Top Ten Destinations: The Philippines
Metro Manila
As the capital of the Philippines, Manila will be most’s first glimpse of the country, and doesn’t usually impress. Once the ‘pearl of the orient’, this urban sprawl, a conglomeration of 17 towns and village joint together during the Marcos reign, Manilla is now crowded and polluted the city bursts at the seams and hugs the outlines ofManila Bay. There are not many sights to see here although the city boasts an array of colonial architecture and an entertainment industry left over from the days of R & R trips for American soldiers during the Vietnam war. It’s a hugely multicultural city, but trapped in the 3rd world.
Baguio
Tucked into the northern mountains, Baguio is a hill station that has been a popular escape from the heat of Manila, and was once Marcos territory. The famous rice terraces of Banaue are nearby. Baguio’s main attraction is The Mansion, summer residence of the Philippine president; Bell Church, Baguio Cathedral and the Crystal Caves, an ancient burial site.
Cebu
One of the fastest growing island economies, the capital is a mini Manila clogged with increasing amounts of traffic. The island has a lot of beaches and even some water sports like scuba diving, but it is the jumping off point for a lot of islands nearby so you may find it useful for catching ferries. There is also a 16th century fort here, ‘san Pedro’, the oldest of its kind in the country.
Boracay
A small island, Boracay boasts one of the worlds prettiest beaches with white sand and good water sports available, like scuba diving. It is extremely popular so it may be wise if you’re looking for solitude to give it a miss in the high season of November to January when the place fills up.
Leyte
An island east of the Visayas, Leyte is one of the poorest provinces in the country. It’s famous for being the spot where General Macarthur landed in the early 1940’s, where he declared, “I shall return.’ He and the US army did in 1944 and retook the Philippines from Japanese control during World War II.
Negros
Home of the Philippine sugarcane industry, the island is named for the Negrito ethnic minorities that lived here; wealthy barons built huge estates on the island as fortunes grew during the American colonisation period. It is now considered to be the centre of the cockfight breeding industry.
Bohol
The island is famous for the Chocolate Hills, which are best seen in the dry season. There little 100ft high hills are made of limestone, so called because they look like giant chocolate drops.
Davao
The island of Mindanao is the second largest in the country, and it is mainly Muslim. It’s the calls to prayer in the mosques that will be most remembered and will contrast sharply with the presence of churches throughout the rest of the country. The Philippine Eaglemakes its home in the forests around the town.
Puerto Princessa
Capital city of the island of Palawan, Princessa is laid back and friendly. It’s a good place to organise transportation to the southern parts of this isolated and least explored province.
E Nido
One of the worlds best dive sites is located here on the western coast of Palawan. With over 800 species of coral found in the country, this is one of the most beautiful places to see it and the multi coloured fish that call it home.
By Dave Lowe
Destination – Philippines