Hello, everyone! I’m so glad to be invited to write in this site. Thanks to Paula Norman (that’s also a pseudonym!). While I still don’t know whether I will be writing occasionally or permanently, taking out the smog on Filipino teachers (the good and qualified ones I mean) would be a pleasant platform. In the first issues, I will be offbeat leaving the academic-loop balloons to our colleagues but, as time will pass by, depending on turnarounds, I will definitely go overboard. Rest assured that everything will be and of Filipino; or shall I say Filipinish?

As a kick-off point, I am sharing the evolution of the expression “Thank You.” We usually say this when we receive wonderful presents unexpectedly. We say “thank you” when somebody saves us from danger or when someone lends a shoulder to cry on. But, didn’t you know that this expression or any of its form is now becoming a very good excuse to get away with plagiarism. Believe me! Be the judge!

My special thanks to the Philippine Embassy in Thailand for adopting an article penned by the Department of Tourism (DOT) about “Fascinating Philippines” which was published by Bangkok Post. I was awed and got really homesick missing the wonderful places featured in that June 12 issue commemorating the Philippines’ 109th Independence Day. I could have packed my bag if I hadn’t realized that school term is still far from over. I wasn’t even sure whether there would be a long break in October. Now, this seems to be pathetic!

Anyway, I re-adopted (not plagiarized!) this engrossing article about the beauty we call…PHILIPPINES! And to be even more thankful, I am thinking to become a human ad carrying a poster of sort for the backpackers in Khaosan Road.

 

More than the usual sun, sea, and sand                                                                     

Asia's beach capital – the Philippines: Long, white, crystal sand beaches, an immense variety of marine life, rare and exotic sea flora and fauna, even the tropical party lifestyle are all in abundance more than a rarity in this country. Evidently, the Philippines can very well be Asia's Beach Capital, what with 7,107 islands, and a coastline twice the length of that of the United States. It is also home to Boracay, whose four-kilometer White Beach has been hailed as the “finest beach in the world.”

 

More than the usual wet and wild

A paradise blessed with gorgeous waterscapes, the Philippines is never lacking in today’s liveliest water encounters. It has been described as the most exciting surfing destination in the world, with great waves like Cloud 9, Tuason Point, Majestic, and Cemento, all ranking among the world’s best. Action Asia Magazine says, "The Philippines is to scuba divers what Switzerland is to skiers, Hawaii to surfers, and Nepal to mountaineers." And for white water action, there are attractions a-plenty – lakes, waterfalls, and rivers that create excellent kayaking and white water runs.

 

More than the usual fauna and flora

The Philippines is a sanctuary to an amazing variety of flora and fauna that are found nowhere else in the world. View the Philippine Eagle, the biggest eagle in the world, in the wilds of Davao, Samar, and Quezon. At night see the world's smallest mammal in existence, the Philippine Tarsier, which inhabits the mahogany forests of Bohol. Swim and interact with the whale sharks in Donsol, Sorsogon. Bow-ride with the dolphins in Bais, Dumaguete, and Bohol. And get acquainted with endangered Philippine and African animals in the uninhabited 3,700-hectare Calauit Island.
 

  

More than the usual underwater view

A whale of an experience in Donsol, Sorsogon: In late 1997, the world discovered the huge schools of whale sharks that had been visiting the mouth of Donsol River for generations, oblivious to the small coastal community. Organized whale shark expeditions then transformed this sleepy, remote fishing village into a major eco-tourist destination almost overnight. Get ready to put on your gear, ease yourself quietly into the water, and swim alongside the world's largest fish, over 50 feet in length and 13 tons in weight, in the wondrous waters of Donsol.

 

More than the usual high and low rise

Wander over the world heritage site, Banaue Rice Terraces, Eighth Wonder of the World, carved from the high Cordilleras over 2,000 years ago. Behold the 500-year old mummies in Kabayan. Follow the steps of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo trekking up Mt. Pinatubo. View Taal Volcano, the smallest volcano in the world. Head for the 1,268 Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Top off your experience with an exhilirating ride on a canoe down an 8-kilometer Underground River in Sabang, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

 

More than the usual river wild

The world's longest underground river

system accessible to man is located in the capital of Palawan. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which has been inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is Palawan's most popular attraction and covers 5,349 hectares of lush forest, dark mountains, caves, and white beaches. Paddle through eight kilometers of a snaking, underground river leading to a clear lagoon. Walk on the Monkey Trail, a series of wooden paths that winds into the forest, lined with 40,000 tropical flora and fauna.