Posts Tagged ‘manila’

From May 23 To May 31

1. Tropical Storm Chedeng, et.al. As if a storm has a logical thinking that it will waste its time storming regions in the Philippines that are already well-prepared against an incoming storms that it will not hit big its presence in the Philippines but only minimal at certain regions which are unprepared for its coming. This is what has been the case of the Philippine tropical storm “chedeng”.

This tropical storm was expected to land on certain Luzon regions as it was forecasted but it hits regions which are not somewhat forecasted and even detour quickly out of the Philippine archipelago into area of responsibility of Japan.

Remember also the tropical storm “Juan” dubbed as a forthcoming super typhoon then but it was not be, because the Philippines is very well prepared then. But the tropical storm “Ondoy” becomes a major blockbuster typhoon overnight in the Philippines then and it becomes a major hit because the Philippines then is not well prepared or unprepared and not expecting the forthcoming of “Ondoy”.

Therefore, are tropical storms like typhoons, hurricanes, cyclones, etc. have their own thinking or is there someone manipulating and controlling their paths like puppets out there, now that there are rumors about weather warfares?

2.  Special Treatment for Rich and VIP Prisoners. After Tony Leviste’s escape and capture, lingering suspicions about special treatment for rich and very important person prisoners has come up into the surface of public scrutiny and the self-righteous and hypocritical administration of PNOy has to distance itself by laming all these to director of Bureau of Correction Ernesto Diokno which Aquino have warned to axed from his position and Aquino’s DILG secretary Laila De Lima want to file a case against Diokno but Diokno is quick to defend himself that he is innocent of the allegations thrown against him by the self-righteous PNoy and immediately resign from his post to avoid the humiliation Aquino administration will incur on his name. And upon his own resignation, the self-righteous PNoy thought that Diokno’s resignation is a self-admition of the allegations and want Diokno to give a new position of that action of Diokno.

How many innocent people will the self-righteous and hypocritical Aquino administration will demonized for the sake of personal gains and papogi points of his own administration that his administration is flawless and just and good whereas it is not, not only because of many “kapalpakan” but also because the Aquino administration loves to pinpoint or to blame others instead of making an accurate, correct and fair investigation first.

3. Reaping Coral Reefs and Aquatic Lives. It is like a bountiful harvest of undersea crops swept and scraps almost from the sea bed and to be selling to those who are interested to buy or to those people who are in great demand of marine decorative species and of exotic jewelry. This is how it was described the aquatic disaster discovered on the coast of Cotabato Philippines from the two container van containing alleged smuggled black corals, dead turtles, and other thousand pieces of marine lives.

4. More Reproductive Health Bill Debates and Sentiments. The war of the Catholic Church in the Philippines against the bill is still burning and would not let go until their desire about the bill should be done or fulfilled by the PNoy administration.

In my opinion, if PNoy has a firm decision regarding the bill, he should have already approved it a long time go or the bill have already been imposed and should not be indecisive only because of the catholic church threats; the state is stronger than the church because the church is only under the state’s authority and not all Filipinos are Christian or Catholics in religion. Why bother listen only to the Catholics in the Philippines?

5. No Smoking on Manila and PNoy’s “wa” say to it. Ban of smoking activities within the public metro is good but does only the ordinary Pinoys should be under it wherein there is a big Pinoy in the Palace that should become the role model of it. The palace can never excuse that Malacanang is a residential place thus PNoy is exempted because Malacanang is not just an ordinary private residence but a public place actually.

The national flag of the Philippines is composed of 4 colors; red, blue, white and yellow. It has equal bands of blue and red, with a white equilateral triangle based at the hoist side.

In the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with 8 primary rays, each containing 3 individual rays and at each corner of the triangle is a 5-pointed yellow star.

The flag is displayed with the blue field on top, in times of peace and at times the red field on top in times of war.

The 2 fundamental colors of the Philippine flag are royal blue and scarlet red.

The meanings of the colors of the Philippine national flag are as follows:
The white triangle stands for equality and fraternity, the blue field for peace, trust and justice, and the red field for patriotism and valor.

The 8 primary rays of the sun represent the 8 provinces which declared themselves in state of war as soon as the first revolt was initiated. The 8 provinces are Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and Batangas.
The 3 stars represent the 3 major geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

There are also a few flag protocols in the Philippines. The flag must be flown at half mast as a sign of mourning. Like a death of a president or a former president, historical figures and anyone that is recognized and declared by the Philippine government.

There are a lot of ways and means of transportation to get around the Philippines. In Manila, there are 3 types of railways. The first one is the Light Rail Transit or commonly known as the LRT, which connects to major cities and municipalities around Metro Manila. The second one is the Metro Rail Transit or MRT, also connecting to various cities and municipalities in Metro Manila.

Nowadays, LRT’s and MRT’s are crowded with passengers everyday. Because it makes the traveling time way shorter than traveling in jeepneys and buses. The railways avoid the daily heavy traffic in Manila.

The third one is the Philippine National Railways or PNR. This has several stations in Manila. It offers daily trips outside Metro Manila. Like in Sorsogon, Davao, Pampanga.

Other public utility vehicles are the taxi, jeepney, mini-bus, tricycles, buses and pedicabs.
Taxis are mainly found in Metro Manila and are metered-operated. You can find jeepneys all over the Philippines, with a standard fare rate of seven pesos. But it also changes depending on how much gasoline is in the world market. Tricycles are only allowed in small roads, mainly inside villages and small districts. Tricycles are motorcycles assembled with a side-car. They can accommodate 4-6 passengers at a time, depending on how big or small they are. Pedicabs are bicycles assembled with a side-car. They are only allowed inside villages and very small roads.  Mini-buses and buses can be found in main in the Philippines.

Some of the major bus companies in the Philippines are Baliwag Transit, The Philippine Rabbit and Victory Liner. The bus fare depends on how many kilometers the destination will be.

The main ports and harbors in the Philippines are: The Manila International Cargo Terminal and Eva Macapagal Port Terminal. They’re both in the pier of Manila. Also frequently used port and harbors are the Batangas Port and the one in Subic.
There are also a lot of local airlines in the Philippines. But the most well-known is The Philippine Airlines which is also the national flag carrier.

Makati City and Metro Manila in the Philippines

Makati City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, which is the greater metropolitan area of the National Capital Region of the Philippines.

Makati City is also the major financial, economical and commercial hub in the Philippines. It is often referred to as the financial capital of the Philippines.

Makati City is the home to the influential Makati Business Club and the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Ayala Avenue in Makati City, which is running through the heart of downtown Makati Central Business which is often called the Wall Street of the Philippines. Because of it’s close resemblance to the Wall Street of New York City.

Makati City is noted for its highly cosmopolitan culture. That’s why many expatriates live and work in the city. The barangays (villages or districts) in Makati City are way different than the other cities in Metro Manila. Because they offer ample free services and health assistance to its residents. The public parks are full of trees and are decently clean.

Makati is also home to many first-class and high-end shopping malls. Targeting the city’s expatriates and the business working class.

Makati City also has the tallest buildings in the Philippines. Almost like skyscrapers, like the PBCom Tower and G.T. International Tower. The city also has many of the country’s 5-Star hotels which are The Peninsula Hotel Manila, The Shangri-La Hotel Makati and Hotel Intercontinental Manila.

Makati City is the home for some embassies too. Like the Australian Embassy, Canadian Embassy and the German Embassy, all are located at the RCBC Tower.
So if you want to experience the clean, hustle and bustle of a city, Makati is worth giving a visit.

A tourist wherever he or she may visit a country like the Philippines. A hotel is the first sought after tourist spot in the country he or she visit, is not it? However, with a lot of hotels to choose from or with a lot of hotels in the  Philippines have which one is better and which one is not? Confused which hotels in the Philippines will you stay and check-in? Let me help you find one. Here I made a list of hotels in the Philippines.

Hotel in manila

In Metro Manila Philippines there are beautiful hotels to check-in, however, they are confusing to which suites your budget and tiring to go from one hotel into another hotel just to inquire. But actually they have created a websites for this matter, is not it? Here is their recommended list of hotels beginning at Manila Philippines.

* The Heritage Hotel – it offers $110 both on superior and deluxe rooms. It offers free buffet breakfast and a shuttle ride to SM Mall of Asia. If you can afford this budget, then why not try it? Prices may change without prior notice, thus if you are interested to this hotel, you can search their website for updates on their hotel package.

* The Manila Pavilion Hotel – it offers Php. 3,800 for standard rooms with buffet breakfast.

* The Century Park Hotel – it offers Php. 4,350 for superior rooms without a buffet breakfast. You must cater yourself your own breakfast.

* The Bayview Park Hotel – it offers $ 53 for Superior rooms with buffet breakfast. If you do not have much budget, you can choose this hotel, for imagine it is only $53 for a superior room with buffet breakfast?

* The Bellevue Hotel – it offers Php. 5,000 for deluxe room with broadband internet on the room with computer having access to internet, however, it has no free buffet breakfast but with free shuttle service to Alabang city, if you are going to Alabang.

* The Copacobana Apartment Hotel – it offers Php. 2,300 for studio room with free breakfast. However, if you do not like this kind of hotels Philippines has to offer you, you can reject it anyway.

* The Casa Bagobo Hotel – however, you can try this simple but beautiful and economical Philippine hotel, it only offers Php. 1,800 for a beautiful solo room with free buffet breakfast and free wi-fi connection. Yeah, it is simply beautiful Philippine hotel.

* The Hotel Indah Manila Hotel – it offers also economical for a standard room with free breakfast. It offers Php. 1,850 only.

* The Nicols Hotel Manila Hotel –this Philippine hotel offers superior room with Php. 1,950 only but with no free breakfast to offer you.

* The Mabuhay Manor Hotel – this hotel offers free buffet breakfast for superior room with Php. 2,399 only.

Pan Am Hotel in Manila

The list above are the recommended Hotels you can choose from after arriving at Manila Philippines if you wanted to check-in into a Philippines hotels in Manila Philippines. The lists are hotels in Manila Philippines which are recommended for hotel-seekers like you in Manila.

Calamba Laguna Philippines

Perhaps most Filipinos already knew what’s in this place, yeah, it is the home place or birth place of Doctor Jose P. Rizal –the Philippines’ National Hero, A renaissance genius man. He is an artist, a doctor (ophthalmologist), a poet, a publicist, an engineer, a sculptor, a novelist, a teacher, a linguist who could speak 21 languages, and of course a martyr hero. Actually, his ancestral house at Calamba has now become a tourist attraction for those who visit Calamba Laguna Philippines where a memorabilia about him was on display. They call it Rizal Shrine.

Actually, his ancestral home was destroyed during World War II but was restored during the presidency of Elpidio Quirino, which is during 1950s.

However, it was not only Dr.Jose P.Rizal is the known hero that Calamba Laguna have produced, actually, there are still other four National heroes, namely General Paciano Rizal, Teodora Alonzo, General Vicente Lim, and Lt. Geronimo Aclan. Thus,an association have arise,that is the Calamba Association Of Northeastern USA,Inc. base on New York.This Calamba organization have established by the former residents of Calamba Laguna Philippines to promote Calamba Philippines itself and for the welfare and improvement of the lives of Filipinos in line with the heroic deeds of the national heroes which have sprouted from Calamba Laguna in the Philippines.

Anyway, what are other places of interest at Calamba Laguna Philippines aside from its hero’s zone area? At Laguna Philippines there are many resorts and hot springs you could visit, however, we will discuss them at my article Laguna Philippines. Calamba Laguna is only at the footstool of Laguna Philippines’s famous Enchanted Mountain –Mt. Maria Makiling,thus you could tread upon the Mt. Maria Makiling through Calamba Laguna. Moreover, Calamba has rich source of fresh clean water due to Laguna Philippines have many hot springs within its vicinity. Calamba Laguna has also hot springs at Laguna de Bay- the Wonder Island Resort.

Another place of interest at Calamba, is the St. John the Baptist Church. It has a beautiful ambience and most tourists attend mass on it. I remember, when I was a child we attend mass in it after we visit the Rizal Shrine. For it is said that on this church, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was baptized. Furthermore, at the front of Calamba Laguna Municipal Hall, there are a beautiful potted plants and flowers for sale that could awe your site.

Aside from Rizal’s memorial statue at Luneta Park, he has also another memorial statue at Rizal Memorial School at Calamba Laguna.

However, if you want to visit Calamba Laguna Philippines, it is only 53 kilometers away from Manila Philippines and lies at the southern terminal of South Luzon Expressway. And they say it is a gateway to many part of Laguna in the Philippines and to other adjacent cities and regions.

Calamba Laguna is the largest city of Laguna Philippines which largely are migrants from Manila Philippines and Tagalog regions of the Philippines, as well some religious groups and foreign tourists. Thus, it has many real estate businesses within its region.

Iloilo city Philippines

Iloilo city is one of the largest cities in the Philippines and at the Western Visayan Region as well. It is the capital city of the province of Iloilo Philippines. It is 55 minutes away from Manila Philippines if you happen to took a flight from Manila into this city. However, if you like sea adventure trip, it will take you 19 hours before you reach it if you travel from Manila Philippines.

Iloilo city Philippines is said to have a strategic location for business opportunities, thus Iloilo city is now known for it very robust Banking industry. Did you Know, Iloilo city host a variety of banking institutions? That is, from small into large bank companies, from commercial into universal, from thrift banking into saving, from rural or cooperative. And from local banks into foreign banks, all are in the heart of Iloilo city Philippines. Thus, it is now a hub for most trades, commerce, and industry business.

Iloilo city Philippines has two largest local banks and three foreign banks, namely the Valiant Bank and Queen City Development Bank, and Citibank, Maybank, and Standard Chartered Bank, respectively.

However, aside from banking and commercial industry, Iloilo city is also one of the largest Fishing Industry in the Philippines. That is because of its rich fishing grounds. Its Fish Port is funded in a multi-million budgets. For it is where the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center conducts aquatic research. Moreover, the center for marine and aquatic studies in the Philippines is in it. Did you know that the Iloilo Commercial Port complex is the first island Pier to exist in the Philippines?

However, if you love beaches, Iloilo city has also beaches you could enjoy. You could see it white sand beaches at Sicogon Island. Sicogon Island is of the Higantes Island within the municipality of Carles. Carles is a municipality at Iloilo Philippines. To get to Sicogon Island, if you happen to be at the Iloilo city itself, you can take a public transportation toward the municipality of Carles. The travel is 3-hours. And from the municipality of Carles, you could ride a motor boat to get into the island. However, if you happen to be at Manila Philippines, you could take the Roxas city route for it is said that it is near the municipality of Carles. Moreover, did you know that the beaches at Sicogon Island is more older and most famous beaches among tourist before Boracay Beaches is discovered and known?

There are also some historical sites one could visit at Iloilo Philippines, like the For San Pedro site,the La Villa Rica de Arevalo where Spaniards rule at that time.The Museo Iloilo where one could witness the preserved sunken British ship and Spanish artifacts memorabil,as well as the Local ILonggos crafts.

Aside from Museo Iloilo as a landmarks you could saw at Iloilo city, you could also see Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, the Molo Church, the Jaro Belfry, the Calle Real, the Arroyo Fountain, the Distrito Jaro, the Muelle Loney, and other beautiful landmarks which your eyes could feast.

The First Class Batangas Philippines

This Province in the Southwestern part of the Philippines is known as the most popular tourist destinations near Manila Philippines and at the Philippines. And why is it so? Of course because of Batangas Philippines famous beaches and resorts and diving spots, like Matabungkay, Anilao, Punta Fuegeo, Calatagan, and other famous tourist spots. Moreover, the famous Taal Volcano was also located at Batangas Philippines where most tourists flock to see the volcano. Taal volcano is the smallest active volcano known in the world and famous for its crater which has a lake in it. Its crater with lake is now called “Crater Lake” which most tourist love to look into. It is a volcano within a lake (Lake Taal) and the volcano itself has also a lake with its crater. Amazing is not it?

However, there are also interesting stuff about Batangas Philippines than its popular beaches and resorts. That is, Batangas Philippines’s famous fan knife or in local dialect “balisong”. Batangas Philippines has been known of this famous product in connection with its urban legend that a “Batangueno”(or local residents of Batangas ) always carry a secret “balisong” in anticipation to defend oneself from any outsiders who would challenge or offend one Batangueno to fight. Thus, there is a scare saying that “don’t mess yourself with a Batangueno” if you love your life. Batangas knife is a folding pocket knife with two handles counter-rotated at the grip of the blade of the knife. The knife can be concealed and surprise revealed when an enemy is attacking you. That’s really quite terrifying if you happen to bull with a Batangueno.

Batangas Philippines is also known for its cattle species, throughout the Philippines the “Batangas Cow” is sought after and almost every Saturday there is an auction.

However, like other region in the Philippines, Batangas in the Philippines has also other products which it can be proud of like pineapples, tuna fish, bangus, tilapia, coconut belt, etc.

Batangas Philippines is also known as the Cradle of Noble Heroes in the Philippine history because of heroes and statemens it produced, like Teodoro Kalaw,Apolinario Mabini,Jose Laurel,Claro M. Recto, and others. There are number of museums also which depicts this historical side of Batangas Philippines like Marcela Marino Agoncillo Museum and Monument which immortalized the contribution of this semi-hero Marcela Agoncillo who sew the first Philippine flag which was raised and wave during the times of Emilio Aguinaldo. This museum is actually an ancestral house of Marcella Agoncillo or where Marcela Agoncillo used to live during her times.Actually, I thought this was called Apolinario Shrine.

So where Batangas Philippines does located? Batangas Philippines is located at the CALABARZON region of Luzon Philippines, confined with the provinces of Cavite and Laguna. If you are from Manila Philippines, Batangas in the Philippines is 110 kilometers away southward through land transportation. Once you get there, you can ride a passenger jeepney or tricycle to go around the province or you can ride boats if you want an island-hopping adventure.

Prominent Cities of Mindanao Philippines

Despite of the negative reports bombard against the regions of Mindanao to be a risky place for tourist and locals alike, Mindanao Philippines still stand out as good place for investing your money for business and for extreme sports , a businessperson and sport enthusiast could trust of.

For the cities of Mindanao Philippines really makes the Philippines into a pedestal level in terms of commerce and beauty. What does Manila Philippines have to say about this?

Among the cities of Mindanao Philippines, Davao City Philippines is the most important city that brings great pride to Mindanao not only it is Known for its Durian fruit but Davao city Philippines is known to be the Crown Jewel of Mindanao in terms of economic progress. It is far more investment-friendly city compare to Manila Philippines and Cebu Philippines. For Davao city Philippines, first and foremost, is a Typhoon-free region which means it has a good and fair weather all year round and it has multi-cultural groups of people within it, thus, making it a good place for investing your money. Yup, it has good selling propositions.

Another city which Mindanao Philippines is proud of is Cagayan de Oro city Philippines. Cagayan de Oro city Philippines boast its well known extreme sports activities, particularly its white water rafting and river trekking activities. In terms of economic importance, Cagayan de oro city Philippines is the shopping capital of Northern Mindanao Philippines. It has a number of Malls and Shopping centers, namely, Limketkai Center, SM city Cagayan De Oro, Robinsons Cagayan de Oro, MAKRO Cagayan De Oro, Ororama Chain of Stores, Gaisano City Mall, Divisoria Night Café and Market, Carmen Public Market and Commercial Complex, Cogon Public Market and Commercial Complex, Puerto Market, Agora-lapasan Market, Bulua Market, Ayala Center Cagayan de oro, Pacific Island City Mall and other proposed malls.

Another Mindanao city which is good for Investment is Zamboanga City Philippines known as the city of Flowers. In terms of economic essence, Zamboanga city Philippines is now known as the Philippines’ Top Seaweed producer and it has the busiest port in the Philippines. Furthermore, Zamboanga city is also known as “Asia’s Latin City” because of the vestiges of Spanish culture and language mix with other dialects.

Another prominent city in Mindanao is General Santos City Philippines. General Santos City Philippines is known as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines”. It is also the home of some media practitioners in Mindanao. Moreover, it is the home city of now world known boxer – Manny Pacquio.

Another city of Mindanao is Pagadian City Philippines. Pagadian City Philippines is the first class city in the province of Zamboanga Mindanao and was dubbed as the “little Hongkong of the South”. It is the regional center of Zamboanga Mindanao.

There are many cities in Mindanao which puts Mindanao Philippines in the good limelight despite of the dark light thrown upon its regions due to rebels hiding within its forest and abducting tourist and locals alike. Anyone could still invest their money and time to it despite of the negative reports about it.

Come and visit beautiful Mindanao in the Philippines!

Angeles City is located in the Northern part of Luzon. It is also called “The Heart of the North” and also as “The City of Friendship”.

Majority of the people in Angeles City, can speak Kapampangan (Pampango), which is the native language of Pampanga and Tagalog, which is the national language of the Philippines. But old people in Angeles City, most of them can only speak Kapampangan. Because they’re truly proud of their culture and heritage.

The biggest municipality in Angeles City is Balibago. Balibago, is also known as the melting pot of raises. One of the reasons why, is because people in Angeles City are the friendliest people in the Philippines (that’s what they say) and also the so-called “Red Light District” is located in Fields Avenue in Balibago, which attracts a lot of different people all over the world.

People from different countries frequent Angeles City, not because of the friendly people, but also because of the good food, and various party places located in Balibago and Angeles City.

But the reasons given above are not the only reasons why you can frequently spot foreigners in Balibago, Angeles City. Also near Balibago is Clark Air Base. Former Air Base of the United States. But when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991 the troops completely left Clark, because it was greatly devastated by the eruption.

Now, it is known as Clark Special Economic Zone. Where the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is located. It is named after one of the Philippines former presidents. Also located in Clark are several Duty Free shops, and outsourcing businesses which are popularly known as call centers, which helped the Philippines economic status in a great way.

Angeles City is a very convenient place too. It is highly developed and modernized but at the same time it still has a nice suburban feeling in it.

Churches, markets, parks, bus stations and malls are easy to access. Public transportation is available 24 hours, everyday. Manila which is the capital of the Philippines is just less than 2 hours away from Angeles City.

That’s why Angeles City, is truly a place worth visiting because it’s not only a great place to party, it’s a cozy city with a rich culture and proud of it’s old world heritage.