Asia - week in Philippines need suggestions

Wife and I, planning a trip to Philippines in Nov. Ideas on what to see /do are needed
Thanks

are you wide open, or do you have a specfic area you are headed to?

I highly recommend the American War Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Manila. It's quite impressive. Note that the guard may require ID for you to enter.

we are active senior citizens, would love to experience the culture. Traveling around is perfectly OK

Wife and I, planning a trip to Philippines in Nov. Ideas on what to see /do are needed
Thanks

...

we are active senior citizens, would love to experience the culture. Traveling around is perfectly OK





Please keep in mind that you did not specify the number of days or budget.

NOTE1: Food recommendations are not necessarily Heart Healthy!
NOTE2: The Philippines is a relatively poor country and is not as well developed as other destinations in SEA. Be prepared to see poor living conditions if you venture outside of the "better kept" areas.

I would recommend the following:

Everywhere you go, talk and interact with the average Filipino Citizen.

Manila:
Intramuros [Old City]
Lapu-Lapu Statue [Rizal Park]
Manila Bay Dinner Cruise
Day trip to Tagaytay [Taal Volcano]
Day trip to Corregidor War Memorial
Day trip to Pagsanjan Falls
Day trip to Angono Caves

========================

Clark [Former US Air Force Base]/Dau
Mt. Pinatubo Lahar Fields [could also be done as a day trip from Manila but is on the way to Subic so maybe a good transit point]

========================

Subic Bay [former US Navy Base]

Beach Destination [not the best beaches in SEA]

========================

Visayas:

Cebu City:
Fort San Pedro
Basilica Minore of the Santo Niño
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Casa Gorordo
Magellan's Cross
Lapu-Lapu's bronze statue in the Mactan Shrine
Calesa ride [horse drawn carriage]
Dinner at the Original AA Restaurant [try the Lechon Baka served only on Friday/Saturday - I think]
Dinner from Andok's [try the Lechon Manok and Liempo]
Visits to Mactan Beach properties [Shangri La, etc.]
* eat once at a Jolly Bee it is the Filipino version of a fast food burger joint. Nothing special but it appears to be a Filipino institution

Bohol: [some of the following can be done as a day trip from Cebu City]
Chocolate Hills
Philippine Tarsir/Tarsier
Firefly Tour
Danao Adventure Park

Panglao Island:
Hinagdanan Cave [stalactites and stalagmites/underground spring pool]
Beach Resorts

Leyte:
Tacloban - Leyte Landing Memorial Park [MacAuthur Landing site]

========================

Boracay:
Beach Resorts

========================

Various Activities:
Learn to SCUBA dive
Take a Filipino cooking class
Volunteer at an Orphanage


Food:
Balut (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_%28egg%29)
Lechon [Baboy/pork; Baka/beef; Manok/chicken]
Adobo [pork, chicken - "wet" and "dry" versions]
Sinigang na [Baboy, Baka, Fish]
Beef Tapa
Liempo
Crispy Pata
Inihaw na Bangus
Pancit [Bihon, Sotanghon,Canton, Batchoy, etc.]
Pochero [chicken, beef]
Halabos Na Hipon [shrimp]
Seafood Kare-kare

i have been here and it is pretty cool:
Day trip to Pagsanjan Falls

they filmed part of apocolypse now on this river.

we are active senior citizens, would love to experience the culture. Traveling around is perfectly OK

Some good news, your senior citizen cards are valid here in the Philippines. Any establishment would (and SHOULD) accept it.

If you're in a rush to visit, here are some suggestions:
- American Battle Monument
- Rizal Park
- Intramuros (on a calesa)
- And don't forget to shop in Greenhills or any mall - ask any local and they'll give you names, but avoid buying fakes or it will get confiscated.

Dining locations:
- Burgos Circle (The Fort)
- Greenbelt
- Tomas Morato

And if possible, take a coupon taxi (rather than the yellow airport taxis since they're freakingly expensive) from NAIA 1 (I suppose)

If you have spare time, visit:
- Pagsanjan falls
- Clark Pampanga
- Tagaytay city

Enjoy!!

If you're not restricted to Manila, I would suggest taking a 45 minute flight to nearby Coron in Palawan. The land/sea-scapes are otherworldly and there are a lot of things to do.

More info here: http://wanderme.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/coron/ (http://wanderme.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/coron/)

Philippines is a Great place to visit I would suggest you which are famous spots in Philippines...

-Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
-The Historic Town of Vigan
-The Baroque Churches of the Philippines
-The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
-El Nido Resorts in El Nido, Palawan
-Boracay Island
each place has it's beauty and great history.

I have been to Vigan,
it was like my 15th time to PI, so finally got up that way.

Worth the trip, maybe not for the first visit though !

If you would like to see the culture, you can start with Manila in Intramuros and Rizal Park and try the harbor view restaurants along roxas blvd.

If you still have atleast a week, I recommend Hidden Valley Resort in Alaminos Laguna, about 2 hours from Manila. It is a paradise within reach.