The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park  is one of the most distinguished biodiversity conservation areas of the Philippines. It is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines.

It is known for scenic natural beauty, intact old growth tropical rainforest, interesting wildlife, pristine white sand beaches and a spectacular limestone formation that possess a most impressive cave system.

The main focus of the park  is an 8.2 km long underground river that is reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world.

A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers.

At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef located in the Sulu Sea of the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park

It is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world.  These magnificent atolls encompass an astonishing diversity of marine life.

The park is an underwater sanctuary where nature thrives. Tubbataha is the Philippines’ only marine natural park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place of global importance being preserved for future generations of humankind.

A team of rangers are stationed on the reef year-round and, from March until June, divers visit Tubbataha to experience the wonders of this unique underwater world.

San Agustín Church is a Roman Catholic church under the auspices of The Order of St. Augustine, located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila.

This church is a significant monument to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, being the first religious structure built in the island of Luzon, after the Spanish relocated from Cebu in the south.

Completed by 1607, it is the oldest church currently standing in the Philippines. No other surviving building in the Philippines has been claimed to pre-date San Agustin Church.

In 1993, San Agustin Church was one of four Philippine churches constructed during during the Spanish colonial period designated by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, under the classification “Baroque Churches of the Philippines”.

It had been named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976.

The San Agustin church of Paoay was named as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The chuch was made of coral stone and was adorned like an Asian temple. Built from 1694 to between 1702 and 1710, it is the premier example of Philippine Earthquake Baroque, an architectural solution to the area’s challenging and natural setting.

The church features 26 massive side-buttresses and a number of external staircases. These architectural elements are meant to protect churches from collapse even in the worst earthquakes or typhoons in which this region abounds.

The external style may be Earthquake Baroque, but the many motifs (eg the crenellations) of the design suggest Chinese and Javanese influences. Some critics say it is reminiscent of Javanese temples.

A separate bell tower was added nearby in 1793. The bell tower was used by Katipunero rebels during the Philippine Revolution and by Filipino guerillas during the Japanese occupation in World War II as a hideout and observation post.

Can’t think of where to spend your much deserved weekend break? If you’re looking for a trip but on a shoestring budget, the town of Iba in Zambales is the perfect destination for you.

A few kilometers away from the metro but certainly far from its hustle and bustle, Iba is the beach capital of Region III. This town capital of Zambales stretches up to eight kilometers of gray sand beach that is popular to both local and foreign tourists. The beach is lined up with several resorts that offer everything from island hopping services to surfing lessons. If you want to relax and enjoy a bottle of beer while watching the sunset, there are also resorts that offer affordable day trip and overnight rooms and cottages facing the beach, a perfect spot for that magnificent sunset.

Best for snorkeling during the hot summertime, Iba boasts of a marine life that is abundant with corals and various species of marine animals. During the post-summer months of May and June, Iba is flocked by surfers and skim boarders for its subtle and surf-friendly waves.

It may seem very unlikely not to visit Pagudpud if you’re planning a trip to Ilocos Norte. For one, the place is known for its pristine white sand beaches and crystal blue waters. “So what?” one might think. The Philippines being an archipelago boasts of several beautiful beaches. But Pagudpud lies on the northernmost coastal tip of Luzon which positions the town with the South China Sea on its west and north, and the Cordillera Mountain Ranges on its east. Using “picturesque” to describe lying on the sand with your toes touching the South China Sea and seeing a view of Cordillera is actually an understatement.

It may be a long drive but a few hours from Pagudpud lies the classic city of Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur. Vigan is a World Heritage Site renowned for its rich Hispanic influence. This city is well known for its cobblestone streets and building architecture that fuses Filipino design with a touch of colonial European style. Truly, one may feel the urge to call their companion “Don” or “Doňa” and take a Calesa ride to match this old town’s ambiance.

And who has been to Vigan and not tasted its popular sausage? Aside from the timeless architectural landmarks you may see, Vigan is also famous for its Longganisa. In front of almost every souvenir shop is a small grill that sells these tasty sausages on a stick! Just 20 pesos for a stick of three sausages, this “pantawid-gutom” is surely a hit among tourists.

Butterflies thrive in a spacious garden in Bulacan. Just about an hour’s drive north of Manila, the Pulilan Butterfly Haven is where you can feast your eyes with hundreds of beautiful butterflies.

Wings aglow with yellow, brown, red and other bright and startling colors, they gracefully glide amidst rows of various Philippine plants.

The Pulilan Butterfly Haven along San Francisco Street in Pulilan, Bulacan is a theme park of sorts. Nearby, you can visit the ancestral home of of the Andan-Caleon clan, from whom the Haven’s owner, Mrs. Estelita A. Caleon-Aguirre, traces her maternal descent. There is also butterfly-shaped pool where you can take a refreshing dip into our butterfly inspired swimming pool that surrounds the vicinity of the butterfly haven. And adjoining the gardens is the expanse of the Pulilan Orchid Farm, which provides a colorful counterpoint to the lush greenery of the Haven.

No visit to the Haven is complete without feeding a butterfly. Holding out a piece of mashed banana on one’s fingertips is sure to attract a butterfly or two!

Boayan is the largest island in San Vicente, a municipality in the northern part of Palawan province. Boayan Island is on the north-western side of the main island of Palawan. The eastern side of the island faces the mainland barangays, or villages, of San Vicente. To the western side of Boayan Island, on a rugged majestic coastline, the island faces the South China Sea.

Boayan island, for comparison, is larger than Boracay Island and has a number of coves, small bays, and, smaller islands that offer the adventurous locals and tourists a beautiful new scene around every corner.

Boayan Island is 194 kilometers away from the City of Puerto Princesa, to the south of San Vicente. Puerto Princesa is the provincial capitol of Palawan Province and the only city on Palawan Island. The Municipality of San Vicente has a total land area of 82,057 hectares per PCSDS Staff, with a total area of bays and small islands of 165,797.65 hectares per municipal government staff.

San Vicente is characterized by rugged forest terrain and a flat coastal plain ideal for farming, orchards, and tourism development along one of longest beach coastlines in Philippines. It has several islands, Boayan being the largest, in its beautiful coastal areas.

San Vicente has the largest forest cover of any municipality in the Philippines by land area. A look on Google earth will show, while Boayan was once a lush forest, however, after the total log ban of 1992 which ended logging as an industry in Palawan, slash and burn farming and some unrestricted construction has been a problem on the island. A tolerant local government has tried to ensure island residents comply with laws while ensuring leniency and extending understanding to impoverished settlers and in all cases ensuring ordinances and laws are enforced.