National Geographic cited RP as a top tourist destination.

Here’s something that will uplift Filipino spirits in the midst of so many bad news in the country today. The popular magazine National Geographic, in its November 2009 adventure issue, said that the Philippines has “as many islands as the Caribbean and some of the most spectacular reefs on the planet.” According to the magazine article, a 12-day trip is being organized, costing $3,300 per traveler, from the highlands of the Cordilleras to the coral reefs of the Visayas. The country’s olden cultures, structures and biodiversity were mentioned as key tourist attractions in our country. It also cited the indigenous irrigation system used for the rice terraces in Ifugao, and the rich marine biodiversity in the Philippines.

This development should inspire the government and environmental advocates to strive harder in trying to save the country’s depleted coral reefs from the destruction wrought by illegal fishing, poaching and pollution.

Some of our tourist destinations have become victims of commercialism and are becoming over-developed while some are suffering from neglect and are deteriorating over the years. This honor should serve as an invitation to all Filipinos to become stakeholders and do our share in preserving our natural resources and maintaining the beauty of our tourist spots.

For the full news article in the Philippine Star, please click on this link.



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Sunset Watch in Zambales

Here are a couple of photos that i took during our teambuilding in Zambales. The colors are not that vivid since i only used a camera phone to capture the moment, but I still love the photos. It was nature at its best.










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Pictures taken from Potipot Island.

As promised, here are a couple of photos that i took when we went to Potipot Island in Zambales last February. Since we need to ride a boat to reach the island from the resort, I had qualms of taking a camera-phone with me. Nevertheless, I risked taking the camera with me just to be able to take pictures that I can share with you.



The water is clear and beautiful as it beckons for visitors to take a plunge.



There were lush trees near the beach which serve as shades from the summer heat.







The black mound in the above photo is not a trash; it is actually a starfish that we got out from the water. They come in different sizes and they abound in the island.



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A summer paradise in Zambales.

Summer has officially started and what better way to enjoy summer than spending it outdoors. It is the time of the year when you’re supposed to turn off your air condition and start thinking about getting the most out of the sunny weather.

But you don’t need to be in Baguio or Boracay to relish the beauty of a summer paradise. There are summer haven just a couple of hours drive from Metro Manila that offers a lot of island and highland attractions but without much commercialism and hundreds of tourists swarming.


Just before the end of February, our team went to a hidden paradise in Zambales. The resort is called La Trinidad Bay and it is a good 5 hours drive from Quezon City.



From the resort, we took on an island hopping session in Potipot island where we feast our eyes on the pristine beauty of the Island. Its white sand beach is easily accessible from the shores of the resort we were staying. It took us about 5 to 10 minutes boat ride before we reached the island that boasts of not only white sands that surrounds the whole island, but also its calm clear waters and lush trees that gave shades along the beach.


This is certainly one place that I am planning to revisit in the coming years.
More photos of Potipot Island in my next posts.

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Manila Zoo, Revisited.

It was a Sunday and we don’t have any plans for the day so my girlfriend and I thought of going to Manila zoo. We actually saw a feature segment on TV about the Manila zoo, there’s a mention of a new facility there for horseback riding.

Honestly, I can no longer recall the last time I visited this landmark. I was still in my primary years then. All I know is it is close to the Harrison Plaza shopping mall in Adriatico St.

I asked my girlfriend, who is from Parañaque, if she had been to Manila zoo, she said never.

“I don’t know how to go there.” I told her.

She shrugged, “Don’t worry, any taxi driver in Manila would surely know where the Manila zoo is.”

That’s what I thought too.

So, with my girlfriend and my Kodak EasyShare V1253 digital camera, we ride an FX from Commonwealth Ave. and got off near the Philippine General Hospital. We hailed a taxi from there hoping that it would just be a couple of minutes drive from that point.

When we’re comfortably seated inside the taxi, the driver, said, “Alam nyo daan papunta dun?”

My girlfriend and I exchanged disgusted looks.
“Sa may Adriatico daw po yun,” I offered.
“Ah, alam ko na,” the driver said finally.

He’s probably just a new driver, I thought. Or it may be that the Manila zoo has already lost its popularity among the residents of Manila and nearby cities.

After about ten minutes, we’ve reached the Manila zoo. It was already 4 pm. The good thing is that it is still there, standing and open to the public.

There were news last year of animal rights group’s clamor to shut down the zoo and free all the animals being kept there. It was a good decision for Manila Mayor Fred Lim to thumb down these calls. To think that this zoo has been catering to the public for over 40 years now and has earned the right of being a city landmark, those calls to shut down the zoo were unwarranted.

The Manila Zoo is not that big, which is probably an advantage. It has the usual offerings you would anticipate in a zoo. Lot's of birds, parrots, eagles, doves and pigeons and the peacock showing its spectacular tail feathers.

As you enter the Manila Zoo, on the right hand side you will see the Indian Elephant which is always a crowd drawer. Moving further along, there are enclosed spaces with pythons and an assortment of lizards inside. Towards the back of the Zoo are monkeys and other larger mammals.

On the left hand side of the entrance, the Manila Zoo has set up a Kinder Zoo, which is an area for children to touch and pet the animals.

What was very obvious was the poor state of the Manila Zoo. The grim enclosures and cages that housed the wildlife made it simply pathetic. It’s sad to see these animals confined on those pitiful cages. But it’s just me, if you have an hour or so to spare, then come and have a look for yourself.

Entrance fees:
P40 for non-Manilans, P20 for Manila residents, P10 for kids under four feet tall.








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