Bantayan Island is famous as the Lenten Capital of Visayas, located at the northern part of Cebu. The island is composed of three municipalities, Sta Fe, Bantayan and Medridejos. Bantayan got its nane from the words “Bantayan sa Hari”. Basically, the island was once used as lookout area for any invading Moros during the Spanish area. The island was equipped with watchtowers named a “Bantayan sa Hari” which was later shortened into “Bantayan”.

 

A famous tourist destination because of its white sand beaches and clear waters, the variety of activity within the area is astounding. Numerous beach resorts are conveniently located along the coast with restaurant offering a variety of dishes ranging from local to foreign. The island is responsible for producing more than 100 tons of eggs per day, earning it the name “Egg Basket of Visayas”. Just imagine the activities during Easter season! During the Holy Week, different people from different parts of the globe flock to watch processions concerning the life of Jesus Christ. However, access to the island is not just ideal during the Lenten season as the incredible waters and comfortable accommodations are available year round. Unlike other sites, Bantayan Island is not yet commercialized and still retains the natural and beautiful beauties originally bestowed upon the area. For people who are aiming for peace and serenity in a virtual paradise, this might be the best place to visit.

Caving is also another popular activity in the island. If you’re getting tired of just laying around by the shores, you might want to grab a few gears and explore the different caves scattered around the area. For a little more exploration, try visiting the religious artifacts in the island starting with the Convento dela Asuncion de Nuestra Señora which was founded around the year 1850.

 

Philippines is not just a place where you can put up your feet and relax. It’s also a place where you can exercise some muscles through dozens of sports available throughout the country.

Aerial sports are available just a few hours ride away from Manila. These sports range from skydiving, hot-air balloons and ultralight aircrafts which will give you the high feeling of flying. Here, safety is a major concern and instructors are some of the best in their field. For some aerial sports action, you might want to try Pampanga or Batangas.

Board Sailing is another popular sport in the country. Board sailors are fond of hitting Philippine waters around October to April, producing a steady flock of sports enthusiasts in areas such as the world famous Boracay, Pagudpud, Caliraya and Anilao.

If you feel like exploring some of the best sites for caving, then look no further. Philippines is also a veritable ground for this exploration sport where you can get to see some of the best rock formations available. Not only that, there are also rivers and waterfalls flowing in place that would astound you, along with limestone and beautiful crystal formations. For caving trips, try visiting places such as Cagayan, Sagada or Bukidnon.

Rock climbing is another excellent sport where you can use your muscles or perhaps develop ones. You might want to start with artificial walls in a controlled environment to get into the sport. Gyms are scattered all over Manila offering this experience along with experienced climbers who can teach and guide you on the basics of rock climbing. By the time you’ve learned the moves, you can start visiting rock climbing sites such as El Nido Palawan, Wawa Gorge Montalban or Putting Bato.

Who knows, by the time you sweat and enjoyed yourself through the experience, you might even lose a few pounds. Double benefits!

 

An island in the shape of a Tadpole located near Manila Bay is the island of Corregidor. This piece of land was once a fortress during Spanish rule in the Philippines. Its strategic location is a perfect spot to watch and warn possible enemies off Manila. This is probably how the island got its name, form the Spanish word “corregir” or corrector. Because it once served as a fortress, Corregidor Island is a veritable sea of for historical constructions and artifacts. Some of the well known Corregidor attractions are the Malinta Tunnel, the Pacific War Memorial, Spanish Lighthouse, Barracks ruins, Filipino-American Friendship Park, Gun emplacements, Filipino Heroes Memorial, Aviary and the Eternal Flame of Freedom.

The Eternal Flame of Freedom is a symbol of the recapture of the Philippines by the Americans. The project was sponsored by the Department of Energy, Corregidor Foundations, U-Freight Philippines, the Filipino-American Memorial Endowment and the California-based SunPower which provided the solar components of the construction.

If you fell like visiting the place, the Eternal Flame of Freedom is located at the Pacific War Memorial Dome of Peace. Getting there is easy enough because most of the locals are aware of the location. You only have to ask and the friendly people of Corregidor will point you in the right direction. This “Flame of Freedom” is a symbol of the challenges and fights the Philippine and the United States have fought together in the name of freedom.

After catching a glimpse of the famous “Flame of Freedom”, you can now walk around the Pacific War Memorial Dome of Peace and see the other attractions the site has to offer. Enjoy Corregidor at its finest and drop by the earlier mentioned locations for a true taste of this tadpole-shaped island.

 

If you’re not a diver but still curious to see different aquatic animals at their best, then perhaps it’s time to pay a visit to the Manila Ocean Park. The Park is an oceanarium located at the Rizal Park behind the Quirino Grandstand. The oceanarium is divided in sections specifically designed to showcase the marine life seldom seen at close range. Perhaps its biggest attraction yet is the “Buhay na Karagatan” (Living Ocean), a walkway tunnel 25 meters long with fishes of varying shapes and sizes swim around you every step of the path.

Agos (Flow) depicts a rainforest with 8 tanks worth of freshwater fishes. An artificial waterfall completes the scene and replicates the natural system of fresh water eventually leading to the ocean.

Bahura (The Reef) is a showcase of artificial corals in as much as 46 tanks, their varied shapes, size and colors pleasing to the eye. Laot (Fishing Ground) contains big fishes and Kalaliman (The Deep) concentrates on marine life found at the deepest recesses of the Philippines. One of this is the Barracuda or also called the “Tiger of the Sea” because of its rather terrifying smile. Pagi (Sting Ray) features an Overhang Tank wherein you can watch sting rays swimming above you like giant UFO’s hovering in the wind while Pating (Shark) features some species of the ocean’s predator.

The oceanarium also houses at least 25 restaurants where you can eat and enjoy the day while exploring the wonders of water without ever getting wet. Of course, if you do plan to get wet anyway, there is an Open Water Marine Habitat or an outdoor swimming pool. It comes with diving and snorkeling services that allows you to explore the water without the need to travel to different islands.