Did you Know?

Bam Aquino [via ANC]

Two Filipinos made it to the list of 2012 Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) for their contribution in healthcare and social enterprise.

Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana in the field of Humanitarian and/or Voluntary Leadership and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino in the field of Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment won the prestigious award given to professionals below the age of 40.

Aquino is the first cousin of President Aquino. The TOYP winner is the son of Paul Aquino, younger brother of the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

The other TOYP winners are from Botswana, Catalonia, Ireland, Madagascar, Maldives, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.

In its website, US-based Junior Chamber International (JCI) said that the TOYP was organized to “formally recognize young people who excel in their chosen fields and create positive change.”

“By recognizing these young people, JCI raises the status of socially responsible leaders in this world. The honorees motivate their peers to seek excellence and serve others. Their stories of discovery, determination and ingenuity inspire young people to be better leaders and create better societies,” JCI noted.

JCI added this year’s TOYP were chosen “for their exemplary service to the communities and the world.”

Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana

The website showed that Salvana “turned his knowledge and career in healthcare into a way to help those suffering from HIV/AIDS.”

“After discovering an increase of HIV/AIDS cases in his home country, he started a vigorous awareness and research campaign long before the Philippine government officially recognized the epidemic. Dr. Salvana also works with the disease globally, delivering educational, action-oriented speeches about the HIV/AIDS to the United Nations and the United States Peace Corps,” the website said.

The website also showed that Aquino, who was “exposed to the poverty and struggles of his fellow citizens as a child, developed a sense of hard work, compassion and a desire to help people help themselves out of hardship.” “He set out to use his leadership skills and education to take action at the grassroots level. Aquino and a friend founded Microventures Inc., a social enterprise supporting micro-financing institutions to provide business development opportunities for the poor, with a special focus on underprivileged women,” it added.

(Story courtesy of Sheila Crisostomo of the Philippine Star)

DID YOU KNOW?

Balut eggs (also spelled Baloot, Baalut, Baluge, or Balute.)

Balut eggs are fertilised duck (sometimes chicken) eggs that are at the stage of development where there is a nearly developed embryo inside. The balut egg then boiled and usually eaten with salt, just like a normal boiled egg.

I think balut eggs might be the yuckiest looking food I have come across so far in researching for this site. Although we have no hestitation in eating eggs, or even young animals (not usually birds, but still) – balut eggs just push all of the ‘eww’ buttons in my brain.

Balut eggs are fertilised duck (sometimes chicken) eggs that are at the stage of development where there is a nearly developed embryo inside. The balut egg then boiled and usually eaten with salt, just like a normal boiled egg.

So where is this deliciousness eaten? Well in the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam it is actually quite common. You can easily pick balut eggs up from a street vendor (usually cooked), no need for a fancy restaurant in this case. Though in the Philippines in particular, popularity is increasing and you can now pick up your pre-baby duck in an omelette or even baked in pastries.

Interestingly, the age of the egg before it is cooked varies between cultures. In the Philippines, the perfect Balut egg is normally 17 days old, the point where the chick does not have beak, bones or feathers. In Vietnam however, they prefer their Balut eggs to be 19-21 days old, the point at which the bones of the chick will be firm, but they soften considerably when cooked. In case it’s hard to imagine what a 17-21 day duck foetus looks like, here is a 15 day old egg floating in hot sauce.

Balut eggs can typically be purchased from a street vendor who will often keep them warm in a bucket of sand. Duck eggs that are not properly developed after nine to twelve days are not sold as balut eggs but instead sold as penoy, which look, smell and taste similar to a regular hard-boiled egg. In Filipino cuisine, these are occasionally beaten and fried, similar to scrambled eggs, and served with a vinegar dip.

After seeing these balut eggs, I’ll never quite look at my fried egg quite the same way again!

Top 10 Philippine Tourist Destinations

1. Cebu (1.615 million)
Korean tourists became the top market for the Queen City of the South, comprising 29% of total foreign tourists. Chinese tourists increased by 70% as more charter flights were booked between Cebu and Shanghai, as well as from Guangzhou.

2. Camarines Sur (1.566 million)

Better known as CamSur, the province had a dramatic 117.2 % increase in tourists, welcoming an estimated 1.5 million visitors last year. In 2008, more than 720,000 went wakeboarding at the CamSur Watersports Complex. Events like the First Aqua Fest Celebrity Challenge, Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, International Dragon Boat Competition and Bagasbas Summer Surf gave travelers excellent reasons to visit this tourist spot in the Bicol region.

3. Metro Manila (1.442 million)

The opening of 1,056 new accommodation rooms in hotels improved the tourist activity in the country's busiest region. Last year, 20 cruise liners docked in Manila. Tourist arrivals from these ships marked a 2.24% growth from 17,516 visitors in 2008 to 17,908  in the previous year. Intramuros, a famous landmark in Manila, and Tagaytay are the two most-preferred places of visit. If you want a quick escape, rent a Private Pool in Metro Manila.

4. Baguio (770,187)

The summer capital of the Philippines experienced a 20% increase in tourists after the Kabayan mummies discovered the place after the Kabayan mummy burial caves were featured in documentaries on cable. European visitors made up the bulk of visitors to the Cordilleras where Baguio is located.

5. Davao (669,864)

Known for being the home of the country's highest peak, Davao also has visitors flocking to the Eden Nature Park and Crocodile Farm, two of the most popular tourist destinations in the city.

6. Boracay (649,559)

Taiwanese tourists to the island paradise increased by 72% since China Airlines started chartering flights there twice a week. Shanghai Airlines flights from Shanghai and Philippine Airlines flights from Hangzhou also boosted arrivals to Boracay by 26%.

7. Cagayan de Oro (359,867)

The City of White Water Rafting and River Trekking, Cagayan de Oro not only boasts of splendid views but also very warm and hospitable locals.

8. Zambales

 (323,271)

Three to four hours awa y from Manila, the province has some 170 kilometers of beaches with reefs, diving areas, and surfing spots. The Fiesta Poon Bato (Feast of the Sacred Stone) in January is a religious festival in honor of the Catholic Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, and attracts more than half a million tourists every year.

9. Bohol (313,317)

Home to the world-famous Chocolate Hills, the island also hosts tourist activities like the Ecological, Environmental and Educational Adventure Tour (EAT) in Danao. The program, completely funded by the municipal government,  offers mind-blowing experiences like taking a 45-meter plunge over a gorge supported only by a rope harness. There is also a 1.5-kilometer 'Suislide' zipline. Other attractions include caving, river tubing, rappelling, kayaking, and root climbing. Yes, root climbing.

10. Puerto Princesa

 (268,942)

Upgrades done on the Puerto Princesa International Airport paved way for a 23% increase in foreign travelers and a 21% hike in domestic tourists. Local government efforts to develop eco-tourism has brought more visitors and has made them stay longer.

Shark Diving in Malapascua Island and in Donsol

                                             Shark Diving in Malapascua Island and in Donsol

 Well, this two shark diving destinations in the Philippines truly rocked for our friends and backpacking tourists. The friends who were not able to visit this Philippine Travel Destination yet, even voted that they are putting this diving destination at the top of their lists!

Shark Diving in Malapascua Island was an experience even for our old backpacking tourists who related how they saw unique thresher sharks and just swam with these supposed fiercesome creatures.  When they heard from our other friends that there was a second shark diving site in the Philippines, they jumped at it like kids on Christmas!

So, they too went shark diving and watched the whale sharks of Donsol with our friends who also became new friend-found friends to them. Our friends related how they swam with the whale sharks and thought that they just saw the largest congregation of whale sharks in the world. They recommend that indeed this swimming travel adventure with whale sharks is an experience not to be missed.They said there were other sharks they saw in these two Philippine travel destinations such as the whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks, bamboo sharks and others.

If you are worried about the price for this topmost Philippine tourist adventure, don’t be. It’s not only cheap but well worth the experience.

The Boracay Island

                                                               The Boracay Island

 Boracay in Aklan Philippines has now been considered one of the World’s popular beaches and favorite tourist destination. It has also been a popular spot for some important and big events. Like the Asian Windsurfing Tour and with the week-long Boracay International Funboard Cup competition generally being held on Bulabog Beach every month of January. The two popular Boracay beaches are White Beach (main tourism Beach) and the Bulabog Beach (windsurfing and kite boarding area).There are more than 300 beach resorts, restaurants, hotels and bars to choose from in Boracay Island as it has been known as a perfect getaway place. It already has everything you need on a perfect spot for relaxation, enjoying, partying and having a perfect vacation. There are also choices to choose from in terms of the accommodation; from luxurious to budget type.

The Chocolate Hills

                                                               The Chocolate Hills  

When we say hills, we really mean hills!  Hundreds of ‘em!  Visiting Bohol for the first time, I thought it was just hype but it’s NOT!  Chocolate-colored in the summer and green during the rainy months, the Chocolate Hills will astound you with their number (1268 hills according to experts).  Hills as far as your eyes can see atop the viewing deck. 

This is located at Carmen, Bohol.  From Tagbilaran City  go to Dao bus terminal and take a ride to the town of Carmen.  Get off at the Chocolate Hills complex and take a 10-minute walk up the viewing area.

The Rice Terraces

                                                                 The Rice Terraces

Ifugao, up in the north of the Philippines, is known for its rice terraces. These rice terraces were built along the mountain sides like stairways reaching the sky. They were constructed approximately 2,000 years ago by the Ifugaos using bare hands and wood as tools.The Ifugao rice terraces which is a testimony of painstaking work and indigenous engineering skills is recognized around the world. In fact, in December of 1995, it was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as “Continuing Cultural Landscape”.The terraces are particularly located in the municipalities of Banaue, Hungduan, Kiangan and Mayoyao. The Banaue Rice Terraces are also known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. Meanwhile, Batad is popular for its amphitheater-shaped rice terraces and the cascading Tappiyah Waterfalls.