Ilocos Sur is where the Ilocos Region’s myriad of cultures and histories converge to become a living museum of a spirited past. The historic city of Vigan, inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1999, was established in the 16th century. Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.

Calle Crisolo located in the Heritage City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Centuries-old Sta. Maria Church, was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List as an excellent example of Baroque Churches in the Philippines.

The ubiquitous old and ancestral houses and churches have made the local tourism industry a major contributor to the province’s economy.

Ilocos Sur Photos

Paoay Church, inscribed in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

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The 400 year-old Naga Metropolitan Cathderal in Naga City, known as “Nueva Caceres” during the Spanish-colonial era of the Philippines

Camarines Sur is known in elementary school textbooks for Lake Buhi where the world’s smallest edible fish, locally known as tabios (scientific name Mistichttys) abound in its serene and scenic waters. Today, the Province has become one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations because of the CamSur Watersports Complex, a world class cable park designed for wakeboarding and wakeskating, and the Islands of Caramoan, a favorite site for international franchises of the popular reality show “Survivor” in Serbia, Israel, France, Bulgaria, and Sweden.

Matukad Island in Caramoan town, one of the rising tourist destinations in the Philippines

Thirty-five municipalities and two cities classified into four districts compose the province of Camarines Sur. Naga City, the former capital of Camarines Sur, was founded in 1573 as “Nueva Caceres” namesake of the Province in Spain and among the original five royal cities of the Philippines during its Spanish-colonial era. Naga City was designated as the Province’s Capital from March 10, 1917 until June 6, 1955, when Pili, the adjoining town was declared as the new Provincial Capital.

Naga City’s Peñafrancia Festival, the largest Marian devotion in the Philippines

Camarines Sur Photos

Mahabang Buhangin Beach in Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Camarines Norte is blessed with a dense rainforest, habitat of numberless variety of wildlife. The province’s topography is generally rugged. It is composed of rolling hills and mountainous terrain with only a small coastal plain. Its coastal areas are fertile. Situated on these coastal areas are the towns of Vinzons, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Sta. Elena, Capalonga, Daet, Basud, Talisay and Mercedes.

From 1573 to 1829, Camarines sur and Camarine Norte formed only one political unit known as Ambos Camarines. In 1829, they were separated but reunited again in 1854. They again separated, to be reunited again in 1893. This union continued until 1919. On March 3, 1919, Camarines Norte was created by the Philippine Legislature in Act 2809.

Camarines Norte is about six hours drive from Manila through lush forests and picturesque seascapes. Camarines Norte can also be reached by air through the Pili Airport in Camarines Sur. From the airport you can take a bus or a cab to Daet via Naga City.

Camarines Norte Photos

Benguet is home to several native tribes that are collectively known as the Igorot. The three major tribes are the Ibaloi in the Southwest, the kankana-ey in the northwest and Kalanguya in the east. Many of this tribes are believed by Filipino anthropologist to be of Malay decent. Before the arrival of Spanish colonizers, these tribes have a flourishing trade with the lowlanders.

Benguet Provincial Capitol

Agriculture, mining, and tourism are the major industries in Benguet. Because of its temperate climate and high altitude, Benguet is an ideal place for producing vegetables. Benguet is often called the Salad Bowl of the Philippines. Mining is another major industry of Benguet, which is one of the country’s leading gold producers. The presence of Baguio City in Benguet draws a large number of tourists from the lowlands. Often, people who go to Baguio also explore the province, especially the strawberry and vegetable plantations in La Trinidad.

Benguet Photos

Basilica of St. Martin de Tours in Taal, Batangas

Batangas is one of the most popular tourist destinations withing close proximity to Metro Manila. The province has many beaches and is famous for excellent diving spots particularly in Anilao, Matabungkay in Lian, Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Calatagan and Laiya in San Juan.

Batangas is also where the Taal Heritage town lies, a small picturesque town that has ancestral houses and structures dating back to the 1800s. It is home to the Taal Volcano, one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Pacific ring of fire.

Batangas Photos

The landlocked province is a melting pot of the lowland people of dominant Spanish ancestry and the unique ethnicity of the upland Tingguian tribe.

The province of Abra is envisioned to be developed as the North Gateway to the Cordilleras highlighting its rich cultural (both upland and lowland ) and historical heritage.

View of Abra River from Santa, Ilocos Sur

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Aerial View of Mactan Island, home to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the Philippines’ secondary international airport

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Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. Palawan’s almost 2,000 kilometers of irregular coastline are dotted with roughly 1,780 islands and islets, rocky coves, and sugar-white sandy beaches. It also harbors a vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its chain of mountain ranges. The mountain heights average 3,500 feet in altitude, with the highest peak rising to 6,843 feet at Mount Mantalingahan.

The island province of Palawan has been declared as a nature sanctuary of the world, and for good reason. It is wrapped in a mantel of rainforests, outstanding dive sites, majestic mountains, primeval caves, and pristine beaches. It is surrounded by a coral shelf that abounds with varied and colorful marine life. It boasts of exotic flora and fauna that are found nowhere else. Palawan waters are among the best in the world, not only for diving but also for fishing. A diver’s paradise, it has miles of sub-surface coral and rainbow reef walls which surround the coasts and coves teeming with rich marine life.

Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City

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