Bohol - and All Its Natural Beauty.

When you think of Bohol, you immediately think of three things: chocolate hills, white sand beaches and those adorable tarsiers. And yet Bohol is so much more than that. A trip to this famous destination is like immersing yourself in nature and all the beauty it has to offer. No wonder it will always be in any wanderlust’s bucket list.

The Beach

Sunrise at Dumaloan Beach Resort

Before Boracay became the “Tita place” it has now become as some millenials would point out, Bohol is on top of anyone dreaming about a beach escape sans the nighttime parties that could sometimes get too crowded and rowdy (think LaBoracay). Panglao, an island that is not too far from the mainland, also boasts of powdery white sands and crystal blue waters. Guests who long for the perfect getaway from the stresses of city life will surely find it in the calm and tranquil beach scene of Panglao.

Morning at Dumaloan Beach Resort

The Adventure

If you’re one to look for adventure, there are so many activities in Bohol to choose from.

Eco Adventure Tour

Thrill seekers will have the time of their life in this adventure center. They can go trekking into a historic canyon, go kayaking in Wahig river, or climb up the canyon walls. And if those aren’t enough, they can opt to try the other attractions like the two-way zipline aptly called “Suislide” or go on a death defying bungee jump called “The Plunge”. Definitely not for the faint hearted!

Loboc River Cruise

If slow and steady is more your type, then cruising the calm river waters of Loboc is the way to go. This famous river cruise gives its guests the chance to go into the depths of the forest as the winding river cuts through it - this while getting a glimpse of the countryside as it traverse the inner towns. Having lunch while being serenaded by local musicians completes this ultimate nature experience.



Chocolate Hills ATV Experience

Most tourists check out the world renowned Chocolate Hills through the 214-step viewing deck. But unknown to many, it is also accessible via an all terrain vehicle or ATV. In the town of Carmen, visitors may opt to see the hills up close and personal by going on a muddy ATV ride. Perfect way to break in your new GoPros and shoot those drool worthy IG stories!


The Wildlife

Who can think of Bohol and not remember the big, soulful eyes of the tarsier? Tarsiers, considered to be one of the smallest primates in the world, can be found in two sanctuaries in Bohol - one in Corella and another in Loboc. Gone were the days when it was allowed to hold them in in your hands. This was prohibited since it was found out that these poor, nocturnal creatures are stressed by the presence of all the humans around them. Tourists can still see them in their natural habitat and they are frequently found hiding behind leaves or sleeping while perched on a tree branch. If you’re close enough you can even have a picture with them. No flash photography though!

Man Made Forest.

No Bohol trip is complete without passing by the Bohol Bee Farm. This organic farm and restaurant offers delicious, freshly prepared meals. Their crowd pleasers include the squash bread, the beautiful flower salad and the Buzzz ice cream! Of course, the real stars of the show are the honey bees. As part of the tour, the resort will show you the honeycombs and the different by-products of their bee cultivation like pure honey and salad dressings. This eco- tourist destination also supports livelihood projects so be sure to checkout the different products being sold at the farm.

There’s so much to Bohol than meets the eye. Whether you’re looking for something new and exciting or you’re more into the cool and steady vibe, this destination will always have something to offer. Bohol’s nature rich paradise is surely worth coming back to time and again.

Travel fitness: Tips on Packing, clothes, and gear

Advertisement by Google:

First things first, what luggage are you taking? You will need to decide whether you're choosing rolling luggage or a backpack. Of course, if your plan is to go backpacking the latter is the best choice for you. Otherwise, rolling luggage is a great plan as it's easy to get around with. You can choose one small enough to take as hand luggage or opt for something larger for longer trips. For the shorter trips, though, you may want to consider a traditional backpack as it will help you limit your packing.

Packing

With a bit of planning and organisation, the sky really is the limit when it comes to packing smart.

This is a time to be ruthless because not everything can come. Think about what items you can easily buy when you arrive at your destination, what items will likely be available where you are staying, and what you can't possibly live without for your time away. This should make the decision process a bit simpler.

Socks can be slipped into shoes; you can roll clothes within clothes. There are plenty of innovative ways to get everything in there. You should be able to balance your needs with your wants between your checked luggage and hand luggage. Remember to keep any valuables with you on the plane, though you should avoid travelling with anything too valuable.

Clothing

Before you can pack a single item of clothing (well, beyond undergarments and socks) you need to check the weather for your chosen destination. If you will be travelling to multiple places then you'll need to check the weather for each place to be sure you are covered for every eventuality. It's a good idea to invest in rain clothing so that you can throw it over your clothes and not worry about getting saturated while out and about.

Chinos are a great option because they wear well, are easy to mix and match with outfits, and are lighter in comparison to jeans. So, consider a few pairs of chinos and bring extra tops so you can easily mix and match as required. Another important thing to consider is outerwear like sweaters. Rather than packing lots of heavy items, layering up is easier so bring lighter items and wear multiples if the weather dictates.

When it comes to shoes try to limit this as they get heavy. You'll want comfortable shoes for walking, a nicer pair of shoes for any dinners you have planned, and a spare pair for any other eventuality (for sunny destinations this is likely flip flops or sandals).

Don't forget gloves, a scarf, and an umbrella if it's going to be cold on your travels. You may also want to consider thicker socks for this type of trick.

Gear

The most important thing for anyone these days - chargers! Whether it's laptops, phones or tablets – you need to make sure those (and their chargers) are packed handy so you can easily grab them when you need them. Ideally, those are for your hand luggage and most airports now offer ports in the lounges.

Now, don't forget your toiletries. If you aren't checking any luggage you will need to keep your liquids separate from the rest as they have to be produced at security. So, bear that in mind as you are packing. Luckily, you are now allowed to take a razor on the aeroplane, so you don't need to worry about that. You should also pack a spare, empty bag to keep your dirty laundry in. You may have access to laundry facilities and you may not, so you should be prepared for that. Don't be afraid to hand wash some items in the hotel sink, though.

If you're going backpacking then there are other things to consider, such as maps, guides, long-life snacks, and water bottles. This is a real test of your creative packing skills as you are working with much less space, but will likely be on a longer trip. Think about what you will really need to get through your trip and strip everything back to the basics. You can hand wash clothing as you travel and re-wear many items multiple times.


There's a great wide world out there and it's just waiting for you to explore it, so what are you waiting for? Make sure you check out the incredible Holiday deals @ Booking.com, why not get your next trip at a bargain-basement price?

YES na YES - Morong, Rizal

YES na YES.. Ito po ang entry ng Morong sa Rizal Inter-town Christmas Tree Making and Town Hall Decoration Competition using recyclable materials..

Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa lahat ng nakatuwang ko sa proyektong ito..

First of all, kay God sa pagbibigay sa amin ng malakas na katawan at isipan. Secondly, kay Mayor Mando San Juan sa pagsuporta sa amin all the way. Sa ating 8 Barangay Kapitan at kanilang mga kagawad at kawani sa pagsuporta sa Balwarte Contest. To MENRO Sir Jerome Mateo and his staff, our Street Sweepers, 4Ps staffs, Engineering Dept., Mr. Jonathan ang may-ari ng mga magagandang halaman, sa LIKAS Morong na lagi kong kapartner sa mga proyekto, kay Romeo San Diego at shempre sa utak ng ating disenyo, ang napaka creative and artistic nating kababayan na sina MR. ALEXIE CORBILLA and MR. JASON CORBILLA. Taos puso po ang aking pasasalamat sa inyong lahat.

Sa pinamalas po nating pagkakaisa at pagtutulong-tulong ay isa na pong malaking karangalan para sa bayan. Sanay hindi ito ang huli sa ating pagsasama-sama. Lagi nating pairalin ang PUSO para sa MORONG upang makamit natin ang ating mithiin para sa ating bayan.

MARAMING SALAMAT PO!!


By Dhen Bautista
Guest Writer

🔟 Ten years went by and….

Edna De Lara, a woman who left her hometown to explore the urban zone named Manila – for betterment and for greener pasture. She conquered the way of living in the metro for ten years now, finished her bachelor degree and builds her own family. But now her great fight is to go back to the place where she grew. 


I was born and nurtured in the Island of Catanduanes. Catanduanes is one of the beautiful provinces in Bicol - where I spend my childhood and teenage life. It was full of memories, good or bad. And those things made me a better person nowadays. Those experiences helped me to become stronger - enough to face reality of life.

I am tough enough to get along with every aggravating circumstances that life offers within, but just like any other individuals, as you go along with your journey of life your footsteps leads you to different places that offers different experiences, countless learning, remarkable memories, numerous faces and various people that are perhaps an acquaintance, possibly friends/best friends or maybe just a colleague.


        
  As I spent my college days here in the Metro, there’s a lot of pleasure time seemed like it passes too fast .I can still remember those days where I always visualizing going back to my hometown but plans are just plans if you never do it.

Sigh…

Not surprisingly, one morning that I rise up from my bed and ended up realizing “ I’ve been too many places, meeting countless faces, collecting innumerable memories but I still feel this emptiness from within my inner self”. This made me decides to travel back to my origin. The Hometown wherein the roots of “me” as a person lays. Then I started counting years that leads to decade then I told myself my that plans should now be imposed “I’ll go on a vacation to Catanduanes”

“The FRACAS of TRAVELING BACK TO MY HOMETOWN”


  
 There are two options of trip going to Catanduanes one is by airplane or you can take the bus. If you choose to ride the plane, be ready with at least Php 3,000 to Php5000 for fare as it varies depending on the season, when its peak season tickets reservation is not that easy because Airplane Company that flies to Virac airport do not offer daily flight. I would recommend checking the website first for flight schedules.

Moreover, another option is travelling via bus from CUBAO-EDSA to TABACO PIER here you have options:

•  EXETAB D (AC 2x2) 7:00AM fare is 800
• EXETAB A (AC 2x2) 6:00PM
• EXETAB C fare is 800
•  (EXPRESS 2x2) 7:00PM fare is 800.

Otherwise you can take CUBAO-EDSA to VIRAC PIER options are

• ECOCAT A (NON AC 2x3) 3:30PM fare is 565,
• EXECAT A (AC 2x2) 4:00PM fare is 825,
• EXECAT B (AC 2x2) 5:00PM fare is 825

If you have a lot of baggage, it is more convenient to take buses that are bound to VIRAC to avoid multiple transfer of your baggage. Because   those buses will go directly to Virac pier via ferry boat and the travel time is around 41/2 hours (that is if you choose Tabaco to Virac pier).

Another option is via Tabaco to Calolbon pier which is just 2-3hrs sea travel. From there, the bus will travel to Virac Bus Terminal for about 20 mins. From bus terminal vans are available.

THE HOME TOWN:




It takes 3 hours to reach my hometown PANGANIBAN, CATANDUANES from Virac Bus Terminal.
I can’t explain the excitement deep within from the moment I step my feet on the ground.

“I’m finally home” I shouted.  

 The feeling of belongingness is glorifying bliss. “There is no place like home”. I arrived home at about 9:30pm. After a long trip, I felt hunger – my mother prepared “native chicken tinola”.

THE FOODS OF ORAGON CULTURE

Meanwhile, Aside from pili nuts Bicol region is known for its jalapenos or simply siling labuyo . Bicolanos (term for locals in Bicol) are associated with spicy foods that are generally spicier that gives local cuisines distinct identity compared to other regions.

Local Cuisines also linked with heavy used of coconut milk and chili peppers: Bicol express- Pork cooked in coconut milk, a little shrimp paste and lots of chili peppers. Since Bicol region is situated along the typhoon belt, so locals opted to plant coconut trees because its more resilient, can bend and sway with the strong wind…. just like the resilience of their people in difficult times.

In the Philippines dishes are named after the cooking method. “Ginata” or “ginataang” means to cook in coconut milk. In fact, almost all vegetables in Bicol are cooked in coconut milk.  The very famous vegetable from the region is “gabi” or taro leaves which hanged upside to dry before being used.

Accdg to locals, it is not advisable to stir the dish while cooking because the final output will give an itchy sensation to the mouth. Non Bicolanos used the term “Laing” loosely referring to gabi or taro leaves cooked in coconut milk.

The locals are very particular about the variations of the term

• Laing - gabi leaves coocked in coconut milk, with shrimp paste or dried fish.
• Tilmok- gabi leaves cooked in coconut milk with fish meat or crab meat.
• Pinangat – layered gabi leaves cooked in coconut milk with bangot (meaning “sahog” or sometimes minced pork).This place is also known for abaca product and copras.

Aside from foods products Bicol Region is also known for beautiful beaches & breath taking views, not to mention the world famous Mayon Volcano .Truly this province has a lot and lots to offer at this could be one of the highly recommended places for travel.

THE REALITY



After ten years of living in an urban zone, now I am indulging the limited vacation in the place where my real “ME” was nurtured. But I have to face the reality, after this vacation – I need to step out again in this place and go back to the reality of Manila where I’m currently working.
Sigh….

PASALUBONG

 

 

 

 

Edna De Lara is a 35 year old strong woman and a mom of 12 years old boy, who believes that travelling, is a way for you to escape the stressful work. She works in a BPO company every weekdays and she still allocates her weekend to travel (sans laundry and house cleaning). She finished Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management at New Era University QC. “I travel for soulsearching” she said.

A Call Center Girl Shouts Vacation at Last!

Edna De Lara , A call center girl rediscovers the Lubang Island after she escapes from her stressful  work. She shouts " VACATION AT LAST" 

When you are exposed to work for a long time and you feel like being exhausted all that you’ll be longing for is a vacation, a little break or even just a bit of relaxation you’ll consider it a golden time, and when the opportunity comes all that you can say is “vacation at last “- all you going to feel is relief .This is how my vacation goes.

My shift starts at 9pm to 6am but I have to be on the bus before 6am. So what I did is I requested to have an early out and luckily may boss allowed me to do so

Coastal Bus Terminal is just a few minutes away from my office. I jaunt a taxi going there, taxi fare would be 80 pesos since there is no heavy traffic - it was early in the morning and the Bus terminal is just a few meters away from SM moa. From Coastal Mall I galloped on a CELYROSA BUS going to Calatagan which takes 3 hours travel time , I opted an ordinary bus because Airconditioned buses trip are scheduled  to depart at 7am  and If I’m going to wait for it, there is a possibility that I won’t be able to catch up the ferry boat going to Lubang Island .

                 Calatagan is one of the towns in the province of Batangas, It has its own port since it’s a town is near the seashore or should I say it’s a place surrounded by sea -no wonder there are  lot of beautiful  beaches situated in this place such as Ronco Beach Resort ,Blue Waters Beach  &  Lago de Oro to mention few. From Calatagan bus Terminal, I need to ride a tricycle going to Calatagan port, accordingly the fare is 15pesos. The simple design of the port is intended to accommodate small vessels like fishing vessel which locally known as (BASNIG) which used to catch fish-it has its own crews. It is also intended and/or considered as an entry point for all the Ferry boats (“Bangka”) bound to various places in Mindoro.

            From Calatagan Port I just have to wait for the Ferry boat that is bound to Lubang Island -fare is 500 pesos but lately they decreased it to 400 pesos with terminal fee amounting to 15 pesos... Boats  bound to Lubang Island depart at exactly 11am meaning if you arrived too early , I can suggest that you rove around  like you can buy goodies at the market because it is just a tricycle ride-away from the pier( fare is 20 pesos which will cost you 40 pesos back in fort). There are available tropical fruits to buy which is least expensive compared in Metro Manila indeed it is more convenient. You can proceed inside the boat even if it’s not yet boarding time and stay there until the departure.

               Travelling via ferry is more relaxing to me .In fact I always choose to sit adjacent to the window; aside from comfortability, I can appreciate the panoramic view and breathe fresh air.


Lubang Island was a natural entrepôt and was situated at the crossroads of sea routes of several major early historical polities in the Philippines.The trip between Calatagan and the Port of Lubang at Tilik takes approximately two hours. M/B God's Grace II & III Lubang Island Group has two public sea ports – one in the town of Lubang (Tilik) Location, one in Cabra Island, Lubang, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines the archipelago through Verde Island Passage, one of busiest sea routes of the Philippines.


            Undeniably this place is full of beautiful beaches and scenecal views aside from historical stories that this place has to share is the last japanese gerilla was captured in this island by the name of Hiroo Onoda, who has died at 91, He was a Japanese soldier who surrendered in the Philippines 29 years after World War II in the place called onoda cave in Lubang Island.
In Lubang Island is the place where my son is currently studying, and that is my reason why I kept on visiting this place. I was able to rove the entire proximity and embrace the astonishing nature. Far from the nature of my nerve-racking work- fast pacing lifestyle and stressful environment. “ VACATION AT LAST”!

Edna De Lara is a 35 year old strong woman and a mom of 12 years old boy, who believes that travelling, is a way for you to escape the stressful work. She works in a BPO company every weekdays and she still allocates her weekend to travel (sans laundry and house cleaning). She finished Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management at New Era University QC. “I travel for soulsearching” she said.

The Business Owner's Guide to Really Enjoying a Holiday

Entrepreneurs often struggle to get away from work. With plenty of responsibilities falling on their shoulders, who can blame them if they are hesitant to go on a break? According to other professionals, though, vacations can be good for business as they can spark creativity, which might just be what your company needs.

At first, it can be tough to go on holiday without experiencing pangs of guilt, but it's not entirely impossible. Here's how you can do just that:

Advertisement by Google:

Preparing Your People: For your enterprise to function properly during your absence, your staff has to be able to make the right choices. This requires making sure they are equipped with the necessary information to do their jobs—and maybe a part of yours too. This usually entails calling for a meeting and delegating temporary assignments. You might even have to give of possible action plans for tackling any and every situation that might arise.

Managing Client Expectations: Letting clients know that you'll be away is probably the most unnerving aspect of vacation planning. Of course, you have to make certain they understand that the same level of work will be done while you're absent. If you can, inform them who will be handling what tasks and that your employees can contact you in the event of an emergency. It is ideal if you can let your clients know at least a month ahead of time so they won't be caught by surprise.

Arranging for Virtual Services: Technology has brought forth a lot of great things for business travellers. Some of these are telephone answering and mail handling services. With these, you are assured that you don't miss any opportunities while on your well-deserved break. It can be easy to book these as you can simply upgrade your office space for rent in Quezon City or in other locales. Just check with your commercial space provider and see what virtual packages they have to offer in your area.

Planning Around Slow Periods: If you've noticed that there are predictable weeks when the demand is low, that is the best time to go on vacation. For instance, if you've observed that the months of August to November are less critical for your target audience, schedule your trips then. However, you will need to take note of busier times of the year too as you don't want to be absent when a flood or orders or projects comes in.

Setting a Schedule: Some entrepreneurs are able to cut communication with their office completely. More often, though, they set aside times during the day when they make calls or check their inbox. You could, for example, read your messages first thing in the morning and right before bedtime. Or, you could carve out two hours in morning to attend to calls about projects and other concerns that can't wait until your return. The important thing is to never let your work overlap with other things on your itinerary.

Parting Thoughts

Running a business comes with many duties but that doesn't mean that you should not give yourself time to recharge your batteries. In fact, you should have all the more reason to set aside time for relaxing and understanding how you can improve your company even from a distance.

Working long hours with little to no “me time” will take a toll on your physical and psychological health. The last thing you would want is to experience burnout. So, pack your bags and book your tickets. If you are still having second thoughts about going away for a while, just refer to the tips mentioned above.

About the Author: Jenna Cruz is a freelance writer from Regus in the Philippines, a company catering to those looking for rental office spaces and virtual services. They also have solutions to offer to home-based entrepreneurs.

How To Better Plan and Enjoy Your Trip To Exciting Destinations Around the World

Every day it is the same atmosphere, same people you meet and you tend to get bored with it. You want to discover something new, vibrant, and experience some joy, and a trip to places of interest can give you that refreshment and bliss.

But for enjoying a trip to a far-off destination in your own country or in a foreign one, you have to do some bit of planning. This will make your stay at a far-off location much more comfortable and enjoyable as you will encounter much fewer problems and even if you experience any, you can better handle them.

These are things you need to focus upon when you are planning for a trip to famous and popular locations around the world.

1. Time

You need to analyze on how much time would you need for visiting a specific place in a specific part of the world. You can make an assessment of the time that you will need for traveling to a place and for visiting places of interest like beaches, monuments, temples, and others. You also have to calculate the time spent onboarding and lodging. You also need to consider the time spent over flights, buses and another mode of transport as you travel from one place to another. You can consult your friends about this who went to a specific place which you are planning to visit. You can also read people’s comments on the net which will give you an idea of how much time is needed for the same. But it also depends on which activities you are planning to perform during your stay there. But do try to make a balance between what you want to do there and the time available to you.

2. Budget

Once you are done with the time part, you ought to focus on your budget. You have to ensure that you have enough money with you so that you can better enjoy your trip. You have to decide whether you are planning to stay in hotels or in less costly accommodations. Then it all depends on your paying capacity and your priorities. You have to take into consideration the cost incurred on arranging flights, buses and other types of transport. The visa charges have to be taken into account. The money spent over enjoying your pastimes has to be focused upon. You have to consider how much cash you have to take with you. Your ATMs should operate in places you are going to visit. So you have to make a fair assessment of the budget for the success of your trip.

3. Safety

Before you plan on visiting a place, just make sure that there is no law and order problem in that part of the world. Anti-government protests, workers’ demonstrations, and similar problems can snowball into big problems and can easily turn your stay there into a nightmare. Even if you are adamant about going there, do work out on a pullout plan if things get worse and you want to escape from there. Do check about credible news channels to know if everything is fine there. You also have to be on guard against pickpockets and muggers as some places are infamous for pickpocketing and thuggery. Take necessary precautions as advised by fellow travelers and locals.

4. Weather

Do check out weather updates for the places you are visiting. You have to ensure that if you are going to someplace for participating in some fun-filled activities, you are able to enjoy them at that time. As some activities are season-specific, they cannot be enjoyed all year-round. They can be enjoyed at a specific time in a year. So make sure you visit the place where you can enjoy things you want to. Also tune in to weather reports if someplace is witnessing a flood, excessive rainfall, drought, or similar other situation that can affect our pleasure as it can land you in a soup.

5. Good knowledge of rules and regulations

As you are planning to visit a different part of the world which is not your home, you have to be crystal clear about rules and regulations there. Lack of awareness about them can complicate matters and land you in serious trouble. In instances where you cross from one country into another country through a common border, you should follow the rules and regulations stipulated.

6. Fair Knowledge about local culture and language

Visiting a different place gives you a chance to see a different way of life. The people there might be speaking different languages, have different customs, and even practice a different faith. So it would be better if you know something about them in advance. Picking up their language can be hard, but you can learn some local words through a book or net that can prove to be helpful for communicating with them like asking for a bus or a hotel. Even sign language can be beneficial in such situations. If you know some words of their language, you can better bond with them and they will be ready to help you out in every possible manner.

7. Flights and travel arrangements

If you plan on visiting many countries and places for enjoying your overseas vacation, choose the best route which saves your costs and which is physically less taxing. Go for round the world tickets for a smooth travel experience as you can visit more places at relatively less cost. You can choose in those airlines who are part of an alliance and who are offering such tickets. You can get in touch with your tour and travel operators for more knowledge about these. This would allow you to visit multiple countries and enjoy your vacation there in a smooth and hassle-free manner.

8. Packing list

Before you head for a trip, you have to plan what clothes and accessories you have to keep with you. You should not overload yourself with too many goods as it can create problems for you as you have to constantly focus on your multiple bags which can affect your pleasure. Try to keep things in a rucksack with bare minimum goods, so you remain mobile as too much load on your back can get physically demanding at times. You can buy things locally which you need and even sell them or transport them back to your home through shipping. You can keep your guidebooks with you like Lonely planet and others for more knowledge about the lands you are visiting. You can keep your camera, mobile and other basic but important commodities with you. Keep bare minimum cash in your pocket and the rest of it in your bag. But do not put all the cash in the same place in your bag, also put your ATMs in the same way. Even if some of them get lost, you have something to bank upon.

These things will help you to plan your trips in a better and smoother way and you would enjoy more and worry less by focusing on these important points.

But focusing on so many things and ensuring that you have done justice to each one of them is not an easy task. You will come across situations when you will discover that you forgot to consider and execute some important things which featured prominently in your trip plan as these slipped away from your memory. These could be consulting your travel agency or your visa arranger over an important matter or it might be simply asking your friend for a piece of advice. But these did not come across your mind at the right time and you failed to perform them. Such inconsistencies can drastically affect your travel plan.

So you need to use an enterprising solution that helps you remember everything important about your trip right from putting accessories into your bag to consulting your friends and other people who matter. So you can better track them and get them accomplished without forgetting them. So you can save yourself from unnecessary lamenting over not performing them rightly and timely.

A web-based project management tool like ProofHub helps in proper planning over your trip matters and ensures that tasks and activities related to your trip are properly tracked and timely conducted without ever getting missed. You can better communicate and collaborate with your friends, travel agents, flight operators, and other important individuals and agencies over important matters and resolve them fast with the least time and effort. You and your co-planners all can get access to the same and latest information, data, and files as these are located in a single centralized place. So you remain on the same page over trip matters.

This project management system enables better task description, documentation, assignment, execution, tracking, and control. Thus every individual who is part of your team including yourself knows which task one has to perform at a specific point in time. Every time your task approaches its due date, you are sent an email notification making you aware that you need to perform the task by a specific time. So you can timely and satisfactorily perform them without missing or skipping them. There remains no chance of missing a task just as it slipped from your memory. So tasks can be better tracked and it can be ensured that they have been done in the desired and timely manner. Every activity featured in your traveling plan gets due attention and gets timely accomplished.

This tool is also helpful in those instances when some individual decides to go for a vacation, but he is part of a team that is working over a project and this project has to be completed within the stipulated time frame and within the allocated budget and other resources. If this person heads for the vacation, the work will suffer as he is playing an important role in the execution of the project. So there are two options for him. One is that he will sacrifice his vacation for his work and the other is he will say goodbye to the work and enjoy the vacation instead. But the need here is to balance them both, so the work also goes smoothly even if the person is busy in vacationing and even he can contribute in it if there is a need for the same.

This enterprising tool enables him to enjoy the vacation and check with everything important happening in his project through the mobile in his pocket. He can check important activities happening in it from the airport or the beach. He can read old comments as well as add new comments. Thus he remains connected to the project even on the go and remains updated about its progress. So his company’s work does not suffer as he can maintain a perfect balance between his work and pleasure. The physical distances between team members working over common projects simply vanish as they can communicate in a fast and accurate manner from anywhere in the world.

Another benefit that this tool has is that progress over projects and plans can be better assessed and tracked. Through its Gantt chart project management feature, a project manager can easily make out how much progress has been made over a project by seeing progress over individual tasks being performed by various team members. He can share this feature with his teammates to let them know where they stand over their tasks. They can self-assess their progress over them. Any tasks can be easily rescheduled if required. Dependencies among tasks can be easily established. In case a task gets rescheduled, all tasks dependent on it can be easily rescheduled. The comparison between planned progress and achieved progress can be easily done. All tasks are presented in graphical form and in a color-coded pattern which makes it easy to check progress over all the tasks and activities in projects. A project manager need not inspect each and every task to know their progress as all can be viewed in a Gantt chart at the same place in a concise and clear manner.

This feature can be immensely useful for an individual who is planning to go on a trip and knows how the project in which he is a part is progressing and how much progress he has achieved over his tasks. Thus he gets clarity over its tasks and can enjoy his trip in a more relaxed manner and even contribute to his work from his place of pleasure from his mobile, tablet, laptop, or any other device as per their availability. He can thus balance both his work and merriment with much more flexibility and control.

Similarly, a tour operator can see the progress of his clients’ traveling plans as they plan to visit different destinations around the world. It can also prove to be helpful for the government authorities to check the status of visa applications of various applicants and better update these men over their individual status over their visa formalities.

This enterprising tool enables better planning of your trip and ensures that you are able to focus on each and every task and activity that is featured in your travel plan and perform them in a timely and desired manner without ever missing them. Thus you can better enjoy your trip and even do justice to your work while you are away from your workplace for merriment or for any other reason.

 Sharon
Guest Writer 

I Love BOHOL

By Mer Irene & Richelle Ann Boton
Pillar Publication

In pursuit of surmounting the ordeals Philippines has faced caused by some pertinent happenings bulleting its tourism unit, one of which this country is famous of. The battle of how to strengthen the campaign of our very own tourist destinations challenged our department of Tourism as to what actions must set to bring back our status of being one of the most sought-after A list-escapades.

Richelle Ann Boton in Panglao Island

The Pillar trekkers have once again envisioned taking another trip on a place in the country to support what we have preserved and of what we are distinctive of. And this time, we have traversed Luzon and set foot at one of the most beautiful spot in Visayas, the Island of Bohol.


City of Tagbilaran.
With almost an hour in the plane, we finally rose on our seats and stepped out. Softly warm weather greeted us that made us more excited to enjoy the summer adventure in one of the popular tourist destinations in the country, Bohol

Peek at Sagbayan Peak.

Sagbayan Peak Entry Point

Advertisement by Google:

Our first stop, the famous mountain resort, park and recreation center in the town of Sagbayan. Situated in a mountain top, this place popularly known as “Sagbayan Peak” offers a breathtaking perspective of the luscious Chocolate hills and the distant blue sea separating the islands of Bohol and Cebu. A short trip to its picturesque landscapes led us to mini- Tarsier sanctuary where we met the smallest primates in the world.

Beyond the Chocolate hills
Carmen is one of the towns in Bohol where most of the renowned Chocolate hills are precisely located. Approximately 1,247 in number, these natural wonders can be best viewed at the Chocolate Hill Complex located in brgy. Buenos Aires in the same town.
 Viewing the Chocolate hills from the top allowed us to realize how blessed our beloved Philippines

Dine while floating: Loboc River
On our way in search of a place for lunch, we passed through the man-made rainforest in t6he town of Loboc. The place was very cool and green. Fresh air going to our body gave us a really great feeling. From the zigzag adventure of the rainforest, the road led us to the fine dining place, Loboc Rivers’s Restaurant.

Church at all time; Baclayon
 Church is said to be the second oldest church in the Philippines. Coral stones, cut and piled atop each other, generally make up this century old house of worship. The exterior of the church really looks plain but its interior is very lavish, with its gold-plated altars, ancient paintings, timeworn tiled floors and stained glass windows.

Refine Sand at Panglao Beach.
Situated at the southeastern part of mainland Bohol, Panglao Island has the escapades any tourist would want to spot. Outlined by naturally refined white sand, Bohol Beach Club in Panglao can give a relaxing holiday hands down with its friendly waves and Go-given sea creatures like sea urchins and star fishes.

Truly this group of islands perfectly shaped by god’s hand in Asia’s southeastern part is a splendid spectacle for aliens and invaders, allure that attracts tourists towards its serene and authentic landscapes. And should catastrophic dumb it off the Philippines, with its strong-hearted and faithful people will always rise and show the world the beauty it cradles within its territory. For this Chosen Land is a true epitome of splendor, from Luzon to Visayas to Mindanao                                  

“SpiderKids” Only in the Philippines.

Advertisement by Google:

Spiders are arthropods that have eight legs and fangs that inject venom. A unique characteristic of a spider is its ability to produce silk. They weave this silk to create orbs (spider web) which they use to trap other insects that serve as their food. Spiders can be found on trees and leaves of plants. One way of catching a spider is to look for its orb, the spider is usually located at the center of the orb but if not there then probably it’s in a nearby leaf connected to the orb. As a tip, you can easily catch a spider at dawn because it is during this time that they weave their orbs but if you’re not lucky in catching one you can also try catching spiders early in the morning before sunrise.

Spider derby is a popular blood sport among Filipino children. The game is played by carefully placing to spiders at the opposite sides of a stick. One of the kids will grab the center of the stick and will guide each spider to move to the center where the action begins. The child will switch grip from one end to another to ensure that the spiders will not escape. The game will continue until one spider is dead, wrapped in silk, or falls from the stick.

We Filipinos have long been a fan of the derbies, as a matter of fact we have a lot of popular derbies here like cockfights, dogfight, and we even have our own version of bullfighting which is interesting because we use two male Carabao’s. Indeed spider derby has become a part of our culture. I have to admit that its very entertaining compared to video/computer games. The pleasure of playing games like these with your friends are a moment to be treasured. Lately, I have been an avid fan of Marvel Avengers Alliance;  a game on facebook that  features Spiderman as one of its characters but after looking at the photo on top I realized that we Filipinos are truly Amazing. Imagine we have our own version of Spiderman- It’s more fun in the Philippines!
 Allan Aban
Guest Writer 

Philippine Tourism: Do we succeed from the challenges or still trailing behind?

Rommel Caguiat
Guest Writer

Infront of Dept. of Tourism Office

One of the major contributors to our GDP of the Philippines is Tourism which contributing 5.9% in 2011 and as of August 2013 visitor arrivals from January to July reported an increase of 11.05% which maintained the growth momentum and could hit the expected target of this year.  However in spite of its improvement of the tourism industry here in the Philippines, the country still lags behind its neighboring countries in terms of international arrivals as against Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

(Photo by Ericka Jumps)

During the 1970’s up to the early 1980’s, Philippine tourism flourished in spite of Marcos Dictatorship and the Martial Law era.  However during the middle of 1980’s saw the decline of Philippine Tourism until 1992 in which showed a record high in number of tourist visits.  However the tourism industry is much slower in the Philippines as compare to other Southeast Asian countries in which most of its neighbors enjoy the fruits and progress of the tourism industry while the Philippines still struggling behind to catch up.  In the beginning of 2000, Philippines tourist arrival totaled to 2.2 million which is a great improvement for the country and has the biggest visitors in 2011 with a record of 3.9 million tourists visiting the country.  With the launching of well publicized tourism in 2012 campaign known “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” in which a record breaking of almost 5 million tourist arrivals in the Philippines and also with the country had the winning entry in the New7Wonders of Nature in which the Puerto Princesa Underground River was provisionally chosen in 2011and Boracay was awarded as the best island in the world from the international travel magazine Travel +Leisure.

Dept of Tourism Ads

The Philippines have finally arrive in the spotlight of Global Recognition once dubbed as the Sick Man of Asia now the Rising Star of Asia in which positive outlook and good image pave the way for the tourist to finally tour the potentials of our country with a new hope shines to our countryman with the promising of better lives and a new job opportunities due to the tourism boost in the Philippines.

MRT Station Shaw Blvd.

With the increase in influx of tourist in the Philippines, also show increase in challenges of tourism industry, no one expected the increase number of visitors in the Philippines.  Just like the air traffic and the congestions in NAIA I, II and III, due to the facility can only accommodate small number of tourist and we have only one runway for take-off and landing unlike the airports of neighbors like Singapore Changi Airport and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport have two parallel runways and can accommodate 70 million passengers and had Airport Rail Link which is also had good accessibility and transportation.  The Clark International Airport, the former United Stated Air Force Base in the Philippines was a potential of becoming the country’s main gateway however, Clark is much far and the travel time will be approximately two to three hours towards Manila.  Many were proposing a High-Speed Rail Connecting Clark Airport and NAIA and the connecting highway between NLEX and SLEX also viable since NAIA cannot handle increase influx of tourist arrivals.  Another proposal that Sangley Point Naval Base in Cavite, also a former US Naval Base can be used as an International Airport Hub and also International Seaport which is a good location and the government have long plans to establish again reclamation area besides the former American Naval Base therefore I will expect again another demonstration, picketing and rally from the residence of Cavite City.

Transportation in Municipality of San Isidro ,Bohol

When I watched the CNN special coverage about Philippine Tourism last 2012, titled “Eyes of the Philippines,” I was amazed at our country’s possessions like beautiful beaches, great scuba diving, nice hospitality by our fellow Filipinos even here in Metro Manila, we have the best shopping malls and gimmicks everything, however according to the reporter that the Philippines needs to attract more tourists will have to improve its poor infrastructure.  Roads, airports and seaports all over the country were all a decade older and needs a major upgrade.  The culture of Filipino Taxi drivers in spite of some being honest, there were still a few vipers left on the taxi system in the Philippines and took advantage on naïve and innocent tourist.  Others like the toilets in the NAIA airport was really gross that someone say that even Jabba the Hut cannot withstand the stench could definitely lightspeed his fat blob out of here.  

Yes the tourists have finally arrived, what about sustainability and improving the growth of tourism?  Does the Philippine Government think of this rather than just promoting and said, “The Philippines is under a new management now.”?

Tansyong Riding "Kalesa" at Luneta Park

We need to invest on good and better infrastructure that could rival or just at par with our neighbors.  Most of the airports and seaports in Southeast Asia have already modernized and upgrade their gateways, in the Philippines I’ am not certain if the government is open for this possibilities, especially now when the Pork Barrel scam was all over the news.  The government should have invested with the infrastructure especially for tourism since they want to add more growth and revenues and attracts more tourists rather than implement more tax like the E-vat.  Well for this administration, President Aquino III, had projects of building and improving international airports in places were tourism flourished.  Like the Caticlan International Airport, the Puerto Princesa International Airport, the Bicol International Airport and so forth.  Not only airports and seaports but also access roads going to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces that most tourist were dying to see but only few have seen the wonder.

In the same page, I watched a documentary regarding the famous rice terraces and there were four teenagers from France wanted to see the famous wonder however due to inaccessibility the four teenagers would have to walk 4 kilometers to the site.  Another challenge is that the Philippines is an archipelagic country compromising of 7,101 islands and if you want to travel to nearby islands like Palawan, Boracay and Bohol, you have to purchase plane tickets and the departure still in Manila, which is more expensive or via Ferry Boat which is very slow and tiresome and speaking of accessibilities through the sea, we use to have fast boats like the Superkat, however it only serves in selected cities especially in Cebu.  Unlike in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam most of their tourist locations were all accessible through roads and rail system and they invest more in their infrastructure.

Indonesia on the other hand is also archipelagic country like ours however when it comes to infrastructure and accessibilities, Indonesia has the advantage over the Philippines and they restore, enrich and empower their tourism by means of dividing cultural and natural tourism.  We all know that the best tourist destination in Indonesia is Bali.  Most of the well-known Class A Hollywood stars comes to Bali every year to spend a well and define relaxation and vacation.  Even the Miss World beauty pageant was held this year 2013 and eventually won by our very own Miss Philippines’ Megan Young.  The most important in Indonesian Tourism is the cultural and historical heritage.  Indonesians have well maintained their cultural heritage by preservation and enriching and promoting Indonesian Culture even their national dishes were also included.  However in the Philippines we do not value our cultural heritage even historical sites like the famous Metropolitan Theater instead of presenting the theater to the tourist it was abandoned and never planned the rehabilitation by the past administration.

 Another potential is the walls inside the Intramuros.  As the only country colonize by Spain in Asia, the Philippines had a rich culture of mixture of Western and Eastern cultures.  As you notice besides the Fort Santiago, Intramuros could be the largest museum in Southeast Asia if they could commission every building as museum instead of government run institution like the Palacio de Gobernador which is now occupied by the Commission on Elections or rebuild the Ayutamyento building which is besides the Manila Cathedral, we could have an authenticated colonial plaza with authenticated colonial calesas as the shuttle for tourist, we could be still be called the Pearl of the Orient Seas, but the government did not mind the restoration and beautification of Manila.  The only advantage we have so far is natural tourism in Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, etc...

Below is theOfficial Ads of  DOT
Moreover in Mindanao, we do have a lot of potential tourist spots like Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, Gumasa Beach in Sarangani, Samal Island in Davao, Siargao Islands in Surigao and the River Rapids in Cagayan de Oro.  We do have a lot of potentials in Mindanao but the problem for this region still safety and security and Mindanao always placed as travel advisory.

We indeed improve the tourist arrivals here in the Philippines but still we need to improve our Infrastructures, accessibility, safety and security to help our country to be on one of the top tourist destinations in Asia not to be lag behind or still remains in last place again.