Traders map out eco tour, heritage program for Cebu

By Aileen Yap
Cebu Daily News
The first of three tourism programs by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) team to help promote the province was announced by business leaders over the weekend.

Mila Espina, CCCI team chairperson, said the programs consist of the Ecotourism and Heritage program, the Hop-On-Hop-Off City Tours and the Windows of Cebu.

She said they have already prepared the four tourism packages under the Eco-tourism and Heritage program mapped out in brochures to be distributed to travel agencies, hotels and resort operators and other tourism stakeholders.

The four eco-tourism packages consist of the House Close to Nature, Highland Farm Hideaway, the Adventure Cafe, Cebu Wetland Resort, Governor Joe Leyson's Peak, Crocolandia, Cebu Zoo and Aloguinsan Experience featuring their Bojo River Cruise.

The House Close to Nature is owned by CCCI vice president for external affairs and overall coordinator for the project Nestor Archival located in Busay, just 15 minutes away from the city.

“From the Eco-house, one can proceed to the Mercado's Highland Farm Hideaway which is 40 minutes away from Busay. It offers a hilltop view of the city amidst the environs of an organic farm. Best place for those incurable romantics,” Espina said.

The second package features the famous Balamban Zipline or the Adventure Cafe located in Gaas, Balamban town located 40 minutes away from Lahug, Cebu City via the Transcentral Highway.

Espina also cited Governor Joe Leyson's Peak and Cebu Wetland Resort owned by the Roden family for those who want to escape the stress of city living.

The resort is located 800 meters from the Tagunol-Cabreros crossroad towards the south of Cebu via South Road Properties.

“They have rooms for one to stay overnight, dining areas and swimming pools,” Espina said.

Talisay City's roasted pig or “lechon” is featured in the brochure along with its Crocolandia and the Cebu Zoo in Beverly Hills, Lahug, Cebu City. Ecotour package 4 features the special Aloguinsan experience featuring their Bojo River.

“Tourists can get in touch with us through the numbers in the brochure or contact any of our travel tour members,” Espina said.

She said they are finalizing details on their Hop-On-Hop-Off City Tours and the Windows of Cebu programs.

Felix Tagulam, Hop-On-Hop-Off City Tours chairman, said they conducted a dry run of the program last week.

“We are still trying to know if we have enough tourists to sustain the project. Councilor Margot Osmeña is very supportive of the project though and already asked us how many buses we need,” Espina said.

Councilor Osmeña, who dropped by during last Thursday’s launch, said she can help push the project to Mayor Michael Rama but will not promise anything.

Former regional tourism chief Dawnie Roa said the CCCI can install signages in each of the designated loading and unloading stops.

Espina said a Night Cruise along Mactan Channel is also in the works.

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Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Traveling A-Z: Batangas

By VINCE G. LOPEZ

November 3, 2010, 11:35am

Batangas’ proximity to the metro endears the destination to the weekend warriors looking for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Within two hours of land travel, tourists are already presented with a number of adventure options as well as sightseeing opportunities in the province.

Numerous resorts abound in the province as long stretches of fine sands offer a relaxing alternative to the fast-paced city life. Another enchanting site in the province is the magnificent Taal Volcano which continues to entice both local and foreign tourists.

Indeed, the province’s array of natural wonders is unlimited as Batangas‘Verde Island is considered to be the center of marine biodiversity in the world. Such a unique feature of the province makes it one of the most sought after dive sites in the country. Scuba divers here and abroad are fascinated with the colorful wonders underneath the pristine waters of Batangas.

The province also boasts of its historical and cultural sites. Tourists are invited to take a tour back in time with various towns offering different memorabilia and bits from the past.

A tour of the province’s natural wonders and heritage sites can be best enjoyed while sipping Batangas’ very own Kapeng Barako or chilling in the province’s fine sands with a shot of the spiked local cocktail known as Lambanog. From food, scenic beaches, and cultural wonders, Batangas is one destination in the Philippines that has managed to sustain the tourist’s interest in the province.

Fast facts:

Language: Tagalog

Festival:
Lechon Festival / Parada ng Lechon – the famous feast is held every 24th of June in the town of Balayan

What to See:

Laiya-Aplaya and Hugom Beaches – A stretch of white sand that is best known for its unique accommodations and affordable huts for beach lovers.

Taal Lake and Volcano – South Luzon’s centerpiece attraction for tourists, the magnificent view is also one of the country’s most unique trails for adventurous trekkers.

Verde Island Passage – known as an underwater wonderland with its spectacular reef formations and 300 coral species. Its underwater rock canyons host nearly 60 percent of the world’s shore fish species.

Taal Heritage Vista – As one of the most architecturally preserved provinces during the Spanish era, the village contains picturesque antique ancestral houses as well as majestic old churches.

Our Lady of Caysasay Church and Shrine – One of the architectural wonders in the province, which contains a 27-cm image of the Virgin of Caysasay, found in the waters of Batangas in 1603.

Basilica of San Martin de Tours – reputedly patterned after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and was constructed in 1856.

How to get there:

Going to Batangas is easy as there are buses that leave every hour from major bus terminals in the metropolis. Depending on the route, provincial buses pass through practically all the major cities in the province. Batangas Pier is one of the busiest and progressive piers in the country, which also serves as an entry point to the province from other destinations.