The Philippines is gifted with best beaches and world-class diving waters in the world is an archipelago studded with 7100 lush fertile islands that serve as home to about 90 million friendly people.
Bestowed with a tropical climate, first-class white sand beaches, beautiful coastline, a wide variety of marine life wonders, Baroque churches, historic Spanish colonies, deep-blue crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, domestic tribes, what you need to know begins here.
Entrance to the Puerto Princesa Underground River. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
These also serve as home to some of the world’s most fascinating creatures, either endangered or endemic to the archipelago.
Kids Educational World Heritage Sites in the Philippines
ESTA and The UNESCO World Heritage Centre chose five spectacular sites in the Philippines as a testament to its beauty.
First, among these are four baroque churches scattered in the archipelago. These churches serve as testimony to the country’s proud Catholic heritage.
The Banaue Rice Terraces situated north of the archipelago are next. These ancient rice fields built on the steep mountain slopes of Ifugao were built using knowledge and sacred traditions passed from generations to the next.
Near province of Ifugao is Ilocos province and its small town of Vigan. This historic town is the only well-preserved Spanish colonial town in Asia that has exceptionally retain its peculiar architectural and cultural elements.
Next on the list is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. It is distinguished by its spectacular limestone cave and Underground River that opens directly into the sea from the mountain. Last but not least is the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park. This atoll is home and nesting site to innumerable marine species and birds.
These World Heritage Sites in the Philippines demonstrate the nation’s unique blend of natural bounty and its proud cultural legacy.
Moreover, the archipelago also serves as a background to other wonders. The Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, Mayon Volcano in Albay, and Boracay Island in Panay are just some of the country’s top tourist drawers.
Places to go for kids
there are a lot of ways for the kids to move around. National airlines or shipping companies offer routes in most cities and towns at reasonable rates.
But for the truly daring kids, you can try tiny boats called bancas that navigate between smaller islands, jeepneys or tricycles that travel most towns and catch a closer glimpse of life in the islands.
A Kid can enjoy a ride in a jeepney and eventually appreciate Filipino craftsmanship. It evolved from the spartan jeep used by Americans during World War II into a whimsical or even unsightly multi-purpose vehicle that can possibly accommodate fifty passengers.
No matter at what time of the year you are planning to go, make sure that you book your journey in advance through a reliable agent online.
Choose the one from where you can get cheap international flights along with cheap hotel deals and discounts. Booking your tour in advance can save you from lots of hassles and also loads of money.
Fiesta time!
Filipinos also take humor seriously and party hard. Protestors can often be seen taking the streets, singing and dancing to popular tunes with militant lyrics.
Towns all over the country also host lively themed fiestas throughout the year as offerings to their patron saints and to celebrate ancient traditions. Major festivals are promoted by the Department of Tourism and visitors discover that these fiestas feature pulsating or funny street dances and overflowing food and alcohol.
For instance, the Ati-atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan commemorates an ancient historical deal and also honors its town patron, Sto. Niño. These festivals further come alive enhanced by the Filipinos’ vaunted hospitality.
All of these make the Philippines worth visiting for kids. Some visitors even remain and chose it as their new home for their next generation. Each island in the archipelago has something unique to offer; be it a natural or man-made spectacle. These are just waiting to be discovered.
In the meantime, I have to stop writing this article, because I’m going to take a sip of my Philippine Mango shake and relax on my bamboo seat and close my eyes and pretend I’m at a beachfront somewhere in the Philippines.
