The Philippine financial markets sank Thursday on concern growth will slow as Japan reels from the effects of its largest earthquake on record while Middle East unrest threatened remittances from overseas workers.

The peso dropped to a six-week low of 43.92 on fears the tensions in the Middle East will spur an exodus of Filipino workers from the region, hurting remittances. Government bonds advanced.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 61.06 points, or 1.6 percent, to 3,817.38, the biggest retreat since Feb. 10. Losers routed gainers, 114 to 22, with 31 issues unchanged.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which accounts for 13.7 percent of the benchmark index, sank 2.7 percent to P2,014, its lowest close since March 20, 2009.

“Investors are rebalancing their portfolios,” Ravelas said. “PLDT being the benchmark stock—the biggest and the most liquid—is obviously hurt.” 

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the largest shopping mall operator, fell 4.1 percent to P10.80. Ayala Land Inc., which represents 6.8 percent of the stock index, slumped 2.4 percent to P14.94. 

“People are staying on the sidelines as far as the Philippine market is concerned given risks in the global environment, such as the series of events in Japan and the tension in the Middle East,” said Jonathan Ravelas, market strategist at Banco de Oro Unibank Inc.

An earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11 may cause damage of as much as 10 trillion yen ($126 billion), or 2 percent of gross domestic product, close to the damage caused by the Kobe earthquake in 1995, Citigroup Inc. said in a report Thursday. Japan was the biggest buyer of Philippine goods last year, accounting for 15 percent of total exports.

Security forces clashed with anti-government protesters in Bahrain Wednesday, leaving two demonstrators and two police officers dead, and Libya’s air force bombed rebels. 

The Gulf region accounts for about 30 percent of overseas remittances, central bank Governor Amando Tetangco said this month.

“The market is worried about the impact of the Middle East tension on remittances,” said Marcelo Ayes, vice president at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. “Things are getting worse and may affect demand for jobs.” Bloomberg

Information taken from http://www.manilastandardtoday.com

Bohol is a city near Cebu that offers many tourist attractions. You will find many great destinations both on land and on the water. Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines and this is located in the middle of Visayas. This means that you will get to experience the sand, sun and beach when you visit Bohol. Aside from that, Bohol is home to the world-known Chocolate Hills, these hills are not made of chocolate but they have a nice chocolate color.

This itinerary is ideal for 4 days and 3 nights stay in Bohol. You will get to know the many tourist attractions. To have more fun, bring with you your family and friends or perhaps your wife or husband.

Day 1

You will be arriving at the Tagbilaran Airport if you traveled by air and at the Tagbilaran Pier if you traveled by water in fast ferries known as SuperCat.

Upon arriving in Tagbilaran, you will see that there are many vehicles that are available to transport you to your destination. You can even negotiate with the driver to give you a tour of the Bohol or use their services for your entire time in Bohol.

Once you arrive in Bohol, you need to check-in at a hotel or resort. On the first day you can check-in at a resort in Panglao. This is just 25-30 minutes away from Tagbilaran making it easy for you to travel to the other tourist spots in the island. If you plan to hire a driver to transport you from the airport to Panglao, their rates vary from Php300-450 one way trip. If you are on a budget, there are tricycles that will take you to Panglao from the airport for Php250. Tricycles are small when compared to cars and vans and can fit 2-3 persons depending on their body size.

Once you arrive in Panglao, you can find several resorts that offer affordable accommodations that are near the beach. If you have extra money to splurge you can stay at a world class resort in Panglao Island, this is the Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa. Their sea view bungalows with Jacuzzi have a rate of Php39360/night for a room that can fit 4 persons. This resort is just 15 minutes away from the downtown area of Tagbilaran. The amenities offered in this resort are world class and with international standard.

If you are on a budget, there are several resorts that offer basic amenities. One good resort is the Isis Bungalows located in from of Alona Beach. This is just a walking distance to the beach and offers basic modern amenities. All the rooms and bungalows in this resort have a view of the sea. The air conditioned room for two persons cost Php2000/night, standard bungalow for 2 persons is Php3000/ night, deluxe bungalow for 3 persons is Php4000/night and the family bungalow is Php5000/night. Each rooms and bungalows have a terrace where you can rest in the morning or late afternoon. All rooms and bungalows offer spacious bathrooms with hot and cold shower.

The resort has its own restaurant and boasts its specialty cuisine, Thai. The restaurant also offers American, Continental and Filipino food. The restaurant is a covered area fronting the beach this is a great way to enjoy your meal while viewing the beauty of the sea.

After checking in at the resort, you can unpack your things and take a stroll on the shoreline of Alona Beach. You can also scout for restaurants and bars near your resort for other dining options.

Dinner is not a problem since there are many resorts that offer al fresco dining on the beach front. Alona Beach has many resorts that are beach front and they offer al fresco dining at night. The prices for food vary but most are expensive. The cuisines also vary but you will notice that the predominant cuisine is mostly European.

Day 2

Your second day in Bohol can be spent touring the different tourist spots of the island. You can rent a van or car with driver to take you to these tourist destinations. The van rental can cost about Php1800 to Php2000 depending on the places you went to.

Start your tour early so you can maximize your time and visit more places. Have breakfast in your hotel leave around 8:00 AM this is also a great way to avoid the harsh sun.

Blood Compact Site a historical site in Bohol where Rajah Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi had a blood compact to end their war. They both drank from a common cup that has drops of their blood in it. The original location of the blood compact is not where these bronze statues are located, a few steps on the right of this statues is the original site. A small monument and brief description is built on that site.

Baclayon Church this is the country’s second oldest church and beside the church is a museum that showcases antique items that may or may not be related to the Catholic religion. Wearing sleeveless tops is not allowed in this place. The façade of the church looks boring but once you get inside it, you will feel transported to a surreal world. The sunlight is the only light inside the church during the day, the stained glasses of the church plus the sunlight gives beautiful colors of red, blue and yellow. The entrance fee is Php25.

Tarsier in Loboc tarsiers are one of the world’s smallest primates. On the way to Carmen you can see many of them but touching them is a prohibited since they can commit suicide when they are unhappy, they bang their small heads. The Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella allows you to touch these cute, adorable, little primates. A reminder as well when taking a picture of these cute animals, please turn off the flash in your camera. The entrance fee is by donation.

Man-Made Forest this forest as what the name says is man-made. Boholeños planted thousands of mahogany trees to prevent soil erosion it is now one of the many tourist destinations of the island.

Chocolate Hills this is probably the famous destination spot in Bohol and one reason that made Bohol famous to tourists. People who have witnessed the majestic beauty of these hills will be amazed as to how they were formed. There are two places where you can view these chocolate colored hills in Sagbayan – a privately owned area with an entrance fee of Php20. The other location is in Carmen, this is a government owned area and the entrance fee is Php50. There is a hill in Carmen where you can climb up approximately a hundred steps to the top of the hill. You will also learn that Chocolate Hills are from clay and limestones.

Hanging Bridge thrill seekers are invited to try the hanging bridge in Loboc. The entrance fee is Php10 and there are many stores that sell souvenirs in this area.

Loboc River your trip to Bohol is not complete without this famous lunch river cruise. The buffet meal costs Php260 per person which not only includes good food but you will truly enjoy your river cruise with singers entertaining you. All floating restaurants will stop at Busay Falls before heading back. You would want to include in your budget the lunch for your driver (you do not want a hungry driver to tour you to the rest of the places in Bohol).

Prony the Python this is the largest and youngest python in captivity in the country. This python is over 300 kilos and beside her cage are pictures of her eating other animals and this includes a dog. Prony gets to eat a whole live 60-kilos pig once a month. Sheis bathed and showered 4 times a day. The entrance fee is Php10 per person and you can also get a chance to touch this big snake.

Hinagdanan Cave is located in Dauis and there is a man-made spiral ladder that will lead to an underground pond that has both ends open. You will see many stalactites and stalagmites formation in this cave and it is not advisable to take a dip in its pond because the water is not clean.

Bohol Bee Farm this is located in Panglao Island so this is a good way to end your tour for the day. This bee farm offers organic meals that are truly delicious. Once you have ordered for your main course, drinks and dessert you will be given a pair of loaf bread and some spreads. This is your appetizer the spreads are mango, pesto and honey. The must try for your main course are spareribs and glazed chicken. The spareribs combo meal with organic rice and organic salad costs Php200 while the glazed chicken combo meal with organic rice and salad costs Php180. They offer shakes that cost about Php60 and their must try ice cream for Php60 per scoop. Their organic salad is unique since aside from the usual green leafy vegetables of a salad, you will see colorful flowers in it like ampalaya flower and bougainvillea. It might seem odd eating flowers but you will be amazed at how great it tastes.

Day 3

Your third day in Bohol is best spent in Panglao Island. You can start your day with dolphin watching in Balicasag, this activity will require you to wake up very early in the morning and leave as early as 5:30 AM. Your efforts will be well rewarded especially after you see the many dolphins. It is advisable to bring bread because this time is the feeding time of dolphins.

After dolphin watching you can now go ahead and enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the snorkel site of Balicasag. Upon reaching Balicasag Island you will be prompted to rent a smaller boat for snorkeling and if you have water shoes better bring them since there are sharp corals and sea urchins that might hurt your feet underneath. The mini boat rental is Php150-200 and the aqua shoes rental is about Php150 each.

You can find many eateries in Balicasag that offers “paluto” which means you choose what fish or seafood you want (all fresh catch of the day) at about Php315 per kilo and they will cook it for you. The charge for cooking is Php200.

Enjoy a tour of the Virgin Island with its sand bar. You can walk a hundred meters away from the island with the water being knee deep. You will enjoy your time in Virgin Island since this is an uninhabited island. This is approximately 20 minutes from Balicasag Island.

The island hopping tour which includes the dolphin watching costs around Php1800-Php2000.

After arriving back to your resort, you can spend the rest of your day relaxing. At night you can scout for bars in the island. Expect that you will have a quieter experience as compared to Boracay. You can chill at L’ Elephant Bleu Restaurant and Inn this place provides good food, good music plus you can enjoy great tasting wines for a per glass serving. This is truly affordable since you do not have to spend your cash on a whole bottle of wine.

Day 4

Enjoy your last day at Panglao Island and in Tagbilaran scouting for souvenir items. One of the known souvenir shop in Bohol is Aproniana Gift Shop located in the National Highway, Taguihon, Baclayon. They sell several souvenir items from key chains, magnets to shirts. You will also find several food products of Bohol like calamay, ube jam, penyato cookies and more.

There are just so many things that you can do in Bohol to make your trip memorable.

The Queen City of the South, Cebu is a place that offers many historical destinations. This is the oldest city in the Philippines that was established when the Spaniards came to colonize the country. Aside from a city that is full of historical events and places, Cebu City is the second city in the Philippines next to Manila City. This is also the second most significant metropolitan center in the country.

Cebu has many attractions and destinations that tourists will truly enjoy. Travelling to Cebu City and seeing the many historical sites will make you travel through time and experience the charm of the old world. This city is not just about historical places there are modern places and attractions that will keep you on your feet. This itinerary is for a 4 days and 3 nights stay in the city. Going to Cebu solo is not really a fun idea go together with your loved one, friends or family to save expenses and to make your travel much memorable and fun.

Day 1

Plan an early trip or maybe a late night trip to Cebu. Your first two days in Cebu can be spent on an island beach resort, and Cebu has many nearby resorts to offer. An early trip to the city is advised so you can get to the resort early morning or before lunch and this gives you ample time for sight-seeing or other activities.

Upon arriving in Cebu City, take a taxi (make sure it is metered) to North Bus Terminal near SM Cebu. Look for a bus that travels to Hagnaya Pier, these busses can be Ceres Coach Bus or Cebu AutoBus Corp. They run all day from as early as 5am, the fare ranges from Php70-80. Aircon busses rarely travel to Hagnaya that is why it is better to leave early in the morning to avoid the harsh sun and pollution. Travel time is approximately 2.5 hours up to 3 hours. Once you arrive in Hagnaya Pier, you will ride a ferry to Santa Fe, Bantayan Island and this is a 75min. ride.

There are several resorts in Bantayan, but you would like to get a resort that is near the beach and Santa Fe. This makes it easier for you to leave for Cebu the next day.

Budyong Beach Beach Resort is located in Santa Fe, Bantayan. This resort offers basic amenities and they have individual single and duplex type cottages. A beach front cottage for 4 persons with air condition is Php1700 a night and their fan rooms for 4 persons is Php1000. All their cottages are near the beach, making it easy to walk to the shoreline or have a dip in the sea. Their resort offers basic amenities, and a restaurant that serves good food.

Upon arriving in the resort you can have lunch at Arjaymay, a food stall the serves delicious grilled seafood. The prices are reasonable and the ingredients are fresh.

After lunch, you can tour the Bantayan town and visit the centuries-old Bantayan Church which is the Saint Peter & Paul’s Church and other old houses. You can also visit the Bantayan Market for their known dried squid and danggit. These can be great souvenirs and gifts to your family and friends back home. You just have to make sure that these are wrapped well to hide its salty smell. You can have snacks at Kermit’s, a known burger house in the island with great food at reasonable prices.

Back to Santa Fe, you can visit the Ogtong Cave in Santa Fe Beach Club. The entrance fee is Php50. After exploring the cave, you can go back to your resort for swimming and marvel at the beautiful sunset of Bantayan Island.

There are a number of restaurants in Bantayan and food is never a problem. Most restaurants are owned by Europeans who have decided to stay in the island for good. You can have dinner at D’Jungle where they offer buffet every Friday and Saturday for only Php300 per head including bottomless iced tea.

Day 2

You can have breakfast at your resort and you need to start the day early so you can visit the other islets around Bantayan Island. One island that tourists often visit is the Virgin Island. You can arrange for a boat transfer from your resort to Virgin Island and it can cost around Php1000-Php1500. The entrance fee to the island is Php50 per head. You can stay as long as you want and enjoy the sun, sand and the sea.

Back to Bantayan Island you have to prepare to head back to Hagnaya Port. You can have lunch at Khel’s BBQ that offers great grilled food and with hanging rice known as puso in Filipino.

After the ferry ride from Santa Fe to Hagnaya Pier and bus to Cebu, you will arrive in the city before sunset.

You can now check-in at a hotel in Cebu for you stay at for the remainder of the trip. Roseate Pensione House offers affordable room rates with the choice of staying in a room with a panoramic view of the city. This pension house is located in the heart of the city. Their family room with a panoramic view of the city costs Php1680 per night, and this has 2 double size beds with refrigerator.

For dinner, you must try the known Lechon Cebu. Lechon is roasted suckling pig, and one restaurant that is known to offer great tasting lechon is the CNT Lechon located in front of SM Cebu. The price of the lechon per kilo costs around Php320-400. This is definitely a must try and many find the lechon sumptuous even without dipping it in sauce.

You can decide if you will call it a night or party in some of the known bars and clubs in Cebu. Some of the known hangout places in Cebu are Club Vudu and Paseo.

Day 3

Spend your 3^rd day with a tour of Cebu City. You will get to know the city better and learn more of its historical facts.

A visit to Magellan’s Cross is a must for someone travelling and having a vacation in Cebu. This is a landmark in the city. This is a cross planted by the early Spanish and Portuguese explorers and this was ordered by Ferdinand Magellan. This is actually a small room where the cross is located in the middle, but it is sure worth the visit.

Pay a visit to Fort San Pedro, a military defense structure. The entrance fee is Php40 and you will see more of the legacy left behind by the Spanish conquerors of this country.

Next stop is the Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño. This is a 16^th century church and probably one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. There is a museum inside the basilica where antique items are on display. You would also learn about the history of Christianity in Cebu.

There are two museums nearby that you can visit the Ballanong Balandi and Jose Rizal Museum. Ballanong Balandi houses several artifacts including Cebu’s old pavements and in front of the building is the mobile used by the late Pope John Paul II when he visited Cebu decades ago.

It is time for lunch and again there are many cheap food stalls in the city that offers delicious food. Barbecue is by far a staple in Cebu and you can find cheap and delicious barbecue in Larsians.

After lunch, you can continue touring the city and visit the Taoist Temple in BeverlyHill Subdivision. The temple is situated 300 meters above sea level this is a multi-tiered, towering temple with many attractive colors making it a favorite tourist destination in the city.

A great way to end your tour of the city is by visiting TOPS, this is 2000 feet above sea level situated on the cool hills of Busay. You can have a panoramic view of the city and feel the cold air. This location has many cottages where you can have picnics. You can rent a taxi going to the area and back to the city for about Php700.

A must try activity in the city is the Edge Coaster and Sky Walk Extreme in Crown Regency Hotel. This is the world’s first edge coaster and the country’s only sky walk. You will feel the thrill and excitement as you are at the edge of your seat on the Edge Coaster and walking on clear glass thousands of feet high. If you want to experience both exciting rides the entrance is Php750 with free t-shirt.

Enjoy juicy steaks and other delicious meals at Casa Verde. This restaurant has many specialties and one of them is their famous Brian’s ribs, big slabs of baby back ribs covered in the restaurant’s special sauce. You must also try their cream cakes.

Day 4

Your last day in Cebu can be spent shopping for souvenirs and visiting some of Mactan’s tourist destinations. You can rent a taxi to bring you to Mactan and visit some of its tourist destinations.

Dried Mango is definitely a known delicacy of Cebu and visiting is a good way to learn how these tasty dried fruit is made.

Then a visit Mactan Monument and Lapu Lapu Shrine. Datu Lapu Lapu was the first known hero of the Philippines who defeated Ferdinand Magellan, the first Spaniard who came to conquer the country.

Cebu City is truly a city with many beautiful attractions. This city is rich in culture and this can be seen in the many historical landmarks scattered in and around the city.