Traveling is an opportunity to visit areas that are off the beaten path. With access to different areas in the world steadily growing thanks to improvements in transport and tourism, more people have the opportunity now to explore hidden gems. More than just seeing the sights or checking out the most Instagrammable spots, travelers should use the experience to enrich themselves and learn more about a place’s history and culture.
Opening opportunities for knowledge and skills exchange is essential to the career of any student or professional. These opportunities may not always be limited to the Philippines– in fact, broadening one’s horizon in a foreign country is an experience that many should take advantage of. If you’re a student or professional in the Philippines, visa concerns remain one of the biggest hurdles to taking up further studies and training abroad. The visa application process can be long and arduous, and only proper preparation can result in an approved visa.
The Philippines has friendly relationships with a lot of countries, which at the very least increases the chances of visa approval. One of the types of visa Filipino citizens can apply for is the J-1 visa. The U.S. Government’s Exchange Visitor Program and J1 visa means that participants have the opportunity to engage with U.S. culture, strengthen their English language skills, and learn and build new skills that will help them further their careers. The J1 visa stands out from other visa types by allowing successful applicants the opportunity for professional growth that may not have been available to them otherwise.
The second casino and resort to rise in the Entertainment
City complex, City of Dreams saw its doors open with a soft opening on December
14, 2014, and a grand opening on February 2, 2015. It celebrated its inauguration
with a bang through the Concert of Dreams, which featured local talents like
Gary Valenciano and Zsa Zsa Padilla, as well as international stars like Ne-Yo
and Kelly Rowland.
City of Dreams is a sister resort to City of Dreams in
Macau, but it has its own unique Manila flair that makes it stand out. The
resort has six hotel towers with 938 rooms, including Nobu Hotel, Nuwa
(formerly known as Crown Towers), and a Hyatt Regency Hotel.
In addition to this, City of Dreams is also a gamer’s haven,
with 289 gaming tables, 1,620 slot machines, and 176 electronic table games.
For shopaholics, it’s also home to The Shops at the Boulevard, an almost 80,000
square meter shopping mall housing the best local and international brands
around. Families will also enjoy DreamPlay, a theme park located in the complex
that was developed in partnership with DreamWorks Animation, as well as The
Garage, a VR play and dining experience that’ll knock your socks off.
One of the most awe-inspiring sites in the City of Dreams
complex includes the Fortune Egg, a dome-like building that houses two of the
best international nightclubs in Manila. Visitors can choose between Chaos or
Pangaea, both of which were developed by the group of “International King
of Clubs” Michael Van Cleef Ault.
When it comes to glitz and glamor in the Philippines,
Solaire Resort and Casino has quickly climbed to the top of the list after its
opening in 2013. The first of four resorts to operate in Manila’s Entertainment
City, Solaire first opened its doors on March 16, 2013, with 800 guest rooms,
suites, and villas.
It currently holds the distinction of being the tallest
hotel in the Manila Bay area, and features a column-free grand ballroom that
can accommodate 1,300 guests, 8 function rooms and 2 boardrooms with
audiovisual equipment, leisure, live entertainment, dining, and retail hubs,
and the Theatre at Solaire, which houses 1,740 seats and a retail space of
60,000 square meters. Last but definitely not the least, Solaire also boasts an
18,500 square meter gaming area with 1,620 slot machines and 360 gaming tables.
Image taken from Entertainment City Manila’s homepage.
Bright lights, gaming and leisure, and balmy, tropical
weather— these words don’t just describe entertainment tourism stalwarts like
Las Vegas and Macau. When it comes to leisure, there’s a new kid on the
proverbial block, and it looks like it’s aiming to be a powerhouse. The
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)’s Entertainment City has
been in operation for several years, and is well on its way to transforming the
face of Philippine tourism.
With integrated resorts and casinos, as well as dozens of
high-end shopping and dining prospects, Entertainment City showcases the best
of Philippine entertainment tourism. Here’s a primer on what you can expect
from the glitz and glamor of this expanding gaming and entertainment complex.
The new year is the season for trying out new experiences,
and nothing is more life-affirming or transformative than developing an
appreciation for the arts. According to writer Thomas Merton, “Art enables
us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” It provides a
deeper look into the human psyche, and allows us to share and foster creativity
and connection with each other. From the visual arts to performance arts like
ballet and musicals, art has brought together people of all ages, genders,
creeds, and races throughout history.
As we approach the National Arts Month in February, it becomes more and more apparent that the Philippines is a country with a rich history of the visual arts. Greats like Juan Luna, Jose Joya, Araceli Dans , and many more have made their mark on the local arts scene over the decades. And even today, the tradition is alive and kicking, as you can see in our article ’24 Philippine Artists Shaping Local Contemporary Art’. If you’re curious about what’s going on in the Philippine arts scene, 2020 is your chance to broaden your horizons. To start off your art appreciation journey, here are twenty Philippine art galleries that are showcasing the best and brightest of the local modern arts scene.
Traveling to the Philippines has been making trends on the internet lately, and the statistics don’t lie. An article by Business Mirror reports that in the span of 8 months, visitor arrivals to the country increased by 14.08% or approximately 5.55 million tourists. With quite a number of tourist destinations in the country, that number of tourists isn’t too much of a surprise. If you’re interested in traveling the country but have your personal hesitations, here’s a list debunking common misconceptions about traveling in the Philippines.
There’s nothing like professional sports to get your blood pumping, and the Philippines has shown that it can hold its own on the international level. Boxing greats like Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire have proven their mettle against dozens of international opponents time and time again. In fact, such is the skill of Filipino boxers that there were no less than six boxing world title winners carrying the flag of the Philippines in 2018 alone.
When it comes to fame inside the ring, Filipinos don’t fall too far behind. With the rise of MMA (mixed martial arts)’s popularity, several Filipino fighters have made names for themselves on the international stage. Such is the growth of MMA as a sport in the Philippines that ONE Championship recently announced a 2020 reality show competition to find the next best Filipino fighter. The show will culminate in a tournament, with the winner taking home a USD100,000 prize.
With MMA slowly gaining popularity in the country, it’s only right that we should take a look at some of the biggest names in the sport currently. Here’s a list of the top 10 best Filipino MMA fighters in the country.
