Mount Pinatubo

Mt. Pinatubo Travel Guide

• Why Not Go
• Why Go
• Best Time to Visit
• Where to Stay
• Where & What to Eat
• Nightlife
• To Do List
• Stay Away From
• Getting There

Mt. Pinatubo Travel Advisory: DOT-RIII stops trekking to the volcano!

With jarring landscapes, dramatic canyons, and snaking rivers, formerly nondescript Mt. Pinatubo, is a sight to behold, its scenery much magnified taking into account its fairly recent turbulent history.

No one ever paid attention to Mt. Pinatubo and the nearby Mt. Arayat in the province of Pampanga, a more prominent yet dormant volcano, prior to that fateful day of 15 June 1991 when finally the mountain woke up and shook the world. Before the 1991 eruption, scientists thought that the last recorded eruption of the volcano happened 450 years ago. However, the history of this mountain dates back to its predecessor, the ancestral Pinatubo whose remnants now surround the present volcano. The ancestral Pinatubo’s activity began 1.1 Million years ago, which ended sometime about 45,000 years ago. After 10,000 years of dormancy, modern Pinatubo was born in what was deemed to be the most explosive eruption in its history and deposited pyroclastic flow material 100 meters thick on all sides of the mountain – as much as 25 cubic kilometers of material ejected from its underlying magma chamber.

Mt. Pinatubo’s Artwork
Photo by Storm Crypt

Two For The Road: (Mt. Pinatubo Trail) In case you want to know how big these canyons and valleys are, just look at those two trekkers in the middle of the frame. This area is now within the province of Pampanga and Tarlac border. The Zambales border is just on the other side of the crater. Mt. Pinatubo.
Photo by Storm Crypt

The Philippines is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region where large numbers of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur along the entire Pacific Coast. Pinatubo, is part of a chain of volcanoes on the western edge of Luzon and is part of the so-called subduction volcanoes- formed by the Philippine Plate sliding under the Eurasian Plate with the Manila Trench to the west. It goes without saying that the volcano lies on a very destructive plate boundary. The mountain is an active stratovolcano and is located about 3 hours north of Manila and sits on the Cabusilan Mountain Range on the intersecting borders of Zambales, Pampanga and Tarlac.

“Pinatubo” means “made grown” in Tagalog and the local dialect of the area, the Sambal and an indigenous group of hunter-gatherer people, the Aetas lived on the slopes of the mountain for centuries to escape the persecution of the lowlanders and the Spaniards. Ramon Magsaysay, the former Philippine President and a Zambales-native even named his C-47 Presidential Plane, “Mt. Pinatubo”. And as if it was some sort of a bad omen, the plane crashed in 1957, killing the President and 24 others onboard.

Mount Pinatubo Crater
Photo by infiniteshutter

Less than a year before the eruption, Central Luzon was rocked by a powerful 7.7 Magnitude earthquake on 16 July 1990, with the epicenter about 100 kilometers northeast in the Nueva Ecija capital, Cabanatuan City which lead some scientists to speculate that the earthquake triggered the violent eruption. In succeeding months, the volcano started to make its presence felt, rumbling with a series of earthquakes, phreatic eruptions and sulfur dioxide emission increasing significantly.

On 15 June 1991, Mt. Pinatubo, erupted in such a spectacular display of sheer force and ferocity etching its place as the largest eruption of the 20th century after the Novarupta in 1912 and the largest in living memory– with the eruption ejecting 10 cubic kilometers of material, ten times larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens. The enormous volume of lava and ash injected massive amounts of dust and aerosols into the stratosphere, the largest since the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. This resulted in the reduction of the normal amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface by roughly 10% and the decrease of global temperature to about 0.4°C (0.7°F). The stratospheric cloud persisted in the atmosphere for three years for three years and was visible from space. The ash cloud after the eruption which almost virtually covered the entire island of Luzon, plunging much of Central Luzon into darkness as ash falls were recorded in most of the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and parts of Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. For the coming months, stunning vermilion sunsets were recorded throughout the world. The eruption was so colossal that Pinatubo literally blew its top, with its summit replaced by a caldera 2.5 kilometers wide with the highest point on its rim, some 290 meters lower than its pre-eruption summit of 1,485 meters above sea-level.

To add insult to the horrendous suffering of the people of Central Luzon, the area was hit by a typhoon passing close to the volcano which triggered massive lahar – a lethal mudflow that is composed of pyroclastic materials and water that flowed through the river valleys of the mountain.

Pondering into Zambales: (Mt. Pinatubo West Rim) Mt. Pinatubo’s west shore, part of the province of Zambales. Shot taken near the middle of the crater lake. Last time I was here, more than seven years ago, I can only swim as far as I could, as there were no boats yet. Its only now that I can take my shots from here and as close as I would have wanted to. This was supposedly part of the summit of Mt. Pinatubo (populated by the Aetas). When the volcano erupted, it carved out this caldera and this rocky mountain summit, which is now filled with water.
Photo by Storm Crypt

The eruption of Pinatubo had immediately impacted not only entire landscapes and the local and global environment: it was also felt in the economic, political and socio-cultural levels. A massively hot debate at that time was the termination of the United States Bases Agreement between the Philippines and the US and the eruption contributed to the closure of the last vestiges of American military presence in the country. The American naval base in Subic, Zambales was 75 kilometers away from the volcano whilst the airbase in Clark is less than 25 kilometers away in Angeles, Pampanga.

Today, Mt. Pinatubo’s serene cyan-colored crater lake, canyons made of pyroclastic materials, and the growing tropical rainforest canopy covering part of its slopes are a mute testament to its recent explosive past. Treks to the crater lake are organized by tour groups based in Manila like Discover Asia International Travel and Tours and via Sapangbato (Mt. Pinatubo Hot Springs) Angeles, Pampanga or through the Porac Trail in Porac, also in Pampanga. If you are going at it alone, you may contact the Santa Juliana Tourism Council in Capas, Tarlac to help set you up with guides, jeep rentals and homestays. The main jump off point is by a sprawling resort/spa complex at Santa Juliana in Capas, Tarlac, where you get on one of the 4×4 vehicles to take you on one of the interesting rides in the panoramic lahar-hewn landscape, and sometimes meeting an occasional Aeta farmer family pulling a carabao on your way.

*updated Ryan: 19/11/2009 – Discover Asia International Travel and Tours does not have their best guides anymore, and lately, it has been very difficult dealing with them. I could no longer vouch for the quality of their services.

The spa complex charges PhP100 per person for the use of its showers, and PhP500 per person for a whole body massage and a chance to relax while being almost entirely buried in ash from the volcano. Contact Pete Won, Spa Manager, Mt. Pinatubo’s Wellness Spa (+63.928. 3410402). You may also contact the DoT Region III Director Ronald Tiotuico, Paskuhan Village, San Fernando, Pampanga, at (+63.45.9612665). In some cases, food is already provided, in some tour packages it is not. Make sure you check with the tour group you are going with if the package includes meals. A guide is definitely a must for novices and newcomers. From Santa Juliana, it is about a 45 minute drive to the base, and depending on weather conditions, the hike could take up to 2 to 2 ½ hours via the longer way and 45 minutes via the Skyway. During rainy months, the Skyway is sometimes closed off due to landslides.

Mountain guides are mandatory, and if you need camping provisions, make sure to arrange this beforehand to avoid the hassle. Municipal permits are required and there is a fee – a fee is usually higher for foreigners than for local residents. Very discriminatory, don’t you think?

Mount Pinatubo
Photo by Storm Crypt

One can also kayak and swim in the waters of the crater. Extra precautions are needed as well when swimming, there is a big drop to the bottom from the shore, and a person of a height of at least 5’7” can barely touch the shifty bottom less than 1 meter from the banks. The water temperature is just about lukewarm, and being in a volcano is sulfuric in nature and supposedly good for the skin.

Crater Lake Viewing Area
Photo by Storm Crypt

The weather can be fickle at times, in our case, we had scorching heat during our ascent through the lahar plains, and we had a torrential downpour during the descent on the same day. If you do not plan to camp out, Pinatubo can be a good day trip. Make sure you are well-rested the previous day before the trip. Don’t forget to wear comfortable clothes and a sturdy pair of hiking shoes as you have to wade through rivers (shallow but with strong currents, especially during or after the rain.) Do not forget to get a waterproof backpack in case of a downpour or at least bring a Ziploc for your camera and wallet.

Mt.Pinatubo Skyway
Photo by infiniteshutter

Why Not Go

If one has a physical disability it could be one of the limiting factors in climbing the mountain. Expense can also be a factor, although some tour agencies like Discover Asia have competitive prices. Weather plays a big role in going to Pinatubo – never go especially if it is raining or there is a storm close by (even if the area is not covered by the storm warning). There are neither shops nor forms of commerce and hotels in the crater, something that a city slicker might sorely miss.

*updated Ryan: 19/11/2009 – Discover Asia International Travel and Tours does not have their best guides anymore, and lately, it has been very difficult dealing with them. I could no longer vouch for the quality of their services.

Why Go

Because of the utter importance of Mt. Pinatubo in recent history as well as breathtaking (well, for someone like me, I was literally gasping for breath on some of the incline parts of the ascent) and the beautiful vista that one sees by the crater as well as the almost Alpine-like rock formations is well worth the trek.

Best Time to Visit

Best time to hike is during the dry season (November to May). Avoid going if there are storms around the area, as some areas are prone to landslides and the water in the rivers goes up very fast. Check with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAG-ASA for updates in any weather disturbances before you go.

PKTan: DO NOT attempt to go trekking without checking the weather situation, and do get local guides if you are not familiar with the terrain! Recent news – 2 Canadians, Filipino killed in Tarlac flood. Better to be safe than sorry!

Where to Stay

Save up to 75% on hotels in Philippines

Please double-check with your travel agency on where to stay if you decide to go down the mountain and not to camp by the crater lake. Accommodation is also offered in Peniel but details are sketchy and some of them require that unmarried couples are not to share the same room – which I think is a load of crap. For more choices, check with the Department of Tourism-Region III (+63.45.9612665/+63.45.9612612/).

Where & What to Eat

It’s best to bring your own food here. You can pay your guides extra to carry your food for you. There is a restaurant at the spa in Santa Juliana, but the food and the beer was quite overpriced. Bring enough trail food and energy drinks going up the mountain. A supply of ion-based drinks is quite helpful as well. If you bring your own food, make sure you take your own trash bag with you. Do not disrespect the mountain so NEVER litter. Pinatubo is a sacred mountain for the Aetas, therefore respect the surroundings.

Nightlife

Pinatubo nightlife, if you ever plan to spend an night at the crater it consists of quiet bonfires and light alcohol. Even probably jokes, stories shared amongst fellow campers and of course a tune or two- especially if they are Filipinos.

My to do List

1. Kayak or raft around the crater lake.* (Make sure that you deflate your raft before going up the mountain. We have seen some morons carrying an inflated raft 2 hours up the mountain.)*

Rowing alone: Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake
Photo by Storm Crypt

2. Have a facial mudpack and a 30 minute soak at the volcanic mud pool.**
3. Visit the local Aeta village.
4. A stop at the Capas Death March Shrine would be perfect as well. This is one of the sites of the infamous Death March during World War 2 in the Philippines, when thousands upon thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war were forced by the Japanese Imperial Army to march after the fall of Bataan to the different prison camps. The Capas Shrine was built as a memorial to the soldiers who died at the grounds where Camp O’Donnell used to stand. The camp was the final stop of the Death March and where 2,200 Americans and 27,000 Filipinos died.*
*- Highly Recommended
**- Recommended by Locals

Stay Away From

1. Mosquitoes, ants and bugs! – bring a hefty tube of bug repellent to be sure especially if you plan to do a side trip to the beach.
2. UV rays and a hat– Apply ample sun protection and sunglasses as the sun can be strong during midday.
3. Keep a watch on your possessions and don’t stray too much from your group.
4. Dehydration – keep yourself amply hydrated with ion-based drinks and with trail-food as well as never forget to bring a towel and a change of clothes.

Getting There

If you are not going with a tour group, there are buses going or passing through Angeles from the different bus terminals in Manila (Buendia and Taft Avenues in Manila; Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City and along EDSA Kamuning-Kamias). From there, take a northbound jeepney from Angeles and ask the driver to drop you at the intersection for Santa Juliana. Take a tricycle into town and look for the Santa Juliana Tourism Council at the Municipal Hall where you can register and arrange for your guides and provisions.

The artistic town of Angono celebrates the feast of Pope St. Clement I every November 22 to 23 of each year. There are times that this coincides with the feast of Christ the King. The celebration starts with the novena mass on the 14th till 22nd day of November, the devotees in prayer and thanksgiving, dance in the church patio after the novena mass. The dancing was accompanied by the Angono band with the the church bell ringing after playing the music.

Higantes Festival: Crowded street of Angono town
Photo by themollyjayne

Higantes Festival
Photo by d2digital

The Bisperas Mayores or the day before the feast day was celebrated with a parade of the marching bands and drum and lyres sponsored by each barangay of Angono, this was held in the morning and early afternoon. The morning parade usually starts in Rainbow Village and ends at the church patio where the devotees again dances in praise and thanksgiving while the marching bands are playing. The afternoon parade are also joined by the higantes, local government officials and employees, commercial establishments in Angono, schools and other Angono socio and civic groups.

Higantes Festival
Photo by aspirecaptured

The celebration on the morning of November 23 starts with a concelebrated mass with the Bishop of Antipolo. The procession follows after the mass with the parehadoras, higantes and devotees joining the image of San Isidro, St. Clement and Blessed Virgin Mary in a procession leading to the banks of Laguna de Bay in Brgy. San Vicente for the fluvial procession, fishes like kanduli, tilapia and bangus which are caught by the fishermen devotees during the fluvial procession are displayed near the image of St. Clement. The images, devotees and member of the band ride the pagoda for the procession in the lake which will end at the other side of the lake in Brgy. Poblacion Ibaba. The road procession again will start with merry making of parehadoras, higantes and wet devotees that will end in the church. Filipino artistry is truly alive in every celebration in Angono.

Higantes Festival
Photo by themollyjayne

Viva Cristo Rey

The feast of Christ the King which was held on the Sunday before the 1st Sunday of Advent usually coincides with the feast of St. Clement. The Viva San Clemente! celebration banners usually includes “Mabuhay ang Kristong Hari !” slogans to remind the people that Christ is the Lord and to proclaim Christ as the King of all nations. This is also a reminder that St. Clement is only a servant of God which somehow does not need adoration of the people because our Lord has already given him the highest honor – a blessing of a Saint – Angono’s patron and inspiration.

Viva San Clemente

Pope St. Clement I was the fourth Pope after St. Peter. He faithfully proclaim Christ during his time and till he was martyred by being thrown into the sea with an iron anchor. The people of Angono celebrate St. Clement’s feast day with a fluvial procession in the waters of Laguna de Bay as a reminder and inspiration of his faith in God.

Higantes of Angono

Higantes – Angono artistry in times of struggle. It was said that the higantes started during the Spanish colonial times, when Angono was once a hacienda and ruled by Spanish hacienderos. The Angono land tillers way of protesting their struggle is by making giant effigy of their landlords whose hands are usually high up on their waist.

Higantes Festival
Photo by themollyjayne

Higantes Festival
Photo by themollyjayne

The body of the traditional higante are made of bamboo and colorful cloth and its faces of paper mache. The three old higantes of Angono consists of the family of giants – the father, mother and child higante, they traditionally add color and fun during the fiesta celebration. It was in the late 80s when the late Angono artist Perdigon Vocalan brought the idea of the Higantes Festival by going out of the traditional family of giants and advocating having more higantes in the fiesta by coordinating with the barangays of Angono to come up with Higantes that will represent their barangay. At present, the Higantes of Angono can be seen in fiesta celebrations around the Philippines and in national cultural presentations, the major being the Centennial Parade in the Quirino Grandstand for the Philippine Centennial celebration in 1998.

PKTan: The higantes are made of paper-mache. Higantes measures four to five feet in diameter and ten to twelve feet in height. Traditionally, it began in the last century when Angono was a Spanish hacienda. This higantes was influenced by the Mexican art form of paper-mache brought by the Spanish priests to the Philippines.

Higantes Festival
Photo by aspirecaptured

Parehadora

The traditional parehadoras are group of young girls holding paddles and wearing bakya or wooden slippers and dressed in a colorful outfit which joins the procession in the feast day of St. Clement. They usually march at the beat of the band playing alongside with them. Now with a dying lake, the tradition of the Parehadora is now just a reminder that Angono was once a fishing village and thrives at the harvest of Laguna Lake.

Higantes Festival Parade
Photo by anton572

Higantes Festival: Children posing
Photo by d2digital

Check out more interesting Philippines Festivals.

Laments of an Old Crater: This is one of the most photographed volcanoes in the world. This is part of Taal volcano’s group of craters. This crater is one of the most visible and most photographed crater of Taal Volcano. However, this crater is one of the oldest and the most inactive of the Taal Volcano island craters.
Shot taken at 25,000 ft above the province of Laguna, east of Taal Lake.
Photo by storm-crypt

Taal Volcano is an active volcano located about 70-km south of Manila inside a lake, it was formed through one major eruption at the center of a lake, and since the lake itself is the crater of a prehistoric volcano, and within the lake, other eruptions have occurred producing more craters and micro-lakes. The vista from the rim is unrivaled.

Tagaytay, Taal Lake and Volcano Island: This is primarily a photo of the Taal Lake — which is a lake in the Island of Luzon, Philippines.The photo that justifies the title of a small island(that tiny speck on the crater lake), within a lake(the small crater lake), in an island(taal volcano island), in a lake(taal lake). The foreground is the aerial view of the cliff area of Tagaytay City, in the background is Taal Lake, the volcano island, and Mt. Maculot in the distance. This shot was taken approximately 5,000 feet over the town of Amadeo, Cavite.
Photo by storm-crypt

Although the Taal Volcano has not erupted since 1977, it has erupted 33 times and these were notable enough to earn it a tag by the UN on the list of the world’s Decade Volcanoes. Many people still travel to the area to see the magnificent sites set to a backdrop of vegetation and wildlife in Batangas City and are willing to pay the cost and risk for a rent house to take in the views of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape in its true glory.

One area that tourists enjoy visiting immensely as part of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape is Crater Lake where many enjoy bathing. Unfortunately the sudden influx of tourists recently has led to a decline in the aquatic fish who call the area home and conservationists are beginning to take action. However, there will soon be a large tree planting along the beaches of Taal Lake to combat the problem along with Volcano Island. Additionally, an area will be deemed a protected area to encourage friendly eco-tourism to keep the area ripe and environmentally diverse for years to come.

Taal Volcano: A hazy view of the famous Taal Volcano, in the Philippines, it has been called the smallest active volcano in the world. It is located about 70-km south of Manila on an island inside a lake called Taal Lake. What makes Taal Volcano more unique is the fact that the volcano itself has a lake of its own inside its crater which is called the “Crater Lake.”
Photo by danielygo

Inside the main caldera,on volcano island, there is yet another lake, called the “Crater Lake.” The highly sulfuric lake may have medicinal properties. People do swim in it, Some have even SCUBA dived in it.

Simmering and Deadly: Viewed from northern part of Taal Volcano’s crater rim. This is the simmering crater lake of one of the most active volcanos in the world. In the distance is Taal Lake, with the outline of Mt. Maculot( A mountain in the province of Batangas, Philippines).

Folk stories has it that the whole Taal Lake (part of it can be seen in the distance) surrounding the Taal Volcano island, is the crater of the original volcano itself(hinting that this was once a super volcano judging by the size of Taal Lake — if the story is true).

Inside the main caldera,on volcano island, there is yet another lake, called the “Crater Lake.” The highly sulfuric lake may have medicinal properties. People do swim in it, Some have even SCUBA dived in it. The crater lake can be accessed by going around the crater to the west side of the island.

Tourists and visitors normally go to the town of Talisay, a few kilometers down the slopes of Tagaytay city(about 2 hours from Manila). Boats will then take visitors to the volcano island(where this crater lake is) for approximately 45 minutes. For those who are rich, disabled, ederly or plain lazy — they normally take horses up the slopes to the viewing deck, near where this shot was taken. By horses, the viewing deck is only about 20 minutes from the shore(where the boats dock). By foot, the same distance can be covered in an hour or so. During the summer, the path can be very dusty. A face/dust mask will be very handy for the trip.
Photo by storm-crypt

Initiatives such as these are what have earned the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape that includes over twenty areas its protected status and a nomination as an area of outstanding universal area. Due to the many unique formations left behind by the active Taal Volcano there are many geological wonders that cannot be found so densely relative to each other at any other area in the world. These geological hotspots are one of the main reasons for the wide biodiversity of plant and aquatic fish life that inhabit the general area.

Adding to the area’s charm is the fact that no other volcano’s eruption can be matched with the Taal Volcano or the resulting landscaped area due to the fact that it originated from the center of Lake Crater in prehistoric times. Thus, this phenomenon cannot be viewed or experienced at any other location in the world which is partially the reason why tourists are so prevalent in the area at any time of the year.

National Geological Monument

Taal Volcano Protected Landscape was declared Philippines’s National Geological Monument (together with Chocolate Hills, and Hundred Islands National Park) and was also proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006.

The Mouth of Taal Volcano: This is the real Taal volcano… its different from what the post cards show. There was sulfur in the air here… and they say when you swim there, it will instantly bleach your clothes.
Photo by deckchua

Taal Volcano
Photo by pommypaul

Taal Volcano & Taal Lake
Photo by pommypaul

UNESCO Tentative List

Justification for Outstanding Universal Value

The lake and its environs is home to many species of flora and fauna a number of which are endemic to the lake like the “Tawilis” (Sardinella tawilis), the only fresh water sardine in the world and the Taal Lake Seasnake (Hydrophis semperi or known to locals as Duhol), the only freshwater sea snake in the world. The snake still has salt glands to eliminate excess salt, despite being in a freshwater habitat. Other endemic forms include blue green algae, diatom, ostracod, sponge, reptile and fishes. There are many other species, which until now have yet to be documented, and whose natural histories have not been fully studied.

Taal Lake
Photo by nepal23

Taal Crater: That small rock in the middle of the lake — is technically an island, on a lake, in an island, on a lake. That rock island is in the middle of the crater lake of Taal’s volcano island. The volcano island is in the middle of Taal Lake.
Photo by storm-crypt

Getting There

Located at Batangas: Refer to How to get to Batangas

There are three main roads that link Tagaytay City to the lake and the volcano. One is Diokno Highway near the border to Nasugbu, Batangas; the other is just behind the Tagaytay Rotunda (but this is a very steep road); and the most preferred way is the Ligaya Drive near the Tagaytay-Sta. Rosa road, which leads to the town of Talisay, Batangas.

Talisay is the major jump-off point where boats are available to reach the volcano island.

Article Sources

WIKIPEDIA – Taal Volcano
UNESCO World Heritage – Taal Volcano Protected Landscape, Batangas
Taal – a Decade Volcano

Quick Facts

• Over 1,270 similarly cone-shaped hills creating a sea of hills over 20 square miles (50 sq km)
• Located in Bohol, Philippines
• Heights typically range from 98 to 160 feet (30 to 50 m) with the highest reaching 390 feet (120 m)

Hershey Chocolate Kisses

National Geological Monument

The Chocolate Hills was declared Philippines’s 3rd National Geological Monument (together with Taal Volcano, and Hundred Islands National Park) and recently included in the nomination for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and also proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Photo by wisdoc

The name Chocolate Hills actually was spawned by the famous Hershey treat given the fact that during the dry season the grass on the cone mounds browns and resembles rows of chocolate ripe for the picking. This coincidentally is also one of the best times of the year to visit the Chocolate Hills if you want to stay dry during your visit since there is a constant influx of precipitation during the rainy season.

Photo by maxchu

Photo by coolnumber9

In fact, while some people question man’s ancient influence scientists dismiss the option as the integrity of the mounds would surpass the Egyptian pyramids by far. The exact formation of the Chocolate Hills is unknown although the most commonly accepted theory in the area is that erosion and coral reef uplift from a major geological plate shift could have caused the mounds to simply erupt from the ground.

May Peace Prevail On Earth!
Photo by maxchu

Other explanations include volcanic action under the land or that the limestone mountains are the result of a massive volcano centuries ago. Of course, as with any monumental structure that is thought to be naturally caused there is folklore that surrounds the Chocolate Hills area as well that many natives will happily be willing to share with you during your stay.

Photo by putografer

Photo by randyg

UNESCO Tentative List

Justification for Outstanding Universal Value

It has been declared the country’s 3rd National Geological Monument on June 18, 1988.

The hills are in the Philippine Tourism Authority’s list of tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Photo by lizza22

Photo by storm crypt

Getting There

Chocolate Hills is located at Bohol – How to get to Bohol

Article Sources

WIKIPEDIA – Bohol Chocolate Hills
UNESCO World Heritage – Chocolate Hills Natural Monument

Celebrated every third weekend of January (Ati-atihan peaks on the last three days but people start dancing on the streets as soon as the New Year’s Day hangover is finished), one can hear the echoes of the drums in the distance the moment one steps on the tarmac of the Kalibo Airport. The entire town center erupts in frenzied, non-choreographed dancing and shouting “Hala Bira! Puwera Pasma!” to the beats of snare drums, bass drums, trumpets, xylophones and a cacophony of other instruments seemingly playing from all the corners of this sleepy little boomtown of Kalibo.

2010 – 798th Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-atihan Festival Calendar of Activities

Kalibo Ati-atihan, which started as pagan festival gained religious significance when the Spaniards injected Christianity into the celebrations, thus, pictures, images and paintings of the Child Jesus are widespread. Christian traditions have been inserted as well such as the paeapak, where a little statue of the Child Jesus or more commonly known as the Santo Niño are rubbed all over a devotee’s body (this is held at the Kalibo Cathedral all throughout the duration of the festival) and is believed to take away the exhaustion and any ailments of the devotee. A religious procession (with very drunk revelers dancing in the streets with grandma in Mardi Gras garb clutching her own statue of the Child Jesus next to a man dressed in Vampire costume – complete with a stake buried to his heart dancing along with a giant papier mache effigy of a Bornean datu) and a fireworks display cap the entire event.

This spectacular event got so famous that similar festivals were copied all throughout in different cities in the Philippines – Dinagyang of Iloilo, Sinulog of Cebu, and Masskara of Bacolod amongst others. Filipino communities especially in North America stage their own versions of Kalibo Ati-atihan dancing through the streets of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Toronto. Even Cayman Islanders got a special treat when Kalibo Ati-atihan participated and eventually won in a competition in the Caribbean island-nation. Travelers to Kalibo are advised to book their hotels and plane tickets at least 2 months in advance as there is a dearth of accommodations during this period.

A food festival on the streets and an agro-industrial trade fair showcasing Aklan’s different arts, crafts, plants, foodstuffs and souvenir items are on display during the week-long festivities while ‘snake-dancing’, which is more like a more complicated, more inebriated and more packed conga line dancing at the Magsaysay Park happens nightly. Think of it like a mix of a New Year’s Eve party, Woodstock mosh pit, A Night in The New Orlean’s French Quarter, a Filipino Fiesta and a crazy Gloria Estefan concert rolled into one. With the thousands of people spilling into the streets, snake-dancing is relatively safe and quite enjoyable if you want your community dancing turned into some kind of contact sport. No report of a stampede has occurred so far, and while Aklan locals are relatively peace-loving people, the influx of people into Kalibo coming from other provinces of course comes with a smart caveat – watch out for your valuables. Wear comfortable shoes (never wear flip-flops and no wearing heels for the ladies especially when snake dancing). That being said, keep your skirts in the closet ladies (although Korean women mindlessly wear them- which I personally think a bit moronic at the very least).

Saturday morning usually is the best time for photographers to catch the best photos for the festival as the competition proper kicks off at around 7 in the morning- you will get fresh takes on the garish, colorful and the most whimsical costumes. Foreign and local tourists can join the parade at any time – and yes, you can play dress up too! Spotted in Ati-atihan is a Scotsman proudly wearing a kilt (and apparently nothing underneath it), an androgynous man/woman entirely painted in gold and in a skimpy bikini, an entire group of men and women painted like snakes, a group of aging local transvestites in full Mardi Gras gear and flags from all the different nations of the world. Other Aklan towns that also celebrate their own versions of Ati-atihan are Batan and Ibajay (late January), Makato (15 January) and Altavas (22 January).

You can see Kickflickr’s Ati-Atihan photos here.

”These were men of God, not architects, who could only rely on memories of Baroque churches seen in Spain or Latin America when giving instructions to build Philippine churches. Thus, intentionally, these friar-builders and their native craftsmen reinterpreted the European Baroque to establish a peripheral Baroque style, deceptively Western in appearance
but totally Philippine in spirit and context.” In reference to the Filipino and Chinese craftsmen, architects and priests who built the church.

Built during time of chaos and war, these churches were not only designed to withstand attacks during revolts and rebellions, they are also made to withstand tremendous earthquakes since Philippines is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire. Powerful buttresses and foundations gave the churches the support they needed to survive earthquakes intact as well as a fortress image. The unique architectural style became known as Earthquake Baroque.

Church of San Agustin, in Manila

Deisgn of The Church of San Agustin, Manila is derived from Agustinian churches built in Mexico, representing almost an exact copy of Puebla Cathedral in Puebla, Mexico. The Church of San Agustin is the only structure in Intramuros (the southern district of Manila) to survive World War II bombardment.
Photo by Erick Photomurals

Church of La Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur

The Church of La Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion is located on top of a hill, it served as a citadel during times of crisis, providing the best example of the blend of purposes in the architecture. Two huge columns flank the church façade and what makes the church attractive is the reddish exterior due to the exposed brickwork.
Photo by Karmacamilleeon

Church of San Agustin, in Paoay, Ilocos Norte

Based on the nomination dossier submitted to UNESCO, the Church of San Agustin in Paoay is considered the most outstanding variant of the Earthquake Baroque architectural style. Unlike other bell towers in the country, the Paoay Church’s coral stone belltower is detached from its main building. The church has featured 24 curved buttresses.
Photo by NathanielChoi

Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva, in Miag-ao, Iloilo

The Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva withstood the occasional attacks from Muslims coming from the south. The church and its watchtowers had been built with thick walls and secret passages to defend the town and its people. The defensive purpose of the Church led to the popular name The Miag-ao Fortress Church.
Photo by Serdenia Arlon

Article Sources

UNESCO World Heritage Center – Baroque Churches of the Philippines
WIKIPEDIA – Baroque Architecture, Earthquake Baroque, Baroque Churches of Philippines

Location: Cordilleras Region (Ifugao Province and Mountain Province)

Banga-an, Ifugao Province, Philippines
Photo by Webzer

The source of irrigation water for the rice terraces is a reservoir at the top of the mountain which originates from springs. The rice terraces is irrigated from this source using a complex system of dams, and bamboo pipes. Excess water is drained to the terrace below by a small opening.

The terraces (‘paddies’) curve along the contour, and are narrow, varies from place to place, but averages between around 3 and 5 meters. Each paddy field is supported by a wall several meters high, made of mud or stones. From far, these terraces look like huge steps and will cover half the globe if laid side by side.

Because of the cool climate caused by the high elevation, crop maturity takes longer than in the lowlands. In some cases, vegetables such as cabbages and sweet potatoes are grown after the rice is harvested. The farmers, indigenous to the area, have a distinct culture that is different to lowland rice farmers, they generally own one hectare or less of terraced land, and cultivation is intensive.

Till this day, land preparation is mainly manual – the farmers puddle the soil with their bare feet.

The Ifugao Rice Terraces is a symbol of how the Philippines is a center of origin and biodiversity of rice, and exemplifies how rice, our most important food crop, is a unique and inherent part of our culture.

UNESCO World Heritage List

IN 1995, The Ifulgao Rice Terraces was was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of the living organically-evolved cultural landscape shaped by sacred traditions and the ingenuity of the Ifugao people – an outstanding model of sustainable use of limited land resources, using traditional knowledge-based technology that has evolved over the last two millennia.

Cultural Landscapes have been defined by the World Heritage Committee as distinct geographical areas or properties uniquely “..represent[ing] the combined work of nature and of man..” . This concept has been adapted and developed within international heritage arenas (UNESCO) as part of an international effort to reconcile “..one of the most pervasive dualism in Western thought – that of nature and culture”

Four municipalities and 18 barangays are covered under the World Heritage site:

Rice Terrace Clusters of Banaue: Battad
Rice Terrace Clusters of Banaue: Bangaan
Rice Terrace Clusters of Mayoyao: Mayoyao Central
Rice Terrace Clusters of Kiangan: Nagacadan
Rice Terrace Clusters of Hungduan

Rice terrace in Banaue, Luzon.
Photo by Ecogarden

Batad is such a heavenly place in the Philippines. Indeed a wonder of the world, for the people have carved their lives teeming with beauty from the landscapes of the earth. The sun smiles gleefully on harvest season.
Photo by Buccinos

Banaue Rice Terrace
Photo by Proust

Stairways to Heaven: Batad Village is one of the best-preserved rice terrace in Cordilleras Philippine. It takes 3hours by tricycle and walks from central Banaue.
Photo by Eesti

Photo taken near the western border of Ifugao, a few kilometers from Benguet province. I thought it was spectacular enough when I last saw these terraces from the ground. It is far overwhelming when you see the whole mountainside directly from above. To all fellow Philippine citizens out there, how many of you have seen the rice terraces of Ifugao from this view? You should try it sometimes. It is spectacular.
Photo by Storm-crypt

World Heritage Sites in Danger

However, The Ifulgao Rice Terraces was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 2001 as uncontrolled tourism and the introduction of open-market economy threatened both the natural heritage of the province and the traditional practices of its inhabitants.

The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras in the Philippines is a delicate, evolving cultural landscape. In the absence of a systematic monitoring programme or a comprehensive management plan, it is, at present, impossible to guarantee the preservation and sustainable development of these rice terraces.

On 17 March 2009, the Ifugao Rice Terraces was declared a genetically modified organism (GMO)-Free zone.

The Ifugao people, guardians of this living cultural heritage of humanity, shall keep the Ifugao Rice Terraces a GMO-Free Zone as it has always been for generations. The Ifugaos shall protect the Ifugao Rice Terraces from GMO contamination and other forms of interventions that would diminish the integrity and universal value of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, so that it will continue to be a living testimony of the harmonious relationship of man and nature.

Getting There

Article Sources

1. UNESCO World Heritage Center – Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
2. WIKIPEDIA – Banaue Ifugao Rice Terraces
3. GREENPEACE SEASIA – Ifugao Rice Terraces declared GMO-Free Zone

It is in Philippines that some of the most amazing wonders of nature lies, and on Tourism-Philippines, we take a chance to showcase some of the finest of what Philppines can offer.

All images by Storm Crypt

Mountain of Rice

Banaue Rice Terraces, Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines

The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the Batad indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe.

The Banaue terraces are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old. They are found in the provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mt. Pinatubo’s Artwork

Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon, at the intersection of the borders of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga.

Ruins of Santo Domingo

The place looks eerie and equally haunting. While the ruins of Cagsawa is closer to Legazpi city, more photographed and more famous, the ruins around Santo Domingo shows a lot of Mt. Mayon’s destructive power. Its perfect cone, its “seven wonders of the world” tag, its beauty, time and time again tries to hide its monstrous side. After all, this is the most active volcano in the Philippines.

Whimsical Noontime

Pandan Island – North Shore, Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

Mystical Lake

A small lake near the entrance to Balinsasayao Nature Park.
Negros Oriental, Philippines

Katibawasan Falls

Valley of the Southern Side

Mantalongon/Tabon
Dalaguete, Cebu, Philippines

Mt. Mayon’s Postcard Shot

Mayon Volcano and Cagsawa Ruins
Daraga, Albay, Philippines

The Last Shot

Mt. Mayon
Albay, Philippines

Franco Frederico Lines Passengers Terminals

Lacson St., Sampaloc, Manila

Franco Frederico Lines Destinations

Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur

Telephone Numbers: (632) 7312584/7314473

List of Bus Companies in Luzon region

- Complete guide on bus companies in Luzon region

Used Franco Frederico? Share your reviews!

Baliwag Transit Inc. is a bus transportation company with offices and terminals in various parts of Luzon. It mainly services routes to and from Metro Manila and Northern and Central Luzon.

Baliwag Transit Passengers Terminals
Cubao, Divisoria (Tutuban Central Station) and Caloocan (Grace Park)

Baliwag Transit Destinations
* Caloocan City
* Cubao, Quezon City
* Baliwag, Bulacan
* Hagonoy, Bulacan
* Guagua, Pampanga
* Jones, Isabela
* Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
* San Jose City, Nueva Ecija
* San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
* Santiago City, Isabela
* Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
* Tarlac City, Tarlac (from Cabanatuan City only)
* Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
* Expo Pilipino, Clark Special Economic Zone

Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 912 3343, + 63 2 912 3349, + 63 2 912 3361

List of Bus Companies in Luzon region

- Complete guide on bus companies in Luzon region

Used Baliwag Transit? Share your reviews!