Metro Manila: The Centre

Metro Manila is the centre of life of the Philippines. Life is also very diverse here. In Metro Manila, you can see the richest businessmen and also the poorest slums in the country.

As expected, it is the most populous area in the Philippines. Since the top universities in the country are located in Metro Manila, students from the provinces come here to continue their college education. Also, many families from provinces migrate here to seek for employment and better opportunities.

Manila – It is the capital of the country. It is where the Malacanang Palace, the official residence of the President of the Philippines, is located. The Supreme Court, the Philippine Post Office, the Philippine Museum, and Luneta Park can also be found here. Many of the streets and places in Manila, especially in Sampaloc, are named based from the “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”, the novels of Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero. Intramuros is also one of the main attractions in Manila. It is a mini-replica of how life goes hundreds of years ago, especially during the occupation of Spain in the country. The houses and structure in Intramuros are very well-preserved.

Makati – It is the central business district (CBD) of the Philippines. The largest multinational companies, banks, retail and consumer companies are headquartered. The high rise buildings in Makati are already attractions by themselves. This place is very different from the other places in Metro Manila. It is considered as one of the most affluent and progressive cities, not only in Metro Manila, but in the whole country. The current Mayor, Mr. Jejomar Binay, is applauded for its job well done.

Quezon City – It is one of the largest cities in Metro Manila. It is where the national university and also considered as the most prestigious university in the country—the University of the Philippines—is located. Many government agencies, like the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Government Social Insurance System (GSIS), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are headquartered in Quezon City.

Beautiful Banaue Rice Terraces

The Banaue Rice Terraces, located in the province of Ifugao, Philippines, is commonly called by Filipinos as the “Eight Wonder of the World” because of its mesmerizing natural beauty. The rice terraces are believed to be built about 2,000 to 3,000 years ago by ancestors of the indigenous people in Ifugao(largely by their bare hands).

The Banaue Rice Terraces cover around 10,360 square kilometres of mountainside and located about 1,500 metres above sea level. The terraces composed of several clusters. Two of the most popular clusters are Bangaan and Batad. Their length, if put end by end, would encircle half of the globe.

Because of its unparalleled beauty, it has been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Banaue Rice Terraces become one of the tourist attractions in the Philippines. The terraces stretched like stepping stones to the sky.

Majestic Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano, also sometimes called Mount Mayon, is a superb land formation (stratovolcano) located in the province of Albay, Philippines. Because of its almost perfectly conical shape, some called Mayon Volcano as the “Perfect Cone”. It is considered to be the most perfectly formed volcano in the world for its symmetrical cone.

Mayon is a basaltic-andesitic volcano. The magnificent cone was formed through lava and pyroclastic flows from the past eruptions of the volcano. It rises about 2,462 meters (8,077 feet) above sea level.

Mayon Volcano is the most active of all the volcanoes in the Philippines. Geologists and volcanologists estimated that the volcano have erupted by more than 47 times in the past 400 years. Mayon Volcano is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Chocolate Hills: Unusually Beautiful

The Chocolate Hills is an unusually breath-taking geological formation located in Bohol, Philippines. These cone-shaped hills are made of limestone covered with lush grass. However, during the dry season, the hills dry up and their colour turns into chocolate brown, which are like giant “chocolate kisses”.

According to some estimates, there are about 1,268 hills to 1, 776 hills over the area, which is more than 50 sq. km. These thousands of hills are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan.

“Most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact. However, this idea is quickly abandoned, as the effort would surely surpass the construction of the pyramids in Egypt.” notes Photographer Salvador Andre.

The origin and formation of the hills has long been debated by geologists. Some of the most popular theories include limestone weathering, uplift of the seafloor, sub-oceanic volcanism and self-destruction of an ancient volcano.

The Chocolate Hills is no doubt one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. The area has been declared as the Third National Geological Monument in the country. It has also been proposed that Chocolate Hills be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Viewing stations of the Chocolate Hills include the government-owned Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen and the mountain-resort Sagbayan Peak in Sagbayan. These two viewing stations also have other amenities like swimming pools, hotels, restaurants and others.

The Chocolate Hills is truly majestic. It is indeed a natural wonder!

Luxurious Amanpulo

Amanpulo, which means “Peaceful Island”, is situated in the island of Pamalican in Palawan, Philippines. Pamalican is a low-lying coral island which is rimmed by 7 sq. km of pristine reef.

Amanpulo is known as a completely luxurious, expensive island getaway. This secluded and private island is a safe haven among the rich and famous locals and foreigners. Amanpulo is surrounded by pristine white sand beaches, turquoise waters and a coral reef.

Vacationers can also enjoy an extraordinary underwater experience. Amanpulo is very suitable for water sports like scuba diving, snorkelling, wild surfing, and sailing. Diving activities allow for a great view of corals, large turtles and rays. Guests can also enjoy other sports like golf and tennis.

Guests can also relax using the other amenities of the island resort like the Beach Club, The Restaurant, swimming pool, library, boutiques and galleries, lagoon retreat, and massage and beauty services. It also offers island tours and cruises.

Casitas are the most popular accommodations for tourists and vacationers in Amanpulo. Accommodations can be beach casitas (with a private path to the beach), treetop casitas (built above the tree-line) or hillside casitas (with unimpeded sea views). Each of these casitas comes with its own golf cart, which will allow the vacationers to drive around the island.


Amanpulo has been nominated as one of the best island resorts in the world. With perfect scenery, breath-taking beaches, bunch of activities, luxurious accommodations, and hospitable people, a trip to Amanpulo is truly an unforgettable experience!

Experience Nature! Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The river is located about 50 km north of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. It has been nominated for the "New 7 Wonders of Nature".

It is one of the most biologically diverse conservation areas in the Philippines. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park has more than 800 plant species, 165 bird species, and 30 mammal species.

The park has a limestone karst mountain landscape and many formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. It has one of the most impressive cave systems in the world. Aside from its spectacular limestone formations, it also features lush tropical forests and pristine white sand beaches.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean RiverNational Park is an established ecotourism destination in the Philippines. It is reputed to be the longest underground river in the world.

Tubbataha Reef: An underground paradise

Tubbataha Reef is a stunning atoll coral reef located in the Sulu Sea, southeast of Puero Princesa City, Palawan. This marine sanctuary covers about 33,200 hectares. It is now called the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park.

It is designated as a natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of the diversity and high density of marine species in the area--from whale sharks to seahorses. In addition, Tubbataha Reef Marine Park was also nominated at the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Because of its breathtaking natural beauty, Tubbataha Reef now increasingly become famous to foreign tourists and divers. The Tubbataha Reef is an underground paradise!