The Cagayan Valley Region runs through the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. Notable mountain ranges in the Philippines are scattered in its huge land mass comprising the Cordillera, Sierra Madre and Caraballo. The Cagayan River which is the Philippines’ largest river runs through the whole region.

The native settlers of Region II are the ethnic and indigenous tribes of Ibanags, Gaddangs, ltawis, Yogads and Isnegs.

Perhaps the region’s geological make-up and location had been beneficial in its abundant natural resources and natural wonders. Glorious mountain ranges and rainforest that is home to a thousand endemic flora and fauna defines this region as a jewel in the north. Majestic caves such as the Callao Cave houses some of the country’s colorful and magical stone formations of varying stalactites and stalagmites.

Batanes Island

The charm of this island lies on its old-fashioned antiquity and its isolation from modernity. Stepping into this Island is like walking back through time when the people’s way of life is simple and unbounded by modern technology. This fabled land of stunning landscape and seascape, is a rugged and rocky home to the friendly Ivatans.

Since Batanes is a possible gateway to Eastern China, it is one of the few provinces that enjoy four relatively distinct seasons. Frequent typhoons often hit the island (at least 12 typhoons/year), posing a difficult challenge to the development of its agri-industrial potential.

Cagayan Province

This province is said to be the eco-tourism center of the Cagayan Valley Region. Tourists will find a lot of outdoor activities such as swimming, snorkeling, skin diving and fishing by the river and the sea. It also attracts a crowd of mountaineering enthusiasts with its primeval forest mountains. The provincial museum houses a remarkable collection perhaps found on its archeological sites. One can also visit the famous Callao Caves and historical churches.

Isabela

Isabela is known as the rice granary of the north. The mountain range of the Sierra Madre runs through this province, so half of its land is covered in tropical rainforests. Its economical bulk lies in agricultural production of forest products such as rattan furnitures. In 18^th century, tobacco had been Isabela’s major industry. This had been altered the after imposition of a government tobacco monopoly. Nowadays, tobacco is still being produced, as well as rice, bananas, corn, coconuts and vegetables.

Quirino and Nueva Viscaya

Quirino use to be a part of Nueva Vizcaya,being known as the forest region but now called as the forest province. Quirino is surrounded by lush impenetrable mountains. 80% of its land area is dominated by mountains that these pose as a natural barriers in visiting the area.

Nueva Vizcaya on the other hand is blessed with a much cooler climate than other provinces in Luzon, mainly because of its its mountainous geography.

Tilapia Capital of the Philippines

On January 11, 2008, the Cagayan Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) stated that tilapia (species of cichlid fishes from the tilapiine cichlid tribe) production grew and Cagayan Valley is now the Philippines’ tilapia capital (Saint Peter’s fish). Production supply grew 37.25% since 2003, with 14,000 metric tons (MT) in 2007. The recent aquaculture congress found that the growth of tilapia production was due to government interventions: provision of fast-growing species, accreditation of private hatcheries to ensure supply of quality fingerlings, establishment of demonstration farms, providing free fingerlings to newly constructed fishponds, and the dissemination of tilapia to Nueva Vizcaya (in Diadi town). Former cycling champion Lupo Alava is a multi-awarded tilapia raiser in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya. Chairman Thompson Lantion of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, a retired two-star police general, has fishponds in La Torre, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Also, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma also entered into similar aquaculture endeavors in addition to tilapia production.

The Resources

The region has abundant water resources and indigenous energy sources such as hydropower, geothermal, gas and coal deposits. It has wide areas of arable land in the Cagayan River Basin and the Abulug River Basin. It has mineral reserves of gold, copper, manganese, nickel and non-metallic minerals of soft clay, limestone, sulphur and shale. Municipal fishing is its principal source of fish production.

Forestland comprises 64% of the total land area of 2,683,758 hectares while 36% are alienable and disposable land. The region has an agricultural economy with rice, corn, sugarcane, banana, coconut, and tobacco as its major crops. 37% of its total land area are agricultural land. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo has destroyed some prime agricutural land in Central Luzon leaving Region II with the highest irrigable land area of 538,710 hectares. It is a major supplier of agricultural products to the National Capital Region, Regions III and IV and produces approximately 10-15% of the annual rice and corn production. Other agricultural products include rootcrops, peanut, mongo, fruits and vegetables.

The town of Puerto Galera is very rich in history as much as the province of Oriental Mindoro to which it belongs. The Spanish sea farers in the 16^th Century has given the name “Puerto Galera”, meaning “Port of Galleons”. These seafarers treated it as a safe haven on their journeys to the Orient.

However, its history as a galleon trade destination dates as far back as the prosperous years of the 10th century. Puerto Galera was such an important port that some historians even believe that the name “Mindoro” was derived from Minolo, one of Puerto Galera’s old settlements. There are claims, too, that the 16th century references to Mindoro often only meant the harbor of Minolo. Also spelled Minoro, Minolo was a small coastal settlement northwest of Poblacion in present-day Puerto Galera. Then the center of trading, Chinese merchants bartered with the natives of Minolo, exchanging glazed porcelains for gold, jade, corals, shells, birds, rattan, and other forest products that were abundant in the island. An excavation of an ancient grave site near Minolo lends proof to this. Antiques unearthed there were traced back to the 10th and 15th centuries, mainly from China, Thailand, and Vietnam.

There is also a more romantic belief that the name “Mindoro” was derived from the Spanish “Mina de Oro” or Gold Mine. Whether the Spanish found a lot of gold on the island is not clearly know, although there are even on this day people who try to make their fortune by gold panning not so far from Puerto Galera. This belief proves to be the basis for a lot of interesting folklore about the town.

As trade developed, Puerto Galera became a regular stopover for merchant vessels sailing along the important trade routes of the near East and the rest of the Philippines. The Muelle Bay area - Indian coast, Indochinese coats, China, Sumatra, Java now part of town proper - was used extensively for dock repairs and as a safe anchorage for all types of sailing vessels. Here, too, a lot of merchant ships docked to trade with the natives.

By the 17th century, under its Spanish colonizers, the island of Mindoro was organized into a corrigimiento, with Puerto Galera as the capital. The seat of government remained there through the Spanish and American rules, until 1903. Then the capital was transferred to Calapan, which was geographically blessed with wide agricultural lands, and is now the present capital of Oriental Mindoro. Puerto Galera was annexed to Calapan as a barrio, or village. Finally, on December 7, 1927, the Philippine Congress passed an Act (Act 3415) creating the independent municipality of Puerto Galera.

Epigraphs referring to two historical landmarks have become tourist attractions in Puerto Galera : the commemoration Cross of Canonero De Mariveles and the Black Rice display-board, both at Muelle Pier.

When Puerto Galera was made the capital of Mindoro. It was originally located in Barrio Lagundian. But the frequent Moro (or southern Muslim) attacks forced the Spaniards not only to transfer the seat of government to its present site, but also to build watchtowers and station battleships outside Muelle Bay. One battleship that guarded the waters of Puerto Galera was the Canonero Mariveles, which sunk due to a violent storm in 1879. In remembrance of this battleship a wooden cross was built at Muelle Pier with the inscription: “Ultima tierra que pesarou los tripolantes del canoneros Mariveles el 18 de Noviembre de 1879″. This relic of the 19th century was renovated by the Spaniard Luis Gomez y Sotto in 1938.

Aside from introducing tools to increase farm productivity, the Spaniards also built a rice granary in Puerto Galera to stash grains ready for shipment. This storage is believed to have caught fire in the late 18th century, and its large volume of palay (rice grain) was burned and tossed into the bay. It would seem logical that with the passing of the centuries the grain would have decomposed and completely vanished.

However, to this day, handful of whole charcoal-black rice grains continue to appear on the banks of Muelle Bay, mysteriously carried by the waves with the changing of the tide. A huge glass case at Muelle Pier near the tricycle terminal, displays some of this grain and a warning for visitors is included not to collect any of these grains in order to preserve one of the historical remnants of Puerto Galera.

For any modern traveler, it is clear to see upon entering the Puerto Galera by boat why this was already a popular destination for merchant vessels hundreds of years ago. The excellent natural harbor - which even now is considered one of the most beautiful and safest in the world - has crystal clear waters and is fully protected from typhoons (the East Asian version of the hurricane) by the hills and mountains surrounding it.

Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. It occupies the Bicol Peninsula at the southeastern end of Luzon island and some other islands.

It consists of six provinces, namely, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

It has one independent component city, Naga City, and six component cities, Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Tabaco.

The regional centers are Legazpi City, the region’s political and administrative center, and Naga City, the region’s cultural and religious center. Legazpi and Naga are also the hub of the region’s economic activity.

Inhabitants, called Bicolanos, speak any one of the several varieties of Bikol, an Austronesian language closely related to other Central Philippine languages such as Cebuano and Tagalog. Bikol varieties include Bikol Rinconada (Iriga-Buhi area), the western Albay dialects (Oas, Daraga), Bikol Sorsogon (Sorsogon), Bikol Catanduanes and Bikol Partido (municipalities surrounding Lagonoy Gulf).

Standard Bikol is based on the dialect of Naga City and is spoken in a wide area stretching from Camarines Norte, most of Camarines Sur, the entire east coast of Albay (including Legazpi and Tabaco) and northern Sorsogon. Standard Bikol is generally understood by other Bikol speakers and is the regional lingua franca.

The Batangas long brown sand beach are popular among local and foreign tourist alike. It’s clear waters ideal for water sports such as swimming, boating, yachting, fishing and skin diving. Along the shoreline are several summer cottages. Excursions are offered by local boatmen to resort island, an uninhabited isle off the coast. Batangas tourist can also experience a floating bamboo picnic huts anchored out over the reef, which is a good base for snorkeling and partying.

Matabungkay is touted as the finest beach around Manila. The package of having a beautiful sunset, white beach, and the provincial atmosphere made Matabungkay a drive-away beach destination for tourists coming from Manila. The area has little to offer other than swimming and watching the sunset but good enough for an inexpensive trip. Unlike other beaches, Matabungkay offers reasonable options for low-budget vacationers. Families who are unable to afford costly restaurants bring their barbeque sets and cook their food the way they want at the beach or at their rented open cottages. Others spend their day barbecuing on the shaded raft floating several meters off the shore. These floating sheds are rented out by villagers which they remark a purely Matabungkay way of picnicking. For upscale tourists, they can choose from luxurious resorts located along the right strip of the beach.

After a relaxing get away from Laguna, you can stop by at highway store and buy your love one’s pasalubong …. Buko Pie, it used to be one of my childhood’s guilty pleasures.

Colette’s, based in San Pablo City in the province of Laguna, they franchise their buko pie, so you can see them everywhere in the highway.

While the first buko pie master was D’Original Buko Pie which still sells the best buko pie, but you have to go at Los Baños in Laguna to buy it. There are rumors that Letty’s Buko Pie (SM Outlet) recipe is the same with them.

However, Collete’s was the first to experiment with various versions of buko pie. They introduced macapuno pie (made from a special strain of coconut that is sticky and thick) and ube-macapuno pie (a combination of macapuno and purple yam), mango pie, pineapple pie and among others. They also have espasol, bibikang cassava and pastillas de leche.

Discover the magic of the Philippines’ 3rd region, this amazing region compose of historical and cultural province. Only an hour by ferry boat across the bay from Manila. Though not a traditional tourist destination until recently, Bataan is now proving to be a tourist haven boasting a multitude of exciting places to visit and interesting things to do.

The province has much to offer – a rich culture and history, the beauty of unspoiled beaches, plus the warm hospitality of its people that is truly Filipino.

The Bataan Peninsula is a rocky extension of the Zambales Mountains in Luzon in the Philippines. It separates Manila Bay from the South China Sea. The peninsula features Mount Natib (1,253 m) in the north and the Mariveles Mountains in the south, which includes Mount Samat, the location of the historical marker of the Bataan Death March.

For all the convenience of Makati’s newest and most extensive shopping malls offering a wide variety of departments stores, boutiques, restaurants, bars, specially shops, and cinemas.

Whether you’re visiting Manila for business or pleasure, you will discover why the Shangri-La has emerged as Manila’s preferred hotel for the discriminating traveller and the focal point of the city’s commercial and social life.

I felt lucky to experienced one of the hotel 699 spacious and beautiful room, the right side area of Makati’s famous Ayala Avenues and Makati Avenue, from me was the most awesome view of Makati Shangrila.

Walking along the cobble-stoned streets of Ilocos Sur will bring you back to the old forgotten days of the past, with its ancestral and period houses still intact and well-preserved heritage sites. A living museum of a spirited past, it has its own share of historical and cultural attractions. A visit to the national landmarks, national museum and heritage museums will give you a taste of the Ilocos Region’s myriad of culture and history.

People and Livelihood

Ask Manong to describe the people from this land and they will describe themselves as loving, industrious people. Ilokanos are engaged in farming and food crop production. They produce rice, corn, vegetables, root crops and fruits. (note: apol lagay mo kung anong fruit) This region also serves as one of the main source of the tobacco industry. They also produce cotton and tiger grass. Cottage industries include loom weaving, furniture making, jewelry making, ceramics and blacksmithing. Food processing has also become a major source of livelihood such as production of their famous delicacies, namely, pinakbet, Ilokano sausage (longganisa vigan), bagnet, kornik, banggoong and empenada vigan. These delicacies have become famous all over the Philippines.

As a physical region, the Cordillera is a row of great mountain ranges occupying half of Northern Luzon. Its rugged mountainous backbone contains many peaks exceeding 2,000 meters in height, with rolling hills and stretches of river valleys along its flanks. Baguio City, the famous Sagada, the second highest mountain in Philippines Mt. Pulag, Abra’s inhabitants of Ilocano and Tingguian tribes while the Apayao among the earliest areas penetrated by the Spaniards was few of the famous places in the Corderillera.

The Ifugao’s Tribes

A big bulk of the Cordillera population is composed of closely-related indigenous peoples. Collectively, our peoples are popularly known as Igorot. Often we are also grouped into a number of ethnic or ethno-linguistic identities, such as Apayao or Isneg, Tinggian, Kalinga, Bontoc, Kankanaey, Ibaloy, Ifugao, and Bago.

Metropolitan Manila in wikang Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila or the National Capital Region (NCR) in wikang Filipino: Pambansang Punong Rehiyon is the greater metropolitan area of the city of Manila, the national capital and largest city in the Philippines. Its residential population of almost 16millions (2008 estimate) makes it the nineteenth most populous metropolitan area in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia.

Metro Manila is one of the three defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines, the other being Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. There really is no better place in the country for shopping than Manila. Malls are conveniently clustered together for ease of access. A good place to start is the SM Mall of Asia - Galleria, Megamall and Shangri La - Trinoma and SM North Edsa cluster. This group of malls is readily accessible via the MRT. Flea market stalls crowd the congested streets of Baclaran - Sta. Cruz and Quaipo - Divisoria that all accessible via LRT1 where all the bargain-hunters jostle and haggle for the best buy in fabric, ready-to-wear clothing, shoes and slippers, houseware and home decor items and fresh produce.