JUAN Philippines Magazine

JUAN Philippines October-November 2009 Issue is out!

Is your flight delayed again? Bored staring at the ceiling while waiting for your flight? Sipping coffee but with nothing to read? Well, we have just got the solution for you! JUAN Philippines Magazine! Check out the latest issue of YOUR Ultimate Travel Guide in the airports and have JUAN as your travel companion. For its October-November issue, JUAN brings you a feature on Baguio—still the summer capital of the Philippines. Also in the most handy travel guide in the country is an article about Danao, Bohol—pegged to be the next Mecca in adventure sports in the country. Find out why Mt. Pulag still attracts climbers from around the country and even around the world. Want to know what to wear in cold weather or outdoors? Visit the first-ever Fashion Editorial of JUAN Magazine and get equipped on what to wear and what to bring with you on your next vacation. Distributed in airports in Cebu, Clark and NAIA and in some call centers and resorts around the country, JUAN Philippines Magazine will revolutionize the way people travel in the Philippines. A copy of the magazine can also be viewed and downloaded at www.juanphilippines.com (300,000 of our readers do!). JUAN Philippines Magazine. Travel. Life. Style. Coming soon. JUANTV.

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A Colorful Aliwan Fiesta 2009 (Updated: List of Winners)

Just came home from the CCP and the Quirino Grandstand where all festival contingents gather for the grand parade and awarding ceremonies. Despite of rain showers this evening, this year’s Aliwan Festival is once again a huge success. I was there to take pictures of the colorful floats and costumes. I can feel the excitement and energy of every delegates with all those smiles on their faces. While we are still waiting for the announcement of this year’s winners, I would like to share with you some of the photos me and my husband took this afternoon.

Baguio Panagbenga Float with their Official Delegate





(L-R) Pakalog Festival of Pasig; Lakbayaw of Tondo; Sarangani Float

Festival Queen Delegates (Clockwise) Candaba, Pampanga; Batangas, Quezon, Baguio


Baguio Panagbenga Float

List of Winners:

Festival Dance Competition
Champion: Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte
2nd Place: Tribu Kasag from Banate, Iloilo (Kasadyahan Festival)
3rd Place: Tribu Paghidaet of La Paz National HIgh School, iloilo (Dinagyang Festival)
Runner Up Honors:
Siloy sa Alcoy
Karatong
Ibon-Ebon
Kalilangan
Kadayawan
Lapay Bantigue


Float Design Competition
Champion: "Abel Iloko" of Laoag City
2nd Place: "Lemba" of Cotabato
3rd Place: Tribu Paghidaet of Dinagyang
Runner up Honors:
Limbonan
Panagbenga
Ibon-Ebon
Pakaradyan
Lambanugan
Kaguinakit Ta :aya
Aeta


Festival Queen - Sian Elizabeth Maynard (Sinulog, Cebu City)
2nd Place: Romarie Ivy Cunanan (General Santos City)
Runner-up Honors:
Aliah Heitz (Kadayawan, Davao City)
Parul Framil Shah (Panagbenga, Baguio City)
Kate Lao (Pamulinawen, Laoag City)

Congratulations to all the Winners!

Related Post: Aliwan Festival 2009, Schedule of Events

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Awesome Philippines!

I love my country and I’m thankful that we’re blessed with amazing natural sceneries and rich culture that we can all be proud of.

When I started blogging for Pinoy Lakwatsa, my intention was just to chronicle my life with the places I have been to. I soon realized that I have been inspiring people to travel more as I share my wonderful journey.

I am enticed to discover and explore more of the 7,107 breathtaking islands of the Philippines.

Last night, I was invited at the launching of Awesome Philippines - a first-of-its-kind national tourism campaign for the country held at the M Café at the Ayala Museum. The Department of Tourism of the Philippines (DOT) partnered with MTV Networks International to promote the Philippines as a hip and cool travel destination to young, adventurous travelers.

Among the personalities who were present last night were Secretary Ace Durano, Department of Tourism; Eduardo Mapa Jr., Managing Director/Media Contacts; Sherry Magno, Media Contacts; Yvonne Tey, Director, Marketing Partnerships/MTV Asia; Andrew Chan, Technical Consultant for the activity on Second Life; MTV VJ Maggie Wilson; Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr., Department of Tourism; and Chris Pattinson, MTV.

The author with Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Angel, and Grace

The launching of Awesome Philippines also comes the presentation of its online contest – Video Remixes. This allows us to create our own dream holiday in the Philippines in a creative video story which according to them, could possibly come true! How? Just log on to Awesome Philippines site and register online to upload your dream Philippine holiday video. In this site, you will find different clips of specific destinations. Just pick and edit cuts of the different travel clips and photos based on your personal storyline and choose the soundtrack for your video from the songs available. You can enter as many video entries as you want. If your entry is one of the videos with the highest ratings from other users, you stand a chance to win that dream holiday you remixed with a friend! The contest is ongoing and will last until May 24, 2009.

Another exciting web-based activity which will go live soon is the virtual world of Second Life. As you join this virtual world, you will have access to a multitude of features that allow you to create your own virtual identity, interact with other users, encounter objects, and participate in individual or group tasks while you explore a virtual Philippines.

For more information and to join the Video Remix Contest, logon to www.awesomephilippines.com
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Summer Rainbow

This was a photograph I took last Saturday somewhere in Tagaytay City.

Our family went on a road trip to south last Saturday to attend a relative’s wedding. The entire morning was so hot and humid particularly when we arrived at the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagaytay. Surprisingly in the afternoon, heavy rains poured down. When the rain was over and we were already on our way home, we saw this beautiful rainbow which I can’t help but capture on a picturesque Tagaytay scene. Isn’t it dramatic?

Until this very day, rain never stopped. And I wonder what happened to every beach outing everyone has been planning to do this April?

Is summer almost over?

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Aliwan Festival 2009, Schedule of Events

Ready for the Philippines’ grandest fiesta? The 7th Aliwan Festival will be held this coming April 23-25, 2009. It is a 3-day event that would showcase our country's best fiestas through Street Dance, Float Design, and Festival Queen competitions.

The much-awaited Grand Parade will happen on 25 April, Saturday afternoon from the Aliw Theater to Quirino Grandstand.

April 23, Thursday
· Streetdance Forum (CCP Silangan Hall)
· One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
· Band Concert and Pasakalye (Aliw Theater outdoor stage - 7:00 p.m.)

April 24, Friday
· One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
· Aliwan Festival Queen Talent Competition (Star Theater, 1:30 p.m.)
· Aliwan Festival Queen Pageant Night (Aliw Theater outdoor stage - 7:00 p.m.)

April 25, Saturday
· One Town, One Product Shoppers Bazaar
· Grand Parade (Aliw Theater Complex to Quirino Grandstand - 4:00 p.m.)
· Awarding Ceremonies (Quirino Grandstand - 9:00 p.m.)

This year’s festival contingents are:
1. Lakbayaw of Tondo, Manila
2. Pakalog Festival of Santolan, Pasig
3. Panagbenga Festival, Baguio City
4. Pamulenawen - Laoag City
5. Ibon Ebon of Candaba, Pampanga
6. Disposorio Festival of Hagonoy, Bulacan
7. Luyang Dilaw of Marilao Bulacan
8. Boling boling Festival - Catanuan, Quezon
9. Fiesta de Toros of Nasugbu, Batangas
10. Lapay Bantigue Festival of Masbate city
11. Pulang Angui of Polangue Albay
12. Sinulog Festival of Cebu City
13. Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City
14. Kasag Festival of Banate, Iloilo
15. Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte
16. Buyugan Festival of Abuyog Leyte
17. Kadayawan Festival - Davao city
18. Tuna Festival of General Santos City
19. Halad Festival of Midsayap, Cotabato
20. Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City
21. Buklod Festival - Parang, Shariff Kabunsuan
22. Kalilintad Festival of Mamasapano

Aliwan Festival 2009
CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Pasay City

Related Story: A Colorful Aliwan Fiesta (Updated with this year's winners)

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