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Just leaving General Santos.

General Santos or Gensan on the Philippine island of Mindanao, southeast of Manila is a vibrant urban hub although the surrounding agricultural countryside is the city’s biggest industry together with fishing.You can be sure to get fresh fruit and veggies in General Santos as well as some of the best fish dishes in the Philippines. The fish industry in General Santos specializes in Tuna which earned General Santos the reputation as the “capital of tuna in the Philippines”, delicious fresh produce and catch-of-the-day tuna make Gensan an ideal place for great meals out. Talking of Tuna, the annual Tuna Festival in August has parades, parties, competitions and of course lots of tuna dishes!

If you’re wondering about the strange name for the city, General Santos was one of the 62 leading pioneers who started cultivating the area.

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao's Sports Bar.

The only boxer in the world to win the world title in 8 different weight categories – Manny Pacquiao (Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao) -is a Filipino and Gensan is his home, he is a multi-talent who has dabbled in music, acting and now represents the province of Sarangani in the Philippines House of Representatives. Manny Pacquiao has featured in Time Magazine, ESPN and countless other publications. From extreme poverty Manny managed to complete his education and rise to be an outstanding example to his Philippine fans, he is proof that dreams can come true.

Things to see and do in General Santos

Despite being an urban travel destination Gensan has it’s roots in agriculture and is the gate way to a trip up the SOCSKSARGEN coast which has beaches and water sport opportunities as well as nature trails and idyllic countryside. If you prefer nature to city life the nearby KlajaKarst Eco-park is a nature reserve not to miss. Within the eco-park is Kalajacave, explore the rock formations and take a swim in the water inside the cave. The park also has waterfalls, springs, indigenous plants and campgrounds. If you enjoy the outdoors then also visit Malakong Gorge for some hiking, or you could hike up Nopol Hills for incredible views. For more seasoned climbers try Mount Matutum, one of the highest mountains in Mindanao. Bunga Spring is also a beautiful country area to explore and camp in. There are also beaches in Gensan and excellent diving opportunities.

A beautiful white sand beach in Sarangani Province.

Near Gensan are several beautiful lakes, Lake Sebu and Lake Maughan both have unique plants and animal life and you can visit the T’bolitribe village and see the tradition way of life, traditional costume and tribal craft making.

General Santos offers a dynamic city experience with the natural wonders of the Philippines only a few moments out of the center. In Gensan you can enjoy the sea, the surrounding countryside paradise and the clubs, restaurants and amenities of the city. Perhaps the best way to experience General Santos is to wake up early and go down to the fisherman’s port to see the local fishermen docking with their catch of freshly caught fish.

Paraw sailing in front of White Beach in Boracay

Boracay is a small island in the Philippines it is only 7 kilometer long and is also narrow, in some places only 1 km wide. What makes Boracay so special is that this island paradise, unlike other Philippine islands, only became a popular tourist destination in the 80′s and so although it offers all the attractions and amenities you would expect it has pristine beaches and reserved forestland. Boracay came in 2nd in the 2011 Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s choice for Best Beaches and was also included in the Top 10 Islands in the world in the Travel and Leisure magazine. Apart from being one of the most beautiful islands in the world Boracay also offers music, parties and nightlife as well as calm relaxed beaches and unspoiled nature.

Boracay Beaches

Boracay boasts many picture perfect beaches, so you’ll be spoilt for choice, although each Bocracay beach has it’s own character. On some of the Boracay beaches the focus is on water sports, on others it’s just sun tanning and even getting a massage on the beach.

The most popular Boracay beach is White Beach, this 4km long tourist beach is lined by the resort hotels, restaurants and clubs. You can check out the huge sand castles the locals create on the sand, you’ll find plenty of lively company and a friendly island atmosphere here.

Bulabog Beach is protected by coral reefs so it’s good for diving as well as water sports which need calm waters like windsurfing and kite boarding.

The sand on Puka Shell Beach is made of Puka shells and the beach, in the northwest of Boracay, is secluded and uncrowded perhaps because it’s a little difficult to reach. This pristine and still uncommercialized beach is considered a real slice of paradise.

Diniwid Beach is a small secluded beach connected to White Beach by a cliff top path.

North of Diniwid Beach is an even smaller and quieter Baling Hai Beach best known for it’s cliff top restaurant.

Activities on Boracay

An amazing morning on White Beach in Boracay.

After soaking up the sun on one of the gorgeous beaches you will find plenty to keep you busy on Boracay. Water sports are the main attraction including scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, parasailing, kite surfing or why not try a Paraw. A Paraw is a form of local outrigger sailing boat which can be rented for the day to explore the island’s waters, do some island hopping and see surrounding attractions like Crocodile Island and Puka Shell Beach. If you’re brave try some cliff diving off of Ariel’s Point where you can also explore the mangrove forests and enjoy the unspoiled splendor of this natural paradise. If you’re looking for a more laid back vacation there is a world class golf course on the island as well. In fact there is something for everyone on Boracay.

You could also rent a trike and ride to Mount Luho and get a bird’s eye view of the island. Take a boat out to Crystal Cove and explore the two caves, here the waves smash against the rocks and you can also snorkel close to the cove. Boracay also has a butterfly Garden, untouched forests and local villages worth getting to know.

The list just goes on and on… Boracay has so much to offer and all of it’s attractions are set against the backdrop of this exquisite island paradise.

AN INTRODUCTION TO 10 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS!

Boracay Island, one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

The Philippines are a beautiful island nation with something for everyone. No matter what your budget is there is something here for you. Whether it be the ocean view from your bungalow on Siargao island with a full complement of surfing activities and fun, or the night life of Mactan island along with the numerous historical sites there is no reason you shouldn’t come and experience one of the top ten islands the world has to offer.

If you enjoy surfing then go to Siargao island or even Pearl Farm resort. These are two islands world renowned for their surfing potential. Siargao, or the the surfing capital of Asia as some call it, is one of the most visited islands in the world for surfers. Pearl Farm resort is another good choice for surfers as it has crystal clear waters and good swell during the surfing season. Either way there is something for every surfer on these two beautiful islands.

If you enjoy a little of the wild side why not go to El Nido or Dakak. El Nido is often considered the Philippines final frontier, the only place left to be fully explored in the island chain. Dakak has also got something for the adventurous being home to a private beach resort there is always a little exploring to be done. However Dakak and El Nido have a taste of civilization for when you get tired of living the adventurer’s life, with world famous restaurants and resorts primed for relaxation after a long day.

What could be better than a barbecue on the beach? (especially when it is snowing back home in Canada)

Honda Bay and Camiguin are both world famous for their beautiful beaches. Honda Bay is actually an archipelago with traveling between them easily facilitated for those who want to experience a little of everything. Camiguin has been called the Garden of Eden before known for its lush fauna and paradise like atmosphere, with a full complement of 5 star resorts and friendly service providers. If you enjoy paradise and vibrant wildlife then try these islands, as both of these islands will leave you with the desire to return every vacation season.

Panglao Island is a small tear shaped island located just a ways away from the mainland in case you wanted to travel to some of the nearby cities during your stay. This small island is known for its resorts and whole host of tourist activities to do, all at an affordable price. This island is most well known for its wide variety of dive sites, being one of the premier locations for both seasoned and new divers the world over.

Sailing in Boracay, just one of the many activities to do here.

Boracay Island has often been rated as the number one island of all the Philippines. Known for some of the best nightlife and parties in the world, the white beaches and cool waters attract some of the largest numbers of visitors of all the islands. The nights are spent partying with great music, and great drinks mixed by some of the world’s best bartenders. If you like nightlife then this is the island of choice for you.

Mactan Island is known for having the largest city of all the islands. Known as the queen city island by natives this is definitely another choice for the night owls of the world. With a host of both beautiful beaches and historical activities, all offered at some of the lowest prices the various islands have to offer as well, that are both fun and eye opening there is a little something for everyone on the queen city island.

Pagudpud is another great choice if none of the other islands seem to be quite your cup of tea. With a little mix of everything from the city life to wilderness, from adventure to pampering, this is the most varied island of the Philippines. Most well known though for its long secluded beaches, definitely a must for those who like long romantic walks down the beach with stars in the sky. This is an island for everyone.

Top 10 Things to See in the Philippines

With over 7,000 islands and hundreds of interesting and unusual sites to see in the Philippines it is difficult to decide where to start, but you obviously won’t be able to see everything so here is a short list of the top 10 things to see in the Philippines which are really unique to the Philippines.

1. Intramuros, Manila

This is what remains of the Spanish colonial capital of the Philippines, the walled settlement is also the site of other interesting Philippine attractions like the Manila Cathedral so you really get more than one Philippine attraction for the price of one! The historic center is within the thick fortified stone walls and includes the Fort Santiago, Postigo del Palacio and the stone fort of Baluarte de San Diego as well as other plazas, monuments and museums. Take a whole day to see this complex.

2. Rizal Park, Manila

This enormous park in Manila is also called Luneta and contains restaurants, an amphitheatre, statues and much, much more. The park takes it’s name from the national hero Jose Rizal who was executed here is 1896, his statue in the park has been the site of many important rallies, declarations and events throughout history. Take advantage of the free concerts in the park, visit the Japanese gardens, the Manila Ocean Park is also in the park as well as a planetarium, the Museum of the Filipino People, the National Library and an exquisite Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion.

3. Taal Volcano

On the island of Luzon in Lake Taal just an hour outside of Manila the city of Tagaytay is built on the rim of this active volcano and there is a park conveniently on a ridge overlooking the crater of the volcano. Not everyone has been up close to a volcano before and this is a perfect opportunity.

4. Hanging coffins, Kabayan, Luzon

As recently as 2007 people were still buried here in coffins hanging off the side of limestone cliffs. The oldest of the coffins is dated 100 years ago and this ancient tradition which was also practiced in China. The bodies were hung in this way to protect them from wild animals and to bless the soul eternally. The bodies were wrapped in a cloth in the fetal position and placed in coffins cut from one piece of wood. This sight is truly unique and can be seen in several places in the Philippines including Echo Valley, Ambasing and Sagada as well as Luzon.

5. Chocolate hills, Carmen, Bohol

This unusual geographical wonder looks like a field of giant mole hills, there are over a thousand of these half meter high mounds which get their name from the brown color they get in the dry season making them look like hills of chocolate. The rest of the year the Chocolate Hills are covered with green grass. Geologists are uncertain as to how the mounds came about, but this is another sight you won’t see anywhere else.

6. Vigan, Luzon

This UNESCO city has retained all the charm of the Spanish era and can be seen in the architecture of the old merchant homes. Visit the Mestizo district and see the Asian influence mixed with the local and Spanish. There are also several beautiful Plazas and St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral. While there you could also pop into the Cristologo Museum which was once the home of the former Congressman of Ilocos Sur and his wife Carmeling.

7. Underground River, Palawan

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park consists of an 8km underground river which you can travel on by pumpboats from Sabang Beach for about 1.5 hours. The natural wonder is a UNESCO world heritage site and another unique Philippine tourist attraction.

8. Rice terraces, Banaue, Luzon

Yet another UNESCO site the rice terraces are only partially in use today and cover about 200 meters. They were originally created by the local Ifugao people they are slowly decaying. The terraces are irrigated by mountain streams which have been manipulated to run down the terraces watering the crop.

9. Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary, Cebu

Here you can visit the gardens which have been planted with plant which butterflies are drawn to for their food, and you can wander among the flowers and plants together with over 50 species of butterflies. Indoors are art exhibits relating to butterflies and specimens of rare butterflies, and even mosaics made out of butterfly wings!

10. Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

Christians particularly will be fascinated by the life size figure of Jesus which is carved from charred black wood, it depicts Jesus carrying the cross. The Black Nazarene is believed by some of the Filipinos to have miraculous powers and it is often carried through the streets in processions on special days. If you are Christian try to attend one of the Friday prayers at the church.

The choices are endless, if you have more time be sure to check out some of the other stunning tourist attractions in the Philippines as well.