Also known as 'Pearl of the Orient', the Philippines is an archipelago which prides herself with about 7, 108 islands. Its name was derived from King Phililp II of Spain. Eventually the name Las Islas Filipinas would be used to cover all the islands of the archipelago. Some of the various name were : San Lazaro (by Magellan's), Republica Filipina (Malolos Congress), Philippine Islands (Philippine-American war until Commonwealth era). The official name as of this date is Republic of the Philippines.There are three major islands: Luzon , Visayas, and Mindanao. Manila, the capital is home to about 1.6 million people, making the city the second most populous city in the country. Filipino and English are the major languages and about 90 dialects are spoken.
Caleruega in Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas, is a Dominican Retreat Center built in 1995. It is the local version of Caleruega in Spain, the birthplace of St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Friars Preachers. Since then it has been a place for retreat and recollection, local and international meetings, weddings and film and photography. The beauty and serenity the place offers are very apt to its motto, which read “Close to nature, closer to God”.
Tagaytay City is not only home for the famous Taal volcano but also a place for religious communities. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destination. Tagaytay City is a 55 km south of Manila, belonging to the province of Cavite. The city is also a popular summer tourist destination because of its cool climate due to its high altitude.
Legend has it that the word Tagaytay came from "taga" meaning to cut and "itay" which means father. A father and son were said to be on a wild boar hunt when the animal they were chasing turned and attacked them. As the boar charged towards the old man, the son cried "taga itay!". The boy's repeated shout reverberated in the alleys of the ridge. Heard by the residents, hunters and wood gatherers, the cries became subject of conversation for several days in the countryside. In time, the place where the shouts came from became known as TAGAYTAY (c/o wikepedia.org)
In 1979, the then First Lady Imelda Marcos built the famous 'Palace in the Sky' as a guest house for the visiting President Ronald Reagan, who never came. The guesthouse was built on the highest peak of Tagaytay, overlooking the taal lake, balayan, laguna and manila bay. Today the place is common to all as the 'People's Park in the Sky'. Although the construction did not reach its completion, and due to poor maintaneance, it is still one of the places to visit in Tagaytay. Other tourist spots that might interest you are tagaytay picnic grove, tagaytay highlands, the chapel of the cloistered nuns known as pink sisters, filipino-japanese friendship garden among others.
In 1979, the then First Lady Imelda Marcos built the famous 'Palace in the Sky' as a guest house for the visiting President Ronald Reagan, who never came. The guesthouse was built on the highest peak of Tagaytay, overlooking the taal lake, balayan, laguna and manila bay. Today the place is common to all as the 'People's Park in the Sky'. Although the construction did not reach its completion, and due to poor maintaneance, it is still one of the places to visit in Tagaytay. Other tourist spots that might interest you are tagaytay picnic grove, tagaytay highlands, the chapel of the cloistered nuns known as pink sisters, filipino-japanese friendship garden among others.
The University of Sto. Tomas or UST is the oldest existing Royal, Pontifical, Catholic university in Asia, located in Espana, Manila. It was built in 1611 by the Dominican Spanish friars. The university prides not only of her ancient legacy but of its contribution to Philippine Church and society in particular, and to Asia in general. The university accommodates about 30, 000 students every year.
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