Tourist Spots

The Philippines is one of the worlds most beautiful countries which God has embellished with scenic beauty and natural wonders. World famous are the Banaue Rice Terraces in northern Luzon, built more than 2000 years ago by the hardy Ifugao farmers on the massive slopes of the mountains, these terraces rise in gigantic steps towards the clouds. If placed end to end they would extend 14000 miles - almost ten times longer than the famous Great Wall of China.- More than half of the earths circumference. In beauty and symmetry of design and in durability and massiveness of construction, these rice terraces can match any engineering masterpiece in the world. Foreign travelers who have seen the Rice Terraces of Banaue marvel how the ancient ancestors of the Ifugao, untrained in engineering science and using only crude iron tools and bare hands , could have carved such wondrous irrigated paddies, on the steep rocky mountain slopes. No wonder, this Rice Terraces have been acclaimed by many writers as the Eight Wonder of the World.

Other:
Pagsajan Falls
The Legendary Mount Banahaw
The Hidden Valley in Laguna
The inland Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City
The Amazing Umbrella Geyser of Barrio Bigas, San Juan Batangas
The fabulous "submarine gardens" off Laiya coast
The attractive matabungkay beach
The lovely sunset beach of Cavite
The awe-inspring Montalban Caves in Rizal
The Hundred Island of Lingayan Gulf
The Enchanting Crystal Cave near Baguio
The Salinas Salt Spring in Nueva Viscaya
The White Beaches of Legazpi
The Bulusan Lake in Sorsogon
The Darosdos Falls in Smar
The Talisay Beach in Cebu
The Storied Guimaras Island
The fabulous Chocolate hills of Bohol
The idyllic Lake Lanao
The Maria Christina Falls in Mindanao
The underground river of Palawan
The Alluring Kawa-Kawa Beach in Zamboanga City
The Intramuros in NCR
The Mayon Volcano with its perfect cone
The Taal Volcano at the Center Lake of Taal in Batangas

The CCP Complex

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex is the arts center of the country. Located along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, this is the premier venue for ballet presentations, concerts, stage plays, performances, exhibits and trade fairs. Inaugurated in 1969, the CCP comprises a fine concert hall seating 2,000 plus an intimate 400-seat theater as well as a library, museum, art gallery, and an upscale restaurant. The lobby is opulent, with marble floors, curving staircases, and glass and kapis-shell chandeliers.

Also within the complex is the Coconut Palace, an architectural wonder made from the coconut tree mixed with other indigenous material. The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the Product Design and Development Center, the Folk Arts Theater, Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibitions (PHILCITE), Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel and Manila Film Center are also found here.

Beside the CCP Complex is the World Trade Center, while fronting it is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) building. The BSP houses two museums: the Money Museum, which showcases excavated antique gold jewelry and the Metropolitan Museum, a repository of classic Filipino paintings and a host of rotating international art exhibitions.

Roxas Boulevard is also lined up by de-luxe and standard hotels, lively nightclubs, and the Cuneta Sport Center, home of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Parks and Zoos

From the CCP complex, one can proceed to Nayong Pilipino. This 32-acre theme park is also just a 10-minute drive from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The park features scaled-down replicas of the country's top tourist destinations such as Mayon Volcano, the Banaue Rice Terraces and the Chocolate Hills.

A smaller park, which offers a venue for relaxation is also within close distance. The Paco Park, which was built as a cemetery in 1820, is now a frequent site of mini-concerts and musical performance by the country's finest artists.

The park is surrounded by trees and plants, which are properly identified. Behind the park is the Paco Hong Giarn Taoist Temple. Nearby are the New Swiss Inn, with bar, restaurant, and delicatessen, and the Park Hotel, with lounge, restaurant, and swimming pool.

Not far from the area is the Manila Zoo on Adriatico street. Manila Zoo, the country's largest and oldest, hosts international and indigenous animal species such as the Tamaraw and Philippine crocodile. It is open everyday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The northern part of Metro Manila takes pride in maintaining two animal sanctuaries, Parks and Wildlife Nature Center and the Malabon Zoo. The former, located at the corner of Quezon Ave. and the Elliptical Road in Quezon City serves as the protection center for exotic animals confiscated from smugglers and illegal collectors.

A stone's throw away is the Quezon Memorial Circle, a park noted for its 30-meter-high monument of former President Manuel Quezon. Its underground chambers house the Quezon City Museum and Art Gallery. The Malabon Zoo and Aquarium, located along Gov. Pascual Avenue in Potrero, Malabon also has a collection of interesting fish and animals. It is open everyday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

In Makati City, an air-conditioned zoo at the Glorietta mall is frequently visited by parents and their small children. The area also has a small playground.

Sources: http://www.txtmania.com/trivia