Posts Tagged ‘of the philippines’
Mounted naturally in the fields of Bohol Philippines is the well known a thousand hills in the Philippines that is the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Yes, so far as the latest survey, the hills are estimated 1,776 in numbers. That is really a thousand hills on a 50 square kilometer terrain.
The Chocolate Hills is actually the third National Geological Monument of the Philippines and is being proposed to include at UNESCO World Heritage list. This is so because the Chocolate Hills is one of a kind in the world and it is naturally formed not like the Pyramids of Egypt which are man-made only. For every one who views it personally were really amazed that these hills were not man-made or were done by nature.
The hills are cone-shaped like hills with mixture of brown (the chocolate-color ground) and green (The grassy parts) color. However, its chocolate-colored ground stand outs more that it grassy part, thus they are called Chocolate hills, that is because of their chocolate color. Some who personally visits it says that their shapes are almost relatively symmetrical, thus every tourist has the reason to exclaim “wow” about their beauty. The Chocolate hills are a rolling haycock hills and said to be compose of limestones within them. Their grassy parts have a grass species like Imperata cylindrical, Saccharum spontaneum, and some ferns.
The Chocolate Hills are said to be like the Karst Hills similar to Slovenia and Croatia, however, the Chocolate Hills does not have caves. Their existence is being compared or studied in accordance to Karst theory. You can google about the Karst theory if you wanted to know about this theory. However, there are also legends about their formations, that is it is said that a two feuding giants throw mud, hurled rocks, sand, etc to one another until they finally exhausted and end up their feuding issue.
The flat land in between the hills is being used for vegetation purpose where rice and other crops were planted on it. For these hills were distributed throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan in Bohol Philppines. However, it is mostly concentrated at the town of Carmen. Actually, there is a government owned resort at Carmen Bohol where you can view the Chocolate Hills that is the “Chocolate Hills Complex” where you can view the hills. But, you can also view them at Sagbayan Town at “Sagbayan Peak”,a resort at Sagbayan Bohol.
The “Chocolate Hill Complex” is originally a two hills which were developed into a resort and viewing facility. The higher hill has viewing deck which you can view the Chocolate hills in a 360 degree view. Similarly, the “Sagbayan Peak of the town of Sagbayan also offers similar viewing angle with the exception only that at Sagbyan Peak you can also view the sea coast of Cebu city Philippines.

The Chocolate Hills is already a famous tourist destination long before the popularity of white sand beaches in the Philippines come into consciousness of the world about Philippine Tourism. It is already then the flagship Philippine tourist destination.
Zambales in the Philippines and its Popular Municipalities/Cities
This province adjacent Pampanga Philippines is well known of course as the region where Mt. Pinatubo erupted during 1991 where it devastated almost the entire central Luzon Philippines. However, despite of this famous natural disaster, Zambales Philippines still stands out among the provinces of central Luzon Philippines. This is so because of Zambales Philippines prominent municipalities and cities like Olongapo city, Subic Bay Freeport, San Felipe Zambales, Iba Zambales, Botolan Zambales, Palauig Zambales and other famous Zambales municipalities.

Olongapo city Zambales is said to be the first class city in Zambales Philippines. It is said to have 227,270 dwellers within the city and one of cleanest city at Zambales Philippines. However, it is distinct city among the cities or municipalities of Zambales in the Philippines for it is a chartered city. That is, it has its own government and legislation in the city and not in compliance with the local governance of Zambales Philippines. This is due because Olongapo city before it has become One of the Philippine cities or rather one of Zambales municipality, it is under the governance of United States and part of United States naval reserves in the Philippines, it was only by the untiring effort of James Gordon, Olongapo city become Zambales own city but with chartered governance.
Another Zambales City which is adjacent to Olongapo city is the Subic City or Subic Bay Freeport Zone which is of similar situation with Olongapo city. As we know, Subic Bay is a home or former home of United States Military facilities outside the US mainland jurisdiction. And the US Naval Base location at Subic Bay is the one called Freeport Zone where the entire tourist (local and foreigner alike) flocks to play Casinos, rest and unwind at its beaches and resorts, etc. Like Olongapo city, Subic Bay was formerly held in administration of the United States Government but Like James Gordon have done to Olongapo city, his Son Richard Gordon lobbied its independence also.
Another famous Zambales Municipality of town is the home of Mt.Pinatubo which is Botolan Zambales. Botolan Zambales is the host of two major festivities at Zambales Philippines, namely the Domorokdok Festival held during May, and the Fiesta Poon Bato held during January. Botolon Zambales also boast of its fast growing recreational and resort areas like hiking near a waterfalls for example as a recreational activity.
San Felipe Zambales in other hand boast its best access routes into the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo and its Mountain ranges and rivers and beaches.
Iba Zambales,as we all Filipinos know that it is the birth place of former President Ramon Magsaysay and the Provincial Capital of Zambales Philippines. Iba Zambales has also beaches and rivers and its beaches is one of the busiest and most flock beaches in Zambales Philippines.

Palauig Zambales, however, home the highest peak mountain in Zambales Philippines, which is Mt. Tapulao with 2037 meter peak high. It is best for those who love mountain hiking. Actually, a Korean tourist who was impressed by Mt.Tapulao’s beauty has dubbed Palauig Zambales as the Baguio city of the Philippines of Zambales Philippines.