Got this from Calvin’s Hub. The North Philippines Visitors Bureau has just launched Lakbay Norte 3, a 9-day media tour of North and Central Luzon which is slated to happen from January 22-30, 2012.  Lakbay Norte 3 is giving six slots to deserving travel bloggers or bloggers who own a travel-related site (Ehem!).

The Lakbay Norte 3: Outdoor Adventures of the North is an all-expense paid familiarization gig which will grant deserving bloggers with food, lodging, and transportation (courtesy of Victory Liner).  The gig will include various fun activities including – rappeling in Bulacan, firing range in Cabanatuan, white water rafting in the Kalinga, Beach bumming in Blue Lagoon Pagudpud and more. In other words, the schedule of activities is pretty much jam-packed and I’m pretty sure that the participants will have a grand time during this event. Of course, there’s the underlying objective of producing more than 100 articles and features about North and Central Luzon.

So, if you’re a travel blogger and you want to be part of this gig, you simply need to do three things – complete an application form asking you some personal details as well as details of your blog, and a a screenshot of your Google Analytics account showing your blog.

Deadline for submission of entry is on October 31.  20 finalists will be choosen from the first batch of applications and more screening will be done for this 20 bloggers until the final six is chosen.

More details about the Lakbay Norte 3 can be found on this site.

Sorry for stealing the Department of Tourism’s slogan. It just fits well to this blog’s name. Anyway, the reason for this blog post is of course to share with you our dear friends the new Campaign video of DOT’s slogan – Pilipinas, Tara Na. OPP’s opinion – the music video was awesome! Featuring some ABS-CBN music artists such as Zsa-Zsa Padilla, Jed Madela, Karylle, Bituin Escalante, Sam Concepcion, Billy Joe Crawford, Barbie Almabis, Raymond Marasigan, Martin Nieverra and Christian Bautista (did I miss anyone?). For GMA, it’s Ogie Alcasid, Kyla and Janno Gibbs. Regine Velasquez made a short appearance as well as Yael of Spongecola and the Itchyworms.

The music is definitely great. Imagine the different travel destinations, food, and places in our paradise Philippines being sang by these artists. Plus of course you’ll get to see footages of the artists while they were recording the song and the different travel spots in our paradise Philippines.

What am I saying? Just watch the video attached below and enjoy. I heard there will be three more versions coming up. I can’t wait to watch and listen to them.

If you’re into kayaking, you’ll be glad to know that the DOT is now promoting the Philippines as a prime kayaking spots. Check out the full release after the jump.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has recently launched its newest tourism product that features kayaking around the Philippines.

Introduced to major foreign buyers attending the Philippine Travel Exchange ’09 (PHITEX), the new tourism product highlights kayaking adventure in beaches, lagoons, rivers, lakes, springs, and fjords.

“In a country of 7,107 islands, one can only imagine the infinite possibilities of kayaking adventure. Exploring the span of our clear waters surely opens travelers to the unique splendor of our country,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.
A short video on kayaking in the Philippines was presented to top travel buyers from Asia and Europe, with delegates comprised of tour operators, travel agencies, retailers, corporate planners, alternative tours companies, and incentive travel firms.

“Kayaking allows tourists inside secret coves, inlets, channels that lead to stunning views of our mangrove forests, limestone cliffs, unspoiled coastlines and other exciting mysteries around our islands,” shared Eduardo Jarque Jr., Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions.

A book entitled, Kayak Philippines, was also handed out to participants. Apart from kayaking tips and basic paddling symbols, the book showed top sites and trails, which include, Pinacanauan River, Hundred Islands, Cavite-Corregidor-Bataan, Caramoan Peninsula, Northern Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Samar, Siargao Island, and Samal Island.

The Cavite-Corregidor-Bataan features a historic kayaking trail, starting at the entrance of the Manila Bay, passing Cavite, and then Corregidor Island which bore witness to World War II. Tourists can opt to disembark on the island and enjoy a walking tour of sites in Bataan including Mt. Samat, the Shrine of Valor.

The Caramoan Peninsula offers a view of limestones, rugged coastlines, and white sand-ringed islands, complemented by a stunning view of underwater marine life by snorkeling around shallow waters.
For the high-spending market, the DOT offers Luxury Kayaking in Palawan. Known for its idyllic beaches, lagoons and caves, Palawan enjoins travelers to kayak in El Nido and Coron.

Cebu draws attention to paddling in Hilutungan Island and Marine Sanctuary, Sulpa Island, Olango Island and Mactan Island for moonlight kayaking.
Bohol, the frontier of ecotourism, lists several sites for kayaking which include, Banacon Island, Pandanon Island, Dumog and Ubay Islands, Abatan River, and Punta Cruz, which teem with mangrove forest and sandbars. Lagoon moonlight paddling is also offered in Panglao Island.

In Samar, the unspoiled waters of Marabut, and Sohoton Natural Bridge Park are featured. While Siargao has Guyam Island, Sohoton Cove, and Del Carmen Lagoon. Samal Island in Davao is likewise a kayak site, promising reefs, mountains and caves along the way.

Stanie Soriano, Corporate Relations Manager of Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation, (PCVC) DOT’s partner in the project, added that, “These paddling spots can be availed through several tour packages such as the New Adventure-Kayak Hundred Islands, Historic Manila Bay Kayaking Adventures; Luxury Kayaking Safari in Bacuit Bay, Palawan, and Bohol Extreme Packages: Kayamping (Kayak and Camping).”