Well-Preserved Heritage /Old Houses in the Philippines

Well-Preserved Heritage /Old Houses in the Philippines.

The Most Remarkable and Significant National Shrines in the Philippines

The Most Remarkable and Significant National Shrines in the Philippines.

Top 10 Highest Mountains in The Philippines

Top 10 Highest Mountains in The Philippines.

Here are the 10 highest peaks in the Philippines you may want to climb-have fun and happy hiking!

The Philippines, in general, is a mountainous country. Several mountain ranges are within the archipelago from the northern part down to the southern part. This list of highest mountains is good for beginners or amateur mountaineers. Have thrill and fun, happy hiking!

1.) Mount Apo – Davao/North Cotabato

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Mount Apo, which offers a panoramic view, is one of the most visited places in the Philippines. Mount Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines. It is located between the provinces of Davao and North Cotabato. This mountain, which is considered a dormant volcano, has an elevation of 2,956 meters. It is home to the world’s largest eagle – the Philippine Eagle, the country’s national bird. The ‘king of fruits’ – Durian, is abundant in the area. Mount Apo, which is capped by a 500 meter wide crater, is home to more than 270 bird species most of which are endemic.

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Architecturally Unique Churches in the Philippines

In the Philippines (the only Christian country in Asia)  there are many churches in the entire archipelago, except in areas where the prevailing religion is Islam.

Basilica Minore de San Sebastian: The Only All-Steel Church in Asia

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One of the most unique churches in the Philippines is the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian or better known as San Sebastian Church. This church which was built in 1891 is located in Manila and is the seat of the Parish of San Sebastian and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. This church is remarkable for its architectural features. This Christian house of worship is the “only all-steel” church or basilica in Asia. This National Historical Landmark is also considered to be the first prefabricated building in the world and the only prefabricated steel church in the world.
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Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines

List of some of the best places to visit in the Philippines as conferred by UNESCO by declaring them World Heritage Sites.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have included six places and four Catholic churches in the Philippines in the list of world heritage sites. (Two of which landed on the top ten list for the New Seven Wonders of the World).

The list includes the historic city of Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion also in Ilocos Sur; Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Tubbataha National Marine Park both in Palawan; Banawe or Ifugao Rice Terraces in Ifugao; Apo Reef National Park and Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park both in Mindoro; Sto.Tomas de Villanueva Church in Iloilo; San Agustin Church in Manila and Church of San Agustin in Ilocos Norte.

1. Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, Palawan

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It’s home to over 300 coral species and 400 species of fish. It is currently ranked number 5 on the list for the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Tubbataha is a reef ecosystem made up of two atolls located in the middle of the Sulu Sea. It is a sanctuary for marine life. The reefs lie on the Cagayan Ridge, a line of extinct underwater volcanoes which starts from the north at the Sultana Shoal and it ends in the south at the San Miguel Islands. It was proclaimed as a National Marine Park on August 11, 1988 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1993, in recognition of its outstanding universal value in terms of marine life species diversity and richness.

See more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines HERE

Ifugao Rice Terraces: 8th Wonder of the World

Details and compelling reasons why the Ifugao rice terraces is considered the 8th wonder of the world. Find out.

The Ifugao Rice Terraces or popularly known worldwide as Banawe Rice Terraces was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 because of its great beauty that expresses conquered and conserved harmony between humankind and the environment. This primitive agricultural engineering feat is well known all over the world.

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It was built 2,000 years ago on the slopes of the towering mountains of Northern Luzon, Philippines by bare human hands. If place end to end, it would extend more than 22,500 kilometers, that is, 8 times longer than the Great Wall of China, or more than half of the earth’s circumference, amazing isn’t it?

The Ifugao rice terraces are largely regarded as the “8th wonder of the world.” It is also well known that the Banawe and other Ifugao rice terraces were built without forced labor, unlike the other Seven Wonders of the World, which employed slaves.

Ifugao rice fields are worthy of high rank among the wonders of the world. There are places where they reach from an altitude of 2500 feet to one of 5000 feet, and many places where they extend from an altitude of 1500 feet to one of 4500 feet. Ifugaos must be highly commended for constructing the rice terraces, since they did not have surveying instruments and modern machinery at their disposal.

The rice terraces are more than a sight to behold and an ancient monument-they are actually a very functional agriculture and ecological masterpiece. Likewise, the rice terraces have been producing rice for centuries, showing that the Ifugaos were able to maintain the fertility of the rice fields’ soils and even contain soil erosion.

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