TravSeek - Manilenio » Cebu

Top 10 Philippines Beaches

admin — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:12:40 +0000

Beaches in the Philippines are as diverse as its people. While some are deserted island getaways and some have loud and noisy beachfronts, each beach has its own character. The list we compiled below is not confined to a specific set of criteria, such as the availability of modern amenities, accessibility, etc. Instead, by their own uniqueness.

1. White Beach, Boracay. The grand dame of the Philippine beaches and the unofficial summer capital of the Philippines.

2. Maira-ira Beach, Pagudpud. A great getaway up north complemented by Ilocano dishes.

3. Alona Beach, Panglao island. Has a status of playing second fiddle to Boracay.

4. Malapascua, Cebu. Great getaway for those seeking peace and tranquility.

5. Bantayan, Cebu. Another great beach in the premier province of the Visayas.

6. Siargao Island. A surfer’s paradise in the South.

7. Camiguin Island. Great beaches accompanied by extreme activities inland.

8. Miniloc Island, Palawan. Lime stone formations that rival those in Thailand and Vietnam.

9. Sogod Beach, Cebu. Nice beach with a well-serviced resort.

10. Potipot Island, Zambales. Easily gets crowded in the peak summer months. But a very good substitute to white sand beaches of the South without flying by plane.

Santo Niño de Cebu

admin — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:13:46 +0000

The Santo Niño de Cebu is a celebrated image of the child Jesus in the Philippines. It is older than its counterpart in Europe, the Infant Jesus of Prague, and is the oldest Catholic relic in the Philippines. It is housed in a minor basilica in Cebu City.

The story of the Santo Niño de Cebu began when Ferdinand Magellan set sail to the east in 1521 AD. Arriving in Cebu, he persuaded the local chieftain and his wife, Rajah Humabon, to be baptized to as Catholic Christians. As a symbol of the alliance, an image of the child Jesus was presented to the couple. For almost five centuries, the image has survived, battles, earthquakes, fires, wars and several other man-made and natural calamities.

The feast of the Santo Niño de Cebu starts on third Thursday of January, after the feast of the Epiphany. A procession, which involves images of the Virgin Mary, is done and afterwards a fluvial parade is conducted on the Mactan Channel.

A festival by the lay people, called the Sinulog Festival is done with so much fanfare and pageantry during this time of the year. Here, people dressed in native costumes bearing the image of the Santo Niño dance on the streets with a level of energy reminiscent of the Mardi Gras festival.

Asian Belgian Resort and Dive Center Cebu