The local government of Catarman, Camiguin province has declared the area as a wildlife sanctuary, paving mechanisms that enforce environmental protection.
In a statement on Monday, Catarman Mayor Kiterio Antonio Palarca II said he signed an ordinance seeking to preserve the natural flora and fauna of the town, which is home to giant bats, monkeys, and different species of butterflies.
A colony of agolden crown flying fox locally known as “kabug” numbering about 500 hovers over theirdwelling place in Barangay Poblacion, Catarman, Camiguin
The town is also sharing provincial ocean waters where dolphins, whale sharks, and squid species are still thriving.
In the town’s barangay Bonbon, sightings of six adult whale sharks have been reported recently.
Schadenberg’s Burrowing Skink
“A century-old Balite tree is now being preserved at the town center because the tree is now the home of around 700 giant bats,” Palarca said.
The giant bats have become one of the town’s main tourist attractions that has historical value since the tree is among the oldest in the province.
Purple-throated Sunbird
Tourists and Lent
Meanwhile, the provincial government said it is preparing for the influx of tourists as the observation of the Lenten season is approaching in April.
The province is a popular venue of pilgrimage for Catholic devotees during the Holy Week of the year, where the annual “Panaad” is held.
Yellow-lined Smooth-scaled Gecko
Devotees would trek the walkway surrounding “Mount Bulkan,” a dormant volcano, passing by life-sized stations of the cross.
common seahorse
Governor Xavier Jurdin Romualdo said the province is targeting 500,000 tourist arrivals in a year.
Painted Frogfish
Romualdo said that from January 1 to February 22 alone, the province already has recorded 32,688 tourists, of which 29,193 are domestic.
Last year, the province’s tourist arrival was recorded at 250,000. (PNA)
Leading advocates and champions of Asia’s growing farm tourism industry were given the prestigious Lakbay Bukid Awards in the 7th Philippine Farm Tourism Conference organized by International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) held recently at The Bellevue Resort in Panglao, Bohol.
With a US$ 1,000 cash prize from the family of the late tourism stalwart Bobby Joseph, the award was first given in 2016 to individuals, institutions and groups who have contributed significantly to the growth of the farm tourism industry in the continent.
This year’s awardees are Francis Joseph Perdigon of Perdigon Farms in Butuan City, I Wayan Alit Artha Wiguna of Cau Chocolates in Bali, Indonesia; Tan Inong Asin Tibuok Manufacturing of Alburquerque, Bohol; Borneo Eco Tours of Sabah, Malaysia, and Malagos Agri-Ventures Corp. of Davao City.
According to ISST president Mina Gabor, the accolade showcases the creativity and resiliency of the awardees in helping empower disadvantaged communities and mainstreaming sustainable agricultural and tourism practices.
Perdigon is a millennial farmer and is the first youth awardee who seeks to popularize farming among young people. Wiguna is a farm tourism pioneer in the popular resort haven which provides visitors an immersive experience in cacao farming and chocolate making.
Tan Inong is a firm named after the late founder of a century-old artisanal salt making craft in Bohol. Borneo Eco Tours is based in Kota Kinabalu which offers a host of nature-oriented activities in various parts of Sabah state and involves indigenous communities.
Situated in an upland village of Davao City, Malagos Agri-Ventures Corp. started as an orchid farm, but later evolved into a tourist recreational complex with an adjoining cacao plantation, chocolate museum, and bird sanctuary.
The Farm Tourism Conference is hosted by the Province of Bohol and supported by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport). It is also backed by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the Department of Tourism, the Tourism Promotions Board, the Department of Trade and Industry, and Philippine Airlines.
In a country where the average age of farmers is 57, where rice is still the main farm produce and the income is low, where the most produce are highly seasonal, where there are limited areas for families to visit and enjoy nature – farm tourism is a refreshing new addition to the list of tourism products that generates added income to the farmers.
The interest of many people to partake of healthy food and share that same experience with their immediate families has aroused their curiosity to know how crops are produced and livestock is raised. So has farm tourism sites began to flourish.
Farm tourism is the business of attracting visitors to farm areas generally for educational and recreational purposes while encouraging economic activities that can provide both the farm and community additional income.
Among the many activities that can be experienced when visiting a designated farm-tourism site are children and even adults feed animals, collect eggs, learn the flora and fauna in the area, go horseback riding, hike, learn nature-based arts and crafts, sing, swim, visit the farm museum if there are any, eat meals with freshly cut vegetables, camp, pick fruits and harvest vegetables, buy products made by the community, try new varieties of fruit juice or winetasting, and stay overnight in the area. The activities vary, depending on the farm that is visited.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Sen. Cynthia Villar, worked for the passage of vital legislation and amendments to existing laws to complement this growing subsector of the tourism industry.
In a speech at the second Farm Tourism Conference in Daet, Camarines Norte, Villar lauded the organizer of the event, the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), for actively supporting and promoting farm tourism. At the same conference, she vowed to assist farm owners, through legislation, to provide technical, financial and marketing assistance.
By the way, ISST will soon open its farm-tourism and camp-site model where landowners who do not have sufficient funds to develop their properties can learn how to open up camp sites by attending farm-tourism courses.
During the Senate hearing on the farm-tourism bill, many of the farmers-turned-farm tourism operators, reported that they were earning from this newfound activity more than from their usual harvest.
Imagine a farmer who sells his lettuce at farm-gate prices of P10 to P15 per kilo, but by the time it arrives in Metro Manila, the same produce can be sold as high as P50 to P80 per kilo, depending on the season.
In a farm-tourism area, the same lettuce has higher value added. Visitors are willing to pay higher prices per kilo, because it is freshly picked, or the vegetable would have been offered as a meal or fruit juice.
I have visited farm-tourism sites in Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, Costa Rica and some European countries, like Italy. There, I noticed that jobs and revenues generated for the community are sourced from this activity.
For example, in Costa Rica, a famous coffee plantation has eventually put up one of the world’s best ecolodges where you can stay and wake up the morning after to visit the plantation and try your hand in picking coffee berries. It also has a wonderful restaurant that serves its famous varieties of coffee, sells soaps made from coffee, and other farm products.
In Italy you can rent a cottage situated in the middle of the farm. If you want to cook your own meal, it can provide the ingredients, like fruits and vegetables, that you can pick just outside your doorstep.
For me, farm tourism is an excellent example of inclusive growth for the communities.
On May 16 President Aquino signed Republic Act 10816, or the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016. Under the new law, a Farm Tourism Development Board shall be established to formulate plans and programs for the development and promotion of farm tourism in the country and shall set the overall direction for the implementation of the Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan.
There are around 100 or more accredited and nonaccredited farm-tourism sites in the country, ranging from micro, small, medium and large sizes.
Farm-tourism sites or farm camps help promote tourism and products of the area, especially those produced and manufactured by the rural industries.
To know more about farm tourism or if you are interested in farm activities, join the Philippine Farm Tourism Network. For more information, you can reach us at +63 2 8832 0996.
Family fun takes center stage at NUSTAR Resort Cebu this Easter!
Take a tumble down the rabbit hole and join The Mad Hatter’s Easter Tea Party at the NUSTAR Convention Center on March 31.
Guests can look forward to a magic show with balloon twisting, special performances, an Easter egg hunt, and more.
Book your wonderland retreat at Fili Hotel NUSTAR Cebu and enjoy luxury stays starting at P15,000++. This offer comes with two free tickets to The Mad Hatter’s Easter Tea Party!
Book from February 15 to April 1, 2024 and stay from March 24 to April 1, 2024.
Indulge in sweet spring confections and concoctions at the Fili Lobby Lounge, join egg-citing arts and crafts activities, or dine at participating NUSTAR restaurants to join The Mall’s Easter promo.
Fili Café’s Sunday Brunch is also at 25% off this whole month of March (except on Easter Sunday, March 31)
Thrilling casino promos also await patrons both onsite and online.
FAST food sushi is predictable. Not at Sushi Rolls CDO where each piece is crafted with only the purest ingredients. That’s why barely in its infancy, Sushi Rolls CDO is already patronized by Kagay-anons and even residents from neighboring areas.
Sushi Rolls CDO has four flavors.
Double mango is a taste of sweet mango in Japanese rice with roasted sesame.
Spicy hosomaki is a Japanese rice wrap in roasted seaweed sheets topped with sweet and spicy cheese sauce.
Spicy crab cheese is chewy cheesy in Japanese rice topped with sesame seeds drizzled with spicy cheese sauce.
Or for a very minimal amount of P200, you can have a combination of any of these in six slices.
But wait there’s more.
Sushi Rolls CDO offers mobile bar packages for your party events such as birthdays, reunions, etc. For inquiries, please contact 09974160551.
Sushi Rolls CDO any time of the day via Messenger and Instagram.
It’s a symphony of flavors only at Sushi Rolls CDO.
ONE of the best carinderias in the city is found just a stone’s throw away from Cogon market in Pinikitan, a few meters from Maria Reyna Hospital.
Located along Hayes St. in front of Oroville Commercial, MJLS Eatery is open Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Many people from all walks of life – from nurses to bank employees to farmers bringing down their produce – dine in there, a testament to the deliciousness of the dishes that they are serving.
And what’s even better is that MJLS Eatery is available in Maxim so the viands can be delivered conveniently at your doorstep, whether you’re in your home or office.
Aside from your usual soda drinks, MJLS Eatery also serves Red Horse jumbo to quench the thirst of people who want to drink and relax early provided that they strictly close shop around 7:00 p.m.
Introduces special prayer rooms and exquisite offers
In noble reference to being recognized as a Muslim Friendly Accommodation Establishment, Grand Summit Hotel in General Santos City has dedicated two specially designed prayer rooms to its inventory of facilities.
The prayer rooms are equipped with accessible washing areas for purification, prayer mats and Qur’ans and can accommodate up to four persons each. The rooms are laden with carpeted tiles for added comfort and a Qibla indicator is installed in each room, ensuring the correct orientation towards the Kaaba in Mecca. There are separate prayer rooms for men and women.
Aligning with this announcement, and capping its preparation for Ramadan, Grand Summit Hotel offers healthy, hearty meals to break fast before sunrise with Suhoor breakfast buffet from 3am and Iftar set menu platter daily, as Muslims break their fasting upon sun set. All meals are specially prepared by the hotel’s Muslim chef, EJ Sangki and his culinary team.
The Suhoor breakfast buffet (P650 nett per person) and the Iftar dinner platter (P950 nett per person) offerings are available to both inhouse and walk-in guests. This offer is good from March 10 to April 10,2024 during Ramadan.
Grand Summit Hotel is also offering special room accommodation packages during this holy period at P4,488.00 nett with Suhoor breakfast good for two and P5,888.00 nett, inclusive of Suhoor breakfast and Iftar platter good for two. This offer runs from March 10 to April 10 , 2024.
For reservations, please contact us through +63 998 888 7788 or +63 (2) 8 397 0111. You can also send us an email through reservations@summithotels.ph
About Grand Summit Gensan
Grand Summit is the first upscale hotel of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts and the newest lifestyle destination situated right at the heart of General Santos City. It recently opened its doors to the public last October 15, 2021. It is an opulent setting for work, play, and celebrations – it aims to be remembered not as a venue but as a comforting feeling and delightful memory.
About Summit Hotel:
Summit Hotel is a renowned hotel chain committed to providing exceptional experiences to guests across multiple locations. With a focus on comfort, convenience, and warm hospitality, Summit Hotel ensures that every stay is truly memorable. From well-appointed rooms to delightful dining options, Summit Hotel offers the perfect blend of luxury and convenience for both business and leisure travelers. You can also visit our website at www.summithotels.ph for more details.
In the ever-changing world of social media, a new company has emerged to challenge the status quo.
Lori Boco is a remarkable person who has not only become the first Purple Diamond in US and Asia in Ushare but has also been named as one of its Board members.
To understand Lori’s achievements, we need to delve into the world of DTSOCIALIZE, the holding company, and Ushare, the marketing company. These enterprises promise to change everything about how social media works and some special features that will make them different.
Firstly, they boast MAIA, their very own artificial intelligence assistant. It is similar to Google’s voiceactivated virtual assistant, but it is more like an interactive friend, helping users on their way through the site.
UupPro is another messaging service comparable to WhatsApp or other popular messengers that millions use every day. This allows people to interact with each other in a safe environment by sending messages and sharing stories among friends and family members.
There’s Umetaworld, a kind of Facebook’s virtual world. Users can create themselves, or rather their avatars, virtually traveling across the web space by making friends and interacting from behind their screens.
What makes this revolutionizing platform even more interesting is that it’s absolutely free! Yes, you heard me right – offering cutting-edge social media services practically for nothing compared to giants in this industry.
DTSOCIALIZE and Ushare have set out some lofty objectives. They aim to become one of the top global market players in Big Data alongside Facebook, WhatsApp, or Google but with greater emphasis on personal data protection.
This international project started in Italy but made London as their headquarters stretches towards the Philippines now. On April 9th, 2023 they made an acquisition of Ushare business on the Philippine Islands thus marking another important stage in their journey.
And what makes this achievement even more enormous is the number of users that they managed to gather together during relatively short time – over a million users already! That speaks volumes about its attractiveness across various audiences.
So, why should you give DTSOCIALIZE and Ushare a try? The first thing is that it’s free. In the world where many premium services are accompanied by high prices, this platform is rather a breath of fresh air as it opens access to advanced features of social media to everyone.
Furthermore, they have a mission on privacy. In the age when concerns over data security and user privacy are increasing, DTSOCIALIZE and Ushare want to be different. You can therefore enjoy an awesome social media experience without jeopardizing your own personal details. (JME/MDN/OB)
Cagayan de Oro’s first and prime organization of bloggers recently joined Pasiyu Ki Manolo Fortich, the first ever AgriTourism Fair of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
According to Gina Cuerdo-Amador, Vice President for Tourism & Hospitality of the Manolo Fortich Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. , Blogger and budding author Carlston Maglangit, in tandem with Edward Asok of Bud’z Café, organized the Pasiyu Ki Agri-Tourismo Vlogger Contest.
Fourteen of the CDO Bloggers who were tapped as media partners for the event answered the call: Cleo Ann Navaja(Tsada Lokal), Imroz Khan (The Metro Maven), Micah Izabel Ricarfrente (Around CDO), AJ Pajaron (AJ Pajaron TV), Shari Lapiz (ShaiTalks.com), Em-em Aban (Ladysoda/ChadaCDO), Michael Abonitalla (It’s Chada), Narciso Moria, Jr. (Travel Vlogs Philippines), Pearly Jane Cabudoy (Pearly Jang Blog), Ruby Caberte (Mommy Ruby), Emy Lou ‘Angel’ Estera (Wanderfully Angel), Cynthia Siwagan (Awesome ChenS), Karen Chayne Sanchez (CDO Lifestyle), and Bernard Alain Castro (proxy for Maia F. Poblete/Scribblescdo.
Declared Overall Champion and Best in Narrative was Shari Lapiz of ShaiTalks.com, while finishing 2nd and Best in Video Presentation was AJ Pajaron of AJ Pajaron TV. You may view these winning presentations by clicking on the previous hyperlinks.
Embarking on a transformative journey, I have made it my advocacy to share the joy of rugby and its five core values especially with children.
Understanding the profound impact that sports can have on fostering confidence and empowerment, I saw Rugby as a means to break down barriers and instill a sense of resilience in marginalized communities.
With a steadfast commitment to uplifting the spirits of the youth, I set out to introduce the sport to the young girls of Butig, Lanao del Sur, with the hope of empowering them to discover their potential and overcome societal limitations.
Butig Sunflowers Rugby Club is born.
I drew inspiration from my experiences after the Marawi siege in 2017, when I shared the sport of Rugby with displaced children of Barangay Bito Buadi Itowa evacuation center in Marawi City.
Witnessing the transformative power of sports that brought smiles to the faces of those kids who were affected by the armed conflict, I was driven to replicate this impact in Butig. Just as I had done in Marawi, I approached this mission in Butig with determination using the power of sports to transcend across cultures, traditions, and religion.
Not only did I teach the girls of Butig a new sport but also impart invaluable life lessons encapsulated in the sport’s core values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline, and respect.
As the young girls learned about Rugby and its values, albeit a foreign sport in their little world, they genuinely enjoyed the short learning and playing session. Each pass of the ball while running around laughing exuded true happiness among the girls which brought my vision of empowering the youth and fostering unity become a reality.
Though I have only spent a short time sharing Rugby with the kids of Butig, I am proud to declare, “Mission Accomplished”.
I hope that I have left an indelible mark in their young lives that will inspire them to try new things, embrace new learnings, and empower themselves to be happy as they reach for their dreams.
