Talking and chatting with friends at Washington DC Filipino Community, I landed a nice long chat with a Pinoy from Sarangani, a province in the southern tip of Mindanao. I did enjoy that conversation about the province as I have never been there. Matter of fact he said that he was there only a few months ago and really enjoyed his month long vacation. He mentioned about white powdery sand beaches, vast rainforest endangered species of wildlife as well as mystical caves, waterfalls and springs, historical archaeological finds, mangrove forests, pineapple commercial plantations, aquamarine farms producing the best tasting milkfish in the country…all these surprised me as I really have no idea of what the Province of Sarangani is made of other than a few clicks on the web when I browse.

As we went on deeper in our conversation I found out that Sarangani’s spectacular natural attractions are emerging to be the most famous tourist destinations in the Philippines. Sarangani offers travelers wonderful surprises that are relatively untapped in terms of its nature scenics, wildlife, marine and natural resources. The Municipality of Glan, the most popular destination, is dubbed as the Boracay of the South minus the commercialism. Any tourist will be overwhelmed with the vast stretch of white pristine beaches with the clear azure blue waters, by the mystic caves and the untouched waterfalls…truly a wonderful sight to behold. He said that jet skiing across the serene waters of the Sarangani Bay and exploring its 230 kilometer coastline would be amazed by the nature’s astonishing rock formations and picturesque coves. Also in Glan are the centuries old houses which would fascinate antique lovers who will surely be delighted by the grand and magnificent native balcony architectures, the “kalado” walls and the wide heavily carved wooden staircases of these ancestral homes that were constructed in the early 1900s. These homes that feature priceless oriental sets and antique collections are the pride of the Municipality of Glan .

The 13,500 hectare surface water of the Sarangani Bay touted to be the largest in the country is home to varied marine life that includes dolphins, whales, sea cows (dugong) and sea turtles. The coral reefs and shipwreck diving sites are the country’s most spectacular diver’s haven that would keep local and foreign tourists endless hours of diving delight. Viewing the thousands of multicolored and variedly shaped fishes that darts between the Acropora Corals in the Tuka Marine Park in Kiamba is a truly exceptional experience.

Sarangani also boasts a rich history. Include in your to-do list a visit to the Municipality of Maitum . Anthropomorphic potteries found in Ayub cave dates back to 300-500 B.C. The potteries are used as burial jars with covers in the form of heads that emulate different facial expressions. The 49 Maitum jars as they are now called are kept in the National Museum . Ayub cave is also the sanctuary of the giant golden crown flying foxes, the giant bats that are endemic to the Philippines . While the Municipality of Glan is the tourism capital going around the Municipality of Alabel, Sarangani’s provincial capital, ones attention will be drawn by a magnificent and imposing edifice, the Provincial Capitol Building . The building that sits on a 26 hectare lot is tagged as the White House of Southern Mindanao. Thirty minutes away from this town is the Sarangani Golf and Country Club where hobbyist could make a tour with a round of golf in the well landscaped 18- hole course while feasting your eyes on the serene beauty of its backdrop, Mt. Matutum . An annual event called the Lubi-Lubi Festival which is celebrated on November 25 is also a great site to view with its colorful costumes and great street dances in honor of Sta. Catalina de Alexandria. Lubi-Lubi sa Glan highlights a parade also similar to mardi gras but here costumes are made out of coconuts , husks and leaves. As they say in The Municipality of Glan in Sarangani, there is more to a coconut than just copra.

View the Province of Sarangani tourism video below.

The Province of Quezon formerly known as Tayabas with a vast mountainous place situated in the eastern part of the Philippines and a part of the CALABARZON Region. Its quite a big province extending from its northern border at the Sierra Madre Mountains and Aurora Province to its southern border of Camarines Norte of the Bicol Region of an area totalling to 8,700 square kilometers. Coconut trees are mostly grown in this province and due to its geographical location with mostly mountainous area, its local economy are based on coconut products with copra as its leading source and fishing is the livelihood of people in the coastal towns. As I love traveling, I have visited the province countless of times enjoying mountainous trek, the beaches, native foods, tuba, lambanog, its cool climate in the early hours of the morning and fresh air in Gumaca, Mauban and Unisan passing stopping by the other towns especially Lucena City. The province got its name from the second president of the Philippines, Manuel L. Quezon.

Lucena City, its capital, is the center place of the province where the provincial government is located, with the main bulk of its trading and economy heavily concentrated in this city. Colleges and universities also tops this city’s education with Enverga University, Luzonian University and Sacred Heart College among the finest with other instititution, high school and elementary schools located in Lucena City. Improvements in its health program are also in its priority as the province has already 16 government run hospital all over the province, Quezon Memorial Hospital being the biggest and located in central Lucena City with 23 private hospitals and about 40 rural health offices spread across throughout the province with a designated doctor, nurse and dentist on duty while the Medical Center Lucena Educational Institution leads the pack of students in the area of health education. Lucena City has really transformed into a modernized city since I last visited the place with new business buildings constructed, fastfood restaurants such as Jollibbee and inn accommodations of modern facilities. The Pacific Mall, Metro Lucena, SM Lucena and the Quezon Convention Center are some of its finest buildings.

The provincial government also has done a lot to promote travel and tourism for the province. With its mountainous beauty and Mt. Banahaw leading the pack for the most visited place, its unlimited kilometers of quiet shores of beaches are an attraction for local and foreign travelers as well with Padre Burgos as one of the attractions. The islands of Alabat and Polillo boasts of natural beauty with its clear water and still untouched coral reef. Town Fiestas are amongst the colorful events in this province celebrated in the months of May or June starting with the most popular which is the colorful event of them all that is the Pahiyas Festival, celebrated every 15 of May in honor of St. Isidore showcasing houses decorated with fruits, vegetables, agri products, local handicrafts, rice and sweet decorations that can be eaten. Next are the Mayflower Festival in Lopez, the Cow Festival in Alabat, the Lilay-Coco Festival in Unisan and the Lubid-Lubid Festival in Tiaong which is a social festivity that showcases the origin of Tiaong and its people who have contributed to its growth. Native food are also not to be set aside as the Province of Quezon is proud of of their native cookings such as the pancit habhab. My favorites here are the fresh caught fish wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in coconut milk, the fresh caught alamang shrimp garnered with sliced kamias and the also the sinaing na tulingan.

You can also view the beauty of Quezon Province in this 6 minute video of its other fascinating towns, its beautiful people and the wonderful places that awaits you. Enjoy !!!

The Cordillera Region is one of the places in the Philippine archipelago that is very rich in culture and until now values its traditions. There are tons of natural, historical, cultural, and even man-made attractions that can be seen in the Cordilleras especially in Kalinga. Seven municipalities and only 1 city makes up the rest of Kalinga. It is the capital of Kalinga, Tabuk, which is declared as a city in the province. Tabuk is celebrating its first year as a city with a 4 day Matagoan Festival that started June 23 and will end on June 26, 2008. Here in Tabuk is where most trading takes place. Merchants coming from neighboring provinces go here in Tabuk to trade for rice which is the major product in this province. It also is the hometown of my childhood friends Walter and Duane Salvatera, aside from Claveria in Cagayan, which they have a domicile too.One of the places that is mostly visited by local and foreign tourists is the historical site called Aguinaldo Hill and is situated in Baranggay Asibanglan-Pinukpuk near the Allaguia Junction. During the war between Philippines and America, the Aguinaldo Hill is where General Emilio Aguinaldo had his posts. Kalinga also have a small museum that was established by the Kalinga Special Development Authority. This mini-museum is where native artifacts and other special cultural memorabilia can be viewed and is located at Tabuk.

The main tourist attractions in Kalinga are included in the category of natural sites of the Philippines. The Sungang View Point is one excellent place in Kalinga where you have a majestic sight of the different mountains in the province including the Tanudan Mountain, Tinglayan Mountain, Lubuangan Mountain, and Tabuk Mountain. You can also get a view of the villages as well valleys nearby. Aside from that, the perfect place where you can see the picturesque view of Dananao and Tulgao Rice Terraces from the Sungang View Point. Another majestic area in Kalinga with lush forest is the Mt. Mating-oy Dinayao, popularly known as the Sleeping Beauty. The mountain is called as the Sleeping Beauty because it is shaped like a sleeping lady lying on its back. In case you want to see the Ampitheater of Kalinga, visit the famous rice terraces in the province namely Tinglayan Rice Terraces as well as the Lubo and Mangali Rice Terraces. These rice terraces are best viewed during the harvesting and the planting season.

Caves, lakes, and springs are also visited here in Kalinga. The most famous cave where tourists can enter is the Buaya Cave. Different forms where shaped in the stalactites and stalagmites all over the cave. In Galdang and Maglucsad, you can find the natural landmarks in the province namely the Kabunian Bridge and the Kabunian Springs. Aside from farming and fishing, one of the industries that the locals of Kalinga are still working on is the weaving industry. Weaving has been a part of Kalinga’s culture for hundreds of years and has been passed on from one generation to another. Foreigners are interested in looking at the weavers creating their wonderful creations. You may buy directly from them if you see ethnic woven clothes that you like. Other souvenirs can also be purchased from these locals as well. They also carve woods and turn it into furniture pieces, key chains, figurines and more native handicrafts specially crafted by the locals.

View the exotic beauty of Kalinga in the video below.

The original name of the island Biliran Province was actually Isla de Panamao with the former name of this wonderful island paradise refers to the cultural fishing net used during the Spanish era then changed to the name of Biliran between the 1600’s to 1700’s. It was derived from the name of the native grass growing abundantly in the province called Borobiliran. Naval, the islands capital and is one of the eight municipalities that compose the province have various establishments and institutions to provide financial, educational, health care needs and that is more economically advance than the other 7 municipalities. Banks and ATM’s are available in certain areas of the province making money accessible for both foreign and local tourists.

Of course, who would not recognize the natural beauty of this province touched by modernization yet remains to be unspoiled. In Maripipi, a municipality in the province, there are already tons of exquisite beaches that can never be seen anywhere else in the world but only in the Philippine islands. Another astounding natural site in Biliran can be found at Caibiran where the breathtaking Tinago Waterfalls is located. This picturesque area in Biliran blends perfectly with the vines, trees as well as the exotic plants that can be found in the province with two more magnificent location waterfalls in the island including the Kasabangan Falls located in Cabugcayan and the Busai Falls situated in Baranggay Ungale. If you think that you can only find lush vegetations in the Benguet province, better think again. Biliran is not only known for its stunning beaches, waterfalls, caves and hotsprings. The province of Biliran has a replica of the globally famous Ifugao Rice Terraces. This imitation replica of the Ifugao ingenuity helps the locals to have sufficient food supply of rice and grain stock since they have used their land resources wisely.

There are also architectural sites that reflect the history of Biliran Province. One of which is the Nasunugan Watchtower with another watchtower that can be found in the municipality of Maripipi. These are the historical ruins remnants from the Spanish era that is still preserved by the provincial government of Biliran. Aside from these natural tourist spots and architectural sites, the Biliran Bridge also sets as an attraction as well. The bridge connects the Biliran province going to mainland Leyte. From a certain area in the bridge, you will see a captivating view of the mountains and bodies of water of the neighboring provinces. Since there are several areas in Biliran where clean water is plentiful and abundant, most of the activities that can be done here are purely related to water sports like scuba diving and snorkelling so that they may get closer and watch marine creatures. There are also places in Biliran where hiking, biking, and alike can be done as well.

The tourism industry is booming in Biliran. Therefore, many locals are now taking advantage of different opportunities that the industry has to offer. Many are now becoming tourist guides rather than fish or farm since they earn more money through this job. But there are still traditional Biliran locals who still opt to fish or plant instead.

It’s been a while since I have been to Laguna. The last time I was there was in 2000 in Cabuyao visiting a wake for my aunt after spending 14 years in Japan. It’s totally fascinating to see the place progress through the years with so many structures and attractions. Prime real estate housings has emerged throughout the province with family attractions such as the Enchanted Kingdom and an unlimited number of class A hot spring resorts are now more visible and more modernized than ever. Well Laguna is famous as it is the birth place of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine’s national hero and one of the provinces that comprise the CALABARZON Region. The University of the Philippines Los Banos ( UP Los Banos ) is still the top regional school for agriculture and with other normal courses offered. Fishing and fish farming is one of the top grossers of the province’s economy as bangus and tilapia are abundant in Laguna, a major supplier for Metro Manila, and thanks to its still clear waters of Laguna de Bay.

Laguna which has a very flourishing and promising economy is also one of the big producers of coconut and related products such as oil, copra and soap with other agri products locally grown; sugar cane, corn and unlimited varieties of tropical fruits. Laguna also grows abundantly and the only place to find Lanzones that is noted for its sweetness. With so many agriculture products Laguna produces, other towns and municipalities have their own specialties that made them known such as clothing embroideries in Lumban, the wood carving industry in Paete, the shoe and slipper industry of Liliw are just a few examples. Landmarks of churches and shrines are also a major and favorite destination places with Binan, Calamba and Nagcarlan to name a few.

Attractions and resorts are still a prime movers and shakers for Laguna with the top natural getaway for locals and foreign travelers is still the Pagsanjan Falls with its cold fresh water to take a dip or for camping, trekking, mountain climbing in Mount Makiling, hots springs of Pansol, the seven lakes of San Pablo City and a tour of its garden of fresh flowers in Caliraya and Cavinti. Man made attractions should not be discounted as well as a number of these has emerged through the years with an unlimited modern resort facilities of hot springs, dive and pools. The Anilag Festival is the most sought after of its yearly affairs and colorful parades celebrated in the month of August.