Mandarin Oriental, Macau ranks number one among the “Top 15 Relaxation & Spa Hotels in China” and number five in “Top 25 Luxury Hotels in China” in the TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice 2012 Awards. Based on the candid reviews and opinions of millions of travellers worldwide, it is the highest honour a hotel can receive from the TripAdvisor community.

In China, Mandarin Oriental, Macau has recently been awarded the “Best Luxurious Hotel of China” at the 7th China Hotel Starlight Awards. Often dubbed “the Oscars of the hospitality industry” in China, the China Hotel Starlight Awards selects winners based on public votes, media evaluation and appraisal by a select committee. This is the second year Mandarin Oriental, Macau has been honoured in the China Starlight Awards.

Mandarin Oriental, Macau has also been recommended as “2011 China’s Best New Hotel” by Travel + Leisure China, the China edition of the globally acclaimed travel magazine owned by American Express Company.

Together with One Central Macau, a waterfront mixed-used project combining residential, luxury retail, serviced apartment and a world-class hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Macau has also received the “2011 Top Entertainment Resort Award” by Travel & Leisure, China’s only bilingual integrated magazine dedicated to providing travel, leisure, fashion, entertainment and lifestyle content.

“Mandarin Oriental, Macau is now forging ahead and becoming a chic, modern and internationally acclaimed property. I am proud to share how pleased we are for coming so far within a short period of only twenty months,” said Martin Schnider, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Macau. “Each of these awards represents votes of support by our guests, continued hard work and commitment by our staff members, and impartial reviews by the media. We will continue to live up to our mission statement by completely delighting our guests and continually getting better to keep us the best”

About Mandarin Oriental, Macau
Mandarin Oriental, Macau is ideally situated in the heart of Macau’s business, entertainment and high-end retail districts, offering easy access to all major tourist sites and transport hubs. Both the Macau International Airport and the Macau – China border are 10 minutes away by car, while the Hong Kong-Macau ferry terminal is just a short five-minute drive away. From here, the Hong Kong International Airport can be directly accessed by ferry in 45 minutes and Central Hong Kong in just one hour.

About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most prestigious hotels and resorts. The Group now operates, or has under development, 43 hotels representing almost 11,000 rooms in 27 countries, with 18 hotels in Asia, 13 in The Americas and 12 in Europe and the Middle East. In addition, the Group operates, or has under development, 14 Residences at Mandarin Oriental connected to its properties.

Photography of Mandarin Oriental is available to download, in high and low resolution, in the Photo Library of our Media section, at www.mandarinoriental.com.

Visit Destination MO (www.destinationMO.info), the online version of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s bespoke publication, MO. News about our award-winning hotels, the best dining experiences, spa treatments, travel retreats and interviews with the Group’s celebrity fans is now just a click away.

After a very successful launching year in 2011 of the1st ever La Laguna Festival – The Festival of Life … the Philippines’ Best Tourism Event of the Year, we welcome you once again to our 2nd La Laguna Festival… The Festival of Life!

As conceptualized by our dynamic, multi-awarded leader and Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardee, Governor Jeorge ”E.R.” Ejercito Estregan, the La Laguna Festival advocates the importance of the rehabilitation and preservation of the Laguna de Bay, as the “very stuff of life” for time is running out on our country’s biodiversity.

La Laguna is the Spanish term for “The Lagoon” that signifies the 3rd largest living lake in Asia, and to present Laguna de Bay’s once in a lifetime opportunity. The Spanish article “la” (the) emphasizes the importance of Laguna as a true traveller’s paradise and the promotion of the Province of Laguna as an investment haven complementing the 15-point program of good governance of Governor Ejercito Estregan’s Bagong Laguna – Una sa Lahat!

In the vernacular (layman’s term), “lalaguna” connotes rapid growth, progress, and development of Laguna blessed with nature’s gift that remain unchanged through the years.

With its wide array of activities that touch every aspect of life of the Laguneños, it revitalizes the interest of Laguneños and every Filipino in the love of living through gaiety and thanksgiving and the importance of the Laguna de Bay.

Welcome to the 2nd La Laguna Festival … the Festival of Life! Come and experience the joy of life in Laguna with its unbelievably colourful, vibrant, and throbbing pageantry with Fluvial and Float Parades, Dragon Boat Race, Marathon, Talentadong Laguneño, La Laguna Idol, Street Dancing, Cultural Extravaganza, Gay Mardi Gras, Flora and Fauna Farms, Trade Fair, Brass Band Competition, La Laguna Photo Contest, Ginoo and Binibining Laguna Beauty Pageants, Cook Fests, Modern Dance Showdown, Fireworks Competition, Paralympics, etc…

La Laguna – the Lagoon… biodiversity and natural resources! Have freedom and choice! Let’s save Laguna Lake! We are, after all, the lake’s heirs!

That’s how the Department of Tourism describes Davao City, one of the country’s largest in terms of land area. With a total land area of 2,443.61 square kilometers, Davao City is 7.8 times the size of Cebu and three times that of the entire Metro Manila. Puerto Princesa, with a total land area of 2,381 square kilometers, comes second.

Davao City evokes in one’s mind delectable fruits (the pungent durian, antioxidants-laden mangosteen, sweet seedless pomelo, and tasty banana), fine beaches (Samal Island is just five minutes away by boat), and religious sites (historic San Pedro Cathedral and the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague).

But Davao is also known for its natural attractions in its countryside. Beautifully landscaped resorts, botanical gardens and weekend retreats attract not only locals but as well as tourists who want to experience the natural wonders of Davao.

Here are some you should not miss:

Davao Crocodile Park

With about 700 crocodiles, the park is making waves as one of popular tourist spots in the city.
“The park is an establishment that showcases a state-of-the-art crocodile farming system in the Philippines,” said Philip “Sonny” Dizon, president of PSD Group of Companies, the mother company of Davao Crocodile Park.

“It has the most recent crocodile farm design equipped with modern facilities and equipment.”
Actually, the park is more than just a crocodile farm; it also houses other kinds of animals and plants. As soon as you enter, you would be greeted by colorful birds of all kinds: eagles, parrots, and lovebirds.

It is located at the Riverfront Corporate City along Carlos P. Garcia Highway, Ma-a. Visit its website: http://psdgroupph.com/index.php.

D’Bone Collector Museum

Bones, skulls and skeletons of animals and fishes are what you will see inside the D’Bone Collector Museum Inc. But what is enthralling is the fact that the collections come not only from the Philippines but all over the world. Some of them are bones of endangered species; others are what you see only in Discovery Channel or National Geographic.

“I have bones and skeletons of animals not only from tropical rainforests but also those coming from the oceans,” says Darrell D. Blatchley, the museum’s president and founder. “I have almost everything, from armadillos to zebras.”

His collections come from the United States, Canada, some parts of Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Eden Nature Park and Resort

You can find the real Eden only in the Holy Bible. But in Davao, there is such a place called Eden Nature Park, a beautiful man-made resort nestled in the foothills of Mount Talomo in Toril.
At 2,650 feet above sea level, Eden Nature Park offers a breath-taking bird’s-eye view of the city and the Davao Gulf in the distance.

Discovered sometime in 1971, the resort used to be a logged-over area covered only by a blanket of wild grass. For further details, visit its website: http://www.edennature.park.com.ph.

GAP Farming Resort

“GAP Farm is definitely my top favorite weekend outing destination for my family. I can no longer recall the countless times my family and I went to this beautiful resort where several fond, mostly unforgettable, memories transpired.”

The statement came from a Manila visitor. He was referring to GAP Farming Resort, Davao City’s original tourist destination. About 30 to 40 minutes from the city proper via the Buhangin-
Panacan Diversion Road and through the Ma-a Diversion Road.

To know more, visit its website: www.gapfarmingresort.webs.com.

Malagos Garden Resort

Not far from the Philippine Eagle Center is Malagos Garden Resort, a 12-hectare inland nature theme resort. Originally part of an orchid farm that grows the world renowned waling-waling orchid and other exotic plants, the site was later redeveloped to become an ecological center as well as a getaway place for urban dwellers.

Today, Malagos Garden Resort offers visitors a myriad of orchid varieties, exotic plants and tropical fruit trees which may be available for picking, and a bird park that houses several endemic species.

A bonus: Malagos Gardens Amazing Bird Show and sculptures of Philippine National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva. For further details: http://www.malagos.com.

Museo Dabawenyo

Relics from the past, yellowed photographs, eye-catching sculptures, thought-provoking paintings, creative diorama, list of former governors of undivided Davao, replica of controversial Datu Bago, and the ten tribes inhabiting the city.

These are just some of the things you will see once you visit the Museo Dabawenyo, located at Pichon Street (formerly known as Magallanes Street). Not far away are the Andres Bonifacio Rotunda and the Osmena Park.

The two-storey building is one of most often-visited museums in Davao. In fact, there is no entrance fee.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and then 1 p.m. till 6 p.m. — Monday to Saturday.

Visit its website: http://www.davaocity.gov.ph/museo/default.aspx.

People’s Park

“This will become a landmark of Davao City in the future,” said Engineer Elisa P. Madrazo during the opening of the People’s Park on December 16, 2007. Those prophetic words became a reality. Normally, on weekdays, about 7,000 people drop in on the park. On weekends and holidays, the figure surges to 100,000.

The expansive and beautiful People’s Park features many delightful treats for its beholders to discover. Grand landscaped waterfall, strategically scenic benches, a small but fun playground, amazingly breathtaking gardens, arranged multipurpose trees, lovely traditional cottages and sophisticated sculptures created by Kublai Milan (the Dabawenyo artist who created the Freedom statue in front of the Sangguniang Panglungsod building).

Philippine Eagle Center

Located in Malagos, Baguio District, the center has been doing its best to educate the Filipino people on the importance of the country’s bird icon and its habitat. Its facility was actually opened to the public in 1988 to raise awareness among those who visit the center. Majority of its visitors are children on school-sponsored field trips.

“Many of these children come from all over Mindanao,” said Dennis Salvador, the center’s executive director. “We use the opportunity to tell them the importance of wildlife conservation. Our mode of dissemination ranges from providing lectures, slide and film presentations, to guided tours.”

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on March 13, 2012.

Find out more about Davao. Please contact:

Department of Tourism – Region XI (Southern Mindanao Region)
Rm. 512 5/F LANDCO Corporate Center Bldg., J.P. Laurel Avenue, 8000 Davao City, Philippines
Contact Art Boncato – Regional Director
Phone (63 82) 225-1940
Telefax (63 82) 221-0070 / 6955
Email dotr11@yahoo.com / artstart2002@yahoo.com
Website www.davaocity.gov.ph

The Butanding Festival honors the whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), known in Donsol as the butanding, whose presence peaks during the summer months. The butanding has contributed greatly to the lifeblood of the town who in turn is directly involved in looking out for the butanding’s well-being. With the increased sightings of these gentle giants comes a reason to celebrate grandly—from a fluvial parade to a marathon, street dancing and more. It will be a week-long festivity fit for the butanding and its thousands of visitors.

Put your old memories of the Butanding Festival to rest because this year’s celebration will never be the same again. We have prepared larger than life events that will feed your huge appetite for action, fun, and adventure.

We dare you to step into another dimension where everything gets bigger. Donsol town invites you to welcome the butanding with them as they push the boat out with a loud sound of celebration, action-packed activities and fun-filled events.
FLUVIAL AND BUTANDING PARADE

A festival is never complete without a street presentation and mardi gras.
The most colorful activity of the Butanding Festival, the parade bursts
in blue and green (the colors of the sea) and in gray, black and white
(the butanding’s signature colors) through costumes and props worn by
school children and participants. At the center of it all are giant butanding
replicas, still as immense and awe-inspiring as their real counterparts, to
be paraded from the mouth of Donsol river going to and around town. The
town’s big thank you to its magnanimous friend.

MINI FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS

Top festivals in the Bicol region will showcase their colorful dances
that will surely be everyone’s eye candy. From the provinces of Albay,
Camarines Sur and Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon, expect
the grandest of presentations to charm and captivate.

MARATHON

As Butanding Festival’s grand opening event, the marathon marks the festival’s new
image—a bigger and bolder Butanding Festival 2012!

SIBID-SIBID (LOCAL KAYAK) RACE
Donsol and the Philippines in general boast the origin of the world-famous kayak. In
the competition, both locals and foreigners will enjoy an exciting race and a taste of
true Bicol lifestyle aboard the small fishing boat from which the race was named.

BUTANDING WATCHING COMPETITION
Tourists and locals alike would patiently wait long hours just to spot the much awaited
butanding, making it a skill worthy of a reward. Competition lasts for three (3) hours
maximum.

BEACH PLAZA
You might think you’re in Boracay Island but really, the fun and laughter you hear
are purely from Donsol’s own shores and party people. The Beach Plaza is a nightly
event where locals and tourists alike can enjoy party nights of great music, food, and
friends.

AGRI-TRADE FAIR
From pili nut products to abaca accessories and fabrics, you’ll find them at the
festival’s Agri-Trade Fair. The fair will showcase products from Donsol and the whole
of Bicol region. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources, and various Bicol manufacturer groups have banded together to
make sure that visitors can shop to the their heart’s content after they’ve enjoyed their
interaction with the butanding.

WACKY RACE
Have you ever walked on land with fins as feet? The Wacky Race will give you that
crazy opportunity. It’s a unique and fun race that brings out the kiddie spirit in all
of us. Each participant wears huge slippers (kadang-kadang) and goes through an
obstacle course just to win, and most importantly, enjoy.

CULINARY FEST
From Bicol Express, laing, pinangat, and kinunot to pili preparations and more, the
flavors of Bicol await local and foreign foodies. The week-long food fair offers
Bicolano foods and delicacies for everyone to enjoy.

GRAND HOMECOMING
Donsol’s sons and daughters come home to Donsol alumni’s grand reunion. The
gathering culminates in a mangrove planting activity, marking the birth of more
mangroves in Donsol River (and more homes for the fireflies).

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
This activity will showcase the festivities of the Butanding Festival 2012 through the
eyes and lenses of the Philippines’ best photographers.
DERBY COCK COMPETITION
An all-time favorite Filipino past time, the sabong will be held during the Butanding
Festival 2012.

SUMMER FASHION SHOW
Local Bicol fashion designers and national clothing brands will come together for
this big summer fashion show. The event will benefit a chosen charity of the Donsol
Tourism Office.

For details, contact:

FINEAPPLE CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Units 3 & 4 Calderon Building, Washington Drive
Legazpi City 4500

Telephone: +6352 481-0433
Email: knock@fineapplecreatives.com
Website: www.fineapplecreatives.co