The Threats And Treats of Camiguin

The name “Camiguin” is derived from the native word kamagong, a tree of the Ebony family that thrives near Lake Mainit in Surigao del Norte. The original inhabitants of Camiguin were Manobos, who migrated from Surigao. The old native language in Camiguin is called “Kinamiguin,” which is similar to the dialect spoken in Surigao. 

 “Camiguin is an island of prime treats and primal threats.”  That was what the brochure said of island-province, which is approximately 90 kilometers north of Cagayan de Oro City.  In a way, that was I discovered during my recent visit to the island that was once part of Misamis Oriental.

For one, the province is literally “born of fire” as it has more volcanoes than municipalities.  Camiguin has only five municipalities (Catarman, Guinisiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, and Sagay) but it has seven volcanoes (Mount Vulcan Daan, Mount Mambajao, Mount Karling, Mount Uhay, Guinisiliban Peak, Tres Marias Mountain, and Mount Hibok-Hibok).  Not surprisingly, though, it has earned the distinction of having the most number of volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island on earth (it has a total land area of 238 square kilometers).

Fortunately, only one volcano is considered active: Mount Hibok-Hibok (which means “that which heaves”).   According to Filipino volcanologists, the said volcano constantly rumbled and smoke from 1948 to 1951.  Some 79 people died when it erupted in 1949 due to landslides.  Two years later, it erupted again.  This, time, however, it unleashed boiling lava, poisonous gases, and landslides enough to destroy nearly 19 squares kilometers of land particularly in Mambajao. All in all, over 3,000 people were killed.

There’s more to the island than volcanoes.  Among locals, the place is known as “the island of  your imagination.” As one tourism official explained: “Camiguin almost defies description. It is a tiny island of lush forests, volcanic splendor, eternal hot and cold natural springs, pristine patches of black and white beaches, majestic waterfalls, exotic marine life, blue-ridge mountains, serene surroundings, idyllic lifestyle; it has a glorious past, and is inhabited with jovial people.  But the truth is, the province is best experienced than described as one gets enchanted by her mystical charm. It really has amazing natural resources and peaceful atmosphere that stir and baffle the minds of everyone.”

While traveling around the island, I was not surprised why the Department of Tourism has identified Camiguin as one of the top 25 tourist destinations in the country.  Indeed, it is a perfect package and a real ecological tourism destination.

One of the province’s tourist attractions is the sunken cemetery.  A huge cross was installed in 1982 to mark the spot where the old cemetery sank when Mount Vulcan Daan erupted in 1871.  Every year, a fluvial procession is held to honor the sunken graves;  islanders bring flowers and candles as an offering to the dead. For those who want to take a closer look, bancas (outrigger canoes) can be rented to take you to the site of the cross.

Another must-see is the Katibawasan Falls, some five kilometers southeast of Mambajao at the foot of Mount Timpoong.   Enclosed by a massive, fern-swathed, granite mountain wall, the waterfall is a sight to behold: a seemingly singular stream of water drops 50 meters from a bulging source without touching the granite wall.  The falls tumble down into a green pool, ideal for a refreshing swim. Giant ferns decorate the surrounding land, carpeting for space with huge trees and dropping vines.

Not to be missed also is the Ardent Hot Springs, a government-run resort located at the foot of still-active Mount Hibok-Hibok.  The place has a four-tiered pool of varying depths and warmth.  The ideal time for swimming is early morning or late afternoon. There are cottages, a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and dormitory facilities provided for local and foreign tourists.  The resort, with its lush vegetation, offers the serenity and restfulness of quiet and peaceful surroundings.

If history is your thing, there are several centuries-old churches found in various parts of the island. One of the famous churches is Sagay’s Sto. Rosario Church, which was built in 1882.   A famous church located in Baylao is said to be miraculous during the volcanic eruption and claimed to have saved many lives.

Camiguin is known for two activities: Lanzones Festival and Panaad.  Since it was during summer when I visited the island, I wasn’t able to witness these two events.  But I was told that the Lanzones Festival – in honor of the tropical fruit that grows profusely in the island -- is celebrated every year in October with a weekend of street dancing, parade and pageants in the town of Mambajao. This festival includes an exhibit of agri-cottage industry products, barangay beautification, indigenous sports, tableau of local culture, and grand parade of the lanzones.

During Holy Week, religious devotees from all over Mindanao and the Visayas go around the island on foot for two days and nights as part of Panaad (literally means “promise”).  They start walking the minute they step out of the ferry boat in the Benoni pier, going northwards through Mambajao, until they reach the Stations of the Cross on the slopes of Mount Vulcan Daan.  In climbing up the mountain, they go through each of the life-size statues depicting the 14 stations of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ which are interspaced from each other.

Truly, Camiguin is a dream island.  It is a place where you can simply revel in the marvels of nature without too many artificial distractions.

The main mode of transportation in the island is the jeepney.  You can ride one with other paying passengers going to a particular destination.  Or you can rent one jeepney for a day at a hefty price, but that includes the driver’s services and gasoline, too.

Going around the island’s 64-kilometer circumferential road on a motorbike is sheer fun – and highly recommended by locals.  Motorbikes may be rented at reasonable prices in the capital town of Mambajao.

To get to Camiguin, you to travel from your place (in my case, Davao) to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental.  You can take any of the hourly scheduled ferries (from 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon) across the channels of Mindanao Sea, which dock in either ports of Guinsiliban or Benoni.  If you take the Benoni port, travel time is about one hour.

Camiguin is accessible by air and sea from Cebu City; but trips are limited only. Most fly in to Cagayan de Oro City, which is 84 kilometers away from the port of Balingoan. 

For those who would like to take their own vehicles to Camiguin, some of the ferryboats at Balingoan Port can transport cars, pick-ups, vans, and even large trucks to the Benoni Port.  However, a number of fees have to be paid to transport these vehicles. -- ###

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Wildlife Encounter And Thrill Adventers in Davao

Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

Davao has always been known for its fruits: the controversial durian, the seedless pomelo and the exotic mangosteen. But over the years, it has gained popularity as one of the country’s top destinations for its environment-friendly attractions like Philippine Eagle Center and the Malagos Orchid Farm.

Philippine eagles and orchids are understandable; they are part of Davao’s unique locale.  But what about Philippine crocodiles?  Sure, they are found only in the country but today, they are on the verge of extinction. 

In one of the episodes of National Geographic’s “Dangerous Encounters,” crocodile specialist Dr. Brady Barr wanted to be the first person to see all species of crocodile in the world.  Among those which he had seen, the most difficult to find was the Philippine crocodile.  Fortunately, he was able to see one but only about two weeks old.

As crocodiles are notoriously frightening, people often kill them.  There is also very limited governmental support for any conservation measures.  All these contributed to the decimation of their population.  In 1992, there were estimated to be less than 1,000 animals in the wild.

To save the crocodiles from disappearing in this part of the world, the Davao Crocodile Park came into existence.  “Crocodiles fascinate me,” says Philip “Sonny” Dizon, president of PSD Group of Companies, the mother company of Davao Crocodile Park, Inc.  “They are survivors.  I want to learn from their instincts.”

Business wise, the skin of crocodiles are very expensive.  When the skin is made into belts, the price ranges from P4,000 to P10,000.  In addition, there is a big demand for crocodile meat abroad.  Crocodile meat taste unusually like chicken, but only meatier. “It’s a great food,” he says.

Today, with about 700 crocodiles, the park is making waves as one of popular tourist spots in the city.  “The park is an establishment that showcases a state-of-the-art crocodile farming system in the Philippines,” Sonny says.  “It has the most recent crocodile farm design equipped with modern facilities and equipment.”

Actually, the park is more than just a crocodile farm; it also houses other kinds of animals and plants.  As one visitor observes, “Although the park is not a full-pledged zoo, it is one of the few places in the city where children and adults can learn more about the rich flora and fauna of the region and the rest of the Philippines.”

As soon as you enter the park, you would be greeted by colorful birds of all kinds: eagles, parrots, and lovebirds. Many are placed in cages but there are birds that are merely tied to their bird houses.  If you are a bird lover, you would surely enjoy the experience.  Of course, you’d also find snakes, monkeys, and freaky lizards, too.

If butterflies fascinate you, then visit the Davao Butterfly House, just a few walks away from the center of the park.  Upon entering, you will see butterflies flying around, crawling on the floor, drinking water on festive plates, and even mating!  The brochure says it all: “Learn the notable and unusual life cycle of a butterfly – from larval caterpillar stage to spectacular metamorphosis into a familiar and colorful winged adult form.”

Aside from the butterflies, the Davao Butterfly House also boasts of lush vegetation and a pond.  Here’s one observation of a recent visitor: “You will see butterflies of virtually any color you can imagine, and not just a few of them – literally hundreds of butterflies (maybe thousands) flying around enjoying the lush vegetation, colorful flowers and even a koi pond. It’s a great place to visit. I recommend it highly for families with kids. It would probably make a sort of romantic spot for a guy with his girlfriend, too.”

Adjacent to Davao Butterfly House is the Ostrich Ranch.  Here, visitors can interact with the biggest bird in the world.  There are about 40 of them.  Go through the once-in-a-lifetime experience of feeding the ostrich and capture the moment when its beak reaches your palm taking the food you are giving.

If history is your thing, don’t miss the Tribu K’ Mindanawan.  It is a cultural village that showcases the richness of the indigenous people through their dwellings, rituals, traditions, products and culinary arts.  If you happen to visit during weekend, you will see a cultural presentation that is highlighted with a very spectacular fire show.

Are you concerned about not eating while there?  Don’t worry; there’s the Riverwalk Grill.  It is the only restaurant in the city that is situated beside the Davao River that serves crocodile dishes and many exotic foods.   It is truly a unique gastronomic experience.

Davao Crocodile Park is open every day from Monday to Sunday. It opens its gates at 8:00 AM and its show starts in the afternoon at quarter to 5. It is located along the Ma-a diversion road and is only about a mere 20-minute drive from the heart of the city.

According to Sonny, Davao Crocodile Park is just one of the tourist destinations his company has established.  In fact, he wants Davao and its neighboring areas to be known as the “eco-adventure capital of the Philippines.”

“We have all the adventure destinations here,” he points out.  “You can go trekking at the country’s highest peak, Mount Apo; you can experience Wild River rafting any time of the year, we have a good number of zip line facilities, and many more.  The good thing is, we are still continuing to build new destination facilities that will surely help our place in tourism business in years to come.”

Inside Davao Crocodile Park is the office of Davao Wildwater Adventure, Inc., the premier white-water rafting sports facility in the region.  It takes tyro and experienced paddlers on a 15-kilometer adrenalin-rush ride downstream the majestic Davao River.  Before doing so, they are given thorough, on-location training on land and in the river, including paddling basics.

Here’s what happen during the rafting: “At one time, the river takes you on a ‘washing machine’-like spin-dry as your raft slams against large rocks. Then on another, you’re taken on a sudden drop that sucks you into the river. Then just when you feel like a cool dip in the river seems like a good idea, the river gives you just that – a long stretch of calm, free flowing water where you can lay on your back and let the river carry you while you enjoy the beautiful scenery.”

Another adrenalin-rush experience is the zip line in Zipcity, located at the Hilltop diversion road.  You can enjoy a 360-degree view of Davao City while zipping down the 310 meter-cable with an elevation of 120 to 200 feet from the ground.  “This is just the first development because in the following months, more zip cables will be raised for a more thrilling experience,” Sonny informs.

Other eco adventures Davao visitors should experience is the canopy tour, aqua fun and tarpaulin slide at Maxima in adjacent Samal Island.  Maxima is a house built above the sea in barangay Cawag in Peñaplata City.  It has four fully air-conditioned rooms, with all the amenities and facilities. 

Maxima is the home of Abyss, the only water slide in the whole country that is made of canvass material (about 40 meters).   Aside from water slide, you can also do the canopy walk at the upper portion of the place. -- ###

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Discovering The Placid Lake Sebu

Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio
Additional Photos by James Michael N. Montaño

“Lake Sebu is a beautiful inland sea on the island of Mindanao and is nested into the southern highlands at an altitude of almost 300 meters (984 feet). Lake Sebu is surrounded by rolling hills and forested mountains and is home to the T’boli, a highland tribe famous for their colorful costumes, intricate beadwork, woven work and brass ornaments.” That was the impression of an American who visited the place some years back.

But that’s going ahead of the story. Located in South Cotabato, Lake Sebu is often dubbed the “summer capital of Southern Philippines” as its climate is pleasantly cool (due to an elevation of 1,000 meters high from sea level). At night, the temperature gets cold and is pleasurable for those who seek the highlands and mountain feel.

But what makes Lake Sebu tick among visitors? Well, let me count the ways. For one, the town is an ancestral domain of the indigenous T’bolis. According to legends, they were descendants of the survivors of a great flood. A man named Dwata warned the people of an impending great flood. But the tribe refused to listen, except for two couples, La Bebe and La Lomi, and Tamfeles and La Kagef. Dwata told them to take shelter in a bamboo so huge they could fit inside and in this way survive the flood. The first couple was the ancestors of the T’bolis and other highland ethnic groups. The second couple descended the other Filipino indigenous groups.

The T’bolis are noted for their t’nalak, a sacred cloth made from abaca which is exchanged during marriages and used as a cover during births. “The T’boli t’nalak is distinctive for its overall tie-dyed design patterns laid on the entire surface of the cloth,” hailed the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA). “The highly stylized repetitive patterns depicting amphibious forms and plant elements pulsate in rhythmic cadence in definite hues of rust red, deep brown, and satin black against the light sepia hue of the abaca fiber.”

One of the famous dreamweavers, as T’boli weavers as known since the tribal designs are derived from a dream, is Lang Dulay. Only 12 when she first learned how to weave, she was chosen by the NCAA as one of the two Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan recipients in 1998 (the other was the late Salinta Monon of Bansalan, Davao del Sur).

A trip to Lake Sebu is not complete without going to the T’boli Museum. In the museum, which is actually a T’boli house, you see colorful costumes, bead accessories, brass made products and other souvenir items. You also get a glimpse of the clay pots used by T’bolis in cooking their food. You can even play the musical instruments – if you know how!

Aside from T’bolis, Lake Sebu is also home of the Tasadays, the cave-dwelling and primitive, stone-age tribe that lived in isolation in high caves of the primary rain forest area. It is for this reason that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has recognized the claim of both tribes that the lake and its surroundings are under their ancestral domain.

But one of the reasons why people flock to this place is due to its three beautiful lakes. The biggest among them all is the 354-hectare Lake Sebu (from which the name of the town got its name). The two other lakes are named Seloton (48 hectares) and Lahit (24 hectares).

It’s only in the biggest lake where you can watch magnificent panoramic views of sunrise and sunset. The kaleidoscopic scenery and incandescent light in this picturesque place, surrounded by serene waters, make it a photographer’s paradise.

During early morning or early evening, when the coldness can be felt, fogs rise above the lake. In some instances, according to have witness the phenomenon; the fogs drape the lake, making the large body of water totally invisible.

It is not clear how water is fed into the lakes, but the overflow cascades down a flight of seven waterfalls, one of its several outflows. These falls are spectacular and will remind you of the power of nature. However, only two are accessible; the others have yet to have access trails.

Going to the upper portion, in first waterfall, you have to ride a habal-habal (a motor bike with an extended back seat to accommodate up to 4 other passengers) to get there. The first one is considered a block type of waterfall, owing to huge water that comes from the biggest lake. The rapid gush and fall of waters from some 40 feet above makes traversing the river dangerous near the area where the falling water hits.

You have to take a short hike to reach the second waterfall, which is a plunge type. Going down may take your breath away, but once you see the second waterfall you will be totally mesmerized by its beauty -- as it has a height of more than 100 feet. Even from a distance, the fall is magnificent! The very small tributary from the top is almost inconspicuous but the rapids and the falling water from 80 feet is just too astounding.

The waterfall’s location is also mind boggling. It looks like it was actually etched like a crater in a mountain side with different layers of rock representing geological times clearly lined up in the in the overhang.

For those who do not like to trek, you can ride the 700-meter zipline from the first waterfall to the fifth waterfall. To return, you have to take the 400-meter zip from fifth waterfall to second waterfall. My friend Jose Rey L. Subaldo, who accompanied me during the visit, said: “The amazing thing about the zipline is you get to see the awesome view on top of the waterfalls.”

If zipline is not your thing of extreme adventure, then you can always return and try the cable car. Ramon Ponce de Leon, the provincial government officer, told a local daily that an investor has initiated talks with the provincial government “on their intention to operate cable car tours at the Seven Falls.”

Seeing the waterfalls may be magnificent, but the highlight of the town is taking a boat ride around the placid lake. For P400, you could hire a motor boat good for 8-10 persons in addition to your personal tour guide and boat man. During the boat tour, you get a glimpse of shoreline houses, the numerous tilapia farms, and people doing fishing. Don’t miss to see the inhabited Isla Grande (which looks like a sleeping crocodile from a distance).

So, what else you can do while in Lake Sebu? If you’re a biodiversity enthusiast, Lake Sebu should be one of your ultimate destinations. Wild boars and Philippine deer, both considered endangered animals, live around the lake. The lake and the surrounding rainforest are natural habitat to egrets, kingfishers, swallows, herons, Philippine cockatoos, and kites. If you are lucky enough, you might also see an endangered tarsier near the lush forests of seven waterfalls.

There are good resorts in town, with guided boat tours, recreational facilities and hotel accommodation. Among them, Punta Isla Lake Resort tops as it has a good view of the lake. Also, it is the only resort which has a floating restaurant. Imagine the cool weather, the breathtaking views, and the freshly grilled tilapia, which are raised in cages at the lake. Other tilapia delicacies they served include chicharon tilapia, tilapia foyong, tilapia rebusado, tilapora, kinilaw na tilapia, nilasing na tilapia, pinaputok na tilapia, and daing na tilapia.

How do you get to Lake Sebu? Well, there are flights from Manila to General Santos City (about three and a half hours by bus from Davao City). At the bus terminal, take bus bound for Koronadal City (often referred to as Marbel, its old name) and get off at the Koronadal bus station. The trip is about 45 minutes. From Koronadal, take the Yellow Bus to the town of Surralah (about 38 minutes). From Surralah, take a jeep to Lake Sebu (about 43 minutes). -- ###

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Philippine Eagle Center: Home To World's Noblest Flier

“For me, the highlight of my Davao trip was a visit to the Philippine Eagle Center,” wrote a Cebuano journalist after he returned home.  “The drive, although a bit far, was worth it after seeing the majestic creature.”

Visitors, both foreigners and locals, who come to Davao City for the first time, are almost always attracted to the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan.  Some 30 kilometers northwest and about an hour’s ride from downtown Davao, the center is the transient home of the Philippine eagle.

Here, visitors can see more than a dozen eagles, some of which were rescued after they were trapped or shot. Thirty-two birds have been raised as part of a breeding program.  Most of them are being induced to breed in captivity.  Pag-asa is one of its noted attractions; it made the headline around the world as the first tropical eagle conceived through artificial insemination.  Pag-asa is the Tagalog word for “hope.”

“Pag-asa connotes hope for the continued survival of the Philippine eagle, hope that if people get together for the cause of the eagle, it shall not be doomed to die,” said Dennis Salvador, the executive director of Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

PEF manages the eagle center.  A private, non-stock organization, it is dedicated to saving the endangered bird.  “By using the Philippine eagle as the focal point of conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their habitat,” said Salvador. 

The Philippines is among the world’s seventeen “megadiversity” countries, which together account for some 60-70 of total global biodiversity.  The World Conservation Union has identified the country as one of the most endangered of the world’s biodiversity “hotspots” – threatened areas with very high levels of biodiversity.

The Philippine eagle is one of the most endangered species in the country.  According to Salvador, the reason for this was due to massive deforestation.  “Deforestation is terrible,” he pointed out.  “The Philippine eagle has become a critically endangered species because the loss of the forest had made it lose its natural habitat.”

PEF aims someday to release the captive birds and those that have been artificially bred back into its natural habitat.  But “if time will come that we have enough stocks, where shall we release them” Salvador wondered. 

The Netherland ambassador to the Philippines Robert G. Brinks echoed the same sentiment.  “If nothing drastic is done about deforestation of the remaining woodland areas in Mindanao, within the lifetime of the present generation, the heritage of the national bird of the Philippines will only be seen on DVD, or at best tethered to a stump of a dead tree in the Eagle Center in Davao,” he deplored.

Efforts to save the Philippine eagle was started way back 1965 by Jesus A. Alvarez, then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office, and Dioscoro S. Rabor, another founding father of Philippine conservation efforts.

Rabor fought for the recognition of the plight of the Philippine eagle at the world conference of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in Bangkok, Thailand. He succeeded when the IUCN – of which the Philippines is a signatory -- was declared the Philippine eagle an endangered species.

From 1969 to 1972, America's famed aviator Charles Lindbergh spearheaded a drive to save the bird, which he called as the “noblest flier.” Within this time frame, several helpful laws were passed.

During the time of the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, he declared the bird – which is bigger than the American Bald eagle – as the national bird.  This brought the bird to the top of the priority list of Philippine wildlife conservation efforts.  If the national bird dies, so will all the country’s efforts at conserving its natural resources and treasures, Ramos said at that time.

The eagle center has been doing its best to educate the Filipino people as to the importance of the bird and its habitat.  Its facility was actually opened to the public in 1988 to raise awareness among those who visit the center.  Majority of its visitors are children on school-sponsored field trips.

“Many of these children came from all over Mindanao,” Salvador said.  “We use the opportunity in telling them the importance of wildlife conservation.  Our mode of dissemination ranges from providing lectures, slide and film presentations, to guide tours.” 

Many Filipinos – and some foreigners – were baffled: Why do we have an endangered Philippine eagle as the country’s bird icon? 

The Philippine eagle was formerly known as monkey-eating eagle (its generic name, Pithecophaga, comes from the Greek words pithekos or monkey and phagein meaning eater).  It was later renamed the Philippine eagle by Presidential Decree No. 1732 in 1978 after it was learned that monkeys comprise an insignificant portion of its diet, which consists mainly of flying lemurs, civet cats, bats, rodents, and snakes.

The eagle stands a meter high, weighs anything from four to seven kilograms and has a grip three times the strength of the strongest man on earth.  With a wing span of nearly seven feet and a top speed at 80 kilometers per hour, it can carry unsuspecting monkey and carry it off without breaking flight.

Unlike most animals and humans, Philippine eagles are monogamous and bond for life.  Once an eagle reaches sexual maturity – at around five years for females and seven years for males – it is bound for life with its mate.  They can be seen soaring in pairs in the skies.

The female eagle lays once every two years.  The breeding season ranges as early as July to as late as February.  During the breeding season, the eagles do aerial courtship and mate in the nest or near it.  Female eagle lays only one egg.  Both parents alternately incubate the egg for about 60 days, although the female spends more time incubating while the male hunts.

Upon hatching, the eaglet remains in the nest for about five and half months.  Once it fledges, the eagle parents will continue to look after its young for as long as 17 to 18 months teaching the young eagle how to fly, hunt, and to survive on its own.  The young eagle matures in about six years.

“The Philippine eagle is truly a Filipino pride,” said my nephew, Generoso Tacio, Jr.  After our tour, he added, “Now, I know why we have to protect and save them from disappearance in our land.”

 Aside from Philippine eagles, you can also see these birds at the center: black-and-cinnamon fantail, black-faced coucal, blue-crowned racquet-tail, brown tit-babbler, brush cuckoo, chestnut munia, cinnamon ibon, dark-eared brown-dove, eurasian tree sparrow, everett’s white-eye, glossy swiftlet, golden-bellied fly-eater, little spiderhunter, olive-backed sunbird, orange-bellied flowerpecker, rufous night-heron, silvery kingfisher, and stripe-breasted rhabdornis. -- ###

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Have Fun, Will Travel

WHEN Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said of “a journey of a thousand miles” that should be started “with a single step,” he was referring to travel, of course. “Traveling is almost like talking with men of other centuries,” said René Descartes.

 

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living,” explained Miriam Beard. “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go,” commented novelist Robert Louis Stevenson. “I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”

Unknown to many, the word “travel” has a common origin with the word “travail.” At one point in time, travel was exceedingly uncomfortable and often dangerous. Indeed, the ultimate source of the word "travel" is a medieval instrument of torture - the so-called trepalium – a contraption would pierce its victim's flesh with three sharp stakes (tres for three and palus for stake).

Later on, the word trepalium became a verb, trepaliare, which meant any form of torture. It was from torture that the Old French concept of travailler came into existence – or “putting oneself to pain or trouble.” In time, travailler came to mean “work hard” in French. English borrowed the word as travail and this, in turn, was used to describe a wearisome journey — travel.

On the other hand, journey is a “day’s travel.” The word comes originally from Latin via French. The Latin word dies, meaning “day.” led to diurnus or “daily” and then to the vulgar Latin word diurmata (modern Italian giornata) which became jornee in Old French (journee today). The specific notion of a day’s travel appears to have faded out of English during the 16th century.

Traveling is a serious matter, indeed. But some people cannot help but poke fun on it. “Travel is the frivolous part of serious lives, and the serious part of frivolous ones,” said Anne Sophie Swetchine. “But why, oh why, do the wrong people travel, when the right people stay at home?” Noel Coward asked.

Most travelers will definitely agree with Robert Thomas Allen's observation: “Most of my treasured memories of travel are recollections of sitting.” Novelist John Steinbeck can't stop himself from writing: “A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.”

Murphy’s Law states: If something can go wrong, it will. This would most likely happen to when you are traveling. Don Rutledge, one of America’s most awarded photojournalists, and his journalist friend were seated aboard a plane bound for mainland China from Hong Kong. His friend was sitting next to an emergency exit door and Rutledge was sitting next to him in the aisle seat.

A flight attendant came to their seat row and asked Rutledge’s friend, “Pardon me, sir, but can you open this door?” She, of course, meant if he could open the door in case of an emergency. “Yes, I think so,” he answered and before she could say anything, he grabbed the door lever and swung it into the open position. Fortunately, this happened when the passengers were still loading and the airplane was not moving on the runway.

The door bounced out of its frame and Rutledge's friend held it by the lever. The attendant's mouth flew open wide as she screamed, “I meant could you open it in case of an emergency.” She quickly tried to help get the door back into the frame but, even together, they were unable to do so. While he continued holding the door to keep it from falling to the pavement, she rushed to the cockpit and got the flight engineer to return the door into its proper place and reset it. When it was already in the locked position, the flight engineer told him, “Don’t do that again.”

But I think, the persons who enjoy the most about traveling are the travel agents. Here's a collection of stories, which I am sure you have heard before but still will somehow tickle your pain away. The only hitch is that they happened in the United States. But most Filipinos can relate to the anecdotes since the people involved are - yes, you’re right! – politicians.

At one time, a travel agent got a call from a candidate’s staffer, who wanted to go to Cape Town. The travel agent started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information when she interrupted him with these words: “I’m not trying to make you look stupid, but Cape Town is in Massachusetts.”

Without trying to make the staffer look like the stupid one, the travel agent calmly explained, “Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Cape Town is in South Africa.” Her response was a click of the phone.

Meanwhile, a New York lawmaker called and asked, “Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?” The travel agent answered negatively. “Why do you ask?” he inquired.

The lawmaker replied, “Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT, and I’m overweight. I think that is very rude?” After putting her on hold for a minute while the travel agent “looked into it” (he was actually laughing), he came back and explained the city code for Fresno, California is FAT, and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.

Still on New York: A New Mexico congresswoman called to make reservations, “I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York.” The travel agent was at a loss for words. Finally, the agent said, “Are you sure that’s the name of the town?” The lady lawmaker replied, “Yes, what flights do you have?”

After some searching, the travel agent came back with, “I'm sorry, ma’am, I’ve looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Rhino anywhere.” The lady retorted, “Oh, don’t be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!”

The travel agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don’t mean Buffalo, do you?" The lawmaker replied, “That’s it! I knew it was a big animal.”

Now, it came to pass that a lady senator called and said, “I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, Florida. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?” The travel agent asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, Florida on a commuter plane. She said, “Yeah, whatever!”

Then, there was the case of a senior senator, who called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, the travel agent reminded him that he needed a visa.

”Oh, no I don’t. I’ve been to China many times and never had to have one of those.” Hearing this, the travel agent double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When the agent told him this, the senator declared, “Look, I’ve been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!”

American humorist Mark Twain said it right, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

But on second thought, Lin Yutang told us: “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.”-- ###

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What This Holiday Season Means

December 25 is supposed to be the birth of Jesus Christ.  They call it Christmas.  Others use the word Nativity.  A few call the holiday season as Yuletide.  Although yuletide has nothing to do with the birth of the world’s Savior,  each letter seems to point out the real  meaning of the season.

Think on these…

Y is for you.  Jesus was born because of you.  He gave His life because of us.  Kahlil Gibran once stated, “You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

In John chapter three verses 16-17, the apostle wrote: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

As someone puts it: “The Creator thinks enough of you to have sent Someone very special so that you might have life – abundantly, joyfully, completely, and victoriously.  You are important!”

U is for understanding.  When the Bible says, “It is written…” it means it has been prophesized already.  Matthew started his book with the genealogy of Jesus.  The author wanted us to know that Jesus was a
true human being, descended from Adam.  Matthew also wanted the Jews to know that Jesus was a descendant of David.  Only a descendant of David could be king of the Jews.

Jesus came without sin for he was born into a virgin.  Isaiah predicted: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.”  The Virgin Mary fulfilled that.  Prophet Micah also recorded when Jesus would be born: “But you, Bethlehem, a ruler will come who will be the shepherd of my people Israel” (Micah 5:2).

L is for love.  Jesus left the splendor of heaven just to be with us. John 1:14 points out: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The “Word” is a special name for Jesus.  It means that He is the person who reveals God, or tells us what God is like. The Bible says that Jesus existed forever and that he is God.

John called him “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29).  In Old Testament times, lambs were offered as sacrifices when a person sinned. To call Jesus the Lamb of God meant that he would die as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  An angel told Joseph that the Son would be named Jesus “because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).  Now, if that isn’t love, then what it is?

E is for example.  Albert Schweitzer once said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others.  It is the only thing.”  The birth of Jesus is a living example of how we should live.  “Life simply so others may simply live,” someone once said.

Jesus came into this world in a simple manner.  Joseph and the pregnant Mary came to Bethlehem all the way from Nazareth in Galilee because of the decree of Caesar Augustus that “a census of the entire Roman world” (Luke 2:1).

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7).

“The coming of Christ by way of a Bethlehem manger seems strange and stunning,” C. Neil Strait wrote.  “But when we take Him out of the manger and invite Him into our hearts, then the meaning unfolds and
the strangeness vanishes.”

T is for thanksgiving.  “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him,” asked the Magi from the east who looked for the Child (Matthew 2:2).

Because it took a while to travel during those times, they saw the Infant Jesus not in the manger but in a house.  “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down
and worship him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).  That was the start of the tradition of giving gift during the Christmas season.

I is for influence.  From the time He was born, Jesus started influencing others.  The first who manifested that treat were the “shepherds living out in the field nearby” who saw “a great company of the heavenly host” and was told that “a Savior has been born.”

Matthew 2:15-18 recorded the event: “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

D is for devotion. This was seen in the life of Joseph.  “His mother Mary was pledged top be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit,” Matthew wrote.  “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”

But before that happened, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20).  It was also Joseph who taught Jesus to become a carpenter.

E is for eternity.  As long as the world exists, Christmas will never ceased to be celebrated.  The season will be a reminder that Jesus Christ really came, he dwelled among us, and died for our sins.  When the world will end, those who believed in Him that He was sent by His Father, will be with Him forever in heaven.

Robert Millikan stated so: “WE have come from somewhere and are going somewhere.  The great architect of the universe never built a stairway that leads to nowhere.”

Merry Christmas to everyone! – ###

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Philippines, My Philippines!

“Nuestro perdido Eden,” wrote national hero Jose P. Rizal. “The pearl of the Orient Seas,” hailed some historical scribes. “The second-largest archipelago in the world,” writes The Lonely Planet, which also described the country as “one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia.”

Welcome to the Philippines, my native land. “Often overlooked by travelers because of its location on the ‘wrong’ side of the South China Sea, the Philippines rewards those who go the extra distance to reach it,” The Lonely Planet notes. “And because it’s off the beaten path, the Philippines is a great place to escape the hordes who descend on other parts of Southeast Asia.”

The Philippines comprises 7,107 islands, with Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as the three main islands. The total length of its coastlines is 36,289 kilometers or twice that of the United States. Most of its islands are “abound with white-sand beaches, exotic tropical vegetation and beautiful lakes and rivers,” wrote All-Asia Travel Guide.

With a total land area of 104,688 square kilometers, Luzon is the world’s 17th largest island (excluding continental masses of lands like Australia). Mindanao is the 19th largest island as it has a total land area of 94,631 square kilometers.

The Philippines is home to some of the world’s marvelous creations. The Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao has been called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The total outline of this architectural wonder, or “stairways to the sky,” is about 13,500 miles long, or about half the globe’s circumference and ten times the length of the Great Wall of China.

Mayon Volcano in Albay has the distinction of having the world’s most perfect cone. Upon seeing the Bicol landmark in 1903, distinguished British traveler-writer A. Henry Savage Landor wrote: “Mayon is the most beautiful mountain I have ever seen, the world-renowned Fujiyama (Mt. Fuji) of Japan sinking into perfect insignificance by comparison.”

Another global record: Taal Volcano, a 406-meter-high crater, is said to be the world’s smallest volcano. It is described as “a crater within an island within a lake” because it stands as an island at Taal Lake. The lake was formed after the volcano, with used to be much larger, collapsed.

Mount Apo, a dormant volcano situated in the boundaries of Davao City, Davao del Sur and North Cotabato, is the county’s highest peak (2,954 meters or 10,311 feet above sea level). Mount Apo is flat topped, with three peaks, and is capped by a 500-meter wide volcanic containing a small crater lake. Its name means “master” or “grandfather.”

Actually, there are 200 volcanoes in the country, 22 of them are said to be active. Camiguin, for instance, has more volcanoes than municipalities. The province has only five municipalities (Catarman, Guinisiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, and Sagay) but it has seven volcanoes (Mount Vulcan Daan, Mount Mambajao, Mount Karling, Mount Uhay, Guinisiliban Peak, Tres Marias Mountain, and Mount Hibok-Hibok). As such, it has earned the distinction of having the most numbers of volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island on earth (it has a total land area of 238 square kilometers).

The world’s deepest part of the ocean is the Marianas Trench, which is over 11,000 meters below the sea level. This makes the Mindanao Trench as the world’s second deepest spot underwater. The spot, about 34,440 feet (10.497 meters) is in the floor of the Philippine Sea.

The Tubbataha Reefs is considered as the world’s richest bio-geographic area. In fact, it was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as a World Heritage Site. The two atolls are located 92 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City covering 33,200 hectares.

Also in Palawan is the world-famous St. Paul Subterranean National Park, a massive white rock mountain which rises 1,028 meters above sea level and stretches towards Cleopatra’s Needle. Its main feature is the underground river, with its 8.2 kilometers (five miles) of labyrinthine caves carved by rainwater and the waves of South China Sea.

The Philippines is also world famous for its Chocolate Hills in Bohol. It is a series of 1,268 perfectly symmetrical, haycock-shaped hills (each hill rises 30 to 120 meters above the surrounding plateau). A national geologic monument, the hills which are spread out in the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan never fails to amaze guests and visitors.

The highest waterfalls in the country is Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel, Davao Oriental. It is a series of 84 falls (count them!) appearing like a “stairway to heaven” with various heights among the steps. One step is measured 72 feet and another is 67 feet. Overall, the falls is 1,100 feet of cascading energy and 20 meters in width – all these in the midst of a virgin forest.

Now, let’s talk about its people. Filipinos were introduced to the English language in 1762 by British invaders, not Americans. Today, the Philippines is the world’s third largest English-speaking country, next to the United States and United Kingdom.

Many foreigners have noted that the Filipino population has Asia’s highest rates of inventors and international beauty queens. Two Filipina beauties, Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran, were chosen as Miss Universe in 1969 and 1973, respectively. The Miss International crown was worn by Gemma Cruz in 1964, by Aurora Pijuan in 1970 and by Melanie Marquez in 1979.

Dr. Fe del Mundo, the first Asian to have entered the prestigious Harvard University’s School of Medicine, is credited for her studies that led to the invention of incubator and jaundice relieving device.

Dr. Abelardo Aguilar reportedly discovered the antibiotic erythromycin from the Aspergillus species of fungi in Iloilo in 1949. In 2000, Rolando dela Cruz developed an ingenuous formula that could easily remove deeply grown moles or warts from the skin without leaving marks or hurting the patient. The one-chip video camera was first made by Marc Loinaz, a Filipino inventor from New Jersey.

Pure- or part-Filipino celebrities in Hollywood include Dean Devlin, Von Flores, Tia Carrere, Paolo Montalban, Lea Salonga, Ernie Reyes Jr., Nia Peeples, Julio Iglesias Jr., Lou Diamond Phillips, Phoebe Cates and Rob Schneider.

The first Filipino act to land a top hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the 1960s was the group Rocky Fellers of Manila. Latina-American pop star Christina Aguilera lost to Filipina vocalist Josephine Roberto (also known as Banig) during the International Star Search years ago. In a mid-1999 MTV chat, she said that competing against someone of Banig’s age was “not fair.”

The first Asian and/or Filipino to snatch America’s Pulitzer Prize was Philippines Herald’s war correspondent Carlos P. Romulo in 1941. (He was also the first Asian to become United Nations Secretary-General.) The first two Filipino-Americans to garner the same award 56 years later were Seattle Times’ Alex Tizon and Byron Acohido, who is part-Korean.

“What’s still most impressive to me about the Philippines is the friendliness of the people, their sense of humor...,” wrote Honolulu journalist John Griffin in a 1998 visit to Manila.

This is what The Lonely Planet said: “Throughout the archipelago you’ll find people are friendly and curious, wanting to know where you’re from – often shouting out their guess at where you’re from – and where you’re heading. At times when you’re not feeling in the best mood yourself, for example when you and 25 others are squashed in the back of a jeepney built for 10, if you glance around you’ll always find lots of smiles and laughter that will instantly lighten your mood.”

Now, imagine a world without the Philippines! -- ###

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Quebec: Little France In North America

WHEN I attended the 4th World Conference of Science Journalists in Montreal, Canada – thanks to the International Development Research Center, which sponsored by trip – one of the most awaited events was the day tour in Quebec City.

“The juxtaposition of French, English, North-American, modern and secular constructions in the same urban scenery, gives the city a very interesting anachronic character, and is at the very least unexpected – you either like it or don't like, but you can't remain indifferent,” says a Canadian journalist I have interviewed before coming to the historic city.

Québec City is located 250 kilometers east of Montréal and about 850 kilometers north of New York City.  It is almost entirely French in feeling, in sprit, and in language; 95 percent of the population is French. But many of its 648,000 citizens speak some English, especially those who work in hotels, restaurants, and shops where they deal with tourists every day. 

“Three centuries of colonial conquests, a French, English and finally Quebec regime, are at the origins of the unusual architectural aspect of Quebec City,” explains our tour guide, who didn’t stop talking even if all of us were already taking pictures here and there.  

The capital of New France under the French regime (1608-1759), then the so-called “fortress city” of the English colony and capital of lower Canada under the English Regime (1763-1867),Quebec became the provincial capital at the time of the Canadian Confederation in 1867.

Today, Quebec is the only fortified city in North America.  Perched atop Cap Diamant (Cape Diamond), surveying the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is one of the landmarks of North American history. No wonder, it has been included in the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s prestigious World Heritage List in 1985, the only North American city so honored.  The city's name is from an Algonquian word, which means, “where the river narrows.”

For first time visitors like me, you can say the city has retained its European atmosphere completely. The winding cobbled streets are flanked by 17th and 18th century stone houses and churches, graceful parks and squares, and countless monuments.

One you should not miss visiting is the city’s Parliament Hill, which is dominated by majestic outline of the parliament building whose architecture is particularly stunning when lit up at night. Not far from there, the Observatoire de la capitale offers breathtaking panoramic views of the area, notably of the Battlefields Park, better known as the Plains of Abraham, the site of many clashes between the French and British empires in their struggle for domination.

Bohemian, colorful, and welcoming Saint-Jean-Baptiste district is one if the city’s most endearing neighborhoods, according to our tour guide.  Wander along rue Saint-Jean and discover some of its delightful surprises, including the oldest grocery in North America (1871). Other worthwhile stop-offs are the historic Second Empire style Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, St. Matthew’s Church, and the cemetery of the same name.  Bursting with boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and food shops, Saint-Jean-Baptiste district is a lively and wonderful place to hang out. From there, make your way to the Faubourg Elevator which will take you down into the heart of the Saint-Roch district, another picturesque part of the city.

Perhaps the most appealing among them all is the Place-Royale, a step back in time to the early days of New France.  It was here that Samuel de Champlain founded his “abitation” in 1608. Learn all about this cradle of French civilization in North America at the Place-Royale Interpretation Center.  Then admire the historic Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church, the oldest stone church in North America (1688).  Don’t miss the immense Fresque des Quebecois fresco, which traces 400 years of history.

The Citadel, Quebec's most famous landmark, overlooks the city from a height of 347 feet.  It was designed according to a defense system developed by a French military engineer named Vauban and built under the supervision of Lieutenant colonel Elias Walker Durnford. History records showed the construction of the outer walls began in 1820 and it took 30 years to finish its construction.

Below the Place-Royale is the Petit-Champlain district, a reminiscent of a French village of yesteryear.  It’s not surprising that this is where you’ll find the Louis-Jolliet House (1683), former residence of the man who discovered the Mississippi, and the Chevalier House with its typically 18th and 19th century décor.  Don’t miss the mural La fresque du Petit-Champlain which illustrates early-day Cap-Blanc quarter.  The Petit-Champlain district is also home of many boutiques displaying exclusive wares.  At nearby Place de Paris, art and history come together with the Batterie Royale (1691) and Jean-Pierre Raynaud’s sculpture entitled ‘Dialogue avec l’histoire.’

Quebec City’s Old Port has also become a favorite spot for strollers and cruise ship passengers to wander around or to just to relax.  At the Naval Museum of Quebec and the Old Port ofQuebec Interpretation Center, you’ll learn that the site was once of great strategic importance. Did you know, for instance, that in the 19th century, Quebec City was one of the world’s five biggest ports?  You’ll love the charm of rue Saint-Paul, where antique shops and sidewalks cafes are an invitation to linger.  When you’re ready to move on, drop by the Ilot des Palais for an initiation into the archeological mysteries of the area.  A stone’s throw away is the Musee de la civilization, where 10 fascinating exhibits and interactive workshops await you.

One destination I failed to see was the Montmorency Falls. The falls are 272 feet high, 98 feet higher than Niagara Falls in Toronto. According to Canadians I talked with, visitors can view the waterfall from all sides thanks to a pathway surrounding it. You can climb a long stairway to the top of the falls, or you can take an aerial cable car.

Bon jour! -- ***

 

 

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