Starting March 8, Filipinos applying for passports may do so at the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Office of Consular Affairs at the corner of Bradco and Macapagal Avenues in the Aseana Business Park, near the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Authentication services will be transferred to the new building on March 4, while all passport operations will transferred there on March 8.

The new 7,000-square meter, four-storey building is a few blocks away from the DFA main building in Pasay City.

The new building is part of the ongoing modernization program undertaken by the government to improve its frontline services.

These include harnessing new technologies in passport and visa issuances and streamlined procedures in the authentication of documents.

To ensure quick service, the DFA said applicants should check the passport requirements and secure an online appointment at www.dfa.gov.ph, or call the consular helpline number (02-556-0000) or DFA trunk line (02-834-4000).

Applications may also be filed with the DFA’s 19 regional consular and satellite offices.

Focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 10 s. 33.5 m (110 ft) white concrete tower with two galleries; no lantern. The building has an enclosed 2-story square base, an octagonal skeletal section topped by a gallery, and then a square cylindrical section topped by the octagonal second gallery. There are a number of lighthouses of this type in the Philippines, including the Lolong Point Light. Apo Reef is an atoll placed dangerously in the center of Mindoro Strait, the shipping route between the South China Sea and the central and southern Philippines. The atoll is preserved as the Apo Reef Natural Park. The original lighthouse here, built early in the U.S. administration (1906), was a hexagonal skeletal tower with central cylinder. Site open; visitors can climb the stairs to the top of the skeletal section.

Note: there is also an Apo Island lighthouse in Negros . Located on the atoll 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Sablayan. Accessible only by boat.

The year 2010 is expected to be a positive year for Philippine tourism. Needless to say, everyone is expected to pack their bags and travel.

The Philippine Travel Agencies and Association, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism and other travel tour operators and agencies, is staging the 17th Travel Tour Expo 2010 on Feb. 19 to 21, at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, running on the theme “Ready, Jet-set, Go!”

The event is considered the biggest and grandest travel fair in the Philippines and everybody who is anybody in the industry is expected to join.

The 17th travel tour expo is expecting more visitors, participants, and not to mention, sales. Activities include raffle draws, entertainment and games, and presentations from exhibitors. Lastly,  great bargains and promotions that will entice even the most jaded traveler.

Date:

19 to 21 February 2010

Venue:

SMX Convention Center Halls 2, 3 & 4,

Seashell Drive,  Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City

Opening Hours:

19 February - Friday

10 AM - 9 PM

20 February - Saturday

10 AM - 9 PM

21 February - Sunday

10 AM - 7 PM

Ticket booths close 30 minutes before end of show hours

Accompanying Events:

Daily Raffle Draws, Entertainment & Games and Exhibitors’ Presentations & more surprises

Mount Samat is a mountain in the Town of Pilar, Province of Bataan, Republic of the Philippines that is the site of the Dambana ng Kagitingan or “Shrine of Valor”.

Along with the island fortress of Corregidor, Mount Samat was the site of the most vicious battle against the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942 during the Battle of Bataan.

Suffering heavy losses against the Japanese all over Luzon, Filipino and American soldiers retreated to Bataan Peninsula to regroup for a last valiant but futile stand. This retreat to Bataan is part of a United States strategy known as War Plan Orange.

After fierce battle lasting 3 days, 78,000 exhausted, sick and starving men under Major General Edward P. King surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. It was, and still is, the single largest surrender of U.S. and Philippine Forces ever. These forces were then led on the Bataan Death March.

The mountain is now a war memorial. A huge white cross stands as a mute but eloquent reminder of the men who died there. The Memorial Cross is a towering structure made of concrete, steel and marble. It is 92 meters high and the arms’ length is 15 meter on each side. It is 555 meters above sea level. An elevator goes up to the arms of the cross where the viewing galleries are found. The exterior finish of the cross at the base up to an 11-meter level is capped with “Nabiag Nga Bato” sculptural bas relief’s depicting significant battles and historical events. It also acts as a tourist attraction with a war museum nearby that has a wide array of displays from paintings of the Philippine heroes to armaments used by the American, Filipino and Japanese forces during the heat of the battle.

Feast of Candelaria

Date: February 2 Location: Jara, Iloilo City

The biggest and most opulent religiuos pageanty in Western Visayas. The blessing of candles and the yearly procession of the patroness, the Nuestra Senora de Candelaria is followed by the fiesta queen and her court which highlights the celebration.

Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Date: February 11-14 Location: Clark Field, Pampanga

Flying superstars known as hot-air balloons are making their grand performance to treat thousands of people to a three-day air-sporting extravaganza filled only with fun, excitement and friendly competition.

Suman Festival

Date: February 13-20 Location: Baler, Aurora

The biggest and grandest of all feast in Aurora every February 13-20 is a parade of floats uniquely designed. Main srreets and homes are decked with suman, a native delicacy.

Panagbenga Flower Festival

Date: Last week of February Location: Baguio City

The Baguio folks take a break on these days to revel in the cool climate and the unique culture of their city. Multi-hued costumes are worn, mimicking the various blooms of the highland region . Celebrated with shows, concerts, and pageantry of floats made from hundreds of flowers.

Please let me know if I missed anything.

I remember when I was little, every summer we have a Bolinao trip to check our rice farm and Sinegwelas farm (Spanish plum). During those early years I never explore Bolinao till the summer trip to Bolinao was stop because we only wait for the harvested crop to be delivered to our house.

Now Im so eager to explore Bolinao. I want to visit those places that I visited during my childhood years and some how see the changes. So I made this tourist spot list that I want to visit.

Interesting Places in Bolinao (Tourist Spots):

• Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
• Portuguese Point and Lighthouse
• Bolinao National Museum
• Church Of St. James Fortress (The Bolinao Church)
• Bolinao Marine Laboratory (UP Marine Science Institute)
• Santiago Island
• Silaqui Island (Isla Silaki)
• Binabalian Island
• Enchanting Cave
• Cindy’s Cave
• Wonderful Cave
• Tara Falls
• Bolinao Falls
• Fatima Hill
• Patar Beach
• Guiguiwanen Beach
• Balingasay Beach
• Abrac Beach

Please let me know if I missed anything.

Adarna Food and Culture is a restaurant that celebrates Filipino culinary heritage by serving historical, regional and heirloom recipes in a warm, elegant and homey setting. Every table offers a special view of the place with its collection of Filipino memorabilia.

Hosts are on hand to provide each guest with efficient and polite service to make dining pleasurable and worry-free. Adarna serves a selection of dishes based on the accounts of old family cooks, descendants of families with culinary traditions and old Filipino cookbooks.

The restaurant commonly uses organic ingredients. It uses no MSG, artificial flavors, seasonings and preservatives. All ingredients that can be sourced locally and from their points of origin are used.

Traditional cooking methods are applied in a modern kitchen that observes strict sanitary standards to ensure that the food served is safe and clean. Adarna regularly offers new dishes on its menu to celebrate the diverse culinary traditions of the country for its guests to discover and enjoy.

My over all experience

Adarna is a pleasant experience for me, The ambiance itself was exceptional. I love how Adarna preserve the antique memorabilia. The food is great I went home satisfied and even texted few friends to try it out. Aside from the food and ambiance the staff of Adarna are courteous and I must say that they provided me with an exceptional customer service and even find time to tour us around and give us brief back ground of the memorabilia’s displayed

Experience Adarna Food and Culture Restaurant:

Location: 119 Kalayaan Avenue Diliman Quezon City Philippines

Features: Lunch, Dinner, Offers vegetarian items, Has smoking area, Function rooms, Bar list, also serve merienda fare between 3-6pm except on Sundays.

Business Hours: 11:30 AM-10:30 PM Monday to Sunday

Contact No. : +639179618113 or +6329268712

adarnafoodandculture@yahoo.com

adarnafoodandculture@gmail.com

We all want to visit Boracay but would you like to have a free trip to Boracay?Here’s a promo for you guys that will allow you to win a free trip to Boracay!

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package by WOW Philippines Travel Agency

WOW Philippines Travel Agency, Inc. is celebrating it’s 5th year in business during July of 2010, and we would like you to have a chance to celebrate with us, so we have decided to give-away a FREE Boracay Package complete with 5 Star accommodations at the luxurious Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel on Boracay Island. The lucky winner will win the following Boracay vacation package.

Vacation Package Inclusions:

- 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxury 5 Star Accommodations at the Le Soleil de Boracay  Hotel

- Flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan Airport on Philippine Airlines

- Island Transfers - Door-to-Door from Manila to the resort and back to Manila

- Three (3) Meals each day, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

- Boracay Activities - Horseback Riding, Island Hopping, Glass Bottom Boat

- PLUS - 5,000 peso Spending Cash

Read More Information: http://www.boracay-packages.com

1st Philippine International Pyromusical Competition 2010 Launch Schedule of Activities :

Sunday February 14, 2010

- Philippines @ 7:00 PM

- Australia @ 8:00 PM

Sunday February 21, 2010

- United Kingdom @ 7:00 PM

- China @ 8:00 PM

Sunday February 28, 2010

- France @ 7:00 PM

- Japan @ 8:00 PM

Sunday March 7, 2010

- Singapore @ 7:00 PM

- Malaysia @ 8:00 PM

Sunday March 14, 2010

- U.S.A @ 7:00 PM

- Philippines @ 8:00 PM

Seat Location and Price
VIP (with dinner) @ 1500
Patron @ 500
Gold @ 300
Silver @ 150
Gen. Admission @ 100