‘Boutique airline’ takes wing, offers frills at affordable fares

Skyjet's 94-seater BAe 146-200 takes off from the runway of Basco Airport. 

A NEW airline is taking wing to serve premium tourist destinations in the country by offering passengers the full service of a legacy carrier at affordable fares.

Magnum Air (Skyjet) Airlines is launching its first scheduled service by flying to Basco, Batanes, on December 14, just a month after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) granted the carrier its airline operator certificate (AOC).

In an exclusive interview, Dr. Joel Mendoza, Skyjet president and CEO, said the airline’s flights to Basco will initially be three times a week—Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The flight will take only 70 minutes on the carrier’s jet plane, a British Aerospace System (BAe) 146-200, which can carry 94 passengers and 3 tons of cargo.

Skyjet will also be flying from Manila to Busuanga in Palawan (four times a week), beginning February 15, 2013; to Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay Island, in March 2013; and is considering to fly to Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, a jumpoff point to the country’s surfing capital of Siargao.

It is also mulling to fly next year to Virac, Catanduanes, and Catarman, Northern Samar. While not considered premium tourism destinations, Mendoza said these destinations are currently underserved by air services, despite the huge demand for travel there. “We are a boutique airline,” Mendoza explained.

Dentist-turned-airline operator Dr. Joel Mendoza.

“We are small but what we offer is the full service usually found in legacy carriers, like snacks, comfortable upholstered seats, quality passenger reservations and check-in systems, etc. We are not low-cost, but we are affordable. We’re bringing back the frills in flying.”

A one-way fare to Basco will cost about P6,000 per person, “but we will be offering promo fares during the lean season,” according to the Skyjet CEO. He said that Batanes residents will also get “special Ivatan fares.” October to June is usually the peak season for travel to Batanes.

Skyjet’s fleet consists of two BAe 146-200 jets, the same planes used by the British royal family, British Airways, Lufthansa AG and a number of other European airlines.

“We give premium to safety, comfort and convenience,” Mendoza said. He added that the BAe 146-200 is the only plane that has been certified to take off from and land at the Basco airport, which has a steep runway slope of 4.5 degrees, owing to Batanes’s general rolling terrain.

Most commercial airplanes are certified to take off from and land at airports with a maximum runway slope of only 2 degrees, or runways which are almost flat. If a plane will have to operate in an airport with a runway slope of more than 2 degrees, the aircraft manufacturer’s engineers need to meticulously test the plane in that runway using its own pilots, before certifying that the plane can safely operate there.

In the case of Skyjet, BAe engineers wrote a new aircraft operating manual instructing pilots on the procedures to take off and land specifically in Basco. The Caap thereafter approved this after conducting a “proving flight.”

“The BAe 146-200 is specifically made for short landings and takeoffs. It specializes in [operating in] unpaved runways so we can assure passengers of ease in landing even in smaller airports,” Mendoza said.

All Skyjet’s pilots are Filipinos who have clocked in 10,000+ of hours specifically on BAe146 Series planes, he added. These veteran pilots flew for City Jet, Lufthansa and other airlines. “This increases the safety and reliability of Skyjet’s flight operations,” Mendoza said.

According to Skyjet’s certificate of public convenience and necessity granted by the Civil Aeronautics Board, the carrier is allowed to operate charter services for domestic and international routes, regular scheduled service for domestic destinations and cargo services.

A dentist by profession, Mendoza is also a director of the Batanes Cultural Travel Agency, which has been selling travel packages to Batanes since 2007. “I just want to promote Batanes as a cultural tourism destination that will help create more jobs for the Ivatans. Having a direct air transport service to Batanes will also allow the locals to visit Manila,” he said.

Capitalized at P50 million, Skyjet has been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission since September 2005. Its chairman is Telesforo Castillejos, former governor of Batanes, while its director of flight operations is Capt. Antonio Buendia, a veteran commercial pilot and former president of Philippine Aerospace Development Corp.

(This piece originally published in the front page of the BusinessMirror, Dec. 6, 2012. Photos courtesy Dr. Joel Mendoza)

Seair International cleared for takeoff

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has finally given Seair International (Seair-I) the green light for its flight operations beginning this month. 

The company’s Vice Chairman Nikos Gitsis said in an interview Seair-I is launching its maiden flight from Manila to Basco, Batanes on December 7. 

“The plan is, we will fly Fridays and Mondays and we will go from there. It could become three times a week,” he said. The carrier will use a 32-seater Dornier 328 turboprop for this service. 

He said the carrier will also offer a “VIP charter service early next year for domestic and international routes” using a seven-seater Falcon 10 jet. 

“[Apart from the scheduled Basco flights] we will focus on charters for the time being, and we will explore and open up new destinations,” Gitsis added (Read the rest at InterAksyon.com. This piece was originally published on Dec. 2, 2012.)

An anxious aunt's tale

GOOD-BYES are the most difficult moments in any person’s life. 

It wrenches the heart, makes you weep in grief, even if the one leaving is moving on to a better life.

Perhaps we cry, not because we fear we won’t see the departing person again, but because we grieve for our own selves, of not being able to stand the onset of loneliness. 

It is a sadness that also comes with the realization that other people, especially if they are family, are carving their own alternative futures—and these may not necessarily include us. 

My niece M. left for the UAE on Monday. She is going there to work for a five-star hotel, after tucking in four years of experience working for an international hotel brand here, then managing branches of a popular local food chain. 

She didn’t graduate from a leading hotel and restaurant school, which may have put her at a disadvantage in her chosen field, but perhaps unlike her more privileged peers, she isn’t afraid of a little elbow grease to show her grit and determination to be successful at all costs. 

Unfortunately, for most hotels here, it takes decades before someone like M. gets the recognition she deserves, and the accompanying financial rewards. How ironic, considering that the country is supposed to be experiencing a glorious tourism boom. And yet quite a number of those toiling in the local industry choose to go abroad instead, not necessarily because they will get a higher pay, but for that singular chance that they will move up in their chosen career path much quicker. 

To tell you the truth, M. and I had not been close. As a child, she was difficult to rear—choosy with the food that she ate, disinclined to take afternoon naps, the type who would whine if she didn’t get what she wanted. 

Being the aunt who had to deal with her misbehavior at home while her parents were out working, M. and I really never bonded then. I would leave her sniveling at the dining table until she finished her lunch or dinner. It sounds cruel, I know, but that was how we were all raised in our family. Food was something that we had to be thankful for considering the many underprivileged children who had nothing to eat. So M. too had to suffer the “indignity” of finishing up the remaining morsels on her plate, the way our generation did. (In my case, finishing my food was never a problem even as a child.) 

When M. got pregnant at 18, I couldn’t do anything except shed tears for the childhood she had so quickly lost, and the grueling future she had to face. I had enjoyed my adolescent years, despite the confusion and awkwardness of the period, especially in relating with other people as well as the opposite sex. But it was an exciting, enthralling life filled with parties, games, extracurricular activities and general mayhem ‘til the wee hours of the morning. 

At that same age, M. had to quit school for a period of time while she nursed her baby, woke up at the oddest of hours to suckle the infant, and missed her prom and the fevered swirl of social gatherings that her friends had attended, as well as the shopping for the pretty dresses and the killer heels so she could play cute with the boys her age. 

It’s a good thing she persevered. The “unfortunate” experience may have finally given her the maturity beyond her years, which was also most urgently needed especially when her father, my eldest brother, passed away. She eventually married the father of her child, B., finished her college degree, and assumed the role of working mother. 

(And B., the sweet child, is now a grown-up little lady, exhibiting a strange wisdom far greater than her 10-year-old self. Being a Piscean probably has blessed her with that mature outlook on life. For instance, she was cool with her mother working abroad, and promptly told the latter that she wanted to study in London, or live in Japan. Good grief!) 

As circumstances forced M. to mature, we started relating more to each other, and I regarded her as the adult that she had finally become. We talked more about each other’s lives, and despite the many disagreements we’ve had over the years, I knew she was shaping up to be a headstrong young woman who wanted to be successful in her chosen field, as well as an accomplished mother and wife. For sure, she experienced some degree of difficulty balancing all three, but she somehow managed to make it all look easy. 

M. eventually became someone I had come to depend on, especially with regard to the numerous domestic issues the family had to deal with recently. 

M. became our family’s de facto executive assistant, nurse, caregiver and assistant manager, all rolled into one tiny package. And this she did without complaint, despite her daughter B’s pleas for more attention. I would kid her that it was rigorous training for her job abroad. 

When we finally received the news that she had been hired and would have to leave soon, I was overjoyed for her. I have always felt that traveling to foreign places enriches one’s understanding of other peoples and cultures. And for someone like her who’s never traveled outside the Philippines, this was an opportunity to further expand her outlook and understanding of how the world outside works.

Yet as M. bid me good-bye on Sunday, we hugged tightly and I didn’t want to let her go. Wasn’t it only yesterday that I was pleading with her to finish her food on the dining table, or making her sleep after school? I was too choked up to say anything except to whisper, “Be good.” M.’s eyes welled up in tears as well as she told me to make peace with certain people, especially with Christmas coming around (long story!). In this case, she had now become the adult and I, the child being told to behave. How quickly the tables have turned. And I marveled at the smart woman she had now become. 

Please pray for my niece, dear readers, and for the many Filipinos who have to leave family and friends behind to create a better future for themselves and their parents, or spouses and children. May they always be protected from the temptations that often afflict their lot—causing divisions with their families—and be kept safe out of harm’s way. And may their families here be patient, understanding, and always supportive of their endeavors. 

(M’s last Facebook status and tweet indicated she had already arrived at her destination—thank You, Lord. Unfortunately, no Globe roaming there...pity.) 

While our good-bye was distressing, I now eagerly look forward to M.’s stories about her new life in the Middle East, and her exciting adventures at work. 

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday, in the Life section of the BusinessMirror. This piece was published on Nov. 30, 2012. Image from Kinetic Motion.)

Travel Bites: Lovely Laguna

YOU don’t have to ride an airplane to take you to the loveliest places in the Philippines. There are quite a number of them just literally in your backyard. (If south of Manila is your idea of a backyard, that is.) 

A road trip to the charming province of Laguna—with its many interesting cultural, historical and artistic points—is a definite must-do for those who want to see more of the Philippine countryside. 

Laguna offers rustic accommodations, the tastiest Southern Tagalog cuisine often flavored with coconut milk, and the most attractive destinations that soothe the world-weary soul. 

You can go on a day trip or stay overnight in one of the many affordable accommodations in the province. 

Must-see's

(The Rizal shrine in Calamba, Laguna. Photo from Vista Pilipinas.)

Homage to a hero. History buffs should drop by the Rizal Shrine in Calamba City, Laguna, to discover how Jose Rizal, as the boy Pepe, lived, and how his surroundings shaped him into becoming a national hero—dying for his convictions and for the hopes and dreams for his country to be free from corrupt foreign dominance. 

The house that stands on the property was actually reconstructed from the original structure, which was destroyed during World War II. A stark white affair topped with red-brick roof shingles, reconstruction of the house was directed by the hand of the National Artist Juan Nakpil. 

Into the woods. The Makiling Botanical Gardens at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB) is actually part of the forest reserve of Mount Makiling, an inactive volcano shaped like a sleeping woman, which has spawned an indeterminate number of myths, folk tales and short stories of its fabled resident and protector, Maria Makiling. 

On Mount Makiling thrive rare plants and endangered flora. There are also a number of medicinal and ornamental plants that UPLB Forestry students have planted around the reserve, while orchid societies have donated several native species. 

Grim Reaper’s trophies. In Nagcarlan, one can visit the town’s underground cemetery, which is the only one of its kind in the Philippines. Declared a national historical landmark in 1978, the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery built in 1845 holds tombs of rich Catholic families in the area from the Spanish period. 

(The Nagcarlan Church or St. Bartholomew Parish Church is supposed to be connected to the underground cemetery by a secret tunnel. Photo from Philippines Travel Online)

Locals believe that there is a secret tunnel that actually connects the underground cemetery to the Nagcarlan Church (Saint Bartholomew Parish Church), founded in 1583, as most churches in that era usually had underground cemeteries. 

The Underground Cemetery was also used as a secret meeting place of the Katipuneros during the Spanish period, by Filipino rebels during the Filipino-American War and by guerrillas working hand in hand with Americans trying to outwit the Japanese military during World War II. 

A lake with a view. In San Pablo City, Laguna, one of the most relaxing pastimes locals engage in is to sit by the glistening Sampaloc Lake, and enjoy a picnic lunch. In the morning, some run the five-kilometer stretch around the lake, the smallest of all seven lakes of the city. A few, on the other hand, sit on the many park benches dotting the paved area around the lake, and just take in the sight, breathe in the crisp air, getting lost in their own thoughts. 

It can be crowded at times, especially on weekends and holidays, but the view of majestic Mount Banahaw, and the lesser Mount San Cristobal, can be the most tranquil of diversions. Once or twice a month, at dusk, with the glorious golden moon rising above Mount Banahaw and casting its alluring reflection across the lake, the sight can literally take your breath away. 

Must-do's 

Attend a fiesta. San Pablo City comes alive during Good Friday, when a procession of images of saints, the Holy Family, and that of the passion and death of Jesus Christ is held. 

The images paraded are truly remarkable feats of Filipino craftsmanship and design. The elaborate detail in the clothing of the santos (saints), like those of the Blessed Virgin, for example, are also testimony to the adoration of its owners and the dedication to their faith. 

(The Good Friday procession in San Pablo City is one of the most popular attractions in Laguna, during the Holy Week.)

Take care of your feet. Filipinos are some of the most inveterate consumers of slippers—whether it be the Brazil-branded beach flip flops, the furry comfortable kind for the bedroom or the cushy type with prints used everywhere in the home. 

Liliw is the “footwear capital of Laguna” with its many stalls along Gat Tayaw Avenue selling slippers, shoes and sandals of all types, whether they be staid and simple, florid or flirty. Slippers here go for 3 for P100, while you can buy leather shoes for as low as P500. The annual Tsinelas (Slippers) Festival is usually held in August. 

Also check out the St. John the Baptist Parish Church for its red-brick walls. 

Buy some art pieces. The woodcarvers of Paete are famous around the world for their fine craftsmanship and keen eye for detail. Many of their work stand in churches, or displayed during fiestas, while furniture made with painstaking detail make their way homes in the United States and Europe. 

Paete is also famous for its taka or papier-mâché pieces such as religious items, masks and animal replicas, most of which are now exported to the United States, Germany, Spain and Japan. These folk-art pieces are still handcrafted around molds some of which are probably antique and have been in the taka-making family’s possession since the founding of their businesses, and dried under the sun. 

Around this time, you will probably be able to pick up a number of papier-mâché Santa Clauses, reindeer and other Christmas fixtures, which are from the excess production of the exporters. 

JV Quesada Street is a stretch of ateliers and shops selling wood sculptures and taka. 

While in town, also drop by the Saint James the Apostle Church with its elaborate San Cristobal (Saint Christopher) murals made by artist Jose Luciano Dans, and intricate carvings of saints. The church itself, built in 1846, is designed in the usual baroque style of the time. 

Eat! Along the national highway in Barangay Dila, Bay, is Kamayan sa Palaisdaan sa Bay, a floating restaurant that serves an assortment of rustic Filipino cuisine like Ginataang Hipon (shrimp served in a coconut milk-based broth), Crispy Pata (deep-fried pork hocks), Sinugno na Tilapia (grilled tilapia sautéed in coconut milk with mustard greens). No pretense-cooking at reasonable prices, albeit the sometimes long serving time. 

Si Christina Gateau Sans Rival (6 Rizal Avenue, San Pablo City) is a great place to have coffee and dessert after a day of sightseeing. Its specialties are red velvet cupcake, New York cheesecake and sans rival, to name a few. It has pastas as well, and an interesting array of Italian sodas. 

Have lunch or dinner in the calm, lush surroundings of Café Lago located across Sampaloc Lake. It serves Filipino food common to most of the restaurants in the area, but what makes the meal special is a history of Sampaloc Lake and San Pablo City by the café owner Mandy Mariño, a retiree from the US. If he sits with you long enough, he also might be persuaded to tell you his colorful love life. Sir Mandy can also give you tips of other unique places to visit or other sites of interest. 

The original store of Colette’s Buko Pie (52 San Rafael Street) can also be found in San Pablo. 

(The infinity pool at Sitio de Amor in San Pablo City.)

Where to stay: Casa San Pablo (Gomez compound, Barangay San Roque, San Pablo City, (CP# 0917-812-6687) is a quaint inn in the heart of San Pablo, operated by gregarious businessman Boots Alcantara and his warm and winsome wife, journalist and author An Mercado. Their good nature and hospitality are part of the charm of staying there. 

Each room in the inn is designed with its own artistic motif, and uses antique pieces and lumber from old houses and repurposed as accessories or structural pieces. 

The inn serves homecooked dishes, such as the Kulawo (grilled eggplant in smoked coconut milk), a great favorite among diners. 

Guests in Sitio de Amor (Km. 88.8 Maharlika Highway, San Pablo City (http://www.sitiodeamor.com) are assured of seclusion and privacy so urgently needed in our harried lives. The rooms are located far apart across the farm so guests usually see the other visitors only during mealtime, or at the languid infinity pool. 

Owners Jorge and Amor Bondad are the most hospitable and friendliest of couples, sharing stories from their lives and how they came to setting up their resort. Amor is also quite the whiz in the kitchen as she ably whips out a welcoming feast of dishes using local ingredients with just an hour’s notice. 

Every August, guests can pluck rambutan from the Sitio’s trees and eat them as the resort celebrates the Rambutan festival. 

(Paete is home to many of the country's wood sculptors, painters, and taka makers.)  

GETTING THERE 

To Calamba: Take a Green Star Express bus along Taft Avenue, Pasay City, or HM Transport bus from Edsa, Cubao, Quezon City, going to Santa Cruz and Calamba. By car, just take the South Luzon Expressway (Slex) and go through the Calamba Exit. 

To Los Baños: Take the same bus above to Santa Cruz and tell the bus driver you want to go down at UP Los Baños. By car, also take the Slex and the Calamba Exit. The town after Calamba is Los Baños. 

To Paete: Take any bus going to Santa Cruz, go down Barangay Biñan in Pagsanjan, then take a jeepney to Siniloan. Alight at Paete town proper. By car, it is fastest to go through Rizal via the Manila East Road, with Paete only four towns away from Tanay. 

To San Pablo: By bus, take any bus bound for Lucena City; it will pass by Maharika Highway and take you through San Pablo. If driving, from the Slex, use the Alabang-Calamba-Santo Tomas Expressway and go out the Santo Tomas, Batangas Exit. When you reach the junction across the Light Industrial and Science Park III, turn right on Maharlika Highway, and keep left going toward SM San Pablo. 

To Nagcarlan, and Liliw: Using the same bus to Santa Cruz, get off at the town proper, then take a jeepney to Nagcarlan or Liliw. By car, from the Slex go through the Calamba Exit and at Santa Cruz, turn right to Nagcarlan and on to Liliw. (For more on Laguna attractions, check out http://www.lagunatravelguide.com.) 

(My column, Travel Bites, is published every Monday in the front page of the BusinessMirror. This feature on Laguna was published on Nov. 26, 2012. Photos by the author unless specified.)

This executive paints his stresses away

THESE days, you can almost never find a corporate executive who isn’t either into golf or marathons. Though considered sports or hobbies, these weekend activities invariably still end up being an opportunity for networking with their peers or targeted clients. 

So it was quite refreshing to discover that Alex Chan Lim, Philippine country manager of MoneyGram International, spends his weekends with his family teaching modern Chinese brush painting to a diverse group of students. 

In his private studio in Pasig on the recent Saturday I visited him, there were about seven students gathered, mostly merrily chatting away, some with their Chinese brushes still in hand, gently working these on rice paper to create art. 

(Alex Chan Lim, Philippines country manager of MoneyGram International demonstrates his Chinese brush painting techniques to participants and interested onlookers at a recent exhibit of the Chan Lim Family of Artists and students.)

There was no perspiring here, no racing heart rates, nor a push to perfection. It was just a cheerful, relaxed atmosphere as the students leisurely practiced their brush strokes. As with most Chinese brush paintings, the artwork invariably depicted are lightly tinted flowers, horses, bamboo, or lush landscapes in bold vibrant colors. 

It was a casually attired Lim who met me with a welcoming smile and warm handshake, and after our initial greetings, he led me around the room introducing some of his students. Among them was an ex-president of a bank, an airline official, and two smiling Korean ladies whom I was told later, hardly spoke English but just enjoyed coming to class. His family was also gathered around, including his wife Ester, who helps in teaching the students, their daughters Kaye and Kyra (the eldest Geoffrey wasn’t around), and his father Jose. 

Lim says throughout the different stages in his career, what has remained constant is his painting, which he has been doing since he was 11 years old. “It is during weekends I forget about work. [Painting] is my anti-stress.” 

Unlike most traditional Chinese families where the children are conscripted to work in the family business during weekends or long school breaks, Lim says his parents instead encouraged him and his siblings—Felix, Rolex and Jolex—to study Chinese painting during summer. His father, Jose, also paints although he does so using oils and is a painter more in the Western style. “I used to wonder why we had to do it; all my childhood friends [in Caloocan] were playing with their Lego sets. It was only later that we were thankful we studied it because no one really does Chinese paintings [anymore].”  

But he asserts that it never entered his mind to paint professionally. “Not at all. We really focused on painting during summers, and then we took up our college degrees which were non-painting related. It was quite a good match, it was a good partner. We were very happy. It was something that we wanted to do but not to earn a living.” (Like him, Lim’s brothers are also engineers and work for various multinational firms. They continue to paint to this day, and Felix even teaches Chinese brush painting part time at Stanford University.) 

(One of Mr. Chan Lim's works of art.)

Though his father wanted him to take over the family’s plastics business, Lim didn’t want to fearing that he and his three younger brothers would just fight over the company someday. After graduating with a mechanical engineering degree from the Mapua Institute of Technology in 1986, his parents grudgingly allowed him leave for the US to work and pursue a post-graduate degree. (With the success each sibling has reaped since then, he says his father “is now very happy” his sons made the right decision in their respective careers.) 

Lim came home in 1990 when his mother Rosa passed away, and has been based here since. He has worked in various “intensive” industries, making full use of his engineering background. He designed distribution centers for Levi Strauss Philippines, handling systems for DHL, and packaging for integrated circuits for Advantek. Later, at Ausenco, a mining services firm, he became a project manager—“a good learning experience” but, he says, it was “not my cup of tea,” understandably due to the inherent controversies in the industry. 

In April 2011 Lim made his first foray into the financial services world when he was appointed Philippine country manager for MoneyGram, the world’s second-largest global money-transfer company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The next month, he set up the company’s very first office in Makati, in recognition of its burgeoning remittance business in the country. 

Under Lim’s helm, the business grew over 30 percent in 2011, which is no small feat considering that the entire remittance industry in the country only grew by 7 percent. This can only mean that MoneyGram has eaten into the market share of its main competitor. “We are happy with our volumes. The increase is too significant, I could never have imagined it!” With a new advertising campaign launched in March using actor Robin Padilla as a celebrity endorser, he says, the uptrend can only continue. “We’re still projecting a double-figure growth this year.” 

While it may not be immediately apparent, Lim’s creativity as a painter has actually enabled him to “think out of the box,” he says, in solving problems at work. Also, it has helped him in the marketing and advertising aspects of the job, enhancing his ability to judge whether a TV commercial being produced for the company’s brand awareness campaign is up to par with the company’s standards of excellence and good taste. 

There are also times when his work at MoneyGram fuses with his painting. Back in January, for instance, the company supported an on-the-spot Chinese lantern-painting contest at the SM Mall of Asia to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The winning entries were later exhibited along with those crafted by his own family members and students. 

The Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students were also in Davao City in October to exhibit their works and conducted workshops at SM City and Marco Polo Davao Hotel. Lim is ecstatic that a lot of institutions have recognized their group and regularly invite them for exhibits. 

He believes that anyone can do Chinese brush painting. “There’s no special talent or skill needed. One just needs the passion and the interest to learn.” 

(My column Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the Life section of the BusinessMirror. This profile on Alex Chan Lim was published on Nov. 23, 2012. Photos from Mr. Chan Lim's and the Chan Lim Family Facebook accounts.)

Travel Bites: Bohol has got it all

(The tarsier is the smallest primate in the world and on the endangered species list. These are nocturnal creatures and are easily stressed by loud noises and sudden movements.)

IT’S probably unfair to compare Bohol to the largest shopping-mall brand in the country, as the province is certainly far from being commercial. 

But there is probably no other province in the Philippines other than Bohol that has a surfeit number of tourist sites and activities to choose from. 

The culture and heritage enthusiast can count on old Spanish-era churches to admire. 

The environmentalist can check on the cute furry tarsiers endemic to the island and swim with whale sharks and dolphins in its cool, clear waters. 

The beach bum has a wide stretch of white sand on which to tan himself. 

Those inclined to music can listen to a popular children’s choir, while house tunes are all the rage in nighttime entertainment spots. 

And yet, Bohol still manages to keep its trademark quaint laid-back calm, such that tourists in need of solitude and sanctuary still have quite a number of places to call their own. 

Must-See’s 

Historical churches. According to Visita Iglesia Bohol: A Guide to Historic Churches, by Regalado Trota José, there are more than 40 churches, many of them standing since the Spanish era in the Philippines. 

Most popular among the tourists due to their accessibility and inclusions in most day tours are the Baclayon and Loboc churches. 

The Baclayon Church (Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception) is one of the oldest built from stone, and most-preserved, Jesuit-founded churches in the country. 

(The Church of the Imaculate Conception in Baclayon is one of the oldest built from stone, and most preserved, Jesuit-founded churches in the country. It features a huge fortress-like bell tower to its right, an adjacent convent, and a museum housing antique saint images and religious paraphernalia.)

The exuberance of floral decorations in the retablos surrounding the altar of the church is a very Filipino interpretation of the baroque design. Baclayon Church has an adjacent convent and also houses a collection of antique saint images and religious paraphernalia in a museum. 

Completed in 1734, the Loboc Church (The Church of San Pedro) is unique because behind its stone façade is another stone façade, yellowing with age but ornately decorated with the faces of saints. 

The interior features a large bamboo organ, which looms above the heads of parishioners sitting at the back of the church. Cebuano painter Canuto Avila painted the ceiling with various images of the Virgin Mary carrying her different names. 

The Loboc Church also features an extensive collection of religious pieces, including saints, colorful and intricately designed dresses of the Virgin Mary, chests and missal stands. 

Other old churches worth visiting are Church of Our Lady of Light in Loon; Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis, Panglao Island; Maribojoc Church in Maribojoc; and Saint Agustine Church on Panglao Island. 

Tarsier watch. You can’t claim to have visited Bohol, unless you’ve seen the tarsier. Considered the smallest primate in the world and on the endangered species list, these sleepy furry creatures are found at the 134-hectare wildlife sanctuary operated by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc. in Corella, about 30 minutes away from Tagbilaran. 

The hills are alive. Long a hallmark of many Philippine postcards, these enormous “Chocolate Kisses” are still a wondrous sight to behold. The sweeping vista before you can be viewed from many angles at the nearby lookout point. 

The best time to visit the Chocolate Hills is in the summer when the grass that grows on them turns brown. The rest of the year the hills are a lush green and are still quite a breathtaking sight. 

(Over 1,200 dome-shaped hills dot the municipality of Carmen, comprising what is known as Chocolate Hills. During the dry season, the grass on these limestone formations turn brown, thus its name. The rest of the year, the hills are a lush green but are still breathtaking to behold.)

Other points of interest in Bohol are the man-made Mahogany Forest and the Simply Butterflies Conservation Center in Bilar. 

If you don’t want the hassle of commuting to these tourist spots, or joining other people in group tours, hire your own private car for 24 hours, which costs about P2,000 (excluding gas). Call ERB Rent-a-car (0949-6547654/0915-6590705). 

To-Do’s 

Water world. Named after the sexy starlet of the 1970s, Alona Alegre, the white-sand Alona Beach is a haven for scuba divers and snorkelers because of the extensive coral reef just off the shore. (Balicasag and Pamilacan Islands are other popular dive spots, as well.) A list of dive operators and schools can be found at http://www.scubadivingbohol.com/. 

Most tourists grab a beer from one of the many bars along the way, plunk themselves on the sand and drink ‘til sunset, or get a massage, while tanning themselves under the sun. 

A great way to explore the surrounding waters of Bohol is to go a on a whale-, whale-shark- or dolphin-watching tour. Most of these guided tours take off from the Baclayon Pier, and will take guests to Pamilacan Island whose waters teem with these creatures. Expert tour guides with excellent spotters are plentiful in Tagbilaran and Panglao Island. (Check out http://www.boholtravelguide.com/dir/tour_op/index.shtml for a list of tour operators in the province.) 

Take the plunge. In the last two years, the municipality of Danao has been attracting extreme-adventure tourists. Its adventure park offers tourists the thrill of plunging in a free-fall canyon swing, the exhilaration of crossing the Wahig River in what is reputed to be the longest and highest zipline in the country (“Suislide”), and opens up a new interesting world of stalactite formations on spelunking trips.

More information on the heart-thumping activities in Danao at http://www.eatdanao.com. 

Listen to angels. Tourists are welcome to watch the internationally renowned Loboc Children’s Choir rehearse after school, from Monday to Friday. The choir—comprised of boys and girls studying at the Loboc Central Elementary School with ages ranging from five to 13—was founded in 1980, wowing audiences in the US, Europe and Asia. They have won local and international awards and even bested the more famous Vienna Boys Choir in a competition in Barcleona in 2003. Their angelic voices soothe the soul after a weary day of touring. 

(The seaside view from the Lantaw restaurant at the Bohol Bee Farm.)

Where to stay: In Tagbilaran, the MetroCentre Hotel & Convention Center along C.P.G. Avenue offers travelers comfortable accommodations at reasonable rates. Though the hotel is a bit dated, the service is impeccable with the staff always ready to meet the needs of its guests. It has limited choices for breakfast, but has free Wi-Fi connection (a must these days for most travelers), and is just a hop away from a 24/7 supermarket. 

On the ground floor of the hotel is the Club Sphere, which pulsates to house music, making it a perfect place for nighttime revelers to dance their cares away. Adjacent to this is the Atmo Bar where guests can play billiards or shoot darts. There are rooms available as well for those serious with their singing.

Bohol Bee Farm and Resort on Panglao Island offers a different kind of tropical vibe for tourists with an organic food and environmental bent. Its rooms are spacious with some providing an amazing view of the sea. Guests will enjoy the resort’s seclusion (a short tricyle ride away from Alona Beach) as well as its unique dishes made with fresh ingredients. 

The staff are all so helpful with guests’ requirements. The resort also arranges tours to various favored destinations within the province. Highly recommended is the mesmerizing Firefly Tour along Loboc River. 

Getting there: All major Philippine carriers—Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines and Zest Airways—fly a number of times daily from Manila to Tagbilaran City (Bohol’s capital), while Mid-Sea Express flies three times a week from Cebu City and Davao to Tagbilaran. 

Bohol is also accessible by fast and regular ferry services from Cebu City, Dumaguete, Siquijor and Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte via SuperCat, Ocean Jet, Weesam Express, Kinswell Shipping, Starcraft and SeaJet. (For transportation particulars and other information on Bohol, click on http://www.bohol.ph/article107.html.)

(Travel Bites is published every Monday in the front page of the BusinessMirror. This feature on Bohol was published on Nov. 19, 2012. Photos from the web.)

From tennis aficionado to bourse chief

WHEN Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) President and CEO Hans B. Sicat was growing up, he recalls his siblings and himself being always riveted by the debates around the dining table, particularly those between his father, renowned Marcos-era economist Gerardo Sicat (whose groundbreaking 1980s textbook, "Economic", is still being used by many economics students today) and his equally accomplished mother, the late Loretta Makasiar, a political science professor. 

“It was very interesting to listen to these political discussions because my mom was a political science professor at University of the Philippines [UP], which is essentially leftist in outlook and anti-any administration. They would talk about—my dad’s a free market economist and my mother’s a political scientist, and she would say, ‘But that doesn’t redound to the benefit of the masses!’ Then at some point, my dad joined the [Marcos] administration,” Sicat, 52, recalls with a chuckle. 

“The irony, too, was that my maternal grandfather [Felix Makasiar] was a Chief Justice on the Supreme Court for a while before he retired. That made it doubly interesting, because there was a specific period when at least two people related to my mom were in the administration then. And she was an outspoken political scientist who thought capitalism wasn’t the answer,” he remembers, amused at the thought. 

The eldest of five siblings, Sicat says it was these discussions at the dining table, which became heated on occasion, that “helped define what we were, and what we [my siblings and I] were doing. At the beginning we had no clue, but as we got older, I began to think it made for a good foundation.” No doubt, it was his father who influenced Sicat’s foray into the world of economics while a student at UP, and, later, at the University of Philadelphia for his PhD. 

But Sicat confesses that he actually didn’t know what course to take in college, and was actually debating whether he should become an engineer or a medical doctor. To defer making a decision, he took math instead—which allowed him to play a lot of tennis. 

“Since we were young, I already liked to exercise a lot, play tennis, run or whatever. I was always trying to figure out what was the least amount of schoolwork I could do so I would have more court time. Oh, boy, the political science and the humanities [students], they’re always reading, so much reading! I would think back then, maybe if I go into physics or engineering or something like that, if I could get through the problem sets more quickly, then I would have more time to play!” he laughs. 

While Sicat may not have ended up at Wimbledon with all those exertions on the court, he did become an age-group tennis player, and was a member of UP’s varsity tennis team. 

“As it turns out, the training [in math] is also very good—not necessarily because of the specific knowledge that you take, but because it teaches you how to think of problems or issues. I think I have a decent balanced view,” he says. “I don’t know a lot of the answers but I think I can help figure out how to get to the answer. It puts a framework [on the way you solve problems].” 

Prior to his affiliation with the PSE (he also served as its chairman and independent director from 2009-2011, then had a first term as its president in January 2011), Sicat was an investment banker for over two decades, during which time he had helped sell “the predecessor” of the mortgage-backed asset securities, or what he jests, “the structured notes that blew up the world”. 

But he playfully distances himself from any global economic catastrophe by stressing that “when we were doing it in those days, the leverage was 2 to 1, the structure was much simpler - no one was pushing the envelope.” 

One of the more interesting deals he worked on while at Citicorp was the privatization of Segba, Argentina’s power utility in 1992, which he describes as a “complex situation” due to the massive amount of work put into discussions with the Argentine government and prospective buyers. 

At Salomon Smith Barney, Sicat helped launch the $1-billion 100-year global bond issue of the Philippine central bank in 1997 – only one of two other countries (China in 1996, and Mexico in 2010) to have done so. “That was the time we were doing 100-year bonds for Coca-Cola, Walt Disney, etc.” 

The tall and lanky Sicat has a daily exercise regimen where he runs and hits the gym every morning. “I feel funny if I don’t do it [exercise].” 

Sicat’s wife, Regina, is CEO of their family-owned LegisPro Corp., a legal-process outsourcing firm. They have three children—Kimberly Isabel, 19, a sophomore at Brown University; Katerina Mariel, 17; and Matthew Alexander, 16, Grade 12 and 10, respectively, at the International School Manila. 

If Sicat seems to have an extra spring in his step these days to go with his usually cheerful demeanor, you can bet that there are only good things happening in the stock market. 

Since 2010, the bourse has been coming along nicely, and was the best performing stock market in Asia, and third-best in the world in 2011. The PSE index (PSEi) closed at a new all-time high on Nov. 5, bucking the general decline across other markets in the region, which were focused on the leadership transition in China, Greece's debt struggles, and the US elections. 

The bourse kicked up 33.31 points to close at 5,457.82, or 0.61 percent higher from the previous close of Oct. 31. The Nov. 5 close was also up 1,085.86 points or 24.8 percent higher, year-to-date. The PSEi has broken through new record highs for a total of 24 times since the beginning of 2012. 

Sicat attributes the bourse’s exceptional performance to the country’s sound economy—with inflation benign and interest rates at their lowest levels—as well as strong corporate financials. 

With the renewed confidence in the market, he is quite optimistic that more companies will be raising their needed capital via the exchange. In 2011 the amount raised reached P107.5 billion—almost 27 percent higher than the previous year. For 2012, Sicat projects the amount to hit P197 billion, or almost double the amount raised in 2011.

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the Life section of the BusinessMirror. This profile of Hans B. Sicat was published on Nov. 16, 2012. Photo courtesy PSE)

Travel Bites: The allure of Vigan

(The belfry of the Shrine to the Nuestra Señora de la Caridad offers an amazing panoramic view of Vigan.)

SOMETHING old, something new.

Visiting Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur, takes hardy sightseers to a time long forgotten, but it may also satisfy their hunger for more current attractions. 

The city appeals to both lovers of tradition and culture, as well as the young ones looking for an exciting, new unforgettable experience. So it is not uncommon to see droves of families from three generations traveling to the city as they indulge their respective thrills and fun-filled adventures.

Aside from the visit to ancestral houses, there is a zoo with the most exotic of animals roaming freely about, as well as a wide array of delectable Ilocano treats that will appease the discriminating palates of travelers. Make sure the batteries of your digital cameras are well-charged because this is probably one of the most picturesque towns in the country.

MUST-SEES 

A time gone by. A visit to the Vigan Heritage Village transports travelers to a world chockful of history and tradition. 

There are old Spanish-era churches such as the Vigan Cathedral (St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral) across the Plaza Salcedo, and the Shrine to the Nuestra Señora de la Caridad (Our Lady of Charity) in the town of Bantay, with their earthquake baroque architecture, and simply decorated altars. Climb the red-brick belfry of the Nuestra Señora de la Caridad to see the centuries-old bells, and for an amazing panoramic view of Vigan. 

Drop by the Pagburnayan in Barangay 7, where sturdy clay jars (burnay) continue to be churned out by hand with craftsmen still using a potter’s wheel. Most of their jars, I am told, are transported to Manila for private individuals and commercial buyers. 

The Mestizo District (“Kasanglayan”—Sanglay, being a Spanish term for natives of China) with its cobblestone streets where Chinese merchants once owned stalls, is the epicenter of the Heritage Village. Here, two-story houses owned by the merchants had their stores located on the ground floor of the houses, while the living quarters were on the second floor. These days, stores selling souvenir items—T-shirts, native bags, woven Abel Iloko blankets and linen, antiques—and restaurants occupy the ground floors of these ancestral homes. 

(Mang Bongbong, descended from a long line of potters, demonstrates how to make a burnay. Made from clay found in the soil of Ilocos farms, the burnay is said to be more sturdy than those made from terracotta.)

If you could talk to the animals. Both kids and adults will enjoy a visit to Baluarte (“bailiwick”), the mini-zoo that sits in the vast estate owned by Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson in Barangay Salindeng. 

Here, miniature horses and alpacas roam, freely interacting with visitors. Also on display in cages are two hefty Siberian tigers; an albino python and an assortment of reptiles; and butterflies in a covered sanctuary. Best of all, entrance is free. 

Weaves of wonder. Aside from burnay, products made from handwoven cotton or abel (now marketed as Abel Iloko) continue to be in demand among tourists. At Barangay Camangan, just a short ride from Plaza Burgos, is where a lot of the weavers do their work, spinning yarns of cotton into comfortable pieces of bed linen, towels, robes and tablecloth. Guests may buy the handloomed items at very attractive prices. 

TO-DOs 

Unearthing the old. “Antiquing” or scouring for old furniture, home accessories and kitchenware is a favorite pastime of many tourists to Vigan. 

A few of the stores along Calle Crisologo and adjoining streets carry some wonderful vintage finds (e.g., charcoal iron presses, gas lamps, blue and white china, stained-glass windows made into dividers, etc.) that may be repurposed as accessories in one’s home. 

As is our usual Pinoy custom, haggle like there’s no tomorrow. Most often, the price these “antiques” dealers quote on an item you fancy will be double than what they are actually worth. 

Taste tests. Like its sister to the north, Ilocos Sur, especially Vigan, has its own culinary finds. 

(Crispy fried Irene's empanada w/ longganiza Vigan, veggies, and egg, is the best Ilocos empanada for me.) 

Gaizel’s Carinderia along Gen. Luna Street (077-722-1041) is a good place to start one’s Ilocano food adventure. It is a popular eatery because it offers home-cooked dishes served in aluminum casseroles, turo-turo style, at very reasonable prices. Have a taste of its seaweed salad, dinengdeng, and, of course, the famous longganiza Vigan, a personal favorite among native sausages. (The city celebrates its Longganiza Festival during its annual weeklong fiesta usually from January 19 to 29.)  

Aside from the longganisa, what creature can resist the allure and deeply satisfying heart-stopping goodness of the bagnet (twice-fried crispy pork belly)? Get it from the Vigan Public Market; ask the friendly locals for stall referrals to make sure the bagnet you get is fried in fresh oil, not stale cooking oil. 

When dipped in the local vinegar (sukang Iloko), the crispy fried empanada (Irene’s Empanada, Calle Crisologo) filled with skinless longganiza Vigan, vegetables and egg, makes a delectable afternoon snack after a half-day of sightseeing. 

Another wildly tasty treat is the Royal Bibingka made from glutinous rice flour and baked in ovens. There are three outlets that sell the Royal Bibingka —Tongson’s (Crisologo Street) is said to be the pioneer, followed by the breakaway group of The Sisters (Naguiddyan, Bantay) and Marsha’s Delicacies (National Highway, Bantay).

Where to stay. Villa Angela Heritage House (26 Quirino Boulevard) offers value-for-money accommodations to travelers who want to relax in spacious rooms with the Spanish era-theme. 

(The Mestizo District with its cobblestone streets was home to many Chinese-owned homes and stalls during the Spanish era. Calle Crisologo, is the most popular these days with its stalls selling tourist souvenirs like Abel Iloko weaves, native bags, souvenir T-shirts, and antiques. Some stalls serve Ilocano dishes like the famous Vigan empanada and Longganizang Vigan.)

Its staff are “notorious” for being very accommodating, engaging and friendly to guests. What’s more, the breakfast is authentic homey Ilocano, which keeps guests hankering for more. The inn is also popular because it is where American actor Tom Cruise stayed while filming Platoon. So if you’re a fan, it would be a real treat if you could book the same room he stayed in. 


Also steeped in Spanish colonial architecture and furnishings, Vigan Plaza Hotel along Mena Crisologo Street is well-liked by tourists for its central location. 

The hotel has modern amenities and uses secure SIM card-based system for its doors. It has Internet connection and cable TV. It also offers in-room massages, perfect for those tired aching feet from the heritage walks. Make sure to reserve a room with windows. 

Getting there. The fastest way to get to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, is to take an hour’s flight to Laoag City in Ilocos Norte (via Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific), then get on a bus for a two-hour ride to Vigan. Among the major bus lines plying the Laoag-Vigan route are Partas Bus, Fariñas Transportation, Maria de Leon Bus Lines, Florida Bus and RCJ Bus Lines. 

If you want the slow, scenic tour from Manila, check out the eight-hour daily trips offered by Partas Bus, Dominion Bus, Aniceto Bus and Viron Transit. For more details, check out http://www.vigancity.gov.ph. 

If you don’t want to be a slave to a bus company’s departures and arrivals schedule, take a road trip on a sturdy SUV with friends or family. The route is easy; you take the North Luzon Expressway, then use the SCTEx to head out to Tarlac, then traverse the well-paved Manila-Ilocos highway to reach Vigan. That way, you can stop at leisure at roadside stalls that catch your fancy, at restaurants for your meals; and for those all-important pee breaks. Best of all, you get to see the splendid vistas unfold in the countryside. 

More on Vigan at http://www.vigan.ph. 

(Travel Bites, is published every Monday in the front page of the BusinessMirror. This piece on Vigan was published on Nov. 12, 2012.)