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Philippines Culture
November 27, 2011 by Anita
Filed under Travel And Leisure
Richard Romando asked:
The culture of the Philippines is based mainly on the various native religious groups, which have different cultural backgrounds and traditions. These groups include the Tagalogs, Ilokanos, Bikolanos, and others. The culture of the Philippines is greatly influenced by the Chinese and American cultures as well as those of other countries. The Hispanic influence on the Filipino culture is the result of the Mexican and Spanish cultures as a result of colonial rule.
Every year the citizens of the Philippines host major festivities that are known as the Barrio Fiesta. This fiesta honors all the patron saints of different towns, villages, and regional districts and is celebrated by ceremonies that are held in the church followed by street parades in honor of the saints. There are various contests that include dancing and singing, and cockfight tournaments before the grand finale of the fireworks.
The Chinese also influence the Filipino culture to a large extent, and this is clearly evident in the Filipino cuisines. The locals here have termed the famous Chinese noodles as Mami. Other dishes like meat and other foodstuffs also reflect the influence of the Chinese cuisine. The influence of the Chinese culture in the Philippines is reflected in the fact that citizens occasionally use Chinese surnames, and some are proficient in speaking the language as well.
Over a century ago, the American culture began having a relative influence on the Philippines. The frequent use of the English language in the Philippines is due to the American culture influence. The American culture has also increased the demand for fast food and its chains have spread all over the Philippines. Filipinos have also started listening to the latest American music, taken to watching American movies, dancing to the American tunes, and also started fancying Hollywood actors. The basic principal of the Filipino people is to follow their moral values and to respect their elders and family members. These qualities help them grow into better human beings and have a friendly and pleasing personality.
travel philippines
The culture of the Philippines is based mainly on the various native religious groups, which have different cultural backgrounds and traditions. These groups include the Tagalogs, Ilokanos, Bikolanos, and others. The culture of the Philippines is greatly influenced by the Chinese and American cultures as well as those of other countries. The Hispanic influence on the Filipino culture is the result of the Mexican and Spanish cultures as a result of colonial rule.
Every year the citizens of the Philippines host major festivities that are known as the Barrio Fiesta. This fiesta honors all the patron saints of different towns, villages, and regional districts and is celebrated by ceremonies that are held in the church followed by street parades in honor of the saints. There are various contests that include dancing and singing, and cockfight tournaments before the grand finale of the fireworks.
The Chinese also influence the Filipino culture to a large extent, and this is clearly evident in the Filipino cuisines. The locals here have termed the famous Chinese noodles as Mami. Other dishes like meat and other foodstuffs also reflect the influence of the Chinese cuisine. The influence of the Chinese culture in the Philippines is reflected in the fact that citizens occasionally use Chinese surnames, and some are proficient in speaking the language as well.
Over a century ago, the American culture began having a relative influence on the Philippines. The frequent use of the English language in the Philippines is due to the American culture influence. The American culture has also increased the demand for fast food and its chains have spread all over the Philippines. Filipinos have also started listening to the latest American music, taken to watching American movies, dancing to the American tunes, and also started fancying Hollywood actors. The basic principal of the Filipino people is to follow their moral values and to respect their elders and family members. These qualities help them grow into better human beings and have a friendly and pleasing personality.
travel philippines
Travel Philippines – Viva La Vigan
November 2, 2011 by Anita
Filed under Travel And Leisure
Allan Merin asked:
If you’re idea of a relaxing vacation is exploring the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines, then visiting Vigan is the right place for you. This fifth-class city in the northern region allows tourists to travel back in time with its unique antiquity and idyllic atmosphere. Dubbed as “Heritage City of the North,” Vigan is described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the “best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.”
Vigan, which is roughly a nine-hour bus ride from Manila, is being groomed as the primary tourism destination in northern Philippines. To attract more local and foreign visitors, the government has been launching promotional activities such as various festivals and events over the past years. Hotels and vacation houses were also built in the city as part of projects aimed at improving the local hospitality industry.
Tourists will never get bored in Vigan. There are lots of tourist attractions to choose from in the city aside from the dozens of proudly standing ancestral houses. Here are some of them.
Calle Crisologo
Vigan is best known for Calle Crisologo, a 500-meter long street made from cobblestone. Its design is a mixture of 18th century Filipino and Spanish architecture. Feel the thrill of living during the Spanish era by riding a kalesa, or a horse-driven carriage. Calle Crisologo, where a number of movies and television shows depicting the Spanish times were shot, is also home to hotels, pension houses, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
Baluarte
Another must-visit place in Vigan is Baluarte. Covering an area of 80 hectares, this zoological park provides shelter to various animal species such as pythons, tigers, snakes, birds, ponies, and many more. Baluarte, which is owned by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, also has a garden where different butterfly species are roaming around freely. Cameras are allowed inside Baluarte. And the best thing is admission is free.
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral is an imposing structure situated at the heart of Vigan. Built by the Augustinians between 1790 and 1800, the church is famous for its unique “Earthquake Baroque” architecture. The cathedral, which is the site of various Catholic activities in Vigan, is frequented by pilgrims across the Philippines.
Crisologo Museum
If you are fond of various memorabilia, then you must enter the Crisologo Museum. This two-storey building located at the end of the Crisologo Street houses history exhibits, antique furniture, and literary collection. The car in which former Gov. Carmeling Crisologo was ambushed in 1961 is also displayed at the museum.
Longanisa Festival
One of the much-awaited events in Vigan is the Longanisa Festival. This annual event seeks to promote the local longanisa (native sausage) industry. The festival, which is celebrated on the third week of January, features street dancing, trade and food fairs, and various cultural exhibits. Longanisa is often served with fried rice and egg.
Apatot Beach
Vigan also has its share of fine beaches. One of them is Apatot Beach, a popular recreation site of local residents. This body of water is rich in historic past. At the end of World War II, the United States used Apatot Beach to unload armaments for American soldiers serving in the area.
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.
Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress
If you’re idea of a relaxing vacation is exploring the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines, then visiting Vigan is the right place for you. This fifth-class city in the northern region allows tourists to travel back in time with its unique antiquity and idyllic atmosphere. Dubbed as “Heritage City of the North,” Vigan is described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the “best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.”
Vigan, which is roughly a nine-hour bus ride from Manila, is being groomed as the primary tourism destination in northern Philippines. To attract more local and foreign visitors, the government has been launching promotional activities such as various festivals and events over the past years. Hotels and vacation houses were also built in the city as part of projects aimed at improving the local hospitality industry.
Tourists will never get bored in Vigan. There are lots of tourist attractions to choose from in the city aside from the dozens of proudly standing ancestral houses. Here are some of them.
Calle Crisologo
Vigan is best known for Calle Crisologo, a 500-meter long street made from cobblestone. Its design is a mixture of 18th century Filipino and Spanish architecture. Feel the thrill of living during the Spanish era by riding a kalesa, or a horse-driven carriage. Calle Crisologo, where a number of movies and television shows depicting the Spanish times were shot, is also home to hotels, pension houses, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
Baluarte
Another must-visit place in Vigan is Baluarte. Covering an area of 80 hectares, this zoological park provides shelter to various animal species such as pythons, tigers, snakes, birds, ponies, and many more. Baluarte, which is owned by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, also has a garden where different butterfly species are roaming around freely. Cameras are allowed inside Baluarte. And the best thing is admission is free.
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral is an imposing structure situated at the heart of Vigan. Built by the Augustinians between 1790 and 1800, the church is famous for its unique “Earthquake Baroque” architecture. The cathedral, which is the site of various Catholic activities in Vigan, is frequented by pilgrims across the Philippines.
Crisologo Museum
If you are fond of various memorabilia, then you must enter the Crisologo Museum. This two-storey building located at the end of the Crisologo Street houses history exhibits, antique furniture, and literary collection. The car in which former Gov. Carmeling Crisologo was ambushed in 1961 is also displayed at the museum.
Longanisa Festival
One of the much-awaited events in Vigan is the Longanisa Festival. This annual event seeks to promote the local longanisa (native sausage) industry. The festival, which is celebrated on the third week of January, features street dancing, trade and food fairs, and various cultural exhibits. Longanisa is often served with fried rice and egg.
Apatot Beach
Vigan also has its share of fine beaches. One of them is Apatot Beach, a popular recreation site of local residents. This body of water is rich in historic past. At the end of World War II, the United States used Apatot Beach to unload armaments for American soldiers serving in the area.
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.
Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress
Five Things You Must See Or Do in the Philippines
August 14, 2011 by Anita
Filed under Travel And Leisure
Eric A. Miller asked:
The Philippines is a majestic land, full of vibrant colors, a simple but admirable culture, budget conscious activities and products (cheap stuff!), and the total individual control to do what you want when you want.? When I retire, I hope I decide to stay in a paradise half as perfect as this one.? There is so much to do in the Philippines, so I’ve narrowed it down to the top five best things to do or must see items in the Philippines right here.? When I mention prices I will roughly convert it to dollars for you to keep it simples.? Remember, this is just me doing math in my head, and I really **** at math.
Just to let you know right now, I am a 26 year old male so this article is targeted towards people in there 20′s and 30′s.? There is a lot of history and modern day activities in the Philippines, so these are the top things that I enjoy or at least that I think everyone should see at least once in their life.
1.??? Stay on the White Sand Beach of Boracay during a holiday weekend.
2.??? See Angeles City and the Bar Girls.
3.??? Jet Ski
4.??? Shoot Uzi’s
5.??? Visit LA Cafe in Manila, Philippines
Staying in Boracay during the holy week, when everyone is off school and work, is an awesome experience.? Friday and Saturday night the beach is especially crowded with partiers ready to experience the nightlife that Boracay has to offer.? The whole beach is lined with clubs and venders selling booze, fresh fish, jewelry and clothing.? The White House, Boracay, Philippines, is a nice affordable place to stay that is in a central location right on White Sand Beach.? Be careful when you order the fresh fish from the counter.? Notice how all of the fish is sitting on ice with ice dumped on top.? I know, it looks delicious, but that fish was caught at about 6am and you are just getting ready to eat it at 8pm and there isn’t any refrigeration, so that fish has been sitting on ice all day.? It’s really not all that fresh.? Not to mention, all that ice is from nasty Filipino tap water – unfiltered.? Trust me on this, stay as far away from the tap water as possible.? I have been sick twice from the water in the Philippines.? Once I was so hung over and dehydrated that I didn’t even notice I just drank a glass of water.? You always want to order bottled water.? The other time was on the beach in Boracay: I only tried two oysters, but it was after my buddy ate a whole plateful, so the ice that was on top had completely melted down into the oysters.? My buddy was in more pain than I, but it was still awful.?
I missed out on Friday night in Boracay because of the glass of water I drank.? I was better by Saturday night, thank God, because it is something everyone needs to experience.? Every few feet there is another club bumping music with people dancing all night.? I recommend the hookah bars and any of the clubs; it just depends on your taste in music.?
Anyone who has traveled to different countries knows that there are red light districts around the world.? Amsterdam has the most famous, but not necessarily the best, as I found out after my visit to Angeles City, Philippines.? I have traveled more than anyone else I know my age, and I have never seen anything like Fields Ave., Angeles City, Philippines.? It was crazy!? The whole street has nothing but bars filled to the brim with prostitutes, a gyro spot with awesome gyros, and a 7-Eleven.? The best thing that the Filipinos have been able to organize in the Philippines is the prostitution in Angeles City.? The girls get a full STD check once a week.? We drove by the health clinic where they get checked and every bar has a different day of the week that they go.? Man, this place was busy, and understandably because there are so many bars, too many to go to even after one lives there for over a year.? Literally, there are hundreds of these bars.? There is never a door fee or an entrance fee to get in to these places.? A waitress will sit you, and then she will usually stand right by you.? Then, whenever you need something, just let her know.? If you see a girl you like and you make eye contact with her, then feel free to motion for her to come over and buy her a drink.? The biggest and best place that I saw was Atlantis.? It was three stories tall and there must have been at least 200 girls there and every single one was gorgeous.? It’s a little more expensive, but well worth it.? Buying a girl a drink there still wont cost you more than buying a drink in America.? Now, when you buy yourself a drink it’s about $1.50.? When you buy a “Lady Drink,” it’s $3.00, but the girl gets half of this money and drinks the drink.? She’ll sit down and talk with you and rub up on you.? It’s cool when you can find one with a good personality who can be sarcastic.? It’s a lot of fun to just talk with these girls and get to know them.? Some of them have crazy stories to tell.? I’m pretty quick to ask about personal issues like friends and family.?
If you think you’re connecting with a girl and you like her, and you want to ask her if she’d like to go with you back to your hotel, then you ask her a serious of questions.? Let her know that you like her and ask her if she would like a, “Bar Fine.”? She’ll either say yes or no.? She may not want to go home with you, she might be on her period, or she might be a “cherry girl,” which means she’s a virgin.? It’s important to be respectful and realize that all of these girls are not necessarily ***********.? These places are like strip clubs, only they keep their clothes on.? They might give you lap dances (way better than anything you’ll get in the states and it’s only a couple bucks) or have a drink with you and talk.? If she says, “yes,” when you asks if she wants a “Bar Fine,” then continue with a few questions and let her know that you’re happy she wants a “Bar Fine,” but you have a few questions first.? Ask her if she’s on her “mens.”? This is how they refer to their menstruation period.? You don’t want to get her back to the hotel and find out you can’t do what you wanted to because she’s bleeding.? Ask her what time she has to go home in the morning.? You don’t want her leaving that night (or maybe you do), but it’s better if she’s not leaving at 5am because she has a kid or something.? If she’s good to go, then let your waitress know that you’re going to bar fine her.? She’ll bring you your total bill.? It costs between $20 – $25 to “bar fine” a girl.? The girl will go change and then you leave together.? When you get back to the hotel you will both take showers.? Use a condom even though they are checked every week.? Don’t mess around with your life.? It’s up to you if you tip her.? She will get half of the “Bar Fine” the next day when she goes back to the bar either way.? It’s sad that these girls sell themselves and only get about $10, but they would only make maybe two or three dollars a day if they worked a regular job at the mall, plus they would work 13 hour days at another job.? What would you do?? Would you work a lot harder for much less money?? A lot of these girls come from the Province, which means they are from poverty, unlike any poverty we have in America.? They are from either remote islands or small villages and they are trying to send money home.?
Riding jet skis in Boracay is awesome!? You feel like you’re in a Jay Z music video.? It’s just the most amazing scenery to ride a jet ski in.? At some point you realize you’ve died and gone to heaven.? It’s somewhere between realizing you’re on this small tropical island in the Philippines, on the other side of the world, and dancing with the most beautiful women and the clubs.? They love to dance.? Actually, the three things people in the Philippines love are Obama, Hip Hop, and Basketball.? Anyway, back to jet skiing.? It was a little more than a dollar a minute, but well worth it.? We signed up for 30 minutes, but I think they gave us 45 minutes.? That was a good amount of time.? I was ready to stop when I did.? I was lapping people.? It’s ok to pass others (or at least no one yelled at me for it) as long as everyone is going the same way.? You should never go the opposite direction of someone.?
My friends met a guy named George within their first hour of arrival in Manila.? This guy was a hustler and knew everyone in the city.? At first he tried selling my buddies some Viagra.? By the way, there are tons of people selling Viagra and Cialis on the streets of Manila.? Then George asked my friends if they wanted to shoot Uzi’s.? This caught the attention of my friends.? “Hell yeah we want to shoot Uzi’s.”? So George took them around the corner to a gun range.? This was probably the most expensive thing anyone did on our trip.? It costs $1 a bullet to shoot Uzi’s.? It was worth it because now they have a fantastic story to tell people.
LA Cafe is a bar in Ermita, Manila, Philippines.? This is where a lot of girls hang out.? Some of them are working girls, but they weren’t charging us since they were just happy to hang out with some cool guys.? Be careful not to get hustled in this place.? I went there with three of my friends from California.? As soon as we walked in all the girls turned and looked at us.? I’m 6’7″ and we are all white, so we stood out everywhere we went.? We went into the VIP area upstairs (it’s only a couple bucks per person to enter) and we got a table.? We each left at different times because that’s what we always do.? I rarely come back to the hotel with my friends.? I get distracted too easily.? I left after hanging out for about an hour and a half.? I knew that my roommate had already left, therefore there should have been two of my friends left at the bar.? When I left I said bye to one person and I gave him $30 for the drinks, and I assumed the other friend was in the bathroom.? I was wrong.? Our other friend decided to leave without telling any one.? Never do this!? Always let the other people you’re with know when you leave or decide to do something else.? Anyway, my buddy was left at the bar by himself and there were all these girls who kept inviting their “cousin” over to drink and they were all drinking wine and ordering salads.? Then the bill came and of course it was expected that my buddy pay the whole thing.? The girls there never pay for anything because they are broke.? The bill was 5,200 pesos (more than $100, not much considering how much we drank).? My friend only had 5000 pesos on him and finally talked one of the girls into paying the other 200 pesos.? He left the bar and brought three of the girls back to the hotel lobby, but then they started complaining about how the one girl had to pay 200 pesos and they wanted my friend to reimburse her for that.? He explained that they drank a bunch of drinks and ate food, so they should pay something and he still paid much more than his fair share.? Keep in mind that this argument was over $4.? Then he pointed to the front door and said, “well, there’s the door.”? These girls are all hustlers, so beware.? Other than that, it was a fun place to hang out and play pool.? We stayed in a nice hotel in Emita, Manila, just a few blocks away from LA Cafe, and it was $100 a night, but it had a living room with a sofa pullout bed and a bedroom with a queen size bet, plus two bathrooms, so I split that with one person and it was $50 a night/person.
The Philippines is an awesome place to visit.? I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure.? It’s cheap, the people are nice, and the natural beauty is second to none.? It is important to stay safe any time you travel to the Philippines or any other third world country.? See travelingmiller.com to find out more on how to stay safe and have fun in the Philippines.? There is also a video from Palawan, which is another great destination in the Philippines.
Caffeinated Content
The Philippines is a majestic land, full of vibrant colors, a simple but admirable culture, budget conscious activities and products (cheap stuff!), and the total individual control to do what you want when you want.? When I retire, I hope I decide to stay in a paradise half as perfect as this one.? There is so much to do in the Philippines, so I’ve narrowed it down to the top five best things to do or must see items in the Philippines right here.? When I mention prices I will roughly convert it to dollars for you to keep it simples.? Remember, this is just me doing math in my head, and I really **** at math.
Just to let you know right now, I am a 26 year old male so this article is targeted towards people in there 20′s and 30′s.? There is a lot of history and modern day activities in the Philippines, so these are the top things that I enjoy or at least that I think everyone should see at least once in their life.
1.??? Stay on the White Sand Beach of Boracay during a holiday weekend.
2.??? See Angeles City and the Bar Girls.
3.??? Jet Ski
4.??? Shoot Uzi’s
5.??? Visit LA Cafe in Manila, Philippines
Staying in Boracay during the holy week, when everyone is off school and work, is an awesome experience.? Friday and Saturday night the beach is especially crowded with partiers ready to experience the nightlife that Boracay has to offer.? The whole beach is lined with clubs and venders selling booze, fresh fish, jewelry and clothing.? The White House, Boracay, Philippines, is a nice affordable place to stay that is in a central location right on White Sand Beach.? Be careful when you order the fresh fish from the counter.? Notice how all of the fish is sitting on ice with ice dumped on top.? I know, it looks delicious, but that fish was caught at about 6am and you are just getting ready to eat it at 8pm and there isn’t any refrigeration, so that fish has been sitting on ice all day.? It’s really not all that fresh.? Not to mention, all that ice is from nasty Filipino tap water – unfiltered.? Trust me on this, stay as far away from the tap water as possible.? I have been sick twice from the water in the Philippines.? Once I was so hung over and dehydrated that I didn’t even notice I just drank a glass of water.? You always want to order bottled water.? The other time was on the beach in Boracay: I only tried two oysters, but it was after my buddy ate a whole plateful, so the ice that was on top had completely melted down into the oysters.? My buddy was in more pain than I, but it was still awful.?
I missed out on Friday night in Boracay because of the glass of water I drank.? I was better by Saturday night, thank God, because it is something everyone needs to experience.? Every few feet there is another club bumping music with people dancing all night.? I recommend the hookah bars and any of the clubs; it just depends on your taste in music.?
Anyone who has traveled to different countries knows that there are red light districts around the world.? Amsterdam has the most famous, but not necessarily the best, as I found out after my visit to Angeles City, Philippines.? I have traveled more than anyone else I know my age, and I have never seen anything like Fields Ave., Angeles City, Philippines.? It was crazy!? The whole street has nothing but bars filled to the brim with prostitutes, a gyro spot with awesome gyros, and a 7-Eleven.? The best thing that the Filipinos have been able to organize in the Philippines is the prostitution in Angeles City.? The girls get a full STD check once a week.? We drove by the health clinic where they get checked and every bar has a different day of the week that they go.? Man, this place was busy, and understandably because there are so many bars, too many to go to even after one lives there for over a year.? Literally, there are hundreds of these bars.? There is never a door fee or an entrance fee to get in to these places.? A waitress will sit you, and then she will usually stand right by you.? Then, whenever you need something, just let her know.? If you see a girl you like and you make eye contact with her, then feel free to motion for her to come over and buy her a drink.? The biggest and best place that I saw was Atlantis.? It was three stories tall and there must have been at least 200 girls there and every single one was gorgeous.? It’s a little more expensive, but well worth it.? Buying a girl a drink there still wont cost you more than buying a drink in America.? Now, when you buy yourself a drink it’s about $1.50.? When you buy a “Lady Drink,” it’s $3.00, but the girl gets half of this money and drinks the drink.? She’ll sit down and talk with you and rub up on you.? It’s cool when you can find one with a good personality who can be sarcastic.? It’s a lot of fun to just talk with these girls and get to know them.? Some of them have crazy stories to tell.? I’m pretty quick to ask about personal issues like friends and family.?
If you think you’re connecting with a girl and you like her, and you want to ask her if she’d like to go with you back to your hotel, then you ask her a serious of questions.? Let her know that you like her and ask her if she would like a, “Bar Fine.”? She’ll either say yes or no.? She may not want to go home with you, she might be on her period, or she might be a “cherry girl,” which means she’s a virgin.? It’s important to be respectful and realize that all of these girls are not necessarily ***********.? These places are like strip clubs, only they keep their clothes on.? They might give you lap dances (way better than anything you’ll get in the states and it’s only a couple bucks) or have a drink with you and talk.? If she says, “yes,” when you asks if she wants a “Bar Fine,” then continue with a few questions and let her know that you’re happy she wants a “Bar Fine,” but you have a few questions first.? Ask her if she’s on her “mens.”? This is how they refer to their menstruation period.? You don’t want to get her back to the hotel and find out you can’t do what you wanted to because she’s bleeding.? Ask her what time she has to go home in the morning.? You don’t want her leaving that night (or maybe you do), but it’s better if she’s not leaving at 5am because she has a kid or something.? If she’s good to go, then let your waitress know that you’re going to bar fine her.? She’ll bring you your total bill.? It costs between $20 – $25 to “bar fine” a girl.? The girl will go change and then you leave together.? When you get back to the hotel you will both take showers.? Use a condom even though they are checked every week.? Don’t mess around with your life.? It’s up to you if you tip her.? She will get half of the “Bar Fine” the next day when she goes back to the bar either way.? It’s sad that these girls sell themselves and only get about $10, but they would only make maybe two or three dollars a day if they worked a regular job at the mall, plus they would work 13 hour days at another job.? What would you do?? Would you work a lot harder for much less money?? A lot of these girls come from the Province, which means they are from poverty, unlike any poverty we have in America.? They are from either remote islands or small villages and they are trying to send money home.?
Riding jet skis in Boracay is awesome!? You feel like you’re in a Jay Z music video.? It’s just the most amazing scenery to ride a jet ski in.? At some point you realize you’ve died and gone to heaven.? It’s somewhere between realizing you’re on this small tropical island in the Philippines, on the other side of the world, and dancing with the most beautiful women and the clubs.? They love to dance.? Actually, the three things people in the Philippines love are Obama, Hip Hop, and Basketball.? Anyway, back to jet skiing.? It was a little more than a dollar a minute, but well worth it.? We signed up for 30 minutes, but I think they gave us 45 minutes.? That was a good amount of time.? I was ready to stop when I did.? I was lapping people.? It’s ok to pass others (or at least no one yelled at me for it) as long as everyone is going the same way.? You should never go the opposite direction of someone.?
My friends met a guy named George within their first hour of arrival in Manila.? This guy was a hustler and knew everyone in the city.? At first he tried selling my buddies some Viagra.? By the way, there are tons of people selling Viagra and Cialis on the streets of Manila.? Then George asked my friends if they wanted to shoot Uzi’s.? This caught the attention of my friends.? “Hell yeah we want to shoot Uzi’s.”? So George took them around the corner to a gun range.? This was probably the most expensive thing anyone did on our trip.? It costs $1 a bullet to shoot Uzi’s.? It was worth it because now they have a fantastic story to tell people.
LA Cafe is a bar in Ermita, Manila, Philippines.? This is where a lot of girls hang out.? Some of them are working girls, but they weren’t charging us since they were just happy to hang out with some cool guys.? Be careful not to get hustled in this place.? I went there with three of my friends from California.? As soon as we walked in all the girls turned and looked at us.? I’m 6’7″ and we are all white, so we stood out everywhere we went.? We went into the VIP area upstairs (it’s only a couple bucks per person to enter) and we got a table.? We each left at different times because that’s what we always do.? I rarely come back to the hotel with my friends.? I get distracted too easily.? I left after hanging out for about an hour and a half.? I knew that my roommate had already left, therefore there should have been two of my friends left at the bar.? When I left I said bye to one person and I gave him $30 for the drinks, and I assumed the other friend was in the bathroom.? I was wrong.? Our other friend decided to leave without telling any one.? Never do this!? Always let the other people you’re with know when you leave or decide to do something else.? Anyway, my buddy was left at the bar by himself and there were all these girls who kept inviting their “cousin” over to drink and they were all drinking wine and ordering salads.? Then the bill came and of course it was expected that my buddy pay the whole thing.? The girls there never pay for anything because they are broke.? The bill was 5,200 pesos (more than $100, not much considering how much we drank).? My friend only had 5000 pesos on him and finally talked one of the girls into paying the other 200 pesos.? He left the bar and brought three of the girls back to the hotel lobby, but then they started complaining about how the one girl had to pay 200 pesos and they wanted my friend to reimburse her for that.? He explained that they drank a bunch of drinks and ate food, so they should pay something and he still paid much more than his fair share.? Keep in mind that this argument was over $4.? Then he pointed to the front door and said, “well, there’s the door.”? These girls are all hustlers, so beware.? Other than that, it was a fun place to hang out and play pool.? We stayed in a nice hotel in Emita, Manila, just a few blocks away from LA Cafe, and it was $100 a night, but it had a living room with a sofa pullout bed and a bedroom with a queen size bet, plus two bathrooms, so I split that with one person and it was $50 a night/person.
The Philippines is an awesome place to visit.? I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure.? It’s cheap, the people are nice, and the natural beauty is second to none.? It is important to stay safe any time you travel to the Philippines or any other third world country.? See travelingmiller.com to find out more on how to stay safe and have fun in the Philippines.? There is also a video from Palawan, which is another great destination in the Philippines.
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Philippines Travel – The Old World Charm of Ilocos
May 17, 2011 by Anita
Filed under Travel And Leisure
John Grant asked:
In old times, Ilocandia has been described as a God-forsaken land because of its arid and difficult terrain. But the hardy people of this province had the patience and the will to survive, and eventually turned it into a lush and abundant highland. Amidst all these is a rich history consisting of legendary uprisings, monumental edifices, and noble men and women who has made Ilocos a unique and remarkable place that it is today.
Vigan is a sleepy town at the heart of Ilocos Sur. It’s easy to find your way around because the people are friendly and warm to visitors. At the center of the town is Plaza Salcedo erected in honor of Juan Salcedo who named this place Ciudad Fernandina after King Ferdinand of Spain. Right across the plaza is the St. Paul’s Cathedral built in 1641 and which came under the Diocese of Nueva Segovia in 1758.
A few minutes walk will bring you to the Burgos House. Now converted into a museum, the house is the birthplace of Fr. Jose Burgos, one of the priests executed in Cavite during the revolution. The museum houses what were left of the Burgos family belongings which include antique furnitures, clothing and other artifacts donated by some prominent families in Vigan.
Indeed, Vigan is best known for its Castillian houses with old tile roofs, hardwood floorings and azoteas. These houses are located in Heritage Village which is the core of the Mestizo district. Some of the houses remain in possession of descendants of their original owners with the antique interiors and furnishings intact, while some of these ancestral homes have been turned into cozy inns, museums, and souvenir shops.
Although many of these houses have been converted into commercial establishments, the brick structures are preserved. The whole block breathes in an eerie feeling emphasized more by the calezas or horse-drawn carriages which remain a mode of transportation around town.
You can buy real or reproduction antique furniture around VIgan’s antique stores or visit pottery factories along Rizal street for ceramic products. These factories will be more than happy to give a demonstration on pottery-making. You can also buy woven blankets and table napkins at low prices.
Vigan has been declared a World Heritage Site and it is recommended that you view the houses at night with the streets lighted perfectly and the air cool.
Caffeinated Content
In old times, Ilocandia has been described as a God-forsaken land because of its arid and difficult terrain. But the hardy people of this province had the patience and the will to survive, and eventually turned it into a lush and abundant highland. Amidst all these is a rich history consisting of legendary uprisings, monumental edifices, and noble men and women who has made Ilocos a unique and remarkable place that it is today.
Vigan is a sleepy town at the heart of Ilocos Sur. It’s easy to find your way around because the people are friendly and warm to visitors. At the center of the town is Plaza Salcedo erected in honor of Juan Salcedo who named this place Ciudad Fernandina after King Ferdinand of Spain. Right across the plaza is the St. Paul’s Cathedral built in 1641 and which came under the Diocese of Nueva Segovia in 1758.
A few minutes walk will bring you to the Burgos House. Now converted into a museum, the house is the birthplace of Fr. Jose Burgos, one of the priests executed in Cavite during the revolution. The museum houses what were left of the Burgos family belongings which include antique furnitures, clothing and other artifacts donated by some prominent families in Vigan.
Indeed, Vigan is best known for its Castillian houses with old tile roofs, hardwood floorings and azoteas. These houses are located in Heritage Village which is the core of the Mestizo district. Some of the houses remain in possession of descendants of their original owners with the antique interiors and furnishings intact, while some of these ancestral homes have been turned into cozy inns, museums, and souvenir shops.
Although many of these houses have been converted into commercial establishments, the brick structures are preserved. The whole block breathes in an eerie feeling emphasized more by the calezas or horse-drawn carriages which remain a mode of transportation around town.
You can buy real or reproduction antique furniture around VIgan’s antique stores or visit pottery factories along Rizal street for ceramic products. These factories will be more than happy to give a demonstration on pottery-making. You can also buy woven blankets and table napkins at low prices.
Vigan has been declared a World Heritage Site and it is recommended that you view the houses at night with the streets lighted perfectly and the air cool.
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Manila Travel Guide For Travelers
April 16, 2011 by Anita
Filed under Travel And Leisure
Muhammad Suhail asked:
Manila is city in the Philippines and is located near the west of the island of Luzon. It is known as the cosmopolitan hub of the Philippines. Manila is a city that is one in total of 17 cities and municipal towns in an area that is called as the national capital region or metro manila in Philippines. The city of Manila which is more historically remembered is located between the manila bay and Pasig River.
Climate
Manila is city of tropical climate with two very obvious seasons. The climate here remains wet with constant rains or dry spells of sunlight. Tropical storms are common in the city and occur from May till November after which the climate remains dry till April. Temperature hover around 20 to late 30s during summer months. The winters remain cool with the temperature going down to 10 degrees.
Getting Here
If you have decided to spend your holiday here then you should make all your travel and accommodation plans early as hotels here are full in the peak seasons. Most of the foreign visitors arrive by plane and land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. From here, you can take taxis and reach at your hotel. Once settled, you can take buses or ferries for inter island travel as manila is connected to the various other islands in the Philippines. You can also take jeepneys to get around the city. They are the fastest and the least expensive. You can roam around with just 7-8 pesos per trip. Other means include water taxis and water buses which flow with the Pasig River.
Major Attractions
Some of the major tourist’s attractions in Manila are situated along the Manila bay. First up, is the Baywalk, which is a linear park along the Manila bay. You can also visit the Bonifacio Shrine built to honor the memory of Andreas Bonifacio, who fought against the Spanish. You can also visit the Chinatown, a very famous place for Chinese food. Then there is the Intramuros, which houses some of the old collections of the city. It also has a museum and Manila cathedral.
People
The people in Manila are from various different communities. English and Filipino are the widely spoken languages here. As there are many Chinese here, mandarin is also widely spoken in the Chinese areas of the cities. People are generally friendly and hospitable and you should enjoy the social life in the city.
Food
The city offers many eating out places and provides a vibrant and diverse taste. The city has all the common international food chains. Coffee shops and cafes are also quite common. But, the traditional street food is most famous among tourists. The variety of dishes on the streets is enormous and would certainly tantalize your taste buds. Some of the most famous dishes include the Chicharon, the Balut, banana Cue, silog, Nanay Q and Balut Eggspress. Overall, the food is cheap and quite tasty but you should be aware that there are many street foods that may not be as clean as you might think so should always eat with precaution.
Security
During your stay in the city you should move around with precaution as street and other kinds of crimes are common in certain areas. Theft and pick pocketing is normal and you are advised to blend in with the crowd when on the streets.
Caffeinated Content
Manila is city in the Philippines and is located near the west of the island of Luzon. It is known as the cosmopolitan hub of the Philippines. Manila is a city that is one in total of 17 cities and municipal towns in an area that is called as the national capital region or metro manila in Philippines. The city of Manila which is more historically remembered is located between the manila bay and Pasig River.
Climate
Manila is city of tropical climate with two very obvious seasons. The climate here remains wet with constant rains or dry spells of sunlight. Tropical storms are common in the city and occur from May till November after which the climate remains dry till April. Temperature hover around 20 to late 30s during summer months. The winters remain cool with the temperature going down to 10 degrees.
Getting Here
If you have decided to spend your holiday here then you should make all your travel and accommodation plans early as hotels here are full in the peak seasons. Most of the foreign visitors arrive by plane and land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. From here, you can take taxis and reach at your hotel. Once settled, you can take buses or ferries for inter island travel as manila is connected to the various other islands in the Philippines. You can also take jeepneys to get around the city. They are the fastest and the least expensive. You can roam around with just 7-8 pesos per trip. Other means include water taxis and water buses which flow with the Pasig River.
Major Attractions
Some of the major tourist’s attractions in Manila are situated along the Manila bay. First up, is the Baywalk, which is a linear park along the Manila bay. You can also visit the Bonifacio Shrine built to honor the memory of Andreas Bonifacio, who fought against the Spanish. You can also visit the Chinatown, a very famous place for Chinese food. Then there is the Intramuros, which houses some of the old collections of the city. It also has a museum and Manila cathedral.
People
The people in Manila are from various different communities. English and Filipino are the widely spoken languages here. As there are many Chinese here, mandarin is also widely spoken in the Chinese areas of the cities. People are generally friendly and hospitable and you should enjoy the social life in the city.
Food
The city offers many eating out places and provides a vibrant and diverse taste. The city has all the common international food chains. Coffee shops and cafes are also quite common. But, the traditional street food is most famous among tourists. The variety of dishes on the streets is enormous and would certainly tantalize your taste buds. Some of the most famous dishes include the Chicharon, the Balut, banana Cue, silog, Nanay Q and Balut Eggspress. Overall, the food is cheap and quite tasty but you should be aware that there are many street foods that may not be as clean as you might think so should always eat with precaution.
Security
During your stay in the city you should move around with precaution as street and other kinds of crimes are common in certain areas. Theft and pick pocketing is normal and you are advised to blend in with the crowd when on the streets.
Caffeinated Content
Why Do Many Filipina Girls Marry Foreigners?
Peter Finch asked:
A Filipina in her early twenties, clad in a tight-fitting pair of jeans, a body-hugging shirt walks on a busy street in the Philippines. She attracts attention not only because of her looks but because she is holding hands with a foreigner who is old enough to be her grandfather.
Two blocks away, a woman in her late forties is hanging on to the arm of a 65-year old foreigner. Both women will be marrying their boyfriends soon and each had her own reasons. Every year more Filipina ladies are leaving the country each year to marry a foreigner. Here are some of the common reasons for these marriages:
The search for greener pastures.
It is undeniable that a big percentage of the Filipina girls who marry foreigners look at their husbands as a “visa” for them to go find better opportunities abroad. Filipina ladies have a mission to support their family as soon as they are able to, like help send younger siblings to school or take over the responsibility as the head of the family.
Travel and adventure
A foreigner husband is a ticket to exciting worlds beyond the desolate place she may have grown up in. She looks at him as the realization of her childhood dreams of traveling to far places.
Status elevation
As ironic as it seems, majority of the Filipino women prefers American love stories over Philippine films and they get all dreamy eyed and instantly fall in love when they see a caucasian man.
Age factor
While a woman in her late thirties is considered in the prime of life in other countries, it is not the case for a Filipina because when she is past 30 and is still unmarried, eyebrows will start to rise and her chances of getting married starts to get slim and meeting a foreigner for a prospective husband online is one of her few choices. Usually, a Filipina marries in her late teens or early 20s and should already have a child in college by the time she is 40 years old.
Failed marriages
Failure in her marriage could also push Filipina ladies to look to foreigners for a second chance. Some of these Filipina ladies are unwed mothers, while others are victims of abusive husbands, forced to do menial jobs for a meager pay just to support her children.
Average looks
An average looking Filipina (meaning not the beauty queen material) may feel she does not have to go to lengths and pay huge amounts to augment her physical features to attract a foreign husband-to-be.
True Love
You may find it hard to believe this but despite the perception that the Filipina is taking a risk marrying a person with a different set of values with a different cultural background, love could be the reason why she will marry a foreigner.
A Filipina in her early twenties, clad in a tight-fitting pair of jeans, a body-hugging shirt walks on a busy street in the Philippines. She attracts attention not only because of her looks but because she is holding hands with a foreigner who is old enough to be her grandfather.
Two blocks away, a woman in her late forties is hanging on to the arm of a 65-year old foreigner. Both women will be marrying their boyfriends soon and each had her own reasons. Every year more Filipina ladies are leaving the country each year to marry a foreigner. Here are some of the common reasons for these marriages:
The search for greener pastures.
It is undeniable that a big percentage of the Filipina girls who marry foreigners look at their husbands as a “visa” for them to go find better opportunities abroad. Filipina ladies have a mission to support their family as soon as they are able to, like help send younger siblings to school or take over the responsibility as the head of the family.
Travel and adventure
A foreigner husband is a ticket to exciting worlds beyond the desolate place she may have grown up in. She looks at him as the realization of her childhood dreams of traveling to far places.
Status elevation
As ironic as it seems, majority of the Filipino women prefers American love stories over Philippine films and they get all dreamy eyed and instantly fall in love when they see a caucasian man.
Age factor
While a woman in her late thirties is considered in the prime of life in other countries, it is not the case for a Filipina because when she is past 30 and is still unmarried, eyebrows will start to rise and her chances of getting married starts to get slim and meeting a foreigner for a prospective husband online is one of her few choices. Usually, a Filipina marries in her late teens or early 20s and should already have a child in college by the time she is 40 years old.
Failed marriages
Failure in her marriage could also push Filipina ladies to look to foreigners for a second chance. Some of these Filipina ladies are unwed mothers, while others are victims of abusive husbands, forced to do menial jobs for a meager pay just to support her children.
Average looks
An average looking Filipina (meaning not the beauty queen material) may feel she does not have to go to lengths and pay huge amounts to augment her physical features to attract a foreign husband-to-be.
True Love
You may find it hard to believe this but despite the perception that the Filipina is taking a risk marrying a person with a different set of values with a different cultural background, love could be the reason why she will marry a foreigner.
Philippine Travel: Ongpin Aka Chinatown
Dan Eggers asked:
If your Asia tour includes a long stay in the Philippines, we suggest that you add in a visit to Ongpin or Chinatown, which is how most people call it as well, as part of your travel program, especially if you’ll in Manila – the capital city of the country – for a while yet.
Ongpin or Chinatown may not be as popular as other places in the Philippines but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be part of your travel schedule. Not only is a visit to Ongpin guaranteed to be delightful in more ways than one, it also won’t cost you much because prices in Ongpin are more affordable than what you’d find in other cities like Makati or even Quezon City.
Ongpin is also mainly a residential town so it’s easier to tour the place rather than other cities, which would require you to take on huge buses and six-wheeler trucks just to cross the street.
Because Ongpin is not that big a town, the streets are mostly narrow, winding and filled with people. If you’re planning to drive your own car to Ongpin, you might be forced then to park somewhere and walk for the rest of the time you’ll be spending in Binondo. But that’s not really much of a punishment – except for your feet, if you’re wearing high heels! – because a lot of people really prefer to wander around Ongpin by foot.
Food Shopping
Fruits – Almost all kinds of fruits are sold in the streets of Ongpin and if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you could try out some of the exotic fruits being offered by street vendors such as the mangosteen or the huge apple-mango. Highly popular with the Filipino Chinese residents of Ongpin are rambutan, longgans, lanzones and chicos. When you get to Ongpin, be sure that you do try all those fruits and more since one can never get fat with fruits, anyway.
Delicacies – When you get to Ongpin, do be sure that you’ll be able to make a pit stop at any of the Chinese food stores of Ongpin. One of the most popular stores of this type is Eng Bee Tin. There, you’ll be able to find all sorts of Chinese delicacies that people back home would surely be delighted with.
Main Dishes – Tired after walking nonstop for an hour or so? If that’s the case, we suggest that you try relaxing your feet on any of the restaurants located in Ongpin. Try out popular Chinese dishes and the exotic ones as well so your trip to Ongpin will be truly memorable.
If your Asia tour includes a long stay in the Philippines, we suggest that you add in a visit to Ongpin or Chinatown, which is how most people call it as well, as part of your travel program, especially if you’ll in Manila – the capital city of the country – for a while yet.
Ongpin or Chinatown may not be as popular as other places in the Philippines but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be part of your travel schedule. Not only is a visit to Ongpin guaranteed to be delightful in more ways than one, it also won’t cost you much because prices in Ongpin are more affordable than what you’d find in other cities like Makati or even Quezon City.
Ongpin is also mainly a residential town so it’s easier to tour the place rather than other cities, which would require you to take on huge buses and six-wheeler trucks just to cross the street.
Because Ongpin is not that big a town, the streets are mostly narrow, winding and filled with people. If you’re planning to drive your own car to Ongpin, you might be forced then to park somewhere and walk for the rest of the time you’ll be spending in Binondo. But that’s not really much of a punishment – except for your feet, if you’re wearing high heels! – because a lot of people really prefer to wander around Ongpin by foot.
Food Shopping
Fruits – Almost all kinds of fruits are sold in the streets of Ongpin and if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you could try out some of the exotic fruits being offered by street vendors such as the mangosteen or the huge apple-mango. Highly popular with the Filipino Chinese residents of Ongpin are rambutan, longgans, lanzones and chicos. When you get to Ongpin, be sure that you do try all those fruits and more since one can never get fat with fruits, anyway.
Delicacies – When you get to Ongpin, do be sure that you’ll be able to make a pit stop at any of the Chinese food stores of Ongpin. One of the most popular stores of this type is Eng Bee Tin. There, you’ll be able to find all sorts of Chinese delicacies that people back home would surely be delighted with.
Main Dishes – Tired after walking nonstop for an hour or so? If that’s the case, we suggest that you try relaxing your feet on any of the restaurants located in Ongpin. Try out popular Chinese dishes and the exotic ones as well so your trip to Ongpin will be truly memorable.
