Siquijor only takes hours away from Dumaguete when riding a boat. When you want faster and convenient travel, you can ride a fast craft (Supercat) that will take less time compare to boatride. Supercat leaves Larena to Dumaguete then Cebu at 6AM and reaches Cebu at 9:30AM. Then, leaves Cebu for Larena at 3:15PM but will pass by at Bohol and Dumaguete.

Traveling around the island can be totally fun and adventurous. Siquijor is known to have magic potions, shamans, sorcerers and witches. There is a lot of Filipinos will not stay overnight on this island because of this superstition. But this will only add more excitement and thrill to make your trip a really memorable one. Not only Filipinos, many foreigners would love to explore this true beauty of nature and experience the white sand beaches with vast coral reefs that are just ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.

This island has a lot for you to offer. Aside from having tremendous beaches, Siquijor has also a hilly terrain that has magnificent white rock formations that have been shaped by the changing wind and a total of six interesting caves, the most popular of which is the Cantabon Cave – a cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites, tiny waterfalls and pools.

Festivals in Siquijor are quite fun. You can hear from locals chanting and performing healing rituals where incantations are sung while the old folks make potions out of herbs, roots, insects and tree barks. In hushed talks, residents would share a story or two about folk legends pointing to the existence of witchcraft and witches in the island. This peculiar occurrence lends more mystery and magic to the character that is Siquijor.

The whole island including its neighboring islets has a total land area of 10.3 km² (1,030 hectares). The reef flat-lagoon surrounding the island of Olango is considered one of the most extensive reef areas in the Central Visayas. It has 4,482 hectares of extensive sandy beach, rocky shoreline, inshore flats, sea grass beds, coral reefs, mangrove forest, mudflats, and salt marsh grass surround Olango and its satellite islets.

Olango Island is considered a nature and animal-friendly place. In fact, the island has a 920-hectare secluded wetland called the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary. It supports the largest concentration of migratory birds found so far in the country from September to November traveling the East Asian Migratory Flyway. By late February until May, these birds return to their breeding grounds in the reverse Northward Migration. There are total of 77 species of migratory birds use this flyway, and Olango Island supports 62% of this number.

Naval is the capital of Biliran which is an excellent port and are often the gateway to further destinations within the Visayas and Mindanao. It is a bit of a nondescript town on the west coast of the island.

The main resort towns in Biliran Island are Almeria, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, and Naval, the capital. Almeria has some of the best snorkeling on Biliran Island and is also used as a launch point for nearby Dalutan Island, where there is even better snorkeling.

Tinago falls is just a few kilometers from town. Everyone can enjoy swimming to its crystal clear water that plummets 30m from a high stone ridge into a fresh plunge pool.

Although Biliran Island doesn’t have its own airport but it’s just take a couple of hours from the nearest one in Tacloban City to the southeast. So what are you waiting for, come and visit this undiscovered island of the Philippines.

Malapascua is known for its wide white sand beach, known as Bounty Beach; it has become known for its beautiful coral gardens and excellent dive spots nearby, including Monad Shoal, an underwater plateau where thresher sharks and manta rays can be sighted on a regular basis. This could be the only place in the world where divers can reliably sight thresher sharks. The best time to go shark diving in Malapascua Island is during the winter months. The dive resorts in Malapascua Island have hosted divers from all over the world including underwater photographers and film crews.

There are also several different bars and a wide selection of imported liquor as well as plentiful of imported beers and an extensive cocktail list, we’ll surely satisfy your needs. The island also brings you over hills to tranquil fishing- villages, deserted bays, mountains, and forest with coconut trees.

In Gorres’ debut as a bantamweight, he will be up against former International Boxing Federation mini-flyweight titleholder Roberto Carlos “Mako” Leyva for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental bantamweight crown on March 14 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer believes that they need to pit Gorres against the best in the division so he can immediately break into the rankings.

“We are getting a former world champion to speed things up in the rankings,” Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview. “There will be no hesitation for him at this age. We should grab every opportunity.”
Gorres will turn 27 this May.

ALA Promotions hopes that Gorres wins convincingly against Leyva so he can still keep his rank in the super flyweight division in his new weight class.

“If he does well, we hope to retain his rank like what happened to Boom-Boom,” said Aldeguer.
The 26-year-old Cebuano warrior is ranked No.3 in the WBO and 11th in the World Boxing Association as a super flyweight.

Rematch if Gorres keeps his rank, Aldeguer said they are looking for a rematch against Fernando Montiel, who has also moved to the bantamweight division and will be fighting Eric Morel for the interim WBO bantamweight belt.

“A Gorres and Montiel rematch is what the people are asking for. It’s the logical direction for now. But that depends on the opportunities,” said Aldeguer.
Seven-month rest

Gorres lost to Montiel in a close split decision in 2007 for the WBO super flyweight title at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

Even if Gorres hasn’t fought for seven months since defeating African Nick Otieno last May 31, he has been continually training and has prepared strategically for his fight at hand.

“We will prepare whatever this guy will bring into the fight. We have prepared for different styles,” said Aldeguer. “He is very comfortable at his new weight. Gorres had a problem with his stamina in the later rounds at 115 because he had to drain himself to get the weight.”

Also fighting against a former world champion will be young ALA fighter Milan “Milenyo” Melindo against veteran Muhammad Rachman.

Aldeguer said he feels it is the best move to test his fighters against quality foes.
“This may be a risk but this is what our fighters need and this is what the fans need,” Aldeguer said.

Meanwhile, after being cleared to fight, Michael Domingo will also be seeing action in the fight card against a talented Filipino fighter or an Indonesian.

Domingo was diagnosed with Hepatitis A last year and unfortunately waived a career defining battle against WBO No. 8 contender Nestor Rocha. (EKA)

Courtesy of Sun.Star Cebu

A respected lawmaker and accomplished negotiator, Gregg, 61, is the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee. He could play a key role in selling Obama’s nearly $900 billion stimulus package to skeptical members of his party.

“Judd is a master of reaching across the aisle to get things done,” Obama said at a ceremony at the White House to introduce Judd.

“He will be an outstanding addition to the depth and experience of my economic team, a trusted voice in my cabinet, and an able and persuasive ambassador for industry who makes it known to the world that America is open for business,” he said.

Obama did not respond to a shouted question from a reporter about the decision by Nancy Killefer, his nominee to oversee budget and spending reform, to withdraw her nomination for tax reasons.
In January, Obama’s first pick for commerce secretary, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, withdrew in the face of a legal inquiry.

Richardson denied any wrongdoing in connection with the inquiry of a California-based financial company that had done business with the New Mexico state government.
Gregg had said he would not take the cabinet job if it pushed Obama’s Democrats closer to the 60-seat mark in the Senate, thereby allowing them to pass laws more easily. The governor of New Hampshire has agreed to fill his seat with a Republican.

Gregg will join two other prominent Republicans in Obama’s cabinet — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. While Gates is not formally registered with the party, he has said he considers himself a Republican.

Gregg has a reputation as a fiscal conservative respected on both sides of the political aisle. He helped draw up the Wall Street bailout last year and was one of a handful of Republicans who voted to release the second half of the $700 billion package to Obama.

As head of the Commerce Department, Gregg would help promote U.S. business at home and around the world.

Courtesy of ABS-CBN News and Affairs

Romblon is gifted with lush vegetation and mineral resources. Aside from marble, the islands are rich in granite, nickel, silica, mercury, zinc, copper, silver, limestone, sulfide, ores, kaolin, clay, magnesium and quartz. Gold panning sites have sprouted in some of the mountain stream areas in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island. The fertile soil nurtures varied agricultural crops–like coconut, rice, corn, bananas, rootcrops, fruit trees, vines and many others. Offshore, Romblon is a rich fishing ground. The islands lie on the migratory path of fishes from the Sulu and Visayan Seas, passing the Tablas Strait, Sibuyan Sea, and Romblon Pass.

The town of Romblon still retains vestiges of an important craft in the adornments of old houses and public buildings. The Cathedral of Saint Joseph features fine woodwork done by local features fine woodwork done by local artisans. The massive doors and the Byzantine-style altars adorn the 18th century fortress church that forms a center point for a series of Spanish fortifications. San Andres and Santiago forts lie on two strategic hills above the town.

Parts of the province are largely level plains and gently rolling slopes separated from its neighboring province of Negros Oriental by mountain ranges.  The most famous of these mountain ranges is Mount Kanlaon.

The island was originally called “Buglas”. Long before the arrival of Spanish colonizers, the island was inhabited by Negritos, Malayans, and Chinese. Their form of religion was animistic performed by the women priestess called Babaylanes. Barter trading between the Chinese and other Asian traders and the natives flourished even before the 12th century.

During the era of Spanish colonization in the Philippines, the island’s name was changed to “Negros” because of the dark-skinned people living there. Negros was administered from Cebu until 1734, when it was made a military district of its own. The island of Negros was divided into the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental on January 1, 1890.

Recently, Negros Island dominates the economy and the landscape of the province. Negros Occidental’s output of more than 1 million metric tons for crop year 2002-2003 accounts for nearly half of the country’s sugar production in an industry that generates estimated annual revenue of more than P18 Billion. There are 12 sugar mills in the province, of which only 10 are presently operational. Victorias Milling Company has the highest rated capacity with 15,000 tons cane per day.

However, the instability of the sugar industry forced the province to shift, albeit slowly, to other high value crops and alternative industries. The diversification has proven to be successful.

Production of rice, the basic commodity for food security, has been increasing.  By 2003, annual output of 437 thousand metric tons of palay was 33% better than two years ago. This allowed the province to significantly raise its sufficiency level from 65% to more than 84%. The improvement could be attributed to the introduction and promotion of hybrid rice, which increased rice yields to 3.8 metric tons per hectare. Because of the success of the program, area planted to hybrid rice has increased nearly five-fold.  The highest hybrid yield was recorded at 10.3 tons per hectare.

Bantayan Island is an island located in at the western portion of the northern tip of Cebu, Philippines. Most people considered this island as an island paradise in Philippines. As of the 2000 census, the island has a total population of 120,101. Bantayan Island is composes of three municipalities such as Bantayan, Madridejos, and Santa Fe that is also known as the “Egg Basket” in the neighboring regions because it has been generating over one and a half million eggs a day to supply the growing demand of eggs for mainland Cebu, Negros, Panay and even Leyte.

The island has a cool, crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, friendly town folk and delicious seafood. Coming to Bantayan is like coming out of a time machine. It’s like entering the time and place when life was simple and quiet. There are 405-year-old church the one-and-a-half century house of Anun Escario, the Ogtong Cave and the rest of the ancient unarmed caves the old Spanish kota (fort) in Sta. Fe, the beautiful islets in the vicinity and the sunset at the wharf.

Like its dialect, each of the three towns has its own character. Bantayan considered as the town proper of the island has 25 barangays and the basic infrastructure. The town is known for its appetizing dried fish and squid. Aside from fishing, the people are also into rock phosphate and limestone mining.

No huge corporate hotel chains you can find it here but there are smaller hotels/resorts with cottages & rooms in just about every price range from less than $5.00USD to $40.00USD per night & up through $100+ through a lovely South Sea studio Villa on a very beautiful property, and all the way to $240.00USD for a honeymoon styled studio Villa on a gorgeous property. Bantayan Island really has something to offer everyone, on just about any budget.

But there is also the human dimension. You see kids with even tan running around the beach lines, naked, simple-hearted and friendly. Bantayan Island has an interesting dialect, mixture of Ilonggo, Waray and Cebuano but one that is Greek to both Cebuanos and Ilonggos. And its tone changes from town to town. The people in every town just have their own of expressing it.

If the other two towns are busy with their livelihood projects, Sta. Fe is busier during the Lenten Season with hundreds of people who flock to its white sandy beaches. Reservations to Bantayan’s beach resorts for the Lenten Season should be done six months to one year earlier. As early as February this year, the resorts have already been fully booked.

This place is one of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Philippines, was founded in 1572, becoming the first provincial capital on Mindoro Island. It is situated on the northern peninsula of the island, approximately 160 km from Manila. As early as the 10th century, Chinese, Malay and Indonesian merchants were already doing business with local traders, and Puerto Galera is where the replenished their provisions.

Puerto Galera has become the top diving destination in the Philippines. Excellent diving is found less than 5 minutes from the Sabang area. The diving generally focuses around the areas either side of Escarceo Point which is famous for its current rips. Strong currents are a feature of the diving in Puerto Galera and it is good advice to employ the services of an experienced local guide or dive centre. Behind the beaches are the huge and generally unexplored mountain ranges of central Mindoro. A particular local attraction is the nine-hole golf course perched on the hillside above White Beach which commands spectacular views over Puerto Galera’s natural harbor and the Verde Island Passage.

If you want to visit and explore this wonderful place, there is a wide selection of ferries in going to Puerto Galera, depending on which port guests intend to enter. (There are three main entry points to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier and Sabang Beach and two alternate entry points direct to White Beach and Talipanan). Calapan City also serves as a gateway to the town via an all-weather road. The trip from Calapan to Puerto Galera takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on whether and road conditions.