Philippines

Welcome to Project Cavite, Philippines! We hope you are looking forward to your volunteer trip! While we highly value all of the great work volunteers do in the field with FIMRC staff and community members, we recognize the delight in exploring new places! Although Monday through Friday are reserved for volunteer activities, Saturday and Sunday can be spent exploring the beauty of the Philippines. The following guide includes local excursion options. Once on-site, our staff will help you make arrangements. Please note: excursions are optional and the costs associated with each are not included in the program fee paid to FIMRC.

History & Culture Cavite The first people known to inhabit the Philippines were referred to as “Negritos” by the Spanish. They are believed to have crossed over land bridges from Asia 30,000 years ago, bringing with them knowledge of rice cultivation techniques, which are still in practice today. Later the Negritos were joined in the Philippine archipelago by successive waves of Malay and Polynesian settlers who arrived in boats and formed small communities throughout the islands. By the time the Spanish settled in the Philippines in the early 16th century, people from China, Islamic states, and India had also arrived, contributing their bloodlines and cultures to the Asian-Pacific mosaic that characterizes Philippine society today. The Spanish claimed the archipelago and ruled the Philippines for more than three centuries after Ferdinand Magellan’s attempt to circumnavigate the world ended in April 1521 in a battle in Mactan. Filipino nationalists declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. However the Philippines was ceded to the United States after Spain lost the Spanish-American War. The United States did not recognize the government put in place by the nationalists and occupied the Philippines until Japan conquered it during World War II. Japan occupied the Philippines until a joint American and Filipino invasion re-established American rule. The United States relinquished sovereignty over the Philippines and recognized its independence on July 4, 1946.

Did You Know... • The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands, of which approximately 2,000 are inhabited. • The capital of the Philippines is Manila, the most densely populated city in the world. • The Philippines has a tropical marine climate. It is warm and humid throughout the year with an average temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Between July and October, an average of 20 typhoons pass through each year.

1 Philippines Excursion Options

1 Excursion Options The following options include popular excursions in the local area surrounding Project Cavite. Please note, excursions as well as the associated transportation costs are not included in your program fee paidto FIMRC. All prices listed are in PHP and are approximations.

1 Taal Volcano

An island within a lake within an island, Taal Volcano, which is also home to an island in a lake, is among the world’s smallest active volcanoes with an elevation of 311 meters, though it once rose over 5,000 meters. Take in the 1 view from Tagaytay or head over to Talisay, Batangas, cross Lake Taal by boat and hike to the rim or down into Crater Lake. Difficulty: 2/9*

Rates: Volcano Island to summit Boat: PHP 3,300 + PHP 50 landing fee (each boat can accommodate 5 people) Registration fee: PHP 100/person Guide: Free Transportation: PHP 2,000 + PHP 300 for gas

Volcano Island to Crater Lake Boat: PHP 4,300 + PHP 50 landing fee (each boat can accommodate 5 people) Registration fee: PHP 50/person Guide: PHP 350 Transportation: PHP 2,000 + PHP 300 for gas 2 Contact: +63 43 773 0192 (Taal Lake Yacht Club)

2 Mt. Maculot

One of the most popular mountains in the Philippines, Taal Lake, Taal Volcano, and the plains of Batangas can be viewed from the Rockies along Mt. Maculot. Option to hike to the summit, the second highest point in Batangas, and traverse to the Grotto. Difficulty: 3/9 (Rockies); 4/9 (Traverse)*

Rates: Rockies Registration fee: PHP 20/person Guide: PHP 400 (per five hikers) 2 Transportation: PHP 3,500 + PHP 650 for gas

Rockies-Summit-Grotto Traverse Registration fee: PHP 20/person Guide: PHP 800 (per five hikers) Transportation: PHP 3,500 + PHP 650 for gas

2 Philippines Weekday Excursion Options

3 3 Mt. Batulao A pleasant hike through rolling slopes, Mt. Batulao affords scenic views of Batangas along its trail, which includes twelve peaks and a roped segment. Difficulty: 4/9.

Rates: Registration fee: PHP 20/person Guide: PHP 400 Transportation: PHP 2,000 + PHP 300 for gas

4 Anilao Beach 4 Possibly the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines, Anilao was voted #2 for Best Macro Diving in the Pacific and Indian Ocean region in 2015. Nudibranchs, octopuses, ghost pipefish, and seahorses can be found in Anilao’s many dive sites. Resorts along its rocky shores also offer snorkeling and island hopping.

Rates: Accommodation: PHP 3,300/night (Eagle Point Resort) Scuba Diving: PHP 8.420 Snorkel gear rental: PHP 224 Transportation: PHP 5,000 + PHP 600 for gas

5 Laiya Beach

A white sand beach with resorts offering swimming, snorkeling, and 6 kayaking, discover why the Philippines is Asia’s beach capital!

Rates: Transportation: PHP 5,000 + PHP 600 for gas

6 Villa Filomena Natural Spring Resort

Take a dip in infinity pools filled with natural spring water at Villa Filomena. Located in Indang, Cavite, it is the perfect place to escape the heat and have a swim!

Rates: Entrance fee: PHP 150 Gazebo rental: PHP 700 Transportation: PHP 60 6

7 Pagsanjan Falls

Ride a dugout canoe to experience “shooting the rapids” or simply hike down to Pagsanjan Falls, a three-drop waterfall. A bamboo raft will bring you through the waterfall to Devil’s cave.

Rates: Entrance fee: PHP 1,250 (canoe) PHP 270 (hike) Transportation: PHP 3,000 + PHP 500 for gas

3 Philippines Weekday Excursion Options

8 8 Manila The capital of the Philippines is a bustling metropolis with sightseeing opportunities abound, including:

National Museum of the Philippines. The cultural heritage of the Philippines is preserved and showcased at the Museum of the Filipino People and National Art Gallery.

Rates: Students: PHP 50 Adults: PHP 150 Free on Sundays! 8 Intramuros. The walled city was built in the 16th century by the Spanish to protect the original city of Manila from foreign invasions. It served as the seat of the colonial government and Asia’s main trading hub. The Intramuros was severely damaged during World War II by American and Japanese forces. It is the oldest and only district in Manila where Spanish-era influences remain.

Rates: (optional) Walking tour Students: PHP 600 Adults: PHP 1,100 Contact: +63 920 909 2021 (Carlos Celdran)

Biking tour PHP 1,200 Contact: +63 2 525 8289 (Bambike Ecotours)

8 Weekend Markets. Eat and shop at Salcedo Saturday Market, Greenfields Night Market, and Legazpi Sunday Market.

Rates: Spending money (amount varies, depends on spending preference)

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4 Excursions can be arranged with our staff upon your arrival. Opportunities to partake in excursions are dependent on the length of your stay, time of year, and volunteer schedule. Prices listed are our best estimates and are subject to change. Volunteers are responsible for all costs associated with each excursion, including food and transportation expenses.

Please be aware that each excursion carries with it certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminiated despite the care FIMRC takes to ensure your safety. Participation in excursions is voluntary and at your own risk. Also, whie staff are happy to assist with planning, FIMRC does not guarantee that a staff member will accompany you.

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