‘Hidden Paradise’ in Cebu Lures Visitors

CEBU CITY -- A mountain resort in southwestern Cebu is fast becoming a destination of tourists looking for a place far from the hassles of city life.
The P30-million Hidden Valley Resort lies on a 12-hectare hillside property in a secluded valley in Barangay Lamac, Pinamungajan town. The “hidden paradise” is a favorite venue for retreats, meetings, conferences, reunions, outings and even honeymoons.
While most resorts are owned by the rich, Hidden Valley is owned and managed by the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC).
The resort and the amenities that the villagers now enjoy were nonexistent 40 years ago.

‘Paraw’: More than just an Ilonggo Sailboat

ILOILO CITY – Fisherman Jayde Pauchano Sr. and his crew were racing the paraw in the Iloilo Strait toward Bundolan Point when tragedy suddenly struck. The wind and waves became rough, toppling the native boat’s mast and flipping it to its side.
Fortunately, a motorized boat with journalists on board was around to pluck the four crewmen out of the waters. The paraw was later put up and towed to safety, with Pauchano staying to guide it.
Luck refused to abandon Pauchano that day of Feb. 22. His other boat, 2 Angels, won over 74 participants in the 23.8-kilometer Paraw Regatta Sailboat Race from Sto. NiÒo Sur Arevalo in Iloilo City to Bundolan.
The city holds the Paraw Regatta Festival yearly to recognize the creativity of the Ilonggo people in paraw-building. “We have been doing this for the last 37 years. It has been like a community bonding already,” said Edwin Trompeta, regional director of the Department of Tourism.
Since the Spanish times, paraw-building has been a tradition for the Ilonggo people, known to be shipbuilders and seafarers. They have used the boat not only as a means of transportation but also as a source of livelihood.
Distinct character
Pauchano, 61, has joined the Paraw Regatta since 1973. His father taught him how to build the boat when he was a child – a craft that the fisherman eventually perfected by creating the double outrigger boats.
The paraw is built from a carved keelson or a long beam of wood connected to the floor of the boat with plywood planking for the sides. The hull is pointed at both front and back ends.
Measuring 31 m long and 30 m high, the boat’s distinct feature is its slim hull with a length-to-beam ratio of 20 to 1. To stabilize the vessel, it is fitted with outrigger floats made of bamboo.
Its sails are originally made from woven matting, but nowadays, they are stitched up from synthetic awning materials. The forward sail or layag knives the wind as fast as 20 to 30 nautical miles per hour.
Like Pauchano, Cesar Engallado believes that boat-building is in his blood. “My father was the one who actually made the paraw and he just taught me how,” Engallado said in Filipino.
A veteran regatta participant, Engallado loves to gaze at his most prized possession as it gently sways to the rhythm of the wind. He needed at least P30,000 to build the boat. “We buy the materials one piece at a time,” he said.
Joining the race has become a lifelong hobby for him. He started participating when he was 5 years old.
For Pauchano, the paraw is not only a sport but also a means to feed his family of 12. During off-season, he uses a smaller boat to catch fish.
“Sometimes, we catch eight kilos of fish, but at times, we only have two kilos,” he said. He earns a meager amount of P200 to P800 per catch, but has managed to send his children to college.
The paraw also helps ease the burden of day-to-day life, Engallado said. “It helps us forget our problems in life especially when we win.”
He had earlier worked as a checker in a brokerage firm in Parañaque City, but when the firm closed due to financial difficulties, he decided to return to Iloilo and build the paraw instead.
Today, Engallado, 42, alternates fishing and baking in a bread shop in Guimaras so he could keep his boat. “This has been a tradition for us. The paraw is already a part of our lives,” he said.
Fishermen like Pauchano still prefer the paraw over the motorized ones. “The paraw is faster,” he said.
Wind power
The sailboat is considered economical and environmentally friendly since it only needs the wind to propel it. After all, Iloilo is where two winds converge.
With the theme, “Sailing the High Seas, Mooring for More,” the Paraw Regatta Sailboat Race was the highlight of the four-day festivities in the city. The winning boat received P14,000 in cash prize.
More than the money, Rene Cortum, tourist operational officer, said “others joined because they enjoyed it and they really wanted to support Iloilo.”
Last year’s race attracted 40,749 tourist visitors, mostly Koreans.
For Pauchano and Engallado, the paraw is not only a boat but a symbol of a rich heritage of craftsmanship and ingenuity.
Vanessa Hidalgo, Visayas Bureau, www.inquirer.net

Party Places of Davao City...

Hmmm....I could never deny that I am a party animal Davao City have not been an exception to my cravings to discover new places to hang out in. I have never been to all the party scenes favorites but I could definitely site a few examples that might interest the imaginations of some especially those who are party people like me.

Rizal Promenade...
This all for one vicinity right in the middle of the heart of Davao is definitely a must see for party goers as bars are aligned side by side, definitely fitting the trip for Bar Hopping. Indeed there could never be a perfect place for Yuppies who prefer to meet people in a more intimate manner than any other place in Davao. Sighting some examples are Yukeme and 183 Bar. Some friends will actually discourage one to go here for certain reasons that this place is for "Masses" and would easily fit the term 'cheap' for the so-called 'class' indiviuals. Of course, I could always say that a true classy person are the ones who go to cheap places but still act decent. It's your attitude man! Or should I say, Girl! Hehehe

Torres...
Torres is actually a street in Davao comparable to Smallville in Iloilo where bars are in the some place but in a much bigger venue than Rizal Promenade. There are actually more space fit for group dates, gimiks or just for the thrill of being outside and listening to local Bands. Much 'classier' than Rizal Promenade, it is actually the new hip destination of the town as thousands flock the place during the weekends. Parking spaces are much available for those who have rides and the selection of bars are much varied than those in Rizal Promenade....Bar favorites are Fiesta Lokal (Lokal), Calle Cinco, Idol Grille (Idol) and Bakbak.

Station 91...
An old moviehouse-turned Party Bar is an alternative to the local hot spot. With a big stage in the middle, bars are scattered around with just seats separating each other. The crowd is a mixture of street savies and regular people with a rare treat of Yuppies.... Be on a lookout for anything...Heheheh Just for the adventure of it...

The Venue
The all class, elite party scene with a crowd of the city's elite and influencial people.

Matina Town Square...
A venue much like the one in Torres but smaller in comparison....

Thanks...

After my almost 2 months stay in Davao, it is but time to bid farewell to a place that had been my temporary home and party place. My friends that I have known from elementary through highschool had been my constant companion. Some had proven that memories lasts, and friendships are made stronger. I learned to open up with others while others seems lost to my past. I have never been closer to friends that accepts me for who I am and appreciates me for what I have become. - Nam, thank you very much.

For my old friends whom I have rekindled my relationships with. Thanks Bot.

It is now that I realize that you could never take for granted those who deeply, truly care about you because in the end, they will be the one who will be there to help you.

Again lessons are learned through experience and indeed experience had taught me not to trust everyone. Even those who seems to care for you the most. One could never be too careful for the people whom facades are the only thing that you are familiar with. Nevertheless they are still part of me, part of my past which I will definitely ponder from.

It is innate of me to trust but it is my responsibility to be careful. It seems that I am lecturing myself but I cannot help it to blame myself for my ignorance and obvious idiocracy.

In the end, it is my God whom I should be thanking for. For giving me these experiences that will definitely polish the treasure in me. To be chaste and not be full of impurities.... to be wise and not be dull...

And for all that is, for all that had and for all that will....Thanks.....

5 Foods to Avoid on a Date (If you don't want to feel bloated, gassy, and....blah)

As a married woman, I have become somewhat accustomed to the fact that my digestive tract and my husband's digestive tract have their moments of 'not so perfect' etiquette. It is, after all, human to pass gas. And, as a result, I've become perfectly accepting of those less than lady-like or gentlemanly-like moments on a whole.
That said, whether you are married or single, going on a date should be special. You want to look your best and feel your best. You may have a favorite outfit you like to wear. You may like to exercise that day to ensure you look a little extra 'buff'. You may even head to your nail or hair salon for a little extra primping. But what about your insides? How do you get them prepared for a special, romantic evening? It isn't as easy, is it? For instance, if I eat certain things, I can end up feeling like a sausage: stuffed...gassy...bloated. This doesn't always manifest itself in the best of ways and can quickly become an uncomfortable and awkward situation, both physically and aromatically.
Needless to say, if you are trying to have a romantic evening, this can really kill the mood. So, what can you do? You can avoid some of the more gassy foods and stick to those that will keep you smelling like a rose. Lean proteins and fats tend to be the least gas producing, while foods that are high in carbohydrates, fiber and sugar tend to be the worst culprits. Specifically, here is a list of those foods you might want to avoid while having a romantic interlude:

1. Starchy foods: Pasta, potatoes, corn and wheat
2. Dairy products: Milk, cheese and ice cream
3. Veggies: Cabbage, spinach, broccoli, onions, artichokes and asparagus
4. Fiber-Rich Foods: Whole grains, fruits, beans and peas
5. Fruits: Apples, pears or peaches

As you can see, a lot of healthier foods, ironically, can cause extra gas in your system. Unfortunately, some foods cause more gas in certain individuals than others. Apparently, as I have now discovered, spinach does a number on me. If you find that there are certain foods in particular that cause your digestive tract to go into a tail tizzy, you might want to eat those foods in smaller portions.

The World's Most Beautiful Castles

They may no longer be used for repelling enemy hordes or otherwise defending the kingdom, but these castles still have their rugged good looks.

More than 900 years old, Leeds Castle regularly received Henry VIII as a guest.

ENGLAND
Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh, Northumberland. Fortifications have stood on this rocky outcrop near the North Sea since the 5th century. In the 12th century, King Henry II acquired the structure, and later it was snapped up by William Armstrong, a wealthy Victorian industrialist. Still owned by Armstrong's descendents, the castle has served as the location for several movies, including Roman Polanski's 1971 version of "Macbeth." After you tour the castle, which is open to the public from March to October, hop over to nearby Holy Island for a visit to Lindisfarne Castle. This stunner also overlooks the sea and is accessible only at low tide (the causeway connecting it to the mainland floods at high tide). 011-44/16-6821-4515, bamburghcastle.com, admission $10.75 (£7).
Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent. More than 900 years old, this moated castle regularly hosted that much-married Tudor, Henry VIII. Its current success as one of England's most popular tourist attractions is due to the work of the blue-blooded Olive Wilson Filmer, who outbid William Randolph Hearst to buy the castle for $873,000 in 1926 (that's over $10 million in today's dollars). Filmer used the rest of her fortune to restore and beautify the structure and its surroundings. On the grounds are several mazes, a display on falconry, and a dog-collar museum. 011-44/16-2276-5400, leeds-castle.com, admission (valid for a year) $25.25 (£15). Budget Travel gallery: See the world's most beautiful castles
SCOTLAND
Eilean Donan, Dornie, Scottish Highlands. Planted on an island in the middle of a loch, Scotland's most famous castle looks as if it's been there forever. It does date back to 1220, but the original structure was destroyed in 1719 and lay in ruins for two centuries. In 1919, Lieutenant Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap bought it and began restoration. He was helped by the stonemason Farquar Macrae, who claimed to have seen in a dream how the original castle looked in earlier times. The castle was rebuilt according to Macrae's specifications; later, plans found at Edinburgh Castle proved his vision correct. The "new" castle was finished in 1932. 011-44/15-9955-5202, eileandonancastle.com, admission $7.75 (£5).
WALES
Beaumaris, Angelsey, Wales. The English king Edward I began raising this castle as part of his campaign to conquer Wales. Work began in 1295, but the castle had not been completed when the money ran out (as so often happened with castles), and it remains unfinished to this day. Castles are thick on the ground in North Wales: Within easy driving distance from Beaumaris, you'll find the major structures of Conwy, Harlech, and Caernarfon, as well as two small, romantic ruins, Dolbadarn and Dolwyddelan. But Beaumaris remains the most beautiful. 011/44-12-4881-0361, beaumaris.com, admission $5.75 (£3.70).
GERMANY
Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau, Bavaria. Ludwig II of Bavaria -- a.k.a. Mad King Ludwig -- commissioned a set designer to create Neuschwanstein. Engineers broke ground in 1869, but King Ludwig didn't get much chance to enjoy his over-the-top palace. In 1886, as the castle was nearing completion, he died under suspicious circumstances; his body was found floating in a lake, with the body of his physician nearby. Despite this unhappy ending, Neuschwanstein remains the quintessential fairy-tale castle: It was a major inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland. 011-49/83-6293-9880, neuschwanstein.de, admission $13 (€9).
DENMARK
Kronborg Castle, Helsingør. Dating back to the 1420s, Kronborg is one of the best-preserved Renaissance castles, despite the various alterations it's undergone since then. Positioned next to a strait separating the Danish island of Sjælland from Sweden, it had great strategic power over the sea traffic -- not enough, however, to prevent the persistent Swedes from conquering it in 1658. Kronborg gained more lasting fame as the castle in Shakespeare's "Hamlet." 011-45/3392-6300, kronborgcastle.com, admission $16.50 (85 DKK).
FRANCE
Château de Castelnaud, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne. This impressive fortress, located on the limestone rocks above the Dordogne River, overlooks a former enemy, the Château de Beynac. During the Hundred Years' War, the English held Castelnaud and the French controlled Beynac, with both nations hoping to control this sensitive border region. These days Castelnaud is known for its Museum of Medieval Warfare, which includes reconstructions of giant crossbows and trebuchets, the huge slings used to hurl rocks at castle walls. 011-33/55-331-3000, http://www.castelnaud.com/fr/, admission $11 (€7.60).
Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, Orschwiller, Alsace. The hilltop position of this 12th-century castle, more than 2,000 feet above the Alsace plain, kept it safe for centuries. Destruction came in 1462 and again in 1633 after a siege by Swedish soldiers during the Hundred Years' War, after which it was overgrown by the forest and abandoned. Now it's a popular stop for tourists visiting the Alsatian wine region. 011-33/38-882-5060, haut-koenigsbourg.fr, admission $10.50 (€7.50).
ROMANIA
Bran Castle, Bran, Brasov. Both the keepers of Bran Castle and the Romanian Tourist Board are keen to emphasize links between Bran Castle and Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula. The connections are tenuous, but there's no denying the spooky charm of this massive structure's many turrets and towers. Some of the furniture on display was owned by Marie of Romania, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria who turned down a proposal from the future King George V of England and married the king of Romania instead. 011-40/26-823-8333, http://www.brancastlemuseum.ro/, admission $4.25 (12 leu).
SWITZERLAND
Château de Chillon, Lake Geneva, Montreaux. As with most real estate, it's often location, location, location that makes all the difference with castles. On an island near the edge of Lake Geneva, Château de Chillon is no exception. Excavations here have turned up evidence of a Bronze Age settlement, but the castle as it now stands was created between the 12th and 18th centuries. Its popularity got a huge boost in 1816. That year, following a visit, Lord Byron published his long poem "The Prisoner of Chillon"; the work refers to the "seven pillars of Gothic mold" that stand in "Chillon's dungeons deep and old." 011-41/21-966-8910, http://www.chillon.ch/, admission: $11 (12 Swiss francs). - www.budgettravel.com

Buhay AMERICA

Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa America ka akala nila madami ka ng pera. Ang totoo, madami kang utang, dahil credit card lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili mo ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mo gumamit ng credit card para magka-credit history ka, kase kapag hindi ka umutang o wala kang utang, ibig sabihin wala kang kapasidad magbayad. Akala nila mayaman ka na kase may kotse ka na. Ang totoo, kapag hindi ka bumili ng kotse sa America maglalakad ka ng milya-milya sa ilalim ng init ng araw o kaya sa snow. walang jeepney, tricycle o padyak sa America. Akala nila masaya ang buhay sa Amerika, Ang totoo, puro ka trabaho, kase pag di ka nagtrabaho, wala kang pambayad ng bills mo sa kotse, credit cards, ilaw, tubig, insurance, bahay at iba pa. Hindi ka na pwedeng tumambay sa kapit-bahay, kase busy din sila maghanap-buhay pangbayad ng bills nila. Akala nila masaya ka kase nagpapadala ka ng pictures mo sa DisneyLand, Seaworld, SixFlags, Universal Studios at iba pang attractions. Ang totoo, kailangang ngumiti ka, kasi nagbayad ka ng $70.00 para makarating ka dun, kailangan mo naman ng 10 hours na suweldo mong pinangbayad sa ticket. Akala nila malaki na ang kinikita mo kase dolyar na sweldo mo. Ang totoo, malaki pagpinalit mo ng peso, pero dolyar din ang gastos mo sa America. Ibig sabihin ang dolyar mong kinita sa presyong dolyar mo din gagastusin. Ang 15.00 pesos na sardinas sa Pilipinas $1.00 sa America, and isang pakete ng sigarilyo sa Pilipinas 40.00, sa America $6.50, ang upa mo sa bahay na P10,000 sa Pilipinas, sa America $1,000.

Akala nila buhay milyonaryo ka na kase ang ganda ng bahay at kotse mo. Ang totoo milyon ang utang mo. Ang bago mong kotse 5 taon mong huhulugan o higit pa. Ang bahay 30 taon mong huhulugan. Ibig sabihin, alipin ka ng bahay at kotse mo.

Madaming naghahangad na makarating sa America . Lalo na mga nurses, at yung mga mahirap maging normal na manggagawa sa Pilipinas. Madalas pagod ka sa trabaho. Pag dating ng sweldo mo, kulang pa sa pagkain mo. Pero ganuon din sa ibang bansa katulad dito sa America. Hindi ibig sabihin dolyar na ang sweldo mo, yayaman ka na, kailangan mo ding magbanat ng buto para mabuhay ka sa ibang bansa. Isang malaking sakripisyo ang pag-alis mo sa bansang pinagsilangan at malungkot iwanan ang mga mahal sa buhay. hindi pinupulot ang pera o pinipitas. Hindi ako naninira ng pangarap, gusto ka lang buksan ang bintana ng katotohanan. ...KAYA PAG-ISIPAN NINYO MABUTI KUNG GUSTO NIO D2 SA AMERICA.

WHEN I TRAVEL, PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME, WHY I LEFT THE PHILIPPINES ? WELL HERE IT IS..........

It is the only place on earth where.

1. Every street has a basketball court.
2. Even doctors, lawyers and engineers are unemployed
3. Doctors study to become nurses FOR employment abroad
4. Students pay more money than they will earn afterwards
5. Call Center employees earn more money than teachers and nurses 6) Driving 4 KMS can take as much as 4 hrs.
6. Where Colonial mentality is dishonestly denied
7. People can pay to defy the law.
8. Floodwaters take up more than 90 percent of the streets during the rainy season.
9. Where everyone has a relative abroad who keeps them alive
10. Where insurance does not work
11. Where water can only be classified as tap or dirty
12. Clean water is for sale (35.00 pesos per galloon)
13. Where the government makes the people pray for miracles (AMEN to that)
14. Traffic signs are merely suggestions, not regulations
15. Where being mugged is normal and it happens to everyone; a cellphone costs your life
16. The definition of traffic is the 'non-movement' of vehicles
17. Where the fighter planes of the 1940's are used for military engagements
18. The NEW FIGHTER PLANES are displayed in Museums
19. Where soap operas tell the realities of life and where the news are provides drama
20. Where actors make the rules and where the politicians provide the entertainment
21. People can get away with stealing TRILLIONS of Pesos but not a Thousand
22. Where the squatters have more to complain (even if they do not pay their tax) than those employed and have their tax automatically deducted from their salaries; the government coddles squatters
23. And where everyone wants to leave the country.

According to a Manila businessman: THERE IS SO MUCH WIT IN THE PHILIPPINES BECAUSE 'WE ARE A COUNTRY WHERE A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR IS NEEDED TO SURVIVE'. WE HAVE a 24-HR COMEDY SHOW HERE CALLED THE GOVERNMENT AND A HUGE RESERVE OF COMEDIANS MADE UP MOSTLY OF POLITICIANS AND BAD ACTORS.

SO KABABAYAN, WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE?