India’s top travel shows feature top RP sites

India’s first and largest producer of news, current affairs and entertainment television, New Delhi Television Limited, was in the Philippines to shoot its several top travel shows, Confessions of a Travel Bag, Shopaholic and No Big Deal.

Confessions of a Travel Bag showcases best bargains for shopping from around the world—from high-end designer stores to local flea and handicraft markets. Shopaholic scours the world for unique finds, while No Big Deal features traveling on a shoestring budget.

Accompanied by Mehha Ahuja, marketing manager of the Philippine Tourism Marketing office in India and the Department of Tourism—Manila, each of the TV show sent their own crew, with Neha Dixit, NDTV Lifestyle host and producer and Amrita Gandhi, host, for a month-long of filming the country’s unique destinations.

Ace Durano, secretary of Tourism, said, “As a testament to how varied our destinations are, we have the Indian media choosing to highlight other facets of the Philippines—as a unique shopping destination and a cost-effective travel haven for backpackers.”

Durano further explained that the Indian segment has primarily been geared for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) market, but is now branching out into several other specialized tourism packages.

The Department of Tourism together with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) assisted NDTV in their tour of the country’s unique spots.

“We laud efforts of groups like the FDCP in their unrelentless support to promote our country’s teeming attractions. We are calling out to several other sectors in film, broadcast and other medium as well to join us in our aim to boost tourism to create more jobs and opportunities in our country,” added Durano.

From the world-renowned shoes of Marikina to Cebu’s historical spots and period architecture, the Tourism department took the crew to the country’s exclusive and unique spots.

“We make sure that the foreign media covers the range of our destinations from the well-known spots to the hidden nooks so the world can see each distinctive appeal of our diverse attractions,” said Eduardo Jarque Jr., Department of Tourism undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions.

From the Marikina Riverbanks’ shoes, the crew also featured Miladay Jewels’ local cultured pearls, Frederick Peralta’s wedding gowns and various flea markets and high-end malls in the country.

Department of Tourism’s Team India, headed by Glenn Agustin, also brought the groups to familiarization trips of Bohol, Cebu, Pagsanjan, Taal Lake and Metro Manila.

Several members of the group were enamored by the Loboc River Cruise, while some others enjoyed their visit at the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. Shooting the whale sharks and the dolphins in Pamilacan Island was also one of the cheered moments during the tour.

After Bohol, they went to Cebu to film the craft of guitar making in one of Mactan’s famous guitar factories.

India posted a 15.36-percent growth rate in tourist arrivals recorded from January to October of this year.

Source: http://goodnewspilipinas.com/wp/?p=3880

Letter of Erap to son JV

Dear JV:

Kamusta na sa Amerika, anak? Mabagal ko’ng isinulat ang liham na ito
dahil alam kong mabagal ka ring magbasa.
Anak, gusto ko lamang
iparating na hindi na kami sa Malacanang nakatira ngayon. Nabasa kasi
ng mommy mo (si Loi), na kadalasan na ang mga aksidente ay nangyayari sa bahay kaya’t napagpasiyahan ko na lumipat na ng tirahan. Pero huwag kang mag-alala. Dinala ko naman ang karatula ng ating lumang address kaya maari mo pa rin akong sulatan sa dati nating address.
Mahirap na kasi ang pabago-bago. Alam mo naman na napakarami ko ng kinakabisado.

Maganda naman ang tirahan namin ngayon. Mayroon pa ngang built-in na washing machine. subali’t ng labhan ko yung damit ko, hindi na bumalik. kaya’t huwag kang bibili ng Saniware washing machine, anak. malakas pa naman sana ang ikot …
Maganda rin ang lagay ng panahon dito. dalawang beses lamang umulan last week. Yung una, mula lunes hanggang miyerkules,
yung pangalawa, mula huwebes hanggang linggo.

Tungkol nga pala sa coat na gusto mong ipadala namin… masyado raw
mabigat sabi ni Orly kung isasama yung mga butones. kaya pasensiya ka na kung tinanggal namin bago namin ipadala. Nilagay naman namin sa bulsa para hindi mawala.

Ay naku! Alam mo bang basang-basa kami nung martes(nung unang umulan last week)? Naiwan kasi nitong si Senator Tito yung susi ng BMW niya sa loob.E nakabukas pa naman ang sunroof ! Basang-basa tuloy ang interior! mabuti na lamang at gumanap na carnapper itong si Jinggoy nung araw kaya nabuksan niya ang kotse mula sa labas. Ang kaso mo, ng pumasok kami ni Jinggoy,naiwan si senator tito sa labas at hindi na naman niya mabuksan ang kotse! WALA na NAMAN sa kanya ang susi. &^&@%* mga artistang politiko talaga yan! Hindi gumagamit ng IQ… muntik na kaming malunod nuon ah!

Naalala ko tuloy yung pinsan kong nahulog sa tangke ng whiskey! Marami sana ang gustong sumagip pero pinilit pa ring niyang uminom at libre! Ayun,nalunod at pina-cremate —- anim na araw rin ang binilang bago natapos ang apoy… kaya pag namatay ako, hindi ako paki-cremate…masakit.

Siyanga pala, nanganak na si jackie kahapon.. Hindi ko pa alam kung
lalaki o babae kaya hindi ko masabi kong ikaw ay isa ng Uncle o Auntie.
Naku! napakalikot na bata… eager beaver ika nga!

Anak, hanggang dito na lamang muna ang aking liham… Marami pang pagbabago ang kailangan gawin sa Pilipinas. Ayun sa survey, 95% pa lang ng mga Filipino ang naging madasalin mula ng ako’y naging presidente! Kailangan 120%!!! Siyempre kailangan kasama ang mga OCW sa abroad, no?

Love,
PAPA ERAP

P.S. Papadalahan sana kita ng pera pero nakasarado na ang sobre…

Song of Maria Clara

Song Of Maria Clara
Sweet are the hours in one’s own Native Land,
All there is friendly o’er which the sun shines above;
Vivifying is the breeze that wafts over her fields;
Even death is gratifying and more tender is love.

Ardent kissed on a mother’s lips are at play,
On her lap, upon the infant child’s awakening,
The extended arms do seek her neck to entwine,
And the eyes at each other’s glimpse are smiling.

It is sweet to die in one’s own Native Land,
All there is friendly o’er which the sun shines above;
And deathly is the breeze for one without
A country, without a mother and without love.

Roadside Assistance

I don’t know if our country- Philippines have this kind of program or project.
Wherein travelers are assisted in their destinations, or provided with roadside assistance.
I think there is, but we’re not using it.
Because tracks and ambulances that is for emergencies are not used properly.
They are not use for public purposes but, used for personal purposes of different public officials.
We’ll usually see abandon ambulances under the bridges of metro manila.
If not, ambulances are used as a personal transportation of public officials.

Tourists or foreigners here in the Philippines usually have a hard time in our transportation, because they are not comfortable in our roads.
(In other countries roads are more wider.)
Some tourist spots here in the Philippines provides Triptiks. Triptiks is a small booklet that contains information regarding a specific destination or place.

Philippine roads should be develop. It is still not good in quality and traffic is a common problem here in our country. That is why many accidents happen. Non stop fare hike, floods in the roads, gasoline price is high, and traffic.
That will surely give everyone a headache.
I hope there is Petro Points here in the Philippines, just like in Canada. A large oil and gas companies.I’m sure if we have a company of oil and gas that is as big as this. Fare hike will no longer be a problem.

© Enday of
Students blog Kwentong Pinas
& Enday Socialize

The Era of Marcos: A President Who Became a Dictator (1965-1986)

In the 1965 presidential election, Macapagal was defeated by , a former Liberal, who became the Nacionalista Party’s presidential candidate. In 1969, Marcos, a native son of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, won his reelection.

However, during the Marcos regime, corruption in the government reached unparalleled proportions. Thus, opposition to Marcos’s administration grew stronger and stronger. On September 21, 1972, President Marcos imposed martial law. He abolished Congress, clamped opposition print and broadcast media, and jailed thousands of his critics. He became an absolute dictator. His presidential proclamations became the laws of the land.

In 1973, his second and final term as president should have ended. However, with martial law, Marcos continued to rule as the absolute dictator in the Philippines. Plebiscites were held during the years 1973, 1975, and 1978. However, the will of the Filipino people didn’t prevail. All the plebiscites of disputable legitimacy gave approval to the extension of martial law.

In 1978, the Philippines held elections for the legislature (the National Assembly had replaced the former Congress). Marcos’ party, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), or New Society Movement obtained three quarters of the seats in the national assembly. In 1981, Marcos formally ended martial law. However, as president, he had emergency powers. In June 1981, in an election during which many people didn’t vote, Marcos won another six-year term as president.

During the martial law era, both the administrations of U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter continued to give military and other economic aid to the Marcos administration.

In August 1983, Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., a staunch Marcos critic, went home to the Philippines from his exile in the United States. He was murdered at the Manila International Airport upon his arrival.

In February 1985, General Fabian Ver and 24 other soldiers were tried by a special court composed of what the opposition groups called “Marcos loyalists.” Ver and his soldiers were acquitted.

A so-called “snap” presidential election, proposed by President Marcos himself, was held in February 1986. Corazon Aquino, wife of the late Senator Aquino who was murdered, became Marcos’ rival candidate. Aquino, with the backing of the people, won a clear majority of the votes. However, Marcos had the National Assembly declare himself winner in the election.

A section of the military, led by Juan Ponce Enrile, Marcos’ secretary of defense, and Fidel Ramos, chief of staff of the armed forces of the Philippines, rebelled against the dictator. Due to the mass demonstrations in Manila, called “people power,” Marcos was forced to escape aboard a U.S. Air Force plane to the United States. That ended the Marcos regime and started the rule of President Aquino. Marcos died in exile in the United States.

Source: http://www.philippinenewscentral.com/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi?url=thennow.html

Antonio Luna

Antonio Luna
Born: October 29, 1866
Died: June 5, 1899

General Antonio Luna was born in Binondo, Manila to Joaquin Luna de San Pedro and Laureana Novico. He studied in a private school at age six then transferred to the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In 1881, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree then enrolled at the University of Barcelona finishing a degree in pharmacy. Luna continued studies in 1890 and obtained his doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Madrid. Luna also wrote many articles for various periodicals and magazines, both national and international. With the outbreak of the revolution, Luna and his brother Juan Luna were arrested. Antonio Luna was exiled to Spain in 1897. He studied military science in Belgium. On his return to the Philippines, General Emilio Aguinaldo appointed him director of war. He was a great military leader and founded La Independencia on September 3, 1898. Antonio Luna was assassinated in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.

Vacation

I really want this semester to end. I’m having a lot of stress because of the heavy rain, traffic and sometimes too much heat.
I wish I have a car or money to pay for a taxi, but I don’t. That’s why I have to ride ordinary bus in commuting from here to manila every weekdays. That is how it works.

I really dream of having a delightful vacation someday. My classmate will have his vacation in mexico with his family. He told me that they already had a reservation in Playa de Carmen vacation homes.
I don’t know the place.
Their family is spending a lot of money in vacation rentals. They love it, and they belive it’s worth it.
I wish I have a family like them.
I wish I can travel from one place to another without having a second thought of the money I have to spend.
Anyway, my other classmates asked me to search for a site that provides reservations and accommodations in beaches and resorts in Mexico, their organization is thinking of having their semestral break there.

I found this site Cancun Vacation rentals. I think they provide good services.

THE EARLY FILIPINOS

The Philippines, scientists believe, once was a part of Mainland China. According to the scientists, during the Ice Age, the waters surrounding the Philippines dropped to about 156 feet below the present levels, exposing large bodies of land. These became land bridges connecting the Philippines to the Asian mainland.

The Philippines, Out from the Bottom of the Sea?

In February 1976, Dr. Fritjof Voss, a German scientist who studied the geology of the Philippines, questioned the validity of this theory of land bridges. He maintained that the Philippines was never part of mainland Asia. He claimed that it arose from the bottom of the sea and, as the thin Pacific crust moved below it, continued to rise. It continues to rise today. The country lies along great Earth faults that extend to deep undersea trenches. The resulting violent earthquakes caused what is now the land masses forming the Philippines to rise to the surface of the sea.

Dr. Voss also pointed out that when scientific studies were done on the earth’s crust from 1964 to 1967, it was discovered that the 35-kilometer-thick crust underneath China does not reach the Philippines. Thus, the latter could not have been a land bridge to the Asian mainland.

When They Came, How They Came?

The traditional teaching of Philippine history in Filipino schools today has early Philippine habitants coming in waves.

In 1962, it was concluded that about 250,000 years ago, primitive men came to the Philippines from the Asian mainland. Then about 25,000 years ago came the pygmies, the small, black-skinned, squat-nosed, thick-lipped, and kinky-haired people from the south over the still remaining land bridges. (They are considered the ancestors of the Negritoes, who are, in turn, regarded as the aborigines of the Philippines.)

Around 12,000 to 15,000 years ago, another Negrito (or Aeta) migration occurred. They reached Luzon from Borneo over land bridges in Palawan and Mindoro. The submergence of the land bridges when the ice melted with the passing of time did not prevent other people from inhabiting the Philippines.

5,000 to 6,000 Years Ago?

The first Indonesians arrived by boat from Southeast Asia some 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Much later, around 1500 B.C., a second wave of Indonesians arrived. Then came the Malays in two successive waves, the first between 800 and 500 B.C. and the second, between 300 and 200 B.C. From Borneo, they traveled by sailboats and settled in the three major islands of the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Subsequent peoples who came from the start of Christianity until the present time include the Indians (Hindus), the Arabs, the Chinese, other Eastern Asians, the Europeans, and the Americans.

Who Came First?

The matter of who the first settlers were has not been really resolved. This is being disputed by anthropologists, as well as the theory of Professor H. Otley Beyer that the first inhabitants of the Philippines came from the Malay Peninsula.

The Malays now constitute the largest portion of the populace and what Filipinos now have is a Malayan culture. Anthropologist F. Landa Jocano of the University of the Philippines contends that what fossil evidence of ancient men show is that they not only migrated to the Philippines, but also to New Guinea, Borneo, and Australia. He says that there is no way of determining if they were Negritoes at all. However, what is sure is that there is evidence the Philippines was inhabited as early as 21,000 or 22,000 years ago. In 1962, a skull cap and a portion of a jaw, presumed to be those of a human being, were found in a Tabon cave in Palawan Province.

The discovery proved that man came earlier to the Philippines than to the Malay Peninsula; therefore, the first inhabitants of the former did not come from the latter.

Jocano further believes that present Filipinos are products of the long process of evolutions and movements of people. This not only holds true for Filipinos, but for the Indonesians and the Malays of Malaysia, as well. No group among the three is culturally or racially dominant. Hence, Jocano says that it is not correct to attribute the Filipino culture as being Malay in orientation.

According to Jocano’s findings, the peoples of the prehistoric islands of Southeast Asia were of the same population as the combination of human evolution that occurred in the islands of Southeast Asia about 1.9 million years ago. The proofs of this are fossil materials found in different parts of the region and the movements of other peoples from the Asian mainland during historic times.

He states that these ancient men cannot be categorized under any of the historically identified ethnic groups (Malays, Indonesians, Filipinos) of today.

Some Filipino ethnic groups were pagans while others were Muslims. The pagans were converted to Christianity by the Spaniards. The Americans later arrived and introduced further cultural changes, which made the Filipinos more and more different from the peoples of other Southeast Asian countries.

Cuyo Palawan

Palawan, made up of 1,768 islands, is the second largest province of the Philippines. Its total land area is spread between the main island where the capital city Puerto Princesa is located and among the peripheral islands of Busuanga, Culion, Linacapan, Dumaran, Cagayanes, Balabac, and group of about 40 islets and islands collectively known as Cuyo.

Cuyo is divided into two island groups. Up north is the Quiniluban group to which Pamalican island is part and where the 89-hectare, ultra-exclusive Amanpulo Resort belongs. To the south are the Cuyo islands, where the village of Cuyo is located.

An hour and 30 minutes by air and 24 hours by sea from Manila, Cuyo is a fourth-class municipality composed of 17 barangays. With a population of 18,257 people (2000 census), it is one of the unexploited islands in the country. Home to a fort—which shelters a church and a convent in its high stone walls—constructed during the Spanish period to protect its population from Moro pirates, Cuyo has one of the most ancient forts in the Philippines. Incidentally, Cuyo was the second capital of Palawan from 1873 to 1903.

An island where flowers do not grow due to the coastal climate and strong seasonal winds, Cuyo is nonetheless a place blessed with nature’s beauty. Secluded and quiet, it is covered with cashew and coconut trees that gracefully sway to the wind. Thick clumps of bamboo abound. And of course, the vast blue seas—home to a myriad of corals and sea creatures—that seem extend to eternity.

The island would appeal to hardy, outdoor types of people who enjoy taking walks, swimming, and discovering a unique local culture, rather than indulging in material pleasures. And forget five-star hotels: There is only one on the island—Cuyo Place. Cuyonons live on the basics and hardly complain. They are very resourceful and have found ways to make the best of what they have, like making tuba from coconut, and cashew brittle their specialties. Life is slow, timeless, and the epitome of “rural living” in its simplicity, the kind that grows on people who visit the island.