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aby0127
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entrance for cool wave resort in bulacan
how much is the entrance fee for cool wave resort in bulacan for both adults and kids and also the cottages?
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orangevida
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Inquiry
my family are planning to go to the beach this summer, it so happened that Rated K featured the cool waves, I was interested as I saw it in the tv...I would like to know how much the entrance fee per head for children and adult, and the prices of the cottages? Are you offering night swimming?How much the entrance?Pls. send the information through my email...thanks!
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Beanstalker
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‘Terminal P’ and never-ending extra charges
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Be prepared in the Philippines for a never-ending slew of hidden charges. Starting with bus-station fees and port/pier fees, to nature park and mountain-climbing fees, and ending with the 550peso airport terminal fee, it stops being surprising unless, like me, you carefully spend all your pesos before reaching the airport. I wouldn’t recommend it but I’ve heard of some travelers circumventing mountain/volcano-climbing ‘environmental protection’ fees by just going ahead with the ascent as there often isn’t a gatekeeper. The rationale I’ve heard explained is ‘it’s rent-creation for bureaucrats’ which makes some sense considering the nice round numbers the higher fees sometime turn out for foreigners.
Terminal fee often gets mispronounced. Once when I was running late for a ferry, I almost had a heart-attack when I was waved off to ‘Terminal P,’ thinking I would never make it on time.
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orangetravel
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Planning Early for a Holiday Vacation in the Philippines
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Yes, Christmas has passed already. I know that. But there is nothing wrong in planning early for a holiday vacation, right? And, that is what I am helping you about this time. Holiday is the busiest season of the year in the whole world. Most people shop for gifts, prepare food, entertain visitors including relatives and long-lost friends who suddenly appear in their houses from the middle of nowhere like mushrooms. Some people are busy simply because of work. These are the common reasons why it is important to plan early for a holiday vacation.
The first thing in our holiday check list is the question, “where to go?” Don’t worry; this is not a complicated thing to think about. Just follow my advice: celebrate this season in the Philippines. Why in this country? Simple question deserves simple answer: it, I say, has the longest and happiest holiday season.
Christmas in the Philippines begins every September. That is because this is the first month of the year that ends in “ber.” So if you are in the Philippines and have reached the last day of August, expect to see some décor in the streets and in houses by tomorrow. Also, expect people to have a shopping list in their hands and buying gifts for Christmas this early. Aside from gifts, people in the Philippines also shop early for food for the celebration. The only reason behind the early preparation is to avoid traffic and panic buying. During the main holiday season which is in December, traffic is heavy and malls are crowded with shoppers.
This is the longest season in the Philippines because it lasts for five months. From August, Christmas ends on the 6th of January. Sometimes, half-Chinese Filipinos extend the season until February after they celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Aside from being the longest celebration, Christmas is also the happiest season in the Philippines. This is the time when most of the unique Philippine traditions are visible. Best of them is called Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi, which consecutively means “mass of the rooster” and “midnight mass.” Celebrated for nine days, this tradition is one of the greatest influences of Spain that started during the colonization era. From the 16th to the 24th of December, Filipinos go to church at 4:00 a.m. to attend the Simbang Gabi.
I know 4:00 is so untimely, so you can just imagine how people manage to wake up this early. But I tell you, Filipinos can do that. How about those who cannot wake up at this time? Well, some barangays (towns) have their live bands (think: loud drum rolls and loud trumpets) which parade all throughout the place. Now, who would not be disturbed by this loud music huh? If you’re thinking of the non-Catholics who don’t celebrate Simbang Gabi, they have enough patience to understand this kind of Filipino tradition.
This simply means that Christmas is really for everyone, Catholic or not-Catholic. So if you are thinking of how to have a unique Christmas celebration, come to the Philippines. Even if you don’t go to church, just give it a shot. You know, for the sake of trying something different. I’m sure; you will enjoy the Simbang Gabi like I always do. I bet this tradition will be the reason for you to keep on coming in the Philippines every holiday season.
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redrogue
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The Philippines In Total
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I was born in this country and I have been out in other countries and can really compare how it is. I know that it is not perfect to be rated by five stars. It is not also because of bias why I rated so.
I rated this country as five for lots of reasons. Filipinos are couteous to foreign people. To be honest, this is something i do not feel very okay for most respect foreign people than their fellow Filipinos. But who can blame the common Filipinos for behaving so? This country has been colonized for three centuries and deeply stimulated by the power of the colonizers, namely the Spanish, Americans and Japanese.
There are lots of beautiful places in the coutry although the cities are really polluted and the rivers are the dumping places for the garbage. It's about discipline and non-visionary mindset. The country lacks advertising campaign for international tourism compared to that of others, especially to Malaysia, whose tour brochures are evrywhere.
Other more reasons for rating this country five stars? Ask me and I'll be happy to tell you. I hope you visit this country and find the beautiful places it offers. Mabuhay!
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AndreaLJC
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Buses in the Philippines
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
One of the first things that I noticed when I arrived in the Philippines was the buses, oh my god, I have never seen such cool looking buses in my whole life! They are pretty small for buses but really have a 70's feel, each painted in loads of bright colours and usually have some graffiti type print writing across the front with messages like "God be with you" or "Ride like the wind". Every bus is totally different but each is a cool as the next. It made me want to take a photo of every bus that I got on!
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AndreaLJC
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Sunsets
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have travelled pretty extensively in Europe, Asia and Australia and the Philippines definitely have the best sunsets that I have ever seen! Every night there is an amazing sunset and each day I was totally blown away. If you are going to visit the Chocolate Hills there are some brilliant sunsets there (but make sure you have your own transport back or are staying near by as you will be stuck otherwise as the last bus is at 5pm!) The small island of Bantayan also has some pretty stunning skies, but I'm sure there are loads of places like that in the Philippines.
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octarine
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bonifacio high street
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
there's another place to hang out in today--bonifacio high street!
the place is so warm and cozy--there's greenery everywhere, the shops aren't over the top, and the entire place is pet-friendly! it's a great place to bring your family, because there's something for everyone--there's the five-storey fully booked, where bookworms and music aficionados will have a blast browsing through the titles, there's mag:net where you can catch live pinoy bands play, hobbes for kids and kids at heart, and more than dozen restaurants and clothing stores.
those who'd like to just relax can do so in the many benches and other sitting areas in the middle. i predict that this will be the place where people will meet and hang out in.
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AndreaLJC
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Costs in the Philippines
The Philippines can be really cheap but most of the local people will charge extortionate amounts just because you aren't from the Philippines. Cigarettes are the cheapest I have ever seen with a good brand costing ₤0.10p a packet! Any transport like tuk-tuks and taxis will tell you the cost is ten times the actual amount and I even went to buy some vitamins in a chemist and saw her take off the price and lie to me saying it was three times more expensive so just be on the look out! Often the price agreed will later change as well so you never know what to expect. Look for prices before you ask what a price of something is. Budget accommodation comes as cheap as ₤1 a night.
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Marc888
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Dau - Chinese Restaurant
On my last trip to Angeles in the Philippines I must confess that I had quite an exasperating time to find decent food. Sure enough many of the restaurants had good menus but the quality of the fare seemed to be patchy. In addition, even the best providers of food seemed to be sticking to a safe menu of English and American dishes. Its not surprising since this is an area that is very close to a recently fully-operational American military base. In order to find something better and something different I ventured into Dau the small town very close to Angeles City and on the corner of the main intersection you will find a very large Chinese restaurant which serves up truly excellent Chinese dishes. They are open until 11pm but I recommend getting there early as there is so much delightful food to sample!
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Marc888
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Angeles City Hotels.
It’s quite difficult to find a hotel in Angeles City that lives up to the expectations that you would have after searching online. Some of the older hotels do have new rooms, but if you book online after seeing their newer “showpieces” you may find that they assign you a room which is considerably older and more dowdy than you expected. And since you have already paid it makes it difficult to go elsewhere. My best recommendation is to turn up without a booking and walk along the main street to choose a place on spec. After going through this process myself recently I found that the Hotel International on Fields Avenue and the Five O Condotel were the 2 newest places with modest prices. The Blue Nile executive hotel and the Royal Amsterdam are also quite good places to stay but are located in a busier area.
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Marc888
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Olongopo & Subic Bay. Philippines
I took a bus from Dau to Olongopo which was an experience in itself. The 2 hour trip is quite straightforward until you get to some bendy roads and then things slow down, which might be a good thing as the drivers tend to drive at break neck speeds on the straight roads. Olongopo is a very quiet, almost dead place . It used to be a lively town but most of the military personal who frequented it are long gone. Outside of Olongopo town are the free-port and Subic Bay areas and these are quite pleasant albeit still quiet. There is an airport at Subic bay and you can still catch a flight from here to Manila if you have can't stomach another bus ride!
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Marc888
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Margaritaville - Angeles City. Philippines.
Margaritaville aka the Margarita Station, also aka the Ville, and also maybe known by other names is still, in my mind at least, the centre point for a stay in Angeles City in the Philippines. Its a pool bar, cafe, all day breakfast joint, beer bar, and night time meeting place all in one and is open 24 hours. True, the competition have muscled in. and similar places such as Kokomo's and other more recent establishments are good examples of the competition ... but the atmosphere between them remains friendly. From my recent experience the breakfast at The Ville far exceeds the Kokomo's equivalent, but when you are in Angeles the idea is to try them all out!
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Marc888
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Boracay - a star destination?
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I took a plane to reach this famous yet tranquil island, but this was not your typical jet airliner... no, it was a single engine plane with only 4 passenger seats, one of which was next to the pilot. Predictably, I chose that seat! It was a memorable landing as it is not often that you get to experience the pilots view on touch down... but there was another spectacular sight awaiting me on the island. And for that I had to wait until the dead of night. You may have guessed it already... the clear skies and the position of the island means that the view of the stars is truly spectacular. The night sky here is so beautiful that it is difficult to describe - suffice to say it is easily the most memorable part of my stay on Boracay.
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mingski
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Panglao Island, Bohol Province
Panglao Island, Bohol, PHILIPPINES
Panglao Island is a tourist's paradise with its never-ending stretch of white sand beach punctuated occasionally by coconut trees with leaves and trunk bending towards the water. This island connected to Tagbilaran, Bohol's capital city by a causeway is a haven for European expatriates who over the years have made this island their home during the winter months. A walk along the beach reveals a variety of accommodations and culinary options for the beachcomber: reasonably-priced naturally-ventilated huts with balconies facing the beach front shaded by coconut palms for the budget traveller or three to five-star hotels with cosmopolitan amenities and swimming pools, restaurants, music lounges and bars, business centers, and helicopter facilities. Food options on the island range from a luau of grilled and fried fish from the day's catch of fishermen with bancas lining the beach of the island. These are served with vegetable dishes, fresh friuts, and juice or light drink in contrast to the international dishes served ala carte or as part of the standard buffet or "eat all you can" in the local lingo.
At night, the island throbs with music until the early morning with a mixing of sounds from karaoke bars and the music lounges of hotels hosting the performances of professional singers and bands.
For many academic, environmentalists, and sports-oriented individuals, Panglao Island is best appreciated as a platform for reaching many off-shore dive-sites in the neighboring islands and dolphin watching. The seas surrounding the island of Bohol, Negros, and Cebu are world-famous for the richness of their marine life to complement their value as tourist destination.
Panglao Island, Bohol has one of the best beaches in the world! it is a must go place!
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Marc888
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Mount Pinatubo
Here is a really unique experience.... travel from Angeles City in the Philippines out through the remains of the areas devastated by Mount Pinatubo’s eruption and you will see hundreds roofs below the height of your knees. These sunken homes are all that is left of a once large populated area. You may still be able to see a large robot statue which is set alone in the ashes. I went alone in a small taxi, but would recommend going as a group if possible. It is unique experience which is hard to match.
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omoelegua
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Malate, Manila
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Generally, Manila is useful as a stop-over (one night) to get to your countryside or island destination in the Philippines (where the real beauty of the country can be seen). Besides a few historical spots and the beautiful Manila Bay sunset, there's not really much to see in Manila in the daytime unless you're the type who likes traffic, malls and shopping. But at night, it's a different story; this is when Manila's appeal really comes out. This, make no mistake, is a party town. Locals party every single night of the week--it doesn't matter if they work the next day. Most of the traveler hostels, pensions and inns are in the Malate area. Although it will seem like there are so many bars, pubs and clubs, most of these are not very interesting unless you like loud karaoke and louder cover/copy bands. If you just like to drink the cheapest San Miguel beer in the world, take your pick from the many indoor & outdoor joints along Remedios, Mabini, Adriatico & Nakpil Streets. This 4-square block area has most of your nightlife entertainment needs. There are also very good restaurants around here like Korean Village , Cafe Adriatico (continental), Bistro Remedios(Philippine cuisine), Casa Armas (Spanish tapas bar, nice ambience!), Cafe Havana (Cuban bar w/ live music); there are some sushi bars too. But for me, the coolest bar is the Penguin Cafe and Gallery. This is found a few meters east past the Remedios Circle rotunda. This bar has art exhibits, live jazz / world / homegrown music and is a very unpretentious cozy place. When you walk in (there's also an outdoor area for smokers), you will see the difference with the other clubs in the area. This is more of a bohemian, down-home feel to it. And you cannot miss their "Submarine" drink....it's "lambanog'(coconut rum) mixed with Red Horse (extra strong)beer. Backpackers, expats, poets, filmakers, artists etc hang out here. If you want more upscale nightime entertainment, head for Makati at Greenbelt 3 (another tip report)....but you will pay more there.
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AndreaLJC
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Eating vegetarian in The Philippines
Basically all Filippino people seem to eat is meat and cakes, that might explain the huge amount of chemists and pharmacies there are in the Philippines! I found eating vegetarian food in the Philippines almost impossible and no one seems to eat any vegetables so I had to revert to eating junk food. So for the 21 days that I was in the country I had no other choice but to eat chips, pizza, cake (often for breakfast lunch and dinner!) and bread. None of which I really wanted but there really was no other choice! By the end of the 21 days I was craving for salad so bad (who would have thought it!) So if you are vegetarian and going to the Philippines, good luck to you!
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Gematienza
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Tiendesitas: A bargain and gimmick central for everyone... and his pet
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
It’s a best-kept secret no more. The word is out on Tiendesitas as the definitive destination for Filipiniana-themed shopping, pet lovers, and after-office fun.
Located where main arteries Ortigas, Julia Vargas, and E. Rodriguez Avenues (C5) meet in Barangay Ugong, Pasig City, Tiendesitas is the country’s largest and widest themed shopping complex in the Philippines that caters to value-conscious shoppers both foreign and local. It is a haven of finds, and showcases the best of the country. Tiendesitas features native food; antiques; handicraft; plants; artwork; pets, pet accessories, and services (it’s also pet-friendly); and personal care items. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. In fact, entertainment goes into high gear with live musical performances each day of the week.
Savvy shoppers are sure to go crazy over novelty items and fashionable apparel – sold in trendy shops that will appeal to both the discriminating and the budget conscious. Says a frequent shopper: “It’s a treasure trove, no question – especially for people who go for the style, not the brand.”
Tiendesitas is composed of 12 pavilions (also called villages) that take cues from traditional Maranao architecture. Indigenous materials were used in the construction of the al fresco (though some shops are air-conditioned) destination. Old calesa (horse-drawn carriage) wheels are made into chandelier frames to light the restrooms; duyan (rocking benches) give a rustic feel and provide a welcome break for shoppers. Tiendesitas is also a friendly destination for the elderly and physically challenged.
At the Fashion Village, shoppers enjoy a myriad of finds to sate various tastes and needs – all in an al fresco, customer-friendly, and zoned layout. At the Home Furnishings Village, form and function meet in imaginative, elegant pieces that will complete and complement any home. Get lost in a cornucopia of choices for tables, chairs, centerpieces, accents, and other items to beautify your abode.
More than 450 traders from all over the country offer specialty merchandise highlighting the diversity and richness of Philippine culture. Completing the experience is the encouragement of haggling for the best price. This is a true shopper’s paradise.
Developed by renowned real estate company Ortigas & Company – also responsible for the value shopping mecca that is the Greenhillls Shopping Center – Tiendesitas is expected to rival the highly successful and world-renowned Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand. Tiendesitas is open every day from noon to midnight.
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Gematienza
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DIVISORIA: Manila’s Mother of Shopping Meccas
Nowadays, people would find ways to save money by looking for good quality items at a reasonable price. Instead of going to the malls to do their shopping, people from all walks of life flock to different shopping meccas or tiangge’s (as Filipinos call it) to find the best buy there is. Fortunately, there are a lot to choose from and they have sprung up all over Metro Manila. Chinese peddlers and Filipino businessmen have turned to tiangge business as these are hot items nowadays. But the most popular among all shopping meccas in the country is Divisoria.
Situated in the north-western area of Manila, Divisoria is a haven of goods where you’ll find almost everything in the most affordable prices- from textiles to apparels, raw materials to finished products (like souvenirs for different occasions, abaca slippers, etc.), household needs and appliances, down to fresh produce, whether you want it in bulk or retail orders. Although some of these goods can be found in premiere shopping malls and supermarkets, Divi (Dee’ Vee) is the place to be when you simply want the perfect value for your money. An exact dress that costs about Php2,500.00 in a shopping mall would only cost Php900 in Divisoria, saving you more than half the price.
However, shopping in Divisoria takes a lot of patience looking for the best item. While shopping, it is also best to be observant to avoid becoming a victim of pickpockets and thieves. It is also best to dress down and avoid wearing flashy jewelry and accessories. For a visiting tourist, it is recommended if a local resident accompanies him to avoid being taken advantage of hustlers.
Parking is very limited so it is recommended to take a jeepney or taxi. Going from one mall to another is even difficult because of the heavy traffic caused by pedestrians and street vendors so it is also good to take a pedicab (a bicycle with a one-wheeled carriage attached) especially if you have excess baggage. On the other hand, pedicab drivers are sometimes abusive when it comes to charging, so be wise enough to haggle before you board the said vehicle.
A trip to Divisoria is surely enjoyable. But it is best to be cautious to make a hassle-free shopping.
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