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MOALBOAL DIVING SITES

Abaca Resort Paradise on Earth

Abaca, known worldwide as Manila hemp, is considered as the strongest among natural fibers. The Abaca plant is indigenous to the Philippines whose warm, wet climate and volcanic soils are particularly suited to its cultivation. Needless to say, this is one of the country's most popular exports to the global market.

Another form of Abaca from the Philippines deserves to make a mark in the global hemisphere, this time, in lifestyle travel and leisure category. The Abaca Resort situated in the pristine island of Mactan in Cebu.

Abaca Resort has redefined the concept of exclusive boutique resorts. The word exclusive encompasses privacy, security, and fine natural artistry manifested in its well-interior rooms, delectable cuisine, unparalleled 24-hour butler service, and craftsmanship of its amenities.


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source from: www.lifestyleasia.com

Cebu as a second home: Consider Malaysia's model

posted by: Cebu as a second home: Consider Malaysia's model
FULL DISCLOSURE By Fidel O. Abalos (The Freeman) Updated November 09, 2009 12:00 AM

Last week, in the anniversary celebration of the Cebu Investment Promotion Center (CIPC), we heard its prime mover, Joel Mari Yu, harping on the possibility of having Cebu as the most preferred choice of global citizens who are trying to find their second home.

This development is very encouraging. For one, CIPC has the credibility and track record in investment promotion. Apparently, they already have the experience, a database and a network of moneyed individuals.

However, just like any business, promotion will only translate into profits if the products or services offered approximate the representation it makes. Otherwise, sustainability is not even an issue worth delving in. It is practically dead from the very beginning.

The idea of promoting a country as second home isn't new at all. Malaysia started it a few years back and has now started reaping dividends. What Malaysia did wasn't something really special. It wasn't something that is beyond every ordinary Filipino mind's reach. They started it five years ago when they launched "Malaysia-My Second Home" (MM2H) by offering foreigners, particularly retirees, to live permanently in their country. They started by giving five-year visa with unlimited entry/exit privileges and without minimum annual residence requirement. Permanent residency is also a possibility after a five-year stay. Retirees may also bring in household

effects duty-free, and import or purchase one vehicle locally, tax free. Income tax incentives are also offered for investing retirees. Notably, recipients (foreigners) are eligible to buy houses at a cost of not less than RM150,000.00 (or roughly US$41,677.50 at the current exchange rate) each. More importantly, for purposes of owning the house, they are also entitled to borrow from local banks 60% or more of its cost or value. As a result, Malaysia topped other Asian countries for two (2) consecutive years in a row in the International Living's survey

for preferred destinations.

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First and only zip line in CEBU

source from: www.sunstar.com.ph
posted by: Gessa Marie T. Gunhuran
STC Media Intern
photo: by zkunks from www.istorya.net
DO YOU crave that adrenaline rush you get from flying without having to pay an arm and a leg for a skydiving trip? Or are you bored with classroom discussions on physics and want to see “momentum” and gravity in the real world?

Or do you simply want to try something new for half the price of a movie ticket?

Welcome to zip-lining, and it’s now in Cebu City.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

A zip-line is an aerial runway consisting of a cable suspended on a pulley system and mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user to use gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of an inclined cable through a free-moving pulley.

The cable is made of stainless steel, making sure that even those on the heavy side can enjoy the thrill.

Around the Philippines, there are several zip-line courses available to the public, but there are none yet in Cebu City. Most of them are also quite expensive, and can only cater to the higher middle class and up categories.

But a group of Cebuanos, involved in the teaching of arnis, wants to change that.

The Doce Pares Organization, led by Grandmaster Dionisio “Diony” Canete, who along with his son, Gerald Canete, have decided to add zip-lining into their training regimen, making it the first zip-line course in Cebu.

They specialize in the teaching of Kali Eskrima also known as “arnis” to aspiring students both young and old, Pinoys and foreigners alike and their school in Sto. Nino Village has attracted hundreds of visitors.

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Cebu Birdwatching Stints Set Up As BirdLife & Philippines Sign Agreement

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and BirdLife International Inc. (BLI) have signed an agreement to support a bird conservation program as part of its strategy to advance birdwatching tourism in Cebu and other parts of the Philippines.

Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said the DOT is promoting Birdwatching Phillipines as part of its adventure tourism packages.

It was affirmed the “species champion” for the Cebu Flowerpecker during the 2009 British Bird Watching Fair in Ruthland, United Kingdom.

”The country has a very big potential in mainstream tourism that’s why we are pushing tourism traffic in the interior,” Durano said.

Durano was in Cebu Monday for the ceremonial signing and press conference of the Species Champion Agreement of DOT and BirdLife International Inc. (BLI) at the Marco Polo Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City.

Durano added the bird conservation program started two years ago but it only picked up this year when the British fair featured the Cebu Flowerpecker as its flagship species, under the theme “lost and found.”

The critically endangered Cebu Flowerpecker was once though extinct until it was rediscovered in 1992 in pocket forests in the hinterland barangay of Tabunan in Cebu City.

Of the 200 bird species in the Philippines, the Cebu Flowerpecker that is found in Alcoy town ranked third among the rarest birds in the country.

”This creates instant awareness and consciousness. If you are a birdwatcher, you will be compelled to consider Cebu as your next site,” Durano said.

“This bird has never been photographed and this further creates fascination,” he said.

He said Alcoy town residents can become tour guides to help locate and identify the birds.

Durano revealed birdwatching is relatively cheaper compared to other tourism activities such as scuba diving and golfing.

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source from: Keeping Pet Birds

Cine Europa 12 opens in Cebu

FROM: PIA (Philippine Information Agency)

PIA RELEASED: 2009-10-08

Cebu City (8 October) -- The showcase of European films in the Philippines dubbed 'Cinema 12' is a continuing tradition of further enhancing dialogues between European and Filipino cultures through the silver screen.

Cine Europa, the tradition of bringing excellent European films to the Philippines, opens its doors tomorrow in Cebu. Public screenings at the Ayala Onstage will be done starting tomorrow until October 11 while admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Now on its 9th year in Cebu since it launched in the country 12 years ago, Cine Europa continues to provide Filipino movie enthusiasts with a range of powerful films which will surely touch everyone's hearts and minds.

Cine Europa will be opened by Mr. Holger Rommen, Head, Contracts and Finance Section, Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, Mr. Alvaro Trejo, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Spain and representing the EU Presidency in Manila together with Consul Jaime Picornell of the Arts Council of Cebu and Mr. Sven Malmberg of the Swedish Embassy of the Embassy of Sweden in Thailand, who currently holds the EU Presidency for the next six months of this year.

Films from Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom will certainly endear Europe once more to Cine Europa enthusiasts in Cebu.

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OFWs tapped as Philippine medical tourism envoys

By MALOU M. MOZO

September 28, 2009, 8:31pm

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Health and Wellness Council (CHWC), a group of players in the local health and wellness industry, is set to capitalize on the country’s growing overseas Filipino workers, or balikbayans, targeting them as envoys to promote the sector in the international market.

Nelia Navarro, Provincial Director of the Department of Tourism-Cebu, said that as Cebu positions itself as a premier health and wellness destination in Asia, combining both leisure and business in one place, local industry stakeholders are bent on luring foreign patients through testimonies and first-hand experiences of balikbayans availing of local medical and wellness services.

The Department of Tourism-Cebu is one of CHWC’s member government agencies.

“Our first target is to attract all Filipinos around the world to avail of the best health and wellness services we have here,” said Navarro. “Eventually, they will become our ambassadors for the sector.”

According to Navarro, the influx of foreign patients considering the Philippines as an alternative destination for affordable health and wellness services is possible if these international Filipino communities with foreign friends are able to share by word-of-mouth their personal experiences in trying out local health and wellness therapies, the qualities of which are fast gaining a positive reputation globally.

At present, she said, CHWC member-organizations including leading hospitals in Metro Cebu, dental organizations, spa and wellness players, among others, are conducting talks with several Filipino communities abroad “who can help bring in Filipino patients.”

Navarro stressed that Cebu medical institutions as well as wellness facilities are ready to accommodate more sophisticated markets, including Americans and Europeans, seeking medical services and wellness vacation packages.

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