Tubbataha Reef

The Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea is a marine sanctuary protected as the
Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is made up of two atolls, North
Atoll and South Atoll, it has become one of the most popular dive sites in the
Philippines because of its coral walls where the shallow coral reef abruptly ends
giving way to great depths. The marine park is open to live-aboard diving
excursions between the months of April to June when the waves are calmest.

San Agustin Church

Located in Manila, San Agustin Church is the first church built in Luzon during the
Spanish colonial period. Built in 1589, this beautiful church has survived seven
earthquakes and two fires over the centuries and now remains as the oldest
stone church in the Philippines for more than 400 years old. The San Agustin
church was rebuilt three times due to manmade and natural disasters. It is
recognized by the UNESCO as a historical landmark. It is also home to the tomb
of the first governor-general, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, and other Spanish
conquistadors including Juan de Salcedo and Martin de Goiti. At the main
entrance, there are exquisite carvings on the wooden doors. Inside is the lovely
Mexican-influenced interior, designed in the shape of a Latin cross. And the gorgeous ceiling that was painted in the 1800s
by Italian artists, Giovanni Dibella and Cesare Alberoni.

Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano is significant for its perfectly symmetrical cone shape, rising more
than 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level. Mayon is the most active volcano
in the Philippines, having erupted over 49 times in the past 400 years. Visitors can
enjoy a number of activities here such as camping, climbing, hiking, bird watching
and photography. A picturesque spot in which to admire Mayon Volcano is from
the nearby Cagsawa ruins. Did you know that in February 1, 1814 is the most
destructive eruption of Mayon bombarding the nearby towns with volcanic rocks

Malapascua Island

A small island made up of quiet fishing villages, Malapascua Island is popular for
its ideal diving spots and the only place in the world to see thresher sharks on a
regular basis as well as manta rays and hammerheads. The other hidden gems
here are the beautiful, sandy white beaches, crystal clear waters bordered by
coconut trees and colorful coral gardens.

Puerto Galera

Just south of Manila, with its charming coastal town and well-favored for its
gorgeous beaches, excellent diving spots and wide diversity of marine species.
The most popular beaches are White Beach and Sabang Beach, which also offer
nearby shopping, dining, nightlife and hotel accommodation. Another popular
attraction is the natural harbor of Muelle Bay with its rows of shops, restaurants
and bars. Visitors can also go snorkeling to see some of Asia’s best coral reefs or
dive among old shipwrecks and hundreds of fish species.
Puerto Princesa Underground River

Located on the northern coast of the island of Palawan, Puerto Princesa is a

nature lover’s paradise. Home to unspoiled landscapes rich in wildlife, this
lovely town also lays claim to one of the world’s most unique natural
phenomena, an underground river known as the Puerto Princesa
Subterranean River. Protected within a national park, this natural wonder is
the world’s longest navigable underground river. Guided by the paddle boat
tours showing intriguing rock formations and fluttering bats.

Donsol

Located in the province of Sorsogon, a place of pristine beaches, stunning

waterfalls and unexplored caves, the sleepy fishing village of Donsol is the place
in the Philippines to see whale sharks. The ocean’s gentle giants can be seen
between November and June, with the numbers peaking between February
and May. Tourists can also take a boat cruise along the Donsol River through
mangrove and palm trees, and watch the night light up with millions of
sparkling fireflies. Donsol also offer a traditional shrimp-catching expedition
with bamboos and nets.

Chocolate Hills

One of the top tourist attractions in the Philippines, The Chocolate Hills are
unusual geological formations that consists of at least 1,268 individual mounds
scattered throughout the interior of the island of Bohol. The almost symmetrical
and same-sized formations range from 98 to 164 feet (30 to 50 meters) high and
are covered in green grass. Did you know that during the dry season the grass
turns into brow, hence the name of the destination. There maybe no consensus
on how these giant mole hills were formed. But one theory holds that the
Chocolate Hills are the weathered rock formations of a kind of marine limestone
on top of an impermeable layer of clay.

Boracay

Boracay is a tropical island surrounded by stunning white sand beaches and

clear blue waters. This may be a small island, but it packs great features such as
award-winning beaches, beautiful resorts and great adventures like cliff diving,
parasailing, horse riding, kite surfing and scuba diving. Boracay is also famous
for being one of the world's top destinations for relaxation. There are also boat
tours allowing visitors to watch stunning sunsets, explore volcanic caves and remote coves of turquoise lagoons. The fun in
Boracay doesn't end when the sun sets. The nightlife pulsates with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink and fun
until the wee hours of dawn.

Banaue Rice Terraces

No trip to the Philippines could be complete without seeing the spectacular

Banaue Rice Terraces. Banaue is a town on the Cordillera mountain range in the
north of the island of Luzon. It is mainly visited for its stunning rice terraces,
which are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Carved from the mountain ranges
about 2,000 years ago without modern tools by the Ifugao tribes, these
magnificent farm terraces resemble giant steps reaching up to the sky.
Fort Santiago

Inside the Fort Santiago, you’ll enjoy a peaceful walk and chill in its gardens
and lily pond. There’s a lot to see inside the Fort, like the Rizal Shrine museum,
Baluarte de Santa Barbara, Baluartillo, Rajah Sulayman Theater, and
Almacenes Reales, storehouses for goods. You’ll also see the dungeons where
hundreds of civilians and guerrillas were imprisoned, tortured, and executed
during the Japanese Occupation in WWII. Though severely damaged by war
and earthquakes the fort has been restored.

Manila Cathedral

Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica, better known as the Manila

Cathedral, Located in the heart of Intramuros, one of the oldest and most
famous churches in the Asia. It has been the venue for papal masses and has
long been the seat of the Archbishop of the Philippines. Built in 1571, this
historic church is known for its ornate architecture & visits by several popes.
From 1581 to 1958, this Neo-Romanesque-Byzantine cathedral has gone
several major reconstructions due to wars, fires, typhoons, and earthquakes.

Plaza de Roma

During Spanish era, Plaza de Roma was considered the center of the city where
bullfights and other public events were held in this location, until in 1797 it
was converted into a garden and the center of Plaza de Roma is a monument
to Charles IV of Spain, which was erected in 1824, for his having sent the first
batch of smallpox vaccines to the Philippines. Plaza de Roma is surrounded by
the Manila Cathedral to the south, the Palacio del Gobernador to the west,
and the Ayuntamiento de Manila to the east.

San Agustin Museum

Adjacent to San Agustin Church, the San Agustin Museum, this museum
showcases the rich history of Catholicism in the Philippines. In 1973, the
monastery was converted into a museum. The galleries within have a huge
collection of religious art and antiques from around the globe, including the
Philippines, Spain, Mexico, Singapore, and China. You can also find ceramics,
botanical drawings, liturgical goods, antique furniture, sculptures, and
furniture. San Agustin Museum will help you to learn more of the history of
Catholicism in the country.

Casa Manila

Located across the historic San Agustin Church, Casa Manila is a museum in
Intramuros showcasing Spanish colonial architecture. This house is divided into
rooms such as the sala, despacho, comedor, cuartos, cocina, baño with lavish
features throughout and decorated with stunning antique furniture, tableware,
artworks, all donated by various sources. Don’t forget to check the double-
seated toilet. Back in the day, toilets were built to accommodate two or more
users at a time, allowing them to sit beside each other and chat while doing
their business.
Puerta Real Gardens

Puerta Real is located right in front of the main entrance of Intramuros, outside
the south wall. It is an open green space garden perfect for walks, chilling,
weddings and state dinners.

NCCA Gallery

Located on the ground floor of the National Commission for Culture and Arts
building is the NCCA Gallery, an exhibition space for the contemporary art scene
in the Philippines. The NCCA gallery was established to help young artists get
their much needed exposure.

Baluarte de San Diego

Built from 1591-1594, Baluarte de San Diego was originally named Nuestra
Senora de Guia (Our Lady of Guidance). It’s a famous bastion in Intramuros,
constructed as part of the fortifications and designed to repel invasion. This
bastion has survived wars, earthquakes, and the ravages of time. Aside from the
bastion itself, you’ll also see the beautiful gardens, fountains, and the original
cannons with details on when and where they are made. This is also a popular
place for weddings and special occasions.

Philippine Presidents’ Murals

On this site, the metal moldings of the faces of the Philippine Presidents are displayed.

Cuartel de Sta. Lucia

Now, you’ll see Cuartel de Santa Lucia as just a ruined building. It was
constructed for the Artillería de Montaña in 1781. In 1905, it was opened as a
military school, or the Philippine Military Academy (now Baguio). The building
was ruined during World War II; the remaining walls were reconstructed by the
Philippine Constabulary. The interior was never rebuilt and is being converted
into a park.

Ayuntamiento de Manila

In front of Plaza de Roma is the Ayuntamiento de Manila, a neoclassical

building. It was also known as the Casas Consistoriales and nicknamed Marble
Palace. It was rebuilt three times over the past four centuries after being
damaged by earthquakes and wars. It was the seat of the Manila City Council,
which consisted of two alcaldes (city leaders), eight oidores (judges), a clerk,
and a chief constable. It was destroyed in World War II and reconstructed
thereafter; the building now houses the offices of the Bureau of the Treasury.
Intramuros and Rizal Bagumbayan Light and Sound Museum

The Intramuros and Rizal Bagumbayan Light and Sound Museum showcases the
history of the Philippines and the Filipino's journey to freedom in a one-hour
show combining lights, visual effects, soundtracks, sculptures, paintings,
representations and other technologies. The show narrates the life of Jose Rizal.
The whole show is Php1500; you can join a group if you are alone or make a
group with at least 10 people to avail the 150/head museum fee.

Fr. George J. Willman, SJ Museum

Fr. George J. Willmann was an American priest who lived in the Philippines and
eventually became a Filipino citizen. This small museum was created with texts
and photos of Fr. George J. Willmann so the public will know more about him and
to give information on sainthood

Bahay Tsinoy

(Chinese-Filipino House), a museum in Intramuros that documents the history,

lives, and contributions of the ethnic Chinese in the Philippine.It houses the
Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Center. In Bahay Tsinoy, you'll see a gallery of rare
prints and old photographs of scenes of old Binondo. It has the Ching Ban Lee
Ceramics Gallery, Jimmy Ongking Hall, and Chinben See Memorial Library, which
holds 8,000 books, documents, magazines, dissertations, and other articles on
the Chinese in the Philippines and other parts of the world. There is an extensive
collection of books on Philippine society, economy, culture, and politics; some
of the rare books are almost 200 years old.

Palacio del Gobernador

Just in front of Plaza de Roma, Palacio del Gobernador was the official residence
and office of the Spanish governor generals during the Spanish colonial period.
Today, it's the office of the Intramuros Administration and several government
offices.

Plazuela de Santa Isabel

Plazuela de Santa Isabel was built to commemorate the thousands of civilians

massacred within Intramuros by the Japanese forces during the Battle of Manila
in February 1945. The statue in this small park is Sta. Isabel caring for the
wounded during the battle of Intramuros.
The Ruins

A trip to The City of Smiles wouldn’t be complete without a visit to The Ruins,
a mansion built in 1920 by Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson in remembrance of
his wife Maria Braga Lacson. The building features ten rooms, an ornate
fountain across the main entrance, and two Ms (for “Mariano” and “Maria”)
molded onto each post around its exterior.

BenCab Museum

The BenCab Museum is a spot every artist and art lover must visit at least once.
Aside from housing Philippine National Artist Benedicto Cabrera’s permanent
collection, the museum also holds art shows and features exhibits by other
artists.

Laperal White House

If you like horror movies and scary stories, the Laperal White House in Baguio
is worth a visit. A vacation home built by Roberto Laperal in the 1930s, the
house is said to be the residence of the ghosts of a woman who looks out the
window and a little girl who stands on the stairs. The house is, unfortunately,
closed most days of the year, so you can only appreciate it from the outside.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Get a glimpse of Old Manila at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. With restored
Spanish-Filipino houses you can stay in and bask in its old-school charm. There's
a number of tours to choose from, so the long drive will definitely be
worthwhile.

Basco Lighthouse

Built in 2003 to guide local fishermen, Basco Lighthouse offers a 360-degree

view of Basco Town and Baluarte Bay. It can get extremely windy, though, so
avoid wearing hats, sunglasses, and other small items that can easily be flown
away.
House of Dakay

The 132-year-old House of Dakay is considered the oldest Ivatan home in

Batanes. Made of lime and stone with a cogon grass roof (replaced every 30
years or so), the house has survived the wind, rain, and an extreme
earthquake that left only it and four other houses in the area standing.

Cabagnow Cave Pool

Although Anda, Bohol, is more popular for its white-sand beaches, the
Cabagnow Cave Pool is a spot you wouldn’t want to miss. To enter the deep
blue (or sometimes emerald green!) pool, you can either jump off the cliff
into the water or go down the stairs. DG Tip: Make sure to come early, at
around 8 AM, to avoid the crowds.

Loboc River

Enjoy a banca ride or a cruise on a floating restaurant at Loboc River.

Considered one of the cleanest in the country, the river offers a view of lush
forests you can take in while digging into a feast.