El Nido, Palawan Philippines' Last Frontier

El Nido, the "Philippines' Last Frontier", it is where you can have a look of what a paradise should be. It boasts of crystal clear water, white sand beaches and lots of awe-inspiring limestone cliffs. The bio-diversity is a spectacle so nature lover can enjoy more than a hundred of bird species which 16 of them are endemic to Palawan. You can snorkel with different 800 species of colorful fishes.

For those who love to walk rather than swimming. El Nido is more than a paradise for trekkers with its dense forest along the coast and an in-land lagoon suitable for swimming as a reward after a three hour walk. More than the beauty of the place, it's the laid back atmosphere that will make you come back here over and over again to replenish your dehydrated "urban self".

Caves are common also here and this is where some of the Swiftlets make their nests the main ingredient for the "Nest Soup" thus the name "El Nido" (The Nest). It was found in records (Chinese records as far back 1225 CE) that even during the early times, Chinese would come to the place for trade and their main prospect are the birds' nests.

Today El Nido although not fully developed is being hailed as one of the best places to visit in Southeast Asia. So if you are planning a quiet retreat, away from everything "Techie" El Nido is the best place for you.

For an In-depth article about El Nido you can read in here.

El Nido, Palawan Philippines' Last Frontier

8:07 AM Featured, Places to Visit

Ati-Atihan Festival - Kalibo, Aklan

Ati-Atihan Festival is being celebrated every January  in Kalibo, Aklan honoring Sto. Nino (Infant Jesus). The performers make their skin dark to which the "Ati-Atihan" literally means "be like Aetas" (Aetas are the early settlers not only in the Island of Kalibo but most of the habitable places in the Philippines, They are also called "Negritos") with indigenous costumes and "weapons"

The Festival culminates on the third Sunday of January with Tribal dancing and parade on the streets where everyone can join and dance to the beat of the drums. It is believe that the festival started when the Ati Tribe accept and let ten (10) Chieftains called Datus fleeing from Borneo to settle in their domain. Datu Puti one of the Chieftains gave a long gold necklace to the wife of the Ati's chieftain as a gift and at the same time paid the plains with a golden "salakot" (some kind of a hat) with other precious metals. A celebration followed.

After some time the Ati tribe faced famine which forced them to descend  from the mountains to the plains where the Datus have settled who now farming the low lands. They seek help and the Chieftains obliged and give them food. As a sign of gratitude the Atis sang and  danced for the Datus.

During the time of the Spanish, they infused a religious meaning to it and the dance holding the Sto. Nino was introduced.

Source: Ati-Atihan Festival

Ati-Atihan Festival - Kalibo, Aklan

6:50 AM Festivals, Places to Visit