Why Don't We Go Somewhere Only We Know?
You’ve been to Boracay 435 times and concluded that the Philippines is a beauty. It is, but there is more to the Philippines than the island’s powdery white sand and its world-class hotels and restaurants. Have you heard of Palawan’s Long Beach? We bet you haven’t. Just so you know, it’s Boracay magnified three, four times.
With our 7,107 islands, the Philippines has a lot of potential and still uncrowned jewels yet to be discovered. In the Department of Tourism (DoT) website, however, the top tourist destinations only include Manila, Bohol, Boracay, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Cagayan, Camiguin, Cebu, Davao, Ilocos Norte, Negros Occidental, Puerto Princesa, and Zambales. What about the thousands of places to see that are just as sparkling and striking as the usual vacation haunts?
In the article, “DoT chief lists 6 ‘underrated’ PH destinations” published on ABSCBNnews.com, DoT Secretary Ramon Jimenez says that the only thing left to do is to “develop and promote the areas,” which is the main trust of the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign.
While President Noynoy Aquino is focused on hitting the 10 million foreign tourist arrival target and 56.1 million domestic tourists before his term ends on 2016, tourism officials say that the Philippines may have a tough time achieving the targets, no thanks to bad roads, lack of infrastructure, and other setbacks (read: the world’s worst airport).
Besides these, Jimenez also adds that Pinoy travelers have the tendency to limit themselves, only focusing on Luzon and Visayas regions. This, or they tend to revisit, yet again, the already established spots, which are, alas, overcrowded. Most of the time, mainstream domestic travelers, especially the well-heeled ones, are too busy flying out of the country.
We say widen your horizon and discover the roads less traveled.
Here, we list five of the most underrated places in the Philippines and why they should be on your radar and travel bucket list, with hope, however, that as we continue to explore our treasures, we won’t exploit and ruin their beauty. If this isn’t the case, we’d rather have unfamiliar, unblemished sites.
SAN VICENTE, PALAWAN
Coron and Puerto Princesa are traditional favorites among local and foreign tourists. But more than 180 kilometers away from Puerto Princesa, there is San Vicente, an unspoiled beauty that features 14 kilometers of powdery white sand dubbed as “Long Beach,” which faces the West Philippine Sea and replete with virgin forests and coconut trees. For those backpackers (it’s a challenge to get there) who have visited the place, they say Long Beach is like Boracay, but magnified many, many times. Unlike Aklan’s Boracay, San Vicente is still largely untapped. It houses 23 of the 25 wildlife species found in the island of Palawan and it is gifted with thriving coral reefs, waterfalls, mangroves, and endemic flora.
MT. HAMIGUITAN, DAVAO ORIENTAL
Although its height is a “bonsai” compared to the towering Mt. Apo, Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental is the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Mindanao. The mountain range is best known for its unique collection of pygmy trees, a 225-hectare of deemed to be centuries-old bonsai trees, which are only about eight centimeters wide, and a meter and a half tall. It is also home to unique animals like the golden crown flying fox, Philippine tarsier, Philippine warty pigs, Philippine brown deer, and Philippine mossy-pygmy fruit bat. The area was declared as a protected area in 2004 and among the UN protected areas in the Philippines including Cordillera Rice Terraces, Puerto Princesa Underground River, Tubbataha Reefs, Vigan City, and baroque churches.
STA. CRUZ ISLAND, ZAMBOANGA
We have doubts if Sta. Cruz Island should be included in our list, not because it doesn’t offer anything new and exciting. In fact, it has unique features for the books: A beautiful, blushing sand strip of the Great Santa Cruz Island, all thanks to the coloration effect of the pulverized rare red Organ-pipe corals. The sand is pinkish, glimmering under the sun. Unfortunately, Zambaoanga.com website says that illegal coral reef mining in the area has wiped out most of the Great Santa Cruz Island’s beautiful coral collection and its accessories, the fish and the rich marine life diversity. All that is left is their dead skeleton. No matter, the beach is still a beauty.
BATANES
Imagine you’re Heidi, or Maria von Trapp, or the iconic Marlboro man emerging from Batanes and its collection of canyons, hills, boulder-lined shores, and cliffs. You can do so many activities in the northern tip of the Philippines: Swim on its beaches, visit its historic churches and lighthouses, island hopping, and, most of all, unwind and be one with nature. Batanes, even with its popularity, is still underrated because it is hard to reach, with only two airlines (Philippine Airlines and Skyjet) that fly directly to Basco, its capital. The airfare is also generally more expensive than other local and even international destinations. Still, it is worth ticking off on your travel bucket list.
ILOCOS NORTE
Ilocos Sur has Vigan, Bantay Bell Tower, Baluarte, and Bojeador Lighthouse. But its neighbor is not to be outdone. Ilocos Norte is a coastal province that is peppered with sands in different hues: black in Laoag, brown in Currimao, and white in Pagudpud. Also among its many hidden gems, reached only by private car or a long walk under the sun, is the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos, which is a favorite among shutterbugs and nature lovers for its natural beauty shaped and created by the ocean waves.
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