ManilaManila, the somewhat daunting capital and pulsating hub of the Philippines, is situated on the east coast of
Luzon, the most northerly island, also the largest and the most developed. The city was founded in 1571 on the site of a Muslim settlement. Its major tourist attraction is the old Spanish walled city, known as
Intramuros, which contains some historic buildings and ruins.
Modern
Manila is a morass of traffic and people, polluted and chaotic, an industrial metropolis that grew from the ashes of war when in 1945, the
United States' forces fought to recapture it from
Japanese occupation. It is also a city of theaters, libraries and museums, and the home to the
University of the Philippines. The neighborhoods of the metropolis vary from wide avenues full of palatial homes to squatter camps where the poorest of the poor scratch out a living.
Visitors to the Philippines cannot avoid using Manila as a starting point for their exploration of the other provinces and islands, because most charter flights to the outlying islands leave from the city's airport. The city is also within reach of day and weekend getaways on the island of Luzon; this makes it a good base for travelers intent on touring. One thing no visitor should miss is a famous
Manila Bay sunset: a light show created out of the high humidity conditions coupled with the effects of cloud over the city's harbor. This remarkable sight allows a short respite from the more unpleasant aspects of the sprawling city. View the sunset from
Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard or from a cruise boat that plies around Manila Bay.
Getting Around: The roads in Manila are notorious for heavy smog and traffic congestion, especially at peak hours. Public transport is inexpensive and plentiful, including the elevated light rail system (LRT) and the Metrostar that has helped to alleviate some of the congestion. Traveling above the chaos, it is fast, clean and efficient, although very crowded during the evening rush hour. There are numerous bus companies that comprehensively service the city, as well as local jeepneys (brightly colored converted jeeps used as minibuses) that can be hailed anywhere; they are best for shorter journeys and the most popular form of transport. Buses and jeepneys are the cheapest form of transport for areas not covered by the LRT. Taxis are also inexpensive and convenient, although traffic is bad and some drivers try to overcharge visitors. There are also calesas (horse-drawn carriages) used by tourists for short trips, and tricycle pedicabs available for hire. No matter how you travel through Manila, be aware of pickpockets.
Climate: Manila has hot, humid weather all year round, although it is a little cooler between November and February. The hottest month is May, when the temperature averages 83°F (28°C). The rainy season is between June and October, although some precipitation is possible all through the year.
CebuThe island-province of
Cebu sits in the center of the Philippine archipelago and is served by international and domestic charter flights to and from its airport; Cebu is also a shipping crossroads. It is therefore a good jumping-off point for island hopping to the tropical islets of the central
Visayas region. Within easy reach are the caves and lagoons of Calanggaman and Gato; the beaches of Argao, Oslop and Carmen; and the favorite dive spots of Moalboal, Badian, Mactan and Olango.
The Cebu metropolitan area is the country's second biggest city, and, along with its adjacent Maktan Island, has become a bustling package tour destination, particularly for Japanese visitors. It abounds with shopping malls, fast food outlets, casinos, golf courses and all-inclusive resort hotels to cater for the holidaymakers who come to enjoy the sandy beaches and glorious balmy weather.
Cebu's main claim to fame is its colorful festival, held every third Sunday in January, known as the Sinulog. The festival is a religious celebration wherein various tribes in dazzling costumes hold aloft images of the infant Jesus. The revelers wend their way through the city streets from early morning to evening, singing and dancing.
Cebu is also the country's oldest Spanish colonial city and has several historic landmarks, including the original cross, planted by Magellan in 1521 when he baptized the first group of Filipino natives into the Catholic faith. The cross is now housed in a roofed kiosk in Magallanes Street. Downtown Cebu is dominated by Colon Street, the oldest street in the Philippines, dating from the 16th century and today lined with stores, shopping malls, office buildings and movie theaters.
DavaoDavao is the gateway to the southern
Philippines, a hub of commerce, industry and transportation (sea and air) in the southern
Mindanao region. Although as an urban metropolis
Davao has little to recommend it, the attraction of the city is its accessibility to a beautiful surrounding rural landscape of hills and fertile valleys, dominated by the massive 9,692ft (2,954m) Mount Apo, a dormant volcano that is the Philippine's highest mountain peak. Among the valleys live the ancestral tribes of the Philippines, like the Bagobo, Manobo, Mandaya and Bilaan, with their rich and colorful cultural heritage, ethnic art and handcrafts.
Davao is center of the Philippines fruit and flower-growing region, and an annual festival (the Kadawayan Festival) is held in August to celebrate the bounty of the fields and the different tribal cultures. The region is also home to the endangered Philippine Eagle, and the rare
Vanda Sanderiana orchid. Like the rest of the Philippines, of course, the Mindanao region and its many islands also offer thousands of tropical beaches and dive sites, most accessible only by the most intrepid of adventure travelers.
