MIMAROPA Region [Archive] - SkyscraperCity

Sinjin P.

July 22nd, 2006, 01:05 PM

http://wowphilippines.com.ph/images/Explore/province/21.jpg

Oriental Mindoro - The Islands' Loveliest Harbor

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The inverted-J-shaped Oriental Mindoro is endowed with some of the Philippine Islands’ best naturescapes. Choose your own beach among the many that abound, from fawn beige to powdery white. Then match the experience with interesting mountain lairs, lakes, rivers, rain forests, wild animals, rare flora and fauna, and pocket communities of the existing ethnic groups. It has maintained its unspoiled environment, all within a rustic agricultural setting.

The province's foremost asset is Puerto Galera, blessed with one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbors. Known as the Pearl of Mindoro, it is world-famous for splendid beaches, coral reefs, and exquisite dive sites for new and experienced divers alike. There are shallow coral gardens, interesting rock formations, and colorful species to watch, like crabs, shrimps, sea anemones, moray, and trumpet fishes.

Alibatan Island in Baco, noted for its white sand, serves as a breeding place for seagulls and turtles. Corals and oysters can be found all around the area. Also in Baco is Mt. Halcon, the country's third highest peak and a favorite destination for nature tripping and mountain climbing. In Puerto Galera, 423-foot Tamaraw Falls is a series of asymmetrical falls, leading to a grand fall, dropping to the frothy waterbed below. Another attraction within the area is Sabang Beach, a portion of which is tourist-flocked for water sports and a cluster of nightspots popular for evening socials. Beside Sabang Beach is Small La Laguna, with amazingly beautiful coral reefs, and water ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Indulge in a number of special interest tours while in the province, from mountain climbing to trekking, hiking, camping, butterfly watching, game fishing, and adventure trips to the wilderness. Enjoy active water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming. Visit the Mangyan settlement areas, and find it rewarding to engage in natural cave and waterfall exploration and island hopping."

GEOGRAPHY
Oriental Mindoro is located 15 kilometers off the southwest coast of Luzon. It lies on the eastern portion of the island. It is bounded on the north by Verde Island and the Verde Passage, on the east by Maestro de Campo Island and Tablas Strait, on the south by Semirara Island near Pandarodan bay, and on the west by the province of Occidental Mindoro.

It has a total land area of 436,470 hectares. The province has 39 named and 89 unnamed islands and islets, leaving much of its attractions virgin to visitors, and an untrammeled area to explore.

CLIMATE

Oriental Mindoro enjoys a climate favorable to vegetable growth throughout the year. What is remarkable is that there is neither a dry season nor a pronounced maximum rain period. The location and topography of the island on the western side of the great ocean body is another contributing factor in the rainfall pattern of the province. China Sea, fed by warm water from a branch of south equatorial current, passes between Singapore and Borneo thus keeping the water bodies surrounding the island warm year-round and consequently providing excellent sources of moisture.

POPULATION

Based on the May 2001 National Statistics Survey, Oriental Mindoro Island registered a total population of 669,000. The people are mostly of Tagalog stock. The ethnic Mangyan tribe consists of various smaller tribes like the Iraya, Alangan, and Tadwanan.

INDUSTRIES

The lifestyles of Mindoreños are basically simple and rural. 70 percent of the populace engage in land and sea agriculture, with only 30 percent living in urbanized centers. The ethnic tribes, Mangyans, are gentle and withdrawn but many of them have managed to integrate into the cultural mainstream, largely in the municipalities of Mansalay, Baco, Puerto Galera, Roxas, and Bongabong. These Mangyans are skilled weavers and craftsmen, producing intricate tribal finery, including baskets, mats, and other items, both functional and aesthetic.

LANGUAGE / DIALECTS

Visiting Oriental Mindoro does not entail memorizing bits of conventional lines in dialects spoken other than Tagalog, which serves as the predominant dialect. Other dialects spoken are Ilocano and Cebuano. Strains of the Mangyan dialect spoken are Arayan, Alagnan, Buhid, Hunuo, and Tadyawan. The working population can read and speak Filipino and English.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION

Oriental Mindoro is composed of 15 municipalities, with Calapan City as the capital of the province. The municipalities are Baco, Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Naujan, Mansalay, Pinamalayan, Pola, Puerto Galera, Roxas, San Teodoro, Socorro, and Victoria Gloria.

Sinjin P.

July 22nd, 2006, 01:06 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7c/Ph_seal_romblon.png

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Ph_locator_map_romblon.png

Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. Its capital is the municipality also named Romblon.

Romblon consists of numerous islands sitting in the Sibuyan Sea. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan, and west of Masbate. The three major islands are Romblon Island, Tablas Island, and Sibuyan Island.

Romblon is the country's leading producer of high-quality marble, comparable to that of Italy.

Sinjin P.

July 22nd, 2006, 01:07 PM

http://wowphilippines.com.ph/images/Explore/province/25.jpg

Romblon - Marble Country Of The Philippines

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Recognized as Marble Country of the Philippines, Romblon is famed for its rich marble deposits. Marble, however, is not the province’s only treasure.

Existing in relative isolation from the rest of Luzon, Romblon retains much of its Spanish legacy and its natural attractions are largely unexplored. Lining the shores of the province’s three major islands – Romblon, Sibuyan, and Tablas – are some of the best, most unspoiled beaches in this part of the country. Ringed by palm-fringed white sand, these beaches boast a wealth and variety of marine life offshore. Inland, there are a number of waterfalls and an inland salt lake.

GEOGRAPHY

Located almost at the center of the Philippine archipelago, the province of Romblon lies in the Sibuyan Sea. It is composed of three islands: Romblon (main island), Tablas Island, and Sibuyan Island. It has a total land area of 135,690 hectares. It is bounded on the north by the province of Marinduque, on the south by Panay Island, on the east by Masbate, and on the west by Mindoro. From Manila, it is about 187 nautical miles or 169 air miles. Largely mountainous and rugged in terrain, the islands of Romblon are volcanic in origin. The highest peak is 2,057 meters above sea level.

CLIMATE

The climate in Romblon is characterized by seasons that are not very pronounced. November to April is relatively dry and the rest of the year is wet.

POPULATION

According to the National Statistics Office, population as of May 2000 was 264,357, with an annual growth rate of 1.67 percent.

LANGUAGE/DIALECT

The people of Romblon speak a variety of Visayan dialects, notably a mixture of Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Aklanon, and other minor tongues. Tagalog is widely understood, and English stands as the medium of communication in business and trade.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISION

Romblon has 17 municipalities, which are further subdivided into 213 barangays. The main island of Romblon comprises the municipalities of Romblon, Banton, Concepcion, Corcuera, San Jose; Tablas Island comprises Alcantara, Calatrava, Ferrol, Looc, Sta. Fe, San Agustin, San Andres, Odiongan, Sta. Maria; Sibuyan Island comprises Cajidiocan, Magdiwang, San Fernando.

Sinjin P.

July 22nd, 2006, 01:08 PM

Photos and Articles courtesy of:
Wow Philippines!
Wikipedia

Ydlar

July 22nd, 2006, 03:25 PM

MIMARO? Then what does PA of MIMAROPA stands for? I read that MIMAROPA on a travel magazine.

ergit222

July 22nd, 2006, 03:27 PM

erald™']MIMARO? Then what does PA of MIMAROPA stands for? I read that MIMAROPA on a travel magazine.
^^Palawan siguro. Kasama pa rin ang Palawan sa Luzon.

le Reine

July 22nd, 2006, 03:28 PM

Rodel

July 22nd, 2006, 03:31 PM

^^Palawan siguro. Kasama pa rin ang Palawan sa Luzon.

Yes...This region is again MIMAROPA...PA for Palawan.
Palawan is still in Region 4B. Pls check the other thread about Palawan. It was mentioned there that Palawan is still in this region. It was transferred to Western Visayas but again reverted back to 4B.

le Reine

July 22nd, 2006, 03:42 PM

Ganun? Nako huli na pala ako sa balita. Grabe ang gulo naman pala niyan. Gawin na lang kaya nilang isang region ang Palawan?

Sinjin P.

July 22nd, 2006, 03:50 PM

It was formerly called MIMAROPA-Region IVB. It's an acronym for Mindoro(oriental and occidental), Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. But Pres. GMA transferred Palawan to Region 6-Western Visayas. That's why Palawan was removed from the acronym

Correct...

Yes...This region is again MIMAROPA...PA for Palawan.
Palawan is still in Region 4B. Pls check the other thread about Palawan. It was mentioned there that Palawan is still in this region. It was transferred to Western Visayas but again reverted back to 4B.

No, Palawan is ALREADY part of Region VI - Western Visayas...

Rodel

July 22nd, 2006, 04:02 PM

Correct...

No, Palawan is ALREADY part of Region VI - Western Visayas...

Please check wikipedia..."Palawan."
Previously, when you go to the article "Palawan" it is being mentioned that it is under Region 6, try to check it now, this was not being mentioned anymore but they are saying that Palawan is under region 4.
Anyway, let's wait and see.

Sinjin P.

July 22nd, 2006, 04:07 PM

^^ Wikipedia is not as reliable, when you check further down the article on Palawan

Palawan was originally part of the Southern Tagalog Region (Region IV). When the region was split, it became a part of the former MIMAROPA (now MIMARO).

Palawan on 2001 rejected by virtue of a referendum to be a part of Autonomus Region of Muslim Mindanao.

President Gloria Arroyo included Palawan by virtue of Executive Order No. 103, dated May 17, 2002, as part of MIMAROPA (Region IV-B).

Palawan was moved to Region VI (Western Visayas) on May 23, 2005 by virtue of Executive Order 429. However, Palaweños have criticized the move, especially due to a lack of consultation, with most residents in every municipality except one and Puerto Princesa City preferring to stay with Region IV-B than transfer to Region VI.

Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005, to "resolve" the negative backlash and as part of the supervison of the transfer process of Palawan from MIMAROPA to Western Visayas.

I also read news articles confirming the transfer of Palawan to Western Visayas :)

Ydlar

July 22nd, 2006, 04:15 PM

So Palawan belongs to Region VI?

Rodel

July 22nd, 2006, 04:16 PM

hi...

actually, i myself was asking that question in the Palawan Thread...

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=328377&page=4

I got a response from Palawan_Buddy...

guys, is it true that Palawan is now transferred to Region 6, western visayas?
nope. GMA initiated the transfer of palawan from region 4B (MIMAROPA) to region 6 in preparation for the shift to federalism. she wanted to group palawan and boracay together. But the move was scraped bec the province complained due to lack of consultation and that majority of Palawanoes does not favor it anyways. Besides, its easier for palawenoes to get to Laguna, where most of the regional offices are located, than to Iloilo.

palawan_buddy

March 3rd, 2007, 09:19 AM

thank you. :)

TheAvenger

March 15th, 2007, 06:34 AM

Sinjin P.

March 15th, 2007, 07:28 AM

^ But in Social Studies and Civics and Culture books, it is being taught that Palawan belongs to Luzon geographically, culturally and politically!

TheAvenger

March 15th, 2007, 08:46 AM

^ But in Social Studies and Civics and Culture books, it is being taught that Palawan belongs to Luzon geographically, culturally and politically!

According to Encarta Encyclopaedia - Geography is a science ....

then how come the political leaders can choose which geographical islands is to be included in which region. Perhaps you have made a mistake in reading the book in Social Studies and Civics and Culture. They may include Palawan to Luzon perhaps by culture and by political reason but not by geography.

Geography, science that deals with the distribution and arrangement of all elements of the earth's surface. The word geography was adopted in the 200s bc by the Greek scholar Eratosthenes and means “earth description.” Geographic study encompasses the environment of the earth's surface and the relationship of humans to this environment, which includes both physical and cultural geographic features. Physical geographic features include the climate, land and water, and plant and animal life. Cultural geographic features include artificial entities, such as nations, settlements, lines of communication, transportation, buildings, and other modifications of the physical geographic environment. Geographers use economics, history, biology, geology, and mathematics in their studies.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

.

II. BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY

Geography may be divided into two fundamental branches: systematic and regional geography. Systematic geography is concerned with individual physical and cultural elements of the earth. Regional geography is concerned with various areas of the earth, particularly the unique combinations of physical and cultural features that characterize each region and distinguish one region from another. Because the division is based only on a difference in approach to geographic studies, the two branches are interdependent and are usually applied together. Each branch is divided into several fields that specialize in particular aspects of geography.

A. Systematic Geography

Systematic geography includes physical geography and cultural geography. These classifications are made up of specialized fields that deal with specific aspects of geography.

1. Physical Geography

Physical geography includes the following fields: geomorphology, which uses geology to study the form and structure of the surface of the earth; climatology, which involves meteorology and is concerned with climatic conditions; biogeography, which uses biology and deals with the distribution of plant and animal life; soils geography (see Soil; Soil Management), which is concerned with the distribution of soil; hydrography, which concerns the distribution of seas, lakes, rivers, and streams in relation to their uses; oceanography, which deals with the waves, tides, and currents of oceans and the ocean floor (see Ocean and Oceanography); and cartography, or mapmaking through graphic representation and measurement of the surface of the earth.

2. Cultural Geography

Canadian Province Capitals

This classification, sometimes called human geography, involves all phases of human social life in relation to the physical earth. Economic geography, a field of cultural geography, deals with the industrial use of the geographic environment. Natural resources, such as mineral and oil deposits, forests, grazing lands, and farmlands, are studied with reference to their position, productivity, and potential uses. Manufacturing industries rely on geographic studies for information concerning raw materials, sources of labor, and distribution of goods. Marketing studies concerned with plant locations and sales potentials are based on geographic studies. The establishment of transportation facilities, trade routes, and resort areas also frequently depends on the results of geographic studies.

United States State Capitals

Cultural geography also includes political geography, which is an application of political science. Political geography deals with human social activities that are related to the locations and boundaries of cities, nations, and groups of nations.

Country Statistics

Military geography provides military leaders with information about areas in which they may need to operate. The many other fields of cultural geography include ethnography, historical geography, urban geography, demography, and linguistic geography.

B. Regional Geography

Regional geography concerns the differences and similarities among the various regions of the earth. This branch of geography seeks explanations for the variety among places by studying the special combination of features that distinguishes these places. Regional geographers may study the development of a small area such as a city. This study is called microgeography. Or they may focus on large areas, called macrodivisions, such as the Mediterranean region or an entire continent. Regional geographers identify macrodivisions according to their cultural characteristics.

Regional geographers may divide macrodivisions into many smaller areas that share specific characteristics. For example, they may consider language, the type of agriculture or economy practiced by the population, terrain, or a combination of these factors to distinguish areas from one another.

III. METHODS OF GEOGRAPHY

The chief goal of the geographer is to describe the human environment on earth. To do this, it is necessary to collect geographical data; record the results of geographic studies in the form of charts, graphs, textbooks, and especially maps; and analyze the information. Geographers make use of a variety of techniques and tools for achieving these goals.

A. Collecting Data

Geographers may collect data in the field or from secondary sources, such as censuses, statistical surveys, maps, and photographs. Advances made since World War II (1939-1945) in the use of aerial photography, including the use of special films, and in techniques for obtaining three-dimensional views of the landscape from the air have enabled geographers to perform more detailed studies of the earth and its resources (see Aerial Survey). Geographers also have made use of radar, artificial satellites, underwater crafts called bathyspheres, and deep drilling into the earth's crust to obtain information about the features of the earth.

B. Mapping

The map is the most important tool of geography and may be used to record either simple data or the results of a complicated geographic study. In addition to providing a wealth of factual information, the map permits visual comparison between areas because it may be designed to indicate, by means of symbols, not only the location but also the characteristics of geographic features of an area.

Geographers have developed a standard pattern of map symbols for identifying such cultural features as homes, factories, and churches; dams, bridges, and tunnels; railways, highways, and travel routes; and mines, farms, and grazing lands.

C. Analyzing Geographic Information

Techniques that use mathematics or statistics to analyze data are known as quantitative methods. The use of quantitative methods enables geographers to treat a large amount of data and a large number of variables in an objective manner. Frequently, geographers collect data and form a theory to explain their observation. They then test this theory using quantitative methods. Sometimes the theories are expressed as mathematical statements, called models. Nevertheless, in geography theories are not expected to be universally precise, but rather to explain an observed tendency.

IV. HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

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Geography and Some Explorers
A boyhood fascination with explorers did not gain Polish-born English novelist Joseph Conrad any points in school. But it ignited his lifelong love for geographic exploration in the pursuit of new scientific knowledge, which he calls “militant geography,” and inspired him to launch his career as a seaman. In this 1924 National Geographic article, published in the year Conrad died, Conrad considers geographers and explorers of the past and examines their motives. “Of all the sciences, geography finds its origins in action,” he asserts. Conrad’s strong feelings about exploration are especially evident as he recalls bringing a ship through the infamous Torres Strait between Australia and New Guinea, accompanied by the ghosts of navigators who had gone before him. This article reflects the conventions and biases of the era in which it was written.
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Hundreds of individuals have contributed to the development of geography, and the fruits of their work have accumulated over several thousand years. Many travelers, surveyors, explorers, and scientific observers have added to this growing store of information. Only since the late 1700s, however, has it been possible to collect and record truly accurate geographic information. Modern concepts of geography were not widely supported until the mid-1800s.

A. Early Geographers

Ptolemy’s Map of the World

Ptolemy’s Map of the World
This map shows the world as Greek geographer and astronomer Ptolemy envisioned it in the 2nd century ad. Ptolemy’s map, based on the accounts of sailors, traders, and armies who had traveled in Europe, Africa, and Asia, shows the Indian Ocean as an enclosed body of water. This misconception persisted in Europe until 1488, when Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa and sailed from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean.
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Mercury Archives/The Image Bank

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The earliest geographers were concerned with exploring unknown areas and with describing the observable features of different places. Such ancient peoples as the Chinese, Egyptians, and Phoenicians made long journeys and recorded their observations of strange lands. One of the first known maps was made on a clay tablet in Babylonia about 2300 bc. By 1400 bc, the shores of the Mediterranean Sea had been explored and charted, and during the next thousand years, early explorers visited Britain and navigated most of the African coast. The ancient Greeks, however, gave the Western world its first important knowledge relating to the form, size, and general nature of the earth.

During the 300s bc, the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle became the first person to demonstrate that the earth was round. He based his hypothesis on the arguments that all matter tends to fall together toward a common center, that the earth throws a circular shadow on the moon during an eclipse, and that in traveling from north to south new constellations become visible and familiar ones disappear. The Greek geographer Eratosthenes was the first person to accurately calculate the circumference of the earth.

The Greeks' travels, conquests, and colonizing activities in the Mediterranean region resulted in the accumulation of considerable geographic information and stimulated geographic writing. The Greek geographer and historian Strabo wrote a 17-volume encyclopedia titled Geography, which served as a valuable source of information for military commanders and public administrators of the Roman Empire.

During the ad 100s, the Alexandrian astronomer Ptolemy compiled most Greek and Roman geographic knowledge up to his time. He also proposed new methods of mapmaking, including projection and the creation of atlases. In his famous Geographike syntaxis, Ptolemy divided the equatorial circle into 360 degrees and constructed an imaginary north-south, east-west network over the surface of the earth to serve as a reference grid for locating the relative positions of known landmasses, such as islands and continents. Although he used less accurate measurements of the circumference of the earth than those of Eratosthenes, Ptolemy nevertheless contributed useful descriptions and maps of the known world. His maps clearly indicated his understanding of the problems involved in representing a spherical earth on a flat surface.

B. Medieval Geography

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GREAT WORKS OF LITERATURE
Hakluyt: From Voyages and Discoveries
The English geographer and writer Richard Hakluyt (1522?–1616) was a tireless promoter of English expansionism. To make his country’s exploits more widely recognized, Hakluyt wrote the Principal Navigations, Voyages and Discoveries of the English Nation (1589), a compilation of fact and fancy. Commercial firms conducted much of this exploration. Anthony Jenkinson, the subject of this excerpt, represented the English Muscovy Company. In 1561 Jenkinson traveled across Russia and opened trade relations with the Persians. This passage records his journey down the west coast of the Caspian Sea into what is now Azerbaijan.
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During the Middle Ages, Europeans carried on little travel and exploration and practically no advancement in geography. Among Europeans, only the Vikings of Scandinavia were active in exploration. The Arabs of the Middle East, however, interpreted and tested the works of the earlier Greek and Roman geographers and explored southwestern Asia and Africa. As early as the 700s, Arab scholars were translating the works of the Greek geographers into Arabic. Only after these Arabic texts were translated into Latin did Greek geographic learning spread into Europe. Among the major figures of Arab geography were al-Idrisi, who was known for his detailed maps, and Ibn Battūtah and Ibn Khaldun, both of whom wrote about their extensive travels. The Mongols and Chinese also learned much about the geography of Asia.

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The World's Greatest Overland Explorer
When Marco Polo returned to Venice, Italy, from his 24-year excursion to Asia in 1295, he told of things medieval Europeans could not imagine: rocks that burned, houses that were moved around on immense wagons, and the great Kublai Khan himself, surrounded by staggering luxury. Marco Polo gave Europeans their first glimpse of life in the Far East, but many disbelieved his stories. A 1928 National Geographic article traces his journey and points out that much of what Marco Polo described was true.
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The trips of Venetian explorer Marco Polo in the 1200s, the Christian Crusades of the 1100s and 1200s, and the Portuguese and Spanish voyages of exploration during the 1400s and 1500s opened up new horizons and stimulated geographic writings. During the 1400s, Henry the Navigator of Portugal supported explorations of the African coast and became a leader in the promotion of geographic studies. Among the most notable accounts of voyages and discoveries published during the 1500s were those by Giambattista Ramusio in Venice, by Richard Hakluyt in England, and by Theodore de Bry in what is now Belgium. Voyages and studies during this period proved beyond a doubt that the earth is a sphere. Previously, many people, including Christian leaders, believed the earth was flat.

C. Geography from the 17th to the 19th Century

Important in the history of geographic method is Geographia generalis (1650) by the German geographer Bernhardus Varenius. Varenius suggested that geography be divided into three separate branches: the first dealing with the form and dimensions of the earth; the second with tides, climates, seasons, and other variables that depend upon the relative position of the earth in the universe; and the third dealing with comparative studies of particular regions on the globe. His work remained a standard authority for more than a century.

The first comprehensive geographic work printed in English was published in 1625 by the English geographer Nathaniel Carpenter, who emphasized the spatial relationships among the physical features on the earth's surface. His approach became an important geographic point of view.

Many other European contributors increased geographic knowledge during the following two centuries. During the 1700s, the German philosopher Immanuel Kant played a decisive role in placing geography within the framework of science. Kant divided knowledge gained from observation into two categories. One category, comprising phenomena recorded according to logic, resulted in such classifications as the orders, genera, and species of plants and animals, regardless of when or where they occur. The other category included phenomena perceived in terms of time and space—classification and description according to time is viewed as history, and classification and description according to space is viewed as geography. Kant subdivided geography into six branches, one of which, physical geography, was considered essential to the five other branches. The other branches recognized by Kant were mathematical, moral, political, commercial, and theological geography.

Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Ritter, both of Germany, made major contributions to geographic theory in the early 1800s. An extensive traveler and a brilliant field observer, Humboldt applied his knowledge of physical processes to the systematic classification and comparative description of geographic features observed in the field. He devised methods for measuring the phenomena he observed. Humboldt produced a number of excellent geographic studies based on his travels in America. His work Kosmos (1844), which describes the physical geography of the earth, is considered one of the great geographic works of all time.

The views of Ritter differed in part from those of Humboldt. Whereas Humboldt promoted the systematic approach of treating physical features separately, Ritter endorsed a regional approach to geography. He stressed the comparative study of particular areas and the features that characterize those areas. His 19-volume work Die Erdkunde im Verhältnis zur Natur und Geschichte des Menschen (Geography and Its Relation to Nature and the History of Man,1822-1859) is an excellent geographic analysis of Asia and parts of Africa. Ritter was a keen field observer, well trained in natural sciences and history. He called his work comparative geography, considering it comparable to comparative anatomy, and proceeded from observation to observation to arrive at laws and principles. Ritter also believed that without systematic studies regional studies would be impossible.

Another German geographer, Friedrich Ratzel, also made significant contributions to geographic knowledge. He is best known for his work Anthropogeographie (1882), which attempted to show that the distribution of people on the earth had been determined by natural forces. Describing geography as the science of distribution, he favored the study of restricted areas, which he claimed would provide the basis for generalizations about larger areas or about the world as a whole. The German geographers Ferdinand von Richthofen and Alfred Hettner brought the ideas of Humboldt, Ritter, and Ratzel into a coherent system. Die Geographie: Ihre Geschichte, ihr Wesen, und ihre Methoden (Geography: Its History, Its Nature, and Its Methods,1927), by Hettner, is a valuable work on the history of geographic methods.

Outstanding among French geographers of the late 1800s was Paul Vidal de la Blache, who opposed the idea that the physical environment strictly determines human activities. He believed that human beings could mold their physical environment. He favored studies of small areas, stressing both physical and cultural processes in the distribution of the earth's features.

During the 1800s, many geographic societies emerged. Many sponsored geographic study and exploration and published geographic journals. Among the earliest of these societies were those founded in Paris, Berlin, and London, during the 1820s and 1830s. Of particular significance to geography in the United States was the founding of the American Geographical Society in 1851 and the National Geographic Society in 1888. International geographic conferences were initiated in 1871 at Antwerp, Belgium.

D. The 20th Century

GIS Image

GIS Image
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that synthesizes, analyzes, and displays many different types of geographic data in an understandable form. The GIS-generated image seen here shows the locations, represented by black dots, of industries releasing toxic chemicals in Los Angeles County. This image has been superimposed on census tracts—color-coded according to the distribution and size of different racial or ethnic groups in the area—from the United States Bureau of the Census. The green areas are inhabited mostly by Asians, the blue areas by blacks, the purple areas by Hispanics, and the yellow areas by non-Hispanic whites. The image was produced as part of a study carried out at the University of California in Santa Barbara to examine the relationships between pollution, race, and residential patterns. The image illustrates how a GIS can combine and clearly display many kinds of information for a given geographic area.
Encarta Encyclopedia
L. Burke/National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

During the first half of the 1900s, many geographic writers—British, American, French, and German—continued to carry on the tradition of early pioneers in geography. Studies of small areas all over the world, based on field observations, extended the frontiers of geographic knowledge, but the methods inherited from the late 19th century remained essentially unchanged. Beginning in the 1950s, however, geographers made increasing use of quantitative methods. The change in methodology in the 1950s and 1960s was so rapid that it is sometimes called the quantitative revolution. Geographers have also broadened their efforts to find practical applications for geographic studies.

Quantitative methods have been particularly useful in applications of location theory, a branch of geography that studies the factors that influence the location of geographic elements, such as towns or factories. Location theory was introduced by the German agriculturist Heinrich von Thünen in the early 1800s. The German geographer Walter Christaller made great contributions to location theory during the 1930s, by analyzing the location of urban centers. But it was not until the 1950s that their work was widely valued.

By the 1960s the field of geography had divided into several schools of thought. Disagreement between scholars of different schools—such as those who supported quantitative method and those who favored the descriptive approach—sometimes arose. Since the 1970s, however, different methods have been commonly used together and applied to many new areas of geographic study.

Computers have become a particularly useful tool in geography. During the 1960s, the Canadian government built the first geographic information system, or GIS, a computer system that records, stores, and analyzes geographic information. These computer systems can create two- or three-dimensional images of an area that are used as models in geographic studies. They are designed to process massive amounts of data, and help scientists conduct research much more quickly and accurately. The GIS has many applications in government and business. By the early 1990s, about 100,000 of these systems were in operation.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

TheAvenger

March 15th, 2007, 07:01 PM

at present Palwan is already claim by the secessionist from Mindanao.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/jaime_makabayan_2007/minsupalaflag.jpg

palawan_buddy

March 16th, 2007, 12:18 PM

palawan is part of luzon bec majority of palawenyos are Tagalog.

TheAvenger

March 16th, 2007, 07:23 PM

palawan is part of luzon bec majority of palawenyos are Tagalog.

how about eastern Mindanao ? majority of the people there were Visayans,
Should SSC Phil include eastern Mindanao to Visayan Region ?

Sinjin P.

March 17th, 2007, 06:11 AM

^ Stop it! Read your Filipino Geography books and refresh your stock knowledge, okay?

Sinjin P.

April 3rd, 2007, 05:30 AM

PRIDE OF PLACE
The Mangyans of Mindoro (http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=56935)

By Augusto Villalon
Inquirer
Last updated 01:26am (Mla time) 03/26/2007

MANILA, Philippines – Heritage covers such scope that its totality is difficult to grasp. Many of us compartmentalize heritage into one of its many components: music, dance, visual arts, architecture, literature, language, costumes, cuisine, depending on where our interests may happen to lie.

Often we fail to realize that all of the components interrelate, that each component forms a vital part that weaves into the splendid tapestry of our own national identity.

Focused (or hung up) as many of us might be on Philippine lowland Christian culture, our many cultural communities and indigenous peoples have gone unnoticed and misunderstood.

Among them are the Mangyans of Mindoro.

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a population of 84 million speaking over 120 languages.

Out of the 110 indigenous peoples (IP) groups in the country today, only four still use their original scripts. Other ethno-linguistic groups now write in the Roman alphabet of the colonizers.

The endangered script of the Hanunuo and Buhid Mangyans from Mindoro, and of the Tagbanua and Palawan tribes from Palawan were declared National Cultural Treasures in 1997, and were inscribed in the Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Memory of the World Register in 1999.

However, the Hanunuo Mangyan script is very much alive and being taught in Hanunuo Mangyan schools.

Mangyan is the generic name for the eight IP groups found in the mountainous regions of Mindoro island—the Alangan, Bangon, Buhid, Hanunuo, Iraya, Ratagnon, Tadywan and Tau-buid, a combined population of 100,000.

Distinctive heritage

Mangyans, with eight different languages and cultural traditions, possess a rich and distinctive cultural and literary heritage. One manifestation is the various traditional musical instruments used during festivities, special occasions and for courting: guitar, violin, flute, gong, and jew’s-harp.

With a pointed knife, Hanunuo Mangyans inscribe notes and poems on bamboo trees in the forests or on bamboo slats. These ambahans—written or recited in poetic language—allegorically express situations or characteristics.

The Hanunuo and Buhid Mangyans weave and embroider their own traditional attire. The Iraya and Alangan Mangyans skillfully weave nito and rattan into elaborate baskets. The other groups also produce baskets, bags, hats, hammocks and other crafts made of forest vines, and all the eight tribes practice beadwork. These are a main source of their livelihood.

Mangyans plant upland rice, corn, beans, bananas and root crops using swidden farming done in total reverence for the environment.

Mangyans have strongly retained their cultural identity. Much of their traditions and beliefs are in practice, despite some having converted to Christianity. Intermarriage with non-Mangyans is limited.

The Mangyans, considered as the first inhabitants of the island of Mindoro, believe that “land is life” and from it emanates their distinct and rich culture.

Unfortunately they do not have security of land tenure. Their unrecognized traditional right over their ancestral domain is evident in the continuous influx of so-called government development projects. Private business interests have also harassed them: mining, tourism, hydro-power, and even reforestation. Illegal titling of lands by non-Mangyans also continues.

The implementation of these projects often undermines their culture and traditional right to protect, manage and utilize the resources in their ancestral domain. More important, the Mangyans have lost their land to these projects.

Mangyan settlements are mostly found in the interior, mountainous region of Mindoro, in land classified by the government as Forest Zone and Public Domain.

The Mangyans’ subsistence-level livelihood is based on swidden cultivation: planting upland rice, sweet potatoes, corn, beans, bananas, cassava, yams and other root crops.

The few with low-lying farmland in irrigated areas have ventured into lowland farming, planting cash crops and permanent crops, particularly fruit trees. Some gather vines and firewood.

Most Mangyan settlements are not accessible by road. Rivers that flood during the rainy season separate settlements from each other, often cutting off direct access to government social services like education and health.

Mangyan education

There are few public elementary schools, no public high school, and no functional health center. Public elementary schools in Mangyan communities usually do not offer all the elementary grade levels. Classes are multi-grade. Teachers do not report regularly. There are few or no books at all for students.

Students walk for hours and make numerous river crossings to go to school, which can be dangerous for young children.

High expenses prevent attendance by Mangyans in high school, which are situated in the lowlands. Individual sponsors or nongovernment organizations support the few who do finish secondary and tertiary levels. Functional literacy for adults and out-of-school youth is continuously provided by nongovernment organizations and, lately, by the government.

Aside from educational problems, there also exists a difficulty of access to government health units or health centers, which are located in town centers or lowland communities.

Few Mangyan local government units or barangays have been established. The majority of the Mangyan population belongs to lowlander-led barangay units.
Before the last decade, no Mangyan was elected to a municipal or higher position, further limiting the indigenous people’s opportunities to be heard and to participate in decision-making. There are also very few Mangyan government employees.

Discrimination by lowlanders hinders Mangyans from attaining the development level they deserve. Lowlanders often buy their products at very low prices. Often the Mangyans are exploited.

The Mangyan situation illustrates the complexity of heritage conservation. To preserve the endangered traditional script, language, literature, crafts and lifestyle, there is need to improve their education, livelihood and governance.

However, any government or NGO assistance given to the Mangyans must not be done in an insensitive manner. Any kind of help must be granted with vision—in the framework of true understanding of the Mangyan culture, ensuring its preservation, but also giving the people the benefits of the 21st century.

At 6 p.m. today, the Mangyan Heritage Center will launch a major exhibit on Mangyan culture at the GSIS Museum. The exhibit will feature old and contemporary photographs depicting the Mangyan’s way of life; as well as artifacts from the different Mangyan tribes, such as the rich Hanunuo Mangyan poetry and syllabic script.
Elaborate Mangyan handicrafts, books and greeting cards will be available for sale. The exhibit runs until April 20, and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

To volunteer assistance, or to inquire about the purchase of Mangyan crafts and products, e-mail mangyanhc@catsi.net.ph or visit www.mangyan.org.

Feedback is welcome at pride.place@gmail.com

http://images.inq7.net/img/07/03/26/sho/lif/lif/art_56935/img/gal/pic_gal00.jpg
ELABORATE baskets woven by the Iraya Mangyan

Sinjin P.

April 5th, 2007, 06:15 AM

Last Tuesday, there were 80,000-100,000 people in Puerto Galera! What more now? :shocked:

bonixx

April 5th, 2007, 05:20 PM

The World Famous Moriones Festival
When:2 - 8 Apr 2007 (various dates)
Where:Marinduque
Getting there: (1)Take a bus to Batangas City Port via Batangas-Balanacan Ferry (2)Take a bus to Dalahican Port via Dalahican -Balanacan or Dalahican-Sta. Cruz Ferry
Airfare: Twice a week via Asian Spirit
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6638/morux2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The towns of Boac, Mogpog and Gasan on the island province of Marinduque are the setting for the Moriones Festival celebrated during holy week each year.
Costumed and masked islanders proceed through the towns to depict the story of the conversion of Longuinus, the Roman centurion who pierced Jesus' side with his spear, and his subsequent beheading.

flesh_is_weak

April 11th, 2007, 05:34 PM

Mindoro is part of MiMaRoPa, right? and Puerto Galera is part of Mindoro?

well anyway, i read from another forum something about a Jurassic Park in Puerto Galera where a lot of naughty things happen, what exactly is that place, and why in all places, in there?

palawan_buddy

April 14th, 2007, 05:39 PM

Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa City:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/new/DSC00438.jpg

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Dos Palmas, Puerto Princesa City
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http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/new/DSC00047.jpg

palawan_buddy

April 14th, 2007, 05:50 PM

Dos Palmas, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/new/DSC00424.jpg

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Waldenstrom

April 17th, 2007, 12:05 AM

^^ Great photos!!!

Mond87

April 18th, 2007, 06:15 PM

palawan_buddy

April 26th, 2007, 03:38 PM

PUERTO PRINCESA VOTERS WILL DECIDE ON MAY 14--- if puerto princesa will become a HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY.
personally, i can't believe na highly-urbanized na kami!!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Puerto Princesa now a highly-urbanized city

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has converted Puerto Princesa City in Palawan into a highly-urbanized city in consonance with the national government’s policy to support the initiative of local governments to become self-reliant communities and effective partners in attaining national goals.

In his regular weekly press briefing in Malacañang yesterday afternoon, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President effected the conversion of Puerto Princesa into a highly-urbanized city through Proclamation No. 1264 which she signed on March 26.

According to Ermita, Section 453 of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 “provides that it shall be the duty of the President of the Philippines to declare a city as highly-urbanized within thirty (30) days after it shall have met the minimum requirements prescribed in Section 452 of the same Code, upon proper application therefore.”

On Jan. 15, 2007, the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Puerto Princesa through its Resolution No. 614-2007 requested the President to declare the city as a highly-urbanized city.

The Office of the President conducted a thorough verification and found out that Puerto Princesa has met the minimum requirements prescribed for a city to be classified as highly-urbanized.

The LGC’s Section 452 states “that cities with a minimum population of two hundred thousand (200,000) inhabitants as certified by the National Statistics Office and with the latest income of at least Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) based on 1991 constant prices as certified by the City Treasurer, shall be classified as highly-urbanized cities.”

“Whereas, it is a declared policy of the government to support local governments’ initiative to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities and make them more effective partners in the attainment of national goals,” the President said in the proclamation.

The proclamation also provides that Puerto Princesa City will legally be declared as a highly-urbanized city only upon ratification through a plebiscite by the qualified voters of the city.

The rules and regulations implementing the LGC of 1991 state the following procedures:

a. Resolution – The interested city shall submit to the Office of the President of the Philippines a resolution of its Sanggunian adopted by a majority of its members in a meeting duly called for the purpose, and approved and endorsed by the city mayor. Said resolution shall be accompanied by a certification as to income and population.

b. Declaration of Conversion – Within thirty (30) days from receipt of such resolution, the President of the Philippines shall, after verifying that the income and population requirements have been met, declare the city as highly-urbanized.

c. Plebiscite – Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the declaration of the President of the Philippines or as specified in the declaration, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) shall conduct a plebiscite in the city proposed to be converted. Such plebiscite shall be preceded by a comprehensive information campaign to be conducted by the Comelec with the assistance of national and local government officials, media, non-government organizations and other interested parties.

released 3/29/2007

http://thenewsvlog.wordpress.com/2007/03/29/puerto-princesa-now-a-highly-urbanized-city/

palawan_buddy

May 2nd, 2007, 04:59 PM

the PUERTO PRINCESA PLEBISCITE will be deferred. reason: not enough ballot. source: local news/comelec officials

Sinjin P.

May 15th, 2007, 12:56 PM

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Rodel

June 10th, 2007, 03:10 PM

the PUERTO PRINCESA PLEBISCITE will be deferred. reason: not enough ballot. source: local news/comelec officials

what's the update on the plebiscite?

iamjomar

June 18th, 2007, 12:03 PM

ganda talaga ng palawan!!!!!hope to be there someday...

Sinjin P.

June 23rd, 2007, 07:44 AM

Boac, Marinduque Cathedral

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/227/464779714_d41541c24f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/464779706_c059971bc4_o.jpg

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http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/464667352_79815ec46a_o.jpg

by My Visita Iglesia (http://flickr.com/photos/bigberto/)

manchowyin

July 1st, 2007, 10:06 AM

Great shots!

Sinjin P.

August 13th, 2007, 10:57 PM

Investors eye island town of Romblon as another Boracay (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20070814100299.html)

SAN JOSE, Romblon — Foreign and local investors yearning for a share in the tourism boom in Boracay but were turned away from the famous island have started flocking in this island town which is now being developed into an alternative tourism paradise.

Only a 15-minute boat ride from world-famous Boracay, San Jose has taken advantage of the construction moratorium on its neighboring island by welcoming foreign and local investors willing to develop this carabao-shaped island into the next tourism haven in the country.

Already, some investors from the European Union,Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan have been talking with government officials on the prospect of establishing businesses in San Jose, which is only a 30-minute flight from Manila.

Concerned about the overcrowding and congestion in Boracay, where resorts and buildings continue to rise, the Deparment of Environment and Natural Resources recently ordered a moratorium on construction on the island.

Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said the DENR order is a good opportunity for Romblon to offer to foreign and local investors the potentials of San Jose where the proposed Romblon Special Economic Zone Authority will soon rise. (BR)

icarusrising

March 3rd, 2008, 12:26 PM

Puerto Galera to get water treatment plants

Robert A. Evora
March 3, 2008

The Manila Bulletin

PUERTO GALERA – Three waste water treatment facilities projects (WWTFP) costing about P254 million will soon rise in this world-famous biosphere reserve of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The money to fund these ambitious environmental projects will come from the Environmental Users’ Fee (EUF) or "green fee" being collected from visitors and tourists entering this resort municipality, says Puerto Galera Mayor Hubbert A. Dolor, who had just arrived from a MAB meeting in Spain.

The three WWTFP will be installed in Barangay Sabang, P120 million; Barangay San Isidro or "White Beach," P80 million; and Barangay Poblacion, P54 million.

Dolor said the "necessity and urgency of these environmental projects are the first projects to be funded by the EUF."

The collection of the P50 "green fee" per visitor coming from outside Oriental Mindoro is covered by a municipal ordinance and approved by the Sangguniang Panalalawigan.

Its collection started October last year, and expected to gather the estimated amount of between P25 million to P50 annually to bankroll not only the proposed three WWTP, but also other environmental projects in the municipality under Dolor’s "Ang Puerto Galera Na May Malaparaisong Dalampasigan" program.

"The rationale of the EUF is commendable since the ordinance was designed to gather enough funds to pay for environmental projects, foremost is the waste-water treatment facility in Barangay Sabang, which is long overdue," the municipal official said.

Dolor also explained that Puerto Galera must live up to its name as "one of the most beautiful bays in the world," the first in the Philippines to become a member of the exclusive French-based Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World along with Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.

Businessman Rocky Ilagan, who owns a fleet of 10 pumpboats under the Father and Son Shipping Lines, and a resident of Barangay Sabang, said that not only residents of the village will benefit from these municipal government’s environmental projects, but also the local and international tourists who frequent the place annually.

"Clearly, the high cost of these ambitious environmental projects, particularly here in Sabang, is not within the budget of the municipality. The multimillion peso waste water treatment plant to rise this year in my place is the government’s answer to the worsening water pollution and sewerage problem of Sabang," explained Ilagan.

Aside from the total cost of P120 million for the construction of the facility, the Sabang wastewater treatment plant also entails a P12 million operating cost annually, he said.

Muelle Bay, a protected cove in the heart of Puerto Galera, and of one the three beneficiaries of the water treatment projects costing P54 million, is also considered as "one of the world’s ‘most safest’ natural harbors," while Barangay Sabang is "home to the famous 23 divesites."

As a natural heritage, this biosphere reserve has a size of 232 square kilometers with endemic species, including nine out of 16 varieties of seagrass in the world, 20 species of mangrove trees out of 40 in the Philippines, 152 coral species out of 400 in the country, and 121 species of fish, tortoises, marble, and gold.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/ENVI20080303118249.html

allan_dude

March 9th, 2008, 10:34 PM

P2.5-B windmill project to rise in Puerto Galera

To provide affordable electricity to Mindoro Island

By ROBERT A. EVORA

PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro — The construction of a 20-megawatt electric plant, powered by wind energy, will start in this town in the first quarter of this year.

When operational, it will provide efficient, affordable source of elecricity to Mindoro island and neighboring island provinces.

The tapping of the wind-power energy project, which costs P2.5 billion, is the "biggest single local and foreign investment in Oriental Mindoro," said Rep. Rodolfo G. Valencia.

He said that once the project is completed, the province will become self-sufficient in its energy needs and will attract local and foreign businessmen to invest in the island.

"It will also transform Oriental Mindoro into a net exporter of power to neighboring provinces," the first district lawmaker said.

The sangguniang panlalawigan of Oriental Mindoro has unanimously approved a resolution of the Puerto Galera sangguniang bayan endorsing the project proposal of the Philippine Hybrid Energy Systems Inc. (PHESI) to undertake a wind-turbine project in Barangays Tabinay and Baclayan, this town.

The windmill project will generate electricity for Puerto Galera and the 13 other municipalities, and Calapan Cit. This will be a big boost the to economy and tourism industry of Puerto Galera and the whole of Oriental Mindoro," Congressman Valencia said.

The windmill project in Oriental Mindoro is the second such project in the country. The first, located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, is now supplying relatively cheap electricity to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative.

The World Wildlife Fund, a foreign-based environmental non-government organization, has endorsed the project because the "wind turbine is a clean, non-pollutive and environment-friendly source of renewable energy.

Congressman Valencia also reported that his office is working on three more hydro-electric power plants, with a combined generating capacity of 100 megawatts, in the three municipalities of Baco, San Teodoro, and Victoria, all in the first district.

The Oriental Mindoro solon said that more power projects have been lined up. These include the tapping of the geothermal power source in Naujan, the proposed coal power project in Bulalacao, the wind and hydro power projects which are now in the pipeline, and the interconnection of Mindoro Island to the Luzon power grid with the use of natural gas.

The development of indigenous sources of power and energy in Oriental Mindoro is just one of Valencia’s four priority programs embodied in his "Vision 2020 - Mindoro."

The other programs cover the modernization of agricultural production, a centerpiece investment area to reaffirm the province’s role as the reigning "food basket of Region IV; tourism to maintain its status as a "leading tourism destination in the Philippines;" and social services to address the basic needs of the islanders for food, shelter, security, education, health and sanitation.

Archived news

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2007/01/18/PROV2007011884926.html

CGYanon

May 4th, 2008, 05:38 AM

im looking forward to go to Romblon and Palawan never been there. but also love to go back to Marindoque to attend the Moriones festival. mindoro, tambayan namin yan during my college days, sa Calapan at Puerto Galera. those were the days hayyyy...

tracymack

May 7th, 2008, 07:23 AM

2nd mariculture zone in Mimaropa readied
Jack C. Gadaingan
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080507123875.html

SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro — The Region 4-B office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) headed by Regional Director Ruben Jardin, in cooperation with the local government units (LGUs), will launch the second mariculture zone in Mimaropa Region on May 9, 2008 in this town.

To be called as the San Jose Mariculture Zone, the 500-hectare area is situated in the sea off Ilin Island and coastal waters of four barangays — Ansiray, Ipil, Buri, and Ambulong.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap, BFAR National Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento Jr., Assistant National Director for Technical Services Gil A. Adora, San Jose Mayor Romulo Festin, Mindoro Occidental Gov. Josephine R. Sato, Rep. Amelita C. Villarosa, and BFAR Regional Director Jardin are expected to lead the people and fisherfolk here at the launching rites at the Caminawit Fisport in this town.

Director Jardin said that he is very happy that local leaders here, particularly the provincial and municipal government officials, are enthusiastic about the project, noting that mariculture is a livelihood-enhancement project for the fisherfolk.

He said it is an undertaking by the DABFAR to implement President Arroyo’s hunger-mitigation and job-generation agenda.

Jardin also said that mariculture projects are conceived by the BFAR leadership in response to the effects of declining fish catch from the wild, due to some factors, such as the depletion of resources and overfishing.

Among the methods employed in the effort to feed a burgeoning population, fish hunters use methods of fishing harmful to nature and destructive to fish and marine species habitats. These result in lesser catch that would further impoverish fishing communities.

This is further compounded by the negative effects of climate change, and continuous rise of fuel prices, he said.

Jardin said that sea-cage farming of finfishes in a mariculture zone is the best technology for production of fish because it is more economical, more practical, and more environment-friendly, because one does not have to cut the mangroves.

Assistant Regional Director Rolando Miranda, meanwhile, said that fish-cage farming is cheaper than developing a fishpond, which cost no less than a 1 million to develop a one-hectare area. Yet, the yield of a 10-by-10-meter fully stocked fishcage is equal to that of twohectare fishpond, he said.

Meanwhile, Engineer Jojo C. Garcia, a mariculture specialist, said that installed now at launching site at the Caminawit fishport are two modules of 10-by10-meter metal-framed cages and eight modules of 6-by-6-meter bambooframed cages.

After the launching ceremonies, the cages will be towed to the mariculture zone near Ilin Island, he said.

allan_dude

May 20th, 2008, 03:55 PM

http://cebupacificair.com/banners/seatsale_banner052008.gif

Cebu Pacific (CEB) will start daily flights from Manila to Tuguegarao and Naga on June 17 and 24 respectively, and to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on July 1, 2008 using brand new ATR 72-500 aircraft.

The P1 one-way fare seat sale runs from May 21 to 27, 2008 and is valid for travel until August 31, 2008. After the seat sale, the year-round Go fare for Manila-Tuguegarao starts at P288, while the Manila-Naga and Manila-San Jose routes start at P88. Fares are exclusive of surcharges and government tax.

Lance Y. Gokongwei, Cebu PAcific president and chief executive officer, said, “We hope that the opening of these new routes will spur travel and business growth in these areas as we have done in other parts of the country where we currently operate. The new services will also increase convenience for tourists who can now enjoy the attractions offered in these areas.”

With these new addition to the airline’s network, Cebu Pacific has the most domestic destinations than any other airline in the country.

The Manila-Tuguegarao flight departs at 5:55am and arrives in Tuguegarao at 7:05am. The return flight departs at 7:25am and lands in Manila at 8:35am.

The flight from Manila to Naga leaves at 1:15pm and arrives in Naga at 2:10pm. The return flight departs from Naga at 2:30pm and arrives in Manila at 3:25pm.

The Manila-San Jose flight departs at 4:00pm and arrives in San Jose at 4:50pm. The return flight takes off at 5:10pm and lands in Manila at 6:00pm.

“With our brand new ATR aircraft, we are now able to serve developing markets such as Tuguegarao, Naga and Mindoro. We expect to open more routes as soon as we take delivery of four more ATR aircraft this year,” Gokongwei said.

Gokongwei added that the best way to book flights is though www.cebupacificair.com.

Cebu Pacific flew 5.5 million passengers in 2007. It has a fleet of ten A319s, eight A320s, and two ATR 72-500 aircraft. The airline flies to 14, soon to be 16 international destinations with the addition of Kaohsiung in June and Kota Kinabalu on July. It will also fly to 24 domestic destinations with the addition of these new routes in the coming months.

http://www.cebupacificairlines.ph/cebu-pacific-offers-p1-fare-to-tuguegarao-naga-and-san-jose-mindoro/

allan_dude

May 29th, 2008, 03:36 AM

10 of 13 bridge projects in Mindoro Oriental completed - DPWH

MANILA, Philippines - The government on Wednesday announced that 10 out of the 13 bridge projects in Mindoro Oriental that comprises the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) had been completed.

Director Emil Sadain, head of the Presidential Bridge Program of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said the bridges will provide vital linkages from Luzon to Mindanao for the speedy and more economical transport of goods to the country’s vital commercial hubs.

Three of the projects are slated to be finished in August.

On the other hand, Sadain said the road and bridge packages 1 and 3 under the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) loan program are on track with the construction, while the bidding process for packages 2 and 4 is set to start in June.

“The P9.7 billion loan from JBIC covers packages 1, 2, 3, and 4. The projects under 1 and 3 which had started construction are on track with its date of completion,” Sadain said.

The Package 1 under the Toyo Nippon Steel Niaji contractor is scheduled for completion in December 2009, while Package 3 contracted to Toyo Niboshima is set to be completed in September.

Package 1 involves the construction of 17 bridges and Package 3 entails the construction of 64 bridges.

For Package 3, the Pantal bridge serves as the centerpiece of all the projects. Of the 64 projects, 33 bridges have already been completed -- six in Alabat island, Quezon province, six bridges in Mindoro Occidental, 13 in Mindoro Oriental , three in Batangas, three in Cavite and one in Bicol.

Sadain added that the bridges will rehabilitate the existing temporary bridges upon the request of the local officials and residents that have hampered travel and progress to the area.

He said for package 1, the scope of the construction covers the 17 bridges including the 535-meter-long Amburayan bridge in Ilocos Norte, the Quirino bridge in Ilocos Sur and La Union (456 meter), the Sarat bridge in Ilocos Norte (520 meter), and the reversed arch steel type Kaling bridge in Benguet (66.5 meter). - GMANews.TV (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/97787/10-of-13-bridge-projects-in-Mindoro-Oriental-completed---DPWH)

overtureph

June 20th, 2008, 08:26 AM

Gabriel F. Fabella: ‘Father of June 12’

By Kristoffer R. Esquejo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:30:00 06/16/2008

THIS MONTH MARKS TWO EVENTS OF National importance. One was the commemoration of the 110th Philippine Independence Day on June 12 and the other is the celebration of the University of the Philippines Centennial on June 18.

Most Filipinos do not know that 2008 also marks the 110th birth anniversary of an academician, who is known as the “Father of June 12.” He was Gabriel F. Fabella.

While serving as chair of UP Department of History and Acting Director of UP Clark Air Base Branch 50 years ago, he made a valuable contribution to the first event.

Nationalist gesture

In 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal, father of the incumbent President, moved the date of Philippine Independence from July 4 to June 12. This nationalist gesture strengthened the fact that before the infamous Treaty of Paris of 1898, there was an independent Philippine Republic in the wake of the 1896 Revolution that ended Spanish colonial rule.

The American colonial government had timed the date of our formal separation from the United States in 1946 to fall on the date of the US Independence Day, perhaps to remind Filipinos of the ties binding us to Americans.

Youth activism

Macapagal’s action in 1962 was an indicator of the changing political temper in that decade when the youth in the colleges and universities were beginning to be concerned with national identity. It also made him won the distinction of being a nationalist president.

Since then, Macapagal had been commended for his well-deserved decision. However, it would be unfair and unjust if Filipinos would not acknowledge the man who fired the opening salvo in 1954 and tirelessly fought and campaigned for June 12 as the country’s proper Independence Day.

Inspiration

How did Fabella start it all?

In Celedonio Ancheta’s book, titled “Father of Independence Day,” Fabella said his inspiration came from Emilio Aguinaldo himself.

He first met the first president of the republic face-to-face when he visited Aquinaldo’s home in Kawit, Cavite in 1926. After the war, his visits were more often, especially during the general’s birthday celebrations. In 1953, he was partly responsible for Aguinaldo’s conferment of a UP Doctor of Laws degree honoris causa. Eventually, he never missed the remaining birthday celebrations of the old man and became so endeared to the Aguinaldo family.

Octogenarian veterans

As years went by, Fabella still realized the lack of proper recognition due Aguinaldo for his valuable services to his country. When Fabella attended the June 12 celebrations in Kawit in 1954, he noticed the octogenarian veterans of the revolution bent with the weight of years and sweating it out under the heat of the sun. It occurred to him that those living heroes deserved a better deal.

It was a disgusting fact that the people’s interest in the importance of that date was declining. This was reflected in the absence of the invited speaker at the 1960 celebration and the simple occasion in 1961.

He must do something. Why not campaign for the change of the independence celebrations from July 4 to June 12? That was the cue. A year later, he began writing for the papers starting with the Philippine Collegian.

He made the UP constituency aware of his project, but like any new and bold idea, some colleagues laughed it off. Unaffected, he said, “I will keep up the campaign until June 12 becomes the day for our independence celebrations.”

PHA resolution

In 1959, Fabella sponsored a resolution unanimously adopted by the Philippine Historical Association (PHA). This was endorsed to a committee who had it polished into its present printed form, but the basic arguments were Fabella’s. Here is the summary of his arguments favoring June 12 over July 4.

First. The United States does not celebrate its independence on the day its independence was recognized by England, but rather on the day the Americans declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. American independence was only recognized on Sept. 3, 1783. Following American precedent, we should naturally adopt June 12 since it was on that day in 1898 that Philippine independence was declared.

Second. Philippine independence celebrations thus far are generally overlooked and forgotten by the rest of the world. Falling at it does on the same day as that of the United States our celebrations are overshadowed by those of the United States.

Third. In determining the date of the granting of independence to the Philippines, the Filipino people had little or nothing to do with the fixing of the date. As a matter of fact, they really cared little for the date. All they wanted was independence irrespective of the exact day.

Thanksgiving Day

Now that we are a sovereign nation we are entitled to fix our independence celebrations and, as Fabella insisted, the most logical date is June 12. Instead, July 4 can be declared Thanksgiving Day as the Filipino people’s recognition of the good done by the United States, he said.

Other renowned people such as former Education Secretary Alejandro Roces and Rep. Ramon Mitra Sr. helped Fabella’s campaign. Aguinaldo, who was duly informed of the campaign, extended his full, unconditional and enthusiastic support. Unfortunately, the resolution was not given attention the following two years.

Proclamation No. 28

Fabella’s long wait bore fruit when Macapagal signed Proclamation No. 28 on May 12, 1962. The proclamation moved the day of independence from July 4 to June 12. It also declared June 12, 1962 a special public holiday.

Following this was the signing of Republic Act No. 4166 on Aug. 4, 1964. It states that the June 12 declaration be the official Independence Day, while July 4 is the Philippine Republic Day. Since then, the day of independence has been celebrated on June 12.

Macapagal’s proclamation reaped praises and resulted in the rejoicing of many. The celebration at Luneta on June 12, 1962 was splendid. Aguinaldo himself was the honored guest. During the occasion, plays about the events that happened during the declaration of independence in 1898 were staged.

Ready to die

Half a million Filipino viewers witnessed this. The PHA also celebrated the success. A gathering was held at Channel 10 in the GSIS Building on Arroceros Street in Manila on June 11, 1962. Two years later, Aguinaldo died, fulfilled and happy at the age of 95.

Few days after the approval of R.A. No. 4166, a member of the PHA teased Fabella by asking, “Well, Fabe, are you ready to die now?” The professor answered, “Yes, I am. If I had done nothing else but to change our independence celebrations from July 4 to June 12, I shall die content.” His statement showed that he considered the change of the day of independence as his biggest success.

Credit monopolized

Sadly, Macapagal monopolized the credit for it. After using Fabella’s arguments, he neither recognized nor mentioned that someone from UP had done a decade of tireless campaign in changing the Independence Day celebrations from July 4 to June 12.

Moreover, Macapagal claimed that it was the fulfillment of his very own idea, which he formed when he was still a congressman. He denied the allegation that his decision was an act of vengeance in the wake of the US disapproval of his proposed $73-million War Damage Bill.

Because of these statements, it can be said that the late president had selfishly claimed the full credit. As the then incumbent president, he turned into reality the lifelong goal of an academician. In other words, he merely acted upon the idea of someone, like Andres Bonifacio realizing the idea of a revolution ignited by Rizal in his second novel.

Holiday economics

Like his daughter, the incumbent President, who decreasingly values important events for the sake of her holiday economics, Macapagal had ignored the efforts of unsung heroes like Fabella. [President Macapagal-Arroyo declared June 9, a Monday, a nonworking holiday as part of her holiday economics but retained the Independence Day celebrations on June 12, which she made a regular working day.]

Fabella did not receive any credit except being mentioned in several newspapers and dubbed by his contemporary scholars the “Father of June 12.” After getting this support, Fabella did not lose faith in promoting nationalism and addressing problems regarding national interests.

Partido Nacionalista

The injustice done by Macapagal to Fabella’s role may be explained by the fact that the latter was a member of Partido Nacionalista, the rival of the President’s Partido Liberal. It should be noted that Fabella ran and won as an assemblyman of the lone district of Romblon for one term (1935-1938). Though Fabella abandoned politics and returned to teaching, he remained an active party member.

In 1960, Fabella attended the 25th anniversary of the First National Assembly of the Commonwealth. Most of those who attended were his pre-war colleagues in the party such as former President Sergio Osmeña. Somehow, Fabella’s influence in the party was constantly acknowledged. This could be proven by a letter from then Senate President Ferdinand Marcos, who asked for his support in 1964 against the reelectionist Macapagal.

Perseverance

Nowadays, his living contemporaries are getting older and fewer while the present generation no longer knows him and his deeds.

Born on March 18, 1898, Fabella was the 10th of 13 children of a poor couple from Banton, Romblon. In spite of poverty, he managed to finish not only his primary and secondary schooling but also his tertiary education. Through hard work and perseverance, he gradually realized his dreams, proving that not even poverty is a hindrance to anyone’s success if determination is present in a goal-oriented individual.

3 degrees in 3 years

Even his fellow Romblomanons today rarely knew that he was the first-ever Bantoanon to finish three degrees (BSE, BA, and HSTC) from UP in just three years (1917-1920), an MA History degree holder (1931), lawyer (1934), UP professor (1923-1934; 1946-1963) and assemblyman of Romblon (1935-1938).

Here are his exceptional qualities.

He was a Romblomanon leader. During his early years, he showed his profound ability as a journalist, a playwright and an organizer of various provincial organizations.

At 37, he became so popular when he defeated the so-called “Dean of the Lower House” and traditional politician Leonardo Festin as Romblon representative in the First National Assembly under the Commonwealth.

A leading Nacionalista party member of Manuel L. Quezon, Festin was known to be undefeated in Romblon and had served for seven consecutive terms (1916-1935). To Quezon’s dismay, Festin lost to a neophyte lawyer whose rigorous campaign and charisma gained tremendous support from the electorate.

He was an academician. Most of his life was dedicated to teaching—from private to public and from elementary in Capiz, high school in Romblon and Tayabas (now Quezon), and finally college at UP. Of course, many still know the several schools he founded and owned shortly after the war not only in Romblon but also in Mindoro and Batangas.

Popular professor

Before his retirement in 1963, he served as both chair of the UP Department of History and acting director of UP Clark Air Base (1958-1960).

Although known as a popular terror professor, he mentored numerous students who became successful in many arenas and the most successful was the future president, Marcos, who used to study far into the late hours under him during his pre-Law days at UP.

He was a historian. He wrote about a hundred articles in various scholarly magazines and he was involved in several academic organizations until his death. Even until now, the PHA reveres him as one of its founding members and its first president who served four terms starting 1955.

He was a Rizalist. Aside from being an active Knight Commander of Rizal, he strongly believed in the ideals of the national hero reflected through his own writings and speeches.

Insurgent records

He was a nationalist. Along with his being the “Father of the Philippine Independence Day,” he was also the first to bring back home the first microfilm copies of Taylor’s Insurgent Records from the United States in 1954.

On Jan. 29, 1982, the old and sick professor finally joined his Creator on his way to Manila from Canada. He died fulfilling his dream not to die in a foreign land, leaving a good name and a legacy to his children, relatives and province mates. Most of his children are successful graduates of UP and are living in different places abroad.

Indeed, Fabella was a unique individual who possessed admirable traits. No doubt he was truly dedicated to the advancement of our national identity as Filipinos. As we observe our independence this month, it is but fitting and proper to honor this “Father of June 12” of ours by remembering his greatest legacy to this country he loved so much.

* * *

(Kristoffer R. Esquejo is a graduate of BA History magna cum laude [April 2007] at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Taking up MA History, he is an instructor at UP Department of History.)

Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/features/features/view/20080616-143018/Gabriel-F-Fabella-Father-of-June-12

Igsuonnimo

June 24th, 2008, 02:16 PM

Mimaropa development priority of de Castro (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/24/yehey/prov/20080624pro4.html)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

VICE President Noli de Castro on Monday vowed to complete the priority projects of Region 4-B by 2010, saying he will use all his powers to bring development in Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (Mimaropa).

De Castro, who was recently appointed by President Gloria Arroyo as the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) for Region 4-B which covers the four provinces otherwise known as Mimaropa, said he will complete the priority projects and programs of the region on time.

But more importantly, he said, he accepted the CORD position for region 4-B because it covers Mindoro where he comes from. De Castro hails from Pola, Mindoro.

De Castro challenged the governors, mayors, government agencies and the private sector in the region to immediately get into serious business.

He said the regional development council concerned should not waste time if it wants to accomplish its priority projects and programs that include an airport as efforts to transform Mimaropa as one of the food baskets and tourism hubs of the country.

The CORD has been in place since the time of former President Cory Aquino as a mechanism between the regional and sub-regional levels of government and the national leadership to address problems in government operations.

From Manila Times, June 24,2008
Mimaropa development priority of de Castro (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/24/yehey/prov/20080624pro4.html)

* * * * * * *

I think theres a need for a new region, PALAWAN REGION. :banana:

Thus Romblon should be for Western Visayas. :cheers1:

dark_knight_detectve

July 10th, 2008, 02:06 PM

i hope i posted this in the right thread. if im mistaken, kindly PM me so that i can correct my mistake.

A trip to Palawan: Uncovering the secrets of the last frontier (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080709167&type=2)

By Ritche T. Salgado
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Puerto Princesa is known by a dozen monikers. Its reputation goes beyond the desire of the locals to make their city the most livable place in the country; a desire instilled in their hearts by none other than Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, a full-fledged environmentalist.

There are no vagrants on the streets and definitely no trash, waste or garbage along the sidewalk, as according to our guide, littering is rewarded with a tax-free jail accommodation. No wonder they have received the Hall of Fame Award for being the cleanest and greenest city in the country.

Residents would proudly claim that most, if not all, of the people in the city live an honest life. A tourist said that one time he accidentally left his mobile in a local restaurant and when he realized his loss he returned to the restaurant and was ecstatic to recover his phone unscathed. “Had it been in Manila, it would have been gone in an instant,” he said.

The city lies at the center of the island of Palawan occupying a land area of 253,982 hectares and stretches 106 kilometers. The east coast faces the Sulu Sea and the West Coast the South China Sea. Its sundry shoreline is punctuated by mangrove swamps, limestone cliffs, scenic coves and white sand beaches frequented by tourists and locals alike.

Everything in the city is laidback. Its rustic charm allows tourists to experience a life sans the hassle of traffic, smoke, and tall buildings. And, I tell you, metropolitan life won’t be missed here.

In the subject of food, Puerto Princesa has a lot to brag about with authentic Vietnamese eateries serving plain honest-to-goodness home-cooked Vietnamese food courtesy of the Vietnamese people who found refuge in the island in 1975, after the fall of South Vietnam.

During our brief stay in Puerto Princesa, we visited the famous Dos Palmas Island Resort and Spa. A 45-minute boat ride along Honda Bay would take you to Arreceffi Island, one of the 16 mystifying islands in the bay.

Arreceffi plays host to this island resort and if you have no plans of staying the night you can enjoy the island’s day-tour package which would include activities like kayaking, snorkeling in the exotic Helen’s Coral Garden, swimming in the resort’s immaculate white sand beach or their perfect infinity pool, and other recreational activities. Everything is part of the package so you need not worry of paying extra, plus you get to enjoy bottomless tea and coffee.

A visit to Puerto Princesa won’t be complete without dropping by the much talked about Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (please vote for it at www.new7wonders.com). Going to the park itself would require you to take a 15-minute boat ride where you would see cliffs, lagoons, coves and caves bordering the shoreline. The lush green virgin forest that contrasts this hard landscape creates a postcard-perfect panorama that will completely put you at ease.

Since the underground river (which is the longest in the world at 8.2 kilometers) has been enlisted in the New Seven Wonders of Nature search, the queue of people wanting to view this spectacular wonder is terribly long. While waiting for your turn you can try other activities which this 22,202 hectare park has loads of. A trek through the monkey trail, the jungle trail or going on a wildlife watching adventure or a tranquil bird watching expedition would be exciting and educational.

The tour inside the underground river itself takes around 45 minutes and the farthest that it will take you would be to the cathedral (which by my estimate is only around 2 to 3 km from the mouth of the cave) where you would be bombarded by the beauty of the natural rock formations that seems to depict popular biblical scenes. Those with the most active imagination and the most sensitive senses might feel uncomfortable at the thought of disturbing the sanctity of this natural holy place, so be warned.

A trip to Palawan is indeed an experience to be had, and going there with PAL Express, the low-fare brand of Philippine Airlines, makes it a more satisfying one. PAL Express flies daily to Palawan from Cebu. Check out my blog at www.xanga.com/tribong_upos.

dark_knight_detectve

July 21st, 2008, 07:44 PM

MacroAsia allots P330 M for development of Palawan mine site (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008072113&type=2)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
MacroAsia Corp., the aviation services firm of taipan Lucio Tan, is setting aside P330 million to develop its mine site in Palawan.

MacroAsia holds exclusive rights to explore and develop nickel, chromite, iron and other mineral deposits in Brooke’s Point, Palawan.

Joseph Chua, president of MacroAsia, said management is hoping to bring its mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) to production capacity as it has successfully addressed all legal impediments involving mining rights over a 1,114-hectare nickel ore-rich property in Palawan.

He said the firm will comply with all statutory requirements and standards to get its mining business moving forward.

“In 2007, we started the process to secure our operating permits. In October, we commenced work on the environmental impact assessment as a requirement for acquiring an environmental compliance certificate. We foresee completion of this and other development/pre-operating activities by the first half of 2009,” Chua said.

Funding for the mining venture will come from a P450-million term loan secured by the company in April this year.

Last year, MacroAsia signed an agreement with London-listed firm Toledo Mining Corp. to study the feasibility of jointly exploring nickel on their adjacent nickel project sites.

MacroAsia previously said it was looking at exporting to Australia, China and Japan.

The company earlier sought an exploration permit with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to start a gold and copper mining exploration project in a 5,820-hectare prospect in Palimbango, Sultan Kudarat and a 6,156-hectare prospect in Glan, Sarangani Province.

These two areas are located within the rich gold and copper districts in Mindanao.

MacroAsia is currently engaged in aviation-support businesses at the Ninoy Aquino International Aiport, Manila Domestic Airport and the General Aviation Areas. It provides inflight catering services, ground handling services for passenger and cargo aircraft, helicopter charter flight services and operates/develops economic zone.

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hecky12

July 22nd, 2008, 07:18 AM

from what i really know. binalita na ito sa government website before pa i think mga 2005 pa ata yun that Palawan belongs to Western Visayas Region na.

kaya Region 4B is composed of MIMARO (mindoro, marinduque, romblon).

From what i know din yung mga locals ng Palawan siempre they criticized yung executive order na yun na Palawan is under Western Visayas na. May mga certain instances lang siguro na parte sila ng Region 4B for example yung Puerto Princesa which was newly-declared as highly urbanized city e part siya ng 4B.

for further references:

http://www.lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo2002/eo_103_2002.html

http://www.ops.gov.ph/records/eo_no429.htm

http://www.ops.gov.ph/records/ao_no129.htm

dark_knight_detectve

July 26th, 2008, 02:12 PM

El Nido - The Nest of Swiftlets and Jet Setters (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200807252&type=2)

By Ari Luis Halos
Saturday, July 26, 2008
As a kid, I always stood amazed at the way swiftlets fly. While eagles soar and mayas (or sparrows) flutter about, these daredevilish birds dash at what seems like supersonic speeds, barely kissing the ground, then suddenly pulling up at the very last minute before hitting a big obstacle, like well, me. Every time I see them do this, I stand breathless, wondering how such little creatures can do something so amazing.

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Another thing that I've always wondered about, also, is where these amazing birds roost, if ever they do. After all, it doesn't seem so far fetched that such active little fellows who live on the edge don't have a place to lay their heads. Turns out that they have cousins who live the good life, making their fabulous (and tasty) homes up in the crags of limestone cliffs with spectacular views of Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Palawan.

El Nido, it seems, is the destination of choice of those who live to live on the edge and yet stay in touch with nature. Jetsetters pay an arm and a leg to ride in small planes for a low flight one and a half hour flight from Manila to a dirt and gravel air strip north of the town. Even landlubbers have it hard, they go ride a bus or a shuttle for a 6 hour long trip through rough, narrow gravel and mud roads from Puerto Princesa. Others, notably foreign backpackers, go for 5 hour long banca trips through sometimes rough seas from either Port Barton, Coron or even Sabang. If half a day doesn't seem long enough, one can opt to take the 30-hour long boat trip from Manila to here via a small ship called a batil. However which way you get here, the trip is well worth it. We took the landtrip on a special van past lunch and were in Taytay late in the afternoon. By the time we were on the final stretch of road to El Nido, the sun was setting over the Malampaya Sound. We were enthralled by such a wonderful sight for just a few minutes as our driver continued to speed along past the viewdeck and into the mountain pass. The sun quickly set and gave way to the darkness and our van still continued its journey through the rough winding road.

After a few minutes of driving through pitch black, we finally caught site of lights from a house, then two, then suddenly found ourselves in the bus terminal of the town. From there, we hailed a tricycle for our place at the Marina Garden Beach Resort (http://marinagardenelnido.multiply.com/; +63 926 684 0691). Marina's is a quaint little resort with some thatch huts and airconditioned rooms fronting the powdery white sandy beach, which was lit by the glare of big halogen lamps, the starlit sky, as well as the torches of the al fresco set up of the nearby Sea Slugs Beach Bar & Resto (arante.divinagracia@yahoo.com; +63 927 822 0636) run by the husband and wife team of Rey and Grace Arante.

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Like insects to the flame, we were drawn to the torch-lit dining tables of Sea Slugs. Much like the nudibranch after which the place is named, the place turned out to be a pleasant and colorful surprise. We ate several dinners here, sampling their griller shrimps, chili crab, fish steak, beef curry, porterhouse steak, etc. It would be virtually impossible to finish all of them in one sitting as portions are usually good for two people, although two hungry guys from a long trip can conceivably down three dishes. The food's good, so no regrets there even if my belly becomes a little more unsightly. Needless to say, the relaxing atmosphere, the fill of good food, and the weariness of the long journey made us tired and so we trudge our way back to our room and beds to get a well deserved rest.

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Early the next day, we awoke to the smile of a golden sunrise and the sound of an outrigger boat (banca) or two as some fishermen went about their business. Half an hour later, the golden sky gave way to blue. The sky, the sea, and the towering cliffs of Cadlao Island beckoned, and so we took the plunge and made our way to one of the small boats moored several hundred meters away from shore. An hour later, we emerged a bit tired, yet refreshed, but quite hungry from the physical exertion. We sampled the breakfast treats at Sea Slugs amidst the now visible dream catchers and other tribal accessories adorning their restaurant. We had little time to examine the décor as we had a meeting with an important person that day.

Although the meeting went well, our schedule wasn't so - a professional we needed for a survey was on leave the day we had scheduled it and so we found ourselves with a free day. To make the most of it, we decided to forego the usual island hopping tour - and instead go for a dive or two (well, actually two). The next day we did our community meeting and by late afternoon, we arranged the dives with Mr. Esmer Fabian of the El Nido Marine Club (srjc_dive@yahoo.com; +63 916 668 2748) with a departure time of 9am the following day. The day was about to end, with the sky exploding with vibrant colors of blue, red, indigo and violet. I guess that it was such a violet way to end the day!

We chose to while away the evening at Marina Garden's bar cum restaurant. We chilled out with the concessionaire and his friends and jammed the night away to beach music, cashew nuts and a little beer. I guess that's the way to spend an evening - with fun, friends and a star filled sky. Much like a dream.

We got up a bit late the next day, this time. So after preparing our things, and our psyches for the coming activity, we were off to the islands. Our first stop was Miniloc South. The sight underwater was quite surreal as a carpet of dalagang bukid blanketed the patch of huge lettuce coral. We then proceeded to our surface interval at the Small Lagoon and then lunch at the 7 Commando Beach. For our last dive, we did South Cadlao which was filled with fan coral, various schools of fish, turtles and even blue spotted rays. By the time we got back to shore we were spaced out, not just from the exhaustion of the dive but from the beauty of El Nido's underwater marine life. But we weren't tired enough to try hanging out at Balay Tubay (+63 927 510 3227) for a set of reggae songs, such an appropriate nightcap to our island adventure.

On our last day, we pushed through with a survey early in the morning. Sure, we were bushed by mid morning, but the good thing was we had some time to check out the Ille Cave in Brgy. New Ibajay. Archeologists found traces of humans as early as 2680 BC. Who knows what happened to them, all we know is that their lives where invariably linked with the sea as remnants sea shell tools and adornments littered the graves of our ancient ancestors here. The stillness of the place was broken by calls of wild birds of various kinds, and we were reminded of the fact that we had to catch a flight back to Manila just after lunch. And so we made ourselves back to town, had a quick lunch and proceeded to the airport.

The El Nido airport is really just an airstrip located at the edge of a white sandy beach and mangrove fringed river. At the north end, you will find a small wooden pier jutting out to sea, affording a great view of Cadlao Island. The terminal consists of large cogon roofed huts where one can while the time reading, buying stuff from the souvenir shop, eat puto (native rice cake) and down it with either iced tea or coffee. As you make your way on board the plane, a group of singing women will bid you goodbye, wishing you pleasant memories of this place appropriately called El Nido, or The Nest, where one could find your second home.

An hour and a half later, I wish I never have left. At the airport, I almost had a scuffle with the guard that insisted that I produce my luggage tag which my companion had already gave him. I guess that I was back in the city - a place I could barely call home. Thanks to Mayor Leonor Corral, Raymond Osorio of DENR El Nido, Jedi dela Cruz and the staff of Marina Garden for a wonderful stay.

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dark_knight_detectve

August 7th, 2008, 04:24 PM

P107-M wastewater-treatment plant for Puerto Galera okayed

PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro -- The construction of the first of three proposed modern sewerage and wastewater-treatment plants, all costing R401 million, has been approved by the Regional Development Council (RDC) to address the problem of worsening water pollution in three coastal zones in this municipality, a favorite tourist destination.

A simple groundbreaking ceremony for the project will be held tomorrow at Sitio Lalaguna, Barangay Sabang, home to 37 world-class dive sites.

The first of the three wastewater-treatment plant, costing ΡΡ107.1 million, will be built in Barangay Sabang in the next few months, Puerto Galera Mayor Hubert A. Dolor said.

The Sabang wastewater treatment project is an initiative of Mayor Dolor, this towns former municipal health officer, who saw that water pollution brought about by untreated wastewater poses a problem in the booming tourism industry of Puerto Galera.

Oriental Mindoro Gov. Arnan C. Panaligan, chairman of the Mimaropa RDC’s sectoral committee on infrastructure development (SCID), has endorsed the construction of the first plant in Barangay Sabang.

Panaligan said that "the development of the tourism industry in Puerto Galera is a top priority program, together with agriculture, of my administration, and that the provincial government must give all-out support for the efforts to conserve the environment.

Citing the importance of Puerto Galera as an economic engine, Panaligan said that the project is in line with the goal of a national government’s plan to develop tourism in an environmentally sustainable way.

Mayor Dolor told the governor, who presided over the SCID meeting, that due to the Puerto Galera’s proximity to the Batangas international port, more than one million tourists visit his town every year.

Three areas in this town -- Barangay Sabang and Sinandigan (Zone 1), San Isidro (White Beach) and Aninuan (Zone 2), and Sto. Nino and Poblacion (Zone 3) -- were found by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to have been contaminated with fecal coliform, a waterborne bacteria that can cause pathogenic diseases to people.

The goal of the wastewater-treatment project, the mayor, is to protect the coastal marine environment and natural resources of Puerto Galera from land-based sewage pollution.

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/08/07/PROV20080807131831.html

dark_knight_detectve

August 16th, 2008, 03:19 PM

DoT bares strategic dev’t areas for tourism (http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/08/16/PROV20080816132677.html)

By MALOU M. MOZO and MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

CEBU CITY — The Department of Tourism (DoT) yesterday announced it has identified strategic development areas (SDAs) as priority destinations to propel the growth for the country’s tourism industry.

These ODAs include the Sogod-Bantayan-Malapascua corridor in Cebu; Northern Palawan corridor; Panglao Island in Bohol; and the Boracay- Katiklan corridor, said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

Durano, who met with Cebu reporters yesterday, said the DoT is now aggressively advocating for concerned government agencies to speed up the necessary infrastructure projects in these SDAs so it can be fully marketed as a tourism destination.

Citing the Sogod-Bantayan-Malapascua corridor, he raised the need for an airport facility in the mainland that will strategically service these municipalities as well as the need to improve road, water and solid waste management systems.

The same environmental concerns should also be addressed in Bohol.

Durano stressed that vis a vis the tourism stakeholders’ intensified efforts to promote the specific areas in the Philippines as leisure destinations, government must immediately solve the problem on infrastructure in order to drive the industry’s maximum potentials.

Infrastructure, he emphasized, should be dealt with first as projects of this massive scale will take a long time, probably at least two to three years before its completion.

"What we are pushing in NEDA (National Economic Development Authority) is to complete the infrastructure developments in these SDAs," Durano said, indicating the need for the agency to fast track budget allotment for a "complete infrastructure package".

"For example, you put up an airport but once it opens, you realize there is a problem on power supply, water consumption, and poor access roads," he said.

Already, Durano said the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) has completed the technical studies for the Northern Palawan SDA.

JICA has also been tasked to conduct the technical studies for the other SDAs, identifying Cebu and Panglao Island as top priority destinations. The DoT has allocated P28 million for the technical studies alone.

dark_knight_detectve

September 4th, 2008, 03:55 PM

DFNN ventures into high-end tourism services (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=200809035&type=2)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña
Thursday, September 4, 2008

Given tourism’s changing face with high-end business and leisure travellers demanding utmost luxury, leading IT solutions provider and systems integrator DFNN is responding and hoping to capitalize on the tourism growth in Asia.

In a press briefing yesterday, DFNN chief executive officer Ramon Garcia said the company, through Singapore-based technology unit Avensis Leisure Pte. Ltd., is venturing into the sophisticated high-end tourism business via a joint venture with Japanese firm Asian Elite Club Co. Ltd.

Asian Elite Club provides a full range of exclusive business service and other special tour planning services for jet-setting business travellers and wealthy tourists from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other Asian countries where the company has extensive networks.

While relatively a new company, Asian Elite Club is upping the tourism ante with the services and products it offers which include private commercial aircraft and executive ground transport.

Garcia said a joint venture company (JVC) will be formed to serve as the corporate vehicle for this project whose ownership shall be shared equally by Avensis Leisure and Asian Elite Club. The JVC will offer niche travel services to high net worth individuals in Japan, Singapore and the Philippines, he said.

“We’re glad that Asian Elite Club sees growth in tourism in Singapore and the Philippines as an opportunuty to provide new destinations and offerings to this select clientele,” Garcia said.

Asian Elite Club chief executive officer Makoto Honda, for his part, said the joint venture shows the company’s strong confidence in the Philippines which has been actively promoting itself as a high-end tourist destination with the opening of major entertainment and gaming resorts.

Honda said the Philippines would be Asian Elite Club’s “perfect partner for the concierge and dedicated type services that the Japanese firm would like to offer to clients who have gone to Japan and are now looking for other destinations in Asia.”

“We are confident in the recognized growth of tourism in Asia and want to be the leader in the market for our highly sepcialized services to our discerning clientele,” Honda said.

Among the major tourist attractions that the group will offer to high-end tourists include the Amanpulo, El Nido Resort in Palawan, Panglao Island in Bohol, Discovery Shores in Boracay, Pagudpod in Ilocos Norte and Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu.

Honda said tour packages range from $10,000 to $300,000 per person. The package is usually good for four to seven days. “The rates would depend on the individual needs and requests of clients,” he said.

The Department of Tourism expects tourist spending to hit $5.8 billion at the end of the year and is eyeing to maintain an eight to 10 percent growth in arrivals for this year, or as much as 3.4 million tourists.

Back to top

dark_knight_detectve

September 12th, 2008, 04:48 PM

2-day RP Bird Festival starts in Puerto Princesa (http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/09/12/PROV20080912134976.html)

Marking the beginning of the annual winter migration of birds from mainland Asia and Japan, the 2008 Philippine Bird Festival will be held today and tomorrow in Puerto Princesa City, with the theme "Aba, Kakaiba!"

This year’s festival features the Palawan Peacock Pheasant, a beautiful forest fowl found only in the Philippines. The first festival was held in 2004 by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, the country’s premier bird-watching society.

On its fourth year, the Philippine Bird Festival aims to raise public awareness about the diverse birdlife in Palawan and draw attention to and support for the local efforts undertaken for the protection of the still pristine forest, wetland, and coastal habitats of the country’s western-most province.

The event also hopes to get people interested in nature and conservation through recreation bird-watching and bird photography.

Puerto Princesa City is also hosting the First Bird Conservation Forum, a pre-event for the Philippine Bird Festival.

The forum seeks to bring together bird-watching hobbyists, conservationists, eco-tour promoters, and other local and national stakeholders to map out plans for the protection of the birds’ critical habitats.

Recognizing that the loss of habitat from poor development planning and urban pressure constitutes the greatest threat to bird population and other wildlife, communities and professional planners are urged to get involved in developing ways to help the country’s wildlife through green spaces and nature-friendly property development and management.

dark_knight_detectve

September 17th, 2008, 04:49 PM

4th Mimaropa mariculture zone set (http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/09/17/PROV20080917135424.html)

Jack C. Gadaingan

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The Region IV-B office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) headed by Regional Director Ruben Jardin, in collaboration with the local government units (LGUs) in the province will launch the fourth mariculture zone of the Mimaropa Region on Sept. 24 in this city.

To be called the Calapan Mariculture Zone, the 500-hectare sea farm covers the waters off nine barangays of this city in Calapan Bay.

Mimaropa will soon have four mariculture zones. Earlier, mariculture zones were launched in Looc, Romblon; Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; and San Jose, Mindoro Occidental. These are all parts of the so-called Western Philippines Mariculture Highway.

Expected to grace the launching activities are Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, BFAR National Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, BFAR National Assistant Director for Technical Services Gil A. Adora, Calapan Mayor Salvador Doy C. Leachon, and Oriental Mindoro Gov. Arnan C. Panaligan.

Director Jardin said DA-BFAR has been promoting mariculture and aquaculture to help fishermen cope with the fast-changing conditions in the fishing industry.

dark_knight_detectve

September 20th, 2008, 05:43 PM

SEC approves Philodrill stock rights offer (http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008091930&type=2)

Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the P383.74-million stock rights offering of oil exploration firm Philodrill Corp.

Based on documents filed with the SEC, Philodrill will offer 38.37 billion shares priced at P0.01 each share, representing a significant discount to the company’s closing stock price of P0.027 per share as of yesterday.

“The discount is being given to encourage participation in the offering,” Philodrill said.

Shareholders can subscribe to one share for every four shares held as of a record date yet to be set by the company.

The shares to be issued will come from the company’s latest increase in capitalization from P1.55 billion to P2 billion.

Penta Capital Investment Corp. has been tapped as lead underwriter for the rights issue.

Proceeds from the offering will be used to pay the company’s share in the expenses for Service Contract 14 at the Galoc oil field amounting to P54.47 million, and payment of loans and advances (P134.56 million).

Other proceeds will be used for 2009 operational expenses, including the funding of oil production activities of SC 14’s Nido Matinloc Production Block and SC 14 C-1 and cost of well abandonment and platform dismantlement of the Nido and Matinloc oilfields.

Philodrill is eyeing a net income of P1.2 billion this year on higher revenues as the Galoc oil field starts production.

The company has projects in the offshore areas of Palawan and South Sulu Sea and onshore Mindoro.

The Galoc oil field, operated by Galoc Production Co., reportedly contains proven reserves of up to 16 million barrels of oil.

Philodrill initially held a 6.4-percent participating interest in the project but raised this to 7.02 percent after it acquired Phoenix Gas and Oil Co., which has interests in several petroleum exploration blocks, for P32.6 million in May last year.

Other shareholders in the project are Australian firm Nido Petroleum Ltd., with a 22.28-percent stake, and other local upstream oil companies. — Zinnia B. dela Peña

Back to top

icarusrising

October 6th, 2008, 05:24 PM

Sibuyan waters safe - Sulpicio, Harbor Star
(http://www.gmanews.tv/story/125257/Sibuyan-waters-safe---Sulpicio-Harbor-Star#)
Article posted October 06, 2008 - 05:28 PM
MANILA, Philippines –Representatives from Sulpicio Lines and Harbor Star said the waters near Sibuyan Island in Romblon province are now safe following the recovery of all endosulfan cargo trapped inside sunken vessel MV Princess of the Stars, a GMA Flash Report said Monday.

Earlier in the day, salvage workers from Harbor Star and Titan Salvage started removing pesticides from the capsized vessel after completing extraction of 402 containers of endosulfan on Sunday.

The report added that bunker fuel will be the next priority of the two firm’s retrieval operations.

As of posting time, local government officials have yet to issue their statements on the matter.

A separate radio report earlier said that the start of the second phase of salvage operations provided relief to fishermen in Sibuyan Island in Romblon.

Philippine Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo earlier said he will recommend the lifting of a fishing ban in a five-kilometer radius from the ship, if the water is not contaminated.

As of Monday noon, Harbor Star and Titan Salvage started sending a remotely operated vehicle with camera to locate the pesticides.

The salvage teams said it is possible they may bore a new hole in the ship to get the pesticides out, as the hole they bored to get the endosulfan was "too far."

For its part, San Fernando town in Romblon sent a naval architect to the area to study options on whether to cut up the ship or refloat it once the extraction of pesticides and remains of passengers will be completed. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

icarusrising

October 6th, 2008, 05:34 PM

icarusrising

October 11th, 2008, 03:27 PM

Saving the Tamaraws from extinction (http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/theenvironmentreport/view.php?db=1&article=20081011-165889)

October 11, 2008 11:39:00

goodnewspilipinas.com

THIS piece of news should gladden not only the hearts of Far Eastern University students and alumni. It’s a national triumph that FEU’s symbol—the more elegant cousin of the Philippine water buffalo which the Haribon once called “Mindoro’s endangered treasure” and later “the Philippines’ endangered flagship species”—is no longer about to disappear from the face of the earth.

The tamaraw resembles the carabao. But it is darker, has a shorter tail and a V-shaped set of horns while the carabao’s horn is crescent- or C-shaped. A mature tamaraw stands at only about three feet high at the shoulder and weighs 300 kilograms.

Unlike the farming carabao, the tamaraw is wild and fierce. It attacks and pursues intruders.

Scientists who spoke at the Third Tamaraw Forum, held at FEU on Friday, gave the news that the population of Bubalus mindorensis (that’s the tamaraw’s scientific name), also called the “Mindoro dwarf buffalo” has started to stabilize thanks to private sector and government efforts.

Until 2005, Haribon still referred to the tamaraw as an endangered species.

A report by the environmentalist NGO’s writer-researcher Art Fuentes in February 2005 said: “Apart from the Philippine eagle, perhaps there is only one other animal that can best symbolize the mass extinction of species that is happening here in the Philippines—the Tamaraw. Once found in the thousands on the island of Mindoro in the early 1900s, it is estimated that fewer than 300 survive today.

“The reasons for the dramatic decline in the Tamaraw’s population are many. The three most notable factors which led to it are: the introduction of cattle into Mindoro in the early 1900s, rampant hunting of the species, and the widespread logging that destroyed much of Mindoro’s forests where the Tamaraws live.

“In the 1930s, there was an outbreak of the deadly rinderpest disease among the cattle herds in Mindoro. The rinderpest plague eventually spread to the Tamaraws and caused thousands of deaths among them. When the plague subsided, less than a thousand Tamaraws were left.

“In the 1960s and 70s, hunters with automatic weapons flew to Mindoro from Manila to hunt Tamaraws for sport.

“The Tamaraw extinction was further exacerbated by the rampant destruction of Mindoro’s forests—the natural habitat of the animals. In the 1900s Mindoro had a forest cover of over 80 percent. By 1988, this was down to around eight percent. It was no coincidence that the dramatic decline of Mindoro’s forests was accompanied by the dramatic decline of Tamaraw population.

“But the Tamaraw has survived; and with our help it may even thrive. Various efforts are under way to help the Tamaraw regain a healthy population, the most important of which is the restoration of its devastated habitat.”

Haribon’s Fuentes also wrote, “Keeping the remaining forests of Mindoro intact is key to ensuring the Tamaraw’s survival.” For attempts to further increase tamaraw numbers through breeding in captivity have failed.

At last Friday’s Forum, Environment Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi said people have stopped hunting the tamaraw. Not only hunters from Manila but also the Mangyans of Mindoro, to whom catching and sharing a tamaraw had a ritualistic and solidarity-building value, became respectful of the law against tamaraw-hunting.

Observed by environmentalists protecting the Philippine eagle is the need for wild species to be isolated to reproduce.

The effort to keep the tamaraw’s habitat intact must be succeeding.

For Dr. Arnel del Barrio, director of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC), said at the Forum that from 2001-2008 the tamaraw population has increased yearly by an average of 10 percent.

Del Barrio reported on the findings of the latest tamaraw expedition last April—participated in by government and private entities. The expedition was organized by the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) at the Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park in Mindoro Occidental. Del Barrio said the group’s tamaraw population count is 263 this year compared to only 175 heads in 2001.

“The calving rate estimated by number of yearlings is considerably high… [which could mean that] more than 55 percent of the Tamaraws are giving birth,” Del Barrio said. In Mount Iglit-Baco National Park, where most of the tamaraws are sighted, the official count of the animal was 263 in 2006, 239 in 2007 and 263 in 2008.

The DENR’s estimate is higher. Gerochi said his agency’s finding is that in some areas of Mindoro today, the tamaraw population has grown to more than 1,000. This a result of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP).

October is meaningful for the tamaraw and those concerned with its continued propagation. In 2002 President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation 273, which sets October as a “Special Month for the Conservation and Protection of the Tamaraw in Mindoro.” The proclamation stresses the need for more intense effort to protect, conserve, and perpetuate this national treasure.

It would be good to keep the TCP alive and continue observing October as the special month for tamaraw. For the drive to modernize Mindoro and the greed of human beings can still bring about a situation in which the natural forest habitat of the tamaraw has been wiped out.

The Mangyans could suddenly be goaded by activist shamans to stand for their ancient tradition—hunt and kill tamaraw for its blood and meat. These in the Mangyans’ ancient belief were a source of good health, strength and invincibility.

zoroethgenre_003

December 21st, 2008, 07:54 AM

Calapan Port

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/3121885321_469ace8e18.jpg?v=0

palawan_buddy

December 23rd, 2008, 04:27 PM

MICROTEL Hotel PUERTO PRINCESA (u/c)

entrance to the vicinity:
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/francisjerom/IMG_2651.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/francisjerom/IMG_2652.jpg

the hotel under construction (taken dec 22)
beach/rear view:
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/francisjerom/IMG_2654.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/francisjerom/IMG_2655.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/francisjerom/IMG_2657.jpg

facade view:
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/francisjerom/IMG_2660.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/francisjerom/IMG_2661.jpg

view from the facade:
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/francisjerom/IMG_2662.jpg

credge

December 29th, 2008, 06:31 AM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/3146456596_f249bddf4e_o.jpg
ADVANCE HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

SUV111

December 31st, 2008, 02:24 AM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/3150592470_2e4fd21564_b.jpg

[dx]

December 31st, 2008, 04:15 AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/Legazpinewyear.jpg
Photo by tonytones (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonytones/)

tonight

December 31st, 2008, 08:06 AM

ALL AROUND THE WORLD CELEBRATES TONIGHT

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll149/glittergn/newyear/newyear075.gif

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll149/glittergn/happy%20new%20year%202009/15.gif

From SSC-Iligan City

kiretoce

January 1st, 2009, 07:38 AM

Revamped the Welcome to SSC-Philippines (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=777770) thread. No need to add your name after you copy and paste the long list of forumers. I've also included a poll to see which part of the globe our members are from.

Taz08

January 1st, 2009, 08:26 AM

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/bobtaz08/SSC.jpg?t=1230790298

kiretoce

January 11th, 2009, 04:54 AM

Good Day SSCers!

Here is the information necessary for ordering the SSC National T-shirt:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/gibbster1/others/SSCTeedesign1.jpg

Ordering - Manila, Philippine Domestic and Overseas

You may send your payment through Western Union or for the Philippines, either in ML Lhuiller Kwarta Padala or Cebuana Lhuiller. The recipient information will go as follows:

Name: Bernardo Muerong Arellano III
Address: Unit 16C, Kingswood Condominium, Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, Philippines
Telephone Number: +63(921)2155266

Upon sending, please PM/YM/or SMS me the details of your name, address and most importantly your MCTN or the shipping/tracking number.
For Metro Manila orders, you may also pay directly/personally to me (HabagatCentral1) but you may have to contact me before 21 January 2008 since I'll be leaving for Iloilo and will be there for 2 weeks.
Deadline for purchasing for the first batch would be at February 10, 2008.

Distribution and Shipping

For Metro Manila and suburb orders, you have two options:
First: You may claim it personally through me in which it would not incur additional shipping costs. Please do contact me or send me a PM/YM/SMS for claiming your shirt. Otherwise, we will be announcing the date when you can claim your shirts in one meet.
Second: For special requests or delivery, we may send in your order directly to your doorstep with additional shipping cost. For Manila orders, shipping cost may have an additional P115 and for Luzon P120.

For Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Shipping:
We would like to suggest that the SSCers of Luzon and especially Visayas and Mindanao would agree on one contact person who will be responsible distributing the t-shirts in their locality so that we could send the shirt in bulk...this way it will be more affordable to ship the said t-shirts to any destination in the Philippines.
Please do have an agreed assigned representative from your locality by 31 January 2008.
Please do send me a PM of your personal information, delivery address and contact number through PM of the said assigned representative.
Possible rate may be PhP50 to PhP80 but may be reduced if the orders would increase in your locality, so start informing other forumers there and encourage them to take part of this project.

For Overseas Shipping:
Standard shipping rates apply either through FedEx or DHL.

Distribution:

For Greater Metro Manila area orders, we will be announcing when will be the date to claim your t-shirts personally.
For Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao orders, you may claim your tshirts from your designated representative.
Possible delivery of the t-shirts would be from a week to two weeks after deadline, so most probably we will have our tshirts by mid or late February.

For more questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to send me a private message/PM.

Also, for interested parties who want to order, please add up your name on the list so that we could have a complete list of how many will be ordering.

Thanks and mabuhay po tayong lahat!

=====================================

Please check out this thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=761866) for more details and information. :okay:

bradwhey

February 24th, 2009, 08:39 AM

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/Kawakawa/Kawakawa_1.jpg

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/IMG_5291-1.jpg
Santa Cruz Public Market,Santa Cruz,Marinduque

venntro

February 25th, 2009, 09:07 AM

Luzon beltway projects 22% complete (http://http://www.inquirer.net/propertyguide/buildingblocks/view.php?db=1&article=20090224-190818)
February 24, 2009 20:02:00
Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga—Thirteen government projects have been completed in the Luzon Urban Beltway worth P39.3 billion, or 22 percent of the total P180 billion allotted to develop the "super region" in the north, a Malacañang official said.

Secretary Eduardo Pamintuan, who heads the development in the region, on Tuesday said that of the 38 projects in the beltway, the 13 completed projects are:

• Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)
• Panday Pira Aacess Road
• Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA)
• DMIA passenger terminal expansion
• Subic port development
• Southern Tagalog Arterial Road
• Phase two of the Batangas Port Development Project
• Three projects for the roll-on, roll-off ferry link between Lucena town, Quezon province, and Boac town, Marinduque province
• Rehabilitation of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue)
• Upgrading of hospitals
• Opening of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

"Let us develop the Luzon Urban Beltway a seamless priority infrastructure project," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in a speech during a Cabinet meeting here.

venntro

March 2nd, 2009, 03:38 AM

Intex to redesign its Mindoro nickel project (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=444692&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Marianne V. Go Updated March 02, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Intex Resources Phils. Inc. has decided to reconfigure its Mindoro nickel project to allow it to produce fertilizer as a by-product of it primary nickel mining and processing project.

In a press statement, Intex said that the design of its processing plant for the Mindoro nickel project has been reconfigured to allow it to produce fertilizer as a by-product.

The fertilizer, Intex said, would help meet the country’s fertilizer requirements.

According to Leo Cleto Gamolo, president of Intex, “ the project has been reconfigured to become not only the Philippines’ largest and most modern nickel plant with a target production of 40,000 tons per annum of nickel metal, but also as the largest fertilizer plant with a production of as much as 200,000 tons a year of ammonium sulphate, a commonly used fertilizer.”

Gamolo continued that the Mindoro nickel project could “substantially support Philippine agriculture by providing a reliable and local source for its most commonly used fertilizer.”

The fertilizer to be produced by Intex, Gamolo said, could result in significant foreign exchange savings for the country as importations of fertilizers would decrease.

Gamolo explained that “as we move the project forward, we are beginning to realize unexpected but certainly most welcome development.”

He disclosed that aside from ammonium sulphate, the Mindoro plant would also be able to produce cobalt compounds in the form of sulphates, carbonate, hydroxides and oxides.

A consumer application of cobalt compounds, Gambolo explained, is in the production of rechargeable batteries for cellular phones.

In the field of agriculture, he said, cobalt compounds could be blended with fertilizer or used as a dietary supplement for livestock.

Gamolo added that the plant would utilize carbon-free energy in producing nickel and by-products such as fertilizer and cobalt compounds.

According to Gamolo, “the high pressure acid leach (HPAL) technology for our nickel processing plant is such that we will be generating our own power in a most environmentally-friendly manner. We will not be using fossil fuels nor will we be emitting carbon dioxide greenhouse gases.”

The Intex plant will supposedly not be dependent on Mindoro’s power grid for its requirements.

Gamolo said that the plant may, in fact, generate more power than it needs.

“We will be generating around 50 megawatts, which will subsequently increase to 80 megawatts. The excess can be passed on to Mindoro’s power grid,” Gamolo said.

Intex’s Philippine partners in the Mindoro nickel project are Aglubang Mining Corporation and Alag-ag Mining, Inc.

lim803

March 2nd, 2009, 10:48 AM

Yong INTEX ba was formerly MINDEX?

May nakausap ako dati, (I don't remember if he used to work don or sa local government), they did some sort of inspection in some of the mining areas. He told me na di totoo na mga minerals like nickel yong minimina nila kundi GOLD.

Totoo nga kaya?

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 02:41 AM

Alternate Boracay airport to begin construction in April (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/151226/Alternate-Boracay-airport-to-begin-construction-in-April)
JUN ARIOLO N. AGUIRRE, GMANews.TV
03/03/2009 | 08:57 PM

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines - An airport that will serve as an alternate route for Boracay-bound tourists will start construction in April, a local government executive told reporters on Tuesday.

Estimated to reach P5 billion, the airport at Carabao Island will not only serve tourists bound for Boracay, it will also attract visitors to the island itself, San Jose Mayor Filipino Tandog said.

The airport will be built and managed by the Boracay International Airport and Development Corp., a privately-held company. The company’s incorporation has already been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Carabao Island, which is under the jurisdiction of San Jose, Romblon also boasts of its white sand. The area expects a spill over of tourists from Boracay, which is only 30 kilometers away.

A consortium of Korean and Japanese investors has already expressed interest to finance other components of the project in accordance with the provincial tourism masterplan, Tandog said.

“The project has already been endorsed by the Regional Development Council of the MiMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) region," Tandog said.

He made this announcement during a meeting he attended with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who held a cabinet meeting at the tourist island this week. - GMANews.TV

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 05:24 AM

PCG, Romblon folk shoo whales back to sea (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/151279/PCG-Romblon-folk-shoo-whales-back-to-sea)
03/04/2009 | 10:44 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday lauded local fisher folk for helping out in the efforts that led to the immediate and safe return of some 100 melon-headed whales stranded off the coast of Romblon on Tuesday.

Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo quoted Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo as describing the local villagers as heroes for coming to the rescue when they spotted the whales off the coast of Odiongan town, a third class municipality in central Romblon.

The latest stranding happened on the heels of an earlier similar incident in Bataan where some 300 melon-headed whales suddenly emerged off the shore off Pilar and Orion towns. Local fishermen and authorities waded into the water and successfully drove the whales away, but not after three whales had died.

Picking up lessons from the Bataan experience, Tamayo said the Coast Guard employed safer and more effective measures to help the mammals make their way back to deeper parts of the ocean.

Tamayo said he has already mobilized his team to troop to the waters and conduct regular monitoring to avoid a similar scenario from happening anew.

The Coast Guard official said he thinks the whales could have lost their way as an effect of global climate change.

Over the weekend, around 200 pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins also found their way off the shorelines of the Narcoopa Beach on King Island, a part of Tasmania. Only around 60 of them were safely ushered back to the sea.

The series of whale stranding has already prompted the International World Ocean Conference to take up the matter when its members convene, the report added.

Perplexed experts have yet to ascertain the actual cause of the unusual behavior of the whales, with some attributing it to a seismic movement beneath the ocean while others saying such whales tend to stay close together at all times. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV

venntro

March 11th, 2009, 03:49 AM

Oriental Peninsula defers Palawan nickel project (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/03/10/09/oriental-peninsula-defers-palawan-nickel-project-0)
Neil Jerome Morales, BusinessWorld | 03/11/2009 1:24 AM

Listed miner Oriental Peninsula Resources Group, Inc. will defer commercial operations at a Palawan nickel mine given low metal prices and bad weather in the area, a company official said.

"The price is low. It would be a disadvantage [to start operations]. We are still waiting for world nickel prices to go up," Ferdinand M. Pallera, vice-president for administration of Oriental Peninsula, said in a recent phone interview.

"We cannot operate in the area because it is raining in Palawan," Mr. Pallera added.

The 1,408-hectare Pulot mine in the town of Española in Palawan, owned by subsidiary Citinickel Mines and Development Corp., was supposed to start commercial operations this quarter.

The mine is expected to produce 800,000 metric tons of nickel in the first year, and 1.2 million metric tons in the succeeding five years.

Nickel prices have dropped by 15% to $9,775 per metric ton from $11,500 a month ago and by two-thirds from $32,500 a year earlier, data from the London Metal Exchange showed.

Mr. Pallera said nickel prices near $30,000 per metric ton would be convenient for the company to start operations.

But prices of nickel, used in infrastructure and electronics, are unlikely to bounce back this year given low demand, Richard Mills, industry observer and chairman of executive search firm Chalre Associates, said in a phone interview.

Mr. Pallera said two Japanese, one Australian and three Chinese companies have expressed interest to sign a long-term supply contract.

"They are also anticipating the shortage [in metals] worldwide so they want us to commit to them exclusively [for nickel shipments]," he added.

Oriental Peninsula used part of its P840-million proceeds from a capital-raising activity in 2007 to develop the Palawan nickel mine.

"Any deferment of projects would negatively affect the outlook in a company’s earnings," Eunica B. Maloles of online brokerage 2TradeAsia said in a separate phone interview.

The analyst said mining shares "are speculative buys especially now that metal prices are volatile."

Oriental Peninsula shares closed 35 centavos apiece on Friday, the last time it was traded, down from its listing price of P2.68 due to a court row with the Atayde-led Platinum Group Metals Corp. over the operating agreement for the Palawan property.

lim803

March 11th, 2009, 03:18 PM

Is there any interesting infra project sa Mindoro? :)

venntro

March 12th, 2009, 06:24 AM

Vote for RP nominees in New7Wonders poll urged (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/152322/Vote-for-RP-nominees-in-New7Wonders-poll-urged)
03/11/2009 | 08:08 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The longest underground river in the world lost the top spot in the ‘New7Wonders of Nature’ (www.new7wonders.com) poll to the world’s largest river.

Just a few months after claiming the top spot in the nomination phase, Palawan’s Subterranean River National Park was edged out by the Amazon River in the ongoing second phase of the New7Wonders online poll.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ace Durano urged Filipinos to “keep the eye on the prize" and continue voting for all Philippine entries to the worldwide contest.

“All the voting and support have already generated immense publicity for our country. It would indeed be a feat for the Philippines if the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Park becomes one of the seven phenomenal sights in the world," Durano said Wednesday.

Palawan’s underground river topped the said online poll last year while Tubbataha Reef ranked 3rd, Chocolate Hills located in Bohol province ranked No. 5, Mayon Volcano in Albay province is ranked No. 11, Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales and Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan is ranked No. 31 and No. 28, respectively.

But when the votation for the second stage began last Jan. 7, the subterranean river lost the top spot to the Amazon River.

Only 77 of the 261 nominees will remain after voting ends in July 7, 2009. The DOT said that after the top 77 candidates are determined, the New7Wonders Panel of Experts, led by Prof. Federico Mayor, former director-general of UNESCO, will then take over to select the 21 finalists.

The voting will resume shortly after the 21 finalists have been announced.

"The nominees will compete for vote against candidates within their category. Simultaneous with the voting, the New7Wonders World Tour will visit the 21 Finalists to give each a chance to be seen by the whole world. The final 7 will be announced in 2011," the DOT added in a statement.

The non-profit New7Wonders Foundation, which also undertook the “New Seven Wonders of the World" search that was rounded up in 2007, said that through this contest, it aims to undertake documentation and conservation works of monuments worldwide under the motto, “Our Heritage is Our Future." - Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV

venntro

March 12th, 2009, 07:03 AM

Shell Philippines Exploration-led group set to start Palawan oil search (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=447631&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Donnabelle L. Gatdula Updated March 12, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The consortium of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX), South China Resources Inc. and Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Co., is planning to start drilling operations in northeast Palawan within the year.

“SPEX is presently preparing to drill its commitment well on Service Contract (SC) 60 by the second half of this year,” industry sources said.

SPEX holds 55 percent of the contract while KUFPEC and SCR own 30 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

Based on the drilling plan submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE), the group will conduct the seismic and exploration work in a relatively unexplored area of 1.8 million hectares in northeast Palawan.

In January 2006, the Energy Department allowed the consortium to convert its geophysical survey and exploration contract (GSEC 99) to SC 60.

The contract includes a 25-year production term in the event of a commercial oil discovery.

Last year, SPEX officials said they have completed the seismic survey for SC 60.

“The survey enhances understanding the prospectivity of the license area and will determine the need to further explore in the bloc,” SPEX said earlier.

SPEX operates the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project, the country’s largest natural gas find. KUFPEC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the, state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp.while SCR is a Philippine company involved in, among others, hydrocarbon exploration.

Last year, SPEX completed the first 3D seismic survey as part of a work commitment under SC 60 to explore for oil and gas within the one million-hectare acreage in northeast Palawan

venntro

March 12th, 2009, 07:30 AM

RP tourist spot's ranking drops in 'New 7 Wonders' campaign (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/03/12/09/rp-tourist-spots-ranking-drops-new-7-wonders-campaign)
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 03/12/2009 11:30 AM

After taking the top spot of a category in the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" campaign last year, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park has dropped to second place in the second leg of the campaign.

“Once again we urge Filipinos from all over the world to keep their eye on the prize. All the voting and support have already generated immense publicity for our country. It would indeed be a feat for the Philippines if the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Park becomes one of the 7 phenomenal sights in the world,” said Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

Known as the world's longest undergound river, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, located in Palawan, winds through a cave leading to the South China Sea. Its features include a limestone mountain landscape, chambers of stalactite and stalagmite formations, and lush forest formations. It is also home to monkeys, monitor lizards, and squirrels.

The top spot is currently held by the Amazon River in South America.

“We ask everyone to join us on this long but gratifying road to victory. But more than the people’s votes, we urge preservation and protection of our natural sites because they are the irreplaceable wealth of our country,” said Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions.

The Puerto Princesa river was nominated under the "Forests, National Parks, and Nature Reserves" category and votations began on January 7, 2009. Another Philippine nominee is the Coral Triangle, also shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and other Pacific Islands, which is currently ranked 8th in the "Seascapes" Category.

Only 77 out of 261 nominees in 7 categories will be chosen after voting ends in July 7 this year. Voters can cast their votes, via text message or online, only once for every phase of the competition.

After 77 nominees are selected, 21 finalists will be chosen by the New7Wonders Panel of Experts, led by former United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director General Federico Mayor, after which, another round of voting will begin until 7 finalists are announced in 2011.

Live rankings are regularly featured on its website, www.new7wonders.com.

During votations, the New7Wonders World Tour will also visit the 21 Finalist countries to give each a chance to be seen by the world.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign was founded by Canadian filmmaker and explorer Bernard Weber, and is managed by the New7Wonders Foundation. The campaign aims to "raise awareness of the incredible variety and beauty of nature around us." Its motto is: "If we want to save anything, we first need to truly appreciate it!"

bradwhey

March 16th, 2009, 02:29 PM

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/Santa%20Cruz%20Marinduque/SantaCruzMarinduque_1.jpg

venntro

March 24th, 2009, 03:59 AM

15 hotels to open this year (http://http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news4_mar23_2009)
By Roderick T. dela Cruz

FIFTEEN new hotels and resorts offering 2,000 rooms will open this year despite the economic downturn, the Tourism Department says.

The new properties are worth P20 billion, and they will be employing 3,000 workers, the department says.

It says some of these new properties have already opened, and they include 28 cluster villas under the Amanpulo Resorts, which owns Sugihara Villa Resort, Vauban Villa Resort, Salamanca Villa Resort, Almonavides Villa Resort, La Galice Villa Resort, Kapangyarihan Villa Resort, and La Pucelle Villa Resort.

Rates at the Amanpulo properties start at $1,150 a night.

Shangri La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, with 219 rooms, opened to guests on March 2 with daily rates of P20,500.

Discovery Bay Misibis on Cagraray Island, Albay, with 38 villas, also opened early this year with room rates starting at $305 a night.

The 75-room Park Bed and Breakfast Hotel and Restaurant in Pasay City, which is managed by Legend Hotels International Corp., has also opened, and its rates start at P1,500 a night.

The 50-room Microtel Inn and Suites in Puerto Princesa opened early this year, and it offers a daily rate of P3,800.

The largest hotel in Cebu, the 556-room Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort, will open on May 20, although it has yet to announce its room rates, the department says.

It says more hotels and resorts are opening in the second half of the year, including the 232-room Oakwood Premier Manila in Ortigas Center, which opens its doors to guests in the third quarter. The room rates at its sister facility, the Oakwood Makati, start at P10,000 a night.

The 100-room Picasso Serviced Residences in Salcedo Village, Makati, is expected to be completed by Ardent Development Corp. by the second half.

Also opening in the second half are two luxury hotels near the airport in Manila and beside the Villamor Championship Golf Course.

The Newport Marriott Hotel will have 365 guest rooms, and Maxims Hotel 170 suites.

The P500-million Silang Wakeboard Park is rising up on a 12-hectare plot of land in Silang, Cavite, and it’s expected to open by August.

The Manila Ocean Park in Rizal Park is building extra facilities including a boutique hotel.

The Tourism Department is also processing an application from Bella Roca Island Resort and Spa in Marinduque.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano says these new investments in tourism-related facilities and establishments are expected to add more than 2,000 new accommodation rooms and generate 3,000 jobs.

“With this initial list of investments, the country is assured of a vibrant tourism industry with bigger revenue and more jobs,” Durano said.

The new hotels and resorts will pay no taxes for four to six years and may import capital equipment tax-free if they are registered with the Board of Investments, according to Victoria Jasmin, director of the Office of Tourism Standards.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Bill is expected to result in more investment and create more tourism zones once it is signed into law.

The Senate and the House’s bicameral conference committee has approved the bill, which will give the Tourism Department powers beyond its marketing functions.

venntro

March 25th, 2009, 05:32 AM

Aussie firm gets partner in Yakal oil field (http://http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business2_mar24_2009)
By Alena Mae S. Flores

Kairiki Energy of Australia said yesterday that it has signed a conditional agreement with a private oil and gas investment company to sell its 17 percent interest in a portion of service contract 54 in northwest Palawan.

Kairiki Energy owns a 40 percent stake in the oil exploration area while Nido Petroleum Ltd. holds 60 percent.

SC 54 covers the Yakal and Tindalo oil discovery fields, which have potential reserves of over 35 million barrels of oil.

ISIS Petroleum Consultants Pty Ltd. earlier reported that Yakal had potential reserves of up to 10.7 million barrels while Tindalo had 24.5 million barrels with a recovery factor of 35 percent and 45 percent, respectively.

Kairiki Energy under the agreement will retain a 23 percent stake in the concession after the deal with the undisclosed oil and gas company is finalized.

The company also said that the exploration area would be divided into SC 54-A covering the concession near the shore and SC 54-B away from the coastline.

“Kairiki will retain a 23 percent interest in the inboard portion of SC 54 [SC 54-A] and a 40 percent interest in the remainder of SC 54 [SC 54-B],” the company said.

The company said the investors would earn a 17 percent interest in SC 54-A by reimbursing Kairiki Energy $7 million of its past costs, plus funding the next $6 million of Kairiki’s remaining 23 percent share of the SC 54-A work program.

“The investors are particularly experienced in drilling and engineering operations and strategically aligned to deliver first oil by early 2010 from the shallow water portfolio,” Kairiki Energy said.

It said the farm-out would retroactively take effect from March 1 but was conditional on finalization of a formal farm-out agreement by April 15.

“We are extremely pleased to have entered into an agreement to farm down part of our interest in the inboard portion of SC 54, retaining a material equity position in both the inboard and outboard portions of SC 54, so shortly after completing the successful drilling campaign in late 2008,” said Laurie Brown, Kairiki Energy’s managing director.

He said the transaction would bring Kairiki Energy one step closer to realizing its goal of delivering a production revenue stream in the near term and was consistent with the company’s strategy to acquire projects with relatively low risk, undertake extensive technical work and introduce a partner of strategic value to assist in the development of those projects.

venntro

March 25th, 2009, 05:37 AM

Govt signs $3-b mining deal (http://http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business1_mar24_2009)
By Othel V. Campos

Intex Resources Philippines Inc., a unit of Intex Resources ASA of Norway, yesterday signed a $2.95-billion agreement with the Philippines to develop a nickel reserve on an area straddling Occidental and Oriental Mindoro provinces.

Erlend Grimstad, chief executive of the local Intex unit, said Environment Secretary Lito Atienza signed the production and sharing agreement, which will pave the way for start of commercial production as early as 2012.

Intex’s local partner in the Mindoro mining project is Aglubang Mining Corp., the holder of the minerals production and sharing agreement with the Philippine government.

“We hope to finish the definitive feasibility study by November this year and commence with the construction by late 2010 once we have the financing in place by early 2010,” Grimstad said in a phone interview.

An initial feasibility report predicted more deposits than initially estimated on the area.

An estimated annual output of 40,000 metric tons “appears to have been conservative” based on “extensive” testing, the Oslo-based metals explorer said on Jan. 21, citing a feasibility study. Intex had deferred completing the study to the fourth quarter of this year from the first because of the global credit crunch.

A high-pressure acid leach facility will be included in the mine and will be able to produce 80,000 tons of nickel and 3,700 tons of cobalt annually. Construction and development is scheduled until 2011, with commercial operations starting the next year.

Intex plans to spend $2.05 billion for the first stage of the project and $900 million for the second phase. The company, however, appeared to have reduced its estimate for capital expenditures due to low metal prices.

“From they submitted, Intex will now be spending $2.5 billion,” said Mines and Geosciences Bureau chief Horacio Ramos.

He said the investments would include expenses for the processing, fertilizer and power plants.

Intex plans to tap the capital market to partly fund the project.

“We’re hoping to have on board a strategic partner after we finish the definitive feasibility study and secure an environmental compliance certificate by the second quarter of next year,” Grimstad said.

He said the parent company was finalizing a mixed financing package that included the sale of shares, entry of a strategic partner and borrowings from international banks.

A pre-feasibility study completed by Aker Solutions Australia in December 2007 confirmed the viability of building a nickel processing plant that could produce 40,000 tons a year.

Rodel

March 29th, 2009, 06:46 AM

Rodel

April 19th, 2009, 01:41 PM

i am sharing my photos to the Puerto Princesa Underground River and its environs, also known as The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. This place was formerly called St. Paul Underground River.
These photos were taken last Mar 27, 2009, when we visited the place.

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2462.jpg

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2463.jpg

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2464.jpg

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2468.jpg

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2469.jpg

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2470.jpg

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2471.jpg

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu4/rhodel2000/Palawan-Puerto%20Princesa/100_2472.jpg

hakz2007

May 7th, 2009, 10:52 AM

FINAL RULING
SC: 16 municipalities can’t become cities

By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:38:00 05/07/2009

Filed Under: Local authorities, Judiciary (system of justice)

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has denied with finality appeals to reverse its ruling that declared as unconstitutional laws that converted 16 municipalities into cities.

Voting 6-5, the court voided the following Republic Acts: 9389 (Baybay City in Leyte), 9390 (Bogo City in Cebu), 9391 (Catbalogan City in Samar), 9392 (Tandag City in Surigao del Sur), 9393 (Lamitan City in Basilan), 9394 (Borongan City in Samar), 9398 (Tayabas City in Quezon), 9404 (Tabuk City in Kalinga), 9405 (Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur), 9407 (Batac City in Ilocos Norte), 9408 (Mati City in Davao Oriental), 9409 (Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental), 9434 (Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte), 9435 (El Salvador City in Misamis Oriental), 9436 (Carcar City in Cebu), and 9491 (Naga City in Cebu).

“In view of the denial of the second motion for reconsideration, no further pleadings shall be entertained. Let entry of judgment be made in due course,” the high court said in a three-page resolution.

The court had voided the said laws converting the municipalities into cities in a resolution dated November 18, 2008.

The court said the municipalities were not exempt from the income requirement for cities of P100 million.

The income requirement for cities was raised to P100 million from P20 million after Republic Act 9009 amended the Local Government Code. The laws converting the 16 municipalities into cities were passed after RA 9009 took effect.

The court said “limiting the exemption only to the 16 municipalities violates the requirement that the classification must apply to all similarly situated.”

The high court made the ruling following a petition by the League of Cities of the Philippines, saying a wholesale conversion of municipalities into cities would reduce the share of existing cities of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Rodel

June 12th, 2009, 01:31 AM

808 state

June 12th, 2009, 05:41 PM

HAPPY 111th, PHILIPPINES!
http://i41.tinypic.com/sqjty1.jpg
LAOAG CITY HALL
Photo credit: anton photographer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/15814863@N04/)

a very warm greeting to the people of MIMAROPA!

hakz2007

June 23rd, 2009, 02:51 PM

PAG-ASA Latest Weather Bulletin (http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/wb/tcupdate.shtml)

Severe Weather Bulletin Number THREE
Tropical Cyclone Warning: Tropical Storm "FERIA"
Issued at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Tropical Storm "FERIA" has made landfall over Borongan, Eastern Samar.

Location of Center: (as of 4:00 p.m.) 40 kms South Southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar
Coordinates: 12.2°N, 124.8°E
Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and
Gustiness of up to 90 kph
Movement: West Northwest at 22 kph.
Forecast Positions/Outlook: Wednesday afternoon: 70 kms Southwest of Metro Manila
Thursday afternoon: 260 kms West Northwest of Laoag City
Friday afternoon: 500 kms North Northwest of Basco, Batanes

Areas Having Public Storm Warning Signal

Signal No. 2 (60-100 kph winds)

Masbate
Ticao Island
Sorsogon
Albay
Camarines Provinces
Catanduanes
Marinduque
Romblon
Burias Island
Southern Quezon
Oriental Mindoro
Samar Provinces
Leyte Provinces
Biliran Island
Northern Iloilo
Northern Negros
Northern Cebu
Aklan
Capiz

Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds)

Occidental Mindoro
Lubang Island
Batangas
Cavite
Laguna
Rizal
Northern Quezon
Polilio Island
Calamian group
Cuyo Island
Bataan
Bulacan
Metro Manila
Bohol
Rest of Cebu
Rest of Negros
Guimaras
Southern Iloilo
Antique
Siquijor
Surigao del Norte
Siargao Island
Dinagat Island
Camiguin

Residents living in low lying and mountainous including coastal areas under signal #2 and 1 are alerted against possible flashloods and landslides.

The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 P.M. today.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 5th, 2009, 09:44 AM

6 RP regions pack 'wind power' - study

By Rudy A. Fernandez
PDI

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines - Six regions in the country have excellent wind resources that can be harnessed to help boost national development.

“The best wind resource is in the north and northeast (of Luzon), and the worst resource is in the south and southeast of the archipelago,” reported Enrique Marquez of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) based in Bonuan Binloc, Pangasinan.

NFRDI, headed by interim executive director Dr. Westly Rosario, is attached to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Marquez reported on the country’s wind resource at the “First National Summit on Modernization in Aquaculture” held recently at the DA-BFAR-NFRDI Asian Fisheries Academy (AFA) here.

Marquez presented results of a wind resource analysis and mapping study on the archipelago done by the United States Department of Energy-National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The data sets included information provided by the DOST-Philipine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), National Power Corp. (NPC), and US National Climatic Data Center.

The study resulted in the publication of “Wind Energy Resources Atlas of the Philippines,” the first of its kind done for the country. The mapping system’s main output is a color-coded map containing the estimated wind power and equivalent wind speed for each individual grid cell (electric power network).

To portray the mapping results, the archipelago was divided into 13 regions. Each region is about 300 kilometers by 300 km.

“The wind mapping results show many areas of good-to-excellent wind resource for utility-scale applications or excellent wind resource for village power applications,” the DA-BFAR-NFRDI engineer reported.

The best wind resources are found in the following six regions:

* Batanes and Babuyan Islands in the northern part of Luzon.

* Northwest tip of Luzon (Ilocos Norte).

* The higher interior terrain of Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, Panay, Cebu, Negros, Leyte, Samar, eastern Mindanao, and adjacent islands.

* The east-facing coastal locations from northern Luzon to Samar.

* The wind corridors between Luzon and Mindoro (including Lubang Island).

* Between Mindoro and Panay (including the Semirara Islands and extending to the Cuyo Islands).

* More than 10,000 square kilometers of windy land areas have good-to-excellent wind resource potential.

“Considering only the areas of good-to-excellent wind resource, there are 47 provinces out of 73 with at least 500 MW (megawatts) of wind potential and 25 provinces with at least 1,000 MW of wind potential,” Marquez said.

Relating this limitless resources to fisheries, he said wind energy can directly benefit aquaculture by driving water pumps (wind pumps), aerating fishponds and tanks (wind mill aerators), and generating electricity (wind turbines).

Marquez said windmills and equipment required for such activities can be manufactured locally and inexpensively. Also, this provides employment.

He concluded by, among other things, recommending the establishment of a Center for Wind Energy Technology.

oreca

July 26th, 2009, 09:12 PM

Mindoro has some really great white sand beaches!

Igsuonnimo

November 14th, 2009, 02:39 PM

Pimentel hits issuance of ECC to Mindoro mining project
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated November 14, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. raised objections yesterday to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ issuance of an environment clearance certificate (ECC) to a foreign mining venture in a watershed area in Mindoro in total disregard of the strong objection of the provincial folk against it due to its potentially harmful effects on agriculture and human health.

Pimentel said the issuance of the ECC, which was tantamount to a go-signal to start nickel mining, was the height of insensitivity and arrogance because the local government units and all sectors in Mindoro Occidental and Mindoro Oriental were united against the project due to the environmental havoc it could bring to the agriculture-rich island.

“Environment and natural resources authorities should have disallowed the mining project because watersheds are protected areas and are off-limits to mining,” he said.

“The authority of the DENR to issue mining permits should be exercised based on what is good for the people from whom all the powers of the government emanates,” he said.

Pimentel said it is the government’s duty to protect and uphold the general welfare of the citizens as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code.

He added that the Mining Code of 1995 specifically provides the consent of the indigenous people and other residents of communities around mining sites before the government could allow any mining operations.

Pimentel said the nickel project of the Intex Mining Corp. could by no means be justified because it would endanger the critical watershed areas in the mountain range between the two Mindoro provinces.

He said the degradation and destruction of the protected watershed areas would threaten the irrigation of vast agricultural lands and pollute the sources of drinking water of the local populace.

Pimentel reminded Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza that one of his predecessors, former Secretary Heherson Alvarez, in fact, cancelled the permit for the Mindoro nickel project in 2002 because it would cause “irreparable damage to the environment which will cost human lives, health and livelihood incapacity of our farmers and fisherfolk, endangering the food security of our people.”

“The DENR’s action in allowing the nickel mining operation defies logic because the law invoked by the mining proponents, the Mining Code, expressly provides that watershed reservations are closed to all kinds of mining, logging and quarrying activities,” he said.

Pimentel said mining invariably involves the cutting of trees in the forest and the use of toxic chemical substances.

Aside from this, he said mine tailings are dumped into rivers that not only poison and pollute the waters but also cause heavy siltation of waterways.

Bishop Warlito Cajandig, apostolic vicariate of Calapan, Occidental Mindoro, said they are preparing a series of protest actions against the mining project. – With Evelyn Macairan

palawan_buddy

November 20th, 2009, 02:04 PM

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY
November 2009
(note the Puerto Princesa Bay)

The first two pictures are what locals call "bayan" -- the city center.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/384.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/385.jpg

The last three are what we consider urban area of the city. its basically it. :)
(Note: one could see the Microtel Puerto Princesa in the last photo, at its lower right- the one with the beach)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/386.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/387.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/388.jpg

jpdm

February 5th, 2010, 01:57 PM

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/Santa%20Cruz%20Marinduque/SantaCruzMarinduque_1.jpg

Nice pics!!

Hope to visit Marinduque soon!:cheers:

jpdm

February 5th, 2010, 01:58 PM

jpdm

February 5th, 2010, 02:00 PM

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/Kawakawa/Kawakawa_1.jpg

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/IMG_5291-1.jpg
Santa Cruz Public Market,Santa Cruz,Marinduque

Yes!:cheers:

palawan_buddy

February 17th, 2010, 04:17 AM

palawan_buddy

February 17th, 2010, 04:25 AM

koreanboy

March 2nd, 2010, 03:16 PM

at the end of the river is Honda Bay. this was where we chose to stay a while to each lunch, and swim. (actually, swimming is not part of the itinerary. we just convinced them to allow us. they did, because the sea was calm then, they said. but i would not recommend swimming.)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/aa176.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/aa177.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/aa178.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g21/palawan_buddy/aa188.jpg

ganda naan ng kuha,ganda talaga ng Philippines.

jpdm

March 5th, 2010, 08:45 AM

Agri-tourism park in Marinduque

By ZAC B. SARIAN
March 5, 2010, 2:09pm
Manila Bulletin

n ambitious project that will showcase how to enhance the environment as well as provide livelihood opportunities for residents in the far-flung community of Brgy. Yook in Buenavista, Marinduque was launched last Tuesday.

The project is called Community-Based Agri-Tourism and Eco Park (CBATEP). It was launched by the Technology and Livelihood Development Committee of the province co-chaired by the provincial governor and retired PNP Director General Recaredo Sarmiento who is also the provincial consultant for Agriculture.

The ceremonial tree planting of narra trees was done during the launching. According to Gen. Sarmiento, most of the trees that will be planted in the 178 hectares of rolling and hilly terrain will be narra and other native species.

What is good about the place is that there is a strong spring that will serve as a source of water for watering the plants that will be grown in the project. In fact, Gen. Sarmiento said the water will be sufficient to enable them to raise Pangasius as a source of additional livelihood for the community residents.

Aside from forest trees, selected high-value fruit trees will be grown, including longkong lanzones, rambutan, pummelo, oranges, cashew, sweet tamarind, durian and many others. Gen. Sarmiento has proven in his own farm that longkong lanzones, durian and rambutan are well adapted to the climatic conditions obtaining in Marinduque.

Gen. Sarmiento added that the narra trees as well as the fruit trees will be the sources of nectar and pollen for the honeybees. A honeybee project is now being launched in the project site handled by Brenda Sarmiento. This particular project is being financed by the Department of Labor and Employment with a grant of P260,000.

The CBATEP launching was attended by no less than 500 people that included government officials as well as farmers from the different barangays of Buenavista. During the launching, Gov. Jose Antonio Carrion and Gen. Sarmiento profusely thanked Dr. Emilio T. Yap, chairman of the Manila Bulletin, for his generous financial contribution of P1 million to the project. Counterpart financing are also being given by the provincial government, the municipality of Buenavista headed by Mayor Ofelia S. Madrigal, the Gold Barrel Sports Resort, and other supporters.

jpdm

April 8th, 2010, 12:29 PM

Spratlys issues on ASEAN agenda

Written by Estrella Torres / Reporter
Thursday, 08 April 2010 23:12
Business Mirror

HANOI—The Philippines has urged China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to enter into a joint agreement to facilitate private-sector investments using the oil and gas resources found in the disputed islands of South China Sea to address legal and sovereignty issues between claimant countries.

A senior official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Asean is now reviewing 18 projects and “implementable” proposals for the oil resources found in the disputed islands of Spratlys in South China Sea.

A joint seismic survey of the disputed areas in undertaken in 2008 by claimant countries—Philippines, China and Vietnam—found oil resources in the area.

“But because of legal and sovereign issues, the governments, particularly the Philippines, find it hard to move to next steps,” said the senior Philippine official, who requested anonymity.

China has been seeking bilateral agreements with Asean members on the oil-exploration projects in the disputed Spratly Islands, but Asean members have agreed to negotiate as one body.

“Because if the country [Asean member] is weak, Asean thinks that it can easily be dominated by China,” said the senior diplomat.

The diplomat said the next step is for the governments to enter into agreements for exploration, marine studies and further surveys.

But government officials and legislators have questioned the sovereignty issue in entering an agreement with China.

The Philippines is circulating its proposal to Asean members to allow private firms of the regional bloc to enter into a joint agreement with China.

The disputes over the Spratly Islands are expected to dominate discussions in the 16th Asean Leaders’ Summit to be held in this Vietnamese capital on April 8 and 9 since Vietnam, a claimant country, chairs the meeting.

“The private firms can have joint projects, such as scientific surveys. Because of competing claims, governments find it difficult to enter into joint agreements so the Philippines will propose that the private sector can go where governments could not,” the source said Asean member-countries and China have signed the Code of Conduct in South China Sea in 2002 as a legal framework to ensure peace, stability and development in the South China Sea despite conflicting claims.

The Philippines, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have formalized claims into the disputed oil-rich islands.

In Photo: Delegation members sit at a conference table during the 3rd Meeting of the Asean Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC) at the 16th Asean meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Wednesday. (AP)

jpdm

April 19th, 2010, 02:06 PM

New resort in Mindoro to compete with Puerto

by Julito G. Rada
Manila Standard
April 19, 2010

The government of Pola town in Oriental Mindoro and a private company will invest P300 million to develop a world-class eco-tourism resort on the picturesque island.

Roderick Ongcarrenceja, president of Ibayo Island Resort Corp., said the company signed a lease and joint venture agreement with the municipality of Pola to develop the Polakay Island and Adventure Resort on Kabilang Ibayo Island, also known as Polakay Island, which is being positioned as an alternate tourist destination to Puerto Galera.

He said his company would develop the world-class facility in three years starting from its groundbreaking on April 13.

“Polakay Island and Adventure Resort is envisioned to be an eco-tourism resort highlighting the natural wonders of Kabilang Ibayo Island, including its rich bio-diversity,” he said.

Polakay Island and Adventure Resort will initially have hotels, villas and clustered cottages totaling 132 rooms and capable of accommodating nearly 300 guests.

Pola Mayor Alex Aranas in 2004 initiated the economic development of his town through the construction of a P30-million bridge connecting Kabilang Ibayo Island to the mainland of Pola, a fourth-class coastal town with fishing as the main livelihood of residents.

On Feb. 14, 2006, President Gloria Arroyo proclaimed a certain portion of the Kabilang Ibayo Island as an eco-tourism park. The island boasts of a beach front three kilometers long and 400 hectares of mangroves.

“Polakay Island and Adventure Resort will promote not only water sports and adventure but will also showcase the rich local culture, food and cuisine of Oriental Mindoro,” Ongcarrenceja said.

The project will involve the construction of a resort, complete with a clubhouse, a huge infinity pool, indoor and outdoor amenities, parks, gardens, a fishing village, an adventure park, a wake boarding area, a wildlife sanctuary and mangrove park

william :D

June 6th, 2010, 08:26 AM

william :D

June 6th, 2010, 09:39 AM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Ph_locator_region_4b.png

MIMARO, also known as Region IV-B, is a region of the Philippines located in Luzon. The name is an acronym that stands for its provinces, which are: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon. There is only one city in the entire region: Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro.

calapan lang ba?hindi ba city ang puerto prinsesa?:D :D :D :D

Sky Harbor

June 7th, 2010, 09:13 PM

^^ When Palawan was "transferred" to Western Visayas back in 2005, Calapan was the only city left in the reduced Region IV-B (MIMARO). When the transfer was halted as a result of Administrative Order No. 129, s. 2005, the region reverted to MIMAROPA.

william :D

June 9th, 2010, 02:42 PM

william :D

July 16th, 2010, 07:49 PM

Gloria
Oriental Mindoro

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all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?v=photos#!/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?__a=10&ajaxpipe=1)

like it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?v=photos#!/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?__a=10&ajaxpipe=1).

william :D

July 16th, 2010, 07:49 PM

Oriental Mindoro!

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all credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).
like it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).

william :D

July 17th, 2010, 11:21 AM

Occidental Mindoro

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all credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mamburao-Philippines/Mamburao-Occidental-Mindoro/181122686049).

balay_1

July 17th, 2010, 12:39 PM

^^Ang ganda ng Mindoro Island.:)

william :D

July 17th, 2010, 01:40 PM

^^hi po balay 1! samahan mo ko dito wala akong kasama.hehe,salamat po.maganda talaga ang mindoro island! da best.nakakamiss. :D

william :D

July 17th, 2010, 01:48 PM

Mindoro
Philippines

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all credits ot the owner (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=181122686049&aid=165195&s=20&hash=109ba9ae4d8701c5d0e02552d40d74ca#!/pages/Mamburao-Philippines/Mamburao-Occidental-Mindoro/181122686049?__a=6&ajaxpipe=1).

balay_1

July 18th, 2010, 01:30 PM

^^hi po balay 1! samahan mo ko dito wala akong kasama.hehe,salamat po.maganda talaga ang mindoro island! da best.nakakamiss. :D

Hehe. Huwag kang mag-alala, sasamahan kita rito pati na sa Mindoro thread.:colgate:

william :D

July 18th, 2010, 03:50 PM

Hehe. Huwag kang mag-alala, sasamahan kita rito pati na sa Mindoro thread.:colgate:

yay! haha! salamat po.yaan mo mag-hahanap pa kong maraming pictures..btw taga mindoro ka ?:D

balay_1

July 20th, 2010, 03:25 PM

william :D

July 20th, 2010, 03:27 PM

ORIENTAL MINDORO
BREATHTAKING BEAUTY

Often confusing to both travelers and the local population as they dubbed oriental and occidental as the same and only one Mindoro. Both provinces has towering mountain ranges covered with virgin forest, breathtakingly beautiful powdery white beaches, cascading waterfalls, snorkeling and scuba diving galore…all these can be found in both provinces of Mindoro. But in this article we’ll take a glance on The Province of Oriental Mindoro. In spite of being close to the country’s capital, Oriental Mindoro is considered to be one of the unspoiled places…a place that would give a nature lover her or his heart’s desire… that of a nature derived entertainment.

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The government together with the hospitable Mindoreños invites tourists, travelers as well as investors to experience the serene atmosphere and breathtaking beauty of this place that is dubbed as the “Golden Island”. Oriental Mindoro is bestowed with the country’s best naturescapes. The majestic mountains with its verdant green rain forests, the rivers and lakes, the calm and inviting clear blue water of the sea that incessantly pays homage to the powdery white sandy beaches would surely lure a person with the most discriminating taste an unforgettable and memorable holiday. The rare flora and fauna, the wild animals and the Mangyan Tribes are additional points of interests.
Mindoro was founded by a group of Spanish mission on February 2, 1921. During the early years, the Spanish administer Mindoro as a part of Batangas that was then called Bonbon. It was only in the 17th century that Mindoro was separated from Batangas with Puerto Galera as its capital. Mindoro is considered to be the 7th largest island of the Philippines. In, 1950, through Republic Act No. 505, Mindoro island was divided into two provinces, Oriental Mindoro on the eastern part with Calapan as the capital and Occidental Mindoro on the western part making Mamburao as the capital.

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Oriental Mindoro has a lot of natural attractions to offer local and foreign visitors one of which is Alibatan Island in Baco, famous for its expanse of white sandy beaches that functions as breeding places for different species of turtles. Puerto Galera is known as the Pearl of Mindoro as it is not only Mindoro’s prime tourist spot but the country’s pride as well. The beautiful natural harbor that is known worldwide was used during the Spanish time as a shelter port when the archipelago was ravaged by typhoons, and now used as scenery. Worldwide known and popular for snorkeling and scuba diving haven because of its interesting underwater rock formations, Puerto Galera boast of colorful coral gardens teeming with sea anemones, countless colorful fish species to view and sate ones eyes.

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Mt. Halcon is for one with adventurous spirit. Its towering 8,488 feet peak is considered to be the 3rd highest peak in the Philippines. So if you love nature tripping and mountain climbing, Mt. Halcon is definitely a most suitable destination for the adventurous. The 432 foot Tamaraw Falls is definitely a must-see. Be mesmerized by several falls that irregularly cascade from one fall to another until finally gushing in a frothing and swirling bed of water below. Oriental Mindoro is not dubbed as the Golden Island for nothing. Mountain climbing and trekking, indulging in water sports and even the passive butterfly watching can be an unforgettable experience of a lifetime…all these are offered by The Province of Oriental Mindoro. Enjoy !!!

link to source (http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/255/mayantocresortmz5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.paraisophilippines.com/2008/06/page/3/&usg=__9InG8NCIy-RwdqqtoiWtmrJkf_A=&h=494&w=657&sz=68&hl=tl&start=9&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=C97K_fjkqk2SiM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=138&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtarlac%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dtl%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1).

william :D

July 20th, 2010, 03:30 PM

^^Hindi ako taga-Mindoro. Sa Laguna at Negros Occidental ang aking mga probinsya. Sa Muntinlupa naman ako kasalukuyang nakatira.:)

Interesado lang kasi ako sa Mindoro kasi nga maganda at malinis ang isla na ito. Isama mo pa riyan ang Palawan, Romblon, at Marinduque. (MIMAROPA):colgate:

Sana makapunta ako sa Mindoro balang araw. Madali lang naman ang pagpunta riyan di ba? RORO? Tama ba? Hehe.:colgate:

ahhh..opo opo.hehe, alam mo naman siguro papuntang batangas port?isang sakay lang yan ng bus sa cubao o kaya kung me dala kang private car mas okay,hehe.
-pagdating mo po ng pier, marami dong shipping lines i.e montenegro shipping line, supercat, ang roro po sa calapan lang ang byahe sa oriental mindoro, tapos sa puerto galera naman sasakay ka ng bangka.. :D
-oriental mindoro lang po mai-bibida ko sensya na.hehe

william :D

July 20th, 2010, 03:38 PM

Puerto Galera
Puerto Galera is approximately 4-hours from Manila. Two hours by bus from Manila to Batangas followed by a two-hour boat ride from Batangas pier to Puerto Galera. There is a regular transfer from Manila that leaves at exactly 0900H. The ferry leaves Puerto Galera pier daily at 0900H for the return trip, just in time to catch the bus coming back to Manila.

For those who are arriving Manila in the afternoon but would want to proceed directly to Puerto Galera, it is highly recommended to hire a private car and rent the dive shop's dive boat for the night. Backpackers can take public buses going to Batangas. Last trip for these bus companies is at 1800. The last ferry that crosses Batangas to Puerto Galera is at 1800H.

At the pier, you can take a jeepney ride or just walk. Most of the resorts offer a free one-way boat transfer from the pier to the resort, convenient for divers who are carrying their own equipment.

source (http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://lakbaypilipinas.com/dive_sites/images/puerto_galera.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/dive_sites/dive_puerto_galera.html&usg=__SsqpXeMf1N_uxrDERDifAm4quFM=&h=378&w=566&sz=154&hl=tl&start=8&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=NVuLff5ymVHYBM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doriental%2Bmindoro%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dtl%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1)

william :D

July 20th, 2010, 03:47 PM

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Tarlaqueno-ako

July 24th, 2010, 08:48 AM

Wow, ang ganda ng Puerto Galera. I want to go there someday.:)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 08:50 AM

Wow, ang ganda ng Puerto Galera. I want to go there someday.:)

oo sobra! haha! ako nakarating na once. :D

-layo ng narating mo ah.from north luzon to south luzon.haha! :D

Tarlaqueno-ako

July 24th, 2010, 09:01 AM

Ha HA! oO, Very refreshing tingnan ang mga beach resorts nyo diyan.

Tarlaqueno-ako

July 24th, 2010, 09:05 AM

source (http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://lakbaypilipinas.com/dive_sites/images/puerto_galera.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/dive_sites/dive_puerto_galera.html&usg=__SsqpXeMf1N_uxrDERDifAm4quFM=&h=378&w=566&sz=154&hl=tl&start=8&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=NVuLff5ymVHYBM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doriental%2Bmindoro%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dtl%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1)[/center]

Malayo pa ba ang Puerto Galera mula Batangas Pier?

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 09:18 AM

hehe..oo maganda.pero yung pinakamalapit na dagat sa bayan namin hindi white sand. ang maganda don ang babait ng mga tao.ramdam na ramdam mo yung presense nila na nagsusumiklab.haha! :D

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 09:19 AM

Malayo pa ba ang Puerto Galera mula Batangas Pier?

mga 1hr through ferry boat. :D

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 09:37 AM

Island At A Glimpse

Puerto Galera is a soothing vision of shimmering seas surrounded by lush mountains. It is considered one of the most beautiful and developed beach resort community in the country. Starting from "backyard tourism" wherein local residents accept local and foreign tourist as stay-in guest, the island's tourism has flourished. In the course of time, several hotels, resorts, inns and restaurants have mushroomed within the area. Upon arrival, visitors board any of the waiting bancas (outrigger boat) that ferry passengers across the surrounding waters and into the various resorts dotting the coastline. Jeepneys to the inland hamlets of Sabang, Small and Big La Laguna, White Beach and Talipanan Point likewise traverse hilly, tree-lined routes that offer a sweeping view of the island's less aquatic, but equally tropical side.

There are a thousand things one can do here. Landlubbers can pitch tents, light bonfires, play volleyball, toss a Frisbee, go beach-hopping, watch the sunset, gaze at the stars, hike, go rock climbing, carom off on a motorcycle, discover Oriental Mindoro's other tourist spots or simply live it up. The local chapter of the Hash House Harriers - a club that started 50 years ago in Kuala Lumpur and which was introduced to the Philippines in the early 90's - regularly holds "runs": rowdy drinking sprees that have participants following two trails, one of which leads no where. When a runner follows the wrong track, he has to go back, downing bottles of beer in the process. What follows is a night of revelry no doubt spurred by the free flowing booze.

But water is certainly the main attraction of the island. Crystal clear and shimmering especially during the hot summer months, the sea framing Puerto Galera is ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact one doesn't have to go by boat to get to a dive site. Within a kilometer from the coast, schools of Moorish idols, trumpet fish, frog fish, lion fish and leaf fish weave in and out of thriving corals and sea anemones while species of starfish - from the speckled red-and-white to the neon-blue Pacific-rest on the sandy floor.
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/pgbaypics.jpg

Gradually sloping beaches - with the terrain ranging from powder white sand to grainy dark sand to smooth stones to rough coral rubble - comprise a large chunk of the island's 25,247 hectares. And while the department of tourism's last count pegs the number of resorts at 63, pockets of isolated and virtually resortless coves and beaches are tucked between massive rock formations. Then, as now water was what shaped the island. As early as the 10th century, Chinese, Indonesians and Malay merchants were already doing business with locals in what is now known as Mindoro, the tiny strip of land which the Chinese called "Mai" and which lay directly in the Asia-Pacific trade route. In route to Manila in 1570, a Spanish expedition led by Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo stumbled upon the resource-rich island and christened the entire province Mindoro after the harbor at Minolo. Mindoro was later divided into the provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.

At the height of the raids mounted by Moro pirates in the 17th century. Mindoro was a defensive bastion, with fortresses in the nearby towns of Calapan and Mamburao. Puerto Galera, the northernmost strip so named because it served as a port for Spanish galleys, became the capital. Here, the Spanish found safe anchorage and put up dock-repair facilities for the galleons that plied the Manila-Acapulco route. The island's generally calm waters, however, belied a tumultuous streak, and once in a while giant waves would crush galleons and marauding vessels. Coins, jars, lamps, swords and other artifacts salvaged from shipwrecks and sunken vessels are displayed at the Poblacion Museum and at Capt'n Gregg's in Sabang, lending credence to the island's colorful history.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/inlandtour-1.jpghttp://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/tukuran2.jpg

Today, foreigners continue to be part of the island. They have been flocking since the late 70's making it one of the country's foremost tourist destinations. Many, for whom the lure of the tropics proved too strong, have stayed on triggering a real-estate boom in the process and growing expatriate community.

Outside of minor glitches, Puerto Galera is a tropical paradise that is both rustic and thriving. By day it echoes with the soft breeze and the pounding waves. At night, it comes to life with heady laughter and the clink of wine and glasses, only to segue once again to the barest whisper of the elements.

source (http://www.puertogalera.org/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 09:41 AM

Resorts

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White Beach is the most popular of Puerto Galera’s 32 beaches especially among Filipino tourists. Come summer, from March to May, Manila tourists flock to Puerto Galera by the hundreds, and during the Holy Week, by the thousands. During this period, the rates of accommodations can increase by more than 300 percent. Private homes are rented out to many who could no longer be accommodated in the more than 50 resorts and lodging inns in in the area.

White Beach, during this time, is the scene of many concerts and festivals organized by big corporations like San Miguel, Smart and Globe. The beach are filled with people, relaxing, walking to and fro, sunbathing, playing volleyball, riding jet skis and banana boats. At dawn, people sit at the beach to witness one of the best sunsets in the country. At night, more people come out to enjoy meals at beachfront restaurants. There are several open-air bars with "gay dancers" and serving Puerto Galera’s trademark concoction, "Mindoro Sling". There are also many tattoo shops and souvenir shops along White Beach.

Puerto Galera’s close proximity to Manila, a 4-hour bus and ferry travel worth less than 500 pesos (one-way), make it the cheap alternative to Boracay. One way to get to White Beach is by taking a bus marked "Batangas Pier via Calabarzon" at the bus terminal at the corner of Gil Puyat Ave and Taft Ave in Pasay City. The fare for an aircon bus is less than 200 pesos and it will stop at Batangas pier. At the pier, there are many Puerto-Galera-bound ferries, choose the one which goes directly to White Beach. The fare is 200 pesos. Pay the Environmental User Fee (Entrance Fee to PG) and the Terminal Fee worth 50 and 10 pesos respectively.

There are many resorts in White Beach which offer rooms with aircon, cable TV and hot/cold shower. The room rates vary according to the season: when it’s low season (June to October), a room will range from 700 to 1200, when it’s high season (November to February), a room will range from 1200 to 1500, when it’s peak season (March to May), the same room will range from 1500 to 2000 pesos per night (good for 2 persons). During peak season, weekday rate is from 1000 to 1200 while weekend rate is from 1500 to 2000 pesos for rooms with aircon, cable TV and hot/cold shower (good for 2 persons).

Many resorts offer group packages for a minimum of 10 persons worth 1800 pesos per person per day inclusive of meals and accommodation. Other resorts offer tour packages to Puerto Galera’s numerous tourist spots, like Bayanan Beach, Haligi Beach, Bulabod Beach, Tamaraw Falls and Tukuran Hidden Paradise.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/white-beach/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 10:55 AM

Getting there.

Puerto Galera is easily reachable from Manila in several hours with many options including private transfer, tourist coach, public bus and even seaplane. The easiest way to get here is by private car or van and banca directly to Puerto Galera. Just contact us to arrange pickup from the airport or your hotel in Manila.

Another option is by tourist bus which is cheaper than private transfer but almost as hassle free. The SiKat service (tel +63 2 5213344) has a convenient booking office at the City State Tower Hotel in Malate and the bus departs daily at 8:00 am. The fare is 700 pesos one-way which includes bus and ferry tickets, and a guide.

More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. The former has a terminal in EDSA-Pasay City while the last two have theirs along Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), also in Pasay City. Schedules of these buses are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6 am and every hour from then on (depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from Php 180 to 220 depending on whether it is regular or an air-con bus.

If you are in hurry you can take the passenger vans (FX) which are also located on the other side of bus terminal along Pasay near Gil Puyat LRT station. These passenger FX/vans are using Star Tollgate an express way direct to Balagtas, Batangas, charging almost the same fare as air-con buses.

At the Batangas City Pier, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, depending on which port guests intend to enter. There are four main entry points to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier, White Beach and Sabang Beach.

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source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/getting-here/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 10:58 AM

Activities at Puerto Galera

There are many fun-filled activities to spend your time while in Puerto Galera.

Aqua-Sports Activities

Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Fishing
Sailing
Jet Ski
Banana Boat
Parasailing
Windsurfing

Adventure and Leisure

Hiking
Motorcycling
Paintball
Golf at 2000 feet above sea level
Spa/ Massage
Bars/ Night Clubs
Fine Dining

Nature Trips

Jungle Treks
Orchids
Dolphins
Birds
Waterfalls
Rivers
Giant Clams
Coral Garden

Educational Trips

Puerto Galera Bay
Fr. Thiel Musem
La Laguna Beach Club ancient artifacts collections
Reptile Zoo
Mangyan Village

Beach and Island Hopping

White Beach
Talipanan Beach
Bayanan Beach
Haligi Beach
Long Beach
Panlilio Beach
Coco Beach
La Laguna Beach
Encenada Beach
Bulabod Beach
Boquete Island
San Antonio Island
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/activities/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 11:01 AM

Entertainment

There are many forms of entertainment in Puerto Galera but mostly are concentrated in Sabang and White Beach areas.

During the day, there are plenty of open-air bars, boutiques and restaurant to choose from. Tourists crowd bars along the beach to sip chilled drinks as they take respite from the sun and listen to reggae, hip-hop and other beach music.

In Sabang, many bars and restaurants have large screen videos showing live sports telecast or movies. There are many pool halls, board games and beer pub games some free to guests while others charge a small fee.

There is a floating bar moored 50m out from Capt’n Gregg’s Divers Lodge, and it’s the place to go if you really want to drink like a fish. Take plenty of protection against the sun – you can almost smell the foreign flesh roasting. A free shuttle boat will take you there and back.

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There are also scores of ice-cream and pizza parlors, snack houses, fast-food joints and roadside eateries serving noodles and “lomi”.

Filipinos like to sing along coin-operated Videoke machines. Many resorts have machines inside restaurants.

Nightlife

Puerto Galera nightlife entertainment is much livelier than during daytime. In White Beach, the revelers crowd the open-air bars to watch “gay entertainers” dance as big loudspeakers blast the latest disco craze while drinking Puerto Galera’s famous concoction popularly known as “The Mindoro Sling”.

Sabang has more of the bikini-type bars and there is live music at some of the bars. As the bar area is concentrated in a small area and bars are linked by narrow walkways amongst the shops and cafes it’s easy to travel from one to another. Bars are open until late and play all different kinds of music.

In Sabang a lot of the restaurants and open-air bars are located right on the waters edge at high tide so these are favorite places to wile away the evening hours after a meal, away from the music of the bars which are located further back from the shore.

Dining poses no problems with many western style dishes on the menu in addition to the usual Filipino and other Asian dishes.

Puerto Galera is not really known for its cultural or ethnic shows and there is no cinema on the the island. Look out for the local fiestas that go on until the early hours if you want something different to do in the evening.

Capt’n Gregg’s in Sabang and The Point Bar in Small La Laguna are favorite watering holes with great music, cold drinks and friendly staff.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/entertainment/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 11:05 AM

Why Puerto Galera?
Proximity
Puerto Galera is just 3 to 4 hours away from Manila. The bus travel time from the South Super Highway to the Calabarzon Highway all the way now to Batangas Port is 2 to 3 hours. The ferry ride to Puerto Galera normally takes 1 hour. A private transfer, with private car or van and connecting chartered ferry, is less travel time, more convenient but more expensive.

White Beach and Sabang are popular destinations worldwide bringing in thousands of tourists from different countries. The people of Puerto Galera have evolved as exceptional hosts to all types of tourists and showcase Filipino hospitality at its best.

Nature
Puerto Galera’s natural landscapes both above and under water are its foremost tourism asset. There are many beaches and coves, named and unnamed; mountains and forests with orchids, known and unknown; waterfalls and rivers ideal for picnics and sports; 33 spectacular dive sites very close to shore; and Puerto Galera Bay which is now regarded as one of the most beautiful in the entire planet.

Tourism Establishments
Like any other tourist towns, Puerto Galera has all types of establishments catering to all types of tourists. Puerto Galera caters to both the budget-conscious and the upscale tourists. There is also an amazing number of activities and services that will make your time in Puerto Galera truly memorable.

Diving
The channel between Puerto Galera and Verde Island, known internationally as the Verde Island Passage, is “the center of the center of the world’s marine biodiversity” according to American scientists – making Puerto Galera’s underwater world a favorite amongst dive enthusiasts. Puerto Galera also has the biggest number of dive schools in the entire Philippines offering both PADI and BSAC courses in different languages.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/why-puerto-galera/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 11:12 AM

Puerto Galera
accomodation

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source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/accommodation/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 11:22 AM

Puerto Galera joins rank of
most beautiful bays

Adventure-seekers who step on the shores of Puerto Galera are forever enchanted by the place. Some keep going back there, others decide to live the rest of their lives there. One couple who built their residence there 22 years ago were Hubert d’ Aboville, a Frenchman, and his Filipino wife, Ara Valenzuela. Hubert went on to promote the fabled island cove by talking about it with unbridled enthusiasm during every trip he took to Europe and his native France. His efforts have borne fruit. Puerto Galera has just garnered The World’s Most Beautiful Bays award for the year 2005. It is the 30th bay to get such a global award, and the third in the Asian region after Halong Bay and Nha Trang Bay in Vietnam.

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Hubert made his marketing pitch before 80 members of the Club of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays in Agadir, Morocco in November last year. His video presentation of the bay, the serene cove, rock formations, fishes, coral reefs, sea grasses, mangroves, verdant forest – and the people (approximately 9,315 persons living in 1,863 households, and not counting the vacationers and backpackers), left the discriminating viewers no choice but accredit Puerto Galera as one of the world’s most beautiful bays.

The local government of Puerto Galera, together with d’ Aboville, will receive the award in Nha-Trang, Vietnam, at the end of this month.

The club was an initiative of the tourism office of the Vannes region on the Gulf of Morbihan in France. It was founded in Berlin in March 1997, with the objective of protecting the environment and the development and enhancement of marine and bay resources worldwide. It has the full support of UNESCO.

Puerto Galera is located in Oriental Mindoro, and can be reached by ferryboat from Batangas City. It was discovered in one of the explorations made by Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo on their way to Manila in 1570. But since the 10th century, Puerto Galera was known to seafarers as a trading port and a strategic harbor along the important trade routes to and from the Near East, Indian Coast, Indo-Chinese coast, China, various points within the Philippine archipelago, and the kingdoms of Sumatra and Java. Its Muelle Bay area was recognized as one of the safest natural harbors in Asia and was used extensively for dock repairs and as a safe anchorage for all types of sailing vessels.

According to Hubert, in the 60s, European backpackers "discovered" Puerto Galera – its series of pristine bays and coves, snow-white sand, and fantastic coral gardens. When German backpackers wrote for a large-circulation magazine about the romance and beauty of Puerto Galera, enhanced by scenic photographs, it created a tourism storm. Instantly, Europeans knew more about Puerto Galera than the country’s capital, Manila. The ensuring tourism explosion has attracted tens of thousands of foreigners over the years and has made Puerto Galera what it is today."

Hubert spent his own money "selling" the place. He and Ara met in 1980 in Manila. Ara was actually assigned to promote the Philippines in France for Rajah Tours, and Hubert was in Manila as a timber exporter. Ara was telling him was the most beautiful place in the world, while Hubert was telling her the Philippines was his most beautiful in the world.

Both have something in common: having historically famous ancestors. Ara’s great grandfather was Dr. Pio Valenzuela, who was a part of the triumvirate (the others being Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto) that played an important role in the Katipunan. On Hubert’s side, seven generations of the d’ Abovilles were in French military service, an ancestor headed the French Art 17th century. Hubert’s brother, Gerard, rode sole by rowing a kayak from Cape Cod to the coast of France in 1980, and negotiated 10,000 kilometers, also by rowing, for 134 days from Japan to America.

Hubert and Ara wound up marrying, having four children, and running an estate ( a demo farm where they also manufacture virgin coconut oil) in Puerto Galera.

In 1992, Hubert founded the Philippine-based Together-Ensemble, a foundation for development and progress, which was active in relief operations in Real and Infanta, Quezon, during the recent disaster. The foundation was created after Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Since then it has been involved in many emergency relief missions in Luzon and the Visayas with the French NGO Doctors of the World, and in Mindanao in a long-term agricultural program. Later the foundation was incorporated in France to draw French funds to help Filipinos.

Hubert says the accreditation of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays award is based on four considerations – protection, enhancement, promotion and commitment to the project. He says that Puerto Galera has had its share of foreign and local tourists, but it has remained the country. Local tourism has to be promoted to earn revenue, without sacrificing the four considerations above, in as much as it does not receive any financial support from the Club of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays. I guess just being beautiful enough is a quality to be valued, but it can also be capitalized on to make it more beautiful.

Getting an award for his "adopted: town is not enough, certainly, Hubert is taking the initiative to exploit the international award to help develop Philippine tourism, always keeping in mind the protection of its fragile environment. He is sitting down with Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate Committee on tourism, and Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano, to map out an international media strategy.
source (http://www.divepuertogalera.com/puerto-galera-joins-rank-of-most-beautiful-bays/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 11:26 AM

Underwater World

People started coming to Puerto Galera to dive over thirty years ago. At first, they had to carry their own equipment, including the compressor and tanks. Now this island paradise is a diver’s destination, a competitive area with more than thirty dive shops within a short distance to each other.

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Puerto Galera is a year-round diving destination, unlike other areas in the Philippines. The reason for this is because of its geographical location. It is protected from typhoons and ocean swells by nearby islets and mountains. There is, however, the high season (mid-December to end of May) and the low season, with its rain and occasional windy period. If you’re thinking of coming to Puerto Galera during this time, don’t be put off, as some of the best visibility is found during the low season.

Puerto Galera became famous with the discovery of an old Chinese trading boat carrying blue and white porcelain cups, plates and Dragon jars. These were found off a popular dive site called the Manila Channel, around the same time a Spanish galleon, Nuestra Senora de la Vida which sank in 1862, was discovered on nearby Verde Island. The galleon became a favorite dive site until the greed of man came to rape and eventually destroy most of what was there. Today there are still the odd pieces of blue and white that mark the spot of the ill-fated galleon.

The dive sites, all known for their wonderful colors and plentiful fish like are only 10 to 15 minute away from the dive centers. Being close to the dive sites means you can do a dive in the morning and have the rest of the day to yourself, or take it easy between dives without having to walk around on a crowded dive boat.

The island has a good reputation for dive education. If you are about to learn to dive of just wish to try of maybe improve your diving skill by doing advance training in any to the fields such as drift diving night, deep, search and recovery, equipment specially, underwater navigation, or go to become a professional divemaster, you will find that most of the dive centers in Puerto Galera will be able to fulfill your educational needs. All instructors are trained professionals who take competent charge of their students, and the lessons are distinguished by a relaxed atmosphere. The dive centers teach under internationally recognized organizations such as PADI and BSAC.

There are wonderful areas in the world to dive, Puerto Galera is just one of them. Beautiful people, lovely beaches, crystal clear waters and entertainment for everyone. Dive with a smile. (Thanks to Allan Nash of Asia Divers for the Info)

source (http://www.divepuertogalera.com/underwater-world/)

william :D

July 24th, 2010, 12:05 PM

Puerto Galera
Philippines

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source (http://www.divepuertogalera.com/dive-sites/)

Tarlaqueno-ako

July 25th, 2010, 06:32 AM

hehe..oo maganda.pero yung pinakamalapit na dagat sa bayan namin hindi white sand. ang maganda don ang babait ng mga tao.ramdam na ramdam mo yung presense nila na nagsusumiklab.haha! :D

he he, yan ang maganda, hospitable ang mga tao at bukod sa maganda ang lugar. Tiyak mawiwili ang mga tourists na magpupunta diyan.:cheers:

william :D

July 25th, 2010, 10:43 AM

he he, yan ang maganda, hospitable ang mga tao at bukod sa maganda ang lugar. Tiyak mawiwili ang mga tourists na magpupunta diyan.:cheers:

oo sobra.hehe,hindi naman kami turista at hindi rin kami vip pero ang trato samin parang me katungkulang.hindi mahawakan.hehe, basta parang ganon. kitang kita mo ang pagiging pinoy nila. :D

traxex

July 26th, 2010, 11:39 AM

MIMAROPA Region,is it part of luzon?

william :D

July 26th, 2010, 04:34 PM

MIMAROPA Region,is it part of luzon?

yeah..region 4-B siya..region 4 is divided into two sub-regions, CALABARZON-cavite-laguna-batangas-rizal-quezon and MIMAROPA=mindoro(oriental,occidental)-marinduque-romblon-palawan(di ako sure sa palawan kung part pa rin siya ng region 4.para kasing nalipat siya sa ibang region dati.not so sure.). mimaropa is composed of islands but still connected through sea vessels like ferry,fast craft ships,airplanes, boats,that makes it more accesible to the mainland luzon. :D:D:D

296619

July 27th, 2010, 07:29 PM

Hi MIMAROPA!... May taga Calapan po ba dito?

296619

July 27th, 2010, 07:30 PM

Ang Puerto Galera po ba ay kasama sa Choral Triangle? salamat:)

william :D

July 28th, 2010, 12:55 PM

hi 299619.wala po ata.pero nadadaan ako sa calapan papunta sa bahay ng mga lola ko sa mindoro.hehe

choral triangle o coral triangle?haha.yun ba yung hanggang malaysia?indonesia? di na ata ehhh.hehe.pero sa yaman niya sa coral reefs pwede! :D

296619

July 29th, 2010, 11:50 PM

wahahahah... tama... coral triangle nga.. haha... nadali mo:)... Ito nga yung hangang Malaysia at Indonesia...:)

william :D

July 30th, 2010, 03:32 PM

^^haha! pero di ako sure kung hindi kasama an puerto galera. kapag sinipag ako hahanapin ko.hehehe

onilian2727

August 14th, 2010, 03:38 AM

ganda talaga ng isla kong mahal....musta po sa lahat bago lang dito...taga calapan po...meron ba akong katribu dito.

william :D

August 14th, 2010, 08:21 AM

ganda talaga ng isla kong mahal....musta po sa lahat bago lang dito...taga calapan po...meron ba akong katribu dito.

wow welcome to skyscrapercity! ako po ang mother side ko taga-gloria. :)

william :D

August 16th, 2010, 09:11 AM

San Jose
Mindoro

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http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro/35858_135705596455044_126932490665688_334286_8106846_n.jpg

all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Jose-Occidental-Mindoro/126932490665688?v=photos&ref=search#!/pages/San-Jose-Occidental-Mindoro/126932490665688)

william :D

August 16th, 2010, 09:33 AM

Calapan City
Oriental Mindoro

"Gateway to the Golden Isle"

City of Calapan is a 2nd class city in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is the capital city of Oriental Mindoro. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 116,976 people in 20,929 households.

Since its cityhood in 1998, the city's economy is dependent on agriculture and fishing however, a growing industry in machinery and tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the last 10 years.

Calapan also plays a big role in the growth of the whole province of Mindoro as it serves as a gateway with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated Roll On-Roll Off project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island through ships that travels to and from Batangas City International Seaport.

Calapan City is currently one of the only two cities (the other one is Puerto Princesa City) in the MIMAROPA region of the Philippines.

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all credits to the owner. (http://mcgutib.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/port-of-calapan-city/)

balay_1

August 21st, 2010, 08:18 PM

^^Ganda ng mga pics @william.:D

william :D

August 22nd, 2010, 03:27 PM

^^Ganda ng mga pics @william.:D

thanks!! ;););)

william :D

October 12th, 2010, 01:51 PM

Mindoro, Philippines
Lubang Island

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/2-2.jpg

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More than the usual.

all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13734&id=100001181823864)

william :D

October 13th, 2010, 03:27 PM

Peb8GOHSGc8

jT1cy8Bgc3I&feature=related

Watch the unusual beauty of Mindoro Philippines!

william :D

October 20th, 2010, 01:44 PM

Forget Phuket, these are the next-gen Asian tourist hotspots

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/inspirations-779631406-1273738035.jpg
The picturesque Filipino volcanic island of Marinduque.

The lowdown: Pristine beaches, diving sites, a balmy climate. Marinduque has all the postcard charms of other Filipino hotspots such as Boracay and Tagaytay, but none of their tired tourist crowds.

The volcanic island of Marinduque is just a 45-minute flight from bustling Manila, but manages to elude the capital’s frenetic pace. There’s nary a nightclub or souvenir shack in sight. It has a generous sprinkling of hot springs and white sandy beaches, notably the sulphuric hot springs of Malbog, and Poctoy’s White Beach, which doubles as a community hangout. The uninhabited Tres Reyes Islands off the Gasan coast ranks among Marinduque’s best diving sites with azure waters, profuse corals and an underwater cave.

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/inspirations-99249234-1273738708.jpg

Come Holy Week, which is a week before Easter, Marinduqueños cover up with gaudy masks to make like Roman soldiers during the crucifixion of Christ for the famous Moriones Festival.

Why it’s next: For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper's radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island-province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven, with the Bellarocca luxury resort set up last year, and new domestic flights on Zest Air and SEAIR connecting it to Manila.

Luzon officials are also on a crusade to raise the area’s public profile. Ilocos Norte representative Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said earlier this month that “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches.”

Marcos is also advocating the redevelopment of the abandoned Marcopper mining site into a 18-hole golf course and a hospital complex, to boost medical tourism.

Source (http://ph.travel.yahoo.com/inspirations/76-forget-phuket-these-are-the-next-gen-asian-tourist-hotspots?cid=today)

296619

October 20th, 2010, 07:04 PM

Ganda naman tignan nung mga bahay habang nasa barko palang...

william :D

October 21st, 2010, 07:19 AM

Mindoro Islands
P h i l i p p i n e s

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http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/41176_122540094462051_100001181823864_134359_4412970_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/41086_122539614462099_100001181823864_134354_7609533_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/41016_122540774461983_100001181823864_134373_8325796_n.jpg

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http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40767_122530637796330_100001181823864_134285_2363917_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40626_122542671128460_100001181823864_134392_2760154_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40589_122533661129361_100001181823864_134307_2193975_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40558_122543304461730_100001181823864_134396_472185_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40398_122541581128569_100001181823864_134382_3095567_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40179_122543554461705_100001181823864_134399_8149870_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40543_122537217795672_100001181823864_134337_100531_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40536_122527657796628_100001181823864_134272_4424045_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40489_122532097796184_100001181823864_134290_5783444_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40480_122538787795515_100001181823864_134341_1664733_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40463_122519191130808_100001181823864_134226_4093382_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40372_122541127795281_100001181823864_134377_1785672_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40372_122541124461948_100001181823864_134376_2008144_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40356_122520854463975_100001181823864_134234_6556091_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40300_122519164464144_100001181823864_134225_5890088_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40203_122521444463916_100001181823864_134237_4167428_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40045_122538584462202_100001181823864_134340_3445941_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40023_122521467797247_100001181823864_134238_5503973_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40014_122534501129277_100001181823864_134321_6462796_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40014_122534497795944_100001181823864_134320_4277427_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40014_122534494462611_100001181823864_134319_4818709_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40014_122534487795945_100001181823864_134317_2837717_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/40014_122534484462612_100001181823864_134316_5334003_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/39991_122539827795411_100001181823864_134356_5637422_n.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/mindoro_/39981_122542117795182_100001181823864_134389_1700035_n.jpg

all credits to the owner.

william :D

October 21st, 2010, 07:32 AM

repost. :)

Forget Phuket, these are the next-gen Asian tourist hotspots

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/inspirations-779631406-1273738035.jpg
The picturesque Filipino volcanic island of Marinduque.

The lowdown: Pristine beaches, diving sites, a balmy climate. Marinduque has all the postcard charms of other Filipino hotspots such as Boracay and Tagaytay, but none of their tired tourist crowds.

The volcanic island of Marinduque is just a 45-minute flight from bustling Manila, but manages to elude the capital’s frenetic pace. There’s nary a nightclub or souvenir shack in sight. It has a generous sprinkling of hot springs and white sandy beaches, notably the sulphuric hot springs of Malbog, and Poctoy’s White Beach, which doubles as a community hangout. The uninhabited Tres Reyes Islands off the Gasan coast ranks among Marinduque’s best diving sites with azure waters, profuse corals and an underwater cave.

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/inspirations-99249234-1273738708.jpg

Come Holy Week, which is a week before Easter, Marinduqueños cover up with gaudy masks to make like Roman soldiers during the crucifixion of Christ for the famous Moriones Festival.

Why it’s next: For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper's radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island-province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven, with the Bellarocca luxury resort set up last year, and new domestic flights on Zest Air and SEAIR connecting it to Manila.

Luzon officials are also on a crusade to raise the area’s public profile. Ilocos Norte representative Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said earlier this month that “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches.”

Marcos is also advocating the redevelopment of the abandoned Marcopper mining site into a 18-hole golf course and a hospital complex, to boost medical tourism.

Source (http://ph.travel.yahoo.com/inspirations/76-forget-phuket-these-are-the-next-gen-asian-tourist-hotspots?cid=today)

Linguine

October 25th, 2010, 09:45 AM

^^

nice pics of Mindoro......:cheers:

Linguine

October 25th, 2010, 09:46 AM

BPI, DBP to co-finance P560-million water rehabilitation project for Palawan
By Ted P. Torres (The Philippine Star) Updated October 25, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) are co-financing the P560-million water rehabilitation project for Puerto Princesa in Palawan under the Philippine Water Revolving Fund (PWRF) program.

The PWRF is a public-private participation scheme wherein a government financial institution and a private commercial bank jointly undertake the financing of water and sanitation projects.

Under the co-financing deal, Puerto Princesa will be getting a term loan with a repayment period of 15-years. DBP will tap funds from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), while 85 percent of the BPI loan will be covered by a guarantee from the LGU Guarantee Corp. (LGUCC), a private third party guarantor and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Development Credit Authority.

Prior to the landmark public-private partnership deal, municipal water projects were mostly financed by overseas development assistance (ODA) funds and subsidies from the National Government.

The PWRF is an innovative scheme that aims to mobilize private capital to augment public resources for much-needed investments in water supply and sanitation. The initiative was actually launched by the Department of Finance Municipal Development Fund Office, DBP, USAID, JICA and LGUCC in 2007.

DBP president and chief executive officer Francisco F. Del Rosario Jr. said that there was a need to involve the private sector to pursue development in the countryside, as there was a huge investment requirement on water supply and sanitation.

“These water projects contribute to the initiatives being undertaken by the national government including one of the objectives of the millennium development goals which is access to safe and potable water,” Del Rosario added.

BPI chief operating officer Gil Buenaventura called it a “milestone” for the universal bank of the Ayala Group of Companies.

“I not only gives us a sense of accomplishment to have supported the water sector but also encourages us to expand and create new markets,” Buenaventura added.

william :D

October 25th, 2010, 04:18 PM

palawan_buddy

October 26th, 2010, 04:57 PM

Its still MIMAROPA.

william :D

October 28th, 2010, 06:39 AM

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/untitledttt-1.jpg

Like it? There's MORE. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=66099107#post66099107)

william :D

October 28th, 2010, 06:41 AM

Its still MIMAROPA.

yeah.para dalawa na ang Cities sa Region 4-b,

Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro-the regional center of Region 4-b,and
Puerto Prinsesa City, Palawan.:banana:

william :D

November 4th, 2010, 06:20 AM

Nautical Highway

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/25982_377396153167_835638167_3661281_2514218_n.jpg
credits to the owner.
more pictures here. (http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=166895864533&view=all)

onilian2727

November 9th, 2010, 11:07 AM

nice pictures.. hope to see this again very soon!!!

william :D

November 9th, 2010, 03:20 PM

^^hi onilian!!:)
tulungan mo ko para magkaroon ng sariling thread ang Oriental Mindoro..

dito po mas maraming picture... (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=824628&page=10) :)

onilian2727

November 11th, 2010, 07:55 AM

hi william...pasensya kung di ako makapag-ambag ng mga larawan dito sa kadahilanang hindi na rin ako nagtitigil sa calapan. ako ay napadpad na sa malayong lugar.tulad mo dito rin lang ako nag-aabang ng mga balita at kaganapan sa aking bayang sinilangan.ganoon pa man ako ay magsusumikap na magsaliksik ng mga bagong kaganapan at pangyayari sa rehiyon ng mimaropa.ako ay hindi nangangako pero aking gagawin ang lahat ng aking makakaya. marami nga pa lang salamat sa mga ambag mo sa Forum na ito. saludo ako sa iyo kabayan

william :D

November 12th, 2010, 11:54 AM

william :D

November 12th, 2010, 03:54 PM

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/cal.jpg (http://cityofcalapan.gov.ph/)

william :D

November 13th, 2010, 10:11 AM

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/OrientalMindoro-1.jpg (http://www.tourism.gov.ph/SitePages/InteractiveSitesPage.aspx?siteID=22)

The inverted-J-shaped Oriental Mindoro is endowed with some of the Philippine Islands’ best naturescapes. Choose your own beach among the many that abound, from fawn beige to powdery white. Then match the experience with interesting mountain lairs, lakes, rivers, rain forests, wild animals, rare flora and fauna, and pocket communities of the existing ethnic groups. It has maintained its unspoiled environment, all within a rustic agricultural setting.

The province's foremost asset is Puerto Galera, blessed with one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbors. Known as the Pearl of Mindoro, it is world-famous for splendid beaches, coral reefs, and exquisite dive sites for new and experienced divers alike. There are shallow coral gardens, interesting rock formations, and colorful species to watch, like crabs, shrimps, sea anemones, moray, and trumpet fishes.

Alibatan Island in Baco, noted for its white sand, serves as a breeding place for seagulls and turtles. Corals and oysters can be found all around the area. Also in Baco is Mt. Halcon, the country's third highest peak and a favorite destination for nature tripping and mountain climbing. In Puerto Galera, 423-foot Tamaraw Falls is a series of asymmetrical falls, leading to a grand fall, dropping to the frothy waterbed below. Another attraction within the area is Sabang Beach, a portion of which is tourist-flocked for water sports and a cluster of nightspots popular for evening socials. Beside Sabang Beach is Small La Laguna, with amazingly beautiful coral reefs, and water ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Indulge in a number of special interest tours while in the province, from mountain climbing to trekking, hiking, camping, butterfly watching, game fishing, and adventure trips to the wilderness. Enjoy active water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming. Visit the Mangyan settlement areas, and find it rewarding to engage in natural cave and waterfall exploration and island hopping."

william :D

November 13th, 2010, 10:27 AM

Equipping The Guardians of Biodiversity

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/turtle_biodiversity_zoom.jpg

Guardians of one of the country’s priority marine biodiversity corridors in Oriental Mindoro have been awarded patrol boats and other equipment by an international conservation group to help them catch illegal fishers.

The Conservation International (CI) donated the equipment to the local governments of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, Pola, Pinamalayan, Naujan and Gloria and the City of Calapan, all located along the Verde Island Passage (VIP).

The VIP Corridor contains more than half of the Philippines’ documented fish species, as well as many globally threatened species. It occupies more than 1.14 million hectares of marine area bounded by the provinces of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon.

It is among the four priority biodiversity corridors of the Sulu Sulawesi Seascape, one of the world’s most diverse and productive ecosystems.

Two patrol boats, 11 searchlights, 12 global positioning system (GPS) units and other equipment were given on Monday to the seven coastal towns by the CI, according to Vivencio Marasigan Valdez Jr., agricultural technologist at the Provincial Agriculture Office-Fisheries and Coastal Resource Management Division (Pago-FCRM).

The patrol boats were turned over to the provincial government.

The equipment would beef up efforts of sea patrols (Bantay Dagat) of the local governments to protect the areas along the VIP and the whole province. Patrol members were trained on the enforcement of fishery laws with borrowed logistics in May.

“Now we can board safely, read the map through the GPS, arrest illegal fishers, file a case and many other things,” said Reynaldo Ladrera, one of the Bantay Dagat leaders and member of the Marine Protected Area and Law Enforcement Network (MPALEN).

Ely Vargas, municipal agriculturist of Naujan, said the network would facilitate projects in marine-protected areas and enforce fishery laws.
source (http://www.naujenos.com/naujan-in-the-news/equipping-the-guardians-of-biodiversity/#more-329)

william :D

November 13th, 2010, 02:40 PM

Pink Sunset over Paradise Beach on Oriental Mindoro

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/4342617575_841a0bee89.jpg

ALL CREDITS TO THE OWNER. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32936167@N02/galleries/72157623401014101)

william :D

November 17th, 2010, 10:25 AM

the MiMaRoPa MARCH
ourEKvzYwPU

william :D

November 17th, 2010, 10:42 AM

The Mangyan Tribal Dance @ WOW Philippines

L3uCYsDajx0&feature=related

william :D

November 17th, 2010, 11:07 AM

the Underwater beauty of
Verde Island
Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/VerdeislandPuerto_20040809-095516.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/VerdeIslandPuerto_20040811-094620.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/VerdeIslandPuerto_20040811-095823.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/VerdeIslandPuerto_20040811-100057.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/VerdeIslandPuerto_20040811-101412.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/VerdeIsland_20040809-072238.jpg

all credits to the owner. (http://photos.camperspoint.com/index.php?page=7&search=Puerto%20Galera)

more pictures in
Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon Provinces (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=824628&page=13)

william :D

November 22nd, 2010, 04:03 PM

7yXiANcLORs
Diving Puerto Galera.
more videos here in Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon Provinces Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=824628&page=14)

william :D

November 24th, 2010, 07:37 AM

OR. MINDORO MIGHT BE ‘FULLY IRRIGATED’ WITHIN THIS YEAR

SUPPORTING AGRO-INDUSTRIALIZATION PROGRAM

CALAPAN CITY – All existing ricelands or agricultural lands within the first district of Oriental Mindoro, comprising this capital city and the towns of Puerto Galera to Pola, might be “fully irrigated” within this year.

This was the scenario being hatched by First District Congressman Rodolfo G. Valencia if the present master planning and studying be completed, coupled by enactment of law supporting it and proper programming be completed within this year or early next year.

In a press conference conducted by selected newsmen at his official residence in this city November 13, Congressman Valencia announced to newsmen that his congressional office, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), and other concerned agencies such as the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) and Department of Agriculture (DA) are now conducting the said master planning of his covered district for a “full irrigation” of all riceland territories.

Not only that, other related programs will be aligned to the said district once the said comprehensive study is completed, or as soon as possible, Mr. Valencia said.

Based on official figures, Oriental Mindoro province has total land area of more than 4,238.4 kilometers or 1,634.5 square miles – ranked 30th largest out of 80 provinces in the country.

Ideally situated for tapping of irrigation waters, the western portion of the province being mountainous or rugged, hills and flood plains are widely distributed in the eastern portion. And Naujan Lake, the fifth largest lake in the country with an area of approximately 8,125 hectares of open water, is located at the northeastern part of the island and the province, or the congressman’s covered district which includes Calapan City and the municipalities of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro and Pola.

The province’s rich and arable land is really suitable for agriculture, as it is commonly known in the Philippines to be regularly producing large quantities of rice, corn, coconut, vegetables and fruits like calamansi, banana, rambutan, marang or uloy, lanzones and durian.

For that, Oriental Mindoro is also known as the “rice granary and fruit basket of Southern Tagalog. It still is the “banana king and calamansi king” of the entire MIMAROPA Region or Region 4B.

Its total agricultural area is 169,603.34 hectares. Based on agricultural statistics, 85,244 hectares are devoted to palay production while 21,671 hectares to coconut plantation. The province, for sometime, registered an average of 1 to 2 million cavans as surplus in rice production.

And Valencia hopes that these encouraging figures will “re-emerge” Oriental Mindoro to the top from being ranked once as “12th poorest province” in the country.

The congressman, with his son and chief-of-staff Nico P. Valencia anchoring a multi-pronged development-cum-investment program – the K4 (Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran, Kalikasan, Kinabukasan) Program – is also “fine-tuning” their version of Oriental Mindoro’s agro-industrialization program, which will tap the province’s products and rich natural resources. (By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY)
source (http://islandsentinel.com/2010/11/23/or-mindoro-might-be-%E2%80%98fully-irrigated%E2%80%99-within-this-year/)
from Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon Provinces Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=824628&page=14)

palawan_buddy

November 25th, 2010, 05:11 AM

i am not in palawan, but i learned this development from a kababayan thru fb. I copied the posts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
yeay! may escalator na! maraming soon to open malls gaya ng Palawan 168 at Robinsons to name a few... kabayan pansin nyo ba yung mga ginagawang building along national highway? galing naman....

currently my huge construction sa may tapat ng Paleco dun yung Robinson's Mall. Mercado de San Miguel sa tpat naman ng dating Asia World. sa tapat ng Jollibee Rizal may dalawang building din. Sa papuntang New Market San Jose andun naman yung Palawan 168 at madami pang bagong building. Sa may San Pedro area meron din. nakakatuwang isipin sabay sabay silang lahat.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

if these posts are accurate, Palawan will have its first elevator!

as for the malls, based from the posts and the info that i know, the following are now being constructed in the city:
1.Robinsons Mall
2.Mercado de san miguel
3. palawan 168
this development is understandable because it was only last year when the agreement between the city and NCCC that the latter should have an exclusive right to have a mall in the city FINALLY expired.
PLUS, PALAWAN IS BOOMING.

william :D

November 30th, 2010, 12:29 PM

PAMAHALAANG LUNGSOD NG CALAPAN NAGHAHANDA NA SA NALALAPIT NA PAGDIRIWANG NG 2010-2011 CALAPAN CITY FIESTA

Narito naman po ang Schedule of Activities para sa nalalapit na pagdiriwang ng Calapan City Fiesta 2011:

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES (http://islandsentinel.com/2010/11/30/pamahalaang-lungsod-ng-calapan-naghahanda-na-sa-nalalapit-na-pagdiriwang-ng-2010-2011-calapan-city-fiesta/)

2011 Sto. Niño de Calapan Festival

Theme: Mahal na Patrong Sto, Niño Gabay ng Bagong Calapan

source (http://islandsentinel.com/2010/11/30/pamahalaang-lungsod-ng-calapan-naghahanda-na-sa-nalalapit-na-pagdiriwang-ng-2010-2011-calapan-city-fiesta/)
from Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon Provinces Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=68058869#post68058869)

william :D

December 3rd, 2010, 11:41 AM

San Jose student is regional stat quiz champ

A 17-year-old student from the Divine Word College of San Jose (DWSJ) in Occidental Mindoro has emerged champion in the 19th Philippine Statistics Quiz in the Mimaropa region.

Thessa Mae E. Peña, a freshman Bachelor of Science in Accountancy student, will represent Mimapora in the national level competition on December 8 in Manila.

She received a cash prize of P8,000, a certificate and a trophy for beating 13 other students from different colleges and universities in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

Her coach, Chona T. Jarabata, received P2,500 in cash and a certificate of recognition.

The contest was held at the Provincial Capitol Square in Calapan City on November 23.

Other winners were Jer Japeth M. Yu from Palawan State University, 1st Runner-up; Charwin M. Famodulan of Romblon State University, 2nd Runner-up; Krishna Kristin C. Araneta of Divine Word College of San Jose, 3rd Runner-up; and Elcid M. Bocacao of Palawan State University as 4th Runner-up.

They received a cash prize of P5,000, P3,000, P1,500, and P1,000 respectively plus certificates of recognition.
source (http://mindoropost.com/2010/12/01/san-jose-student-emerges-champion-in-19th-regional-stat-quiz/)

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

from Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon Provinces Thread

william :D

December 3rd, 2010, 01:57 PM

THE BEAUTY OF ORIENTAL MINDORO

IYH2Ic47frg&feature=related

william :D

December 7th, 2010, 02:53 AM

Calapan Public Market

Before...

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/malolos/20545760981275645932picture_of_big_fire.jpg

After...

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/malolos/pic-11221155170334.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/malolos/ca.jpg
from Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon Provinces Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=824628&page=16)

onilian2727

December 7th, 2010, 12:09 PM

from Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon Provinces Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=824628&page=16)

william kasipag mong bata ka..good job!!:banana::cheers::)

william :D

December 7th, 2010, 12:45 PM

^^hehe.its just my little way.:)

william :D

December 7th, 2010, 12:46 PM

onilian na-try mo na ba mag dive sa Mindoro? parang ang saya non ano?:)

onilian2727

December 8th, 2010, 12:11 PM

onilian na-try mo na ba mag dive sa Mindoro? parang ang saya non ano?:)

oo. mayroon kasi akong kakilalal diyan sa puerto galera kaya sinasama niya akong mag scuba diving at simpleng snorkling..pero noong unang panahon pa iyon:lol:.maganda ang ilalim ng puerto at diyan sa may isla verde...pero di naman ako mahilig sa dagat dahil nga sa tabing dagat na ako lumaki. kaya medyo pangkaraniwan na sa akin ang ganyang tanawin :) kaya no big deal.minsan nga nayaya ang misis kong pumunta sa carribean sa bi ko sa iba na lang...doon ba walang dagat :lol::cheers:

william :D

December 12th, 2010, 05:05 AM

^^wow sosyal.hehe, mata-try ko rin yan soon! haha ^^

william :D

December 14th, 2010, 04:05 PM

Occidental Mindoro has highest number of crime-prone villages in Mimaropa

Occidental Mindoro has the highest number of crime-prone villages in the Mimaropa region, closely followed by Oriental Mindoro and Palawan.

Marinduque and Romblon, meanwhile, have no crime-prone areas, according to a report of the Philippine National Police.

Occidental has four villages with the most number of reported crimes—San Roque and Pag-asa in San Jose town and Barangay Poblacion 1 and 9 in the provincial capital Mamburao.

Most of the crimes reported to police involved physical injuries and murder.

In Oriental Mindoro, three villages are considered crime prone areas. These are Barangay Salong in Calapan City, Barangay Poblacion in Bongabong, and Zone IV in Socorro. Physical injury and theft were the most common crimes reported in these villages.

In Palawan, three villages also made it to the list of most crime-prone areas in the region: Barangay San Miguel and San Pedro in Puerto Princesa City and Barangay Rio Tuba in Bataraza. Murder and physical injury were the common crimes reported there.

But the PNP report noted that the 10 crime-prone villages comprise only a small 0.68 percent of the total 1,458 villages in the Mimaropa region.

At the same time, the report said that there were no cases of kidnapping for ransom, hijacking, highway robbery, and bank robbery in the region.

There were also no reported organized crime groups based or operating in Mimaropa, a region comprised of the provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

No crimes against tourists were also reported.
source (http://mindoropost.com/2010/12/14/mindoro-has-highest-number-of-crime-prone-villages-in-mimaropa/)

...

william :D

December 16th, 2010, 01:24 AM

PNOY CITES MINDOREÑOS’ RESILIENCY, OPENS THE ‘MOST MODERN PUBLIC MARKET IN REGION 4B

CALAPAN CITY – President Benigno Aquino III has cited the people of Mindoro Island as he led in the opening yesterday (December 15) of the “most modern public market in the entire MIMAROPA Region” or Region 4B.

Addressing the crowd here Wednesday morning, during the said launching of the newly-built Calapan City Public Market, President Aquino cited the “resiliency” being shown by Mindoreños, both in Oriental and Occidental, which he said, is admirable considering the many setbacks being experienced by the two island provinces from natural and man-made calamities.

The President said he is wondering how the people of Mindoro is bucking the odds despite the said calamities, as evident by the timely construction of the new and most-modern public market in the entire region after the old market here was completely devastated by a big fire in 2006.

Accordingly, the Calapan City Public Market is currently the most modern public market in Region IV-B, composed of the island provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

The newly-built two-storey building, equipped with an elevator and an escalator, houses stalls for dry goods on the ground floor and the wet section on the second floor.

All stalls on the ground floor have been occupied while awarding of rights for the second floor is ongoing, the city government said.

The new public market has been built on a loan by the city government after the old market place here was destroyed by a big fire in 2006.

Arriving at the spacious oval of the Jose J. Leido Jr. Memorial National High School from the presidential chopper, Mr. Aquino was warmly welcomed here by local officials, led by Liberal Party mates such as Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso V. Umali, Jr., Congressmen Rodolfo G. Valencia and Reynaldo V. Umali, and Calapan City Mayor Salvador Leachon.(By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY)
source (http://islandsentinel.com/2010/12/15/pnoy-cites-mindorenos%E2%80%99-resiliency-opens-the-%E2%80%98most-modern-public-market-in-region-4b/)

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

Dante_54

December 17th, 2010, 07:00 AM

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5268074386_d138e69e98_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dante_54/5268074386/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5267466255_c68673b88f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dante_54/5267466255/)

Best presentation at Baguio City, Teachers Camp

william :D

December 17th, 2010, 11:56 AM

^^woah! thanks for the post sir! congratz Mimaropa! :banana:

william :D

December 17th, 2010, 11:19 PM

Aquino awards land certificates to 824 Mangyan families

President Benigno Aquino has awarded a total of 18,616 hectares of provincial land to 824 Mangyan families at the Magsaysay municipal gymnasium.

Aquino lauded the Mangyans, who are members of the Hanunuo, Gubatnon and Ratagnon tribes of Mindoro, for their indomitable and unrelenting spirit in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve their life-long dream to finally call the land they till and live their very own.

“Your unrelenting struggle despite the numerous obstacles represents the basic trait of Filipinos which is why the Mangyans have earned my utmost respect,” Aquino said during the awarding of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) in Bgy. Poblacion.

The President likened the Mangyans’ struggle to own their land to the country’s quest to unchain itself from the shackles of corruption.

He said the ethnic people of Mindoro “serve as the foundation of our Filipino culture.”

“In giving back to you the right to your ancestral domain, we hope you will continue to strengthen the rich cultural heritage of your forefathers,” the President said.

“For as long as you follow the right path, we shall make sure that your land is ably protected, as well as your indigenous culture,” Aquino said.

The CADT is part of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 which recognizes and affirms the indigenous peoples’ traditional systems of land tenure, promotes and protects their rights to ancestral domain and lands, self-governance and empowerment, social justice and human rights and cultural integrity.

IPRA allows the well-established land-law system of indigenous peoples to gain recognition under Philippine law.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/5266194229_cee3349e4d_b.jpg
President Aquino distributes ancestral domain titles to Hanunuo, Gubatnon at Ratagnon elders.

source (http://mindoropost.com/2010/12/17/aquino-awards-land-certificates-to-824-mangyan-families/)

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

william :D

December 21st, 2010, 01:53 AM

the Beauty of
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/59888_156345671054286_107095435979310_361732_89859_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/59888_156345667720953_107095435979310_361731_6466916_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/60076_156348171054036_107095435979310_361739_7189594_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/59888_156345684387618_107095435979310_361736_75463_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/59888_156345674387619_107095435979310_361733_8046467_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/59888_156345677720952_107095435979310_361734_240678_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/59888_156345681054285_107095435979310_361735_5297132_n.jpg
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24993&id=107095435979310).

:cheers::cheers:

william :D

December 28th, 2010, 03:44 PM

KAPITOLYO PARA SA MAMAMAYAN.

http://www.ormindoro.gov.ph/photos/news/inaguration/GOV.%20UMALI%20OATH.jpg

KAPITOLYO PARA SA MAMAMAYAN. Naging matagumpay at nagbigay pag-asa sa sambayanang Mindoreno ang panunumpa sa tungkulin ni Gobernador Alfonso V. Umali, Jr., saksi ang kanyang maybahay na si Ginang Susan Umali, pamilya at mga kamag-anak sa harapan ni Judge Manuel Luna noong Hulyo 1 sa Kapitolyo.

http://www.ormindoro.gov.ph/photos/news/inaguration/VICE-GOV.%20BONZ%20OATH.jpg

Ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Oriental Mindoro, sa ilalim ng pamunuan ni Bise-Gobernador at SP Presiding Officer Humerlito Dolor, ay magiging tagapangalaga ng "resources" ng lalawigan at magkakaloob ng dynamic at innovative policies bilang suporta sa executive agenda sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Gobernador Alfonso V. Umali, Jr. Saksi sa panunumpa ni Bise-Gobernador Dolor ang kanyang maybahay na si Ginang Hiyas Dolor, kanilang anak, at kanyang mga magulang at mga kapatid.

http://www.ormindoro.gov.ph/photos/news/inaguration/NEW%20BOARD%20MEMBERS.jpg

http://www.ormindoro.gov.ph/photos/news/inaguration/Gov.%20Umali%20with%20SP%20members.jpg

Magiging katuwang nina Gov. Umali at Bise-Gobernador Dolor sa pagtataguyod sa kaunlaran ng Oriental Mindoro ang mga nahalal na board members sa una at ikalawang distrito na sina Bokal Patrick dela Rosa, Bokal Ryan Arago, Bokal Robert Concepcion, Bokal Abraham Abas, Bokal Romeo Infantado, Bokal Ramil Dimapilis, Bokal Ferdinand Thomas Soller, Bokal Flor de Roxas, Bokal Corazon Agarap, Bokal Martin Buenaventura kasama ang SP ex-officio members sina Bokal Alfredo Viana ng ABC, Bokal Myrra Normina Krishma Mendoza ng SK-Provincial Federation at PCL-Oriental Mindoro Chapter President Bokal Edwin Hernandez.

http://www.ormindoro.gov.ph/photos/news/inaguration/JULY%201%20INAUGURATION%20(10).jpg

Nagpahayag naman ng kanilang buong pagsuporta sa administrasyon ni Gobernador Umali sina First District Representative Rodolfo G. Valencia at 2nd District Rep. Rey Umali na kapwa dumalo sa inauguration ceremonies ng mga opisyal ng lalawigan noong ika-1 ng Hulyo sa Kapitolyo sa Lungsod ng Calapan.
Oriental Mindoro Official Website (http://www.ormindoro.gov.ph/)

from Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon Provinces Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=69635457#post69635457)

william :D

January 6th, 2011, 12:14 PM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs104.ash2/38525_143231902371975_119418201420012_308335_7338997_n.jpg

Coconut Plantation facing Quebrada Beach, Sibale island, Romblon
by Jan Michael Vinzon Arejola

Maestro de Campo Island or in some records Maestre de Campo Island is the westernmost island in the province of Romblon in the Philippines. It has one municipality named Concepcion. The island is also called Sibale and its inhabitants call themselves Sibalenhons. Many people believed that it has been an enchanted island. The island is mountainous with steep shores; it contains one small town named Concepcion on the east shore; and its area is approximately 2,020 hectares.
photo credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=143231902371975&set=a.139510959410736.21380.119418201420012)

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

saintm

January 8th, 2011, 08:43 PM

MIMAROPA workers get P12 raise in daily minimum wage

WORKERS in the region in southern Luzon consisting of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (MIMAROPA) have been granted a P12 increase in daily minimum wage, an official of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) said on Thursday.

NWPC Deputy Executive Director Patricia P. Hornilla said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of MIMAROPA, also known as Region IV-B, issued a wage order on Oct. 15 granting a P12 wage increase that took effect last Nov. 11.

That increase brought new daily minimum wage levels in the region to:

the cities of Puerto Princesa and Calapan, Puerto Galera, as well as areas with tourism resort and mining operations -- P264 for non-agricultural workers, P219 for plantation agricultural workers, P199 for non-plantation agricultural workers, P202 for workers of cottage and micro-enterprises, and P144 for those in retail and service establishments employing no more than 10 workers;

the rest of the region -- P252 for non-agricultural workers, P210 for plantation agricultural workers, P190 for non-plantation agricultural workers, P200 for workers in cottage and micro-enterprises, and 142 for those in retail and service establishments employing no more than 10 workers. -- NRM

william :D

January 9th, 2011, 11:07 AM

^^nice!! malaking tulong na ang Php12 na increase kahit maliit pa kung susumahin.. :banana:

stevensp

January 9th, 2011, 11:11 AM

the Coconut plantation looks very good
impressive image too...

nice colour contrasts ^^

william :D

January 9th, 2011, 02:17 PM

the Coconut plantation looks very good
impressive image too...

nice colour contrasts ^^

thanks for the compliments! job well done to the photographer! :cheers::cheers:

william :D

January 9th, 2011, 02:18 PM

SILANGANG MINDORO, LALAWIGANG SINTA

Silangang Mindoro, aking lalawigan,
Isang pulong ubod yaman sa kalikasan,
Mataas na bundok, lawa at mga ka-ilogan,
Hulog ng Maykapal, kay laking kapalaran.

Mga gintong butil sa mga palayan,
Iba’t-ibang prutas, hitik sa taniman,
Naglipanang hayop sa gubat na luntian,
At mga baqkurang puno ng halaman.

Maputing buhangin sa dalampasigan,
At kristal na tubig sa dagat silangan,
Matatayog na niyog at mga kawayan,
Nagsasayaw sa ihip ng hanging amihan.

Na aakit dito ang mga dayuhan,
Lahat ito’y nais nilang masaksihan,
Lasapin ang sarap ng kapaligiran,
Na wari baga’y langit dito sa kalupaan.

Sa mga dalaga naipon ang ganda,
Ang mga binata, makikisig sila,
Mga tao’y masipag at laging masigla,
Bukas ang damdaming tumulong sa iba.

Marangal ang ayos ng lahat, balana,
Mga Mindoreno na dangal ng bansa,
Taas-noo sila saan man pumunta,
Iyan ang Mindoro, lalawigang sinta. – ni FDV
source (http://islandsentinel.com/2011/01/07/silangang-mindoro-lalawigang-sinta/)
:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

william :D

January 10th, 2011, 04:35 PM

nakakamiss tong ganitong eksena...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3430410669_d16513cf42_o.jpg
Batangas Pier

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/3431222652_ea4c08b255_o.jpg
inside the RORO

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3430429343_8ace7e2eeb_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3430428979_06be3fc2d8_o.jpg
goodbye mainland Luzon!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3604/3430450409_137b2d9f64_o.jpg
the coast of Calapan

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3430429939_5377cc705a_o.jpg
Port of Calapan

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3430465157_e4b16f9f89_o.jpg
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3662/3438683954_3d5c5b3a00_o.jpg
Arrival at Calapan Port

photo credits to the owner. (http://dennisvillegas.blogspot.com/2009/04/journey-to-panay.html)
:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

william :D

January 11th, 2011, 08:04 AM

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lu142yblv5U/SDL9ICarfWI/AAAAAAAAAS0/L1XQ_wNPr5g/s1600/DSCN0037-2.JPG

BACKGROUND
MIMAROPA stands for the five constituent island provinces of what was formerly Region IV-B: Occidental and Oriental MIndoro , MArinduque, ROmblon, and PAlawan. All four are accessible by sea; there are flights servicing various points in Palawan. Also, small planes ply the route between Manila - San Jose, Occidental Mindoro as well as Romblon, Romblon. Being islands, these provinces are famous for their beaches and marine biodiversity. However, MIMAROPA is also amazingly the home to the most difficult climbs in the Philippines. In fact, at least three mountains are classified Difficulty 9/9: Mt. Halcon in Mindoro, Mt. Guiting-Guiting in Romblon, and Mt. Mantalingajan in Palawan. The outdoorsman who plan to climb in this region may want to integrate his hike with various sidetrips involving the region's attractions. Interestingly, two UNESCO World Heritage sites are found in the region - Tubbataha Reef and St. Paul's Underground River in Palawan.

COVERAGE UPDATES
The mountains in the site give an ample overview of the region, but we would also love to have itineraries also for Mt. Thumbpeak and other mountains in Palawan. Mt. Baco in Mindoro - virtually unexplored according to DENR men in Occidental Mindoro - would also be a great discovery.

MOUNTAINEERING CLUBS IN MIMAROPA
G2 Mountaineers (Romblon, Romblon)
Halcon Mountaineering Society (Calapan, Oriental Mindoro)
SUAKWAL Mountaineers (Puerto Princesa, Palawan)
source (http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/05/mimaropa-region.html)
:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

Rodel

January 11th, 2011, 11:51 PM

from the wikipedia.org

Executive Order 429 moved Palawan to Region VI on May 23, 2005. After this move, Region IV-B began to be called MIMARO instead of MIMAROPA.
However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and nearly all municipalities preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005 to address this backlash. This order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from MIMAROPA to Region VI. Thus, it is not yet clear if the transfer of Palawan to region VI is already done and final creating confusion on whether to address the region as MIMARO or MIMAROPA.
source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIMAROPA)

from wikipedia as of today:
On 23 May 2005, Executive Order No. 429 directed that Palawan be transferred from Region IV-B to Region VI.[1] However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on 19 August 2005 that the implementation of EO 429 be held in abeyance pending approval by the President of its implementation Plan.[2] The Philippine Commission on Elections reported the 2010 Philippine general election results for Palawan as a part of the Region IV-B results.[10] As of May 2010[update], the abeyance is still in effect and Palawan remains a part of MIMAROPA.

william :D

January 12th, 2011, 03:01 AM

^^kayo kung tatanungin, san niyo gusto isama ang Palawan? Region 4-b o Region VI?

palawan_buddy

January 12th, 2011, 07:32 AM

IVB. not visayas.

geographically speaking, once upon a time, the main island of palawan was part of luzon island.

palawan is predominantly a tagalog speaking province. thus, it was part of the original tagalog region, region 4.

lastly, accessibility. its easier to go from the capital to luzon, than to iloilo(?) which is the regional center of region 6. i have read somewhere that calapan is the regional center of region 4b, but as per my personal experience, most of the regional offices are still in MM (like dar) or san pablo city (regional center of the undivided region 4).

the last reason is the most practical and natural reason why it will be difficult for palawenoes to support that move.

william :D

January 12th, 2011, 07:41 AM

Rodel

January 15th, 2011, 01:24 PM

^^kayo kung tatanungin, san niyo gusto isama ang Palawan? Region 4-b o Region VI?

IVB - MiMaRoPa

william :D

January 18th, 2011, 06:56 AM

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs066.snc6/167620_187168874644944_119418201420012_589530_2350763_n.jpg

A giant sea turtle just laid eggs, Apo Reef, Occidental Mindoro
by Rochel Dela Cruz

A typical Philippine Sea Turtle, locally known as "pawikan," weighs between 180 to 210 kg. There are more than 220 species of turtles in the world, but only seven are considered marine (saltwater). Five of these species are present in the Philippines. These are the Green (Chelonia mydas). Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea).
photo credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=187168874644944&set=a.170528209642344.42540.119418201420012)
:cheers::cheers::cheers:

william :D

January 19th, 2011, 02:41 AM

Apo Reef: a haven for divers

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5363990868_c950a06438.jpg

Off the coast of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro is the world famous Apo Reef. It is about three to four hours by banca from Sablayan.

On reaching Apo Island, visitors will be welcomed by the beauty of blue water, powdery white sand and colorful coral reefs.

The Apo Reef Natural Park consists of the three islands. Apo Reef, the largest among the three islands, is the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world.

Apo Reef has a shallow lagoon with a depth of two meters to 10 meters surrounded by mangrove forest which serves as source of food, nursery and spawning ground of several coastal and marine species of fauna and sanctuary of birds. Its diverse corals are approximately 34 square kilometers of reef where different species of fish, marine mammals and invertebrates thrive.

It is also the largest atoll like reef in the Philippines, is a submerged platform that is a submerged of a 34 sqkm sub triangular northern and southern atoll like reefs separated by a 30-m deep channel that is open to the west The channel runs east to west from 1.8 m to 30 m deep with a fine white sand bottom numerous mounds and patches of branching corals under the deep blue water.

The main geographical features of Apo Reef are submerged. There are three islands that mark it on the surface: the Apo Island, Apo Menor (Binangaan and Cayos del Bajo Tinangkapang).

The largest is the 22-hectare Apo Island which harbors mangroves and beach vegetations, while Binangaan is a rocky Iimestone island with relatively few vegetation and Cayos del Bajo (200-300 sq.m.) is a coralline rock formation with no vegetation. Ogie Salvador, PIA
mindoropost (http://mindoropost.com/2011/01/18/apo-reef-a-haven-for-divers/)
:cheers::cheers::cheers:

william :D

January 19th, 2011, 02:51 AM

Oriental Mindoro works double time for Mimaropa sports meet

Construction workers are working overtime to finish sports facilities in Calapan City for the Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan Regional Athletic Association (MIMAROPARAA) Meet in February.

Most sports events will be held at the Leido Memorial National High School (LEMNAHIS), said the Provincial Information Office of Oriental Mindoro in a press release.

All construction works, especially the Olympic-sized swimming pool, will be completed before the athletic meet opens, said Provincial Engineer Elmer V. Dilay.

“Tatapusin namin ang lahat ng mga pagawain dito sa JJ Leido (LEMNAHIS) para maging matagumpay ang pagdaraos ng regional sports event sa Pebrero,” said Dilay.

Governor Alfonso V. Umali, Jr. received last year about P50 million from President Benigno Aquino for the construction and improvement of facilities for the MIMAROPARAA.

Umali also allotted some P10.2 million as counterpart fund from the provincial government.

Aside from the Olympic-sized swimming pool, the LEMNAHIS gymnasium, grandstand, and bleachers are being renovated. Rubberized flooring is being installed at the oval and other modern facilities for sports events. Louie T. Cueto, PIA
mindoropost (http://mindoropost.com/2011/01/18/oriental-mindoro-works-double-time-for-mimaropa-sports-meet/)
:cheers::cheers::cheers:

LakwatseraDePrimera

January 20th, 2011, 02:46 AM

http://www.lakwatseradeprimera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/b-600x400.jpg

Pandan Island (Another gateway to Apo Reef) (http://www.lakwatseradeprimera.com/pandan-island-mindoro-occidental/)

http://www.lakwatseradeprimera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/d-600x375.jpg

Pandan Island (Another gateway to Apo Reef) (http://www.lakwatseradeprimera.com/pandan-island-mindoro-occidental/)

william :D

January 24th, 2011, 07:44 AM

Makalipas na pormal na manumpa sa katungkulan ang mga miyembro ng bagong tatag na Calapan City Discipline Action Group (CALCIDAG) noong ika-4 ng Disyembre 2010, mahigpit na ngayong ipinatutupad ng grupo ang mga ordinansa sa lungsod at sinisiguro na napapanatili ang disiplina hindi lamang sa kabayanan ngunit maging sa mga malalayong barangay.

Nabuo ang grupo sa pamamagitan ng Executive Order No. 41 na nilagdaan ni Mayor Doy C. Leachon noong ika-5 ng Nobyembre 2010. Labing-walo (18) sa mga miyembro NG CALCIDAG ay mula sa Philippine National Police (PNP) Calapan at 26 ay mula sa City Environment and Natural Resources Department, Traffic Management Office, City Public Safety Department at Market Unit.

Bago pa man ang pormal na paglulunsad, sumailalim sa tatlong-araw na Orientation Seminar- Workshop ang apatnapu’t- apat (44) na mga miyembro ng CALCIDAG. Isinagawa ang nasabing pagsasanay noong Nobyembre 24 hanggang 26 sa ABC Hall kung saan ang mga agents ay binigyan ng sapat na kaalaman kung paano ang mag-issue ng Citation Tickets, paksang may kinalaman sa Intelligence Techniques, Arrest / Hand-Cuffing Techniques at Self-Defense Techniques.

Ayon sa panayam na isinagawa ng City Information Office kay City PNP Chief Christopher Abecia, binigyang diin niya na ang kanilang ginagawang mahigpit na implementasyon ng mga batas sa lungsod lalo na ang Discipline City Program ay bahagi ng adhikain ng kasalukuyang administrasyon na masiguro ang kaayusan at katahimikan sa Calapan. Dagdag pa niya, “Nais lamang po ng CALCIDAG at ng pamunuan ni Mayor Doy Leachon na masiguro ang kaligtasan ng bawat Calapeño.”

Pinaalalahanan din ng grupo ang publiko na ang sakop ng kanilang tungkulin ay hindi lamang ang kabayanan ng syudad ngunit maging ang malalayong barangay na bahagi ng buong Lungsod ng Calapan. Unti-unti na nilang ipinauunawa at ipinaalam sa mga taga-malalayong barangay na maging sila ay sakop ng mga batas sa lungsod at ang kanilang kaligtasan ay hindi pababayaan ng pamahalaan.

Bukod kay Mayor Leachon, ang CALCIDAG ay binubuo nina City Public Safety Officer Nelson Aboboto at City Legal Office OIC Rommel Albo bilang mga Vice Chairmen; Calapan City PNP Chief Col. Christopher Abecia bilang Action Officer at bilang mga Deputy Chairmen naman ay sina CENRO Wilfredo Landicho, City Health Officer Lisa Llanto at City Planning and Development Officer Marvin Panahon.
http://islandsentinel.com/2011/01/20/disiplina-nais-imintina-ng-calcidag-sa-lahat-ng-barangay-sa-calapan/
:cheers:

296619

January 24th, 2011, 06:00 PM

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Waaaaah... Anggansa!!!!!... hooooo!....

Pati yung APO Reef!.... hay.... nakakatangagal pagod.... yahoooooooo!^^^^^^^^^^^^:banana::banana::banana:

makatiprime

January 31st, 2011, 09:09 PM

william :D

February 1st, 2011, 05:03 AM

12jairien14

February 2nd, 2011, 01:02 AM

KINDLY CHECK IF THIS IS TRUE ABOUT THE HIGHIEST EARNER LGU IN THE COUNTRY

Rank Region LGU Income
1 NCR Quezon City 7,376,391,780
2 NCR Manila City 7,119,823,858
3 NCR Makati City 6,320,644,917
4 NCR Pasig City 3,446,156,247
5 Region XI Davao City 2,757,208,839
6 NCR Kalookan City 2,091,683,285
7 NCR Parañaque City 1,997,001,697
8 Reg VII Cebu City 1,929,828,959
9 NCR Mandaluyong City 1,613,031,602
10 NCR Pasay City 1,603,197,000
11 NCR Valenzuela City 1,400,481,522
12 NCR Muntinlupa City 1,364,082,105
13 Region III Olongapo City 1,346,543,855
14 RegIV-B Puerto Princesa City1,302,100,388
15 NCR Marikina City 1,237,894,340
16 Region IX Zamboanga City 1,176,993,170
17 NCR Las Piñas City 1,119,754,160
18 Region IV-A Calamba City 1,094,639,553
19 Region X Cagayan de Oro City 1,084,366,266
20 NCR Taguig City 1,054,625,140
^^
2005 pa yan
^^
ito nung 2008, wala pa now yung sa 2010
Top 30 Philippine Cities according to Income in 2008 (in thousand pesos)

1. Quezon City (Metro Manila) – P9,042,876
2. Makati (Metro Manila) – P8,308,262
3. Manila (Metro Manila) – P6,309,862
4. Pasig (Metro Manila) – P4,377,611
5. Davao City – P3,279,863
6. Cebu City – P2,938,270
7. Caloocan (Metro Manila) – P2,682,815
8. Paranaque (Metro Manila) – P2,246,421
9. Pasay (Metro Manila) – P2,239,910
10. Taguig (Metro Manila) – P2,006,728
11. Zamboanga City – P2,004,040
12. Muntinlupa (Metro Manila) – P1,949,529
13.Mandaluyong (Metro Manila) – P1,888,315
14. Valenzuela( Metro Manila) – P1,571,950
15. Cagayan de Oro (Misamis Oriental) – P1,452,191
16. Marikina (Metro Manila) – P1,440,384
17. Las PiÃ±as (Metro Manila) – P1,339,279
18. Calamba (Laguna) – P1,338,300
19. Batangas City (Batangas) – P1,335,253
20. Antipolo (Rizal) – P1,277,213
21.Iloilo City (Iloilo) – P1,162,912
22. Puerto Prinsesa (Palawan) – P1,158,317
23. Iligan (Lanao del Norte) – P1,081,773
24. General Santos (South Cotabato) – P1,075,419
25. Olongapo (Zambales) – P1,039,921
26. Bacolod (Negros Occidenal) – P961,734
27. San Juan (Metro Manila) – P913,502
28. Baguio (Benguet) – P907,130
29. Butuan (Agusan del Norte) – P879,633
30.Angeles (Pampanga) – P797,846

* Source: 2008 FY Annual Financial Report, Commision on Audit
* This is a partial ranking only. Some cities were not included in the ranking because of incomplete data in CoA’s 2008 FY Annual Financial Report.

View 2008 Financial Profile of all Cities in the Philippines

http://www.pueblophilippines.com/top-philippine-cities-by-income-in-200

william :D

February 7th, 2011, 08:10 AM

17 prayoridad na batas, ihahain sa LEDAC

Ni Ogie Salvador
MIMAROPA, Pebrero 7 (PIA )-- Isusulong ng administrasyong Aquino ang labing-pitong (17) mahahalagang batas kapag nakaharap na ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) ngayong buwan.
Ayon kay Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, ang listahan ng mga panukalang batas ay pinili buhat sa 180 panukalang batas na tinangap ng Presidential Legislative Liason Office mula sa ibat-ibang departamento at joint foreign chambers of commerce of the Philippines.
Ayon kay Ochoa, ang mga panukalang batas ay mahalaga upang makamit ng administrasyon ang mga prioridad nito ayon sa 16-point agenda ng pamahalaan.
“Ang 17 panukalang batas na ihahain ng pangulo sa LEDAC ay panghuling bahagi, hindi lamang nasa listahan ang ating ihahain kung hindi ang buong batas mismo na pinag-aralan na ng mga ahensyang may kinalaman dito” ayon kay Ochoa.
Ang mga batas na ihahain sa LEDAC ay walang kasamang batas na magtatadhana ng dagdag singil sa buwis o ng charter change alnsunod na rin sa naunang pahayag ni Pangulong Aquino.
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=mim&id=15658

hakz2007

February 8th, 2011, 05:07 PM

Reminders:

1. Strong reminder on posting images: provide credit, link to source and respect copyrights! (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/announcement.php?f=585&a=1131)

This is a strong reminder to all forum users that posted images which are not owned and hosted by yourself must be properly credited, a link to the source must be provided and individual copyrights respected. Posted images which are not compliant to this are subject to removal. Thanks all for your cooperation.

2. When posting online articles/news items. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/announcement.php?f=585&a=477)
When posting articles taken from online sources, please also take the time to provide the link as to acknowledge your source. It's only fair and just to do so. Thank you very much for your cooperation on this matter.

All images and news items/articles posted without proper sourcing or linking will be subject for deletion.

william :D

February 10th, 2011, 12:49 AM

BOKAL KERNEL ORTEGA – SK REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Nahalal bilang Sangguniang Kabataan Region IV-B Director si Oriental Mindoro SK Provincial Federation President Bokal Kernell Ortega.

Ginanap ang SK National Elections noong Enero 7 sa Bayview Hotel sa Maynila.

Sa panayam kay Bokal Kernell, sinabi niyang nakatakda niyang pulungin ang kanyang mga kapwa SK dito sa Oriental Mindoro upang makapagbalangkas at makapaglatag ng mga kinakailangang proyekto para sa mga kabataan ng lalawigan.

Sa kanyang pagkakahalal bilang SK Regional Director, si Bokal Kernell ang magsisilbi ngayong kinatawan ng rehiyon sa pambansang pederasyon ng mga SK. Inaasahang sa pamamagitan nito, higit na maisusulong ang mahahalagang programa at proyektong laan sa mga kabataan, hindi lamang ng Oriental Mindoro, kundi maging ng iba pang islang lalawigang bumubuo sa MIMAROPA.
http://islandsentinel.com/2011/02/08/bokal-kernel-ortega-%E2%80%93-sk-regional-director/
:cheers::cheers::cheers::)

william :D

February 10th, 2011, 12:51 AM

http://www.dbm.gov.ph/weblinks/region4b/regional_map/map_mimaropa.gif (http://www.dbm.gov.ph/weblinks/region4b/regional_map.htm)

william :D

February 10th, 2011, 01:24 AM

Puerto Galera - 'One of The Most Beautiful Bays in The World'

Puerto Galera has recently hit the international tourism limelight, given the "The Most Beautiful Bay in the World" award for 2005, following its presentation in Agadir, Morocco last November 2004.
Puerto Galera is the 32nd bay worldwide to get the award, and the
third in Southeast Asia after Nha Trang Bay and Along Bay in
Vietnam.

The Europe-based and UNESCO-supported organization The Most
Beautiful Bays in the World Club, of which Puerto Galera is now the newest member, has four pillars of advocacy--"protection, enhancement, promotion, commitment" of prime bays worldwide "in an effort to maintain the balance between the economic development and the conservation of natural heritage, serving as models for the rest of the world." The norms for selection revolve around "richness and diversity." The club has its headquarters in Vannes, France.

Hubert d'Aboville, a French expatriate married to Filipino Ara Valenzuela, and Puerto Galera councilor Danny Enriquez, representing Mayor Teo Atienza and the Puerto Galera people, are now in Nha Trang Bay in Vietnam to receive the award on behalf of the Philippines. Earlier commisioned by Atienza and the Puerto Galera Sangguniang Bayan, d'Aboville made the Power Point presentation about Puerto Galera in Agadir which awed the judges. He heads the Together-Ensemble foundation which has been active in disaster relief during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and in the recent floods in typhoon-ravaged Real and Infanta Quezon.

D'Aboville recently sat down with Sen. Dick Gordon, the former
Tourism secretary and Ace Durano, the current Tourism secretary, to map out a grand strategy to exploit the award for national tourism development in cooperation with public and private sectors, and local and national agencies.

Part of the strategy involves the organization of a private sector-based multisectoral organization to manage Puerto Galera Bay befitting it as a member of the prestigious club, and to support local government in its tourism thrust. A grand meeting is cheduled on May 8 in Puerto Galera, to be hosted by d'Aboville and other locals, which would include resort and restaurant owners, prominent families such as the Locsins, European expatriates, school and Church representatives, diplomats, national and local media, and tourism and local government officials, headed by Gordon, Durano and Atienza.

Critical to the role of this organization is to address environmental concerns, particularly, waste management which must be a partner of tourism development, d'Aboville said. Effective waste management is a challenge to tourism development. "To be effective and sustainable, it must be community-based and must involve all sectors. Coordination at all levels is critical," he added.

The award is seen as the second "tourism explosion" for Puerto Galera, the first being at its birth in the early '60s, when it was "discovered" by European backpackers in search of a paradise in the East. By word of mouth, the popularity of Puerto Galera's pristine beaches spread like wildfire among the so-called counterculture elements in Europe even when it had no electricity and only a handful of beach huts. Ironically, it was precisely this image of being "untouched," its rustic air and exotic beaches, that attracted foreigners to the marine sanctuary. It was a sanctuary from an ever shrinking planet.

The first "explosion" came after an article and photographs of a German backpacker appeared in a German magazine with one of the largest circulation in Europe. This catapulted Puerto Galera into the consciousness of every European household, from Scandinavia to Greece, fueling the tourism exodus from the West. The backpackers were followed by expatriates who mingled with the locals to develop better cottages and restaurants. Overnight, its tourism infrastructure developed. A decade after, with the rise of Boracay as rival, there was a lull as Puerto Galera passed through the eye of the tourism storm.

Now, in its second "explosion" due to the award, Puerto Galera may not necessarily rival, but complement Boracay as its "twin" prime tourism destination in the Philippines. Whereas Boracay has one vast panoramic beach of talc-fine snow-white sand, Puerto Galera has dozens of protected coves with ancient coral gardens and rare marine species. It also has a rich history, being along the trade corridor of the Manila-Acapulco galleons, and being an ancient port where Chinese traders bartered Ming vases for native gold since
prehistory.

http://puertogaleradive.com/blog//index.php?blog=2&cat=2&page=1&paged=2
:cheers::cheers::cheers:
:banana::cheers::banana::cheers:

william :D

February 10th, 2011, 01:26 AM

Puerto Galera: Paradise without the Price

Approximately three hours from crowded, sweltering Manila is an island getaway where the seafood is fresh, the sand is dazzling white, the water is a beautiful clear turquoise, and good vibes abound.

http://puertogaleradive.com/blog//media/blogs/pgdive/hidden-paradise.jpg
Hidden Paradise - Photo © by: Arj Muñoz

It is a getaway for adventurers of the "strike anywhere" variety, who think nothing of hopping on a bus on a whim, armed with nothing but a swimsuit and a pair of flip-flops. It is a refuge for the low-key urbanite escaping the frenzied crowd at Manila’s latest "in" spots (the same crowd that currently overpopulates Boracay). It is my paradise on the cheap—Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

Centuries ago, during Spain’s colonization of the Philippines, Puerto Galera was a historic port of call for Spanish galleons plying trade between Mexico and Manila. Today, it is a popular summer haunt for young, middle-class Manilans. The opening of an affordable ferry route to Boracay via Mindoro has also made Puerto Galera a pit stop of choice for those who prefer to hie off to the upscale island getaway.

Life in Puerto Galera revolves around White Beach, where a significant number of affordable, frills-free cottages are available for rent. I’m often asked how to book reservations in Galera. The answer is, you don’t. (This answer often leaves born planners in a cold sweat.) Upon stepping off the ferry, visitors are besieged by a number of resort owners calling out rooms and rates—the Galera equivalent of Manila’s street hawker. For those who absolutely must have their fluffy bathrobes and room service, upscale private villas are located on the other beaches of Galera, such as Coco Beach, Big La Laguna, and La Laguna.

The denizens of White Beach, however, are happy where they are. The white-sand beach has remained amazingly clean despite the tourism boom. Outrigger boats are moored close to shore, giving swimmers welcome refuge from the sun. These boats can be rented for jaunts to nearby reefs, where the snorkeling and diving are excellent. An ice-cold dip in a nearby waterfall, Tamaraw Falls, is only a tricycle ride away. After a typically spectacular sunset, beachside bars open for business, allowing you to swig an ice-cold San Miguel or shot of Mindoro Sling right down at the shoreline, beneath the stars.

Rewarding patrons

For the past seven years, I’ve been a regular visitor to Puerto Galera, mostly during the off-peak months of October to February. People remember you, and reward you in the most unlikely ways for your continued patronage. While I was haggling with a henna tattoo artist, a wizened local masseur sitting nearby cut in. "Hindi mo na maloloko ‘yan (Don’t think you can cheat her)," she warned the tattoo artist. "Madalas ‘yan dito (She comes here often)."

Or, you just might get a special invitation to Lasagna Night at Italian Corner Pizzeria, a literal hole-in-the-wall eatery off White Beach. Home of fresh-baked Italian bread and crispy, thin-crust pizza, this bamboo shack is manned by an Italian adventurer-turned restaurateur and his friendly barkeep, who speaks fluent English with a quirky Italian-Batangueño accent.

Aside from the peace and quiet, the prices are simply the best thing about off-season. Cottages are available for P500 per night, four to five times less than what they would cost in the summer. A full meal of grilled tanigue, rice and ice-cold Coke can be had for about P50. For the same price, a tall, frosty ripe mango shake is an inexpensive indulgence, especially when the sun gets fierce. Boatmen will fall all over themselves to sell you an eight-hour snorkeling jaunt for P850, boat and gear included. A five-day stay for two off-season will barely reach P6,000, which is about what you would spend on airfare alone for Boracay. No wonder the place is a favorite of twenty somethings and backpackers.

Pockets of paradise

However, while I am a fan of the quiet off-season months, White Beach simply explodes into life during the peak months of March to June. Makeshift stalls selling colorful cotton sarongs, pearl jewelry, and beachwear abound. Henna tattoo artists ply their trade alongside local masseurs who proffer hour-long, full-body massages on the sand with fragrant coconut oil. Colorful friendship bracelets are thrust at you every now and then by the local children, who sell these to augment the family income. Somewhere along the shore, browned yuppies are setting up a beach volleyball game. And something about the summer sunshine just turns the water into an insanely bright, sparkling shade of aqua.

http://puertogaleradive.com/blog//media/blogs/pgdive/save-whitebeach.jpg
Peak Season - White Beach, Puerto Galera - Photo © by: Arj Muñoz

While prices may change peak or off-peak, the natural beauty of Puerto Galera never does. Neither does its appeal to those looking for a patch of sunshine and an easy getaway. Puerto Galera’s turquoise waters, white sand, and poignant sunsets are pockets of paradise that are accessible to all. Indeed, the best things in life are almost free.
http://puertogaleradive.com/blog//index.php?cat=2
:carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot: