Conde Nast Traveler Magazine: Palawan’s the best island

Home to amazing locations for snorkeling and diving, Palawan Island of the Philippines, grabbed the top spot tourist destination in the world, based on the Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers ‘Choice Award for 2014.

Palawan edged some of the most popular destinations, claiming top spot on the list of the world’s 30 best islands, garnering over 76000 totals of votes. Along with that, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO world Heritage Site, has been named one of the world’s best natural wonders.

The island known as the Philippines ‘frontier’, Palawan’s beauty and thrilling outdoor or under sea adventures are no secret to the world, along with Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park.

Out ranked some other spectacular islands in the worlds, namely: (2)  Kiawah Island, South Carolina (3) Maui, Hawaii, (4) Kauai, Hawaii (5) Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique(6)Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands, Australia (7) Santorini and Cyclades, Greece (8) St. John, US Virgin Islands (9) Kangaroo Island, Australia (10) Big Island, Hawaii.

Mountain Hiking: Come-on in Camiguin!

 

Say Quipasa, Mambajao, Camiguin is not yet fully develop by the government or a place has not yet to offer.

As its name suggest, Camiguin or "the island born of fire" also gives great outdoor adventures and rare opportunities for the visitors, as well as experience crossing through the dense forest and springs, rich of endemic plants and animals.

A one-hour upway from Mambajao to Say Quipasa, as we get to the place we first ate our lunch before we took a nice refreshing swim in the cold spring.

 

                     Palawan: “Top Island in the World”

27th annual Readers’ Choice Awards of Conde Nast Traveler magazine proclaimed Palawan as the “Top Island in the World”.

The magazine announced the results on its website  Monday October 20 (US Time) after over 76,600 readers cast their votes.

Palawan was given a rating of 88.750 by the readers owing mostly because of the declaration of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River as one of the new seven natural wonders of the world.

“Palawan’s natural wonder is one of the longest underground rivers in the world, traveling five miles through a subterranean cave system. Guided boat tours take visitors down a portion of the waterway, where karsts, natural rock formations created by dissolving limestone, loom in every direction,” the magazine said.

Boracay Island in Aklan province was also included in the ranking at number 12 and given a rating of 82.683.

“This itty-bitty island (10 square miles) in the Philippines is as close to the tropical idyll ideal as you’ll find in the Philippines, with gentle coastlines and transporting sunsets. Add in a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the top tourist spots in the region,” the magazine said.

“The aptly named White Beach is Boracay’s main draw, with powdery white sand and shallow azure water ideal for swimming and snorkeling,” it said.

Palawan was able to beat other world-famous islands such as Bora Bora in French Polynesia (25th), Maldives (19th), Bali in Indonesia (17th), Bermuda (14th), Santorini and Cyclades in Greece (7th), and Maui in Hawaii (3rd).

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey started in 1988. The 2014 survey got 76,659 responses.

“Individual candidates are judged on a set of criteria relevant to their category, based on a standard five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor,” Conde Nast explained in how they are ranked.

Camiguin Island’s Lanzones Festival

            The Island born of Fire; Camiguin is a lone province situated at the northern part of the island of Mindanao. The island is known for its beautiful and spectacular physical features and wonderful tourist spots.

            “Boom! Boom! Boom!, loud sounds from different instruments captured the attentions of many tourists and Camiguinons as the island celebrates its annual Lanzones Festival. The island is also known for its lanzones and recognized having the sweetest lanzones all over the country.

            A weeklong celebration began as the festival officially opened last Sunday, October 19 last up to 26, 2014. The Kabog, Diwata, Festival King and Queen Showdowns and street dancing competition are some of the highlight activities in which many visitors visit the island just to witness world-class presentations.

            Tableau and Kalandrakas sa Kabataan are main events of the celebration wherein different contingents all over the province will compete for their traditional or interpretative dances showing thanksgiving for the blessing of lanzones. Moreover, search for Ms. Buahanan is also a much awaited event during the festival wherein beautiful, smart and charming Camiguinon ladies will compete and vying for the crown.

            This annual Lanzones Festival celebration of the island is done as a thanksgiving to the Almighty God for the bountiful harvest and blessing of sweet lanzones to the Camiguinons throughout the year.

                                                                                                     by: Reymark D. Kionisala

Empowering Resilient Community through Campus Journalism

Midsummer Night’s Dream and Oedipus Rex Red Carpet Premiere

            Humanity 1 – Art Education students of Fatima College of Camiguin (FCC) done their Red Carpet Premiere night of their to movies entitiled; Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream and Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex” held at FCC McAuley stage last October 17, 2014, Friday.

            The said event was the brilliant idea of their Humanity instructor, Mr. Junos Llanto as their final requirement for the subject. The event started at 6:30 PM and the guest and participants were very elegant wearing their casual attire as they pass through the red carpet.

            Moreover, during the event, they also gave award for Best Actor and Actress in the two movies. Many visitors and guest attended the said event and really enjoyed watching it.

            “The movies were great especially the Midsummer Night’s Dream because it was super ‘kilig’”, said by an audience. “The actors and actresses are very good. They are talented in acting”, commented by another audience.

            Despite the long and hard preparations, Humanity 1 students were very happy and fulfilled about the outcome of the event. Moreover, some audiences are looking forward for the next year’s activity for the subject Humanity 1 – Art Education. 

  

                                                                                                                 by: Reymark D. Kionisala

       

VP Binay Must Not Refuse DOJ’s Investigations

            Secretary Laila de Lima of Department of Justice (DOJ) said there would be investigations to be conducted to VP Binay’s controversial and expensive properties in the Province of Batangas.

            As the issue exposed in the news programs in the television, these wide hectares of land and air conditioned livestock farm of VP Binay was to be controversial and the DOJ wanted to make investigations about this huge properties.

            Corruption is really rampant in the Philippine government thus, DOJ wanted to investigate if there are possibilities that some of the “kaban ng bayan” was being spent to acquire this properties.

            “He (VP Binay) must not refuse the DOJ’s investigation”, as De Lima pointed out to VP Binay in a news interview.

            Should VP Binay refuse DOJ’s investigations? VP Binay must willingly accept any investigations in his properties. This is to clarify and totally demolish this issue. If there will be nothing to hide, then why refuse? Being true and honest is essential especially if you’re a government official.

                                       by : Reymark D. Kionisala

                                       Editorial Article