WOW Philippines

"We love our country!
We are proud to be Filipinos!
Let us all promote Philippine Tourism."

This slogan is prominent in every Department of Tourism and Philippine Tourism Authority sites on the web and all over the country. Who wouldn't love the tourist attractions of the Philippines? Considered as the "Pearl of the Orient", the more than Seven Thousand Islands of my country offers diverse thrills and activities - from the islands to the mountains to the festivals, that both an adventurous and a laid-back tourist will definitely love.

So as my contribution in promoting tourism in my country, I am sharing these seven photos I have taken in my previous trips and another photo loaned to me by a friend. You can check the links of the first seven photos in my sidebar.

MACTAN ISLAND - Lapu-Lapu, the King of Mactan, fought Ferdinand Magellan and his forces in this island. In the battle, Magellan was killed and the remaining Spaniard retreated to their ships. Now Mactan is a famous scuba-diving and beach site. It is also the site of the Mactan International Airport and Mactan Export Processing Zone.

BANAUE RICE TERRACES - For over 2,000 years, the people of Batad in Ifugao built, one stone at a time, what is now known as Banaue Rice Terraces. The still productive rice terraces rise from the valley floor up to 3,000 feet, a feat of engineering so substantial that some call them the eight wonder of the world. It is the only man-made wonder which was literally sculpted from the earth. It has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

PANGLAO ISLAND - This island lies just opposite Tagbiliran city, and is accessible via two bridges. It has two municipalities, Dauis in the north and Panglao in the south. The island has a number of wonderful white beaches. No wonder Panglao is host to most of Bohol's hotels and resorts. Most of these are concentrated around Alona Beach, a very nice stretch of white sand at the southeastern end of the island.

CHOCOLATE HILLS - The 1,268 eerie Chocolate Hills of Bohol rise 20 to 50 meters high and dominate the landscape of Carmen, Batuan and sagbayan towns for miles around. In summer, the grass that cover the hills dry out and turn Chocolate brown, hence the name. There is no generally accepted scientific explanation about the hill formations. the hills are the home of the famous and indigenous Tarsier, an endangered species.

HUNDRED ISLANDS - This group od islands and islets is a foremost attraction in Pangasinan Province. They look like giant turtles, scattered off the coast of Lucap in the town of Alaminos. Now developed, they lie ensconed in the 1,844-hectare nature and recreational park called the Hundred Islands National Park. The jump-off point is Lucap. From the wharf, it is just a short 20-minute boat ride to the islands.

VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR - Past and present collide in Vigan. Impressive Spanish colonial architecture still stands as monuments to that era of Philippine history, even as town moves quickly and quietly into modernization. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, growing interest in the town's Spanish-era buildings has brought about the development of tourist amenities in the poblacion, while also protecting the integrity of the old town center and its historic structures.

PALAWAN SUBTERRANEAN RIVER - The Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park contains one of the real highlights of Palawan: The world-famous Subterranean River. A journey into the darkness of this riverine cave is a truly unique experience. The limestone cave that the river passes through is thought to be the longest navigable river-traversed tunnel in the world.

BORACAY ISLAND - The world-famous island of Boracay is located in Akalan province 345 south of Manila. It's seven kilometers long and one kilometer wide at its narrowest point with a palm fringed 4-km long powder-fine white sand beach. Boracay is the perfect getaway, with all the elements of a tropical paradise - crystal blue waters, powder white sand, liberal doses of tropical palms and flowering plants, and a healthy marine life underneath the seas.

The last photo is just a loan from a friend. You have to wait a little longer (maybe a couple of weeks) for my personal take on the place because next week. I will be spending my whole week in Boracay as a birthday gift to myself.

(All Photos taken by Lawstude except the last one. Most of information on the texts are obtained from WOW Philippines and Lonely Planet.)