National Geographic has cited Oslob in Cebu for its shark tourism industry, describing it as a booming business despite its effects on wildlife still being debated on. “In the Philippines, whale shark tourism is a booming business. But questions have arisen about how this activity could harm the animals,” Kennedy Warne of National Geographic said in a story posted on its website. Shark viewing or shark watching uses baiting or provisioning to attract animals. “In this town, near the southern tip of Cebu Island in the Philippines, whale sharks are a big draw. Tourism is booming for people who want to watch, swim with and take photographs next to the world’s biggest fish,” Warne said. Warne said the shark tourism in Oslob has become the largest such venture in the world since it began in 2011.“But the operation is controversial, because whale sharks don’t naturally gather here, unlike other such sites in the country. The Oslob sharks are hand-fed, and this essentially guarantees they will show up to thrill guests, who can snap close-range photos,” he added. Warne emphasized that while shark watching is still an industry being debated on due to its impact on the wildlife, the Oslob shark tourism industry has seen some benefits, particularly the conservation of these sharks. He added that there has been reduction in fishing pressure around Oslob. “The 170 or so members of the local fishermen’s association, who feed the sharks and ferry the guests, no longer need to catch fish for food from increasingly depleted reefs. Likewise, fishers nearby can earn a living supplying the several hundred pounds of shrimp needed for each day’s shark food, thus placing less pressure on declining fish stocks,” he said. Swim with the Whale Sharks in Oslob, Cebu, Philippines. See these rare species of fish up-close and marvel at their size and beauty. Afterward, visit Aguinid Falls and Kawasan Falls – some of the most sought after tourist spots in the Philippines. “At night, the Oslob coastline twinkles with the lights of more than 50 hostels, resorts and guesthouses, as well as local homes,” National Geographic said. Despite the benefits of the shark tourism industry to Cebu, scientists worry that sharks that take advantage of the free feed for prolonged periods may suffer ill effects, both physiologically and behaviorally. However, these effects are still unknown today.

Craving for more adventures? Longing to experience the real paradise away from everything?

Situated in the recently declared Region VII’s first drug-cleared city, Bogo City, the stunning beauty of the ever coralline Capitancillo islet has come to being to unleash more the astounding gifts of nature.

According to history, the islet derives its name from a notable American Navy Captain Cillo, who during the second world war, beached his vessel heading to this isolated yet a refreshing islet. Upon reaching the islet, you could barely see a picturesque of the very clear blue water with tiny white sands aground. When you go off the waters, you will surely discover the treasured marine sanctuary of the City of Bogo where the true beauty of the islet lies. That offers the travelers the meaningful experience of snorkeling and more so to diving. n addition, the underwater profile is a shallow edge leading to the drop-off with the depth between 25-40 meters. Yes!It is definitely a perfect place for a whole new adventure and refreshment away from your various daily lifeworks. Truly, the city and the islet is a must-go-to place to satisfy a traveler’s wanderlust, of course, with your dearest friends. Have fun and enjoy!

How to get there?

Capitancillo Islet is located at the northeastern coast of Cebu province just about 116 kilometers from Cebu City. You may just ride a bus or vhire going to Bogo City at the North Bus Terminal that would last for approximately 3hrs. and be sure to drop-off at Bogo Proper. Upon reaching the place, you have to ride a pedicab going to Brgy. Siocon Bantay Dagat outpost for less than 30mins. Then, from this drop-off point, your journey to Capitancillo starts and will last for more or less 45 mins. by boat. – Abe Gelig

Bantayan Island is one of the most beautiful islands close to Cebu island. You definitely should not miss that if you are a beach lover like me. From Cebu, all it takes is You can 4 hours of land travel and 1 hour of water travel. It’s still considered part of Cebu province, and it offers one of the most breathtaking white sand beach among the Visayas islands here. The long stretch of powdery white sand beaches and shimmering azure waters in Bantayan will greet you a grand welcome. Besides the beaches, you can also find yourself being treated to a plethora of hidden wonders from natural cave spring pools, abundant mangrove gardens, panoramic sunsets and a lively underwater environment loved by the divers. A visit here is certainly a must whenever you are in Cebu. Bantayan Island is located in west of the northern end of Cebu. There are three towns in Bantayan Island: Bantayan, Madridejos, and Santa Fe. Santa Fe is where you should go for the tropical island beach getaway. They have the best beaches – Sugar Beach and Alice Beach. The trip starts from 3D academy early in the morning because if we delay to afternoon we will not be able to catch the ferry. From 3D academy, you can take a taxi to the North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City. Find the bus bay for the air-conditioned Ceres Liner bus bound for Hagnaya Port. The Ceres buses seem to be always new and comfy – the coach we rode on had a Yutong brand decal, presumably made in China. They have buses leaving every thirty minutes starting at 5:30 AM up until 7:30 PM. You can board the earliest departing bus. Travel time is around 3 – 4 hours with two stopovers at Carmen Town and Bogo City. Fare is around PHP 150.00 (USD 3.50). Enjoy the ride (and whatever Jason Statham movie is playing on the bus). You’ll be passing through interesting towns and rural landscapes. – Ahmed Alshehary

Boracay is an island located at the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayan region, off the Sibuyan Sea. It is a 35-minute flight from Metro Manila. They say that the name Boracay came from the local word “borac,” which means “white cotton”. True enough, Boracay’s soft powdery white sand can be compared to a cotton.It has a long stretch of powdery white sand that you will surely love. It is a veritable tropical haven with crystal clear blue waters, diverse marine life, and vast forests. The forests contain palms, flowering plants and tropical trees.Local and international cuisine like native Filipino dishes, spicy Thai curries, Italian pizzas, Mongolian barbecues, and Iranian Caviars are some of the food served around the island. You can go swimming, kayaking, wind surfing, sailing, parasailing, and do a lot more recreational activities here. Henna tattoos and hair braids are genuine proofs that you’ve gone to Boracay. Boracay Freshwater Lake can be found at the inner part of the island; it is the home of some natives. Water cannot go in and out of the lake, so the lake cleaning has to be done by natural fauna and flora. Around it, the lands are used for vegetation and you can see fruit-bearing trees, vegetables, and other plants. Beautiful butterflies, hummingbirds, frogs and fish are thriving joyfully in this place. I really can’t believe how peaceful and beautiful it is.” June Vino is calling from one of Boracay’s sandy white beaches on a Tuesday afternoon, with his friends chatting and laughing in the background. Originally from Manila, 32-year-old Vino has been a resident of the Philippine island for eleven years, but his daily routine has changed drastically in recent days. He has been forced to halt business at his popular rooftop and beach lounge restaurants after President Rodrigo Duterte closed the entire island in an unprecedented move after branding it a “cesspool” earlier this year. The 7-km-wide haven of Boracay, nestled in the Aklan province of the Philippines, is a perennial feature on ‘World’s Best Island‘ lists for its white sands and azure blue shorelines. Yet since April 26, the ‘paradise of the Philippines‘ hasn’t played host to the usual legions of tourists, bewitched by the Instagrammable images of its stunning vistas. For the next six months, Boracay will be closed to tourists and non-residents following Duterte’s presidential proclamation declaring a “state of calamity” on the island, attributed to waste management problems and environmental concerns.

We travel for a lot of reasons. For some it can be a short break from reality, an escape from the daily grind. For some it’s a way to connect with friends and loved ones. But for the chosen few, it can be a way to find ourselves and help us figure out our next move. There are a lot of choices out there, but you want to be different. You don’t like the crowd. You prefer the feeling that you can make your way and just be lost. We may have the place for you. The province of Palawan in the Philippines has recently been named as one of the most beautiful islands in the world by Conde Nast Travel Magazine for 2014. Rightfully so, this long island stretch in the Philippines is bound to claim its long overdue spotlight and is also being groomed to be the next best thing in Philippine tourism. From the powdery white sand beaches, mesmerizing limestone cliffs, and a nature wonder of an underground river, it is not surprising that tourists and travellers alike are becoming more and more hooked to this tropical paradise. Palawan is a perfect mix of sun, sand, and sea but far from being a cliche of most travel destinations and just enough to have its own identity. Its an Instagram heaven for those who love taking landscape and nature photos and a personal escape for those who dead tired of destinations with lots of tourists.I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to this place at least once a year both for business and vacation since I started working. Whenever my foreign counterparts also ask me where to go in the Philippines, I always recommend this island and it never fails to impress. Whether you travel alone, with your special someone or in a group, this island province has something to offer that can be a unique experience in itself.As a summary, there are not enough words to describe Palawan. I’ve been here a lot of times but there is always that something that makes each trip there unique. Travelling there helped me figure out a lot of things and appreciate the things around me more. Whatever your reason for travelling may be, whoever you may travel with, it sure will leave you spellbound. Fullfilled.

The Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol’s most famous tourist attraction. They look like giant mole hills, or as some say, women’s breasts, and remind us of the hills in a small child’s drawing. Most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact. However, this idea is quickly abandoned, as the effort would surely surpass the construction of the pyramids in Egypt. The chocolate hills consist of are no less than 1268 hills (some claim this to be the exact number). They are very uniform in shape and mostly between 30 and 50 meters high. They are covered with grass, which, at the end of the dry season, turns chocolate brown. From this color, the hills derive their name. At other times, the hills are green, and the association may be a bit difficult to make. Enjoy your hot chocolate from this exclusive chocolate hills mug, USD 14.50. Legend has it that the hills came into existence when two giants threw stones and sand at each other in a fight that lasted for days. When they were finally exhausted, they made friends and left the island, but left behind the mess they made. For the more romantically inclined is the tale of Arogo, a young and very strong giant who fell in love with an ordinary mortal girl called Aloya. After she died, the giant Arogo cried bitterly. His tears then turned into hills, as a lasting proof of his grief. However, up to this day, even geologists have not reached consensus on how they were formed. The most commonly accept theory is that they are the weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of a impermeable layer of clay. If you climb the 214 steps to the top of the observation hill near the complex, you can read this explanation on a bronze plaque.

 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton