Annual Beach Reggae Festival in Boracay, Philippines

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Oct 312011

We all know Boracay for its mesmerizing waters and white sand beaches but the other aspects of the island that have made it known are the Boracay festivals. One of the most anticipated events in this area is the Beach Reggae Festival, which happens every summer.

Overview

Reggae is a type of music that originated in Jamaica. The word reggae is sometimes used to refer to Jamaican songs, in proper context; the word reggae simply means a kind of music that is based on a rhythmic pattern or style.

Boracay’s Beach Reggae Festival is a yearly event that is celebrated every 11th to 14th day of May. The event offers 3 days of fun and enjoyment with some of the country’s best reggae musicians. The talcum-white sand beach of Boracay is also a perfect location for the tropical party mood that the occasion brings. The Beach Reggae Festival of the island is made even livelier by foreign and local vacationers who join the event.

Information About the Event

The festival is often held at Boracay’s famous beach – the White Beach. The beach can be reached by boat from Catalan’s seaport. Going to Catalan’s seaport is not an issue as there are several transportation options that will bring you to that place.

The event is graced by some of the country’s famous reggae acts. Among the famous Filipino reggae bands that often participate in this festival are the Tropical Depression, Bahaghari, Brownman Revival and more. Aside from these bands, many solo artists join the occasion too. Aside from providing endless music and all-night partying, the very purpose of the Beach Reggae Festival in Boracay is to showcase and acknowledge the talent of the Filipino artists.
To join the Beach Reggae Festival, one has to pay $4 as admission fee. The fee is not consumable. It means that foods and drinks are not included on the fee. However, they can be enjoyed at a very affordable price. There are instances also where the organizers provide free offers to participants.

Tips

Hotels and resorts during this period are often packed with guests. If you are planning to attend the event, it is better to get an early reservation. Boracay cost during this period is expected to be higher than usual because March to May is considered peak season in Boracay.

When planning to attend the occasion, it is important to coordinate with the organizer since the venue for the said festival often changes. The admission fee may also vary.

If you love music and party, you shouldn’t miss the Beach Reggae Festival in Boracay. You will definitely enjoy the party ambiance that the event is sure to bring.

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Tabanogan Festival Day

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Oct 292011

Most Davao festivals are colorful and lavishly cheery, but the Tabanogan Festival has something different. Aside from the extraordinary shows and displays around there’s something to be watched in the sky.

“Tabanogan” means kite flying. Thus, the emphasis on kite design and flying. There are other activities that highlight this special day, things that not necessarily connects with kite flying, but which makes the day extra festive. Tabanogan Festival, an age-old tradition, raises the hopes and spirits of Davao people sky-high.

The Tabanogan Festival especially features kite flying and kite design competitions. On kite fest day, June 29 of each year, expert kite designers, makers, and flyers gather together to display and fly the kites they have meticulously hand-crafted for the occasion. Many Davao City folks are skilled kite makers.

Kites are mostly of big sizes, delicately crafted, artfully designed, and engineered to precision. It’s not just important to come up with beautifully designed kites—they should also fly. And this means balance, accuracy, and other important aerodynamics principles. The kites should gracefully glide on Tabanogan Festival day.

The big kites are commonly called “Tabanog,” a Cebuano term. They are also sometimes called “gurion.” When perfectly constructed they steadily glide in the air. If not, they wildly go around in small circles, hitting other kites—if they ever take off and soar. Tabanogan Festival kites should be the best in the craft, and their makers the best in the skill.

The Tabanogan Festival coincides with the feast of St. Peter, a patron saint to Roman Catholics in Davao City. And because of this, religious celebrations also happen at the city plaza, or the Osmena Park. The center of religious activities is at the San Pedro Cathedral at the corner of C.M. Recto and San Pedro Streets.

The church has an interesting history. It was built in 1847 after the Spanish conquistadors drove off the Bagobos from the land. It’s the original site of the church and the east wing is part of the original altar. When visiting the city on a Tabanogan Festival day, it’s a good idea to see the church.

Of course, the church and the Davao City government are behind all the celebrations. There is street dancing and a float parade on the historic Bolton River near Davao City Hall, among other activities. Religious procession parading the St. Peter icon is a major part of the fun-filled Tabanogan Festival.

The Tabanogan Festival is a morale booster reminding Davao folks of their rich and colorful heritage and their religious beginnings.

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The Basic Facts about Tacloban City

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Oct 292011

The city of Tacloban in Leyte, Philippines, to the frequent visitor, knows it is filled with a lot of appealing sightseeing spots. For those who have yet to visit the place, it does contain a lot of interesting places, but it would be best if you knew something about the city and surroundings first.

Geography, Population and Climate

The climate in the city is in many ways similar to those of the other areas in the country. The cold months start in December and ends in February, around the middle part of the month. The summer season is from March to May while the rest of the year it is wet. Geographically speaking, it is situated around Cancabato Bay, which is near the San Juanico Strait. It is at the third district of Leyte.

A national census taken in 2007 puts the population at just over 200,000. The language of the people here is mostly Waray (known as Lineyte-Samarnon). The land area is about 200 sq. km.

History

Originally known as Kankabatok, the area was sighted by the Augustinians in the early 1770s, and under the Franciscans, the place was renamed Tacloban in 1813. In 1830 it became the capital city of Leyte.

The year 1942 saw the city besieged and occupied by the Japanese Army. The Allied Forces, composed of American and Filipino soldiers, came back in 1944 and in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, emerged victorious. This would eventually lead to the liberation not just of Tacloban but the whole province. Since that period, the city has grown and today is highly urbanized.

Economy and Transport

For several years now, the city has been experiencing an economic boom, and there are now several businesses there. The success of the city as a commercial and business center can be seen in the numerous hotels, restaurants offices and banks that line up the streets. Most of the people that live here work in the offices. With tourism on the rise, there are now several shopping stores that you can visit selling souvenirs as well.

Another sign of the economic progress of the city are the various types of transport now available. There are jeepneys, tricycles and also rental cars all around.

Tourist Attractions

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the city is the CAP building, which was built sometime in the early 1900s; the Redona Residence, which former President Osmena used to call home, is another interesting site. Other places of interest are the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, the People’s Center and Library and Hill 120.

There are also several beautiful islands around it, including Panaon Island. Among the most breathtaking dive sites are the Bonga Bend, Liloan and the Cuatros Islas. Mahaba Island is also well known for being the site of a number of coral reefs and colorful fishes.

This progressive city is often used as a starting point by tourists who want to see and experience the best that Leyte has to offer. Whether you are coming to visit or do business, or both, there is no better way to do it than by being informed and aware of some general information on Tacloban, Philippines.

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Palawan in a Nutshell

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Oct 282011

Palawan is a long, narrow, mountainous island and is the most westerly of the larger Philippine Islands. It is also the fifth largest island in the Philippine archipelago. Here are some facts which are particularly notable about Palawan:

* Most of the island is densely forested, which makes lumbering its primary industry.Fishing is also a main industry in the island.It has rice, corn, coconuts and fruit as its chief agricultural products.Part of its produce is grown on large haciendas and part by the “slash and burn” method, which involves burning off forest cover in a section of land, planting it in crops for two or three years, and then allowing the land to regrow its forest cover while another section is burnt off and cultivated.

*With a total area of 4,550 square miles (11,790 sq. km.), it remains to be the most sparsely populated of the larger islands in the Philippines.

*Puerto Princesa, which is midway along the east coast, is the island’s chief port.

*Mount Mantalingajan in the south, with an altitude of 6,841 feet (2,085 meters), is one of a number of peaks in the island’s interior. A number of these peaks rise 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) or more above sea level.

*In history, Palawan was occupied by Japanese forces during World War II in 1942. It was reconquered by Allied Forces early in 1945, after which a large air base, built near Puerto Princesa, was used for attacking the Japanese.

*Together with the Calamian, Cuyo, Cagayan island groups, and the Islands of Linapacan, Dumaran, Buksuk, and Balabac, Palawan constitutes a province with an area of 5,693 square miles (14,745 sq km. Puerto Princesa is the capital.

*The province also has mineral deposits, of which the manganese on Busuanga (in the Calamian group) is best known.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is currently in the running for the New 7 Wonders of the World.

How to Get to Palawan

Being an island, Palawan is accessible by air and boat from Manila, Iloilo and Cebu. It is approximately 55 minutes by air from Manila, I hour and 15 minutes from Cebu. Ferries departing from Manila and Iloilo travel 24 hours and 36 hours respectively. A number of airline companies cater to travelers who wish to get to Palawan by air : Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Island Transvoyager,Inc., SEAIR (Southeast Asian airlines), asian Spirit, Soriano Private Airplane. By sea, travelers can book with Superferry and Negros Navigation. All of the aforementioned transportation providers have their respective booking and reservation offices in Manila.

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The Business District in Makati

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Oct 262011

Makati is considered as the Wall Street of the Philippines, but that title is not appended there without a very good reason. Indeed, a lot of companies’ headquarters are located here, and big time trades and business transactions take place here. Many of the giant companies of the Philippines can be found here, and it is also a good spot for not only local, but also foreign traders. Day and night the city of Makati is bustling with business inside the gigantic skyscrapers and office buildings found here. Therefore, it’s not surprising for the place to be dubbed as the business capital of the Philippines.

In Makati, there is what we call the Central Business District, or simply shortened to CBD. The Business District is where you’ll find most, if not all, of where the actual Makati businesses are. This is where you’ll find a lot of companies that are busy trading. You won’t find anyone idle here. Everyday is a busy day for the businessmen found here, what with a lot of opportunities to gain more in their already big corporations. If you want to see where a lot of business trading occurs, go to the Business District of Makati.

Where is the area found in the first place? In Makati, the Business District’s boundaries are mostly major roads, which are Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati Avenue, Ayala Avenue, Pasay Road, and Pasong Tamo. The district includes Legazpi and Salcedo Village. It’s not surprising that the most, if not the whole, of the place is owned by Ayala Land, Inc., which is part of the biggest company in the Philippines, the Ayala Corporation.

A lot of big companies and structures can be found in the Business District’s area. The PBCom, or Philippine Bank of Communications, tower is located here. Having a height of up to 259 meters, the headquarters of the said company is the tallest skyscraper in the Philippines. One of the floors of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) can be found in Ayala Tower One, another of the major infrastructures in the Business District, the other floor being located at Pasig City.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine Savings Bank, IBM, Metrobank, Intel Philippines, Citibank, Microsoft Philippines, Nestlé, Shell and Accenture are just some of the gigantic businesses which house their main offices and headquarters in the business district.

So if you’re a budding businessman looking for some major money-making opportunities through business and trading, or if you just want to see how corporate business is conducted in the Philippines, have a look at the Central Business District of Makati. The District is perhaps one of the reasons why Makati City has been dubbed as the business capital of the country, and because of it, the Philippine economy is going quite strong.

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Sounds Like the Best Accomodations In Angeles City, Pampanga

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Oct 262011

Unlimited Surprises in a ‘Limited’ Moniker

Limited Edition Hotel located at the heart of the city of Angeles City in Pampanga is considered to be on of the simples yet very appealing because of the exceptional hospitality that their service providers offer and for this reason this hotel is tagged as a two-star lodge in Pampanga. Tourists who booked for accommodations in this hotel can also have a very relaxing and comfortable time since the place provides some amenities where they can chill out like at the Fire and Ice nightspot. Aside from cozy accommodations and relaxing facilities, visitors can also have a taste why the province of Pampanga is not just the Entertainment Capital of the country but also the culinary hub of the Philippines as well through the Sea Dreams Café and as a matter of fact, these travelers can roam the hotel’s vicinity without any worry since the place is pretty much secured.

Defining the Filipino Hospitality the Limited Edition Hotel Way

What really makes a place a home-away-from-home is the overall hospitality that the staffs and personnel show their beloved customers other than any first class amenity or facility in the place; however, for this reason, according to some reviews, most travelers give three thumbs ups for the Limited Edition Hotel because of the warm and friendly approach or hospitality of the overall workforce and the employees as well. The Limited Edition Hotel in Angeles City, Pampanga also offers their tourists or lodgers transfer and air transport services aside from a round-the-clock maintenance services in their guest quarters or rooms. Another reason why traveler should stay at this hotel is the fact that Limited Edition Hotel can make some arrangements for their visitors if they like to have some tour around the city in order for these tourists to appreciate the beauty of the ‘Entertainment Capital of the Philippines’.

Of course, the overall presence of the unique Pinoy or Filipino hospitality is one of the most prominent factors that sets Kapampangan or the locals of the province of Pampanga different from other equally beautiful places in the Philippines and this exceptional warmth can be the main reason why the city of Angeles is one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines for the past decades. Following this line of thought, in order to accommodate the influx of visitors, the local government of the city makes sure that the place can contain these travelers properly.

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Concorde Hotel of Baguio City

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Oct 252011

A classic example of a nice hotel with superior facilities and services combined with highly reasonable rates, Concorde Hotel is exactly located within Europa Center along Legarda Road in Baguio City. Easily a three-star lodging facility, this Baguio hotel has an interesting design right from the inside out. More importantly, this place is proud to present an extensive lineup of super fine features that include Denise Café, an in-house restaurant that serves enticing continental dishes. Its sumptuous buffets and ala carte menu easily satisfy guests with their delectable tastes and appetizing flavors.

Aside from its cozy café, Concorde Hotel in Baguio City has another inviting food service provider in Kingswood Villa, which offers guests an authentic taste of super delicious Chinese treats and specialties including hearty hotpots, exotic Peking Duck, and yummy dimsum. For special occasions and large business events, there is no better place to hold these social gatherings at the roomy function room, which can be arranged to hold up to 700 participants. At night, the Symphony Piano Bar offers people a very nice way of closing out the day with some live music entertainment, which goes well with imported wines and special cocktails.

Overall, Concorde Hotel in Baguio City offers its guests a wide range of comforting room accommodations, namely Suite Royal, Deluxe Suite, Classic, Superior, and Standard. Prices for Suite Royal run from 3,750 pesos to 4,500 pesos, Deluxe Suite from 3,250 pesos to 4,000 pesos, and Classic from 2,500 pesos to 2,750 pesos. Furthermore, Superior Rooms cost 2,250 pesos to 2,500 pesos, while Standard Rooms are available for the price of 1,500 pesos to 1,625 pesos. All these guestrooms feature stylish interiors, classy designs, and convenient amenities like cable TVs, relaxing beds, and clean bathrooms.

The exact address of Concorde Hotel is within Europa Center, a famous spot along Legarda Road in Baguio City. From here, it only takes a few minutes for the guests of this Baguio hotel to reach sightseeing spots like Lourdes Grotto, Easter Weaving Room, and Tam-awan Village. Other interesting places to visit near the hotel are Wood Carver’s Village, Asin Hot Springs, and Bell Church. For some serious and highly satisfying shopping, Baguio City Market is definitely the right place to visit. At the same time, people who are staying inside this attractive hotel can enjoy sumptuous dining experiences at some of the nearest food service providers like Cow and Chicken Restaurant, Korean Bulgogi Restaurant, as well as Tien-Tien Hotpot and Restaurant.

For a chance to get a closer look at Concorde Hotel in Baguio City, visit this Baguio hotel along Legarda Road. On the other hand, people can find out more about this place by logging on to www.concordehotelbaguio.com.

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