By Marlon Ramos
Southern Luzon Bureau

CALAMBA CITY, Philippines–Two days after foreign and local tourists were stranded along the rock-strewn river while touring the famous Pagsanjan Falls, a technical team was formed Thursday to look into it and come up with corrective measures to avoid a repeat of the incident.

Pagsanjan, Laguna Mayor Emilio Ramon Ejercito III said the technical team will be tasked primarily to ensure the safety of vacationers and boatmen visiting the majestic falls.

The character actor-turned-politician said the team will be composed of representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local environment office and municipal government of Pagsanjan.

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By Jerome Aning
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–More tourists are expected to visit Intramuros, one of Manila’s enduring attractions, following the closure of entertainment establishments along the city’s Baywalk promenade area.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said he would work closely with Mayor Alfredo Lim in developing Intramuros, site of historic landmarks as Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church, as an alternative destination.

Durano said he respected Lim’s decision closing restaurants and bars lining the Roxas Boulevard strip because of peace and order concerns.

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By Vicente Labro
Inquirer

CATBALOGAN CITY–They jumped, rolled, swaggered and crawled to the rhythm of the drums, unmindful of the heat of the midday sun.

Wearing colorful costumes, with some of them dressed as mud crabs, these nearly 80 young people from Sta. Margarita, Samar performed the Alimango Festival that depicts the raising or gathering of mud crabs, the town’s main livelihood.

The fast beat and outstanding performance of the festival dancers did not fail to wow the huge crowd and to get the nod of the festival competition judges, who unanimously voted it as the best street dancing group.

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By Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–It is inevitable to feel homesick to some degree when traveling to unfamiliar places abroad. Fortunately for Filipinos in Paris, there’s a place that offers a touch of home, thanks to a young Filipina who has settled in this City of Lights.

Dita Moraga, herself initially overwhelmed by the vastness of Europe, has found her heart and home in Hotel Gavarni in Paris, which is managed by husband Xavier Moraga. The couple met at the altar way before they tied the knot: Xavier was choirmaster, the Dumaguete lass the choir’s soloist. The two exchanged vows at the Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois Church, where NBA champion Tony Parker and “Desperate Housewives’” star Eva Longoria recently got hitched.

Cultural differences posed no problem to the Moragas’ union, thanks largely to Dita being well-traveled. Before she lived in Paris, she had stayed in Chicago for four years and in Holland for a year. “I can easily adapt to my surroundings,” says Dita, who now has two beautiful daughters with Xavier. Although she’s grown accustomed to the European lifestyle, Dita admits that she looks forward to her yearly visits to the Philippines and to the warm embrace of family and friends.

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By Maria R.M. Sison
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–“All things are possible to the one who believes, there is no doubt about it,” said Blessed Guerric of Igny.

From late April to early May, my parents and I joined other participants from the Saint Bernard Parish in Los Angeles, California for a 14-day pilgrimage to Marian sites in Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; and Spain.

This would be the last pilgrimage for my dad; he soon became bedridden. My mom’s physical health is also on the decline; her ability to walk is restricted. But they both have faith that is constant and unwavering – I have no doubt that it was what made the pilgrimage possible for my 87- year old father and soon-to-be-80 mother.

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By Niño Mark M. Sablan, 2bU! Correspondent
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–There was something mystical and gentle about dolphins—plus I’d never seen one—so when I went to Eskaya Beach Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol, several months ago and was informed that dolphin-watching was part of the itinerary, I was extremely delighted.

Eager and excited (and armed with sandwiches, an MP3 player and a digital camera), I woke up extra early to join our group in a little motorboat for what I expected would be an intimate time with the dolphins.

It took us almost an hour before we spotted our first school of dolphins and the moment I laid eyes on them, I felt like a kid seeing his first, well, dolphin. It was just pretty disappointing how, when we tried to zoom close for a better view, they would suddenly stay underwater. I guess the sound of our motor (15 motors actually, since there were 14 other motorboats with us during that morning) scared them.

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By Rosa Villanueva
Inquirer

SIX months after graduating from college, something totally unexpected happened: I burned out. I was not only having problems with my boss, I was also unhappy working with preschoolers. It got so bad that my boss not only refused to sign my regularization papers, she also suggested that I take a week off.

An entire week? What was I supposed to do? I had never had a week off since I entered college! I was a shiftee who, in spite of having 30 or more units from her old course uncredited to her second course, managed to graduate on time. This meant that when I wasn’t in a class or doing something for a class, I was enrolling in one. This, coupled with parents who’d rather work than go on vacation, meant I had no idea what to do with a week off from work.

My mom then suggested an out-of-town trip through the Super Ferry. At the time, my family had just started selling Super Ferry tickets, but no one had actually experienced riding one. She thought it would be nice if someone from our family could actually verify how the “Super Ferry Experience” was like. Since I had seven days off, I picked the farthest destination: Davao.

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By Behn Cervantes
Inquirer

I FIRST visited China in 1971, when Chairman Mao was very much in power. I went back in 1984, then in 1987.

I had long heard about magical Guilin and asked if we could visit it. Alas, it was not on the itinerary! So, it remained a dream.

Inspiration

This year, I finally visited fabled Guilin–the inspiration for countless Chinese paintings, poems and songs. Yes, the visit was a dream fulfilled:

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