Posts Tagged ‘hillside’

Ancient ways of life

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

The Philippines is the lone Christian country in Southeast Asia. The majority of their 75 provinces swiftly caved into Jesus when Spain embarked on a short–lived Asian experiment in the 1650’s. In spite of that, six of those provinces — within a secluded mountain–range jungle in northern Luzon — fiercely resisted Spain’s take on God. The semi–tropical Cordillera is the country’s most rugged and least populated region and is still a thorny place to plot a route and get a haircut. Native Ifugao, Igorot and other pagan tribes remained warring headhunters until the 1950’s.
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Philippine Samal Island

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

The alluring beauty of the Far East is seen not only through its contrasts of culture, lifestyle, and climate, but also through the way nature has brought it into being. It is where the sun rises. It is where oriental charm lives where many travelers have found the most interesting journey experience.

Among the hundreds of attractive islands in the Philippines, a few seem to stand above the rest. Off the southern most part of Mindanao is the enchanting Island of Samal. Its unspoiled tropical beauty, serene surroundings, and wildlife treasures have enticed countless international visitors each year.

Since its rowdy beginnings in the early Spanish regime, the island within the Gulf of Davao was named “Samal” in recognition of the settlers who migrated from Jolo and Basilan, the Islamic Tribal Group or “Isamal”. Historical records from its tourism department show that, in the early years, indigenous people from the northern and eastern coasts of undivided Davao province settled Samal Island.
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