Philippine Kayak Marathon

Entitled Kayak Explore Cebu-Bohol crossing, the 3rd run will follow the route of Mactan Island to Bohol, where paddlers will cross the 125-km scenic route passing through a motley of islets, coves, mangroves and river deltas. The DOT together with the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC) is supporting the event.

“We have 7,107 islands, with infinite possibilities for kayaking adventure. Exploring the span of our clear waters surely opens travelers to the unique splendor of our country,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

The tourism chief also commended different sectors for their active participation in boosting the eco-adventure package, “The Philippines can undoubtedly become the Kayaking Capital of Southeast Asia with these overwhelming support from the private sector and local communities.”

Eduardo Jarque Jr., Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions highlighted the country’s bountiful natural waterways, “This unique eco-adventure allows tourists inside secret coves, inlets, channels that lead to stunning views of our mangrove forests, limestone cliffs, unspoiled coastlines and other exciting mysteries around our islands.”

With more than 100 participants expected to attend the three-day event, Kayak Explore Cebu and Bohol will begin from Punta Engano following a 5-km coastal run along Mactan Island passing through resorts and other sites, then on to Olango, down to Getafe, Bohol. The race will then move eastward towards Panglao passing through coastwise and municipal waters; stopping by at designated control points where local packages and tours may be introduced.

Apart from the kayak marathon, the event will also conduct kayaking clinics, 5-km novice races, eco-touring flotilla, island hopping, moonlight paddling. A mini fair of eco-tour packages such as the New Adventure-Kayak Hundred Islands, Historic Manila Bay Kayaking Adventures; Luxury Kayaking Safari in Bacuit Bay, Palawan, and Bohol Extreme Packages: Kayamping (Kayak and Camping) will be held on site.

Kayaking Philippines was introduced to major foreign buyers at the Philippine Travel Exchange ’09 (PHITEX).

One of the world’s best kayak sites and trails found in the Philippines include, Pinacanauan River, Hundred Islands, Cavite-Corregidor-Bataan, Caramoan Peninsula, Northern Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Samar, Siargao Island, and Samal Island.

The Caramoan Peninsula offers a view of limestones, rugged coastlines, and white sand-ringed islands, complemented by a stunning view of underwater marine life by snorkeling around shallow waters.

For the high-spending market, the DOT offers Luxury Kayaking in Palawan. Known for its idyllic beaches, lagoons and caves, Palawan enjoins travelers to kayak in El Nido and Coron.

Cebu draws attention to paddling in Hilutungan Island and Marine Sanctuary, Sulpa Island, Olango Island and Mactan Island for moonlight kayaking.

Bohol, the frontier of ecotourism, lists several sites for kayaking which include, Banacon Island, Pandanon Island, Dumog and Ubay Islands, Abatan River, and Punta Cruz, which teem with mangrove forest and sandbars. Lagoon moonlight paddling is also offered in Panglao Island.

In Samar, the unspoiled waters of Marabut, and Sohoton Natural Bridge Park are featured. While Siargao has Guyam Island, Sohoton Cove, and Del Carmen Lagoon. Samal Island in Davao is likewise a kayak site, promising reefs, mountains and caves along the way.

For inquiries, call (02) 4687091; 0915-435-9321; email philkayaking@yahoo.com or visit www.justgo.ph/kayak; www.kayakphilippines.com.

Choose a tour package that Cultureight Travel offers – day walks to Intramuros and Luneta, Greenhills and Malate; 5-day mini-tours to Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Davao, Camiguin, Sarangani Province, South Cotabato, General Santos City; or the 10-day expeditions to choice destinations in Visayas and Mindanao. Select date that suits your schedule then pay for reservation. Upon payment, Cultureight Travel will allot the 30% you paid for Red Cross.

“Hope we can have more Filipinos helping out other Filipinos. Our immediate volunteer works when typhoon Ondoy hit can further be supported by Red Cross’ programs since it’s houses and communities literally were wiped out,” Cultureight’s President Charisse Aquino said.

For more information, visit Cultureight Travel’s website http://www.cultureight.com or email charisse@cultureight.com

Hosting the crew and providing information on the country’s interesting modes of transport, the Department of Tourism (DOT) accompanied Boorman and Mungeam in their journey which includes sidetrips to alternative tourist spots.

“Apart from presenting accessibility of our different destinations through our creative means of transportation, the show also highlights the unique facets of our tucked-away destinations,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

“We made certain that the group will have a one-of-a-kind feature on the Philippines. We had them visit interesting locales such as a monastery in Bukidnon, a fishing farm in Camiguin and a pineapple farm in MalayBalay,” shared Eduardo Jarque. Jr., DOT Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions.

“By Any Means” planned a 10-day trip starting from Davao to Manila. They rode a skylab from Davao to MalayBalay where they transferred to a fruit truck to reach Cagayan De Oro. From there they took a Supercat to Camiguin, then hopped on to a navy boat to Bohol. Going to Cebu, they caught another SuperCat. The crew then hitched a ride on a military chopper that took them to Ormoc. Then they commuted via a public bus to Tacloban where they visited the Leyte Landing. From Palo, they took a Jega spider cab to Basey. A fish truck brought them from Calbayog to Allen, Samar where they boarded a Ro-Ro ferry to Sorsogon. Traveling to Legazpi, the crew rode a rescue ambulance, and then scooters to Camsur until they reached Quezon province. From Calauag town, they took a railroad trolley all the way to Lopez where they got on an ‘anahaw’ delivery truck to get to Unisan. In the day to come the group will ride a hammer to reach Las Pinas then jeepney to Makati and finally a quick tour of Manila on Mad Dog bikes.

According to Jarque, among the vehicles, the most unheard of are skylab, spider cab, railroad trolley and hammer. A skylab is a motorcycle that’s been modified to accommodate more than two passengers with the use of long wooden planks. A spider cab is the local taxi of Tacloban in Leyte Province, while a railroad trolley is a 4 feet x 8 feet boxcar that rides on railroad tracks. A hammer is the Philippine’s version of the Hummer, ended Jarque.

Domingo Ramon Enerio, DOT London Tourism Attaché said, “I’ve received reports that Boorman had a great time in their cross-country rides and visits to local spots in Mindanao. This is good as it projects a positive image of the country, most specially in places which have been deemed risky for the tourists.”

*Photos courtesy of : American in Davao

Jenny Franco of Travelvision also urged the public and private sector to work together in ensuring a clean and protected environment in the province to sustain a regular influx of tourists.

Franco, also chairman of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies—Cebu chapter, said she will join the Philippine delegation in promoting the country’s diving shops and spots in the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (Dema) Show 2009.

The international trade-only event for diving, action water sports and adventure industries will be held in Orlando, Florida on Nov. 4 to 7.

”This will really be a good opportunity for the Philippines to increase its tourist arrivals and to promote the country as a diving destination,” Franco said.

She said she will be the only tour operator from Cebu in the event and that this is her first time to join the Philippine delegation to the upcoming dive show.

Kasai Village Beach Resort, a dive resort in Moalboal, Cebu, is another Cebu-based delegate.

Travelvision, where Franco sits as president and managing director, began offering dive packages around 1999. Established in 1991, the tour company promotes Cebu’s diving destinations, culture and heritage sites, and sports tourism activities.

”Many tourists come to Cebu from January to May when it is the cold season in their countries and stay in our beaches. The peak season for diving in Cebu is still during summer,” Franco said.

She identified the US and Europe as among the top tourist markets for Cebu’s diving destinations such as Moalboal and Malapascua.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has participated in international dive shows, including the Bay Area Dive Show and the Tacoma Dive and Travel Expo, both held last April in the US, and the Scuba Dive Show 2009, also in the US, last May.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano earlier identified North America as a huge potential market for diving.

Derived from two Samal words meaning “long reef” exposed at a low tide, Tubbataha is the largest coral reef and first natural World Heritage Site of the country.

Tubbataha Reef has been included in the search for the “7 Wonders of Nature in the World.” In fact, Tubbataha garnered one of the slots.

It covers some 33,200-hectare community of diverse corals, fishes and other forms of aquatic life. It is a dream destination for divers and marine scientists. It is home to more than 300 coral species, at least eight species of marine mammals, 380 species of fish, seven species of sea grass and 71 species of marine algae.

The Tubbataha Reef and surrounding waters have been declared a National Marine Park under Proclamation No. 306 in August 1998. Five years later, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the reef as a World Heritage Site.

Because of its rich and diverse underwater world, Tubbataha is a must-see destination for serious divers, even if getting there entails virtually living on a boat for a few days and for a steep fee. Tubbataha-Sulu live-aboard trips cost between P30,000 and P40,000 depending on the boat and length of stay.

The north and south reefs of Tubbataha have the biggest concentration of fish in the country. The landmark of the South Tubbataha is the solar-powered lighthouse that stands on a tree-covered islet.

To the east of the lighthouse is the steel remains of the Delsan wreck, sitting atop the reef. There are also sandy clays that extend five kilometers in length and three kilometers in width. It is separated from the north reef by an eight-kilometer channel.

Everything in Tubbataha is huge. Jack and trevallies, groupers, triggerfish, Napoleon Wrasse, turtles, even the lionfish and sharks are all bigger than those seen in other diving sites. The fish also often move in shoals, meaning hundreds and even thousands, making them appear like one large animal to protect them from bigger predators like sharks.

The WOW Philippines commercial on CNN and BBC (some years ago) features a school of small orange fish swimming diagonally atop a coral with the caption “more than the usual rush hour.” That’s a common routine in Tubbataha.

On a good day, one can see as far as 40 meters under water. The average water temperature is also warm enough for diving at 27.9 degrees Centigrade.

The north coral atoll is bigger than the south reef, extending 16 kilometers in length and three kilometers in width. It has a sandy slope, which drops after 15 meters to a wall with caves and crevices where sharks and lobsters like to sleep.

The coral garden in the north reef, at just 25 feet, is colorful and teeming with fish. The coral formation is like a sculpture; some corals tower as high as three feet, which is unusual since corals only grow between one and 10 centimeters every year.

North Tubbataha is an easy, worry-free dive –- no strong currents, good visibility, and no technical problems. Its twin atolls form the epicenter of marine life that also serves as a fish nursery for the greater Sulu Sea and the surrounding islands. Tubbataha thus contributes significantly to the country’s food security.

Tourism wise, the reef’s value increases yearly in terms of contributions to the national and local economy. As a World Heritage site, it is valued by people who know that they exist and are being maintained for the employment of present and future generations.

The preservation of this biodiversity, which compares favorably with the richest and most abundant marine areas in the tropical world, contributes immensely to the long-term maintenance of the marine species and their genetic diversity in this part of the world.

Despite the reef’s remoteness, its amazing underwater gardens and diverse wildlife have not been spared from destruction. Illegal fishing using dynamite, sodium cyanide and other environment-unfriendly methods became rampant in the 1980s, but were brought under control with the presence of the Philippine Navy.

In July 1995, the then Ramos administration created the task force for the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, which developed action plans to reverse environmental degradation in the area and started sustained patrol operations.

For the past years, the Philippine Navy and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines have been working hand in hand to patrol the area against illegal activities. Rangers are assigned to protect the area as well as to help tourists and divers who visit the reef.

Together with the province of Palawan, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, and other local non-government organizations, WWF-Philippines continues to campaign for the park’s protection.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the UN Development Program have signed an agreement for a four-year, medium-sized project grant amounting to US$ 750,000 to continue conservation activities in Tubbataha.

Park authorities are now charging fees amounting to US$ 25 for tourists and US$ 50 for foreigners. Proceeds are used for research and conservation activities.