It’s not bad to unwind once in a while especially with all the stress from work or school. We have listed a few fun activities you can do with your friends, loved ones, or by yourself—self-love.
Spend time with nature. Hiking has been one of the popular activities today because of the breath-taking views to enjoy with good company. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about the local culture.
You can become a joiner through various hiking groups on Facebook and make friends with new people. This is also a good exercise but be sure to be well-prepared before hiking. Check the itinerary that will be given by hiking organizers and re-check your stuff before leaving.
If you’re uncomfortable talking to strangers you can just reconnect with nature without the need to become social, no one would mind.
If climbing mountains seems too tedious for you, just get the classic vitamin sea instead. Nothing beats a good old beach vacation. Imagine yourself dipping in fresh saltwater or making sandcastles. Also, budol fiigghhtt!
You can also enroll in free-diving lessons and enjoy an underwater experience. Be a mermaid for a day! Just make sure you have the proper training before diving in—safety first!
You can also try immersing yourself in art. The Philippines has interesting museums you can explore. Some of them are even offering free entrance—yay! Free stuff.
Spend your vacation touring Manila, track the roots of Filipino culture and appreciate the art that embodies it. Looking at art can also have a calming effect. Some museums even offer fun activities like painting, origami, or seminars.
Eat to your heart’s content!
If museum hopping isn’t triggering your excitement then try food exploring! Every city in the country has its own best food destination — it’s not just Maginhawa anymore.
Spend your vacation trying some of the best foods that the Philippines can offer. Imagine yourself as a well-known chef in search of the most delicious bites. Create a memorable culinary experience by going to the unfamiliar. Is there a food that you haven’t tried before?
Home sweet home
What else is there to say? Food, check! Entertainment, check! Comfort, check!—AAC
Palawan is again hailed as the “best island in the world,” by international travel magazine Travel+Leisure.
“It’s dramatic at sea level, with mountains rising directly from the ocean palm-edged beaches. Though it’s difficult to reach from many parts of the world, once travelers get there they can dive in World War II wrecks, explore old-growth rain forests, and paddle one of the world’s longest subterranean rivers at Puerto Princesa,” according to Travel+Leisure magazine.
The magazine released its Top 25 Best Islands in the world on Wednesday (July 9), in which Palawan ranked first with a score 94.83. This is the fourth time the island topped the list.
One of the fans wrote, “The landscape and scenery are just gorgeous. It offers the most beautiful beaches, resorts, and scenery anywhere.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism celebrated Palawan’s recognition. DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that the “rehabilitation and sustainable development efforts last year, especially in El Nido and Coron, were well-received by tourists everywhere.” AAC
Ten months after the death of her husband, a wife still received a heart-warming surprise from him for their 25th wedding anniversary.
Aly Mendoza received an email from her late father regarding instructions for an anniversary surprise. The email also contained a letter for her mother.
“Apparently before my dad passed away 10 months ago, he planned everything, he even contacted and paid for a florist to deliver flowers to my mom for the coming years on every special occasion, my mom’s birthday (August 19,) Valentine’s Day, and their anniversary (June 10),” she wrote in her post.
“Even if they’re not physically together, even though he’s no longer here, he was still able to surprise and make my mom happy. Not even death could stop my dad from loving my mom and showing her how much she meant to him,” she added.
Aly said her dad picked the flowers for the bouquet: white and pink.
“White roses are special to my parents because when my dad was courting her, my mom had two suitors. She told herself that whoever gives her white roses was ‘the one and obviously it was my dad who gave her white roses,” Aly said.
Aly felt the joy her mom felt when she saw the surprise. She shared how her parent’s love endures—and not even death could make them part. AAC
Did you know that corals are not rocks? They aren’t plants either.
Corals are animals. At a glance, we picture corals as uniquely-shaped rocks with seaweed-like leaves but in reality, corals are composed of tiny creatures called ‘polyps’.
Coral polyps are tiny organisms that are more closely related to sea anemones and jellyfishes.
What do they do exactly?
Corals serve as home to numerous sea creatures. It also protects coastlines to dissipate huge waves. Scientists can also determine prehistoric climate patterns by studying coral reefs which can make a huge impact on how we should live in the present.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Philippines is part of the Coral Triangle which is a marine area located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is considered as the center of global marine diversity.
The Coral Triangle covers areas in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Solomon Islands. It is the home of 2.5 million hectares of coral reefs, 500 species of corals and 1,763 reef species.
In celebration of Coral Triangle Day, the DENR sets out to raise awareness on the importance of corals and the Coral Triangle in the country.
“There are 130 million people directly dependent on its marine natural resources,” the DENR said.
What can we do?
CleanSeas Pilipinas reiterated the importance of preserving coral reefs especially when climate change and pollution in the ocean continue to threat marine life.
Here are some of the actions we can do to help save the coral reefs:
Don’t touch coral reefs!
Use reef-safe sunscreens
Don’t purchase corals from gift shops
Volunteer in local beach or reef cleanups
“Protecting them is essential to food security as coral reefs contribute to 70% of fishery production in the world,” the organization said. –AAC
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