When you think of Cebu, you’re often met with images of mouthwatering lechon or the colorful festivities during Sinulog every January. Those are all pretty good reasons to visit the Queen City of the South, but with a little more effort and patience, you’ll find a pleasing little island that’s worth the extra mile.

Once a sleepy town north of Cebu, Bantayan Island has become a refuge for travelers who want to experience the quaint island life—sans the crazy crowds that beaches like Boracay and Zambales often draw every summer. This lovely patch of land is surrounded by pristine, turquoise waters and powdery white-sand beaches lined with coconut trees. The laid-back island is small enough that you can explore most of it within a weekend. In fact, a lot of its beaches are often just a few minutes away from each other so resort-hopping will be a breeze.

Round up your fellow beach buddies and get ready for a weekend filled with sun, sand, and plenty of breathtaking sea.

HOW TO GET THERE?

Commercial airlines have daily flights from Manila or Clark to Mactan-Cebu International Airport. From there, head to North Bus Terminal and take a three-and-a-half hour-long bus ride for 160.00php to Hagnaya Port. If you’re a larger group, you can also take a bigger SUV Taxi or book an entire Van to Hagnaya Port. From Hagnaya Port, take a ferry for 170.00 php to Santa Fe Port.

One thing that you will enjoy when you visit this place “The Silence”

Bantayan island is often called the quiet version of Boracay. Probably one of the best things about Bantayan island is its lack of noise – no loud music from bars, no masseuses and vendors along the shoreline, and barely any kids running around.

The beaches are divided among resorts, which are mostly small and are relatively quieter than the ones in Boracay and other places in the country.

So, savor the peace and quiet while it lasts. Pick a spot on the beach and wait for the sun to rise. Take a barefoot stroll. Look into the horizon and listen to the waves. You will not be able to do any of these in the hustling and bustling city of Manila.

Peak season is from March to May and off-peak season is from June to July.

The post Tara Travel Tayo… Trip to Cebu Philippines appeared first on Tara Travel Tayo.

Bayan ng Dingalan; Ilokano: Ili ti Dingalan, is a municipality in the province of Aurora, Philippines.

Dingalan has several caves, of which the Lamao Caves are the best known.

These caves are mysterious and inviting, if you are up for the challenge then it is a nice place to explore.

Experience a one-of-a-kind getaway with your loved ones in Dingalan and make the most of your vacation. Boasting a spectacular landscape and plenty of awe-inspiring attractions, you’re sure to appreciate this place dubbed as the Batanes of the East.

In this place we will also discover the Dumagat Trives.

Dumagat — taken from the words “gubat” (forest) and “hubad” (naked) — are nomads, who certainly don’t have permanent house to stay in. They are just one of the major groups of indigenous people living in the Southern Tagalog.

A large crowd of this ethnic tribe can be found in the town of General Nakar, while a few of them can be spotted in three municipalities of Polillo Island.

Primarily, the Dumagats depend on farming, kaingin, paid labor, vending logs and other forest commodities as livelihood. Secondarily, they rely on fishing, hunting animals, gathering crops and other natural bounties for survival. Loan dependence (usury) has reduced many of them to dismal poverty.

But what’s alarming is the increasing cases of brutal killings committed against members of tribal communities. More so, the Dumagats are in a struggle for ancestral domain claim inside the more than 50,000 hectares of landmass in General Nakar.

To sum up, nature has been the source of life for Dumagat Tribe. They should not be deprived of land and life for losing all of these will definitely lose their identity.

We should let the Dumagat Tribe have a peaceful life. They, too, are in need.

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