The search for the next Boracay: Kalanggaman Island, Leyte

There is never a shortage of beautiful places to see in the Philippines. But if beauty alone is not enough for you, this tiny island in the Visayas will surely help you find your center.

From the inviting turquoise waters and the white sand to the unobstructed view of the sky, everything about Kalanggaman Island just speaks peace.

Nestled between Cebu and mainland Leyte, Kalanggaman belongs to the municipality of Palompon. It spans only about a kilometer and features sandbars on the eastern and western tips that when viewed from above look like wings of a bird in flight.

Palompon Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) Raoul Bacalla said “langgam,” in Cebuano, means bird; hence, the name of the island. He said the eastern wing stretches to about a kilometer, while the western wing is some 300 meters long. The latter used to be longer, he noted, but it never recovered after Typhoon Yolanda hit the place.

The island carries some sense of exclusivity because only 500 tourists are allowed at any one time. Bacalla explained that this number is based on a study on the carrying capacity of the island and is a non-negotiable.

It is easy to survey Kalanggaman from one tip to the other in under an hour. A word of caution: while palm trees fill the island, the sand burns where there is no shade, especially during midday, so it is advisable to wear aqua shoes.

While fine, white sand greet tourists on the main beach, a small portion of the island is covered in coarse sand; another in pebbles and shells. A stretch along the western side is rocky. This makes for a fascinating, almost adventurous walk.

The official jump-off point to Kalanggaman is Palompon Eco-Tourism Office. It is a three-hour road trip from Tacloban and a two-hour road trip from Ormoc.

From Tacloban or Ormoc, you may reach Palompon via bus or van. There are also car rental services you may opt to avail. Depending on the car type, car rental can cost you anywhere between P1,500 to P4,000 for 12 hours.

At the tourism office, you will pay an environmental fee. Filipino tourists who are not residents of Palompon are charged P150 for day tour or P225 for an overnight stay. International tourists are charged P500 for day tour and P750 for an overnight stay.

Once payment has been made, you will then wait for other tourists to fill in a boat or wait for your private pump boat to arrive. For a 15-passenger boat, rental is at P3,000, a 25-passenger boat costs P3,500, and a 30-passenger boat costs P4,000. Additional P500 will be charged for overnight stays. For sharers, rental will be divided by how many heads have availed of a boat.

Getting to the island from the wharf will take about an hour.

Source:

https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/multimedia/slideshow/05/14/18/the-search-for-the-next-boracay-kalanggaman-island-leyte

Corregidor: The Rock of WWII

Corregidor is a small rocky island in the Philippines about 48 kilometers west of Manila which is stragetically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island fortress stands as a memorial for the courage, valor, and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders who bravely held their ground against the overwhelming number of invading Japanese forces during World War II.

Also known as “the Rock,” it was a key bastion of the Allies during the war. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December 1941, the military force under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur carried out a delaying action at Bataan. Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied forces and also the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government. It was from Corregidor that Philippine President Manuel Quezon and General MacArthur left for Australia in February 1942, leaving behind Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright in command.

Although Bataan fell on April 9, 1942, the Philippine and American forces held out at Corregidor for 27 days against great odds. On May 6, 1942, their rations depleted, the Allied forces were forced to surrender Corregidor to Lt. Gen. Homma Masaharu of the Japanese Imperial Army after having successfully halted the Japanese advance on Australia. It was only two years and ten months later in March 1945 when the Allied forces under the command of General MacArthur recaptured Corregidor … making good his promise to return to the Philippines.

The big guns of Corregidor are now silent and the ruins of buildings, structures, and tunnels in the island tell a very moving story of a war that has claimed so many lives. A visit to this former battleground is a memorable experience especially for those who cherish and value peace and freedom. In his speech delivered at the signing of the surrender of Japan aboard the U.S.S. Missouri at Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur said, “It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past – a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice.”

Featured Image is the big guns that are openly displayed to tourists. (http://www.corregidorisland.com/)

Fort Santiago: A Jail that Keeps

Located inside the walled city of Intramuros in Manila lies Fort Santiago, the oldest Spanish fortress in the Philippines. Strategically located near the mouth of the Pasig River just off Manila Bay, Fort Santiago was built in 1571. Originally the site of a Muslim kingdom headed by Rajah Sulaiman the area was destroyed by Spaniards and the fort was built and soon became the main defense fortress during the spice trade with the Americas.

The original earthen and log fort was destroyed by invading Chinese Pirates and was reconstructed with volcanic rock. The fort served as a Spanish Fortress, Headquarters of the US Army during the American colonial period and WW2 and was captured by the Japanese during WW2 and used as a prison.

Most of the fort was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in February 1945 and is now a historical park administered by the Philippine National Parks Development Committee.

Used by the Japanese military, after they captured Manila, numerous Filipino and American prisoners were tortured and executed in the infamous dungeons. Some reports estimate that as many as 2500-3000 Filipinos were executed in Intramuros and Fort Santiago during the last days of Japanese occupation.

Visitors can walk the grounds and see the ruins along with a museum dedicated to Dr. Rizal and see the cell he was kept a prisoner in. You can walk along the ramparts and look out over the Pasig river and imagine what the place looked like in colonial days and during the dark hours of Manila in WW2.

Although it is crowded and noisy in Manila, just as in any large city, it is quiet here. There is calm once you enter through the gates of the fort. Through the Spanish conquest of a Muslim kingdom, the Spanish rule of the Philippines, American colonial times and WW2, the fort has seen many battles and been home to many prisoners.

Fort Santiago is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm and can be easily reached by taxi. Entrance fees are nominal and while there are people offering guided tours it is not necessary. Signs are in English and touring the fort on your own is a great experience.

Featured Image is the Entrance Gate of Fort Santiago (https://thetravellingfool.com/fort-santiago-manila-philippines/)

Under the Sea: Tubbataha Reef

Since divers discovered Tubbataha in the late 1970s, it has become recognized as one of the most remarkable coral reefs on our planet. The CNN travel website, cnngo.com, ranks it among the top eight dive sites in the world.

Home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, Tubbataha Reef boasts magnificent diversity of marine life.

This park which is an underwater sanctuary is the Philippines’ first national marine park.   The park gives importance to preserving marine life for future generations of humankind.

With colorful reefs, visit this marine park and witness the wonders of this one-of-a-kind underwater world.

Tubbataha Reef is a two atoll coral reef system. The name is derived from two words which collectively mean “long reef exposed at low tide.”

The atolls and reef system are located in the Sulu Sea off the coast of the Philippines.

The smaller of the Tubbataha Reef atolls is 3 miles (5 km) long and 3 km wide) with the larger measuring 10 miles (16 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide.

The atolls and Tubbataha Reef are a sanctuary for more than 1,000 species. Visitors will find manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks. There are 300 coral species, 400 fish species, and numerous bird life.

The Tubbataha Reef is part of the Tubbataha National Marine Park which encompasses 239,000 acres (968.24 sq km). The reefs and atolls are guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Banaue Rice Terraces: “Staircase to Heaven”

Banaue rice terraces, system of irrigated rice terraces in the mountains of north-central Luzon, Philippines, that were created more than 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao people. Although located in several villages, they are collectively known as the Banaue rice terraces. In 1995 various sections of the terraces were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, described as “a living cultural landscape of unparalleled beauty.”

The rice terraces are situated in the Cordilleras of Luzon island. The remote area—some 220 miles (350 km) from Manila—has long been home to the Ifugao, wet-rice agriculturalists who began building the terraces about the 1st century CE. Despite possessing only basic tools, the Ifugao created an engineering marvel: a vast network of rice terraces sustained by an elaborate irrigation system. According to reports, the terraces—which resemble steps carved into the mountainside—cover some 4,000 square miles (10,360 square km), and their total length is estimated at approximately 12,500 miles (20,100 km), roughly half the Earth’s circumference. While the rice terraces were important to the Ifugao economy, they also served a cultural function, requiring intensive cooperation among the people.

By the early 21st century, however, the number of Ifugao in the area had greatly diminished as many migrated to more urban centres. As a result, a significant portion of the terraces began to deteriorate. Six years after sections were designated a World Heritage site in 1995, the terraces were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage in Danger. In addition to neglect, officials raised concerns about unregulated development in the area and the lack of strong management. Major restoration and conservation efforts were subsequently undertaken, and in 2012 the terraces were removed from the list. During this time officials also began promoting sustainable tourism, as the terraces became an increasingly popular attraction, especially those in the village of Batad.

Featured Image is the aerial view of the terraces (https://www.britannica.com/place/Banaue-rice-terraces/media/2102734/224785)

Panglao: Bohol’s Star Island

Low-lying sun-baked Panglao Island is generally associated with Alona Beach, a busy holiday resort on the southern side of the island. Alona is renowned for its nightlife, and there’s a real buzz about the place on weekends when Filipinos cruise into town to join vacationing Koreans and Europeans.

The underwater scene around Alona is exceptional, and divers can score nifty package deals by combining dives with accommodation. Just 15km from Tagbilaran, Alona works just fine as a base for exploring the rest of Bohol – especially when you can return home at the end of the day to two-for-one cocktails in the sand.

Featured Image is Panglao Island’s Beaches (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/the-visayas/panglao-island)

Mactan Island

Mactan Island lies across the Mactan Channel, opposite Cebu City in the southeast of the Philippines. It is modern and yet has retained its greenness and features lovely sandy beaches and good diving spots off the neighboring islets. Mactan has a long history with many stories, the most frequently told being about the Battle of Mactan. In 1521, when Portuguese-born explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived onshore he was killed by Mactan Chief Lapu Lapu and his men.

Visitors can visit both the Magellan and Lapu Lapu shrines while visiting the island. Mactan is also important as home of Mactan – Cebu International Airport, the country’s second busiest airport as well as the country’s largest export processing zone. Mactan is also well known for producing guitars and other musical instruments.

Featured Image is the Lapu-Lapu Shrine (http://www.philippines-hotels.ws/mactan-island/?cid=ch:OTH:001)

Boracay: The Total Summer Vacation Package

Boracay is a small, tropical island in the Western part of Visayas, surrounded by stunning white sand beaches and clear blue waters located about an hour’s flight from Cebu or Manila just off the larger Philippines island of Panay.

It’s known for its resorts and beaches. For beach connoisseurs, Boracay competes with the best beaches in more popular destinations such as the Caribbean and the South Pacific as well as neighboring Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. For those wanting to just lounge around and top up their tan, beachfront hotels usually have lounge chairs set up just a few steps away from the hotel entrances. The more active will appreciate water sports and activities such as sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving and jet skiing. Nearby, the observation deck on Mount Luho offers panoramic views over the island. The fun in Boracay doesn’t end when the sun sets. The nightlife pulsates with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink and fun until the wee hours of dawn.

Featured Image is the White Beach of Boracay (https://wikitravel.org/en/Boracay)

 

The Aesthetic Beauty of Batanes

Batanes is an archipelago province in the Philippines situated in the Cagayan Valley Region. It is the northernmost province in the country, and also the smallest, both in population and land area. Its capital is Basco located in the island of Batan.

The island group is located approximately 162 kilometres (101 mi) north of the  and Luzon mainland and about 190 kilometres (120 miles) south of Taiwan, separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province by the Balintang Channel, and from Taiwan by the Bashie Channel. The entire province is listed in the UNESCO tentative list for inscription in the World Heritage List . The government has been finalizing the site’s inscription, establishing museums and conservation programs since 2001. The government aims to push for the site’s inclusion between 2018-2019. Seven intangible heritage elements of the Ivatan have been set by the Philippine government in its initial inventory in 2012.

Featured Image is the Tayid Lighthouse of Mahatao in Batan Island. (Photo Credits: Paul Cuenca, https://www.instagram.com/p/BSH1iCTjTEF/?utm_source=ig_embed)