The Vanishing Island: Davao del Norte, Philippines

Photo credits: www.mindanaotours.com

The Vanishing Island is known as such due to its characteristic that the island is visible only during low tides and can be noticed easily from the distance.

During high tides, visitors may roam around the island by foot with waters reaching their ankles only. Some may choose to go diving and snorkeling during high tide. The crystal clear waters adds to the joy of scuba diving enthusiasts because of the underwater view of sea grasses, corals, fishes and reefs.

This magnificent island can be found few minutes away from the coast of Tambo, Babak in Samal, Davao, Philippines.

Isla de Gigantes - a paradise in the Philippines

The Gigantes Islands, also known as Islas de Gigantes or the islands of giants, located off the coast of Carles and Estancia towns in northeastern Iloilo, Philippines. It takes at least 5 hours to get there from Iloilo City. Those willing to go the “extra mile” can look forward to enjoying beautiful seascapes and a laid-back island lifestyle that Gigantes has to offer. The islands are blessed with crystal white sand beaches, bountiful fresh seafood, and amazing rock formations. 

The islands are also home to different mystical caves hidden behind steep cliffs and amazing rock formations. A very steep rocky trail in Gigantes Sur leads to the top that the locals call as the “Boulevard.” At that point, one could enjoy a 360-degree view of Gigantes group of islands and the Visayan sea.

1. ROCK FORMATION - Islas de Gigantes Islands welcomes you with limestone formation. There is a great rock formations all over the islands. Tangke Salt Water Lagoon is awesome because of its amazing hidden feature.

2. BEACH -  not as photogenic as of Boracay Island, but something I love is its simplicity.

3. ISLAND - Cabugao Island (considered as the most photographed) is not that overrated in social media when you see personally. Meanwhile, Bantigue Island is where the perfect sandbar during low tide is located. Gigantes Sur and Gigantes Norte have Tangke Lagoon and Gigantes Lighthouse respectively, aside from its white sand beaches.

4. FOOD - Budget is not a problem because seafoods have lower price (name your choice and kind of cooking) without sacrificing the quantity and taste.

5. OVERNIGHT STAYING - No worries because Gigantes Norte and Gigantes Sur are lined with resorts from cottages to fan rooms, while others have airconditioned rooms (Like MJ Beach Resort). Tents are commonly seen in some islands like in Antonia Island and Cabugao Gamay.

Wake Boarding in the Philippines

Camsur Watersport Complex (CWC) is not your common wakeboarding site as this place has develop into the Philippines’ and Asia’s mecca of the significantly growing water sport.

There are many good reasons that confirm its lofty billing, and one of which is the state-of-the art amenities sprawling in the six-hectare land. Certainly the most well-liked water sport site in the country, CWC offers of a six-point cable ski system, an unparalleled scheme that is sure to draw top level competitions. One of the recent challenges that was held here is the Ironman 70.3 Philippines, a triathlon event which drew a bevy of blue-chip international competitors. 

Sitting within the Provincial Capitol Complex of Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur,Philippines, CWC may be arrived at via a three-minute drive from the Naga International Airport. 

International wake boarders include this site in their radar for its total and rewarding services that include free fundamental and safety instruction by CWC’s resident instructors and providers. World-class obstacle courses are also set out along the area holding out for brave souls who want challenges and adventure. Aside from the wake boarding area, guests may also enjoy immersing in the sun while eking out a high-powered volley action in the beach volleyball court.

Management: Provincial Government of Camarines Sur
Address: Provincial Capitol Complex, Cadlan Pili, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Contact Details Tel. Nos. (+63 54) 4777300 (+63 54) 4757806
E-mail: infocamsur@gmail.com
Website:www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com

Rock Balancing

Rock balancing is an art, discipline, or hobby depending upon the intent of the practitioner in which rocks are balanced on top of one another in various positions; these scenes may then be photographed.

An arrangement of stones is pictured at Daranak falls in Tanay, Rizal province, east of Manila after a rock balancing performance September 5, 2011. Rock balancing is a performance art which involves arranging natural stones usually found on location, in gravity-defying arrangements without the need of any additional tools. Local environment enthusiasts Leandro Mendoza and Ildefonso Vista pioneered this art form in hope of creating greater awareness among people towards environmental conservation. Picture taken September 5, 2011 by Cheryl Ravelo.

Local environment enthusiast Ildefonso Vista (L) performs rock balancing as a man watches at Daranak falls in Tanay, Rizal province, east of Manila September 5, 2011. Rock balancing is a performance art which involves arranging natural stones usually found on location, in gravity-defying alignments without the need of any additional tools. Environment enthusiasts Leandro Mendoza and Vista pioneered this art form in hope of creating greater awareness among people towards environmental conservation. Picture taken September 5, 2011 by Cheryl Ravelo.

Environment enthusiast Leandro Mendoza performs rock balancing at a school in Tanay, Rizal province, east of Manila September 5, 2011. Rock balancing is a performance art which involves arranging natural stones usually found on location, in gravity-defying arrangements without the need of any additional tools. Local environment enthusiasts Mendoza and Ildefonso Vista pioneered this art form in hope of creating greater awareness among people towards environmental conservation. Picture taken September 5, 2011 by Cheryl Ravelo. 

Students try rock balancing, a performance art which involves arranging stones usually found on location, in gravity-defying alignments without the need of any tools, at a school in Tanay, Rizal province, east of Manila September 5, 2011. Local environment enthusiasts Leandro Mendoza and Ildefonso Vista pioneered the art form in hope of creating greater awareness among people towards environmental conservation. Picture taken September 5, 2011 by Cheryl Ravelo.

Panagbenga Festival, a class of beautiful flowers!

The Panagbenga Festival is held yearly during the month of February in the Philippines. The celebrations are held for over a month and peak periods are the weekends. The Panagbenga Festival showcases the many floral floats and native dances.The fragrant smells that could be presently teasing olfactory senses are probably less from the now-dried flowers from Valentine's Day than air floating all the way from Baguio City. At this time of year, the City of Pines is almost surely in flower fury over Panagbenga festival, the city's biggest festival.

Panagbenga is a kankanaey term for "a season of blooming." It is also known as the Baguio Flower Festival, a homage to the beautiful flowers the city is famous for as well as a celebration of Baguio's re-establishment. Since February 1995, it has been held to help Baguio forget the 1990 earthquake that distressed much of the city.

Panagbenga festival will have spectators enjoying a multiple floral and float parades over two days. The Baguio Flower Festival Association (BFFA) will have a street dancing parade and band exhibition. The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFFF), meanwhile, will hold a parade. So where should spectators be stationed to not miss any of the float and floral parades? Session Road and Burnham Park. A search for the Mr. and Ms. Baguio Flower Festival, FM Panagbenga Pop Fiesta, Skateboard competition and Dolls of Japan exhibit were added to the BFFA calendar. The festival is supported by constituents of La Trinidad, La Union, Pangasinan, Marinduque and Masbate.

Often a Cañao is an undertaken to kick-off & celebrate the occasion. A Cañao is a dance that also is regularly performed at special occasions such as fiestas. In this two-person dance, the men hang blankets usually woven with an indigenous pattern or design-over each shoulder. The woman wraps a single similar blanket around her. The man leads her and dances in a circle with a hop-skip tempo to the beat of sticks and gongs. The dance must continue until the viewers decide to honor the dancers twice with a shout of "Ooo wag, hoy! hoy!" Once this has happened, the dancers can stop. It is an honor to be invited to join the dance, and elders and other respected members of the community are expected to join in at every occasion.

Other notable events: 

Bulaklak Rock Battle of the Bands at the Skating Rink; Local Arts Show at the People’s Park; Veteran Records Skateboard Competition at the Skating; Dolls of Japan Exhibit and Eiga Sai at the Baguio Convention Center Lobby; Kitefest at the Athletic Bowl.

GETTING THERE 

Baguio is easy to get to by air and land transportation. From Manila, the latter is the more popular choice, although at this time of the year, it may prove to be a hassle. If you prefer to fly to the City of Pines, some airlines maintain a daily schedule of flights from Manila to Baguio and back, like Asian Spirit. If, however, you go for a four-hour joyride, there are a variety of bus companies, garage cars, and tour operators for the convenience of tourists and visitors.