Our generation spends A LOT.
Yes, uh-uh don't look away. Admit it. We spend a lot on things that would
gratify what we need but mostly what we just want. lol
One of the expenses of Filipinos is Traveling. And sometimes, if you have enough, an international trip
is always a top choice. Who wouldn't want a vacation, right? A moment of escape
from reality, no noisy buzz of city
life, no requirements, no profs. Oh what a life! But before you explore the world, why not
explore the Philippines first? After all, we have the best island in the world.
I mean, we have the island of Palawan, the back-to-back best island in the
world according to Travel and Leisure Magazine!
Before you go pack your stuff with a weekend Christmas
getaway, take a sneak peak of some of
the crowning glories of the country – its stunning beaches particularly.
3.
Cebu
Just recently, Cebu island was ranked 6th among the "best
islands in the world" by Travel + Leisure, an international travel
magazine. Mactan Island which is located in Cebu is home to 430,000 people. It
is the most densely populated island in the Philippines and has many tourists
spots and attractions. As a coral island, Mactan offers rich marine
biodiversity which is good for diving and snorkeling.
While you’re there, you should be sure to island hop since the
island is composed of numerous islets. There are also numerous water sports
activities, like jet skiing, sailing, para-sailing.
When
to Visit: Try
to visit in the off-season to avoid overcrowding. January through May are the
driest months, and you should expect rain the rest of the year. Even the driest
months have rain though, since Cebu is one of the wettest areas of the
Philippines.
What
It’s Known For: A
popular in-and-out holiday destination with plenty of world-class resorts to
choose from. Also check out other nearby towns as they offer loads of potential
for nature trippers like waterfalls, lagoons, lakes, beaches and mountains.
Boracay is a small island 315 km south of Manila in the province
of Aklan. Famous for its powdery white sands and pristine blue waters, Boracay
is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. It has over
350 resorts and about 2,000 rooms to accommodate guests, which range from
luxury hotels to budget-friendly inns.
This island has something for everyone, from water sports, scuba
diving, and snorkeling, to nightlife with great pubs, bars, and restaurants, to
a relaxing and tranquil environment.
If you do go scuba diving or snorkeling, you’ll see many species
of aquatic life that are indigenous to the Philippines. You could also take the
opportunity to go helmet diving, which is where you simply put on a helmet with
glass plates, climb a ladder down ten feet to a (shallow) ocean floor, and walk
around as if you were on land
The best and most famous beach in Boracay is the White Beach,
which has been called the "finest beach in the world.” In 2012, Boracay
Island was named “Best Island in the World” by international travel magazine
Travel + Leisure. Puka, on the northern side of Boracay, was also on CNN's 100
Most Beautiful Beaches in the World.
For 2016, international travel magazine Travel + Leisure ranked
Boracay island as the 2nd best island in the world after Palawan which is also
a famous Philippine island off the southern part of main island Luzon.
While the western side of the island is known for the White Beach,
the eastern side is home to Bulabog beach, which is a great place for extreme sports
like wind and kite surfing since it has strong winds all year round.
When
to Visit: Waters
are calm off of White Beach from November through May. Monsoon winds blow June
through October. Unless you enjoy being soaked, aim to visit between November and
May, though you'll have fewer crowds June through early October.
What
It’s Known For: The
White beach and the Night life (of course!).
and finally.... (drum roll please!) Palawan!
1.
Palawan
Palawan, an island province off the west coast of Luzon is the
best place to enjoy some sun, surf and sand. And because of its powdery sands
and crystal-clear waters, it became the best island in Earth for the readers of
Travel and Leisure Magazine for the second time in a row. Other magazines also
gave a similar honor to the island last year. The island is truly an exotic paradise
and a new choice destination for beach enthusiasts. This island is also a home
for two UNESCO wonders namely the Puerto Prinsesa Underground River and the
highly biodiverse Tubbataha Reef.
There are about 50 white sand beaches on the island, five types of
forest, three major marine habitats, and many different species of birds. The
water is also rich in sea life, which includes marine mammals like dolphins and
dugongs of which six are endemic, over one hundred species of coral, and almost
one thousand different kinds of fish.
El Nido is also the largest marine reserve and sanctuary in the
Philippines with a total area of 903.21 sq. km. It is one of the most diverse
ecosystems in the country and its flora and fauna is protected, along with its
geologic formations such as its limestone cliffs, home of the swiftlets
(apodidae birds whose nests are entirely built from threads of their own
saliva, an ingredient also used for the famous bird's nest soup).
When
to Visit: The
best time to visit is December through March because the weather is nice and
dry and there are fewer visitors. If you're traveling during Holy Week or high
season (April and May), be prepared for more tourists and higher prices.
What
It’s Known For:
Bird’s nest soup, beautiful lagoons, limestone cliffs.
However, tourism in these places has been compromising the state
of the enviroment. According in a study in year 2015 conducted by Filipino and
Japanese people, a decline of up to 70 percent in coral cover over a period of
23 years because of the tourism boom in the famous island of Boracay. A report in 2014 also claimed that the Underground
River is deteriorarting because of the draw of attraction from tourists. UNESCO
also added that one of the challenges that the city is facing is coping with
the rapid influx of tourists.
These famous attractions are consistently topping local and even
international lists of ‘where to go during summer’. But with their present
condition, there’s no saying if it will stay at the top for long. I’m not saying that we should stop seeing
these beautiful places. In fact, they definitely deserve to be visited and
explored. But you have to remember that if you will go there, take only
pictures and should only leave footprints, because we, the millennials, will be
replaced one way or another by the next generation and we would want them to
have and enjoy the same experience we had with these beautiful islands.
Agree? Definitely!
References:
NewsbeatSocialPH
www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/95264-tourism-coral-cover-loss-boracay
www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/655368/un-probes-claim-palawans-underground-river-deteriorating
By: Lem Taruc
