Aliya parcs is a philippine celebrity model who makes her more happy living in the Philippines. she makes her life more enjoyable being close in showbiz as a dj host in myx tv commercial. The video and the album of  are out on the market now.Born and raised in The Netherlands to a Dutch father and a Filipino mother, Aliya first sang in public at the age of four and would since then regularly sing in various school presentations and Filipino community affairs filipina model. At seventeen, filipina model Aliya was Holland's representative to the 1997 Euro-Santa Cruzan celebration held that year in London. She and 13 other European country representatives were presented in a gala evening affair before gracing the next day's grand filipina model procession in the main streets of London. We started this feature mainly to come up with role models for Fil-Americans specially to our youth. We've been called an invisible minority because we tried to assimilate to the American main stream as quickly as we can. We're hoping that by this feature, we can showcase that Fil-Ams too are as successful as other minorities and capable of achieving more.
Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano and Major Gen. Antonio Taguba
Fil-Am US Army Generals
Two highest ranking Filipino Americans in the US Army were recently promoted, they are Army Maj. Gen. Edward Soriano who has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general (3 stars) and assignment as commanding general, I Corps and Fort Lewis, Washington. And Army Brig. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba who has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general (2 stars). Gen. Taguba is to be reassigned as director of management and vice director of the Army Staff, Washington, D.C. Inosanto is the heir to Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do and one of 3 instructors certified by Lee personally. Dan Inosanto is also a major promoter of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). Aside from Jeet Kune Do, Inosanto teaches Kali, the Filipino stick and hand to hand martial arts. If you will see Matt Damon's movie, Bourne Identity, you will find out how devastating this form of Filipino martial arts is.
Thinking of going back home and work there, think twice, the salary scale might be a big factor to consider. Let's take for example, if you're a systems engineer in the US making $5000 plus, in Asia (as per the survey), particularly the Philippines, you'll be making on average US$547 - roughly 10% of your US salary. A majority of Filipinos everywhere are wondering what is this claim is all about. The Philippine history books, Malaysian's probably too, have not mentioned about the Philippines' stake on the northern part of the island of Borneo. On the other hand, the Malaysians maybe furious that there are a lot of attention now being focused to that part of the Malaysian federation to which they believe was theirs since the British handed the territory in 1963. The Philippines have 3 Mses. International and 2 Mses. Universe to made us all proud of. The likes of Margie Moran and Gloria Diaz as Mses.Universe, Gemma Cruz, Aurora Pijuan and Melanie Marquez, the Mses. International. And some beauty queens married Filipinos like Armi Helena Kuusela (Miss Finland)- Hilario, Miss Universe 1952 who is married to a businessman and a Miss Australia married to a Filipino actor and comedian. Not to mention, Miss International 1960 Stella Marquez Zawadzky (Miss Colombia) - Araneta who is married to a scion of the Araneta family and the organizer of the Miss International in the Philippines. Indeed the Philippines is home to a lot of beautiful women. As a race, we have a long tradition in winning beauty contests, the Filipino Americans can be credited to have a several beauty title holders of their own. Aside from Miss Baraquio, the Miss Teen USA for 1998 is a Filipino American from South Carolina, Vanessa Minnillo. This is our initial featured interview which we hope to be a continuing series. We are trying to go in depth with our Fil-Am celebrities. Finding more about them will make us more aware of our common heritage and common goals in life. This feature will give more insight as to how and what made them where they are right now. We hope this will serve as inspiration to all of us. Special thanks to Louella for making all of this possible. Chinese and Filipinos reach Mexico on ships of the Manila galleon.
Filipinos jumped ship from Spanish Galleon and established settlement near New Orleans. They introduced shrimp sun-drying process.
Antonio Miranda Rodriguez Poblador, a Filipino, along with 44 other individuals were sent by the Spanish government from Mexico to establish what is now known as the city of Los Angeles.
Spain’s colonization of the Philippines brought about the construction of Intamuros in 1571, a “Walled City” comprised of European buildings and churches. Today it is one of the world’s best preserved medieval cities, replicated in different parts of the archipelago. Walk through this walled Spanish colonial “city within a city,” situated right in the heart of Manila, complete with centuries-old walls, dungeons, churches, bulwarks, and plazas.
WALKING TOUR PACKAGES
Half-day Intramuros Walking Tour (am/pm)
Minimum of 2 pax
Rates: US$ 15.00 (without transport) or US$ 25.00 (with transport / hotel transfer)inclusions: Entrance fees, tour guide
Full-day Intramuros Festival Showcase (2:00 – 10:00 pm)
Minimum of 2 pax
Rates: US$ 60.00 (with transport / hotel transfer)
Inclusions: Entrance fees, tour guide, dinner
Exceptions:
Historical Tours to Intramuros operates daily except Mondays. Schedules may change in July and August 2003.
Discounts may be available for group bookings. Rates are valid from February 5, 2003 until December 31, 2003.
Optional Tour: “DO-IT-YOUR-OWN” TOUR – “Walk The Wall Challenge,” a 30-minute leisure walk from Baluartillo de San Francisco in Fort Santiago to Baluarte de San Diego or vice versa.
Half-day Intramuros Walking Tour (am)

8:00am Bus pick-up (time depending on the hotel location)

8:30 Drop-off guests at Hidalgo Monument

Walk the wall up to Baluarte de San Diego

8:45 Exit Sta. Lucia St.

9:00-9:30 Light and Sound Show

Walk the wall/Exit Calle Real

9:45 San Agustin Church/Museum

10:15 Casa Manila

11:15 Clamshell (Regional Product Showcase)

11:45 Bus pick-up at Villa Immaculada

Moving tour – General Luna/Manila Cathedral/Postigo/Muralla/Puerta

Isabel/Puerta de Parian/Victoria Gap Parking

Option to walk the wall of Revelin de Recoletos

12:00 pm Bus pick-up for transfer to hotel

END OF TOUR

Half-day Intramuros Walking Tour (pm)

2:00pm Drop-off Hidalgo Monument

Walk the wall up to Baluarte de San Diego

2:45 Exit Sta. Lucia St.
3:00-3:30 Light and Sound Show
Walk the wall/Exit Calle Real
3:45 San Agustin Church/Museum
4:15 Casa Manila
4:45 Bahay Tsinoy
5:15 -6:00 Clamshell
Bus pick-up at Villa Immaculada
Moving tour - General Luna/Manila Cathedral/Postigo/Muralla/Puerta
Isabel/Puerta de Parian/Victoria Gap Parking
Option to walk the wall of Revelin de Recoletos
7:00 Dinner along row of Muralla restaurants
7:30 END OF TOUR
Full-Day Intramuros Walking Tour & Evening Festival Showcase
1:30pm Bus pick-up (time depending on the hotel location)
2:00 Drop-off guests at Hidalgo Monument
Walk the wall up to Baluarte de San Diego
2:45 Exit Sta. Lucia St.
3:00-3:30 Light and Sound Show
Walk the wall/Exit Calle Real
3:45 San Agustin Church/Museum
4:15 Casa Manila
4:45 Bahay Tsinoy
5:15 Clamshell (Regional Product Showcase)
6:00 Night Market with Festival Parade (Fri/Sat)
7:00 Regional Cultural Performances (Clamshell)
8:00 Dinner: choice of restaurants in Intramuros
(Option on Fri/Sat: street parties, tapas tours, and fireworks display)
Bus pick-up for transfer to hotel
END OF TOUR
Optional Tour: Walk Our Wall Challenge from Baluartillo de San Francisco in Fort Santiago to Baluarte de San Diego or vice-versa. Boracay Island, with its sugary white sand beaches and azure blue waters, is located on the northwestern tip of Panay, Western Visayas. The best of the island is the 4 km. White Beach, touted as the “finest beach in the world.” The water surrounding the island is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago.
In the Northern part of the Philippines is a beach reputed to have the longest contiguous white sand with mighty waves and strong winds that can compare to Hawaii. Wind and wave surfing are the outstanding activities that Pagudpud beach offers its very discriminating clientele. Not to mention the inviting views, clear blue waters, and white sand. Pagudpud promises its visitors a magnificent experience in a secluded paradise.
Lying in the heart of Cebu is the island of Mactan. This tropical-island getaway endowed with a variety of colors – from its beach, hotels, resorts, nightlife, music, food, drinks – will guarantee to spice up every tourist.
Panglao is a perfect for a great dive and beach holiday. It is a small island on the Philippines southwest of the bigger island, Bohol. On the southern beach of Panglao there are several resorts that line up on the beach.
Camiguin, which rhymes with “come again,” has been regarded as the most beautiful island in the country. As such, it is also referred to as the Philippines’ “Garden of Eden.” The presence of a number of majestic waterfalls that create both hot and cold springs is only one of the many attractions of this island-paradise. The topography is unmistakably tropical but the ambience is uniquely occidental. A study in contrast, Camiguin is sure to mesmerize anyone who visits with the itch to be back again soon.
Framing the rugged and intriguing coastline of the capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa City is Honda Bay. Its blue cool waters are dotted with islets that assure one of a pure-pleasure experience. From snorkeling in its clear waters to the more adventurous island hopping within its enclaves to simply having a picnic in the fine sand of its beach areas, Honda Bay is sure to leave a lasting impression on the visitor.
Dominated by towering marble cliffs that are homes to a number of tropical birds, El Nido is the source of one of the most delectable soups specially found in Chinese restaurants – the Nido Soup. This soup consists mainly of the birdnests that abound in the area. But El Nido is more than this. It prides itself in having the most beautiful seascapes in the province of Palawan, known as the country’s last frontier. Because of its utter splendor, it has also been called the island of the gods – heaven on earth, that is El Nido.
Pearl Farm is located in the Samal Island off the coast of Davao City, Southern Philippines. The premier beach resort, which lies in the pristine island of Samal, used to be a pearl farm. There thousands of white-lipped oysters, transported form the Sulu Sea, were once cultivated for their pink, white, and gold pearls. Today, beach lovers all over the world visit this world-class beach resort for its white sand and panoramic landscape and seascape, bringing with them the memory of a lifetime – a relaxing private retreat in a tropical paradise.
Siargao, located in the province of Surigao del Norte, is renowned for its curling waves that soar from nine to twelve feet high. It is frequented by surfers from all over the world. Besides surfing, the island of Siargao is well-known for its unspoiled beaches and its rural charm. SCUBA DIVING

The Philippines is to scuba divers what Switzerland is to skiers, Hawaii to surfers and Nepal to mountaineers: is a place you must visit at least once, to get the real heart of the sport. The country is a veritable smorgasboard of world-class dive sites set in a lush tropical environment with all the trappings you could wish for. Statistics from the Philippine Department of Tourism indicate that divers visiting the Philippines return for an average of 10 trips each which speaks volume about the quality of the dive sites and the professionalism of the operators. Lifted from the book, “Action Asia Adventure Travel Guide to the Philippines”.

Popular SCUBA DIVING Spots

• Anilao (Batangas)


• Puerto Galera (Oriental Mindoro)


• Cabilao Island (Bohol)


• Balicasag Island (Bohol)


• Apo Island (Negros Oriental)


• Malapascua (Cebu)


• Tubbataha Reef National Park (Palawan)


• Sarangani Bay


• Mactan Island (Cebu)


• Olango Island (Cebu)









WRECK DIVING

From scuba dives in strong currents and the deep sea to ship wreck dives for history’s sunken glory, the Philippine archipelago offers plenty of unforgettable and rewarding dive experiences. There are close to 25 shipwreck dive sites in the country. Explore the sunken wreckage of century-old Spanish galleons and World War II vessels in Subic Bay, one of the best wreck diving sites in Asia, as well as the remarkable wrecks in Busuanga and Malapascua.

Popular WRECK DIVING Spots

• Subic Bay (Olongapo)


• Coron Bay & Busuanga (Palawan)


• Malapascua (Cebu)









SNORKELING

Made up of 7,107 island and countless coral reefs, the Philippines is a paradise of snorkeling opportunities. Take your pick from 34,000 sq km (13,124 sq m) of coral reefs, some of which have grown since the Ice Age; over 100 reef slopes; over 800 classes of corals; over a thousand species of marine life; over 400 fish species and over 500 fish families; and the most populous and diverse aquatic ecosystem you could ever find.

Popular SNORKELING Spots

• Moalboal (Cebu)


• Bacuit Bay & El Nido (Northern Palawan)


• Puerto Galera (Mindoro)


• Miniloc Island (Northern Palawan)


• Taytay Bay (Northern Palawan)
Rare & Exotic Fauna
The game preserve and wildlife sanctuary on Calauit Island is straight out of Africa. To add to an array of endangered endemic Philippine animals are 108 African animals transported here. It is also home to the man-eating Philippine crocodile and the endangered “dugong”, or sea cow.

Bohol is home to the Tarsier, midget monkey of the Philippines and the smallest monkey in the world. Situated near the foot of the Mayon Volcano, Albay Park and Wildlife boasts of of 347 animals belonging to 75 species. Crocodile Park in Ma-a is the habitat of crocodiles as well as various breeds of birds, from the Philippine sea eagle to kakatoe and Indonesian parrots

• Calauit Island (Palawan)

• Tarsier site (Bohol)

• Albay Park & Wildlife (Bicol)

• Crocodile Park (Davao)







Marine Life
The Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park teems with 300 coral species, 46 coral genera, 7 seagrass species, 71 algae species; large marine life, dolphins, marine turtles; and seabirds. It was honored by UNESCO as the First Natural Site in the Philippines to be inscribed in the prestigious World Heritage List.

The Turtle Islands are South East Asia's only remaining major green turtle rookery and a vital nesting ground for the hawksbill turtle. Pamilacan Island in Baclayon is considered a critical marine mammal habitat in the Philippines. Palawan is home to the “dugong” or sea cow, the only herbivorous mammal today, while Donsol, Sorsogon is home to huge, gentle whale sharks which the locals call the “butanding”.


• Tubbataha Reef National Park (Palawan)

• Pamilacan Island (Bohol)

• Whale Shark Site (Sorsogon)

• Seacow site (Palawan)

• Turtle Islands (Palawan)







Avian
Olango Island, “The Bird Island of Central Philippines,” is a critical stopover of up to 50,000 migrating water birds flying the East Asian migratory flyway yearly. Pacem Eco-Park along Sumulong Highway, Assumption is a haven of over 80 of the country’s 1,600 species of butterflies and a number of native and foreign birds such as mynahs, owls, eagles, and parrots.

The Philippine Eagle Research and Nature Center is home to the world’s largest eagle, the Philippine Eagle (once known as the monkey-eating eagle), the country’s national bird. The Center for the Philippine Raptors in Los Baños is a rescue and rehabilitation center for diurnal and nocturnal raptorial birds, and a captive breeding facility for Philippine birds of prey, especially the highly endangered Philippine Eagle.

• Olongo Island (Cebu)

• Philippine Eagle & Nature Research Center (Davao)

• Center for Philippine Raptors (Laguna)

• Pacem Eco-Park (Antipolo)

• Albay Park & Wildlife (Bicol)
Flora
Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center in Quezon Avenue boasts of about 38 species of trees and shrubs, representing 2,443 trees commonly found in Philippine forests. More than just a haven for butterflies, Pacem Eco-Park houses various lumber trees, fruit trees, orchids, and flowering plants.

• Rizal

• Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center (Quezon City)

• Pacem Eco-Park (Antipolo) BAGUIO COUNTRY CLUB (Baguio City)
Tel. No. (074) 442-5060/5069
It is one of the oldest and finest courses in the country. Even at par 61, this does not indicate an easy round due to its restrictive layout of tight fairways and rolling hills.




CAMP JOHN HAY (Baguio City)
Tel. No. (074) 442-2101/2102
Smell the pines as you walk through the fairways of this par 69 all-weather course. Laid out about 5,000 ft. above the sea level, it was recently redesigned by the Nicklaus Group.




CANLUBANG GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Canlubang, Laguna)
Tel. No. (049) 549-1362/1363
This 36-hole complex is the largest in the Philippines, masterfully designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The North course is a championship layout with a rating of 72.4 while the South course also features ravines, a bit of sand traps, and other challenges.




CLUB INTRAMUROS (Intramuros, Manila)
Tel. No. (02) 527-2887/6612
Try a superb round of night golf amidst the historic walled city of Manila. It is simply a par 66 course but it can be a real test of your short game, with water or out-of-bounds or both, in nearly every hole.




EASTRIDGE GOLF COURSE (Binangonan, Rizal)
Tel. No. (02) 651-2240/2298
Two man-made lagoons, one in the front nine spanning 1.3 hectares and the other at the back nine at 2.3 hectares, are the most distinct features of this 80-hectare 18-hole par 72 course.




FOREST HILLS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Cogeo, Antipolo City)
Tel. No. (02) 651-2240/2298
With a 74.7 course rating, this course characterized by rolling terrain at the front nine and a moderately hilly back nine, poses many possible difficulties for the average golfer.




LUISITA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac)
Tel. No. (02) 817-9309
This is one of the finest 18-hole par 72 championship courses in the country. Its most interesting feature is water. Eleven of its 18 holes have well-placed water hazards, the most awesome of which is at hole 17.




MIMOSA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Clark Airbase, Angeles City)
Tel. No. (045) 599-2461/3333 loc. 2024/2025
Tiger Woods played in this 86-hectare rolling terrain set against the backdrop of mountain ranges. It is a championship course composed of three distinctive nines: Acacia, Lakeview, and Mountainview.




PUERTO AZUL (Ternate, Cavite)
Tel. No. (02) 525-9248 loc.7643
Puerto Azul is a par 72 course that is one of the most scenic in the country, proud of its very famous combination of mountain and sea. Its signature hole is number 17, a par 3 hole delineated by one of the deepest water hazards in the Philippine Golf – the China Sea.




SHERWOOD HILLS (Trece Martirez City, Cavite)
Tel. No. (046) 4192841/2855/2843
Sherwood Hills is another Jack Nicklaus signature course. It is an inland-links-type course with wide fairways and a good size of greens suitable for very relaxed and leisurely rounds of the game.




STA. ELENA GOLF CLUB (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
Tel. No. (049) 549-1277/1278
Another Robert Trent Jones, Jr. creation is this 27-hole all-weather championship course. The 120 hectares of gently rolling terrain gave the designer the opportunity to create a number of memorable holes that wind their way through the natural movement of the property.




TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS (Tagaytay City, Cavite)
Tel. No. (046) 413-0888
The Tagaytay Highlands is a par 71 championship course that will surely put a golfer's power and accuracy to the test. The difference in elevation between the last and first holes of each nine is so dramatic that a cable car system is in place to ferry golfers from the 9th and 18th holes to the 1st and 10th tees.




THE EVERCREST (Nasugbu, Batangas)
Tel. No. (02) 712-9293
The Evercrest is an Arnold Palmer designed course which has tight fairways blanketed with Tifton grass and guarded by steep hills and deep ravines to give golfers the thrill of playing a par 72 championships course.




THE MANILA SOUTHWOODS (Carmona, Cavite)
Tel. No. (046) 430-0262
Venue of the World Amateur Golf Championship 1996, this course is composed of two 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature courses: the "Masters" course punctuated by traps and water hazards, and the "Legends" course accentuated by high mounds.




THE ORCHARD (Dasmariñas, Cavite)
Tel. No. (02) 842-8344/8355
Venue of the 1995 Johnnie walker classic, The Orchard is composed of two 18-hole courses, one designed by Arnold Palmer, and the other by Gary Player.




THE RIVIERA (Silang, Cavite)
Tel. No. (02) 807-7061/76 / (046) 414-2821/2838/2839
The Riviera is a very scenic course characterized by rolling hills, verdant foliage, coconut trees, cool springs, and waterfalls.




VALLEY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Antipolo City)
Tel. No. (02) 658-4920
Rated at par 72, this 7,097-yard spread of exhilarating greens, rolling hills, and meandering brooks can make golfers use the majority of their clubs, the mark of a true championship course.




WACK WACK GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB (Mandaluyong City)
Tel. No. (02) 723-066
Wack Wack has two fine 18-hole courses: the internationally known East Course, where some of the biggest tournaments have been held; and the shorter, less troublesome West Course, which usually draws the more senior and female golfers of the club.  TUBBATAHA REEF MARINE PARK (Palawan)
""The Philippine NatureScape""
Located at the heart of the southern Sulu Sea, 98 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, fragile Tubbataha Reef is a marvelous marine wilderness and a special eco-system much appreciated for its beauty as well as its scientific value.

In the heart of Sulu Sea, a wide expanse of sea that lies between Palawan and the Southern Island of Mindanao, nestles Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. This unique 33,200-hectare underwater splendor teems with abundant flora and fauna of the sea. The name Tubbataha is a derivative of two muslim words, ""Tubba"" (meaning long) and ""Taha"" (referring to something related to shore, reefs, or lagoon). It is composed of two distinct atoll reef systems, the North Reef and the South Reef, separated by a four-mile channel.

Tubbataha's North Reef is a nesting site for sea birds of all kinds as thousands of birds converge there every year. Boobies and terns are some of the birds that fly into Tubbataha to lay their eggs. It is also a nesting site for endangered sea turtles. Its seaworld is a diver's paradise with gorgonian seafans, soft corals, and gigantic sea sponges serving as home to turkey fish, anemone crab, banded sea snakes, nudibranches, starfish, cat sharks, surgeon fish, bat fish, and butterfly fish. Rare fish can be found in the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, like the unusual-looking Fox-faced Rabbit fish.

Because of its fabulous beauty, the marine park was honored by UNESCO on December 11, 1993, as the first natural site in the Philippines to be inscribed in the prestigious World Heritage List.




IFUGAO RICE TERRACES (Baguio)
The Ifugao Rice Terraces was inscribed in the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST in 1995 ""because of its great beauty that expresses conquered and conserved harmony between humankind and the environment.""

There are five major rice terraces listed which are similar yet distinct from one another:

BANAUE. This is the most famous of all the sites. It is the artistic center of the Ifugao carvers and the Ikat weavers.

BATAD. Located also in Banaue, it is home to the spectacular tiered, amphitheater-shaped terraces.

MAYOYAO. Located in Banaue. The organic Ifugao rice, Tinawon, in red and white variety, is harvested here in abundance.

HAPAO. Its stone-walled rice terraces date back to 650 AD and is located in Hungduan. Mt. Napulawan is located here.

KIANGAN. It is home to two famous rice terraces sites known for their size and visual impact: Nagacadan and Julungan.




THE IFUGAO EPIC "HUDHUD" (Ifugao)
The UNESCO World Heritage List has recognized the Ifugao epic ""HUDHUD,"" citing it as among the ""Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of the humanity.""

The HUDHUD Epic is the only Southeast Asian Cultural Piece selected in the UNESCO list. This was the first time that the UNESCO gave the awards. It was the second time that UNESCO honored Ifugao, after the province's famous rice terraces was included among UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1995.

The HUDHUD, once chanted, will go on for two to three days. The epic is chanted by Ifugao women, usually at harvest time, funeral wakes, and wedding time. There used to be many versions of the HUDHUD but the advent of Catholicism in the province has helped dilute this heritage.

The late anthropologist Fr. Francis Lambrecht, CICM brought HUDHUD to the international scene, which he claims has been sung by generations of Ifugaos since the late 17th century and still is a central part of the Ifugao life.

The social characteristic of the ancient Ifugaos as seen in the HUDHUD showed a strong matriarchal society.




VIGAN HERITAGE VILLAGE (Ilocos Sur)
The historic town of Vigan was inscribed in the World Heritage List in November 1999 because of its outstanding development in architecture, urban planning, and landscape design. It also serves as a testimony to a cultural tradition which has disappeared.

The justification for inscription is as follows:

""Criterion (ii): Vigan represents a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning.

Criterion (iv): Vigan is an exceptionally intact and well preserved example of European trading town in East and South-East Asia.""

The name Vigan was derived from ""Biga"", a giant taro plant that grows abundantly along the banks of the Mestizo River. This river was central in the development of trade and community activities in Vigan during the 16th to the 19th centuries. Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines and from China with those from Europe to create a unique culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.

Places to visit in Vigan include:

CALLE CRISOLOGO. Located at the heart of the Mestizo district. Lined on both sides by centuries-old Vigan Houses, it is made of cobblestones. Ground floors of the old house at Calle Crisologo have been turned into shops where souvenir items and Vigan furniture could be found at reasonable prizes.

ST. PAUL'S METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL. Built by the Augustinians in 1790-1800 in distinctive ""Earthquake Baroque"" architecture. It has three naves, twelve altars, and a choir loft. Chinese influence is evident in its baptistery altar, brass communion handrails, a pair of Fu Dogs, and moldings on the façade. Most of the original church interior features are still in place. The octagonal belfry is located 10 meters south of the cathedral.

ARZOBISPADO (1783). The only surviving 18th century arzobispado in the country, the palace served as headquarters of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898 and the invading American forces under Col. James Parker in 1899. Its Museo Nueva Segovia showcases antique portraits of bishops, a throne room, archdiocesan archives, and other ecclesiastical artifacts gathered from various colonial churches all over Ilocos Sur.

PLAZA SALCEDO. The elevated elliptical plaza west of the cathedral features the 17th century Juan de Salcedo Monument, the oldest of its kind in the Northern Luzon. It was in Plaza Salcedo where Gabriella Silang was executed by public hanging in 1763.

BURGOS NATIONAL MUSEUM. The ancestral house of Padre Jose Burgos is an excellent showcase of archeological and ethnographic treasures, antiques, dioramas of local historical events, and photographs of Ilocano heroes and achievers. A priceless collection of 14 Esteban Villanueva canvasses depicting the 1807 Basi Revolt is exhibited on the upper floor of the museum.

OTHERS: Mindoro Beach Resort, Syquia Mansion Mira Hills Eco-Park, Pagburnayan Jar Factory, Crisologo Museum, Terracotta Red Clay Industry, Abel-Iloco Weavers & Native Delicacy Makers.




ST. PAUL SUBTERRANEAN NATIONAL PARK (Palawan)
A picturesque stretch of a river, running for an unknown length that overwhelms the beholder, is the main fare offered by the Subterranean River. Emptying itself into St. Paul bay, this physical wonder was appropriately described by a visitor thus: "Nature sculpture is everywhere." Carved by time itself, unaided by the hand of man, there reposes a complete and finished griffin (or is it a Sphinx resting amid the sands of the desert?). Between stately stone pillars rises a series of steps leading from the water to some temple within. Then the cavern stretches away, an almost perfect rectangle with walls and ceiling decorated with many colors - surely the deft work of an artistic, designing hand. One sharp turn of the way and there appears a huge stalactite glittering like a chandelier from the ceiling of some great ballroom. Suddenly, one boat glides into a great chamber resplendent with colors and decoration like a stage set for a scene in some grand opera.

ETHNOGRAPHIC SITE MUSEUM


The site museum in Barangay Cabayugan, right in the heart of the Puerto Princessa Subterranean River National Park presents two very distinct ethnic groups: the Batak and Tagbanua. These two groups show different cultural perspectives that play a major social context in Palawan in the conservation and preservation of their living heritage.

The Bataks are rapidly disappearing while the Tagbanuwa is one of the few remaining ethnologuistic groups in the Philippines still using a type of syllabic writing wide spread in the country prior to coming of the Spaniards. This system of writing has been declared in 1999 by UNESCO as "Memory of the World."

Batak

The Batak, the smallest of the Palawan ethnoliguistic groups, are becoming extinct. Approximately there are about 1,780 Batak. A shy but hospitable people, they are of Negrito affinity. They occupy some thirteen settlements located along the seacost and in the interior mountains north of Puerto Princesa, in the area between Babuyan River and Barangay Malcampo.

Their language in Austronesian in origin. The Batak hunt and gather food in the forest. They trade forest products such as honey, rattan and almaciga resin in exchange for clothing, food and knives with their Christian, Cuyunon, and Tagbanuwa neighbors.

Tagbanuwa

The Tagbanuwa, taga (from)+banuwa(village), are village dwellers. Their villagesare found along the coastal and riverine areas of Central Palawan extending between Puerto Princesa to Panakan on the east, and between Napsan and Birung on the west. The Tagbanuwa are southern Mongoloid type and Austronesian language group.

Rice, the Tagbanuwa staple crop, is produced with dry shifting cultivation technology. Root crops are grown small scale and vegetable gardens are kept nearby houses.

Fishing and hunting are additional source of food. Forest product such as honey and rattan are valuable trade items.

For more details please contact:

CITY TOURISM OFFICE
Airport Compound, Rizal Avenue
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Telefax: (6348) 433-2983/433-4211
E-mail: ppc_cto@mozcom.com

PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK OFFICE
No. 11 National Highway, Junction 1
Bgy. San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City
5300 Palawan, Philippines
Tel. No: (6348) 433-2409
Fax No: (6348) 434-2509
E-mail: ppsmp@mozcom.com








PHILIPPINE BAROQUE CHURCHES (Manila, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Miag-ao)
The Philippines' Baroque churches are cited on the World Heritage List because of their unusual interpretation of a major artistic style. Baroque architecture, which was the dominant western style from around the mid-16th century until the death of France's Louis XIV shortly after 1700, reflects a life dominated by the desire to impress through exuberance and extravagance.

Although the style has produced celebrated works, it takes its name from barroco - Spanish for a large, irregular, and expensive pearl considered bizarre rather than beautiful. Baroque evolved as Europe was undergoing relentless religious wars; architecture and its ornamentation became tools to woo a congregation's loyalty.

The Filipino brand of baroque began in the late 16th century when Catholic missionaries came from Spain and Mexico. The local version contrasts with courtly Europe's rendition - although at first glance, there are the familiar gilding, florid floral themes, fully decorated pillars and fancy backgrounds. Four parishes in particular are considered of unquestionable importance to understanding the baroque attitude and human creativity.




STO. TOMAS DE VILLANUEVA CHURCH (Miag-ao, Iloilo)
In Central Philippines, on the island of Panay, is the Vicarate of Miag-ao in Iloilo Province. Its Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva is an Augustinian mission station built as a squat, massive fortress to protect townsfolk from Muslim invasion. Made of a distinct local yellow-orange sandstone, the fortress-church took ten years to build, beginning in 1797.

Miag-ao's church is ""the most outstanding example of the peripheral baroque style blended with embellishment [from] naïf folk motifs found in the Philippines,"" according to the 1992 report of Jorge Gazano, an architectural expert of ICOMOS, the United Nations' International Committee for Monuments and Sites. Any visitor will be able to translate the jargon into layman's language just by looking at the profusely ornamented church-front. Reigning over its fully hand-sculptured pediment is St. Christopher, dressed Filipino-farmer style with his pants rolled up, and carrying the Christ Child on his back. The holy figures stand beside coconut, papaya and guava trees ready for harvest. They were rendered by folk artisans working from their imagination and whatever guidance the priest, who had no architectural training, could offer. No similar tropical-Asian composition exists.




NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA ASUNCION (Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur)
Another mission that doubled originally as a fortress is Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria town of Ilocos Sur, a province on the country's northwestern seaboard. The citadel complex was the hub for evangelizing pagan peoples living in adjacent highlands. The best way to appreciate the architectural mood is to ascend the church's grand stairway of 85 wide steps starting at the town proper. Another stairway descends to a circular cemetery overwhelmed by exuberant foliage and an air of romanticism.




SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH (Paoay, Ilocos Norte)
Moving northwards into the adjacent province of Ilocos Norte is the Church of San Agustin in Paoay town. Built from 1694 to between 1702 and 1710, it is the premier example of Philippine Earthquake Baroque, an architectural solution to the area's challenging, natural setting. Both sides of the nave are lined with the most voluminous stone buttresses seen around the islands. They are decorated with huge scrolls, and topped by decorative pinnacles. A coralstone belltower stands a safe distance away to spare the sanctuary in case of collapse. Originally, the church roof was thatched; and it is conjectured so that buttresses not only support walls but give roof access during fire and typhoon.




SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH (Intramuros, Manila)
While the mission trio projects fine folk aesthetics, the last of the churches selected as baroque model is a grande dame of metropolitan achievement for the late 16th century. Built from 1586 to 1606 inside Intramuros, the Walled City where the city of Manila began, San Agustin Church is the oldest extant Christian sanctuary in the Far East, and the Philippines' oldest stone edifice. It marks the start of using permanent materials in contrast to indigenous, lightweight architectural media.

A plain exterior hides a sanctuary that attempts to bring heaven, in all its visual splendor, down to earth. The nave is a marvel of 19th-centry handpainted trompe-l'oeil. The magnificent retable is alive with antique images tucked into gilded niches. Throughout the sanctuary, in the convent and rooms converted into museum displays, are rare works of art accumulated from Asia and the Philippines over the centuries. In a chapel beside the main altar, the last conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, is entombed. Ilocos Norte - The Best Of Culture And Nature
Description
In the Northern Philippines is a province where the country’s rich Spanish colonial and American colonial and revolutionary past co-exist to the day. Here, a centuries-old World Heritage church and forts symbolic of Spanish rule have stayed alive together with Western Occupation period pieces marred with revolts led by native nationalists and instigators of independence. The place is Ilocos Norte, a rugged land of a unique people who have kept history and beauty preserved.

The church in the town of Paoay has been inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Paoay Church is a Gothic-Baroque-Oriental church constructed from 1704 to 1894. Its coralstone bell tower served as an observation post of the revolutionary “Katipuneros” during the Philippine Revolution of 1896. The people of the town are known for the age-old industry of loom weaving, in which they engage to date, to produce finely crafted pieces with ethnic Ilocano designs.

The province’s seascapes remain equally unspoiled. Foremost is Pagudpud beach, which is reputed to have the longest continuous white sand, with mighty waves and strong winds that can compare to Hawaii. Wind and wave surfing are the outstanding activities here, not to mention the inviting views and clear blue waters. The town of Pagudpud’s land and sea beauties also include the Patapat Viaduct, a scenic viaduct that hugs the coast and mountains.
Geography
Ilocos Norte has a land area of 3,399.34 square kilometers consisting of alluvial plains, hills, mountains, coastal and miscellaneous land types. Its terrain is generally mountainous and rocky. Its coastline is dotted with coves and rivers, most prominent of whice are Bonga, Labugaon, Bacarra, and Laoag. It further cuts into the coastal configurations of Bangui and Pasaleng Bay.

Ilocos Norte is bounded on the south by Ilocos Sur, on the east by Cagayan and Kalinga, on the southeast by Abra, and on the west by the China Sea.
Political Subdivisions
Ilocos Norte has 22 municipalities namely: Adams, Badoc, Bacarra, Bangui, Batac, Burgos, Carasi, Currimao, Dingras, Dumalneg, Espiritu, Marcos, Nueva Era, Pagudpud, Paoay, Pasuquin, Piddig, Pinili, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Solsona, and Vintar. Laoag converted into a city on June 19, 1965 under R.A. 4584, and remains as capital. The municipalities and Laoag City are further subdivided into 550 barangays and 2 districts.
Climate
The province experiences dry season from November to April and wet season from May to October. Annual rainfall is 2,067.2 mm. while average temperature is 27.8 degrees C. The province is occasionally visited by tropical cyclones and storms during the southwest monsoon season.
Population
Population of the province in 2000 was 514,241. The record shows a 1.37% growth rate from the records in 1995. Laoag City has a population of 94,466.
Language / Dialect
Ilocano (Iloko) is the major dialect. English and Filipino are the tools of instruction in schools.
Major Industries
Agriculture is the main livelihood of the people. Garlic is the principal cash crop. Fishing and manufacturing are other industries. Cottage industries include weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, and furniture-making.
The province of Ilocos Sur is where the Ilocos Region’s myriad of cultures and histories converge to become a living museum of a spirited past. A national shrine, a national landmark, a national museum, heritage museums, ancestral houses, period houses, cobble-stoned streets – they all share space in the timeless land of Ilocos Sur.

Found in the province is the historic town of Vigan, which was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in November 1999. Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines and from China with those from Europe to create a unique culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. Its Kamestizoan District is replete with ancestral houses with ancient tiled roofs, massive hardwood floorings, ballustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish-Mexican-Chinese architectural styles.

Centuries-old Sta. Maria Church, declared a National Landmark, was used as a fortress during the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Tirad Pass, declared a National Shrine, had been the last stand of the Filipino Revolutionary Forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo during the same period. Bessang Pass served as the backdoor to General Yamashita’s last ditch defense during the last stage of World War II.
Geography
Ilocos Sur is located along the western coast of Northern Luzon. It is bounded by Ilocos Norte on the north, Abra on the northeast, Mt. Province on the east, Benguet on the southeast, La Union on the south, and the China Sea on the west. Its area of 2,579.58 square kilometers occupies about 20.11 % of the total land area of Region 1.

The topography of Ilocos Sur is undulating to rolling with elevations ranging from 10 to 1,700 meters above sea level.
Political Subdivisions
Ilocos Sur has 34 municipalities which are subdivided into 764 barangays. They are Alilem, Banayoyo, Bantay, Burgos, Cabugao, Candon, Caoayan, Cervantes, Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar, Lidlidda, Magsingal, Nagbukel, Narvacan, Quirino, Salcedo, San Emilio, San Esteban, San Ildefonso, San Juan, San Vicente, Santa, Santiago, Sta. Catalina, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Maria, Sto. Domingo, Sigay, Sinait, Sugpon, Suyo, Tagudin, and Vigan.
Climate
The climate is generally dry as defined by the Hernandez type of climate. Classification is characterized by more dry months usually from October to May. However, the southernmost portion (part of Cervantes) is observed to be humid and rain is evenly distributed throughout the year while the eastern part of Sugpon is dry with rain not sufficiently distributed. August has the most rainfall while January and February have the least. The mean temperature in the province is 27 degrees C. January is the coldest.
Population
In the 2000 census, the population of Ilocos Sur was 594,206. Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur, has a population of 45,143. The population in the province for year 2000 increased by 1.85% relative to the 1995 census.
Language / Dialect
Filipino and English are the basic tools of instruction in schools while Ilocano is the principal dialect. Kankanaey and Itneg are spoken in cultural communities.
Major Industries
The people are engaged in farming, producing food crops, mostly rice, corn, vegetable, rootcrops, and fruits. Non-food crops include tobacco, cotton, and tigergrass. Cottage industries include loomweaving, furniture making, jewelry making, ceramics, blacksmithing, and food processing.
Situated on the northwestern coast of Luzon, La Union is the gateway to the Ilocos Region. With its strategic location, the province has become the business, education, and government center of the Ilocos. Not only is La Union the region’s center for trade but also of religious devotees who flock to one of the country’s popular pilgrimage destinations, especially during Lent.

Agoo, the oldest town of La Union, was once the site of the much publicized divine visitations of the Virgin Mary. The Agoo Apparition Site in San Antonio has established the town as a destination of choice for Marian devotees. Agoo comes alive most on Semana Santa, or the Holy Week, which is the week before Easter. Yearly, the townspeople bear witness to ardent devotees relentlessly pulling life-size statues depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross along the processional roads in Agoo during the Good Friday procession on Semana Santa.

But the province is not wanting of natural attractions, thanks to seascapes that make it a watersports paradise. The surf fronting Monaliza in Urbiztondo, San Juan is the best site for board surfing from November to February; other good sites are in Carlatan and Wallace in San Fernando. Scuba diving is ideal in Fagg Reef, which is adorned by sharks, barracuda, sea snakes, Moray eels, and other friendly sea creatures, and Research Reef, which is endowed with several tunnels, caverns, and crevices.
Geography
La Union is located in the southwestern part of Region I and stretches over a length of 102 kilometers from North to South between 120o16' and 120o35' longtitude and 160o15' latitude. It is bounded on the north by Ilocos Sur, on the south by Pangasinan, on the east by Benguet, and on the west by the China Sea.

It has a land area of 149,309 hectares with a predominantly hilly terrain that gradually rises eastward from the shore. Its irregular coastal plain is narrowest in Damortis, Sto. Tomas and widest in Balaoan. Its highest peak is in Bagulin with an elevation of 1,200 feet above sea level. The province has several rivers which are short and rapid.


Political Subdivisions
La Union has 19 municipalities and one component city, which are subdivided into 576 barangays. The northern towns of Sudipen, Bangar, Luna, Balaoan, Santol, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan, and San Fernando City comprise the First District. Belonging to the Second District are Bagulin, Naguilian, Burgos, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Agoo, Tubao, Sto. Tomas, Rosario, and Pugo.
Climate
The climate condition prevailing in La Union is dry from November to April and wet from May to October. The southwest monsoon brings about the abundant rainfall experienced during the wet season. The relatively dry season is caused by the northeast monsoon passing over the Cordillera Mountains. The average temperature is 27.21°C.
Population
Population of the province in 2000 was 657,945. The population is concentrated in the coastal municipalities. The capital San Fernando, now a component city, registered the most with 102,082. The population count showed a 2.09% increase from the previous census in 1995.
Language / Dialect
Ilocano is the common dialect. The residents of the coastal barangay of Sto. Tomas and Rosario also speak Pangasinense while the cultural communities in the towns bordering the Cordillera speak Ibaloi or Kankanaey. English and Filipino remain as basic tools of instruction in schools.
Major Industries
Agriculture remains to be the primary industry. Cottage industries are blanketweaving, basketry, bamboocraft, pottery, and broommaking. Commercial activity consists mostly of wholesale and retail business.
The province of Pangasinan is frequented for its beautiful beaches. The summer is always a festive season for Pangasinenses when the beaches – such as those that lie in one portion of Lingayen Gulf adjacent to the Provincial Capitol – and other such destinations come alive as color-filled festivals are mounted and an array of fruit-bearing trees are at their peak. Foremost of the attractions are the “Hundred Islands,” a long-popular group of islands and islets, looking like giant turtles, scattered off the coast of Lucap in Alaminos. Now develop, they lie ensconced in the 1,844-hectare nature and recreational park called the Hundred Islands National Park.

But it is Pangasinan’s delectable cuisines that bring out the true flavor of the land's origins. Etymologically, the term Pangasinan means “the place where salt is made," owing to the rich and fine salt beds that were the prime source of livelihood in the province's coastal towns. Today, salt is still being produced in abundance, creating not a few fortunes for some enterprising families, although much of its use is for industry. Another name for the region, but not as widely known, was Caboloan. In the native language, the word Bolo refers to a species of bamboo that was abundant in the interior areas, and favored in the practice of weaving light baskets and winnowing plates called bilao. Historians believe that both names may have been used at the same time.

A local product that has become synonymous with Pangasinan is bagoong, or fermented fish sauce. Salt, of course, is its prime ingredient. Mud-colored and with a strong smell, bagoong has captured the national palate. Native cuisine, mostly Ilocano in origin, owes its authenticity to the lowly bagoong. Taking from the spare and starkly humble lifestyle of the Pangasinense, with his dependence on the sea and rivers and the land, bagoong lends itself well to the local diet. Mixed with plain, fresh vegetables – like okra, squash, and eggplant – in an invigorating broth or as a dip for grilled catfish or Bonuan bangus (milkfish), bagoong has become a familiar sight at the dinner table of most households.

Due to its coastal towns, Pangasinan also has an abundance of bangus. The bountiful harvest of milkfish is celebrated through the Bangus Festival, a merry feast highlighted by the “longest grill” competition, street dancing, and “101 ways of cooking bangus.”
Population
In the 2000 census, Pangasinan including its 3 cities had a population of 2,434,086. The 2000 population count by the National Statistics Office showed a 2.41% increase in the population of Pangasinan from the 1995 records. Dagupan City's population reached 130,328, San Carlos City had a population of 154,264 while Urdaneta City had 111,582. The capital town of Lingayen had a population of 88,891.
Geography
Pangasinan's area of 5,368.82 square kilometers occupies the northern portion of the Central Plains of Luzon with an east-west configuration that extends into a peninsular form jutting into the China Sea. Its boundaries are Lingayen Gulf, La Union and Benguet on the north, Nueva Vizcaya on the northeast, Nueva Ecija on the east, Tarlac on the south, and Zambales and China Sea on the west.
Language / Dialect
English and Filipino are widely spoken and the basic tools of instruction in schools. Pangasinense is spoken in the central part of the province while Ilocano is spoken mostly by the people in the western and eastern towns. Bolinao has a dialect of its own.
Political Subdivision
Pangasinan has 45 municipalities and 3 cities which are in turn sub-divided into 1,355 barangays. The municipalities are: Agno, Alcala, Aguilar, Alaminos, Anda, Asingan, Balungao, Bani, Basista, Bautista, Bayambang, Binalonan, Binmaley, Bolinao, Bugallon, Burgos, Calasiao, Dasol, Infanta, Labrador, Laoac, Lingayen, Mabini, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Mapandan, Natividad, Pozorrubio, Rosales, San Fabian, San Jacinto, San Manuel, San Quintin, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Maria, San Nicolas, Sto. Tomas, Sison, Sual, Tayug, Umingan, Urbiztondo and Villasis. The cities are Dagupan, San Carlos, and Urdaneta.
Climate
The province experiences two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Maximum rainfall is observed in August. Average monthly temperature is 27.91°C with the highest occuring in May and the lowest in January.
Major Industries
Agriculture-based industries remain to be the source of income of many. Prominent industries are bagoong making, handicrafts and gifts, toys and houseware making.
Cagayan is the Regional Seat of the Cagayan Valley Region.

Tuguegarao City, the capital, is the seat of commerce and trade and center for learning. The province has 73 percent of the region’s potential fishing area.

Known as the spelunker’s, trekker’s, and gamefisher’s paradise rolled into one, Cagayan provides a never-ending adventure with ecotourism in the forefront of its offering. Both foreign and local tourists continue to explore its caves, engage in gamefishing expeditions, trek its mighty mountains and retreat to its centuries-old churches.

Present day chroniclers say that the name was derived from the word “tagay,” a kind of plant that grows abundantly in the northern part of the province. Thus, “Catagayan” which means a place where the tagay grows abundantly was shortened to “Cagayan,” the present name of the province.
Geography
The province is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east, on the south is Isabela province, on the west is the Cordillera Mountain, and on the north by the Balintang Channel and the Babuyan Group of Islands. About two kilometers from the northeastern tip of the province is the island of Palaui, a few kilometers to the west is Fuga Island. The Babuyan Group of Islands, which includes Calayan, Dalupiri, Camiguin, and Babuyan Claro, is about 60 nautical miles north of Luzon mainland.

The province comprises an aggregate land area of 9,002.70 square kilometers, which constitutes three percent of the total land area of the country, making it the second largest province in the region.
Political Subdivision
Cagayan has 28 municipalities and one city divided into three congressional districts. It has 816 barangays. Tuguegarao City (as of December 18, 1999) is the provincial capital, regional seat, and center of business, trade, and education. It has a land area of 144.80 square kilometers and a population of 120,645 as of 2000.
Population
Cagayan has a total population of 993,580 as of the year 2000 census of population, or 110.36 persons per square kilometer.
Language
Languages in the province are Ybanag, Ytawit, Malaweg, and Ilocano. Other ethnic groups that migrated to the province speak their own dialects. People in places where literacy is high speak and understand English and Pilipino.
Climate
Seasons in the province are not very pronounced. Relatively dry season occurs during the months of March to June and rainy season from July to October, although it is relatively cold during the months of November to February.
Industries
Agricultural products are rice, corn, peanut, beans, and fruits. Livestock products include cattle, hogs, carabaos, and poultry. Fishing various species of fish from the coastal towns is also undertaken. Woodcraft furniture made of hardwood, rattan, bamboo, and other indigenous materials are also available in the province.
Isabela, the biggest province in the Cagayan Valley Region, is now one of the premier provinces of the north. It has been dubbed as the “Rice Granary of the North” having been adjudged as the Most Outstanding Province in Food Security in the Gawad Sapat Ani Awards 2000 conducted by the Department of Agriculture. It is also home to the famous Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, a protected seascape and landscape of exceptional biodiversity.

Santiago City, the commercial center of Region 2, has been declared an independent-component city through a plebiscite on July 3, 1994 under Republic Act 7720.

Cauayan City, the trading center in Isabela, is also a component city ratified in a majority vote on March 30, 2001.
Geography
The province is divided into three physiographic areas. The eastern area, straddled by the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, is rugged and thickly forested. A substantial portion is uncharted and the unexplored hinterlands are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna while others are government reservations. The western area is a sprawling fertile valley hemmed by the Central Cordillera and is criss-crossed by the mighty Cagayan, Siffu, and Magat Rivers. Its mountains rise to a peak of about 8,000 feet and is home to one of the world’s largest remaining low-altitude rainforests with numerous unknown endemic species of flora and fauna and exceptional biological diversity. The area is popularly known as the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park.

Isabela comprises an aggregate land area of 10,665 square kilometers, representing almost 40 percent of the regional territory. It is the largest province in the region and the second largest province in the country in terms of land area.
Political Subdivision
The province has 35 municipalities and 1,055 barangays and is divided into four congressional districts. Santiago is an independent-component city while Cauayan is a component city. Ilagan is the capital town while Cauayan is the industrial center.
Population
Based on the year 2000 census of population, the province has a population of 1,287,575 with a population density of approximately 120.73 persons per square kilometer.
Language/Dialect
The major dialect in Isabela is Ilocano followed by Ibanag, Yogad, and Gaddang. People, especially in the capital and commercial centers, speak and understand English and Pilipino.
Climate
Generally, the province has two types of climate. The eastern and coastal areas experience moderate rainfall more or less distributed throughout the year while western Isabela has more pronounced wet and dry seasons. The average temperature is recorded at 27.1 degrees Celsius.
Industries
Agriculture is the major industry of the people of Isabela. Farming is highly mechanized as most of the agricultural lands are irrigated. With the presence of the Isabela State University, joint ventures and other foreign assisted projects are viable while the Magat Dam Tourism Complex contributes to the high productivity in agriculture. Isabela is acknowledged as the hub of trade and commercial activities in the region due to its central location in the region. Furniture making using narra and other indigenous forest materials/products like Gmelina continue to exist. Potential investments are in fisheries and tourism. The reservoir of the Magat Dam is utilized for fishcage operations, particularly tilapia production. Tourism is relatively a new industry being developed in the province especially in the coastal areas. Support services and accommodation facilities are likewise being developed. The history of Nueva Vizcaya could still be reflected from the culture and customs of its early settlers, which included the Ilongots (now called Bugkalots), Igorots, Ifugaos, Isinais, and Gaddangs. The influx of civilization and the infusion of modern technology to the lifestream of the province induced many immigrants from the adjacent provinces, primarily Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Pangasinenses, Kapampangans, among others.

Located about 268 north of Metro Manila, the province is tagged to be the new alternative destination for outdoor and environment enthusiasts. Considered a watershed haven, it is 70 percent forestland. It is strategically bounded by the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, Caraballo Mountains, and Cordillera Mountains. It is also the gateway to the Cagayan Valley Region and the Banaue Rice Terraces, eighth Wonder of the World.
Geography
Home of the Isinais, Nueva Vizcaya is located in the northcentral part of Luzon in Region 2. It is surrounded by notable mountain ranges such as the Sierra Madre on the east, Caraballo on the south, and Cordillera on the west. The province has several principal rivers: Magat, Matuno, Marang, Sta. Fe, and Sta. Cruz. All these rivers are tributaries of the Magat River which flows into the Cagayan River. The province is bounded on the north and northeast by the province of Ifugao and Isabela, on the east and southeast by Qurino and Aurora, on the south by Nueva Ecija, and on the west by Benguet and Pangasinan.
Political Subdivision
The province is considered as one congressional district and has 15 municipalities and 274 barangays. Bayombong is the provincial capital while Solano and Kayapa are its commercial and summer capital, respectively
Population
The year 2000 census of population for Nueva Vizcaya was registered at 366,692.
Language/Dialect
The majority of the people speak Ilocano, comprising 66.9 percent of households.
Climate
Nueva Vizcaya is relatively dry from November to April and relatively wet during the rest of the year. Maximum temperature ranges from 22-25 degrees Celsius. December and January are the coldest months when temperature falls to about 20 degrees Celsius while the warmest months are April and May. Nueva Vizcaya is often referred to as lowland Baguio because of its pleasant climate.
Industries
The province has basically an agricultural economy with commerce, trade, and industry contributing to its growth and development. Among other major economic activities are farming and cattle and swine raising. Primary crops are palay and corn. Minor crops are rootcrops, vegetables, and fruits. The province produces quality onions and vegetables often sold in Metro Manila. Oranges and mangoes are now major crops being exported fresh to Asian countries.
Long before its formal creation as an independent province, Quirino was the forest region of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, inhabited by tribal groups known as the Negritos. They roamed the hinterlands and built their huts at the heart of the jungle.

Quirino lies in the southeastern portion of Cagayan Valley. It is situated within the upper portion of the Cagayan River basin and bounded by Isabela on the north, Aurora on the east and southeast, and Nueva Vizcaya on the west and southwest.

The Ilocano dialect is used widely in the lowlands of the province’s various municipalities while Ifugao is predominant in the uplands.
Geography
The Sierra Madre Mountain Range provides a natural barrier on the eastern and southern border of the province and the Mamparang Range on the western part. The province is generally mountainous, with about 80 percent of the total land area covered by mountains and highlands. A part of the province’s comparative advantage is its accessibility to the town of Aurora.
Political Subdivision
Quirino has six municipalities: Cabarroguis, the capital town, Saguday, Diffun, Maddela, Nagtipunan, and Aglipay. The province has one congressional district and 110 barangays.
Population
The population of the province as of the year 2000 census of population was 148,575, with a density of roughly 49 persons per square kilometer of land.
Language/ Dialect
The major dialect is Ilocano, spoken by 71.46 percent of the total populace. Other dialects are Ifugao, Bugkalot, Pangasinense, and Kankanai.
Climate
The province has a mean annual temperature of 26.6 degree Celsius. Warmest month is May and the least dry months are March to August while the rest of the year is neither too dry nor too wet. Rainy days occur from September to November.
Industries
Agriculture is the main industry with rice and corn as major crops. These supply the demand of neighboring provinces and the metropolis. Banana as well as banana chips are major products sold in Metro Manila and Pampanga. Small scale industries like furniture making, basketry, rattan craft, and dried flower production are prevalent.
The island-province of Batanes was created by a series of volcanic activities and other geologic forces millions of years ago.

The province is home to the famous Ivatans who are nationally acclaimed as the “True Insulares.” The Ivatans are of Malay stock, tracing their roots to early immigrants from Formosa, Taiwan as well as Spaniards who came to the island in the 16th century. Being an insular people, the Ivatans have kept the purity of their gene pool through time.

Batanes lies at the northernmost tip of the Philippines, where the Pacific Ocean merges with the South China Sea. It is composed of three major islands, namely: Batan which contains the capital town of Basco, Sabtang, and Itbayat. Close by are seven islets including Amianan, which is the closest to Formosa. Thus, Batanes has been identified as the country’s potential gateway to East China.
Geography
"The island-province is strewn on a 4,500 square kilometer expanse of territorial waters, the Luzon Strait and Balintang Channel, where the Pacific Ocean merges with the South China Sea, a sealane between the Philippines and the southern parts of Japan, China, Hongkong, and Taiwan. It is bounded on the north by the Bashi Channel, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by the South China Sea, and on the south by the Balintang Channel. It is characterized by gently rolling hills, cliffs, and black and white sand beaches.

Batanes is about 860 kilometers (approx. 525 miles) from Manila. Basco, the capital town, is about 280 kilometers north of Aparri and about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan.
Political Subdivision
Batanes has six municipalities, 29 barangays, and one congressional district. The six municipalities are Ivana, Uyugan, Mahatao, Basco (the capital), and the island municipalities of Sabtang and Itbayat.
Climate
The Batanes weather is rather pleasant. Compared to the rest of the country, Batanes is blessed with a cooler, balmier climate. It enjoys practically four seasons, the best one being summer which is from March to June. Average monthly rainfall is 450 mm.
Population
The 2002 census of population for Batanes registered a population total of 16,467 distributed over a land area of 230 square kilometers.
Language / Dialect
The mother tongue of Batanes is Ivatan, spoken by 93.94 percent of all households. The Ilocano dialect is also spoken while Filipino and English are generally spoken and understood.
Major Industries
The province has a total agricultural land area of 5,438 hectares and has a wide area open for agricultural expansion. Due to its terrain, it is a major livestock producer with cattle as its main stock. Carabaos and goats are also popularly raised. Another major industry is fishing which reaches its peak during the summer months, from March to June, when the seawater is relatively calm.
 

The Kinabayo is an exotic and colorful pageant re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish Wars, particularly the Battle of Covadonga where the Spanish forces under General Pelagio took their last stand against the Saracens. They were able to reverse the tide of war with the miraculous apparition of St. James, the Apostle. A Kinabayo Festival is celebrated every July in Dapitan City, attracting thousands of tourists to the city. RA 8973 signed by then President Joseph E. Estrada in February 2001 created the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. A total of sixteen municipalities compose this newest province in the Zamboanga Peninsula. The Department of Tourism is reinforcing the government and private sectors’ collaborative efforts this time in a humanitarian endeavor dubbed as Paskong Pinoy, Pusong Pinoy project relief operations for the victims of typhoon Winnie and Yoyong.


Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano has called on all the tourism, travel and transport associations and other industry partners for their full support and participation in this project. “The DOT will facilitate the solicitation and collection of relief goods from our industry partners and these will be forwarded to the Philippine National Red Cross for actual distribution to the greatly affected areas,” he said.


A committee headed by Tourism Undersecretary Armand Arreza has been mobilized to undertake the solicitation and collection of relief goods.


According to Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab, used linens and blankets are the initial commitments from the hotel group. Likewise, tourism transport operators have committed to provide services in the collection and delivery of the relief goods.


Moreover, the DOT regional offices have been tasked to replicate the same operations and distribute the relief goods in the nearest area of their responsibility affected by the recent typhoons.


DOT calls on industry partners for unity
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Reports on Lingayen Gulf coliform contamination were inconclusive
The Department of Tourism officials recently met with their counterparts in the Departments of Health, Environment and Natural Resources, and Science ...
The Department of Tourism officials recently met with their counterparts in the Departments of Health, Environment and Natural Resources, and Science and Technology in the Ilocos Region to verify reports on the alleged contamination by coliform bacteria of the waters of Lingayen Gulf.


According to some published reports, the waters of Lingayen Gulf near the beaches of La Union and Bolinao in Pangasinan have been invaded by coliform bacteria, which if unchecked could wreak havoc to the tourism-dependent economies of the region.


Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said that the DOT is networking with national and regional government agencies as well as local government units to implement immediate interventions and institutional sanitation standards to avoid this problem.


The DOT meeting with the DOH revealed that the findings indicating coliform contamination of the waters of Lingayen Gulf were inconclusive since only one sampling was done by the DOH.


DOH Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said that they conducted only one sampling for coliform in 21 sites in La Union and Bolinao, Pangasinan, stressing that the media have picked up the results of the tests without elaborating the procedure and the sampling methodology to make the findings conclusive.


According to Martin Valera, Officer-in-Charge of DOT-Region I, the test was conducted during the rainy months of July and August when there is a tendency of inland water bodies to overflow with its run-off going to the sea.


To make the tests conclusive, there is a need to conduct at least 30 samplings per area and the findings must be subjected to thorough statistical analyses. The DOH will again conduct a water-sampling test and will call a conference to present their findings.


In addition, there is a need to introduce chlorination of infected water sources. Residents of the affected areas should also observe proper hygiene and installation of sanitation devices to prevent the coliform contamination of coastal areas as well as follow stringent sanitation rules and regulations.


The DOST office in Region I also revealed that the single sample findings conducted for the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health undertaken last April on the sea water along 21 resort areas of Bauang, San Juan, and San Fernando City in La Union had indicated some form of coliform contamination but were still within the satisfactory limits based on the European Union guide level.


Director Victor Ancheta and Dr. Lourdes Calacal of DENR-Region I seconded that the DOH findings are inconclusive, saying that a more thorough testing procedure with multiple sampling should be done to verify presence of coliform bacteria on the waters of the Lingayen Gulf.


The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of La Union passed a resolution urging the local government units to take immediate action to control pollution in the affected coastal waters. The Chamber also offered the use of the province’s Lorma Medical Center laboratory to test the waters for coliform bacteria at no cost to the local governments.


The beaches in Pangasinan, La Union, and the Ilocos are considered top destinations by local and foreign tourists, particularly during the summer months.


Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said that it is imperative that “we keep our beaches clean and safe for they are our tourism and economic assets.”


Beaches and other similar water-based resorts are among the jewels and attractions that make the Philippines a viable tourism destination, the DOT chief added.


He also said that the active promotion and marketing efforts of the DOT and the stakeholders of the Philippine tourism industry have started to pay off since 2001.


In January to October this year alone, aggregate tourist arrivals have jumped by 24.5% on a year-on-year basis to 1.8 million, or near the year round-target of 2.3 million.


Durano observed that active promotions have definitely brought more visitors to the country. Making their visit enjoyable, enriching and memorable as well as keeping our beaches clean and safe would go a long way in enhancing the Philippines’ positive and wholesome image to tourists.