Thursday, July 16, 2009
Utzurrum: Suroy Suroy goes westward
Chinggay V. Utzurrum
The scene
THIS time, the very successful Suroy Suroy Sugbo series stretched to Cebu’s Midwest, which is composed of six municipalities and one city. On a sunny June morning, June 12, Independence Day to be exact, four buses took the picturesque route, via Carcar.
Aloguinsan was the first stop, and amazing was the welcome accorded Gov. Gwen Garcia, who entered the vast seascape via a batel. Then the dancers performed under the scorching sun but enjoyed every bit of it, seeing how the visitors applauded!
For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter
Hectic was the itinerary, as barely had we “seen” Aloguinsan than we were whisked to Pinamungajan where the entertainment took place at Hidden Valley Resort in Lamac.
Perched atop a hilly terrain, the guests had to exercise their limbs to climb to the top. It was the fiesta in Toledo City and what better way to celebrate than to present a mini-Sinulog at the populated city plaza, where city mayor Arlene Zambo welcomed one and all.
It was a super-rainy evening when we touched Balamban and regretted we missed the fabulous dinner prepared by the town officials, headed by First Lady, Rosie Binghay. But we did get to tour the impressive Tsuneishi shipping facilities, of the Japanese-Filipino tandem the next day.
Asturias spread out the red carpet via a trek to Lake Buswang, the pride of the town. A colorful boathouse held a sumptuous buffet, with a carabao show for all to see!
The town of Tuburan got its name from the prevalent springs, which abound, creating a cool ambience. With this backdrop, the local maidens performed a number. We were pleasantly surprised to meet Val Sandiego in Barangay Maravilla of Tabuelan.
Here we were led to a quaint summerhouse, from where we watched the Sandagat – Santo Niño Sa Dagat festival, featuring dancers on a floating stage!
Our final night was spent at the town plaza, where the Sandiegos once more, regaled us with an after dinner extravaganza! Wow!
DOT uses adventure reality shows to promote eco-tourism destinations
By Nancy R. Cudis
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) is on the lookout for potential sites of international reality adventure shows.
The DOT plans to present these areas to producers of international reality adventure shows. Show producers want areas that are far from urban zones or cities but still have the facilities to accommodate a 200-member production crew.
For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter
Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano admitted the DOT has yet to pick a new site.
He said Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur was the preferred location to shoot versions of reality TV series, Survivor.
“Caramoan is like an exclusive location for Survivor and there is no need for the local government unit to promote the island on its own,” he said.
The successful filming of the eighth season of Survivor Koh Lanta, the French version of the reality game show, in Caramoan has led other international producers to consider the Philippines a good site for adventure shows, noted Durano.
A previous season of Survivor Koh Lanta was filmed in El Nido in Palawan.
The DOT expects arrivals of tourists from Europe to increase as the French version of Survivor begins airing this month until September.
This year, the DOT is supporting five adventure reality shows with producers from Bulgaria, Israel, Turkey, Serbia and Sweden. Except for Sweden that is doing a different adventure reality show, the rest are Survivor versions that are filmed in Caramoan.
Every production lasts for about three months, during which the DOT provides transportation for the show’s crew.
Durano said media mileage, as well as the revenue potential of these shows for a local government unit (LGUs) where the filming was done, is huge. He cited Israel’s $7-
million budget for the production and use of location for the show.
Durano is urging LGUs to develop eco-tourism products, which are popular among foreign tourists.
The move to create more eco-tourism products is one of the current thrusts of the DOT.
Seven adventures in one Cagayan cave
By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
PEÑABLANCA, Cagayan, Philippines -- Despite its searing hot weather, Cagayan province is home to some of the coolest adventure destinations in the country.
With over 300 known caves (97 of which have been documented while only 37 have been explored in the past three decades) and countless river systems, this northern province is a must-go-to place for adventure and travel junkies.
Tucked away in the mountains of the unassuming town of Peñablanca, a 30-minute drive from Cagayan’s capital Tuguegarao City, is Callao Cave, one of the province’s most popular.
The cave was named after the Kallaw bird, which used to thrive in the area, but whose numbers have dwindled due to hunting.
Visitors need to climb up 187 steps up the side of the mountain before reaching the entrance of Callao Cave, but it the majestic limestone formations make it worth the effort.
A viewing deck is set up halfway up where tourists can rest and enjoy a picturesque view of the Pinacanauan River below.
Callao Cave’s seven chambers are filled with centuries old stalactites and stalagmites and it also features several magnificent domes and skylights.
The first chamber of Callao Cave known as the “Aviary Room” is home to several species of birds. In a corner right at the entrance of the first chamber is a cordoned-off site where archaeologists from the University of the Philippines discovered human remains and ancient tools dating back to the Neolithic era.
The second chamber, which is the main attraction of the “Callao Cave,” is the Divine Room which the locals have turned into a cathedral due to the natural formation of grottos on the wall and a 160-foot high natural skylight.
Wedding ceremonies can be held in the chapel but locals say that the groom must carry the bride all the way up the 187 steps into the Callao cave before the ceremony.
After the Divine Area is the “Dark Room,” which is named so because it is pitch black inside. Caretakers use incandescent bulbs to guide visitors.
Known as the “Cream Room, the fourth chamber features a large rock formation which looks like three scoops of ice-cream. On the other side of this chamber are the “Three Kings” and the “Elephant Mother and Child” formations while on the side of the ceiling are the “Wings of an Angel” and “Head of St. Joseph” formations.
The next chamber is called the “Jungle Area” since it is home to several animal-shaped rock formations like the “Hornbill,” “Maya,” “Giant Turtle,” and a rock shaped like monkey’s head hence the name “King Kong.”
The sixth room is called the “Adventurous Area” since it features another cave within the chamber. However, adventure-seekers need to make use of another entrance on the other side of the mountain to be able to access the second cave situated halfway up the ceiling.
Lastly, the seventh and last chamber of the Callao Cave is called the “Sun Room”. If tourists come early in the morning preferably between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., they will be treated to a spectacular view of the chamber as sunrays peek through a sky light on the wall.
When touring the Callao Cave for the first time, it’s advisable to request for a guide. Not only are they helpful for pointing the various limestone formations within the various chambers, they will also tell you which paths to take since muddy areas can be slippery.
Visitors are asked not to litter within the park’s premises and vandalism is strictly prohibited.
INQUIRER.net
PEÑABLANCA, Cagayan, Philippines -- Despite its searing hot weather, Cagayan province is home to some of the coolest adventure destinations in the country.
With over 300 known caves (97 of which have been documented while only 37 have been explored in the past three decades) and countless river systems, this northern province is a must-go-to place for adventure and travel junkies.
Tucked away in the mountains of the unassuming town of Peñablanca, a 30-minute drive from Cagayan’s capital Tuguegarao City, is Callao Cave, one of the province’s most popular.
The cave was named after the Kallaw bird, which used to thrive in the area, but whose numbers have dwindled due to hunting.
Visitors need to climb up 187 steps up the side of the mountain before reaching the entrance of Callao Cave, but it the majestic limestone formations make it worth the effort.
A viewing deck is set up halfway up where tourists can rest and enjoy a picturesque view of the Pinacanauan River below.
Callao Cave’s seven chambers are filled with centuries old stalactites and stalagmites and it also features several magnificent domes and skylights.
The first chamber of Callao Cave known as the “Aviary Room” is home to several species of birds. In a corner right at the entrance of the first chamber is a cordoned-off site where archaeologists from the University of the Philippines discovered human remains and ancient tools dating back to the Neolithic era.
The second chamber, which is the main attraction of the “Callao Cave,” is the Divine Room which the locals have turned into a cathedral due to the natural formation of grottos on the wall and a 160-foot high natural skylight.
Wedding ceremonies can be held in the chapel but locals say that the groom must carry the bride all the way up the 187 steps into the Callao cave before the ceremony.
After the Divine Area is the “Dark Room,” which is named so because it is pitch black inside. Caretakers use incandescent bulbs to guide visitors.
Known as the “Cream Room, the fourth chamber features a large rock formation which looks like three scoops of ice-cream. On the other side of this chamber are the “Three Kings” and the “Elephant Mother and Child” formations while on the side of the ceiling are the “Wings of an Angel” and “Head of St. Joseph” formations.
The next chamber is called the “Jungle Area” since it is home to several animal-shaped rock formations like the “Hornbill,” “Maya,” “Giant Turtle,” and a rock shaped like monkey’s head hence the name “King Kong.”
The sixth room is called the “Adventurous Area” since it features another cave within the chamber. However, adventure-seekers need to make use of another entrance on the other side of the mountain to be able to access the second cave situated halfway up the ceiling.
Lastly, the seventh and last chamber of the Callao Cave is called the “Sun Room”. If tourists come early in the morning preferably between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., they will be treated to a spectacular view of the chamber as sunrays peek through a sky light on the wall.
When touring the Callao Cave for the first time, it’s advisable to request for a guide. Not only are they helpful for pointing the various limestone formations within the various chambers, they will also tell you which paths to take since muddy areas can be slippery.
Visitors are asked not to litter within the park’s premises and vandalism is strictly prohibited.
Bohol town earns P1M a month from adventure tourism park
By Nancy R. Cudis
THERE is huge revenue potential in eco-tourism projects.
The newly inaugurated Danao Adventure Park in Danao, Bohol is proof of this. The park earns about P1 million a month since January 2009 when it started operating a zip line facility.
For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter
The Danao Adventure Park had an annual revenue target of P3 million.
“We have not earned and seen this much money before,” Danao, Bohol Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga told reporters during the park’s launch last July 9.
The P25-million Danao Adventure Park—a 60-hectare eco-tourism, adventure and education facility—is co-managed by the Municipality of Danao and several people’s organizations.
Danao, Bohol is a fourth class municipality with about 20,000 residents. It is located 72 kilometers from Tagbilaran City and 35 kilometers from Tubigon, Bohol.
The local government applied for loan from the World Bank in 2006 to develop the park. The town received a soft loan amounting to more P15 million, which was used to finance the park’s development.
The facility soft-opened in the middle of 2007, offering eco-tourism activities, such as root climbing and spelunking.
When the Office of the President donated P1 million for the establishment of a zip line facility that the park termed as “suislide,” the park’s revenues went up. For the zip
line alone, the park earned P300,000 on the first month and P1 million every month in the next four months.
The facility’s cable equipment was supplied by Minda-nao-based Asolo Cable and Wires.
Danao Adventure Park offers 15 activities, including organic farm visitation, historical tour, river kayaking, river trekking, wall climbing, river tubing, village tour, bouldering, rappelling, sky ride, camping and caving.
Most of the visitors, Gonzaga noted, are locals—mostly from Cebu.
“We want to continue targeting the domestic market because it is more reliable than the foreign market, which is vulnerable to several (incidents) like the influenza A(H1N1) virus,” he said. The park, however, received foreign tourists from Cebu.
As the park plans to come up with four new activities every year and intensify its marketing promotions, it is eyeing to be declared as an economic zone.
The park generates employment for the sedate town. It employs 60 people.
Gonzaga said the park adopts the “Danao First” policy, which means its staff and supplies come from the town to support the local economy.
Future attractions in the park include eco-lodge project, a campsite, a 1.5 kilometer zip line, and a sanctuary for Dagohoy, the legendary Boholano who led the longest revolt against the Spaniards.
The Danao Adventure Park received P600,000 from Bohol Vice Gov. Julius Herrera for the development of the eco-lodge. Rep. Edgar Chatto (Bohol, 1st district) also promised P1 million for the Dagohoy sanctuary
THERE is huge revenue potential in eco-tourism projects.
The newly inaugurated Danao Adventure Park in Danao, Bohol is proof of this. The park earns about P1 million a month since January 2009 when it started operating a zip line facility.
For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter
The Danao Adventure Park had an annual revenue target of P3 million.
“We have not earned and seen this much money before,” Danao, Bohol Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga told reporters during the park’s launch last July 9.
The P25-million Danao Adventure Park—a 60-hectare eco-tourism, adventure and education facility—is co-managed by the Municipality of Danao and several people’s organizations.
Danao, Bohol is a fourth class municipality with about 20,000 residents. It is located 72 kilometers from Tagbilaran City and 35 kilometers from Tubigon, Bohol.
The local government applied for loan from the World Bank in 2006 to develop the park. The town received a soft loan amounting to more P15 million, which was used to finance the park’s development.
The facility soft-opened in the middle of 2007, offering eco-tourism activities, such as root climbing and spelunking.
When the Office of the President donated P1 million for the establishment of a zip line facility that the park termed as “suislide,” the park’s revenues went up. For the zip
line alone, the park earned P300,000 on the first month and P1 million every month in the next four months.
The facility’s cable equipment was supplied by Minda-nao-based Asolo Cable and Wires.
Danao Adventure Park offers 15 activities, including organic farm visitation, historical tour, river kayaking, river trekking, wall climbing, river tubing, village tour, bouldering, rappelling, sky ride, camping and caving.
Most of the visitors, Gonzaga noted, are locals—mostly from Cebu.
“We want to continue targeting the domestic market because it is more reliable than the foreign market, which is vulnerable to several (incidents) like the influenza A(H1N1) virus,” he said. The park, however, received foreign tourists from Cebu.
As the park plans to come up with four new activities every year and intensify its marketing promotions, it is eyeing to be declared as an economic zone.
The park generates employment for the sedate town. It employs 60 people.
Gonzaga said the park adopts the “Danao First” policy, which means its staff and supplies come from the town to support the local economy.
Future attractions in the park include eco-lodge project, a campsite, a 1.5 kilometer zip line, and a sanctuary for Dagohoy, the legendary Boholano who led the longest revolt against the Spaniards.
The Danao Adventure Park received P600,000 from Bohol Vice Gov. Julius Herrera for the development of the eco-lodge. Rep. Edgar Chatto (Bohol, 1st district) also promised P1 million for the Dagohoy sanctuary
Utzurrum: Suroy Suroy goes westward
Chinggay V. Utzurrum
The scene
THIS time, the very successful Suroy Suroy Sugbo series stretched to Cebu’s Midwest, which is composed of six municipalities and one city. On a sunny June morning, June 12, Independence Day to be exact, four buses took the picturesque route, via Carcar.
Aloguinsan was the first stop, and amazing was the welcome accorded Gov. Gwen Garcia, who entered the vast seascape via a batel. Then the dancers performed under the scorching sun but enjoyed every bit of it, seeing how the visitors applauded!
For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter
Hectic was the itinerary, as barely had we “seen” Aloguinsan than we were whisked to Pinamungajan where the entertainment took place at Hidden Valley Resort in Lamac.
Perched atop a hilly terrain, the guests had to exercise their limbs to climb to the top. It was the fiesta in Toledo City and what better way to celebrate than to present a mini-Sinulog at the populated city plaza, where city mayor Arlene Zambo welcomed one and all.
It was a super-rainy evening when we touched Balamban and regretted we missed the fabulous dinner prepared by the town officials, headed by First Lady, Rosie Binghay. But we did get to tour the impressive Tsuneishi shipping facilities, of the Japanese-Filipino tandem the next day.
Asturias spread out the red carpet via a trek to Lake Buswang, the pride of the town. A colorful boathouse held a sumptuous buffet, with a carabao show for all to see!
The town of Tuburan got its name from the prevalent springs, which abound, creating a cool ambience. With this backdrop, the local maidens performed a number. We were pleasantly surprised to meet Val Sandiego in Barangay Maravilla of Tabuelan.
Here we were led to a quaint summerhouse, from where we watched the Sandagat – Santo Niño Sa Dagat festival, featuring dancers on a floating stage!
Our final night was spent at the town plaza, where the Sandiegos once more, regaled us with an after dinner extravaganza! Wow!
The scene
THIS time, the very successful Suroy Suroy Sugbo series stretched to Cebu’s Midwest, which is composed of six municipalities and one city. On a sunny June morning, June 12, Independence Day to be exact, four buses took the picturesque route, via Carcar.
Aloguinsan was the first stop, and amazing was the welcome accorded Gov. Gwen Garcia, who entered the vast seascape via a batel. Then the dancers performed under the scorching sun but enjoyed every bit of it, seeing how the visitors applauded!
For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter
Hectic was the itinerary, as barely had we “seen” Aloguinsan than we were whisked to Pinamungajan where the entertainment took place at Hidden Valley Resort in Lamac.
Perched atop a hilly terrain, the guests had to exercise their limbs to climb to the top. It was the fiesta in Toledo City and what better way to celebrate than to present a mini-Sinulog at the populated city plaza, where city mayor Arlene Zambo welcomed one and all.
It was a super-rainy evening when we touched Balamban and regretted we missed the fabulous dinner prepared by the town officials, headed by First Lady, Rosie Binghay. But we did get to tour the impressive Tsuneishi shipping facilities, of the Japanese-Filipino tandem the next day.
Asturias spread out the red carpet via a trek to Lake Buswang, the pride of the town. A colorful boathouse held a sumptuous buffet, with a carabao show for all to see!
The town of Tuburan got its name from the prevalent springs, which abound, creating a cool ambience. With this backdrop, the local maidens performed a number. We were pleasantly surprised to meet Val Sandiego in Barangay Maravilla of Tabuelan.
Here we were led to a quaint summerhouse, from where we watched the Sandagat – Santo Niño Sa Dagat festival, featuring dancers on a floating stage!
Our final night was spent at the town plaza, where the Sandiegos once more, regaled us with an after dinner extravaganza! Wow!
Caramoan lures more ‘castaways’ from Israel
By Volt Contreras
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—A piece of paradise in Bicolandia continues to draw an international cast of castaways.
Like the French and the Bulgarians before them, Israelis have shot their own version of the popular reality TV show “Survivor” on the Caramoan peninsula in Camarines Sur, opening this tropical Eden to a larger global audience and tourism market.
“For Israelis, it’s a view they won’t see anywhere else,” said Guy Hameiri, CEO of the production outfit Reif Hameiri, in an interview last month at the company offices in Tel Aviv.
“We were overwhelmed when we saw the location, and I’m sure it will be very tempting for our audience to go see it themselves,” Hameiri said.
Show producer Gregory Bekerman observed that “the Philippines has a certain kind of green that I haven’t seen anywhere [else].”
He said he would return to the Philippines in September to scout for another site for future “Survivor” seasons.
“It’s paradise” captured through 22 cameras and some 3,000 hours of raw footage, Bekerman said.
The challenge now is to squeeze those amazing shots into 40 hour-long episodes.
A popular TV reality game show produced in many countries, “Survivor” isolates its contestants in the wilderness to compete for cash and prizes. They are divided into tribes and they vote off other contestants until only one is left.
$7 million
The two production executives updated Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano and a number of Manila-based journalists on the project during Durano’s official trip to Israel late last month.
A dramatic, minute-long teaser of the Caramoan episodes featuring sweeping aerial shots of beaches, cliffs and lush forest hills, with cutaways to local wildlife and colorful flora, was shown during the briefing.
The Israeli production, which Hameiri said cost some $7 million, conducted the Caramoan shoot from March to April.
It brought from Israel 20 contestants and a crew of around 120, and hired some 300 Filipino support personnel (about 80 from Manila and the rest from Camarines Sur).
The show—the third Israeli season of “Survivor”—will premiere in Israel in October.
The first two, which were shot in the Dominican Republic and Panama, had between 700,000 and 1 million viewers, covering a 40-percent share of the TV audience, Hameiri said.
But unlike the first two seasons where the shows’ title cited only the name of an island or region (“Survivor Caribbean” for the Dominican Republic shoot and “Survivor Pearl Island” for Panama), the Caramoan episodes will recognize the host country itself.
‘Very big thing’
“This season will be called ‘Survivor Philippines,’ so there is no question where it was shot,” Bekerman said.
He said it was the first time the show would be named after the host country “because, as we said, the place is so unique and it was a very big adventure to go there.”
“So it must be a very big thing for you,” Bekerman said, turning to Durano during the meeting arranged by Philippine Ambassador to Israel Petronila Garcia.
The French were the first to “discover” Caramoan as an ideal “Survivor” locale early in 2008. They closed Gota Beach to the public for weeks under the guise of what the provincial government then called “massive developments” at the local resort.
Though officially a secret, the French project nevertheless started a buzz that would eventually boost Caramoan’s reputation as the “next Boracay.”
In May, the Bulgarians also started shooting their edition of “Survivor” there.
Unique balance
Bekerman offered an explanation why Caramoan seemed to have become a favorite:
“On one hand, [a ‘Survivor’ location] has to be isolated from tourists, from local villages. But on the other hand, it must have the facilities to accommodate all the [production] people.
“This balance is quite unique [in Caramoan].”
And apart from the breathtaking scenery, Bekerman said, “we were amazed by the generosity of the people—very professional yet always smiling, and thinking how things can be better done.”
The local hires included residents of nearby villages, including women who helped build the various structures needed on the set as well as maintain the lodgings for the Israeli crew.
“I also personally liked [the local dishes] laing and another that had green papaya in it,” Bekerman said, smiling.
Until he came to the Philippines, Bekerman thought of it as just the homeland of the foreign workers in Israel.
“The whole experience turned out to be a pleasant surprise,” he said. “When I first came to your beautiful country [to scout for locations, I discovered that] the farther you go from Manila, the more welcoming the people are.”
Tour packages
Secretary Durano said Caramoan’s debut on Israeli television in October should put the Philippines back among the top leisure destinations for Israeli tourists.
“We in the Department of Tourism will support this [exposure] by facilitating tour packages with our partners in and outside the Philippines and other promotional events on the ground, as what we’ve done after [the French shoot],” he said.
Before the Reif Hameiri briefing, Durano met with Israeli tour and aviation executives at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, where he was told that some 100 Israeli teachers would be arriving in Manila for a congress later this year.
The embassy has since begun sending promotional materials to the teachers, according to Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque.
When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—A piece of paradise in Bicolandia continues to draw an international cast of castaways.
Like the French and the Bulgarians before them, Israelis have shot their own version of the popular reality TV show “Survivor” on the Caramoan peninsula in Camarines Sur, opening this tropical Eden to a larger global audience and tourism market.
“For Israelis, it’s a view they won’t see anywhere else,” said Guy Hameiri, CEO of the production outfit Reif Hameiri, in an interview last month at the company offices in Tel Aviv.
“We were overwhelmed when we saw the location, and I’m sure it will be very tempting for our audience to go see it themselves,” Hameiri said.
Show producer Gregory Bekerman observed that “the Philippines has a certain kind of green that I haven’t seen anywhere [else].”
He said he would return to the Philippines in September to scout for another site for future “Survivor” seasons.
“It’s paradise” captured through 22 cameras and some 3,000 hours of raw footage, Bekerman said.
The challenge now is to squeeze those amazing shots into 40 hour-long episodes.
A popular TV reality game show produced in many countries, “Survivor” isolates its contestants in the wilderness to compete for cash and prizes. They are divided into tribes and they vote off other contestants until only one is left.
$7 million
The two production executives updated Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano and a number of Manila-based journalists on the project during Durano’s official trip to Israel late last month.
A dramatic, minute-long teaser of the Caramoan episodes featuring sweeping aerial shots of beaches, cliffs and lush forest hills, with cutaways to local wildlife and colorful flora, was shown during the briefing.
The Israeli production, which Hameiri said cost some $7 million, conducted the Caramoan shoot from March to April.
It brought from Israel 20 contestants and a crew of around 120, and hired some 300 Filipino support personnel (about 80 from Manila and the rest from Camarines Sur).
The show—the third Israeli season of “Survivor”—will premiere in Israel in October.
The first two, which were shot in the Dominican Republic and Panama, had between 700,000 and 1 million viewers, covering a 40-percent share of the TV audience, Hameiri said.
But unlike the first two seasons where the shows’ title cited only the name of an island or region (“Survivor Caribbean” for the Dominican Republic shoot and “Survivor Pearl Island” for Panama), the Caramoan episodes will recognize the host country itself.
‘Very big thing’
“This season will be called ‘Survivor Philippines,’ so there is no question where it was shot,” Bekerman said.
He said it was the first time the show would be named after the host country “because, as we said, the place is so unique and it was a very big adventure to go there.”
“So it must be a very big thing for you,” Bekerman said, turning to Durano during the meeting arranged by Philippine Ambassador to Israel Petronila Garcia.
The French were the first to “discover” Caramoan as an ideal “Survivor” locale early in 2008. They closed Gota Beach to the public for weeks under the guise of what the provincial government then called “massive developments” at the local resort.
Though officially a secret, the French project nevertheless started a buzz that would eventually boost Caramoan’s reputation as the “next Boracay.”
In May, the Bulgarians also started shooting their edition of “Survivor” there.
Unique balance
Bekerman offered an explanation why Caramoan seemed to have become a favorite:
“On one hand, [a ‘Survivor’ location] has to be isolated from tourists, from local villages. But on the other hand, it must have the facilities to accommodate all the [production] people.
“This balance is quite unique [in Caramoan].”
And apart from the breathtaking scenery, Bekerman said, “we were amazed by the generosity of the people—very professional yet always smiling, and thinking how things can be better done.”
The local hires included residents of nearby villages, including women who helped build the various structures needed on the set as well as maintain the lodgings for the Israeli crew.
“I also personally liked [the local dishes] laing and another that had green papaya in it,” Bekerman said, smiling.
Until he came to the Philippines, Bekerman thought of it as just the homeland of the foreign workers in Israel.
“The whole experience turned out to be a pleasant surprise,” he said. “When I first came to your beautiful country [to scout for locations, I discovered that] the farther you go from Manila, the more welcoming the people are.”
Tour packages
Secretary Durano said Caramoan’s debut on Israeli television in October should put the Philippines back among the top leisure destinations for Israeli tourists.
“We in the Department of Tourism will support this [exposure] by facilitating tour packages with our partners in and outside the Philippines and other promotional events on the ground, as what we’ve done after [the French shoot],” he said.
Before the Reif Hameiri briefing, Durano met with Israeli tour and aviation executives at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, where he was told that some 100 Israeli teachers would be arriving in Manila for a congress later this year.
The embassy has since begun sending promotional materials to the teachers, according to Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque.
When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
Green town called Bansalan
By Henrylito D. Tacio
SOME few years back, friends of Leila Rispens-Noel wanted to visit her hometown. But they had difficulty in finding the town on the Philippine map. "I have to describe to my friends where the town is geographically located and assured them not to worry because one day Bansalan will be placed on the map of the Philippines," said the native of Bansalan, Davao del Sur who left for the Netherlands in 1979.
Bansalan is a small town, with a total land area of only 20,770 hectares. It is subdivided into 25 barangays and is the boundary between the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur. It is about 72 kilometers south of Davao City and is very accessible by land transportation. The town is sandwiched by two cities: Kidapawan and Digos.
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"This is probably the reason why progress in my former town is so slow," wrote Rispens-Noel in her column, "Roundtrip: Bansalan-Holland." "Vehicles do not linger long in Bansalan. Passengers from North Cotabato are eager to reach Digos or Davao City, while passengers bound for North Cotabato are rearing to reach Kidapawan City and further to Cotabato City. It has never been a place where passengers stay longer for one reason or the other. Business activities remain in the hands of the local enterprising people. And so the town remains largely rural and agricultural and still waiting for a miracle for the local economy to pick up."
There are always two sides of a coin. In a way, being a laggard in development can also be a blessing in disguise. As a matter of fact, Bansalan has been touted as a "green town" for being "environment-friendly."
For one, it is the birthplace of the internationally known Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (Salt). "The system is simple, low-cost, and timely method of tilling the fragile uplands, which comprise about 60 percent of the country's total land area," explained Roy C. Alimoane, the current director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc.
The MBRLC is located in barangay Kinuskusan, just 10 kilometers away from the town proper. Actually, it's a training center for various sustainable farming systems. Considered the "Disneyland of agricultural lovers," people from all over the country travel to this place just to learn the modern technologies it offers.
At MBRLC, you can learn how to make Faith (Food Always In The Home) garden and to sustain your farm by adopting the Salt system and its three other modifications: Simple Agro-Livestock Technology (Salt 2), Sustainable Agroforest Land Technology (Salt 3), and Small Agro-Livelihood Technology (Salt 4).
You can also learn how to milk dairy goats, harvest tilapia, and graft fruit trees, among others.
For developing these technologies, the Department of Science and Technology awarded the center "in the area of agricultural production" in 1987. In 1991, the regional office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognized MBRLC with a World Food Day Silver Medal for its contribution in "mobilizing people's participation in tree planting and sustainable forest resources management." Earlier, in 1985, its former director, Harold R. Watson, was given the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding for promoting the technologies in various parts of Asia.
The center houses its affiliate, the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation (ARLDF). "Our main purpose is to help develop and uplift the standard of living of the poorest of the poor in Asia," explains Alimoane, of the foundation which was launched in 1988.
A few distance walk from MBRLC is the Mount Carmel International Convention Center. Every year, thousands of students from nearby provinces flock to this convention center for any of the following activities: camping, learning, wedding, and parties. "The place is quiet, far from the madding crowd, and is conducive to learning," said Tito Felongco, the center's manager.
Just near these sites is the Lao Integrated Farm in adjacent barangay of Eman. If you love durian (described by a Westerner as a fruit that "smells like hell but tastes like heaven"), then you should not miss visiting this place. It is owned by Attorney Benjamin Lao, who planted 700 durians in his five-hectare farm. Other fruits you can find in the farm include mangosteen, rambutan, and lanzones. He also raises goats (purebred and upgraded). His fruits are grown organically as he uses goat manure as fertilizer for his fruit trees.
Another place to visit in Bansalan is the training center of Salinta Monon, the last Bagobo weaver. In 1998, she was named one of the two Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees by the National Commission for Culture and Arts. Her citation reads: "For weaving traditional Bagobo textiles marked by quality workmanship and intricacies of designs and colors of her particular Bagobo community whose unique identity and creativity she has kept alive for the present and succeeding generations."
Other areas to visit while in Bansalan are the Mainit Hot Springs in barangay Managa, Balutakay (where vegetables like cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, and onions are grown), and Tinago and Angel Falls (which can be visited while on the way to Balutakay).
Every September, the town also celebrates its Bansaulog. A week-long celebration is observed and it culminates with street dancing. Participants come from various schools, both elementary and high school.
The good thing about Bansalan is that its new mayor, Edwin G. Reyes, is very supportive of the plan of making the town as a tourist destination. In fact, he has just appointed a tourism official and created a tourism council. "We have the potential of being one of the tourist destinations in the country," he said.
SOME few years back, friends of Leila Rispens-Noel wanted to visit her hometown. But they had difficulty in finding the town on the Philippine map. "I have to describe to my friends where the town is geographically located and assured them not to worry because one day Bansalan will be placed on the map of the Philippines," said the native of Bansalan, Davao del Sur who left for the Netherlands in 1979.
Bansalan is a small town, with a total land area of only 20,770 hectares. It is subdivided into 25 barangays and is the boundary between the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur. It is about 72 kilometers south of Davao City and is very accessible by land transportation. The town is sandwiched by two cities: Kidapawan and Digos.
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"This is probably the reason why progress in my former town is so slow," wrote Rispens-Noel in her column, "Roundtrip: Bansalan-Holland." "Vehicles do not linger long in Bansalan. Passengers from North Cotabato are eager to reach Digos or Davao City, while passengers bound for North Cotabato are rearing to reach Kidapawan City and further to Cotabato City. It has never been a place where passengers stay longer for one reason or the other. Business activities remain in the hands of the local enterprising people. And so the town remains largely rural and agricultural and still waiting for a miracle for the local economy to pick up."
There are always two sides of a coin. In a way, being a laggard in development can also be a blessing in disguise. As a matter of fact, Bansalan has been touted as a "green town" for being "environment-friendly."
For one, it is the birthplace of the internationally known Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (Salt). "The system is simple, low-cost, and timely method of tilling the fragile uplands, which comprise about 60 percent of the country's total land area," explained Roy C. Alimoane, the current director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc.
The MBRLC is located in barangay Kinuskusan, just 10 kilometers away from the town proper. Actually, it's a training center for various sustainable farming systems. Considered the "Disneyland of agricultural lovers," people from all over the country travel to this place just to learn the modern technologies it offers.
At MBRLC, you can learn how to make Faith (Food Always In The Home) garden and to sustain your farm by adopting the Salt system and its three other modifications: Simple Agro-Livestock Technology (Salt 2), Sustainable Agroforest Land Technology (Salt 3), and Small Agro-Livelihood Technology (Salt 4).
You can also learn how to milk dairy goats, harvest tilapia, and graft fruit trees, among others.
For developing these technologies, the Department of Science and Technology awarded the center "in the area of agricultural production" in 1987. In 1991, the regional office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognized MBRLC with a World Food Day Silver Medal for its contribution in "mobilizing people's participation in tree planting and sustainable forest resources management." Earlier, in 1985, its former director, Harold R. Watson, was given the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding for promoting the technologies in various parts of Asia.
The center houses its affiliate, the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation (ARLDF). "Our main purpose is to help develop and uplift the standard of living of the poorest of the poor in Asia," explains Alimoane, of the foundation which was launched in 1988.
A few distance walk from MBRLC is the Mount Carmel International Convention Center. Every year, thousands of students from nearby provinces flock to this convention center for any of the following activities: camping, learning, wedding, and parties. "The place is quiet, far from the madding crowd, and is conducive to learning," said Tito Felongco, the center's manager.
Just near these sites is the Lao Integrated Farm in adjacent barangay of Eman. If you love durian (described by a Westerner as a fruit that "smells like hell but tastes like heaven"), then you should not miss visiting this place. It is owned by Attorney Benjamin Lao, who planted 700 durians in his five-hectare farm. Other fruits you can find in the farm include mangosteen, rambutan, and lanzones. He also raises goats (purebred and upgraded). His fruits are grown organically as he uses goat manure as fertilizer for his fruit trees.
Another place to visit in Bansalan is the training center of Salinta Monon, the last Bagobo weaver. In 1998, she was named one of the two Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees by the National Commission for Culture and Arts. Her citation reads: "For weaving traditional Bagobo textiles marked by quality workmanship and intricacies of designs and colors of her particular Bagobo community whose unique identity and creativity she has kept alive for the present and succeeding generations."
Other areas to visit while in Bansalan are the Mainit Hot Springs in barangay Managa, Balutakay (where vegetables like cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, and onions are grown), and Tinago and Angel Falls (which can be visited while on the way to Balutakay).
Every September, the town also celebrates its Bansaulog. A week-long celebration is observed and it culminates with street dancing. Participants come from various schools, both elementary and high school.
The good thing about Bansalan is that its new mayor, Edwin G. Reyes, is very supportive of the plan of making the town as a tourist destination. In fact, he has just appointed a tourism official and created a tourism council. "We have the potential of being one of the tourist destinations in the country," he said.
Building a Balangay
By Juan V. Sarmiento Jr
Philippine Daily Inquirer
HOW DO you build a replica of a precolonial boat called The Balangay?
“Kaya ng Pinoy,” a group that wants to use a balangay to trace the migration route of the ancestors of Filipinos, enlisted the help of the National Museum and carpenters from Tawi-Tawi to build a copy of the ancient boat. The carpenters consisted of Sama Dilaut from Sitangkai, known for making lepa (houseboats) and for using dowels, and of Sama Daleya from Sibutu, famous for making kumpit, interisland boats for trading.
It took the Sama team and Rey Santiago of the National Museum’s archeology division more than a week to thresh out differences on the type of wood to be used, dimension of the new balangay and certain building techniques before actual work could start.
The result was not an exact copy of the ancient boat but one that incorporated the design and construction methods of both the Sama and the builders of the old balangay. As in the precolonial boat excavated in Butuan in 1978, the new one used the hull-first construction method, a practice still retained by the Sama. No nails were employed, just dowels, natural resin and string to hold the boat together.
The Sama carpenters spent 44 days until June 1 building the boat at the harbor side of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay.
The step-by-step process documented here was based on interviews with Jubail S. Muyong, a Sama Daleya and head of the extension classes of the Mindanao State University in Sibutu. The names of the tools and parts of the boat were based on interviews with Hadji Musa S. Malabong, a Sama Dilaut and a retired district supervisor, and Muyong. Santiago was also consulted for the building process.
1. Prepare wood materials.
• Set the length, width and thickness of the keel before harvesting trees. The keel’s length determines the boat’s dimension. (The trees -- lupanga, ubi-ubi, pisang-pisang and karuing -- were harvested in Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi.)
• Make bow and stern posts, the sizes of which depend on the number of planks needed.
• Prepare the planks. The thickness and length depend on the availability of wood. Note: These steps are done in the forest.
• Prepare ribs and rib extensions.
• Gather mata-mata or lingayan wood for dowels.
• Air dry the pieces of wood under a tree or shade by the beach for a couple of months so the wood won’t crack or warp.
2. Construct the shell.
• When properly dried, clean (planing) the keel, bow and stern posts, and planks. Make lugs.
• Lay the keel and lock it (a piece of wood was added to make the keel longer.)
• Fit the bow and stern posts, and connect to the keel.
• Fit the first plank.
Before doing so, it has to be twisted. This involves heating. For this project, a kerosene blow torch was used. In Tawi-Tawi, dried coconut leaves are used. Use sipat (a line marker) and sigu (a marking gauge) when fitting parts and making marks on the keel and first planks for dowels. Then use sasagan (also a marking gauge) for all intersections (same thickness and distance for the keel and the first planks). Drill holes for the dowels, which are planted on the keel.
3. Mount the frame.
• When the fifth planks are in place, fashion lugs and install the ribs. Use a string to tie the ribs to the lugs so the planks are tightened and not disturbed by carpenters walking on them.
• After the ribs are tied to the lugs, install the planks up to the last one.
• When done, place the rib extensions, and tie them to their respective lugs. Note: Do the tying when all the planks from the sixth to the last are in place. Every plank should have been fitted and must have dowels.
• Fit in the beams (bingkay). Then place the keelson to strengthen the keel.
• Install thwarts. Bore a hole in the bow’s thwart and in the keelson where a mast will be placed.
• Place splash boards.
4. Install utility structures.
• Prepare frames and install the floor at the stern and bow. Also prepare frames for the bamboo floor.
• Caulk the seams. Insert string in gaps and apply gaga (melted resin).
• Build a roof to be covered with nipa.
• Plane the planks for finishing touches.
• Make papag (slatted bamboo beds) and place them under the roof.
• Install pangengkutan lubid (Sibutu) or kalat (Sitangkai) where ropes are tied.
• Install pamatan naan haron (gangplank “holder”) at the bow and stern.
• Install bamboo footbridges between thwarts.
Note: The steps in No. 4 are not necessarily in order. The installation from the keel to the beams and splash boards must be in order.
‘The boat is buoyant, stable’
The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (Soname) has conducted hydrostatic calculations and found that the new balangay has a water line of 0.46 meter (18 inches) and displacement of 6.56 tons, with fuel, supplies and a crew of 12 to 18 people.
Edward Cruz, head of Soname’s technical committee, says ‘‘the boat is buoyant, stable and can easily cross islands’’ in the country.
The Sama boat-builders
Sitangkai group:
Hadji Musa Malabong (overall head), Benjamin Hawari, Hadji Abidin
Barihati and Teguay Mommuh (nakura tukang [master carpenters]), Zandro Malabong, Apdali Tanjung and Edie Karani (assistant tukang).
Sibutu group:
Jubail Muyong (group head), Ibrahim Abdulla (nakura tukang),
Madnur Usman (tukang) and Torsina Usman (cook)
Philippine Daily Inquirer
HOW DO you build a replica of a precolonial boat called The Balangay?
“Kaya ng Pinoy,” a group that wants to use a balangay to trace the migration route of the ancestors of Filipinos, enlisted the help of the National Museum and carpenters from Tawi-Tawi to build a copy of the ancient boat. The carpenters consisted of Sama Dilaut from Sitangkai, known for making lepa (houseboats) and for using dowels, and of Sama Daleya from Sibutu, famous for making kumpit, interisland boats for trading.
It took the Sama team and Rey Santiago of the National Museum’s archeology division more than a week to thresh out differences on the type of wood to be used, dimension of the new balangay and certain building techniques before actual work could start.
The result was not an exact copy of the ancient boat but one that incorporated the design and construction methods of both the Sama and the builders of the old balangay. As in the precolonial boat excavated in Butuan in 1978, the new one used the hull-first construction method, a practice still retained by the Sama. No nails were employed, just dowels, natural resin and string to hold the boat together.
The Sama carpenters spent 44 days until June 1 building the boat at the harbor side of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay.
The step-by-step process documented here was based on interviews with Jubail S. Muyong, a Sama Daleya and head of the extension classes of the Mindanao State University in Sibutu. The names of the tools and parts of the boat were based on interviews with Hadji Musa S. Malabong, a Sama Dilaut and a retired district supervisor, and Muyong. Santiago was also consulted for the building process.
1. Prepare wood materials.
• Set the length, width and thickness of the keel before harvesting trees. The keel’s length determines the boat’s dimension. (The trees -- lupanga, ubi-ubi, pisang-pisang and karuing -- were harvested in Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi.)
• Make bow and stern posts, the sizes of which depend on the number of planks needed.
• Prepare the planks. The thickness and length depend on the availability of wood. Note: These steps are done in the forest.
• Prepare ribs and rib extensions.
• Gather mata-mata or lingayan wood for dowels.
• Air dry the pieces of wood under a tree or shade by the beach for a couple of months so the wood won’t crack or warp.
2. Construct the shell.
• When properly dried, clean (planing) the keel, bow and stern posts, and planks. Make lugs.
• Lay the keel and lock it (a piece of wood was added to make the keel longer.)
• Fit the bow and stern posts, and connect to the keel.
• Fit the first plank.
Before doing so, it has to be twisted. This involves heating. For this project, a kerosene blow torch was used. In Tawi-Tawi, dried coconut leaves are used. Use sipat (a line marker) and sigu (a marking gauge) when fitting parts and making marks on the keel and first planks for dowels. Then use sasagan (also a marking gauge) for all intersections (same thickness and distance for the keel and the first planks). Drill holes for the dowels, which are planted on the keel.
3. Mount the frame.
• When the fifth planks are in place, fashion lugs and install the ribs. Use a string to tie the ribs to the lugs so the planks are tightened and not disturbed by carpenters walking on them.
• After the ribs are tied to the lugs, install the planks up to the last one.
• When done, place the rib extensions, and tie them to their respective lugs. Note: Do the tying when all the planks from the sixth to the last are in place. Every plank should have been fitted and must have dowels.
• Fit in the beams (bingkay). Then place the keelson to strengthen the keel.
• Install thwarts. Bore a hole in the bow’s thwart and in the keelson where a mast will be placed.
• Place splash boards.
4. Install utility structures.
• Prepare frames and install the floor at the stern and bow. Also prepare frames for the bamboo floor.
• Caulk the seams. Insert string in gaps and apply gaga (melted resin).
• Build a roof to be covered with nipa.
• Plane the planks for finishing touches.
• Make papag (slatted bamboo beds) and place them under the roof.
• Install pangengkutan lubid (Sibutu) or kalat (Sitangkai) where ropes are tied.
• Install pamatan naan haron (gangplank “holder”) at the bow and stern.
• Install bamboo footbridges between thwarts.
Note: The steps in No. 4 are not necessarily in order. The installation from the keel to the beams and splash boards must be in order.
‘The boat is buoyant, stable’
The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (Soname) has conducted hydrostatic calculations and found that the new balangay has a water line of 0.46 meter (18 inches) and displacement of 6.56 tons, with fuel, supplies and a crew of 12 to 18 people.
Edward Cruz, head of Soname’s technical committee, says ‘‘the boat is buoyant, stable and can easily cross islands’’ in the country.
The Sama boat-builders
Sitangkai group:
Hadji Musa Malabong (overall head), Benjamin Hawari, Hadji Abidin
Barihati and Teguay Mommuh (nakura tukang [master carpenters]), Zandro Malabong, Apdali Tanjung and Edie Karani (assistant tukang).
Sibutu group:
Jubail Muyong (group head), Ibrahim Abdulla (nakura tukang),
Madnur Usman (tukang) and Torsina Usman (cook)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Kawasan Falls................Badiang
Trip to the province
Bobby Nalzaro
I ARRIVED in Cebu last Monday yet after covering the four-day working visit of President Arroyo in Tokyo, Japan. But a GMA 7 company memorandum requires all employees and talents arriving from abroad to go on at least five days self-quarantine.
I tried to stay home. But I tell you, it is boring to stay home for a couple of days doing nothing. I initially planned to go to my hometown in Dipolog City but I thought I wouldn’t enjoy seeing our old house and the things my beloved Nanay Doring left behind. I might end up being emotional once I recall the days when Nanay was still alive. She passed away almost a year ago.
So I packed up my things and drove around the province to be away from the maddening crowd. My first stop was Badian. I stayed in a rest house owned by a friend. Thursday morning, I walked for almost an hour to Kawasan Falls in Barangay Matutinao.
Kawasan has several big and minor falls. The famous one is the first falls where foreigners and local tourists congregate to enjoy the cool and refreshing water. Together with my guide, we climbed the second big falls.
I am not a stranger to climbing mountains as I used to do it when I was a kid. I grew up a remote barangay in Dipolog and playing in rice fields and climbing mountains was one of our past times.
But now that I am in my 40s, things are different. I have lost my energy and vigor. I rested several times while going up. The first and the second big falls are surrounded with cottages and restaurants.
Kawasan Falls is one of the province’s tourist destinations. But I don’t understand why Badian’s local government unit (LGU) or the Province cannot develop the road leading to the falls from the highway so that light and small vehicles can go near.
Vehicles are only allowed up to an area that is still far from the falls, after that visitors have to walk for about half an hour.
Light passenger vehicles like multicabs or habal-habal should be allowed to operate in the area. But bridges that can accommodate four-wheel vehicles should be constructed. What we have there now are only foot bridges. The LGU of Badian should negotiate with the lot owners to allow access.
I learned from my guide that tourists are complaining that some tour guides and their cohorts rob visitors of their valuables. Tour guides (locally known as haulers) are also charging exorbitant fees, especially from foreigners. But robbery incidents have been reduced after local officials met with and warned tour guides about this.
I also observed that the roads from Barili going to Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal and Badian are not well-maintained compared with those in the southern side. Repairs using asphalt were not done well. I also noticed that there is still a wooden bridge somewhere between Santander and Samboan.
I thought the entire province has been energized. But residents of a sitio in Barangay Malbago, Badian are complaining because until now they don't have electricity. Every election, politicians who campaign in their place always promise to work to provide them with electricity. But until now, nothing has been done. Mind you, the village is just several meters away from the highway. I don't know if Gov. Gwen Garcia can help the residents there.
Before returning to the city, I dropped by the miraculous Marian Shrine in Lindogon, Simala in Sibonga town.
Bobby Nalzaro
I ARRIVED in Cebu last Monday yet after covering the four-day working visit of President Arroyo in Tokyo, Japan. But a GMA 7 company memorandum requires all employees and talents arriving from abroad to go on at least five days self-quarantine.
I tried to stay home. But I tell you, it is boring to stay home for a couple of days doing nothing. I initially planned to go to my hometown in Dipolog City but I thought I wouldn’t enjoy seeing our old house and the things my beloved Nanay Doring left behind. I might end up being emotional once I recall the days when Nanay was still alive. She passed away almost a year ago.
So I packed up my things and drove around the province to be away from the maddening crowd. My first stop was Badian. I stayed in a rest house owned by a friend. Thursday morning, I walked for almost an hour to Kawasan Falls in Barangay Matutinao.
Kawasan has several big and minor falls. The famous one is the first falls where foreigners and local tourists congregate to enjoy the cool and refreshing water. Together with my guide, we climbed the second big falls.
I am not a stranger to climbing mountains as I used to do it when I was a kid. I grew up a remote barangay in Dipolog and playing in rice fields and climbing mountains was one of our past times.
But now that I am in my 40s, things are different. I have lost my energy and vigor. I rested several times while going up. The first and the second big falls are surrounded with cottages and restaurants.
Kawasan Falls is one of the province’s tourist destinations. But I don’t understand why Badian’s local government unit (LGU) or the Province cannot develop the road leading to the falls from the highway so that light and small vehicles can go near.
Vehicles are only allowed up to an area that is still far from the falls, after that visitors have to walk for about half an hour.
Light passenger vehicles like multicabs or habal-habal should be allowed to operate in the area. But bridges that can accommodate four-wheel vehicles should be constructed. What we have there now are only foot bridges. The LGU of Badian should negotiate with the lot owners to allow access.
I learned from my guide that tourists are complaining that some tour guides and their cohorts rob visitors of their valuables. Tour guides (locally known as haulers) are also charging exorbitant fees, especially from foreigners. But robbery incidents have been reduced after local officials met with and warned tour guides about this.
I also observed that the roads from Barili going to Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal and Badian are not well-maintained compared with those in the southern side. Repairs using asphalt were not done well. I also noticed that there is still a wooden bridge somewhere between Santander and Samboan.
I thought the entire province has been energized. But residents of a sitio in Barangay Malbago, Badian are complaining because until now they don't have electricity. Every election, politicians who campaign in their place always promise to work to provide them with electricity. But until now, nothing has been done. Mind you, the village is just several meters away from the highway. I don't know if Gov. Gwen Garcia can help the residents there.
Before returning to the city, I dropped by the miraculous Marian Shrine in Lindogon, Simala in Sibonga town.
Underground river tour needs improvement
By Linda Bolido
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:08:00 06/16/2009
FAME is good. But fame can also create problems—serious problems.
Caretakers of the wondrous Subterranean River National Park in Puerto Princesa City should start anticipating, rather than start reacting to problems, given the steadily increasing number of local and foreign tourists wanting to see what is currently the front runner in the global voting for the new Seven Wonders of Nature.
Our guide said a dramatic rise in the number of visitors started to be felt in 2007. The setup for park visits is actually efficient. Tours are well-organized (they even bring lunch for visitors) and rates for boat rides are fixed so you do not have to worry about overcharging.
Contingencies
But it seems park authorities are still not well-prepared for contingencies resulting from the capriciousness of Mother Nature.
We tried to visit the National Park on June 9. It had been raining hard, we were told, in Puerto during the weekend and until the day before. Rivers were swollen and currents were swift. Trips to the Subterranean River were cancelled.
But on Tuesday, June 9, word went out that visitors were again allowed to visit, but we had to hurry because there was only a small window of opportunity. Park caretakers might have to cancel trips by afternoon.
So, instead of the original departure time of 10 a.m., we left our hotel at 8 a.m., only to find out when we got to Sabang, where we were to take the boat to the underground river, that the visit was still very much up in the air. There were scores of people waiting for the go-ahead to board their boats when we arrived at a little past 10 a.m.
Park people could not decide if it was all right to explore the underground river, as it remained swollen and difficult to negotiate. So, everybody had to wait and wait and wait.
In the meantime, more tourists were arriving, nerves were getting frayed and children were getting bored. When asked why they were not telling those tourists who had not left the city yet to skip the trip to the river given the situation in Sabang, somebody said those people were issued permits for the visit.
Nothing to do
Huh? We had the necessary permit but they would not allow us to take the trip to the river?
Sabang was not exactly set up to calm frayed nerves. The park outpost in Sabang that coordinated trips to the river is small, able to accommodate comfortably only about half a dozen people. It has no air-conditioning. The area around it consists of a few “turo-turo” and snack bars and some stalls selling tie-dyed garments and souvenirs. You can take in everything in minutes.
It would have been great to go swimming as the water was clean and there was a nice beach nearby, but not knowing if and when we would be told to board the boats made us stay close to the outpost.
Our guide Alex Tribiana, who must have been the dean of tour guides in Puerto, kept suggesting that we just be allowed to go to the park, look at the river from outside, then explore the flora and fauna. After all, the park has monkeys and monitor lizards that are larger than what you would usually see. The indigenous peacock may even make a rare appearance.
The suggestion, seconded by everyone, was finally taken, so at about 12 noon, we boarded the boat for the park.
Some members of our group, a family consisting of a Filipino mother, a Caucasian father and mother-in-law and three children decided to skip the trip. The waiting and the uncertainty had completely dissipated the excitement and anticipation.
The mother-in-law in particular could not understand why we were just standing around and why nobody seemed to be able to make a decision in one way or the other.
I have seen the river and I knew the view from the boat was breathtaking enough to make the trip worthwhile, even if going inside the cave was not possible. We were lucky to be “met” by a three-meter-long lizard as we walked to the river entrance.
Whether or not it is voted into the new Wonders of Nature list, the Subterranean River is a must-see for everyone. The higher profile it is currently getting will no doubt bring in more people.
That is why it is important for park authorities to be better prepared to handle situations arising from nature’s unpredictability. People will understand if you tell them trips are cancelled for their own safety, rather than have them standing around, wondering what is going on.
Plane still late
Still on Puerto, our Philippine Airlines flight was delayed for about 20 minutes as it waited for late passengers. They must have been gods for the airline to delay its flight. It certainly would not do that for an ordinary mortal.
When I asked a stewardess what we were waiting for, she said only the ground crew knew but that it was a “usual occurrence” in Puerto. Well, delaying a flight to allow some local VIPs to board would not sit well with tourists whom the city is trying to attract.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:08:00 06/16/2009
FAME is good. But fame can also create problems—serious problems.
Caretakers of the wondrous Subterranean River National Park in Puerto Princesa City should start anticipating, rather than start reacting to problems, given the steadily increasing number of local and foreign tourists wanting to see what is currently the front runner in the global voting for the new Seven Wonders of Nature.
Our guide said a dramatic rise in the number of visitors started to be felt in 2007. The setup for park visits is actually efficient. Tours are well-organized (they even bring lunch for visitors) and rates for boat rides are fixed so you do not have to worry about overcharging.
Contingencies
But it seems park authorities are still not well-prepared for contingencies resulting from the capriciousness of Mother Nature.
We tried to visit the National Park on June 9. It had been raining hard, we were told, in Puerto during the weekend and until the day before. Rivers were swollen and currents were swift. Trips to the Subterranean River were cancelled.
But on Tuesday, June 9, word went out that visitors were again allowed to visit, but we had to hurry because there was only a small window of opportunity. Park caretakers might have to cancel trips by afternoon.
So, instead of the original departure time of 10 a.m., we left our hotel at 8 a.m., only to find out when we got to Sabang, where we were to take the boat to the underground river, that the visit was still very much up in the air. There were scores of people waiting for the go-ahead to board their boats when we arrived at a little past 10 a.m.
Park people could not decide if it was all right to explore the underground river, as it remained swollen and difficult to negotiate. So, everybody had to wait and wait and wait.
In the meantime, more tourists were arriving, nerves were getting frayed and children were getting bored. When asked why they were not telling those tourists who had not left the city yet to skip the trip to the river given the situation in Sabang, somebody said those people were issued permits for the visit.
Nothing to do
Huh? We had the necessary permit but they would not allow us to take the trip to the river?
Sabang was not exactly set up to calm frayed nerves. The park outpost in Sabang that coordinated trips to the river is small, able to accommodate comfortably only about half a dozen people. It has no air-conditioning. The area around it consists of a few “turo-turo” and snack bars and some stalls selling tie-dyed garments and souvenirs. You can take in everything in minutes.
It would have been great to go swimming as the water was clean and there was a nice beach nearby, but not knowing if and when we would be told to board the boats made us stay close to the outpost.
Our guide Alex Tribiana, who must have been the dean of tour guides in Puerto, kept suggesting that we just be allowed to go to the park, look at the river from outside, then explore the flora and fauna. After all, the park has monkeys and monitor lizards that are larger than what you would usually see. The indigenous peacock may even make a rare appearance.
The suggestion, seconded by everyone, was finally taken, so at about 12 noon, we boarded the boat for the park.
Some members of our group, a family consisting of a Filipino mother, a Caucasian father and mother-in-law and three children decided to skip the trip. The waiting and the uncertainty had completely dissipated the excitement and anticipation.
The mother-in-law in particular could not understand why we were just standing around and why nobody seemed to be able to make a decision in one way or the other.
I have seen the river and I knew the view from the boat was breathtaking enough to make the trip worthwhile, even if going inside the cave was not possible. We were lucky to be “met” by a three-meter-long lizard as we walked to the river entrance.
Whether or not it is voted into the new Wonders of Nature list, the Subterranean River is a must-see for everyone. The higher profile it is currently getting will no doubt bring in more people.
That is why it is important for park authorities to be better prepared to handle situations arising from nature’s unpredictability. People will understand if you tell them trips are cancelled for their own safety, rather than have them standing around, wondering what is going on.
Plane still late
Still on Puerto, our Philippine Airlines flight was delayed for about 20 minutes as it waited for late passengers. They must have been gods for the airline to delay its flight. It certainly would not do that for an ordinary mortal.
When I asked a stewardess what we were waiting for, she said only the ground crew knew but that it was a “usual occurrence” in Puerto. Well, delaying a flight to allow some local VIPs to board would not sit well with tourists whom the city is trying to attract.
Travel and tours.....................a way of survival.
The year 2008 was a big shock to all, when crisis after crisis have affected not only the USA but almost every country in the world. Big businesses have closed down not knowing what hit them. But many agree that it was the greediness of many so-called business or techno-savvy people which undermined the savings not only of retirees but small investors hoping to cash in on stocks, trust and and other investment papers.
A big number of Filipinos here and abroad are being retrenched in their jobs due to the financial crisis that have afftected not only the USA but the world over. After a year, nothing in sight is yet clear, but many says that now is the time to put in the money needed to stimulate the market. When stocks are in their all-time low, there is no way to go but up.
So don't hide your money in your cabinet. Rats and molds might eat them. Let us put our money in the market place, where it can be used for purposes that could stimulate the economy. Let us try to improve our local tourist destinations and make it attractive not only for foreign but also to local tourist. This is one way our economy would surely survive the slowdown in our economic activities.
Starting today, I will try to update everyone with the latest happenings in our tourism industry, particularly our local tourist industry.
A big number of Filipinos here and abroad are being retrenched in their jobs due to the financial crisis that have afftected not only the USA but the world over. After a year, nothing in sight is yet clear, but many says that now is the time to put in the money needed to stimulate the market. When stocks are in their all-time low, there is no way to go but up.
So don't hide your money in your cabinet. Rats and molds might eat them. Let us put our money in the market place, where it can be used for purposes that could stimulate the economy. Let us try to improve our local tourist destinations and make it attractive not only for foreign but also to local tourist. This is one way our economy would surely survive the slowdown in our economic activities.
Starting today, I will try to update everyone with the latest happenings in our tourism industry, particularly our local tourist industry.
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