Things To Do In The Philippines While Volunteering
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One of the most beautiful South East Asian countries, Philippines is an archipelago having more than 7000 islands! Volunteering Solutions has different projects in the city of Tacloban in Leyte Islands, which is 360 miles from Manila, the capital of Philippines.
While on a volunteer vacation, you will have a busy schedule during the weekdays. But that won’t stop you from exploring this amazingly beautiful country. Make the most of your weekends and explore the places as much as you can.
Here’s a list of things that you can do while on your volunteering trip to Philippines:
Before going to far off destinations, you can first choose to explore Tacloban as there are too many places worth visiting and lots to do.
Walk across the San Juanico Bridge
The San Juanico Bridge is considered as one of the most prominent landmarks of Tacloban City. It’s the longest bridge in the Philippines and its length is 2.16 kilometers. You can take a walk down the bridge, and enjoy the splendid view. It spans across the San Juanico Strait and connects the two beautiful islands of Leyte and Samar.
Go for a cultural and historical tour at Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum
This is one of the most favorite destinations of tourists and you just can’t miss visiting this place of immense historical value. Sto. Niño Shrine is one of the many Presidential rest houses built by late President Ferdinand Marcos. It has now become a museum where you can see the elegant and luxurious furniture as well as amazing historical photos and memorabilia of the Marcos Family.
Buy some souvenirs from the People’s Center
Right beside the Sto. Niño Shrine, there is the People’s Center which now houses some stalls for souvenir shopping. It’s mainly a library which has a great compilation of books from around the world. You obviously want to take back gifts for friends and family – and this would be the perfect place for you!
Witness the colorful festivals in Tacloban
If you choose to volunteer during your summer break, in the month of June, then you’ll be lucky to attend the amazing festivals – Pintados, Kasadyaan and Sangyaw Festivals. These are the most anticipated events of the year. On the other hand, if you are traveling to Tacloban in December, then you can head to the nearby town of Palo and celebrate Christmas there.
Taste the irresistibly delicious food
Tacloban will never fail to surprise the foodie in you! Dine at the local cafes and satiate your taste buds to the fullest. From barbeques to burgers and seafood to pastas – Tacloban has a world class cuisine to offer at pocket friendly prices.
These are the things that you can do during the weekday evenings as well, if you aren’t much tired after your volunteer work at the placement site.
For weekends, you can take short trips out of Tacloban city, and our in-country coordinator will be more than glad to assist you in planning your trips.
Sohoton Cave in Basey Samar
Located inside the Sohoton National Park, the cave is absolutely stunning. The cave has a parabolic-arc-shaped entrance and with the height of 50 meters. The cathedral-like entrance chamber of the cave is definitely inviting with its fantastic view outside and the cool breeze emanating from the cave. If you’ve only seen stalactites and stalagmites in textbooks then you can get to see them in real, here. Stalactites are mineral formations that hang like icicles from the ceiling or sides of a cave while stalagmites are the ones that rise from the floors. In general, apart from the cave, you can also explore the National Park and cruise on the Sohoton River on a pumpboat.
Biliran Island
Biliran is one of the most beautiful island provinces in the world. With lush mountains, countless gusty waterfalls, and pristine golden beaches in the east of Visayas, Biliran is no less than a beach lover’s paradise. If you don’t have the time to explore all of the Biliran make sure not to miss the Ulan-Ulan Falls. Take a tour of the rice plantations on the hill steps, and finally, head towards Agta Beach for that perfect sunset. It’ll take around 2 hours to reach Biliran from Tacloban, in a flight.
Cebu Island
The Cebu City, which is the capital of the island, is considered to be the ‘Queen City’ of the South. Cebu is becoming a favorite place for tourists with each passing day for the eccentric nightlife that the Cebu City has to offer! The clubs and cafes glitter at night, with food and music in abundance. It would be a perfect partying break for you if your travel to Cebu! Also, those who are keen on trying adventure sports like snorkeling and scuba diving, can happily try them out here in Cebu.
Canigao Island, Matalom, Leyte
Canigao Island is a little islet which is about 20 mins boat ride from Matalom Port. It is a pristine virgin islet with unexplored coral reefs making it a perfect destination for those who are eager to explore the marine life. The white sandy beaches who be a perfect weekend getaway, to chill and relax.
Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte
Padre Burgos is a fishing town in Leyte. It is also famous among diving enthusiasts for its colorful cluster of corals and an incredible variety of fishes. The Napantao Marine Sanctuary is totally worth a visit, if you are traveling to Padre Burgos. The town is also famous for the Tangkaan Beach, from where you can see the Limasawa Island.
A volunteering trip to Philippines will definitely add new values to your life and it would surely be an experience worth cherishing forever. While no trip abroad can be complete without a little self-indulgence, make sure to take time out of your schedule and tick all that you have on your bucket list.
Volunteering Solutions has 4 exciting and affordable volunteering options in Tacloban, which are – Public Health and Nutrition Program, Rural Medical Health Care Program, Teaching Program and Child Care Program.
For more information, you can drop a mail at [email protected]
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