Natural Resources

Banaue Rice Terraces

Banaue rice terraces - Lone District, Ifugao, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Luzon, Philippines
Rice Terraces of Banaue, Ifugao considered the eighth wonder of the world. The terraces are listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. About the Ministry of Jesus Christ on earth (2000 years) started the indigenous peoples of Ifugao terraces in the mountain sculpture using only their bare hands and sticks of trees in the forest. The terraces were dug primarily to provide an area suitable for planting rice as a staple food for most Filipinos for breakfast, lunch or dinner, rice is always served and eaten with the main course. Tropical forests of the mountains act as a natural irrigation system used to irrigate rice plants. The terraces are 7 hours of travel by car (50 miles) from the city of Baguio, summer capital of the Philippines. Trip to Manila, capital of the Philippines would require a total of 12 hours to reach the terraces, a distance of about 205 miles.

Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef - The Sulu Sea, southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
The Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park is a sanctuary (conservation area protected by the government), composed of more than 1000 species of marine animals and birds. Reef classified as a World Heritage Site and is the site of the most popular dive for tourists in the Philippines. The Tubbataha Reef has two coral atolls, North and South Atoll. Park can be reached by boat from 10 to 12 hours, which is around 112 miles from Puerto Princesa city the capital of Palawan.

Boracay Island

Without doubt, this tropical paradise is one of the best and most beautiful beaches in the world. Boracay Island has been nominated on several occasions that the main tropical beach in the world. It has two main tourist beaches, namely Bulabog Playa Blanca and Playa. Considered a world-class tourist destination and 10 tourist attractions, tourist destinations, points of access holidays and most visited places in the Philippines, two of the main beaches of Boracay are a lot more recreational activities such as windsurfing windsurfing, kite surfing, diving, snorkeling, swimming, walking on the beach, sunbathing, beach volleyball, golf and other recreational sports. Although the island of Boracay is located 200 kilometers south of Manila, there are two airports on the island of Boracay travel by air and can travel by ferries from the sea. Do not take my word for it, go and experience the fun and landscapes of this tourist favorite.

Subterranean River National Park

Subterranean River National Park-The issland of Palawan, the Philippines is composed of a wide range of tropical forests, more than 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs, mountains, 2000 km of coastline, the desert more than 2000 species of marine fish. The site contains a full mountain-to-the-Sea ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. The area is home to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, also known as "Underground River Cave." The hotel is located an hour's flight away from Manila, is one of the longest underground river in the world - the entire 8.2 km / h in the underground river is moving in a cave, which includes major formations stalactites and stalagmites, and several large bays deep. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. There is also an important habitat for biodiversity conservation. Animals such as snakes, bats, lizards, large squirrels and fish living in a cave.

Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol's most famous tourist attraction. They look like giant mole hills, or as some say, women's breasts, and remind us of the hills in a small child's drawing. Most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact. However, this idea is quickly abandoned, as the effort would surely surpass the construction of the pyramids in Egypt. The chocolate hills consist of are no less than 1268 hills (some claim this to be the exact number). They are very uniform in shape and mostly between 30 and 50 meters high. They are covered with grass, which, at the end of the dry season, turns chocolate brown. From this color, the hills derive their name. At other times, the hills are green, and the association may be a bit difficult to make.

Legend has it that the hills came into existence when two giants threw stones and sand at each other in a fight that lasted for days. When they were finally exhausted, they made friends and left the island, but left behind the mess they made. For the more romantically inclined is the tale of Arogo, a young and very strong giant who fell in love with an ordinary mortal girl called Aloya. After she died, the giant Arogo cried bitterly. His tears then turned into hills, as a lasting proof of his grief.

However, up to this day, even geologists have not reached consensus on how they where formed. The most commonly accept theory is that they are the weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of a impermeable layer of clay. If you climb the 214 steps to the top of the observation hill near the complex, you can read this explanation on a bronze plaque.

   Pagsanjan Falls 

  In recent years Pagsanjan has become the premier tourist spot of the Philippines. More than 500 tourists from all parts of the world daily visit the town, from Monday through Sunday. These tourists are ferried to the enchanting Pagsanjan falls in native bancas paddled by expert boatmen. They all experience a thrilling memory of adventure, seldom surpassed in their lifetime. As Dr. Marguerite J. Fisher, American lady professor and globe-trotter, said: "I just love Pagsanjan, with its picturesque waterfalls and rapids. I've been there thrice and I've shot the rapids a number of times." 

Maria Cristina Falls

There are several names associated with Maria Cristina Falls. Some would call it “Twin Falls” because the flow is separated by a rock at the threshold of the waterfall. Other people tagged it as “now-you-see-now-you-don’t falls”. Wondering why? That’s because National Power Corporation operates the man-made controls of the waterfall which is important for producing electricity. 90% of the water from the falls is being utilized for hydropower plant but in spite of that its cascades are still alluring and splendid, attracting both the local and foreign tourists.

Maria Cristina Falls is open for public viewing during Sundays and other special occasions as these are the days the plant closes for one hour, allowing the river to run free and return to its natural split-double waterfall. Lisa and I together with our friends went to see the falls. We went up to NPC’s viewing deck at the 3^rd floor of the building. All of us were amazed of the falls despite the fact that it has decrease the flow of the waterfall because of El Niño. It continues to mesmerize us as it reach to the pool plunging some of its water to the people in the viewing deck. Swimming in Maria Cristina Falls is strictly prohibited because of the uncontrollable strong current of the water.