Metro Manila

















Metro Manila. It’s a megacity with a huge appetite for fun. From its historic neighborhoods to the outrageous housing developments, Metro Manila is a maze of vibrant energy with bits of calm in between. Weave your way through this mighty megalopolis, made up of 16 cities, one town and eleven million people.

Also known as the National Capital Region, Metro Manila consists of the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and Pateros.

Like to party? Dance the night away in the clubs of Taguig. Or indulge in world-class cuisine in Makati. Up for a cultural escapade? Visit San Agustin Church in Intramuros, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or check out Metal Age relics such as the manunggul jar in the National Museum. How about shopping? You can bargain your way through Greenhills and come home with a set of gorgeous South Sea pearls. shop in air-conditioned comfort at the SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall. Need some fresh air? Walk around La Mesa Dam or take a breather by Manila Bay. Take in the sounds of a Bamboo Organ or a karaoke machine. And make sure to try balut if you see it on the streets.

National Capital Region or NCR, it consists of the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and Pateros.

The original capital Manila, which the metropolis was named after, was situated in the banks of where the Pasig River meets Manila Bay. The 23-kilometer Pasig River was a strategic point for trade and commerce.  History states that a certain mangrove, nilad, grew in the bank, and Maynila (the Filipino term for Manila), essentially means, “Where there is nilad”.

Rajah Soliman ruled this area. His fort, or kuta, was destroyed by the Spanish, and there they built the beginnings of the capital, Manila. The area is now called, Fort Santiago.

Manila grew immensely due to the Galleon trade. It lasted 250 years and was the longest trade route on the planet. From then on, the towns around grew with it. Although they were part of Laguna, Rizal and Pampanga provinces, they soon became cities. For purposes of governance, the cities were formed into a region in 1975, and the area was called the National Capital Region. It is now the seat of government and the major urban center of the country. Interestingly, it is the 11^th most populous city on Earth!

Where do you start in the bustling metropolis? Start in the heart, Manila, and move your way through the capital. Each city has its own adventure! Hang out in any of the karaoke bars, there is one or more in every barangay! Filipinos are musical, so we love to sing and dance!  Check out a bamboo organ. Visit any of the fish ports and learn the art of “bulong.”  Indulge in Filipino food. We have street food galore—from the dirty ice cream (which is far from dirty), to warm, silken tofu or “taho,” and of course, everyone who visits must try the famous “balut!”

TAGAYTAY RIDGE


OVERVIEW:

Located about 2,5 hour drive South of Manila, Tagaytay Ridge at 2,250 ft. above sea level offers a panoramic view of Taal Volcano (weather permitting). Taal Volcano is considered to be the smallest & lowest volcano in the world. Sitting serenely on Taal Lake, the volcano offers a deceptive sight, considering the violent history of past eruptions.

On the way to the ridge, drive by fruit stalls, visit a Jeepney factory and the famous Bamboo Organ of the Las Piñas Church (the only one of its kind in the world).

How to Get There:

There are daily public buses that ply the route to Tagaytay from Manila. Several bus companies have their terminals in Cubao, EDSA, Pasay, and at Baclaran, beside Coastal Mall Integrated Provincial Bus Terminal below LRT, Manila. Jeepneys that ply from Cavite (Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang) to Nasugbu, Batangas also pass by Tagaytay via the Aguinaldo Highway.

From Batangas, the best way to reach Tagaytay is to head to Talisay, Batangas, then go up to Tagaytay via the 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) Tagaytay-Talisay Road, which ends at the Tagaytay City Circle. FromLaguna, one may head to Santa Rosa, Laguna and take the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road.

Tagaytay Ridge is easily accessible to motorists, only an hour and a half, easy driving from the business districts of Makati and Quezon City. It is a great venue for wedding receptions and other special gatherings.

Of the 108 rooms with stunning views of Taal Volcano, eighteen (18) suites feature two bedrooms, living room and kitchen area. The hotel’s recreational facilities help keep guests fit and relaxed during your stay: a tranquil spa, a gorgeous infinity pool, an in-house gym and an indoor basketball and badminton courts. Moreover, you will fall for the savory treats dished out at the onsite a la carte restaurant, Sisterfields by Cravings, and at the numerous dining outlets found next door at Summit Ridge Promenade.

Appreciated for one of the largest banqueting and state-of-the-art MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events) facilities in Tagaytay, Summit Ridge Tagaytay stands out for its friendly and personable brand of service. The hotel’s banquets and events team provides efficient and attentive service to ensure the success of every event through delicious catering, custom-made menus, and captivating venue settings, all executed flawlessly with a stress-free approach. Relish your time away at Summit Ridge Tagaytay, where everyday’s a weekend!

BEST CHEAP RESORT IN LUZON



Tanza's Oasis hotel and resort



Hotel Overview:
Tanza Oasis Hotel and Resort is Cavite’s only true resort destination, offering the perfect mix of exceptional resort accommodations, service, comfort and a classic Filipino hospitality. 
Tanza Oasis Hotel stands as the premier meeting center for international clientele and businessman alike with meeting, convention and outdoor function space. You'll experience superior luxury, subtle elegance and personalized services and much more.
How To Get There?

ocated in Tanza Cavite. It is ideal for people who want to enjoy a short vacation in a PARADISE Resort and save time on travel, as it’s close to Metro Manila.

From Mall of Asia (45mins):
Go straight to Coastal Road, enter Cavitex and go straight. You’ll pass by CEPZA on your right. On Tanza Municipality, you’ll pass by PUREGOLD on your right, keep going straight. Watch out for the Kilometer signs by the highway. You'll pass by KM 41.

From Emilio Aguinaldo Highway Manila Side (40mins):
Turn right when you see SM Bacoor. Go straight (15mins) and turn left on a Big Intersection (Closed Down Zeus Gas Station. You’ll pass by CEPZA on your right. On Tanza Municipality, you’ll pass by PUREGOLD on your right, keep going straight. Watch out for the Kilometer signs by the highway, when you see KM 41, then we’re nearby. From Emilio Aguinaldo Highway Tagaytay Side (50mins), turn left on Governor’s Drive (Robinson’s Dasmarinas). Go straight (40mins), you’ll pass by Dasmarinas and Trece Martires, when you reach NAIC, turn right on the intersection (BDO across). Turn right again on the next intersection. Keep going straight. You'll pass by KM 41.
Nearby Attraction:

. There are eight world-class golf courses in the province. Natural wonders are mostly found in the upland areas such as Tagaytay Ridge, Macabag Cave in Maragondon, Balite Falls in Amadeo, Malibiclibic Falls in General Aguinaldo-Magallanes border, Mts. Palay-Palay and Mataas na Gulod National Park in Ternate and Maragondon, Sitio Buhay Unclassified Forest in Magallanes and flowers, vegetables and coffee farms.

FRESH STRAWBERRY IN BAGUIO

FRESH STRAWBERRY IN BAGUIO





Baguio City proper is La Trinidad Valley whose main attraction is its vast strawberry farms, making it the strawberry capital of the Philippines. The municipality of La Trinidad has a total land area of almost 8,300 hectares consisting mostly of mountains, rivers, and springs. Its floor elevation is 1,300 meters above sea level which explains the cool temperature in the valley.To Go in the farm
 from Baguio, ride the jeepneys bearing the “Buyagan” sign whose terminal is located just outside Baguio City Hall. The jeepney’s route traverses through Baguio, La Trinidad, and Bontoc Road. Get off at the Benguet State University. The entrance to the strawberry farm is already walking distance from the university. The cost of strawberry picking may be a bit expensive to the ordinary person. It is usually twice the cost of just buying from the markets. This is also to compensate for the potential damages that amateur pickers can do to the crops.The cost per box you see in the picture cost 350 pesos...By the entrance of the farm, there are lots of strawberry icecream and taho vendors. There were also corn being sold in the area. Sadly, there are no clean restroom facilities in the area.

ube jam and strawberry jam made in baguio

 Ube Jam and Strawberry Jam 

No Baguio City trip is complete without food pasalubongs especially strawberry jam, ube jam .

They make really good Ube jam which is essentially made of purple yam, condensed milk and vanilla. 

  If you like it with real ube bits, and Good Sheperd's (Mines View Park) if you prefer it creamy, although the latter is almost double the price of the former.

Good Shepherd’s strawberry jam comes in different varieties. I LIKE chewy strawberries. much better ..

The store is popularly known for the different products made by the Good Shepherd nuns and visitors coming up to the city who are familiar with items sold in the store always make it a point buy something to take back home. Among the most sought items are fruit preserves, strawberry and ube jams, cashew and peanut brittle, and coco jam. Most of their products are also sold by different stalls in the Baguio Public Market and at various other outlets within the city. The money generated from the sale of their products is used for the different charities sponsored by the Good Shepherd nuns and also for the maintenance and upkeep of the convent.

Baguio Delicacy

Baguio Delicacy

Must-buy pasalubongs:

• SUNDOT KULANGOT- sounds so yuckie... but it taste soo yummy...By just its name alone, sundot kulangot can scare away picky eaters. It literally means “poke a snot” or “pick a booger”, describing the bizarre way of eating it. But despite its name, there’s nothing gross about this traditional candy.

Packaged within small wooden orbs, sundot kulangot are actually sweet, pinch-sized delicacies that taste like our traditional coconut jams. One must break the orb and use either a popsicle stick or one’s own finger to get a taste of the candy. Thanks to its tedious preparation, sundot kulangot is now becoming a rarity with its limited supply being sold in Baguio City and other Northern Luzon provinces.

 Baguio and the Lion in Kennon Road

The Lion's Head is a famous attraction along Kennon Road, a major highway in Luzon, Philippines that leads to the city of Baguio. Located in Camp 6, the Lion's Head measures 40 ft (12 m) in height. It was conceptualized by the Lions Club members of Baguio City, during the term of Luis Lardizabal as mayor of Baguio City from 1969 to 1970 and as the club's president, to become the club's symbol or imprint in the area. Prior to the artistic sculpting, the limestone was prepared by a group of engineers and miners, then the "actual artistic carving of the façade" was rendered by Reynaldo Lopez Nanyac, an Ifugao artist and woodcarver from the Cordillera Administrative Region. The construction project began in 1968 but was interrupted. The project was continued in 1971 by another Lions Club president, Robert Webber, and was unveiled in 1972.

Kennon Road (formerly the Benguet Road and also known as the Rosario–Baguio Road) is a roadway in Benguet province in thePhilippines connecting the mountain city of Baguio to the lowland towns of Rosario and Pugo in La Union province. The project was begun in 1903 and opened for travel on January 29, 1905. It was originally called the Benguet Road and later renamed in honor of its builder, Col.Lyman Walter Vere Kennon of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For travelers coming from Manila or the provinces in the central plains ofLuzon, it is the shortest route to Baguio.

BEST TOURIST SPOT IN LUZON

Best Tourist Spots in LUZON

• Mayon Volcano

Standing at 2,421 meters (approximately 8077 feet), Mayon Volcano gained popularity for being the most symmetrical volcano in the world. To add to its international limelight, Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines, having had erupted 47 times in the past 400 years! Mayon’s last major eruption was in 1993 and the last recorded major activity was in December 2009. Due to Mayon’s volatility, the volcano is continuously monitored by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS).

WHAT TO EXPECT?

• Experience traversing on different kinds of terrain. The terrain diversity of Mayon Volcano includes forests, grasslands, rocks, sand, and boulders.
• There is a natural spring on Mt Mayon where you can bathe and relax.
• Great scenery. Being such a high point in the Bicol region, one can enjoy the view of the different towns and the surrounding ocean. As commented by most trekkers, the exhilaration brought by the scenery increases with your distance up the mountain.
• You will be provided with a local guide who knows the area well and can share wonderful stories about living near Mt Mayon.
• For those that opt for the Overnight Trek and the 3D2N Crater Trek, the evening(s) will be spent camping on the slopes of Mt Mayon (at the designated camping sites).
• For the less experienced mountaineers, a path has been paved out and there are several camps where one can sit and rest before proceeding.
• Climbing with ease. For a less strenuous climb, a porter will be made available. We do trust our staff, but for your peace of mind, we suggest that valuables are not given to the porter.
• We keep you safe.
• Prior to your trip, Donsol Eco Tour checks with the local authorities on the safety of climbing up Mt Mayon.

Go Luzon

Nature of Luzon





I am from Philippines and I am very proud of it for me to promote this country for those seeking a pure and nature relaxation..

 The Luzon Island is one of the most amazing tourist destinations in the World. Luzon is where Manila can be found, the capital city of Philippines and is part of the 17th largest island in the World spanning over 104,688 square kilometers.

The island of Luzon is the largest Philippine island. It is located in the northern part of the archipelago. Together with Visayas and Mindanao, they are collectively nicknamed “Luzviminda” – Luz for Luzon, Vi for Visayas and Minda for Mindanao. The largest percentage of the country’s population is concentrated in the island of Luzon. Most of the more progressive cities and town are within the boundaries of Luzon. The country’s capital is also located in the island of Luzon making it the country’s economic and political center.