By Pepper Marcelo

Experiencing the country in different ways. That is the mantra that local tour operators and the Department of Tourism (DOT) are conveying to foreign and domestic tourists interested in exploring the archipelago. The “Philippine Travel Mart,” was held recently to showcase prime destinations, special tour packages and other travel opportunities to prospective buyers and consumers. It was co-sponsored by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) and the DOT.

Whether it be touring the city of Manila by boat on the Pasig River, or partaking in an exotic, culinary-themed tour of Pampanga, or engaging in more physically-oriented activities in typical relaxation areas such as Boracay, repeat clients and visitors are being offered a more adventurous, unique tourism experience.

“Yung ganda ng bansa is everywhere,” says Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano. “However, what has been happening in the last three years is that a lot new places have been developed. A lot of new places are part of the mainstream tourism traffic of the country already. People want to get new information before exploring, and this is the place.”

In 2008, the DOT and PHILTOA formulated a National Ecotourism Strategy Initiative to provide an assortment of new activities to entice tourists and to promote the protection and conservation of the environment as well.

“We’re proudly showing to the world that we’re taking care of the environment,” says Cesar Cruz, general manger of PHILTOA. “Eco-activities are nature based. You have to have good rivers, good forests and a good habitat for wild animals and flora and fauna.”

In 2009, the DOT and PHILTOA developed 24 adventure tour packages, also called modules, with specialized themes and concepts building on what each province and region can to offer. For example, for surfing and kayaking enthusiasts, there’s “Paddle & Surf” in Pangasinan’s Hundred Islands, as well as in La Union and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. On kayak boats, tourists could go explore coves and islets. And though the country is not known to be a premier destination for surfing, the coastal towns of La Union offer several spots promising consistent “waves and breaks.”

For those that want both a land and sea escapade, “Crawl & Row” offers spelunking (or cave exploring) at Nueva Vizcaya’s Capisanan Cave System, as well as whitewater rafting at the Chico River in the Cordilleras. Then there’s Sagada in Mountain Province with caves so deep they appear to extend down to the ends of the earth. Also up north in Tuguegarao is the famous Callao cave, and down south, in Palawan, there is the St. Paul National Park with its caves that can be explored through the underground river.

Also popular among trekkers and trail-hikers is Mt. Pinatubo, which traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, where one can view the spectacular landscape. The area is also very popular among 4X4 enthusiasts who enjoy riding through creeks, dunes and rocks.

For a more immersive, cultural experience, there’s “Every Island, an Adventure,” with a wide assortment of activities the whole family can enjoy. Unique activities include oyster gathering in Calamianes Group of Islands and a safari tour of Calauit Game Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, both in Palawan.

Not for the faint-hearted, there’s “Tuna, Tubing & Tibolis” in Sarangani province with its local version of the bouncy, soaking, white-water rafting, called “tubing” (where instead of a traditional raft, the passengers sit on recycled rubber tires).

For its part, Cebu has a number of beautiful islands to explore. Famous beaches like those in Sumilon, Malapascua, Camotes and Bantayan islands present a variety of physically-oriented prospects, such as jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling and banana boat riding.

Farther down south, Davao is a popular locale for extreme sports, with activities like hiking, trekking, snorkeling, diving, bungee-jumping, bird-watching, island-hopping and camping. There’s the “Highlands to Islands” tour, which consists of a tuna dinner, Philippine Eagle and wildlife tour, mountain biking and zip-­lining on the longest zipline in the region.

Other specialized-theme activities for tourists include, but are not limited to, “Rafting & Rappelling,” which encompasses whitewater rafting, zipline and cultural immersion in Cagayan de Oro and rappelling in Camiguin; “Hike & Wave,” which consist of wakeboarding in Camarines Sur and climbing Mt. Mayon in Albay; the “Bicol Xpress,” which also includes wakeboarding in Camarines Sur, but with the added bonus of a whale-shark interaction tour in Donsol; and “Rock & Surf,” which consists of rock-climbing in Atimonan and surfing in Daet.

Activities are not limited to sports. There are also special educational opportunities for visitors to interact with local residents and learn about indigenous cultures such as that of the T’boli tribe of Lake Sebu in Mindanao.

“Tourists can have the chance to do a cultural diversion, to live with the natives and learn from them,” says Cruz. “It’s a very educational and positive activity.”

Durano says he has sampled every tour adventure module and thoroughly enjoyed them. “I like being outdoors and experiencing nature in different ways. Whether it be spelunking, rappelling, or kayaking, I enjoy experiencing things with some physical activity.”

Cruz says that it’s not only foreigners that are getting into these activities, but the locals as well. “More and more of our countrymen are beginning to appreciate them. Even surfing, it used to be an unknown activity here. But now, you go to places like La Union, you see Filipinos conducting surfing clinics.”

With rural provinces and islands naturally getting most of the attention due to their exotic and relaxing atmosphere, Metro Manila has been gradually losing its appeal. To prop up its touristy draw, the government and the private sector have teamed up to introduce the Pasig River Travel Cruise, a unique way of touring the metropolis aboard air-conditioned boats that cruise the Pasig. Besides providing a different view of the city, peripheral tours corresponding to each station destination have been developed. At the Binondo station, for example, tourists can embark the boat and go on a culinary walking tour of Chinatown. In historic Sta. Ana, there’s the Heritage Tour, where visitors can explore archeological finds and heritage structures. On Lawton, there’s the “Manila Madness Tour,” where shoppers can visit the nearby tiangges and malls. Last, but not least, there’s the Walled City of Intramuros, with its own distinct historical walking tour.

No matter the location or one’s preference — whether to relax and simply enjoy the view and breeze, or engage in the most strenuous of physical adventures — the Philippines has it.

“A lot of our kababayans abroad, when they left the country, the tourism industry in the country was still in its infancy stage,” says Durano. “It’s not in their minds that if they want to have a good experience during a vacation, they can do it here in the Philippines. Today, they can do that. In the past, people would just come home to visit their friends and family. You can do that and at the same time have some ‘R and R.’ There are so many places and things you can do here.”

By Amadís Ma. Guerrero

“THE Philippines is a smorgasbord of world-class dive sites, being the center of the coral triangle around 400 types of corals which highlight the most diverse and marine-rich waters on earth. We have 2,000 species of marine life. We are Asia’s dive capital.”

The rousing assessment is from Dr. Ted T. Esguerra, diver, wilderness physician, and a ranking official of the Philippine Coast Guard, in an interview with Planet Philippines. He added, “We are encouraging resorts, divers, dive shops owners and instructors to practice responsible diving protocols.”

Esguerra, Doc Ted to associates and subordinates, also spoke during a seminar on safe diving at Camp Crame. Participants were taught how to prevent decompressing illness, perforated eardrums, stings and sharp bites from poisonous marine animals, minimizing risks in diving, and organizing local search and rescue operations for missing divers.

“A sting from a jellyfish (dikya) may be harmless but it can also be extremely dangerous,” he noted.

Doc Ted also warned divers against going up rapidly, and competing with the bubbles. “The gas may induce stroke-like symptoms, signs,” he said. “The gas may go out of your blood vessels into the tissues of the body. This is life-threatening, marami ang namamatay (many have died) due to barotraumas related to diving. There is a growing incidence of this.”

He hastened to add, however, that “diving is not really that dangerous. It’s wholesome fun as long as you go by the rules.”

From Anilao, Batangas down, the Philippines is a haven for domestic as well as foreign divers.

Anilao is recommended by tourism authorities because the small marine creatures are among the most diverse in the world. Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro is for deeper dives and big reef fish. Another famous getaway, Boracay Island, is ideal for beginner divers, and promises to be a fun-learning experience.

Only for experienced scuba divers is Tubbataha Reef off Palawan, which is the Philippine showpiece as far as diving is concerned. Tubbataha is, in fact, a World Heritage destination, and a candidate for the new Seven Wonders of the World along with Palawan’s Underground River.

There’s also Apo Reef Natural Park off Occidental Mindoro and Apo Island near Negros Oriental. Moalboal is the best known diving destination in Cebu, and has attracted little communities of international divers. Also in Cebu is Mactan Island, a major tourist destination with many five-star hotels.

For this travel writer, there is no more attractive place in the country than Northern Palawan. There are many dive sites, along with splendid natural scenery and upscale beach resorts, in El Nido, Taytay and Coron.

In Puerto Galera, the recommended dive sites are Escareo Point (Lighthouse Point), the Canyons, and Shark Cave. The Canyons start from “the hole in the wall” at a shallow 40 feet (12 meters) and you descend to an awesome 90 feet (27 meters). Here, migrating large fish abound, divers report.

The Shark Caves consist of a series of caves which go down to 80 feet, and whose dark crevices are the homes and breeding grounds of white-tip sharks. Medio Point, on the other hand, offers a lot of flora and fauna.

The major dive sites of Balicasag (90 minutes by boat from Tagbilaran City) are the Cathedral, Black Forest, and Diver’s Haven.

The Cathedral is actually a cave with soft corals and sand formations- which look like flowers- on top. From about 20 feet down, the cave drops off to a depth of 60 feet.

The Black Forest is filled with corals which look black from a distance and has a natural garden of sea ferns almost six feet tall. Divers’ Haven has three currents which crisscross one another. When we were there, the dive master was instructing neophyte divers not to go against the current, but just to drift from one current to another, as these are not really that strong.

The island can be enjoyed even if you are not a diver (and I’m not), as it is a picturesque area in a province known for its ecotourist attractions. Within Balicasay live a local community, and they can be persuaded to perform some native dances for visitors.

Anilao in Batangas is another divers’ delight, and is very popular as it is only three hours away from Manila.

There are many resorts here, including Eagle Point and Vistamar Beach Resort. At the latter resort, the dive master was telling us anybody can be a diver as long as he or she is healthy, a good swimmer who doesn’t panic easily (some say you don’t even have to be a good swimmer), knows how to follow the rules, and is aged 13 up.

There are actually more than 50 diving sites off the Anilao-Mabini-San Jose coast, and one of these is also known as the Cathedral because many years a diving team placed a cross there. The marine life at Anilao boasts of “multitudes of fishes, thousands of them,” said Vistamar owner-diver C.B. Leobrera. “Lots of coral, shells, flowers. There is so much life, there are so many beautiful things under the sea.”