This unique adventure race will test the brain, brawn, and mettle of 10 teams as they go on a treasure hunt for products of national pride while highlighting the benefits of the Road Roll-On, Roll-Off (RORO) Terminal System on domestic trade and tourism.

Teen star Ryza Cenon joins young entrepreneurs Will Nocom and Super Perez from Manila; Arron Villaflor teams up with siblings Rayn and Tina Yu from Manila; and Charee Pineda groups with dating students Chad Venades and Roxy Barrios from Manila. Rainier Castillo bunks together with newlyweds Jenny and Nitoi Villaflor from Bicol while Mike Tan joins forces with childhood friends and neighbors Tine Grande and Kat Sanga.

Also warming up for the race are PBB Season 2 big winner Beatriz Saw with schoolmates Cams Lozano and half-Japanese Kynz Flores from Cagayan de Oro City; Ateneo Blue Eagles star point guard Jai Reyes with dating couple Derek Grey and Peaches de Guzman from Manila; Zaira dela Peña with twin brothers Jojo and Jedtz Tan from Dumaguete; Viva Hot Babe Jen Rosendahl with martial arts enthusiasts Rasm Mendez & Ian Caingat; and comedian Ketchup Eusebio with longtime girl pals Edz Saguin and Toni Cañeda.

The race kicks off in Bohol, home to the famous Chocolate Hills and pristine Panglao Island. The adventure continues in Cebu, haven of history and heritage, while more challenges await the teams in the next legs as they battle it out in Leyte, before moving on to Northern Samar via the San Juanico Bridge. Grueling competition continues in the Bicol region, from Asia’s rodeo capital, Masbate; the whale-shark haven Sorsogon; and the Camarines Watersports Complex in Camarines Sur, where water sports have emerged as an interesting attraction. Finally, the race hits fever pitch in Lucena, Quezon, where only four teams will advance as the competition comes to a close at the last pit stop in Manila.

This year’s winning team will bag a cool P1-million while P500,000 and P300,000 awaits the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively. Non-winning teams will not go home empty-handed, as they will receive P25,000 each.

To find out more about the race, log on to www.dbprororace2008.com

Philippine Travel Blog is an Official Online Media Partner of DBP Interisland RoRo Race 2008. Photos of DBP Interisland Race 2008

The trees have grown and the place looks like a well maintained man made forest with a beautiful landscape. They constructed a film center where Philippine Eagle documentaries can be viewed, its intention is to build awareness for the conservation of “Haring Ibon” (Philippine Eagle). Read More >>

The event, now on its third year is dubbed as 24-hrs. Endurance Mountain Bike Race’! and is considered the first most gruelling and longest mountain bike races not only in the country but also Asia.

DOT-NCR Director Reynato L. Chua is inviting mountain biking enthusiasts to participate in the event. He stated . . . “two birds in one shot! It is high time for sporting events enthusiasts to learn more about our history while in the race course and discover one of the adventure and eco-tourism destinations in Metro Manila, now found in Muntinlupa City.”

Meanwhile, Race Director Thumbie Remigio announced that the race has three categories: the All-Men and Mixed categories composing of 3 races in a team each & Solo or Individual category. All categories are open to amateur and novice racers only.

Thumbie said, bikers will race to a total of 5.5 kilometers consisting of both single and double tracks designed to accommodate all levels of riders. “The 2-day event is all about endurance, competition, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and teamwork,” he added.

Winners of the race will receive cash awards, trophies, medals and sponsor items.

This year’s “24-Hrs. of Endurance of Mountain Bike Race” project is supported by the UP Mountaineers, Bureau of Corrections, City of Muntinlupa, Xtreme Bike Shop, PMI, Industry Nine, Ibis, Nite Rider Lighting System, Adrenalin Multi-Sport Wear, Action Asia and Suunto.

Interested parties may register at the “UP Bikers Tambayan”, beside the kiosk near AS parking lot of the Faculty Center. Look for Christian – mobile # 0919-5116929. For further inquiries, please contact Race Director Thumbie Remigio – mobile #0916-3858322/02-9329071 or e-mail thumbieremigio@yahoo.com.

The said project brings together the DOT, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan and US-based nonprofit organization Conservation International to identify, develop and promote various ecotourism sites around the country.

According to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, “Our vision is for the Philippines to be recognized as a leading destination for ecotourism. The islands are already blessed with breathtaking natural beauty on land and underwater. The next step for us is to support our local communities and tourism establishments and stakeholders in conserving and properly utilizing this wealth.”

Under the Memorandum of Agreement, Magandang Pilipinas engages the participating agencies to manage and promote key ecotourism sites in the Philippines.

For its part, the DOT will work with Bantay Kalikasan and the DENR in orienting and assisting local governments in undertaking projects that uphold the environmental and cultural integrity of their area.

Likewise, the DOT will develop and implement activities to promote ecotourism sites to domestic and international travel markets.

Pilot areas and attractions under the Magandang Pilipinas project include whale shark interaction in Donsol, Sorsogon, the Verde Island Marine Passage Corridor between Batangas and Mindoro, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the marine protected area and limestone karst in El Nido, and the Tubbataha National Marine Park.

Also to be tapped by Magandang Pilipinas are areas currently under the DOT’s ecotourism program with New Zealand’s International Aid & Development Agency (NZAID). These include the Banawe Rice Terraces in Ifugao, dolphin watching in Pamilacan, Bohol, the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, Sapang Bato in Pampanga and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato.

“Ecotourism effectively links environmental conservation with socio-economic welfare. By helping communities protect and promote the natural wonders in their area, we open up sustainable livelihood opportunities brought about by tourism,” Durano said.

Virginia Harvey, Megan’s Beach Resort owner and President of the Municipal Tourism Council said “The local government is really with us and supportive of our programs. In the past, tourism has not been given priority, but now resort and beach owners and the community are working hand-in-hand to attract more tourists over.”

“San Antonio is blessed with clean and preserved white sandy beaches, crystal blue sea dotted with rich corals and shipwrecks, hidden waterfalls, sculptured mountains, and the historical lighthouse tower operated by a solar system,” she said.

A three-hour drive from Manila, San Antonio, Zambales is an ideal surf spot during weekends of the south swell season, mountain-climbing, trekking, island hopping, snorkeling and camping.

At Pundakit, a long stretch with miles of beach is good for surfers from advanced beginners to experts, while tourists will enjoy boat riding and jetski at a favorite hideaway, the serene Silangin Bay.

“Visitors will love the place as I did. A 40-minute boat ride from the shoreline, campers and trekkers are ready to explore the white sand Capones Island filled with breathtaking sceneries, and not too far from this place is two connected island called the Camera Island,” says Canadian-based Tessie Litorco, of Wild Rose Resort.

There are plenty of hotel rooms and other amenities that will meet customer satisfaction, cabins, and camping sites available to accommodate thousands of vacationers.

For culture and art fanatic, nestled in a mango orchard, with the beach nearby and the beautiful Capones Island just beyond and majestic Zambales mountains in a distance, is Casa San Miguel, home for the arts in San Antonio. It boasts of a community-based approach to art education and art production.

Kagawad Nilfredo Q. Fabros, Sangguniang Bayan Chairman on Tourism said, “This is a major step of the local government headed by mayor Romeo Lonzanida, to launch San Antonio as a tourist destination because we would like people to know the beauty of this town not only in the entire country but in the entire world.”

“The province has long been neglected in terms of tourism promotion and marketing but with the concerted effort of the present administration and the people of San Antonio, tourism became a priority. We envision the boom of tourism industry here to create more job opportunities for our local residents,” Fabros added.

Photos courtesy of : http://www.visitzambales.com/