WONDERS OF PHILIPPINE ISLAND

THE RICH WONDERS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Endowed with a variety of natural wonders, the Philippines is one of the world’s most beautiful countries. Its shorelines, home for many of the world s finest white-sand beaches, are among the most beautiful in the world. Its waters are so rich it is the sanctuary of abundant colorful and rare marine life. It’s 7,107 islands, from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao abounds with spectacular and unique sites. The most famous among these spots are the St. Paul’s subterranean river system in Palawan measuring 4, 380 meters and is regarded as the longest underground river system in Southest Asia; the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, which resemble scattered chocolate drops when seen from a high elevation; and the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Ifugao province, culled in with great symmetry from the mountains some 2,000 years ago by ancient Ifugaos and dubbed as the "Eight Wonder of the World."

These natural wonders are some of the reasons that enchant many foreign tourists to the Philippines. But what really attract these foreigners in the country are the ever-smiling locals and the warm hospitality of the Filipino people.


                                                      Rice Terraces of Banaue
The Rice Terraces of Banaue are perhaps the most well know attraction in the Philippines, and no list of the Seven Wonders of the Philippines would be complete without them.. Located in central Luzon, they have been carved by local Ifugao people over the last 3,000 thousand years. When you visit, you can see terraces still being built today. The locals often describe the terraces as the largest man made structure created without forced labor. If each terrace were laid end to end, they would stretch almost 14,000 miles. They were declared a UNESCO World  Heritage site in 1995 and placed on the endangered list in 2001.


                                                      Tubbataha Reef
Located in the middle of the Sulu Sea, Tubbataha Reef is one of the largest and best preserved reef systems in the world. Actually composed to two atolls, Tubbataha is far removed from any human settlement, it is a 92 mile boat trip from the city of Puerto Princessa. The marine park covers over 968 km² and is home to over 300 coral species and 400 fish species, rivaling the diversity of the Great Barrier Reef. The few pieces of atoll which are above water are also home to a large number of seabirds. It was inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in 1993.

                                                      Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills are located on the Island of Bohol. They are over 1,200 hills, covering over 50 km² and get their name because the grass which covers the hills turns brown during the dry season. The hills are almost all conical in shape and made of limestone. Many people have believed that they were human creations. Geologists are not entirely sure how they were created. Theories include erosion of limestone, volcanic uplift, and accretion of limestone around basalt fragments from a volcanic eruption. The government of the Philippines has declared it one of their flagship tourist destinations. The Chocolate Hills are so central to the people of Bohol, they appear on the flag of the province.

                                                      Taal Volcano
Taal volcano has a unique distinction in the world. It contains the largest island, inside of a lake, which is on an island, which is inside a lake, which is on an island. (got that?) Taal is a very active volcano which has killed over 5,000 people in recorded history. It has been named one of 16 decade volcanoes in the world worthy of special study. Inside the Taal caldera is Lake Tall, which is a 25km across. The lake is know for its high sulfur content and is also home to many endemic species of freshwater fish. Taal is only 50km from the city of Manila.


                                                                Mayon Volcano

Mayon volcano is perhaps the most perfectly shaped conic volcano in the world. It has been called by some the “Filipino Mount Fuji”. Located in south east Luzon, it is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It has erupted close to 50 times since the year 1600, with the most recent eruption occurring in 2006. 77 people were killed in an eruption in 1993 and 75,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes during an eruption in 1984. It rises 2462 m over Legazpi City in the province of Albany.



Boracay
Boracay is a small island approximately 200 miles south of Manila and is very close to the major island of Panay. Its white sand beaches and direct flights from all over Asia, have made it one of the Philippines most popular tourist destinations. White Beach is the longest beach on Boracay and extends 4 km on west side of the islands.

THE RICHNESS OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA

More than 2,000 species of fish are found in the Philippine waters. Both the biggest and the smallest fish in the world are found in the waters of the Philippines. The whale shark (Rhineodon typus), the largest fish, weighs several tons and measures 15.24 meters or more in length when fully grown. The dwarf pygmy (Pandaka pygmaea) the smallest fish in the world is less than 10 millimeters in length. The endangered Sinarapan (listichthys luzonensis), the smallest commercial fish in the world, can also be found in Lake Buhi, in the Bicol region. Aside from fish, other marine products such as shells, crabs, shrimps, corals, pearls are so abundant in the Philippine waters. Seafood lovers will surely find their delights, fresh and reasonably priced, wherever they are in the country.

It is said that close to twenty percent of the worlds more than 60,000 species of shells can be found in the archipelago. Not surprisingly, the rarest shell (Connus gloriamaris), the smallest (Pisidum) and the largest (Tridacna gigas) shell, are all found in the Philippine waters. Philippine pearls are also considered among the finest in the worlds. The largest pearl in the world, known as the "Pearl of Allah," measuring more than 22.86 centimeters long and 12.7 centimeters in diameter and weighing 6.3 kilograms was found by a Filipino diver in the Palawan Sea. Its value was approximated at US$40-42 million as of May 1984.





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THE RICHNESS OF THE PHILIPPINE FORESTS

Do you know how rich the Philippine Forest is? Theres a lot of species still yet to discovered. 

The Philippine forests boast of its rich flora and fauna. It is a haven for almost 4,000 species of trees, about 10,000 species of flowering plants and ferns, 580 species of birds, and 25,000 species of insects. The biggest Philippine bird, Sharpe’s Crane (Cruz antigone sharpei) is almost as tall as a man. The monkey-eating eagle, found in the jungles of Mindanao is the largest eagle in the world. The Philippine Falconet (Microhierax erythrogonys), less than seven centimeters long is said to be the world’s smallest falcon. The smallest monkey in the world, the tarsius, the mouse deer, the smallest deer in the world which is located in Palawan and the Philippine tamaraw (Anoa mindorensis) of Mindoro are some of the unique animals that can only be found in the Philippine forests. The largest flower in the world, thepungapung can also be found in the Philippines. It has a diameter of 30 centimeters and grows in Mindanao’s forests. The most famous of the Philippine trees is the Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), also the Philippine national tree. Aside from its grand beauty and symmetry it is reputed for its durability, no doubt it has become a favorite material for furniture makers.

Do you have an idea how to protect our mother nature? Is there something else we can do to stop illegal and harmful activities in our forests? Theres a way we can both do in order to appreciate nature and earn something, it can be in form of money or even in form wealth referring to the benefits of having a good health and abundant flora and fauna resources. You can be engaged in outdoor activities like trekking, zip lining, rappelling and even rock climbing. Now, in your opinion how can you help your community in preserving and protecting forest and at the same time promoting the wonders of flora and fauna?

THE RICHNESS OF THE PHILIPPINE LAND

The "Pearl of the Orient", as it is popularly known throughout the world, speaks ofthe Philippines unique riches and beauty. Many times was it mentioned as the richestland in the world. Its fertile soil, capable of producing a wide variety of crops, thefavorable tropical climate envied by the westerners and the rich natural resources areendowments not enjoyed by most countries in the world. With these naturalendowments, needless to say, agriculture plays a vital role in the country’sdevelopment. Its fertile arable land is said to be at 180 million square kilometers, nearly70 percent of the total land area. Of this arable land, more than 160 million squarekilometers are forests. In Asia, the Philippines ranks third in forest reserves next toIndonesia and Japan. Unfortunately, the destruction of the rich Philippine forest, duemainly to illegal logging activities and the practice ofkaingin, has been proceeding atthe rate of 1,700,000 square kilometers per year. If this could not be prevented, at thisrate, the Philippines would be totally deforested within a few decades.

As it is situated in the earthquake belt of the Pacific, the country is rocked fromtime to time by seismic tremors and volcanic eruptions. The Philippine Fault, the biggestof its seismic faults, runs from Luzon to Mindanao. Of the more than a hundredvolcanoes in the country, 22 are said to be active. The most famous of these volcanoesare Mount Mayon in Bicol, which is known for its perfect symmetry; Taal Volcano,situated at the center of Taal Lake and reputed to be the smallest volcano on earth; andMount Pinatubo whose eruption in 1991 is deemed as the world’s worst volcaniceruption of the 20th century. It left more than one million Filipinos homeless, and itsfumes affected the weather and the ozone layer throughout the world.

The country has rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, and many other expensive metals and minerals. It has the biggest deposit of chromite, the largest deposit of nickel and one of the richest undeveloped iron ore deposits in the world. Gold, silver and other precious stones have been found all over the country in enormous amounts. The Philippine climate is one of the best tropical climates in the world. In fact, it is one place on earth where flowers bloom all year round. There are only two seasons, the dry and the wet. March to June is the dry season. It is humid but tolerable. The average daytime temperature is at 30 to 35 degrees centigrade. The wet season is from June to October. Strong winds and heavy rains visit the islands of the Philippines during this season. Being situated close to the typhoon belt, preparing for the strong wind, rain, and floods has become a way of life during the wet season. If rain is a blessing, the Philippines is one of the most blessed countries. It hold the world s record for the heaviest 24- hour rainfall of 979 millimeters experienced in Manila on October 17, 1967.

What Makes A Cultural Entrepreneur?

After blogging about cultural entrepreneurship last November 13, many fellow-advocates and multiply-ers inquired who we perceived qualified as 'cultural entrepreneurs'. We said... "Actually there are many...". Our country has a lot of potential cultural entrepreneurs. They just have to embrace a broader outlook for for the arts industry and what it can do to society. It's not really just selling the artist's product, it's also awakening a wider market for arts with impact that equally wakes up society with a new passion. Because more than arts, it's about culture.

Culture is very important and is seen to provide social cohesion. It is not just a source of jobs and income but also a sense of confidence and belonging. Taking this into account cultural entrepreneurs are said to revive and bring life back into cities, working within networks and creative clusters to maximise output. Cultural entrepreneurs ‘have a passion for the culture, traditions, talent and creators…[and think of innovative] out of ordinary ways to achieve solutions.

Does this set them apart from all other entrepreneurs? Is it the passion they hold for the arts and circuits in which they work? I believe that all art promoters, gallery owners, cultural event organizers, et. al. holds passion for the action and output they are producing whether it is for an artistic work of art or even just management based. Nonetheless business and creativity are often considered to require different skills and mind sets to succeed however entrepreneurs require an amalgamation of the two, encompassing all aspects of a business.

Cultural entrepreneurs are learners, doers and visionaries. Due to less bureaucratic restraints and levels in management ‘cultural entrepreneurs’ are able to recognize the need not only to innovate but to deliver and disseminate new ideas to art customers and enthusiasts.

As mentioned in a previous blog article here in this homepage, a good cultural entrepreneur may have the basic traits of a corporate entrepreneur --- like having a vision for exploring out-of-the-box opportunities for arts and cultural products. Regular characteristics of this type of person includes:

* The tenacity and drive
* A strong Passion
* Good organizing skills Skill at organizing
* A Future orientation – the ability to visualize opportunities in the future
* Placing value of achievement over money
* And having a strong confidence in their ability to succeed


Moreso, a cultural entrepreneur's characteristics not only include the traits mentioned above, they also encompass the following:

* They are independent!
* Their work and non-work issues are packaged together.
* They are collaborative and work together as independents and as clusters.
* They are mostly socially engage with outside issues.
* They use idea exchange as a cultural currency.
* They build networks, share information and resources.
* They are also interested in business' effects on society.


What mainly differentiates them from the classic corporate entrepreneur is the fact that their motivations are less profit driven and more cultural driven providing a more meaningful approach to business. An entrepreneurial approach helps to generate possibilities and plan accordingly. Some commentators argue that cultural entrepreneurs usually take a project-based outlook, rather than managing a single business.

Above the promotion of arts, arriving at creative solutions is what cultural entrepreneurship is all about. Cultural entrepreneurs should have a flair for creative thinking which can be instrumental in solving problems --- of individual artists and organizations --- with models that could possibly work for the sector. problems They may experience difficulties in the promotion and distribution of art products, so oftentimes they do this themselves. Sometimes it may even be necessary for cultural entrepreneurs to diversify into other aspects of their industry, in order to remove obstacles and help the art business succeed.

All entrepreneurs take risks... but the planning, implementation and creative process appears to be more fluid and active in the cultural entrepreneurial approach. The focus on value and converging that with technology and the economy seems to be the secret behind the success of a cultural entrepreneur. The need to understand that it is not just about attracting new business, increasing profits or sales or that the process of running a business excludes relationships with others outside the managerial sector is extremely significant in today’s business world. The process of being a cultural entrepreneur and being cultural entrepreneurial is very much “a state of mind” and it is that drive and focus that keeps the cultural entrepreneur going regardless of what adversities come their way.

In summary, the cultural entrepreneur has all the traits of an entrepreneur with the addition of social responsibility and an altruistic attitude to business.

Go and disciples of arts. Promote artists. Capture new markets. and above all, let arts stir the passion of our countrymen.

An artist is a dreamer consenting to dream of the actual world. If we could only promote their art with impact, maybe we could even transform society.


Let us take Arts into the Heart of Communities.

Why use Trekking poles?

Trekking poles have become very popular with hikers, hill-walkers and technical mountaineers. When used properly, they can aid in balance and overall walking efficiency.

How to use them:

Firstly it is recommended that you use two poles and not just one to walk with. The reason for this is that if used singularly and especially while wearing a backpack, an imbalance in the shoulder muscles occur which can cause pain and cramping.
They therefore should be used as pairs and adjusted to the same height. When hiking on level ground, adjust the length of the poles so that when your upper arm is hanging straight down and your hand is on the handle, your forearm should be parallel with the ground.

When climbing up a steep slope, shorten the length so that the same rule applies, and lengthen them when descending a steep slope. When descending one can lengthen the pole, but do not exceed the max limit shown on the inside slider, or the strength of the pole will be compromised. For best use, at any angle, place your hands through the wrist straps and allow your arm to rest in them, while only lightly holding the handle-grip.

Some manufacturers supply rubber caps that fit over the bottom spike. These protect the spike when walking over rock and reduce erosion on paths.


There are basically two Locking mechanism systems:

Expanding Cone Type

The more common type has an expanding cone, where when twisted the cone expands into the tube of the larger outer shaft. These work well, but are prone to corrosion and breakages. If you are in the field and a shaft section in broken, bent or the mechanism fails, the entire pole is useless.


“Flick-Lock" system

A better system is that used by Black Diamond called the “Flick-lock” system. On this system, a simple clamp is used on the outer, larger shaft of each section. It is not prone to malfunction and it means that if a shaft is bent or broken in-field, the damaged section can be broken off and then re-inserted into the larger shaft and locked again - a huge advantage on longer trips in remote locations. Black Diamond can also supply any spare parts including new Flick-locks and bottom spikes and snow baskets.


Maintenance

After use pull the shafts out and clean the locking mechanism with soap and water. Then dry properly and oil any moving parts and replace the pieces together again.
In the case of twist lock systems: when in the completely closed position, do not twist and tighten the mechanisms, as it makes it difficult to release.

Key points to look at when buying a sleeping-bag:

Things to be Considered in choosing sleeping bag

1. Mummy shape.
2. Down filled.
3. Baffle inner construction.
4. More loft equals more warmth.
5. Large cowl and draw string around the head.
6. Thick baffle along the zip or no zip at all.

Sleeping-bags are a very important part of a mountain-walker’s equipment as they will be the main source of warmth during the coldest times of the night. They differ in two main areas – firstly in shape and secondly in what they are filled with.

Shape

They are basically either a rectangular or a “mummy” type shape. The rectangular type has a larger area around the legs, making for a more comfortable and looser feel. It is also easier to manufacture and thus cheaper in price. However this shape also means that there is more area your body has to heat up (so you will be colder) and more fabric used which makes it heavier than necessary. Mummy type bags on the other hand are tapered towards the feet and are warmer, lighter and are the preferred shape for most hikers and mountaineers.

Filling

The filling inside a sleeping-bag gives the bag loft, which is the amount of thickness or fluffiness of the layers when un-rolled. This gives a good indication of how much warmth the bag potentially can retain. The more loft, the warmer the bag. The warm air is trapped by the filling – fine pieces of down-feather or holofibre.
The filling inside a sleeping bag can be divided into 3 main types: cheap synthetic, holofibre and down (fine feathers). Synthetic filling is usually cheap in price, not very warm and quite heavy. It is therefore not really an option for hikers. Holofibre is a better type of synthetic filling made of very fine hollow filaments that trap air inside them and between them. It is a fairly warm filling and retains its warmth when wet. They have a life span of about 10 years if they are looked after. It has the advantage of being cheaper than down, however, it will not compress as well as down and is also heavier. Down, on the other hand is the first choice for high quality sleeping bags. Down consists of the very fine feathers found on the breast area of geese. Some sleeping bags use a lower quality of down consisting of larger feathers. These feathers can be felt when handling the bag and indicates a lower quality and less warmth of the product.

Good quality down bags are light, have more warmth per weight of filling, compress more easily and lasts a lifetime if looked after properly. The disadvantages are that they loose most of their warmth when wet, are hard to get dry and more expensive. The advantages of down far out weigh the disadvantages, making down the preferred choice in most instances.


Internal construction

The internal construction of sleeping-bags is very important. In both holofibre and down bags there are two major design types. These are sewn-through type construction and a baffle type construction. Both these construction types are to create separate compartments so that the filling does not shift around and remains fairly evenly spread throughout the bag. The sewn-though type allows for warmth to escape through the constricted areas where the inner and outer pieces of fabric are brought together. This is a major disadvantage and is not used on well-constructed sleeping bags. Baffle type bags have compartments where the two layers of fabric are kept apart by a separate inner wall. These compartments have different designs, which could be a zigzag pattern or a rectangular shape, depending on the manufacture.

Sewn through construction Zigzag baffle type





Sewn through construction Zigzag baffle type


Cowls and hoods

Good quality sleeping-bags also have additional features such as cowls or hoods, which can be pulled over the head and shoulder area and semi-waterproof outer material. If they have a zip, the zip area will have thick baffle to prevent warmth escaping.

First Ascent make a good range of sleeping bags. These include:

*
Fusion 900 – very cold conditions -15C (High altitude -Andes, Kilimanjaro)
*
Fusion 600 – for fairly cold conditions -5C (Top of the Drakensberg in winter)
*
Adventure Light – summer hiking at low altitude in southern Africa +5C.
*
Ice breaker – summer hiking +8C.


Washing a down sleeping-bag:

1. Down filled sleeping-bags need to be washed once in a while. Washing them cleans the bag and also revives the “loft”, bringing back the product's ability to keep you warm. It is a long process, but is worth the effort for getting a “new” and warm sleeping bag.

2. Place the bag in a bath of lukewarm water. Add down-soap manufactured by Nikwax or First Ascent. Follow the instructions and measures required. Move the bag around gently and rub where needed. Rinse the bag out 3 times in cold water or until the water runs clear. Gently press the water out with your hands. Do not “wring” the water out, as this could tear the inner baffles.

3. Then hang the bag in a warm, dry and preferably windy area (but not in the sun). Leave it there until most of the water has drained. Then place in a tumble dryer on low heat. It is good to put some tennis balls into the dryer also. These help to get the down to loosen up and dry properly. Every 30 minutes or so, take the bag out and shake it out well. Keep drying until the loft has been obtained. Note: The bag will remain very soggy and flat for a long time. It will seem to suddenly dry and return to its proper shape. Follow the same procedures if washing a down-jacket.

Key points to look at when you are buying boots

1. Make sure the leather uppers made in only one piece of leather.
Check that there is a high rubber-rand between the sole and the uppers.
The tongue has to be sewn all the way to the top of the ankle.
Soft, but supportive ankle guard.

2. Minimal amount of sewn seams.

3. The innerlayer should be de of Gortex to make the boots breathable.

­4. The soles should have good grip on rock and grass.


Boots and other footwear

Boots are perhaps the most vital piece of equipment for spending time in the mountains. They should be comfortable, durable and waterproof if you are going on extended multi-day hikes. If you are doing a shorter trip or day hike it may be more comfortable to use a lighter nylon boot or even a hiking/approach shoe.


Hiking footwear can basically be divided up into 3 types:

1. Leather boots – for serious hiking, long distances and heavy backpacks.
2. Nylon boots – less serious, shorter hikes and light backpacks.
3. Approach / hiking shoes - day hikes, light loads and approaches to rock climbs.

Hiking boots today are either made of leather or nylon or a combination of both types of material. Some more expensive models have Gortex incorporated into the uppers, making them almost fully waterproof.


Leather boots

Leather boots must be made of thick cowhide leather with double stitched seams on good rubber soles such as those made by Vibram. How the upper is joined to the sole (called welting) comes in two distinct forms. The traditional way is by the upper being double stitched, flat onto the last and the sole is then glued on underneath. In addition, it may also be nailed or screwed on to add strength. This traditional method works well, but does suffer from water working it’s way through the stitching when wet conditions are experienced for a long time.
The newer way of upper to sole attachment, is by using a rubber rand around the edge of the boot, which then holds all the components together as one. This is both highly durable and more water resistant than traditional welting, but does not allow the foot to breath so easily.

The upper and randing should be the same width or slightly wider that the sole. This enables the wearer to get a grip on smaller edges when walking on steep gradients, a term known as “edging”.

Leather boots are also more water resistant and stronger when the upper is made from a single piece of leather. This design has fewer or no seams exposed on the upper, making it a better design and far more durable than boots made up of many pieces of leather. The tongue of a leather boot should also be sewn all the way to the top of the ankle guard area.

Leather boots are usually quite stiff and hard when new. It is therefore best to walk them in over several kilometers prior to using them in the mountains.
If snow or prolonged rain could be encountered on the walk or if heavy backpacks are to be carried over rough ground, then full leather boots should be worn. Ankle or full snow gaiters can also improve water resistance of boots.


Nylon boots

Nylon hiking boots are often more comfortable than leather and they seldom need to be walked in prior to proper use. Due to all the stitching used in these boots they are never fully waterproof even, when Gortex has been used in the construction. Nylon boots tend to be “lighter” and are best used for less serious hiking. They are very good when doing easy low level hikes and where most of the walking will be on good paths.


Approach shoes

These come in both nylon and leather design. They are lightweight and comfortable and used for easy hiking and scrambling. Due to their design they can give remarkable support and stability. Most often they aren’t water resistant and should not be used for carrying heavy loaded backpacks.


Proper Care

All types of footwear should be washed after each trip. In the case of all-nylon boots, ordinary soap can be used in combination with warm water and a scrubbing brush. If there is Gortex in the upper of either nylon or leather boots then follow the manufactures care instructions and use Nikwax Footwear cleaning gel.

In the case of full leather boots, wash off any excess mud and grit. Then wash the leather with Nikwax Aqueous Wax or Nikwax Nubuck & Suede. Rinse and then dry in a warm, dry area. When the leather is dry, treat it with a modern type leather care product such as one of the leather care Nikwax products. Again, if there is Gortex in the upper, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only use Nikwax. Ordinary soaps will degrade the Gortex.