Hello visitors!

I just want to send a shout-out to the folks who are visiting and posting message at our little chatboard here :) Pasensya na kayo kung hindi ako maka-reply, o kaya kung wala masyadong balita tungkol sa ating bayan. Susubukan ko mag-update ng mas madalas, kaso madalang din ang aking pag uwi kaya hindi rin ako nakaka-sagip ng balita.

Hello!

Resa
Michael Bulanday
M. Escalante
Rhenz
tedsr
cutelady eye

Sana po mabasa niyo to. Nagiisip ako na mag-start ng online forum for Candelarians, maybe somewhere where it would be easier for everyone to post their shout-outs, greetings, questions and the like. Please let me know if you're agreeable. Rhenz is also willing to host a site for us. Comment lang po kayo!

Philippines: 25 Best New Trips of 2010

The Philippines is included in the 25 Best New Trips of 2010, published in the November 2009 issue of National Geographic's Adventure magazine.

Summit to Sea

The Philippines has a PR problem. While it harbors as many islands as the Caribbean and some of the most spectacular reefs on the planet, the nation sees only a fraction of the visitors of nearby Thailand. Even travel companies, it seems, have bought the bad rap: Other than the occasional sea kayaking trip, U.S. guides have largely avoided the archipelago.

But Wilderness Travel has finally gotten wise. This May the outfit will lead clients high into the 4,000-foot Cordillera Central, then deep into the world’s most biodiverse marine environment.

The trip begins in Banaue, where travelers spend days hiking into terraced mountains and nights back at the town’s namesake hotel (pine cabins, private balconies, killer views). Then it’s down to the island of Cabilao, trading butterflies for fish� species of them. For the next five days, you’ll bob around reefs, scanning the area’s 350 varieties of coral (including table coral that’s a whopping nine feet wide).

But don’t forget: The best snorkeling starts at dusk. “It’s like being in a train station during commuting hours,” says Barbara Banks, Wilderness Travel’s director of new trip development. “The day fish are moving out and the night creatures like octopuses and eels are moving in.”

Links:
25 Best New Trips in 2010
Philippines – RP in National Geographic’s 25 Best New Travel Destinations in the World for 2010; Ancient Cultures, Structures and Biodiversity Cited

Time to shine folks!

Cross-posted: Zambales blog

Where to send help

Hello everyone, sorry for the lack of updates. I hope you're all doing well. Northern Luzon is slowly recovering the Pepeng's wrath, thanks to the generosity and bayanihan of the people.

I wanted to gather a list of places you can go to help, or donate, but there's just too much information. Thankfully, friends from Sayote Republic have done just that, so I'm linking to it.

For help to Typhoon Pepeng victims in Northern and Central Luzon.

Northern Luzon needs help

Northern Luzon is being hit hard by Typhoon Pepeng. Reports are trickling in from people who have families or contacts in various provinces all over the region.

Here's a list of essential links that you can use to help our kababayans in Northern Luzon. I will continue to update this with the info I can get from friends and contacts.

Stay safe folks!

Typhoon Ondoy

Hello everyone. I hope you're all doing well after all that's being on with Typhoon Ondoy. I haven't had a chance to update, as I lost my Internet service last Saturday and could only use the Internet at work.

Anyway, I'm sure you've read and head a lot about what has happened over the weekend. The greater Manila area, and nearby provinces, experienced the worst rainfall ever last Saturday, about six months worth of water in about six to twelve hours. Many families lost their homes and belongings, some were unfortunate to lose their lives. Those who made it safely to the evacuation centers were all just thankful that they still have their families together.

For those who wish to help, here's three sites that might prove helpful (via MLQ3's Twitter).

List of Places to Donate
Map Update Form (places that still need rescuing, etc)
Ondoy Victim Directory

Also,let's not forget the people in the provinces who were affected by previous storms and were still having trouble recovering. They could also greatly use your help.

Stay safe everyone.