths, enjoined guests to dance the tinikling. To cap the night, a selection of after-dinner drinks were presented to us, and a Palawan rain flute was played by one member the staff which Catral proudly calls “the sound of the islands.” A brief and entertaining introduction to a few of the wines and cocktails never fails to elicit a few chuckles from the guests. Choose Amarula if you want to be like the elephant with a long memory.

Left to our own devices during the day, the opportunity to escape to each of our chosen activities presented itself in pleasant ways. Our villa came with a generous floor space, allowing for plenty of relaxation and a chance to “unclutter the mind.” TVs are emphatically not present in any of the bedrooms, and WiFi is only accessible at the reception area and restaurant. This might seem a big deal to some but after a while one gets used to it and even welcomes the quiet. An infinity pool just footsteps away from our bedside had us admiring the beautiful Badian Bay where fishing boats glide past against a backdrop of blue sky.

A stroll through the “love garden,” where rows of palm trees grow tall and strong, led me to a cluster of smaller palm trees growing. Each tree had heart-shaped markers with the names and dates of visit of the honeymooners who went to this place. Years after their visit, couples would visit the exact spot where they had planted their Love Tree and see for themselves how the trees have grown. It is just one of the pleasant touches the resort has for its guests.

The soul is cleansed just to be here,

Hartwig Scholz at the Coral Garden Bay

experiencing the full force of the natural world, as far away from urban living as possible. While there is much to be done in terms of water sports such as diving, windsurfing, kayaking and Dolphin Watching with the Resorts private Pleasure Yacht, what proved more engaging and pleasurable for me was lounging at the beach or at the pool.

Hammocks among palm trees invite guests to lie back and enjoy the peace and solitude.

Picturesque tents with rattan chairs strewn about are perfect spots to immerse one’s self in a book or just relax among the cushions after a dip in the beach, which is kept immaculately clean at all times.

“People come here to unwind and soak in the tranquil surroundings and to also learn a new way of living,” said Catral.

And just as the environment is kept harmonious, balanced and preserved, so

is the mind and body. The resort offers retreats and workshops that focus on yoga and sound healing, facilitated by yoga teacher Amitabha of Body Mind Well-being, who took us through the basics of yoga step by step during our sunrise meditation at the beach and in the afternoon an hour of healing through sound in one of the pavilions, which I found very invigorating.

But more than the luxurious accommodation and service, it is the spa that this resort has built its reputation around. During a tour of the spa facilities, I was delighted by the Thalasso pools, which use filtered seawater containing a blend of complex minerals that help rebalance the body’s mineral deficiencies. From the Greek thalassa, meaning “power of the sea,” To page 4

A unique feature of the resort is the thalasso pools, which harness the curative powers of the sea

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Directions

Department of Tourism announces new campaign to attract visitors to the Philippines

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he Department of Tourism (DoT) recently launched a new brand campaign to attract visitors to the country with the line “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Focusing on the country’s core strength, the campaign singles out what no other destination can offer and that is the Filipino people.

For example, the Lonely Planet guidebook calls Filipinos “among the most easygoing and ebullient people anywhere.”

“Our strategy is simple. While other countries invite you to observe, Filipinos can promise a more heartfelt and interesting experience. Wherever you go, whatever you do in the country, it’s the Filipinos that will complete your vacation and will make your holiday unforgettable,” says the new Tourism Secretary, Ramon Jimenez, Jr. The Filipinos are already known around the world to be one of the happiest and warmest people on earth. The campaign hopes to enjoin the whole country in creating positive buzz of the tagline.

As the international campaign is underway, the DoT is also developing a national initiative under the line “#1 for Fun” to rally the nation.

“The national line is a goal, a constant reminder to ourselves why we can tell travelers it’s more fun here than anywhere else,” says the Secretary. “It needs everyone’s support for it to stay true—we need to make sure people’s experiences in our country are positive, enjoyable, and

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

most of all, fun.”

The campaign was trending on Twitter when it was introduced to local media.

Catching like wild fire, netizens flooded the Web with creative ways to interpret the line through do-it-yourself memes which could likely land on shirts, billboards, stickers and other collaterals.

The long-awaited idea was developed by advertising agency BBDO Guerrero, appointed in December 2011 after an exhaustive pitch overseen personally by Secretary Jimenez himself and approved by the President and members of the cabinet.

BBDO Guerrero-Proximity Philippines has been selected and appointed as Agency of Record after making the winning pitch and bid for the country’s tourism branding campaign. They are tasked with creating an idea that will shape all forms of communication for the country’s domestic and international tourism promotions.

The selection and appointment came after a rigorous pitch which involved seven other agencies—Aspac, DDB, Dentsu, J.Romero, JWT, Lowe and Y&R. Last September, the DoT opted to hold a second bidding process after only one advertising agency qualified, coincidentally also BBDO Guerrero. The Department of Tourism decided to rethink the terms of reference of the project with the assumption to office of the new Tourism Secretary.

The pitch review was personally headed by the Secretary, who was keen to encourage agencies to expand their thinking

and explore all areas of the marketing offering in order to make the nation as appealing as some of its neighbors who are much higher ranked for consideration by potential visitors.

Secretary Jimenez said, “Because of the

requirements of the bid process I had to brief my agencies through a series of public speeches and interviews. In these, I talked about the warmth and the vitality of our To page 4

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Directions New tourism campaign... From page 3

people as being what makes our country special. In their campaign, BBDO Guerrero was able to capture and encapsulate this complex problem into a motivating and exciting campaign. They were the last of the eight agencies presenting. And they were the exclamation point at the end of a long sentence.”

David Guerrero, chairman and chief creative officer of BBDO Guerrero-Proximity Philippines, stated: “Our competition is global. And our responsibility is very local.

There could be no better cause or more exciting prospect than communicating one of the world’s most enjoyable travel experiences. We and our worldwide network are looking forward to making this a truly memorable and effective campaign that will benefit all of us who live here.”

He continued: “It’s been a pretty good 12 months for us, winning Agency of the Year locally and Network of the Year globally, but this is the best Christmas present we could have hoped to receive.”

The selection of BBDO came at an

opportune time especially as DoT reported more good news for the yearend. Foreign arrivals from January to October 2011 reached 3.1 million, registering an 11.96 percent increase over the same period last year. All months have chalked up double digit growth rates except for March and May. Positive gains have likewise been

reflected by the country’s core markets.

The tourism chief has called for greater participation by Filipinos, here and abroad, to be part of the game change. “Every Filipino is a tourism stakeholder. If we expect tourism to work for us, each must do his part. We can start by sharing our pride of place and create a buzz through social

media or through other ways you can,” the former advertising executive said.

This year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum in Manado, Indonesia, witnessed the new Philippine brand launch.

“ATF 2012 is a perfect platform to introduce to some 1,600 international delegates composed of buyers and sellers, the NTO community and media delegates,” Jimenez said.

The presentation was well-received during the Philippine-hosted dinner on January 13, 2012, at the Sultanraja Hotel.

The occasion was graced by North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, Philippine ambassador to Indonesia Maria Rosario Claudio Aguinaldo and consul general Jose Burgos.

Exciting travel prizes were raffled off from generous sponsors Philippine Airlines and various hotels and tour operators. The high spirits continued until curtain fall with participants dancing to band music and cheering the world-class performances by top Filipino artists. U

Conscientious Luxury at the Badian Island Resort and Spa... From page 2

The badehaus in the spa

the Thalasso waterfalls and pools combine the pleasure of indulgence and wellbeing.

The three-tiered pools are a real treat where you can gaze at the magnificent view of the Badian Bay as you relax under the sea and sky. Another special feature of the spa is the Finnish dry sauna, which cleanses the body through heavy sweating.

Before my treatment, I went to the pool and lay on one of the comfortable beds submerged under the water, anticipating what would cap my Badian Island experience—the Deluxe Four-Hand Massage, the spa’s signature massage.

The badehaus (German for “bathhouse”) had two bathtubs filled with botanicals and floating flower petals where guests can submerge themselves in skin-enhancing ingredients. Each open-air pavilions look out to a magnificent view of Badian Bay. Four kinds of aromatherapy oils are used for their treatment. The Mi Amore is made from the essence of lavender. Island Breeze is a combination of cloves and ginger.

Tranquility is from the essence of the ylangylang flower. I chose Serenity, a mixture of lemon and eucalyptus.

They say more is not always better but in the case of the four-hand massage four hands are better than two because it can work on your body in ways a two-handed massage cannot. For me, it was sensory overload. The massage begins with the two therapists putting their hands together,

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palm to palm as if in prayer then setting them down on the body. From the shoulders down to the lower back, they make long strokes that are done repeatedly leaving a complete and soothing touch to the body, more like a warm rolling pin with just the right pressure applied on every sinew and muscle of my body.

Scholz asked me later if I had felt one hand to be heavier than the other. I said I felt the almost imperceptible shift in pressure each time those skilful hands would run across my lower back but other than that I felt total bliss. He was satisfied with my answer and stated that kind of synchronicity can be achieved through months of intensive training, something the spa has continually strived to maintain.

Due to its remoteness, the resort is a self-sustaining operation. You don’t often hear the words luxurious and conscientious in the same sentence but Badian Island Resort insists on both. The resort is committed to green practices by using organic compost and fertilizer and 80 percent reduction of waste. They have an amazing array of herbs, vegetables and fruit-bearing trees in their organic garden, tended by Danny, a horticulturist who trained in the Holland.

He readily showed me a tubful of African night crawlers, “his babies,” and gave me a tour of the facility. All the produce in this organic garden ended up on our plates, including the plump cherry tomatoes I

admired while I walked by the garden.

Catral said the fennel, which is good for digestion, is the best she had ever had.

Danny, in fact, has five varieties growing in rows. Essential oils and other botanicals used in the spa are concocted in the resort.

They produce their own coconut oil that leaves your skin radiant, youthful and glowing.

It was raining when we bade our wonderful hosts and the resort for another two-hour trip and an hour flight to Manila but memories of my stay at Badian Island Resort and Spa will linger in my consciousness. As we boarded the boat to head back to the mainland, we were left to individually contemplate on the two days we were on the island, and I for once had to admit that this was one of the rare times when I truly experienced an island vacation in its purest sense in which I was able to enjoy the simplest pleasures of basking in its beauty. Getting there may have taken a time but in hindsight most routes to paradise usually are. U

Getting There Several airlines travel to Cebu daily, with several trips a day, landing at the Mactan International Airport. From the airport, Badian Island Resort and Spa is in the town of Badian, 97.6 kilometers southwest of Cebu City. The resort provides transfers from airport to the town. A short boat ride brings you to Badian Island.

Contact Information Badian Island Resort and Spa can be contacted through telephone number (+6332) 401-3303 to 05 and Mobile: (0063) 920952-6293 + 920-953-3362 + 917-727-4931 and fax number (+63 32) 401-3302, and email badianisla@aol.com. Their Cebu City office, located at Cebu Capitol Commercial Complex-A, N. Escario St., Cebu City, may be reached through tel. Nos. (+63 32) 253-64-52 or 416-61-59 and fax (+63 32) 253-33-85. Visit Web site at www.badianhotel.com.

Tourism ministers support acceleration of the common visa for non-ASEAN nationals The 15th Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers held in Manado, Indonesia ended on a high note as major accomplishments were reported and key measures committed in order to hasten integration, enhance connectivity and improve the quality of tourism services in the region.

A significant measure that the tourism ministers agreed to fast track is the development of a common visa for nonASEAN nationals. This is also related to the goal of the regional bloc of attracting 107 million tourists by 2015. The combined visits to the ten-member nations totalled 79 million in 2011.

Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon J. Jimenez, Jr. is optimistic that of this figure, 7.7 percent will be generated by

the Philippines or around 8.2 million.

“We have just successfully rolled out our new branding campaign in the presence of international travel executives, national tourism organizations and media practitioners during the ASEAN Tourism Forum. We have caused excitement and we are expecting a surge of interest in our country and our people, the latter being the aspect that highlights our difference,” Jimenez said.

Talks were likewise advanced with dialogue partners China, India, Japan and Korea on various cooperation activities that deepen cross-cultural relations, improve exchange of information and technology and travel between and among these countries. U

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Directions

DoT embarks on Heritage Village project in Taal Guests don turn-of-the-century costumes for a pictorial at Villa Tortuga in Taal,Batangas led by Warner Andrada, Ryan Sebastian (second and first from right standing, third row) and Andrew Bautista (second from right seated, second row) with Cesar Cruz of Philtoa (first from left, seated front row)

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he Heritage Villages Pilipinas project of the Department of Tourism (DoT) commenced in Taal, Batangas, last June 30 with the promotion of the Villa Tortuga Colonial Package and the participation of more than a dozen travel companies from Metro Manila in a wholeday tour.

The quiet and quaint town of Taal is considered the origin and center of the Tagalog language. Taal is also known for its traditional makers of the barong Tagalog and the balisong as well as for its native cuisine: the panutsa, suman sa lehiya, longganiza, tapa, empanada, tamales, kapeng barako, tsokolate, bulalo, sinaing na tulingan, adobo sa dilaw, among others.

As a heritage village destination, Taal reigns as one of the most culturally preserved sites of the country’s four-century Spanish and forty-year American colonial eras. It conforms to the old town layout combining

municipal hall, school, church and market.

Its historic churches and many ancestral houses still remain giving the town an old colonial ambiance.

“Taal heritage town is a fine example of the sustainable development as well as responsible and ethical promotion of cultural tourism in the Philippines. In spite of the urbanization and modernization of its neighboring towns and cities, the local people has preserved their indigenous Tagalog culture and traditions in their beloved town.

It is therefore important for the local people to be empowered in the formulation and execution of their cultural tourism policy and projects to ensure more benefits from tourism development as well as the effective management of heritage preservation of Taal for many future generations,” then Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim enthuses.

Lito Perez, an interior design graduate of the University of the Philippines and

former president of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines, had these thoughts in mind when he conceptualized and executed the Villa Tortuga Colonial Tour Package for Taal.

The tour package consists of a whole day experience that brings one back to the 1800s down to the 1930s. It includes a tour of ancestral houses-turned-museums-cum-artgalleries-and-coffee-shops. There are also guided visits to the Church of Our Lady of Caysasay and the centuries-old Arch of Santa Lucia and spring well with its miraculous healing water as well as to the Basilica de San Martin de Tours.

A professional designer for 30 years and having learned from his travels to heritage sites in Europe, Perez has preserved Villa Tortuga, a traditional 19th century bahay na bato for adaptive reuse as a heritage restaurant with board and lodging amenities on the second floor and an antique curio

and traditional costume rental shop with photo studio on the ground floor. Guests are greeted with native refreshments upon arrival. Both ladies and gentlemen may don turn-of-the-century outfits for pictorials.

Finally, the seven-course lunch or dinner of the Taal ilustrados is served amid kundiman music. After providing each guest with their own sepia studio photo, the tour is capped with shopping at the clean Taal Public Market where local wet and dry produce are sold at reasonable prices. An optional tour of native embroidery and balisong-making places can be arranged.

For news about Taal and Villa Tortuga, log on to www.campsuki@yahoo.com, www.taal.gov.ph and www.taalaala.com.

For other details and booking, call 09178246900 or 0918-3155634, e-mail info@yahoo. com, campsuki_costumes@yahoo.com and heritours@yahoo.com; or telephone numbers 725-0819, 725-4562 and 216-1296. U

LA LAGUNA BEACH CLUB & DIVE CENTRE Big La Laguna Beach, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, 5203 Telefax: +63 43 2873181 / Mobile: +63 9177940323 Email Address: lalaguna@llbc.com.ph / Website: http://www.llbc.com.ph Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

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Directions

Wonder recognized:

The Puerto Princesa Underground River

By Roel Hoang Manipon

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fter confirmation of the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature (N7WN), government officials, particularly those who led the campaign for PPUR to be included in the list, bestowed an award of recognition to PPUR through Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward Hagedorn.

The awarding ceremony was held on Jan. 30 at the Department of Tourism (DoT) Atrium and Garden, attended by DoT Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr.; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio, Jr., representing Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje; and Feliciano Regis of director of the public affairs office of the Department of Interior and Local Government, representing Secretary Jesse Robredo. They bestowed a trophy to Hagedorn, which says, “The Puerto Princesa Underground River is our outstanding patrimony and heritage, worthy of national pride and protection.” According to them, the event is also in recognition to Hagedorn’s efforts and dedication in promoting the city and advocating the preservation of the PPUR, and its management. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, in which the PPUR is located, is the first national park to be managed by the local government.

The PPUR’s inclusion in the N7WN was confirmed on Jan. 28 by N7WN president Dr. Bernard Weber in a press conference

in Pasay City. The New 7 Wonders of the World is an initiative of the Switzerlandbased New7Wonders Foundation established in 2001, updating the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and choosing world wonders by popularity poll. In 2001, the search of the New Seven Wonders of the World was conducted, followed by N7WN. The New7Wonders Cities is in the offing, and it is rumored that the Philippines is fielding Vigan, the UNESCO World Heritage site known for its concentration of old Spanish-Filipino houses.

The PPUR is the second N7WN to be confirmed, after Korea’s Jeju Island. The rest of the provisional N7WN are the Amazon River of South America, Halong Bay of Vietnam, Iguacu Falls of Argentina/Brazil, Komodo Island of Indonesia and Table Mountain of South Africa.

Located 50 kilometers northwest of the city proper of Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan, the PPUR is located in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park with a limestone karst mountain landscape and an 8.2-kilometer navigable underground river which flows directly to the South China Sea, a full mountain-the-sea ecosystem. Aside from the unique geological features, the PPUR has unique flora and fauna. Recently, a fossil of a sea mammal, a sea cow, said to be 20 million years old was discovered in the walls of the PPUR, attesting to its importance also as an archaeological site. The PPUR was

From left: Feliciano Regis, director of DILG public affairs office; Usec. Demetrio Ignacio, Jr. of DENR; Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward Hagedorn; DoT Sec. Ramon Jimenez, Jr.; and Antonio Alvarez, congressman of the First District of Palawan

inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1999.

In the middle of 2011, PPUR made it to the list of 28 finalists in the N7WN. President Benigno Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 182, declaring a national and international promotion campaign for the PPUR. “The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Philippines, is composed of a long mountain landscape and a beautiful, breathtaking subterranean river that winds through a cave that has been carved into shape by the giant hand of nature. So it comes as no surprise that the Puerto Princesa Underground River has made it as one of the 28 finalists in the global search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature,” said President Aquino in a speech on June 6, 2011. “The competition is tough, but if there is a site that should be in the top seven, then it should definitely be the Puerto Princesa Underground River. That is, of course, my unbiased opinion.”

“While winning a place in the top seven bolsters our sense of national pride, recognition is not the only thing we can gain.

We must also remember that the tourists we can potentially attract will redound to thousands of employment opportunities; our success here will ultimately breed success for Filipinos everywhere,” he also said.

A task force of government agencies led by the DILG was formed to promote PPUR and urge people to vote. It also included the DoT and the DENR. Voting was main made through SMS. For its part, DoT conducted “student

forums in July to encourage blogging and tweeting about the PPUR; hosted familiarization trips with print and broadcast media in August; provided voting stations at the Second Cebu International Travel Expo in July and 22nd Philippine Travel Mart last September; and promoted the PPUR while participating in travel fairs such as the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) World Tourism Forum and Travel Showcase last September and October.”

The voting ended on Nov. 10, 2011.

With the victory, the city government of Puerto Princesa and DoT are gearing up for the influx of tourists. According to Ma. Victoria Jasmin, DoT Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resourcer Generation, the DoT has been conducting many activities in the city to enhance and improve its hospitality and tourism industry.

As of October 2011, 196,959 foreign and local visitors have been tallied at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

More than the 172,827 visitors who came in 2010.

After the victory in the New 7 Wonders of Nature poll, the Philippines is now pushing for PPUR to be included in the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance or the Ramsar Convention in Switzerland. There currently four protected areas in the country declared as Ramsar sites: the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park in Palawan, the Naujan Lake National Park in Mindoro Oriental, and the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur. U

Philippine resort and spa bag ASEAN Green Hotel Awards ASEAN Green Hotel Awards: (from left) DoT Director Ma. Rica Bueno receiving the award for Mandala Resort, ASEAN Secretariat Director of Finance, Industry and Infrastructure Somsak Pipoppinyo, DoT Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr., and Deborah and Ruben Tan, director of marketing and chairman of Daluyon Resort.

Already four years operating as a lodging establishment in Palawan, Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort is a 16-room affair owned and managed by brothers Ruben and Clifford Tan and their wives Maria and Deborah. Little did they know that their advocacy for green tourism as practiced in the resort would pay off when the Department of Tourism (DoT) made its usual search for nominees to the ASEAN Green Hotel and found the resort compliant

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of the criteria.

“We were pleasantly surprised as we only got to know of the awards when we were sent forms to fill and more surprised after being evaluated as compliant. We are firm believers of the green agenda and are happy that we have contributed through our own small way,” the Tans said during the awards at Manado, Indonesia, held to coincide with the 2012 ASEAN Tourism Forum.

Meanwhile, Mandala Spa and Resort Villas in Boracay Island in Aklan, formed in 2001 as a day spa, evolved into a destination To page 10

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Directions

Flying high with Zest Air

Z

est Air, Asia’s most refreshing airline, continues to soar high as it fulfills the demand for cost-efficient travels through its offerings and latest developments. As the newest airline in the aviation industry, Zest Air has enjoyed a growing number of passengers as it flies regularly to choice destinations in the Philippines and to an expanding list of stops worldwide. The driving force behind Zest Air’s steadfast growth is its president and chief executive officer Alfredo Yao. The visionary entrepreneur and juice magnate, together with his highly professional team, is committed in serving its clients the best way they can.

“We want our passengers to have an enjoyable and satisfying travel experience when they fly via our planes. We are currently expanding our fleet so we could provide them with more flights going to their favorite destinations. As we do this, rest assured, we will stay focused on our passengers’ needs, comfort and security,” he said.

A Modern and Reliable Fleet

Zest Air acquired its new Airbuses during the last quarter of 2011, giving the airline a total of 11 planes to its name. The new planes were chosen for its modern technology, comfort and safety. With the additional planes, the airline can now fly more passengers to more destinations. The

Airbus 320 (A320) can carry from 162 to 180 passengers per flight while the Airbus 319 (A319) can carry up to 144 passengers. The Modern Ark 60 has a maximum passenger capacity of 56. Zest Air’s ninth Airbus 320 is scheduled to be ferried to Manila within November.

As part of its long term plans and continuous expansion, Zest Air plans to acquire additional aircraft on top of its existing fleet which consists of seven A320s, one A319 and three MA60s. The airline is also mulling over the acquirement of 2 B-777s for its intended long haul flight to the Middle East by 2012.

Flying to More Destinations

On the domestic network, with the recent addition of Manila-Cagayan De Oro route last July, Zest Air now flies to a total of 19 domestic destinations. It flies five times daily to Cebu, thrice daily to Davao and twice daily to such popular stops as Manila to Boracay via Kalibo, Iloilo, Tacloban, Tagbilaran and Puerto Princesa. Zest Air also has regular flights from Bacolod, Legazpi, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Masbate, Marinduque and San Jose in Occidental Mindoro. Zest Air flies to four international flights and take passengers from Kalibo to Incheon, Pusan, Taipei and from Cebu to Incheon and Shanghai. Zest Air has been flying to and from Kalibo and

Incheon since December 21, 2010, and twice weekly to and from Shanghai since January 24, 2011. It won’t be long before passengers from such places as the Republic of Palau, Singapore, Bahrain and Dammam get their chance to fly direct to many of the Philippines’ best tourist destinations.

Additional International Routes

This year, the company also inaugurated two new flights: the Cebu to Shanghai route and the Kalibo to Taipei route. More international destinations will be opened in the near future. Zest Air is as well preparing for the following additional international flights out of Manila by 2012 such as Manila-Incheon flight, ManilaShanghai, Manila-Kuala Lumpur and Manila- Jinjiang direct flights.

Comfortable and Safe Flights

Customers who fly via Zest Air are in for a refreshing journey as the airline’s highly efficient and diversified professional team ensures the safety, comfort and security of all its passengers on board. Zest Air boasts of a roster of pilots, considered to be one of the best in the aviation industry. The skills and expertise of these flying aces are the very backbone of each mounted flight. They continuously undergo rigorous training to keep themselves abreast of the latest aviation technological enhancements. To strengthen its customer service, there are the

DoT and RLC partner to spur local tourism

T

he Department of Tourism (DoT) and Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to help the agency in its advocacy to promote domestic tourism.

The DoT was represented by Undersec-

retary Maria Victoria Jasmin and RLC by senior vice president and general manager Arlene Magtibay. Other officials from both parties were witnesses to the signing held at the Robinsons Place in Ermita, Manila.

Under the agreement, RLC will be pro-

MOA principal signatories are DoT Undersecretary Maria Victoria Jasmin (second from left) and RLC senior vice president and general manager Arlyn Magtibay. Witnesses are DoT Office of Tourism Information officer in charge Evelyn Macayayong (leftmost) and RLC senior vice president s Lourdes Alano and Tommy O.

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

viding tourism information stands in 17 select Robinsons malls all over the country where destination promotional materials and tourism event schedules may be displayed.

This will continue for a period of three years.

“We have joined forces with Robinsons as part of the thrust of this administration through public-private partnerships or PPP in the promotion of destinations in the Philippines,” said Jasmin. “With this collaboration, we are bringing tourism closer to the people who frequent the malls.”

Magtibay ventured that this is their company’s way of supporting domestic tourism.

“As distribution channel for tourism information, we are further encouraging Filipinos, especially our mall goers to visit our own country which is teeming with beautiful places. There are a lot of adventures waiting to be explored,” she said.

airline’s ever-smiling and accommodating flight attendants who are always on hand to assist and address the needs of tourists and business travelers. At Zest Air, the friendly and competent cabin crew makes sure that customers are treated like kings and queens. Overhead compartments afford passengers ample space to stow away their bags. Seats are comfortable and the aisles are very spacious. Even toilets are such that they would probably make passengers feel right at home.

The Choice of the Stars

Zest Air is fast becoming the airline choice of the stars. More and more celebrities are discovering the newest and most refreshing way to fly as they experienced the airline’s modern and cozy Airbus aircrafts, efficient cabin crew and impeccable service.

To help spread the good word about Zest Air are its celebrity brand ambassadors: the lovely actress, commercial model and singer Rhian Ramos; fast-rising actor Aljur Abrenica; and the newest additions to the list who are yet to be announced by early next year.

Get quick access to Zest Air’s latest travel promos, fares and flight schedules; join the airline’s official Facebook fan page www. facebook.com/ZestAir. For inquiries and reservations, contact (+63 2) 855-3333 or visit www.zestair.com.ph. U

Meanwhile, then DoT Secretary Alberto A. Lim expressed appreciation for this cooperation, noting that private sector firms are becoming more aggressive and supportive of the Department’s local tourism efforts.

He said: “This is one example of public-private sector collaboration that will accelerate growth of the domestic market base. Taking from the results of the 2009 Household Survey on Domestic Visitors done by the National Statistics Office and the DoT, out of the 22.8 million Filipinos 15 years old and over who traveled for any purpose within the country from April to September 2009, 7.8 million traveled for pleasure or vacation.

This shows that the potential market is huge.

With support on information dissemination, availability of affordable tour packages and improvement of transportation infrastructure, the industry will see an upsurge in domestic travel.”

A week-long exhibit featuring the country’s top tourist destinations was also launched in the same venue. U

7

Directions

Davao teams up with Marco Polo Parkside Hotel Beijing The Davao delegation with DoT Beijing staff at the Marco Polo Parkside Hotel during the Davao Cultural Festival launch: (Back row, from left) Ruby Ochoa, Davao Regional Tourism Council; Eden David, DoT Davao; Arnold King, Good Fortune Travel Centre; Alex Divinagracia, Global Wings Travel and Tours; chef Gene Gonzalez, CACS; Warren Palacio, DoT Beijing; (Front row, from left) Jazmin Esguerra, tourism attache , DoT Beijing; Maryann Montemayor, Davao Regional Tourism Council; Agnes Gupalor, CebuPacific Air Davao; and Art Boncato, Regional Director, DoT Davao. The delegation also included Leni Castillo, Davao Eco-crafts and Chamber of Commerce, and Stella Arnaldo, columnist of BusinessMirror newspaper (not in photo).

“From Islands to Highlands” was the theme of the recent Davao Cultural Festival held at the Marco Polo Parkside Beijing Hotel as part of the Philippine marketing campaign in the People’s Republic of China.

Organized by the Department of Tourism Southern Mindanao, the festival introduced Beijing residents to the distinct cultural heritage and tourism attractions of the Davao Region.

“Through this festival, we presented the colors and rhythms of our ethnic dances and music, the exciting and refreshing

flavors of our cuisine, the quality of our ecofriendly local handicrafts, the enchanting flora and fauna, and the multi-ethnicity and natural warmth of the Davaoeños. All these make up the extraordinary tourism offerings of Davao which we shared with our Chinese friends in this capital city of more than 19 million people,” said Regional Director Arturo Boncato, Jr., who was formerly the executive assistant manager of Marco Polo Davao Hotel.

The Marco Polo Parkside is a 315-suite spa hotel located in the nerve-center of

Beijing and near the China International Convention Center, North Star Shopping Mall and the Bird’s Nest Stadium, host to the 2008 Olympic Games. Its present general manager, Stanley Lau, managed the Marco Polo Davao Hotel, Mindanao’s first and only international deluxe hotel, for six years before being assigned to Beijing.

Filipino celebrity chef Gene Gonzalez and his crew at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies featured authentic Davao cuisine including durian ice cream and Davao cheeses as well as other Philippine dishes during the three week-long food festival.

The Kalumon Performing Ensemble presented ethnic Davao music and dances during lunch and dinner shows. The ensemble was a special guest performer

during celebrations at the Philippine Embassy for the diplomatic corps and the Filipino community.

In cooperation with the Davao Tourism Regional Council, Davao Eco-Crafts and the Center for Asian Culinary Studies Davao (CACS), the Davao Cultural Festival was co-sponsored by Cebu-Pacific Air. The Department of Tourism office in Beijing led by tourism attaché Jasmin Esguerra assisted during travel presentations to the Chinese media and travel trade.

This well-received Davao activity in Beijing resulted in coverage by Chinese broadcast media and a cover feature story in a Chinese MICE magazine. A familiarization trip to Davao for selected Beijing tour operators and media personnel follows in 2012 which is being organized by DoT Beijing in cooperation with DoT Davao, the Davao Tourism Regional Council and Cebu-Pacific Air. U

Second International Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge promises to be more fun

T

he Department of Tourism, through its Davao Regional Office (DoT Region XI) and the municipal government of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, recently launched the Second International Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge slated for April 28 to 29, 2012.

“Davao boasts of fun ‘Islands to Highlands’ Adventures that will take you from the white sand beaches, breathtaking island destinations, scenic mountain ranges, to plunging waterfalls and more,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez in a statement. “Mount Apo, the highest peak in the country, is one of them.”

Dubbed as one of the toughest adventure races of the Philippines, the competition is a 24-hour extreme challenge for up to 35 participating teams. It will start from the beach lines of Santa Cruz, as participants navigate themselves through the town’s tough trails and raging rivers, scale the boulder face of Mount Apo and culminate in the skyline of the country’s highest mountain.

For four consecutive years, the conduct of the Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge has made the Davao Region the leading destination for eco-adventure tourism.

It will be running on its fifth year as a local competition and second year as an international race.

“We certainly welcome both our international and local tourists, who will come over and experience this exhilarating

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

From left: Gregorio Jabonillo, vice president; AboitIz Power Corporation; Joel Ray Lopez, mayor of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur; DOT XI Regional Director Art Boncato; and James Anthony Lopez, communications officer, San Miguel Corporation.

extreme sports challenge. As they race their way to complete this journey, they will surely have fun seeing all the sights in Davao and in Mount Apo, at the same time experience the warmth of the Filipino people,” added Secretary Jimenez.

This extreme sports adventure will entail four disciplines: mountain biking, trekking, white water tubing and road running. The race is open to teams with three members (two racers and one logistics crew member) each.

The Mount Apo Boulder Face Challenge aims to create awareness among outdoor and sports enthusiasts and the people on the importance of conserving the environment, cultivating the value of sportsmanship and the spirit of camaraderie, and developing a lasting peace and order situation in Mindanao through sports.

Major supporters include event coordinator ROX (Recreational Outdoor eXchange) Philippines, Aboitiz Power Corporation, San Miguel Corporation, Hi

Primer Group of Companies, Zest Air and Columbia Sportswear.

“It’s more fun in the Philippines, and especially in Davao, as the Second International Boulder Face Challenge promises to be an unforgettable adventure experience,” said DoT Region XI Director Art Boncato.

To participate, one may register online at http://www.boulderface.com. U

9

Home THE PHILIPPINE TRAVELLER Volume 2, Number 1 March-April 2012 ISSN Number 2094-7941

EDITORIAL Roel Hoang Manipon Editor in Chief

Gesel P. Mangilit Managing Editor

Neil Mariano

Creative Director

Ava Marie Lorraine Cruz Editorial Assistant

Donald Tapan

Chief Photographer

Teodoro Pelaez

Contributing Photographer

Carmi Tunay Staff Writer

Reinerio A. Alba Bernard Supetran

Contributing Writers

Chiqui Talabis

Advertising Sales Manager

ADMINISTRATIVE Celestino Untal Jr. Chairman

Maria Evelyn C. Untal

Publisher/Managing Director

ASEAN Green Hotel... From page 6

Editor’s Note The most talked about tourism issue of recent is the new tourism campaign and slogan. Now more than ever, it seems tourism campaigns and slogans are much anticipated. When they roll out, they draw immediate reaction.

Maybe, Filipinos now are more conscious about how they project themselves to the world. With growing fascination with travel around the country as evidenced by the number of travel blogs that attract readers, more people have become instantly travel experts, voicing opinion on tourism plans. Because there are outlets such as blogs and Facebook, reactions are immediate and louder.

When then Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim launched in November 2010 the slogan “Pilipinas Kay Ganda (Philippines What a Beauty),” reactions were incendiary. It received much flak. Prominent comments included there was no consultation with stakeholders, that it was unimaginative and uninspired, and its similarity with Poland’s tourism logo. The campaign was immediately scrapped out. When advertising veteran Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. took the tourism helm, one of his first efforts was to formulate a new tourism campaign that will replace the old but every effective Wow Philippines campaign. Early this year, the Department of Tourism revealed the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. It is conceptualized by the same agency that conceptualized the Wow Philippines: More Than the Usual campaign, thus it feels like a rehash or update of that campaign. It’s a proven successful campaign. So there’s no harm in updating and rehashing it. Again, there were reactions. Many were negative.

With a music video that reeks of pop culture and the cultural that becomes pop, the campaign is a confused romanticization of the country. The slogan can be easily parodied, spoofed or become a source of sarcasm, such as “Corruption. More Fun in the Philippines,” “Media Killings. More Fun in the Philippines,” “Traffic. More Fun in the Philippines,” which can prove more truthful. Others are aspirational than truthful.

With the way it is being used, the slogan can in danger of getting tired and overused.

One is leery about the other implications of fun, that is, ephemeral and shallow, which you will find in the Philippines. There is danger of trivializing problems, even making it into as symbols of quirkiness and character.

It may become another way of trivializing problems or turning a bad thing into a symbol of cultural quirkiness or character. It almost sounds like the expression “Only in the Philippines,” with resignation and exasperation but with a tinge of pride sometimes. In Netherlands, they are closing prisons for lack of criminals. We wish for the same problem, but what the heck. Prison? More fun in the Philippines. We have “Thriller”-dancing prisoners and prisons complete television and other luxuries.

Anyway, it’s only a slogan. Tourism campaigns?

It’s more fun in the Philippines. We are ready to support it. But, when successful, are we ready to accept more tourists, with the lack infrastructures, the disorderliness, etc.? A slogan is only a slogan.

Roel Hoang Manipon

Rhea Villareal

Head of Administration and Operations

Strategic Minds Marketing Advertising and Marketing

Logged

Gabriel and Mendoza Legal Counsel

Geraldine Tagaca Credit/Collection

CIRCULATION Aitchito J. Conejos

Circulation/Liaison Officer

Ador Garcia, Jr., immigrant, went to Yosemite National Park in the United States. He had a picture taken with his niece at Shayne at Glacier Point, about 7,000 feet above sea level. He recounts: “We can see the mountains and the waterfalls up here. It is fun to discover and go to places that I thought I can only see in pictures. Now that we have all the time here, we better head straight to the famous landmarks.

Yosemite National Park is one!”

The Philippine Traveller is published bi-monthly by Gusto Publishing, Inc. with business address at 3F Unit T-20, Sunvar Plaza Bldg., 156 Amorsolo St. cor. Arnaiz Ave., Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1200, with telephone numbers (+63 2) 384-6941, (+63 2) 227-6074 and (+63 2) 491-5159; and e-mail thephilippinetraveller@ yahoo.com The publication and its editors assume no responsibility for all manuscripts and photographs submitted. While every reasonable effort is made to verify information, facts and figures, the newspaper and its editors assume no responsibility for errors or misrepresentations that may appear in the publication.

Get a copy of The Philippine Traveller, the newest bi-monthly travel publication dedicated to serve the needs of today’s travelers.

Focused on its goals, The Philippine Traveller keeps pace with the demands of today’s global travel, giving the most comprehensive coverage packed with colorful and fascinating photos and interesting bits of information.

It’s free and handy, and definitely a valuable tool in every traveler’s next destination.

For inquiries and advertisements, call (+63 2) 2276074 / (+63 2) 491-5159/ (+63 2) 384-6941 or email thephilippinetraveller@yahoo.com

10

Jennilyn Cabrera, overseas Filipino worker, went to Lake Tahoe in California. She says: “It’s not my first time to travel abroad, but during day-offs when I get the time to roam around I make sure I don’t miss the chance to visit places like Lake Tahoe. It’s better for me now that it’s snowing!”

Fresh graduate Carolyn Basilio went to Sentosa Park in Singapore. She relates: “In between interviews and job hunting here, my sister and I often go strolling to get rid of our homesickness. It’s only the two of us and we don’t have anyone but each other, so imagine our life with this freedom. But of course, everything is in moderation. Here is a picture of me with Zimba at Sentosa Park last August.”

Romina Rose Talabis, advertising account officer, recently went to Cool Waves Ranch and Waterpark Resort in San Nicolas, Bulacan; and to White Beach in Puerto Galera. She says, “I do not travel much but when I started to travel it becomes my routine especially on weekends. Traveling is my fondest activity. Seeing the greens of our beautiful Mother Nature relaxes and recharges me from the city lifestyle.”

Got any travel photos and stories to share? Send them to thephilippinetraveller@yahoo.com.

spa, reaping numerous awards as best a spa destination and best holistic treatment, among others. It is presently owned and managed by Dieter Scrottmann.

DoT Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. shared their pride as he handed the plaques of recognition to Daluyon and Mandala, received by the Tans and DoT Director Ma. Rica Bueno, respectively.

“We at the DOT will try to provide the support environment that will attract more green investments. Through the TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority), we may be able to extend ample incentives and assist in looking for financing windows to make easy the startup investments into green technology. We want to contribute significantly to the global effort of greening tourism,” Jimenez said.

The ASEAN Green Hotel Awards are held every two years. Its criteria covers environmental policy and activities, use of green products, collaboration with the communities and local organizations, human resources development, solid waste management, energy efficiency, water efficiency, air quality management, noise pollution control, waste water treatment and management and toxic and chemical substance disposal management. U

Tourism outlook strong in face of limited travel advisories: The DoT statement The Department of Tourism (DoT) reports that the Philippines remains as an ideal destination with foreign individuals and groups continuing to arrive. So far, no cancellations have been made. Gleaning from the preceding year’s experience, the series of travel advisories on specific areas and isolated areas did not deter tourists from visiting the country. Fortunately, visitor arrivals reached a record high of 3.9 million, 4.6 percent higher than the target of 3.7 million or 11.2 percent more than 3.5 million in 2010. Moreover, major markets continued to sustain double-digit gains.

The DoT shared this optimism in light of speculations of decreased visits due to the recent United Kingdom travel advisory on limited areas in the South following the kidnapping of two European tourists in Tawi-Tawi on February 1, 2012.

The issuance of travel advisories is part of the regular functions of embassies in line with ensuring the safety and security of their citizens in a foreign country.

For the Philippines, advice against travel to some parts of Mindanao has been constant and common.

The Tawi-Tawi incident is considered unfortunate and could have been avoided had the visitors taken necessary precautions many European tourists usually take in heed of these advisories.

This may be deduced from the DoT studies on Regional Distribution of Travelers. Both 2010 and JanuaryJune 2011 studies show high traffic to destinations in the Nation Capital Region, Region V, Region VI, Region VII and the Cordillera Administrative Region. UK travelers, the top market in the European region, had 52,996 visits to Luzon, 27,480 to Visayas and 3,835 to Mindanao in 2010.

For 2011 (January-June), there were 16,377 visits to Luzon, 14,629 to Visayas and 1,225 to Mindanao. The UK embassy cites that most of these visits were “trouble-free.”

On the other hand, combined visits from the Netherlands and Switzerland reached 47,036 for Luzon, 20,903 for Visayas and 2,423 for Mindanao in 2010. For January-June 2011, Luzon received 18,237, Visayas 11,511 and Mindanao 795.

The DoT hopes for the speedy resolution and release of the Dutch and Swedish nationals with the aggressive efforts mounted by national and local authorities.

Meanwhile, the government and the industry vow to strengthen their resolve to ensure the pleasant, safe and secure stay of visitors.

This year, the country is bullish to receive 4.2 million visitors with the new brand campaign fully rolled out and full support extended by government and private sector on infrastructure development, destination/product development and management, and investments in and quality improvement of facilities and services. U

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Destination

Catanduanes

Beyond the Howling Wind Text and Photos by Bernard L Supetran

The popular Puraran Beach

W

hoever nicknamed the charming island province of Catanduanes “Land of the Howling Wind” definitely needs a crash course in Advertising 101.

Not only is it the surest way to discourage potential tourists and investors, it is also an un-cool way of highlighting the age-old scourge of the local folks. For Catandunganons who have been bearing the brunt of nature’s fury since time immemorial, storms are very much unlike a Hollywood movie spectacle.

But beyond the howling wind of a perfect storm, Catanduanes today is a tourism frontier which beckons the eternal footloose wanderer. Many true-blue adventurers consider it a diamond in the

The Badas Festival of Baras

rough—it has crude edges but will glitter once polished and inevitably become every girl’s (and wanderlust’s) best friend.

Folks claim that while typhoons still pass through their corridor, the more destructive ones are now as rare as a blue moon. One can only surmise that this is an upside of climate change, as far as they are concerned.

Situated east of the Bicol peninsula, this gem of an island by the Pacific Ocean evokes an air of isolation and curiosity, making it a best-kept secret for decades.

Those unfazed by the fearsome tagline and braved the howling wind found out that Catanduanes is a proverbial “paradise regained” which they hope they can keep to themselves.

Just like the other tourist hotspots in the country, it was the Europeans who put this rugged island on the tourist map when they stumbled on the Majestic Waves in Puraran Beach in the town of Baras.

Considered as the province’s tourist icon and claim to fame, it is so-called because of its long magnificent barrel which is simply lives up to its name—majestic.

Those who want to try their hands, or shall I say, legs, in surfing can go to Tilod,

These ruins of the old capitol building will be transformed into a heritage center of the province

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

a few coves away from Puraran for their initiation to surfing.

However, during the last quarter of the year, the beach is a picture of calm and serenity where families can frolic in its powdery sand and clear water.

The province’s long coastline has gifted its inhabitants with fines beaches and breathtaking capes just like straight out of a movie set.

In the capital town of Virac, there are the beaches of Batag and Igang which are hands-down favorites. Batag is a coralstrewn beach whose charm is enhanced by a rock archway which leads to another quiet cove.

Meanwhile, Igang is home to Twin Rocks Beach Resort which takes pride of two new twin attractions—the zip line and outdoor wall, the only ones in the province.

It also has a swimming pool, clubhouse and amenities which are arguably the best by local standards.

Situated in a cove, the resort is socalled because of the two awesome rock formations. It is also ideal for kayaking because of its tranquil and shallow waters.

Guests can even walk up to the twin rocks at low tide to see them up close.

A short boat ride away from the town of

The Twin Rocks Beach Resort offers a zip line and a wall climbing facility

Bagamanoc is Loran Beach in Panay Island which has unspoiled white sands and tranquil environs. Deriving its name from Long Range Aid to Navigation, the beach was a former American outpost in the 1950s to guide sailing ships in the Pacific. Because of its storied past, it has its own share of beguiling tales to share to beach bums.

Palumbanes Island, situated off the To page 12

11

Destination Catanduanes... From page 11

The Bato Church

town of Caramoran, is an emerging diving site because of its rich marine life.

Because of its rugged terrain, Catanduanes abounds with forests and waterfalls, whose seemingly enchanting cascades and refreshing waters always cast a spell on nature lovers. Maribina Falls in the town of Bato is the most accessible and most frequented because of its shallow multi-layered basin.

Up north, in the town of Gigmoto, Nahulugan Falls boasts of a tall drop which also has three tiers of pools where bathers can soothe their tired muscles.

Just like the typical Bicolano, Catandunganons display a remarkable degree of religiosity evident in the religious spots in the province.

Most notable of these is the Spanish-era Bato Church which has been a bastion of faith in the wind-swept island. Standing proudly by the scenic Bato River, this picturesque baroque church has also become a refuge and bulwark against destructive typhoons.

Deep into the interior barangay of Batalay is the Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Cross, the final resting place of Augustinian Fr. Diego de Herrera who died in the area

12

Luyang Cave

The PAGASA Observatory

in 1576. The ill-fated priest, who journeyed with Spanish conquistadors Legazpi and Urdaneta, is acknowledged as the first Catholic missionary in the province.

Another frequented spot is the Batong Paluway Chapel in San Andres because of the thumbnail-sized river stone bearing the image of the Virgin Mary and is believed to have grown over the years.

Most of the province’s tourist festivals are anchored around town fiestas to effectively incorporate merrymaking with the spirit of religious thanksgiving.

A must-see historic place is the Luyang Cave Park in San Andres where scores of locals where choked to death in the 17th century by Moro pirates by burning red pepper. The more intrepid souls can trek the cave which will lead to a clearing a few

hundred meters away.

And before heading home, it may be of interest to visit the PAGASA weather observatory in Bato, which somehow gave it the unenviable reputation of being a reference point for typhoons.

Beyond the howling wind, Catanduanes is a rough gem but glittering just the same.

Wait till it gets polished so it will sparkle in all its splendor. U

Local handicrafts

Getting There

Fly to the capital town of Virac via four times weekly flights of Zest Air and Cebu Pacific Air. Also, travelers can fly or take a bus to Legazpi City, then take a bus or van to the Tabaco City port in Albay. From there, take boats for a three-hour voyage to San Andres or Virac.

The miraculous image at Batong Paluway

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Destination

Corregidor

Not Just Another Tadpole of a Story

By Reinerio A. Alba Photos by Roel Hoang Manipon

Ruins of Corregidor’s Topside Barracks (above); Battery Way at Topside (below); and the Sun Cruises tramvia at the entrance of Battery Grubs (below, right)

O

n this writer’s second time to the island after five years, one’s attention flits in and out of the inland transportation called tramvia or the pre-war electric-powered tram, to check on what has changed in the four-mile long island since.

Arriving via the Sun Cruises ferry after a one-and-a-half-hour travel, one quickly takes a mental note of the script being dished out by the tour guide who introduces himself as Edward Gurion: that we have landed in the Middle Side, specifically in the neck area of the tadpole-shaped island (pointing to a laminated map of the island just above the driver’s seat), pointing as we go up to the Top Side, to the former barrios of San Jose and Concepcion, of the Americans soldiers, discussing sea elevation, mentioning the Betlehem Company-manufactured steels that still support the ruins. Gurion also dishes out a joke on the estimated two thousand Philippine long-tailed macaques inhabiting the island, which sometimes grab the bags of some helpless tourist, and

Veteran Corregidor tour guide Edward Guryon thought of forming the Corregidor Adventure Challenge

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

yes, has become so evolved as to become tour guides themselves, before slipping into the topic of ghosts on the island, swearing that he has never once encountered one, taking a dramatic pause and surveying intently the tourists now locked on his next sentence, before finishing off his sentence that it is because he has never gone out on tour at night.

Still grinning from the wispy punch line made by tour guide Gurion, our group excitedly disembarks from the tramvia and find ourselves in the Top Side area where the now postcard regulars batteries Hearn, Smith, Grubbs and Cheney are located.

Awaiting us are the staff of organizer Sun Cruises in black shirts with prints of the Adventure Tour, and around us are red, yellow, green and blue balloons hanging by the trees within the small area where we are herded. The group is here, after all, for the Corregidor Adventure Tour package being offered by Sun Cruises, which operates package tours of and daily ferry trips to Corregidor from the CCP Complex wharf

in Manila. The tour is said to be patterned after The Amazing Race, an American reality series, which allows participants to compete by finding clues and accomplishing tasks while going through the different landmarks in the area and completing it within two and a half hours, depending on the stamina of the group’s members.

The orientation on the said tour continues with Gurion at the megaphone, along with the prompt division of the participants into six groups, the naming of each team, and the prompt stretching exercises for the guests. Each group is then asked to choose a color, and as soon as colors have been designated comes the first order: burst the balloons of your group’s color to get the very first clue. As soon as the start signal is announced, the groups spread out and dash for the nearest balloons that can be yanked free from the trees. The rest, as they say, is an all-out brawn and brains competition around the island, lung powers in full swing and sleepy legs in instant full throttle to explore the island as one has

never explored it before.

Corregidor, which falls under the jurisdiction of the province of Cavite, veritably looks from the map like a lone tadpole swimming in suspended time between the Manila Bay and the South China Sea, its head in the direction of the latter, with the province of Bataan to its north and Cavite to its south. Physically, the island is considered to this day by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology as a potentially active volcano, classifying it as a caldera and its rock type as dacite. The terrain in the Corregidor “head” rises to 628 feet at its highest point, which is also the site where the Spaniards built a lighthouse in the 1830s. According to the Web site http://corregidorisland. com, its name may have been derived from the Spanish word corregir, meaning “to correct,” owing to ships entering Manila Bay being required to stop and have their To page 14

13

Destination Corregidor... From page 13

The Spanish-era lighthouse

documents checked and corrected here, and thus the island was called Isla del Corregidor.

Or that the island was previously used as a penitentiary or correctional institution and came to be called El Corregidor. Historically, under the Spanish rule, Corregidor’s strategic location in the area of Manila Bay has made it the perfect defense point to guard the entrance to Manila and from then on has been promptly fortified by the Spaniards with several coastal artillery and ammunition to thwart enemy attacks in the event of war. Manila, after all, then was the center of Spanish activity in the Far East and completing the Manila–Acapulco galleon trade route linking Latin America and Asia.

Years after the Philippines was ceded

by Spain to the United States in 1898, the island was designated as a U.S. Military Reservation in 1907 with a regular army post established in 1908. Along with the concrete emplacements, bomb-proof shelters and big cannons made by its engineers, Corregidor became a fortress. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December 1941, Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied forces and also the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government, with then President Manuel Quezon seeking refuge in one of the passages in the now tourist-famous Malinta Tunnel.

Corregidor, too, fell under the Japanese attack. It was captured in May 1942 until American soldiers, under the command of General MacArthur, recaptured it in March 1945. And so, time moved on, but today it is precisely this layered past of Corregidor that draws visitors.

Corregidor though does look different, in contrast to views of its key areas in a gallery style aboard a tramvia, when one is practically zipping past the battery shelters, one’s lungs nearly bursting around the now postcard-mainstay twelve-inch guns while keeping ahead of one’s competition, racking up one’s brains for answers to ciphers inside ruins of pre-war buildings, walking and quacking like ducks in a secret tunnel, or seeing emerald doves before being blindfolded next to tackle a patch of land strewn with water-filled plastic cups that serve as labyrinthine posts by the War Memorial, these among the other challenges in the Adventure Tour trail. And yet when the last crucial task has been accomplished and the hunger for lunch satiated back in the restaurant of the Corregidor Hotel, guests do eventually find the island putting back on its historical charm.

A quick freshening up or a nap in one of the 31 rooms of the Corregidor Inn allows visitors a reflective moment on what quietude the island must have offered the original residents of the now de-populated barrio of San Jose. The barrio shares the same location with the hotel, the Bottomside, which as its name suggests is the lowest part of the island at 100 feet above sea level. Sharing this same area now are recent additions such as the Administration Building, Gen. MacArthur Park, San Jose Chapel, Gen. Wainwright Park, and a basketball and tennis court.

From the hotel entrance, once can already

14

see the North Dock, wharf and beach, and at the restaurant, depending on the window side, is a view of either Bataan or Cavite, and from another window the Malinta Tunnel, which brave guests dare explore at night in a tour package that can be availed best by tourists staying a night at the hotel. But before that tour, there is another one that is best taken while there is still sun: a sunset tour on top of a hill at the western end of the island facing the South China Sea. For the sunset tour, the group encounters Gurion again, and it is interesting to hear him repeat the things he said, but this time amidst the fast setting sun, enwrapping his spiels in an altogether different atmosphere, so that when he mentions of ghosts anew, his audience’s eyes begin to scan the forested trail like deer sensing danger. On board are a small group of teenagers who appear to be cousins, and a couple of elderly American women who we would later know to be regular weekend guests of the island, taking the same sunset tour, but having visited the area several times, has also taken to hiking on their

that the building is shaped like a cross when viewed from the air to distinguish the structure from the other buildings in Corregidor. Gurion then gives out a flashlight to each member of the group while saying that most ghosts appear here.

Following his lead, each one gingerly walks up the stairs. Here and there, Gurion flashes a light and talks about the significance of each room, the tour itself akin to going inside a horror house, with two of Gurion’s assistants even managing to spook the hell out of the guests by simply standing in some supposedly empty room. But in one room, as flashlights scan one side of the walls, the horror of a more recent history confronts the visitors as a list of names scribbled in black paint on the walls under the headings “Jabidah’s Holy Satans,” and “7 deadly men who are condeem [sic] without trial,” the heading bookended by a drawing of a revolver, and what passes for a skull and crossbones but which ends up appearing as a ghostly outline of a face over an opened scissors instead. Gurion, explains in not so many words, the infamous Jabidah

Clockwise from top left: Graffiti at the the walls of the hospital ruins attributed to the victims of the Jabidah massacre; the oft-visited Malinta Tunnel; and a night tour of the Malinta Tunnel

own. Arriving at the sunset spot, the elderly couple instantly positions themselves at an apparent favorite spot, before taking out two bottles of strong beer from their small picnic basket, their faces beaming at the fading rays of the sun while gulping down their beers. The young guests in the group begin to take photos of themselves with the sunset as background, and Gurion himself, suggesting poses that allows one to pinch the sun between thumb and forefinger like an orange gumball, and other such visual tricks before the sun itself seems to have slipped into a cloud quicksand until it sinks hapless and voiceless into the sea.

Gurion then motions the group back to the tramvia, carrying on with his animated talk, then telling the group to wave goodbye to the couple of elderly American women as they get off a bend to tackle a short trail up a lone house that seems to have suddenly materialized.

The tramvia proceeds to the Middleside onwards into the darkness until it reaches the Army Hospital, the ruins of a threestory building formerly used as the island’s main medical facility prior to its transfer to Malinta Tunnel. Gurion tells the group

massacre, a story which to the uninformed merely adds to the haunted atmosphere of the place, and on the other hand is a kind of a “eureka” moment for those in the group who have at least heard of the word Jabidah. The story that ran in the March 18, 2008, issue of the Philippine Daily Inquiry recalled that the said massacre involved the 60 Muslim youths (the Centre for Media Freedom and Responsibility places the number from 28 to 64 as opposed to the Moro National Liberation Front count of more than two hundred Muslim trainees) who were recruited for training on guerrilla tactics in preparation in January 3, 1968, for Operation Merdeka, then a covert Philippine military operation during the Marcos administration aimed at reclaiming Sabah as part of its territory. Before dawn on March 18, 1968, these trainees were fired at after an attempt by their group to air their grievances against their training officers. The lone survivor, Jibin Arula, lived to tell the story of that night and was even in attendance that day in 2008, setting foot on Corregidor soil anew 40 years after the said massacre, to witness the unveiling of a marker. The marker was placed on the

wall of a bunker ruins at Kindley Airfield, proximate to the ravine where Arula jumped off to save his life. (Checking the names on the wall much later, one discovers the list as some of the 24 defendants who stood trial for the supposed crime in 1971 but were acquitted).

With the image of the names on the wall still fresh in the group’s minds, the tramvia next unloads the group by the gate of the now starkly desolate Malinta Tunnel, its entrance appearing more like a mouth caught in a scream. There is some jittery feeling when the tramvia leaves the group, the road behind its taillight surrendering to a bluesy light as the tramvia proceeds to go around the area to the other end of the tunnel where it will wait. By the entrance, each is instructed to wear a hard hat and a flashlight. The excitement in Gurion’s voice is as fresh as if he is doing the tour for the first time, sprinkling his information about each significant lateral with anecdotes that make one either look further into the hidden parts of each lateral or smile unabashedly.

That part when the group walks row by row, and arm in arm with one’s buddy, into total darkness within the innermost laterals of the tunnel is one for the book.

After dinner, one’s experience of the island is made more memorable by a walk and a short exploration towards the docking area with the moonlight casting its light on the sea. Standing almost by the edge of the dock, the sea hypnotizes, and one remembers a scene from the Alex Proyas film Dark City. In that scene, the main character John Murdoch learns the hard truth that the Shell Beach he has been dreaming about all his life exists only as a billboard at the edge of the city, a picture that one can, in fact, tear into. Armed with newfound alien powers, he floods the area with water, materializing mountains, land, and in the end the actual beach as he has imagined it.

Setting foot on the island, one realizes that Corregidor is more than just the poster island that tourists include in their oncein-every-two-year visit to this part of the country. Despite the layer of bad memories that one unavoidably confronts in the island, Corregidor remains a beacon of a reminder of what we lost and what we can still lose to war, violence, or plain bad judgment. And that where a bad past haunts, one can also choose to materialize, if not outright peace, at least hope, and, yes, a vow to always keep faith with the good. U

Contact Information

Tours to Corregidor are organized

by Sun Cruises. Visit Web site www. corregidorphilippines.com or contact its reservations office at the CCP Terminal A, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, through telephone numbers (+63 2) 831-8140 and (+63 2) 834-6857 to 58, fax number (+63 2) 834-1523, or e-mail address suncruises@magsaysay.com. ph; its sales office at the 21st floor, Times Plaza Building, Ermita, Manila, through telephone number (+63 2) 527-5555 locals 4511 and 4512, fax number (+63 2) 527-5555 local 4513, or e-mail address sales@suncruises.com.ph; or Corregidor Inn on Corregidor Island through mobile number +63917-5276350 or e-mail address corregidor_inn@suncruises.com.ph.

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Destination Oysters are harvested from these farms in Roxas City

Fresh catch from the sea are dried daily and shipped to Manila

C

apiz is known as a culinary destination. Called the seafood capital of the country, tourists visit the province to savor the best oysters in Roxas City and enjoy a smorgasbord of fresh catch from the sea.

Today, Capiz is fast becoming one of the top destinations for eco-tourism because of the many caves and waterfalls found in the province, not to mention the mangrove forests that are prolific fishing grounds and home to fish and wildlife. To date, there are three mangrove forests being developed by the provincial government for its ecotourism initiatives, one of them covering around 85,000 hectares of land.

Capiz claims seven caves within its 16 municipalities and, together with Negros Island, accounts for almost 22 percent of the 1,500 caves found in the Philippines. It is for this reason that spelunkers have taken interest in the caves of Capiz, not only for the beautiful rock formations and tunnels that branch out inside the caves creating a network of more caves but also for their historical significance.

Next to Cebu, Capiz is the second largest Spanish settlement, and during the war the caves are hideouts for Filipino revolutionaries. Juan Arce, Capiz’s greatest revolutionary, died during battle with Spanish soldiers inside Balisong Cave in Pilar.

Caving in Capiz In pre-Hispanic times, the Pintados, as they were called by the Spaniards, worshipped the gods inside the caves. The babaylans, a group of elders highly regarded in the community, became such a threat to the Spanish edict to establish Christianity in the islands that a plan was hatched to discredit them in the form of a legend called aswang.

Today, Capiz has veered away from the legend of the aswang but guests from Manila would still ask about it the moment they set foot in Capiz. We had to ask since first in our itinerary would be a visit to the caves of Dumalag. As one tourism officer laughingly said, if the aswang really existed, Capiz will inch out Aklan’s Boracay and triple its tourist arrival in no time.

Located in the Western Visayas Region,

The gaping entrance to the Suhot Caves

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

at the northeastern portion of Panay Island, with Aklan and Antique to the west and Iloilo to the south, Capiz sits at the heart of central Panay. Only Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have direct flights to Roxas City, the main gateway to the province, and since we were flying via Zest Air we landed at the Kalibo airport first then took a cab to Roxas City. From there, we took an express van ride passing by the municipalities of Ivisan, Sapian and Sigma.

There is a very good network of roads connecting the seven municipalities of Capiz and a junction leads to Iloilo, just two hours away. Our rendezvous with tourism officer Dino Actobanio in Sapian would be at the talabahan. From there he took us to Dumalag, popular in Capiz because of its two caves, Suhot Cave and Spring and Lahab Cave.

There are other caves in Capiz such as the Suhotan Caves in Jamindan, which has several multi-layered chambers, some as big as cathedrals. In Mambusao is what locals would call the Kipot Hilton, the main chamber of which is as big as a hotel ballroom, reached by crawling through a three-foot opening. There are probably more, still undocumented and unexplored, and it is with great anticipation that our group headed off to explore and experience what Capiz has to offer in terms of adventure ecotourism.

There are many stories about how Dumalag got its name but the most popular is the story about a misunderstanding between a Spaniard and a fisherman.

During the summer, the dead leaves of the trees that fell on the river made the water yellow. One morning, a fisherman was fishing when his wife arrived to pry. Her husband had caught only a few, and when she asked why the fisherman said he could not see the hiding place of the fish because the water had turned yellow (dumalag in the local language). Just then a Spaniard arrived asking about the name of the place.

The fisherman, believing that the stranger

By G. Pereyra Photos by Teddy Pelaez

asked the same question his wife asked earlier, answered, “Dumalag.”

Suhot Cave and Cold Spring in the barangay of Dolores has a newly built sevenroom accommodation for overnighters and a number of huts which may be rented for day excursions. Before the building was built, the caves and spring were the main attraction, drawing excursionists from as far as Iloilo.

“During the Holy Week, a group of manggagamot or albularyos from Iloilo City would go inside the cave from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday. They would drink only water to sustain themselves. It is believed that the cave possesses energy that renews the healing powers of these albularyos,” said Leah Gialogo, Dumalag tourism officer designate.

The place got the name from suhot, which means “lumusot” or “to go under,” because the cave is very long and it is believed to have a connecting tunnel leading to another cave six kilometers away called the Badiang Cave, located in the middle of the dense jungle of neighboring town of Dumarao. The cave used to have a small opening in the old days and served as a makeshift hospital during the Japanese occupation. At 18 kilometers, the Suhot Cave is one of the longest in the country but only two kilometers have been explored so far.

“Few have tried to go explore the length and breadth of the caves because you can get lost inside. There is a spot there that branches out into more channels, going deep into God knows where. One thing we know for sure is that one channel exits to the municipality in Dumarao, as some of the locals have tried it. It took them seven days,” said Gialogo.

A curiosity is a swimming hole or an underwater cave from which a steady flow of water springs forth, located at the mouth of Suhot Cave. We crossed a footbridge and To page 16

15

Destination Caving in Capiz... From page 15

Cottages at the Suhot Cave and Spring Resort

Provincial tourism staff at the Suhot Cave and Spring Resort

looked down at the small opening and saw water gushing from it. We initially thought it was the water that had come down from the mountains because of the rains that day, but the guide said there is an underground river there.

“No one knows how deep it goes, but in the summer the water is very clear, and people in the old days who bath in the waters of Suhot have said that the water can heals skin diseases,” said Danny Firmalino, one of the long-time residents of Dumalag and a relative of the previous town mayor.

The Firmalinos are direct descendants of Don Tomas Frial, one of the wealthy landowners in Dumalag in the 1800s. A marker at the entrance of the Suhot Cave bears the name Jose Firmalino as the one who donated the Suhot Cave to the Department of Tourism under the administration then congressman Fredenil Castro.

Kuya Danny, as he is known in Dumalag, told us stories about the mysticism that surrounds the Suhot Caves and the Lahab Cave.

“Our house was built near the river before this property was donated to the

16

government, and my sister, who is now deceased, would tell us that early morning at two she would hear a cacophony of sounds from the riverbanks, people laughing with pots and pans clanging as if food was being prepared for a grand feast.

She would venture out from our hut and see nothing. This happened thrice,” he shared.

It is believed that there exists a kingdom inhabited by mystical creatures from right inside the small cave from which the water flows.

“Back in the 1970s only one house here had a television set so people would flock to the house. To get there and back, you need to cross the river. There was no footbridge yet; we would roll up our pants up to our knees so it wouldn’t get wet. One night, it was dark when we headed home that night so before we crossed the bridge we did what we always did, rolled up our pants.

What surprised us was that when we got to the other side, our legs were dry,” he said.

Many have tried to explore the mountain near the Suhot Cave, which is accessible by a stairwell constructed by the local government. Some people from the

tourist department of Capiz had been up the mountain and said the view is amazing when you look down from the summit. Leah said there are beautiful rock formations and wild monkeys and deer. Balinsasayaw, a bird that lives inside the caves, whose nests are highly priced because it is main ingredient for nido soup, abounds in the mountain. The selling of nests is prohibited to preserve the caves and the exotic bird. Leah said the nests sell for Php12,000 per kilogram.

Guided tours are allowed up the mountain but only for the fit and strong.

“It is relatively safe but we discourage visitors, even the locals, to venture out on their own because up the mountain there are also caves measuring 10 to 35 feet deep that people, especially those unfamiliar to the terrain, can fall into,” said Danny.

Suhot Cave, he added, is actually a chain of interconnected caverns of different sizes, and one mountain climber had fallen into one of the holes.

“I was among those who helped in the recovery effort. The man had fallen 200

meters into the cave, and we had a hard time getting him out,” shared Danny.

Summer would be the best time to explore the caves. We did not get inside the caves, much to our regret because it was raining heavily that day. Flash floods inside the caves have been known to occur during the rainy season. Even the river water, pristine in the summer, had turned murky.

Lahab Cave, in the barangay of San Miguel, also in Dumalag, is popular for its stalactites and stalagmites, some seemingly human-like in proportion. Of particular interest is a group of stalagmites facing what resembles an altar in one area of the cave. Local lore has it that Dumalag was once the richest town in Capiz, and the wealthy would come to church dressed in finery and jewelry to show off when they worship inside the caves. The gods, angry at the ostentatious display of wealth, put a curse on the women and men and turned them to stone.

All the stories you hear from the locals would add color and excitement to your spelunking experience in Dumalag but nothing would prepare you for the moment you step inside the caves and see with your own eyes its beauty. The arched ceilings are covered with prismatic crystals that flash and twinkle while pools of cool water make it ideal for swimming. Its side walls are solid strontium, an alloy used in the manufacture of fireworks.

A number of professional cavers have explored the caves in Dumalag, including the Western Visayas Caving Association, a group of Filipino cavers who have found a new species of frog and insect in the caves. A few foreign spelunkers have also visited Capiz, and the local government is banking on their expertise to further document the other undiscovered caves in the province. Next year, the town will host a caving convention, where a number of the country’s spelunkers will congregate, further promoting the caves and its preservation.

“Three days, would not be enough to explore the many attractions of Capiz. A week perhaps,” said Gialogo, as she took us on a tour of the Suhot Caves and the new building which will serve as our lodging.

We spent the night in the cozy comfort of one of the resort’s deluxe rooms, with rain pelting the windows and the refreshing mountain air blowing from our balcony.

The next two days had us going through myriad activities, among them a tour of Roxas City, dining by the river and a visit to the old churches in Panay Island. U

Mangrove forests abound in Capiz

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Stopover Meteora is a fusion of Greek and Ilocano architecture

Discovering Meteora Tagaytay

I

t was a pleasant Sunday afternoon in Tagaytay City, Cavite. The sky was slightly overcast and the breeze a little chilly when I opened my car window.

I navigated the winding road downhill and almost missed the whitewashed building at the turn, if not for the dome-shaped structure that looked like an observatory and the small earthen jar that stood at the entrance bearing the name Meteora.

I realized I was somewhere special as I looked past the antique wooden door and saw the life-size Sabel by National Artist BenCab, the only one of its kind, standing guard. Solid timber floorboards creaked beneath my feet as I was ushered into the first guestroom on the second floor, where sunlight streamed through capiz windows, casting an orange glow on the bed covered with Iloco abel fabric. Stairs made of San Esteban stones led down to the adjoining living and dining areas, where a mural by Tony Leano served as backdrop. Emerald green and blue, the soothing colors of the Aegean Sea, echoed all throughout the decorative items in the living room. Cobaltblue stoneware plates and bowls by artist Lanelle Abueva added a splash of color to white-on-white walls. Ilocos furnishing blended well with memorabilia from travels to Greece, Turkey and Morocco.

Built almost a decade ago by St. Luke’s Medical Center director Dr. Joven Cuanang as a vacation home, this unique retreat was inspired by a Byzantine monastery in Athens, Greece. Housed within its walls are most of the owner’s collection of antiques

and works of contemporary Philippine artists such as Mark Justiniani, Elmer Borlongan, Tony Leano, Jose Santos III and Manny Garibay, members of the legendary Salingpusa collective Dr. Cuanang nurtured in his other residences in Antipolo (now the site of Silangan and Pinto galleries) and New Manila (Boston Gallery). Dr. Cuanang also owns Sitio Remedios Heritage Village in Currimao, Ilocos Norte.

The outer landscape features white columns and cement and stone tables seemingly carved out of rock; petrified wood serve as chairs and accent pieces. A flight of steep stairs lead down to the property where the annex is located, which has a small room that can fit at least two people. All around bougainvillea, yellow hibiscus and agave add color and charm to an otherwise stark surroundings.

With its unimpeded view of the Taal Volcano and lake against the backdrop of Mount Makiling and Banahaw, Meteora Tagaytay is the perfect weekend escape, a refuge from the madding crowd where

the bird songs are the only sound to break the silence. The place has an otherworldly quality to it where, surrounded by nature and beautiful works of art, one can spend the whole day in quiet contemplation. Reached by an hour drive from Manila, it is far enough yet accessible, making it an idyllic place for romantic weddings and intimate gatherings.

Fortunately, the owner has decided to share its attractions to the public. This tworoom bed and breakfast inn and its annex may be rented out for small groups of up

Text and Photos by Gesel Mangilit to ten adults. Events and parties can also be scheduled such as sit-down dinners for 24 persons or cocktails for fifty. U

Contact Information

Meteora is located at Ligaya Drive (Talisay Road), Sungay East, 4120 Tagaytay City. Entry to the property is strictly by prior arrangement; walk-in guests will not be entertained. Call Josue Raymond Barona at 0917-3320217 or email jrcb_barona@yahoo.com.ph for inquiries and reservations and directions to Meteora.

Dive Resort Philippines

The verandah overlooking Taal Volcano and Lake is an idyllic place for romantic weddings

Sabang Beach / Puerto Galera / Oriental Mindoro English Ver.: http://www.cocktaildivers.com/ German Ver.: http://www.cocktaildivers.de/ E-Mail: jr@cocktaildivers.de

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

17

Stopover

Feel Right at Home at the

Malayan Plaza Serviced Residences

I

From left: the lobby, buffet breakfast at the restaurant and the twin room

t is hard to miss the monolithic structure that straddles two of the busiest streets in the Ortigas business district. The Malayan Plaza does seem imposing with its cold steel facade but the interior emanates warmth, its muted tones of brown and cream a nod to understated Neo-Asian design and sensibilities. A massive lion statue stands guard at the entrance, and a gurgling water fountain catches your attention as soon as you approach the reception where attentive staff awaits.

Managed by Quantum Hotels, Malayan Plaza is one of the many hotels and residences the expert chain of hotels has under its wings, along with BSA Tower and BSA Suites in Makati City and the newly opened Ritz Hotel at the Garden Oases in Davao City. Strategically located right

smack in the busy Ortigas business district, at the doorstep of multinational companies and business establishments, it is one of the most sought-after serviced residences by business travelers and expatriates on short and extended assignments in Manila. Homey yet spacious, each room is furnished with a built-in kitchen, dining area, living space and for added security a safety deposit box and a video entry phone.

“Ortigas is one of the busiest areas in the Manila, and because of its proximity to the commercial area security is one of our main concerns. We take great care that each guest feels right at home and safe most especially. We are also fortunate that despite the fact there are quite a number of five-star hotels in the area, we have a steady rate of occupancy mainly because a serviced

DR. ELTON SEE TAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE E-HOTEL MAKATI; BROTHER NEMIE JOSIAH, PRESIDENT OF GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES MAKATI CITY CAMP; AND RICHARD TAMONDONG, THE E-HOTEL MAKATI’S RESIDENT MANAGER.

For inquiries and reservations, call the e-hotel makati at 478-3280, or you may visit its web site at

www.ehotelsgroup.com

residence offers better convenience and value-for-money. We intend to keep it that way,” says hotel manager Melisse Salvano.

The mixed-use hotel has a steady flow of corporate clients from the city center and foreign guests, mostly Asians, who have found a home away from home within the hotel’s Asian-inspired ambience.

All 124 rooms of the hotel are spacious yet intimate cocoons for individual business travelers to relax and unwind in after a hard day’s work, or for families looking to bond over the weekend. Guests may opt for a self-contained studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom residence, which come fully furnished with a kitchen, beds, loungers and furnishings of elegant dark wood. A flat screen TV comes with a DVD player, and there is in-room WiFi access. Four high-speed lifts carry guests with ease and efficiency while its ten-level area offers ample parking space. A helipad provides A-list guests with an option to beat the land traffic that has become a staple of every bustling city and emerging market in this part of Asia. A 30-person capacity function room and a lobby lounge with a sweeping view of the cityscape located at the 32nd and 33rd floors come with a garden deck and pool access and can be rented out for business and social events. A gym, fourfoot pool and jogging path allow guests to squeeze in time for relaxation and fitness in their busy schedules. The hotel even has provisions for children by way of a spacious air-conditioned playroom, a kiddie pool and mini playground for outdoor play.

The apartment’s Q Bistro, simple yet elegantly decorated in relaxing yellow and earth tones, serves delectable Asian, Filipino, Continental and fusion cuisines either buffet or ala carte style. A must-try is their Adobo sa Mangga, served on a bed of steaming hot rice. Cap the meal with

Toblerone cheesecake and roast coffee while you surf the net with their free WiFi access or while reading the latest issues of magazines and dailies in a rack tucked at the corner of the restaurant. For other dining options, you don’t have to look far.

Walk a little further and you find shopping, dining and entertainment centers such as SM Megamall, The Podium and ShangriLa Plaza Mall. The Ortigas MRT station will take you to more establishments like Robinson’s Galleria and the Greenhills Shopping Center, the Mecca of bargain shopping in the country.

While maintaining a steady client base of business travelers, Malayan Plaza is setting its sights on weekend vacationers.

To boost sales, associate director for sales Maileen Liao says the Malayan Plaza offers promotional rates for midweek and weekend guests that include a stay at any of the special rooms along with buffet meals at Q Bistro and movie tickets at the SM Cinemas.

Malayan Plaza has much to offer in terms of satisfying the needs and wants of its guests. Whether working in the city or enjoying a weekend or extended vacation, one is sure to find a place one can call a home away from home within its luxurious cocoons of comfort. U

Contact Information

Malayan Plaza Serviced Apartments is located at ADB Avenue corner Opal Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, and may be contacted through telephone numbers +(63 2) 706-0055 and fax (+63 2) 635-2969. Their corporate office is located at Suite 21-D, Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, with telephone number (+63 2) 864-0941 and fax (+63 2) 891-1524. Email malayansales@ quantumsuites.com or check out their Web site at www.themalayanplazahotel.com.ph.

The e-hotel makati, a new boutique hotel which recently opened its doors to business travelers, had its bible offering activity done by gideons international.

The e-hotel makati has elegant guest rooms and suites, a restaurant and a lounge. Its restaurant offers a wide array of californian/mediterranean cuisine.

The hotel has an opening promo room rate of php4,000 net inclusive of breakfast for two.

Experience space, comfort and warm hospitality at the e-hotel makati, which is conveniently located at 906 a. Arnaiz avenue (formerly pasay road), san lorenzo village, makati city.

The swimming pool

18

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Detour Glass-top dining table and all-glass display cabinet

The Way to

Urbane Living T

oday’s architectural trends call for high ceilings. What was once the standard building design for luxury hotels and office structures has also become the norm for city residences. Besides giving a vision of space, high ceilings make a house cooler and feel grander.

Most suburban homes opt for highceilinged living rooms where a highlight window allows for more natural lighting.

Have you ever wondered how homeowners adjust the curtains or blinds? Technology and a little ingenuity have come up with a nifty solution—a remote-controlled “motorized” curtain.

The revolutionary motorized curtains top-bill the contemporary line of Italiandesigned office and home furniture at the spanking La Vida Verde Home Furnishing store. To shut out the afternoon glare or nosy neighbors, one can now open and close heavy drapes, floor-length blinds, fancy shades and other window coverings with a mere press of a button. Motorized curtains are also perfect for rooms installed with a home theater system!

There is absolutely no need to turn around to point the device at a window.

Running on a single, replaceable 3V lithium button cell, the high-powered motorized curtain works even from a distance of up to 50 feet. Although imported, La Vida Verde’s all-aluminum motorized curtains are priced very much lower than the prevailing rate offered by the handful of suppliers currently in the market.

The mechanism works for both curtains and blinds. At La Vida Verde, fabrics for

the curtains are sourced from Turkey and Germany while the blinds are manufactured locally. Print designs number more than 300 (for fabrics) and over 60 (for both polyester and fabric blinds). Solid colors, paisleys, dainty floral prints, geometric and brocade patterns are just some of the many choices available to customers.

Believing that a relation with a customer does not end with a sale, La Vida Verde takes pride in its exceptional after-sales service to satisfy its growing number of clientele.

Motorized curtains, stylish office and home furniture and fixtures found in La Vida Verde showrooms in Parañaque and Bonifacio Global City are all covered by a product warranty. A newly opened store located at 777 Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila, exclusively offers motorized curtains and blinds.

The birth of La Vida Verde

Four years ago, after purchasing several real estate properties for personal use, the Chu family were dismayed with the quality of some of the furniture and window treatments they purchased to decorate their home. After ending frustrated with the poor (or lack of) after-sales service from the furniture stores, the Chu family decided to put up their own. And together with Hong Kong-based partners, La Vida Verde Home Furnishing Corporation was born.

The first La Vida Verde Home store-cumshowroom opened on a 800-square meter property located at 8174-B, Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Sucat, Paranaque. Here, you’ll find a sophisticated array of furniture and fixtures

Six layers of paint and hand polishing make Dickson furniture a standout

A press of a button shuts out the afternoon glare

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

The Dickson lounge chair, ergonomically-designed for a perfect body contour fit with adjustable magnetic head rest

to dress up cosmopolitan homes and upscale private offices. A second store at 2A Crescent Park Residences, 2nd Avenue corner 30th Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, exclusively carries classy and chic home furnishings perfect for condo living.

La Vida Verde carries the well-known Dickson brand of finely crafted, modern home and office furniture. Designs are based on aesthetics, practicality and durability, with materials sourced from Italy and all over the world.

“Definitely the items at La Vida Verde exhibit the same sleek lines, stylish designs and high quality generally found in modern Italian furniture pieces at prices minus the cost of shipping!,” says La Vida Verde president Malou Doles.

A must-have for a bachelor’s pad is the Dickson lounge chair, a body contourperfect, leather reclining seat with adjustable magnetic head rest. Superior craftsmanship is also very much reflected in La Vida Verde’s pure leather low-platform beds, ergonomically-designed leisure chairs, stylish coffee tables, glass-top dining tables and one-of-a-kind display racks. Besides furniture, classy accessories for both living and work spaces are also available like oneof-a-kind wall paper prints, silk and other rich textile curtains, window treatments,

The triumvirate at La Vida Verde Home Furnishing Corporation: sales and marketing manager Mao Chang Chu, president Malou Doles and operations manager Chris Chu

lamps, carpet rugs and tiles. La Vida Verde’s third store in Binondo, Manila entirely carries motorized curtains and blinds as well as conventional ones.

Foreign and local tourists in the country’s last frontier, Palawan, also get a glimpse of La Vida Verde’s line of modern functional furniture, thanks to its showroom located in the capital city of Puerto Princesa. U

Contact Information

For inquiries, call 478-2170 or email lavidaverdehomefurnishing@gmail.com.

Starbucks Launches New Breakfast Items Spinach, feta and egg wrap

French toast

Roasted chicken egg cup toast

Vigan longaniza, egg, and mozzarella on whole wheat pandesal

Customers can now enjoy their favorite morning beverage with new breakfast food items at Starbucks.

The new breakfast offerings include French toast; roasted chicken egg cup toast; banana chocolate hazelnut tart; spinach, feta and egg wrap; and four new breakfast sandwiches.

French toast is two slices of moist and buttery bread served with maple flavored syrup. The roasted chicken egg cup toast is crispy whole wheat bread cup filled with cream egg custard and cubes of slowly roasted chicken fillet seasoned with Italian herbs. The banana chocolate hazelnut tart is buttery flaky pastry dough filled with hazelnut spread, chocolate chips and real banana slices. The spinach, feta and egg wrap is whole-wheat pita bread filled with spinach, egg, feta and tomatoes.

The four new breakfast sandwiches include Spam classic, egg and cheese on cornmeal bread (a slice of Spam, creamy scrambled egg layered with melted American cheddar cheese on artisan cornmeal bread); turkey and chicken ham, egg white and Emmenthal on whole wheat cornmeal bread (slices of turkey and chicken ham, Emmenthal cheese and egg white on a toasty warmed whole wheat cornmeal bread); Vigan longaniza, egg and mozzarella on whole-wheat pandesal (Vigan longaniza with tomato salsa and mozzarella cheese on a warm whole wheat pandesal); and spinach, artichoke, mushroom and mozzarella on rye bread (artisan rye bread stuffed with cheese, spinach, artichoke, mushrooms, garlic and onions).

These delicious food items are made with premium ingredients at a great value that customers will love. They are available in all Starbucks locations except in Baguio, Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Iloilo and Naga.

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Stopover

A Better Start to the New Year Starbucks offers customers a better way to start each day with high-quality salads at a great value. Starbucks salads are made from premium ingredients that are great for lunch or dinner. Choose from any of the four variants: southern chicken salad, Mediterranean tuna salad, cold chicken soba salad and Moroccan chicken couscous salad. These salads are a perfect companion to any Starbucks beverage.

The southern chicken salad is made with all-natural chicken, diced celery, onions, hard boiled eggs, pickle relish, and roasted chopped cashew on assorted greens then sprinkled with Pecorino cheese. It is served with whole wheat bagel crostini.

The Mediterranean tuna salad spotlights tuna (a fish rich in omega 3 fatty acid) mixed with chopped artichoke, red bell peppers, sliced olives and onions on a bed of assorted greens then sprinkled with Pecorino cheese. It is served with whole wheat bagel crostini.

The cold chicken soba salad is lightly dressed with black sesame soy dressing and has delicious compliments of chicken strips, meaty strips of shiitake mushroom, crunchy strips of carrots and julienned onion leeks on a bed of assorted greens.

The Moroccan chicken couscous salad is a hearty cold couscous salad that is bursting with Moroccan spices, juicy chicken strips, snow peas, sautĂŠed chopped tomatoes, onions and fresh strips of red bell pepper on a bed of assorted greens tossed in a lemon dill yogurt dressing.

For more information, visit www. starbucks.ph.

Hemingway's Bistrot on the west side of Sabang Beach/ Puerto Galera. We look forward to providing you the finest cuisine and first class service on the beach! Please come and visit us and enjoy a wonderful culinary adventure and celebrate a fantastic evening with your friends!

Hemingway's Bistrot

Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, 5203 Philippines Restaurant Landline: +63 43 287 3560 Restaurant Mobile: +63 920 206 0553 Email: info@hemingways-bistrot.com Web: www.hemingways-bistrot.com

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Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Drive

Sound Healing with Yoga Teacher Amitabha

By Gesel Mangilit • Photos by Donald Tapan

H

Amitabha conducting sound healing at the Badian Island Resort and Spa

is face serene, Amitabha executes the perfect tree pose and holds it for a few seconds, more than necessary. The photographer snaps away, and he segues into another pose, difficult this time. He wobbles. Yoga poses are easy to do on a wooden floor or on sand but definitely not over water with only a table to stand on. Smiling, Amitabha patiently waits as his assistants adjust the table for the nth time. I catch his attention and he greets me, “Good morning. You guys ready for your early morning yoga class?” I say yes, indeed. Minutes later, satisfied with the shoot, Amitabha motions for us all to move into a secluded portion of the beach for the morning sun salutation.

A teacher, writer, broadcaster and motivational speaker, Amithaba’s serene temperament is testimony to the power of the techniques he teaches. His goal is not only to teach yoga and meditation but get people to realize that they are more than just the mind but a divine being and move away from judging themselves.

He shares his own journey to self discovery which started when he was introduced to yoga by a lady friend while in rehab.

Amitabha in Sanskrit means “boundless light.”

Here, he executes various yoga poses

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“It was a strange experience. I was sitting in the garden one day, and this lady who was there for manic depression approached me. We started talking, and then she told me how to sit still and quiet my mind. I didn’t really know what yoga was at that time,” he shares.

He started reading books about Buddhism. Some time after, having dealt with his own demons, he got out of rehab and went home.

“My dad was so happy. The drinking and smoking were gone, and I was into healthy living, having become a vegetarian by choice,” he relates.

He became a member of the Theosophical Society and the Philippine Hypnosis Society, and even studied mysticism and the paranormal. He also became a Buddhist missionary and traveled around the country where he met Gina Lopez of ABS CBN. “I was into broadcasting for 18 years as marketing staff for ABS CBN and eventually in radio for RJFM, Y101 and 99.5 RT in Cebu,” he says.

What started as a mild curiosity eventually became a life-long mission as Amitabha spreads the joy of mindfulness, of living a life full of possibilities. He has

been to many parts of the country and even traveled to India five times. He calls Cebu City home now where, apart from doing community work for an non-government organization called Maharlika, he is president of Body Mind Well-Being. He regularly travels from his Lahug office to Badian Island Resort and Spa to conduct classes on yoga and meditation. A reiki practitioner, Amitabha (in Sanskrit, it means “boundless light” and “boundless life”) also teaches techniques for stress reduction and relaxation to promote healing and selfimprovement.

“My goal here in Badian Island Resort is to introduce not only yoga like soft yoga, Ashtanga yoga, partner yoga, prenatal yoga, Pranayama yoga but other modalities like Kalimasada and blissful dance into their wellness program. Right now, they have everything in place. The spa is great, and they have an excellent organic menu.

There’s lots of potential here. They already have a three-day, five-day and seven-day package, and I want to add on to that, include some intensives and fine-tune the program. There is positive energy here, making it a perfect for yoga retreats and yoga teachers’ training,” he says.

During our stay in Badian, Amitabha conducted sound healing classes, a practice dating back to Tibetan Buddhism where the instruments like drums, gongs, shakers and crystals were used to alter consciousness and create a deep sense of peace, well-being and better health. It is used to relieve stress for post-traumatic patients and help induce sleep. Sound healing, he explains, awakens

the chakras, the spirit soul. It creates sound resonance that affects and lightens up the internal organs.

“Sound is the most powerful force in the universe. When I hit a gong or another there’s overtones and it creates healing.

But these are just external sounds; my voice is an external sound. If I say you’re very beautiful, you’re very sweet, there is a meaning and there’s a vibration. It creates a sound in your mind. Our internal voice or thoughts are very powerful, and as a self affirmation tool it is most effective. When you tell yourself I’m good, I’m great, you create a mental sound affirmation in your mind that is a deeper sound within you.”

He adds that finding that inner voice is easy at the resort since the ambiance is conducive to quieting the mind, but in the city it can be quite a challenge as we are bombarded with sounds and visuals, everything pointing to the material. He suggests buying a CD recording of an ocean sound or an air flute.

“Sit down quietly, compose yourself, and it will bring you to a state of relaxation.

After some time, when you have finally mastered the art of meditation and found your inner voice, you can say that to yourself at the start of the day and find purpose and happiness as you go about your daily chores,” Amitabha says.

He recalls one encounter with a student years ago when a woman came up to him after class: “She was crying, and we talked for a while. I held her hands. Her aura, which was dark, gradually lightened.”

He adds that yoga and other practices work on the physical side first but the greater benefit is when the student is transformed. It doesn’t happen overnight but once you start embracing it, something great happens. He says the essence of yoga is the pursuit of happiness by being one with God. “They say that when a student is ready, the teacher will appear. As a teacher, that is really my goal. I want to find some seeds of goodness in every student and hopefully those seeds, through their walks of life, through their daily routine, will grow and blossom. The appeal of yoga for me is its power to heal, restore and transform that which once appeared broken and negative into something positive and beautiful, like a lotus in full bloom,” Amitabha declares. U

Contact Information

Amitabha conducts weekly classes at the Badian Island Resort and Spa. Email him at ebjamitabha@yahoo.com or art4bliss@ yahoo.com. Daily classes for yoga and other modalities are held in his studio at Body Mind Well-being, Inc. located at fifth floor of Amwslai Building, Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City. For more information, email bmwellbeing@yahoo. com or call (+63 32) 232-3332 or 505-9164.

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

Drive

B

eautiful sceneries, warm people and football are a just some of the things the Philippines has in common with South Africa, says Hugo Lambrechts, Deputy Head of Mission Counsellor of the South African embassy in Manila.

“It’s a new friendship our country has with the Philippines, one that we intend to nurture, and hopefully in time both countries would mutually benefit from, culturally and economically,” he shares.

In the absence of South African ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso, the soft-spoken Lambrechts, the man behind the woman so to speak, graces us with his charming presence one afternoon and shares with us his insight on the Philippines.

As of this writing, Cape Town’s Table Mountain, the oldest mountain in the world estimated to be 360 million years old and our very own Puerto Princesa Underground River, were both hailed as among the New7Wondersof Nature. That, apart from the Filipinos’ newfound love for football, a national sport in South Africa, has made our relationship with the Cape Town, host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, all the more sweeter and profound.

Lambrechts has been to a number of countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia throughout his diplomatic career but knew little about the Philippines when he first came here.

“The Philippines is my first Asian posting so I had to do a lot of research.

What I realized later is just how much my home country has in common with the Philippines—the scenic spots and the warmth of the people. I feel so privileged to work here and have access to the beautiful islands,” he says.

Since his posting here in 2005, Lambrechts has come to love Manila and the countryside, but nothing compares to home. He recalls his childhood growing up playing football in the outdoors.

“I grew up inland in the Western Cape, but I have a home in Cape Town, and for me it’s the best place there is. It’s surrounded by basically the sea on both sides because it’s at the southern tip of Africa. On one side, we have the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, and you have this incredibly beautiful mountain in the middle, Table Mountain, and a long stretch of mountain in the Cape Peninsula called the Twelve Apostles. We love the outdoors so much, being surrounded by nature—blue skies, magnificent sunsets and greeneries.”

Cape Town is a landlocked city, and although they have wonderful beaches, Hugo says, he has become very much enamored with the islands.

“You have so many,” he chuckles, “and to take some time off from work and explore is one of my favourite things to do. I tell my friends to come here often,” El Nido in Palawan, Bohol, Puerto Galera and Boracay are just some of the places he’s been to.

“You go to one place, and you say, wow, this place is amazing until you get to another place and think, oh, this may be even better than the last one.”

Last year, the most important event happened in SA is the environmental summit, which Lambrechts says tackled very critical issues not only in his home country but all over the world.

“Both our countries are popular travel destinations because of the diversity of the flora and fauna. My hope is that the government and the Filipino people work together to preserve the natural beauty of the islands,” he says.

“Another important factor is the people.

Filipinos go the extra mile to make their guests feel warm and welcome whether in the restaurant, hotel or shopping malls.

Volume 2 • No. 1 • 2012

An Encounter with Hugo Lambrechts

By G. Pereyra Filipinos are much the same way as we are back home, we are both grounded in the sense that we take work seriously but we know when to have a good time. We laugh more, hence, we have a positive attitude towards everything,” he adds.

That kind of positive attitude has served Lambrechts well when he was growing up, especially during the time when the country is rife with disunity and Apartheid.

“My father died when I was very young, so my mother became the breadwinner of the family,” he shares. “Yes, there were a lot of discrimination at that time, and for a woman, a strong-willed woman at that, to bring up a brood on a teacher’s wage was difficult. She got much less than her male counterpart got, even though she was the breadwinner of the family.”

However, that was years ago. Now the situation has changed.

“Women in SA have taken major roles in business and government. We are one of the top five countries in the world with female representation because almost 30 percent of our parliament is represented by women. Our cabinet has an equal number of males and females, with women making up 41 percent of President Zuma’s cabinet with 14 ministers and 12 deputy ministers being female. So, you see I’m comfortable working for my boss, herself an intelligent, strong-willed woman,” he smiles.

Cape Town was host of the 2010 FIFA World, which Lambrechts says, generated a lot of positive media attention and dispelled speculations about the country’s capacity to stage an event of such magnitude. South Africa recorded a remarkable 15 percent increase in tourist arrivals in 2010 and part of the tourism strategy is to increase the number of tourist arrivals to 15 million by

2020.

“It was an exciting time, and we were quite proud that we were able to do that.

Everybody plays football in South Africa, rich or poor, because all you need is a ball and a huge for that, which we have in abundance. I understand basketball is a Filipino national sport but there is great potential for football here, especially with the recent success of Azkals. They did a lot of work with the Philippine Football Federation and facilitated a number of events, one time even inviting some of the South African players to come here and stage football clinics for the kids” he shares.

This early, South Africa is preparing for another big event, the 2012 World Golf championship called the Tournament of Hope for AIDS Awareness.

Apart from football and tourism, Lambrechts says the embassy is working on strategic points that will prove beneficial to both countries.

“The South African embassy was established in 2005 so it’s basically a new relationship between the countries. Trade between the two countries has grown to around a quarter billion dollars with the trade balance in favor of the Philippines. We have a strong mining industry, and we are advanced in that respect. The Philippines has a vast resource of minerals and the exchange of expertise can mean a great deal in moving the mining industry forward. People will also tell you our fruits and juices are one of the best in the world. South African wines are also becoming well-known throughout the world, and we offer them at competitive prices. Our wines are 30 to 90 percent less expensive than wines of similar quality from the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

We are also looking into the BPO sector in your country, seeing how it has generated 600,000 jobs in just a few years. English is our lingua franca, and so everywhere you got roads sign and official forms are in English.

Recently we had a delegation visit the export processing zones in Clark, Pampanga, and Subic, so the there’s really a lot of exchange of ideas going on,” he shares.

When not busy with work, Hugo spends his free time in Manila by going to the gym thrice a week, or staying home and doing some gardening. On weekends, he joins tenkilometer races because he says running destresses him and keeps him fit. Travel is also an option as he plans to do “quite a bit of Asia.” He drives himself to work every day and admits he has gotten used to Manila traffic. It took him awhile to get used to it though.

“We have wide road highways in SA so it’s quite a challenge to navigate the streets in Manila. Back home, when we flash our light to another driver or a pedestrian it means, ‘You go on ahead of me; I’m giving way to you’ but here it’s the other way around,” he chuckles.

“Cape Town is an easy place to go to. It’s a vibrant city, especially at night when the city comes alive. Table Mountain is spectacular. Some of my friends from Manila say you can almost feel the energy emanating from it A lot of advertising companies have put up offices in Cape Town and they say the beauty of the place— being surrounded by nature everywhere you look—generates a lot of creativity and inspiration. In any place you go to, there are always security issues. I can’t say the streets are safer in my country than Manila streets, I believe you need to follow basic precautions in any country you go to, you just have to be mindful and learn what places are safe and not. I’ve made a lot of Filipino friends here and some have visited my home. They say home is where your hearts is, and although I’ve made a lot of friends here, my heart is always in my own country,” Lambrechts says. U

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