Unbelievable Places In the Philippines You Must Visit | Travel Doc

Unbelievable Places In the Philippines You Must Visit | Travel Doc

Did you know the Philippines is the 
world’s second largest archipelago;   made up of more than 7,600 islands spread across 
nearly a million square kilometers of ocean? Separated from mainland Asia by 
the Luzon and Mindanao Straits,   it has been shaped by centuries of seafaring 
trade, colonial ambition, and resilient cultures. Over 175 languages and dialects still thrive from 
the Cordillera highlands down to Sulu’s turquoise seas, while festivals such as Kadayawan pay homage 
to bountiful harvests and ancestral deities. From early Malay settlers to 
333 years of Spanish rule,   then half a century under American tutelage, 
every town bears church spires, fortifications, and fusion cuisines—like 
adobo with coconut vinegar. Join us as we embark on a journey through 
the Philippines’ multi-faceted soul. 1,540 meters above sea level 
in the Cordillera Central,   Baguio lies about 250 kilometers north of Manila. Founded in 1900 as a hill station for American 
colonial officials seeking relief from tropical heat, it still preserves grand echo-walls 
and Tudor-style bungalows along Session Road. Cooler temperatures earned it the 
nickname ‘Summer Capital of the   Philippines’, drawing both colonizers 
and locals to escape the lowland heat. The city was planned by American architect 
Daniel Burnham in the early 1900s,   giving it a rare sense of urban order. Even today, gardens, art spaces, and weaving centers 
continue to flourish amid its foggy ridges. Each February, Panagbenga—the month‑long Flower   Festival—paints Burnham Park in vivid 
petals and choreographed street dances, while the Scottish‑inspired Baguio Highland 
Games recall expatriate traditions. Below, mule‑train operators guide hikers 
onto the ancient trails of Mount Santo   Tomas, and strawberry farms in nearby La Trinidad 
allow visitors to pick their own ruby harvest. On the northwest coast of Luzon, 
405 kilometers from Manila, Vigan stands as one of only three Spanish colonial towns 
in Asia designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city’s unique layout was influenced 
by both Spanish and Chinese merchants,   whose trade helped build Vigan’s wealth. Clay tiles, horse-drawn carriages, and 
rustic street lamps evoke a time when   the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade 
linked the Philippines to Mexico. Today, artisans still practice age-old techniques   like able weaving and Bernet pottery 
within centuries old workshops. Cobblestone Calle Crisólogo channels 
19th century galleon trade routes. The city is home to one of the oldest 
surviving schools in the country,   St. Paul College, founded in 1904 by Belgian nuns. Every May, the Viva Vigan Binatbatan 
Festival celebrates the town’s weaving traditions with street loom exhibitions 
and dresses dyed with native indigo. Nearby, the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo—now 
a startling blue caldera born of its 1991 eruption—lies 90 kilometers to the east, inviting 
day‑trip treks across ash‑scoured landscapes. Just 115 kilometers south of Manila, Batangas 
Province stretches along 315 kilometers of shoreline, forming the southern rim of Manila Bay 
and the western flank of the Taal Volcano caldera. The region is known for its stoic 
devotion to Catholic traditions,   especially during the Lenten season when 
towns stage elaborate street processions. It’s also a major source of 
balisong, or butterfly knives,   which are handcrafted by local bladesmiths. Batanga’s coffee, barako, is prized for its bold,   smoky aroma and remains a 
morning staple across Luzon. The provincial capital, also called Batangas City,   was founded in 1754, and retains a fine collection 
of Spanish‑era churches draped in bougainvillea Inland, mountaineers ascend the rim 
of Taal—a volcano within a lake on   an island in a larger lake—climbing 
311 meters from the crater’s edge to catch sunrise casting molten 
reflections over volcanic lakes. On the coast, dive resorts in Anilao sit atop 
coral gardens teeming with nudibranchs and ghost pipefish, earning the area its “macro diving” 
reputation among underwater photographers. At the heart of Luzon, Manila 
lies just 14 kilometers south   of the bay’s northern inlet, yet serves 
as the crossroads of Philippine history. It has seen over four centuries of upheaval, 
from colonial conquest and wartime devastation, to people-led revolutions and rapid modernization. Once the crown jewel of Spanish East Asia,   it’s now a sprawling metropolis 
layered with contradictions. Colonial ruins beside neon-lit malls; 
jeepneys beside highspeed rail. Its dense population and constant motion 
reflect a country always evolving. Established by the Sultanate of Brunei 
before Spanish colonization in 1571, Intramuros—“the walled city”—bound a 
fortress of adobe bastions and baroque churches whose ruins still 
peer over the Pasig River. Beyond the plazas, Escolta 
Street once bustled with Art   Deco cinemas and department stores—today 
reviving as creative start‑up hubs. From binondo’s century‑old Chinese shops—selling 
hopia pastries and hand‑pulled noodles—to the coup‑de‑grâce view atop the Rizal Monument, 
Manila remains a layered palimpsest of sultanate, colonia, commonwealth, and republic, all 
pulsating within its 38 square kilometers. On Luzon’s northwest shore, Pangasinan 
Province spreads along Lingayen Gulf, a cradle of ancient Luzon agriculture and the 
site of pivotal WWII landings in January 1945 The name Pangasinan means ‘Place of Salt’,   referencing the salt beds that have 
fueled its economy for centuries. It’s also known for Bagoong- a fermented 
fish sauce that adds depth to local cuisine. The province’s coastal plains 
and rivers support both rice   and bangus-milkfish farming on a massive scale. Today, it’s 123 kilometers of coastline hosts 
over a 100 tiny islands known collectively as the ‘100 Islands National Park’; each rising 
from emerald waters like abandoned sentinels. Kayakers thread between shell-white beaches,   while cliff jumpers dive into turquoise 
lagoons ringed by limestone outcrops In nearby Alamino City, locals celebrate 
the annual Bangus Festival every April, honoring the province’s famed milkfish 
with street-dance parades, grilling   contests, and bangus sculptures 
crafted from rice and bamboo. A 2-hour drive south of Manila to Batangas City, 
followed by a 45-minute ferry crossing of the Verde Island Passage, brings you to Puerto Galera- 
a hilly harbor town famed for its coral diversity. This passage is considered the center 
of marine biodiversity in the world,   attracting scientists and divers alike. Spanish missionaries first 
arrived here in the 1570s,   naming the area ‘Port of the Galleons’. Today, 
it balances vibrant nightlife with eco-tourism rooted in reef conservation 
and coastal cleanup programs. Recognized by marine biologists as the center 
of the center of global marine biodiversity, its reefs host over 350 coral species and 2,000 fish 
species at depths ranging from 5 to 40 meters. Night dives reveal fluorescent 
nudibranchs and bobtail squids,   while midday snorkelers drift above 
sea fans and schooling surgeonfish. The town’s white beach thrums with 
chilled reggae beats each afternoon. Locals mark the Aplaya Festival in May by 
painting elaborate sand murals and racing banca boats in tribal‑patterned outrigger skiffs, 
a living tribute to their seafaring ancestors. Once a sleepy fishing island, Boracay 
shot to global fame when its sugar‑white   sand—97% pure calcium carbonate—was 
voted the world’s best beach in 2012. The island underwent a government-led   environmental rehabilitation in 2018 
to preserve its fragile ecosystem. Indigenous Ati communities continue to 
live on the fringes of the tourism zone,   preserving traditional dances and folklore. Despite the crowds, Boracay maintains a delicate 
harmony between celebration and serenity. Today, eighteen 4 WD‑equipped tricycles ferry 
sun‑seekers along its 4‑kilometer stretch of White Beach, lined with low‑rise bars serving 
halo‑halo desserts and tangy calamansi margaritas. From November to April, strong 
northeast trade winds transform   Bulabog Beach into a kitesurfer’s playground, 
with colorful kites dotting crystalline bays. Inland, the Ati tribes elders hold traditional 
rituals on Mount Luho’s viewing deck, 600 meters above sea level, recalling 
pre-colonial myths of coconut spirits. Nightlife peaks with live bands 
under palm leaf roofs. Yet by dawn,   the powder soft sands reclaim 
quiet, inviting barefoot meditation. On the southeastern tip of Cebu Island,   Oslob has become synonymous with one of the 
world’s most accessible whale shark encounters. At 6 a.m. sharp, local fishers paddle 
banca boats into Tan‐awan Bay to offer krill and small fish to gentle giants 
that reach up to 12 meters long. Though tourism now fuels its economy, locals still   fish and farm using techniques 
passed down through generations. Oslob’s churches and watchtowers reflect centuries 
of Spanish fortification against Moro raiders. Nearby, Tumalog Falls cascades 50 meters 
down a moss‑covered amphitheater, its mist creating permanent 
rainbows above jade pools. Each February, the Feast of Señor Santo Niño 
draws families from across Cebu for fluvial parades along the coastal highway, where riders 
scatter petals from barge‑mounted carriages. Inland rice terraces, though smaller than those 
in Banaue, still host planting festivals in June, with farmers pounding rice in wooden 
mortars to the beat of bamboo percussion. Leyte Island stands at the center 
of the 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf,   the largest naval battle in history, 
where Admiral Halsey’s fleets clashed against Imperial Japan’s Armada 
across 300,000 kilometers of sea. Today, the MacArthur Landing Memorial 
in Palo commemorates General Douglas   MacArthur’s return with towering 
bronze figures striding ashore. Beyond its war stories, Leyte is also home to   geothermal fields and verdant rice 
patties stretching toward the sea. Its capital, Tacloban, hosts 
the annual Sangyaw Festival,   a lively celebration of cultural unity and faith. Further inland, the town of Ormoc 
hosts Pinta Kakulay—a celebration of local tapestry crafts and indigenous 
Waray‑Waray culinary heirlooms such as   kinilaw (fish ceviche) infused 
with calamansi and ginger. At night, firefly-lit mangrove creeks 
offer guided paddle tours that reconnect   visitors to a landscape once scarred by 
bombs, but now teeming with wildlife. On the southwestern tip of Mindanao, 
Zamboanga City, dubbed Asia’s Latin city, carries the legacy of over four centuries 
of Spanish, Mexican, and Filipino mingling. Here, people speak Chavacano, a Spanish-based 
creole that survived centuries of change. Fort Pilar stands as a symbol of colonial 
defense, now transformed into a religious shrine. The city is also famous for 
its vinta boats- colorfully   sailed vessels that represent both 
cultural pride and maritime tradition. Villa del Mar along the peninsula’s eastern shore 
still preserves colonial forts like La Punta, where bronze cannons once guarded 
against Moro and pirate incursions. On Santa Cruz Island, visitors can 
walk across powder‑white “pink sand”   beaches—colored by crushed red organ pipe 
coral—and taste pastel‑colored curacha (a local slipper lobster) sautéed in coconut milk. Known as Mindanao’s “City of Golden Friendship,”   Cagayan de Oro sits at the 
mouth of the Cagayan River. Its nickname reflects both 
the warmth of its people and   its role as a commercial hub in northern Mindanao. Originally a Spanish mission settlement,   it grew into a vital trading post for 
inland tribes and coastal merchants. Today, its rapid growth is driven by 
tourism, education, and technology sectors. Spanish missionaries established 
a garrison here in 1622, but today   it’s best known as the whitewater rafting 
capital of the Philippines, with class 3-5 rapids thundering through rainforested 
canyons just 20 kilometers upstream. Downtown street stalls dish out Pastel 
de tentación: golden empanadas filled with sweetened coconut and jackfruit, 
while craft breweries near Gaston Park   brew banana infused ales in homage 
to the city’s prolific plantations. Despite wartime scarring, CDO has traded 
muskets for paddles and built a thriving eco-adventure economy that still 
honors its missionary origins. The second largest island in the Philippines,   Mindanao spans some 97,000 square kilometers 
of mountains, valleys, and coastal plains. It’s the agricultural heart of the country,   producing the majority of its 
bananas, pineapples, and cacao. Though often misunderstood, Mindanao is a land of 
immense diversity, resilience, and cultural depth. While known historically for moral resistance 
against Spanish and American colonizers,   today it hosts a living tapestry 
of Lumad ethno‑linguistic groups, Maranao lake dwellers, and Tausug seafarers. In Marawi City, the Grand Mosque’s 
minarets frame Lake Lanao’s glassy surface. Farther south, Mount Apo—the 
Philippines’ highest peak at   2,954 meters—draws climbers seeking 
sunrise above the “land of promise.” Mindanao’s vast Silk Road‑style trading routes   once connected gold‑bearing 
rivers to Sulu’s ebony ports; today, its marketplaces hum with halal cuisine and 
Bangsamoro coffee harvested on volcanic inclines. Located in the Visayas, Bohol’s Chocolate 
Hills—1,200 dome‑shaped karst formations covering 50 square kilometers—shimmer russet in 
the dry season, drawing geology buffs worldwide. These hills are steeped in legend, said to 
be the tears of a giant mourning lost love. Beneath those hills, the Loboc River 
meanders through rainforest canopies, hosting floating lunch cruises and 
firefly spotting tours at dusk. Boholanos are known for their 
hospitality and melodic dialect,   which mirrors the musicality 
of their coastal surroundings. The island also played a role in resisting 
both Spanish rule and American colonization. Tarsier sanctuaries near Corella 
protect the world’s smallest primates,   whose giant eyes reflect the beam of flashlights 
as visitors whisper to avoid startling them. Annual Sandugo reenactments commemorate the 
1565 blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi—the first 
formal treaty of friendship in Philippine history. While nearby Panglao Island’s dive sites brim 
with reef sharks and crustacean‑flecked walls. Stretching over 1,780 kilometers 
from Mindoro Strait to Borneo, Palawan Province is often 
ranked the world’s best island,   thanks to its sheer limestone cliffs, hidden 
lagoons, and emerald‑green mangrove forests. Once part of the Sunda Shelf, its unique geology 
connects it more closely to Borneo than Luzon. Conservation efforts have made it a model 
for eco-tourism across Southeast Asia. The local Tagbanua people have 
ancestral rights over much of the land, and continue to protect it 
with sustainable practices. El Nido—at the northern tip, 230 kilometers from 
Puerto Princesa—boasts the Bacuit Archipelago’s secret lagoons and towering pinnacles 
that have doubled as Hollywood backdrops. Sealife here ranges from manta rays 
in Tubbataha Reef Natural Park to   sea turtles nesting on remote San Vicente beaches. And the Calauit Safari Park reintroduces African 
giraffes alongside endemic Palawan bearcats. On Palawan’s east coast lies the Puerto 
Princesa Subterranean River National   Park—a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 
an 8.2 Kilometer navigable limestone cave. Boats glide beneath Gothic stalactites 
and mysterious chambers whose echoes   carry centuries-old legends of river spirits. Each November, the Mutya ng Puerto Princesa 
pageant crowns a “Princess of the Underground River,” drawing contestants who 
don native shell‑beaded costumes. Above ground, the city celebrates Barangay 
Lianga’s Bonok‑Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival every December, where masked dancers reenact 
creation myths atop painted bamboo platforms. Back in town, beachside barbecue stalls 
sizzle skewers of puso (hanging rice wrapped in coconut leaf), pairing perfectly with 
tangy kinilaw made from freshly caught tanigue. The city itself has won national awards for 
cleanliness and environmental management. Its location makes it a gateway to 
both adventure and biodiversity,   with easy access to both jungle 
interiors and offshore reefs. Thank you for joining us on this 
adventure! If you’d like to join   us on the next one, then let’s go travel here:

Join us for a cinematic exploration of the beautiful Philippines. In this travel documentary we will explore the nature and glory of this tropical paradise to uncover its most incredible travel destinations.

Time codes-
0:00 – Opening
1:13 – Baguio
3:13 – Vigan
5:13 – Batangas
7:13 – Manila
9:13 – Pangasinan
11:13 – Puerto Galera
13:13 – Boracay
15:13 – Oslob
17:13 – Leyte Island
19:13 – Zamboanga
21:13 – Cagayan De Oro
23:13 – Mindanao
25:13 – Bohol
27:13 – Palawan
29:13 – Puerto Princesa
31:18 – Closing

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