One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. — Henry Miller
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home. — James Michener
While many people plan to spend their summer exodus overseas, I decided to list down my recommendations of places and experiences which I believe foreigners as well as local tourists like me should try not to miss here in the Philippines.
The paternal side of our late dad’s ethnic Chinese family has been in Manila for over two centuries, but I am still forever learning more new things about this tropical paradise with a unique Latin Asian society living on 7,107 tropical sun-kissed islands — the world’s only former American colony and also Asia’s only former Spanish colony.
Here are my 30 suggestions:
1. Discover vibrant Manila. Don’t overlook the capital, but explore exciting and gritty Metro Manila — historic Spanish walled city of Intramuros, the old Binondo trade hub with Chinese eateries and herbal medicine shops plus the popular 168 mall in wholesale center of Divisoria. See people pray at Baclaran church at midnight, the Bamboo Organ Church in Las Piñas and marvel at engraved stone illustrations of World War II battles in the biggest American military cemetery outside USA located in The Fort.
2. Enjoy halo-halo. Savor the sweetness of this quintessentially Filipino mix-mix snack, which Time magazine in 2006 described as the city’s “best legal high.”
3. Join fiestas. Take a video or join colorful festivals like the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo town of Aklan province, Pahiyas of Lucban, Peñafrancia of Naga, Dinagyang in Iloilo, Kadayawan of Davao, Masskara of Bacolod, Sinulog of Cebu, Higantes in Angono of Rizal province, and Panagbenga flower festival in cool mountain city of Baguio, among others.
4. Explore Corregidor. Sail across Manila Bay into World War II history by exploring this former military bastion where General Douglas MacArthur’s troops stayed behind to resist Japanese military invaders while he and our top political leaders sailed into exile.
5. Ride jeepneys. Despite nonstop threats by politicos and other sectors to ban this colorful and often seemingly chaotic public utility vehicle, the jeepney is still very popular and a must for tourists to try. One ride is normally only P8 each person.
6. Make a splash at Caliraya Lake & Pagsanjan. Ride a jet ski or go bass fishing in the man-made Lake Caliraya created in 1939 by American colonial government led by US Army Major General Hugh Casey in Laguna province due to the Caliraya dam project. Buy buko (coconut) pie along the way. Also in Laguna, go ride a boat in Pagsanjan, the hometown of ex-President Erap Estrada and Laguna Governor E.R. Ejercito, and the place used for the closing scenes in Apocalypse Now, the classic Hollywood Vietnam War film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
7. Listen to Filipino music. Whether in lounges of luxury hotels or resto bars, appreciate the liveliness, emotions and musical prowess of world-famous Filipino musicians.
8. Watch a crucifixion. Be amazed at crucifixions in Pampanga during Holy Week
9. Try the balut. Try this salted, boiled and fertilized duck egg introduced by a Chinese trader before in Metro Manila’s smallest town of Pateros. The protein-rich balut is also known as an aphrodisiac.
10. Visit Taal Volcano — Visit Tagaytay, ride boat across former volcanic crater which is now Taal Lake and ride native horse to go up the crater of world’s smallest active volcano. Beware of recent warnings that it’s now restless and might explode. While in this area, pass by the reputedly miraculous Virgin of Caysasay shrine, which is a favorite of our Chinese minority for centuries.
11. Try the lechon of Cebu. This delectable roasted suckling pig is possibly the most delicious in Cebu province. What’s so unique about it is that you can enjoy it even without sauce.
12. Explore the Hundred Islands. This place in Pangasinan province is recommended by my accountant, Janet — especially her Anda hometown known as the “mother isle” of the area.
13. Visit Ilocos Norte. Enjoy Pagudpud Beach where Hollywood movies were partly shot, and don’t miss the Sarrat hometown of the late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos. The remake of Temptation Island by Regal Films and GMA Films was shot in Ilocos Norte.
14. Discover Malapascua. This beach area of Cebu province was first mentioned to me by European tourists whom I had met in Sheraton Hotel in Chengdu City in southwest China in 2006.
15. Climb the Banaue Rice Terraces. This man-made world wonder by Ifugao tribal farmers is one place I have yet to visit, including nearby tourists’ favorite getaway of Sagada town.
16. Enjoy the white sand in Boracay. It is the world’s no. 1 tropical white-sand beach isle, which all tourists should visit.
17. Go nature-tripping in Palawan. This province with exotic isles like Busuanga, Culion, El Nido, Coron and others is a must for nature lovers and divers. Banyan Tree Resort opening soon here, too.
18. Taste sisig. The favorite food for beer drinkers to eat, usually made of pig’s head and liver, but there are other variations made of bangus or milkfish, chicken, squid and others. Lucia “Aling Lucing” Cunanan of Angeles City in Pampanga invented the sisig dish.
19. Go malling. See the phenomenon of Filipino malling lifestyle, especially in SM North Edsa and Mall of Asia — respectively the world’s second and third biggest shopping malls. I think there are more people who go to these malls than the whole populations of Monaco, Liechtenstein or Brunei!
20. Go boating in Bohol. Enjoy Alona Beach (named after actress Alona Alegre, with whom the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. had filmed Tagalog movies with there), visit the world’s smallest mammals the tarsier and ride a boat along scenic Lobok River (with colorful lights donated by Oishi snacks taipan Carlos Chan).
21. Go surfing. Go to some of Asia’s best surfing areas like Puraran Bay in Baras town of Catanduanes, which is the home province of my secretary Mela; the Baler town of Congressman Sonny Angara’s home province of Aurora, which he said has great beaches; or Zambales under Governor Jun Ebdane which Jericho Rosales said is his favorite surfing area. Of course, Siargao in Surigao of southern Philippines is still the most famous for surfing.
22. Savor the mangoes of Guimaras. This province in the Visayas has carabao mangoes reputed to be the world’s sweetest.
23. Eat chicken inasal in Bacolod City. This delicious Ilonggo dish of roasted marinated chicken originated in Negros Occidental, the home province of my accountant Cherry. She highly recommends the molo soup, too, and claims Ilonggos are “nicest.”
24. Drink San Miguel beer. Drink Asia’s oldest beer brand established by Spaniard Enrique Ma. Barreto in 1890, but try also Manila Beer of the rival Asia Brewery Inc. which Philippine Star reader Bernard Go highly recommends for “its rich good malt taste.” My advice: drink moderately!
25. Swim with whale sharks in Donsol. I first saw this featured on CNN. Donsol is in Senator Chiz Escudero’s home province of Sorsogon in the Bicol region.
26. Watch dolphins in Bais, Negros Oriental. This eco-tourism adventure is highly recommended by Lesley Y. Cordero, she said Bais is near Dumaguete City.
27. Tour colonial houses in Vigan City. This capital of Ilocos Sur has numerous Spanish colonial era mansions and old world architecture, plus delicious local foods.
28. Wakeboard and see Mayon Volcano in Bicol. Enjoy water sports like wakeboarding in CamSur province and visit the almost perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano in Albay.
29. Come to Camiguin. This is a beautiful pristine island of volcanic terrains, white-sand beaches and quiet rustic life just across the sea from Salay town of Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao.
30. Climb Mt. Guiting-Guiting in Sibuyan Island. This isle is in Romblon, the home province of Philippine STAR columnist and top literary writer Butch Dalisay. The 10-hour trek up this mountain is a daunting adventure. Sibuyan is fantastic in bio-diversity, with the world’s densest forest and cleanest river, which we should protect ecologically.
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