Hiking or Nature tripping requires for you to have an outdoor gear but buying an outdoor sporting gear doesn’t have to break the bank and prevent you from enjoying the most awaited summer adventure.

Your defense gear during an outdoor activity needs to be reliable, durable and best of all – it should be affordable right? Locally you can buy outdoor accessories from outdoor gear shops like ROX in Bonifacio High Street but you can also buy it online eg. YourDefenceGear.com.

If you are looking for a trusty luggage, a good camera bag or a plain backpack, you should visit the yearly Travel Gears Bodega Sale in Binondo organized by Travel Gears Bodega Sale in Binondo organized by Primer Group in State Centre Building. Checkout brands on sale which includes Sanuk sandals, Samsonite, Columbia Sportswear, The North Face, Victorinox, American tourister, World Traveller, Tough Jeans etc.

You can also find camping gear and equipment, ranging from backpacks to electronic gadgets to camping tents. Camping gear categories, which we supply, include backpacks, books, clothing/apparel, clothing/footwear, cookware, electronics & instruments, flashlights & lighting, food and food processing, furniture, insect control, kayaks, canoes, rafts, camping knives & accessories, personal care, poles, staffs and canes, ramps, carriers & vehicle acc, recreational, camping sleeping bags, stoves and fuel, tent accessories, camping tents, videos, dvds, cds, water treatment & transport, you name it and we have it.

You can find some great camping equipment like tents, stoves, etc. in most specialty shops here in Manila but I would suggest for you to consult mountaineers or a friend who is a member of an outdoor club to get a referral as to where to go and buy this things.

Even in a tight budget, you can still enjoy this year’s summer break! Try to borrow outdoor gears and equipment if you cannot buy your own. Or you can watch out for online sales and promotions if take advantage of the largest selection of high quality gear and tools related to the great outdoors.

RoRo Racers in San Carlos City RoRo Terminal

From Toledo City we left for San Carlos city at around 7am and after almost two hours, we finally arrived in San Carlos City. We were all welcomed by the local officials together with the PintaFlores Festival dancers wearing colorful costumes in the arrival area of San Carlos RoRo terminal. read more >> DBP Roro Race Experience Part 2

Siargao Island, Surigao, home to the top surfing wave “Cloud Nine,” is dubbed as the surfing capital of the Philippines, and is a venue for international surfing events.

Team Summer Breezers

Gen. Luna, Siargao, served as the first stop in the “Ready Set, RORO” DBP Interisland Race, an action-packed P1M adventure race. The Development Bank of the Philippines kicked off the opening festivities with a motorcade and a brief program graced by Surigao del Norte governor Robert Ace Barbers and DBP President and CEO Reynaldo G. David. Competing teams were presented, followed by the ceremonial flag-off.

The ten teams embarked on the first leg of a rigorous series of challenges designed to test their brain, brawn, and mettle as they hie off on a treasure hunt for products of national pride throughout the six-day race.

From the opening ceremonies at the Gen. Luna Boulevard, the teams raced to their first clue, mounted on top of tall poles which they had to climb. The first clue led them to a fenced area, where, in the Surigaonon tradition of crab-harvesting called tikyabang, the teams had to catch ten crabs.

From the crabbing pit, teams had to race to the Siargao Inn for their next checkpoint, where each team had to chow down on ten pieces of the local surf board-shaped bread known as “Pan de Surf,” then off they sped to the Jacking Horse surf site, where a team member had to paddle a long board. Teams then rallied to the pit stop set at the Gen. Luna church.

Team Summer Breezers, composed of friends and ex-cheerleaders Joei Calixto and Chal Lontoc-del Rosario with tv actor Thou Reyes, was off to a strong start in the first leg, and was the first team to arrive at the pit stop.

“With my teammates’ cheerleading experience, we were able to easily devise a boosting system to retrieve the first clue,” says Reyes.

Unfazed by the biting crabs, team Summer Breezers powered through the Pan de Surf Challenge, where a little ingenuity went a long way.

“We actually soaked the bread in water, so it would be easier to swallow,” reveals Calixto.

“We got through the longboard quickly because Joei knew how to do it,” adds Chal. “But it was the kids of Siargao that really helped us clinch first place, walking with us and showing us the shortcut, and encouraging us along the way.”

While ecstatic over their fist win, team Summer Breezers are determined to stick to their game plan: start strong and finish strong.

Meanwhile, team Island Hoppers, composed of best friends Taj Almonte and Kixs Lagria with celebrity partner Serena Dalrymple, was the last team to check in at the pit stop, as the day’s challenges proved to be grueling.

“With all the running we had to do, my legs kept cramping up and we had to stop several times to massage them so I could keep on running,” narrates Lagria.

The Pan de Surf challenge was also hard, because we were in a hurry to get it done and it was harder to swallow,” states Almonte.

Celebrity member Serena Dalrymple reveals that the longboard was also another challenge for the team. “None of us have surfing experience, and it was harder than we thought it would be.”

Island Hoppers team with Serena Dalrymple

Fortunately for team Island Hoppers, the first leg is a predetermined, non-elimination leg, so they will race on in the second leg. On the next leg, teams will be released in the order by which they arrived at the pit stop, with 2-minute intervals in between. The adventure continues as the ten teams go forth on their quest to discover the Philippines and bag the P1M grand prize.

For race updates, or to vote for your favorite teams, log on to www.dpbrororace2009.com . check out more DBP Roro Race 2009 Photos

The Philippines has adopted eco-tourism as an important aspect of their economic development plan. Palawan, the second largest province in the Philippines (in land area), has become the prime eco-tourism destination of the county and the new “buzz” among the green travel community. Tourism not only helps to raise the standard of living for the remote island’s scarce population, but also reinforces programs that protect the environment. In response, tourists walk away with a memorable vacation, as well as the satisfaction that they are contributing to making the Earth a greener place to live.

Packaging tourism that is a spin-off from the traditional definitions, Bohol’s eco-tourism has made it a model for the country. It is home to the tarsier, the world’s smallest monkey, and to an enigmatic geological formation, the Chocolate Hills. Its coral reefs are home to enchanting varieties of marine life. Wetlands, caves and forests dot its terrain, while mangroves and palms grow abundantly in its coasts and swamps.

The ecotourism program has clear aims: to put in place mechanisms that are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially equitable; accelerate development for the benefit of local communities; and spread tourism benefits to rural areas in terms of employment generation and improve the standard of living.

WHERE TO STAY
Following is a list of hotels and resorts throughout the Philippines which offer eco-conscious vacationers the opportunity to explore the marvels of the region while doing their part in respecting and restoring Mother Nature.

El Nido Resorts, Palawan
Lagen and Miniloc Island Resorts of El Nido Resorts believe in recognizing natural resources through responsible tourism. The resorts also work closely with the local community in the prevention of illegal fishing, promotion of coastal clean-ups, environmental education campaigns, monitoring of snorkeling sites and dive sites, and installation and maintenance of mooring buoys.

Club Noah Isabelle, Apulit Island, Palawan
Club Noah Isabelle is located on the island of Apulit on the northeastern coast of Palawan. Situated in a cove surrounded by a large marine reef, Club Noah Isabelle has been designed to be a model-case for eco-tourism. With administrative authority over a one mile radius of the island, Club Noah has slowly brought the reefs of Isabelle back to life. The presence of the white breasted eagle, grey reef egrets, and kingfisher attest to the abundance of fish in the water.

Bohol Bee Farm
The Bohol Bee Farm is a secret cherished and kept by visitors. Hidden, safe, and unexploited, it is a sanctuary where one can escape from the complexities and trappings of modern life. The farm has evolved into a popular tropical retreat, encouraging agricultural development through organic farming and introducing an alternative and sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature. Almost everything at the resort – from the food to the furniture – is made on premises.

The Philippines is what those “I-can’t-wait-to-tell-you” vacation experiences are all about. Offering a great diversity of appeals, the 7,107 island archipelago boasts some of the most extensive eco-tourism offerings of any destination.

ECO-FRIENDLY PURSUITS
Following is a list of various activities for vacationers throughout the region:

WHALE SHARKS
One of the big reasons for heading to the peaceful village of Donsol in Southwest Luzon, is an opportunity to rendezvous with whale sharks measuring from 18 to 35 feet in length and weighing some 20 tons. Locally known as “butanding,” whale sharks are considered to be the largest fish in the world’s seas. Part of the beauty of this adventure is the opportunity to interact with the creatures in their natural environment instead of man-made captive areas. The best time for divers or snorkelers to swim alongside these gentle creatures (or to watch them from small boats) is from November to May.

BIRD WATCHING
If bird-watching is on the vacation agenda, the national bird of the Philippines, the Philippine Eagle, will surely impress (as will the rest of the country’s unique bird life). The rare Philippine Eagle is said to be the world’s largest, and those lucky enough to venture to the Philippines for a first-hand encounter will remember it as one of the most breathtaking experiences of their lives.

MOUSE DEER
When it comes to thinking “small,” the Philippines offers special interest as well. The smallest hoofed mammal on the face of the earth – the mouse deer (locally known as Pilandok) – can be seen on Balabac Island, south of Palawan, standing a mere 15.7 inches at shoulder level.

TARSIER
The scenic and lush oval island of Bohol is the comfortable residence of the Philippine tarsier – the smallest primate in the world. Aside from fitting in the palm of one’s hand, the Philippines tarsier is also the oldest surviving member of the primate group at an awesome 45 million years old. An endangered species, the tarsier can be found in several areas within the Philippines, but the most common encounters are on the island of Bohol.

PISIDUM
Beneath the surface of the warm and inviting waters of the Philippines one can find Pisidum, the world’s tiniest shell, less than a millimeter in length (the country is a seashell lover’s delight with some 12,000 species), and the world’s shortest freshwater fish – the colorless and nearly transparent dwarf pygmy goby (males have an average length of only .3 inches).

ARCIHIPELAGO
Vacationers who come to the Philippines will also discover that the archipelago is home to 488 of the 500 known coral species in the world including seahorses, five distinct species of marine turtles (the Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, and Loggerhead), and seven of the world’s eight known species of giant clams.

CHOCOLATE HILLS
Aside from the tarsier, Bohol boasts a wide range of enticing tourist attractions including the dome-shaped Chocolate Hills – 1,268 hills rising 98-394 feet above the surrounding plateau, reaching as far as the eyes can see. The uniformly-shaped hills dry to a crispy brown in March resembling miles of oversized Hershey Kisses.

TAAL VOLCANO
Vacationers will not want to miss the chance to see the picture-postcard island of Taal, known to have the world’s smallest active volcano. Taal Volcano is an island on a lake about 30 miles south of Manila. Most notably, the volcano contains a lake of its own within its center known as Crater Lake. What makes this volcano even more novel is the tiny island inside Crater Lake – Vulcan Point – which is an island within a lake on an island within a lake on an island.

CAMIGUIN ISLAND
Camiguin Island, a volcanic island in the Bohol Sea, where waterfalls create both hot and cold springs, is often referred to as the Philippines’ Garden of Eden.

SUBIC BAY
Subic Bay, located two hours northwest of Manila, offers rich wildlife with distinctive species of birds, bats, monkeys and butterflies. Journey through the Subic Forest Watershed Reserves where the local monkeys are known to be extremely friendly in their interactions with visitors. At Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp, natives offer instruction on how to drink from a water vine, make fire out of bamboo shavings and twigs, cook in a bamboo steamer, and eat on a bamboo plate under a century-old tree.

MOUNT PINATUBO
Mount Pinatubo, also in Luzon, is notable in history as the second largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century, back in 1991. Spa facilities make use of hot springs and volcanic ash for their treatments, which results in a very soothing, mineral-rich experience.

PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK
Palawan’s Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is the longest in the world. Visitors can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s cavernous interior and various rock formations via outrigger boats through the underground river. Although only one third of the river’s length of more than five miles is navigable, it emerges into a crystal-clear lagoon, where visitors can continue their exploration of the park by leisurely hiking the Monkey Trail lined with 40,000 tropical flora and fauna.

IFUGAO RICE TERRACES
The Ifugao Rice Terraces in Banaue, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an agro-architectural marvel. Travelers will be in awe of the extensive natural irrigation system the indigenous Ifugao rice farmers were able to accomplish by hand more than 2,000 years ago.

Team Agila leading the Race

Teams were brought to the Rodeo Filipinas paddock, where Masbate’s rodeo festivities are held. Cattle-raising is a centuries-old tradition in Masbate, going as far back as the Manila-Acapulco trade when cattle and horses were brought in from Acapulco, Mexico. Vast pastures were opened, starting with few pure-blooded Spanish rancheros, until the cattle grew in number and the cattle industry thrived.

Local rodeo riders demonstrated techniques in lasso-throwing and whip-lashing, while the teams watched and practiced with apprehension, knowing these activities would be part of their next challenge. After
several minutes of practice, team representatives were released one at a time around the paddock.

Team representatives had to successfully lasso a cow, after which they  had to run back to their teams to carry a 35-kg load across a long field. Finally, teams raced on foot to the provincial capitol, where they were welcomed by Masbate Governor Elisa Kho and DBP provincial head Nathaniel Relavo.

Team Agila in Masbate

Team Agila celebrity member Jai Reyes of the Ateneo Blue Eagles was the 2nd team representative to lasso a cow, but successfully rallied teammates Derek Grey and Peaches de Guzman in the foot race to the pit stop, securing the first victory for their team.

“In the previous legs, we’ve always come in 2nd or 3rd or 5th. It’s about time we finished first,” states Derek.

“This is definitely the toughest challenge we’ve had to face yet, and we’re happy with our success in this leg,” notes Jai. “It changes our game plan too – we’ve always had to catch up with other teams, but now
that we’re #1, the hardest thing will be to stay on top of the competition.”

Meanwhile, Team Lapu-Lapu’s representative, comedian Ketchup Eusebio, had a difficult time with the lasso, in addition to their 15-minute lag as the last team released.

“It took a long time to rope the cow, and by the time I did it, my energy level was running low, but we still had to finish the race,” reports Ketchup.

“We have no regrets. We’ve had a good run and we did our best,” finishes team members Edz Saguin and Toni Cañeda.

For race updates, or to vote for your favorite teams, log on to www.dbprororace2008.com

Philippine Travel Blog is an official online media Partner of DBP Interisland Race 2008. Check out more photos of DBP Interisland Race 2008 here.