Top 5 Important Things A Blogger Must Have.

In Starting up Your Blog, there are factors that affect the convenience and success of your masterpiece.   All you need to have are these things that are required as a blogger. Without these Tangible Assets you won’t be able to own a successful blog.

Let me share you my experiences that are related to these things. How I value a lot, how I got it and some happy and sad stories of being a blogger with or without these things.

Computer.

My Laptop Stolen :-(

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 Computer is very important gadget that you will need. Without it, you cannot convert your articles from hard copy to a soft copy. Typing your post, editing and enhancing your images/pictures, and it is also your gadget wherein you can store your important files. It can be a desktop, laptop or netbook, which ever will works best for you.

The Story

When I was a newbie in Blogging, I am not that much active in updating it. The Very Reason is I don’t have a computer. I can only update if I am renting a desktop in a computer shop. So most likely, I spent PHP 15 per hour for me to check my Friendster account. I was exposed totally in blogging when I used to be a student assistant in my University during my college days. It was favorable to me coz the school office had a desktop with internet for free in my entire shift.

Now, Since I am already working. I bought a laptop; I just remembered my younger days that this thing is one of my wishes. But today I owned it.

Month of July, this Year, I am planned to create a travel Blog, since I already travelled many places….and so I started this I Love Tansyong

Midmonth, my friend invited me to drink. He went to my boarding house and we got drunk. I was shocked when I woke up. My Laptop was gone, and he was not there. I sent him a text an SMS; he replied “I will return this tomorrow”. Up until today, He didn’t return it and I believe it was very intentionally stolen.

Now I realized the value of computer, I am currently renting a desktop while running this Blog.

CAMERA

My HP S300 

Bringing the stories to your readers are very easy to narrate by writing. However, narrating stories without picture will leads to you reader’s interest vanishes. Remember that you can create a thousand words in one Picture. Try to combine a story in one article w/ one picture attached, sounds better right?

Successful Blogging really needs to include an image in every post, and having a digital camera is an advantage for you.  Digicam is beneficial to a blogger, given the fact that “What is happening now, will be part of the history. And you can’t bring back time”. Capturing it using you camera is a must.

Never use analogue camera, always prepare a digicam. Any imperfection of your captured image can be enhanced using adobe photoshop. If you don’t have a digicam, a cellphone with high pixel camera is fine. But DSLR is best option due to its capacity to capture vivid images.


Story
Actually, I started using images ever since yet during that time I only had phone camera. But Today I purchase HP300 digicam fo PHP2999 in ENSOGO and online shopping site using my paypal account. I always bring it anywhere and anytime in preparation to any fortuitous events which best subject for picture taking. Sometimes, I borrowed DSLR from friend who is photo enthusiast.



Internet Connection

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Superseding the World of no boundaries the so called WorldWide Web can only be done if you have an internet connection. Having a computer is not enough. You need to publish your post to the web using the connection. Upload your videos and images, connecting and building a strong relationship to your readers and your circle of online friends.


The fastest connection, the better blogging productivity you have. But if you are a traveler, you can use a broadband which is quite slow connection yet very convenient; the connection varies from your demographic location. But the important is you can still connect online anytime, anywhere. If you are travelling in an urban zone, I’m pretty sure that Wifi connection availability is offered in any establishment for free.

Story
Let me provide you the Pros and Cons of LAN connection, Broadband, and Wifi Based on my experiences.

LAN connection

•  Pros : the Connection is very fast
• Cons : this only advisable for desktop due to its permanent location

Broadband like Smart or Globe

• Pros : very portable , easy to connect anytime. Advisable if you are a travel Blogger.
• Cons : Slow connection based on your demographic location, prepaid loading will leads you an expensive spending in total.

Wifi

• Pros : you can connect sometimes for free. If you have your own server, you can connect anywhere in your house w/out worrying the wires connected to your computer.
• Cons; the connection may slowly cut off until it will disconnect depending on the interfering factors

MOBILE PHONE

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Mobile Phone is also important to a blogger because having a phone you can connect your friends that may help you about looking for a specific info about your topic.  It is a primary medium of a remote communication in the Philippines. Remember that Philippines is the text capital of the World. Regardless of your Economic Status you can own a mobile phone coz it is the best way for you to keep in touch to anybody.

Current Phones nowadays are innovated to perform a multimedia feature. Therefore it well serves a mini computer wherein you can update your social network account anytime.
Microblogging is also a factor why your blog will become successful through sharing and you can do that using your mobile phone.

My Advice
Building a strong relationship to your network will help your blog become famous. Remember that your friend is the best network in starting to create your blog. They are your primary readers regardless if your post is value-laden or not.

PEN and PAPER

This is your foundation in writing, since grade school. You need to have these two things anytime. Writing is a must, so for you to write you need to use a pen and paper. Getting rapid info, in a short span of time, you can’t pull up your lappy right away from your bag, turn in on and write it down. In that Scenario, the advisable to use is a pen and paper. By that, you will able to take down the information in just a short span of time.

What are your Top 5 things that connected to you?

Reviving Stone Age in Binangonan, Rizal

Stone Age is back!

Lasting Smile: One of the masterpiece

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In barangay Limbon-limbon, Binangonan, Rizal, a 30 minutes ride from the town proper, lives a man who revitalizes the work of art by means of rock.

Mr. Manuel Rozal or Simply Mang Manuel, 58 years-old, widow and a father is restoring and still working for rock statuettes in more than twenty years now.

Year 1190, when Mang Manuel had his humble beginning in wood carving industry in Darangan, Binagonan,Rizal there he was hired as a helper who maintained and cleaned the working area. No one taught him on how to carve, he was just watching while the workers were doing their jobs. From watching, he learned to carve and started to do it on his own. He started carving small figurines until he skillfully master it, thus officially bringing him into sculpturing.

Whilst in the peak level of momentum in carving, wood scarcity became the primary problem of local sculpture industry.

The children with the life sized statue.

“ Bigla kasi tumaas ang presyo ng kahoy, kaya humina ang negosyo at umalis ako” (The price of the wood rapidly increase that leads me to resign), he added . Thinking fast, he thought for an alternative way to earn income. He tried to carve those idle stones in the neighborhood until he noticed that he already configured numbers of statues, images and figurines. His relatives admired his masterpieces and brought them right away, hence the commencement of his monumental career.

Because of his relative’ referrals, numerous orders were coming. “ Diko nga akalain ganun kadami ang order” (I was surprised of the innumerable orders) he stated.

Jaycee showcase his talent in carving

Statues of different shapes and sizes which are sculptured at the mountain due to its unrestricted resources were created. From frogs, lions and elephants to Sta. Claus, Budha and Jesus Christ, the pride of Binangonan’s sculptured rocks and stones started to sell and delivered into numerous customers who were fanatics of this kind of art. His well-known buyers were Toni Gonzaga, Michael’s Restaurant, Balaw balaw Exotic Restaurant and different hotels and high profiled personas.

“Isang Beses nga , Pumasyal ako sa Luneta,malapit sa Quirino Grandstand. Laking tuwa ko na makitang nakarating ang gawa kong three wise monkeys at nakalagay pa dun na walang pagbabago” One time, we visited in Luneta near Quirino grandstand, It’s a glory of bliss seeing my masterpiece “the three wise monkey“ was displayed there, and it’s almost the same since the time it was bought from me) he proudly narrated.

Pampang ng Kayamanan : The place where in abundant rocks
for carving are available.

Mang Manuel’s earnings since he started sculpturing, amounted to two (2) million pesos, with these, he was able to fund his children’s education and send them to school. His son, a graduate of Electrical Engineering, is now working abroad and his daughter, a graduate Bachelor in Science in Business Administration is currently working in Mandaluyong and the remaining two are studying computer course.

Hopes and wishes of continuing the legacy of a man who brought pride to Binangonan’s artistry in sculpturing stirs up as Mang Manuel states, “ Tulad ngayon na matanda na ako, gusto kong may susunod sa akin” ( Just like this, Im too old for this and I’m hoping that someone will continue my legacy)

Taas noo : As Mang Manuel tell his story 

He already taught number of trainees in their barangay and currently, he’s training, for almost five months, his niece Jaycee Ibanez, a 17 year old, who stops studying due to financial problem and decided to learn sculpturing instead of doing nothing.

Truly, sculpturing is a gift given by God, by wood or rock, the art of it is lasting, prevailing and lasting.

“Dito umiikot ang buhay ko” he uttered in his melodious voice. However, he’s still looking for more youth who will continue his legacy, hoping that they may follow his footprints of instituting oneself, reviving the culture while keeping the land’s monumental heritage through the works of rock.

As i said Goodbye to the child

Tips on Renewing Your Philippine Biometric Passport

Green Passport (old)

I was only 19 years old when I got my first Philippines passport. It was Feb 8, 2007 I got it from the old Department of Foreign Affair Office (DFA) which was located at Libertad Pasay (near LRT libertad ). I was green colored cover non-electronic passport which lasts for 5 years effectively. Actually, it was already expired Feb 8, 2012 without any single stamp, meaning for the span of five years I was not able to travel abroad.

At first, the very reason why I applied a passport, it’s because I had a plan working abroad. But unfortunately it didn’t happened but I am still thankful because I finished my Bachelor Degree. Having a passport is an advantage for me within 5 years. I used it as my Identification Card in any official transactions and documentation.

Moreover, owning my green passport that time is not easy like nowadays. The application process is the very challenging part. Aside from long queue, you need to complete your documents and etc, there were also illegal things happened .Luckily, prior on applying I was already warned by my friend not to entertain anybody outside the main gate. I remember when I arrived at the DFA office, lot of illegal fixers were waiting for victims.

Here is the scheme (outside the main gate)

Someone will approach you and will ask if “Are you a first time applicant?” If you say yes or no, they will still give/offer you an application form amounting to PHP5 for you to fill out (where-in you can get it inside for free) . Afterward, the fixer will photocopy your documents meaning you need to pay it. And they will offer if you want someone to process the application for PHP1500 (where-in processing for the passport that time was only PHP650). If you will agree with the deal, they will give you 1 month and its all set (wherein 3 weeks is the processing at the office). But the thing here is, they will give you fake passport after 1 month.

Moreover, illegal fixers were also wearing their ID and if you are not observant then you will be the next victim.
Aside from illegal fixers, you will also encounter vendors that are selling pens, envelops and passport case. If you will entertain them, they will forcedly sell their merchandise.

Basically, lot of hindrances will stop you to reach the main gate. The safest area is once you will enter the gate. It was very memorable experience; fortunately I was aware of those Modus Operandi. And Successfully I got my green Passport.

Since I was a new applicants here are my documents and requirements I brought that time.

• NSO Authenticated Birth Certificate
• NBI Clearance for Abroad
• At least 3 Valid ID’s (I brought my Company ID and etc)
• Any supporting documents that will show you name and birthday.


My E-Passport

My green old passport is already expired Feb 8, 2012. From then, my dream to travel abroad was just a dream literally. I am not anymore interested and eager to renew it. Until, I engaged myself in travel blogging and my ambition to travel abroad is now part of my plan. Therefore, I decided to renew my old green passport. I checked online on how to renew.

What I did was very easy and convenient: 

I signed up an appointment online via DFA website. I chose the date of October 17, 2013 8am to 9am. I printed my appointment form together with the instruction on what to do on the date of my renewal. I also produced a photocopy of valid ID and front page of my old green passport (you need also to bring the original valid ID and your Old passport). During setting your appointment, you will be asked if what your preferred site of DFA office is. For me, I chose the main site which is situated at ASEANA Business Park, Bradco Avenue corner Macapagal Boulevard, Paranaque City.



TIPS during Your Passport Renewal Date:

1. Choosing appointment date and time. 
I advise you to choose Mondays and 8am to 9am, Fist reason, the mentality of individuals that they will not prefer Mondays since it’s the first business day of the week and they thought that DFA office in Monday is very saturated. Ironically, Monday is best day and stressful day to have an appointment. Second reason, since it is the first business day of the week, only few applicants will set up an appointment that day because they also need to work or else filing a leave of absent is the option. Therefore, there are only few applicants during Mondays. Third reason, since it’s the first business day of the week DFA employees are more efficient and effective (believe me).

2. What to bring during the renewal date?
Bring your application/appointment form, walk in applicants are not permitted. Photocopy all your documents or else you will pay for expensive photocopy inside during the appointment (Xerox Machine are available inside). Bring also the original copies of the documents (you can check the documents required on DFA website). If you are just renewing, bring your original and photocopy of your expired passport, as well as original (at least 3) Valid ID and photocopy of it.

3. Pick up or deliver? 
Different carrier are affiliated with DFA, in fact some carriers have an office inside the ASEANA Business Park. It’s up to you if you are going to avail it, but just remember that it is not compulsory. Delivery payment is amounting to Php120, beware also because there are lot of liaisons who will forcedly offer you the delivery option.  For me, I picked up my new E-passport on the date of release (gate 3), and you will only wait patiently for 30 minutes. You just need to bring your Receipt and Valid ID and present it to the counter.

4. How to make it fast? 
Sometimes you need to be wise and tactful, First go to gate 1, the guard will check your appointment form and they will allow you to proceed inside. Go to verification counter, they will verify your documents and sign it. If you arrive too early for your scheduled appointment, the verification counter will instruct you to wait you time at designated waiting area.

But here is the trick, if you arrive too early for your schedule, don’t go to the designated waiting shed. Fall in line on the queue right away at the door adjacent towards the gate 1 going to the counter. The counter will checked your old passport and next step is you need to pay at the payment counter. And there you go! Believe me, my schedule is 8AM yet while taking glance to the appointment form of the person ahead of me I saw he was schedule supposedly 11AM and he was with me in the line for 8AM.

5. Pretend that you are knowledgeable. 
No matter what happened pretend that you are professional and you are smart. It’s a huge help.
Once you paid already the amount of PHP950 at the payment counter located at 2nd floor. Go get your number for the queue for Picture Taking. You are not allowed to wear jewelries and glasses, you should wear shirt with collar and during picture taking you are not allowed to smile showing your teeth. A smile hiding your teeth is fine.

Moreover, "When taking a [photo of a person applying for a passport] "The subject's expression should be neutral (non-smiling) with both eyes open, and mouth closed. A smile with a closed jaw is allowed but is not preferred," according to the guidelines. ... Smiling "distorts other facial features, for example your eyes, so you're supposed to have a neutral expression. ... The most neutral face is the most desirable standard for any type of identification,"

After, the picture taking, take your paid receipt because you will need that to show during the release of your Passport. The release date is also indicated on your paid receipt.

HERE IS THE MAP of DFA MAIN SITE

November 11 2013 I got my new E-passport. It has lot of differences to my old one. I must say that the new passport is not easy to falsify because of the distinct security features on the materials being used.

On the other hand, the new DFA main site is very well-ventilated, air-conditioned and very organized (kudos). Unlike the procedure in Old DFA office, it was terrible. You need to spend half day to process but today it was very fast and convenient. The thing that I just observed are the Guards, they are rude. They will not answer your questions with manner, believe me. (Hope the DFA will pay attention to this issue)

The Spectacular Panglao Island in Bohol.

Video

 

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Moreover, the island area measures 80.5 sq. kilometers surrounded by white shoreline with different resorts. From private to public resort, luxurious to affordable, and developed to virgin beaches, lot to choose from. This main island is surrounded by islets such as Gak-ang, Pontod, and Balicasag where in all you need is to ride a boat to witness the innumerable dolphins.

It is very easy to travel here.

 Affordable -

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If you are in tight budget, what I can recommend is you go to Dumaloan Beach Resort where-in you can rent there an open cottage for PHP250 and the entrance fee of PHP50. (Rooms are also available) If you are a tactful solo traveler, it would be better to pay for the entrance and set up your tent discreetly inside (believe me). Tip: you can talk any guest or group inside the resort if you can set up your tent beside their open cottage so that the management will not confront you. You just need to be approachable because Boholanos are very friendly by that your food will be free, locals love to offer foods and drinks. (You just need to be wise)

 Convenient - If you are aiming to relax on your vacation, immediately think about "Alona Beach", Bohol Beach Club, and other deluxe beach resort. Panglao just located southwest of the island of Bohol and east of Cebu. Similar to Boracay you can find an amazing white beach and crystal clear water.

Panglao is very accessible. From Tagbilaran Airport, take a tricycle towards Dau, from Dau take a mini-bus to Dauis, then ask the driver to drop you off at Dumaluan Beach.

Panglao Beaches are very impressive with its cleanliness. Many activities are offered, Especially Balicasag Island is really worth diving at. Dolphin watching, kayaking, and Food tripping are also available. (Prices vary based on season).

Dumaluan beach is connected to Bohol Beach Club; therefore I was able to go to the private resort for free. The sand is very fine and well maintained; the utilities clean their shoreline every now and then. I was wondering their sand which adjacent to the hotel of BBC smells chlorine, I don’t know if they maintained it by putting chlorine. 

The interesting activity I did was building a sand castle.

Related Post: The Silent and Placid Panglao Island During Night. 

In CENTRAL BBQ BOY GRILL, Every day is a weekend

Sunday, December 1, 2013, my circle of friends who were my former gym mates invited me for a night out, since one of them celebrating a birthday and it was also a reunion of the group. Actually, I am not that kind of interested in the invitation because at that time I am not feeling well (I just got from Baler Aurora). But there’s no way for me to refuse it, they are my friends who always went out (ie, Tala Bar, Uno Pizzeria, and Bellagio in Malate).

Meanwhile, to cut the story short, I joined them.



How to get there: (as per Central Website)
Take Bicutan Exit, Turn at SM Bicutan side (Dona Soledad Ave), Go straight, Central is located on your right beside Honda Motorali.
There are very few places in Metro Manila where you can go for an honest-to-goodness food trip and walk away knowing that you got your money’s worth.


What is CENTRAL BBQ BOY GRILL?

CENTRAL BBQ BOY GRILL is one of them and is holding its own among the manu fancy bars and restaurants around the metro.

It's the laid-back setting of wooden picnic tables, chill-out music, and alfresco dining is probably what initially attracts patrons. But it’s the excellent array of grilled Filipino dishes and the affordable prices that keep customers coming back. With this combination, it’s no wonder that CENTRAL has attracted regulars of all ages; from young people looking for a place to hang out with friends, yuppies wanting to unwind after work, and families wishing to share a good meal with each other. (credits to CENTRAL BBQ BOY GRILL Website)

Review about the Place.

The place is very solemn, so if you are a group of friends then you can communicate better compared to the other bars that play audible music. Moreover, the washroom is also clean; the establishment’s washroom signage is also noticeable because for females it's a bad girl and for males, it's the bad boy. (Just like the washroom of TIKI BAR which is very creative as well).

The hanging lampshades add up the details of the entire bar. And at each table, there is candlelight for the whole time you are drinking. The place is not that too heavy to hangout out with friends. Just a reminder CENTRAL BBQ BOY GRILL doesn’t have a dance floor.

Their drinks are very amazing, unexplainable. You can visit their website for the menu Click here.
Here is the menu :

We Met Nicki Minaj Lookalike

An hour passed by and we noticed this tanned woman with blond hair. She looks familiar, with her get up, with her gesture, and the way she smiles. She was Nicki Minaj of the Philippines. I know you guys knew her; she was part of the Showtime contest Lookalike.

We went ahead to Uno Pizzeria.
We decided to transfer to a different bar since the group wanted to hit the dance floor.  (I will be posting the next bar that we've been)

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.