Cherished Travel

Anilao Batangas Scuba Diving Sites

Posted on June 6th, 2011 by Temujin.
Categories: My Philippines, Batangas.

If you like scuba diving, there are dive sites just two and a half hours south of Metro Manila.

How to Get There

To get there just take a bus going Batangas City. Afterward, you will take a jeepney at P. Burgos Street going to Mabini. And then you will take another jeepney going to Anilao. If you have transportation, you just follow the same route.

Accommodations

Accommodation is not a problem because there are several resorts located in the area.

1. Maharlika Resort
2. Aquaventure Resort
3. Eagle Point Resort
4. Arthur’s Place
5. Outrigger Resort

Diving Rates

Starts at 1,500 Php. You will get discounts if you are among a large group.

Dive Sites

There are many dive locations to choose from. Depth starts at 5 feet up to 100 feet. Famous dive spots are the Cathedral, Twin Rocks, and Sombrero Island to name a few.

Photo Owner: Ciel Palacio (C) 2011

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Sinulog on Cebu Island

Posted on January 13th, 2011 by Temujin.
Categories: My Philippines, Cebu.

There is a big event coming in Cebu this Sunday. Sinulog 2011 will happen.

Sinulog is an annual event held every third Sunday of January in honor of the Child Jesus. The event is celebrated with a grand parade of people wearing a variety of colorful costumes dancing to the beat of drums and gongs and the music of trumpets.

If you are a photographer, this event will be a treat for you.

Aside from people dancing, there will also be floats of various designs. They will be paraded similar to the Parade of Roses in the US. There is also a fluvial parade the day before the grand event.

The Sinulog Mar Di Gras is of course comprised of the real and authentic beauties in Cebu. And the culmination of the Miss Cebu ceremonies.

A very exciting event. You need to be there.

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Star City’s Winter Funland

Posted on December 17th, 2010 by Temujin.
Categories: My Philippines, Manila.

There are only two kinds of seasons in the Philippines. The dry season or summer and the wet season or rainy days.

If you are one of the locals and you have never experienced winter season, there is a winter theme park located in Pasay. You can visit Star City’s Winter Funland.

The temperature inside is minus 18 degrees Celcius. It is colder than Alaska which only at minus 7 degrees Celcius.

Entrance Fee is 180 Php including the Star City entrance fee. Inside you will be toured by their winter mascot. You can play with real snow, throw snowballs at your friends. You can ride a sled on the Giant Ice Slide. And you can also view sculptures made from ice.

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Christmas in Bethlehem

Posted on December 4th, 2010 by Temujin.
Categories: Middle East.

In western countries and predominantly Christians country like the Philippines, Christmas is celebrated on December 25. But in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, Christmas is celebrated three times.

Catholics and Protestants celebrate it on December 25. Greeks, Syrians and other Orthodox Christians celebrates it every January 6. And then the Armenian Christians celebrates it every January 18.

This discrepancy in the accepted day and month of birth could not be avoided because the Bible itself does not state the exact date when Jesus was born. That is also because the Calendar system we follow today was not created until the year 525 A.D. And it was generally accepted only in the year 800 A.D.

The Christmas celebration is always marked by a parade that passes through Manger Square and ends in the Church of the Nativity. The Church of the Nativity is the accepted place were Jesus Christ is said to have been born.

Photo Owner : Holiday Decorations Direct

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What is Wrong with Pilipinas Kay Ganda Slogan

Posted on November 17th, 2010 by Temujin.
Categories: My Philippines.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is trying to unveil a new slogan for the country’s tourism campaign. From the previous slogan, Wow Philippines, they will be replacing it with ‘Pilipinas kay Ganda’.

When I first heard this slogan my first reaction was to laugh. And then as it began to sink in I got depressed. Whoever thought of this slogan need to be shot by firing squad.

What is wrong with Pilipinas kay Ganda slogan?

For one, it is uses the local language so foreigners would not have a clue what it means. This is okay if the focus is now to put more emphasis on local tourism. But I think that is not really what the DOT really wants to do. You would always want a balance between foreign and local tourism.

Second, it sounds similar to local television shows. ABSCBN have several shows whose names are similar to this: Pilipinas Win na Win, Umagang Kay Ganda, Pilipinas Got Talent to name a few. I am also reminded of former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza’s morning show at GMA7 – Maynila. Whenever the show would end, Lito Atienza would recite his famous line, “Maynila kay Ganda, Atin Sya”. But in this case you say - “Pilipinas kay Ganda, Atin Sya”.

It also kind of reminds you of some popular personalities. You have a Gandang Ricky Reyes by the famous hair dresser. And then you have a comedian named Vice Ganda.

Secretary Alberto Lim is saying this slogan was widely researched and studied. Infact, it took them four months to come up with it. Words are just words but there are certain words that if you put together they make a certain impact. They sound classy, cool, and easy to remember. This one sounds lame. It is something that someone can come up in passing. Four months to come up with this slogan? You got to be kidding me.

And then we come to the official logo. Below you will read a brief explanation regarding the word Kay Ganda. It explains that it is an adjective that means So Beautiful. I mean where in the world would someone create a logo that includes an explanation? If you have to put an explanation as part of your logo then you are already lost. That is just weird and funny.

Finally, a lot of money have already been spent to promote Wow Philippines, which I think is the best slogan that DOT have come up with. People already remember it. Starting over would waste all the promotions done before. I think in this case the government should concentrate more in improving the facilities and making sure that our tourist attractions are clean rather than spending hundreds of millions of pesos to fix something that is not broken.

I am sure this is not the only rant you will read as long as they are trying to push Pilipinas kay Ganda slogan. People are so worked up by this issue because they care about promoting the Philippines as a major tourist destination. And you want to do it in a way that has impact and class. Having someone come up with a slogan that is just flat and lifeless undermines all the efforts of the people who care.

This campaign was planned for four months? Then why do BeautifulPilipinas.com has a similar website that promotes porn?

Please DOT, we can come up with something better than this.

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