Santo Niño Shrine & Heritage Center
Tacloban
Leyte's most famous daughter is Imelda Romualdez Marcos, whose family is from Tolosa. Her influence in Tacloban is evident in the city's street names and…
Must-see attractions in Philippines
Vigan
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, Chinese settlers pioneered a still-active pottery industry. You can visit a couple of pottery factories on Gomez St…
Around Manila
History buffs should venture 20km south of Manila to view this museum in the town of Kawit. Here the revolutionary army of General Emilio Aguinaldo…
San Juan (La Union)
The Ma-Cho is one of the most striking Chinese temples in Luzon. A loud collision of Taoism and Chinese Catholicism (think bright-red imperial Chinese…
Camiguin
Uninhabited White Island, a pure white-sand bar a few hundred metres offshore, is accessible by boats (P450, up to four people) that leave from a spot…
Cebu City
This impressive butterfly sanctuary, in tropical gardens surrounding the home of late founder Julian Jumalon, harbours more than 55 species, though…
La Nuestra Señora de La Asuncion Parish Church
Vigan
A Unesco World Heritage Site 38km south of Vigan, this massive baroque structure built in 1769 is unique. It has an imposing brick facade and sits alone…
Manila
First built in 1581 (and rebuilt seven times since, most recently in 1951 following its destruction in WWII), Manila Cathedral's present edifice looks…
Vigan
This church was built in ‘earthquake baroque’ style (ie thick-walled and massive) after an earlier incarnation was damaged by quakes in 1619 and 1627. The…
Padre José Burgos National Museum
Vigan
Built in 1788, this museum is in the ancestral home of Father José Burgos, one of the three martyr priests executed by the Spanish in 1872. It houses an…
Around Manila
Completed in 1932 after 10 years of construction, the Malinta Tunnel complex is built into the side of a hill and was used by the Americans as a bombproof…
Manila
Busy Don Chino Roces Ave (Pasong Tamo) has evolved into an art district of sorts, and this hip collection of galleries, furniture shops and design labs is…
Puerto Princesa
Just east of the centre, this is an interesting, privately owned museum set up by Eugenio Mendoza, whose father was a member of the Fighting 1000, a group…
Mindoro
Buktot Beach is a a gorgeous sweep of white sand and clean, calm water. If you visit during the week, you'll have it to yourself, but weekends sometimes…
Manila
Not only is this one of Manila's finest pieces of surviving pre-WWII art deco, but it's also the centrepiece of the Escolta St revival. Inside are…
Vigan
This branch of Vigan's Padre José Burgos National Museum, located 11km north of Vigan in Magsingal, displays an absorbing collection of Ilocano relics. An…
Manila
Built in 1914, this beautiful ancestral home is the former residence of Perona Nakpil, the widow of Andrés Bonifacio ( father of the Philippine Revolution…
University of San Carlos Museum
Cebu City
This well-presented museum is best known for its anthropological and archaeological exhibits, including displays depicting the 16th-century practice of…
Cebu
Hilutangan Island, about 4km southwest of Olango, is surrounded by a marine sanctuary, although the snorkelling isn't that great as the reefs were damaged…
Western Visayas
This three-tiered waterfall cascading into a refreshing swimming hole makes for a great half-day excursion. Walk (or ride) east out of Magdiwang past the…
Leyte
Lake Danao is beautifully situated in Leyte's inland hills 18km east of town, making it a good day trip from Ormoc. There's some great hiking around the…
Samar
During WWII, the US military transformed the area into a launching pad for attacks on Japan, and it was once the largest PT (patrol boat) base in the…
Sagada
South of the centre, the small village of Demang is now a barangay of Sagada but was the area’s original settlement and remains Sagada’s cultural and…
Samar
Just offshore from Borongan, pretty little Divinubo is ringed by white-sand beaches and has a few secret surf breaks. There's a lighthouse built by the…
The Cordillera
It’s a 40-minute gruelling but worthwhile hike across the terraces and a steep descent to the 21m-high Tappia Waterfall, where you can sunbathe on the…
North Luzon
Located along the coast near Laoag, the seemingly endless sand dunes sprawl south all the way to Paoay. Access is easiest to the La Paz stretch, only 15…
University of the Philippines Diliman
Manila
If you have a spare half-day, make the trip out to the lovely, leafy University of the Philippines Diliman campus. It has a genuine American university…
Davao
Around 5km north of the city centre is this large complex spread out along the Davao River. A combination conservation centre and zoo, there are croc …
Panay
This series of seven scenic cascades at the end of the TEA Park road can be ascended one by one, offering some fine swimming holes (the third tier is…
Cebu City
This viewpoint, high above the city, is best visited at sunset. Cafes (which open from 4pm) sell drinks and snacks. Some taxi drivers may refuse to tackle…
Manila
This is an art museum where you become the subject. It contains scores of three-dimensional murals and paintings designed to play tricks on your camera…
Siquijor
Northeast of San Juan is stunning white-sand Paliton Beach. The water is as clear as glass and there are wonderful views of Apo Island. Take the turnoff…
Negros
These glorious 30m-high falls, 4km from Valencia, are most refreshing after the challenging trek to reach them. After climbing down the 335 steps, the…
Cagayan de Oro
Set in acres of botanical gardens with a small wildlife collection of butterflies, birds and deer, the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village is a theme park of…
The Cordillera
The forests around Kabayan hide dozens of mummy caves that only Ibaloi elders can locate; the nearest site where you can see some (not terribly well…
Bicol
The view that holds everyone’s attention in Legazpi is of Mt Mayon, but there’s another beautiful panorama many visitors miss: the pretty port of Legazpi…
Manila
At the entrance to the site of Rizal’s execution is a black granite wall inscribed with Rizal’s ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’ (My Last Farewell). Eight tableaux of…
Siquijor
Opposite the San Isidro Labrador Church, flanked by centuries-old acacia trees, is the oldest Catholic convent in the Philippines, a magnificent timber…
The Cordillera
On the southern edge of town (in someone’s backyard), this spooky charnel house has hundreds of skulls and bones between 500 and 1000 years old lined up…
Manila
A mismatch among Makati's corporate high-rises, this fantastic art and design gallery was established by prominent businessman and former UN diplomat,…
