Aptly themed “Beyond the Usual Philippines,” the event, organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT), is designed to showcase what is unique to the Philippines.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza, who signed a memorandum of agreement with PHILTOA president Cesar Cruz recently, said the SBMA would also be an official partner of the 20th PTM that will be held on September 4-6 at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Cruz said SBMA’s infusion of fresh ideas in developing eco-tourist sites in Subic provided a classic example of what the industry should do to realize the country’s full tourism potentials.

Cruz cited the SBMA’s “hop-on, hop-off” transport scheme, whereby commuting tourists or “backpackers” can now tour the vast expanse of the Subic Bay Freeport, aboard double-decker buses plying Subic’s scenic route at regular intervals.

“Subic’s novel hop-on, hop-off scheme can be adopted anywhere in the country,” Cruz said.

Cruz also said that the Subic tourist transport system would be featured in tourism seminars during the 20th PTM, which also serve as an avenue for tourism stakeholders and students to discuss emerging trends in the industry.

Cruz further praised SBMA, the agency that administers the Subic Bay Freeport, for constantly adding new dimensions to its positioning as a prime nature hub.

Arreza, meanwhile, said that tourism developments in Subic revolved exactly around what were considered the free port’s jewels— its unspoiled beaches and virgin tropical forests.

“Our top tourist draws — the Treetop Adventure, Jungle Joe’s World, Zoobic Safari, and Ocean Adventure, to name a few, offer unique adventures, which we constantly upgrade by introducing new activities like bird-watching,” said Arreza.

He said that Subic Bay had been named by the DOT as one of the country’s official sites for bird-watching, a young but increasingly popular activity among nature lovers.

“We are also introducing the newest fads in adventure tourism, like wind surfing, kite boarding, sailing, and other water sports. Actually, one can do almost anything in Subic,” said Arreza.

For the upcoming travel mart, Arreza said that SBMA would showcase a complete set of Subic’s attractions at the mall’s 24-sqm pavilion.

The Subic Bay Freeport greatly benefits from the annual travel event, which brings in thousands of local and foreign corporate buyers, consumers and other stakeholders in a single venue for travel and tourism.

Arreza said the travel mart had carved a niche in the international market as a prime venue for Philippine tour packages and other tourism products.

“Last year, 50 foreign buyers went straight to Subic right after visiting the travel mart,” he said.

Arreza also said the SBMA has a successful partnership with the PHILTOA, which is the biggest association of tour operators and agencies that exclusively promote domestic and inbound tourism.

Cruz said the PHILTOA expected about 300 foreign buyers to visit this year’s event.

Puerto Princesa Palawan Underground River

Votation for the second stage began in January 7, 2009. A total of 261 nominees and multinational nominees have been classified into 7 groups which are: Landscapes/Ice Formations, Islands, Mountains/Volcanoes, Caves/Rock Formations/Valleys, Forests/National Parks/Nature Reserves, Lakes/Rivers/Waterfalls, and Seascapes. Palawan’s Underground River is at second place under the category of Forests/National Parks/Nature Reserves, with the Amazon River at no. 1 (source: Ranking © www.new7wonders.com). Only 77 of the 261 nominees will remain after voting ends in July 7, 2009. People who took part in the first stage of the poll may vote again in the ongoing second stage.

Sec. Ace Durano in Palawan

“Once again we urge Filipinos from all over the world to keep their eye on the prize. All the voting and support have already generated immense publicity for our country. It would indeed be a feat for the Philippines if the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Park becomes one of the 7 phenomenal sights in the world,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

Renowned as the world’s longest underground river, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park also features a stunning limestone karst mountain landscape. Inside its large chambers are stalactites and stalagmites formations, while at the mouth of its cave
thrives a bustling ecosystem which includes monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels.

“We ask everyone to join us on this long but gratifying road to victory. But more than the people’s votes, we urge preservation and protection of our natural sites because they are the irreplaceable
wealth of our country,” said Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions.

After the top 77 candidates have been determined, the New7Wonders Panel of Experts, led by Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO, will then take over to select the 21
Finalists.

Voting will resume after selection of the 21 Finalists. The nominees will compete for vote against candidates within their category. Simultaneous with the voting, the New7Wonders World Tour will visit the 21 Finalists to give each a chance to be seen by the whole world.
The final 7 will be announced in 2011.

Competing Teams @ DBP Interisland Race 2008

Which teams will make it all the way to the finals in Manila? Watch out for more race reports as the legs unfold.

Team Narra

CEOs Will Nocom and Super Perez with Ryza Cenon – Will spotted the ad for the race just before he left for a business trip to HK. Wanting to join the race, Will was calling up all his friends in Manila in the hopes of getting a partner for the race, until he met fellow CEO Super in HK, who agreed to be his race partner!

Team Tamaraw

Siblings Rayn and Tina Yu with Arron Villaflor – Brother and sister gym buffs Rayn and Tina Yu are looking for fun, friends and adventure as they join their first adventure race.

Team Anahaw

Dating students Chad Venades and Roxy Barrios with Charee Pineda – Roxy is adventurous while Chad is unpredictable and street smart. Will this help them win the race.

Team Mayon

Newlyweds Jenny and Nitoi Vilaflor with Rainier Castillo – Married just last Oct. 25, this is one unique honeymoon for Jenny and Nitoi!

Team Sampaguita  (No Photo Available) – Childhood friends/ neighbors Tine Grande and Kat Sanga with Mike Tan
Tine and her “sister from another mother” Kat are both adventurous, and are looking forward to visiting the different tourist spots covered by the race.

Team Apo

Schoolmates Cams Lozano and Kynz Flores with Beatriz Saw – Good friends from Xavier University, Kynz is half-Japanese while Cams is Pinoy na Pinoy. After their experience in their University Fun Race, Cams and Kynz are ready for more!

Team Agila

Boyfriend-girlfriend Derek Grey and Peaches de Guzman with Ateneo Blue Eagles point guard Jai Reyes
Peaches is a photographer who loves adventure, and has been wanting to travel with Derek for a long time now. Derek, who is not much of a travel buff, decided this was the perfect opportunity for them to travel together!

Team Kanlaon

Twin brothers Jojo and Jedtz Tan with Zaira dela Peña – With the difficult race challenges ahead, the twins push the limit on their dynamic duo to test their chemistry and their personal and working relationship.

Team Sikatuna

Friends Rasm Mendez and Ian Caingat with Jen Rosendahl – Teacher and tour guide Ian is outgoing, competitive and always on the go, while nurse Rasm has a spirit that just won’t quit. Both are martial arts enthusiasts to boot! Will they be the team to beat?

Team Lapu-lapu

Long time gal pals Edz Saguin and Toni Cañeda with Ketchup Eusebio – These girl friends love to travel and meet new people. Joining the race gives them a sense of self-actualization, as they experience something extraordinary before settling down.

Catch race updates or vote for your favorite teams at 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.

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 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.