Travel Freaks, The long wait is over! Its time to destroy your Piggy banks and go to the Annual Bodega Sale and avail great discounts of up to 80% off on selected items.

The Primer Annual Bodega Sale will be on on July 26 – 31, 2010. Due to last years popular demand, they extended the sale for another couple of days. I hope they will do the same this year:)

Get super discounted price of your favorite brands like Kickers, Delsey, Sanuk, The North Face, Jansport, Samsonite and other products.

Entrance fee of P50 to get you in, make sure to go there early since a lot of people are waiting for this yearly event…

Primer Annual Bodega Sale
July 26 (Monday) to 30 (Friday) – 11am to 7pm
July 31 (Saturday) – 10am to 3pm
G/F State Center Building (333 Juan Luna St. Binondo, Manila

The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) in cooperation with the Philippine Department of Tourism will hold the 21st Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) at the Mega Trade Halls of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City on September 3-5, 2010.

PTM 2010

Every year the PTM showcases top travel destinations in the country as well as other parts of the world. Philippine Travel Mart 2010 is still the country’s biggest travel, tourism and trade show in the Philippines and is spearheaded by the Philippine Tour Operators Association.

The upcoming tourism event is expected to be flocked by tourism industry players, particularly travel agencies, hotel, resorts, transportation companies, handicraft stores, and other tourism-oriented establishments and associations.

By visiting the Philippines Biggest Travel Fair, you can purchase discounted local and international tour packages, cheap airline tickets and avail various hotel promotions. 

For Inquiries you may contact :
Philippine Tour Operators Association
Unit 1806 18th Floor, Cityland10, Tower 1, H.V. Dela Costa St. Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227 Philippines
Tel. No. (632) 812-4513
Fax No. 632) 817-4608 Email: philtoagroup@yahoo.com
Website: www.philtoa.org

Congratulations to WeekendHaven.com for winning in our last months “Why do you need Packsafe?” contest.

For this month we are giving away Slingsafe 200 Anti-Theft Sling Purse – a sling type bag worth Php2,750.00. How to Join? Just share personal tips on how to travel safe and light?

Slingsafe 200 Anti-Theft Sling Purse

Traveling light seems to be everyones goal each time we pack our bags for our next trip but we always end up bringing so many things that we dont even need. This contest is open to all Philippine based bloggers regardless of the Blog niche coz we all travel right? Continue Reading

If you are yearning to know what a living in paradise really feels like, consider a trip to Coron Palawan..

Calachuchi Beach

Coron is a small fishing town located on the southeast part of the Busuanga Island. The town is kept alive by the fishing and tourism industry  and has been labeled as one of the world’s famous wrek diving destination. Continue Reading

You trip to Coron Palawan will not be complete without  visiting the Maquinit Hot Springs, especially if you have been physically active swimming, island hopping, diving, hiking etc. If you think that Coron is just a Summer Getaway then think again, you can enjoy Coron’s famous hot springs during rainy season as well. Adventure is endless here:)

Maquinit Salt Water Hot Spring in Coron

What makes Maquinit Salt Water Hot Spring different? It  is the only known saltwater hot spring in the Philippines and probably the only one in Asia. The hot spring is just about 25 minutes from the town center and is perfectly located between a hill and the blue sea whose shores are lined with mangrove trees and floating bamboo cottages. You can reach the place after your island hopping activity since your boat can duct right near the mangroves or you can reach the resort by land by hiring a tricycle. Continue Reading

Book Lovers will soon unite again at the SMX Convention Center on September 15-19 for the upcoming Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), the biggest and longest-running book fair in the Philippines, which turns 31 this year.

Manila International Book Fair 2010

For three decades now, MIBF has been a one-stop shop for local and foreign publishers, wholesalers, retailers, book lovers and collectors, librarians, authors, and publishers’ representatives. It has also continuously contributed to the reading awareness of the Filipino by being the venue for book launches, dialogues with readers, and other book-related activities that reach out to a wide audience.

Manila International Book Fair 2010 showcases the largest and most varied collection of literature, textbooks, educational supplements, general references, religious and inspirational titles, self-help books, management books, Filipiniana, coffee table books, popular novels, children’s books, art books, graphic novels, rare and hard-to-find titles, magazines, audio and e-books, multimedia, teaching supplies and services, publishers’ technology, and travel materials.

Students can avail of books at lower-than bookstore prices, while teachers and school administrators can compare offerings from various exhibitors and get the best prices for bulk purchases.

Youngsters can look forward to story-telling sessions, puppet shows, reading-related contests, robotic demonstrations, a parade of exhibitors’ mascots and cosplayers of their favorite book characters. Classes can also enlist in special seminars and workshops available round the clock at the Manila International Book Fair, while the young and old alike can enjoy mini-concerts or meet-and-greet sessions with well-known and up-and-coming authors and illustrators.

Showcasing a huge number of books and learning materials are A-Z Direct Marketing, Abiva Publishing House, Academic Book Sales, Adarna House, Adbox Book Distributors, Alexan Commercial, Anvil Publishing, Arc N Ciel, Asia/Pacific Circulation Exponents, Ateneo de Manila University Press, Bayard Assumption Media Foundation, Belview Co., Inc., Book Trends Enterprises, Bookwagon (Pahina, Inc.), C & E Publishing, Cambridge University Press, Catholic Book Center, CD Books International, Cengage Learning Asia, Central Book Supply, Christian Literature Crusade, Church Strengthening Ministry, Claretian Communications Foundation, Diwa Learning Systems, EDCA Publishing & Distributing, Edcrisch International, Emerald Headway Distributors, Eternal Publications, Evangelical Outreach, F & J de Jesus, Fastbooks Educational Supply, Felta Multimedia, Forefront Book Co., and Fujian Publishing Industry Trading.

Also present at the fair are Global Learning Media, Goethe-Institut Philippinen, Golden Books Services, Goodwill Bookstore, Grolier Scholastic-Cyclophil, Gunnar Lie & Associates, High Access Line Philippines, IBC Infotech, Ibon Foundation, Ilaw ng Tahanan Publishing, Image Builders Services and Publishing Foundation, Info-Ed Marketing, Instituto Cervantes-Manila, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, Jesuit Communications, John Wiley & Sons (Asia), Katha Publishing, Lauterbach, Lighthouse Educational Corp., Lighthouse Inspirational Books & Gifts, Linar Educational Materials, Lippinocott Williams & Wilkins, Lyric Piano & Organ Corp., McGraw-Hill Education, Megatexts Philippines, Merriam & Webster Bookstore, Mind Mover Publishing House, National Book Development Board, National Bookstore, National Historical Institute, New Century Books & Gen. Merchandise, New Day Publishers, OMF Literature, Omnibooks International, Overseas Publishers Representatives Association of the Philippines (OPRAP), Paulines Publishing House, Pearson Education, Philippine Bible Society, Philippine Christian Literature, Philmont Academic Solutions, Phoenix Educational Systems, Precious Pages Corporation and PSIcom Publishing.

Rounding up the list of exhibitors are Rarebook Enterprises, Reader’s Knowledge Book Store, Rex Bookstore, Saint Mary’s Publishing, Sage Publications, Shepherd House Publishers, Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Sinag-Tala Publishers, St. Pauls, Summit Media, The Bookmark, Tradewinds Books, University of Sto. Tomas Publishing House, University of the Philippines Press, Vibal Publishing, Word & Life Publications, and WS Pacific Publications.

Co-located at the MIBF is Edu.Shop, a trade fair for school materials, supplies, equipment, and facilities. Other co-located events include SuperKids 2010 (Sept. 17-18, Function Room 3), an early childhood educational fair that will showcase focused discussions, learning sessions and workshops that will equip parents, guardians, educators and adults with the latest in child care and development, parenting and education, and cool activities for children.; JobFest 2010 (Sept. 16-17, Function Room 4), a career fair that gathers the country’s leading employers in search for the best additions to their rapidly growing teams; ACCESS: The 2nd Philippine English Language Conference (Sept. 16-17, Function Rooms 1 and 2); and The Best of Anime (Sept. 19, Function Room 5), a festival featuring anime exhibits, gaming, cosplay,concert and special activities that will thrill anime and manga enthusiasts.

2010 Manila International Book Fair runs from Sept. 15-19 at the SMX Convention Center, Seashell Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. MIBF is organized by Primetrade Asia, Inc. in partnership with Asian Catholic Communicators, Inc., Book Development Association of the Philippines, Philippine Booksellers Association, Inc., and Publishers Representatives Organization of the Philippines. For details, call 890-0661 or 896-0682, or e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com.

For those who want to get away from the tourist crowds at White Beach and see what tropical paradise really means. These are my favorite secret spots on Boracay Island. Don’t tell!

Cagban Beach

Cagban Beach. (Treasure Chest Beach) is a calm and peaceful place where the water meets amazing limestone caves. More than a few stories of pirates, Spanish gold, and treasure being hidden here so don’t be surprised if you run into some local kids digging in the sand. They’re not looking for clams, they’re looking for treasure! LOL Continue Reading

Boracay is a small island in the Philippines and it sits about 200 kilometers from the Capital – Manila. It is known as a popular international tourist destination for beach lovers, but it’s also more than that. Once you get away from the very touristy areas around White Beach, what you find are mellow locals, great prices, delicious Filipino cuisine, and yes…plenty of amazing beaches perfect for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sun bathing, and letting life happen instead of rushing to control it.

Fresh Buko Juice

I found myself wondering if it was possibly real as I sat on the fine white sands under the shade of a waving palm tree sipping the water from an ice cold coconut and talking with new friends about life, travel, philosophy, cultural differences and what to do on a lazy Tuesday morning with the entire day spread out before me like a magic butterfly shaped island, which, by the way, Boracay Island is. Continue Reading

I just set foot in the island an hour ago so don’t bother asking how long am I stranded here in the island:) Oh Well, If I were to pick the perfect place to be stranded, certainly it would be Boracay Island with it’s amazing white beaches, not so laid back population, and water that sparkles like emeralds.

Best Beach in the World

These days the secret is out about Boracay and it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Visayas if not in the entire Philippines. I’m not all that crazy about most ‘top tourist destination’ designated spots in the Philippines or anywhere else, Boracay is different. Somehow it absorbs the crowds, makes them a part of the local scene, and allows both the locals and visitors to wake up each morning with recharged batteries, restored youthful vigor… and sandy flip-flops.

Boracay : Birds Eyeview

If you learned about Boracay by watching your favorite TV celebrity enjoying the powdery sand and turquoise waters, then let me share you one of the islands interesting facts. The original people of Boracay were the Ati tribe, one of many Negrito people who populate the islands of the Philippines and other countries in Asia.

Kids Pastime in Boracay

The Ati had Boracay mostly to themselves until 1956 when it was admitted as an independent province called Aklan. A small number of tourists began visiting and in the 1970′s the flood gates opened. No one is really sure what happened, Boracay certainly wasn’t any different from other island in the country, suddenly it was firmly placed on the tourist maps of both Filipino Travelers and International Travelers. Resorts emerged, tourist trades developed, and places like White Beach became no fishing zones.

Under the Coconut Tree

Whenever I’ve come to Boracay though, I steer clear of a lot of the tourist places. The island is filled with resorts, hotels, guest houses, hostels, and tourist shops, but if you know where to look you can still find a Nipa Hut or maybe stay with friends in one of the barangays.

And another great thing is that since most of the tourist accommodations are located near White Beach, that means that those who are willing to take a motorbike ride can find peace and magic at Puka Beach or Baling Hi.

That’s where you’ll find me now!  Oops… Sorry! photos here are bank photos from my previous trips… my camera is still in the sack:)

One of the best way to discover Manila is to visit places that has become a huge part of it’s development. During the Spanish colonization, Pasig River has become a major part of Manila’s transportation and trade system. Unfortunately, the river that used to be clean has turned into a waste basin during the last decades. The river instantly became a dumping site by thousands of families lining the bank while some factories found the fastest way of dumping harmful chemicals and sewage.

Welcome Aboard

My first experience traversing the Pasig River was when Nina invited me to explore Binondo and Intramuros along with fellow travel bloggers via Pasig River Cruise.

Lambingan Station

I live near UST and I can easily go to Binondo but I still decided to join them in Guadalupe to experience the river cruise for the first time. It was around 8am when we finally boarded the ferry which is still half empty. En route, the air-conditioned ferry that can accommodate 150-passenger passes Makati Area where you can see the back of Makati City Hall – probably one of the best governement buildings in the country today. After passing the old Sta. Ana Racetrack, you will see a stretch of slum area, just like the pasig river – this totally reflects on the economic status we have today.

Life under the Bridge

The seat inside the ferry is pretty comfortable and it is equipped with clean restrooms. Braving the smelly Pasig River, I decided to stay in the outside deck to take photos but we were asked to go back to our seats when the ferry approaches the Malacañang area since taking photos of the palace is prohibited:( as if Im interested to take photos of the tiny president:)

This is not a Swimming Pool

In just couple of minutes we finally reached Escolta – the second to the last station. Overall, I was completely impressed on their facilities and the service as well. I wish DOT can promote it more by encouraging more travel and tour operators to promote Manila by utilizing the ferry service. More than just the ease of travel, I think experiencing the cruise will also help build awareness about the river’s current state.

Manila Central Post Office

Brief About Pasig River Cruise

Pasig river cruise service kicked off in early 2007 offering seamless water ways connectivity services from Barangay Pinagbuhatan to Intramuros. As the project kicked off it connected five stations – Escolta, PUP, Sta. Anna, Hulo and Guadalupe. However, the service has been extended to 17 stations and one way journey is close to 30km. The seamless cruise services are managed on separate upstream and downstream lines.

Binondo Church

Some of these include – musical entertainment, HD TV, Comfortable washrooms along with in-station facilities such as waiting seats with security guards.

Nina and Ryan in Fort Santiago

Tourists can get to discover thumping sites in Binondo and Intramuros in a cheaper way through Pasig river cruise. They can book their itinerary before hand and get down at Binondo and explore Chinatown, Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz or Binondo Church. You can either walk or board the next ferry to reach Intramuros and explore the magnificent architecture through Lourdes Church, San Francisco Church and San Nicolas de Tolentino Church.

Fresh Lumpia @ New Po Heng

Other heritage sites can also be discovered through Pasig river cruise as tourists can easily get down or board the scheduled cruise. The Pasig River Cruise service operated between the following 17 stations:

• Plaza Mexico – Intramuros, Manila
• Escolta – Binondo, Manila
• Lawton – Lawton, Ermita, Manila
• Quiapo – Quiapo, Manila
• PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) – Santa Mesa, Manila
• Santa Ana – Santa Ana, Manila
• Lambingan- Punta, Santa Ana, Manila
• Valenzuela – Barangay Valenzuela, Makati City
• Hulo – Barangay Hulo, Mandaluyong City
• Guadalupe- Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City
• Pineda – Barangay Pineda, Pasig City
• San Joaquin – Barangay San Joaquin, Pasig City
• Bambang – Barangay Bambang, Pasig City
• Kalawaan – Barangay Kalawaan Sur, Pasig City
• Pinagbuhatan Acasia – Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City
• Maybunga – Barangay Maybunga, Pasig City
• Nagpayong – Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City

Fare Details

• Tickets are priced at Peso 25, Peso 35 and Peso 45
• Students are offered discounted tickets at P20 only.

Why it is Preferred

• Tourists can reach Binondo and Intramuros from Mandaluyong area. The much appreciated aspect is that dont like city taxi, the ferry fares are super competitive.
• One can get to explore the ultimate charm of the places through Pasig river cruise.
• You can buy tickets in advance.
• The end to end distance is only 30km which can be covered in utter comfort by the passengers.