hot unwinding sites the Philippines can offer...

The name Caramoan has been officially adapted since 1619, the year it was founded by a zealous missionary, the venerable Spanish friar Francisco De La Cruz Y Oropesa. This 60-year old priest penetrated the thick virgin forest of the Caramoan Peninsula and found a small settlement in a place called Baluarte. Later on, this settlement was turned over to the administration of the Holy Bishopric in 1696. The small town of Caramoan was then located at the tip of Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the North and East and Lagonoy Gulf on the South. It was determined that the first name given to this place was Guta de Leche by the Dutch traders who operated a gold mine in Lahuy Island and frequented the area to trade with the natives, prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. The name was perhaps derived from the milkdrop stalagmites found among the rocks of Guta Port. But upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the place came to be called "Carahan" for the sea turtle, which was at that time to be found in great number along the shores of the Peninsula. Caramoan is one of the thirty-five municipalities of the Province of Camarines Sur and is situated at the heart of the Caramoan Peninsula at the southernmost tip of Luzon. It occupies the lower eastern portion of the Province of Camarines Sur. It is bounded on the north by the town of Garchitorena and the Pacific Ocean; on the northeast by the island province of Catanduanes; on the south by Lagonoy Gulf; on the east by the Maqueda Channel and on the west by the municipality of Presentacion. The municipality is situated between east longitude 124o59" and 13o46" north latitude. It covers approximately 27,741 square kilometers with approximately 71 kilometers of irregular coastline surrounded by the vast ocean, bay, seas and swamps. It is approximately 501 kilometers away from Metro Manila; 95 kilometers from the municipality of Pili, where the seat of the provincial government and the Pili Domestic Airport are located; and 110 kilometers away from Naga City, the heart of Bicol. Composed of 49 barangays, the municipality has a total of 134 sitios.

BY AIR

The Manila-Naga route is served by the Philippine Airlines.

PAL's 141-seater (Boeing 737) flies daily except Tuesdays and Thursdays. Estimated Travel Time (ETT): 1 hour

BY LAND

From ManilaManila to Naga - Bus ( Pasay or Cubao) Php425.00 - 600.00

Naga to Sabang or Talisay Port - Jeep or Van (Naga Central terminal) Php40.00 - 50.00

Port to Caramoan Port - motorboat (Sabang/Talisay Port) Php80.00 - 100.00

Caramoan Port - Centro - Jeep ( Caramoan Port ) Php10.00

Other Hot spots you can feast your soul of:

Batanes Northern Adventure - The province is home to the famous Ivatans who are nationally acclaimed as the "True Insulares". The Ivatans are of Malay stock, tracing their roots to early immigrants from Formosa
Coron Palawan Discovery Package - Unfold one of the Philippines’ best kept secret, Palawan’s Calamian group of islands where in the midst lies Coron. Discover pristine coves with limestone cliffs, teeming with swallows and palawan red hornbills
BORACAY ISLAND ESCAPADE - The island roughly shaped like a dumb-bell, is 7 kilometers long and the narrowest spot is nearly 1 kilometer wide. Boracay Island, one hour flight time south of Manila, has more than 30 beaches and coves, among them the famous White Beach: Four kilometers of pure white sand beach
Palawan Travel and Tours - Palawan is one of the Last Unexplored Islands in the Pacific, as well as the location of the 1997 James Bond thriller "Tomorrow Never Dies." Jacques Cousteau remarked that Palawan was the most beautiful place he ever explored. Renowned underwater explorer Jacques Costeau has described Palawan as having one of the most Beautiful Seascapes in the world.
Boracay Travel and Tours - The world-famous island of Boracay is located in Aklan province 345 kms. South of Manila. The island is accessible by air from Manila or Cebu through two principal gateways, Inclusive of 3 days / 2 nights room accommodation, daily breakfast, roundtrip airport transfers, welcome drinks. Not valid for Ati-atihan, Chineese New Year, and Holly week Guest must advised their stay to make necessary adjustment.
Puerto Galera Vacation - Puerto Galera is situated on the northern peninsula of Mindoro island, approximately 160km from Manila, Puerto Galera (Port of Galleon) was an excellent port for Spanish Galleons seeking refuge from heavy storms and typhoons. Inclusions: 3 Days / 2 Nights accommodations based on Twin or Triple, Daily Breakfast, Roundtrip Air-conditioned tourist bus service (MNL-BTS-MNL), Roundtrip ferry service (BTS-PTG-BTS), Roundtrip resort service (PTG-RESORT-PTG), tour coordinator's services
Banaue Heritage Tour - Banaue Rice Terraces was built several thousand years ago, the Ifugao Rice Terraces in Banaue are still maintained today as a way of irrigating the mountain slopes. Visit the traditional Ifugao Village in Bangaan and shop in the Banaue town market for antiques, baskets, woodcarvings and other handicrafts. Be sure to bring an extra sweater and rolls of film.
Taal Volcano Tour - Drive through the scenic countryside to the town of Talisay in Batangas. Upon arrival, board motorized outriggers to Taal Volcano Island 30 minutes away. Assisted by an Island coordinator, trek up to a wide expanse of hardened black lava to the rim of the crater & view the awesome moon-like landscape. Visitors will have a close-up view of the caldera from the rim Return to a shoreline resort for a sumptuous lunch.
Pagsanjan Tours - This tour leads you to the vast countryside southwards, passing through rice fields & coconut plantations until you reach the old town of Pagsanjan. From the riverside resort, transfer to a "banca" (a dugout canoe) for the trip to the falls. As your boatman starts rowing upstream, the wonders of nature unforlds before you. The sight of lush greenery & towering cliffs, above will thrill you endlessly. At the falls, you may opt to ride a bamboo raft that will take you underneath the waterfalls to experience the thunderous sounding of water coming from 70 feet above
Mount Pinatubo Adventure - Discover the hidden secrets of Subic Base which was once the largest US Naval Base outside the United States. It was converted into a commercial Freeport after the Americans left in 1991. This sprawling base offers a lot of outdoor recreational activities such as camping, boating, fishing, horseback riding, island hopping, diving, swimming, jungle trekking, golf and many others. The base also offers duty free shopping.
Iligan Adventure - Iligan offers quite a number of scenic spots, including waterfalls, cool springs, fine beaches. If you're a spelunker, Iligan has more than enough caves for you. It has a few good hotels and inns, too, with cable TVs and telephones capable of international direct distance dialing. With a mixed population of Christians, Muslims and the native Higa-onons, ethnic products abound in Iligan's shopping centers. It has fine restaurants, among them the nationally acclaimed Sunburst Fried Chicken. It also has the popular fastfood chains found in Manila.
Vigan Heritage Tour - Local and foreign experts describe Vigan as a "place like no other". Its uniqueness lies in its historic townscape which is an architectural blend of Asian, European and Latin American influences. Being the only surviving colonial town in the country, Vigan has more strung along the narrow streets of the old Mestizo District, popularly known in the olden days as Kasanglayan (Chinese Quarters). Located in the Northern part of the Philippines, Vigan is 408 kilometers northwest of Manila and includes area of the China Sea as a buffer zone on the western side of the town.

The Harry Potter author breaks big news in New York...

J. K. Rowling, author of the worldwide best-selling Harry Potter series, met some of her American fans Friday night and provided some surprising revelations about the fictional characters who a generation of children have come to regard as close friends.

In front of a full house of hardcore Potter fans at Carnegie Hall in New York, Rowling, sitting on the stage on a red velvet and carved wood throne, read from her seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," then took questions. One fan asked whether Albus Dumbledore, the head of the famed Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, had ever loved anyone. Rowling smiled. "Dumbledore is gay, actually," replied Rowling as the audience erupted in surprise. She added that, in her mind, Dumbledore had an unrequited love affair with Gellert Grindelwald, Voldemort's predecessor who appears in the seventh book. After several minutes of prolonged shouting and clapping from astonished fans, Rowling added. "I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy."

In answer to the question "Did Hagrid marry?" Rowling replied that sadly, no. The half-giant had a flirtation with a giantess but she found him "a tad unsophisticated" and the relationship never went forward. In response to the audience's groans of dismay, Rowling said, jokingly, "OK, I'll write another book." And when the audience continued to express disapproval added, "at least I didn't kill him."

Other minor characters, according to Rowling, came to happier ends. Neville Longbottom, Harry's meek and hapless classmate, married Hannah Abbott, another classmate.

By: Tara Weingarten and Peg Tyre

The Heartthrobs: another malicious speculations

Talent manager and TV host Lolit Solis was treated to one of the most surprising visual spectacles of her life when she was invited by businessman Erning Lim to visit an exhibit at the Sofitel (formerly called the Westin Philippine Plaza).

No, it wasn't the exhibit that caught her attention, but it was what she found out that utterly surprised her.

According to Manay Lolit's article in the Philippine Star Ngayon, it all began when she got lost inside Sofitel, trying to find the location of the exhibit. Owing to misdirection and probably the unavailability of a venue map, she found herself entering Sofitel's poolside coffee shop at around four in the afternoon. Realizing that she was at the wrong place, she started looking for another entrance or exit, walking and looking left and right.

Two men caught Manay Lolit's attention as she sauntered over. She noticed that the two men looked sweet to each other, exchanging whispers as their cheeks nearly touched. As Manay Lolit approached, waiters who saw her called out her name, apparently wanting to get an autograph.

The two men, upon hearing Manay Lolit's name, hastily left as Manay Lolit nearly tripped trying to get a closer look. Her curiosity rewarded her as she found who the two men were:

It was Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual.

Someone told Manay Lolit that Sam and Piolo frequented the Sofitel poolside coffee shop since the place doesn't usually get that many visitors. According to Manay Lolit, she wouldn't have noticed the two if it weren't for their hasty and noticeable exit. She wouldn't even put malice on what she just saw if Sam and Piolo didn't mind being found out or if they would just say their "hellos" to Manay Lolit even if they didn't know her that well.

All that she could do on her way home was ponder on the things that she had witnessed.

who's it gonna be?

Pinoy Big Brother season 2 new housemates are all ready to mingle and show parts of their lives to the viewing public...
The question is that who will remain inside the house 'til the end? Will it be the bald but hot hunky Will Devaughn? Or the beauty empress Riza Santos? Or the newcomer model-actor Victor Basa?
But then, there's 15 of them inside the house including the proud mom Yayo Aguila of Bagets fame. Comediene pasaway Ethel Booba. Two of the Kapamilya Deal or No Deal 26K ladies Marylaine and Jenn, brothers Baron & Donald Geissler, actress Maegan Young formerly a product of GMA-7's Starstruck, Bench underwear model Jon Mullaly. There's Macoy, lead singer of Orange and Lemons, the racer and model Gabby dela Merced... and 2 more, one male singer from Davao named Ruben Gonzaga and the other, Zara Aldana, a controversial beauty queen.
Who's goin' to stay okay without enemies? Who's gonna fall in love? Who will be bestfriends? Who will have the passion to cook or to clean and who will preside to be the batch's leader?
Watch PBB Season 2 Celebrity Edition on ABS-CBN 2 and on Studio 23.

peeping tales in public... OMG

Who's that babe?

OMG... she's definitely losing it!

I mean the gown that she's wearing...

The audiences must've realized this, right?

I don't recognize the girl and even the guy she's with but i'm gonna find out for the bloggers.

another smooch galore! who's with her this time?

Here are the controversial kissing pics of John Estrada and Gretchen Barretto that is now circulating over the internet.

These pictures were taken using John’s camera phone during the birthday party of Rufa Mae Quinto last May 27, 2007.

Gretchen’s manager, Boy Abunda, spoke in her behalf last Sunday on The Buzz talk show to confirm that the photos are real and it was taken with Gretchen’s consent but there is no affair that is going on between the two.

Then if the John-Gretchen "no relationship- thing" was over, it's time for another kissing pic who's who, don't you think? Now check out the photos below... who's the guy this time, huh?

Teri Hatcher's offending line...

The mob is at it again. Filipinos have recently forwarded emails, posted blog entries, and signed online petitions decrying the supposedly "racist" remark that Teri Hatcher's character in the US TV show Desperate Housewives uttered in last week's season premiere.
The "offending" line:
Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas because I just wanna make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines.
An online petition calling for the show's producers and writers to apologize for the episode's "discriminatory and hurtful" remark has already began. But do all these petitioners really know what the issue is about? Or is it merely a case of not being left behind by the mob?
They said it was offensive to Filipinos, I'm Filipino, therefore, I should be in.
At worst, the remark was a jab at some schools, not just the medical schools, and diploma mills in the country that continue to produce graduates who are not skilled enough for work. Watch the video again. Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher's character)'s line was neither a racist comment against Filipino doctors nor against Filipinos in general.
As long as we have a place called Recto where fake diplomas can easily be bought and licensure exam fiascos that undermine the credibility of our professionals, the state of Philippine education will continue to be the butt of jokes.
Hell, even we ourselves do it. Don't we laugh so hard whenever the latest batch of school-bashing jokes are out?
UST - UP Sana Tayo
DLSU - Di Lumusot Sa UPCAT
ADMU - And Daming Mali sa UPCAT
OLFU- Only Love but Failed UPCAT
MAPUA - Meron Akong Panaginip, UP Ako!
FEU - Failed to Enter UP
CEU - Can't Enter UP
PUP - Parang UP
AdU - Ako'y Di UP
PLM - Pangarap Lang Mag-UP
PNU - Puro Nagsibagsak sa UPCAT
PWU - Puro Wishing UP
How is this different? Because it was delivered by a foreign country? In that case, Indians should complain (hell, yeah, they should file a government protest!) that we continue to call them "Bumbays" (from "Bombay," the city), and we knowingly use the term derogatorily, not even as a joke.
Had the line been mentioned matter-of-factly in a news or documentary program, our protest would have been valid. But lest we forget, Desperate Housewives is a dramedy — a drama AND a comedy. Everything said there should not be taken seriously. For one, Susan Mayer was definitely in character — insensitive, arrogant, and stupid — when she delivered the line.
Locally, GMA7's Bubble Gang has, for almost a decade now, continued to poke fun at Diego for being "ugly and gay" and at Mykah for being "baluga or dark-colored."
Where's the rage? Is it because those are now accepted as "legitimate" jokes? They sure don't sound funny to gays, the dark-colored, or the ugly, but why are people not complaining?
It's time we quit having double standards. It's also time we improve the quality of education in our schools.
It was expected for ABC to issued an apology for the said remark since ABC surely does not want to alienate a group of people they now see as a powerful bloc. In the end, however, all this hullabaloo only created more buzz and publicity for the show. Desperate Housewives still wins.