DOT welcomes Siargao, Palawan and Boracay win in international travel magazine awards October 05, 2021 at 03:00PM

Out of Town Blog
DOT welcomes Siargao, Palawan and Boracay win in international travel magazine awards

DOT welcomes Siargao, Palawan and Boracay win in int’l travel mag awards

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) –  The inclusion of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations in the 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) magazine is a testament to the hard work of the tourist industry “to strengthen our position as a top-of-mind destination” for international travelers.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) made this statement on Wednesday (October 6) as three of the country’s award-winning local destinations topped the list for the Asia category.

Ride the waves in the Philippines surfing capital Siargao

The surfing haven Siargao Island was recognized as this year’s top favorite in Asia, while the world-famous Palawan and Boracay Island earned the third and eighth spots, respectively. They beat other world favorites in Asia like Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Islands (second), Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands (ninth), and Phuket (10th).

“At a time when we are exhausting all means to revive tourism in the country, we are grateful for this new recognition from Condé Nast Traveler. We have worked to strengthen our position as a top-of-mind destination around the globe while ensuring that health and safety protocols across our destinations are implemented and observed,” Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said.

“This recognition bodes well for the recovery of the country’s tourism industry and our latest global campaign, “More Fun Awaits,” which showcases the DOT’s preparations for international leisure travel once the restrictions are lifted,” she added.

Meanwhile, The Philippines ranked 20th in the CNT’s list of Top Countries in the World with a score of 91.63.

El Nido New Normal Requirements and Safety Guidelines

The annual Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards gathers feedback from over 800,000 readers across the globe based on their recent travel experiences in the World’s top hotels, resorts, cities, countries, islands, spas, trains, car rentals, luggage, airlines, airports, and cruises.

The results of the 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards demonstrate the recent travel experiences of the readers and—given the travel restrictions forced by the pandemic—provide an idea of where travelers are “dreaming of going next” when the World reopens for international travel.

Siargao had also been chosen by TIME as among the World’s 100 Greatest Places 2021. Palawan ranked 19th on Travel + Leisure magazine’s Top 25 Islands in the World and fifth in the Asian category this year. Palawan was also included in CNT’s list of The 30 Best Beaches in the World in 2020.

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DOT welcomes Siargao, Palawan and Boracay win in international travel magazine awards
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

Zi Char or Char Lang? Karylle and Yael take on a Singaporean cooking char-llenge September 29, 2021 at 04:48PM

Out of Town Blog
Zi Char or Char Lang? Karylle and Yael take on a Singaporean cooking char-llenge

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) –  Many people know celebrity couple Karylle and Yael Yuzon as notable figures in music and TV, but little did everyone knows that the two wear many hats in terms of passions and creative pursuits.

Zi Char or Char Lang

Sharing their culinary flair with their fans, Karylle and Yael joined Singapore Tourism Board’s new web cooking series, Zi Char or Char Lang. The YouTube show is hosted by actor and restaurateur Marvin Agustin.

In Zi Char or Char Lang, Marvin invites his celebrity friends to star as the CHARllengers in the cooking series. He will teach the guests how to cook popular Singaporean Zi Char meals — and if the food tastes good, Marvin will say “Zi Char!”; if not, then it’s “Char lang.”

In the first episode, Marvin is joined by Karylle and Yael as they make Pork Ribs King. This dish is one of the best-loved fare in Singapore that uses Zi Char, a cooking method that means ‘to cook and fry.’ Zi Char is a favorite amongst Singaporeans for its big servings and exciting taste, fusing various Asian influences such as Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Peranakan.

Karylle and Yael take on a Singaporean cooking char-llenge

The pork ribs are marinated in a special batter to be deep-fried and then doused in a sweet and sour sauce. Deep-frying the pork on high heat makes the marinade flavors come out. That’s why for Singaporean locals, Pork Ribs is definitely KING.

“Bonding yung Zi Char experience,” says Karylle. The singer-actress remembers going on a few trips to Singapore when she shot The Kitchen Musical and Point of Entry drama series. “It’s really something that you would love to share with your loved ones,” she added.

Meanwhile, Yael also has his own thoughts on why he loves Zi Char. “I like the idea of passing down a recipe from generation to generation. It evolves but basically stays the same.” One of Yael’s must-visit places in Singapore is Chinatown. He takes time to eat at several Zi Char stalls, especially those that are already decades old, to see for himself the authentic charm of heirloom recipes.

Zi Char or Char Lang Ep 1 – Pork Ribs King

While the couple cannot travel at the moment, the Yuzons shared that food has been the best portal for them to reimagine travel experiences.

When asked how Marvin sees the parallels between Singaporean and Filipino cuisines, he said, “They’re very much like us. They enjoy the entire process — the cooking, the eating, and the bonding with friends and family.”

After all the fun they had, Marvin made the verdict on their Pork Ribs King creation. How well do you think Karylle and Yael did? Watch the first episode of Zi Char or Char Lang on SingapoReimagine’s YouTube channel.

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Zi Char or Char Lang? Karylle and Yael take on a Singaporean cooking char-llenge
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

How to switch Mobile networks without changing your number? September 29, 2021 at 03:00AM

Out of Town Blog
How to switch Mobile networks without changing your number?

Mobile Number Portability: How does it work?

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (www.outoftownblog.com) – Mobile users are in a treat because you can now switch to other networks without changing your numbers. You can still use your existing phone number starting September 30, thanks to the Mobile Number Portability law.

How to Switch Mobile Network without changing mobile number

If you want to switch to a different network, don’t worry; changing network providers is free. This is because of compliance with the Republic Act 11202 or the Mobile Number Portability Act, Mobile Number Portability (MNP) that gives mobile phone users the freedom to choose their telco service provider conveniently and seamlessly. It also helps promote consumer welfare as it fosters the freedom to select and respond to quality, price, and other relevant considerations.

Smart

According to Smart’s official website, you can now visit the nearest Smart Store to request your Intra MNP Application. You can also start applying for external MNP (Dito and Globe porting in to SMART) starting September 30, 2021. According to Smart, there will be a maximum of 4 hours of service interruption (no voice, SMS & data) to complete the activation of your new subscription. For Internal Porting, your MVP Rewards will be retained.

Just take note that you can only apply if your mobile number is active and has no unpaid account charges.

Before visiting the store, make sure to bring the following:

• Any Valid ID
• Proof of Ownership of SIM (For Prepaid only).

Any of the following:

• The original SIM Bed/Jacket of your Prepaid SIM;
• The original PUK Slip of your Prepaid SIM;
• A copy of an Official Receipt issued by SMART with your Prepaid Mobile Number;
• Successful login to MySmart Web or MyPLDTSmart App or GigaLife App; or PayMaya account linked to Mobile Number (Account must be linked to Paymaya for 3 months or more).

Standard Postpaid Application Requirements (For Postpaid only).

Mobile Number Portability

Globe

Globe was the first one to start their internal porting last April 21. Before visiting your nearest Globe store, make sure to prepare the following:

• An active SIM or mobile number
• No financial obligations or remaining balances from your previous postpaid bill
• No porting request in the last 60 days
• No record of fraudulent activity

How does mobile number portability work?

After applying to your current network, you will be receiving a 9-digit unique subscriber code. After that, the originating network will be receiving a porting authorization request from the receiving network. The request should be processed in 24 hours. Finally, the receiving network should provide and activate the new sim within 24 hours.

It will also take about 60 days before you’re allowed to request another transfer. There is also no limit to the number of times one can switch between telcos.

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How to switch Mobile networks without changing your number?
Team Out of Town
Out of Town Blog