More Than The Usual: Wander Our Wonders

More than the usual high and low rise

Wander over the world heritage site, Banaue Rice Terraces, Eighth Wonder of the World, carved from the high Cordilleras over 2,000 years ago. Behold the 500-year old mummies in Kabayan. Follow the steps of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo trekking up Mt. Pinatubo. View Taal Volcano, the smallest volcano in the world. Head for the 1,268 Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Top off your experience with an exhilirating ride on a canoe down an 8-kilometer Underground River in Sabang, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.




Source: Department of Tourism

Discover Philippines: Trivia - Davao City

The largest city in the Philippines is Davao City. With an area of 2,211 sq. km., it is about three times the size of the national capital, Metro Manila.

Source: Department of Tourism

More Than The Usual: Wear Our Wares

More than the usual shopping

More and more people are discovering that the Philippines is Asia’s most inexpensive shopping destination where you can get the most value for your money. Here you can find imported name brands from the West, as well as products handcrafted in the Philippines, from weaves, baskets, and brassware to hand-embroidered piña cloth, wood figurines, and all sorts of custom-made furniture, clothes, wedding gowns, shoes, embroidery items, and many other accessories.

Source: Department of Tourism

Discover Philippines: Trivia - Jose Rizal

Philippine National Hero and writer Jose Rizal could read and write at age 2. He grew up to speak more than 20 languages, including Latin, Greek, German, French, and Chinese. What were his last words? "Consummatum est!" ("It is done!")

Source: Department of Tourism

More Than The Usual: World Of Weddings

More than the usual "I do"

The wedding setting of a lifetime: the islands of the Philippines, any of 7,107 divine destinations where traditional meets exotic, modern meets mythical, east meets west.

WEDDING & HONEYMOON PACKAGES

Wedding Package at Shangri-la's Mactan Island Resort

Rate: US$ 2,200/couple

Inclusions:

• 4 days/3 nights deluxe accommodations
• Daily breakfast
• Roundtrip transfers
• Wedding ceremony
• Makeup and hairstyling for the bride
• Bridal gown & barong for the groom (rental)
• Flower girl
• Ring bearer
• Bride’s maid
• Bridal bouquet
• Wedding cake
• Music
• Video Coverage – 1 VHS tape or CD
• Photo album
• Blow-up photo – size: 11 x 16

For Reservations:

Tel. No. (6332) 234-1282 / 234-1613

Fax No. (6332) 234-1463

E-Mail: travelvision@skyinet.net

Adddress: 7 Escario St., Lahug, 6000 Cebu City

Honeymoon Package at Pansukian Tropical Resort

Rate: US$ 990/couple

Inclusions:

• 4 days/3 nights Tropical Pagoda accommodations
• Roundtrip transfers – airport/resort
• Full board
• Roundtrip SEAIR – Cebu/Siargao/Cebu
• Candlelight dinner at the Beach Pagoda
• Sunset kayaking by the mangroves
• Lagoon tour

For reservations:

Tel. No. (6332) 234-1282 / 234-1613

Fax No. (6332) 234-1463

travelvision@skyinet.net

Adddress: 7 Escario St., Lahug, 6000 Cebu City

For inquiries on other Wedding and Honeymoon Packages and for reservations, please contact the following:

The Social Connection

#21 Lauan St., United Paranaque II, Paranaque City

Tel. No. (632) 822-6191 / 821-8459

cbcunanan@skyinet.net

Contact Person: Celia B. Cunanan

Club Panoly

Ground Floor, Pacific Place Building, #539 Arquiza St., Ermita, Manila

Tel. No. (632) 525-5153

Fax No.(632) 525-9092

reservations@clubpanoly.com.ph

Events and Memories

#31 Juan Luna Street, San Lorenzo Village, Manila

Tel. No. (632) 752-8463

Fax No.(632) 825-6529 / 752-8570

events_memories@yahoo.com

Contact Persons: Eiza D. Mendoza and Martha Ortoll

Themes and Motifs

#16 W. Riverside St., SFDM, Quezon City

Tel. No. (632) 412-0546 / 371-9783 / 410-0032

tnm@l-manila.com.ph

shafab@l-manila.com.ph

Contact Persons: Sharon and Dodjie Fabian

The Bridal Cortege

#245 Amapola St., Palm Village, Makati

mhvill@pacific.net.ph

leviste@skynet.net

Contact Person: Charley Leviste Aquino

The Westin Philippine Plaza

Tel. No. (632) 551-5555

Fax No. (632) 551-5610

bscenter@westinmanila.com

Hotel Intercontinental Manila

Tel. No. (632) 815-9711

Fax No. (632) 817-1330

manila@interconti.com

EDSA Shangri-La

Tel. No. (632) 633-8888

Fax No. (632) 631-1067

eslsales@itextren.com

Century Park Hotel

Tel. No. (632) 528-8888

Fax No. (632) 528-1820

cphsales@mozcom.com

Eventi

21 J. Escaler St., Loyola Heights, Quezon City

Tel. No. (632) 929-5442

eventi@pacific.net.ph

Contact Person: Ms. Janice Taccad

Travelvision, Inc.

Unit C. Escarlo Building, 7 Escario Street, Lahug, Cebu City

Tel. No. (6332) 234-1282 / 234-1613

Fax No. (6332) 234-1463

travelvision@skyinet.net

China Travel Service, Inc.

801-803 Sabino Padilla (formerly Espeleta) cor. Espeleta Sts., Sta. Cruz, Metro Manila

Tel. No. (632) 733-1274 / 733-1396 / 733-1276

Fax No. (632) 733-1431

Southwind Travel & Tours, Inc.

Doors 9-10 Century Plaza Complex, Juana Osmena, Cebu City 6000, Cebu

Tel. No. (6332) 254-3440 / 253-6225 / 254-2034 / 254-1659

Fax No. (6332) 253-0623

inbound@southwind-online.com

Source: Department of Tourism

Discover Philippines: Trivia - Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno

Filipino bowler Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno was the first bowler to be elevated to the International Bowling Hall of Fame based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The Philippine Congress has named him “Greatest Filipino Athlete of All Time.”

Source: Department of Tourism

More Than The Usual: Wondefully Original Waterways

More than the usual river wild

The world's longest underground river system accessible to man is located in the capital of Palawan. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which has been inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is Palawan's most popular attraction and covers 5,349 hectares of lush forest, dark mountains, caves, and white beaches. Paddle through eight kilometers of a snaking, underground river leading to a clear lagoon. Walk on the Monkey Trail, a series of wooden paths that winds into the forest, lined with 40,000 tropical flora and fauna.

Source: Department of Tourism

Tourism News: New Tourist Markets Boosted Tourist Arrivals for January to October 2008

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The expansion in visitor volume for January to October 2008 is greatly attributed to the increases in tourist arrivals from new source markets such as Russia which grew by 36.70 percent, India by 15.36 percent, and China by 9.95 percent. The influx of tourists from these new markets augmented the slowdown of growth rates from traditional source markets such as Japan and Korea which have been affected by the financial crisis in the United States.

In addition, the surge in Russian, Indian and Chinese tourists have also provided opportunity to augment air linkages and tourism investments. China Eastern Airline now flies directly between the cities of Shanghai and Cebu two times a week. Chartered flights between Russia and Boracay continued to increase while awaiting the conclusion of air services agreement between Russia and the Philippines by the end of the year. Two Chinese resort investments in Palawan with the total amount of P 994 Million have also been endorsed for incentives.

Visitor arrivals from ASEAN rose by 8.64 percent to 211,120 with tourists from Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand posting 32.07, 10.85 and 10.28 percent growth, respectively as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines increased its flight frequencies to these ASEAN countries.

Scandinavian market consisting of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark posted 12.98 percent growth over previous year’s volume of 30,091. This market continued to surpass the growth rates registered by traditional sources. In addition, tourists from France went up by 20.94 percent and the United Kingdom by 13.99 percent during the ten-month period as the Department of Tourism pursued the launch and promotion of diving, bird watching and adventure programs in these markets.

Tourists from the United Arab Emirates also showed 32.07 percent hike with the maiden participation of the Department of Tourism in two major international travel fairs for the Middle East market, namely: the Arabian Travel Mart and Health Care Travel Exhibition in Dubai. Likewise, the Department spearheaded the organization of the First Philippine Property Show also in Dubai.

Despite the global crisis, arrivals from the USA modestly grew by 0.56 percent. Based on the projection of the UNWTO, tourist’s volumes from these markets are estimated to slowdown towards the end of the year and the first semester of 2009.

Tourist arrivals for the first ten months of 2008 reached an all time high of 2,607,118 for a 4 percent growth over the same period last year.

Discover Philippines: Trivia - Mt. Apo

The highest mountain in the Philippines is Mt. Apo, a dormant volcano found in Mindanao, at 2,954 meters (9,689 feet). Mt. Pulog in Luzon is the second highest at 2,928 meters (9604 feet).

Source: Department of Tourism

More Than The Usual: Watch Our Whales

More than the usual underwater view

A whale of an experience in Donsol, Sorsogon: In late 1997, the world discovered the huge schools of whale sharks that had been visiting the mouth of Donsol River for generations, oblivious to the small coastal community. Organized whale shark expeditions then transformed this sleepy, remote fishing village into a major eco-tourist destination almost overnight. Get ready to put on your gear, ease yourself quietly into the water, and swim alongside the world's largest fish, over 50 feet in length and 13 tons in weight, in the wondrous waters of Donsol.

Source: Department of Tourism

Discover Philippines: Trivia - Tamaraw

The largest Philippine wild animal, the tamaraw, is a species of the buffalo that is similar to the carabao. It is found only in the island of Mindoro.

Source: Department of Tourism