Latest news with #Cebu
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
How to age well? Specialist in healthy ageing gives his tips on adding life to your years
He did not win the US$250,000 prize, but Jed Ray Gengoba Montayre was one of 10 finalists out of 100,000 candidates for the 2025 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award. The award recognises outstanding contributions to the nursing field. Montayre, a gerontologist – or healthy ageing specialist – and associate professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Nursing, was considered for the award for his groundbreaking research. He has spent half his life doing research on ageing, from how to counter loneliness to interventions for cognitive impairment. He has pioneered innovative care models for older people and worked on World Health Organization projects. He is also currently writing a book on how to age well. To help others age well, Montayre promotes maintaining social connections and building healthy habits like exercising. Photo: Shutterstock With all this under his belt, one might expect Montayre to be long in the tooth himself, but he is just 38. Montayre has been a keen learner since his childhood in the Philippine province of Cebu.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Why hundreds of birds may go extinct in the next coming years
Birds enrich our world with their vibrant colors, and movements, playing crucial roles in pollination, pest control, and seed dispersal. However, a recent study warns that climate change and habitat destruction are putting global bird diversity at risk. The potential loss of unique species like the bare-necked umbrellabird and helmeted hornbill could severely impact ecosystems. Projections suggest that up to 250 bird species may disappear, even with conservation efforts, with some being too vulnerable to survive without direct intervention. How climate and hunting threaten global bird diversity According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution analysing nearly 10,000 bird species found that birds are particularly vulnerable due to hunting pressure and climate stress. Birds with broad wings, often found in forests, are especially threatened by habitat destruction. The expected loss of these species could lead to a 3.2% decline in global bird functional diversity over the next century, which may seem small but would have significant ecosystem impacts. Large, unique birds often play irreplaceable roles, and their disappearance would leave gaps that other birds cannot fill, ultimately damaging the ecosystem balance. Why do hundreds of birds need more than just a safer habitat Researchers found that even in the best-case scenario, where all human threats are eliminated, around 250 species would still face extinction. This accounts for nearly half of the projected losses, highlighting that some species are too vulnerable to survive without targeted conservation efforts. Birds like the Cebu flowerpecker, with fewer than 70 individuals remaining, may require specific interventions like habitat restoration or captive breeding to prevent their disappearance. The study emphasizes that reducing threats alone is insufficient, as past damage and small, isolated populations continue to pose significant risks. Addressing specific threats to the unique birds Habitat loss affects over 1,600 bird species, but other threats like hunting and accidental deaths have a greater impact on preserving unique bird traits. Reducing these specific threats can be more effective in conserving rare bird features, even if it doesn't save as many species overall. Certain birds, such as those with long tails and short beaks, are more vulnerable to hunting, and those with broad wings are more affected by habitat destruction. This insight can inform targeted conservation efforts. Protecting birds that shape our ecosystem With 100 functionally unique species protected, over two-thirds of the global functional diversity of birds could be protected. These species, like nectar-feeders or seed dispersers, serve vital ecological roles with unique characteristics. Certainly, by saving around 37 of those, we could achieve this - since 1993, 21-32 have already been protected. This might be successful with a few years of dedicated conservation. Also read | The world's richest man in history was wealthier than any billionaire today
Skift
3 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Megaworld Signs Philippines Hotel Deal With Accor
The Macau Hotel Association said the average nightly cost of a five-star hotel room in May was down by 1.2% year-on-year to MOP1,532.8. This is the 11th consecutive month of year-on-year declines in the five-star average rate. The decline in average rate is occurring even though the visitor arrivals count continues to increase, up 25.3% in May, year-on-year. The problem is that the big rise is coming for day-trippers, not overnight guests. While we keep hearing about the number of hotel rooms shrinking as some resort casinos increase the number of suites, the tally of five-star hotel rooms is actually down by 8% year-on-year. The decline in ADR also makes little sense when there are calls to increase the number of hotel rooms in Macau. In May, the average room rate across all tiers of hotels that are members of the association was flat at MOP1,371.1, despite overall occupancy rising 3.3 percentage points to 94%. Of the 47 hotels that are members, 26 are five-star properties. For the first five months of 2025, Macau's five-star hotels' average nightly cost was down 6.4% to MOP1,510.6. As of April, there were 26,000 five-star hotel rooms out of the 43,700 total hotel rooms in aggregate. In the Philippines, Megaworld Corporation announced an agreement with Accor to improve its local hotel operations. Megaworld said Belmont Hotel Mactan in Cebu will be the first property to transition into an Accor brand franchise. The Mercure Mactan Cebu is within Megaworld's 30-hectare Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu. The partnership comes as Accor presses on with plans to expand its premium, midscale & economy division, targeting sought-after destinations in Asia. Megaworld currently has 13 operational hotels across key tourist destinations in the country, with properties under brands such as Belmont, Richmond, and Savoy. They are planning to build seven more hotel properties in the next three years to bring their room key count to 9,000. The Oberoi Group said they are well placed for further growth as the Oberoi brand sits right at the center of premium travel, and that is the segment growing the fastest in India. They plan to grow the hotel pipeline with carefully curated, brand-aligned properties, drive a high-premium outperforming competitors during periods of high demand, and provide guests with exceptional service. Oberoi said that when looking at the STR data, it is clear that they have significantly outperformed the market on RevPAR, with Oberoi ranked first on RevPAR in almost all locations. They have signed 21 new projects in less than two years. The pipeline currently includes 19 hotels, two luxury boats, and a Nile river cruiser. 12 are in India, with the rest in London, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bhutan, and Nepal. 16 will carry the Oberoi name while five will fall under the Trident brand. Half of the portfolio will be owned, with the rest of the management contracts. Hilton announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Mumbai International Airport, marking the debut of the brand in India's financial capital. The hotel is strategically positioned within minutes of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The 140-room hotel was developed in partnership with Fariyas Hotels & Resorts. Amenities include Together & Co., an all-day dining restaurant, rooftop pool, fitness center, and & ToGo, a 24/7 convenience store. The hotel includes versatile meeting rooms and event spaces. Zostel, an Indian community-led travel and backpacker hostel brand, officially opened the doors to its first-ever property in Madhya Pradesh with the launch of Zostel Indore. The debut in the heartland of India comes with a curated mix of aesthetic dorms, private rooms, and quad rooms. Other amenities include dynamic common areas, rooftop spaces, and curated local experiences, with the standout being its indoor swimming pool, which is rare in the backpacker hostel space. The Fern Hotels & Resorts, described as India's leading environmentally-conscious hotel chain, announced the signing of four new hotels across key Indian cities, reaching 10,000 rooms with the new additions. They include the 75-room The Fern, Lucknow; The Fern Nerul, Navi Mumbai with 154 rooms; the 83-room The Fern Residency, Vadodara; and the 100-room The Fern Residency, Gwalior. The Thai government said they are pushing forward with its ambitious but somewhat unpopular integrated entertainment complex legalization bill. The draft legislation for the comprehensive entertainment complexes is slated for its first reading in the House of Representatives next month. The Deputy Minister of Finance noted the opposition from the Bhumjaithai Party, which left the ruling party's coalition, but said this opposition will not derail the project as they have sufficient votes to push through key legislation. Star Entertainment Group's shareholders approved the A$300 million rescue package from US-based Bally's Corporation and the Mathieson family. They really did not have a choice as the company is out of money, and there were no other rescue offers. Bally's Corporation said they have applied to the New South Wales and Queensland governments and regulators to be approved to run the casinos. Intrepid Travel said it acquired boutique properties in Tasmania and Marrakech. The acquisitions include the family-run Edge of the Bay, located near the town of Coles Bay in Tasmania. The 20-room coastal resort that overlooks Wineglass Bay is on 18 acres and is close to Freycinet National Park, offering oceanview studios and secluded chalets. The resort will be refreshed to align with Intrepid's 'impact-led ethos.' The revamp will include nature-based activities and environmental education programs developed with Greening Australia, an Intrepid Foundation partner and environmental organization founded to restore and conserve Australia's native vegetation. Intrepid also bought a 17-room riad in Marrakech, minutes from Medina, the city's old town. The traditional Moroccan guesthouse opened this month and offers culinary experiences with The Amal Association. Intrepid will fully operate the property beginning in July. Intrepid is aiming to acquire 20 hotel properties by 2027, looking to buy hotels in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Partners with Anchanto to Power E-commerce Operations in the Philippines
CEBU CITY, Philippines, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Anchanto, the leading global B2B SaaS technology company in e-commerce and supply chain, announced its latest partnership with International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI), one of Philippines' leading manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical and consumer products. In an official signing ceremony held at IPI's Head Office in Cebu, the company formalized its adoption of Anchanto Order Management System (OMS) to manage and scale its growing e-commerce operations across major e-commerce marketplaces like Lazada, Shopee, TikTok, along with their upcoming online store. With a wide portfolio of essential health and wellness products, IPI has long been a household name in the Philippines. As the company strengthens its presence in the digital commerce landscape, it recognized the need for a robust and reliable solution to streamline order processing, marketplace integrations, and inventory visibility. "As IPI continues to strengthen presence in the e-commerce space, we were looking for a partner with the right blend of expertise and proven technology. Anchanto stood out with their global experience, local partnerships, and scalable solutions that align with our vision," said John Rey Villorente, VP- Brand Management Division, IPI. "This collaboration will help us improve operational efficiency, boost transaction volumes, and help bring more products to consumers across digital marketplaces. We're excited to embark on this journey with Anchanto," he added. The Anchanto OMS will enable IPI to centralize and automate order processing across multiple sales channels, while integrating seamlessly with their warehouse in Cebu. This move is expected to significantly enhance the company's ability to deliver a smooth, reliable experience to its customers while improving internal operational efficiency. Speaking on the occasion, Bely Villacruz, Country Head – Philippines at Anchanto, said: "IPI is an iconic and trusted brand in the Philippines, and we are pleased to support their e-commerce transformation. Anchanto OMS will empower their teams with real-time visibility and control over operations, helping them scale effectively while maintaining operational excellence." She added, "Our local team has worked closely with IPI to understand their challenges and ambitions. We're excited to bring in the right technology, local expertise, and support to ensure IPI's success across all digital channels." Anchanto is trusted by leading companies like SM Retail, CloudLogic, Toby's, Blade, Red Selvage International, among others. This partnership marks another milestone in Anchanto's journey of enabling transformation for enterprises in APAC and beyond. View original content: SOURCE Anchanto Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Telegraph
The perfect two-week holiday in the Philippines
The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,641 islands on Asia's eastern edge, may still be off the radar for many travellers (it receives a fraction of the British visitors that neighbouring Thailand does, and fewer than both Cambodia and Vietnam), but its profile is on the rise – meaning now is the time to go. It is, of course, a long way to travel (there are no direct flights, so it'll take you somewhere in the region of 18 hours), so it makes sense to allow two weeks of island-hopping to truly absorb its ever-changing diversity. An ideal trip should include stops in Cebu and Vigan, for a taste of the country's Spanish colonial legacy, as well as a visit to the islands around El Nido, for world-class beaches and coral reefs; to Bohol, to meet tiny bug-eyed tarsiers; and Banaue, to see its amphitheatre of rice-terraces. A perfect trip should also incorporate plenty of opportunities to sample the country's meaty, soy-and-vinegar infused cuisine – unlike any other in Asia – especially in Manila, where the restaurant scene explodes with contemporary options. But the real highlight? The Filipinos themselves – the friendliest, most upbeat people in Asia. The level of English is extremely high throughout the country, so cheerful conservation comes easily, and despite having been through a great deal of hardship – colonialism, Japanese occupation, Marcos's political dictatorship – they've nevertheless come out smiling… and singing a lot of karaoke. Days 1 & 2 Cebu City Conquistadors and Catholics Aim for a flight which gets you into the Philippines' second city – located on the eastern coast of Cebu Island – by early evening (Cathay Pacific 's overnight flight from London, for example, connects via Hong Kong and arrives at 6pm). The airport is set on tiny Mactan Island, so check in to nearby Crimson Resort and Spa (B&B doubles from £151) and spend the evening relaxing after your long journey. The following morning, it's time to head into the hurley-burly of Cebu City – the country's most historic city – roughly an hour's drive from the resort. A taxi will cost you between 100-300 Philippine pesos (£1.30-4), and the drive will take you across the spectacular Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway, which meanders over the sea for 5.5 miles. Start at Plaza Sugbu, where you'll find a replica of Magellan's Cross, erected in 1515 to signal Spain's arrival, outside a cavernous 16 th -century basilica that's home to a sacred doll-like relic called Santo Niño. The Spanish got serious here in 1565 and built Fort San Pedro, though its 8ft-thick coral-stone walls now enclose a frangipani tree courtyard. For lunch, migrate to The Barracks inside Carbon Market, where hawker food stalls cook-up fresh sizzling butter crab and Cebu favourite, tuslob buwa (pork liver and brains). Each dish will cost you roughly £2-4. Walk off lunch by visiting the historic houses which survived America's 1945 bombardment (intended to drive out the Japanese) – a particularly excellent example is period-furnished Casa Gorordo, which dates from 1863, where you'll find polished mahogany floors and coral glass window (plus Bo's Coffee café downstairs, where you can pick up a reviving iced latte). Next, make time for a spot of shopping at Anthill Fabric Gallery, an emporium which showcases fine Cebuano weaving, and at Alegre, where you can watch guitars being made from mango wood. Finish on a Spanish theme with tapas at Enye, watching waiters blow-torch seared tuna steaks table-side. Days 3 & 4 Southern Cebu Island A local feast Head south for an artisan foodie day. A favoured pitstop is the city of Carcar, roughly one hour and 45 minutes drive from Cebu City, famed for lechon (whole roasted pig) and chicharron (similar to pork scratchings). Mayu Restaurant is a popular place for both, where a 500g portion of the latter (for two) costs £7. An hour further south, the coastal town of Argao reveals an imposing 1780s coral-stone church, St Michael Archangel, where the belltower once doubled as a lookout for pirates. Argao is a hub for cottage industry food producers, so make time for a visit to the family Guilang factory, which has been making chocolate tablets since 1948. It's the staple of a Cebuano breakfast of sikwate (oozingly thick hot chocolate) with sticky rice coconut triangles wrapped in banana leaves and fresh mango – and will likely be the best 60p you ever spend. Also worth a stop is Jesse Magallones, which bakes the popular fiesta cake, torta, made from tuba (coconut sap) and lard, and Leonilo Sedon, which ferments suka pinakurat hot and spicy coconut vinegar, vital to Filipino cooking. Tonight, check-in at the newly opened Cebu Beach Club (B&B doubles from £173), where 36 clifftop rooms look out over the Camotes Sea toward Bohol Island. If you've time, end your day by swimming with sea-turtles off the white-sand beach below. Back to nature It's time to get active. Cross Cebu Island's rain-forested spine to a protected marine reserve, Tañon Strait, set in a sea channel facing Negros Island, then take a small boat to Moalboal for the unique experience of swimming with tens of thousands of sardines near Panagsama Beach. For a quirky lunch, try fish sutukil at Lola Tanciang's Seafood Paluto – the name ('su-tu-kil') is a portmanteau of grill, soup and ceviche, all prepared using the same piece of fish, typically grouper. After lunch, hike the spearmint-coloured Matutinao River to a swimming hole beneath the 42ft-high Kawasan Waterfall. Canyoneering is popular here, with excursions by Kawasan Dante's Peak Canyoneering costing £28 and including lunch. In far Southern Cebu Island, tours take guests to snorkel with whale-sharks, with trips from £23. Days 5 & 6 Panglao and Bohol Islands A little limestone brother Take the two-hour ferry or ' bangka ' (traditional outrigger boats) from Cebu to neighbouring Bohol, one of the Philippines most visited islands. Find somewhere to stay on tiny Panglao, an island which sits at Bohol's south-western tip and hosts the pick of the two islands' beach resorts. The most popular is the 88-room Bohol Beach Club (B&B doubles from £160), set on Dumaluan Beach's fine white sand (they also run diving and snorkelling trips to Pamilacan Island, to see coral gardens, turtles and spinner dolphins, from £80 per person), while the boutique Amarela Resort (B&B doubles from £113) is a more classic option and has a breezy sea-view restaurant serving Filipino fare. For sundowners, head to the neoclassical-looking Villa Umi, where there's a stylish bar right on the beach. Panglao's craggy karst limestone is omnipresent, from the 19 th -century Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (built from fossiliferous coral stone) to the island's subterranean swimming lagoons, natural sinkholes known as cenotes (the most popular of which is Hinagdanan cave – though opt for an early dip if you want to beat the crowds). For lunch, Bohol Bee Farm is a whimsical farm-to-plate restaurant with views to Mindanao Island. Its sharing farm platter (£37) features chops, baked tuna, ribs, garden salad, and paper-thin spring rolls, mostly made with local produce, which supports the livelihoods of more than 500 farmers and staff. Chocolate Hills and bug-eyed critters Spend a day exploring Bohol Island's eclectic sights. Its UNESCO Global Geopark status is spearheaded by the outstanding Chocolate Hills, 17,000 rounded coral hills weathered smooth like a basket of eggs, so named because the dry season (November-May) causes the vegetation to take on a brown hue. Avoid the coach-parties to the popular Carmen viewpoint by visiting before 8am. Equally iconic are tarsiers, tiny prosimian primates with trademark huge, wide eyes. The easiest place to spot them is at a tarsier sanctuary at Corella, where you'll see them dozing in the trees. Similarly strange are Bohol's remarkable 'dinosaur eggs', or Asín tibuók, oblong balls of salt made from tidal water and burnt coconut husks. Visit the Manongas family workshop to see their extraordinary processing of these salt eggs (and buy one for £11). A non-beach alternative to Panglao is Loboc River Resort (B&B doubles from £133) – 35 cottages immersed in riverside forest. For dinner, head to Tagbilaran for Bohol's most contemporary offering, Animula Tasting Room, which serves Filipino favourites such as beef asado with a twist, in an ultra-modern space. Day 7, 8 & 9 Palawan Island Hit the beach It's a 1hr 45 minute flight from Bohol to the West Philippines Sea's adventure playground, Palawan Island. Beach tourism's hub is El Nido, set among jagged limestone islands that are home to the silkiest beaches and priciest resorts. El Nido's 237,000-acre marine reserve is a mosaic of mangroves and corals; ideal for kayaking and snorkelling with superb diving. Lio Beach is a 4km stretch of white sand facing Cadlao Island, with plenty of upmarket food and hotel offerings. The 153-room Seda Lio Hotel (B&B doubles from £290) is backed by rainforest, with garden rooms by a large infinity pool. If you fancy a break from the meat-heavy traditional cuisine, Lio's upscale beach dining scene offers more health-conscious options, including Saboria, which serves lighter fusion Philippine cuisine, PLNT+HRVST (vegetarian-vegan) and Punta Playa, a breezy Mediterranean bistro. Two of El Nido's finest beaches are Duli – also the reserve's best surf spot – and Nacpan, 4km of golden sand facing a private island owned by boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao. Stick around for the night by booking into the 16-room Angkla Resort (B&B doubles from £333), which is built around a tropical courtyard, or opt for air-conditioned glamping at Nacpan Beach Glamping (doubles from £240 per person). Younger crowds might prefer the mass market beach scene around downtown El Nido, which unleashes its inner Pattaya vibe. It's worth a gawp to see the party and bar scene or get a cheap massage, and for surprisingly excellent sushi and seafood restaurants – like the earthy and inexpensive Sea Jane Resto Bar, where fish, lobster or prawns are grilled fresh, and upstairs tables overlook Bacuit Bay. Castaway Staying on a private island can be eye-wateringly expensive (even in the Philippines, where the likes of Banwa will set you back a cool £73,000 per night), but there are more affordable resorts amid the offshore limestone islands. One such option is Miniloc Island Resort (all-inclusive doubles from £733), a laid-back spot with thatched rooms (some overwater) located a 20-minute speedboat transfer from Lio Beach. It offers complementary kayaking, as well as snorkelling on a technicolour house reef which teems with tropical fish. Move over Ha Long Bay The limestone islands and pinnacles bear a passing resemblance to Vietnam's famous Ha Long Bay, albeit without the latter's armada of junk-boats. With more than one-thousand islands to explore, various companies offer boat trips which combine three or four with lunch and snorkelling. Popular routes include Snake Island (for panoramic views); Cudugnon Cave; and the 50ft-high Cathedral Cave on Pinasil Island (large enough to drive a speedboat inside); Entatula Island – which was recently cited as having one of the world's best beaches – and Paglugaban Island, for snorkelling on its effervescent coral reef. For your final night before moving on to the big city, take the opportunity to splurge at private island Pangulasian Eco-Luxury Resort (B&B doubles from £1,060), where 50 luxurious villas are immersed in rainforest and surrounded by coral reefs. Day 10 Manila Jeepneys and the world's oldest Chinatown Take the one-hour flight from El Nido to Manila, the Philippines' gloriously chaotic capital city on Luzon Island, dissected by the Pasig River. The grindingly slow road traffic is made (slightly) more bearable by the fleets of Jeepneys – colourful customised US jeeps which function as public transport, similar to tuk tuks. Much of Manila's architecture was obliterated during the Second World War, when the country was occupied by the Japanese and heavily bombed by the Americans. Nevertheless, evidence of its Spanish colonial legacy remains in the thick-walled Intramuros district, which has been largely rebuilt. The baroque Unesco-listed Church of Saint-Augustine is an original, however, having survived its blitzkrieg and now home to a fine museum of treasure from the galleon trade with Mexico (then known as New Spain). Opposite is a cosy Filipino bistro called Ristorante Delle Mitre – named after the bishops' headgear – which draws diners with its superlative chicken adobe (tender chicken marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic), the country's national dish. Head north and across the river, and you'll soon find yourself in Quiapo district, where the large market is fun to browse on foot, while the cathedral (officially called The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno) houses the Philippines' most sacred object, the Black Nazarene statuette, which is paraded every January to crowds numbering well over a million. A short stroll westwards will bring you to Binondo, home to the world's oldest Chinatown in, where you'll find dim sum restaurants and Tao-Buddhist temples, as well as to a slither of surviving American art-deco around Escolta. It's here that you'll come upon the 1920s First Union Building, which hosts artisanal craft shops and a café, The Den, which offers excellent Filipino-bean coffees. For more war history, spend the afternoon at the American Cemetery – an hour's drive south-east, in Taguig – a sobering experience, with 16,800 marble crosses marking soldiers lost in the Second World War's Pacific theatre of war. For dinner, head to the fashionable nightlife hub of Makati, where Blackbird serves artistic pan-Asian dishes in an art-deco former American airport terminal, or to nearby Greenbelt, where Ember – the creation of the British-Filipino chef, Josh Boutwood – combines informality with fine cuisine. For drinks, head to Población district's wall-to-wall bars. Hip speakeasies include The Spirits Library, with its floor-to-ceiling bookcases of spirits, and Run Rabbit Run, a darkly lit cocktail bar. Stop by 32 nd -floor rooftop bar, Firefly Roofdeck, for magnificent night-time Manila views. End the day by checking into either The Bayleaf Hotel in the Intramuros district (B&B doubles from £97), an inexpensive four-star with excellent views of the city from its rooftop bar, or the iconic Peninsula Hotel (B&B doubles from £165) in Makati. Day 11 North Luzon Island Sand spas and fairy-tale gorges A few hours north from Manila is little-visited Inararo, where the Melanesian Aetas people manage ancestral lands which were covered in ash during Mount Pinatubo's 1991 eruption. Subsequent erosion has sculpted the most delicately beautiful fern-cloaked gorge, a fairy-tale mile-long loop which takes roughly an hour to complete on foot. A tour of th area – with a guide and driver – costs £80 with Pinatubo Mountaineiro, including lunch, a dip in geothermal hot springs at Puning, and a hot-sand spa. Day 12 Banaue Rice, and more rice A long day's drive into Luzon's north (by private car) will take you to Banaue, where the Unesco-listed rice-terraces date back 2,000 years, soaring into the Cordilleras. Check-in at Banaue town's Grand View Hotel (B&B doubles from £63) – where rooms have wonderful views of the sweeping terraces – then head out for a bite to eat at Uyami's Greenview Restaurant, the best local outlet in the area. All dishes come with rice, and – if you're lucky – occasional cultural displays by the Ifugao people. If time allows, hike into the amphitheatre of rice-terraces at small town Batad for awe-inspiring vistas. If you'd like to spend the night here instead, opt for Simon's View Inn and Restaurant (room-only doubles from £20). Day 13 Sagada The hanging coffins Two hours' drive along dramatic mountain roads leads northwest to Sagada, a remote community of the Igorot people who for millennia (until the arrival of Catholicism) buried their dead in coffins housed within – or hanging down on ropes from – cliffside caves. Seeing them is a macabre but fascinating spectacle, and one of immense cultural significance. In town, pay a visit to a superb gallery devoted to Eduardo Masferré, one of the Philippine's greatest photographers, whose works chronicle Igorot culture. Spend the night at one of Sagada's homely and simple options, including Masferré Country Inn (B&B doubles from £46) where rooms are adorned with photographs of Igorot culture, and Martha's Hearth (room-only doubles from £40). Bana's Coffee has won international awards for its roasted coffee and has a decent menu of local produce. Day 14 Vigan All things Spanish Another four hours on the road from Sagada is UNESCO-listed Vigan, where you'll find the complete colonial core of a 16 th -century Spanish city, the exquisite architecture of which is fused with Chinese and Ilocano motifs. Wander its cobbled streets, visit historic houses, and see the archbishop's palace, then – and as the sun goes down – join the promenade in Plaza's Salcedo and Burgos. For dinner, seek out Ilocano fish sauce-infused dishes such as pinakbet, at Café Uno 's corner restaurant or Café Leona. Several classical homes offer atmospheric stays: Hotel Luna (B&B doubles from £60) is built around a pretty internal patio, while Hotel Felicidad (B&B doubles from £40) has four-poster beds. Day 15 Head to Loag Airport for the hour-long flight back to Manila, and – if you've time – end your trip with a an explosion of culinary theatre at highly rated fine-dining spot Helm. How to do it When to go Perennially tropical, The Philippines has two distinct seasons – hot and dry. The drier and cooler season – when temperatures range from 25-30°C – is between December and early May. From May to October the weather is wetter, hotter and cyclone prone, though there are fewer crowds and refreshingly greener landscapes. What to book Cost effective Bamboo Travel (0207 7209285) tailor-makes trips similar to the one described. A 14-day island hopping holiday costs around £4,195 per person, including nights in Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Sagada, Banaue and El Nido, as well as international flights with Cathay Pacific, B&B accommodation, all transfers, and guided tours. Blow the budget Audley Travel (01993 838155) offers a 17-day combined Hong Kong & Luxury Tour of the Philippines from £10,375 per person (based on two travelling), featuring five-nights at the opulent Amanpulo Resort on Pamilacan Island, private transfers, flights from London via Hong Kong, and excursions. Know before you go Rather than expensive roaming, pick up an affordable local SIM card upon arrival at Manila or Cebu Airport (a 20GB allowance lasting 14 days will set you back around £8), or opt for an eSim. Taxi journeys are inexpensive using the downloadable app Grab, which functions like Uber. Most outlets accept debit cards, but it's worth carrying a small amount of cash for those few smaller ones which don't. US dollars are easiest to exchange. The whole country has patron saint fiestas throughout the year. Bohol has one every day during May. If offered, join these open house feasts to be welcomed like a long lost relative. A quick, free e-travel declaration should be completed before arrival.
