Banaue (Luzon)

Advantages: Sights, trade, tourism, simplicity
Disadvantages: long trip, but worth it

..."Stairway to Heaven" the locals declare, and it has actually exixted for thousands of years created by the hands of local tribes people called the Ifugaos. Hailed once as one of the seven wonders of the world, visiting it left me thankful there are still efforts to preserve this legacy. Besides the fact the country's summer capital Baguio is close by, this area up in Luzon is a sight to behold. You can even get to see the life of the locals as they go about through the day doing chores the old fashion way and singing songs of praise to Bathala! Come taste the wide variety of traditions they got to offer here and, trust me, it is for real almost heaven.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: shopping, night life
Disadvantages: polluted,

...Manila, a city full of contrasts, from the rich beautiful buildings of its colonial past to the present day corrugated roofed patched wooden dwellings. Where child beggars turn up their dirty palms to shiny black Mercedes benz cars waiting at the traffic lights.Where it takes six months to get a phone line but one day to make a best friend. This is Manila, the capital city of the Philippines located on the island of Luzon. No review of Manila is complete without mention of Manila's traffic jams. If you think you have seen the worst of jams, visit Manila and you will change your mind. The city has had to come up with ingenious ways of reducing traffic, including barring odd and even numbered registered vehicles from entering the city on different days of the week. So, if your car registration began with a '6' for instance... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Very diverse culture and landscape, plenty to see, not awash with tourists
Disadvantages: Tourist resorts and tour arrangements often of mediocre quality, difficult travel at times

...of the festival is the annual pageant, held in the main town of the island. The cast is entirely native, with the play relating the story of the aforementioned Roman soldier, entirely in Filipino. Microphones hidden on each of the actors convey the dialogue to the standing multitude watching the event. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the acting – honorable mention goes to whoever played Pontius Pilate in the 1995 production. Much of the Philippines can be experienced on the main island of Luzon itself, which houses Manila. Tagaytay is only a couple of hours’ drive away. Apart from the Tagaytay Highlands resort and golf course, driving or walking to the top of the Tagaytay ridge affords a breathtaking view of the Taal volcano, which is thought to be still active. Subic Bay is also only a few hours away... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful