General Santos Airport Launches Tourism Desk

The airport in General Santos has finally put up a tourism information desk to assist tourists traveling to Central Mindanao. The desk was launched by local officials and the Department of Tourism, and the official launch featured cultural dance performances by the Hinugyaw dance troupe.

Philippines Dept of Tourism Aims To Bring More Saudi Tourists to the Country

The Philippine’s Department of Tourism and the Filipino Embassy in Saudi Arabia recently launched a campaign to encourage visits by Saudi tourists. The campaigns were specifically targeted to Saudis living in Jeddah and Riyadh. The campaign is acting as a forum for travel and aviation companies from both countries to meet and discuss opportunities.

Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines to be Showcased in New Photographic Exhibition

A photographic exhibit by American photographer Jacob Maentz will be on display at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City, Metro Manila from January 10-23, 2014. The exhibit, entitled "The Forgotten Ten," will showcase a year and a half of Maentz's documentary work from various indigenous communities around the Philippines.

Stranded Tourists in the Philippines Help in Relief Efforts For Victims of Typhoon Yolanda

Stranded tourists in the resort town of Coron, Palawan in the Philippines lend a helping hand in the repacking of relief goods for areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda. According to tourism officer Tim Ticar, about 6,000 foreigners and locals are stranded on the popular resort island of Boracay, one of the tourist spots in the typhoon's path.

Philippine Airlines Lands In London, England For The First Time in 15 Years

On Monday, November 4, 2013, Philippine Airlines, also known as PAL, 

made it's first inaugural flight to London, England for the first time in 15 years. The brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft left Manila and arrived in London around 3pm local time, and was welcomed by a traditional British water gun salute followed by a brief welcome ceremony. Most notably on-board was Ramon S. Ang, who is the president of PAL and San Miguel Corp.

Amazingly Low Promo Fares From Philippines Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and AirAsia

Every month, Philippine-based airlines such as Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and AirAsia offer special discounts on airfares to various destinations to/from and within the Philippines. These are known as "promo fares," which can mean that airplane tickets can be bought for as little as one peso. Of course, only a limited number of seats are sold at such low prices.

Top 10 Best, Affordable Boracay Hotels and Resorts

Every year, millions of people take vacations in Boracay Island, Philippines, and stay in one of the hundreds of hotels and resorts there. If you are on a shoe-string budget, however, it can be very difficult to know what are the best, but affordable places to stay at.

Here's a list of our top 10 affordable, cheap and budget-friendly hotels in Boracay:

Philippine Tourist Destinations Being Printed on Postage Stamps

In order to help increase tourism in the Philippines, 

a bill has been passed requiring the printing of postage stamps that depict various tourism spots throughout the country. The bill mandates the Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost) to print these stamps and affix these on all outgoing mail.

It's Official! Philippine Airlines Will Fly Non-Stop From Manila To London Starting November 4th

It's official! Philippines Airlines will start flying non-stop from Manila, Philippines to London, England on November 4, 2013. 

The airline has not flown non-stop to Europe in more than 15 years, and is already selling round-trip tickets at an introductory economy rate of $1,052 USD. Business class tickets start at $2,900 USD.

President Obama Cancels Trip to Philippines, Due To U.S. Government Shutdown

According to an official statement from the White House, President Obama has canceled his trip next week to the Philippines and Malaysia because of the U.S. government shutdown. Due to the funding crisis, nearly one million U.S. government employees have been furloughed - meaning they are temporarily out of a job.

Miss Philippines Megan Young Crowned Miss World 2013; Beats 126 Contestants

23-year old Filipina Megan Young recently beat 126 other contestants in the Miss World 2013 competition in Bali, Indonesia. 

She pledged to be "the best Miss World ever". The competition, originally to be in the capital city of Jakarta, was moved to Bali because of threats from some Muslim groups.

Is The Philippines Safe For Tourists? Yes!

The Philippines is a beautiful country in Southeast Asia with more than 7,100 islands, and thus tons of beaches, palm trees and wildlife. Even more, Filipinos are known around the world to be the most friendliest and hospitable people.

ManilART 2013 Festival To Be Held on October 9-13 in Taguig City

The 5th edition of ManilART, one of the largest art festivals in the Philippines, will be held at a brand-new location, the SMX Aura Convention Center in Taguig City on October 9-13. The venue is the newest in the country, flocked by the most prestigious commercial and business developments in Taguig's Bonifacio Global City.

Metro Manila To Host 12th Annual Filipino Franchise Show At World Trade Center In Pasay City, October 4-6, 2013

The 12th Annual Filipino Franchise Show is the country’s biggest and only exhibition of homegrown franchises. The event is scheduled for October 4-6, 2013 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Metro Manila. The theme this year will be “Galing ng Pinoy,” which pays tribute to Filipino innovation and ingenuity that underscores the competitive potential of the local franchising industry in the global market.

Top 10 Amazing Sand Castles in the Philippines

As you can imagine, it would take a very long time and a lot of skill to create a sand castle - especially like the ones you see in these pictures. But believe it or not, this is how many Filipinos make a living in Boracay and other popular destinations within the Philippines.

Does Government Corruption Hurt Tourism in the Philippines?

Most would agree that corruption in the Philippines (or any country) hurts education and the general welfare of the people, 

especially the poor. But here's a question to ask: Does government corruption hurt tourism? How do tourists feel about the corruption that they often hear about in the Philippines? Do they often change their minds about taking a vacation in the Philippines? Do they view the Philippines as a "corrupt" country? Or do they even care?

Filipino Adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" Now Playing Every Weekend in Metro Manila

The Rep Theater for Young Audiences (or the Rep Children's Theater) 

in Metro Manila, Philippines is now presenting a musical theater adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic 1865 novel, "Alice in Wonderland" which was originally released as a Disney movie in 1951. The Filipino production by director Joy Virata and assistant director Liesl Batucan is already receiving rave reviews.

Book Fans Invited to Attend the 34th Manila International Book Fair

Now on its 34th year, the Manila International Book Fair is the country’s biggest and longest-running book fair with the largest and most varied collection of literature. This year's event will be held September 11-15, 2013 at SMX Convention Center near Mall of Asia in Metro Manila area, Philippines.

Alicia Keys To Perform Live in Manila, Philippines in November 2013

Alicia Keys will be performing live in Manila, Philippines on on November 25, 2013 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. 

The multi-platinum, Grammy-winning singer and songwriter will visit the country as part of her "Set The World on Fire" Tour, which will bring her to many other countries in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and other parts of the world.

Philippine-Based Airline, Zest Air, Banned From Flying Due to Major Safety Breaches

As of Friday, August 16, 2013, budget airline, Zest Air, has been grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for violating a series of safety breaches, including refueling with passengers onboard. The decision to suspend the airline’s operations was apparently based on the monitoring and surveillance conducted by a team of inspectors last week.

Coming Soon To The Philippines: Tourist Police

The Philippine National Police is setting up the country’s first tourist police school in Aklan on Boracay Island. 

It will be called the Boracay Tourist Police School, and will provide a two-month training for policemen who will afterwards be deployed to the country’s tourist destinations. Such destinations include Boracay itself, Cebu, Davao, Bohol, Puerto Gallera, and more.

Kobe Bryant Arrives in Manila, Philippines For Lenovo Smartphone Promo Tour

NBA superstar Kobe Bryant is in Manila, Philippines to promote Lenovo’s latest line of mobile phones. Lenova, a China-based tech company, has chosen Bryant to be their international brand ambassador.

Rihanna To Perform Live in Manila, Philippines on September 19, 2013

International pop star Rihanna is coming back to Manila, Philippines to perform a live concert. She was last in the country back in 2008, when she performed live with Chris Brown, back this time she's solo as a part of her Diamonds World Tour.

Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines -- But Why The Name "Chocolate"?

The Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines is a strange geological phenomena of more than 1,700 small hills spread across an area of more than 25 kilometers (or 15 miles). The famous tourist attraction is located in central Philippines in the Visayan islands. So why the name Chocolate Hills? Are there cocoa plantations there?

Dutch Tourist Deported From Philippines For Protesting At Anti-Government Rally; Made Police Officer Cry

Thomas van Beersum, the 20-year old Dutch citizen who joined a rally in protest of the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), has been officially deported from the country and will not be allowed to return. According to the Bureau of Immigration, Beersum is on the bureau’s blacklist for visa violations.

Pop Star Carly Rae Jepsen To Perform Live in Manila, Philippines on August 7th

International pop star Carly Rae Jepsen is coming to Manila during her Kiss Tour on August 7, 2013 at the Araneta Coliseum. 

The Canadian singer/songwriter took the world by storm in 2012 with her global hit single "Call Me Maybe," which was a number one song for 9 weeks and went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide. Her official YouTube video for the song has over 400 million YouTube views.

Toxic Pasalubong: Dangerous Chemicals Found in Souvenirs Being Sold To Tourists in the Philippines

According to one environment watchdog group, high levels of toxic metals (including lead) can be found in many gifts and souvenirs that are being sold to tourists in the Philippines. 

That group, Ecowaste Coalition, tested hundreds of products and found dangerous chemicals in many products in the cities of Manila, Davao, Cebu, and Baguio.

50% Discount Off Adventure Activities in Boracay, Philippines

Get a 50% discount on adventure activities in Boracay, Philippines, including: go-karting, zip-lining, speed boating, jet skiing, parasailing, a visit to the mini-zoo, and more. Prices start at just P899 (or about $20 USD).

Forbes Magazine Names Top 50 Richest Filipinos For 2013; Henry Sy Is #1 Again

Henry Sy Sr., founder of SM Malls in the Philippines, is the richest Filipino in 2013 according to Forbes Magazine. His net worth increased by nearly $3 billion to a total of $12 billion, as shares of his company SM Investments Corp. reported record profits of over $570 million last year.

27th FIBA Asia Championship To Start Friday, August 2 in Manila; Team Pilipinas Will Play Saudi Arabia

The 27th FIBA Asia Championships officially opened Wednesday night at the Dusit Hotel in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. All 15 teams were present when the games formally opened, along with the FIBA Asia officials. The championship games will be played in Manila from Aug 1-11, 2013 and will achieve record levels with the television coverage of the games reaching more than 70 countries.

Travel + Leisure Magazine Names Palawan and Boracay As World's Best Islands

August 2013 Issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine

Travel + Leisure Magazine, a popular US-based travel magazine, has officially awarded the island of Palawan as the "Overall Top Island" and "Top Island in Asia" for 2013. The awards were given at the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards held in New York City on July 18th.

New 'Kidzania' Theme Park to Open in Manila, Philippines in 2014

Kidzania Manila, a new indoor theme park for kids, will soon open in 2014 in Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila. The educational theme park is designed as a real city to provide the ultimate role playing opportunity for kids 3-14 years old. Children and their parents are provided with a safe, unique, and very realistic educational environment that allows kids do what comes naturally to them.

VIDEO: Did It Snow In Davao City, Philippines?

There's a video and rumor circulating on the internet saying that it snowed for three hours in Davao City, Philippines, and damaged $3 million dollars worth of crops. In the video, snow appears to be falling on banana trees. So is it true? Did it really snow?

VIDEO: Lebron James in Manila, Philippines - Press Conference and Basketball Game

LeBron James recent came to Manila, Philippines, and spoke to Boom Gonzales during a press conference at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati. The visit was a part of his "Nike Witness History" tour.

Popular American Movies That Were Filmed in the Philippines

The Philippine islands are known for their beauty with pristine beaches and tropical rain forests. It's not hard to imagine, therefore, why many U.S. film producers have chosen this location for its movies. Some of the movies you may recognize while others may come as a surprise for being filmed in the Philippines.

Where in the Philippines Is This Dog?

Can you guess where exactly in the Philippine is this dog? He's at the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao Province, located in Luzon (very close to Mountain Province).

NBA Star Lebron James Arrives in Manila, Philippines For Nike Tour

NBA Star Lebron James of the Miami Heat arrived in the country Monday night around 5:45pm, just as President Benigno Aquino III was wrapping up his State of the Nation Address. James stole some of the spotlight on President Aquino as Twitter started to be flooded with thousands of tweets about his arrival.

Dionne Warwick Closes Out Successful Concert Series in Philippines

Singer Dionne Warwick, one of the best-selling acts of all time, recently returned to the Philippines for another major concert series. Wooing old school fans, she performed three times: in the capital city of Manila at the Manila Hotel Tent on July 20th, at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on July 21st, and again on July 23rd in Manila at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Did You Know That NFL Star Tim Tebow Was Born in the Philippines?

Tim Tebow, quarterback for the New England Patriots, has come a long way since the day he arrived in Makati City in the Philippines. 

Tim was born in 1987 to Baptist missionaries in the Metro Manila area. Although he is now a talented, professional football player, Tim has never forgotten his roots in the Philippines.

Tim showed great talent early in his career, earning the Heisman Trophy as a college sophomore at the University of Florida, where he earned a football scholarship. In 2009, he lead his team to the BCS Championship and was drafted to the Denver Broncos in 2010 and was on his way in professional football. As their starting quarterback, he led the team to six wins in their next eight games and into the playoffs. In 2012, he was traded to the New York Jets, and in 2013, he was picked up by the New England Patriots.

The Beautiful Filipino Art of Taal Embroidery

Taal embroidery is a craft that dates back to the early 1900's in the Philippines. It is one of the oldest crafts of the Philippines. The art involves a very intricate form of embroidery that was originally all done by hand on very delicate material. Although machine-made Taal embroidery is sold, the original is very valuable and sought after by visitors.

Lebron James Coming to Manila, Philippines

Nike Philippines has announced that two-time NBA champion LeBron James will be visiting Manila, Philippines on July 23, 2013. James, during his one-day visit to country, will “inspire young Filipino athletes to strive for greatness and keep working hard as he did to win two consecutive championship titles.”

4 Off-the-Beat Philippine Vacation Spots Close to Manila

If you're looking for a vacation that is anything but cookie cutter, try visiting the Philippines. The Metro Manila area, the capital city of the Philippines, is beautiful, but is also heavily populated with nearly 16 million people. It is the most densely populated city in the world. It offers all the amenities of a large metropolitan city in the form of entertainment, night life, shopping, restaurants and more.

But if peace and quiet is what you're looking for, there are several off-the-beat spots close to Manila that will give you that and all the beauty and serenity that comes with the Philippines.

Philippine Airlines Flying Again Non-Stop To Europe

After a 3-year ban, the European Union (EU) has given permission to Philippine Airlines (PAL) to resume non-stop flights from Manila to European cities like London, Paris, and Amsterdam.

Philippines Hosts 6th Annual ASEAN Schools Games in 2014

The Philippines is proud to announce that they will be hosting the 6th Annual ASEAN Schools Games (ASG) in December 2014. The country will also be hosting the ASG Golf Tournament in November 2013. The acronym ASEAN stands for Association of South East Asian Nations.

Marian Rivera Named Philippines’ Finest (and Sexiest) Woman

FHM magazine has named Filipina actress/model/singer Marian Rivera as the Finest and Sexiest Woman for 2013. 

After already winning this title in 2008, Rivera is actually reclaiming the title as FHM’s Sexiest Pinay with a total of 890,490 votes. She now joins Katrina Halili, Angel Locsin and Sam Pinto as the only two-time winners of the annual campaign.

Philippines Offers New 6-Month Tourist Visa

Foreign visitors who want to take longer vacations in the Philippines may now do so without the former hassles. 

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration has announced a new 6-month tourist visa. The program has already been formally launched, and will consist of a new visa sticker to replace the traditional wet stamp. The so-called Long Stay Visitor Visa Extension (LSVVE) project was launched to draw more international travelers into the country.