Pampanga tourism boom seen
By FRANCO G. REGALA
October 30, 2010, 8:42pm

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – Officials of this province are excited over the prospects of a sustainable uptrend in tourist arrivals at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here beginning this year, following Wednesday’s maiden flights of Jin Air of South Korea.

Governor Lilia Pineda said the Capitol is strengthening its tourism program and has enjoined mayors of the different municipalities and cities here to unite in perking up the tourism industry.

No less than former President now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is at the forefront of efforts to push provincial tourism officers and local government officials in planning how to enhance this province’s tourism industry.

Jin Air started its regular flights, plying the Incheon-Clark-Incheon route five times a week utilizing the airlines’ 180-searter Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Jin Air is the sixth and latest addition to the international airlines operating at the DMIA and is the second South Korean commercial airline after Asiana Airlines that started operations in October 2003.

In a meeting with Jin Air management, Pineda and Arroyo welcomed South Korea’s budget air carrier and the prospect of hosting more Korean tourists in Pampanga.

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) Chairman Nestor Mangio, who joined the meeting, said he hopes the entry of Jin Air will help spur the development and upkeep of tourist spots in the province.

Arroyo told stakeholders at the meeting, including provincial tourism officers, mayors led by Pampanga Mayor’s League President Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, and CIAC President and CEO Victor Luciano, to work together and improve the tourism in the province.


http://www.mb.com.ph/node/285095/pampanga-touri

Airphilexpress seen to push tourism link with Singapore
Sunday, 31 October 2010 10:27 Recto Mercene / Reporter


SINGAPORE—Improved tourism ties between the Philippines and Singapore are expected with the start of flights by budget carrier Airphilexpress to that country.

Changi Airport’s Airhub Development Group executive vice president, Yam Kum Weng, welcomes the start of a business partnership with Airphilexpress (APX), the low cost carrier (LCC) that made its maiden flight and first international foray last week.

Yum said “This is a testament to the strong links between the Philippines and Singapore on the trade and tourism front.”

The Philippine and Singapore have always shared strong trade links. In 2009, Singapore ranked as the Philippines largest trading partner in Asean and fourth in overall with total trade amounting to $6.2 billion.

The country’s newest low-cost carrier will operate 14 weekly flights between Manila and Singapore, as well as Singapore and Cebu.

The Lion City is home to over 160,000 Filipinos most of whom are engaged in engineering, advertising, information technology, media, nursing and the hospitality service profession. Filipino visitors in Singapore reached 430,000 last year, representing a year-on-year growth of about 12 percent.

Yum pointed out that Singapore is connected to more than 200 cities in 60 countries, with more than 5,000 weekly scheduled flights. He said that this presents many opportunities for airlines operating out of Changi, a major air hub in Asia.

Neal Imperial, Philippine consul general in Singapore, said the number of Singaporean visitors to the Philippines is expected to grow further this year. “Because of the surge in travel, our two governments signed an expanded air services agreement in May this year, allowing an additional 40 flights from Singapore to Manila.”

He said that Airphilexpress’s arrival at Changi is a major benefit to the tourism industry and the overall relations between the two countries

“This new air transport link is a strong indicator of the growing connectivity between our two countries as Asean neighbors. Greater air connectivity within Asean through more frequent flights and other transportation links spurs business and trade, strengthens the bonds among Southeast Asians, and facilitates cultural interaction,” Imperial said.

He added that the entry of budget carriers, which has resulted in more frequent flights between the Philippines and Singapore, is a major boost to tourism.

“In 2009, for instance, the Philippines was already Singapore’s eighth top source of tourism receipts and visitor arrivals. Over half a million Filipino tourists visited Singapore in 2008 compared to almost 100,000 Singaporeans who visited the Philippines in the same year. And the figures for 2010 are expected to be much higher.”

Imperial said the entry of Airphilexpress is a boon to the more than 160,000 Filipinos living and working in Singapore who stand to benefit from having more affordable options in flying back home.

“It is also welcome news for Singaporeans and expatriates in the Lion City who want to discover and experience the best tourism destinations that the Philippines’ 7,107 islands have to offer. Many of these top destinations will be serviced by the airline, including Cebu, Palawan and Davao.

Cesar Chiong, Airphilexpress chief operating officer, said his goal is for the airline to promote tourism and air traffic in Singapore.

“We wanted to wanted to expand, we want to fly regional to be able to fully utilize our aircraft and deliver low fares for the benefit of the Filipinos and the riding public, in general.”

He said as the carrier acquires more airplanes, it has to increase the number of pilots. A number of new pilots are already being trained in Hong Kong and in other places to support the airline’s refleeting efforts.

Airphilexpress recently acquired two brand-new airplanes and two more are coming before the end of November. “We are quite aggressive, the objective is to give the riding public more choices, more low fares to stimulate travel within and outside the Philippines,” said Chiong.

Airphilexpress currently has 600 flights a week and Chiong said the expansion is exponential with plans to double capacity within the next 12 months.

The Manila-Singapore route is one of the most profitable and high-growth routes for airlines operating in Southeast Asia. It is currently serviced by legacy carriers Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines (PAL), and by budget airlines Jetstar Airways and Cebu Pacific Air.

Airphilexpress was formerly Air Philippines until it was folded into the operations of PAL and its budget airline arm, PAL Express. In October 2009, Airphil began operating PAL Express flights on behalf of PAL.


http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/3104-airphilexpress-seen-to-push-tourism-link-with-singapore

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/alfinsky/Biri1a.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/alfinsky/Biri3a.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/alfinsky/biri2a.jpg

Now this is extremly good photography. Compliments ! Keep up the grand work pthfndr !

^^ Surreal beauty!

Mambukal Mountain Resort
Negros Occidental


http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af351/linguine16/IMG_3702.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af351/linguine16/IMG_3722.jpg

Ayala Land plans 4 new boutique hotels next year

Tuesday, 02 November 2010 00:00

BY KRISTA ANGELA M. MONTEALEGRE REPORTER

AYALA Land Inc. (ALI) plans to undertake more hotel ventures next year amid a boom in tourism. The property developer last week broke ground for its first boutique hotel project in Bonifacio Global City, near the company’s upscale West Tower Project at One Serendra, Antonino Aquino, ALI president, told The Manila Times.

By next year, ALI aims to have four boutique hotels in the country.

“I hope we’ll be able to break ground in all of them between now and next year. Typically, it will take a year and a half to complete,” said Aquino.

The boutique hotel is estimated to cost less than P1 billion with the flagship unit in Bonifacio Global City having 175 rooms priced under $100, according to Jaime Ysmael, ALI chief financial officer.

Besides its high-end projects in Lagen and Miniloc islands, ALI is also completing two more upscale projects in Palawan.

“ALI is constructing and refurbishing two more in Northern Palawan,” said Aquino.

“Eventually, aside from the island resorts, we want have other resort hotels in the Palawan mainland which will cater to mainstream tourists,” he added.

ALI is set to undertake a P2-billion joint venture with Asian Conservation Co., the operator of the world-class El Nido Resorts in Northern Palawan through subsidiaries under the Ten Knots Group. ALI has a 60-percent interest in the partnership.

The Ayala group recently formed a new hotel and resort company, as ALI aims to consolidate its hotel business under Ayala Hotels and Resorts Corp.

“The new company will be the principal vehicle for Ayala Land’s hotel businesses,” said Aquino, adding that it is uncertain if ALI will eventually list the new firm as a real estate investment trust (REIT).

ALI has another hotel subsidiary in Ayala Hotels Inc., which owns the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati and the Marriott Hotel in Cebu City. The ALI subsidiary also owns the 320-hectare Anvaya Cove and the 46-hectare Amara development in Liloan, Cebu.

Aquino said the success of the company’s hotel ventures will likely depend on the state of the country’s tourism industry
“We think those are major developments we have already done and if there will be more opportunities because of more tourist arrivals, we will be looking at them also,” he said.

ALI’s profit in the first half hit P2.86 billion, higher than last year’s P2.07 billion because of strong growth in its residential and leasing operations in malls, offices and hotels.

Its shares were unchanged at P16.70 each on Friday.



http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business-columns/31233-ayala-land-plans-4-new-boutique-hotels-next-year

Rice terraces, Palawan resort top PHL tourism show in Montreal
10/30/2010 | 02:15 PM

http://www.gmanews.tv/webpics/infotech/ricepalawanmontreal.jpg


The Banaue Rice Terraces and the El Nido Beach Resort in Palawan highlighted the Philippines' tourism efforts at a recent tourism and travel show in Quebec, Canada.

A report from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa said the country participated in the International Tourism and Travel Show October 22 to 24 at Place Bonaventure.

"The Philippines showcased its beautiful tourism destinations in two booths with the Banawe Rice Terraces and the El Nido Beach Resort in Palawan as the main backdrop attractions," the DFA said Saturday.


Images of the scenic Banawe Rice Terraces and El Nido Resort of Palawan frame the Philippine tourism booth in Montreal, Canada. DFA

Also, the booth showcased Filipino delicacies such as bibingka, turon and pandesal con adobo for the food-tasting event.

It likewise gave visitors a sampling of the traditional Filipino massage or hilot.

On the other hand, the Salinggawi Philippine Arts Organization performed Filipino traditional dances during the event.

Leading the Embassy delegation to the event were Philippine Charge d'Affaires Minerva Jean Falcon, Philippine Consulate General in New York Tourism Director Emma Ruth Yulo, and Embassy Cultural Attache Buenaflor Cruz.

Supporting the Philippine delegation were volunteers from the Filipino Community in Montreal, who helped organize the Philippine booth.

"The Philippines sees tourism as one of the engines of economic development that will continue to propel our country towards the goals we aspire for. Because of this, we are planning to launch a spectrum of programs that would further strengthen our competitive edge as a tourism destination," Falcon said.

"The Philippines is home to many of the world's most interesting natural and cultural sites, and would not want Canadians to miss this opportunity," she added. —LBG, GMANews.TV

Need smoother roads and railway links to tourism destinations, it's so hard to get to certain places and transport gets expensive. If travelling were easier it's bound to increase local tourism. Something like take a bullet train to Ilocos instead of a day long ride.

Tourism industry stakeholders lament lack of DoT direction
By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.
November 2, 2010, 9:08pm

DUMAGUETE CITY — The Tourism Congress (TC) composed of various key stakeholders and 3,000 enterprises expressed its disappointment with alleged lack of direction from the new leadership of the Department of Tourism (DoT).

Officials of the Tourism Congress (TC) and industry stakeholders claimed the honeymoon period for the DoT under the leadership of Sec. Alberto Lim has long been over and yet they stressed that nothing appears to be happening from the DoT's end.

The Tourism Congress is the private sector consultative body in the development, implementation and monitoring of Philippine tourism policies as mandated by the Tourism Act of 2009.

It represents 70 national and regional associations from the sectors of accommodation, travel and tours, MICE, land/sea/air transport services, tourism estates development and other tourism enterprises.

TC president Alma Rita Jimenez said that consultations with different tourism sectors from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao showed that there was a growing dissatisfaction with the lack of apparent direction for Philippine tourism.

“As things stand now, the preponderant majority of the private sector continues to remain uninformed about the official directions of the tourism development program of the country," said Jimenez.

Jimenez said that as far as the private industry is concerned, there are no official DoT plans that can now be used in business planning. There are no firm commitments for agency support or leadership in programs that have to do with promotions, marketing, and business development.

“This is the time to roll up our sleeves and work especially in the aftermath of the August incident,” said Jimenez.

“We in the Tourism Congress already submitted our tourism agenda containing our recommendations for the industry last July 15 but sadly, there has been no response to date,” she said.

The honeymoon period for the new leadership at DoT is now over and it is time to get really moving, said an official statement released by TC.

It also mentioned that the last quarter of the year is the usual period when tourism counterparts in other countries start firming up plans and programs in preparation for another year but so far nothing appears to be happening at the DoT’s end.

Dr. Robert Lim Joseph, chairman of the Tourism Educators and Movers (TEAM) Philippines, claimed the DoT leadership has failed in conducting much-needed consultation and collaboration with industry stakeholders that should have helped the DoT in crafting the direction of the country's tourism.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/285562/tourism-industry-stakeholders-lament-lack-dot-direction

ano pa ba bago dito.....mahaba rin ang kailangan na learning curve.....saan ba pinagpupulot ni pnoy itong mga tao nya......ah oo nga pala....kapatid pala ni cheche lazaro itong si bertie lim.....yun may MBA....:lol:

Parang tulog din itong si Bertie Lim. HIndi ko rin maintindihan ng strategy ng DOT ngayon, kung may strategy nga ba or baka naman gawing gatasan ito ng mga kurakot na appointees. Kaasar.

hala... magsigalaw-galaw kayo jan sa dot baka mstroke kayo nyan.

Hahaha. Akala ko ako lang ang may ganitong pananaw. I posted a couple of pages back lamenting the same thing.

:ohno:

UK, Australia issued travel ban to Philippines
http://propinoy.net/2010/11/02/uk-australia-issues-travel-ban-to-philippines/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ProPinoy+(Pro+Pinoy)&utm_content=FaceBook

Submitted by admin on Tuesday, 2 November 2010No Talkbacks

A “credible” threat of some sort has gotten the governments of the United Kingdom and Australia to issue a travel ban to the Philippines.

“There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Such places could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, places of worship etc,” the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on its website.

The Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Office echoed the warning. “We continue to receive credible reports indicating terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets in a variety of locations, including places frequented by foreigners… such as large shopping malls and convention centres.”

I think the secretary is busy trying to get the Open Skies for foreign airlines over promoting the country overseas.

I think the secretary is busy trying to get the Open Skies for foreign airlines over promoting the country overseas.

That could be true, although I don't think you'll have as many travel marts worldwide at this time in the year. However, November is generally budget season for corporations but then these aren't the target of the DOT campaigns.

The spectre of PAL's problems not completely resolved should keep Bertie Lim on his toes (as well as that of the DOTC secretary Ping de Jesus) more than trying to worry about promoting the country as a tourist destination abroad. Sure, you can get all the tourists you can handle but what if you don't have a flag carrier to fly them to the country?:nuts:

:ohno:

UK, Australia issued travel ban to Philippines
http://propinoy.net/2010/11/02/uk-australia-issues-travel-ban-to-philippines/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ProPinoy+(Pro+Pinoy)&utm_content=FaceBook

Submitted by admin on Tuesday, 2 November 2010No Talkbacks

A “credible” threat of some sort has gotten the governments of the United Kingdom and Australia to issue a travel ban to the Philippines.

“There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Such places could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, places of worship etc,” the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on its website.

The Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Office echoed the warning. “We continue to receive credible reports indicating terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets in a variety of locations, including places frequented by foreigners… such as large shopping malls and convention centres.”

They are only travel advisories, the travel ban is only limited to Mindanao. If both countries issued a travel ban to the entire country, then you would have protests from your government.

:ohno:

UK, Australia issued travel ban to Philippines
http://propinoy.net/2010/11/02/uk-australia-issues-travel-ban-to-philippines/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ProPinoy+(Pro+Pinoy)&utm_content=FaceBook

Submitted by admin on Tuesday, 2 November 2010No Talkbacks


anu kaya ang alam ng AFP sa mga "terror attacks" na to...

US issues travel advisory vs terror attack on Philippines
11/03/2010 | 10:40 AM (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/204995/us-issues-travel-advisory-vs-terror-attack-on-philippines)

One week after a nearly-missed attack by terrorists on its shores, the United States issued Wednesday (Manila time) a travel warning against possible terrorist attacks in the Philippines, particularly in parts of Mindanao.

In its travel warning dated November 2, the US State Department warned US citizens particularly those in the Sulu archipelago.

"The State Department warns US citizens of the risks of terrorist activity in the Philippines, particularly in the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur not only in the southern islands but also in other areas, to include Manila," it said.

It added that targeted sites may be public gathering places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, including American citizens. Such sites could include "but are not limited to" airports, shopping malls, conference centers and other public venues, it added.

With its travel warning, the US became the fourth country after Australia, United Kingdom and Canada to issue such warnings for their nationals in the Philippines.

The Philippine government had repeatedly downplayed the threats even as its agencies beefed up precautionary security measures.

The alert against possible terrorist attacks in the country stemmed from a foiled attempted terror attack on the US over the weekend.

Extreme caution

The State Department said travelers should exercise extreme caution if traveling in the central and western portions of the island of Mindanao, as well as in the islands of the Sulu Archipelago.

"Regional terrorist groups have carried out bombings resulting in injuries and death," it noted.

The travel warning cited a bus bombing in Mindanao last October 10 that claimed 10 lives, adding an investigation is underway to determine if this was a terrorist act.

On the other hand, it said sporadic clashes have occurred between lawless groups and state security forces in North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Maguindanao, as well as the Sulu Archipelago, since August 2008.

The US advisory likewise noted kidnap-for-ransom gangs are active throughout the Philippines and have targeted foreigners.

It said US government employees must seek special permission for travel to Mindanao or the Sulu archipelago.

Also, it said travelers to these areas should remain vigilant and avoid congregating in public areas.

"Some foreigners who reside in or visit Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago hire their own security," it suggested.

State of emergency

The US State Department noted the Philippine government declared a state of emergency on Nov. 24, 2009, a day after the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao.

It said the state of emergency applies to Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, as well as Cotabato City.

"While the elections have passed, this state of emergency is still in effect. Travelers should be aware of heightened police activity and significant military presence in these areas. They should carefully research restrictions imposed upon travel and follow the instructions of government officials with regards to limitations on movement," it said.

Also, it said US citizens traveling, living, and working throughout the Philippines are urged to exercise heightened caution in public gathering places.

"US citizens should exercise caution when traveling in the vicinity of demonstrations since they can turn confrontational and possibly escalate to violence," it said.

The State Department encouraged US citizens in the Philippines to register with the Consular Section of the US Embassy in Manila through the State Department's travel registration website.

The US Embassy is located at: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines, tel. 63-2-301-2000.

Its American Citizens Services (ACS) section's fax number is 63-2-301-2017 and the ACS web page can be accessed online. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV

wala namng bago:D

maliit pa ako as in small, meron na nyan:D

They are only travel advisories, the travel ban is only limited to Mindanao. If both countries issued a travel ban to the entire country, then you would have protests from your government.

Avisories poses as greater impact as travel ban. The common mentality is that there is something bad that they had to impose advisories. Some would ignore it but expect that the majority of it's citizen would be wary of even trying to come to the country especially the investors. Heck, even in Iraq and Afghanistan where even US civilians are cautioned not to travel or seek a job in that part of the world, some are still stubborn.

Tourism industry stakeholders lament lack of DoT direction
By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.
November 2, 2010, 9:08pm

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/285562/tourism-industry-stakeholders-lament-lack-dot-direction[/I]



Malayong malayong malayo na ang gap natin sa mga kapitbahay natin interms of tourism. Wag na tayong umasa na within 10 yars, lalago ang turism natin. Baka 20 years siguro pero kung ganito ang DOT, wala ring mangyayari.:ohno:

yeah, isa pa yang issue na yan slemarken

Avisories poses as greater impact as travel ban. The common mentality is that there is something bad that they had to impose advisories. Some would ignore it but expect that the majority of it's citizen would be wary of even trying to come to the country especially the investors. Heck, even in Iraq and Afghanistan where even US civilians are cautioned not to travel or seek a job in that part of the world, some are still stubborn.

And the majority of foreign citizens would more avoid The Philippines if the government does not advertise or promote the country as a major tourist destination in South East Asia.

Because this is the kind of image that the country is portraying to the world by foreign media, a volatile country where lots of really bad shit do happen.

And this is the only images they know especially those who are not familiar with this country.

How would foreigners know about its nice beaches, friendly people and majestic bio diversity and geography if these things are not advertised in media or channels that the majority of cable owners watch?

Australia's travel advisory against Indonesia is much worst than The Philippines but people still go to Bali.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Indonesia

Same with Thailand with its civil unrest but the country receives more tourists than The Philippines.

Why, because they are advertised. Recently, I saw an advertisement on DIVA UNIVERSAL on Jakarta. And I'm talking about just Jakarta.

I don't see any aggressive campaigns similar to the "Wow Philippines" campaign of Gordon. And you're right about Thailand, heck they closed the city down, burned buildings, shot protesters and yet people still go there. We need an image makeover! Tama na yung "We're a third world country" image. :ohno:

And the majority of foreign citizens would more avoid The Philippines if the government does not advertise or promote the country as a major tourist destination in South East Asia.

Because this is the kind of image that the country is portraying to the world by foreign media, a volatile country where lots of really bad shit do happen.

And this is the only images they know especially those who are not familiar with this country.

How would foreigners know about its nice beaches, friendly people and majestic bio diversity and geography if these things are not advertised in media or channels that the majority of cable owners watch?

Australia's travel advisory against Indonesia is much worst than The Philippines but people still go to Bali.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Indonesia

Same with Thailand with its civil unrest but the country receives more tourists than The Philippines.

Why, because they are advertised. Recently, I saw an advertisement on DIVA UNIVERSAL on Jakarta. And I'm talking about just Jakarta.
wala namng bago:D

maliit pa ako as in small, meron na nyan:D

Tama. I heard those travel advisories several times BEFORE. It doesn't deserve a news headline BECAUSE nothing is new.

Luckily, we are still safe here.

DOT should be aggressive but the question is: How would you prioritize your budget of P1.3 Billion? Malaysia and Thailand have 10X or more of that amount for their tourism.

No terror threat in RP, defense chief stresses
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20101103-301253/No-terror-threat-in-RP-defense-chief-stresses
By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:12:00 11/03/2010

Filed Under: Security (general), Acts of terror, Safety of Citizens, Military, Defense, Politics

MANILA, Philippines – There is no terror threat in the Philippines but it is getting ready in case there is one, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Wednesday.

"Actually, wala [threat] dito sa Pilipinas. Pero naghahanda tayo. Ang Intelligence ay naghahanda para matukoy kung saan galing ang threat," Gazmin told a press briefing after the anniversary ceremonies of the National Development Support Command in Camp Aguinaldo.

Gazmin issued the statement in reaction to the travel advisories issued by some foreign governments that warned their citizens about an imminent terror attack in Manila.

But Gazmin said the military's intelligence units were gathering information to determine the source of the said threats.

He added that the travel advisories issued by the governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States on Monday were nothing new.

"They always issue this," Gazmin said.

When asked if the foreign governments were overacting regarding the matter, the defense chief said: "'Di bale nang OA kesa magsisisi sa huli [It’s ok to be OA rather than be regretful in the end]."

^^ yeah, i wonder where did these "threats" come from.... those 4 countries cite credible reports... maybe the DND knows something, ayaw lang nilang palakihin??:dunno:

Tama. I heard those travel advisories several times BEFORE. It doesn't deserve a news headline BECAUSE nothing is new.

Luckily, we are still safe here.

DOT should be aggressive but the question is: How would you prioritize your budget of P1.3 Billion? Malaysia and Thailand have 10X or more of that amount for their tourism.

That is what I mean. The Philippines is really a safe place to visit with the exception of most of Mindanao and some rural areas.

In terms of a terror threat, The United States is more of a target than The Philippines. But nevertheless, security is a priority in this country.

If there was a major threat or if terrorists are planning to make their move, they should have done it during All Saints Day where cemeteries are densely packed.

I don't see any aggressive campaigns similar to the "Wow Philippines" campaign of Gordon. And you're right about Thailand, heck they closed the city down, burned buildings, shot protesters and yet people still go there. We need an image makeover! Tama na yung "We're a third world country" image. :ohno:

True, its time to change the image of The Philippines.

Hahaha. Akala ko ako lang ang may ganitong pananaw. I posted a couple of pages back lamenting the same thing.

Mahina ang current dot sec baka masira ang momentum na sinimulan ni gordon at durano. It seems the current sec is sleeping mana sa pres.

That is what I mean. The Philippines is really a safe place to visit with the exception of most of Mindanao and some rural areas.

In terms of a terror threat, The United States is more of a target than The Philippines. But nevertheless, security is a priority in this country.

If there was a major threat or if terrorists are planning to make their move, they should have done it during All Saints Day where cemeteries are densely packed.

Millions of Pinoys visited the cemeteries. It was generally peaceful nationwide even in far flung areas.

I'd like to qualify your statement about Mindanao. Most areas of Mindanao are safe. The key cities of Mindanao are really safe i.e. Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and even secondary cities like Surigao, Dipolog, Zamboanga, Iligan.

Last August, I went to Bukidnon and Gingoog City for tour/sightseeing.

The areas of concern are mostly in Autonomous REgion of Muslim Mindanao such as Basilan, Lanao del Sur, etc.

My next target is to visit General Santos City.

Millions of Pinoys visited the cemeteries. It was generally peaceful nationwide even in far flung areas.

I'd like to qualify your statement about Mindanao. Most areas of Mindanao are safe. The key cities of Mindanao are really safe i.e. Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and even secondary cities like Surigao, Dipolog, Zamboanga, Iligan.

Last August, I went to Bukidnon and Gingoog City for tour/sightseeing.

The areas of concern are mostly in Autonomous REgion of Muslim Mindanao such as Basilan, Lanao del Sur, etc.

My next target is to visit General Santos City.

That is because you are Filipino. What if you were a foreigner? Would it be different?

I agree that some parts of Mindanao is safe especially the northern and eastern part. But countries such as Australia have posted a ban on its citizens on traveling in this part of The Philippines.

Mahina ang current dot sec baka masira ang momentum na sinimulan ni gordon at durano. It seems the current sec is sleeping mana sa pres.

The current sec is not suitable for this position. I'm still wondering if he is a frequent traveller? Cause if he is, he would know how tourism in other countries run.

That is because you are Filipino. What if you were a foreigner? Would it be different?

I agree that some parts of Mindanao is safe especially the northern and eastern part. But countries such as Australia have posted a ban on its citizens on traveling in this part of The Philippines.

I've seen foreigners in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. In fact, the son (elementary) of my friend goes to an exclusive school in CDO with lots of Koreans, Chinese and other nationalities.

I blame the media for sensationalizing as if the whole Mindanao is scary. This is so unfair.

Even Davao City is considered as the safest city in Mindanao. Many people claimed that it is safer than Manila, Cebu and other key cities of the country. In Davao, people walk freely in the streets without fear of being mugged. Thanks to Mayor Duterte and his alleged "death squad" vs. criminals.

Mahina ang current dot sec baka masira ang momentum na sinimulan ni gordon at durano. It seems the current sec is sleeping mana sa pres.

Parang puro mahina ata lahat nakaupo ngayon sa pwesto. Pati nga mga tagagawa nang speech, mahina ang sense of delicadeza...:ohno:

Let's just savor the positive economic momentum from the previous admin. After that, I don't know.

I've seen foreigners in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. In fact, the son (elementary) of my friend goes to an exclusive school in CDO with lots of Koreans, Chinese and other nationalities.

I blame the media for sensationalizing as if the whole Mindanao is scary. This is so unfair.

Even Davao City is considered as the safest city in Mindanao. Many people claimed that it is safer than Manila, Cebu and other key cities of the country. In Davao, people walk freely in the streets without fear of being mugged. Thanks to Mayor Duterte and his alleged "death squad" vs. criminals.

We should emulate the LGU of Davao in terms of discipline. And we can look up to CamSur in terms of government initiative.

I've seen foreigners in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. In fact, the son (elementary) of my friend goes to an exclusive school in CDO with lots of Koreans, Chinese and other nationalities.

I blame the media for sensationalizing as if the whole Mindanao is scary. This is so unfair.

Even Davao City is considered as the safest city in Mindanao. Many people claimed that it is safer than Manila, Cebu and other key cities of the country. In Davao, people walk freely in the streets without fear of being mugged. Thanks to Mayor Duterte and his alleged "death squad" vs. criminals.

Duterte's campaign against crime is questionable by human rights group but again, Singapore also has some harsh laws against crime, both cities are safe to visit.

The local media is also to blame not just sensationalizing Mindanao's image but portraying a negative image of The Philippines as a whole.

These media groups should do more productive things in giving a positive image on the country instead of destructive.

they dont shoot "criminals" on the street in SG, unlike in Davao

That is because you are Filipino. What if you were a foreigner? Would it be different?

I agree that some parts of Mindanao is safe especially the northern and eastern part. But countries such as Australia have posted a ban on its citizens on traveling in this part of The Philippines.

I have a very good friend who traveled to Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Sultan Kudarat and lived in Sarangani and he is British.

I also traveled with Australians in Mindanao.

So yes, it is safe.

parcel bombs exploding in Athens but no travel advisory from UK and Australia, yet they issued one for the Philippines.

The local media is also to blame not just sensationalizing Mindanao's image but portraying a negative image of The Philippines as a whole.

These media groups should do more productive things in giving a positive image on the country instead of destructive.



I blame the media for sensationalizing as if the whole Mindanao is scary. This is so unfair.



I wholeheartedly agree.

^^Even London and Sydney are also prone to terror threats. Lalo na ang London, ang dami na ring cases of terrorism acts such as bus and train bombings, etc...:ohno::ohno::ohno:

i think this will be the best time to promote the country for those on the northern hemisphere. it will be freezing cold in their respective countries and i heard winter will be earlier and colder this year. they wanna see some of the sun. however, their first question is always something like - "well, is it safe to go to the Philippines?" i had one Brazillian ask me that last Saturday.

but how safe is safe? even the vicinities of then safe places like those around Paris is not safe anymore.

Duterte's campaign against crime is questionable by human rights group but again, Singapore also has some harsh laws against crime, both cities are safe to visit.

The local media is also to blame not just sensationalizing Mindanao's image but portraying a negative image of The Philippines as a whole.

These media groups should do more productive things in giving a positive image on the country instead of destructive.


Media is the no. 1 economic saboteur :bash: :bash: :bash:

they dont shoot "criminals" on the street in SG, unlike in Davao


Shooting criminals is our common practice lalo sa metro manila :nuts: :nuts:

i think this will be the best time to promote the country for those on the northern hemisphere. it will be freezing cold in their respective countries and i heard winter will be earlier and colder this year. they wanna see some of the sun. however, their first question is always something like - "well, is it safe to go to the Philippines?" i had one Brazillian ask me that last Saturday.

but how safe is safe? even the vicinities of then safe places like those around Paris is not safe anymore.

i heard lots of kidnappings and drug war happen in Brazil, lol

although I want to visit Rio

re DOT Sec - yes, have to agree rather weak. What came out of his mouth during the hostage crisis didn't inspire confidence. What he said about "not wanting backpackers" was major faux pas. I think his idea of tourism is about 3 decades old, very antiquated.

re MEDIA - finally, people are realizing that the media is so dramatic. They should be tried for treason and economic sabotage. Reading Philippine news with some exceptions, you'd think the country is down and out. I have to do my own research because media doesn't even bother doing fact checker or know how to interpret data. Everything is hearsay, he says, she says! Finally, many of these wanna be media can't even write news in proper English. Maria Ressa is now available for tutorials.

re DOT Sec - yes, have to agree rather weak. What came out of his mouth during the hostage crisis didn't inspire confidence. What he said about "not wanting backpackers" was major faux pas. I think his idea of tourism is about 3 decades old, very antiquated.

re MEDIA - finally, people are realizing that the media is so dramatic. They should be tried for treason and economic sabotage. Reading Philippine news with some exceptions, you'd think the country is down and out. I have to do my own research because media doesn't even bother doing fact checker or know how to interpret data. Everything is hearsay, he says, she says! Finally, many of these wanna be media can't even write news in proper English. Maria Ressa is now available for tutorials.

From what I understood about what he said about backpackers, he was moving the Philippine tourism strategy towards niche tourism. Niche tourism is okay and sustainable, and even other countries are looking into that (case in point Sri Lanka (http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1937851026). While this is feasible and more cost effective, I don't see anything that points to actual action.

The DoT was meant to allocate budget for social media promotion. So uhm, the question is, san na yun or baka naman people got paid to update their Facebook and Twitter accounts. IMO, in order to promote the country, you have to actively explore it- kundi parang walang kwenta lang ang pagpopromote. Sa Marketing, you have to get to know the product first before you sell it.

From what I understood about what he said about backpackers, he was moving the Philippine tourism strategy towards niche tourism. Niche tourism is okay and sustainable, and even other countries are looking into that (case in point Sri Lanka (http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1937851026). While this is feasible and more cost effective, I don't see anything that points to actual action.

The DoT was meant to allocate budget for social media promotion. So uhm, the question is, san na yun or baka naman people got paid to update their Facebook and Twitter accounts. IMO, in order to promote the country, you have to actively explore it- kundi parang walang kwenta lang ang pagpopromote. Sa Marketing, you have to get to know the product first before you sell it.

Well, that's passe too. I gather he meant high end resorts, tourist enclaves, god forbid casinos, or escorted tours/groups etc. The Philippines can do mass market catering to different market segments from high to low. As far as backpackers are concerned, the country isn't even a #1 destination for them. He should read up on and understand Yankelovich et al, on values and lifestyles, and take direction from there in terms of marketing and product development. (Gordon's WoW Philippines managed to capture that.)

How about revamping that website first? 80% of global travel in developed world goes through internet. That alone can create wonders applying SEO. (I'm leery of another Mai Masling or similar types twitting about Philippine tourism.)

From what I understood about what he said about backpackers, he was moving the Philippine tourism strategy towards niche tourism. Niche tourism is okay and sustainable, and even other countries are looking into that (case in point Sri Lanka (http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1937851026). While this is feasible and more cost effective, I don't see anything that points to actual action.

The DoT was meant to allocate budget for social media promotion. So uhm, the question is, san na yun or baka naman people got paid to update their Facebook and Twitter accounts. IMO, in order to promote the country, you have to actively explore it- kundi parang walang kwenta lang ang pagpopromote. Sa Marketing, you have to get to know the product first before you sell it.

Yes indeed. Social media does not replace traditional marketing, but supplements it. With many people under 18 years old having Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts, they still are not the right market because their budget is not meant for a long haul trip from their home country to the Philippines. Same thing goes for Filipinos not yet of legal age.

Social media is good for promoting gadget consumerism among other things. Like cellphones under P15K, but not always travel packages in the thousands of dollars. You always have the cloud of fraud and bogus packages that can be easily masqueraded on the internet. Even auction sites, sulit.com.ph, blogs, etc. are not 100% reliable. What more Facebook. What Facebook and other social media can do is expound on the experience, similar to what xxxriainxxx says, by knowing the product vicariously. Or maybe to sell smaller items that do not require a lot of forethought and planning before purchase.

One thing the DOT can do for Facebook is focus their ads on a particular target market, say people who have "Philippines" and "travel" among their likes, and have these pop up when the criteria are met. And then they can link to reliable providers of tourism products and services.

But they still can't discount the way sales are made here in Asia...much of it is still face to face, and in a number of cases, cold cash. But then e-commerce is steadily gaining ground with all age levels, so that's something to look forward to.

i heard lots of kidnappings and drug war happen in Brazil, lol

although I want to visit Rio

well, he said Brazil has the worst government. but he said that before the elections. i dunno how is it now. he lived outside Brazil for most part of his life. the conversation ended when i had to step out of the train.

everytime i meet people outside the phils, i'd always tell them to come and see the country. what i got in mind are the beaches we got in the countryside. it's no surprise now to meet people who had been around SEA but the PH. maybe we really have that bad rep. or probably they're just not into visiting us.

we got everything it takes to be a preferred holiday destination. we have the resources, perfect weather, cheap accomodations, English-speaking people.

parcel bombs exploding in Athens but no travel advisory from UK and Australia, yet they issued one for the Philippines.

Perhaps the bombing in Athens which is addressed to the Prime Minister is political and has no connection with Al Quaeda's operations nor the bomb originated in Yemen which is a safehaven for Al Quada. We all knew that Abu Sayaf or whatever the new Muslim extremists in the Philippines affiliated with Al Quaeda so, it is understandable why there is an advisory, there is also history in the past about Muslim extremists targeting tourists in the Philippines right? not just once or twice but Multiple times. The bombing in Athens is not targeting foreign nationals like Americans, British, Australians and other allies who participated in Iran and Afghanistan, so, that's definitely a whole different scenario.


Greece Halts Foreign Mail After Athens Parcel Bombs
November 03, 2010, 9:02 AM EDT



Germany’s de Maiziere said “there’s no evidence of any connection” between the bomb sent to Merkel and the bombs that originated in Yemen. The Interior Ministry ordered German government offices and postal services to step up vigilance for suspicious parcels and issued similar recommendations to Deutsche Post AG, he said.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-03/greece-halts-foreign-mail-after-athens-parcel-bombs.html

^^Even London and Sydney are also prone to terror threats. Lalo na ang London, ang dami na ring cases of terrorism acts such as bus and train bombings, etc...:ohno::ohno::ohno:

I know its hard to accept that logic but after Quirino Grandstand hostage taking of tourists, we can expect something like these would happen. They didn't ban the travel anyway, it's just advisory for precautionary measure.

we got everything it takes to be a preferred holiday destination. we have the resources, perfect weather, cheap accomodations, English-speaking people.

what about cheaper international flights??
i guess that is one of the problems

well, he said Brazil has the worst government. but he said that before the elections. i dunno how is it now. he lived outside Brazil for most part of his life. the conversation ended when i had to step out of the train.

everytime i meet people outside the phils, i'd always tell them to come and see the country. what i got in mind are the beaches we got in the countryside. it's no surprise now to meet people who had been around SEA but the PH. maybe we really have that bad rep. or probably they're just not into visiting us.

we got everything it takes to be a preferred holiday destination. we have the resources, perfect weather, cheap accomodations, English-speaking people.

Simple, does DOT advertise in these countries say Brazil?

From the looks of it, DOT is least aggressive nowadays especially in time where more work should be done especially with the damage dealt from the hostage bus crisis.

For now, there are no new commercials. Plus there are no campaign in promoting the country. There was WOW Philippines but that was before. How about today?

Tourism chief unfazed by travel advisories
By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) Updated November 04, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (10) View comments



MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday expressed confidence that foreign tourists would continue to visit the country’s destinations despite the warnings issued by several governments to their citizens to avoid traveling to the Philippines due to the threat of terrorist attacks.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said the travel advisories issued by several governments are not likely to cause a big decline in the number of foreign tourists coming to the country.

The United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand have updated their travel advisories, urging their respective nationals to exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines because of the high threat of terrorist attack.

“It’s not really a travel ban but just an advisory, which means that the matter of traveling to the Philippines is left to the discretion of their citizens, so tourists cannot be prevented from coming here,” Lim said.

Lim said travelers from European countries usually visit the country in the first quarter and not at this time of the year.

He said Australian tourists make up only four percent of foreign visitors while UK travelers comprise only three percent of total tourists in country.

“But if ever there is any effect in the local tourism industry, we expect it to be very minimal,” Lim added.

Lim said travel agencies have not reported any cancellation of tours following the issuance of travel advisories against the Philippines due to alleged terrorist threat.

The DOT said that the Australian government has issued similar travel advisories to several countries in Asia and the latest advisory was just a renewed warning.

“While the advisories are given, foreign visitors are assured that major tourist destinations here remain generally safe. Tour groups from major source markets continue to arrive in large numbers and there have been no cancellations of visits,” the DOT reported.

DOT said it would coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the immediate lifting of the travel advisories from at least five countries.

Lim said the DOT and other private agencies would send a marketing mission to London next week in an effort to encourage more tourists from UK to come to the Philippines.

“The timing of the marketing mission may not be good, but we will be continuing with our plan because the advisory is just temporary and we hope to lure more tourists to visit our country next year,” Lim pointed out.

Lim said DOT is also working with the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the strengthening of existing measures for the protection of foreign and local tourists.

He said DOT would also negotiate with the Bureau of Immigration to speed up the issuance of visas to travelers from the country’s top markets.

Local businessmen said the travel advisories issued by the foreign governments would have minimal effect on foreign investments in the country.

“The impact will be minimal because travel advisories are short-term issuances. Investors will not be looking at travel advisories when they invest. The effect will be felt mostly in the tourism sector,” said Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis.

Ortiz-Luis explained that tourists are the only ones who listen to travel advisories.

He also questioned the decision of the US to issue the travel advisory. “Why is the Philippines being singled out? Why pick on the Philippines?” the businessman asked.

“All our neighbors have terrorist threats. The terrorism in the Philippines is isolated in the South,” he said.

Jesus Arranza, chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), said that these countries should not have issued the travel advisory unless “they know something we don’t.”

“The threat is highly exaggerated. How can they say that a terrorist will attack Metro Manila unless they know something we don’t and if so, then they need to share that information with us,” Arranza said in a separate interview.

Speaker calls for vigilance

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. called on Filipinos to heighten vigilance in light of the terror warnings from foreign governments, but stressed those officials must immediately confirm whether there is really an imminent attack in the metropolis.

“It pays for the public to be vigilant,” Belmonte said. “The authorities, however, must respond quickly to these warnings. What is the basis for these warnings? Do they have their own independent confirmation or are these (warnings) just part of their (foreign governments) automatic responses to incidents?” he said.

Belmonte said the country’s security agencies have maintained there are no credible threats at this time.

Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia, chairman of the House committee on public order, said his panel is being regularly briefed by the Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies on the country’s security situation.

He said the committee would convene again when Congress resumes session on Nov. 8 to determine the shortcomings of the authorities in monitoring terror threats.

“I urge the authorities to be pro-active in coordinating in terms of intelligence sharing with foreign agencies so that our country will be prepared,” Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco said.

Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo said the authorities can tap the country’s “blue army” or security guards in detecting possible terror threats.

DIWA party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, whose constituents also include security guards, said the authorities must not underestimate the capability of the sector and must also be included in information gathering against crime and terror.

A foreign embassy conveyed to the Philippines their intelligence information about terrorist threat before they updated their travel advisory.

DFA spokesman J. Eduardo Malaya told The STAR yesterday that one of the foreign embassies that updated their travel advisory on the Philippines informed the government security agency about the intelligence information they received.

But Malaya declined to identify the foreign embassy.

“Our expectation is that whenever foreign embassies have intelligence information about any terrorist threat which may be useful to our security agencies, they will convey it to our side in a timely manner. We have been informed that such has been done very recently,” Malaya said.

“We understand the need of foreign embassies to issue travel advisories for their respective nationals. They have an obligation to look after the safety and security of their nationals here, in the same way that our Philippine diplomats look after the security and welfare of Filipinos overseas,” he added. With Paolo Romero, Ma. Elisa Osorio, Pia Lee-Brago?

Simple, does DOT advertise in these countries say Brazil?

From the looks of it, DOT is least aggressive nowadays especially in time where more work should be done especially with the damage dealt from the hostage bus crisis.

For now, there are no new commercials. Plus there are no campaign in promoting the country. There was WOW Philippines but that was before. How about today?

I saw on Star World last night an ad for Camsur Watersports Complex. Makes you wonder why a local government unit can afford such an ad on a major cable TV channel and yet the national government decides to focus its efforts on Twitter and Facebook. :bash:

^^ May miembro ng gobyerno na nag titipid para makakupit? Mahuli sana ni Pnoy!! :rolf:

Parang tulog din itong si Bertie Lim. HIndi ko rin maintindihan ng strategy ng DOT ngayon, kung may strategy nga ba or baka naman gawing gatasan ito ng mga kurakot na appointees. Kaasar.

hala... magsigalaw-galaw kayo jan sa dot baka mstroke kayo nyan.

mga miembro ng NPA yan.......non performing ass&*&(....:lol:

I saw on Star World last night an ad for Camsur Watersports Complex. Makes you wonder why a local government unit can afford such an ad on a major cable TV channel and yet the national government decides to focus its efforts on Twitter and Facebook. :bash:

Pathetic. Not everyone has a Twitter or Facebook account including myself!

In fairness, Camsur does get alot of foreign tourists!

Philippine Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo

99ISARB6EaM

Philippine Tourism Investment Forum


9 November 2010

By invitation only

http://investphilippines.org.uk/images/stories/save_date_web.jpg


Berwin Leighton Paisner, Adelaide House, London Bridge, London EC4R 9HA

11:00am - 5:00pm seminar, followed by a networking session

A session with the Philippine Secretary of Tourism, leading banks, Philippine real estate developers, and hotel and resort developers

what about cheaper international flights??
i guess that is one of the problems

well, that one. we don't have if we rely on our national carrier. DL and EK flights are most of the times cheaper than PR flights.

this is beside the point, but i heard story about the children not being able to attend the funeral of a parent bec fare was too expensive. theyd rather send the money to the PH.


Tourism chief unfazed by travel advisories
By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) Updated November 04, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (10) View comments



MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday expressed confidence that foreign tourists would continue to visit the country’s destinations despite the warnings issued by several governments to their citizens to avoid traveling to the Philippines due to the threat of terrorist attacks.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said the travel advisories issued by several governments are not likely to cause a big decline in the number of foreign tourists coming to the country.

The United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand have updated their travel advisories, urging their respective nationals to exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines because of the high threat of terrorist attack.

“It’s not really a travel ban but just an advisory, which means that the matter of traveling to the Philippines is left to the discretion of their citizens, so tourists cannot be prevented from coming here,” Lim said.

Lim said travelers from European countries usually visit the country in the first quarter and not at this time of the year.

He said Australian tourists make up only four percent of foreign visitors while UK travelers comprise only three percent of total tourists in country.

“But if ever there is any effect in the local tourism industry, we expect it to be very minimal,” Lim added....


He's got a point. But not a good point. He's not gonna say that to UK or AU.

Philippine Tourism Investment Forum


9 November 2010

By invitation only

http://investphilippines.org.uk/images/stories/save_date_web.jpg


Berwin Leighton Paisner, Adelaide House, London Bridge, London EC4R 9HA

11:00am - 5:00pm seminar, followed by a networking session

A session with the Philippine Secretary of Tourism, leading banks, Philippine real estate developers, and hotel and resort developers


gumastos lang para lang magpakilala si bertie lim......a session with the sec of tourism......duh?....siguro magkakandarapa na mag invest sa tourism mga dayuhan dahil sa session with bertie lim....:lol: what can be idiotic than that......:ohno:

Al-Qaeda bomb in British airport was 'minutes from blast'
Posted: 05 November 2010 1016 hrs

PARIS: British anti-terror police disarmed an Al-Qaeda bomb just 17 minutes before it was due to detonate, France said, after the explosives were intercepted on their way from Yemen to the United States.

French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said one of two parcel bombs found last week at airports in Dubai and Britain was on the point of exploding, and officials in his office told AFP he was referring to the British package.

"There were parcel bombs from Yemen heading for the United States, and I can tell you, for example, that one of these parcels was disarmed 17 minutes before the planned explosion," Hortefeux told France 2 television.

The minister made the remark during a more general discussion of the threat of militant attacks on France and was not pressed for more information. He did not say where he had obtained his information about the imminent blast.

But Britain's transport minister Philip Hammond told The Times newspaper that he had "no indication that that was the intended timing" of the parcel bomb discovered in Britain.

The British interior ministry and London's Metropolitan Police said they would not comment on operational matters.

In Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he could not yet confirm or deny the French claim.

"The two packages are in the hands of the British and the Emiratis. Their investigators are looking into all features of these improvised explosive devices, including when they were going to detonate," he said.

"The forensics work on this is going to take some time. It's going to be tedious. It's very meticulous," he added. The CIA refused to comment.

If Hortefeux's report is correct, it would support the theory advanced by some security experts that the bombs were designed to destroy the planes in flight and not to strike the US targets to which they were addressed.

Last week, packages addressed to synagogues in Chicago containing the hard-to-detect explosive PETN hidden in printer ink cartridges were uncovered in Dubai and Britain's East Midlands Airport, sparking a global scare.

Washington believes the parcel bombs were the work of Saudi militant Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, a suspected Al-Qaeda bombmaker, and British officials have said they were powerful enough to bring down a plane in flight.

Hassan al-Asiri is thought to be a senior member of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a Yemen-based subsidiary of September 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden's global Islamist militant network.

The group AQAP is thought to be behind a number of recent attacks, including last year's Christmas Day "underpants bomb" scare, in which a Nigerian student smuggled a PETN-based device onto a US-bound flight.

The device failed to fully explode, and the plane landed safely.

On Wednesday, a British court jailed 21-year-old student Roshonara Choudhry for life after she stabbed and tried to kill a former government minister after listening to AQAP online propaganda.

Prosecutors said Choudhry had been radicalised by the messages of Yemeni-US cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, whom Yemeni authorities say is a leading AQAP figure.

The British government has announced an urgent review of air freight security in the wake of the plot. It has also ordered the suspension of all air freight from Yemen and unaccompanied air freight from Somalia.

Britain's interior minister Theresa May said in a speech on Wednesday that the bomb was "deeply concealed" in a printer cartridge and connected to a hidden power source in sections of a mobile telephone.

"The specifics of this attack -- notably the type of device and how it was concealed -- were new to us," but the principle was similar to the device that destroyed a Pan Am jumbo flight over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, she said.

"It could have destroyed the aircraft on which it was being carried, over the UK, over the US or on the ground," she said.

German officials said the two bombs found in Britain and Dubai contained between 300 and 400 grammes of PETN apiece. The explosive is hard to detect and easy to pack into seemingly innocuous devices.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

It is ridiculous to issue travel warnings to the Phils, when they themselves in their own countries are endangered. They can't even provide our government basis for their warnings. :bash:

Al-Qaeda bomb in British airport was 'minutes from blast'
Posted: 05 November 2010 1016 hrs
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It is ridiculous to issue to travel warnings to the Phils, when they themselves in their own countries are endangered. They can't even provide our government basis for their warnings. :bash:

Which reminds me something during the height of SARS, when Taiwan, Hongkong and Singapore tightened their measures on traveling Filipinos for the worry that we might be bringing SARS to their territory.

Ironically, it's their country that have the most SARS incident count.

So, let's not dwell so much on this kind of intelligence report. Might be just an effort to deviate the world attention to us, again.As long as our local police and military are doing there best, its ok.

Am sick and tired of this "bad" image of our country.

France issues travel warning as well.

Funny. Paris was burning weeks ago.

gumastos lang para lang magpakilala si bertie lim......a session with the sec of tourism......duh?....siguro magkakandarapa na mag invest sa tourism mga dayuhan dahil sa session with bertie lim....:lol: what can be idiotic than that......:ohno:

dont worry magaling ang trade attache natin dun. balitaan ko kayo kung may nangyari nga.

What travel advisory?

Here is Australia's on The Philippines
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Philippines

Same as Thailand
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

Also Israel
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Israel_Gaza_Strip_and_West_Bank

Again, Indonesia's is more severe
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Indonesia

Now if the travel advisory on The Philippines is either "reconsider" or "do not travel" then we have a serious problem here.

It's about psych wanch. Advisory would also translate to fear. It's the initial response, that's to be shocked and overly cautious.

maiba naman ako... sana i-relaunch na lang ang wow philippines campaign. akmang akma ang salitang wow para idescribe ang bansa natin. naisip ko dati major, major philippines pero masyado mahaba, o kaya bonggang bonggang pinas! kaya lang parang masyadong bading ang dating. oh, philippines din kaya lang parang may sexual meaning. :lol:

wow! philippines.

I think we should raise a travel warning to Canada for one big reason: Justin Bieber.

:D

^^and don't forget Celine Dion :runaway:

^^ hahaha.

the world is living in paranoia. im not really surprised with all those travel advisories.

tapos idagdag pa na mostly ang napapanood sa bbc, cnn, nhk, etc. na mula sa pilipinas ay halos puro negative tulad ng sumabog na bomba sa bus, nag-amok sa loob ng isang school, mga turista na nahostage at napatay, at kung ano ano pa. sana maglagay ng pangontra tulad ng advertisements. naalala ko tuloy yung kaguluhan sa thailand na nabalita dati sa pinapanood kong foreign news channel. pagkatapos ng balita ay commercial ng thailand... amazing thailand. :lol:

^^and don't forget Celine Dion :runaway:

may sakit sa puso si celine dion

Sige Pinoy.. paki confront nga yang mga "so called allies" ng Pilipinas..
I think it's time to check our relations with them...
parang pailalim tayong inaatake ng mga yan.. tsk tsk tsk..


France joins terrorism alerts for Philippines


MANILA, Philippines – France joined the U.S. and four other countries Friday in warning about possible terrorist attacks in the Philippines, even as the country's president expressed dismay with what he said were unduly alarmist reports.

In its travel advisory, the French Foreign Ministry said a risk of terrorist attack exists in the entire Philippines and particularly in urban areas near airports, shopping centers, places of worship, hotels and places frequented by foreigners.

The U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand issued similar alerts early this week that expanded previous travel warnings for the volatile southern Philippines, where Muslim rebels and al-Qaida militants are active, to include the capital, Manila.

Australia, citing unspecified but reliable reports, said an attack in Manila may be imminent.

Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has said that the military and police have not uncovered any specific threat. Still, government forces in Manila have been put on the highest state of readiness.

Security has been stepped up at malls and airports, where police increased their visibility with bomb-sniffing dogs and baggage inspections.

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday expressed dismay at the series of security advisories. He said his government was not informed about the advisories even though they came from the country's allies.

He said they jeopardized the tourism industry and added "unnecessary anxiety to our citizens."

"I think it's blown out of proportion," he said in an interview with ABS-CBN television, adding his government would express its displeasure.

A Philippine official told The Associated Press on Wednesday the warnings may have come from a confidential terrorist threat assessment report by Western security officials indicating that Muslim extremists may attack a popular Manila mall, a trade center and political figures, including two Manila-based Asian diplomats. The official, who monitors security threats, spoke on condition of anonymity due to a lack of authority to talk to the press.

The Philippines, including its capital, has been hit by deadly terrorist attacks in the past.

Despite years of battle setbacks, Muslim militants, including those from the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf, have continued to plot attacks, at times collaborating with Indonesian militants, according to the military.

Abu Sayyaf militants were blamed for the bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay in 2004, setting off an inferno that killed 116 people. A year later, the militants claimed responsibility for bombings of a bus in Manila and two southern towns that killed eight people and wounded more than 100 others.

^^It's time that Philippines should also issue Travel Warning to those countries. Grabe ang dami na nilang Terrorism attacks lalo na yung bansang kung basta basta nag-issue ng travel warning eh sa sarili nilang bansa hindi maprotektahan... :ohno::ohno::ohno:

they are hypocrites..
they should warn their population not to leave their own homes instead!!

there may be a hidden agenda here. sounds strange, but it seems this advisories are being done to prevent influx of more foreign tourists in the Philippines which will further appreciation of the peso.

Something tells me this could have blessing from the PHGov

i think has something to do more with capital flowing to south east asia not just the Philippines..
it does sound like a conspiracy.

Welcome to Thread 11! :cheers:

Keep posting forumers :okay:

Link to Thread 10 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=435396&page=354&highlight=travel+tourism+industry+compiled+threads)

Tom: Camsur a favorite tourism destination; Gwen: Not so
Lessons are better learned from the smaller lot.

Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña of the south district said he believes lack of focus and wrong priorities were the reason Cebu was dropped from the list of Top Island Destinations in the 2010 magazine survey by Conde Nast.

He said Camarines Sur has beaten Cebu as a tourism site, especially for water sports enthusiasts even if it lacks an international airport or Cebu’s natural assets.

“This will come as a reality check to the Cebuanos that CamSur, 34th from poorest in the Philippines, is now one of the top 10 richest province,” the congressman said.

Osmeña said Camarines Sur officials were more effective in promoting their province because they don't focus on themselves.

“As far as Cebu City is concerned, we just have to do it without the province and I think we can do it,” Osmeña said.

At the Capitol, Governor Garcia said Cebu province still remained the top tourism destination in the Philippines.

The governor, has had bitter exchanges with Osmeña on many issues, said the congressman has been giving out wrong information without proof.

“I don't think that there should even be a competition (between Camsur and Cebu)...I don't think it should be patriotic for anyone or even more so to trying to put down his own province against another.”

Camarines Sur, the largest among the six provinces of the Bicol Region, is known for its white sand beaches and water adventure sports.

Among its attractions is the three-year-old Camsur Water Sports Complex that offers facilities for wakeboarding, water skiing, kneeboarding and wake skating.

Camarines Sur also attracted 20,000 runners in the country and the world when it hosted a full 42K marathon last September.

Osmeña joined Vice Mayor Joy Agustus Young and Cebu City councilors for a four-day “lakbay aral” or field trip to Camarines Sur this week.

They toured the water sports facilities and were shown the approaches taken by Camarines Sur to develop their tourism industry. The province gained international recognition when it hosted the Ironman triathlon.

Osmeña credited Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. who he said was “very focused and dedicated in selling the province.”

“He (Villafuerte) creates a lot of activities. He invites the national media, and he goes out of his way to show the province,” the congressman said.

Osmeña said Cebu was left behind because the tourism thrust was set on the wrong priorities.

“Our governor likes to show her face. That's all she wants, to show her face. How will that help tourism in Cebu?” he said a reference to Garcia’s frequent appearance in advertisements and marketing materials of Cebu province activities like the Suroy-Suroy, the annual Horse Show and Riding Competition renamed Governor’s Cup, sports events, award ceremonies, etc.

Governor Garcia, however, cited figures of the Department of Tourism (DOT), which showed that tourist arrivals in Cebu reached 734,531 from January to March compared to Camarines Sur's 348,344.

Updated data from the DOT in Central Visayas showed that Cebu's tourist arrivals from January to September reached 1,313,585.

Last year, tourist arrivals reached 1,615,982 (January to December) or higher than the 1,566,457 visitors who went to Camarines Sur in 2009.

Garcia said Cebu also enjoys 420 domestic flights weekly as well as 70 international flights. There are also an average of 20 chartered international flights weekly.

The governor said using her face in promoting Cebu province was a strategy based on the communication models of Marshall Mcluhan who is best known for his axiom “the medium is the message.”

“I do use my face. Of course there are those that don't, pareha niya, nga pleasant man gihapon tanaw akong naong. Tingali ug ang iyang naowng ang ibutang wala gyud siguro mo join sa Suroy-Suroy...,” said Garcia .

She said Governor Villafuerte whom she described as a good friend, also used his face in promoting his province.

“He himself promotes wake boarding with a picture of himself on a wake board. It suits him because he’s good looking and well built. He doesn't have a bulging stomach. He looks good.”

“The subliminal message in any activity that involves tourism, is that if the chief executive's face is made part of the promotion, the provincial government stands squarely behind that project. That sends a very important message loud and clear.”

Osmeña said that unlike Camarines Sur, Cebu province was not surrounded by efficient personnel to help oversee the administration’s plans specially on tourism.

“The people around her (Garcia) have no talent. They all make sipsip ... ego tripping, “ Osmena said.

He revived his criticism against the P800 million Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) as Garcia’s “failed” project for Cebu’s livelihood and tourism.

“She likes grand entrances. She likes to have grandeur but not for the province but herself,” he added.

Garcia, however, said that in her six-year-old administration, she has done a lot to improve infrastructure for tourism and improve the image of Cebu for visitors such as her latest trip to the province of Hainan in the People’s Republic of China.

Garcia said Cebu's acceptance into an exclusive international islands group was aimed at promoting tourism.

“We have scored a tremendous image promotion in Hainan,” Garcia said.

The Inter-Island Tourism Forum Policy (ITOP) incldues the best islands for tourism such as Hainan, Bali in Indonesia, Jeju Island in South Korea, Prince Edward in Canada, Southern Province in Sri Lanka, Phuket Island in Thailand, Okinawa in Japan, Kampong Cham in Cambodia, and among others.

In the meeting at Hainan, Cebu was present on observer status.

Next year on Jeju Island in South Korea, Cebu will be accepted as a regular member of the ITOP, said Garcia.

Governor Garcia said the province is putting up clean comfort rooms in the towns especially for tourists. She said lighting dark streets along the highway is the responsibility of the national government since these highways are under the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“We are also doing something about it...we help our towns light up their major thoroughfares. We have distributed thousands of electric posts and street lampposts,” she added.

Congressman Osmeña said Cebu's tourism plan was not integrated.

“Here, it’s to each his own. There is no interconnection between all these resorts. Each one has to have their own island hopping facility. There is no integration,” he said.

The congressman said he has a long term plan to put together tourism establishments like resorts, shopping malls and clubs at the South Reclamation Project (SRP).

“At the SRP, we will make things different there. There is going to be a very strong integration. “ he said.

This will include trips to Bohol, scuba diving trips, island hopping trips and a water sports site.

Osmeña said Russian, Taiwan and Korean markets will be among their targets because they are an internationally emerging market.

He also said that they still need to study tourism condition to point out more viable target markets.

“We don’t make something we like and sell it to the world. We have to find out what the world wants,” Osmeña said.http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20101106-301743/Tom-Camsur-a-favorite-tourism-destination-Gwen-Not-so

What does CamSur surpass Cebu?
Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said members of the Cebu City Council are touring Camarines Sur province to see why it is now a more preferred tourist destination than Cebu.

The educational tour is part of the council’s responsibilities, Young said in an interview.

Observers say the booming tourism in Camarines Sur contributed to Luzon’s high ranking in this year’s Conde Naste Top Islands survey.

The vice mayor said that he wanted to dispel notions that the councilors shelved budget deliberations last Tuesday to do “suroy-suroy.”

“I don't want people thinking that we are merely going on trips without attending to our work.”

Last year’s tourist arrival figures from the Department of Tourism (DOT) ranked Camarines Sur behind Cebu by 49,535 tourists.

Cebu had 1,615,982 tourists arrivals, a 1.24-prcent increase from 2008 figures.

Camarines Sur on the other hand grew by 117.25 percent with 1,566,447 arrivals last year compared with only 721,024 in 2008.

Then DOT secretary Ace Durano said events like the 1st Aqua Fest Celebrity Challenge, Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, International Dragon Boat Competition and Bagasbas Summer Surf boosted Camarines Sur’s tourist arrivals.

Foreign arrivals, mostly from Australia and the United Kingdom rose 56.1 percent to 308,235.

In the DOT ranking, Metro Manila came in third followed by Baguio City and Davao City, which completed the top five.

Young said 10 of 18 councilors, enough for a quorum, were present at the 9 a.m. session on Tuesday.

They were to deliberate on Cebu City’s proposed P1.3-billion Supplemental Budget 5.

But Councilor Jose Daluz, chairman of budget committee, called up to request postponement of the hearing to Nov. 9 since the department heads were unprepared.

“I agreed to the postponement although reluctant,” Young said.

“Some councilors even got angry because they cancelled their vacations to attend the budget hearing.”

This was the reason they were slighted by news reports that the hearing was deferred anew due to lack of quorum, Young said.

“It was made to appear that we were going on a pleasure trip. That’s not true.”http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20101105-301548/What-does-CamSur-surpass-Cebu

In some ways competition between cities is a good thing. The local officials of both cities will endeavor to initiate programs that will further their goals of attracting more tourists, trying to outdo each other in a competitively friendly manner. They will learn from each others’ best practices too, like what the Cebuanos hope to do in visiting CamSur. Let us hope it is not just suroy-suroy though.

Camsur coming out ahead of Cebu should be a catalyzing influence for Cebu’s tourism movers.

In some ways competition between cities is a good thing. The local officials of both cities will endeavor to initiate programs that will further their goals of attracting more tourists, trying to outdo each other in a competitively friendly manner. They will learn from each others’ best practices too, like what the Cebuanos hope to do in visiting CamSur. Let us hope it is not just suroy-suroy though.

Camsur coming out ahead of Cebu should be a catalyzing influence for Cebu’s tourism movers.

Partly I am glad that CamSur surpassed Cebu, for I am no longer contented with the way Cebu LGU's are handling the tourism sector in Cebu. This will be a wake up call for them.

So Cebu lang ba ang dapat magising? :D

Hello Ilocos! Hello Region 2! Hello Western Visayas! Hello Samar!! Hello Davao!!! Gumising na kayo!!

Oh yeah, dapat pala magising muna si Sec. Lim. :lol:

^^Sa palagi kong sinabi, if all of the places in Philippines with tourism potentials, will follow the lead from CamSur, tourism growth might surpass that of BPO.

^^Sa palagi kong sinabi, if all of the places in Philippines with tourism potentials, will follow the lead from CamSur, tourism growth might surpass that of BPO.

CamSur did something right, it capitalised its own strengths. Back then the province wasn't known for sports so they built the wakeboarding center.

Each destination should capitalise on its strengths, kung kulang, dagdagan. Wag tutulog tulog.

Iloilo and Bacolod can capitalise on football and build world class stadiums and host international sporting events. Boracay will be hosting the Asian Beach Games already. In 2 years, Kalibo will celebrate 800 years of Ati-atihan. Manila can revamp itself as the Rio of Asia and the Aliwan Fiesta can be magnified 100x and turn it into a party that will dwarf the Mardi Gras.

Naku, andaming ideas kung ideas lang.

HINT FROM CAMSUR : Elect young, energetic, passionate and innovative officials.

@rain, we can capitalize on sports tourism and eco-tourism.

HINT FROM CAMSUR : Elect young, energetic, passionate and innovative officials.

@rain, we can capitalize on sports tourism and eco-tourism.

yep, pati yung cultural experiences. Cordillera can have centers where tourists are taught how to weave, tie the bahag, etc. Bicol and other regional centers can also open culinary centers which targets tourists. For example, pagbisita ko ng Bicol, I can have a 1-2 days cooking classes in local cuisine. Cebu travelers can have dance classes (Sinulog style)... Siquijor can focus on healing, traditional medicine, hilot. A hilot centre..

Wala akong natatandaan na notable event that Cebu hosted this year aside from the usual festivities. Cebu badly needs some marketing innovation.

Wala akong natatandaan na notable event that Cebu hosted this year aside from the usual festivities. Cebu badly needs some marketing innovation.

There was an annual beach party event before dubbed as Jamaican Nights (something like Spring Break in the US)...Audience population spiked from few hundreds to nearly ten thousand in just 5 years.

It could have been an additional must-see for party-goer tourists...I wonder why it seems no more Jamaican Nights since last year.

There was an annual beach party event before dubbed as Jamaican Nights (something like Spring Break in the US)...Audience population spiked from few hundreds to nearly ten thousand in just 5 years.

It could have been an additional must-see for party-goer tourists...I wonder why it seems no more Jamaican Nights since last year.

Ngek, bakit Jamaican? Fail naman ang nagpangalan nyan.

Partly I am glad that CamSur surpassed Cebu, for I am no longer contented with the way Cebu LGU's are handling the tourism sector in Cebu. This will be a wake up call for them.


Malakas and very effective din ang marketing campaign ng CamSur. No wonder na mabilis yung pag-angat nila sa tourism. :)

RP Pavilion voted most relaxing at Shanghai Expo

The Philippine pavilion was chosen as the “Most Relaxing Pavilion” during the recently concluded 2010 Shanghai Expo.

http://www.unlawyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/The-facade-of-the-Philippine-pavilion-at-the-Shanghai-Expo-2010.jpg

http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=13237

Davao Oriental Photos

Photos courtesy of Roy Ponce

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4364875&id=748924380
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http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs191.snc4/37894_413930114380_748924380_4365869_1494698_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs196.snc4/38138_412966569380_748924380_4337521_4886072_n.jpg

^^

beautiful pics....:cheers:

A Pampanga getaway for bon vivants
CULTURE VULTURE By Therese Jamora-Garceau (The Philippine Star) Updated November 07, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments

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Serving Pinoy pride: Run by the LJC Restaurant Group, Abe restaurant at Abe’s Farm in Magalang, Pampanga, specializes in authentic Kapampangan cuisine. Photos by JOVEN CAGANDE


Looking for a weekend getaway rich in romance, gustatory pleasure and Filipino-style pampering? Follow in the footsteps — literally — of one of the Philippines’ great bon vivants and head to Magalang, Pampanga, where you’ll find Abe’s Farm.

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Arayat, Abe’s Farm was the weekend retreat of the late, great Larry J. Cruz, founder of the LJC Restaurant Group, and now his family has opened it to the public.

“We’re trying to make sure that we keep the legacy that my father has passed on,” says Larry’s daughter Lorna Cruz-Ambas. “The idea of having a farm here started when my grandfather, Emilio Aguilar Cruz (popularly known as Abé), died. Part of his ashes was strewn on the foothills of Mt. Arayat, and the germ of an idea of having a vacation house here started.”

In his native province of Pampanga, LJC acquired a property so pastoral it was adjacent to livestock ranches, and developed it as a rest house and farm, where they grew fruits and vegetables, “just enough to give to friends and to supply the restaurants.”

Now the main house, which was designed by Cruz and artist-architect friend Agustin Goy as a “grand bahay kubo,” has been converted into an airy restaurant overlooking a garden and swimming pool. The house is Filipino down to its bones, made of native wood, bamboo and cogon grass. But personal items like faded photographs and a hat rack from which LJC’s trademark Panamas still hang are oddly moving and remind you that, yes, a very tight-knit family once lived here, and still do, in fact.

“We’d spend long weekends here, hold birthday parties, and LJC would invite his friends,” continues Ambas.

More importantly, friends wanted to come over in numbers so significant it couldn’t fail to catch the enterprising restaurateur’s notice. Wanting to pay tribute to his late father, Abe Cruz, who was a painter, ambassador, journalist, gourmet and all-around lover of the good life (as Larry himself was), in 2007 LJC put up Abe restaurant in Serendra serving Kapampangan cuisine. He also published a book and built the E. Aguilar Museum at the farm to showcase Abe’s life and works.
Light and refreshing: Pako salad with salted egg and onion

“It was my father’s idea for it to be called Abe’s Lifestyle Village with a restaurant, spa, museum … and to complete the package, arts and handicrafts showcasing the local flavor of Pampanga,” Ambas says. “It was fast-tracked when he got sick; he sat us down and said, ‘Do this, do that.’”

Alas, LJC, who died in February 2008, never saw his dream fully realized.

But today we can enjoy the fulfillment of his vision thanks to Lorna and partners Merlie de la Peña and Eugene Billones, who now run Abe’s Farm together with operations manager Dominic Diaz and LJC marketing manager Malou Evidente.

Start your weekend with a great meal

Technically, the restaurant at the farm is a branch of Abe in Serendra, featuring the same Kapampangan cuisine but authentic down to its ingredients. One standout dish is the refreshing pako salad with salted egg and onion, made of farm-to-table baby fiddlehead fern.

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Light and refreshing: Pako salad with salted egg and onion


After such a light and healthy appetizer you can eat the chicharones with conviction and less guilt: these crispy pork-rind curls with the fat decadently attached are not to be missed. Also excellent are the burong mangga and sinigang na bangus belly with bayabas — the guava used as the souring ingredient gives this sinigang a distinctive, unique flavor.

Among the mains my favorite was Lola Ising’s adobo, which is crisped in the deep fryer after being cooked in soy and vinegar. Also offered at Fely J’s in Greenbelt 5, this dish is named after Larry’s mom, who wanted the family adobo deep-fried before it was served with lots of toasted garlic. An utterly soul-satisfying dish, the brilliant Lola Ising definitely knew what she was doing.

For a vegetable accompaniment, try the Kapampangan version of pinakbet, which adds squash to the vegetable medley and is sautéed, not just boiled. The bagoong employed is also made of real shrimp, and not mere fish paste.

For dessert, let an LJC signature, Sekreto ni Maria, reveal her secrets: soft, fresh little logs of suman and mango slices steeping in a heavenly bath of gatas damulag (carabao’s milk) and ice cream. You will savor other desserts like the sweetened saba (plantains) and tibok-tibok (another carabao-milk confection), but believe me, Sekreto ni Maria will command your full appreciation.

After such a wonderful feast, we had to meet the chefs, Carmelo “Ninoy” Aquino and Leonila Caballero-Pitogo, both of whom have worked for LJC for over 20 years. After perusing the rest of the menu I was only sorry I couldn’t stay for breakfast, which features a roster of local favorites like pork longganisa hamonado and Magalang dried fish.

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The good life: The E. Aguilar Cruz Museum at Abe’s Farm showcases the life and works of artist, ambassador and journalist Abe Cruz.

Hut two, three, four

Aside from the food, another lure of Abe’s Farm is its mini-spa village. In inviting native huts, you can indulge in a full-body massage (aromatherapy is an option) or, for those reluctant to commit to lengthy pampering, foot therapy or a 30-minute head and shoulder massage.

While the air-conditioned huts can be booked for overnight stays, those who crave an even more authentic Filipino experience can stay in ulogs, or raised Ifugao huts, with their futon-like beds and living area with hammock below.

‘Elegance is the worn patina of things valued and treasured’

After a meal like that, however, we felt compelled to walk the property’s hilly terrain. A bridge and steps set into the hillsides led us to the E. Aguilar Cruz Museum, a 1930s Art Deco house that LJC bought mainly for the beauty of its wrought-iron grills. Intending to use it as a restaurant, Larry and friend Agustin Goy set about rebuilding the fixer-upper, but, rotted by age and termites, only 50 percent of the house could be salvaged. Goy had to resort to parts from pulled-down houses in Masantol, Pampanga, to fill in the rest.

Cruz, according to Goy, fell in love with the design, with its tri-color Venetian glass windows, distressed old wood and traditional furniture, which squared perfectly with LJC’s philosophy: “Things should never be too new or shiny,” he once said. “Elegance is the worn patina of things valued and treasured. And it’s not just material things.”

So it’s telling that instead of being turned into an eatery, the house is now dedicated to Abe Cruz’s art and memorabilia honoring not just him but his son, and their lives as writers, gourmets and bon vivants.

An innovation that trumpets an innovator

“Abe’s Farm is a treasure in the LJC Group of Companies, the most multi-awarded group of dining companies in cuisine,” says Judith Marie Dayrit, MasterCard vice president for marketing and member relations. “They’re innovative in the kind of dishes they prepare, and have over 1,000 dishes!”

Wanting to herald this treasure, 18 months ago MasterCard partnered with the LJC Group and RCBC to create the very first dining credit card offering loyalty rewards and discounts.

“Pinoys love to eat with family, friends, and business associates,” explains Dayrit, “and we want to demonstrate our national pride in our Filipino cuisine.”

If you stay at Abe’s Farm, eat at the restaurant and relax at the spa, whenever you use the LJC RCBC Bankard MasterCard, you automatically get 10 percent off. And this applies not just to the farm but also LJC’s 13 restaurants, all the time.

“These benefits are on a year-round basis, not on promo or weekend periods,” says Irene Taylo, RCBC Bankard associate vice president for marketing. “You can use it for birthdays, frequent dining, and special occasions.”

“There’s also zero-percent interest and no minimum spend required,” adds Dayrit. “As long as you use the LJC Bankard MasterCard in paying for your dining under LJC Group, you can avail of benefits 365 days a year.”

And it’s a runaway success. The only credit card on the market featuring an original painting by Emilio Aguilar Cruz, 20,000 have been issued already. “You cannot match the discounts and benefits given by LJC, so this credit card/dining card and its benefits are already being copied,” Taylo says. “For Abe’s Farm, you get a 10-percent discount on a weekend vacation stay plus food and spa.”

That’s an offer any lover of the good life could get behind.

* * *

To inquire/reserve at Abe’s Farm, call the Manila office at 506-8140/41, the Pampanga office at (045) 865-1930, or visit www.abesfarm.com.ph.

Going green in El Nido
RENDEZVOUS By Christine S. Dayrit (The Philippine Star) Updated November 07, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments

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The comely cove of Apulit Island (formerly Club Noah Resort) will open on Dec. 1

Once in a magical while, we are whisked off to dreamy paradise destinations worth leaving everything behind for. Here, in this nirvana of solemnity and silence, we marvel at God’s precious creations claiming in our hearts that nature’s finest resources are divine gifts to us and what we do with them is our gift back to the Creator.

A recent trip to El Nido Resorts proved to be an excursion back to the essentials. El Nido is a crown jewel of astonishing aquamarine and turquoise watery hues replete with shimmering white sand beaches. Around it are crimson fronds of swaying palms against a dramatic backdrop of centuries-old limestone caves where numerous varieties of flora and fauna endemically thrive. The underwater scene here is densely populated by diverse denizens that once you’re in the waters, the teeming marina of eclectic fish feed off your bare hands.

El Nido Resorts operates two luxury eco-resorts on Lagen Island and Miniloc Island within the El Nido Protected Area in northern Palawan. Its sister resort on Apulit Island in nearby Taytay, formerly Club Noah, will be opening on Dec. 1 this year. Like its two sister resorts in El Nido, Apulit Island Resort boasts pristine location that showcases a wealth of wildlife and colorful tropical fishes and scenic landscapes. The resort has a total of 50 water cottages equipped with intercom, hot/cold shower, and bath amenities. Graciously crafted in traditional Filipino architectural style, the cottages are built on stilts, perched above the sea with an unobstructed view of Palawan’s azure Taytay Bay.

Priceless treasures of nature’s bounty is synergized with modern amenities in the resort’s luxurious lodgings especially the new 10 eco-friendly seaview rooms in Miniloc and the gorgeous suites on stilts in Lagen. Delightful cuisine is lovingly prepared by no less than celebrity guest chefs Buddy Trinidad of Park Avenue Desserts, Gilbert Pangilinan and Rolly Laudico.

You are spoilt for choice by an endless array of activities from dining under the stars in your own private cove, spelunking in the dramatic stalactite and stalagmite dotted caves, frolicking with the giant jack fish who playfully swim with you by the shore, and creatively executed wedding proposals or renewals with the colossal limestone cliffs as principal witnesses.

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A school of sergeant major fish tightly guards the cabanas in Lagen.

El Nido is this year’s recipient of the Sustainable Hotel Award and last year’s recipient of the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award. Truly, “green” has fully soaked into the mainstream, and this is a dynamic achievement. In fact, the logo of El Nido contains the acronym GREEN (which means “Guard, Respect, Educate El Nido) and all its efforts in conservation and preservation have definitely not gone to waste. This is actually the new luxury, which is about simplifying our lives and removing the unnecessary clutter that erodes our sensitivity to what is precious. The shift from the ostentatious and opulent to what is real and authentic is a moment of illumination. To appreciate nature and work towards its sustainability defines quality over quantity, acts over acquisitions, the intrinsic value of a thing of beauty and grace rather than its price tag.

It is no wonder that El Nido Resorts recently bagged the Sustainable Hotel Award in the Sustainable Destination category at the recent 21st Annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Hong Kong. The HICAP, attended by leading industry professionals, is Asia’s biggest and longest running hotel investment conference. The Sustainable Hotel Awards were launched in 2007 to recognize hotels in the Asia Pacific region to demonstrate exemplary sustainable practices and to inspire industry-wide commitment to sustainable development and operations.

In this ecological sanctuary, simply observing everyday occurrences is already a treat. Be ready to be awed by a kingfisher that suddenly dives into the water like a splashing bomb as it attempts to catch its prey. Or be mesmerized as the black and orange sea urchins guide you through the smaller lagoons as they line the sandy bottom of the sea. The gurgle of the azure water below calls our attention to silvery blue starfish, orange and white striped “nemo” fish and we gamefully use the mountains that stand like proud sentinels as echo boards where the sound we make reverberates in praise and worship. All of a sudden, we appreciate the luxury of time that we have taken to be here, and realize that the best way to appreciate our blessings is to know exactly what they are.

This particular trip was a very special one because I was in the company of my favorite friends in the world, my childhood friend Rita Saguin-Trinidad and her loving husband, chef Buddy. Buddy has joined our otherwise girls-weekend bash to work on new recipes of food and desserts for El Nido’s new menu. What a treat to be the royal food tasters. We sampled the melt-in-your mouth cream puff, the banana and butterscotch cream pie with strawberry and mangoes. Breads ranging from Danish to cinnamon rolls, croissants to French baguettes, sourdough and dinner rolls, which are all baked fresh daily.

Breakfast boasts an omelet station where you can have your eggs any way you like it — with ham and cheese or just egg whites, vegetarian to everything-on-it omelet. Lunch and dinner provide guests with a wide array of choices on the buffet spread, as well as a grill station, a pasta station and a Mongolian grill. The chef will also accommodate any special dietary needs and requests. Sustainable cuisine, new in the industry, comes with working with nature within the principles of the natural world. You are savoring food that is grown and harvested by the local community.

Also among the new desserts on the menu are dark chocolate caramel cake, white chocolate mango and banana caramel mousse. An exciting addition to the resort’s buffet is a crepe station with an assortment of fresh fruit and sauces that you can customize to your heart’s delight.
Miniloc Resort’s new sea view room gives guests a spectacular view of Bacuit Island.

Chef Buddy honed his skills at Los Angeles Trade Tech in the early ‘80s and worked in some of the country’s top restaurants like Michaels in Sta. Monica and New York, Noa Noa and the Peninsula in Beverly Hills, where he prepared gustatory obra maestras for the likes of Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Michael Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, and Stars in San Francisco. Further education was acquired at the Ecole du Grand Chocolat Valrona in T’ain l’Hermitage in France and The Notter School of Pastry in Miami Florida under world-class pastry chef Ewald Notter.

Over a sumptuous surf-and-turf dinner with the finest wine on a private isle in El Nido, Buddy shared with us an unforgettable memory of one whimsical proposal that took place by the romantic limestone cliffs. The Big Lagoon has seen its share of excitement and drama. A few years ago, the staff staged a candlelight dinner for two on a bamboo raft in the middle of the lagoon as enchanting ballads filled the air and a gentleman proposed to his fiancée by having the words “Will You Marry Me?” on a giant tarpaulin hanging by the side of one of the limestone cliffs. On cue, as she found the sparkling diamond ring in her dessert, the spotlight highlighted the message on the cliff. It was truly a special moment in time.

The lagoon was also used for very important dinners like the one for Queen Sofia of Spain with 12 singers serenading her with love songs on a separate bamboo raft. A four-course dinner was served as all their voices echoed in the cliffs. The resort also served a distinguished head of state with a memorable dinner for 40 people in a pristine sandbar replete with a full bar set up and working kitchen.

Our last afternoon in El Nido was spent kayaking as we watched the sunset slowly disappearing on the golden horizon. Fruit bats dramatically flew past one corner of the island to the other as their silhouette cast shadows overhead. This is El Nido, where magical memories are created to be savored in the pages of our mind. As the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever, nature preserved remains as timeless and ageless. This is stewardship — it is time to heed its call.

* * *

For more information or reservations, call El Nido Resorts sales office at 894-5644, or email holiday@elnidoresorts.com, or visit www.elnidoresorts.com. El Nido Resorts is also offering pre-opening specials for guests visiting Apulit Island Resort on Dec. 1 to 20. For more information, contact El Nido Resorts.

Traveling A–Z: Camiguin
By Henrylito D. Tacio
November 6, 2010, 5:12pm

http://www.mb.com.ph/sites/default/files/Traveling-A-Z_3.jpg
Mount Hibok-Hibok

"A remote, unspoiled paradise” is how “All-Asia Travel Guide” describes Camiguin, an island-province approximately 90 kilometers north of Cagayan de Oro City.

The province is literally “born of fire” as it has more volcanoes than municipalities. Camiguin has only five municipalities (Catarman, Guinisiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, and Sagay) but it has seven volcanoes (Mount Vulcan Daan, Mount Mambajao, Mount Karling, Mount Uhay, Guinisiliban Peak, Tres Marias Mountain, and Mount Hibok-Hibok). Not surprisingly though, it has earned the distinction of having the most number of volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island on earth (it has a total land area of 238 square kilometers).

This tiny island has a lot of attractions, ranging from green forests and mythical volcanoes to eternal hot and cold natural springs, from pristine patches of black and white beaches, majestic waterfalls, exotic marine life and blue-ridge mountains, to serene surroundings.

Going around the island’s 64-kilometer circumferential road on a motorbike is sheer fun — and highly recommended by locals. Motorbikes may be rented at reasonable rates in the capital town of Mambajao.

Fast facts

Camiguin is number seven in the top diving spots in the world. It is also famous for its craftworks. Blessed with a natural artistry and abundance of a variety of handicraft materials, the people have long been making baskets, pottery, metal works, and other products.

Camiguin is known for two activities: Lanzones Festival and Panaad.

Lanzones Festival — in honor of the tropical fruit that grows profusely in the island — is celebrated every year in October with a weekend of street dancing, parade, and pageants in the town of Mambajao.

Points of interest:

Katibawasan Falls — Some five kilometers southeast of Mambajao at the foot of Mount Timpoong, the falls tumble down into a green pool; ideal for a refreshing swim. Giant ferns decorate the surrounding land, carpeting for space with huge trees and dropping vines.

Tuasan Falls — Located six kilometers northeast of Catarman, the pool below the waterfalls is deep and clear. The surrounding scenery is unspoiled and perfect for a peaceful picnic; the only sounds around you are those of the tumbling falls and running water.

Bura soda water swimming pool — It’s only here where you can swim in a pool of soda water. It has great scenery over the fields and the seas as its cold water is refreshing to bathers and picnickers. Located in Bura, Catarman.

Ardent hot springs — A government-run resort located at the foot of Mount Hibok-Hibok, the place has a four-tiered pool of varying depths and warmth.

Tangub hot springs — Located 12 kilometers west of Mambajao, it is a volcanic hot spring below the sea bed. The small area is formed by a pool of sea stones and corals and is completely undeveloped. Water temperatures turn from cold to lukewarm, warm and hot as the tide changes.

Sto. Niño cold spring — Located four kilometers north uphill of Catarman proper, it has a pool measuring 25 meters by 40 meters and 1/2 meter deep of cold spring water sprouting from its sandy bottom.

Santo Rosario Church — An old church which was built in 1882 that is found in Sagay.

The sunken cemetery — Marked by a large white cross, this has a superb sunset and an ideal place for snorkeling and diving.

Ruins of San Roque Church — Located in Gui-ob, Bonbon, Catarman, this church was ruined by the eruption of Old Vulcan Daan in 1871. It is a monument with thick century-old walls, belfry, and convent reminiscent of the second Spanish settlement established in 1697.

Mount Hibok-Hibok — The only active volcano in the island has a 1,250-meter slope. A crater lake and stream serve as outlets in many places at the peak. A clear view of the entire island and Bohol beyond can be seen on clear days.

White Island — Also known as Medan Island, it is located two kilometers across from the beaches of Agohay and Yumbing. Aside from the fact that the island is purely white sands, it also vanishes during high tide.

Mantigue Island — This island, located three kilometers offshore across from Hubangon and San Roque in Mahinog, is only four hectares with evergreen forest, fringed with white granule sand beaches. A fishing village is found in the north of the island. One side of the island is a white sand beach with coral offshore, and the opposite side provides a deep drop-off for snorkeling and diving.

Taguines Lagoon — Located at Benoni, Mahinog. This is a man-made lagoon mantled by limpid water, large cliffs and gently rolling hills. The brackish water is engulfed by a century-old crater; ideal for boating and fishing.

How to get there:

Camiguin is accessible by air and sea from Cebu City; but trips are limited only. Most fly in to Cagayan de Oro City, which is 84 kilometers away from the port of Balingoan. For those who would like to bring their own vehicles to Camiguin, some of the ferryboats at Balingoan Port can transport cars, pick-ups, vans, and even large trucks to Benoni Port.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/286175/traveling-a-z-camiguin

In some ways competition between cities is a good thing. The local officials of both cities will endeavor to initiate programs that will further their goals of attracting more tourists, trying to outdo each other in a competitively friendly manner. They will learn from each others’ best practices too, like what the Cebuanos hope to do in visiting CamSur. Let us hope it is not just suroy-suroy though.

Camsur coming out ahead of Cebu should be a catalyzing influence for Cebu’s tourism movers.

im proud of CamSur! they are just doing their job! good work! :okay::okay::okay:

and for Cebu LGUs, its time to innovate and go the extra mile! its not about competing against our neighbors that we do it but rather we do it because its the best thing to do. change and innovate. :okay:

from Bacolod main thread....

Mambukal 2010

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CamSur did something right, it capitalised its own strengths. Back then the province wasn't known for sports so they built the wakeboarding center.

Each destination should capitalise on its strengths, kung kulang, dagdagan. Wag tutulog tulog.

Iloilo and Bacolod can capitalise on football and build world class stadiums and host international sporting events. Boracay will be hosting the Asian Beach Games already. In 2 years, Kalibo will celebrate 800 years of Ati-atihan. Manila can revamp itself as the Rio of Asia and the Aliwan Fiesta can be magnified 100x and turn it into a party that will dwarf the Mardi Gras.

Naku, andaming ideas kung ideas lang.

Correct, we need creativity here in promoting these destinations. The Philippines is as diverse as Malaysia and Indonesia, but they are able to promote their country better. If the Philippines had large tourism budgets and responsible officials, then we can easily hit PNoy's target of 6 million tourists before he leaves office.

yep, pati yung cultural experiences. Cordillera can have centers where tourists are taught how to weave, tie the bahag, etc. Bicol and other regional centers can also open culinary centers which targets tourists. For example, pagbisita ko ng Bicol, I can have a 1-2 days cooking classes in local cuisine. Cebu travelers can have dance classes (Sinulog style)... Siquijor can focus on healing, traditional medicine, hilot. A hilot centre..

But I think these places should also have higher end tourist accommodations, not just the basic ones. Like for the longest time Banaue only had the Banaue Hotel, and the newer ones don't come close to what the likes of major destinations like Cebu and Bohol have. There should be other opportunities for R&R, not just for learning. A number of tourists travel to get away from it all, not always to learn. If they had more time (like the European tourists), then yes, these activities would be great. But most domestic tourists have only up to 3-4 days at the most, so they'd probably try to maximize their rest periods while enjoying the sights at their destination. And the ones who usually have the big bucks to spend prefer a less adventurous type of holiday/vacation.

Wala akong natatandaan na notable event that Cebu hosted this year aside from the usual festivities. Cebu badly needs some marketing innovation.

Cebu has rested too much on its laurels, especially the Sinulog and the Feast of Senor Santo Nino. Cebu has a lot of historical sites, plus fine beaches, which in the long run the tourism officials have taken for granted.

Camarines Sur, on the other hand, has few nice beaches, gets visited by typhoons a lot during the monsoon season, and at some point in time had really bad roads. Not to mention at least a 7-9 hour drive to the major cities (Naga or Daet). Now they have regular flights, plus flights to Cebu.

Which can make for a good tourist itinerary...instead of going back to Manila, a tourist can now fly to Cebu, go to other destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao, and then drop by Naga or Legaspi, before heading back to Manila.

Koreans feel safe in Cebu — envoy

November 6, 2010, 8:08pm

CEBU CITY, Philippines (PNA) — Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Hye Min Lee has said he and his fellow Koreans feel safe in Cebu, a province which has a very good track record in security.

He issued this statement after at least six countries issued advisories to their citizens against traveling to the Philippines.

Around 15,000 Koreans currently live in Cebu and about 300,000 Korean tourists arrive in Cebu annually, Lee pointed out.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, whom the ambassador visited Friday, said she was surprised by the travel advisories and added these may wreak havoc on tourism plans.

“But then we just need to do the best that we can to prove that we are right here, establishing an atmosphere of security, of safety, not just for our residents but our visitors as well,” she said.

The travel advisories were issued by the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and France.

The six countries issued travel advisories following a foiled terror plot against the United States last week.

The advisories warned against visiting areas frequented by foreigners that could be potential targets of terror attacks.

Garcia said she has very high expectations of law enforcement agencies and has not received any threat in Cebu that may involve other provinces in Central Visayas.

Ambassador Lee, who was appointed last July, paid a courtesy call on the governor Friday.

“You see, the Korean investments in the Philippines are gradually on the rise and we expect more Korean investors to come to the Philippines,” he told reporters.

The governor said it was Lee’s first visit to Cebu and that he was impressed by the growth in Korean tourist arrivals. He is interested in initiating more official exchanges in training.

The Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco), under a joint venture with SPC Power, has built a 200-megawatt power plant in Naga, Cebu. It synchronized its first unit with the Visayas grid two weeks ago.

Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Erson Digal said Cebu remains “a very safe place to live,” amid the travel advisories and reports that 10 suspected terrorists were spotted in different parts of the country.

“Even if they haven’t come over here yet, we are already prepared,” Digal told reporters.

As a precaution, he instructed all the towns’ chiefs of police to conduct regular checkpoints.

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/286233/korean

‘LET TOURISTS STAY WITH THE POOR’
Cebu City dad suggests Camsur’s lodging
Inspired by Camarines Sur's successful tourism program, a Cebu City official said visitors to Cebu City should be offered bed-and-breakfast accommodations as an option to pricey hotels.

The twist is to offer the affordable lodging in urban poor homes, not upscale residences.

Barangay Luz is a good choice for a pilot area with its location near malls, said Councilor Alvin Dizon, chairman of the housing committee and one of 13 city councilors who joined the four-day “lakbay aral” tour to Camarines Sur in the Bicol region.

“This is a very good opportunity to boost tourism and at the same time our urban poor residents will have an extra income,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Dizon said Cebu City officials found out that Camarines Sur's bed-and-breakfast project offers local and foreign tourists a place to stay in resettlement areas. He said many tourists prefer the simple lodging, paying only P500 a day instead of P2,000 or more for a hotel room.

Attention on Camaraines Sur was heightened by results of the 2010 Conde Nast Traveler annual survey, reported in Cebu Daily News front page last Monday. Cebu was dropped from the list of Top Island Destinations, and replaced by Luzon in 7th place.

(Cebu, for four years, ranked 7th place in the international travel magazine's reader-based survey and 8th place for two years.)

The slide in ratings puzzled Cebu officials and even rekindled a word war between Rep. Tomas Osmeña and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia over leadership and priorities of tourism development.

Osmeña praised Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. for being “very focused” in developing water sports and promoting his province while blaming Garcia for promoting “her face” more than Cebu province.

Governor Garcia, in turn, said Osmeña was spreading “lies” that Cebu was no longer the no. 1 tourist destination, when statistics of the Department of Tourism show otherwise.

DOT official figures show that Camarines Sur drew the biggest number of domestic tourists in the country last year at 1,258,212 with a sharp 140 percent increase in a year's time.

But combining local and foreign visitors, Cebu is still the no. 1 tourist destination in the Philippines drawing in 1,615,982 tourists in 2009. Camarines Sur was close behind with 1,566,447. (See table.)

Councilor Dizon said he'll meet on Monday with the city housing board to discuss his idea of replicating a bed-and-breakfast program by next year.

Dizon was impressed with how Camarines Sur was using tourism revenues for programs to alleviate poverty and develop communities.

“If they can do that, then there is no reason why Cebu City can't do it,” Dizon said.

“This is also a good chance to make the tourists feel the hospitality of Cebuanos.”

He said barangay Luz would be a good pilot area as well as barangay Camputhaw and Mabolo.

Marlyn Paracuelles, president of the Association of Barangay Apas Community Association (ABACA), which has 1,200 urban poor households, said Councilor Dizon called them yesterday about the idea.

“We will welcome the program with open arms. It is another income-generating activity for our urban poor residents,” she told CDN.

Dizon said guidelines can be set with heads of urban poor organizations and City Hall's Division of Welfare of the Urban Poor for the pilot project.

The 13 councilors were expected to arrive to Cebu City last night.

Vice Mayor Augustus Young and Councilor Margot Osmena arrived last Friday.

Those who brought family members paid for their travel. For example, Margot was accompanied by husband Rep. Osmeña and their son Miguel.

Councilor Ritchie Osmeña brought her wife and one child. Councilor Eduardo Rama was accompanied by his wife.

Vice Mayor Young said the official travel cost about P100,000. Funds came from the travel budget of the vice mayor's office and the City Council.http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20101107-301912/Cebu-City-dad-suggests-Camsurs-lodging

Sabah, VisMin to join Northphil Expo 2010
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Nov. 3 (PNA) -- Tourism stakeholders from Visayas, Mindanao and as far as Sabah, Malaysia will join the North Philippines (NorthPhil) Tourism and Travel Expo 2010.

Central Luzon director Ronnie Tiotuico of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said the participation of tourism establishments across the entire archipelago, including the neighboring Sabah, could turn the NorthPhil Expo 2010 into a national and international event.

"Aside from the NorthPhil exhibitors from Luzon's far north in Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) to the far south in Region 5 (Bicol) and many others in between, popular destinations in Visayas and Mindanao have confirmed their participation in this event," Tiotuico said.

"They (NorthPhil exhibitors) include the Sabah Tourism Board, local government units in Western Visayas and South Central Mindanao, Boracay Regency Group of Resorts, Alta Vista Boracay, and Korea's Asiana Airlines, among others," he also said.

The NorthPhil Expo 2010 is slated to take place at the SM City Clark on November 12 to 14.

The three-day event will showcase the best tourism destinations, products and services in the country's northern regions.

It will also affirm the rise of this part of the Philippines as a domestic and international tourism hub.

Such distinction is being enhanced by the continuous development and transformation of former US military bases Clark and Subic into freeports serving as international gateways to Northern Philippines and the rest of Luzon, from which sea and air travel to other parts of the archipelago can be launched.

Luzon alone is gaining the distinction as a virtual "tourism mall" with its contiguous sprawl of rich and diverse natural and cultural attractions and destinations that can all be reached by land.

Many of those destinations are in the North, which will be aptly highlighted in the expo by the display pavilions of CAR, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, the provinces of Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and the exhibit booths of the Tourism Investment and Economic Zone Authority, Clark International Airport Corporation, Province of Zambales and various tourism organizations and many other corporate and government entities.

With the theme "Go North! A wellspring of diversity!", the expo also features corporate booths offering package tours, traders' displays of arts and crafts, and souvenirs and delicacies at farm gate prices.

There will also be theatrical presentations on the history and customs of the different regions, corporate game shows, product demonstrations and raffles, food preparations, and social and business functions.

The three-day event stands to gain exposure to a wide range of visitors, including the consumer traffic in SM City Clark, which has a land area of 17 hectares, total gross floor area of 100,000 square meters, and over 300 shops and restaurants frequented by thousands of domestic and foreign tourists daily.

The Clark Freeport Zone itself is a famous tourism hub with its own world-class international airport, golf course and many other attractions.

Supported by the Central Luzon Tourism Council, the expo is a project of the DOT offices in CAR, Ilocos and Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon. (PNA) http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Sabah_VisMin_to_join_Northphil_Expo_2010.shtml

Ayala Land raises stake in tourism sector

Acquires Palawan resort, breaks ground for Boni ho
By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:06:00 11/07/2010

Filed Under: Tourism, Investments, Hotels & accommodation


MANILA, Philippines—Property giant Ayala Land Inc. has raised its stake in Philippine tourism by taking over dormant upscale resort Club Noah Isabelle in Palawan and breaking ground in Fort Bonifacio for the first of its chain of boutique businessmen’s hotel.

In an interview on Friday, ALI chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael disclosed that the group had acquired the island resort Club Noah, which would eventually be folded into its portfolio of Palawan resorts under the Ten Knots Group, which owns the El Nido Resorts.

ALI struck last April a partnership deal with the group of former Energy Secretary Vincent Perez to develop more eco-friendly resorts in the country.

Club Noah, set up by a Japanese-led group of hoteliers that broke away from El Nido Resorts, is likewise a proponent of eco-friendly tourism. The 50-room exclusive resort sits on a 40-hectare island surrounded by pristine beaches, coral-abundant dive sites as well as rich flora and fauna.

“We’re refurbishing it already so by December it will be finished for a soft opening,” Ysmael said. As the existing facilities of the resort were in good condition, he said ALI would not have to spend much to revive the site.

The ALI executive said the intention would be to integrate Club Noah with El Nido, which is likewise currently being expanded. A third island resort is now being developed on Pangalucia Island, thus adding to the existing portfolio of El Nido Resorts on Lagen and Miniloc islands in northern Palawan. “That will be finished by the first quarter of next year in time for the summer season,” Ysmael said.

Club Noah, which shut down operations about two years ago, will be revived to become the fourth in what is envisioned to be an integrated island resort complex operated by the Ayala-led group in Palawan.

“With that, we’ll have a little over 200 rooms already with those four island resorts,” Ysmael said.

The ALI executive said Club Noah, once reopened, would have the same upscale market positioning at par with the existing El Nido resort in Miniloc. Based on Internet booking sites, the Miniloc resort is selling hotel rooms at more than $250 a night. Each of these island resorts has about 50 hotel rooms.

The newest El Nido resort currently being developed on the island of Pangalucia, he added, would likely be at the upper end of the price range.

The group is keen on expanding its presence in Palawan. “Hopefully, we can expand even within El Nido area beyond those four island resorts in a more integrated tourism play. We will probably eventually extend to middle-income [resort development] and not only focus on the high-end segment,” Ysmael said.

Likewise part of Ayala’s more active tourism play is the rollout of a boutique hotel chain under a new brand that would be publicly launched soon, Ysmael said. The chain seeks to bring to the market quality hotel rooms priced at $100 or below a night.

The executive said ALI had started building the new boutique hotels in key areas where the group has existing property.

Apart from the first 180-room boutique hotel in Fort Bonifacio that has started construction in front of One Serenda along 11th Avenue, Ysmael said ALI has identified three more sites in Quezon City, Alabang and Davao.

“Hopefully by the end of the year, we should have effectively started construction of all four. We’ve finished all planning,” Ysmael said, noting that the group was now seeking the necessary permits to start building the hotels.
http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20101107-302013/Ayala-Land-raises-stake-in-tourism-sector

YU YA Live in Manila
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ORCHESTRA CITTA di FIRENZE, LIVE IN MANILA
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the Cagayan de Oro lady rafting guides...

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^^ Dyos me na mga posing yan. :lol:

sa tuwid na daan kaya ako dadalhin ng mga guide na yan?:D

Those ladies look like they're advertising themselves, not the watersport. :ohno:

the Cagayan de Oro lady rafting guides...

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The first lady at the left side looks like you, GearX.

the Cagayan de Oro lady rafting guides...

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:cheers:

CamSur did something right, it capitalised its own strengths. Back then the province wasn't known for sports so they built the wakeboarding center.

Each destination should capitalise on its strengths, kung kulang, dagdagan. Wag tutulog tulog.

Iloilo and Bacolod can capitalise on football and build world class stadiums and host international sporting events. Boracay will be hosting the Asian Beach Games already. In 2 years, Kalibo will celebrate 800 years of Ati-atihan. Manila can revamp itself as the Rio of Asia and the Aliwan Fiesta can be magnified 100x and turn it into a party that will dwarf the Mardi Gras.

Naku, andaming ideas kung ideas lang.


800 years of Kalibo Ati-atihan? That long?

Duka Bay, Medina, Misamis Oriental

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Clinton visit shows PHL is safe, Aquino says
JAM L. SISANTE, GMANews.TV
11/08/2010 | 05:22 PM
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The visit of former US President Bill Clinton to the Philippines despite the US government’s travel warning on the country due to terror threats shows that the nation remains safe for tourists, President Benigno Aquino III said on Monday.

"I would assume that that would be a vote of confidence. The former (US) president has a Secret Service detail still assigned to him who would object if there was a realistic and imminent terrorist threat," Aquino told reporters in an ambush interview in Malacanang.

Clinton, who was US president from 1993 to 2001, will deliver a lecture titled “Embracing Our Common Humanity" at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday.

Clinton's visit came a week after the US State Department issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against traveling to the Philippines due to “high risk" of terrorist activity not only in Mindanao, but also in the country’s capital city, Manila.

“Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur not only in the southern islands but also in other areas, to include Manila," the US travel warning read.

Aquino has downplayed the travel warnings issued by the US and five other countries—the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and France—by saying they have no adequate basis because they were likely based on raw and invalidated intelligence reports.

Aquino reiterated on Monday that other governments should think twice about issuing travel warnings based on raw data."I will urge again, especially our allies, let us be careful and finish the analysis of all the raw data before issuing all of these advisories," he said.

He said other foreign travelers should take the cue from Clinton and not be fazed by the alleged threats, adding that the Philippine government has been "fine-tuning" its security measures.

"I think you are all witnesses to the fact that especially in the most sensational cases, our security services have been doing their job. If we have not been able to prevent all, we have managed to effect arrests and file cases on so many instances," Aquino said.

As examples, Aquino cited the surrender of the primary suspect in the September 26 Bar exams blast and the filing of cases in the bus explosion in Cotabato last month.

"Even in the first six cases of extralegal killings or suspected extralegal killings, the Secretary of Justice has informed me that we have filed cases on not less than five or six already and syempre (of course), we have to go through the process but we are highly confident that we will be securing convictions," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already sent notes verbale to the six countries asking them to explain why they issued the travel warnings. - KBK,
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/205454/clinton-visit-shows-phl-is-safe-aquino-says

US Ambassador: I feel safe here
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 11/08/2010 4:25 PM | Updated as of 11/08/2010 4:25 PM

MANILA, Philippines - United States Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. said it’s very safe to travel in the Philippines.

He himself is not worried. “I feel safe here in the country,” he said.

The US is 1 of 6 governments that posted travel advisories last week regarding “imminent terrorist attacks” in the Philippines.

The advisories raised concern among government officials, with some at a loss as to how these came about. No less than the intelligence officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines denied there were existing threats to the country’s security.

On Thursday, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said the advisories were based on “unverified” and “raw” intelligence reports.

Pursuant to Aquino’s instructions, the Department of Foreign Affairs already issued notes verbale to the 6 foreign embassies seeking clarification on their basis for the issuance of the travel advisories.
On the sidelines of a USAID event in Malate, Thomas said the much-hyped travel advisory has been around for 7 years.

The post seen on the embassy’s website was a mere update, he said.

“We update it every 6 months…and it never said don’t come to the Philippines…but we’ve had it for 7 years. We [also] have to be serious about safety and security,” he said.

He says the US is serious about fighting terrorism not only in the Philippines but all around the world.

“There's terrorism going on all around the world…look at what's happening in Yemen, the cargo ships, Athens, Berlin, none of these is direct to the Philippines. This is a global threat that we have to work together to protect all of our citizens,” he added.

He said the US will continue to work with the Philippine government to protect both nations’ citizens.

His statement also comes on the heels of the clarification from the United Kingdom.

In a statement to the Philippine embassy in London, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it did not change the “overall level of threat” in the Philippines.

What it did was merely add a “minor sentence” to “include a few general locations where terrorist attacks may take place.”

The FCO also supposedly said that travel advisories need to be “sensitive to the needs and perspective of the Philippines.” – from a report by Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/08/10/us-ambassador-i-feel-safe-here

http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/39853-First-new-build-Holiday-Inn-to-open-in-Manila?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TraveldailynewsLatestNews+%28TravelDailyNews.com+Latest+News%29

First new-build Holiday Inn to open in Manila
Monday, November 08, 2010

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, together with Ayala Land Inc., the largest and most experienced real estate developer in the Philippines, announced their strategic alliance to open the first Holiday Inn & Suites in Manila.

The 347-room Holiday Inn & Suites Makati will be the first purpose-built Holiday Inn property in the Philippines. The hotel will be built on top of a redeveloped Glorietta Mall in Ayala Center in Makati City, a major commercial and economic hub and home to headquarters and offices of many international companies.

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati will feature the look-and-feel, service standards and quality facilities that reflect the new Holiday Inn brand identity. This new development is expected to attract a healthy share of the corporate and Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) business given the hotel’s proximity to the international airport as well as other commercial facilities in Makati City, which is widely regarded as the financial capital in the Philippines.

The hotel will have a broad range of business facilities including several meeting and function rooms, a boardroom, a business center and an executive lounge. It will also include several amenities that will allow guests to “recharge, relax and recreate” such as a spa, a fitness gym, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, a roof deck swimming pool and sky lounge bar.

When completed, the hotel’s unique position on top of Glorietta Mall will give it excellent visibility and allow guests the convenience of accessing one of the biggest retail and entertainment complexes in Metro Manila. Holiday Inn & Suites Makati is set to welcome guests by 2013, and will be the second Holiday Inn-branded property in the capital city of the Philippines.

“This is a milestone project for us. As the first new-build Holiday Inn in the Philippines, this hotel will be a fantastic showcase of the refreshed Holiday Inn brand. This also deepens our valued ties with Ayala Land, a relationship that we have had for four decades,” said Jan Smits, Managing Director, IHG Asia Australasia.

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati will be IHG’s second partnership with Ayala Land, which also owns the InterContinental Manila. Ayala Land is majority owned by Ayala Corporation, one of the largest and most widely diversified conglomerates in the Philippines today, whose business portfolio ranges from real estate and financial services to automotive, telecommunications and water infrastructure management.

^^ Yung Raffles sa may tabi ng Landmark tapos na?

800 years of Kalibo Ati-atihan? That long?

Yes sir.

Started in 1212AD.

J King and Sons and chairman Mr. Richard King, has announced the on-going expansion of Sky Extreme Adventures which is located on the deck of Crown Regency Hotel and Towers (tower 1) will soon be linked with tower 3. AN 80-FOOT 4-LEVEL STRUCTURE WILL BE BUILT ON TOP OF TOWER 1 TO ADD 5 MORE ADRENALIN-PUMPING ACTIVITIES.( this will make the hotel 44-stories high already)

Here are the new rides to look forward to:

1. Tower Zip- Zip yourself across tower 1 & 3 buildings on a cable line with a view of the city below.......almost 500 feet high! (construction on-going)

2. Sky Glider- Travel back across two buildings 45 degrees on a glider that uses air resistant brake system combined with thrill of height. (construction on-going)

3. Vertigo- Climb up a 30-ft vertical rock wall & feel the rush as you reach the peak starting from the deck of the 40th floor.(construction on-going)

4. Cliffhanger- Climb an angled wall assisted by pulley system. Have your photo taken with a full view of the city below you.(construction on-going)

5. High point- climb the 80-foot pole, highest point of the adventure and experience the ultimate high(construction on-going)



********another 5 amusement facilities adventure offered by CROWN REGENCY HOTEL in Cebu City by next year....1st of it's kind in the world...

^^ Wow, is it a hotel or an extreme adventure park? LOL Great job

^^both... that's what we call innovation...:)

we need in the metro is a tall building with an observation deck open to the public that offers a 360 deg view of the metropolis...

PAGCOR Tower would have fitted the bill but that building is probably dead

^^ it was really dead as what was posted on PAGCOR's fb page.

Genuino obviously miss that part about skyscrapers being prohibited to be built if too close to the airport...

Clubbing in Manila:

poLzuJRRveY

J6Hsj67YfII

^^ Yung Raffles sa may tabi ng Landmark tapos na?

The structure is practically done. I think the interior finishing is in progress.

Speaking of Landmark, they've also completed their internal renovation. Looks brighter and more classy with the slate tile flooring compared to the linoleum or vinyl tiles of the past.

As for the new Holiday Inn, they're digging a large basement area where Glorietta 1 and 2 used to stand. Soon the cranes will start bringing the structure up and we'll start seeing the shape of the new hotel. Add one more hotel that will be part of a mall complex!

Genuino obviously miss that part about skyscrapers being prohibited to be built if too close to the airport...

and that was a very stupid miscalculation on his part... tsk tsk tsk..

it's an ugly tower anyway.

Please vote for Philippines' lone entry to BBC World Challenge 2010. Deadline for voting is Nov. 12 http://bit.ly/cqEIW1

we need a marketable kind of ideas that something new...in human existence interms of structure...that can attract the tourist around the world....specially those in the 1st world standard...sayang talaga ang pagcor tower...so very iconic sana yun sa bansa natin...as one of our identity...na world class ang ipagmalaki natin,then the other side cebu city also make it to be more tourist attrations,by making an structure so different to the world...that make everyone curious around the world...we must do it by thinking around the world...

we need a marketable kind of ideas that something new...in human existence interms of structure...that can attract the tourist around the world....specially those in the 1st world standard...sayang talaga ang pagcor tower...so very iconic sana yun sa bansa natin...as one of our identity...na world class ang ipagmalaki natin,then the other side cebu city also make it to be more tourist attrations,by making an structure so different to the world...that make everyone curious around the world...we must do it by thinking around the world...

Having tall towers is already commonplace in many major cities. Genuino's idea of a supertall is not unique anymore in this day, maybe if this was completed in 1998, I'm sure the Philippines could have been proud on its centennial. The biggest project that was supposed to be launched during the Philippine Centennial of 1998 was NAIA Terminal 3, to be done by the Chinoy taipan's AEDC. Unfortunately what happened was that the government got blinded by the Cheng's offer, and in turn you see how much humiliation NAIA 3 brought for so many years. Good thing the two international courts decided in favor of the country so NAIA 3 is now being utilized more efficiently, though not optimally since its tenants are LCCs, not legacy carriers.

The Camsur model
There is something local officials should learn from Camarines Sur. Unity and focus make a difference.

Bicol’s largest province used to be the country’s 39th poorest province with revenue of about P655 million in 2004. Six years later, it managed to double its revenue to become the 10th richest province of the country.

Although the province is mainly agricultural, its officials were able to position Camsur as a premier tourist destination when it built the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) through various loans, including a P2-billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

The new complex established Camsur as the largest wakeboarding center in Asia. The sprawling facility located within the Provincial Capitol Complex in Pili hosted Ironman 70.3, the first time for the country to host the international triathlon sports event.

Camarines Sur was second to Cebu in terms of tourist arrivals in 2009 although in the first half of that year, it emerged the No. 1 tourist destination in the country, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) data published in the Inquirer.

Cebu registered 1.61 million in tourist arrivals in 2009 followed by Camarines Sur at 1.5 million and Metro Manila at 1.4 million.

Based on the 2009 annual tourism report, Camarines Sur showed the biggest improvement among the country’s top 14 destinations. Tourist arrivals shot up by 117.2 percent due to international and local sporting events.

Their top markets were Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States whose nationals flocked to Camarines Sur to wakeboard.

The report signed by then Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano credited the Camarines Sur provincial government for investing in water sports facilities which “stimulated visitor volume.”

The Department of Tourism said Camarines Sur’s initiative should serve as a model for other local government units in “harnessing tourism potentials and putting into maximum use local resources to create more economic activities.”

But more than that, officials of Camarines Sur do not publicly quarrel with chief executives of towns and cities.

While the CWC was mainly the initiative of Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. , he doesn’t quarrel with the Robredos who control Naga City, the only charter city in the province. The only public spat they had was over territorial jurisdiction of a plaza in Naga City.

Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña has pointed out that Cebu lacks an integrated tourism plan.

“Here, it’s to each his own. There is no interconnection between all these resorts,” he said.

What he didn’t mention out was the similar lack of interconnection among officials of Cebu city and the province in developing Cebu as an island destination.

Cebu officials squabble and criticize each other instead of working together to promote Cebu.

Osmeña should also reflect on Camarines Sur’s relationship with other LGUs and try applying it.

Maybe a harmonious relationship with provincial officials, among them Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, is the key to finally cement Cebu’s status as the country’s No. 1 tourist destination. It wouldn’t take a lot on the part of officials. They only have to cast aside their wounded pride.http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view/20101108-302112/The-Camsur-model

we need in the metro is a tall building with an observation deck open to the public that offers a 360 deg view of the metropolis...

PAGCOR Tower would have fitted the bill but that building is probably dead

The Gramercy in Makati will achieve this one. It does have a skypark but I don't think its open for tourists plus it does not give a 360 view.

Boracay unaffected by terror warnings
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 01:55:00 11/09/2010

ILOILO CITY—Tourists appear unfazed by warnings of terrorist attacks.

The Department of Tourism office in Western Visayas announced yesterday it had not received any notice of cancellation of bookings from tour operators, resorts and hotels since six countries issued alerts against travel to the Philippines.

Helen Camarista, assistant tourism regional director, said tourist arrivals in the region were even increasing with the start of the peak season starting this month.

“We are not belittling the advisories but so far, it has not affected our tourist arrivals,” Camarista said.

Most of the visitors to Western Visayas are from South Korea, the United States and Japan.

Loubelle Cann, president of the Boracay Foundation Inc., a group of business owners in Boracay, also concurred that the advisories had not affected visits to the popular island-resort.

“So far business is good and we are preparing for the holiday season,” Cann said.

The tourism department had earlier reported cancellations of reservations in Boracay by tourists from China and Hong Kong after the Aug. 23 hostage-taking fiasco in Manila where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.

But Camarista said the arrivals from these two areas were “starting to normalize.”

Boracay unaffected by terror warnings
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 01:55:00 11/09/2010

ILOILO CITY—Tourists appear unfazed by warnings of terrorist attacks.

The Department of Tourism office in Western Visayas announced yesterday it had not received any notice of cancellation of bookings from tour operators, resorts and hotels since six countries issued alerts against travel to the Philippines.

Helen Camarista, assistant tourism regional director, said tourist arrivals in the region were even increasing with the start of the peak season starting this month.

“We are not belittling the advisories but so far, it has not affected our tourist arrivals,” Camarista said.

Most of the visitors to Western Visayas are from South Korea, the United States and Japan.

Loubelle Cann, president of the Boracay Foundation Inc., a group of business owners in Boracay, also concurred that the advisories had not affected visits to the popular island-resort.

“So far business is good and we are preparing for the holiday season,” Cann said.

The tourism department had earlier reported cancellations of reservations in Boracay by tourists from China and Hong Kong after the Aug. 23 hostage-taking fiasco in Manila where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.

But Camarista said the arrivals from these two areas were “starting to normalize.”

Clubbing in Manila:

poLzuJRRveY

J6Hsj67YfII

Entertainment in the country is really good, one of the best in the Asian region!

The South Koreans, Japanese and Americans continue to have faith in the Philippines.

ASEAN? What is that? Where are they? They don't even want to visit the Philippines! They don't like the Philippines except for the very few who come here.

J King and Sons and chairman Mr. Richard King, has announced the on-going expansion of Sky Extreme Adventures which is located on the deck of Crown Regency Hotel and Towers (tower 1) will soon be linked with tower 3. AN 80-FOOT 4-LEVEL STRUCTURE WILL BE BUILT ON TOP OF TOWER 1 TO ADD 5 MORE ADRENALIN-PUMPING ACTIVITIES.( this will make the hotel 44-stories high already)

Here are the new rides to look forward to:

1. Tower Zip- Zip yourself across tower 1 & 3 buildings on a cable line with a view of the city below.......almost 500 feet high! (construction on-going)

2. Sky Glider- Travel back across two buildings 45 degrees on a glider that uses air resistant brake system combined with thrill of height. (construction on-going)

3. Vertigo- Climb up a 30-ft vertical rock wall & feel the rush as you reach the peak starting from the deck of the 40th floor.(construction on-going)

4. Cliffhanger- Climb an angled wall assisted by pulley system. Have your photo taken with a full view of the city below you.(construction on-going)

5. High point- climb the 80-foot pole, highest point of the adventure and experience the ultimate high(construction on-going)



********another 5 amusement facilities adventure offered by CROWN REGENCY HOTEL in Cebu City by next year....1st of it's kind in the world...

photos please

i'm dreaming of something 60-100 stories high na hotel na may amusement facilities....sa top floor...the concept is something like crown regency hotel in cebu city...na may something 1st of it's kind in the world...amusement facilities... and also with the blend of lighting and iconic design...hindi kasi ako kuntinto sa crown regency hotel cebu.But as of now ok na ito...atlis we this kind...to show to the world....na unique tayong mga filipino...kahit na mga chinoy ang mga may ari nito,gaya ng crown regency hotel.

Entertainment in the country is really good, one of the best in the Asian region!

The South Koreans, Japanese and Americans continue to have faith in the Philippines.

ASEAN? What is that? Where are they? They don't even want to visit the Philippines! They don't like the Philippines except for the very few who come here.

It is not that other South East Asians want to visit The Philippines. It is because the country is not widely advertised in this region compared to other countries say Thailand, Malaysia or even Indonesia.

It seems that the only place where Philippine tourism is advertised is Singapore thats it. But the quantity is still small.

Manila no doubt has one of the best nightlife, not just in The Philippines but the whole of Asia or anywhere in the world. The city has alot of offer from clubs to discotechques to bars with live bands to pubs. Its vibrant nightlife coined the word, "gimik"

In fact Manila's nightlife is not just limited to the city but also through the suburbs.

Its not like in HK where it is vibrant in the city centre but once you go to The New Territories, it seems pretty much quiet.

But go to Laguna or even Bulacan and there something happening even after dark.

It is not that other South East Asians want to visit The Philippines. It is because the country is not widely advertised in this region compared to other countries say Thailand, Malaysia or even Indonesia.

It seems that the only place where Philippine tourism is advertised is Singapore thats it. But the quantity is still small.

Manila no doubt has one of the best nightlife, not just in The Philippines but the whole of Asia or anywhere in the world. The city has alot of offer from clubs to discotechques to bars with live bands to pubs. Its vibrant nightlife coined the word, "gimik"

In fact Manila's nightlife is not just limited to the city but also through the suburbs.

Its not like in HK where it is vibrant in the city centre but once you go to The New Territories, it seems pretty much quiet.

But go to Laguna or even Bulacan and there something happening even after dark.

The irony is: hundreds of thousands of Pinoy tourists go to ASEAN but only very few of them come to our shores. There is imbalance. Our outbound market ranges between 1.2 M to 1.4M Filipinos who travel abroad every year as tourists (not OFWs).

You're right on marketing efforts: Everyday here, you will see tourism ads in newspapers about SG, billboards and press releases about BKK, ads about MY...they know the market for Pinoy tourists.

The irony is: hundreds of thousands of Pinoy tourists go to ASEAN but only very few of them come to our shores. There is imbalance. Our outbound market is range between 1.2 M to 1.4M Filipinos who travel abroad every year.

Again it is lack of advertisement and promotion in other ASEAN countries. And if there are, it is usually in Filipino establishments that only Filipinos go to.

If you want to advertise The Philippines in Singapore, you have to go beyond Lucky Plaza.

The Philippines does not even have a "Visit Philippines Year".

Right now, The Department of Tourism lacks campaign. In fact there are those in the tourism industry that are already fed up with Sec. Alberto Lim.

It is not that other South East Asians want to visit The Philippines. It is because the country is not widely advertised in this region compared to other countries say Thailand, Malaysia or even Indonesia.

It seems that the only place where Philippine tourism is advertised is Singapore thats it. But the quantity is still small.

Manila no doubt has one of the best nightlife, not just in The Philippines but the whole of Asia or anywhere in the world. The city has alot of offer from clubs to discotechques to bars with live bands to pubs. Its vibrant nightlife coined the word, "gimik"

In fact Manila's nightlife is not just limited to the city but also through the suburbs.

Its not like in HK where it is vibrant in the city centre but once you go to The New Territories, it seems pretty much quiet.

But go to Laguna or even Bulacan and there something happening even after dark.

Eto ba yang naa Bocaue? :lol::lol::lol:

But yea, even Time Magazine once referred to Manila having one of the most vibrant yet underrated nightlife in Asia.

Surprisingly I have been hearing that in ASEAN, Manila and Jakarta have the best nightlife (aside of course from the usual Bangkok). Singapore night life feels a little contrived. Hindi sya ganun kasaya. East Asia wise, I think Shanghai nightlife is awesome.

Eto ba yang naa Bocaue? :lol::lol::lol:

But yea, even Time Magazine once referred to Manila having one of the most vibrant yet underrated nightlife in Asia.

Surprisingly I have been hearing that in ASEAN, Manila and Jakarta have the best nightlife (aside of course from the usual Bangkok). Singapore night life feels a little contrived. Hindi sya ganun kasaya. East Asia wise, I think Shanghai nightlife is awesome.

Hong Kong's night life is a blast. Go to Lai Kwan Fong, Wan Chai district. Singapore night life is also cool. Very nice. In BKK, the only negative thing is their bars/dance clubs close at 2 AM. Unlike here and other cities - no time limit....but normally close at 4 to 5 AM.

Eto ba yang naa Bocaue? :lol::lol::lol:

But yea, even Time Magazine once referred to Manila having one of the most vibrant yet underrated nightlife in Asia.

Surprisingly I have been hearing that in ASEAN, Manila and Jakarta have the best nightlife (aside of course from the usual Bangkok). Singapore night life feels a little contrived. Hindi sya ganun kasaya. East Asia wise, I think Shanghai nightlife is awesome.

I don't think Manila's nightlife is underrated. ASEANwise, its night life can rival or is even better than BKK.

Jakarta's nightlife is less vibrant that fact that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country.

Shanghai on the other hand looks very vibrant at night but nightlife? Manila has more to offer.

Hong Kong's night life is a blast. Go to Lai Kwan Fong, Wan Chai district. Singapore night life is also cool. Very nice. In BKK, the only negative thing is their bars/dance clubs close at 2 AM. Unlike here and other cities - no time limit....but normally close at 4 to 5 AM.

Lan Kwai Fong is a cool place but it is a mostly expat crowd. I only go there for the burgers in Al's Diner. Wan Chai on the other hand is like Ermita where more bars are sprouting up than adult areas.

I don't think Manila's nightlife is underrated. ASEANwise, its night life can rival or is even better than BKK.

Jakarta's nightlife is less vibrant that fact that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country.

Shanghai on the other hand looks very vibrant at night but nightlife? Manila has more to offer.

Compare to BKK, yes it can rival except for the "Patpong" type shows although we have few of them.

In Jakarta, it is not as vibrant as Manila's but they also have good dance clubs, hotel bars, Hard Rock. However, Manila has more choices in greater areas of metropolis.

Lan Kwai Fong is a cool place but it is a mostly expat crowd. I only go there for the burgers in Al's Diner. Wan Chai on the other hand is like Ermita where more bars are sprouting up than adult areas.

Those are the only places I know and have been to if I visit HK for night life. It's cool!

Compare to BKK, yes it can rival except for the "Patpong" type shows although we have few of them.

In Jakarta, it is not as vibrant as Manila's but they also have good dance clubs, hotel bars, Hard Rock. However, Manila has more choices in greater areas of metropolis.

Manila has its red light districts.

Jakarta still has Planet Hollywood. The one in HK closed down and the one in Manila never happened.

But again, Jakarta is hard to get around if you don't have a car.

Manila can promote itself through its nightlife. And there are lots of things to do there especially after dark.

Plus the presence of Casinos. Singapore has The Sands but that is only one. Manila has dozens.

Hong Kong's night life is a blast. Go to Lai Kwan Fong, Wan Chai district. Singapore night life is also cool. Very nice. In BKK, the only negative thing is their bars/dance clubs close at 2 AM. Unlike here and other cities - no time limit....but normally close at 4 to 5 AM.

I haven't been to HK, SG, I went to Ministry of Sound.. okay lang sya. Nice club but the crowds are so-so.

At The Cannery:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v265/120/75/530586281/n530586281_1363883_7657.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v265/120/75/530586281/n530586281_1363884_7912.jpg

http://multiply.com/mu/xxxriainxxx/image/9/photos/62/500x500/15/IMG-3458.JPG?et=hkwsT8L1WWyL5klW99u4HQ&nmid=49834748

Manila has its red light districts.

Jakarta still has Planet Hollywood. The one in HK closed down and the one in Manila never happened.

But again, Jakarta is hard to get around if you don't have a car.

Manila can promote itself through its nightlife. And there are lots of things to do there especially after dark.

Plus the presence of Casinos. Singapore has The Sands but that is only one. Manila has dozens.

For Casinos, I believe we have a considerable number of tourists from Korea, HK (before the Aug. 23 crisis) and Japanese. There are casinos in key cities of the country as well.

That's right, the government should promote the country's strength. In prior years, I remember that in one expats' survey, they rated our nightlife as one of the best. So, why not capitalize on it? Even the new head of HSBC Philippines said recently that he likes it here because of the amazing choices of restaurants and bars in all corners of metropolis. Due to BPOs, I noticed that there are more 24 hours food outlets and bars in NCR.

I don't think Manila's nightlife is underrated. ASEANwise, its night life can rival or is even better than BKK.

Jakarta's nightlife is less vibrant that fact that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country.

Shanghai on the other hand looks very vibrant at night but nightlife? Manila has more to offer.

Well it is underrated since it seems that Manila always passed over by a lot of tourists and those who come to Manila are surprised about the level of nightlife. Unfortunately, we still have a lot of old white men coming over for sex. Thanks to Angeles City, Ermita and Burgos -these are some places usually promoted online by those tour groups promising sex.


I beg to differ about Shanghai, they have a totally fun nightlife. The clubs are nice. The problem is the clubs are too far apart from each other and the drinks are mighty expensive. Went to Mao, Attica and Muse in Shanghai (dint make it to Bar Rouge and I <3 Shanghai tho) and the crowds were all fantastic.

As for JKT, I havent been there but it keeps popping up in convos with other expat friends as well as other travelers whos been there. They say that it does have a rocking nightlife.

For Casinos, I believe we have a considerable number of tourists from Korea, HK (before the Aug. 23 crisis) and Japanese. There are casinos in key cities of the country as well.

That's right, the government should promote the country's strength. In prior years, I remember that in one expats' survey, they rated our nightlife as one of the best. So, why not capitalize on it? Even the new head of HSBC Philippines said recently that he likes it here because of the amazing choices of restaurants and bars in all corners of metropolis. Due to BPOs, I noticed that there are more 24 hours food outlets and bars in NCR.

^^ Even the previous head of HSBC loves the Philippines and he was known for diving a lot around the country too.

That's what I love about Manila - 24 hour eateries. That trumps a lot of cities IMO. And most of these eateries also deliver food. Haha. So yeah, Even when I am at home, I can have some great eats while watching TV in my apartment. :D

For Casinos, I believe we have a considerable number of tourists from Korea, HK (before the Aug. 23 crisis) and Japanese. There are casinos in key cities of the country as well.

That's right, the government should promote the country's strength. In prior years, I remember that in one expats' survey, they rated our nightlife as one of the best. So, why not capitalize on it? Even the new head of HSBC Philippines said recently that he likes it here because of the amazing choices of restaurants and bars in all corners of metropolis. Due to BPOs, I noticed that there are more 24 hours food outlets and bars in NCR.

yup agree.....and the restos is now varied....nde mga franchise lang....medyo nag level up ng mga flips....nde na lang kanin at asin ang ulam...may bagoong na...:lol:

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/manila/nightlife

At night, there are many choices of bar strips to aim for in Metro Manila. Malate is one of the most famous ones, reminiscent of, but much more lively than, Lang Kwai Fong in Hong Kong. Makati and Global City also have bar strips in the Greenbelt and Bonifacio High Street malls respectively. In Quezon City, Morato Avenue is dotted with bars, dining places and comedy clubs. Eastwood City in Quezon City is another favourite hangout of locals.

Well it is underrated since it seems that Manila always passed over by a lot of tourists and those who come to Manila are surprised about the level of nightlife. Unfortunately, we still have a lot of old white men coming over for sex. Thanks to Angeles City, Ermita and Burgos -these are some places usually promoted online by those tour groups promising sex.


I beg to differ about Shanghai, they have a totally fun nightlife. The clubs are nice. The problem is the clubs are too far apart from each other and the drinks are mighty expensive. Went to Mao, Attica and Muse in Shanghai (dint make it to Bar Rouge and I <3 Shanghai tho) and the crowds were all fantastic.

As for JKT, I havent been there but it keeps popping up in convos with other expat friends as well as other travelers whos been there. They say that it does have a rocking nightlife.

The sex tourism is rampant throughout Asia including HK. But the number of them in The Philippines is much less than that of other Asian countries.

Well it is underrated since it seems that Manila always passed over by a lot of tourists and those who come to Manila are surprised about the level of nightlife. Unfortunately, we still have a lot of old white men coming over for sex. Thanks to Angeles City, Ermita and Burgos -these are some places usually promoted online by those tour groups promising sex.


I beg to differ about Shanghai, they have a totally fun nightlife. The clubs are nice. The problem is the clubs are too far apart from each other and the drinks are mighty expensive. Went to Mao, Attica and Muse in Shanghai (dint make it to Bar Rouge and I <3 Shanghai tho) and the crowds were all fantastic.

As for JKT, I havent been there but it keeps popping up in convos with other expat friends as well as other travelers whos been there. They say that it does have a rocking nightlife.

In Angeles, some bars there are open 24 hours and you will see these Western looking men with girls in full view from the road ala Ermita. I think we really can't avoid sex tourism.

^^ Even the previous head of HSBC loves the Philippines and he was known for diving a lot around the country too.

That's what I love about Manila - 24 hour eateries. That trumps a lot of cities IMO. And most of these eateries also deliver food. Haha. So yeah, Even when I am at home, I can have some great eats while watching TV in my apartment. :D

It is not just 24 hour eateries but also the wide choice of food. And the choice of restaurants there is very international and yet affordable.

I heard there is a section in Ortigas where they have an entire street lined with food stalls like after dark past midnight.

The sex tourism is rampant throughout Asia including HK. But the number of them in The Philippines is much less than that of other Asian countries.

don't forget to mention clean singapore.....lots of whoring going on down there..(yun pala mga expat na pinay thai at iba pa)....:lol:.....where?...you guessed it.... in their famous orchard road....:lol:

yup agree.....and the restos is now varied....nde mga franchise lang....medyo nag level up ng mga flips....nde na lang kanin at asin ang ulam...may bagoong na...:lol:

Aba! aba! Hanep din ba yang mga bagoong na iyan? Baka po sobrang sangsang! hehehe.J/k3x

Something Bertie Lim will be happy about...more high end resorts instead of those just catering to backpackers:lol:


Ayala Land raises stake in tourism sector (http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20101107-302013/Ayala-Land-raises-stake-in-tourism-sector)
Acquires Palawan resort, breaks ground for Boni ho

By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:06:00 11/07/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Property giant Ayala Land Inc. has raised its stake in Philippine tourism by taking over dormant upscale resort Club Noah Isabelle in Palawan and breaking ground in Fort Bonifacio for the first of its chain of boutique businessmen’s hotel.

In an interview on Friday, ALI chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael disclosed that the group had acquired the island resort Club Noah, which would eventually be folded into its portfolio of Palawan resorts under the Ten Knots Group, which owns the El Nido Resorts.

ALI struck last April a partnership deal with the group of former Energy Secretary Vincent Perez to develop more eco-friendly resorts in the country.

Club Noah, set up by a Japanese-led group of hoteliers that broke away from El Nido Resorts, is likewise a proponent of eco-friendly tourism. The 50-room exclusive resort sits on a 40-hectare island surrounded by pristine beaches, coral-abundant dive sites as well as rich flora and fauna.

“We’re refurbishing it already so by December it will be finished for a soft opening,” Ysmael said. As the existing facilities of the resort were in good condition, he said ALI would not have to spend much to revive the site.

The ALI executive said the intention would be to integrate Club Noah with El Nido, which is likewise currently being expanded. A third island resort is now being developed on Pangalucia Island, thus adding to the existing portfolio of El Nido Resorts on Lagen and Miniloc islands in northern Palawan. “That will be finished by the first quarter of next year in time for the summer season,” Ysmael said.

Club Noah, which shut down operations about two years ago, will be revived to become the fourth in what is envisioned to be an integrated island resort complex operated by the Ayala-led group in Palawan.

“With that, we’ll have a little over 200 rooms already with those four island resorts,” Ysmael said.

The ALI executive said Club Noah, once reopened, would have the same upscale market positioning at par with the existing El Nido resort in Miniloc. Based on Internet booking sites, the Miniloc resort is selling hotel rooms at more than $250 a night. Each of these island resorts has about 50 hotel rooms.

The newest El Nido resort currently being developed on the island of Pangalucia, he added, would likely be at the upper end of the price range.

The group is keen on expanding its presence in Palawan. “Hopefully, we can expand even within El Nido area beyond those four island resorts in a more integrated tourism play. We will probably eventually extend to middle-income [resort development] and not only focus on the high-end segment,” Ysmael said.

Likewise part of Ayala’s more active tourism play is the rollout of a boutique hotel chain under a new brand that would be publicly launched soon, Ysmael said. The chain seeks to bring to the market quality hotel rooms priced at $100 or below a night.

The executive said ALI had started building the new boutique hotels in key areas where the group has existing property.

Apart from the first 180-room boutique hotel in Fort Bonifacio that has started construction in front of One Serenda along 11th Avenue, Ysmael said ALI has identified three more sites in Quezon City, Alabang and Davao.

“Hopefully by the end of the year, we should have effectively started construction of all four. We’ve finished all planning,” Ysmael said, noting that the group was now seeking the necessary permits to start building the hotels.

^^ Even the previous head of HSBC loves the Philippines and he was known for diving a lot around the country too.

That's what I love about Manila - 24 hour eateries. That trumps a lot of cities IMO. And most of these eateries also deliver food. Haha. So yeah, Even when I am at home, I can have some great eats while watching TV in my apartment. :D

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/manila/nightlife

At night, there are many choices of bar strips to aim for in Metro Manila. Malate is one of the most famous ones, reminiscent of, but much more lively than, Lang Kwai Fong in Hong Kong. Makati and Global City also have bar strips in the Greenbelt and Bonifacio High Street malls respectively. In Quezon City, Morato Avenue is dotted with bars, dining places and comedy clubs. Eastwood City in Quezon City is another favourite hangout of locals.

It is not just 24 hour eateries but also the wide choice of food. And the choice of restaurants there is very international and yet affordable.

I heard there is a section in Ortigas where they have an entire street lined with food stalls like after dark past midnight.

Eateries? I'm not referring to carenderia type but fast food joints, restaurants/bars that are open 24 hours. I even saw Burger King outlet that is open 24 hour. :)

My understanding of eatery = carinderia/turo turo. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Tomas Morato, West and Timog areas are dotted with hundreds of bars, restaurants. The author failed to mention Malate district..

What is good in Manila is you park your car somewhere and you just walk and do bar hopping.

WANCH: Yes, there is this area in Ortigas. Very cool. The crowd is mostly BPO/call center employees.

The irony is: hundreds of thousands of Pinoy tourists go to ASEAN but only very few of them come to our shores. There is imbalance. Our outbound market ranges between 1.2 M to 1.4M Filipinos who travel abroad every year as tourists (not OFWs).

You're right on marketing efforts: Everyday here, you will see tourism ads in newspapers about SG, billboards and press releases about BKK, ads about MY...they know the market for Pinoy tourists.

Again it is lack of advertisement and promotion in other ASEAN countries. And if there are, it is usually in Filipino establishments that only Filipinos go to.

If you want to advertise The Philippines in Singapore, you have to go beyond Lucky Plaza.

The Philippines does not even have a "Visit Philippines Year".

Right now, The Department of Tourism lacks campaign. In fact there are those in the tourism industry that are already fed up with Sec. Alberto Lim.

I don't have the DOT figures, there seems to be something wrong with their reports page. Anybody able to download these? (I'm already using the recommended browser and am not behind a firewall)

Inbound Tourism
Air Visitor Arrivals by Purpose of Visit, Sex, Length of Stay, Travel Arrangement and Frequency of Visit
Air Visitor Arrivals by Purpose of Visit, Sex, Age Group, Travel Arrangement and Frequency of Visit
Estimated Visitor Receipts by Country of Residence

Outbound Tourism
Outbound Philippine Residents by Port of Disembarkation, Occupation and Sex
Outbound Philippine Residents by Port of Disembarkation, Age Group and Sex
Outbound Philippine Residents by Port of Disembarkation, Purpose of Travel and Sex
Outbound Philippine Residents by Purpose of Travel, Age Group and Sex

------

Aside from the lack of advertising and promotion in the target markets of ASEAN, the country has this problem: average cost of land arrangements. Just compare the per night charge for the 4 to 5 star hotels here in the Philippines vs. that in Thailand. You're talking like $150-200+ here vs. $75-$150 there. Not only that, the Thais have a lot of highly rated homegrown hotel brands (Dusit International, Amari, The Erawan Group Public Co. Ltd., etc.) with lots of hotel rooms. Plus the backpacker hotels along Khao San Road area. Ermita doesn't even come close...:ohno:

But how about Malaysia where prices are even more expensive than either Philippines or Thailand.

And lots of tourists do visit.

Eateries? I'm not referring to carenderia type but fast food joints, restaurants/bars that are open 24 hours. I even saw Burger King outlet that is open 24 hour. :)

My understanding of eatery = carinderia/turo turo. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Tomas Morato, West and Timog areas are dotted with hundreds of bars, restaurants. The author failed to mention Malate district..

What is good in Manila is you park your car somewhere and you just walk and do bar hopping.

WANCH: Yes, there is this area in Ortigas. Very cool. The crowd is mostly BPO/call center employees.

The areas of Tomas Morato / Timog are vibrant but they are off the beaten path to most foreign tourists.

And most tourists from abroad visiting Manila won't be driving and only a few of them are going to spend money on a rent-a-car.

Like in any other city in the world, they will walk and use public transportation.

Good thing though, Metro Manila has alot of public transportation even if some of them are not that great.

Other than that, areas like Makati, Ortigas and Ermita/Malate and most commercial areas in Metro Manila are walkable and are best explored on foot, not on a car.

bored so i decided to visit the dot website....lo and behold.....the picture of bertie lim :lol:....ibang klase talaga itong mga pinili ni pinoy....i cannot recall the former dot chief ace (baby face) durano plastering his face in the dot website....and the guy is good looking..(ay nabading ako bigla)..:lol:....nagpapakilala ang mama....:lol:

The sex tourism is rampant throughout Asia including HK. But the number of them in The Philippines is much less than that of other Asian countries.

I am not sure about the real figures.

In Angeles, some bars there are open 24 hours and you will see these Western looking men with girls in full view from the road ala Ermita. I think we really can't avoid sex tourism.

It is rather shocking, that while in Angeles/Clark, trike drivers ask you if you want prostitutes and try to convince you to let them take you to their whore bars of choice (for commissions).


It is not just 24 hour eateries but also the wide choice of food. And the choice of restaurants there is very international and yet affordable.

I heard there is a section in Ortigas where they have an entire street lined with food stalls like after dark past midnight.

Eateries? I'm not referring to carenderia type but fast food joints, restaurants/bars that are open 24 hours. I even saw Burger King outlet that is open 24 hour. :)

My understanding of eatery = carinderia/turo turo. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Tomas Morato, West and Timog areas are dotted with hundreds of bars, restaurants. The author failed to mention Malate district..

What is good in Manila is you park your car somewhere and you just walk and do bar hopping.

WANCH: Yes, there is this area in Ortigas. Very cool. The crowd is mostly BPO/call center employees.



Of course - I said eateries in a broader sense not just carinderia types.

As for Ortigas, you are referring to Eastwood right? And the El Pueblo on Julia Vargas?

don't forget to mention clean singapore.....lots of whoring going on down there..(yun pala mga expat na pinay thai at iba pa)....:lol:.....where?...you guessed it.... in their famous orchard road....:lol:


Actually Geylang and Chinatown in SG are the most notorious for prostitution. A lot of foreign prostitutes in SG were trafficked. Promised a waitressing job etc and end up in brothels put up in some hotels. Some 'massage places' in Chinatown are also fronts for prostitution.

But how about Malaysia where prices are even more expensive than either Philippines or Thailand.

And lots of tourists do visit.

Now that's where you credit the success of "Malaysia, Truly Asia". It's all over the news networks and other specialty cable channels (NG, Discovery Channel, etc.).

Even Thailand, the original proponent of the Visit (mycountry) Year, back in the late 90s, does not rest on its laurels. They're trying to stage a comeback after the BKK riots and I won't be surprised if these events are just a minor speed bump on their progress.

The areas of Tomas Morato / Timog are vibrant but they are off the beaten path to most foreign tourists.

And most tourists from abroad visiting Manila won't be driving and only a few of them are going to spend money on a rent-a-car.

Like in any other city in the world, they will walk and use public transportation.

Good thing though, Metro Manila has alot of public transportation even if some of them are not that great.

Other than that, areas like Makati, Ortigas and Ermita/Malate and most commercial areas in Metro Manila are walkable and are best explored on foot, not on a car.

Bonifacio Global City (Bonifacio High Street and Serendra), Mall of Asia are the most walkable but they don't have major hotels yet. But that will change in the coming year or by 2012. Ayala Center (Glorietta + Greenbelt) is undergoing a major facelift, it will be a pleasure for high end tourists to visit once everything is complete in 2-3 years (including Holiday Inn).

Not sure about the Ortigas area, the place is not as pedestrian friendly compared to Ayala Center except maybe between Shangri-la EDSA Hotel and the Shangri-la Mall, plus Robinson's and the 2 hotels attached to it.

Eastwood City is has long established itself, plus with the new Richmonde Hotel there, that is good for the BPO people whose offices abound in the area.

Other areas are ideal for the low end tourist market, but the streets are rife with all sorts of petty crime, which is a turnoff for many except those who are after the girlie bars and the like.

Now that's where you credit the success of "Malaysia, Truly Asia". It's all over the news networks and other specialty cable channels (NG, Discovery Channel, etc.).

Even Thailand, the original proponent of the Visit (mycountry) Year, back in the late 90s, does not rest on its laurels. They're trying to stage a comeback after the BKK riots and I won't be surprised if these events are just a minor speed bump on their progress.

For now, I doubt The Philippines still stage the same thing the fact that the hostage bus crisis have dealt a significant damage on the country's tourism industry.

But despite of that, HK and China tourists are coming back.

Malaysia's tourism campaign is considered the best in ASEAN. Other than advertising in major cable networks, they also have other events such as sports and entertainment. Plus mall wide sales.

Just thinking what the Department of Tourism are doing right now while we post.

Bonifacio Global City (Bonifacio High Street and Serendra), Mall of Asia are the most walkable but they don't have major hotels yet. But that will change in the coming year or by 2012. Ayala Center (Glorietta + Greenbelt) is undergoing a major facelift, it will be a pleasure for high end tourists to visit once everything is complete in 2-3 years (including Holiday Inn).

Not sure about the Ortigas area, the place is not as pedestrian friendly compared to Ayala Center except maybe between Shangri-la EDSA Hotel and the Shangri-la Mall, plus Robinson's and the 2 hotels attached to it.

Eastwood City is has long established itself, plus with the new Richmonde Hotel there, that is good for the BPO people whose offices abound in the area.

Other areas are ideal for the low end tourist market, but the streets are rife with all sorts of petty crime, which is a turnoff for many except those who are after the girlie bars and the like.

As for Ortigas, there is still some distance between Megamall and Galleria. In fact there is even quite a distance between Megamall and Edsa Shangri-La. Its not like Glorietta to Greenbelt where there are elevated walkways.

But within the CBD, there are still people walking.

Ok here it is. Its banchetto nights where a major road in Ortigas is close to cars and loads of food stalls take its place.

http://wits.i.ph/photo/d/100-2/DSC_0020.JPG

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3437708862_d95f63b70f_o.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SFAaoOc1ipk/SZUuYvlHAJI/AAAAAAAAA_s/GMu4gTrdaWg/s400/DSC00062.JPG

The first lady at the left side looks like you, GearX.

:yes:

As for Ortigas, there is still some distance between Megamall and Galleria. In fact there is even quite a distance between Megamall and Edsa Shangri-La. Its not like Glorietta to Greenbelt where there are elevated walkways.

But within the CBD, there are still people walking.

I meant Shangri-la Mall and EDSA Shangri-la Hotel as one walk-friendly area, and then Galleria and Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Galleria as another walk-friendly area.

Maybe if you can avoid the Greenhills type mall of St. Francis Square, there could be a good walking shortcut between SM Megamall and The Podium, plus El Pueblo area. Then a little further you have Discovery Suites and Oakwood.

Going from Galleria and Megamall and vice versa is not walk-friendly, especially during the middle of the day. But if they can provide a walkway passing through ADB and The Podium parking areas similar to the one in Makati CBD then that would really be nice. But I don't think that's likely, look at Shangr-la Mall and Megamall...they are very near but getting from one mall to the other is not pleasant at all. Each of the malls seeks to protect its own turf and its patrons.

I meant Shangri-la Mall and EDSA Shangri-la Hotel as one walk-friendly area, and then Galleria and Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Galleria as another walk-friendly area.

Maybe if you can avoid the Greenhills type mall of St. Francis Square, there could be a good walking shortcut between SM Megamall and The Podium, plus El Pueblo area. Then a little further you have Discovery Suites and Oakwood.

Going from Galleria and Megamall and vice versa is not walk-friendly, especially during the middle of the day. But if they can provide a walkway passing through ADB and The Podium parking areas similar to the one in Makati CBD then that would really be nice. But I don't think that's likely, look at Shangr-la Mall and Megamall...they are very near but getting from one mall to the other is not pleasant at all. Each of the malls seeks to protect its own turf and its patrons.

Other malls within the Ortigas area have the same system including Star Mall and Edsa Central. The fact there is no direct walkway from Edsa Central to Shangri La Plaza unless you go through the MRT Shaw station.

Makati is still the most pedestrian friendly place within central Metro Manila. Thats why more foreign tourists and expats frequent this area.

Ok here it is. Its banchetto nights where a major road in Ortigas is close to cars and loads of food stalls take its place.

http://wits.i.ph/photo/d/100-2/DSC_0020.JPG

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3437708862_d95f63b70f_o.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SFAaoOc1ipk/SZUuYvlHAJI/AAAAAAAAA_s/GMu4gTrdaWg/s400/DSC00062.JPG

para sa call center crowd yan that could hardly go about....due to the nature of their work...nilapit na sa kanila ng tyangge....para mapagsilbihan naman sila.....

para sa call center crowd yan that could hardly go about....due to the nature of their work...nilapit na sa kanila ng tyangge....para mapagsilbihan naman sila.....

Very true. But again, you don't have to be a BPO employee to enjoy the place.

Sarap ng mga pagkain diyan sa bancheta dami pang choices. They're open every 12 m.n. (friday) till 12 the other day (saturday). Dami ding mga tourist na dumadayo dyan kahit diyes oras na ng gabi..

^^ open for limited time only, Friday midnight to Saturday noontime. I have never been there. Thanks.

Ok here it is. Its banchetto nights where a major road in Ortigas is close to cars and loads of food stalls take its place.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SFAaoOc1ipk/SZUuYvlHAJI/AAAAAAAAA_s/GMu4gTrdaWg/s400/DSC00062.JPG

Interesting. That's Emerald Avenue in Ortigas, right?

It's just like the one in Salcedo, Makati weekend market where locals and expats/tourists go and buy fresh fruits/food.
http://blogs.gmanews.tv/kapuso-mo-jessica-soho/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/salcedoweekendmarket.jpg

bored so i decided to visit the dot website....lo and behold.....the picture of bertie lim :lol:....ibang klase talaga itong mga pinili ni pinoy....i cannot recall the former dot chief ace (baby face) durano plastering his face in the dot website....and the guy is good looking..(ay nabading ako bigla)..:lol:....nagpapakilala ang mama....:lol:

ngeee:D

bakit mukha nya agad nakikita sa website ng tourism:D:lol::lol::lol:

puede ba itago na yang mukhang yan at lagyan ng pic ng boracay o camsur man lang.

For now, I doubt The Philippines still stage the same thing the fact that the hostage bus crisis have dealt a significant damage on the country's tourism industry.

But despite of that, HK and China tourists are coming back.

Malaysia's tourism campaign is considered the best in ASEAN. Other than advertising in major cable networks, they also have other events such as sports and entertainment. Plus mall wide sales.

Just thinking what the Department of Tourism are doing right now while we post.

Malaysia's tourism campaign is really good. Here, they sponsored mall events, radio promotion, posters, print ads.

On HK and China, it's good to know that they are slowly coming back. I actually cancelled my plan of going to BKK this end of Nov. but instead, 6 to 7 of us in the family will go to HK in December.

Sec. Lim was doing nothing except protecting his luxurious Amanpulo resort from competitors. Another INCOMPETENT Pnoy appointee and member of Kamag-anak and Kaibigan Inc. Filipinos never learned from the incompetence of Cory regime.

Sec. Lim was doing nothing except protecting his luxurious Amanpulo resort from competitors. Another INCOMPETENT Pnoy appointee and member of Kamag-anak and Kaibigan Inc. Filipinos never learned from the incompetence of Cory regime.

I dun think Lim owns Amanpulo. It is owned by Aman Resorts.

^^Is that because of the upcoming holiday shopping season, and that the storms have not been as frequent lately? Or do they plan to make it a permanent fixture like the Salcedo Park weekend market?

Reminds me of the night market of Patpong (less the girlie bars) or Temple Street night market in Kowloon.:)

I wonder if there is a place here in Metro Manila large enough to be like Chatuchak.

I thought the Sorianos are owners of Amanpulo?
Aman Resorts is just managing this property. :)

^^ you're right. the soriano family owns amanpulo.

^^the Sorianos own Pamalican Island, not Amanpulo itself. the Sorianos (and friends), however, can stay at Amanpulo for free.

^^the Sorianos own Pamalican Island, not Amanpulo itself. the Sorianos (and friends), however, can stay at Amanpulo for free.

Thanks for the clarification. Bertie Lim used to manage El Nido Resorts if I am not mistaken.

mag-launch na sana ang dot ng bagong tourism campaign!!!

how about:

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg93/b_two/fiesta.jpg

:cheers:

But how about Malaysia where prices are even more expensive than either Philippines or Thailand.

And lots of tourists do visit.

What do you mean that Malaysia is more expensive than the Philippines? Prices of what?

ngeee:D

bakit mukha nya agad nakikita sa website ng tourism:D:lol::lol::lol:

puede ba itago na yang mukhang yan at lagyan ng pic ng boracay o camsur man lang.

:cheers: Last time I checked it was Sec Lim's photo. I've pointed out in this thread one too many times, I'm glad someone mentions this. Here is a simple tourism website, that really tells you what you can do and experience:


VisitNorway (http://www.visitnorway.com/en/)

Their slogan/theme is Powered By Nature! (http://www.visitoslo.com/en/norway-video.138569.en.html)

The structure of the website, the messaging, their home page reminds of the old WoW Philippines website. It just tells the visitor, what they can do and experience. Short, sweet, direct and inviting.

wow philippines was a successful campaign kahit si durano hindi binago yung iniwan ni gordon.....ngayon we do not have any idea kung anong campaign meron sila....baka campaign sa election pa :lol: :ohno:

wow philippines was a successful campaign kahit si durano hindi binago yung iniwan ni gordon.....ngayon we do not have any idea kung anong campaign meron sila....baka campaign sa election pa :lol: :ohno:

You really have the knack connecting dots! Ah hehehe!:banana:

Seriously, new administrators should be aware that it's not at all bad following an act of their predecessors! They only need to improve on something that had worked well. Ang hirap kasi, gagawa ng sariling program, hindi naman mag click! Basta ba sabihin na credited sa kanya ang bagong program! I call that a serious case of adult "attention deficiency syndrome"! Pa effect ngunit hindi naman well-thought of! Kaya, kung ano-ano nalang ang gagawin, what a waste!

You really have the knack connecting dots! Ah hehehe!:banana:

Seriously, new administrators should be aware that it's not at all bad following an act of their predecessors! They only need to improve on something that had worked well. Ang hirap kasi, gagawa ng sariling program, hindi naman mag click! Basta ba sabihin na credited sa kanya ang bagong program! I call that a serious case of adult "attention deficiency syndrome"! Pa effect ngunit hindi naman well-thought of! Kaya, kung ano-ano nalang ang gagawin, what a waste!

precisely....tumbok mo......just imagine yung nasayang na gastos....at masasayang pa kung gagawa ka na nman ng bago at hindi naman sigurado na ok ang idea....based sa mga kapalpakan ng performance ng mga ito....

look at malaysia, hk , singa....they are maintaining...theirs....malaysia truly asia , thai...amazing thailand........tayo nagbago lang nga umupo babaguhin biglang nawalan ng continuity....

precisely....tumbok mo......just imagine yung nasayang na gastos....at masasayang pa kung gagawa ka na nman ng bago at hindi naman sigurado na ok ang idea....based sa mga kapalpakan ng performance ng mga ito....

look at malaysia, hk , singa....they are maintaining...theirs....malaysia truly asia , thai...amazing thailand........tayo nagbago lang nga umupo babaguhin biglang nawalan ng continuity....

HK's tourism campaign changes its motto from time to time. Our recent was the Asia's World City campaign.

I checked the DOT website...BORING! Parang neophyte blogger lang ang gumawa. Im sure malaki ang chinarged nila sa DOT budget for this boring website.

Of course - I said eateries in a broader sense not just carinderia types.


What I know of Eatery is like "Mila's Eatery", etc. It refers to carinderia. I didn't hear or haven't heard people say eatery and they refer to popular restaurants. No offense though.

What I know of Eatery is like "Mila's Eatery", etc. It refers to carinderia. I didn't hear or haven't heard people say eatery and they refer to popular restaurants. No offense though.

None taken sir. ;)

I checked the DOT website...BORING! Parang neophyte blogger lang ang gumawa. Im sure malaki ang chinarged nila sa DOT budget for this boring website.

hahaha sinabi mo pa.....maganda na ang dating website....pinalitan pa ang pinalit hindi naman kagandahan.....ano ba yan.....

one more thing try searching for .gov.ph whereas before you will be directed to the official website of the republic of the philippines...now iba ang makukuha mo....dfa na ang official website ng republika ng pilipinas...and there is this other one....philippine gazette....ano yun....palagay ko nagpalit lang ng mga gumagawa ng website...hindi pa tinuloy yung service ng dating mas magandang website...na maraming forums....

:cheers: Last time I checked it was Sec Lim's photo. I've pointed out in this thread one too many times, I'm glad someone mentions this. Here is a simple tourism website, that really tells you what you can do and experience:


VisitNorway (http://www.visitnorway.com/en/)

Their slogan/theme is Powered By Nature! (http://www.visitoslo.com/en/norway-video.138569.en.html)

The structure of the website, the messaging, their home page reminds of the old WoW Philippines website. It just tells the visitor, what they can do and experience. Short, sweet, direct and inviting.

I checked the DOT website...BORING! Parang neophyte blogger lang ang gumawa. Im sure malaki ang chinarged nila sa DOT budget for this boring website.

hahaha sinabi mo pa.....maganda na ang dating website....pinalitan pa ang pinalit hindi naman kagandahan.....ano ba yan.....

one more thing try searching for .gov.ph whereas before you will be directed to the official website of the republic of the philippines...now iba ang makukuha mo....dfa na ang official website ng republika ng pilipinas...and there is this other one....philippine gazette....ano yun....palagay ko nagpalit lang ng mga gumagawa ng website...hindi pa tinuloy yung service ng dating mas magandang website...na maraming forums....


Sandwinstars' link to the Visit Norway Site above is nice. Maybe the DOT folks can learn from it.

The problem is, the DOT folks are EMPLOYEES, not owners of the resort (or the country which is the overall BIG resort). Thus they are not motivated to improve on their current advertising because whether or not they get 1 million or 5 million tourist arrivals, they still get the same salaries.

Do you think Bertie Lim is paid an incentive by the Philippine government if he gets 5 million tourist arrivals, say by 2012? No way, not under the present system! What more for the lowly government bureaucrat who doesn't even get incentives for his or her contributions. That is why they are so eager to join tourism junkets (which the DBM I believe has questioned their budget for), since they get to travel for free, at the expense of the Filipino taxpayer.

The motivation is greater for private individuals and entities that the Philippines' tourism campaign will succeed. Hence they should pour in more money to make a concerted tourism effort, and not solely rely on PCVC or other DOT affiliates.

Reforestation led to town's boom
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) Updated November 10, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (3) View comments

PRIETO DIAZ, Sorsogon — More and more local governments and NGOs are reforesting their coastlines with mangroves. They can learn from this Pacific town how to do it by the hundreds of hectares, both to save the earth and spur the economy. It’s a success story of environment protection leading into different livelihoods.

Nearly 300 hectares of salt- and brackish-water trees have been replanted in Prieto Diaz, ten hours’ drive from Manila. The mangroves shield the shoreline from erosion, typhoons and floods. They serve as habitat of mollusks and birds, nursery of fish and crustaceans, and source of income. The few thousand residents draw not only food from the seaside forest, but also materials for shell craft that earn them some cash. Bigger bucks come from eco-tourism. Year round, high school and college students, scientists, environmentalists, government officials, and nature trippers flock by the hundreds to research or relax.

Prieto Diaz’s shoreline is Bicol’s pride, beams Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee. In 1999 it was cited among the country’s Best Coastal Management Programs. For, by then the asparagus-thin foot-long propagules had grown to six-inch-thick trunks 15 feet high, with branches extending up to ten feet. Twenty-six native mangrove varieties thrive, and three more are being introduced experimentally. The people’s organization Seamancor (Seagrass, Mangrove, Coral; chairman Joselito Domdom, 0908-9872822) trains fellow re-foresters and supplies mangrove propagules.

The laughter of children bathing in the clean river mouth at school day’s end is one sign of a boomtown. But Prieto Diaz wasn’t always this plentiful. In the 1970s and 1980s townsfolk were cutting down mangroves for a few measly pesos a day from ten financiers. Beaches were dug up with hundreds of sandpits — furnaces to burn the wood into charcoal. Dark fumes from the dirty operations sickened the residents. Devastation of the mangroves wiped out the natural food supply. The town sank into poverty and hunger. Then-Mayor Joseph Yap sought help from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which promptly studied the locale. The woodcutters were told to stop denuding and instead replant. In only three years they began reaping the fruits of their reformed ways. When Nature used to withhold her bounty because of the forest destruction, she now gives the conservationist townsfolk rich food: crabs, clams, fish, and export-quality lobster and sea urchin (uni). Even adjacent towns like Barcelona, Sta. Magdalena and Gubat benefited, as their coasts too began to teem with marine life. (Gubat is source of the delicacy langaw-langaw, baby mangrove crab of the specie Scylla serrata.)

Prieto Diaz’s story is about the right mix of political will, scientific know-how, and people’s support. The local officials campaigned for an end to forest ruin. DENR planning officer Judy Gavarra (jgdoma@yahoo.com), one of the science researchers dispatched to Prieto Diaz, saw the potential of replanting. A 19-kilometer-long reef buffered the coast from hefty waves, her team noted then, and 800 hectares of underwater seagrass could hold the saplings upright. Yap’s mayoralty successors, one of them Benito Doma, now provincial board member, persisted with the reforestation. (Benito and Judy met at the replanting site; their love for nature blossomed into romance, and they soon wed.) Conservation became a habit of townsfolk. Fishermen passing thru the replanting zone on bancas dutifully scoop uprooted propagules from the water and stick them properly into the seabed, knowing that reforestation is for their own good. The DENR awarded Seamancor a 25-year stewardship of the 267 replanted hectares.

Schools as far as Ilocos and Davao soon heard of Prieto Diaz’s story. Science high schoolers and college biology majors arrived for weeklong field trips to study mangrove flora and fauna. Government and NGO workers too came to observe. Residents turned their homes into hostels to accommodate the visitors. Seamancor took to organizing and feeding group tours. In 2007 thousands of volunteers participated in the third replanting phase of 25,000 propagules.

Prieto Diaz’s present mayor Jocelyn Y. Lelis (0920-9207987), Yap’s daughter, is thrilled with the town’s tourism potentials. Amenities are spartan. But she and past Gov. Sally Lee believe the mangrove forest can draw in the crowds, the way gentle giant butanding (whale shark) do in neighboring Donsol town. Assigned as tourism officer is Ricky Domasic (0908-4685978).

The Philippines also should take a look at Hawaii's Official Tourism page

http://www.gohawaii.com/

it not only advertise Hawaii in general but the islands you can visit, the people and culture. one site that links to all the islands. brought my home up since tourism industry is our bread & butter market besides military.

I must say that among all ASEAN countries, the Philippines attracts me the most now. I made a big mistake for visiting it only for 24 hours last time......

Given its islandic nature the whole country looks like a zigzag with never-ending tourist spots as you hop from one island into another. I've never heard of many islands/beaches with spectacular sea until I came into some photos posted here in SSC. Another country in ASEAN is also islandic but many of its really beautiful islands are way toooo isolated and have " out of the civilized world" feel with very difficult accessibility ( but I think they have realized and improved things now ) whereas those beautiful islands in the Phil. can be reached easily from main points : Manila and Cebu

Then where else in ASEAN you can find really interesting people to have discussion with, where everyone speaks good English and treating foreigners like close friends other than the Phil ? :cheers: Filipinos are highly enthusiastic people about about everything , which I did not see in the rest of ASEAN

Again, most people in this world are "sensationalist" when it comes to planning a trip abroad and they mostly head to places with wide publisity despite there are nothing much to see........ I think that I'm a "Realist" in this regard :P

What the media never really see in Metro Manila:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs923.snc4/73637_497263441281_530586281_7661493_1427036_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs485.ash2/75821_497263521281_530586281_7661494_8221695_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1138.snc4/150015_497263571281_530586281_7661495_5018362_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs984.snc4/75785_497263601281_530586281_7661496_4681854_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs575.ash2/149715_497263776281_530586281_7661499_4252177_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs980.snc4/75348_497263951281_530586281_7661501_5874137_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs928.snc4/74171_497264106281_530586281_7661504_3439584_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs973.snc4/76651_497264321281_530586281_7661511_2312508_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs948.snc4/74118_497264691281_530586281_7661519_5993759_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs492.ash2/76517_497264891281_530586281_7661523_991335_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs468.ash2/74190_497264971281_530586281_7661525_7187225_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs096.snc4/36156_497265111281_530586281_7661529_2200525_n.jpg

PHOTOS ARE NOT MINE.

mag-launch na sana ang dot ng bagong tourism campaign!!!

how about:

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg93/b_two/fiesta.jpg

:cheers:



There was a FIESTA ISLANDS campaign ad tagline before there was a WOW PHILIPPINES.

I must say that among all ASEAN countries, the Philippines attracts me the most now. I made a big mistake for visiting it only for 24 hours last time......

Given its islandic nature the whole country looks like a zigzag with never-ending tourist spots as you hop from one island into another. I've never heard of many islands/beaches with spectacular sea until I came into some photos posted here in SSC. Another country in ASEAN is also islandic but many of its really beautiful islands are way toooo isolated and have " out of the civilized world" feel with very difficult accessibility ( but I think they have realized and improved things now ) whereas those beautiful islands in the Phil. can be reached easily from main points : Manila and Cebu

Then where else in ASEAN you can find really interesting people to have discussion with, where everyone speaks good English and treating foreigners like close friends other than the Phil ? :cheers: Filipinos are highly enthusiastic people about about everything , which I did not see in the rest of ASEAN

Again, most people in this world are "sensationalist" when it comes to planning a trip abroad and they mostly head to places with wide publisity despite there are nothing much to see........ I think that I'm a "Realist" in this regard :P


@Sir Skyprice, thanks for your nice comments about the Philippines.
But don't get me wrong about this, hehehe. About KL, I really expected too much about KL but interms of variety, vibrancy, entertainment I can still say that Manila is way better than KL...heehehe. KL is a world renowned city that's why I was really excited to see the city:) But ofcourse I love Malaysia, as I've said sa fb, this country transformed me into a backpacker, Learned to travel alone anywhere without doubts and fears...:okay:

But what I like about Malaysia is bec it's cheaper to travell compared to the Philippines from accommocation, air sea and land fares, foods etc.

Those MManila skyline photos are splendid!

That's what I keep telling some of my foreigner friends (some of which I have convinced to pay a visit hehe), that the initial reaction would be, that ours is a developing country (esp. the efficiency or the lack thereof, in our systems) and that one may not always have a LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT happening, but our country grows on you if you stay longer because of one major, major factor : the exuberance and warmth of our people. Hehehe.

wow sana maisali yang mga pics sa SSC banners :) :okay:

@Sir Skyprice, thanks for your nice comments about the Philippines.
But don't get me wrong about this, hehehe. About KL, I really expected too much about KL but interms of variety, vibrancy, entertainment I can still say that Manila is way better than KL...heehehe. KL is a world renowned city that's why I was really excited to see the city:) But ofcourse I love Malaysia, as I've said sa fb, this country transformed me into a backpacker, Learned to travel alone anywhere without doubts and fears...:okay:

But what I like about Malaysia is bec it's cheaper to travell compared to the Philippines from accommocation, air sea and land fares, foods etc.

Hmm I think Malaysians, especially the Malays are quite suburbia-minded ( me included ) plus the factor of Muslim majority , explains alot on why we do not really care about entertainment, nightlife , vibracy etc. I think you know better since you are currently in Penang... I know that nightlife in Manila is great, but it won't work if you try to sell this to Malaysians ( me included ) . It will work great if you sell those amazingly beautiful beaches in your country.

I agree that the cost of travel in Philippines is higher than Malaysia..... grocery items in Philippines are about 15-20% higher, food also 10-20% when you compare similar level restaurants and I heard accommodation is considerably higher but there are loads of Malaysians travelling to places like Australia & New Zealand which are multiply times costlier than back home. So why not spending considerably less in the very friendly country Philippines ? :cheers:

Hmm I think Malaysians, especially the Malays are quite suburbia-minded ( me included ) plus the factor of Muslim majority , explains alot on why we do not really care about entertainment, nightlife , vibracy etc. I think you know better since you are currently in Penang... I know that nightlife in Manila is great, but it won't work if you try to sell this to Malaysians ( me included ) . It will work great if you sell those amazingly beautiful beaches in your country.

I agree that the cost of travel in Philippines is higher than Malaysia..... grocery items in Philippines are about 15-20% higher, food also 10-20% when you compare similar level restaurants and I heard accommodation is considerably higher but there are loads of Malaysians travelling to places like Australia & New Zealand which are multiply times costlier than back home. So why not spending considerably less in the very friendly country Philippines ? :cheers:

Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines and Malaysia share the most (Malaysia is the only country with islands just mere kilometers away from the Philippines). Not to mention that Filipinos are descended from the Malay race. The major change that occurred was back in 1521 when Magellan landed in the Philippines and in 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi colonized the Philippines on behalf of Spain and started the Christianization of the country. Setting religion aside, there is a lot in common between Malaysians and Filipinos. You can also add Indonesians to the list.:)

The Philippines and Indonesia are archipelagos with thousands of islands. While Malaysia is generally peninsular, there are a number of islands as well where tourism is extremely popular (beach islands of Langkawi, Pulau Tioman, Manukan and the rest off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, plus even Penang). Of course you can add the rainforests of Borneo Island. The topography of all 3 countries are similar, lots of volcanos (a few have been acting up lately), and lots of coastline.

Re your last paragraph, it used to be expensive to travel to the Philippines whether by plane or ferry (very uncommon) from Sandakan to Zamboanga - more dangerous than expensive. And it would be easier that if a tourist were already at Singapore, he/she would just take a ferry to Sumatra Island, work their way down and cross to Java (visiting Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, etc.) before ferrying over to Bali before the flight to Australia. The Philippines would already have been out of the way because the passenger would need to detour northwards and then come down again.

It would be good to see airlines continue to promote the ASEAN fares (3-5 ticket coupons to visit different cities within the ASEAN countries), especially if they can bring the price down. At this point, the ASEAN fare (usually USD400 upwards) is still more expensive that piecing together promos on AirAsia, Cebu Pacific and other LCCs.

I hope this will change when free trade between ASEAN nations is implemented in a few years.

What the media never really see in Metro Manila:



Yes PROGRESS!!! Metro Manila is a global city, one of the major centres of business, industry and culture in South East Asia.

Plus Metro Manila is becoming an economic hub for territories within Micronesia including Palau.

^^ Wasn't there a discussion on ASEAN Open Skies lately? I think I would really benefit Philippine tourism if regional carriers like AirAsia, Tiger, Thai can fly into other Philippine cities direct say (direct to Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, Surigao, Davao and CdO). Cebu flights should be expanded and CRK seems to grow by leaps and bounds.

There were plans to open direct flights from Manila to Pnom Penh through 5J pero mukhang hindi natuloy..

Yes PROGRESS!!! Metro Manila is a global city, one of the major centres of business, industry and culture in South East Asia.

Plus Metro Manila is becoming an economic hub for territories within Micronesia including Palau.

I noticed that Manila seems to become a conduit for Palau and Micronesia. Very interesting. They should mount flights from Cebu-Koror. There used to be one with Zest from Davao to Koror pero parang nawala na.

I noticed that Manila seems to become a conduit for Palau and Micronesia. Very interesting. They should mount flights from Cebu-Koror. There used to be one with Zest from Davao to Koror pero parang nawala na.

There are some multinational companies that are based in Guam, Palau or Saipan that report to Manila.

Also, a friend of mine who runs a printing and post production company gets clients from these regions.

There are some multinational companies that are based in Guam, Palau or Saipan that report to Manila.

Also, a friend of mine who runs a printing and post production company gets clients from these regions.

^^ I think this is another area where we can exploit. Turn Manila into a business hub for these Pacific nations.

I noticed that Manila seems to become a conduit for Palau and Micronesia. Very interesting. They should mount flights from Cebu-Koror. There used to be one with Zest from Davao to Koror pero parang nawala na.

There are some multinational companies that are based in Guam, Palau or Saipan that report to Manila.

Also, a friend of mine who runs a printing and post production company gets clients from these regions.

Yeah, a number of Filipino businessmen are heavily investing in the Marianas (GUM, ROR, SPN, etc.) Here's a link to another thread in this section http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=66786205&postcount=643

Aside from Ricky Delgado, Lucio Tan also has heavily invested in Guam (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=182868). Not a surprise when the Guamanians return the favor by giving him honorific titles (honorary ambassador-at- large, Nov. 4 is Lucio Tan Day, etc.)...

Continental Micronesia (CS, now merged with UA) still flies to Koror twice-weekly. Flight no. C0738 departs late evenings on Wednesdays and Fridays, arriving in Koror early AM. The Philippines is logically the gateway to Palau heading eastward. No point in going to Guam and then backtracking to get to Palau. Yeah, I wish they (whether Cebu Pacific, Zest Air or even Airphilexpress, not PAL) can offer low cost fares to ROR. Divers would be very happy...

MORE HOTEL ROOMS! :)

IHG signs for new property in Manila (http://hma.hotelworldasia.com/content/ihg-signs-new-property-manila)
By HMA Staff 10 November 2010
tags: Holiday Inn IHG Manila Philippines

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has joined forces with developer Ayala Land Inc to open the first Holiday Inn & Suites in Manila.

The 347-room Holiday Inn & Suites Makati will be the first purpose-built Holiday Inn property in the Philippines. The hotel will be built on top of a redeveloped Glorietta Mall in Ayala Center in Makati City, a major commercial and economic hub.

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati is set to open in 2013, and will be the second Holiday Inn-branded property in the capital city of the Philippines.

“This is a milestone project for us. As the first new-build Holiday Inn in the Philippines, this hotel will be a fantastic showcase of the refreshed Holiday Inn brand. This also deepens our valued ties with Ayala Land, a relationship that we have had for four decades,” said Jan Smits, managing director, IHG Asia Australasia.

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati will be IHG's second partnership with Ayala Land, which also owns the InterContinental Manila.

Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines and Malaysia share the most (Malaysia is the only country with islands just mere kilometers away from the Philippines). Not to mention that Filipinos are descended from the Malay race. The major change that occurred was back in 1521 when Magellan landed in the Philippines and in 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi colonized the Philippines on behalf of Spain and started the Christianization of the country. Setting religion aside, there is a lot in common between Malaysians and Filipinos. You can also add Indonesians to the list.:)

The Philippines and Indonesia are archipelagos with thousands of islands. While Malaysia is generally peninsular, there are a number of islands as well where tourism is extremely popular (beach islands of Langkawi, Pulau Tioman, Manukan and the rest off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, plus even Penang). Of course you can add the rainforests of Borneo Island. The topography of all 3 countries are similar, lots of volcanos (a few have been acting up lately), and lots of coastline.

Re your last paragraph, it used to be expensive to travel to the Philippines whether by plane or ferry (very uncommon) from Sandakan to Zamboanga - more dangerous than expensive. And it would be easier that if a tourist were already at Singapore, he/she would just take a ferry to Sumatra Island, work their way down and cross to Java (visiting Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, etc.) before ferrying over to Bali before the flight to Australia. The Philippines would already have been out of the way because the passenger would need to detour northwards and then come down again.

It would be good to see airlines continue to promote the ASEAN fares (3-5 ticket coupons to visit different cities within the ASEAN countries), especially if they can bring the price down. At this point, the ASEAN fare (usually USD400 upwards) is still more expensive that piecing together promos on AirAsia, Cebu Pacific and other LCCs.

I hope this will change when free trade between ASEAN nations is implemented in a few years.

Correction. Filipinos did not descend from the Malays. It is the other way around. Google Austronesians to get updated info, Peter Bellwood and Eusebio Dizon. The old wave migration theory by Otley Beyer has now been debunked for the past couple of decades. The first Austronesians whose descendants became Filipinos, Malays, Indonesians, Polynesians, Micronesians, etc, first came to northern Philippines. From there, descendants of the early Filipino Austronesians descended south and became Malays, other groups from the Philippines to Melanesia on to the Polynesia etc. They brought with them their language, traditions, culture. The closest in language, genes to the root of the Austronesians are the Filipinos. I only wish they'd update Philippine history books.

Correction. Filipinos did not descend from the Malays. It is the other way around. Google Austronesians to get updated info, Peter Bellwood and Eusebio Dizon. The old wave migration theory by Otley Beyer has now been debunked for the past couple of decades. The first Austronesians whose descendants became Filipinos, Malays, Indonesians, Polynesians, Micronesians, etc, first came to northern Philippines. From there, descendants of the early Filipino Austronesians descended south and became Malays, other groups from the Philippines to Melanesia on to the Polynesia etc. They brought with them their language, traditions, culture. The closest in language, genes to the root of the Austronesians are the Filipinos. I only wish they'd update Philippine history books.

If you consider the Aetas the original Filipinos, then I don't have any problem with your correction above.

But majority of the Pinoys here in the country have Malay, not Aeta roots. Plus of course the mestizos and so on.

Aren't Malayo-Polynesians considered a subset of Austronesians? I'm no anthropologist, but you have brought up a very interesting discussion here.:)

MORE HOTEL ROOMS! :)

IHG signs for new property in Manila (http://hma.hotelworldasia.com/content/ihg-signs-new-property-manila)
By HMA Staff 10 November 2010
tags: Holiday Inn IHG Manila Philippines

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has joined forces with developer Ayala Land Inc to open the first Holiday Inn & Suites in Manila.

The 347-room Holiday Inn & Suites Makati will be the first purpose-built Holiday Inn property in the Philippines. The hotel will be built on top of a redeveloped Glorietta Mall in Ayala Center in Makati City, a major commercial and economic hub.

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati is set to open in 2013, and will be the second Holiday Inn-branded property in the capital city of the Philippines.

“This is a milestone project for us. As the first new-build Holiday Inn in the Philippines, this hotel will be a fantastic showcase of the refreshed Holiday Inn brand. This also deepens our valued ties with Ayala Land, a relationship that we have had for four decades,” said Jan Smits, managing director, IHG Asia Australasia.

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati will be IHG's second partnership with Ayala Land, which also owns the InterContinental Manila.

Good news!

How about more foreign tourists?

Good news!

How about more foreign tourists?

Good question!:lol::lol::lol:

Correction. Filipinos did not descend from the Malays. It is the other way around. Google Austronesians to get updated info, Peter Bellwood and Eusebio Dizon. The old wave migration theory by Otley Beyer has now been debunked for the past couple of decades. The first Austronesians whose descendants became Filipinos, Malays, Indonesians, Polynesians, Micronesians, etc, first came to northern Philippines. From there, descendants of the early Filipino Austronesians descended south and became Malays, other groups from the Philippines to Melanesia on to the Polynesia etc. They brought with them their language, traditions, culture. The closest in language, genes to the root of the Austronesians are the Filipinos. I only wish they'd update Philippine history books.

True. I read this scientific study a long time ago. Quite shocking if Philippine books are still preaching the land bridge story of migration of the "Malayan" peoples from mainland Asia. Now, the Aetas on the other hand are a different stock and breed.

DP

Good news!

How about more foreign tourists?

Great idea WANCH. The Philippines should do better to attract foreign-exchange carriers.

On the other hand I have the impression, quite a lot is going wrong there. Just check the airline forum, PAL strike inevitable, downgrade to CAT 2 still not uplifted, striking personel at NAIA customs, extra tax for foreign airlines (KLM pullout soon?) T3 still not frequented by foreign carriers, etc etc etc.

Who wants to start vacation like that ? Not me.....

Great idea WANCH. The Philippines should do better to attract foreign-exchange carriers.

On the other hand I have the impression, quite a lot is going wrong there. Just check the airline forum, PAL strike inevitable, downgrade to CAT 2 still not uplifted, striking personel at NAIA customs, extra tax for foreign airlines (KLM pullout soon?) T3 still not frequented by foreign carriers, etc etc etc.

Who wants to start vacation like that ? Not me.....

NAIA Customs strike why? Kulang ang pangingikil nila sa mga pasahero lalo na mga OFWs? Grr. Sorry but Ive got no love for the Customs.

NAIA Customs strike why? Kulang ang pangingikil nila sa mga pasahero lalo na mga OFWs? Grr. Sorry but Ive got no love for the Customs.

Kakainggit kasi kayo pag umuwi! Ang daming mga dala-dalahan at hindi man lang kayo makabigay ng pang isnak! Share naman kayo ng blessing 'nyo p're sa taga Customs! hehehe

Kakainggit kasi kayo pag umuwi! Ang daming mga dala-dalahan at hindi man lang kayo makabigay ng pang isnak! Share naman kayo ng blessing 'nyo p're sa taga Customs! hehehe

Gaya ng tita ko na binuntutan ng taga Customs sa buong airport hingi ng pamasko eh, tang*na Pebrero yun dumating! :lol::lol::lol:

Davao Oriental Photos

Photos courtesy of Roy Ponce

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4364875&id=748924380
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs091.ash2/37894_413930099380_748924380_4365866_5903076_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs191.snc4/37894_413930114380_748924380_4365869_1494698_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs196.snc4/38138_412966569380_748924380_4337521_4886072_n.jpg

Amazing pictures, thanks for sharing.
I want to encounter such a beautiful side of nature.

Kakainggit kasi kayo pag umuwi! Ang daming mga dala-dalahan at hindi man lang kayo makabigay ng pang isnak! Share naman kayo ng blessing 'nyo p're sa taga Customs! hehehe

Gaya ng tita ko na binuntutan ng taga Customs sa buong airport hingi ng pamasko eh, tang*na Pebrero yun dumating! :lol::lol::lol:

The problem here with many customs officers is that they are hard on the returning Filipinos, they try to milk even a few dollars from them. Does that have something to do with the Filipino mentality of "pasalubong"? I mean, isn't pasalubong only given to those close to you, like family or people at work or neighbors? Who do the customs people think they are, any of the relations I mentioned in the last sentence?

That really turns off arrivals from abroad. But I don't hear this happening with business executives (since they probably travel light most of the time). Or maybe even backpackers (because what they carry is probably of little value). Why usually Pinoys or nationalities who seem so gullible?

What customs should look out for are those that are supposed to be declared upon arrival (those in the customs form). Especially prohibited or regulated items like below:

PROHIBITED AND REGULATED ARTICLES
The unlawful importation of prohibited articles (i.e. marijuana, cocaine or any other narcotics or synthetic drugs); firearms, ammunitions, gun replicas, explosives and parts thereof, obscene, pornographic and immoral articles; mislabeled, misbranded and adulterated aarticles of food and drugs; gamb ling outfits and paraphernalia ; used clothing and rags – (R.A. 4653); elephant tusks and their by-products; or those which violate the Intellectual Property Rights Act (i.e., DVDs, VCDs, other imitation products); and regulated Items (i.e., transceivers and communications equipment; controlled chemicals, substances and precursors, regardless of quantity constitutes a violation of tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended, and other special laws and may subject you to criminal prosecution and/or fines and penalties )

In addition, there are agriculture and quarantine regulations but I won't discuss them here. You can refer to these guidelines ... http://www.airplustravelonline.com/images/PhilCustomsClearanceGuidelines.pdf

This is what they should be looking after...not any ordinary traveler who has loads of spam or pasalubong for his/her relatives. And they shouldn't expect any additional compensation in return for doing their job, just a simple "thank you" should be enough.

Opening of international hotel shows strong Cebu tourism – Aquino
By MALOU M. MOZO
November 11, 2010, 9:31pm

CEBU CITY, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III was manifestly elated about Cebu’s tourism industry after he graced the formal opening of SM Investment Corp.’s (SMIC) Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu last Wednesday, saying this major development signifies strong investors’ interest in the province.

“In launching this new facility, SM Investment Corp. demonstrates that it is bullish about the country’s economy,” Aquino said, as he commended business tycoon and patriarch Henry Sr., founder and chairman of the SM Prime Holdings Inc., as well as SMIC for their latest initiative in partnering with United States-based Carlson Group to run the first Radisson Blu in the Asia Pacific.

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Carlson Group is one of the largest privately-held corporations in the United States.

The President said SMIC’s expansion to commercial property development, apart from banking, retail, financial services and leisure, is a testament to the conglomerate’s continued thrust in upholding its culture of excellence.

He expressed confidence that the opening of Radisson Blu hotel will spur even more growth in tourist arrivals to Cebu, considering that tourism stakeholders have long noted the need for additional world-class accommodations here.

Following the opening ceremonies, the President was led by SMPHI President Hans Sy to a tour around the hotel’s restaurant, pool and garden area.

Mr. Aquino said that with the Department of Tourism (DoT) campaigning to increase the number of foreign tourists coming into the country, the need for hotel accommodations is expected to increase


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/287161/opening-international-hotel-shows-strong-cebu-tourism-aquino

DOT sees more tourists coming (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=628997&publicationSubCategoryId=63)

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) Updated November 11, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (4)

MANILA, Philippines - More foreign tourists are expected to visit the country in the last two months of the year despite the recent travel advisories, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported yesterday.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said they expect the number of foreign tourists to peak from November to December just like in past years.

“Even if we incur a slowdown in the months following the hostage-taking incident, we are optimistic that November and December figures will be on the rebound as historical peak periods,” Lim noted.

He cited DOT data showing positive growth in tourist arrivals since January to the present, with the months of July and August having the highest growth rates of 24.6 percent and 22.1 percent, respectively.

Lim added that promotional efforts have been sustained in the major international markets through attendance at significant institutional travel and consumer fairs as well as through the conduct of travel trade and media invitational programs.

Concerning the recently issued travel advisories, the tourism chief said the Philippine government has already taken precautionary measures to ensure the safety and security of the public and visitors.

“An appeal to the respective governments has been aired for the review and lifting of said advisories and over the weekend, the United Kingdom had given its clarification and hopefully, the other countries will follow given that the President himself has vowed to take up the issue in a forthcoming summit of state leaders,” Lim stressed.

He said all tourism posts worldwide are closely monitoring possible tour cancellations, but have not recorded any so far.

With the projected arrivals of tourists in the last two months of the year, Lim expressed confidence that DOT would be able to achieve its target arrival of over three million tourists by yearend.

Meanwhile, DOT is pushing for better airport facilities and construction of additional tourism-related establishments to accommodate the influx of tourists to the country.

Lim disclosed that DOT is planning to improve two of Manila’s tourism icons – Intramuros and Luneta – to make the Philippines among the top three destinations in Asia.

“From the government end, we need to drastically improve our airports, seaports and roads to make travel convenient, and emerging destinations accessible,” he said.

The DOT has also been coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police on assigning tourist police in high-density tourist areas.

Lim said his agency is also looking at reviving the fountain and bringing back cultural events at the Luneta, which is a nice place to visit not only for tourists but Filipino families as well.

Within the next few years, San Ignacio Church in Intramuros would be rebuilt and reused as a museum.

“We would like to add more life in the Walled City at night. If it is transformed and transformation is replicated in other heritage sites, we’re in business,” he said.

Davao readies for launch of DOT branding project
Thursday, 11 November 2010 11:41 Manuel T. Cayon / Reporter


DAVAO CITY—Two big tourism organizations in the region are expected to wrap up their brainstorming to craft the direction of the regional tourism industry.

The activity would prepare the regional office of the Department of Tourism to fit into the new thrust of its national office to tap heavily into the online community to generate more interest into the country’s tourism destinations.

The DOT was slated to launch its branding image next week, said Art Boncato, DOT regional director.

Baby Montemayor, head of the Davao Regional Tourism Council, said that its travel and tour operators from five cities and four provinces in the region have sat with the Davao Association of Tourism Officers of local governments to share their viewpoints and to recommend the kind of road map to take in the next few years.

The workshop was about crafting a tourism promotion and marketing program in the next years, she said.

The discussion workshop started on Tuesday and Boncato said the workshop participants have already started identifying the various product offering of the municipalities and provinces and placing them under a set of categories.

“We have categories like holiday and leisure, tourism and conventions, and the participants would have to organize their products under these listings,” he said.

He said this was intended to generate the list of products and to match them with the needs of the market.

The resort Samal Island, for instance, has its spelunking and diving for its products, he said.

Montemayor said that for the first quarter next year, they have agreed to hold a culinary-arts festival to invite international chefs and food writers to explore the local gourmet and recipe concoctions.

“These chefs and writers have been conducting research on local cuisine,” she told a regular Wednesday business forum at the Marco Polo Hotel here.

Christine Dompor, president of the Davao Association of Tourism Officers, said they would also map out the needs of the localities, including infrastructure. In Compostela Valley, where she is the tourism officer, two road networks from New Bataan and Manat in Nabunturan, would be upgraded into a national road to improve access to Maragusan, for instance, where the hot-spring resorts were located.

Boncato said the municipalities and the provinces would try to map out a tourism circuit, which would link the different tourism destinations into one single package or set of packages.

“We would also explore into the different needs of the market where certain groups, like the Europeans, have wanted a raw and more natural resort destinations,” he said.

The result of the workshop would help determine the pace and scope of the activity of the industry, in 2011 as its short-term target.

“We may repackage our output and plan depending on the new DOT branding that would be launched on Nov. 15,” he said.

The new branding would involve heavy investment into the new media, “tapping social-networking sites and blogs, and other online sites.”

“There would be advertising into these online sites,” he said.



http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/3594-davao-readies-for-launch-of-dot-branding-project

Great idea WANCH. The Philippines should do better to attract foreign-exchange carriers.

On the other hand I have the impression, quite a lot is going wrong there. Just check the airline forum, PAL strike inevitable, downgrade to CAT 2 still not uplifted, striking personel at NAIA customs, extra tax for foreign airlines (KLM pullout soon?) T3 still not frequented by foreign carriers, etc etc etc.

Who wants to start vacation like that ? Not me.....

You get the same kind of problem in other countries but people still go.

Corruption within the custom is not just limited in The Philippines but also in other countries that tourists frequent, in fact its much worst.

My friends from Taiwan had a bad experience with Malaysian customs when they were crossing the border there from Singapore.

The problem here with many customs officers is that they are hard on the returning Filipinos, they try to milk even a few dollars from them. Does that have something to do with the Filipino mentality of "pasalubong"? I mean, isn't pasalubong only given to those close to you, like family or people at work or neighbors? Who do the customs people think they are, any of the relations I mentioned in the last sentence?

That really turns off arrivals from abroad. But I don't hear this happening with business executives (since they probably travel light most of the time). Or maybe even backpackers (because what they carry is probably of little value). Why usually Pinoys or nationalities who seem so gullible?

What customs should look out for are those that are supposed to be declared upon arrival (those in the customs form). Especially prohibited or regulated items like below:



In addition, there are agriculture and quarantine regulations but I won't discuss them here. You can refer to these guidelines ... http://www.airplustravelonline.com/images/PhilCustomsClearanceGuidelines.pdf

This is what they should be looking after...not any ordinary traveler who has loads of spam or pasalubong for his/her relatives. And they shouldn't expect any additional compensation in return for doing their job, just a simple "thank you" should be enough.

Isn't Aquino's platform is to eradicate corruption? The BoC is one of those targets.

Re your last paragraph, it used to be expensive to travel to the Philippines whether by plane or ferry (very uncommon) from Sandakan to Zamboanga - more dangerous than expensive. And it would be easier that if a tourist were already at Singapore, he/she would just take a ferry to Sumatra Island, work their way down and cross to Java (visiting Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, etc.) before ferrying over to Bali before the flight to Australia. The Philippines would already have been out of the way because the passenger would need to detour northwards and then come down again.


You mentioned about the travel by ferry from Sandakan to Zamboanga as dangerous? You know, for so many years, it is inside me that intense desire to travel to Malaysia via the South border in Mindanao. I wish that in my lifetime, I can do that and travel without worries in that part of the country going to Sandakan, Malaysia. I also wish to travel to Tawi-Tawi.

You mentioned about the travel by ferry from Sandakan to Zamboanga as dangerous? You know, for so many years, it is inside me that intense desire to travel to Malaysia via the South border in Mindanao. I wish that in my lifetime, I can do that and travel without worries in that part of the country going to Sandakan, Malaysia. I also wish to travel to Tawi-Tawi.

Hi RonnieR, ferry from Sandakan to Zambo is a little iffish.I checked that option last year when I was thinking of going through the southern backdoor. Actually what I wanted to do was hop from Sandakan to Taganak and unto the other islands on the Philippine side of Turtle Islands. But yeah security is uhmm... too difficult.

Hi RonnieR, ferry from Sandakan to Zambo is a little iffish.I checked that option last year when I was thinking of going through the southern backdoor. Actually what I wanted to do was hop from Sandakan to Taganak and unto the other islands on the Philippine side of Turtle Islands. But yeah security is uhmm... too difficult.

Did you include in your search an option from Sandakan to the southmost tip of Palawan? I heard there are now some personnel of BoC posted at Buliluyan Port! So I assumed Malaysia to Buliluyan Port is safe! (check your international maps re locations). I was told it will take you 5 hours from that port to Sandakan by boat. Will inquire more from friends and PM you if I get the needed info if you want!
Nice job you got there! Travel like Marco Polo!

You mentioned about the travel by ferry from Sandakan to Zamboanga as dangerous? You know, for so many years, it is inside me that intense desire to travel to Malaysia via the South border in Mindanao. I wish that in my lifetime, I can do that and travel without worries in that part of the country going to Sandakan, Malaysia. I also wish to travel to Tawi-Tawi.

Hi RonnieR, ferry from Sandakan to Zambo is a little iffish.I checked that option last year when I was thinking of going through the southern backdoor. Actually what I wanted to do was hop from Sandakan to Taganak and unto the other islands on the Philippine side of Turtle Islands. But yeah security is uhmm... too difficult.

Did you include in your search an option from Sandakan to the southmost tip of Palawan? I heard there are now some personnel of BoC posted at Buliluyan Port! So I assumed Malaysia to Buliluyan Port is safe! (check your international maps re locations). I was told it will take you 5 hours from that port to Sandakan by boat. Will inquire more from friends and PM you if I get the needed info if you want!
Nice job you got there! Travel like Marco Polo!

There is this place called Turtle Islands (http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/animals10.htm) which is practically within Malaysian territorial waters that is a wildlife protected area. I believe the fastest way to get there is via Kota Kinabalu, then Sandakan and not from Tawi-tawi.

http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/images/Turtleisl.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Ph_locator_tawi-tawi_turtle_islands.png

Ronnie, the reason I said the area of Tawi-tawi is dangerous is because of the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping of the Sipadan tourists about a decade ago. This was where they kidnapped mostly Europeans whose governments paid ransom in the millions of dollars. As a result, they (Abu Sayyaf) were able to purchase high powered speedboats which they used to kidnap the Dos Palmas hostages, which is a very long ride away from their homebase in Sulu.

Of course, the AFP now says that the Abu Sayyaf doesn't have those speedboats anymore, but you definitely can't risk being caught in the crossfire as the military is still pursuing the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf (about 400+ fighters). And they are still a threat:bash:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=629294&publicationSubCategoryId=63



^^MANILA, Philippines - The government of Japan has also issued its own travel advisory on the Philippines, but unlike the six nations that warned against travel here, this had nothing to do with any threats of terrorism.



Another slap for tourism industry!:ohno:

Did you include in your search an option from Sandakan to the southmost tip of Palawan? I heard there are now some personnel of BoC posted at Buliluyan Port! So I assumed Malaysia to Buliluyan Port is safe! (check your international maps re locations). I was told it will take you 5 hours from that port to Sandakan by boat. Will inquire more from friends and PM you if I get the needed info if you want!
Nice job you got there! Travel like Marco Polo!

Yeah I knew of the boats going through there but the problem was safety wasn't guaranteed. I'll check that port you were talking about- but 5 hours from Sandakan to the So. tip of Palawan? That's a tad short looking at the distance via a map! I used to travel a lot but since I moved to Hanoi, my travel time was drastically cut down. Seems that this place is a blackhole for travellers. As it is I am having difficulty arranging my trip to Colombo this December.



There is this place called Turtle Islands (http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/animals10.htm) which is practically within Malaysian territorial waters that is a wildlife protected area. I believe the fastest way to get there is via Kota Kinabalu, then Sandakan and not from Tawi-tawi.

Ronnie, the reason I said the area of Tawi-tawi is dangerous is because of the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping of the Sipadan tourists about a decade ago. This was where they kidnapped mostly Europeans whose governments paid ransom in the millions of dollars. As a result, they (Abu Sayyaf) were able to purchase high powered speedboats which they used to kidnap the Dos Palmas hostages, which is a very long ride away from their homebase in Sulu.

Of course, the AFP now says that the Abu Sayyaf doesn't have those speedboats anymore, but you definitely can't risk being caught in the crossfire as the military is still pursuing the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf (about 400+ fighters). And they are still a threat:bash:


There is this place called Turtle Islands (http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/animals10.htm) which is practically within Malaysian territorial waters that is a wildlife protected area. I believe the fastest way to get there is via Kota Kinabalu, then Sandakan and not from Tawi-tawi.

Ronnie, the reason I said the area of Tawi-tawi is dangerous is because of the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping of the Sipadan tourists about a decade ago. This was where they kidnapped mostly Europeans whose governments paid ransom in the millions of dollars. As a result, they (Abu Sayyaf) were able to purchase high powered speedboats which they used to kidnap the Dos Palmas hostages, which is a very long ride away from their homebase in Sulu.

Of course, the AFP now says that the Abu Sayyaf doesn't have those speedboats anymore, but you definitely can't risk being caught in the crossfire as the military is still pursuing the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf (about 400+ fighters). And they are still a threat:bash:



The Turtle Islands are jointly administered by the Malaysian Govt (3 islands), and by the Philippine Govt (7 islands). The Turtle Islands Municipality is under Tawi-Tawi LGU. According to a Malaysian Travel Operator based in Sandakan who sent me this email:

Hi riain,

Can you update me if the Turtle Island in the Philippines is accessible now from Sandakan?

You see I have difficulties to book the accommodation in Selingan Island as it is being over-promoted and the rooms are always full throughout the year! Crystal Quest being the sole company that manage the accommodation in Selingan has made the company a bit arrogant and not people friendly. They don't appreciate the business that we have given to them.

You see, I am one of the tour operators in Sandakan and for so long we have been supporting them but they have been treating us as if we owe them instead of being grateful for the business that we gave them. I was told that they even try to undercut us by dealing directly with the clients so they can get maximum profits.

It is time to promote and support our neighbouring country with their more wonderful and pristine 7 islands. I don't mind to initiate the program if you know who I can contact with in Taganak to start the ball rolling.

I cannot reveal my identity or my company for fear of being blacklisted by Crystal Quest and I cannot afford for them to cut my rooms allotment that is already so small.

Please update me.

Thanks

Generally, Tawi-Tawi is peaceful and a far cry from the skirmishes in Basilan and Sulu.

Now we have real grumblings from some sectors of tourism already...:ohno:

Cebu tour operators hit DOT moves (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20101111-302705/Cebu-tour-operators-hit-DOT-moves)

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:18:00 11/11/2010


CEBU CITY, Philippines—Tour operators in Cebu expressed dissatisfaction over the “lack of direction” and “lack of focus” that the Aquino administration, through Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, was showing on the tourism industry.

Lim, however, said some of his critics were being manipulated by people who wanted him to stop espousing an open-skies policy, which would allow foreign airlines to operate in domestic routes in the Philippines.

Jennifer Franco, Tourism Congress vice president for the Visayas and Cebu-based travel agency operator, said it was time for the tourism department to convene all tourism players and discuss the next steps in promoting the Philippines as a top tourist destination.

“We are not happy about what is happening. The honeymoon period is over for the DOT (Department of Tourism),” said Franco, also Cebu chapter chairperson of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas).

On Tuesday, Franco said members of her group visited Lim in his office but until now, “there has been no formal meeting to discuss any tourism roadmap or what to do after he assumed his role (as tourism secretary).”

Lim said the criticisms being hurled at him could be coming from disgruntled members of the Tourism Congress who were ejected from their positions by an executive order of President Aquino removing non-career appointees of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from government.

Lim said he met with Cebu tourism players and presented to them projects that are still on the drawing board, among them heavy investments on infrastructure like airports.

Aquino administration officials questioned the legitimacy of the Tourism Congress, created by the Tourism Act of 2009, and 13 people nominated to its board were removed by Lim.

“First of all, I have a picture showing that they met with me on July 15. And number two, we were all smiling in the picture,” he said in a phone interview from London where Lim is attending a tourism forum.

In Cebu, Lim continued to draw flak for a statement attributed to him supposedly saying that backpackers are the least desired types of tourists in the Philippines.

Robert Joseph, chairman of Naitas, said in a Cebu forum that Lim’s refusal to recognize the Tourism Congress has angered many tour operators.

Phineas Alburo, former tourism undersecretary, said the Tourism Congress brings together tourism establishments and former government officials to act as advisory and consultative body on tourism programs.

A case is pending against the Tourism Act’s implementing rules and regulations, which created the Tourism Congress, in a Manila court that froze all transactions of the congress.

“There is no business activity,” said Alburo.

During his visit to Cebu on Wednesday, however, President Aquino said his administration was doing all it could to help improve tourism in the Philippines.

Among the projects that the President mentioned during the opening of a new hotel here was the launching of a website to make it easy for tourists wanting to visit to arrange accommodation and travel details.

Another project, Aquino said, was the launching of a new logo.

“They would have to watch the results,” Aquino said, addressing this to tour operators criticizing Lim.

The President said tourism department officials were working doubly hard despite lack of funds.—Chris Evert Lato, Inquirer Visayas; and Jocelyn Uy in Manila

Singapore Airlines unit to expand facility in Clark
P1B earmarked for 2nd hangar (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20101111-302703/Singapore-Airlines-unit-to-expand-facility-in-Clark)


MANILA, Philippines—The engineering unit of Singapore Airlines is set to expand its aircraft maintenance facility at the Clark Civil Aviation Complex this month, giving a fresh vote of confidence for the country, in general, and for prospects of the former US base, in particular.

According to the Clark International Airport Corp., aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) firm SIA Engineering Co. (SIAEC) will invest close to P1 billion to put up a second hangar at the facility.

The expansion program will allow SIAEC to service the carrier’s newest Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft. It will also generate an estimated 300 new jobs, while more allied industries may emerge as a result of the investment in the 2,367-hectare Clark air hub.

In a statement Thursday, CIAC president and CEO Victor Jose Luciano revealed that the construction of the second hangar will start sometime this month.

“SIAEC will be building a bigger hangar to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and 777,” he said.

In November 2008, SIAEC, together with joint venture partner Cebu Pacific Air, began construction of the first hangar for the Airbus A320 and A319 aircraft in Clark. This, in turn, paved the way for the further development of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

The first hangar cost an estimated P800 million. It started operations in July 2009, providing maintenance service for the Airbus A320 aircraft of various foreign and local airlines.

“Starting this month, we will see the development of the second, much larger hangar in Clark,” Luciano said. “This will generate no less than 300 direct jobs and about 200 indirect jobs for our people in Central and Northern Luzon.”

The SIAEC facility is expected to start operations by the end of 2012.

Singapore-based SIAEC is an internationally renowned aircraft MRO company providing total maintenance solutions to wide-bodied aircraft in the service of more than 85 international airlines worldwide. It has 24 joint ventures and subsidiaries across nine countries that form the SIAEC Group.

Its services include airframe, component, engine, and aircraft conversions and modifications.

SIAEC also provides support services at the Changi International Airport in Singapore, as well as line maintenance support services in Australia, the United States, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

PH seeks quick removal from aviation blacklists (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20101112-302863/PH-seeks-quick-removal-from-aviation-blacklists)

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 18:17:00 11/12/2010
Filed Under: Air safety, Air Transport

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines hopes soon to be removed from blacklists of countries deemed to have unsafe aviation, paving the way for its flag carrier to add US flights and return to Europe, a regulator said Friday.

Philippine airlines were stopped from expanding services to the United States in 2008 and banned from Europe in March this year over concerns airline safety was not being overseen according to international standards.

An International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) inspection team will visit Manila next month and be told the government has complied substantially with 87 of 89 listed deficiencies, chief industry regulator Alfonso Cusi said.

The United States' Federal Aviation Authority and the European Union both take guidance from the ICAO.

"It's a matter of time before we are out of the blacklist," Cusi told reporters, adding that the government had addressed the most critical issues raised in the ICAO's last safety audit.

These included problems with the Philippines' aviation regulatory framework and the quality of staff.

Lax surveillance of schools that train pilots, some of them foreigners from the Middle East, India, Afghanistan and Sudan, was another problem.

The two outstanding items are completion of the training of the new civil aviation authority's inspectors, and computerization of the agency, which has been held up as contracts are still under review.

Cusi did not say when the final two problems would be rectified.

But the next audit of the US agency, the FAA, will be in the first three months of 2011, and the Philippines is hoping it will be lifted from the US blacklist after that, according to Cusi.

After the US FAA downgraded the Philippines to "Category 2" from "Category 1", Congress passed a law creating the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to regulate the industry.

Cusi, the new body's first director-general, said the ICAO, the FAA and the European Union air safety committee had acknowledged the progress made over the past two years.

He said removal from US and EU blacklists would allow Philippine Airlines to resume flights to Europe for the first time since the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s.

Cusi said PAL also wanted to add to its US service, now limited to the US west coast and Hawaii.

^^ soonest....it would be good for the country

^^ soonest....it would be good for the country

Mag dilang-anghel ka sana!

It is not that other South East Asians want to visit The Philippines. It is because the country is not widely advertised in this region compared to other countries say Thailand, Malaysia or even Indonesia.

It seems that the only place where Philippine tourism is advertised is Singapore thats it. But the quantity is still small.

Manila no doubt has one of the best nightlife, not just in The Philippines but the whole of Asia or anywhere in the world. The city has alot of offer from clubs to discotechques to bars with live bands to pubs. Its vibrant nightlife coined the word, "gimik"

In fact Manila's nightlife is not just limited to the city but also through the suburbs.

Its not like in HK where it is vibrant in the city centre but once you go to The New Territories, it seems pretty much quiet.

But go to Laguna or even Bulacan and there something happening even after dark.

sorry to interrupt but quit interesting to follow ur discussion.

that's ur biggest mistake! u think u can sell ur 'nightlife' and 'entertainment' to all asean market and expecting them to come to philippines to enjoy ur nightlife?

do u think we really care about how vibrant ur nightlife is?

to tap tourist of different region, u have to understand what they (ASEAN) wants. then u can get the traffic. if u think u want to sell nightlife to malaysian muslims….then sorry. we rather go to indonesian cities and even vietnam, bcoz what we (malaysian) love is….shopping!!!

u have to have something different from us in term of shopping experience.

just my honest point of view

sorry to interrupt but quit interesting to follow ur discussion.

that's ur biggest mistake! u think u can sell ur 'nightlife' and 'entertainment' to all asean market and expecting them to come to philippines to enjoy ur nightlife?

do u think we really care about how vibrant ur nightlife is?

to tap tourist of different region, u have to understand what they (ASEAN) wants. then u can get the traffic. if u think u want to sell nightlife to malaysian muslims….then sorry. we rather go to indonesian cities and even vietnam, bcoz what we (malaysian) love is….shopping!!!

u have to have something different from us in term of shopping experience.

just my honest point of view

Good points there. And thank you for spending some of your time in this PHL forum! We certainly accept inputs to help our leaders understand what are wanting in the tourism program! Kudos!

For nightlife ( though, am not interested at all :D ) there is Bangkok just 2 hours away
Well shopping....... you need to reduce prices since I can get most things cheaper here.

What the Phillipines has that the rest of ASEAN doesn't ? :

1) The never-ending beautiful islands with crystal blue waters. All can be easily reacheable from Manila/Cebu unlike those really beautiful islands in Indonesia.
2) Filipinos so far are the friendliest people in ASEAN and the most welcoming to foreigners

Then the publisity is quite bad- many people still live in their 80's and 90's mindset thinking that Phil is unsafe and "corrupted" ( what this has to do with tourism by the way ? ) . Which is terribly untrue lol.

Yeah I think in order to attract ASEAN visitors Phil needs to understand ASEAN mindset and sell its uniqueness out loud !

sorry to interrupt but quit interesting to follow ur discussion.

that's ur biggest mistake! u think u can sell ur 'nightlife' and 'entertainment' to all asean market and expecting them to come to philippines to enjoy ur nightlife?

do u think we really care about how vibrant ur nightlife is?

to tap tourist of different region, u have to understand what they (ASEAN) wants. then u can get the traffic. if u think u want to sell nightlife to malaysian muslims….then sorry. we rather go to indonesian cities and even vietnam, bcoz what we (malaysian) love is….shopping!!!

u have to have something different from us in term of shopping experience.

just my honest point of view

Very well said. It is all about understanding target markets. Different markets, different motivators.