“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints and kill nothing but time.”

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

MANTAYUPAN FALLS (Barili, Cebu)

The Mantayupan Falls of Baranggay Campangga, Barili is one of the tallest water falls in Cebu. Since few people have discovered the beauty of Mantayupan, it remains very ‘natural’ and well-preserved.

Entrance to Mantayupan Falls is at Php 10.00 per head; parking fee is Php 20.00 for car and Php 10.00 for motorcycle. Prices are very much affordable.

Mantayupan Falls is much higher in terms of heights than the well known Kawasan Falls and even looks more majestic. Before reaching to Mantayupan Falls you will pass to a beautiful paved walkway and the walk is not as long as in Kawasan Falls.

Mantayupan Falls is use to generate electricity to local residents and being used to irrigate the farm fields nearby. It was not open to the public until recently that still there are few people who have just discovered it.

The water is very cold but very refreshing. It so amazing to watch closely the falling of the water from above.

When you come to Barili, Cebu, Philippines, do not forget to include in your itinerary to spend time watching closely the majestic and awesome Mantayupan Falls.


This is the entrance in going to the falls.


This is the first falls you can see as you enter.


It's me again.


We need to pass this bridge in order to see the 2nd falls.


And we need to clinmb these stairs.


And here it is. Very tall.. Nice view!


The water falls right through here going to the first falls located at the bottom part.


Here's the water that flows to the first falls.


And it's me on a tree with the falls as my background.


We are going for a swim.


What a date! hehe..


How to get there?
*We are from Mandaue City so we still need to ride a jeepney going to Jones.
*We stopped at Abellana National High school and needs to walk going to southbus terminal.
*At southbus terminal, we had to pay 5 pesos for terminal fee and rode a bus going to barili. I think we arrive at barili for almost two hours.
*At Barili, we stopped at Shamrock Bakery. It's easy to go there because buses stops here.
*At Shamrock Bakery we rented a motorcycle (habal-habal) for 25 per person going to Mantayupan falls.

**ENJOY!!!!

KAN-IRAG NATURE PARK (Pung-ol, Sibugay, Cebu)

Kan-irag Nature Park is located in the mountain baranggay of Pung ol Kan-Irag Nature Park Sibugay. The park is part of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and is situated right in the heart of the Kotkot River watershed. Previously a bald stretch, the 71-hectare property was successfully ‘saved’ by Ayala Land, Incorporated. In cooperation with other non-government organizations, Ayala Land, Inc. developed this piece of land after scrapping its initial plans of turning it into a golf course.

Today, the Kan-Irag Nature Park is in top shape after an intensive tree-planting project initiated by the organizations involved a few years back. Dubbed as a ‘natural science laboratory’, the park is now filled with local plant species. The foundation is hoping to lure back the 27 different species of birds – including the critically endangered Cebu Flowerpecker – which left the place years ago.

Park entrance: Php50.00

Open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM


This is the entrance of the park.


The trail starts here.


Our way of going down. Just follow the trail.


We will pass by this stairs.


Another trail sign.


Nice place for picnics in the middle of the forest.


Another sign. This is where you can go camping.


The topmost part of the journey. Nice view, Fresh air and nature.


There's a nipa hut on top of the mountain. You can stay there and enjoy the view.


There is also a tower located at the top of the mountain.


Another mini bridge on going back to where we started.


The office of kan-irag nature park. End of the journey.

How to get there?

As for me, I took a ride from the Ayala mall to JY Square Mall by 7 pesos. From JY Square, I rented a motorcycle (habal-habal) for 60 pesos per person. Ask the driver to drop you off at Kan-irag Nature Park.

MALL OF ASIA (Pasay City)

Mall of Asia currently the Philippine’s largest and world’s third largest mall. Since its opening in May 2006, Filipinos considered it as a tourist destination, and a bargain haven for bargain hunters, as well as for retail business individuals.

Mall of Asia is owned by the same owners of SM chain of malls all over the country. Led by Chairman Mr. Henry Sy, Sr.

Mall of Asia Facts:

* 4 hectares/386,000 sq. m. floor area
* 8,000 parking slots
* 5,000 square meters for public utility vehicles
* 100 slots for tourist buses
* Almost one kilometer in length, and a perimeter of almost 2 kilometers
* Close to 2 million bags of cement used
* 44,000 gallons of paint consumed
* Designed by Arquitectonica, a US based architectural firm


These are two of my closest friends. We are sitting across the mall where the mall's fountain was located.


My friend wants to have a picture with me.. Ehehe!!!


This is the side of the mall's property wherein they almost called it as the bay walk.. At night, this part is the most exciting place. This is where the parties are held and fireworks during saturdays.


I am at the mall, overlooking the manila bay and the mall's fountain.


Still on the mall, overlooking the roads of the mall.


We are inside the mall. You can see lots of stuff here. hehe


This is a photo of a tree located at BF Homes Parañaque in Mango Green Inn. This is where we rented for an overnight stay. Nice place, Fresh air and nature!


Some streets we passed by.


NAIA 3 airport, time to go home.


Picture of the NAIA 3 airport.

Monday, May 3, 2010

COSTABELLA TROPICAL BEACH RESORT (Mactan, Cebu)

Costabella Tropical Beach is a beachfront resort hotel in Cebu that lies on the scenic coastline of Mactan Island in Southern Philippines. Just a short distance from Cebu City, with warm tropical weather, good swimming, nice dive spots, and a variety of outdoor activities, the Resort Hotel in Cebu of Costabella offers island holiday essentials.

“Beautiful Coast” in English, Costabella Beach is hemmed in to the sea by flamboyant trees, white sand beaches, and warm outdoor pools that look out from Costabella Tropical Beach to the marine sanctuaries beyond the resort hotel in Cebu’s Mactan Island. Inside the hotel is a reflection of the island’s warmth. From the intimate, well-appointed hotel rooms of their Cebu Resort Hotel to the well-trained hospitality personnel, Costabella Tropical Beach glows with the ease and comfort of a destination hotel in a tropical island.


The hotel with pool infront. The beach is at the back.


Suppose to be owner of the resort. Don Francisco!!!


Photo taken near the pool side.

SINULOG (Cebu City)

The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines. The festival honors the so called vision of the child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño (Holy Child),who used to be the patron Saint of the City of Cebu (since in the Catholic faith Jesus is not a saint, but God). It is a dance ritual that commemorates the Cebuano peoples Islamic and pagan origin, and their acceptance of Roman Catholicism.



The patron of Cebu, Sr. Sto. Niño.


I took a picture of a lttle girl dancing bringing the Sto. Niño.


I also took a picture of a lady bringing a Sto Niño. So beautiful!!


One of the dancing team.


Some props for dancing.


One of the floats. A 3 headed lion on my back.


One of the giants. This giant is made up of hanging rice "poso".


The Cebu City Van.. Hahaha!!!!


SINULOG
Every third weeken of January - Cebu City, Cebu
The Feast of the Sto. Niño is celebrated in Cebu with a procession, street dancing competition and a fluvial parade. Much like the Ati-atihan, the Sinulog Festival is marked by frenzied reverly to the chant of "Pit Senor!"

INTRAMUROS "The Walled City" (Manila)

Intramuros or the walled city of Manila, is located on the southern side of the Pasig River close to the rivers entrance into Manila Bay.

Intramuros, the old capital of Manila, was built in 1571. It remains a monumental, if ruined, relic of the Spanish period in Philippine history. It is a city within a city, separated from the rest of Manila by its crumbling walls. This ancient capital had well-planned streets, plazas, the Governor's Palace and churches. However, many buildings were reduced to shambles in World War II.



I am at Luneta park right now renting a calesa.


I took pictures while riding.


The streets of Inramuros.


It looks like an old spanish building.


That is a beautiful view of the Manila Cathedral.


This is the entrance of the Manila Cathedral.


We can also see this La Pieta located inside the church.


A monument of Ninoy Aquino.


A clock at luneta park.


A carabao at luneta park.


The lights of luneta park.






How do I get to Intramuros?

Light Rail Transit – LRT
If you are coming to Intramuros by LRT, get off at the United Nations Station. From here it is only a 20 to 25 minute stroll to the gates of Intramuros.

Taxi
Taking a taxi is very easy as Intramuros is such a popular destination all taxi drivers know where it is.

Jeepney
Take the jeepney that travels down Bonifacio Drive as this is where you will want to get off.