Allan Merin asked:




Dapitan, a once sleepy town in Zamboanga Peninsula, is steadily becoming one of the booming travel destinations in the Philippines. Thanks to improvements in the tourism and public transport sectors, Dapitan City has made it to the list of premier tourist hotspots in most Philippine travel guides. The city lures foreign and local holidaymakers with its rich blend of natural and historical attractions. Dapitan, which welcomed around 300,000 tourists last year, is called the Shrine City of the Philippines.

Located some 650 kilometers from Manila, Dapitan served as the exile home of Dr. Jose Rizal from July 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896. It is no wonder, then, that practically all Dapitenos, both young and old, know more about the national hero than the average Filipino. Rizal Shrine is the primary tourist attraction in Dapitan. The 16-hectare estate in Barangay Talisay harbors numerous memorabilia of Rizal and replica of houses that he built for himself, his relatives, and his students. Getting to the Rizal Shrine is relatively cheap and easy. Just hail a tricycle and it will bring you to the historic landmark in about ten minutes. Some of the points of interest in the shrine are Casa Cuadrada, Casitas de Salud, and the Aqueduct.

After taking a trip down memory lane, relax and unwind at the famous Dakak Park Beach Resort. This world-class accommodation in Taguilon is located just 15 minutes from the Rizal Shrine. The privately owned is a favorite among foreign and local visitors like because of its white-sand beach that is perfect for swimming and diving. Various vacation packages are available at Dakak Park Beach Resort, which serves sumptuous meals all day long. Certainly, dining and staying at Dakak won’t disappoint.

Dapitan is more than Rizal Shrine and Dakak Beach. It is not an ordinary city. Dapitan has also its share of colorful and exquisite events and festivals. To get a run for your money, travel to Dapitan in July when it celebrates the Kinabayo Festival. It is an exotic and colorful pageant re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish wars. The festival, which runs from July 16 to 25, coincides with the feast of St. James the Greater, the city’s patron saint. Another equally entertaining event is the Handuraw Festival which honors the life and works of Rizal. This three-day event is held from December 28 to 30.

Recently, the local tourism sector received a major boost with the opening of the Gloria de Dapitan. This three-hectare commercial complex named after former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo houses a computer-operated bowling alley, a fitness gym, an arcade center, bars, and restaurants. Gloria de Dapitan is also the perfect place to unleash your decibel-breaking screams as it has a theme park with 31 fun rides to choose from.

Dapitan is also a haven for the hungry mouths, particularly seafood lovers. Indulge in a wide variety of dishes made from the freshest marine resources in the city. Aside from the posh hotels and resorts, there are ordinary restaurants offering eat-all-you-can seafood treats. There is so much more to discover in Dapitan. Tourists can also make golden memories by visiting the Cathedral of St. James the Greater, the Sta. Cruz Beach, the Ilihan Hill, and the Relief Map of Mindanao.

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.

travel philippines

Jason Martin asked:




If you’ve traveled at all, you know that packing for a trip can be time consumer and perhaps a worrisome ordeal. If you’re traveling a far distance, to some exotic land, the pressure really cranks up.

But, fear not. Today, I’ll give you a list of items you should think about packing for your next excursion to the Philippines. The last thing anyone wants is to being a vacation on a bad note. One pre-visit tip is to check the climate for the area(s) you’ll be visiting. The Philippines is a tropical paradise, but the climate changes from region to region.

Here’s a quick list of some good items to bring on your Philippines vacation:

1. Lightweight cotton shirts (to be comfortable).

2. Tank tops (again, comfort is key).

3. Shorts & jeans (mixture for climate and activity changes).

4. Camera with extra memory cards (capture everything).

5. Power adapter

6. Insect repellant (especially if you require a specific type/brand).

7. Sunglasses

8. Tagalog phrase book or cheat sheet.

I’d also recommend brining an extra suitcase, so you have plenty of room for souvenirs. You’ll definitely want to bring stuff home with you. In the Philippines, they call gift items “pasalubongs.”

While most Filipinos speak English (less in the more remote parts), knowing just a handful of key phrases in Tagalog (their language) will help you blend in more (they’ll appreciate it) and you’ll be able to navigate better. There’s no need to learn the whole language, but bring at least a sheet with 15-20 phrases/words on it.

Caffeinated Content

Gregory Smyth asked:


Philippines is one of the most compelling and attracting tourist destinations not only in Asia but the whole world. It is an archipelago nation located in Southeast Asia and it is as charming a destination you can ever imagine.

The Philippine archipelago consists of 7,107 beautiful islands, spreading a total area of 300,000 sq km with Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao constituting the main island groups in the country. Known for its scenic islands, exotic beaches, fascinating volcanoes, fantastic diving spots and elusive wildlife among many more attractions, the Philippines is a lovable place to visit. Philippines boasts of hundreds of seductive tourist destinations, making it a popular choice for nature lovers, honeymooners and adventure seekers from across the world.

Philippines is home to some of the most enchanting beaches in the world comprising the famous White Beach on Boracay Island, which is conferred the tag of the most beautiful tropical beach in the world. Cebu, which comes after the capital Manila for its popularity, possesses some of the most excellent diving spots in the world, making it a favorite destination for adventure seekers.

The islands of Panglao, Balicasag and Pamilacan in Bohol also have world-class diving spots. Bohol also has beautiful beaches which includes the famous Alona Beach at Panglao. The highly sought after Tall Volcano and the amazing Tall Lake at Tagaytay never fail to quench the thirst of its visitors for natural beauty.

Besides its unbelievable scenic beauty, Philippines has a lot more to fascinate its visitors. The cultural, historical and architectural heritages of the Philippines are set to enchant those who are interested in exploring the historical background of the nation. The beautiful colonial structures of Vigan in Ilocos and World War II markers of Manila are ever lasting heritage sites.

The Filipinos are generally energetic and relaxed people and choose to enjoy almost every occasion with great flourish. The lively and colorful festivals are major tourist interests in the Philippines. Philippines conducts numerous colorful festivals, celebrated across the year in all parts of the country.

Those who want to flex their muscles a bit will never leave Philippines disappointed. Philippines offers a compelling range of leisure and adventure activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, trekking, and a rich diversity of water sports. The lovely beaches of Philippines gives you the perfect ambience to relax, sunbath, and numerous other exciting beach activities.

Filipinos are extremely hospitable people. Guests are often considered like royalty in Philippine households. This is revealed noticeably during fiestas when even absolute strangers are accepted and permitted to partake of the feast that most, if not all, households within the town arrange during the occasion. Quite often, this hospitality is mistaken. Some households allocate their complete savings on their fiesta offerings and sometimes are even indebted just to provide splendid food on their table. They use the next year compensating these debts and readying themselves for the next fiesta.

The country features an excellent blend of cultures; in the Philippines, you can witness the jelling of East and West cultures. The roots of the people in this nation mainly lie in Indonesia and Malaysia. You can also find tints of Chinese and Spanish elements as well. The American rule of the past and indulging with merchants and traders resulted in a rare blend of East and West. You will be able to find this in the appearance and character of the Filipinos, or people of the Philippines.

There is no question about the artistic versatility and scenic beauty of Philippines. You are now familiar with the diverse attractions available as well. It is up to you to ensure that your next trip is to this majestic country.