To regionalize the festivity, Samal Island’s Caracoles Festival organizers will now celebrate the festival in Davao City.

The first, third, and fourth Caracoles Festival were all held in Samal Island. The past Caracoles Festival was held in Penaplata, a district in the Island Garden City of Samal, as in the past, the festival is held in venues located near and along the white sand beaches.

Davao Region Tourism Council (DRTC) chair Alma Uy said for years, the Caracoles Festival has been identified with the Island Garden City of Samal.

But this year, the Island Garden City of Samal which is famous for its white sand beaches, yields the festivities to Davao City in time for the celebration of the World Ocean Year in May.

This year’s 5th Caracoles Festival in April will be held side by side with the Dive Davao Festival which highlights the Dive Caravan.

The event will take place in various diving sites in the whole of Davao Region, including Samal. The organizers also aims to build awareness on how people can take part on the Davao Gulf preservation and conservation.

Philippine government once again declared long holidays for 2009 and Its time to plan for your next vacation, So where do you plan to go?

Traveling gives total relaxation for frequent travelers like us and it also provides livelihood to the locals so that only means you are not only enjoying your vacation but you are also providing means of income to our fellow filipinos.

Where to Go?

Vigan : Calle Crisologo

As a frequent traveler, I suggest you explore our local destinations first before visiting other countries because theres so much beauty and adventure thats waiting for you to experience. If you want to visit familiar places like Boracay, Palawan, Davao, Cebu, Bohol, Vigan, Baguio and Manila - make sure to travel with friends or relatives for you to minimize your travel expenses. Continue Reading

Every Year, Aliwan Festival is being celebrated in Manila to showcase the Philippines best of the best festival street dancers from differnt parts of the Philippines. 

Cotabato Shariff Kabunsuan Festival (Not Participating)

Out of Town blog is happy to share to you this years list of Aliwan Street Dancing Festival Official Contingents. Heres the list in no particular order : Continue Reading

On the western side of this mountain municipality rich with marble deposits, the mystic Mt. Arayat towers over the vast plains of Central Luzon while on the eastern part lies the mountain range known as “Kristong Nakahiga” which on a clear day resembles a gigantic “sleeping Christ.”

Nestled in Sitio Balingkupang within the perimeter of the historic Biak na Bato mountain ranges, “Banal na Bundok” has become a favorite destination of tourists, devotees and local folks during Holy Week in the past 10 years

According to Ma. Divinia D. Quetua, head of the Bulacan Tourism Office, the multitudes of devotees and tourists began to flock to “Banal na Bundok” every Lenten season after Mayor Roderick Tiongson, then the vice mayor of this town, claimed he and other residents saw several apparitions on the site since 1999.

Tiongson said that on one occasion, he and three companions went to the top of “Banal na Bundok” for a Lenten retreat. He said like other devotees, he asked the Lord to give him a sign that would further strengthen his resolve in serving the people of his town.

At around 3 p.m. on Good Friday in 1999, he said they saw thousands of eagles hovering above the clouds on the top of the mountain. Continue Reading

Yesterday, Nina and I went to Pier 15 to checkout MV Doulos Floating library. Carrying 330 volunteers from 50 countries, MV Doulos crews don’t just sell books, they also reach out to prisoners and orphans by conducting short educational programs and providing hope and inspirations to each country they visit.

All of the volunteers on the ship receive no compensation, they even paid USD400 in the spirit of volunteerism. I love doing volunteer jobs, It feels good to help and it’s certainly priceless.  It was so humid yesterday but our visit was truly memorable, we were lucky since we did not wait too long to board the ship.

Floating Bookstore in Manila

This is the 7th consecutive year that the Floating Bookstore visited the Philippines and sad to say but this will be the last. MV Doulos and it’s ambassadors of goodwill will bid farewell next year as the 93 year old ship is scheduled to retire next year. Continue Reading

This year Panaad sa Negros will be celebrating its 16th year of never ending festivities showcasing the best of Negros Occidental.

April 15  Wednesday     Prelude
  *Lin-ay sang Negros 2009 Press Presentation
  (4 p.m., Event Centre, North Wing, SM City)

April 17  Friday      Prelude
*Food Fair, DJ Musical Show Off, Auto Audio Sound Off,
  Drum Beating Contest (Capitol Building Driveway, until Saturday, April 18)
*Palumba Session 2 (PAL Bacolod Airport, until Sunday, April 19)
*Panaad Festival Costumes Exhibit  at SM City
 (Opening: 4 p.m. April 17, runs until April 26, mall hours at North Wing Lobby)

April 18  Saturday      Day 1
6:00 a.m. Hataw sa Panaad w/ Ching’s Group (Football Field)
6:30 a.m.  5th Panaad sa Negros National Mountain Bike Race (Alangilan – Granada area)
8:00 a.m. Panaad Thanksgiving Mass (2F Stadium)
  National Golf Tournament – Vice Mayor’s League of the Phils. (NOGCC Marapara, until April 19)
9:00 a.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies for:  
Panaad Tourism & Trade Fair @ LGU Pavilions (daily) Continue Reading

The Pangasinan Pistay Dayat 2009 will kick off on April 25 with a fluvial parade at 8:00 a.m. along the Agno River and a boodle fight (the soldier’s way of eating) at lunchtime for all participants set at Salasa, Bugallon.

This was announced by Butch Velasco, provincial information officer, who said the summer spectacle, lasting up to May 2, is infused with so much social relevance dedicated to children, teenagers and adults.

Velasco said these will be done along with the opening at 4:00 p.m. of the Pangasinan Tourism and Trade Expo, featuring the best products of every municipality and city in Pangasinan.

A Drum and Lyre/Drum and Bugle exhibition dubbed as “Banda Parada” from the Capitol Plaza to the Lingayen Beachfront will also be held during the opening day. Continue Reading

Once again, Best of the Best Philippine Festival Street dancers are joining Aliwan Fiesta 2009 which will be held on April 23-25 in CCP Complex Manila. Several local government units are expected to send their delegation and showcase their own festival in the upcoming grandest celebration of Festivals in the country.

Aliwan Festival will feature competitions in Streetdance, float design and the beauty pageant called Reyna ng Aliwan 2009. Photograpers will also get a chance to join the yealy Aliwan Photo Competition.

The Aliwan Fiesta is an annual project of Manila Broadcasting Company with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Cities of Manila and Pasay. Continue Reading

After meeting the ever enthusiastic CDO bloggers headed by Chiq Montes and having lunch @ Bigbys, we headed to the Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro. With my cool travel companions, we rented a jeepney to bring us to Cagayan de Oro’s cultural hub.

Gardens of Malasag Eco Tourism Village Entrance

My first visit to this place was a couple of years ago during the National White Water Rafting competition and I was lucky to be invited by the former DOT Secretary Richard Gordon along with fellow local travel writers and photographers with the goal of promoting the eco-tourism activities in Cagayan de Oro City. Continue Reading

SEAIR now flies daily to Batanes to serve tourists to this beautiful northern paradise. Visitors now have full flexibility on their itinerary and have more options on what day they want to go to Batanes and return to Manila.

The flights utilize SEAIR’s Dornier 328 planes which take vacationers comfortably to Batanes in just 1 hour and 20 minutes.

For bookings please call SEAIR reservations at (632)8490100 or book online at www.flyseair.com. For packages please call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at (632)8437308