Archive for May, 2010

The largest Naval Base outside the USA before being transformed into a commercial free port, Subic, just 210 kilometers northwest of Manila is a destination of historical significance. It also promises a myrial of experiences, from majestic beaches with fascinating shipwrecks to a multitude of outdoor adventures.

The Aetas were the inhabitants of Subic before Spanish colonizers came. Their ancestral origin is traced to the foot of Mt. Pinatubo, a revered place they beleive to be the abode of a god named Apo Namalyari.

Soon afterward Juan de Salcedo, a Spanish conquistador discovered Subic in 1542. He reported that the area was a deep bay and was a strategic location as a port. There back then, called “Hubek,” which meant “head of the plow.” Historians say that Salcedo mispronounced it by calling it Subig, this was how its name began to come about.

The Spanish issued a Royal Decree by King Alfonso II declaring Subig as a naval port in 1884. Subig later became “Subiq” and the letter q, apparently of Spanish origin was transposed to c, this was most likely done to avoid mispronounciation by the Americans.

In 1899, the Americans included Subic Bay as one of the locations to be visited by patrolling gunboats. Commodore George Dewy of the Asiatic Squadron, who battled the Spnanish fleet in Manila declared Subic Bay as “having no equal in the Philippine Islands.”

US President Theodore Roosevelt designated Subic and 70,000 hectares of its neighboring land as an American military reservation in 1903. A year after, the Subic Naval Station was operational. It was largest US Marine Corps training facility outside the mainland United States. After the Philippine gained its independence from the Americans an agreement was signed granting the Americans use of the 16 military installations including Subic and Olongapo.

Today, Subic is not just a glimpse of the past, but is also a solace for travelers with a thirst for adventure and an exhilarating getaway for groups of all ages.

How to Get There

Subic is northwest of Manila. By land, one can take the bus or rent a car or van. Air-conditioned buses are dispatched every 30 minutes at bus terminals in Pasay, Caloocan, Manila and Cavite. If you are renting a car, take the expressway to San Fernando Exit and pass through Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao, Dinalupihan to Subic Bay Freeport Express.

Flying to Subic is also possible with both domestic and international flights. Just call Subic Bay International Airport for flight schedules. Ferry services are also available from Manila. Offices are located near the Cultural Center of the Philippines along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. A visitor’s pass will be issued by the sentry upon entering the Freeport.

How to Get Around

To get around, it is better to have your own vehicle for shuttles are seldom available.

Ecology Tours – Explore Subic’s lush forests with a native guide. Inclusive of cultural immersion among the Negritos, such as showing medicinal plants, gathering of food, cultural presentations (hunting, fishing, happy dance), jungle survival demonstration (fire making and cooking in the bamboo). The tour lasts 2 to 3 hours

Baguio City in northern Luzon, known as the summer capital of the Philippines is a popular destination particularly during the months of March, April, and May for both local and foreign tourists because of its cold climate. Also known as, “The Flower City of the North,” it is a great venue for various outdoor activities. Come Christmas time, Baguio is also a preferred vacation spot.

Located some 250 kilometers north of Manila, it is nestled 5,000 feet above sea level on the Cordillera Mountain Range, the highest metropolis in the Philippines. In the heart of Benguet Province, it benefits from having political autonomy, being a chartered city since 1909. With an area of 49 square kilometers enclosed in a parameter of 30.6 kilometers, it has 20 administrative districts where its 129 barangays are distributed.

Baguio, before being discovered by the Americans a century ago, was known as the “rancheria”. Cattle and horses used to flock the area during dry seasons, but most of the time it was marshland with a shallow lake where the locals hunted for duck and snipes.

The Americans saw Baguio as a place to build a future metropolis. A water source was found, pine trees were everywhere and grass covered the area. They immediately decided to make Baguio an admirable site for the future summer capital and health resort of the Philippines.

Today, Baguio is a melting pot of cultures. The diversity of indigenous ethno-cultural scene. The Ibalois are considered the original settlers and together with other Cordillera groups such as the Bontocs, Kalingas, Ifugaos and Kankanais, comprise about 10 percent of the total population.

Other ethnic groups from as far as Mindanao also settled in the area. Local visual artists also gather in the city of pines for it is a comfortable space to home their talents together with their contemporaries.

Baguio City is also popular for its vegetable and strawberry produce. It is also an ideal place for golfers and those who love to trek. Simultaneously this promotes environmental awareness and education for both the young and the young at heart. It is a mountain paradise with a surely entice any tourist to visit more than once.

• Session Road – At the heart of downtown Baguio is Session Road. This incline cuts through a row of business establishments which includes restaurants, groceries, drugstores, bookstores and other specialty shops. Marvel at quaint tribal memorabilia while Igorot sidewalk vendors convince you to purchase unique love potions and herbal cures. Nightlife converge to wine and dine until the wee hours of the morning.
• Tan-Awan Village – It is about two kilometers northwest of the town center. It is a replica of an Igorot Village that was built on the side of a hill. It is possible to stay overnight in these original Ifugao houses, the brainchild of the Chanum foundation, a group of artists who are dedicated nurturing the native culture in the Cordilleras. There are demonstrations of handicraft skills like weaving, wood carving and rice production.
• Central Market – The life vein of Baguio courses within and throughout the central market. No trip is complete without a visit to its showcase of fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, preserves, jewelry and even surplus army goods.
• Camp John Hay – Formerly a rest and recreation station of U.S. military troops, this facility was turned over to the Philippine government on July 1, 1991. The 535-hectare haven boasts of a world class 18-hole golf course, wooded hiking area, a skating rink, bowling alleys, tennis courts and a mini-golf course. Camp John Hay also has cottages, which are now open to the public.
• Mansion House – This imposing and majestic Baguio mansion housed a long line of Philippine presidents and American governors-general. Its ornate iron gate is often to curious visitors.
• Easter Weaving Room – Episcopalian missionaries have played an important part in educating the native Igorot. Visit the Easter Weaving Room and admire tattoed tribesmen as they create the most ornate weaves from the indigenous backstrap looms and other more conventional looms.

How to Get There

One can travel by land or air. A local airline flies daily from Manila to Baguio in 40 minutes. Taking the bus will take around 5 to 7 hours depending on traffic and road condition. Flight arrival is at the Baguio Airport Road. if you take the bus, arrival will depend on the location of the bus terminal within the vicinity of Baguio.

There are four routes to Baguio. The Naguilian Road, which is an hour from La Union. Kennon Road, the popular zigzag road presenting a thrilling ride to the mountain city with glorious scenes along the way, is the shortest among the way, is the shortest among entry points (only five hours from Manila). Light vehicles often take this route.

Or take the Palispis-Aspiras Highway, the most famous among travelers since it is the toll road taken by Baguio-bound buses from Manila. It is a distinctly world class thoroughfare, boasting state of the rock sheds, a fly over, and anti-erosion structures. This is the same road where one can get a glimpse of the historic bust of former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos who envisioned the conception of the route to improve trade relations among the Montanosa and the Ilocos Region. Also, there is the Halsema Road that leads to the hinterlands of the Cordilleras.

How to Get Around

Jeepneys and cabs are available.

• Panagbenga Festival (February) – Every year, Baguio celebrates the Flower Festival or Panagbenga. It is a major tourrism event in the city, drawing more local and foreign tourists with an array of floats lavishly decorated with flowers. There are floral street choreographed dancing to the tune of the panagbenga hymn performed by the flower-clad participants. The biggest Baguio Festival likewise features garden shows, exhibits, lectures, floral arrangement competitions, market encounter, and fireworks display.
• Baguio Ecumenical Week (March) – Focuses on Baguio as a spiritual center. The first commemoration initiated by the religious sector of the non-government organizations started in March 1991 with the theme “Baguio, a journey to )spiritual renewal.”
• Baguio Foundation Day (September 1) – Commemorates the anniversary of Baguio’s becoming a chartered city in 1909. Art exhibits, parades, programs, cultural shows and sister-city programs are scheduled.
• Baguio Arts Festivals (November to December) – This is an annual event started in November 1989 sponsored by the Baguio Arts Guild, the Department of Tourism and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. This envisioned Baguio to be the permanent venue for the festival. The features of the event are ethnic and visual arts, which include photography film, video sculpture and art installations.
• Impakabsat (November) – A trade and tourism fair showcasing the products and services of the Cordilleras.
• Planting Season – The Ifugao plant rice according to the following calendar:
  In the second half of December, they begin to sow the seed. From the beginning of February to the middle of March, they transplant the first seedlings. From the middle of April until the middle of June, they weed the feilds. In July, the harvest takes place. From the beginning of August until the middle of December they work on improvemets to the rice terraces and prepare the feilds for the next seeding.

The world “Banaue” is derived from the word “Banawor,” a noctural, swift dying bird that lived in one of the oldest sitios of the town. When the Spaniards occupied the town, they mispronounced Banawae, as Banaue, and the name stuck.
Banaue is politically subdivided into 18 barangays, namely: Amaganad, Anaba, Balawis, Banao, Bangaan, Batad, Bocos, Cambulo, Ducligan, Gohang, Kinakin, Poblacion, Poitan, Pula, San Fernando, Tam-an, Viewpoint and Uhaj.

Beacuse of its high altitude, Banaue is often described as “where land merges with the clouds to meet the heavens,” and the rice terraces as “the stairway to the sky.”

Banaue is a place for nature adventures and cultural immersion. Days for indulging in activities such as strolling, biking and trekking. Evenings are for campfire chats at a village or warm indoor cosseting at the lodges and inns.

How to Get There

Banaue is approximately 8 to 9 hours’ travel by bus from Manila via the San Jose, Nueva Ecija route. One can also reach Banaue from Baguio via the Halsema Road. Travel time from Baguio to Banaue is approximately 8-1/2 hours.

How to Get Around

Tricycles are the main transportation in Banaue. But there are jeepneys and buses that can take you to nearby towns and provinces, such as Sagada in Mountain Province and Solano in Nueva Vizcaya.

• Banaue Rice Terraces – Tagged as the “Eight Wonder of the World,” the Banaue Rice Terraces start from the base of the Cordilleras and reach up to several thousand feet high. Its length, if stretched from end to end, could encircle half of the globe. The rice paddles are fed by mountain springs and streams that are channeled into an irrigation canal that runs downhill through the terraces.
• Tam-an Village – Tam-an is a small Ifugao village located about 323 steps down from the Banaue Hotel’s swimming pool. Interesting to see here are the bones of their ancestors bundled, preserved and wrapped in colorful handwoven blankets.
• Banaue Museum – The museum is a just few minutes’ walk from the Poblacion junction. It houses artifacts, costumes, writing and photos about the Ifugaos and other tribes of the Cordillera region.
• Creative Pagan Museum – This museum houses an extensive collection of Cordilleran sculptures. A beautiful garden with an Ifugao hut can be seen outside the museum.
• Viewpoint – It is located on top of a plateau. From here one can take great pictures of the rice terraces from different angles and magnitudes. One also has the option to trek the terraces from here.
• Hapao Rice Terraces – The rice terraces located in Hapao are one of the few extensive centuries-old, stone-walled terraces. It is believed that the Terrace Culture of the Ifugaos started here.
• Poitan Village – Here, one can see the legendary “stone post” protected and idolized by the village people. One can also see the most sacred idol of the Ifugaos- the bulol or “Rice God” – protecting the grains in the granary. Ifugao huts line the mountain slopes in this village.
• Guihob Natural Pool – It is kilometers from the town proper. One has to hop and jump over huge boulders to reach the crystal clear waters of Guihob. It is perfect place for those who want to take a refreshing swim.
• Batad Rice Terraces – Batad is approximately 16 kilometers from the town proper. Here the amphitheater-like terraces are found. Tattooed men and women can also be seen cultivating their daily staple here. Tattoes are similar to clothing for the locals of this part of Banaue.
• Tappiyah Waterfalls – These cascading waterfalls can be found in Batad. The falls has an enourmous basin where one can swim.
• Banga-an Village – Banga-an is twi kilometers from the junction leading to Batad. One can simply idle his hours away gazing at the village’s fascinating environs.
• Mayoyao Village – Mayoyao is located 41 kilometers from Banau. Its main attraction is its stone-walled rice terraces.
• Duclingan Hot Springs – These hot springs are found at the bank of the Banaue-Duclingan River and adjacent to a deep pool.
• Mount Amuyao – It is the 8th highest peak in the Philippines, with an elevation of 2,702 meters above sea level. It is located between the boundary of Banaue and Mayoyao.

Its summit provides a climber with a breathtaking panorama of the Mountain Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao.