The Looc Garden Beach Resort exists since 1987. But the Resort, as you will see it in the following pictures, is not older than approximately two years. The Resort consists of four houses and offers accommodations for about 25 persons.

The Mahayahay Beach is a nice sand beach and well known for its beauty in whole Cebu. During north monsoon season (October to May) there is long headland and the wind comes from north-east. The water at the south beach is very calm during that time. The rainy season/south monsoon (June to September) is a stormy time. Strong wind and big waves attract many people from all over the Philippines for wave surfing, windsurfing and especially skimboarding.

Activities

Skimboarding is a sport similar to surfing which takes place near the shore. When we see a wave we run towards it with our skimboard still in hand. Upon reaching the wet sand we drop the board and jump onto it as quickly as possible. Once on the board, we must remain as stable as possible and prepare to make the transition to the ocean.

Location

Argao is approx. 67 kilometers south from Cebu City. It takes you about one and a half hour by car to reach Argao from Cebu City.

Contact Information:

Looc Garden Beach Resort
Looc Argao, Cebu, Philippines
Tel: +63 32 485 9516
Mobile: +63 916 3220589
Email: joymaglanque@yahoo.com
Web: www.mahayahay-argao.ch.vu

Club Paradise, accredited by the Philippines’ Department of Tourism, is a 2-time winner of the Kalakbay Awards Resort of the Year in the “AA” Category. Realizing that nature is it’s greatest asset, much effort has been committed by EPRI towards maintaining balance between the island’s ecological integrity and tourism operation and development.

Getting there:

A mere 60 minutes by plane southwest from Manila, and another 60 minutes ride by land and by sea is the 19-hectare island of Dimakya, home to Club Paradise. This island resort, blessed with 700 meters stretch of sun kissed talcum soft white beach and turqoise waters, serves as a sanctuary to a wide array of unique flora and fauna.

Accommodation:

Guest rooms are divided into 3 phases, namely: Sunrise Beach, Sunset Beach and Island View Rooms. The architecture of the phases 1 and 2 is a modern version of the Filipino hut or (bahay kubo). Phase 3 or the Island View rooms – where apartment-type rooms and 4 Junior Suites are situated. The structure is built on a hillside fronting the island’s natural lagoon. All units are provided with amenities designed for convenience and comfort.

Resources:

The Club Paradise Island Spa takes advantage of the amazing nature of its environment to render the revitalization one seeks. Set amidst the beautiful island paradise of Dimakya Island, Northern Palawan. home of Club Paradise Resort, the Island Spa is situated in a sanctuary where the music of the waves, the sounds of nature, the burning incense and essential oils, all induce a feeling of serenity and holistic pleasure.

The products used are organic and proudly Filipino made, distinctly mixed and blended into unique scents and remedies. A signature product is the Island Spa Virgin Coconut Oil, highly recommended for deeply relaxing body treatments. Virgin Coconut Oil is known for its nutrients and lauric acid that supports the body’s normal functional response to bacteria and viruses. Lauric acid is also found in human mother’s milk. It is excellent for skin care, hair treatment, and supports normal digestion.

Contact Information:

Dimakya Island, Coron, Palawan
Email: clubpara@info.com.ph
+632 838-4956 to 60
Photos Courtesy of Club Paradise

More than just a beach resort, Amanpulo (peaceful island) is set on a coralline island all its own. Pamalican floats in the brilliant-blue waters of the Sulu Sea. Seven square kilometers of reef rim the island. Beyond are sandbanks and a channel, where whales, dolphins and sea cows have been known to stray. At its widest point, the 5.5-kilometer island of Pamalican is only 500 meters across. Located among the Quiniluban group of the Cuyo Islands, Pamalican is one of nearly 1,800 islands in the province of Palawan. The largest province in the Philippines, Palawan is about 600 kilometers south and southwest of Manila.

Amanpulo’s light-filled Clubhouse overlooks the swimming pool and encompasses the Restaurant, the Lobby Bar and Terrace, the Boutique and Galleries and the Library . The resort lounge and most of its public facilities are located there. The Restaurant , located in a wing at one end of the Clubhouse, spills out onto a terrace, with views to Manamoc Island across the channel. There’s a regular Asian barbecue held at the Picnic Grove . Enjoy the views from the Clubhouse Bar or take your drinks outside onto the terrace.

Amanpulo’s 30-meter swimming pool is bordered by two trellises of bougainvillea. Large, open-air salas are arranged on the expansive green behind the pool. The salas come with larger-than-king-size mattresses for poolside lounging. A garden walkway leads down from the pool to the sand beach and Amanpulo’s own Beach Club . Half-a-dozen sand-white mattresses with matching pillows are spread out on the deck, facing the sea. Rattan stools line the Beach Club, and beach umbrellas set in stone tables are coupled with reclining beach chairs. The Beach Club serves lunch, snacks and refreshments.

Contact Information:

Contact Person: Fhem or Reyn
Telephone no: (+63-32) 254-9665, (+63-32) 412-7321
Fax Cebu: (+63-32) 412-7321, Fax Manila: (+63-2) 857-2013
Fax USA: (+1) (484) 450-2664

Camiguin is the smallest province in Northern Mindanao, with its land area pegged at 29,187 hectares. It is composed of five towns, namely, Mambajao – the capital town, Mahinog, Guinsiliban, Sagay and Catarman. The island plays host to seven volcanoes, including the still-active Mount Hibok-Hibok. According to the National Statistics Office, Camiguin has a total population of 74,232 persons, making the province the second smallest in the Philippines in terms of population.

Among the Province’s major products are coconut, cassava, banana, camote, palay, corn, fruits, coffee and vegetables. Camiguin’s volcanic soil has proved to be a fertile ground for planting various crops. At present, the Provincial government is looking into an agricultural program that would increase the cultivation of fruit trees and vegetables in Camiguin. The Province is also among the best abaca fiber producers in the country. Camiguin is proud of its natural resources, which include sulfur deposits, geothermal energy, agricultural lands and fishing grounds.

The Camiguin culture is a mixture of both Boholano and Cebuano culture. It is very colorful and creative. The people are deeply religious, hospitable and friendly. Cebuano is the major dialect in the Province. However, in the towns of Sagay and Guinsiliban, where most of the indigenous tribes reside, the Kinamiguin dialect is still spoken. Kinamiguin is derived from the Manobo dialect with some mixture of Boholano.

Balut’s Sangil equivalent is wanowa.Burials of Sangil Sultans, led by Sultan Panurat who were the first settlers of the land, were built by pile of rocks. “Those kalachuche trees are memorials of Sangil royalty,” Takeda Colano revealed in vernacular when we visited the site of his great grandfather, Judah. Takeda is heir to the sultanate of Sangil by affinity, according to the Sangil tarsila or genealogy, as recorded by Dr. Domingo M. Non of Mindanao State University and Shinzo Hayase, in 1999.

Takeda, with his two brothers, Abedin and Pacayan, recalled how their great grandfather challenged Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in the historic Balistic Island to a battle-a Muslim Kris against the Spanish’ pistol!

Marorong, fondly called Balistic Island because of its bullet form, is 70 meters across Balut Island. The rock structure built by the Sangils and B’laans as a fortress against Villalobos’ army, visitors and tourists changeably called the islet “Fort Villalobos”. Fr. Jose Luego, a Jesuit historian, and Gregorio Zaide in his History of the Filipino People noted the landing of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in Marorong in search for the Moluccas Island in 1543. “…and in dire need for provisions, he sailed to Sarangani…”, Zaide wrote. It is remarkable how the old Sangils and the heirs to the sultanate handed down their past for four generations through the word of mouth!

A Sangil darangen or folktale also tells a duel between two big men, Saramangge and Marama, to win the hand of a Sangil princess. Saramangge was treacherously defeated by Marama. His blood flowed over the bay and a rock formed from his corpse which is now called Sarangani Island and Sarangani Bay in honor of the noble warrior. In Sangil etymology, Sarangani came from the Sangil’s Sarang-ine, “this is our territory” or “we stop here”. “Balut and Sarangani are brothers,” recounts Professor Virginia Buhisan, an anthropologist. This was recorded by Sarangani Municipality as the legendary origin of the place which was passed by the old folk down to the young generation.

Elias Colano, 105 years old, is the oldest man in Balut and head of elders of the crowned Sultan, Pagal Padasan Colano. Such stories were derived from these twin islands of a municipality belonging to Davao del Sur in Region XI. The same Sarangani Bay shares marine abundance to Sarangani Province of Region XII. These interesting stories of the Muslim’s Sangil tribe and the native B’laans whom they had intermarriages with during the early part of 16th century complete the town’s natural beauty. Thick mangrove forest lusts the port of Barangay Mabila, the town’s poblacion.

You’ll surely enjoy strolling the grounds of a hot spring in Barangay Lipol, now built with concrete structures for adventures and tourists. Its source flows from Bad-lii in the mountains of Kalisusu and Kagongkong, about 2-hour trek from the hot spring. An hour of boat ride and you’ll reach Ulaniban, a three-kilometer of white sand encircling the 16-hectare island belonging to barangay Patuco. An ancient light house was built here by the Americans during the American regime which fronts the bay. Even the tampat or burial sites of Sultan Panurat in Batuganding Point can attract tourists. They are marked by kalachuche trees and rocks piled by their descendants and B’laan natives who were then Islamized.

“Bato Manamil is the place where the fifth Sultanate of Maguindanao Mohammad Jafar Sitti Manamir was born by his mother Putri Ambas,” revealed Sangil Datu Osmeña Salisipan. Our expedition recounts the abundance that Sarangani Bay is endowed with, shared and treasured by the sarangans. In the celebration of our first Sarangani Bay Festival on May 17-20 in Glan, Sarangani Province, tracing down its significant past is a high light. Beach volleyball, kayaking, skim boarding, an 11-kilometer swim across the bay, and other bay sports will be held in the four-day tilt.

“It’s first time that we celebrate this event,” Nenita Barroso, Sarangani Tourism and Investment Promotion Council (STIPC) Executive Director, disclosed. “We will revisit the bay’s history which became the highway for the first civilization in this part of mainland Mindanao.” (Sarangani Information Office)

Tagaytay, 56km (35mi) from Manila and 750m (2,461ft) above sea level, became a city in 1938. Because of its high location, the place is often foggy.

Accommodation

Taal Vista Hotel National Rd, Tel 109
buffet and folk dances on Sundays

Tagaytay Picnic Grove

Located on 13.5 hectares; 14 rooms ranging from 24 to 15 persons; camping facilities; barbecue pits; picnic tables and huts available for rent; native restaurant; Entrance fee; For further information call Philippine Tourism Authority 508977 or 599031 local 300. p. 434
Tagaytay add
Casino Filipino (opened 1991)

Halfway Drive

Restaurant and Inn on a two hectare lot with a view deck for the scenic Taal Volcano and surrounding countryside. Accommodation

Taal Vista Hotel National Rd, Tel 109
dbl 300750; buffet and folk dances on Sundays
Tagaytay Picnic Grove located on 13.5 hectares; 14 rooms ranging from 24 to 15 persons; camping facilities; barbecue pits; picnic tables and huts available for rent; native restaurant; entrance fee

TAAL VOLCANO AND LAKE

From Tagaytay City, Cavite, a spectacular view unfolds on one of the most interesting volcanos in the world, Taal Volcano (in Batangas Province). In the large crater of an volcano, there is a lake, Lake Taal. And in the center of this lake, there is a smaller crater, formed during a more recent eruption, with another lake. The small volcano is cataloged as active since the last eruption was only some twenty years ago. As of JuneJuly 1991 it is being watched closely as there are tremors which indicate that an eruption may occur.

The Manila Standard of July 29, 1991 reported that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said tremors continued at Taal and that temperatures in the main crater lake had increased from 29 degrees centigrade to 31. It is possible to make a tour to the small volcano in the lake. One has to take a jeepney from Tagaytay to Talisay. A special ride by jeepney costs about 200 pesos. At Talisay, one may make an arrangement with a boatman. The water is dilute sulfurous acid.

Public transport is often difficult especially the return trip.