The Philippines Contents 08 12 16 20 04 MAP, REGIONS & FACTS Mabuhay! Welcome to the Philippines Renowned for its 7107 islands, the Philippines is blessed 06 EXPLORE MANILA with stunning beaches, marine life, bustling cities, and cultural heritage. A comfortable trip from Australia (approximately eight hours by plane), you can easily DISCOVER PALAWAN 08 discover your own slice of paradise in the Philippines. Whether you’re after surfing, diving, a food holiday 12 SEE THE SIGHTS OF CEBU (page 27) or just want to lie back and enjoy the island life, this archipelago has something unique for every traveller. Cruise along Palawan’s turquoise waters and cool off in the COVER PHOTO: THE TARSIER 16 BEAUTIFUL BORACAY clear island lagoons (page 8), go trekking in Banaue and IS AN ADORABLE INHABITANT OF THE PHILIPPINES enjoy rice terraces as far as the eye can see (page 23) or get Image: iStock 20 BOHOL’S BIG THREE stoked catching a wave in Siargao’s Cloud 9 (page 24). While it is moments of wonder with nature that invigorate the spirit of travellers, it is the warm and 22 12 MUST DO EXPERIENCES welcoming culture of the Filipino people that truly make it more fun in the Philippines. PRODUCED BY 26 A FILIPINO FEAST THE MISFITS MEDIA COMPANY The Philippine Department of Tourism 003 Batanes Babuyan Islands Calayan Group of Islands Dalupiri Islands Camiguin Islands Fuga Islands Apayao Ilocos Norte Cagayan Abra Ilocos Kalinga Sur Boracay Mountain Province Isabela La Union Ifugao Benguet Nueva Vizcaya Quirino Pangasinan Aurora Palawan Nueva Tarlac Ecija Zambales Bulacan Pampanga Polillo Island Cebu Bataan Rizal Manila NCR Calaguas Camarines Cavite Laguna Norte Catanduanes Caramoan Batangas Lubang Islands Quezon Camarines Sur Marinduque Luzon Albay Oriental Sorsogon Mindoro Occidental Burias Island Mindoro Northern Samar Bomblon Masbate Busuanga BUSUANGA Coron AIRPORT Boracay Calamain Samar Group of KALIBO Islands AIRPORT Eastern Samar MACTAN-CEBU Malapascua CATICLAN Aklan Biliran AIRPORT AIRPORT Capiz El Nido Leyte EL NIDO Antique AIRPORT Iloilo Camotes Island ILOILO Guimaras Cebu Southern AIRPORT Leyte Dinagat Islands Negros Siargao Island Occidental Bohol Surigao Puerto Princesa Del Norte Negros Oriental TAGBILARAN Agusan PUERTO Visayas AIRPORT Camiguin PRINCESA Siquijor Island Del Norte AIRPORT SIBULAN Surigao AIRPORT Del Sur Palawan Misamis Oriental Cagayan Zamboanga Misamis De Oro Agusan Del Norte Occidental Del Sur Lanao Del Norte Bukidnon Tubbataha Reefs Zamboanga Del Sur Lanao Davao Del Del Sur Norte Zamboanga Sibugay Compostela Davao Valley Bohol Cotabato Samal Davao Island Maguindanao Oriental Davao Sultan Del Sur Basilan Kudarat South Cotabato Sulu General Santos Sarangani Mindanao Tawi-Tawi 004 Batanes Babuyan Islands THE Calayan Group of Islands Dalupiri Islands REGIONS Camiguin Islands Fuga Islands FACTS Capital city: Manila Apayao Ilocos Norte Cagayan AT A GLANCE Area: 300,00 square kilometers Abra consisting of 7107 islands. The Ilocos Kalinga Sur Mountain largest island is Luzon, at 108,171 Province Isabela square kilometres. La Union Ifugao Benguet Nueva Time zone: PHT, 8 hours ahead of Vizcaya Quirino Metro Manila Mindoro The capital of the Philippines, Manila, While a short distance from Manila, the UTC. There is no daylight savings. Pangasinan is a vibrant and cultural metropolitan island of Mindoro is a realm of its own, and Aurora Nueva city, located on the island of Luzon. The is divided into two main regions by a valley Tarlac Ecija Intramuros encapsulates the city’s rich of mountains. The remote and undiscovered Currency: Philippine peso. $1 is history Spanish colonial history, while Mindoro Occidental is the gateway to equivalent to 38.58 pesos. Zambales Bulacan Pampanga Polillo Island the Makati District establishes Manila’s secluded beaches and dive spots like the Bataan Rizal contemporary urban vibes, featuring nautical beauty of Apo Reef. The other Manila NCR Calaguas bustling streets lined with funky bars, region, Mindoro Oriental, borders dense Language: Filipino (based on Camarines budget and high-end restaurants, jungles and mountains, yet is much more Tagalog), English Cavite Laguna Norte Catanduanes Caramoan galleries and shops. developed, and home to great beaches, dive Batangas Lubang Islands Quezon spots, and nightlife. Camarines Visa information: Australian citizens Sur Around Metro Manila Marinduque There are seven provinces in Central Luzon Palawan can enter and stay in the Philippines Luzon Albay surrounding Manila. For shipwreck diving The tropical paradise of Palawan is a for up to 30 days without a visa. Oriental Sorsogon Mindoro head west to Subic Bay, while Angeles City in breathtaking sketch of dotted islands Occidental Burias Island However, all visitors must have at Mindoro Pampanga is known for a vibrant nightlife. scattered through blues and greens of the least six months validity on their Northern Samar Bataan has eco-tourism sites like waterfalls ocean. Forests cover the numerous rocky Bomblon Masbate Busuanga and volcanoes, as well as a historically rich peaks that burst out of the vast azure passport to enter. BUSUANGA Coron AIRPORT Boracay Calamain Samar town. The coastal region of Subic is great waters, while beneath the ocean’s surface Group of KALIBO Islands AIRPORT Eastern for beach hopping and diving, while San lives a magical aquatic environment of coral Samar MACTAN-CEBU Climate: There is a wet season and Malapascua CATICLAN Aklan Biliran AIRPORT Fernando has a laid-back feel with cafes, reefs and exotic marine life. Great dive spots AIRPORT Capiz a dry season, though the time of the El Nido spas and restaurants. are found around the limestone isles in the Leyte EL NIDO Antique AIRPORT Bacuit archipelago and off the main town of year they occur varies. On average Iloilo Camotes North Luzon Coron on Busuanga Island. the warmer months are between Island ILOILO Guimaras The enchantment of North Luzon is Cebu Southern March and October, while the cooler AIRPORT Leyte Dinagat Islands encapsulated by its landscapes of rolling The Visayas rice terraces that carve layers of emerald The Visayas are a cluster of islands where months are between November Negros Siargao Island Occidental Bohol green into towering mountains, and the vast beauty invigorates through a contrast of and February. The average annual Surigao Puerto Princesa Del Norte dense jungles that stretch beneath. The avid natural landscapes, and historical remnants Negros temperature is between 23 degrees Oriental TAGBILARAN adventurer will be enticed by North Luzon’s from the Spanish colonial era and World AIRPORT Agusan PUERTO Visayas Camiguin and 31 degrees Celsius. PRINCESA Siquijor Island Del Norte wildlife playground, from surfing along the War II. The main islands includes the AIRPORT SIBULAN Surigao AIRPORT Del Sur Zambales coast, and hiking through the culturally rich Cebu where Fort San Pedro Palawan Misamis Oriental spectacular Ifugao Province, to roaming and Basilica del Santo Nino await. Then Population: Approximately Cagayan the quaint Spanish towns dotted through there’s the sublime wildlife of Bohol, home Zamboanga Misamis De Oro Agusan 103,800,000, or almost 1.4% of the Del Norte Occidental Del Sur the region. to the Chocolate Hills, divine diving spots, Lanao total world population. Del Norte Bukidnon and tiny, adorable tarsiers. Tubbataha Reefs Zamboanga Del Sur Lanao Davao Del Southern Luzon Del Sur Norte Zamboanga In contrast to the Northern region, Southern Mindanao Flights: There are connections to Sibugay Compostela Davao Valley Luzon is typified by its dramatic volcanic The best area for travellers is Mindanao’s Cotabato Manila from several Australia and Samal Davao and coastal landscapes, where volcanoes north coast, where untouched national Island Maguindanao Oriental cast their silhouettes over shorelines of parks stretch between Iligan and Dipolog. New Zealand capitals. Davao Sultan Del Sur sandy beaches. Explore the surfing hotspots The Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park Sydney – 8 hours 20 minutes Basilan Kudarat and the most active, yet smallest volcano, is an eco-tourism site home to mangroves, South Melbourne – 8 hours 30 minutes Cotabato Taal, a crater within a lake. The region is fish and dolphins, while great surfing Brisbane – 10 hours 30 minutes (1 stop) Sulu General also known for its cuisine that combines spots are found in Surigao. For a mesmeric Santos Sarangani Filipino flavours with influences from experience, drift down the Enchanted River Perth – 9 hours 30 minutes (1 stop) Indonesia, India and Arabia, using locally that passes through deep jungles and an Auckland – 13 hours 15 minutes (1 stop) Mindanao sourced produce. underwater cave. Tawi-Tawi 005 HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF 1. MANILA CITY 2. QUEZON CITY MANILA The Philippines’ capital, Manila is Named after the second President of a cosmopolitan city that perfectly the Philippines, Manuel L. Quezon, encapsulates a blend of urban this urban hub is the Philippines’ sophistication with a unique quirky most populated. It is the home of vibrancy. This is partly due to the many museums and government THE PHILIPPINES CAPITAL CITY IS A fusion of Chinese and Spanish cultural buildings including the Batasang THRIVING METROPOLIS WITH A STACK influences, which are manifested Pambansa Complex, as well as the OF THINGS TO SEE. IT ALSO MAKES A through the well-preserved colourful University of the Philippines. Take a buildings, temples, churches and stroll, bike ride or picnic through the GREAT SHORT STAY AS A GATEWAY TO cuisine. From stepping back in time Quezon Memorial Circle, a central EXPLORING THE WIDER COUNTRY. HERE’S through the medieval Intramuros, to urban park featuring a museum that HOW TO SEE MANILA IN ALL ITS GLORY the nightlife and dining precinct of the honours Manuel Quezon. For a great Makati District, Manila is a beautiful choice of restaurants and shops, head and bustling metropolis that pulsates to Eastwood City, while a cultural through day and night. experience awaits at Art In Island, a 3D museum in Cubao. 3. MANILA’S FOOD SCENE The food scene in Manila is booming, from hipster cafes in the Makati District, to authentic Filipino and fine dining restaurants dishing up local and international cuisines.