Katibawasan Falls

I already mentioned about Camiguin Island and it's tourist attractions in my previous post. The katibawan falls is one of the tourist spots where we visited in the island. It is five kilometers southeast of Mambajao at the foot of Mt. Timpoong. Waterfalls which measure about 250 feet high cascades to a rock pool surrounded by ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders. Ice cold water provides an ideal summer splash to bathers and picnickers. The falls tumble down into a green pool, ideal for a refreshing swim. Giant ferns decorate the surrounding land, carpeting for space with huge trees and dropping vines. It is an ideal place to cool off during hot and humid days. Katibawasan Falls is one of the treasured gifts nature has bestowed on the island of Camiguin. The falls is maintained by the province and to enter the park you have to pay a minimal entrance fee.

Lake Lanao

Lake Lanao or Ranaw is a large lake in the Philippines, located in Lanao del Sur province in the country's southern island of Mindanao. With a surface area of 340 km². (131 square miles), it is the largest lake in Mindanao, and the second largest lake in the Philippines and counted as one of the 15 ancient lakes in the world. The lake was formed by the tectonic-volcanic damming of a basin between two mountain ranges and the collapse of a large volcano. It has a maximum depth of 112 meters, and a mean depth of 60.3 meters. The basin is shallowest towards the north and gets progressively deeper towards the south. The lake is fed by four rivers. Its only outlet is the Agus River, which flows southwest into Iligan Bay via two channels, one over the Maria Cristina Falls and the other over the Linamon Falls. A hydroelectric plant installed on the Lanao Lake and Agus River system generates 70% of the electricity used by the people of Mindanao.

Jewelry Store

There are many jewelry stores in the Philippines but not all of them sell good quality products. Are you fond of jewelries and accessories? This would be the right place for you to visit, the Archmaille Designs. It is the sterling silver jewelry store that sells variety of copper bracelets, magnetic jewelry, silver jewelry, Japanese chainmail in different designs and they offers jewelry cleaning. Their designs are handmade and the quality items are their number one focus. You can browse their online website to see for yourself. There are many designs that you can choose from that will fit your looks and pass your fashion taste.

Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano is the Philippines' most active volcano and is considered to be the world's most perfectly formed volcano for its symmetrical cone. It is a basaltic-andesitic volcano. The upper slopes of the volcano are steep averaging 35-40 degrees and are capped by a small summit crater. Its sides are layers of lava and other volcanic material. It is the main landmark of Albay Province. Renowned as the "Perfect Cone" because of its almost perfectly conical shape, Mayon is situated 15 kilometres northwest of Legazpi City. Mayon is a continuing nominee as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Please vote for it!

Crisis Solution

The current global financial crisis is among the greatest challenges to the world economy. Many Filipino suffer because they are laid off from their jobs, especially the Filipino Overseas Worker. A solution for this crisis is to apply for loan for capital and start a new business to earn enough to survive. For a wise and exact decision in applying for any kind of loan that you might have in mind, visit Livemortgageleads.com, they guarantee accuracy in giving Mortgage Leads, loan modification leads, and loan mod transfers.

Manila LRT

The Manila Light Rail Transit System, popularly known as the LRT, is the main metropolitan rail system serving the Metro Manila area in the Philippines. There are two lines to the LRT: LRT-1, called the Yellow Line, and MRT-2, called the Purple Line. Although the system is referred to as a "light rail" system, arguably because the network is mostly elevated, the system is more akin to a rapid transit (metro) system in European-North American terms. The Manila LRT is the first metro system in Southeast Asia, built earlier than the Singapore MRT by three years. Although one of the original purposes of the system was to reduce traffic congestion in the metropolis, many commuters who ride the LRT also take various forms of road-based public transport, such as buses, to reach the intended destination from an LRT station and vice-versa. While this forms a comprehensive transportation system serving many parts of Metro Manila, the system has only been partially successful in cutting traffic congestion and travel times, which is further aggravated by the rising number of motor vehicles in Metro Manila. The network's expansion, which has been touted by successive administrations since the LRT's inception, is set upon tackling this problem.

Philippines on Blogging

Blogging is one way of making money online. Anywhere in the world even in the Philippines, many people are having fun doing and writing their own blogsite which can be monetize by accepting online ad or by writing sponsored posts. But to monetize your page you need to improve the page traffic. And one way to have more page traffic is to join blog directory, this is very helpful to attract more visitors to your blogsite.

Yummy Bibingka

Bebinca, also known as bibik, is a traditional Goan dessert. The ingredients include plain flour, sugar, ghee (clarified butter) and coconut milk.This food is popular in the Philippines, where it is known as bibingka (bingka in bisaya). The dessert is baked in a specially-made clay oven, with hot coal as a source of heat, placed above. It has to be baked in layers and traditionally has 16 layers. In the Filipino method of preparation, rice flour is used (the baking process is similar to that of the bebinca). Before being served, butter or margarine is spread and sugar is sprinkled over the bibingka. It is typically served with grated coconut. Bibingka is always present for christmas season in the Philippines and also at carnival when their is community fiesta.

Starvation

Have you experience being starved? Starvation can cause malnutrition to every human being, the prolonged starvation causes permanent organ damage and eventually, death. Eating in the right healthy food at the right time is very important to us, human. I experienced the last year rice problem in the Philippines; it worries us, Filipino because we can’t eat the exact meal every day without rice on our table. But have you heard about the mass hunger or as they also called great hunger that had million of victims throughout the Soviet Union in the year 1932 to 1933? The Soviet famine of 1932-1933 affected most major grain-producing agricultural areas of the Soviet Union, including Northern Caucasus, Volga Region, South Urals, West Siberia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. The Communist governments of the Soviet Republics siezed grains from the peasantry and exported most of their Republic's agricultural output to the West in order to sustain the rapid economic transformation - "Industrialization" and "Collectivization" - policy designed by Joseph Stalin. Golodomor as they called it, caused millions of peasants’ death because of what happened. In order to politicize the issue of 'golodomor' and attract as much world's attention as possible, the word 'golodomor' have been transformed into 'holodomor' making it looks and sounds like 'holocaust', and therefore, could be considered as genocide. You can check out more online about holodomor.

Bohol Island

Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of 4117.3 km² and a coastline 261 km long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao. The province is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts.

The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formation, is the most popular attraction. The island of Panglao, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is famous for its diving locations and routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Numerous tourist resorts dot the southern beaches and cater to divers from around the world.

The Philippine Tarsier, considered the second-smallest primate in the world, is indigenous to the island. Boholanos refer to their island homeland as the 'Republic of Bohol' with both conviction and pride. A narrow strait separates the island of Cebu and Bohol and both share a common language, but the Boholanos retain a conscious distinction from the Cebuanos. Bohol's climate is generally dry, with maximum rainfall between the months of June and October. The interior is cooler than the coast.

Loboc municipality in Bohol is known for its floating restaurants along the scenic and winding Loboc River.

First Filipino House

There are various kind of housing styles and decorations that you can found in the Philippines, because Filipino people are known to be very creative and stylist in everything we are doing, especially in our homes. The Filipino houses responds also to the climate in the country. Although there are many variations, generally the roof of the first Philippine houses, nipa huts, or bahay kubo, were high pitched and usually open gabled to allow for ventilation. The steeply sloping pitch also protected from the wind and rain in the typhoon season. The roof also provided wide overhang eaves, to provide shade from the hot sun. Depending on the ecology of the area, the materials may differ around the Philippines. The major building materials are: bamboo (kawayan), rattan (yantok), various native woods, native palms like palma brava (anahaw), and nipa palms, cane, and cogon, a long grass, for thatching. Stone and clay are sometimes used as well. They also was using bamboo kitchen sinks before. Because we are talking about the first Filipino houses in particular, which the materials used of the house is can be found near the site, but for this new generation and for improvements, some materials are already imported. In general houses even is just simple but must be organized and clean, it doesn’t need to have very expensive decorations and things around the corner of our houses to make it presentable to everybody.

Tarsier

The Philippine Tarsier, known locally as the Maumag in Cebuano/Visayan, is an endangered tarsier species endemic to the Philippines. It is found in the southeastern part of the archipelago, particularly in the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. Its name is derived from its elongated "tarsus" or ankle bone. Its geographic range also includes Maripipi Island, Siargao Island, Basilan Island and Dinaga Island. Tarsiers have also been reported in Sarangani, although they may be different subspecies. Being a member of a family that is about 45 million years old, it was only introduced to western biologists in the 18th century. The Philippine Tarsier is a tiny animal, measuring about 4 to 6 inches (15 cm) in height. The small size makes it difficult to spot. The average mass for males is around 134 grams, and for females, around 117 grams. The average adult is about the size of a human fist and will fit very comfortably in the human hand. The Philippine Tarsier has thick and silky fur which is colored gray to dark brown. The thin tail, usually used for balance, is naked or bald except for a tuft of hair at the end, and is about twice the body length. Its elongated "tarsus," or ankle bone, which gives the tarsier its name, allows it to jump at least three meters from tree to tree without having to touch the ground. Its long digits are tipped with rounded pads that allow T. syrichta to cling easily to trees and to grip almost any surface. The thumb is not truly opposable, but the first toe is. All of the digits have flattened nails, except for the second and third toes, which have sharp claws specialized for grooming.

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Real Estate

Filipino is in different kind of jobs just to earn money for their own living or to help their families. There are different works that will be suit to everyone’s attitude; it can be in the field like a broker or agent and work inside the office jobs. Being a real estate broker or sales agent is usually working outside to meet their clients in anywhere which is possible to their customers. The benefit of the one who is working this kind of job is that they are flexible to do their work because no one manage them. Sales agents must be good in adjusting different attitudes and also they must be good in sales talk to success. They usually sells luxury homes & luxury real estate anywhere in the Philippines or even in different country like the Wilmington, NC Luxury Real Estate offers.

PLDT

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, commonly known as PLDT, is the largest telecommunications company in the Philippines. PLDT is also the largest company in the Philippines, ranked 1214th in the Forbes 2008 list, with San Miguel Corporation ranked 1984th. The two are the only Filipino company included in the Forbes Global 2000 rankings. PLDT was established on November 28, 1928, by an Act of the Philippine Legislature and approved by then-Governor-General Henry L. Stimson by means of a merger of four telephone companies under common US ownership. Known as Act 3436, the bill granted PLDT a 50-year charter and the right to establish a Philippine telephone network linking major points nationwide. However, PLDT had to meet a 40-day deadline to start implementing the network, which would be implemented over a period of one to four years.
By the 1930s, PLDT had an expansive fixed-line network and for the first time linked the Philippines to the outside world via radiotelephone services connecting the Philippines to the United States and other parts of the world.

Layzspa Hot tubs

Filipino are known to be hard working that means relaxation is very necessary. There are many ways to get body relaxation; some are thru massages and others are using hydrotherapy. A hot tub can also be used for massage purposes that can make you relax. The Hot tubs are usually located outdoors, and are often sheltered for protection from the elements, as well as for privacy. There are many featured for hot tub gadgets, like layzspa that has the most reasonable price. It is a four seater hot tub that is on the market today, yet it manages to pack features only found on hot tubs costing many 1000's more. You can check out their products online for an easy shopping.

Philippine National Anthem

The Philippine National Anthem was composed by Julian Felipe, a Filipino music teacher and composer of Cavite. He completed it on June 11, 1898, and showed it to General Aguinaldo, who right away liked it because of its inspiring melody. The following day the music band of San Francisco de Malabon performed it for the first time during the unfolding of the Filipino flag at Kawit during the Independence Day ceremony.
For more than a year the anthem remained without words. Towards the end of August of 1899, a young poet-soldier named Jose Palma wrote the poem entitled Filipinas. This poem expressed in elegant Spanish verses the devoted patriotism and fighting spirit of the Filipino people. It became the words of the anthem and today the anthem is sung in Pilipino, its official lyrics interpreted by Felipe de Leon, from the original Spanish lyrics in the early 1900s. There are also English translations, thought by many to be inaccurate, due to the fact that some English versions were translated from the Tagalog version, and other English versions were translated from the original Spanish. One version was translated by Camilo Osias and A. L. Lane.

"Lupang Hinirang"

Composed by Julian Felipe on June 12, 1898

Bayang magiliw, perlas ng silanganan.

Alab ng puso, sa dibdib mo'y buhay.

Lupang hinirang, duyan ka ng magiting

Sa manlulupig, di ka pasisiil.
Sa dagat at bundok, sa simoy atsa langit mong bughaw,

may dilag ang tula at awitsa paglayang minamahal.
Ang kislap ng watawat mo'ytagumpay na nagniningning.

Ang bituin at araw niyakailan pa may di magdidilim.
Lupa ng araw, ng lualhati't pagsinta,buhay ay langit sa piling mo.

Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi,

ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo.

Philippine Hymn

(English Version)

By Camilo Osias and A. L. Lang
> Land of the morning

Child of the sun returning

With fervor burning

Thee do our souls adore.
Land dear and holy,

Cradle of noble heroes,

Ne'er shall invaders

Trample thy sacred shores.
Ever within thy skies and through thy clouds

And o'er thy hills and seas;

Do we behold thy radiance, feel the throb

Of glorious liberty.
Thy banner dear to all heartsIts sun and stars alight,

Oh, never shall its shining fields

Be dimmed by tyrant's might.
Beautiful land of love, O land of light,

In thine embrace 'tis rapture to lie;

But it is glory ever, when thou art wronged

For us, thy sons to suffer and die

Mountain Gears

Aside from the beaches, Philippines have also high mountain hills in different part of the islands. There are also many Filipino mountaineers that are fun of climbing to the top of the mountain. And to those who are in this kind of sport, you need to have a very comfortable and affordable mountain gears to wear, like a Rock Climbing Shoes. The Arcteryx and the North Face offers you a comfortable clothes for your mountain climbing sport. So if you like going up in the mountain hills you can visit the Mt. Apo in Davao City, Philippines and in many other areas in the Philippines which have very wonderful mountains to visit.

Tinago Falls

Tinago Falls is a waterfall in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Aside from Maria Cristina falls, it is also one of the main tourist attractions in Iligan, a city known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls. Tinago is a Filipino term meaning "hidden", the falls being hidden in a deep ravine. Trekking to the falls requires approximately 500 descending steps called the winding staircase. The falls is approximately 240 feet (73 m) high, its very cold waters cascading beautifully into a deep and calm basin-like pool which appears like a blue-colored lagoon. Under the falls is a small cave where people can enter and listen to the rumbling waters. The legend of the falls is that there once lived an influential and powerful Sultan Agok and her wife. They were appointed by their people as their king and queen. But they become too proud of themselves and became selfish rulers of their kingdom. When the sultan's wife was pregnant, an enchantress, disguised as a beggar, begged for their help but instead they exiled and rejected her. Because of this, the enchantress cursed the couple that the child will become ugly but they did not took it seriously and permanently banished the enchantress.
When the child was born, the child did become ugly. The couple was sad and disappointed, expecting the baby to be as lovely as her mother. They hid the child in a cave to avoid embarrassment and named the baby Tin-ag, which means "hidden face". They visited and took care of the baby in the cave. When the child grew up, she came out of the cave and became amazed at what she saw. The enchantress, who cursed her parents, saw her and made an offer to transform her into something of great beauty and splendor. She accepted the offer and became the Tinago Falls.

Boo!

Do you ever get the feeling someone is watching you and yet there is no one in the room? Ever feel the hair stand on the back of your neck for no reason? Did you ever catch a shadowy figure walking past you from the corner of your eye? Nothing excites the mind as much as The Occult. Anything paranormal makes people’s hearts beat faster and brain work harder toward fantasy. The next time you feel a hand on your shoulder and no one is there, or footsteps in an empty hallway, just think of it this way, Ghosts were once people too!

Tinikling Folk Dance

Tinikling is widely thought of as the national dance of the Philippines. But according to the Philippine government, the cariñosa dance is. The Tinikling is a dance from the Philippines which includes two people hitting bamboo poles or piece of wood, using them to beat, tap, and slide on the ground and against each other in harmonization with one or more dancers who will step over and dance in between the poles. When the bamboo closes, the dancers must be fast enough to not get their foot or feet caught. As the tinikling dance continues the banging of the bamboo becomes faster and harder, the sound of clashing bamboo excites the crowd and the quickness of feet demonstrated by the dancers awes them. The tinikling name came from birds locally known as Tikling. The term tinikling literally means "tikling-like".

Clothes for Summer

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Philippine Beaches

There are 7,107 islands in the Philippine teritory which causes many coastal areas in the country. We can find beaches almost everywhere in the Philippines and Filipino also love to swim even if it is not summer time. In some occassions like birthday party, family reunion and any other gathering is usually held at the beach. Here are some popular beaches in the country are Panglao Beach in Bohol, White Island in Boracay, Palawan and Puero Galera Beach.

beach in puerto galera

beach in north of mindoro

beach in boracay

Boracay Island, Philippines

Boracay Island is located off the northwest corner of the island of Panay, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region VI, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.Partly because of its wind and weather patterns, tourism in Boracay is at its peak during the Amihan season. During Amihan, the prevailing wind blows from the east. Boracay's main tourism area, White Beach, is on the western side of the island and is sheltered from the wind. During the Amihan season, the water off White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island, hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore, onto Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side. This makes the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding / kitesurfing. A number of accommodation types are scattered all over the island, ranging from luxurious hotel types to budget, spartan rooms. Guests can also choose according to location--Station 3 is where most of the cheaper lodgings are located, while Station 2 is meant for those who want to be within close proximity of the bars. Station 1, meanwhile, is where you can find the more isolated accommodations, offering peace and quiet to those looking for a respite from the usual action-packed Boracay night scene. These are usually for the more upscale vacationers. On the island, the two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beachfront Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.
To explore around the island's coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.

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Social Networking Site

There are many online networking website now. This can help you trace your friends whom you haven't see for a long time. And I just found a very innovative networking site that people can share their "stuff" and get connected with each other by the cars they drive, places they visited, movies they love, games they play, and so on. Then they can interact with people of same interest and get personalized recommendation. So try now!

Sukang Pinakurat

A homegrown food processing family business is taking the whole country and soon, the rest of the world by surprise. The Pinakurat is the now famous brand of vinegar made in Iligan City. And there seems no stopping its growing fame because it has not only become the must-have pasalubong from visitors of this city of waterfalls, but it is the most in demand padala to Filipinos abroad. Sukang Pinakurat is that spicy vinegar made from fermented coconut nectar and spices grown in the farmlands of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. Its mercuric rise to the top of the condiment and dip business owes primarily to the fact that it takes over one’s taste buds and gives the pulutan or any food that needed zzzing! The word “pinakurat” is an affixation of the Sebuano (correct spelling instead of “Cebuano” according to language scholars) root word “kurat.” “Kurat,” according to De la Cruz, means surprise. Thus, “pinakurat” means in a sudden or surprising manner as to shock the person. “Since the taste of the vinegar mixed with the spices was very similar to that used in the pinakurat dish, we decided to name our product after it,” explained Stuart del Rosario. And sure enough, sukang Pinakurat’s taste took everyone by surprise. “Papawisan ka sa sarap” (you’ll break out into a sweat from its spiciness) so the ad goes. The sukang Pinakurat indirectly provides 500 jobs to farmers who supply the coco nectar and spices from the different farmlands in and around Iligan. According to Stuart del Rosario’s son, Rene “Peppo” Jr., who now manages the family business, they plan to ship the sukang Pinakurat to Australia, Canada and parts of the United States.

Car

Fordism, as it name indicates, was first pioneered by the Ford motor company in the 1920s, and further experiments were made in Nazi Germany with the development of the Volkswagen (the peoples car) and the building of the Autobahns across Germany in the 1930s. As such the motor industry became the model for whole number of consumer durables that followed its lead, such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and others. But the car was not merely the first in a line of consumer durables to be produced by Fordist production methods it was also the foremost. After housing the car has become the biggest purchase an ordinary consumer is likely to make, being the equivalent to several months wages. Furthermore, the production of a car involves a wide range of industries ranging from rubber, steel, plastic, electrical, oil together with support industries such as road construction, advertising and finance. The broad range of such economic linkages has meant that large and diverse sections of the modern economy have become dependent on car production to such a degree that car production has become an important economic indicator in its own right. Nowadays, there are many different types of cars in the world, you can check out BYD Stock, which have electric-automobiles.

Barong Tagalog

A barong Tagalog (or simply barong, from the word baro) is an embroidered formal garment of the Philippines. It is very lightweight and worn untucked (similar to a coat/dress shirt), over an undershirt. It is a common wedding and formal attire for Filipino men as well as women. The term "barong Tagalog" literally means "Tagalog dress" (i.e., "baro ng Tagalog" or "dress of the Tagalog") in the Filipino language. The barong was popularized as formal wear by Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, who wore it to most official and personal affairs, including his inauguration as president. The barong was officially made the national costume by a decree from President Ferdinand Marcos in 1975. This Filipino tradition dates back to the Spanish colonial era. A legend persists that the Spaniards made Filipinos wear barongs untucked to distinguish them from the ruling class, its translucent fabric helping the Spaniards to see that the wearer was not bearing any weapon under the garment. Connoisseurs of historical details say that during the Spanish era, the rulers required that the baro of the indio be made of flimsy material so that he could not conceal weapons on his person. Supposedly, the indio was also prohibited from tucking in his shirt, to designate his low rank and to tell him apart from the mestizaje and insulares.

Early Halloween Costumes

As we know the New Year has just begun but its alright to prepare for the future occasions, especially a celebration when we need to buy costumes. A holiday celebration like Halloween is one of the occasions that we need to have our own costumes. The Halloween costumes are outfits worn on or around October 31, which is Halloween. Although popular stories of Halloween claim that the practice goes back to ancient celebrations of Samhain, in fact there is little primary documentation of masking or costuming on Halloween before the twentieth century. What sets Halloween costumes apart from costumes for other celebrations or days of dressing up is that they are often designed to imitate supernatural and scary beings. Costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vampires, ghost costume, skeletons, witches, and devils.
Halloween has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints. It is largely a secular celebration, but some Christians and Pagans have expressed strong feelings about its religious overtones. The day is often associated with the colors orange and black, and is strongly associated with symbols such as the jack-o'-lantern. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, reading scary stories, and watching horror movies that need costumes which fit each rules.

Sto. Niño Feast

The Holy See has approved special liturgical texts for use during the local Feast of the Santo Niño in the Philippines, set on the third Sunday of January. The festival that follows is known as the Sinulog, which combines the street festivities and religious devotion of the Cebuano people. The Santo Niño was long considered to be the patron "saint" of Cebu. However, the Santo Niño is a representation of Jesus Christ as a child. The Catholic Church in the Philippines sets the Holy Child as an example of humility and as a celebration of the Incarnation. Many Cebuanos do not consider the Christmas Season over until the Feast of the Santo Niño. With this in mind, in 2002, the Archbishop of Cebu, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, declared Jesus' mother Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe to be the principal patroness of Cebu. This upset some Santo Niño devotees, who felt that the declaration "demoted" the Holy Child. However, the declaration is consistent with Catholic thought requiring a patron saint be a human saint who has gone to his or her heavenly reward and who prays to God on behalf of the living, rather than a divine being himself. Since the Holy Child is a representation of Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, he cannot, as God, be considered a patron. In that sense, Cardinal Vidal's move was to actually install a patron saint for Cebu, when before there was none. He did not, however, abolish the feast or the traditional street celebrations. The novena begins with a recitation of the rosary, followed by various Philippine native songs and prayers. These prayers include a thanksgiving prayer, a blessing for the hosting family, an act of consecration prayer, and a prayer for the sick.

New Ford

If you are thinking of buying a new car for this year, the New Ford is the best choice for you. They have an excellent, well presented range of cars, and to make it even easier and comfortable shopping by doing it online thru their website. Through their new car section, you can complete a quote request and submit it. This request is then circulated to the most competitive dealers for the brand you are looking for. The Dealer will then contact the potential customer to discuss requirements further and provide the most competitive new car.

Camiguin Island

Camiguin is a small island province of the Philippines off the northern coast of Mindanao. It belongs to the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Mambajao and it is the second-smallest province both in population and land area. The island-province of Camiguin is a pear-shaped volcanic island in the northern tip of Mindanao. It is approximately 90 kilometers north of the City of Cagayan de Oro. The island of Camiguin is in the Bohol Sea about ten kilometers north of Misamis Oriental. Camiguin is accessible by air and sea from Cebu City however trips are limited only. Most fly in to Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental Province, the gateway to Northern Mindanao. One would then take 2 more or less hours bus or hired van from Cagayan de Oro City to the port of Balingoan. Here are some scenic places that we visited years ago with my schoolmate when we had our fieldtrip:

CROSS MARKER AND SUNKEN CEMETERY - Located in Bonbon, Catarman a huge cross marker has been installed by the Provincial government to mark the community cemetery that sunk during the 1871 volcanic holocaust. Years ago, gravestones were visible during low tide. Today, it is an interesting diving site. PHILVOLCS OBSERVATORY STATION - The Observatory houses a seismograph that monitors the activity of the island's fiery resident, Mount Hibok-Hibok. It is also the site where one can get a breathtaking view of the island, as well as hints of the neighboring islands in the horizon.

KATIBAWASAN FALLS
The 250-feet majestic beauty cascades to a rock pool surrounded by ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders. Its ice-cold waters provide an ideal summer splash to locals and tourists alike. Rock picnic tables, seats and cookout facilities are available for use.

ViaCruzes – OLD VOLCANO SLOPE- It is where life-size statues representing the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – the 14 Stations of the Cross that dot a trail to Old Volcano’s peak are found. At the last station is a tomb carefully carved and chiseled out of volcanic rocks. The pilgrims gather together here to pray during Lenten Season.

MANTIGUE ISLAND
Three kilometers off the shore from Barangay San Roque, Mahinog is an island four hectares of evergreen forest fringed with sandy beach. The boat ride to Mantigue is quite exciting, as one has to contend with strong diverging currents due to the open sea. One side of the island is ideal for swimming as it is shallow and has few corals. The opposite side is a deep drop off ideal for snorkeling and diving.

ARDENT HOT SPRING
The local hot spa is a natural pool of about 40 degrees centigrade springing from depths of Mount Hibok-Hibok. The Municipality of Mambajao has provided cottages, restaurant and dormitory facilities that cater to local and foreign tourists. It has picnic huts, cookout facilities and restrooms for visitors.It is ideal for night swimming, a place to rejuvenate both mind and body.

WHITE ISLAND
Two kilometers off the coast of Agoho, Mambajao is the Camiguin's popular sand bar. At times it is in the shape of the letter C, sometimes the letter I, depending on the ocean tide. It has the picturesque Mount Hibok-Hibok and Old Vulcan as its backdrop. It is ideal for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling.

STO. NIÑO COLD SPRING
Located in Catarman, the Sto. Niño Cold Spring has a pool measuring 25 meters by 40 meters. It is 2 meters deep of cold spring water sprouting from the sandy bottom. The area has a restaurant, native cottages, picnic huts, cookout facilities and restrooms for visitors.

Home Improvement

A place in which an individual or a family can rest and be able to store personal property is called a home. It is a place of residence or refuge. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, living either in the wild or in a domesticated environment. The word "home" can be used for various types of residential institutions in which people can live in, such as nursing homes, group homes (orphanages for children, retirement homes for seniors, prisons for criminals, treatment facilities, etc.), and foster homes. Sometimes we need home improvements or repairs to improve the curb appeal and value of our home. The knowledge is needed to do all the various work especially in connection with home improvement. If you are planning to renovate and need a plumber, a carpenter, an electrician, or anything else regarding improving your home, and you need a guide or tips to help you, there are online sites that offer the reader a free publication filled with home improvement information, ideas, special promotions and savings. Home Improvement Blog is the right site to explore more guides and ideas online for an easy work and renovation. It can also help you so that everything you need to make your home improvement projects a reality.

Banana Trees

Banana is the common name for a fruit and is one of the tropical plants abundant in the Philippines. It is seen in provinces and cities. One of the thrilling tales about them has to do with the world of mysticism. Banana trees may be innocent looking but according to a Philippine tale about them they hide deep secrets of the spirit world. Banana trees quickly spread around a mother tree. They often grow in clusters, and the tallest tree usually is the mother banana tree. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red. Bananas can be eaten raw though some varieties are generally cooked first. Depending upon cultivar and ripeness, the flesh can vary in taste from starchy to sweet, and texture from firm to mushy. Unripe or green bananas and plantains are used for cooking various dishes such as banana pudding and are the staple starch of many tropical populations. Banana chips are a snack produced from dehydrated or fried banana or plantain slices, which have a dark brown color and an intense banana taste. Bananas have also been used in the making of jam. The leaves of the banana plant are large, flexible, and waterproof. They are used many ways, including as umbrellas and to wrap food for cooking or storage. Unlike other fruits, it is difficult to extract juice from bananas because when compressed a banana simply turns to pulp. Banana sap is extremely sticky and can be used as a practical adhesive.

Sports Car

Automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally for the transport of people rather than goods. However, the term automobile is far from precise, because there are many types of vehicles that do similar tasks. Cars, vans, and buses are commonly used to carry people. Trucks, Jeepneys (in Philippines) and railroads can be used to carry people and freight. Aside from tasks differences and similarities, automobiles are also characterized by its car model, it’s engine, performance, torque, maximum speed, wheels, body, if it's turbocharged or not, design and price. Automobiles have also different classes, one of these are the sports car. It is used to refer to a low to ground, light weight vehicle with a powerful engine. Most vehicles referred to as sports cars are rear-wheel drive, have two seats, two doors, and are designed for more precise handling, acceleration, and aesthetics. A sports car's dominant considerations can be superior road handling, braking, maneuverability, low weight, and high power, rather than passenger space, comfort, and fuel economy. Sports cars can be either luxurious or not, but driving mechanical performance is the key attraction. Car maintenance is also important in all kinds of automobiles that you have. Corollasport.com is where you can find great deals on performance auto parts for every car. Many drivers regard brand name and the subsequent racing reputation and history as important indications of sporting quality but some brands which do not race or build racing cars, are also highly regarded.

Sinulog Festival

The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines. The word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano adverb sulog which is "like water current movement," which describes the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward, done to the sound of drums. The dance is categorized into Sinulog-base, Free-Interpretation. Candle vendors at the Basilica continue to perform the traditional version of the dance when lighting a candle for the customer, usually accompanied by songs in the native language.The festival honors the child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño (Holy Child), patron of the city of Cebu. It is a dance ritual that commemorates the Cebuano people's pagan origin, and their acceptance of Christianity.The festival features a street parade with participants in bright-colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets, and native gongs. Smaller versions of the festival are held in various parts of the province, also to celebrate, and honor the Santo Niño. There is also a "Sinulog sa Kabataan", performed by the youths of Cebu a week before the grand parade. Recently, the festival has been promoted as a tourist attraction, with a contest featuring contingents from various parts of the country. The Sinulog Contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports Complex. The Sinulog celebration traditionally lasts for nine days, culminating on the final day with the Sinulog Grand Parade. The day before the parade, the Fluvial Procession is held at dawn with the Santo Niño carried on a pump boat from Mandaue City to Cebu City, decked with hundreds of flowers and candles. The procession ends at the Basilica where a re-enactment of the Christianizing of Cebu is performed. In the afternoon, a more solemn procession takes place along the major streets of the city, which last for hours due to large crowd participating in the event. On the feast day at the Basilica, a Pontifical Mass is celebrated by the Cardinal with the assistance of several bishops of Cebu. Most devotees go to the Basilica to attend the mass before heading out to the streets to watch the parade.

Philippine National Flower

Sampaguita is the national flower of the Philippines, adopted by the government in 1937. In the Philippines, the flowers are gathered and strung into leis, corsages and crowns or its oils distilled and sold in stores, streets, and outside churches. The garlands may be used to welcome guests, or as an offering or adornment in religious altars. The beautiful ornamental Sampaguita blooms cover the glossy green leafed bushed type ever bloomer. The Sampaguita is also well known in Asia for its use in teas and religious offerings, symbolizing divine hope. Sampaguita grow on a woody vine or semi-climbing shrub, which reaches a height of 1,2 meters. The leaves are ovate or rounded in shape and 6 to 12 cm long. The leaves and Sampaguita flowers grow on short stalks. The Sampaguita flowers bloom either singly or as bundles of blossoms at the top of the branches. Blooming all through the year, Sampaguita are pure white, small, dainty, star-shaped blossoms. The flowers open at night and wilt in less than a day. Sampaguita's distinct sweet, heady fragrance is its unique feature. Sampaguita flowers do not bear seeds, therefore the plant is cultivated by cuttings. Sampaguita was imported into the Philippines in the 17th century from Himalayan areas. The Sampaguita is a native part of the Philippine landscape for centuries.
It is also known that this flower was once used as a cure for a headache in the Philippines. Besides the Philippines, it is also the national flower of Indonesia, which was adopted by Indonesian government in 1990 along with Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis) and Rafflesi arnoldii.

Be Beautiful

Beauty is a characteristic of a person, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology, and culture. As a cultural creation, beauty has been extremely commercialized. An "ideal beauty" is an entity which is admired, or possesses features widely attributed to beauty in a particular culture. Nowadays, there are a lot of ways to enhance our personal beauty. There are many shops for prestige cosmetics, makeup, skin care, hair and body care that can help us about it. Expert advice on beauty tips and perfumes are also another way that can help to bring out the beauty. But mostly these days, those who can afford for a cosmetic surgery are into it, and for those who are planning for this enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques you must know the best surgeon in town for your own safety. Make Yourself Amazing (MYA), has brought together some of the most experienced and skilled surgeons in the world. With over 25 years of cosmetic surgery experience, you will find that MYA staff are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about cosmetic surgery and that they want to help inform you. Some surgeries they offer are liposuction surgery and breast enhancement.

Maria Cristina Falls

Maria Cristina Falls is a waterfall of the Agus River on the island of Mindanao. It is sometimes called the "twin falls" as the flow is separated by a rock at the brink of the waterfall. It is a landmark of Iligan City, nicknamed the City of Majestic Waterfalls, because of the presence of more than 20 waterfalls in the city. It is located 8.5 kilometers away southwest of the city proper. It is sometimes called the "twin falls" as the flow is separated by a rock at the brink of the waterfall. It is a landmark of Iligan City, nicknamed the City of Majestic Waterfalls, because of the presence of more than 20 waterfalls in the city. It is located 9.3 kilometers away southwest of the city proper at the boundaries of Barangay Maria Cristina, Ditucalan, and Buru-un. Well-known for its natural beauty and grandeur, the 320-feet98 meters/320 feet high waterfall is also the primary source of electric power for the city's industries, being harnessed by the Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant. Maria Cristina Falls contributed much in Iligan’s progress since aside from being a popular tourist attraction, it invites local and foreign tourists that add income to city's coffer. Maria Cristina Falls is also utilized as a hydroelectric power generating plant that supplies 80 percent of the total energy requirement of the Mindanao region. Countless industries were built and more people came to settle making Iligan’s economy elevate much. Thus due to this, Maria Cristina Falls is also tagged as the “Mother of Industry” and “Fountainhead of Progress”. Maria Cristina Falls contributed much in Iligan’s progress since aside from being a popular tourist attraction, it invites local and foreign tourists that add income to city's coffer. Maria Cristina Falls is also utilized as a hydroelectric power generating plant that supplies 80 percent of the total energy requirement of the Mindanao region. It made the city’s urbanization rushed upon the establishment of the plant in 1952. Countless industries were built and more people came to settle making Iligan’s economy elevate much. Thus due to this, Maria Cristina Falls is also tagged as the “Mother of Industry” and “Fountainhead of Progress”.

Three Kings Feast

Christmas officially ends on the Feast of the Three Kings (Tatlong Hari in Tagalog), also known as the Feast of the Epiphany. The Feast of the Three Kings was traditionally commemorated on January 6 but is now celebrated on the first Sunday after the New Year. Some children leave their shoes out, so that the Three Kings would leave behind gifts like candy or money inside. Most Christmas decorations will be removed after the feast.

The Year 2009

The Chinese method of identifying every year with animals has greatly influenced most people, some Filipino also rely their life for the year base on this predictions .The Ox is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2009 is the Year of the Ox. The Ox years so far are 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and of course 2009, and following the 12 year cycle, the next one will be on 2021. The Ox, or the Buffalo sign symbolizes prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Those born under the influence of the Ox or Buffalo are fortunate to be stable and persevering. The typical Ox is a tolerant person with strong character. Not many people could equal the resolution and fearlessness that the Ox exhibits when deciding to accomplish a task. Ox people work hard without complaints at work or at home. They know that they will succeed through hard work and sustained efforts, and do not believe in get-rich-quick schemes. People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to be eccentric, and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with Snake, Rooster, and Rat people.

New Year's Lucky Fruits

Fruit sellers was almost everywhere before New Year Eve. Why? One of the traditions followed by people from the Philippines during New Year is preparing 13 kinds of fruits or more. These fruits should be round and sweet. It's 13 because as Chinese believes is a lucky number and having round fruits signifies coins so having a lot will bring luck and prosperity this coming 2009. So this is not only for Filipino tradition and beliefs but really from Chinese. For sure, the fruit sellers are already experiencing the luck and prosperity way ahead of everyone else. My mother believes this because every new year she really bought any round fruits, is sometimes more than 13 kinds.