Allan Merin asked:




The Philippines, one of the premier travel destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, is at the forefront of countries banking on colorful festivals to promote its rich culture and heritage. Almost everyday there is an event celebrating a momentous occasion in the country such as a town fiesta or a feast of a local patron saint or a patroness. These fascinating festivals, according to experts, prove that Filipinos are fun-loving people.

Festivals, both cultural and religious in nature, are celebrated all year round across the three main island groups – Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Every region, province, city, municipality, and barangay has its own way of merrymaking. That’s why most Philippine travel guides declare that there are countless ways to enjoy and explore the beauty of this archipelago of 7,107 islands.

Festivals are considered a primary engine for driving the tourism industry aside from the country’s unspoiled beaches and other man-made and natural attractions. These colorful events are magnets to local and foreign travelers who are often awed by the way people celebrate festivals with high energy and much enthusiasm.

Here is a list of some of the grandest and exquisite festivals in the country.

Sinulog Festival

Sinulog Festival is the pride of Cebu City. Celebrated on the third Sunday of January, this colorful event is a way of the province’s thanksgiving to the child Jesus. The Sinulog Festival, which usually lasts for nine days, features a street parade wherein participants dressed in bright costumes dance to the rhythm of drums, trumpets, and native gongs.

Panagbenga Festival

Every February Baguio City, the “Summer Capital of the Philippines,” stages a month-long flower festival called Panagbenga. One of the highly anticipated events during the festival is a parade of floats decorated with colorful flowers. It is patterned after the world-renowned Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

Moriones Festival

Moriones Festival is one of the most colorful religious events in the Philippines. Held during the Holy Week in Marinduque, the festival is highlighted by a parade participated in by people wearing colorful masks and garbs replicating that of the biblical Roman soldiers. A similar celebrated is held in Valencia, Spain, in April.

Pahiyas Festival

The spotlight shifts to Lucban, Quezon, every 15th day of May, when this second-class municipality hosts the Pahiyas Festival. On this day, a street of houses is adorned with various agricultural produce and colorful rice ornaments called kiping. Pahiyas Festival is held in honor of St. Isodore, the patron saint of farmers.

Kadayawan Festival

Kadayawan Festival in Davao City is a celebration of good harvest. Held every third week of August, local folks go out on the streets and celebrate a bountiful yield in various ways, such street dancing competitions, parades of decorated floats, and power boat races. Trade fairs, flower shows, exhibits, and horse fight competitions are lined up during the weeklong festival.

There are other notable festivals that tourists must not miss out. Usually the golden months of Philippine festivals are January, April, May, and December. That’s why it is advised to place your reservations to hotels and resorts for your preferred accommodations and vacation packages in advance.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.

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Manuel Maniquis asked:




A famous Philippines travel destination up north is Baguio City. Baguio is fondly called as the summer capital of the Philippines because tourists flock to the area during summer. The reason – it is much cooler to spend summer in Baguio than any other place in the Philippines. With its location atop the Cordillera Mountains, at an elevation of 1,500 meters above sea level, it is the closest thing the country has to a mountain resort.

There are so many things you can do in this Philippines travel destination. True enough, you might have to travel 6 hours by land or 45 minutes by plane to Baguio, but for sure, it will all be worth it. Baguio is also called as the City of Pines because of the thousands of pine trees in the area. The presence of these trees adds to the already cool atmosphere of Baguio. One other thing that the city is known for is its strawberry farms. If it is harvesting season, you can ask your travel agent to set up your trip in such a way that you will be able to go to a strawberry farm for some picking.

Places of interest in this Philippines travel destination include the Burnham Park and the Wright Park. You can enjoy boating and horseback riding in these parks respectively. Baguio is also the home of the Philippine Military Academy, the training grounds of the future leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Souvenir shopping is one thing tourists will enjoy in Baguio because several shops operate in the area.

For your accommodations, you can choose from a variety of hotels and pension houses that will fit your budget. You can also stay in Camp John Hay, which used to be the R&R place of the US military troops then. Certainly, there is just too much to do in Baguio.

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Pierre Smith asked:




The Philippines is a majestic place to visit. The country has so much to offer to its millions of visitors each year. Because of the diversity of the things a tourist can do in the Philippines, it has been such a popular place to unwind, relax, and genuinely have a great time. There are many popular vacation spots in the Philippines and if you have all the time to spend exploring the country’s 7,107 islands, then by all means do so and have a grand time. However, if you only have a limited time to spend in this beautiful country, here are the top 5 Philippine vacation destinations to visit.

The top 5 Philippine vacation destinations mentioned here are not arranged in a particular order but rather chosen because of its wonderful attractions. These top 5 Philippine vacation destinations are also the places that have an increasing number of tourists recorded to visit each year, which just shows that these are the areas which cater very well to them.

The first place on the list is Baguio City, a mountainous place in Northern Luzon, which is approximately six hours from the Manila, the country’s capital. Baguio is known for its climate which can be very cold even during summer. Locals and tourists alike enjoy going to there during the Christmas season to unwind. Much greenery can be found in Baguio. It is also known for its strawberries which are at par with the strawberries grown abroad. There are lots of things to do in Baguio like strawberry picking, horse-back riding, and golf, among others.

When in the Philippines, one should not miss the chance to see the Chocolate Hills located in the province of Bohol. The Chocolate Hills is on its way to become one of the new Seven Wonders of the World as per online voting. Not only are the Hills amazing, but the entire province as well. Bohol is known all over the world for being the habitat of the world’s smallest primate – the tarsier. Not only that, Bohol is also known for its white sand beaches and excellent dive spots in Panglao. It also has the Loboc River and a Man-Made Forest to add to its fare.

Next on the list is Boracay. Boracay is a haven for tourist for its pristine white sand beaches. There is so much to do in Boracay which can range from a relaxing dip in the pool, a quiet time on the porch, a swim in the beach, or a party during the night. Locals love going to Boracay to have a good time. It is Philippine’s very own Miami.

Fourth on the list is the Queen City of the South, Cebu. Cebu is just an hour away by plane from Manila, and it is known for being a place that offers diverse options for the tourists. Like Bohol, Cebu also has fine white sand beaches in its northern part, particularly in Bantayan Island. Cebu is also known to have very good diving spots in Moalboal and Mactan.

Lastly, you should not forget to pay Palawan a visit. The place has a wonderful biodiversity and is rich in natural resources. Palawan also boasts of its beaches and its beautiful underground caves. Visiting Palawan will truly be a pleasant experience because it is nature at its best.

These are the top 5 Philippine vacation destinations that you can visit. For sure, these places will not be on the top of the list if they fail to give the much needed break that most people want.

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Sai Vallejos asked:


One of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country, Baguio is made for sightseeing. And for strolls and boat rides and gentle trots around the park. And for golf. Kennon Road, completed in 1905, opened Baguio to tourism.

The zigzagging path previews the scenic highlights of the city. Along the 32-kilometer highway are the Bridal Veil and Colorado waterfalls. Synonymous with Baguio is Burnham Park. Located in the heart of the city, the park’s features include a man-made lagoon ideal for boat rides, a skating rink, an athletic field and stadium, basketball and tennis courts, a biking zone, tree-and-flower lined promenades, and a plant market.

A popular golfing destination, the city takes pride in its Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay. What used to be the rest-and-recreation base of American military personnel, the Camp is being transformed into a world-class resort and is also Baguio’s biggest pine tree conservation area. Its newly refurbished 18-hole golf course rivals that of the Country Club which has pretty garden-patched cottages surrounding its fairways.

Ornate iron gates open to the Mansion House, the official summer residence of Philippine presidents. It offers tourists with great photo opportunities with its rectangular reflecting pool along a tree-lined walkway. It also houses a museum of presidential memorabilia. Near the Mansion House is Wright Park where neophyte riders can trot around an oval track guided by trainers who lead horses with a hand-held leash. At the Mines View Park, tourists can have a panoramic view of the old mines of Benguet. At the park entrance is a flea market for souvenir items.

Sitting on top of a hill in Upper Session Road is the twin-spire Baguio Cathedral, a city landmark. Another pilgrimage site is the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes which sits on top of Dominican Hill. Devotees prefer to climb the 252-step ascent than drive through a winding road to reach the shrine. Bell Church holds a religious service of mixed Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and Christian dogmas but tourists come here to have their fortunes told.

Located on an elevated pine-forested ground is the Philippine Military Academy, the country’s foremost military learning institution. Its Saturday morning Parade in Review by cadets in full regalia never fails to attract visitors. Also within campus is a Military Museum. A cultural haven established by noted Baguio artist BenCab, Tam-awan Village recreates a typical ethnic village in the Cordilleras with authentic tribal homes uprooted from their original locations and re-set on similar terrain. There is also an art gallery-cum-coffee shop.

It has been said that there is only one kind of lucrative business in Baguio, and that is dining. This, of course, is overly exaggerated but then who can question this wisdom with the proliferation of food places offering all kinds of eats in this tiny city!

Star Cafe along Lower Session Road is noted for its excellent breads and pies and fine Chinese cuisine while the adjoining Dainty Restaurant has the best coffee in town and good noodles, too. For really great old-fashioned breakfasts, check out Casa Vallejo at the Upper Session Road. New Bonuan at the Happy Glen Loop, Jade Restaurant along Marcos Highway and Barrio Fiesta at the Upper Session Road are where you can partake of home-cooked native cooking.

Kalapaw Restaurant in Chuntug Street specializes in grilled squids and tuna jaws. Inn Rocio in Kisad Road dishes out Continental food, Mario’s Restaurant in Upper Session Road has good steaks, great Caesar’s Salad, and decadent cakes. And the artsy Cafe by the Ruins in Chuntug Street serves eclectic, seasonal dishes.

At the Hotel Monticello in Kennon Road, Hakuun Sanso Restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine while 50′s Diner specializes in traditional American staples. Rose Bowl Steak House and Restaurant in Harrison Road offers an international fare of Chinese, American and Filipino dishes. The local food chain Don Henrico’s has its beginnings at the Upper Session Road and serves yummy pastas and pizzas. (Source: The Philippine Department of Tourism)