Cultural Delights

Ancestral houses in the Philippines, otherwise known as ‘Heritage Houses,’ are homes owned and preserved by the same family for several generations as part of Filipino family culture. The colonial towns of Silay (dubbed “the Paris of Negros Occidental”) and Taal contain many examples of these European-inspired houses with properties both small & grandly opulent that tourists can visit.

Built during the 16th Century Spanish Colonial-era, the Baroque Churches of the Philippines are included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Built to withstand earthquakes and in often rebuilt several times due to attacks by locals who disliked the introduction of Christianity. These churches remain emblems of magnificent architecture and the Philippine-Hispanic relationship that spanned centuries.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras offers one a unique view with its undulating high rice fields following the contours of the mountain over 4,000 square miles. For 2,000 years indigenous tribes in this high mountain range have cultivated the land: don’t miss the chance to stay overnight in one of the villages and learn more about the local communities.

A district in Manila, Binondo is known as the city’s Chinatown (in fact, established in 1590, it is the world’s oldest Chinatown!). Don’t miss the opportunity to hop on a food crawl of Binondo where you’ll indulge in dumplings, steamed, pork-filled buns & delicious dim sum. A maze of once-glorious architecture, new developments & eateries on every corner, Binondo is not to be missed.

The colonial heart of Manila, a tour of Intramuros (literally meaning “within the walls”) is a must-do. Explore the site by foot, bambike (bamboo biking) or kalesa (horse-drawn carriages). Founded by the Spanish in the 16th Century, the gigantic stone citadel is surrounded by impressively preserved city walls that span a 3 mile radius.

 A sprawling property spanning 40 hectares in in Bataan, Las Casas Filipinas is an open-air museum and heritage resort transporting you back the glory days of Old Manila. Included in Conde Nast’s Luxury Global Collection and Historic Hotels Worldwide, Las Casas’ stunning landscapes, cobblestone roads and architecture mean a stay in one of the beautifully restored Spanish-Filipino houses is essential.

Housing National Artist Ben Cabrera’s art collection as well as being his home and workshop, the museum also showcases traditional art such as bamboo carving, Ben Cab’s Bulol collection (carved human figurines of the ‘Ifugao rice god’), traditional wood carving such as the Hagabi (a long wooden bench which symbolises wealth & social prestige amongst the Ifugao) and, quirkily, an Erotica Gallery.

The Philippines loves to celebrate with a spectacular festival. Most famous is Ati-Atihan Festival; hugely popular due to its focus on sampling Filipino delicacies. The Sinulog Festival is marked by parades of groups wearing vibrant hues and road parties. The Panagbenga Festival features bazaars, street dancing and beautiful boats made from blooming flowers…The PH has a festival to suit every mood!

Established in the late-1500s, Vigan is the best-preserved planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Virtually untouched by time, Vigan’s cobblestone streets, heritage houses, ‘kalesas’ (horse-drawn carriages) has a charm all of its own.

Visit and interact with the villagers of the Aeta Tribe of Mt. Pinatubo who have their own archaic language and culture which has existed for thousands of years.

Mt. Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located in the Zambales Mountains. Notorious for its 1991 nine-hour eruption that was the second-largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th Century, thankfully Mt. Pinatubo hasn’t erupted since. The crater lake and surreal mudflow landscapes that the eruption left behind make it well wort a visit as part of a 4×4 off-road adventure and hike.

A Christian cross planted by the Portuguese and Spanish, Magellan’s Cross is famed throughout Cebu as an emblem of the propagation of Catholicism in the Philippines. Complimenting it, Fuerte de San Pedro is a 1565 military defence structure whose ruined ramparts and peaceful walled garden make it the perfect escape from the madness of downtown Cebu – especially at sunset.

Ancestral houses in the Philippines, otherwise known as ‘Heritage Houses,’ are homes owned and preserved by the same family for several generations as part of Filipino family culture. The colonial towns of Silay (dubbed “the Paris of Negros Occidental”) and Taal contain many examples of these European-inspired houses with properties both small & grandly opulent that tourists can visit.

Built during the 16th Century Spanish Colonial-era, the Baroque Churches of the Philippines are included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Built to withstand earthquakes and in often rebuilt several times due to attacks by locals who disliked the introduction of Christianity. These churches remain emblems of magnificent architecture and the Philippine-Hispanic relationship that spanned centuries.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras offers one a unique view with its undulating high rice fields following the contours of the mountain over 4,000 square miles. For 2,000 years indigenous tribes in this high mountain range have cultivated the land: don’t miss the chance to stay overnight in one of the villages and learn more about the local communities.

A district in Manila, Binondo is known as the city’s Chinatown (in fact, established in 1590, it is the world’s oldest Chinatown!). Don’t miss the opportunity to hop on a food crawl of Binondo where you’ll indulge in dumplings, steamed, pork-filled buns & delicious dim sum. A maze of once-glorious architecture, new developments & eateries on every corner, Binondo is not to be missed.

The colonial heart of Manila, a tour of Intramuros (literally meaning “within the walls”) is a must-do. Explore the site by foot, bambike (bamboo biking) or kalesa (horse-drawn carriages). Founded by the Spanish in the 16th Century, the gigantic stone citadel is surrounded by impressively preserved city walls that span a 3 mile radius.

 A sprawling property spanning 40 hectares in in Bataan, Las Casas Filipinas is an open-air museum and heritage resort transporting you back the glory days of Old Manila. Included in Conde Nast’s Luxury Global Collection and Historic Hotels Worldwide, Las Casas’ stunning landscapes, cobblestone roads and architecture mean a stay in one of the beautifully restored Spanish-Filipino houses is essential.

Housing National Artist Ben Cabrera’s art collection as well as being his home and workshop, the museum also showcases traditional art such as bamboo carving, Ben Cab’s Bulol collection (carved human figurines of the ‘Ifugao rice god’), traditional wood carving such as the Hagabi (a long wooden bench which symbolises wealth & social prestige amongst the Ifugao) and, quirkily, an Erotica Gallery.

The Philippines loves to celebrate with a spectacular festival. Most famous is Ati-Atihan Festival; hugely popular due to its focus on sampling Filipino delicacies. The Sinulog Festival is marked by parades of groups wearing vibrant hues and road parties. The Panagbenga Festival features bazaars, street dancing and beautiful boats made from blooming flowers…The PH has a festival to suit every mood!

Established in the late-1500s, Vigan is the best-preserved planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Virtually untouched by time, Vigan’s cobblestone streets, heritage houses, ‘kalesas’ (horse-drawn carriages) has a charm all of its own.

Visit and interact with the villagers of the Aeta Tribe of Mt. Pinatubo who have their own archaic language and culture which has existed for thousands of years.

Mt. Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located in the Zambales Mountains. Notorious for its 1991 nine-hour eruption that was the second-largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th Century, thankfully Mt. Pinatubo hasn’t erupted since. The crater lake and surreal mudflow landscapes that the eruption left behind make it well wort a visit as part of a 4×4 off-road adventure and hike.

A Christian cross planted by the Portuguese and Spanish, Magellan’s Cross is famed throughout Cebu as an emblem of the propagation of Catholicism in the Philippines. Complimenting it, Fuerte de San Pedro is a 1565 military defence structure whose ruined ramparts and peaceful walled garden make it the perfect escape from the madness of downtown Cebu – especially at sunset.