When God made the world, He must have set his eyes in the Philippines. Its 7,107 islands are home to the largest array of flora and fauna, its people and their hospitality its greatest asset. Its skies are beaming with happiness and its seas waving in optimism. Dubbed as the Pearl of the Orient Seas, the Philippines is a country where East meets west; where Asian oriental culture convenes with liberalism and technology.
According to the Philippines’ Department of Tourism, more than three million foreign visitors have been in the country in 2010 with Americans, South Koreans, Japanese, Chinese and Australians being the leaders of the pack. Though haunted by issues in its society and the government, Philippine tourism has been stronger than ever with these places contributing to the surge of tourists, both local and foreign:
1. CEBU
Cebu tops the list of the most visited tourist destination in the Philippines. Being home to the Sinulog Festival , considered to be the Philippines’ foremost fiesta celebration, it has managed to attract one-fourths of the total foreign tourists in 2009. Dubbed as the Queen City of the South, Cebu is a royalty in its own ways. It is the center of commerce, trade and industry in the Visayas. Its famous landmarks include the Magellan’s Cross which is believed to be almost half a century old, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño which is considered to be the oldest church in the Philippines and the Bantayan Island which is renowned for its white sands and crystal clear waters.
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One success story, Camarines Sur is synonymous to wake boarding. It has become the mecca of wake boarders all over the world with over half of the foreign visitors in the province trying the sports in the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex. Aside from the man-made watersports facility, Camarines Sur is also home to the smallest fish in the world and the miraculous our Lady Peñafrancia Church in Naga.
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The country’s capital, Metro Manila came in third with 1.4 million visitors in 2010. Known for its night life and historical landmarks, must-visit places include historical park Luneta, the walled City of Intramuros and the night clubs and night markets in Makati. Skycrapers at night are also must-see.
Baguio City has its geographical location to thank for the surge of tourists. Having a sub-tropical climate, it has a temperature which is eight degrees Celsius lower than the average temperature from the rest of the country. Because of this, it has been known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” since 1903. Famous tourist spots within the vicinity include The Mansion which is the official second residence of the President of the Philippines, former American recreational facility Camp John Hay and Burnham Park.
Davao City completes the first half as one of the most visited places in the Philippines. Being the largest city in the island of Mindanao, it is home to Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines. Davao City also prides itself as the home of the Philippine Eagle as the Philippine Eagle Center is located Malagos, a 45 minute drive from the city proper. The city is also famous for the fruit Durian known for its unique and very strong odor.
6. BORACAY ISLAND
Being the premier beach destination in the country both for local and foreign tourists, Boracay Island is famous for its white sand beaches and very translucent waters. It has also reaped awards as the best tourist attractions in the world ranking second out of 25 beaches by “Travelers’ Choice” and being the fourth place in the Top Ten Islands list of a famous international travel magazine.
If you talk about whitewater river rafting and river trekking, Cagayan de Oro City is the best place to be in. With the splendid views of the mountain and the exhilarating adrenaline, the thirty-minute white water rafting adventure leaves tourists wanting more. Dubbed as the City of Golden Friendship, the city opens its doors to Muslims, Christians, Lumads and foreigners where they live in peace and tense-free environment.
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| Capones Island |
Alphabetically, it may be the last province in the country but its splendor has made it one of the Philippines’ premier tourist destinations. Zambales is known for its beaches, coral reefs and diving spots. A part of the Mount Pinatubo is also situated in the province. Zambales is also famous for its mangoes.
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The Loboc River, the Philippine Tarsier and the Chocolate Hills are some of the tourist spots that pride Bohol. Bohol is an island province in the Visayas which is the tenth biggest in the country. A notable diving destination is Panglao Island recognized as one of the best diving location in the world.
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| El Nido Palawan |
Palawan closes this list of the Most Visited Places of the Philippines. With its large land area comes countless reasons why tourists loved the province. From its forest covers to its coral reefs, Palawan proved to be one of the biodiverse provinces in the country with some endemic species such as the Philippine mouse deer and Palawan bearded pig being found here. Among the famed tourist destination in Palawan includes the El Nido Marine Reserve Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site’s Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, Coron Reefs, Busuanga and one of the provisional new seven wonders of the world, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
Certainly, these places prove that after all the issues surrounding its leaders and its people, no one can deny the fact that the Philippines and the Filipinos are one lucky country, one fortunate nationality. With its people’s smile and happy disposition and its natural wonders carved to God’s perfection, the Philippines make tourists marvel in awe. Being the home to all these greatness, the world is sure in envy with a small island country with 7,107 pearls in the Pacific.
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