Travel in your own country and enrich your soul

Please do not go out of the country this summer.

Not until you first explore the incredible beauty of this country — and glow with satisfaction when you directly help the communities through your visit. Take a Green Initiative trip — or give it as a gift!
How did we start organizing our travel packages? By connecting the dots between some of our most exciting communities, we were able to develop fun places and activities that you might enjoy. Sites not only to play in, but also to learn from — and support with pride — and compassionately call your own.

Puerto Princesa in Palawan

Climb a 23-million-year-old limestone mountain, from within! Come face to face with stalagmites and stalactites and listen to the gonging voice of the mountain. Opened in 2008, this was our original ecotourism site. But today, Ugong Rock has two more ziplines, a brand new spa, an evolving Restaurant and a shop filled with gifts made by our communities.
The Ugong Rock community is our star player: I brim with pride when I talk about Ugong because they are not only successful materially but they have imbibed the essence of the Green Initiative by paying forward the original investments we made in them. They provide baon for the schoolchildren who volunteer in the site on weekends.  When there was a typhoon, they helped in repairing the school. They donated a drum and lyre set to the elementary school. They even give P30,000 to the barangay every month. They are constantly looking for ways to spread the benefits of their project as opposed to focusing on enriching themselves.
Another prime site that is evolving is the Iwahig River Cruise. Our boatmen are in a class all their own, and I am convinced they are the main reason why Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) called it the Best Ecotourism Site in Asia in 2010. In the silence of the cruise they will open you up to knowledge of the stars and to the wonder of the firefly species.  
We not only allow you to chase dolphins and whales in the morning in Honda Bay, but with a little luck, we can offer you the freshest sashimi ever. Wherever there are dolphins, there are tuna nearby since dolphins and tuna eat the same fish. In fact our ever-hopeful fishermen bring soy sauce, wasabi paste and chopsticks on board the boat.  
A new site is visited on foot or on carossa (carts drawn by carabao) to the waterfalls in Narra. You will love the picturesque countryside, and then a stop for a swim, or kayaking, followed by lunch at Narra Falls.
If cultural enrichment is your cup of tea, you might want to try this.  I haven’t been there but Cristina Tabora, my marketing manager, said that the World War II Museum links together the Spanish and American eras. You will then visit the exact place where the American POWs escaped their Japanese captors by swimming out of the Spanish Garrison into the sea! Sounds exciting!
A recent visitor to the museum just posted on Trip Advisor: “I don’t think you can properly understand Palawan unless you understand at least some of its WW2 history. In the museum I was not only fascinated to see some genuine, and perhaps very rare, relics from the Second World War, but also to read from a wealth of information on the subject... Reading about the Palawan Massacre was amazing. I think it is incredible that as many as 11 American POWs could actually have survived.”
After a little history, how about some crafts? There are excellent grass weavers at Binatuan who craft hand bags, table placemats and baskets that are sold all over the world. Their clients Include international designers like Michael Kors — and you can buy the same from them at a very low price. You can also visit Lawisis, and see how they make some of their lotions and potions from indigenous herbs, leaves and flowers grown in their gardens.

Sarangani

I had always heard that the South of the Philippines was beautiful. Now I am sure it is. The tour starts in General Santos City — where one can visit the Gen San Fish Port, and literally see hundreds of huge gamefish! It was there that I saw that the tuna called Yellow Fin are so named because they really have bright yellow fins on their backs. I saw how hollow stainless steel tubes are inserted into the tuna to extract flesh samples used to gauge the quality of the fish before pegging their price. I have never seen so many hundreds of large fish caught on lines, like the prized tuna and marlin, at the same time. I even went into a fishing boat and interviewed the fishermen.

After that was an exciting trip to Maitum, where from a start high up on the river you can “tube” (which refers to the inner tube of a tire) downstream, surrounded by pristine majesty and swirling in the cleanest water ever. After the exhilarating ride on the river, you can swim in a natural rock pool, and eat indigenous food prepared by the T’boli’s of La Union.

On the way to Maitum is a jewel of a museum where you see perfect replicas of the anthropomorphic jars from the Ayub Caves.

Another treat is Lamlifew, known as a Living Museum, where you can experience daily life in a B’laan Village. What I found most interesting was the food. They have 35 varieties of artisanal upland rice, lots of kamote (some are eaten only on special days, like birthdays or weddings), grilled fish and even frog. Plus, they had sweet seedless grapes! In Mindanao? My goodness…

And everyone will thrill at ziplining past the majestic Seven Falls at Lake Sebu in South Cotabato! Did you know these two rides are the highest ziplines in all of Asia? After the rides, you are ready for the most delicious fresh tilapia lunch at a restaurant right on the Lake.

SORSOGON

Bulusan Lake is a must. There are sedate walks or brisk jogs around the magnificent lake. My Pasig River Run organizer says that the Bulusan Lake Trail run is, bar none, the best in Asia. It’s a run through rice fields, forests, rivers, jump in the waterfalls — a total treat. On the way, you can visit the vast geothermal EDC park in Bacman, or do some island hopping in Matnog.

The Trail run is set for November.  We should have other details ready if you call us.

Masbate

Have you ever milked a cow? Or made soft cheese? Indulge the cowboy in you: you will ride horses on the open ranchlands, and learn to work the cows. You can ride bikes under the brilliant blue skies — or sail double-outrigger bancas along the craggy coastline. I went to Jintutulo, this island in Balud — the largest coastline in Masbate. The whole island is aproned by white sand beach. There is a window during the summer when the sea is glassy calm.
Very soon we will take you on a sacred, silent sail through the caves and over jade and aquamarine waters. We will use noise-free engines, so that your heart can open to the spirit.

Journey to the heart of the country

 This is very new and open to adventurers of all ages — with active bodies, minds and spirits — but minimum age is 16. Just in time to kick off the summer of ’14, bring the kids, and make it a family outing to remember. The 3-day/ 2-night Journey will set sail (Monday to Thursday) May 5-8, May 12-15, May 19-22 and May 26-29.

We have two exciting Journey experiences to choose from!

Journey I: ROMBLON (May 5-8 and May 19-22)

Take the time to discover the two islands of Romblon.

Romblon Town

In Romblon, you will board the comfortable 2GO vessel in Manila on May 5, 3:30 p.m. and arrive in Romblon on May 6 at 5:30 a.m. You will begin your adventure with a sunrise breakfast at the Romblon Deli on the colorful waterfront of Romblon Town. After a full morning of exploration that will include the only marble quarries and studios in the country, as well as a look at the cathedral, forts and sailing communities of Romblon, we’ll grab lunch before continuing on to Sibuyan.

Sibuyan: A celebration of biodiversity

 The island of Sibuyan is dominated by Mt. Guiting Guiting, home to the world’s densest forest. Not just Asia’s, but the whole world!   You will start your climb with a traditional Mangyan forest blessing. You will trek our newly carved trails, and do a scavenger hunt amongst some of the most magnificent flora and fauna anywhere. You will also have a chance to sight some of the most beautiful birds ever.

Clamber over Dagubdub Falls (a cascade of 35 pristine waterfalls.) Here you will swim under the falls or in the pristine pools, learn some neat survivor skills, and eat the delicious rice cakes and bananas prepared by the local communities.
Maybe you might like to bike around a bit and enjoy a picnic lunch after a zipline ride over the Cantingas River.

After a full day, you will be more than ready for a good night’s sleep.

Journey II: Mindoro (May 12-15 and May 26-29)

If you have already been to Romblon, then you will love a little face time with the garden island of Mindoro.

On May 5 you sail from Batangas into Calapan. You will visit the Mangyan Heritage Center and learn about the fascinating lifestyle of an indigenous people’s tribe that is known for its own language and poetry. You will also see how they weave cloth and work beads into jewelry. You can dance with them, or see how they work their communal vegetable gardens.

After, you will continue on to San Teodoro, where a lot of active options wait for you on the Ariguy River. Some of you will climb to Aras Cave, others to Tukuran Falls, guided always along the well-marked nature trails. We will all enjoy a communal “boodle” meal prepared by the locals and continue on to Pinamalayan, where you will settle in for the evening.

On Day 2, you will head out to Maestro de Campo, and enjoy all the joys of this island paradise. 

Maestro de Campo, a.k.a. Sibales, is actually an island of Romblon.  This is the beautiful “new secret” in our portfolio — an island aproned with soft sand, blue seas and waters filled with fish and turtles that are sure to delight you. You will be able to indulge in water sports like kayaking, or snorkeling among delightful marine life in this natural sanctuary.

At the end of the day, you will return to Pinamalayan where a bonfire dinner on the beach will allow us all to sit about and trade stories. On the morning of Day 3, we will have a chance to swim and eat breakfast before returning to Manila.

 So book now! Just choose the journey you want to experience. Journey I or II costs P8,000 per passenger inclusive of sea and land transportation, accommodation, food and refreshments, entrance fees, permits, registrations, honoraria for guides and travel kit.

If you want to go on the above tours with us, call Rajah Travel at 894-0886, or call Mari-An Santos from Green Initiative at 0927-6434809.

If our dates do not fit your schedule, you may want to go on your own. Below is the travel schedule of 2GO, the Philippines’ largest shipping company:

Manila to Romblon (Monday) – 3:30 p.m.

Romblon to Manila (Thursday) – 11:30 a.m.

Romblon to Masbate, Ormoc and Cebu (Tuesday) – 6:30 a.m.

For those leaving Cebu, departures are every Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.; Ormoc to Romblon every Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. and Masbate to Romblon every Thursday, 2:30 a.m.

I have been on a 2GO ship. It is very comfortable and even includes staterooms with a bathroom and toilet. There is a café, a lobby lounge, an open-air bar and deck space to experience nature and the sea which makes the travel even more enjoyable.

You may call 2GO’s hotline 528-7000 or email info@2go.com.ph. Visit www.2go.com.ph for more details.

Most of us lack a clear picture of the true majesty that is our country. Sad. So what happens is that the people that live surrounded by majesty continue to be poor. It is critically essential — especially for “city” people, and especially for the youth — to know and experience their country. It’s who we are: Filipinos. Doing this will enrich our souls, and give the communities we want to help hope — and a realization of just how fortunate they are and that, if they take care of it, their very bright future is on the foreseeable horizon.
Let us join hearts and bring our country to the future it deserves.

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I can be reached at regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com.