Wise ways to travel during Christmas season
Credit to Author: Lea Manto-Beltran| Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2019 17:08:48 +0000
Considered the best time for every Filipino, the Christmas season is identified with blinking lights, colorful parols toasty aroma of bibingka and puto bumbong, Christmas carols in every mall, endless series of family reunions and more.
Indeed every Filipino love this season. But while everybody is busy shopping for the best gifts for loved ones, why not pause and spend a holiday staycation with family or friends and enjoy the beauty of the Philippines.
According to the latest report of the Department of Tourism (DoT), The Philippine tourism industry remains in a sweet spot as the country’s inbound visitor count continues to rise, surpassing the 6 million mark at the end of September 2019.
The Philippines received a total of 6,161,503 visitors from January to September 2019, indicating a 14.37-percent increase from the 5,387,458 arrivals for the same period last year.
A total of 606,553 visitor arrivals were recorded by DoT for September, which is still widely considered a lean month in the Philippines in terms of tourism. This number poses a double–digit growth of 17.09 percent compared to the 518,041 visitor count for September 2018.
“The figures look very promising, and we are glad that more tourists are visiting us in light of the accolades received by the Philippines and our destinations throughout the year,” said DoT Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.
“What keeps us doing what we do in the DoT is seeing more of our countrymen revel in the positive impacts of genuine sustainable tourism,” stressed Secretary Puyat.
In line with these developments, a long list of holiday tours and activities can be enjoyed by the whole family especially now that family reunions, barkada gatherings and office, and various kinds of parties are happening one after the other.
Luzon getaway
Let’s start with Manila. Its rising skyscrapers and cosmopolitan cultural scene blend effortlessly with the palatial colonial-era Spanish mansions of Intramuros, the heart of Manila and one of Asia’s oldest walled cities that offer a fascinating glimpse of Luzon’s past. The millennials would love the “medieval knights” atmosphere and clamber up the ancient stone ramparts to see over the top.
There are also various attractions perfect for the young and not so young explorers like a marine aquarium, animation theme park, interactive art gallery and hands-on “mind museum.”
Spend a few days exploring the capital city then walk barefoot on the luxurious beaches of Palawan and the vast subterranean river of Puerto Princesa, then enjoy the scenic Taal volcano in Tagaytay or Mayon Volcano in Bicol.
Then head north Luzon and visit the Unesco World Heritage Sites, such as the Hispanic city of Vigan, the magnificent rice terraces of Banaue, or the summer capital of the Philippines, Baguio.
Rich in biodiversity, with perfect landscapes and endless breathtaking beaches, the Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, separated into three distinct geographic regions. Linked by regular ferry crossings and local flights, it’s possible to tour the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Journey to the Visayan region
Start trekking the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol, then take advantage of the world-class diving and idyllic powder-soft beached of the Visayas like the world-popular destination Boracay.
The children will definitely love the wide-open spaces, and close encounters with tarsiers, one of the world’s smallest primates. You can also go snorkeling among turtles over the reef and swim with whale sharks.
For the ultimate tropical island family getaway, the island of Boracay seems to be picture-perfect and considered one of the best white sand beaches in the world. Family-friendly and laid with good choice of restaurants and day and night activities, Boracay island should not be missed.
Exploring Mindanao
Despite jaw-dropping beaches, killer surf, rugged mountains and indigenous cultures living much as they have for centuries, Mindanao remains off the tourism industry’s radar. The conflict that has simmered for several generations bear much of the responsibility for this, but there’s more to Mindanao that every Filipino should visit.
The Philippine Eagle Center in Southern Mindanao set in a pocket of native forest near Malagos, 36 kilometers north of Davao, is home to the one of the largest eagles in the world. The center is dedicated to conserving these endangered birds with around 35 Philippine eagles.
Then visit Museo Dabawenyo, an excellent museum with two floors of well-designed galleries exploring the complexities of indigenous tribal groups, religions and ethnicities of Davao and Mindanao. It showcases the photographic exhibitions documenting the Japanese and American occupation of the city.
Meanwhile Kublai Gallery is an unconventional setting for a fine-art gallery, paintings by artist Kublai Millan. It is located on the fourth floor of the Chinatown shopping Plaza in Davao.
At the southeastern end of Zamboanga is Fort Pilar Museum. It is a museum with several impressive galleries. The marine exhibit includes some sophisticated displays, and across the inner courtyard is an ethnographic gallery on the boat-dwelling Sama Dilaut known as the Badjao or sea gypsies.From the ramparts you can see the 360-degree views of Zamboanga City and the refreshing ocean.
Another enchanting destination is the uninhabited White Island (Medano Island) beach in Camiguin, a pure white-sand bar a few hundred meters offshore, accessible by boats that leave from a spot next to Paras Beach Resort in Yumbing. Aside from sunbathing, there are some nice snorkelling spots and a few resident turtles.
Around 5 km north of the city center is the big complex spread out along the Davao River. A combination conservation center and zoo, there are croc shows, including feeding sessions, tightrope walking, a cultural show and a riverfront restaurant serving crocodile four ways–sizzling, pasta, omelette and plain old steak–as well as other meats including ostrich and seafood.
Set in acres of botanical gardens with a small wildlife collection of butterflies, birds and deer, the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in Davao is a theme park featuring indigenous houses, a museum and an education center. There are camping, cottages, a swimming pool and a restaurant.
The Museum of Three Cultures in Cagayan de Oro has an interesting mix of photos, ceramics, art and artefacts, including several huge ceremonial M’ranao swords and a full-scale pangao, a four-poster bed meant to accommodate the sultan’s entire family. It’s housed in a building of classrooms on the grounds of Capitol University, a short walk from Gaisano Mall north of the city center.
These and more are the best destinations around the Philippines that every family can enjoy this holiday season.