Discover the Beauty of Batangas

Just 70 miles south of the Philippines’ capital Manila, Batangas province has emerged as one of the country’s most popular travel destinations thanks to its easy accessibility and wealth of natural and cultural attractions. Its combination of inland hills and beautiful tropical coastline has earned it the nickname ‘Land of Rolling Hills and Wide Shore Lands.’

Highlights range from the world class scuba diving at Anilao (Mabini) to trekking and climbing on Mount Maculot and the sublime volcanic environment of Mount Taal and Taal Lake. Batangas’ South China Sea coast provides some of the northern Philippines’ nicest beaches. Offshore islands such as Tingloy, Ligpo and Verde Island offer even more choices for beach lovers and water enthusiasts. The excellent year-round climate makes all these outdoor excursions a treat no matter when you come.

Batangas isn’t just sand and mountains, however. The province also has some charming colonial towns which reflect the country’s Spanish era. Head to Taal, Calaca and the main urban hub of Batangas City and you’ll find plenty of old houses and churches dating back to the colonial era. If there’s one site that really stands out, however, it must be Taal and its petite volcano and amazing lake within a lake. A handful of resort towns are spread out along its shores, and Taal itself is famous for its hand embroidered products and status as one of the Philippines’ two best-preserved Spanish colonial sites.

Ecotourism has become the preferred mode of development in Batangas, which is a boon for travellers looking for natural and cultural integrity. Although Batangas is best known for its top-notch beach resorts, there are an ever-increasing number of decent hotels in the main towns and around Lake Taal.

Charismatic jeepneys will haul you around the province at your leisure, while tricycle rickshaws provide in-town service. Manila’s international airport receives visitors from around the globe and is just a short hop from Batangas. While you’re here, be sure and try some of the region’s famous baraco coffee, which is rich and robust, and take home a souvenir of the delicate embroidery created in locally woven pina and jujsi fibres.

History

Centuries before the arrival of the first Europeans, Batangas was a thriving centre of trade and transport. The Pansipit River, which is a major waterway in the Philippines, was lined with native settlements populated by descendants of the datus of Borneo. Archaeological evidence has shown that these early people were actively trading with the Chinese from the 13^th to the 15^th century. As the Bornean datus consolidated themselves, they established the first Malay village at the mouth of the Taal River.

Two Spanish generals who were exploring the coast along Batangas province stumbled upon this Malay settlement along the Taal River in 1570. They asserted their influence over the town and by 1572 had built the area’s first stone church and convent. Batangas City itself was founded in 1581, and Lipa and Balayan followed soon after. After its resident volcano devastated the town of Taal, the capital of the province was moved to Batangas in 1754, where it remains today.

Batangas was one of the first Philippine provinces to rebel against Spanish rule in 1896. It was during the ensuing Spanish-American War that the region produced some of the nation’s most important revolutionaries such as Apolinario Mabini, the ‘Brains of the Revolution’, and General Miguel Malvar, who was the last Filipino general to surrender to the Americans. This led Batangas to become known as the ‘cradle of heroes and nationalists’. Today, the region still has a political edge to it, but tourism has become an increasingly important aspect of life in this beautiful and diverse region of the Philippines.

Weather

As in the much of the Philippines, Batangas enjoys a three season climate. Conditions remain balmy throughout the year, with an average annual temperature hovering around 28°C. Continual sea breezes help to cool off the otherwise warm and humid air, making the weather more pleasant here than in other parts of the country. In fact, Batangas is known for its naturally cool climate.

The rainy season runs from June to September, with a peak in precipitation during the month of July. Be sure to bring good rain gear if you visit during the summer. The coolest and most pleasant time of year falls between October and February, when the skies dry up and temperatures average 24°C. Evenings can get rather chilly during the winter, especially in the interior highlands. The hot season from March to May is the driest time of the year. Temperatures regularly hit 38°C, although the coastal communities enjoy sea breezes.

The proud of Boholanon

The province of Bohol is an island haven tucked away in the Filipino region of Visayas. This is one of the largest of more than 7,000 islands that comprise the Philippines, and it consistently draws tourists with its natural beauty, hilly interior and long stretches of white, sandy beaches.

Nested as it is in the midst of Vasayas, Bohol has long been a protected centre of culture and politics. Locals proudly refer to the island as the ‘Republic of Bohol', and citizens of this island historically staged revolts during periods of Spanish, US and Japanese occupation.

Life on Bohol's beaches is the number one draw card for tourism here. Crystal clear waters and outstanding coral reefs have helped the island gain clout within the diving community. Dolphins and whales also frequent these waters, some in-season and others year-round, giving visitors an added incentive to head out to sea. Whale sightings are most frequent between March and June.

Another unique form of wildlife on Bohol is the tiny tarsier. Once widespread throughout most of the earth's northern hemisphere, these miniature primates are now confined to a few islands in Southeast Asia. Bohol is among these fortunate isles, and the Tarsier Visitors Centre has captive-bred and wild tarsiers onsite for easy viewing.

From fauna to flora to geographical marvels, there is much to see on Bohol. The ‘chocolate hills’ outside the town of Carmen are the most sought after landmark on Bohol. There are well over 1,000 of these unique geological formations, which legend holds were formed in a fight between two giants. The candy-shaped mounds turn a rich, chocolate brown during the dry season.

Accommodation across the island enjoys a wide breadth of variety. Many of the larger, mainstream hotels are found in the provincial capital of Tagbilaran City. Modern resorts dot the coastline, with the greatest concentration found offshore on Panglao Island.

Often overshadowed by Cebu Island and its other neighbours, Bohol is a fascinating place with many unique attractions that can’t be found anywhere else on earth. No matter where tourists venture, they're never far from an idyllic white-sand beach, and the ubiquitous Filipino knack for hospitality often keeps visitors here much longer than they planned.

boracay the beautiful place for relaxation

Years ago, Boracay Island was a well-guarded secret, almost possessively so that only a few knew of its existence.

It was only in the 70's when, it is said, a foreign movie crew accidentally "discovered" this island paradise. Others maintain that it was the German traveller, Jens Peters' book, which included rave reviews of Boracay that changed the island’s pace from that of being a quiet secret to eventually being voted (like many other beaches in the Asian region, such as Railay Beach in Krabi, Thailand, to name but one) as having the best beach in the world.

Whichever story is true, it was around this time that Boracay Island slowly ceased to be a private travellers hangout and eventually became a favourite tourist destination in the Philippines. In a span of a mere 10 years, the whole world, it seemed, discovered Boracay and the once, nearly deserted stretch of beach became a teeming vacation and leisure spot for upscale tourists from all parts of the world.

While its powder-soft white sand beaches and clear cool waters provide the main attraction, tourists and guests will be relieved to know that Boracay's allure does not end there. Modern-day facilities now line the 3.5km White Beach along the west coast. There are restaurants, disco's and bars plus souvenir shops and others selling local bric-brac and the inevitable dive shops catering to those interested in the underwater splendours as well as those on land.

Boracay is literally teeming with life. Some of its privacy may have been lost with the deluge of visitors it attracts every year, but it doesn't seem to matter. People from as far as Europe continue to flock to its brilliant shores and aquamarine waters. Its popularity serves as an added attraction for both old-timers and newcomers, enhancing rather than diminishing its allure.

The serene ambiance of the place commands respect and this allows for true relaxation and some semblance of privacy, too, since there are no loud commotions and aside from lapping of the waves and the distant drone of the occasional motorboat, virtual quite is still prevalent.

The island paradise was born when a reef platform attached to north-western Panay Island rose and revealed two islets. Located at the north-western tip of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea, Boracay Island is naturally sheltered from the fierce easterly typhoons. It is seven km long and only one km across its narrowest point. Its has three villages, namely; Yapak in the North, Balabag in the middle, and Manoc-Manoc in the south, and numerous small sitios, all linked together by a maze of paths.

Rolling terrain, with hilly elevations of up to 100 meters above sea level, characterizes Yapak and Manoc-Manoc. The intertwining trails, while connecting the villages together, sometimes lead to lush tropical jungles, a rich and crucial attribute of Boracays ecology and one that like its underwater treasures, beg discovery.