Palawan is set to take center stage as the Palawan: World’s Best Island Travel and Trade Expo 2025 unfolds from February 5 to 7, 2025, at the Glorietta Mall Activity Center.

This event aims to inspire Filipinos to explore the wonders of Palawan, promoting domestic travel as a significant contributor to the local economy.

It also aims to position Palawan as a must-visit destination for 2025, highlighting its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and commitment to sustainable tourism. It will feature exclusive travel deals, live cultural performances, and networking opportunities.

Domestic Tourism: A Call to Action

Palawan Tourism Council President Rey Felix Rafols emphasized the importance of domestic tourism in bolstering Palawan’s economy.

“Instead of going abroad, we encourage Filipinos to discover the unparalleled beauty of Palawan. By doing so, they directly support local businesses, communities, and sustainable initiatives,” he said during a press briefing.

The call comes as Palawan continues to experience remarkable growth in tourism. According to Ms Maribel Buñi, Provincial Tourism Officer, the province saw an 87.47% increase in tourist arrivals in 2023, reaching 1,527,159 visitors compared to 814,621 in 2022. Of this number, 873,592 were domestic tourists, signaling the vital role local travelers play in the province’s success.

Revenue and Tourism Success

Palawan’s tourism revenue skyrocketed to ₱57.2 billion in 2023, a significant jump from ₱30.5 billion in 2022. Top destinations included El Nido, Coron, San Vicente, Brooke’s Point, and Linapacan, with international visitors primarily hailing from the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain.

Buñi, however, warned against complacency. “While 2023 was a productive year, the tourism industry must continuously innovate to meet evolving traveler demands and ensure sustainability,” she stressed.

Expo Highlights

The Palawan: World’s Best Island Travel and Trade Expo 2025 promises an immersive experience for attendees. Key features include:

· Special Travel Deals: Exclusive discounts on flights, accommodations, tours, and adventure packages.

· Trade Show: Showcase of locally made food products and handicrafts of Palawan.

· Cultural Showcase: Live performances featuring the diverse culture and celebrating Palawan’s rich heritage.

· Industry Networking: Opportunities for industry professionals to connect and explore partnerships.

Upcoming Events in Palawan for 2025

Palawan is gearing up for an exciting year with a lineup of high-profile events:

· IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Princesa on March 2, 2025, attracting athletes from across the globe.

· World Dragon Boat Championships, a qualifying event for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.

· Baragatan sa Palawan Festival in June, featuring vibrant street dancing, trade fairs, and cultural presentations.

A Commitment to Sustainability

Beyond promoting its destinations, Palawan is dedicated to sustainable tourism. Under Governor Dennis Socrates, efforts to preserve the province’s natural beauty and empower local communities remain a top priority.

“This expo is about more than just tourism. It’s about creating a sustainable future for Palawan while sharing its wonders with the world,” Rafols pointed out.

Mark Your Calendars

The Palawan: World’s Best Island Travel and Trade Expo 2025 is an opportunity for Filipinos to rediscover the magic of Palawan and contribute to the local economy. Whether planning your first visit or returning to this island paradise, the expo promises to deliver unmatched travel inspiration and deals.

 

All photos are courtesy of the Tourism Office, Municipality of Taytay, Palawan 

From selecting the perfect destination to organizing the entire itinerary, every detail counts when planning the ultimate summer adventure. Travel besties Cocoy Lim and Justine Sy make sure they have a truly unforgettable adventure with the best experiences. Their secret? They use GCash and its features in all aspects of their trips, from planning to making payments, no matter where they are. Check out these top tips from Cocoy and Justine for you to plan out your next summer adventure!

Tip #1: Don’t forget to get GInsure Travel Insurance for your luggages

When it comes to affordable travel insurance, Cocoy and Justine ensure they’re financially protected before being on the go by getting GInsure Travel Insurance. Within the GInsure dashboard of the GCash app, you can find different insurance products to suit your needs, including GInsure Travel Insurance for as low as Php 350.

Filipinos can benefit from having protection against unexpected travel expenses resulting from trip delays and cancellations, loss and damage to baggage, accidents, and illnesses. Coverage does not include skilled laborers traveling for employment, high-risk occupations, or one-way trips.

“As a frequent traveler, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially if you have delayed flights or any issues that are travel-related!” shares Justine.

Tip #2: Simplify your planning by using GCash to Pay Online

GCash helps you plan out your trips through its various partners offering special deals at great prices. If you’re shopping for all your summer style needs, you can enjoy special offers on TikTok Shop when you pay with GCash.

Meanwhile, you can find exciting deals for various summer experiences and activities via Klook. You can also use GCash online to pay when you Buy Load for Globe and TM to ensure you stay connected wherever you go.

Cocoy shares, “In my experience, I just tell my friends or travel companions, GCash ko nalang, ha! That means that you’ll just transfer your payments to that person! This just shows how cashless transactions are the way to go. No need to make sure that you have the exact change for the payment, or if you have enough cash to pay!”

Stay on the lookout for more Mega Summer deals this season, so you can venture into new destinations and make lasting memories with your travel besties.

Tip #3: Maximize the ways to pay with GCash

Justine and Cocoy's recent cashless summer experience in La Union with GCash exemplifies the seamless integration of the finance super app into local travels. The trip highlighted how users can go cashless in one of the country’s most popular summer destinations as they used GCash to Scan to Pay – from dining at trendy restaurants to exploring various attractions and even while going from one destination to another.

Justine explains, “[GCash is so] convenient. Let’s be real, 2024 na, not a lot of people are carrying cash with them, but 10/10 times they have their phone! I’m glad to know La Union is adapting to this. Pati yung tricycle drivers naka GCash, which is convenient!”

Meanwhile, if your summer travels are taking you out of the country, GCash gives you the option to pay cashless with the GCash Card.

Cocoy adds, “The all new GCash Card is my newest travel must-have! I first tried using it when I went to Hong Kong recently, and I was able to withdraw cash, pay for things, and enjoy a low FOREX rate pa!”

Keep using GCash this summer and play Shake It, Win It

The summer fun continues all the way until the end of May as GCash gives users the exciting chance of transforming their transactions into big prizes with the Shake It, Win It raffle.

When you Pay or Borrow with GCash worth at least Php 100, you earn raffle tickets instantly. Every day, you can win GCash credits, exclusive vouchers, brand-new gadgets, or the grand prize of free trips to top local and international destinations.

Download the GCash app today and unlock your next adventure with your travel besties this summer. Tara, Summer na! I-GCash mo!

For more details about Shake It, Win It, visit here. Promo runs from February 28, 2024 - May 31, 2024. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No.: FTEB-186373 Series of 2024. Supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Traveling does not need to be stressful. In fact, it can now be as easy as 1-2-3, with the launch of the all-in-one application for all travel needs and always at the best value – with the airasia Superapp!

The airasia Superapp is the latest online travel agency (OTA) platform that conveniently provides necessary travel services, all in one application.

airasia Superapp Public Communication and PR Manager Trish Terada, airasia Rewards Country Head Dana Tan, airasia Superapp Head of Travel Rowena Rivera, and airasia Superpp Managing Director Ray Berja during the airasia Superapp #ExploreYourWay Fair.

airasia Superapp recently launched its Explore Your Way campaign and welcomed thousands of mall-goers at SM Mall of Asia where they explored the wonders of each application's major features such as Flights, Hotels, Transport, and Rewards. Attendees were immersed in a travel-based experience which is focused on delivering the best value, as they took on journeys of discovery, fun games, and prizes.

Guests enjoy the booths at the airasia Superapp #ExploreYourWay Fair where they got amazing rewards and prizes for every game they played.

airasia Superapp Chief Commercial Officer Mai Yin Tan said “airasia Superapp is here to take the hassle out of booking the best value travel deals and is very useful not only for your domestic trips, but also for international travel. From flights on over 700 airlines, the best accommodation packages, to ride hailing, food, deliveries and more this should become your one stop shop for all your preferred travel bookings.

“I am also happy to announce that we have just been nominated as Asia’s Best Travel Booking App at the World Travel Awards. We hold this nomination so dear to our hearts because in just a year’s time, airasia Superapp’s efforts have been recognized in this prestigious award-giving body. I hope you can vote for us at https://worldtraveltechawards.com/award/asia-best-travel-booking-app/2023.

“We have a lot more in store for Filipinos with the airasia Superapp that you should definitely watch out for.”

airasia Superapp offers not only the best low cost airline deals, but also hotel accommodation at the best rates with a wide-range of selection and direct partnerships. Whether you are looking for a 5-star accommodation or budget hotel, you can book it via airasia Superapp as over 900,000 hotels across the globe are available on the platform.

In the Philippines, airasia Superapp has fostered strong ties with the Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, Hotel 101 Manila, Red Planet Hotels, Berjaya Makati Hotel, Sunlight Hotel Coron, and many more to ensure that all needs of the users are covered. With airasia Superapp, there is something for everyone.

airasia Superapp Managing director, Ray Berja said “Our Explore Your Way campaign is a perfect time to let everyone know that airasia Superapp is an industry leading online travel agency (OTA) that lets its users easily book flights from their airline of choice as we have a wide range of local and international carriers in the platform such as Sunlight Air, Airswift and Royal Air. Our hope is to make traveling more convenient and cost-efficient because we want our customers to make the most out of their time and budget so they have more money in their pocket when they get to their destination.”

With the theme “Explore Your Way”, mall attendees were given “boarding passes” that were used to explore the booths of airasia Superapp’s major lines of business (LOBs). The Dream Destination (Flights) Booth featured a world trivia game where participants were given the chance to dart and land on their favourite countries and locations across the world in order to win merchandise or a travel prize. The Hotel Ball Pit Frenzy gave incredible hotel discounts including exclusive Superapp vouchers and rewards, while a memory game was available at the last stop, the Rewards Paradise where prizes and promotional deals were redeemed. Winners to the Rewards Paradise also had a chance of winning the major raffle draw for attendees who finished the trip to all booths. Raffle draw prizes included special vouchers from airasia’s partner companies, airasia superapp points, and round trip international and local flights. The airasia Explore Your Way Fair was made possible in partnership with GCash, RCBC, Sunlight Air, Megaworld, Red Planet, Hotel 101, Bluewater Resorts, OceanJet, The 815 Co., Bayongciaga, and Dermo Republiq.

With the airasia Superapp, Capital A aims for travelers to have their well-deserved and worry-free vacation. Aside from its major LOBs including flights, hotels, and rewards, the airasia Superapp also offers a convenient, tax-free shopping through its shop feature while the transport allows travelers to book bus or ferry rides to the various destinations in the country. Through the #ExploreYourWay event launch, attendees got first-hand experience on navigating the airasia Superapp. With the goal to provide convenience for travelers, using the application is also convenient and easy, you just need to download the airasia Superapp from the App Store for IOS, Play Store for Android, or AppGallery for Huawei and key in your basic details. With a wide range of services to choose from, you are now ready to enjoy the superapp.

For more information, visit the @airasiasuperapp.ph on Facebook and Instagram.

Preparing for your next trip? Many travel guides will recommend bringing the basic essentials: clothes, identification, and money. But wouldn’t it be great if you can plan for your trip while also being conscious of the environment? Whether it’s an overseas trip, an overnighter or a road trip, there are greener alternatives to the usual items you occasionally pack for a vacation.

To help you with your upcoming adventure, here are some unlikely, eco-friendly travel essentials that could just save your dream vacation from going south, all while caring for the planet!

1.Bring a portable water filter instead of buying bottled water

Portable water filters are a staple for many backpackers and nature wanderers, but these could also be useful for tourists and casual travelers alike. If you’re going to a place where you may not trust the cleanliness of its water, having a portable water filter at hand could help ease that worry. Many portable filters and even purifiers are now available in the market that can be carried anywhere and are strong enough to rid your water of any bacteria and viruses.

2.Go for shampoo and conditioner bars

Shampoo and conditioner bars have been a new trend in recent times replacing their liquid counterparts. These bars are usually crafted with eco-friendly, sustainable, and natural ingredients that are both good for the hair and for the environment. Another useful advantage of these bars is you can always save it for the next use. Say goodbye to shampoo and conditioner sachets in the trash!

3.Worry less with waterproof bags

Waterproof bags are one of the most useful and versatile items you can bring to any trip. Waterproof bags are 100% reusable making it an economical investment for any trip. These bags are usually made with hydrophobic material which could keep your gadgets and personal items safe when you decide to engage in any spontaneous water activity or when you need to brave the rain. Apart from keeping your gadgets safe, waterproof bags could also store wet items and could prevent your other essentials from getting wet.

4.Opt for environment friendly cotton buds

Whether it’s for personal hygiene, make-up touch-ups, or applying ointments or creams, you and your family can always rely on cotton buds to do the trick. Not only are they small enough to fit any travel kits, but cotton buds have multiple uses as well — cotton buds are the perfect travel-sized self-care tool to bring on your next vacay!

When it comes to picking the perfect cotton buds, pick one with good quality, and that is gentle to both the skin and to the environment. On your next getaway, don’t forget to bring Babyflo Gentle Buds Eco-Friendly! These cotton buds are made from natural ingredients with 100% pure cotton tips and unbleached paper stems that come from responsibly managed forests. Babyflo Gentle Buds Eco-Friendly are available in 400 tips and the travel friendly 200 tips variation.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have these eco-friendly, biodegradable buds on hand when you travel? Babyflo Gentle Buds Eco-Friendly are available in Mercury Drug, Puregold, Robinsons, Metro Gaisano, and other retail stores nationwide and online. For more information, visit https://philusa.com.ph/ or check out Babyflo’s social media pages www.facebook.com/BabyfloPH and https://www.instagram.com/babyflo_ph/.

 

The Royal Treatment at Puerto Princesa

With safety protocols firmly enforced, Puerto Princesa is poised to again welcome tourists with open arms. In recent years, the highly urbanized city and tourist haven has been paralyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic, then pummeled by Typhoon Odette. But it is now on the road to recovery---as spectacularly as its scenic, romantic and gastronomic attractions. “The tourism industry is the lifeblood of Puerto Princesa, along with agriculture. Almost 15,000 people directly or indirectly benefit from tourism. In varying degrees, most of the recent construction and development projects are related to tourism: hotel-building, parks, cruise-ship ports, street lights, roads, and many more. Unfortunately, some of these have been on hold since the onset of the pandemic,” discloses Demetrio “Toto” Alvior Jr., the city tourism officer.

The Royal Connection

Puerto Princesa, the capital of postcard-perfect Palawan, sprawls across 253,982 hectares of captivating coastlines stretched over 106 kilometers. Due to its strategic geographical location, it has sufficient depth to allow ships of all sizes to anchor, earning a reputation as a “Princess of Ports,” or in Spanish, “Puerto Princesa.” There’s no contention that Puerto Princesa is one of the country’s greatest pleasures. A holiday destination universally beloved by travelers, beach-combers, and trekkers; a bustling business center with a rural allure; a provincial vibe with modern amenities; and a clean and green city recognized for its lush forests, fresh air, and frontier character.

Rising Above Covid-19

The city of Puerto Princesa has been struggling to get to its feet since the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020. The lack of tourists, which is the main industry, has forced hundreds of tourism-related businesses to close, leaving thousands of tourism workers unemployed.

“The public-health crisis forced them to find alternative sources of income, which was made more difficult because of the restrictions of movement due to several lockdowns,” Mr. Alvior reveals. “One factor of low tourist arrivals is the fluctuating number of Covid cases, which in turn affects the determination of quarantine requirements and national government intervention policies.” Today, Puerto Princesa is experiencing record lows in terms of economic losses, losing around P5 billion a year for the past two years from potential tourist receipts.

 

The plan to look for  a place to relax and enjoy the view will just be a few clicks away before it happens. So better watch out, for this event and get ready for LOVE LA UNION DIGITAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM EXPO!

Semestral break (sembreak) for the kids is very important, not just to have some time off from their studies but to energize them. This is the great time for the whole family to bond together. For me, as a mom, I take this opportunity to make my kids enjoy a memorable sembreak. Something for them to treasure.

The more the merrier is indeed true, so aside from my Boys, we also invited my Mother, Sister, niece and nephew to be part of this momentous day out.



Our destination and place to experience is at the Manila Ocean Park. When it comes to sea creatures this is the place to visit. It is one of the bucketlist of my kids. We've visit the place more than once, the first one was when my hubby was still my boyfriend, then the next one was when our first born, Kuya Maki, was three years old and just recently, last Saturday, October 27, we again visited the Park this time together with our youngest Son, Gelo.

All Star Bird Show

This was our first stop, the All Star Bird Show, since this is the closest time that we can do we immediately went to the area. Our kids' eyes widened when the bird show started and showcased their talents. This is their first time to experience and witness a bird show personally. Most of the time they just watch it on TV or in youtube. We just hoped that we were there earlier for the best seat. They wanted to go down there to watch it up close. My youngest son Gelo were yelling how great the show were.


It was an amazing experience, all of us were very attentive and very keen on the All Star Bird Show, specially the entry of the Birds and when they do their glides on our back, on the right and on the left side. We were in awe and a bit of shocked, they were not just an ordinary bird.

Birds Of Prey Kingdom

One of the highlights of our Manila Ocean Park experience happened here. At first you'll find this less exciting because there's not much to see but the intensity of the show is near the edge of the trail where people are invited to try and feed the eagles. Indeed they are the birds of prey. Of course one of us is brave enough to try it and without any hesitation Gelo talked to the Kuya who facilitates the feeding. Gelo was excited so he waited for his turn.






When it's Gelo's turn, he was both nervous and excited but we know him very well that he'll do this. He moved on, put on the protective gear, experienced it, and gave us an unforgettable moment. It was so fast, I thought we did not captured the moment, good thing that the Facilitator assisted in capturing it amazingly. Gelo's reaction was priceless, "My heart keeps beating Mommy, I was scared". Though a little bit scary for my 7 years old son because he felt the moment the bird got the fish on his arm.


It was indeed a great and priceless experience for my family, especially for the kids. For sure my children will tell it to their classmates when school days starts again.

Trails To Antartica
(Penguin Exhibit & Christmas  Village)

It looks and feels so cold when we entered this part of Manila Ocean Park attraction, the Trails To Antartica. I'm sure the sound already feels cold, even though its cold the place isn't cold of its features because when the kids saw the penguins, well, they wanted to get inside and experience feeding the penguins. Unfortunately, the line is long and it's not part of our itinerary. They wanted to feed them, touch them and have a picture with them. I just told them that we will do it when we visit Manila Ocean Park again. I was glad that they somehow understood. They just content themselves looking at the swimming penguins.

Then the next part was the Village where Santa is, the Christmas Village. It seems that Yuletide season is really near. It was really a village with cold weather, Santa Claus, Snow Man, the falling made-up snow, and of course the fireplace. The kids enjoyed catching the falling ice flakes.

 




Intermission (Snack Time)

It was just 3 attractions but our tummy is already rumbling, we need to eat! If we're just all adults we'll definitely finish the whole list of attractions but because we have kids with us, well, they're all hungry and to replenish their energies. Right mommies? Good thing that there are lots of food stalls to choose from. We got fries from Potato Corner, Siopao and Siomai from Henlin and finally the frosty from Wendys. We were full after that and we're ready again to for more experiences at Manila Ocean Park

The Oceanarium

It was my 3rd time to visit but it is still a moment to cherish, especially now that I have more than one with me. Our Manila Ocean Park 2nd highlight happened here. My kids were amazed when they got a chance to see different fishes, small and big, different colors, different features and a lot more.


During our stroll at the clear tunnel, we were able to capture few moments together with the fishes. But the most exciting of all is our selfie photo and video with one of the big fishes. What's more interesting is that the fish stays behind us and had her moment with us. Glad that it stayed and take note the fish fitted in our groupie. We were so happy on that very moment.



Sea Lion Show

Thought we felt tired after we visited the 4 attractions in Manila Ocean Park, but it seems that the kids aren't and what's great is that the Sea Lion Show eased our tired feet and we felt great just by watching the show. Perhaps because we were laughing that ease of our tiresome. While watching Gelo was amazed and wanted to touch the sea lions. When the host asked for volunteers, Gelo was raising his hands and shouts that he be picked. Unfortunately adults are required. Gelo wanted to touch the Sea Lion because he only watches it on TV but now he wanted to be near the Sea Lion, The theater was full packed of people to witness the show of the Sea Lion.




We left the theater with a big smile on our face, we really love the show, for sure the next time we visited the Park, we will definitely watch again the Sea Lion Show.

Shark and Rays Encounter

This is the first time that my family bravely took the chance to touch the sting ray. My kids love to touch the Sting Rays while the facilatator is holding it, all of us were amazed that we had a chance to encounter that huge sting ray. on the other hand, a shark, a very long but on a sleep mode I guess for us to give chance to watch shark nearly.



Neon Rides

This was our last destination for the tour in Manila Ocean Park because we're all tired from all the  attractions that we visited. This also gave a memorable experience plus a good cover photo for my facebook. Love the lights, the car and the rides. My kids were so excited and kept of shouting and screaming while we were on the rides. My hubby was the one who drove it, while the three of us kept on paddling to help daddy to move the car. The sound trip kept us to enjoy the rides and take note the kids are familiar with most of the music played during the ride.



Love this neon rides, it really gave us a time to bond to have a unity as a family as we ride the car. It gave us to think to have a road trip with my family and enjoy every moment with them.

We made it! We had a very enjoyable sem break with the kids, nephew and niece. A very memorable moment and bonding that for sure they will treasure for the rest of their lives. Though the suggested line-up of activities are 14 attractions we barely managed to have the 7 attractions to finished.
Since we weren't able to finished all the attractions, the kids keep on telling me that we need to visit again Manila Ocean Park to finish the other 7 attractions.

After a tiring day we need to have a dinner good thing that Makanmakan is just as near as they are for the visitors of Manila Ocean Park. You can read my story about our dining experience on my next blog.

Mommies, holiday season is coming now, if you want to give them a Christmas gift, Manila Ocean Park is the best. If you want to get your tickets fast and avoid the hassle of long lines, all you need to do is book it via Travelbook.Ph.  

For more details visit their website www.ManilaOcenPark.com, their facebook page www.facebook.com/manilaoceanparkofficial/.