Lonely Planet picks top 15 sites to visit in the Philippines

Beautiful and calm and enchanting Siquijor

I wonder why Lonely Planet has not made Bohol to the 15 spots to visit in the Philippines. Maybe because Bohol has become too crowded? Of the 15 sites, I have only visited six of them: Siquijor, Malapascua Island, Camiguin, Manila, Dumaguete and Mt. Kanlaon. Why not visit them too this summer.

Here are the list of the top 15:

1 Siquijor

• Spooky island province of mysterious traditional healers, charming beaches and spellbinding sunsets

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  2 Banaue & the Rice Terraces

  Trek til you drop in the 'eight wonder of the world'

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  3 Malapascua Island

  Explore waters teeming with thresher sharks and manta rays from this miniature island paradise

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  4 Sagada

  Cradle of cool, deep in the heart of the wild and woolly Cordillera Mountains

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  5 Boracay

  The pearl of the archipelago allures by day, energises by night

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  6 Donsol

  Snorkellers' wonderland for up-close-and-personal whale-shark encounters

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  7 Camiguin

  This volcanic island is a playground for outdoor adventurers

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  8 Manila

  An explosive megacity, with action and possibility around every corner

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  9 Dumaguete

  The urbane, funky-town gateway to the natural attractions of Negros Oriental

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  10 Corregidor

  Breathtaking views, bloody WWII history, and a perfect excuse to escape the city

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  11 Mt Kanlaon

  Camp at the volcanic crater amid some of the rarest flora and fauna in the world

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  12 Subic Bay

  This former military town is transforming itself into the country's headquarters of extreme sports

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  13 North Pandan Island

  Low-key, low-impact island stay, alongside seagrass gardens and resident turtles

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  14 San Juan

  Cheap lessons and steady waves draw wannabe and veteran surfers alike

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  15 Bacuit Archipelago

  A water wonderland of jagged limestone cliffs, secret coves and hidden beaches

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines#ixzz1sA8BBNke

When the Old Tagbilaran Dies

You will see the real Tagbilaran when an old member of the family of an old clan dies.

A Butalid, for example.

When Ma’am Patching Butalid, our Science teacher in college died, the real Tagbilaranons, the old clan of Tagbilaran came flocking. The Butalids, Clarins, Torralbas, dela Sernas, Rochas, attending the ceremony.

And sadly when you see them, we can justly say that the old Tagbilaran is getting older but not wiser.

The demise of old clan members is the demise of old Tagbilaran. Historically, they are the clans that made Tagbilaran for what it is now. But just like them, the old city is being phased out. Old structures, if not renovated, are gone to give way to new concrete buildings. Historical buildings are “renovated” and bastardized.

The old Tagbilaran you wish to see is obscured by the noise of machines and technology. Roads remained unattended so that traveling by tricycle is a pain in the ass, literally. Even nature suffered. Tagbilaran is noted by the Lonely Planet travel guide as a polluted city. And worst, they even trimmed down the trees at the Plaza Rizal to discourage the birds that flock to the plaza everyday from coming back. The peaceful city is no longer safe for a walk at night because killings are happening even to innocent habal-habal drivers. And they have not been solved yet.

So much have happened in Tagbilaran that sooner its "history" will die a natural death, just like the old clans.

Or is it starting over again?

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