MANILA – The Philippines was again named as Asia’s leading dive and beach destination by the 2022 World Travel Awards (WTA) in Vietnam on Sept. 7.
Intramuros also reclaimed its title as Asia’s leading tourist attraction.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco on Thursday welcomed the back-to-back win, saying it proves the beauty of the Philippines.
“The Philippines is a beautiful country and you (WTA) having given these awards is such an affirmation to all of our tourism stakeholders and workers who have greatly sacrificed throughout the pandemic,” she said.
“We look to the future with hope that through our combined efforts under the Marcos administration that has identified tourism to become a major pillar for economic recovery that not only will we survive the pandemic but we will thrive, we will endure and we will get back stronger than ever,” she added.
WTA awarded the Philippines for the sixth time as the leading beach destination in Asia besting India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, and at the same time achieving Asia’s Leading Dive Destination title for four straight years since 2019, edging Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Frasco said the dive citation from WTA cemented the premise of the DOT in hosting the Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) 2022, which is considered the country’s largest platform to network and promote the dive industry.
The Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, an attached agency of the DOT in charge of marine sports, has recently appropriated a budget of PHP9.53 million for the first time by the national government for more intensified dive tourism promotion and development.
Intramuros, meanwhile, won over other competitors such as the Angkor Temples of Cambodia; Borobudur Temple Compounds of Indonesia; Ha Long Bay of Vietnam; Sengan-en and Shoko Shuseikan Museum of Kagoshima in Japan; Taj Mahal of India, teamLab SuperNature of Macao, Great Wall, The Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors, all in China; Tokyo Imperial Palace of Japan; and Victoria Peak of Hong Kong.
Frasco said the Philippines is ready to receive tourists while continuing to promote the “Filipino brand” of hospitality.
“We are ready to receive you in the Philippines. We look forward to your visit and I invite each and every one of you to visit our beaches, our dive sites, and our tourist destinations,” she said. (PNA)

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This generated a plume that was detected by Japan’s Himawari-8 Satellite.

“The seismic and infrasound signals are not typical of known volcanic processes and are currently being evaluated together with other potential sources,” Phivolcs said in an advisory.

It added that there has been very low seismic activity in the past days, discounting magmatic activity beneath the edifice.

Phivolcs asks the public to refrain from going in the vicinity of Mount Pinatubo.

It also advised local government units (LGUs) to ban entry into the Pinatubo Crater until the source of the explosion is determined.

Likewise, communities and LGUs surrounding Pinatubo are reminded to be always prepared for both earthquake and volcanic hazards and to review, prepare and strengthen their contingency, emergency, and other disaster preparedness plans.

Mt. Pinatubo has been at alert level 0 (normal) since August 12.

This came at the heels of the scare that has gripped the country in recent weeks due to the 2019 Novel Corona Virus (2019-nCoV) that originated from Wuhan, China and has claimed the lives of at least 106 people and infected some 4,500 worldwide.

The MV World Dream, expected to arrive here this morning, was the first Cruise Ship to scrap its Subic Bay sojourn that generated a lot of concern from communities in and around the Freeport.

Late yesterday, Olongapo Mayor Rolen C. Paulino, Jr. led city residents in staging a rally outside the Freeport Main Gate protesting the impending visit of the MV World Dream which was carrying around 778 passengers, mainly Chinese nationals, in connection with the Corona Virus threat.

Some residents and locators of the Subic Bay Freeport joined the protest rally.

Eisma, on the other hand, while giving assurance that the Freeport has enough protocols in place to check on the threat and invoking the health clearance given by Dept. of Health (DoH) to the cruise ship passengers while in Manila yesterday, pressed the cruise ship operator to reconsider in proceeding to Subic.

Genting Cruise Lines, the operator of the cruise liner, finally acceded “in face of the circumstances on the ground,” according to Eisma.

“It is my duty to inform all stakeholders in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone that the scheduled port call of the cruise ship MV World Dream in Subic on Wednesday, January 29, has been cancelled,” Eisma said in a statement, “now the Subic Bay Freeport community can breathe a sigh of relief in the outcome that, we hope, is acceptable and satisfactory to all.”

The Cruise Ship visits has been a major trust of SBMA’s tourism initiatives, aiming to establish itself as a premier cruise ship destination.

Almost 40 cruise ship visits has been calendared at the Freeport for 2020, up from some 19 visits it had in 2019.

The Corona Virus scare has dealt local tourism here a major blow, but residents and businessmen, including government and SBMA officials, are in concord that “health and safety” is paramount to the projected gains of the cruise ship visits. -30-

In a year-end visit to various spots in the Philippines, the Cruise Ship World Dream arrived this morning for a day-long stop in Subic Bay, dubbed as “Manila’s equal for entertainment, albeit cut from a totally different tropical cloth” with its offerings of water sports, treks and theme parks.

The 19-deck ship carries over 3,000 passengers and crew members.

In recent years, Subic Bay, a former host to the biggest US Naval Base outside the US Mainland, has become a regular destination of cruise ships plying the Asia-Pacific area.

Cruise ship visits enhance economic activities and, thus, are welcomed and anticipated by both residents and business establishments in the local community . (Louella G. Vizcocho)

Residents of Olongapo and Zambales can now enjoy much more than shopping with the opening of SM City Olongapo Central on Friday, September 13, 2019. Located along Rizal Avenue at the heart of the city’s bustling business district, it is SM Prime Holding’s 73rd mall and its second in Olongapo after SM City Olongapo Downtown.

Combining innovative retail, integrated architecture, and green spaces, the four level 71,943 square meter mall will serve shoppers in Olongapo, Zambales, Bataan, and other nearby provinces.

SM City Olongapo Central’s exteriors are sophisticated and bold in modular patterns in neutral colors. The soaring walls of glass, shaded arcades, terraced planters, extended green walls, and mosaic pavement tiles are bringing texture, scale, unity, and life to the area.

The entire mall is organized along a gently curving hallway with several atrium views toward different levels in distinct accent colors. The top level is illuminated with sufficient daylight with an expansive skylight. It is also generously planned to house a variety of events including fashion shows, concerts, exhibits, and more.

The SM Store and SM Supermarket are SM City Olongapo Central’s major anchors, along with SM mainstays like the SM Appliance Center, ACE Hardware, Our Home, Watsons, Surplus, Sports Central, as well as global brands Uniqlo and Miniso. It also has fashion boutiques including H&M, Mango, and Guess; shoe stores, sports stores, jewelry stores, bookstores, and IT stores. A Cyberzone features the latest IT and electronic goods.

Eating out options include a Food Court, as well as popular local and international food fast food chains, coffee shops like Starbucks, bakeries like Breadtalk, and specialty restaurants like Cabalen, Ramen Nagi, and Mesa. Of particular interest is a double level restaurant row overlooking the Boulevard, the parks beyond, and the Bajac Bajac River through full-height walls of glass.

SM City Olongapo Central also has banks, wellness areas, and amusement centers for kids of all ages.

The covered parking is located at the south end of the site in a four-level building with 759 slots for customer convenience. The Carpark is designed to include a 4th level for the 4,357 square meter Convention Center, which provides luxurious function space for balls, meetings, concerts, and other major business, social, cultural, and educational events. In addition, future tennis courts will be provided in the roof.

SM City Olongapo Central’s design team includes DSGN, foreign Design Architect; Jose Siao Ling and Associates, Architect on Record, DA Abcede & Associates, Construction Manager, and Dahn Berger Phils., Construction Group, General Contractor.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— The Subic Sailing Club (SSC) celebrated another successful sailing season in a grand event organized by both Chairman of SSC, Mr. Jun Avecilla and Congressman Ricky Sandoval which was held at The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Subic Bay Freeport Zone on April 30, 2019.

The inaugural Chairman’s Cup Regatta (CCR) provides a platform that enhances the standards of regattas to foster camaraderie among sailors and showcase the natural prowess of Filipinos as sailors and seafarers.

The event commends the leadership of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) who have been playing an important role in helping transform Subic Bay as one of the premier yachting destinations and become a global sports tourism playground for Grand Prix keelboats in Asia, with Atty. Wilma Eisma currently holding the position of Chairperson and Administrator of SBMA.

The event aims to popularize sailing by infusing fun and more mainstream activities and lure people to witness the amazing skills of our Filipino sailors. Besides the more serious yacht racing, the week-long event also includes free sailing lessons, free windsurfing lessons, a stand-up paddleboard fun race, flyboarding exhibition, lifeguard saving demo, beach volleyball, and car displays.

The SSC believes that Filipinos are mariners in nature, that we are an archipelago, a maritime nation. The SSC wishes to inspire our coastal community to connect with our maritime roots and appreciate our waters as a channel of transport and for sailing as its mode. Its thrust is continue breeding the next generation of Filipino sailors that will carry on our legacy as a maritime nation.

Chairman’s Cup Regatta

The Chairman’s Cup Regatta was composed of eight classes. There are three classes on the keelboat division: IRC, Cruising and the FarEast 28R Classes. The FE28 had a total of seven boats composed of 6 crew or less per boat with a maximum weight limit of 425kgs. This is the most competitive class in this division. The Philippine Sailing Association team composed of our SEA Games athletes has two teams headed by Asia’s match racing champion Ridgely Balladares and Asian Sailing Federation Keel Boat Cup champion Emerson Villena. Another team representing the Philippines is from Subic Sailing with Olympian sailor Maria Vidoeira. There were also international teams participating from Hong Kong (Alain Choi), Japan (Yukie Ikawa), China (Ren Feli) and Taipei (Richard Lin).

For the Dinghy division, there are three classes: Optimist, Streaker and Oz Goose. The Oz Goose is the largest fleet in the Dinghy Class with a total of 8 boats. This boat is also the latest addition to the Dinghy Class through the support of the Philippine Gaming Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club headed by Roy Espiritu together with the Oz Goose designer, Michael Storer who also participated in the race.

For this year and for the first time, SSC has included windsurfing in the regatta with two classes: RS: X and RS: One. The athletes participating in this regatta are mostly athletes representing the Philippine team for the upcoming SEA Games. These athletes will continue to train in Subic Bay throughout the year. “We look forward to working with the Philippine Windsurfing Association in bringing more interest in the sport in Subic Bay,” said Mr. Zed Avecilla, Executive Director of Subic Sailing Club

There are a total of 30 boats and 12 windsurfers competing in the regatta from April 25-30. “We hope to increase the number of boats joining this regatta by getting more international participants. This year we had a participant from the inaugural Hong Kong to Puerto Galera Race which was Rampage II. We hope to get more foreign participants next year especially those joining the famous Rolex China Sea Race that will finish at Subic Bay on Easter, a week before the 2nd Chairman’s Cup Regatta,” Zed Avecilla added.

Moulding Young Sailors

The Subic Sailing Club (SSC) has partnered with the Philippine Sailing Association (PSA) and the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR) to form a school that will teach people how to sail in Subic Bay either as a sport, hobby, or means of livelihood.

“The Philippines has retained its reputation of producing strong seafarers around the globe, with numbers almost amounting to a fifth of the world’s maritime workers,” says Jun Avecilla. “Sailing enhances creativity, independence, communication, and teamwork, among other skills, to brace them for the challenges of life. What better way to mould the potential of the next generation than to instill these characteristics with proper coaching and guidance.”

The sport of sailing is growing exponentially. In the past several months, private companies, organizations, government agencies, and even individuals have come together to support one of the biggest campaigns in the sport of sailing in the Philippines. We have companies and individuals who have shared their expertise and services in helping the club fulfill its goal to promote the sport particularly here in Subic Bay.

The Subic Sailing Club had enjoyed and shared a month-long festivity of spreading the love for sailing. SSC started the month with the summer clinic program in partnership with the Olongapo City Sports & Youth Development. “We’ve had more than 40 kids who were all eager to learn how to sail. Five years ago, when the club first introduced sailing in Olongapo, there were only four (4) students who enrolled in the sport.” said Marcus Avecilla, SSC Head of Operations. Currently SSC offers Basic Sailing Course programs to individual and private companies from dinghies to larger keelboats.

Maritime Heritage and Underwater Treasures

The move to promote Philippine maritime heritage was rooted in the government’s Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (Mana Mo) campaign that was launched in Malacañang in September 2017 through Presidential Proclamation 316 which Subic Sailing Club was part of the working committee behind it.

“The Maritime Forum hopes to provide a venue to discuss matters related to our oceans and maritime affairs,” said Zed Avecilla. Besides learning from the speakers, the forum also enabled exchange of ideas. “The forum was in partnership with the National Coast Watch Council Secretariat of the Office of the President.” he added.

One interesting topics discussed in the Maritime Forum was the updated National Marine Policy which will launched during the National Marine Summit to be held this September. It was presented by Jesse Pascasio, Director for Strategic Planning and Communications at the National Coast Watch Council Secretariat. “The National Marine Summit is a partnership between government and all marine stakeholders of the country, like environmentalists, scientists, academics and other members and associations of the maritime industry to promote awareness of the NMP,” says Pascasio. “The agenda also focuses on the Maritime Industry Development Plan, which tackles core issues of the maritime industry to create key solutions and effectively open new opportunities. It will not only present the updated National Marine Policy (NMP) of the Philippines but also its Coastal Development and Tourism Agenda as well. Pascasio added.

All Throughout history Subic Bay has been known to be a strategic location for the Chinese and the South Pacific Region on naval commerce and as military installations from Spain, Great Britain, Japan, and the United States.

“Subic Bay has one of the highest concentrations of historic ship, aircraft and vehicle wrecks within sports-diving range in the world” according to Andy Davis, Scuba Tech Philippines.

Bobby Orillaneda, Museum Researcher at the National Museum of the Philippines, presented images of several underwater and historical artifacts that represent the cultural heritage of the Filipino people including those found 10 nautical miles off the shores in Sta. Cruz, Zambales in March 2001. Sunken treasures such as coins, urns, cooking woks, and porcelain were dated coming from 1488 to 1505 C.E.

On tracing the migration of our ancestors, it had been found that there existed a well-developed boatbuilding industry stemming from the pre-colonial days according to Art Valdez, Founder of Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation, a very influential advocate of Maritime Culture in the Philippines through his Balangay Voyage Expedition. “The SSC aims to promote the rich maritime heritage of the Philippines through our sailing events and programs,” said Zed Avecilla.

Final Awards Ceremony

On the last day of the regatta, April 30, an awarding ceremony was held at the Lighthouse beachfront that was made into a Sailing Village for the week-long event.

The overall winner of this year’s Regatta for IRC Class is Team Misty Mountain with skipper George Hacket, for the Cruising Class is team Selma with skipper Peter Capotosto, for the FarEast28R Class is Team PSA Standard Insurance with skipper Emerson Villena.

The event was capped off by live stage performances from the M1 Freedom Party. Performers that were there included Tropical Depression, along with other local bands and DJs like Migo, Carla Espiritu, and the like.

Improving International Relations

It is through sailing that we are able to build stronger ties with our foreign neighbors long before the Spanish had come. “The Balangay, that may soon be declared as the National Boat of the Philippines, serves as a symbol of unity to the peoples of Southeast Asia.” said Mr. Valdez.

Sailing and channeling through different waters have been means to connect us to other nations in the South Pacific and the rest of the world. The China Cup International Regatta organizing Committee and the Subic Sailing Club, in its hope to strengthen international ties, continue to participate in reciprocal sailing events and activities to develop sailing between the two countries.

The event was presented by the Subic Sailing Club in partnership with the Philippine Sailing Association, Lighthouse Marina Resort and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, in cooperation with Standard Insurance, Watercraft Ventures Corporation, and Subic Bay Yacht Club.

The event is supported by the following government agencies: National Coast Watch Council Secretariat, Department of Tourism, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Group, Department of Transportation, Philippine Retirement Authority, PAGCOR and Philippine Sports Commission.

The event is supported by the following organisations: Rotary Club of Subic Bay, International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians, Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Subic Bay, Hotels, Attractions, and Tourism Stakeholders Visitors Board, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Federation, Philippine Windsurfing Association, Puerto Galera Yacht Club, Taal Lake Yacht Club, Subic Bay Yacht Club and Punta Fuego Yacht Club.

MARIVELES, Bataan — Members of a big group of fishermen here on Tuesday expressed their desire for the Recto Bank row to be settled peacefully but asked that the affected 22 fishermen and the boat owner be provided with the appropriate assistance.

Dalisay Cruz, president of the Sisiman Fishing Association, said there was nothing wrong with President Rodrigo Duterte saying what happened was a small maritime incident that should not be blown out of proportion as every problem has a solution.

The ill-fated boat, F/B Gimber 1, sank on the night of June 9 after being hit by a Chinese vessel at Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea. Vietnamese fishermen later rescued the boat’s 22 crew members.

“Tama po kayo Mr. President, hindi natin kailangan makipaglaban. Ang lahat ng problema may solusyon kung makukuha sa mahinahon, magandang usapan (You are right, Mr. President. There is no need to fight. All problems have solution if there would be a calm and sincere dialogue),” she said.

The association in Barangay Sisiman here, which Cruz heads, is composed of more than 50 big fishing boats and 700 fishermen.

Cruz said dialogue is the best solution before anyone contemplates on war as the Philippines is no match to the military power of the Chinese government.

“At kahit meron tayong gamit pandigma, pinaka the best na solusyon – pag-usapan muna bago pumunta sa tinatawag na digmaan. Mr. President, saludo ako sa mga sinasabi ninyo (Even though we have armaments, still the best solution is to talk first before we go to what they call as war. Mr. President, I salute you for what you are saying),” she said.

But as a boat owner, Cruz appealed to President Duterte to help the affected fishermen including in the repair of the damaged fishing vessel.

“Ipagawa ang kanilang panghanapbuhay nang hindi naman sila sumala sa oras dahil alam natin kung paano ang buhay ng isang mangingisda na doon sila humuhugot ng pampaaral, pagkain ng pamilya (Repair the fishermen’s source of livelihood because we know the life of a fisherman, that is where they source funds for their children’s education and food for the family),” she said.

Norbing Gaga-a, 63, also a fishing boat owner, said the damaged fishing boat should be immediately repaired so that the crews can continue earning a living.

“Talagang ganoon lang. Barko nagbabanggaan, eroplano man saka tren. Humingi na lang ng tulong. Kapag nagawa ang bangka, makakapaghanapbuhay ulit (Things like that happen. Ships collide, even airplanes and trains. Just ask for help. Once the boat was repaired, they can go fishing again),” he said. (PNA)