Christmas Attractions in the Philippines


Hotels in Mandaluyong City are now all set this holiday season. Well, it isn’t just the city of Mandaluyong but the whole country as well. As always, the Philippines starts celebrating Christmas since the start of the “ber” months. It is not just the hotels, malls, and other business establishments that are all spruced up but also houses, big or small, never miss to join in the festivities. Some are lavishly decorated while others are content hanging one or two parols (Christmas lantern) outside. If you have a tight budget, there are places where you can witness amazing Christmas displays for free.

Free?! Interested now, aren’t we? Here are the top picks ready for exploration:

Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong City

It is quite normal to see houses decorated with Christmas decors but this one is definitely a perfect 10. Mandaluyong Hotels can’t pull this stunt because the tenants will surely cry in protest due to high electrical fees and expensive decorations.
Instagram/jacobthebomb_


Yep, Policarpio Street did it again and its charm never fades. This ordinary street becomes a main Christmas attraction in Mandaluyong City by nighttime. This annual tradition was started by the Lim, Dalisay and Suva families on 1996. The decorations and lights are breathtaking as ever. While you feed your eyes, you can satiate your hunger by stopping over food stalls in the area.

Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City

Makati City is not just the center of commerce in the Philippines but also a source of fun and entertainment. Every year Ayala Triangle Gardens holds an event called “Festival of Lights”, which is a lights and sounds show. The theme this year is “Beats and Hues” with three different light shows. It first plays a big band and jazz music, followed by African drumbeats, and topped off with electronic dance music.
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This event is also recognized by an international travel magazine, the Conde Nast Traveler last year. Ayala Triangle Gardens was mentioned on their list of one of the places in the world to see spectacular Christmas lights.

It will run until January 3, 2016 from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Greenhills Shopping Center

Besides the annual sale for the holidays, the Christmas Bangketa Fair, which kicked off on November 13 and lasts until December 31, another reason to go back at Greenhills Shopping Center is the Christmas on Display (COD). It is a moving mannequin show which was originally started at COD Department Stores in Avenida but now, its current home is at Greenhills.
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This year’s theme is called “The First Christmas” and it is about the journey of the Three Kings. The show runs until January 4, 2015 which lasts for 15 minutes and starts at 6:30 pm until 11:30 pm.

Giant Lantern Festival in Pampanga

Pampanga is not only the “Food Capital” of the country; the famed province is the “Christmas Capital” as well. December is their busiest month of the year because it is packed with must-see places and events. Pampanga Day (Aldo Ning Kapampangan) is celebrated every December 11. It is an event with colorful floats, street dancing and a beauty pageant called Mutya Ning Kapampangan.
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In Guagua, Pampanga, a mini-Christmas village was setup by the Peña family inside their home. At Santa Rita, their latest gimmick is a rainbow Christmas (neither white nor blue, make that ROYGBIV).

Let us not forget the reason why it is the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” On December 19 the Giant Lantern Festival 2015 will start with 11 participants showcasing their magnificent creations.

It is not just the malls and hotels in Mandaluyong where you can spend Christmas with family and friends. Every city and province in the country has its own Christmas attraction worth your time and wonder.

Adventure at the Province of Palawan

We will explore the Philippines to find our top picks for travel destinations, and today, we will discover the Province of Palawan. Let us take a bird’s eye view of this majestic place and see how beautiful it is. I have prepared a few videos to get us started. I hope you will like it. Maybe one of these days, we will see each other having a vacation there.

Adventure Teaser: An Island Overview Here is a video showing Palawan from the Air, a wonderfully made and I really made me really want to go there! I love this one! The Island is ranked as number one TOP Islands in the World!



Isn’t it lovely? It excites me, how I wish to go there with a special someone. I will buy tickets and book a hotel in Palawan right away! Truly the place is overwhelming with beauty and is a true wonder of nature. This is just a teaser, what more can we see with the different islands in there? Let us continue our adventure.

El Nido: Heaven on Earth
This is one of the Islands in Palawan, the El Nido. There are lots of activities that can be done here including the exploration of the hidden beach behind towering limestone, snorkeling, diving, and many more! Here is a video from GoPro Philippines adventure.



This marvelous work of nature is really worth visiting! This island is a living proof of heaven on earth. Experience the great landscape and exciting activities. This is one of the best island hoping destinations with great food, nature discovery and sceneries.

Puerto Princesa: Nature at its Finest
Did you know that Puerto Prinsesa is one of the newly announced Seven Wonders of the World? The place is very proud to present the Underground River. This is a very unique and exquisite river with various ecosystems and wild life. Scientific discoveries were also found on this underground river. See the video below and be amazed!



Feeling the urge to travel already? Wait, there is still another island that will surely take your breath away.

Coron: Divers Paradise
If you think that you are already sold out to the two islands above, you just have to see this diving haven with the very unique characteristic. This diving site has a thermocline! Experience different temperatures under water and see if there are barracudas in it.



What a very exciting trip waiting for us in there!

That’s it folks, now that you have watched our top picks, grab that travel bag of yours, book your tickets and see you there!

Cebu Philippines’ 5 Best Beaches to Visit

Cebu showcases the best of the best tourist attractions. While staying in the province, you can also add on your itinerary a water adventure. Water Adventure? Yes, Cebu is not only a home of oldest churches or historical places but it also has beautiful beaches that you will enjoy!

After showing the Cebu's historical places you may visit, it’s time to relax and enjoy the nature.

Just like the other provinces of Philippines, Cebu has its unique identities that everyone for sure to enjoy. Packed your things from your hotel in Cebu and let’s explore the most exciting part of your trip. Below is the list of the beaches you may visit.

      1. Malaspascua Island

      The island is located on the northernmost tip of the province. It is 2 hours and 30 minutes away from the Cebu City. The island will meet your enthusiasm if you want to experience scuba diving, skim boarding, snorkelling and meeting a thresher shark.

      The island is surrounded by white sands and clear crystal water.

      2. Camotes Islands

      It is just 2 hours from the capital of Cebu. Camotes offers the best experience of island life. The Island is come up with four islands Pacijan, Poro, Ponson and Tulang. For the best hotel accommodations and beaches, you should choose Pacijan Island.

      While in the Island you may also enter the woods and do exciting adventure island hiking and discover the purple heron or the Philippine wild duck.

      3. Moalboal

      It is located on the southwest of the province and just an hour from the mainland of Cebu. The place of Saavedra is the most visited in Moalboal because of the beautiful resort, the Bas Daku White Beach.

      You can enjoy snorkeling in this place.

      4. Oslob

      Oslob is located in the southern Cebu. It takes an hour to arrive here. The place is famous for its beautiful beaches and underwater nature. One of the attractions here is the whale shark or Butanding, a largest mammal on the sea. See and meet face to face this harmless and large mammal.

      Oslob is also famous as a scuba diving destination because of its extraordinary underwater world.

    See: Best Diving Places in the Philippines.

      5. Bantayan Island

      Bantayan Island takes 2 hours to 3 hours to arrive from Cebu City. The island is surrounded by white sands and blue-green water. It can be the best beach in the country but it is not discovered by many tourists. It may be the paradise you are looking for, not yet crowded like other beaches.

      Experience the sugar-fine sand at Sugar Beach, one of the beaches on the Island.

Cebu Philippines, Let’s explore the Province.

Cebu, Cebu City, what are the things comes out in your mind when you were here the City of Cebu? For me, it is the battle between Lapu-lapu and Magellan and the Magellan’s Cross. Those names are what I learned from my Sibika class when I was in grade school.

Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines and home of old churches. Cebu is full of histories that are interesting to discover. Did you know that before the Spaniards come, the city of Cebu is known as fishing and trading village trades with other countries in Asia? And how Magellan introduces Christianity to the Cebuanos?

Getting interested? Get your laptop and find a ticket and Cebu's hotel because this will be fun. For now, let’s explore the historical places in the province.

1. Basilica del Santo Nino
The Basilica Del Santo Nino or Minor Basilica of the Holy Child is considered as the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. The church was built on the spot when the image of Santo Nino de Cebu was found by a Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
The church was damaged when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Visayas on October 2013.

2. Magellan’s Cross
The cross is a Christian cross planted by Ferdinand Magellan, who introduces Roman Catholic when he arrived in Cebu while exploring the Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean. The Magellan’s Cross is located next to the Basilica del Santo Nino.

3. Lapu-lapu Shrine
The monument was built to honor Lapu-lapu, for defeating the Spaniards in the battle of Mactan. Lapu-lapu is the could be the first native Filipino hero. The statue was said to be in the exact spot where he fought and killed Magellan.

4. Fort San Pedro
The Fort San Pedro was built by the Spaniards and indigenous Cebuano laborers under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, a Spanish conquistador, to stop the Muslim raiders. It is the smallest and oldest tri-bastion fort in the Philippines. The fort is located at the Plaza Indepedencia in the pier area of Cebu.

5. Colon Street
The colon street is the shortest and oldest street in the country. It witnesses many events during Spaniards time. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi the one who design the town structure.

The Hidden Paradise of Iloilo | Isla de Gigantes

Have you booked a promo ticket at Air Asia or Cebu Pacific for your Iloilo Adventure? You should, there are lots adventures waiting for you. Don’t forget to find affordable hotel in Iloilo.

Iloilo is known as the heart of the Philippines and when you visit the province, you will be inlove to its exotic beauty. The province never fails to amaze visitors in her natural and historical attractions.

The past is waiting for you to discover the present. Iloilo is full of history that you should discover, she is waiting for you.

If you love the island hopping, really, Iloilo is best for you. See and be in love with the enchanting beauty of Isla de Gigantes. According to the Ilonggos, the island is the City of Giants long time ago.



The island is formed in different big stones, with white sands and clear water. There are 10 islands can be found here and the famous islands that many tourists visited are the Gigantes Sur and Norte.

The Gigantes Norte has 3 small islands – Isla Baludadiang, Gigantilio and Gigantua. The Bakwitan Cave is one of the famous tourist attractions in Gigantes Norte, to be said the house of Giants. You can discover here the oversized shape of plate, spoon, etc., believes the Giants stuffs. And there is also a big wooded coffin that can be found. It sounds so interesting, right? A history with fun.

The other Island is the Gigantes Sur. The Island to be called as Virgin Island. It has 5 islands the Antonia, Bantigue, Cabugao, Tanguingui and Turnina. You may experience that you are in Thailand at Bantigue Sand Bar especially when low tide. Feel like you are in Blue Lagoon Samantha when visited the Tangke Salt Water Pool.

Philippines is really beautiful, what you need to do is discover and see it on your own. Natural are more beautiful than the man made. Love the country like how you are in love with the other country. Discover Philippines!

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Explore Butuan City
Puerto Princesa, A paradise

Let’s explore Iloilo

Planning to visit Iloilo? Packed your things and find affordable hotels in Iloilo for the vacation. Iloilo has lots of tourist spots and attractions that everyone can really enjoy. Iloilo showcased all fun and excitement to give you satisfaction, from its natural attractions, historical buildings, colorful festivals and other celebrations in the province.


Things to do in Iloilo

Food Trips at Iloilo –The Province offers local delicacies which you can really enjoy, especially for the first timer. Mind Blowing! La Paz Batchoy is originally from Iloilo, can you imagine the real taste of it? Don’t miss it!

Join the city’s festivals – Don’t miss the biggest religious and cultural festival in the Philippines, the Dinagyang Festival. Watch the Ati performers and see the city transformed into one of a kind place that full of enjoyment. The festival held every January. You can also enjoy the other events of the city like the Jaro Fiesta, Paraw Regatta Festival and Chinese New Year.

Visit the heritage sites – Discover the beauty of Iloilo on its restored heritage sites scattered in the city. You may start the tour at Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church, Lizares Mansion, Case Mariquit and Bahay Camina nga Bato.

Discover its natural resources – Iloilo is gifted of beautiful beaches and islands where you can enjoy the outdoor activities and see the beauty of a natural gift. Visit one of the best islands of Gigantes, Ajuy, Sicogon, and Concepcion, beaches at Miago, Guimbal, Tigbauan, Oton and well-preserved marine sanctuaries of San Joaquin.

Church Hopping – Iloilo is home of historical and heritage Spanish-colonial Churches. The Miagao Church is the most famous and well-preserved church which is listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Church. It is also worth visiting the other old and ruin churches in different parts of the City.

Visit also Butuan City and Puerto Princesa.

Explore Butuan City

Too much attached to the beauty of the Philippines? Here’s another place where you can spend your vacation with the family.

Butuan City is located in Mindanao - the second largest island of the Philippines. The word Butuan is said from the sour fruit “batuan” and once ruled by “Datu Buntuan” according to etymology sources. It became the center of trade and commerce by the 11th century and as the early 10th century, there’s a trading relation between Butuan and Southern Vietnam. Their transportation used in trading is the balangays, a big boat made by Butuan ancestors.

What to visit in Butuan? There are many historical and beautiful places in this Place. Get your backpack and booked at a Butuan Hotel. Let’s go travel.

Nipa Wine Distillery
Make a wine in the traditional way. Laksoy is a local wine from the juice of Nipa Palm of Butuan. Magellan’s Landing Site

Magellan’s Landing Site
Ferdinand Magellan dropped in the City to do the first Mass in the country. The Butuanons celebrated it annually to reminisce the historical event.

Butuan Regional Museum
To know more the beauty and how cultural and historical Butuan is, visit them. The museum is the house of archaeological discoveries, artifacts and cultural memorabilia.

Balangay Shrine Museum
The home of the Balangays boats discovered and used by the ancestors.

Banza Church Ruins
The anza church ruins is the oldest church in Mindanao. It was built by Augustinian friars in 1622 but ruins by the Morons in 1752. The bell tower is the only left.

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A City Paradise | Puerto Princesa