For all the photographers out there.. lets help fill up this list for the other photographers.... roadtrip or plane trip.. am sure it will be worth the experience..

please include a brief description of the place and what to expect...

Let me start off... you haven't been to the Philippines until you've seen Boracay!

Boracay is tropical island located south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. It has the finest sand i've seen..even better than the Fijian Islands.

Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province of the Philippines, both in terms of population and land area. The province lies on a group of islands (called the Batanes Islands) in the Luzon Strait and is part of the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Basco and is separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province by the Balintang Channel and from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel. The northenmost island is Mavudis Island. The other islands are Misanga, Ditarem, Siayan, Itbayat, Dinem, Batan, Sabtang, Ivuhos, and Diadekey. Only Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang are inhabited. Batanes is about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan.

I haven't been to Boracay. *sigh* I'll see if I could visit it this coming month and take lots of pictures. :)

But then you haven't been to the Philippines if you haven't been to Palawan. I heard Coron is now a booming resort town in Busuanga Island. I haven't been there for years now but we used to spend our summers there when we were kids. Lots of small white sand islands to choose from, some interconnected with sandbars.

The black volcanic beaches of Albay Gulf!...Black sand and rocks that came from Mayon Volcano, almost perfect cone, majestic amid ricefields and plains, then while youre at it, plan a side trip to Donsol Sorsogon, where the famous Whale shark is...and the mangroves too..or try the Ibalong festival and the Penafrancia fluvial procession..Theres also a lot of landscapes, seascapes, waterscapes in Albay and Sorsogon..notwithstanding the "spicy" pinangat and bicol express..

Mt. Pulag - is the highest mountain in Luzon at about 2,900 meters. It is said to be just 15 or so meters lower than Mt. Apo in Mindanao which is the highest mountain in the Philippines. Mt. Pulag is a spectacular mountain and one of the few places in the Philippines that are frequently higher than the clouds.



Carried my 1D gear all the way to the top! Man, the Philippines is just too beautiful not to fight for! The only country we can call our own.

Basco Batanes as mentioned earlier - Beautifullllllll! A must see!!!!
http://www.pbase.com/manilaman04/image/40604243/medium.jpg

Corregidor - The tiny island fortress that defend manila from invaders during the spanish until the american liberation. In the height of World War II, the island absorbed pounding over 120000 shelss fromover 200 japanese mortars of different sizes all lined up along the coast of bataan on a daily basis.

"The Rock" is now no more than a piece of rubble, those massive guns are silent, no more military trucks and jeeps plying the roads and the buildings hosts nothing more than the ghosts of the soldiers that valantly defended the island. These ruins tell a sad and moving story of the reality of war.

My photos of the Corregidor.. http://jaime.elizaga.fotopic.net/c792442.html

Siquijor - One of the seven-thousand plus islands that make up the Philippine archipelago located south of Cebu. It hosts old churches, caves, and very, very nice beaches. for more info, you can check http://www.mysiquijor.com/home.html. :)

Davao City - the largest City in the world in area, the famous Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, Durian (spikey fruit with awful smell but tastes like heaven), Mt. Apo the highest mountain in the archipelago, Kadyawan in August festival for bountiful harvest, Pearl Farm beach resort, Gap Farming resort where the biggest urinating carabao in the world is, the ever famous landmark LAND OF PROMISE, Samal Island, Crocodile Park, Malagos Garden resort, Eden nature park, Philippine Eagel conservation park, Jack's Ridge, Speed City The only legal drag racing track in the Philippines and a whole lot more . . .

im a Davaeno, i know . . . :Grin:

Davao City - the largest City in the world in area, the famous Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, Durian (spikey fruit with awful smell but tastes like heaven), Mt. Apo the highest mountain in the archipelago, Kadyawan in August festival for bountiful harvest, Pearl Farm beach resort, Gap Farming resort where the biggest urinating carabao in the world is, the ever famous landmark LAND OF PROMISE, Samal Island, Crocodile Park, Malagos Garden resort, Eden nature park, Philippine Eagel conservation park, Jack's Ridge, Speed City The only legal drag racing track in the Philippines and a whole lot more . . .

im a Davaeno, i know . . . :Grin:


ei niko,

when im reading ur sharing, right then and then i wanna go back to the Land Of Promise! I miss a lot of things about davao. I wanna go hooommmeee.... thanks for sharing this niko. :)

pagudpud, ilocos norte - the maira-ira beach, it's often called the boracay of the north.

vigan, ilocos sur - a must see stopover going to laoag, pagudpud, ilocos norte. composed of an old church and a lot of spanish-era houses and cobblestone streets.

Sagada! (via the long way 'round - Halsema highway from Baguio)

Sagada! (via the long way 'round - Halsema highway from Baguio)

and go around baguio before or after sagada... ;) :Grin:

la union- surfing and photography,, tried it once,, pero sana mas marami akong lens that time

if you're into street photography - quiapo is a hard place to beat.:)

if you're into street photography - quiapo is a hard place to beat.:)

and get your stuff stolen in the process to.

and get your stuff stolen in the process to.

not really if you're a true street photographer:) .

they have this ability to blend in or make themselves "invisible" to others.:)

not really if you're a true street photographer:) .

they have this ability to blend in or make themselves "invisible" to others.:)

After a week, you'll see your stolen stuff for sale in one of those stores....:Oops:


Kidding aside, Quiapo is one place where you can get good scenes and subjects.

Zamboanga - the pink-white sand beaches & samal graveyard of sta cruz island, fort pilar, pasonanca park...

with 7,107 islands, ang hirap magdecide sir anton. but imho, it's a toss-up between batanes, camiguin and pinatubo :-D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oggie
http://wwwogglepinoy.blogspot.com
http://www.oggieblog.blogspot.com

oops, sagada, bontoc, benguet pa pala as mr. jing opined. guess it all depends whether one's interest is in street or scenery photography. one thing i know is, hindi ka mauubusan ng photo-op anywhere you go in the philippines :-D

http://wwwogglepinoy.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oggie
http://www.oggieblog.blogspot.com

You haven't been to the Philippines until you've seen...

...world class underwater life in the Philippines. As long as you are in good physical and mental condition ofcourse. I figure we are surrounded by bodies of water, so it makes sense to see it and experience it. (Take photos and bring it to the surface na rin)

Sinulog Festival of Cebu!

great place to shoot, very photographer friendly, in my experience at least =b plus lots of pleasing subjects too =b (you know i'm talking about the girls, right?) lol

Hi Mon,

Thanks Mon for the info. It should be Vuhus not Ivuhus. Batanes is a real place for photographers. I grew up in there. Find time to go there in the months of August to March. There's a lot to photograph. For those who would want better(fine and sunny) weather, come in April to June. Mostly sunny but with lot's of activities(fiestas-April 20- May 13). Welcome to Batanes!

Hi Anton,

Tawi-tawi is a very beautiful place. It is composed of 10 towns(all mini archipelagos). Turtle Islands is only 45 minutes to Sandakan, Malaysia. The beaches are a lot better than Boracay. It's just that it is associated with Basilan and Jolo. Very nice place to take photographs. Cheers!

the waterfalls...philippine water falls like
majayjay falls in laguna....tinago falls in iligan...i 4got d name of the falls in cebu...n pinakamalapit na falls...pagsanjan falls...well ingat nga lng sa digicam mo..baka mabasa better cary a waterproof bag or lots of plastic bags:)

The black volcanic beaches of Albay Gulf!...Black sand and rocks that came from Mayon Volcano, almost perfect cone, majestic amid ricefields and plains, then while youre at it, plan a side trip to Donsol Sorsogon, where the famous Whale shark is...and the mangroves too..or try the Ibalong festival and the Penafrancia fluvial procession..Theres also a lot of landscapes, seascapes, waterscapes in Albay and Sorsogon..notwithstanding the "spicy" pinangat and bicol express..

you forgot to mention... the "daragang magayononon"....




(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/madzieph/Mayon%20Eruption%20Shots/r001-003.jpg%22%20height=%22256%22%20width=%22181%22%3E )

Virac, Catanduanes Island

great beaches (some are rocky, some are black, some are white) and sunsets (silhouette of mt. mayon) historic churches, waterfalls, rice paddies, spelunking, big waves, colorful overloaded busses and jeeps....

my dad's home town and i can't wait to go back and take pictures!

Dakak Beach and Dapitan <== been to these places only once when i was in highschool
. will go back there soon ..yaahhoo!!

Intramuros - for those who like the trek the old city of walls.

Aliwan Fiesta - although this is not a place, it's an annual event and a haven for photographers who loves shooting people in colorfull clothing.

I forgot one..... Camiguin islands...
from white sandy beaches, sunsets , sunken cemetery , hotsprings , coldsprings , dolphins , old churches , old houses, volcano craters , the October Lanzones Festival ....lots..lots more.
can be toured 3 days when walking (when your adventurous) and use those sea side beach cottages as stop-over OR but you can tour around the island when your on a vehicle.

the waterfalls...philippine water falls like
majayjay falls in laguna....tinago falls in iligan...i 4got d name of the falls in cebu...n pinakamalapit na falls...pagsanjan falls...well ingat nga lng sa digicam mo..baka mabasa better cary a waterproof bag or lots of plastic bags:)
Hi Jennifer,

If I am not mistaken, you are referring to Kawasan falls in Cebu.

Also try Tappiyah falls in Batad, Ifugao (pack light or get a porter - better to shoot morning to noon as it is backlighted in the afternoon) and Disadsad falls in Palanan, Isabela (get ready to trek for about an hour). Magnificent falls but not as accesible as the others. If you want waterfalls as well as a series of cascades, go to Baggao, Cagayan North. The Blue Water Cave and Cascades system is great to photograph. :) Happy shooting! (Remember to use a nuetral density filter if the light is too much so you can use longer shutter speeds to get that smooth silky effect.)

Virac, Catanduanes Island

great beaches (some are rocky, some are black, some are white) and sunsets (silhouette of mt. mayon) historic churches, waterfalls, rice paddies, spelunking, big waves, colorful overloaded busses and jeeps....

my dad's home town and i can't wait to go back and take pictures!

Puraran Beach with bigger waves than Siargao... Igang Beach... Bato Church

:( I've been missing out... Oh man...

Hi Jennifer,

If I am not mistaken, you are referring to Kawasan falls in Cebu.



yeah...that's Kawasan Falls in Cebu alright! :Grin:

that's a spectacular place!

Boracay - simply put it has the best sand there is, better than all the other local and internationally known beaches that I have been to.

Sagada! (via the long way 'round - Halsema highway from Baguio)

i totally agree, there is toom much to see in mt. province

Bohol...from Panglao island to the chocolate hills, man made mahogany forests of Bilar, tarsier, loboc river, dolphin and whale watching, protected corals (a great place for diving), underground rivers and the beaches of course.

the waterfalls...philippine water falls like


laktas falls from dingalan aurora is really something,, 5-6 hour drive from manila, one hour drive from a jeep, 30 minutes ride from a traktora and an hour of trekking but still worth it:Dum::Grin:

My most favorite place in Batanes - Boulder Beach. :)

Any one of these:

1. Marinduque (lots of places there)
2. Camiguin Island (in Mindanao)
3. Camiguin Island (in Luzon)
4. Salt Springs (Nueva Vizcaya)
5. Duba Hot Springs (Cagayan Valley)

Pangasinan - Specially those beaches found in Bolinao and Dasul, and also until you've seen the alamang and bagoong factories. :)

You haven't been to the Philippines until you've seen the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Makes sense, di ba? :Grin:



You haven't been to the Philippines until you've seen the UNESCO World Heritage sites.


1. Vigan (especially Crisologo St. with its famed old houses and cobblestone pavement)

2. Tubbataha Reef (first I have to learn how to swim)

3. Ifugao Rice Terraces (somebody told me to take a hike, so I did)

4. Churches (Sta. Maria and Paoay in Ilocos among others)

Babuyan Islands
Fuga, Dalupiri, Calayan, Babuyan Claro and Camiguin Norte. Been to all these Islands in 2002 then I kept coming back...yearly

Wow! this is a really old thread and surprisingly there's not much about metro manila except for the Intramuros.

You haven't been to the Philippines until you've seen....

1. Manila at night.
2. Quiapo/Divisoria
3. Intramuros
4. Binondo

Baguio City. Best enjoyed in the months of late December and January.... Brr....:Grin:

Palawan Underground River

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/3196561566_f013f292a4.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnluther/3196561566/

Philippine mountains!:) Pulag, Amuyao, and Halcon..:)

I've never been to these places by the way.. and I really want to see them.. They say Halcon is an extremely hard climb and one of the most dangerous?

Hotspring sa taas ng bundok.
Asin, Benguet.

Been to quite a number of places here in our country but El Nido in Palawan captivated me...truly paradise :)