Countdown to 2019: Celebrate New Year's Eve the Filipino Way!

Aside from the longest celebration of the Christmas Season, Filipinos also have their own ways to perk up during New Year’s Eve.

Bearing some of the Chinese influences, various traditions such as lighting fireworks and making a lot of noise to drive away evil spirits are being practiced by most of them in the belief to avoid bad luck and prosper in the upcoming year. Staying awake until midnight is also common, and seems like a tradition not just in the Philippines but also in the whole world. Who would even want miss grand fireworks displays, right?

Check out below various ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a bang! Cause believe us, when you’re in the Philippines, there’s no shortage of what you can do to welcome the coming New Year in style!

POOL AND CLUB PARTIES

If you happen to be in the big city, don’t care about large fireworks displays, looking to celebrate with a few alcoholic beverages in tow, and considers having an unforgettable night of your life, well then, getting into the night scene is what you should do!

New Year’s Eve in the city particularly in Manila is going to be an exquisite evening – as you would expect from its chic clubs. Parties and celebrations get bigger and better every year. Dance the night away to eclectic line up of music, live bands and DJs as they take over the stage that’ll make you entertained until the clock strikes midnight!

OUTDOOR EVENTS OR STREET-PARTIES

Bigger and louder celebration awaits for you when you hit-off the streets of the Philippines and here’s why. Some malls and Big TV networks never miss to hold open-air events for locals that serve purely entertainment. Jive with live music performances, get star stuck by some local celebrity sightings, and be amazed by the grand fireworks display by the end of the night!

But if you’re looking for a more family-friendly destination, better head on to public parks like, Luneta Park and Quezon City Memorial Circle. They offer an amazing entertainment perfect for the whole family, you’ll just have to bring your own food, lay down and enjoy the whole night! 

Oh and take note that in some areas in the Philippines, locals welcome the New Year with noisemakers such as torotot or party blowers cause firecrackers are banned.

ATTEND GALA PARTIES IN HOTELS

Want to stay away from home but tries to avoid big crowds this New Year? Well then, Hotels are the best option for you!

Offering an exclusive party countdown, guests and event-goers will be serenaded with live band or acoustic performances and entertained by various local celebrities with their special performances. Feast on special dinner packages or grand buffets especially prepped for this event.

For some, they held events on their rooftop bars giving guests the best combinations –fancy drinks, great service and a perfect view of the fireworks illuminating the sky. So if we were you, better book a reservation now before slots are gone!

CHILL BY THE BEACH

Bring the New Year with the sand between your toes! With the 7641 islands of the Philippines, there is no doubt why some locals and tourists welcome the New Year by the beach. From serene secluded coves to pristine white beaches, you got a lot to choose from!

Some islands are essentially transformed into a party haven during this particular evening. After witnessing breathtaking sunsets, make yourself full with beach barbecues; enjoy live entertainment and exclusive gala dinners hosted by some resorts. It may be simple yet this laidback experience will surely give you a more romantic and intimate time with your loved ones, all away from the big crowd.

CELEBRATE AT HOME

Of course, no parties or fancy hotel dinner can beat a celebration at home together with your family. Symbolizing prosperity for the upcoming year, Filipinos prepares bountiful meals during midnight known as Media Noche. To keep everyone entertained, each family got their own traditions like movie marathons, karaoke, and parlor games.

With that being said, if you’re just visiting and don’t have family or friends in the city, Filipinos are sure to welcome you to ring the new year in their presence. Known for their generosity, it's no surprise if you would be invited into their homes to share the experience. So if you’re got got luck and asked to spend New Year’s with them, expect countless cheap beers, a grand feast, and lots of singing and laughing!

No matter how you welcome the New Year, one must not forget to reflect and count the blessings they received this 2018. Together with Isla Story, let's say hello to a healthy and prosperous 2019!

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Experience a Merrier Christmas at these Top 6 Holiday Destinations!

It’s not a secret that the Philippines have the longest celebration of Christmas season in the world when in fact, it's one of the most anticipated holidays of the year and a big deal for most Filipinos.

Starting in September, you’ll see colorful lanterns and Christmas lights illuminate the night, families are already busy decorating their homes and putting up Christmas trees, children singing Christmas carols, malls overflowing with people looking for gifts, and some locals attending early Catholic masses known as “Misa de Gallo” or “Simbang Gabi”.

You might hear it before but let us accentuate it: “Holidays are really more fun in the Philippines!”. Here are some suggestions of where best to experience a cheery Christmas, the Filipino way!

CAVITE

Experience a different kind of holiday at one of the most historical places in the country! Imus is not called the “Christmas Capital of Cavite” for nothing, from a 30-day countdown, adorned Christmas tree and lanterns, vibrant flashing lights, and series of programs organized by the local government for the locals and tourists, it’s the jolliest celebration you’ll ever have!

Plus, its neighboring cities also have their own way of celebrating this festivity. General Trias City celebrates the “Arroz Valenciana Festival”, street dance competition and other Christmas activities, while in Dasmarinas City, residents and officials hold the annual “Paru-Paru (Butterfly) and Street Dance Festival” to mark the city’s founding anniversary and the Christmas season.

While everyone is merrymaking, Caviteños don’t forget the essence of this season, which is the birth of Jesus Christ.

CEBU

Looking for somewhere to perk up your Christmas vibes? Then head on to Cebu because the Queen City of the South got you covered.

Feel like a local and join them light up the biggest Christmas Tree in the City also known as Tree of Hope and enjoy the annual "Pasko sa Sugbo" offering everyone various activities from different organization and various sectors of the community.

Get ready for a shopping spree ‘cause numerous bazaars kicks off during this time of the year. After, get mesmerized by Ayala Mall's Symphony of Lights featuring a 5-minute show of lights and sounds.

ZAMBOANGA

Photo courtesy of Zamboanga Hermosa Festival Facebook Page

When you’re thinking of spending your Christmas holiday away from home, Zamboanga may be an underrated choice for you, but it’s something that you won’t regret. Got a doubt on this one? Here’s something to convince you.

In recent years, Pascua de Zamboanga Festival has become a more spectacular sight. This year, the century-old and historic City Hall was illuminated by thousands of lights and so are other more landmarks such as Plaza Pershing, Paseo del Mar, Rizal Street, Veterans Memorial Monument, and Jardin Maria Clara in Pasonanca Park.

Complementing this year’s theme “I Love Zamboanga”, the lights is not just for show but to encourage everyone to love the city more and be united in the spirit of Christmas!

MANILA

As bright and as sparkly as the Christmas lights and lanterns all over the metropolis, Manila indeed makes the perfect place to celebrate the holidays.

Considering that it’s the capital of the country, Manila got an array of everything from entertainment, activities, to food crawl. Everything is alive from day to night and what more if it’s the Yuletide season? 

Grab your cameras to take the perfect shot of various shows all around the metro. From an entertaining parade in Taguig City to the Disney-themed lights and sound show in Makati and BGC, both locals and visitors get the best of everything; the convenience of the modern city, its rich history, and a cheery holiday celebration.

BAGUIO

Want to know the most Filipino way to celebrate Christmas? Spend the holidays at Baguio City. Though it is dubbed as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”, this city is also the top choice of most locals during the Yuletide Season because of the cool weather making you forget that you’re in a tropical country!

What not to miss? The Christmas Village attraction by Baguio Country Club! This year, they got a treat for every spectator which is the Santa's Village theme. It’ll be filled with thousands of fresh and artificial flowers, artificial snow show, and bright lights.

Various artists will also re-enact the scene of Nativity and offer nightly entertainment. Now that's something to get you into a festive mood.

PAMPANGA

Top of the list is none other than the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines”. This is what we guarantee, there’s no place you’d rather be during the Yuletide Season but in Pampanga.

We see why people from different regions and even from outside the country visits Pampanga. 

During this time of the year, feed your eyes with their giant lanterns skilfully handcrafted by the locals. They also hold a contest for it where villages compete, proudly showcasing huge intricate lanterns for everyone to see. It's not just their creativity that leaves spectators in awe but also how big and bright the way they celebrate the Christmas Season.

As if they’re not creative enough, spectators come back for more as their lanterns gets more extravagant and vibrant each year! And that’s something worth waiting for right?

These are just some of the few places you can visit while spending the holidays in the Philippines, but there are still so much more to see, activities to do, and attraction to get mesmerized with. Just make sure to mark these places on your calendar when planning the best Christmas Celebration!

Oh, and take our advice for this upcoming holiday season, there are many underrated towns and islands in this country that you can visit, so do not limit yourself in the city or comforts of your hotel. What's important is that you respect what this season is all about, make the most out of your stay, and create the best Philippine Christmas memories together with the locals!

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Did we miss something? Let us know by commenting below or send us an email at tours.ph@raksotravel.com. If you'd rather talk to one of our travel representatives call us at +63 (2) 651-9003.

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Boracay Water Activities Resume!

Aside from the incomparable white beach, Boracay Island is famously known for numerous activities that will give you thrills whether you’re gliding high up in the air, diving into the deep waters, or just roaming around the other nearby islands.

Upon the re-opening of Boracay last October 26, motorized water activities was temporarily banned in order to give way to the marine biodiversity assessment of the island. Thus, visitors are only allowed of the old-fashioned swimming and beach activities.

Until last November, various activities were already allowed in the island such as paraw sailing, kayaking, and kite surfing. Furthermore, it is expected that by the end of December, more other motorized-water activities will resume. 

To prevent overcrowding of the beach line, there will also be designated areas and pick-up points for each activity at Stations 1 and 3 on White Beach.

Visitors are strictly encouraged to book only to those accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and not to peddlers/ fixers by the beach to avoid the proliferation of illegal tour coordinators and commissioners.

As one of the top tourist destinations in the country, the local government exerts these efforts in order to prevent Boracay from returning to its previous state while at the same time, providing each tourist a worthwhile vacation.

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Did we miss something? Let us know by commenting below or send us an email at tours.ph@raksotravel.com. If you'd rather talk to one of our travel representatives call us at +63 (2) 651-9003.

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The Other Side of BOHOL for the Adventure Seekers

Probably, this isn’t your first time in Bohol, right? Looking for something different than the typical touristy destinations is quite difficult when you’re not familiar with the place. Some would prefer to be spontaneous and discover a destination on their own,  but others may find this inconvenient and prefers to get the locals insights. Which is better, ‘cause you’ll be sure of where to go and won’t waste time.

So if you’re one of the many who needed a good advice or insights, then here’s a special itinerary for you adventure-seekers. But if this is your first time in Bohol, then you might want to consider covering the basic so read our First Timer’s Itinerary first.

Getting to Bohol

There are two (2) ways of getting to Bohol:

BY AIR

Located at the capital city, Tagbilaran Airport (TAG) is a Principal Class 1 airport currently serving all domestic flights to Bohol. However, the airport is targeted to close beginning of 2019, being replaced by Panglao Island International Airport to cater to the direct international flights. 

Travel time to Tagbilaran from Manila (MNL) takes 1 hour and 30 minutes fly time with over eight (8) flights daily. And to maximize your time, we recommended flying with Philippines Airlines (PAL) with flight details:

VIA PAL MNL-TAG 0845H – 1000H

VIA PAL TAG-MNL 1635H – 1730H

Especially for the international flight, PALs timings is just right for connecting flights with enough free time to rest upon arrival and prior to departure. And if you're into inter-island adventure, Tagbilaran Airport is accessible with direct flights from Davao and Clark via Philippine Airlines.

Check the flight availability here: RAKSO TRAVEL AIRLINE TICKET RESERVATION

BY SEA

Bohol Island can also be accessed via fastcraft coming from Cebu. With only 2 hours of travel time, Cebu & Bohol has become a twin-city destination for those travelers who wanted to experience the best of both cities.

We recommend taking Oceanjet with timings:

VIA OCEANJET  CEB-TAG 0920H – 1120H | 1040H – 1240H

VIA OCEANJET  TAG-CEB 1400H – 1600H | 1520H – 1720H

Oceanjet offers a hassle-free, smooth, and comfortable travel to and from Tagbilaran to make it in time for check-ins and spend the rest of your time lounging.

Click on below seat class and start booking your OCEANJET FERRY TICKETS

Recommended Hotel

Here are our suggested hotels or resort to stay in to match your style.

Backpackers:      Moon’s Fools Hostels

Couple:                 Bohol Beach Club

Deluxe Budget:   Momo Beach Resort

For more details, check this link: 8 RECOMMENDED RESORT TO STAY IN BOHOL

Travel Itinerary

Day 1 

Upon arriving, get one of our transport service representatives to pick you up from the Airport or Seaport. You'll be transferred to your preferred resort/hotel for check-in. Afterward, feel free to enjoy your time resting at the comforts of your hotel room, or strolling by Alona Beach, perhaps you’d want or start taking on an adventure -- gear up and glide with the birds as you fly high on a Parasail. 

If you arrive early in the morning, then better yet discover what Panglao Island has to offer first and make sure to check the hinagdanan cave!

Day 2 

Within Panglao Island alone there are a few adventure spots already, but we know you’re not looking for someplace that is overrated and typical. So we came prepared.  Bohol’s countryside has so much more to offer and speaking of which, we’re pretty sure our Anda Day Tour will let you seek out a different side of Bohol

The municipality of Anda just 3 hours drives from Tagbilaran City. An early morning drive through the countryside will be worth it once you get to tour the natural wonders with a glimpse of limestone rock formations, cave pools, and secluded white beaches.  

A visit to Lamanok Island alone is already filled with various activities. There’s kayaking, trekking, a secluded white sand beach for you to chill at, and caves that locals say are bounded with stories of enchanting nature spirits, mystical creatures, and historic legends.  

Another destination that pretty sure will keep Anda on the map is the Cabognaw Cave. This cave has been making its wave on social media because of its looks, but the thrill it gives once you try jumping on a cave pool. You read it right! This is an actually a cave pool that goes who knows how deep and is right on the surface in the middle of the forest. You’ll probably miss this at night and accidentally fall in it, but at daylight, this hole is amazingly beautiful and inviting!

30-minutes away from Lamanoc Island spend your afternoon in Anda de Boracay's white-sand beaches tantamount to the beach white sand beaches of Boracay or even more. Here you'll enjoy a quick dip and a barbeque lunch with the best view of the beach haven.

Day 3 

For your third day, you can choose between two different adventure.

We’ve got you an underwater adventure with a Diving Package within Bohol's best of the best dives site. Discovery Scuba Diving is for beginners but if you wanted more of the underwater, then we’ll give you a sign-up form and go right ahead, dive deeper! This is usually for pro-divers that requires a license, however, training sesh is also available so maybe that would a good start.

Or if you’re not a pro-diver and prefers outdoorsy ones, then E.A.T Danao Adventure Park is right for you!  Located on the other side of Chocolate Hills Park, this extreme adventure park will give you options of various outdoorsy fares such as ATV, trekking, rappelling, caving and bouldering down the Wahig River.

Wanted your adrenaline to reach its maximum level? Then try all the activities leaving the best for last -- The Plunge”.  Take on a high cliff swing and take the exciting plunge that will take at least 5 minutes of you swinging and hanging on the edge of a cliff.  Pretty much a sureway activity to end the day and kick-in adrenaline, but is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Whichever you choose, surely, it’s an adventure that’s worth every adrenaline rush!

Day 4 

The last day would be a day on your own, so feel free to roam around Tagbilaran City or Panglao Island. Do a little souvenir shopping to take home a piece of Bohol crafts and delicacies or maybe just stay-in and calm your adventure nerves before your flight. Just don't forget to check-out and get to the airport on time so you won't miss your flight.

If you are leaving in the afternoon, bid farewell to Bohol with a taste of the all-time Filipino favorites and comfort foods at Gerarda’s Family.

How’s that for adventure? Exciting right? Why not we let you decide, take our advice and create your adventure stories to share with your friends, family, and whomever.

Check out other Bohol activities, watch this video:

Don’t have a hotel yet? Check out our recommended hotels & resorts: 8 RECOMMENDED RESORT TO STAY IN BOHOL

If you're only interested in tours and activities, then click right away on this link: 6 TOURS YOU’D WANT TO EXPLORE WHILE IN BOHOL

Looking for a good dining place, check out this link for our recommended restaurants: 6 TASTE  OF BOHOL YOU SHOULDN’T MISS

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Was our recommendation helpful enough? Let us know by commenting below or send us an email at tours.ph@raksotravel.com. If you'd rather talk to one of our travel representatives call us at +63 (2) 651-9003.

Don’t forget to follow & subscribe to get updated with Philippines travels!

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