TRAVEL EVENTS PEOPLE Marinduque is perfect for Angola celebrates its Vanessa Suatengco a diamond a romantic getaway. 2 brigh, golden future. 4 in the hotel industry. 9 Legend of India AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE Where the Food is LEGENDARY! expatNEWSPAPER 114B Jupiter St, Bel-air II, Makati City expatexpat Email: [email protected] Tel: 836-42-32/211-9864 January 30 - February 12, 2011 Vol. XXVI No. 134 expatphilippines.wordpress.com Mobile: 0917-8992566 Present this ad and get a 10% discount. THE PHILIPPINES FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL READERS SINCE 1981 Valid until March 31, 2011. 2011: The Year of Transport Fares Increase By TIMOTHY JAY IBAY bit lower with stored-value ticket users facing an average of 33.7 percent fare increase, while hile fare increases have been in single-journey ticket users have it pegged at the works for a while now, hav- 50.3 percent. As of this writing, the Depart- ing withstood TROs, hearings ment of Transportation and Communication Wand general public opposition, 2011 will (DOTC) has yet to release the proposed fare finally see them for the Light Rail Tran- matrix for the MRT Line 3. sit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT), In his first State of the Nation Address, Metro Manila taxi cabs, and the new South President Aquino pointed out that ordinary Luzon Expressway toll fees implement- tax payers, including those who live outside ed. The increases are far from marginal. the Metro, have been forced to foot the bill The LRT/MRT fares under the recently of the rising costs of running the trains due to approved fare matrix will go up by an average previous administrations’ refusal to hike fares. of 56 percent. And those figures are just for Taxi fares will now have a 40 Php flag-down those using stored-value tickets. Some trips rate, up from 30 Php, while also increasing the for single-journey ticket users have as much rate per succeeding kilometer to 3.50 Php, pre- as 100 percent increases (e.g. LRT 1’s Quirino viously at 2.50. While this may initially sound to Tayuman, from 15 Php to 30Php). On the like welcome news for cab drivers to help them average, the LRT Line 1 (covering Roosevelt combat the continually rising fuel prices (now station to EDSA station, north to south) fare at around 50 Php for unleaded gas from 43 Php increases for stored-value ticket users is at 34.7 in mid-December), some drivers are prepared percent, and at 52.6 percent for single-journey for taxi operators decreasing this benefit by ticket users. For the LRT Line 2 (Legarda sta- raising their daily “boundaries” as well. This al- tion to Santolan station), the increases are a Metro commuters face rising costs. Photo by Francess Nicholeen Labrador most seems inevitable since the page 6 EXPAT AND THE EARTH Nineteen Philippine Crocodiles Back Into The Wild By TIMOTHY JAY IBAY ecent events have led to the main- tion of less than 100 mature individuals. It is program were the creations of specific release be communally kept in these ponds prior to stream media painting a picture of considered to be the most severely threatened ponds in the crocodile habitat management release in the wild, enabling them to adapt to unrest throughout the metro. In crocodile species in the world by the Inter- zone of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural natural conditions in a safe environment and Rthese times, every little piece of good news is national Union for Conservation of Nature, Park, from where the released crocodiles can allowing them to be better prepared for the much welcomed. The Mabuwaya Foundation Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) colonize the surrounding area. Forty-nine wild and increasing their chances of survival from the combined Tagalog words of mabu- Crocodile Specialist Group and it is there- head-started juvenile Philippine crocodiles after release. hay meaning live long and buwaya croco- fore on top of their priority list of crocodilians have so far been reintroduced back into the dile has recently provided such. needing conservation action. wild. Another 39, currently in captivity, The new Municipal Philippine Crocodile The Mabuwaya Foundation, which spear- await reintroduction. Rearing Station in San Mariano, Isabela was re- headed emergency aid efforts late last year in Newly established soft-release ponds cently inaugurated. As part of the ceremonies Isabela post-super typhoon Juan (internation- are banked on as a new strategy to further later that day, 19 Philippine crocodiles were al code name Megi) has been behind the im- increase the survival rates of these croco- released back into the wild in the Northern plementation of community-based Philippine diles. These concrete ponds just outside the Sierra Madre Natural Park. crocodile conservation projects in the munici- rearing station are made to resemble natural The Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus pality of San Mariano, Isabela Province. habitat. They are stocked with live prey (fish, mindorensis) is a critically endangered fresh- Stemming from their 2005 project of nest shrimps, snails, etc.) with basking sites also water species with an estimated wild popula- protection, head-start and habitat restoration provided. The head-started crocodiles will 2 > TRAVEL JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 12, 2011 EXPAT NEWSPAPER Marinduque: The Heart Island Text and Photos by RAYDON L. REYES owadays, the first thing that comes how much the island is suited particularly for to people’s mind when they think couples who want to escape from the other of Marinduque is Bellaroca in El- popular beaches that are dense with tourists. Nephant island. While it is a great hotel with After all, isn’t it true that romance blooms in a unique concept that most travellers would secret? “The best thing about the island is that love, the Santorini look-alike is not the only there aren’t that many crowds, so couples can beauty in the island. Allow us to give you enjoy their time by themselves. Hotel rates some tidbits and take you to a few undis- and entrance fees to the beaches are also very covered spots in Marinduque that stray far cheap, so they can tour the whole island and away from the capital’s very own Moriones stay for three days for as low as Php 6000. That Festival–enough to convince you that it’s includes the food as well,” says Benildo Lar- the place to be this coming Valentines Day. gado, counsellor in the municipality of Boac. Of hearts, petals, and forbidden loves Don’t mind the smell of eggs Besides its shape, there’s another reason Spas in Manila that use sulfur products why Marinduque is often referred to as the is- would usually charge a small fortune from you land of lovers. Legend has it that it arose when per session. But in Malbog Sulfur Springs at two lovers—Mariin and Gatduke—drowned Buenavista in the southern part of Marindu- themselves in the sea while trying to escape que, you need only to pay an entrance fee from their families, who didn’t approve of of 20 pesos to enjoy the same benefits. This their relationship. Call it the Philippine ver- collection of natural sulfur springs is right be- sion of Romeo and Juliet. side the now dormant volcano Mt. Malindig, Flowers, another common symbol for which is the source of the water and the natu- love, are prominent in the ritual called Pu- ral mineral that’s said to be good for treating tong. This custom includes Marinduqueños ailments in the skin such as eczema, psoriasis, singing and dancing around visitors of the is- and acne. land while throwing petals in the air towards Visitors who intend to stay for a few hours them. Perhaps these factoids already reveal can make use of the nipa huts surrounding Because of its isolated location and intimate attractions such as the Poctoy White Beach, Caganhao sea floor, and sulfur springs, Marinduque is the perfect getaway place this coming Valentine's Day. JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 12, 2011 TRAVEL < 3 EXPAT NEWSPAPER the springs, although they might need to go with no additional charge. There’s also the 10- only to enjoy the unique experience of seeing Steaming in the night to another destination in the island to enjoy peso halo-halo and mango shake to wash it all the sunset while sitting on the coral reefs. Because of the wind coming from the their lunch. Sulfur actually smells like boiling down before you go swimming (don’t forget Every four in the afternoon until dusk, sea, it can get very cold in the island at night eggs and this might offset the aroma of the to wait an hour before you go into the water). the sea floor would rise up because of the low even during summertime. If you want to heat food you would be carrying. It might be best Be sure to bring your snorkelling equip- tide, giving you the chance to walk towards things up, you can go back to Malbog and to go early in the morning and to just sit back, ment so you can go to the beach’s border the corals and see the various sea creatures check in the Hot Springs Resort. The hot wa- take a dip, and enjoy the view of a zen-like and look at the coral reefs. After you bathe without even getting your hair wet (just be ter comes from the same Mt. Malindig that garden, myriad trees, and the occasional goats in the bright-blue water, you can rent a hut careful of sea urchins). Catch crabs, fishes, the sulfur spring draws from, but the sulfur in from the surrounding farms.