Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – After being sidelined for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sarangani Bay (SarBay) Festival made a soft come back albeit in a toned-down environmental initiative to help preserve the bay’s fragile ecosystem.
Crown of Thorns collection at Sarangani Bay
Regarded as the biggest beach party in the archipelago with various sporting and wellness events and over 100,000 visitors, the fest highlighted the underwater collection of crown of thorns (COT), which prey on the coral reefs in Sarangani Bay, one of the country’s most biodiversity-rich protected seascapes.
Volunteers scuba divers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local government units of Sarangani Province, and the Philippine National Police led the four-day environmental effort, where they were able to collect some 47,000 COTs in the beach resort towns of Maasim and Glan in Sarangani.
Crown of Thorns collection at Sarangani Bay
Dubbed as Wake Up Sarbay, the scaled-down festivities also featured the SarBay Sea-kad Bike and Plant ride where cyclists pedaled from the provincial capitol complex in Alabel town to the mangrove forest in Malapatan and Mt Sabrina Resort in Glan.
Moreover, the Department of Tourism Region 12 also launched its Dive Sox program to promote the Soccsksargen Region as an alternative dive spot in southern Mindanao. The current dive haven in the region is Maasim town because of the presence of the Lemlunay Resort, the only dive center in Sarangani.
Bike and Plant participants at Provincial Capitol
The DOT dive program aims to expand the dive areas to Glan, which launched its own program last year, and to the coastal municipalities of Sultan Kudarat province.
Wake Up Sarbay drew to a close with a Touch Mobile-sponsored evening concert at the famed Gumasa white beach featuring Daybreak band and Kakang of Virgu.
Counting collected Crown of Thorns
Named in 1996 by Presidential Proclamation 756 as a Protected Seascape, Sarangani Bay’s coral resources cover more than 2,293 hectares spread over 20 areas with about 60 important live hard coral genera, 411 reef species in 46 families. Its seagrass cover is placed at 912 hectares, with 11 species.
Diver injecting Crown of Thorns
Marine mammal species, which include spinner dolphins, risso’s dolphins, and dugong or sea cow, are often sighted which attests to the bay’s healthy marine life.
The bay has been experiencing occasional outbreaks of COTs over the past few years due to the loss of its natural predators such as the Triton trumpet, Napoleon wrasse, white-spotted pufferfish, and titan triggerfish which keep its population in check.
Mangrove planting in Malapatan
The rise in sea surface temperature due to climate change and deterioration of water quality also contribute to the growth of COTs across various bodies of water across the country.
Fly Easy to Bali, Bangkok, Dubai, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, and Vietnam via CEB
Filipinos are raring to travel abroad again to see the sights they missed in the last couple of years. Many are also excited to reunite with family and friends.
Whatever one’s reasons may be, Cebu Pacific (CEB) is ready to fly passengers safely to their desired destinations as travel restrictions have eased in some countries for leisure travelers. Coming home is easier now as the Philippine government has also simplified travel for returning Filipinos and foreign tourists alike.
In April, the local airline resumed flights to Jakarta, and Hanoi, bringing the number of international routes to 16 as part of its plan to ramp up flights by July.
CEB also currently flies to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul (Incheon), Nagoya, Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, and Guangzhou, among many other destinations.
“We are happy to enable everyJuan to safely fly across our network. We hope to continue contributing to the economic and tourism agenda in and out of the Philippines,” Xander Lao, CEB chief commercial officer, said in a recent press conference held at the WTTC Global Summit.
Effective May 30, travelers flying to the Philippines who have received the two-dose series or single-dose vaccine (Janssen), and at least 1 booster shot, are no longer required to present COVID-19 test results for entry, according to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). However, those without booster shots will still need to show their negative test results prior to boarding (RT-PCR test taken 48 hours before departure or antigen test taken 24 hours before departure).
“We laud the efforts of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and IATF-EID for enabling ways to further simplify travel requirements and making it easier for travelers to fly back home or visit the Philippines,” added Lao.
If you’re planning an international trip soon, here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
A bustling city with wildlife: Sydney
Australia is known for its unique animals, which you can see up close at the Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Sea Life Aquarium, and other wildlife parks. During the day, you can walk around the city or get a tan at Bondi Beach. At night, watch a show at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Sydney flights from Manila are slated in July, with a thrice-weekly frequency, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Travel requirements: Travelers must have a valid tourist visa. Upon check-in, passengers must present a vaccination certificate, and proof of completed Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) submitted up to 72 hours before departure. Travelers will undergo a Rapid Antigen test upon arriving at their hotel.
Shop ‘til you drop: Singapore
Singapore makes every shopaholic’s dream come true with its numerous shopping malls and outdoor markets – whether you are looking for local delicacies, luxury brands, or souvenirs – Singapore’s got it all for you. Visitors can explore Orchard Road, Chinatown, Little India, Bugis Street Market, and even Hajji Lane for its boutiques and vintage stores.
Singapore Flights via Cebu Pacific
CEB currently flies once daily from Manila to Singapore.
Travel requirements: Fully vaccinated guests are no longer required to submit a pre-departure COVID 19 test. They must also present their proof of full vaccination, and fill out aSingapore Arrival cardthree (3) days before arrival. For more information, passengers may refer to thislink.
A burst of Thai flavors: Bangkok
Apart from the busy streets and energetic nightlife, Bangkok also has a plethora of food stalls. Familiarize yourself with different Thai dishes like Raan Jay Fai’s world-famous crab omelet, a hearty bowl of beef noodles from Wattana Panich, and yummy pad thai from Thipsamai. These are perfect to cap off a long day of exploring bustling Bangkok.
Fly to Bangkok with Cebu Pacific
CEB flies 5x weekly from Manila to Bangkok, Thailand, every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Travel requirements: Fully vaccinated guests are no longer required to submit a pre-departure COVID 19 test. They must present their proof of full vaccination along with their valid ID and COVID-19 insurance. These must all be uploaded online when the passenger registers for theirThailand Pass.
An RT-PCR test is required for unvaccinated / partially vaccinated passengers, along with a confirmed hotel booking with a hotel transfer for their required quarantine.
A tour of history: Hanoi and Saigon
If you’re looking for a cultural adventure, Vietnam is the place to be. With a history spanning over 1,000 years, the country has beautiful sites like Thang Long Imperial Citadel, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Temple of Literature built in honor of the philosopher Confucius – both located in Hanoi.
Visit Hanoi Vietnam via Cebu Pacific
You can also make your way to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to visit intriguing tourist attractions like the Cu Chi Tunnels used by Vietnam War soldiers, Stilt House, and Mekong Delta. The city is also known for its French colonial architecture, which one can experience at the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon and Saigon Opera House.
From Manila, CEB flies to Hanoi every Friday, and to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) every Tuesday.
Travel requirements: Foreign travelers must present a valid Visa or Immigration Approval Letter (for visa-on-arrival) and their return/onward ticket.
Summer vibe all-year-round: Bali
Bali is on a lot of travelers’ beach bucket lists, and you can experience it too with its year-round summer vibe. There are several choices catering to various interests: Candidasa Beach is perfect for divers; Uluwatu is for surfers and those who love cliffside views, and Seminyak has a fun nightlife by the sea.
Travel Bali with Cebu Pacific
CEB flies to Bali from Manila twice a week, every Monday and Friday.
Bali Travel requirements: Foreign travelers must have their vaccination certificate, health insurance policy of USD25,000 for COVID-19 treatment and/or hospitalization, visitor visa, E-Customs Declaration Form, and proof of hotel booking confirmation. They must also download and register at thePeduliLindungi Appbefore flying.
Live your K-drama dreams: Seoul
Seoul, Korea has become a tourist hotspot for Filipinos. The capital city has five palace complexes that you can visit and feel like royalty. Insadong has unique shops where you can get native handicrafts, try on a hanbok, and eat at local cafes in the area. You can also get the full K-drama experience by visiting spots where your favorite shows were filmed.
South Korea Flights via Cebu Pacific
CEB flies to Seoul every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, and will be flying daily starting June 1.
CEB also intends to operate twice-weekly flights from Cebu to Seoul, every Thursday and Sunday starting July 3.
Travel requirements: Effective June 1, 2022, The South Korean Embassy in Manila will resume the issuance of tourist visas. Multiple entry visa holders issued before 5 April 2020 that has not expired do not need to reapply.
Passengers may present either a negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours before departure or a negative Laboratory-based Rapid Test result taken 24 hours before departure. They must also present their vaccination certificate. Full vaccination refers to those who have received two (2) doses of COVID-19 vaccine two (2) weeks earlier but less than 180 days before the flight, as well as those with booster shots.
Experience the Arabian Adventure: Dubai
Dubai Flights via Cebu Pacific
Dubai is the city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates that is famous for luxury shopping, ultramodern skyscrapers, adventure sports, and desert safari. One of the city’s most famous landmarks is the “Museum of the Future”, a living museum that explores how society could evolve in the coming decades. The Dubai Hills Mall, the newest shopping mall with 600 outlet stores, is located in a chic neighborhood. Not to be missed: the desert safari activities where one can ride a camel, dune buggy, or squad bike for that memorable experience.
CEB flies once daily to Dubai from Manila.
Travel requirements: Passengers may apply for a visa before the trip. They must present a recognized vaccine certificate that reflects the completion of doses of vaccine approved by the WHO and a printed copy of negative RT-PCR results from DOH-accredited laboratories, with a validity of no more than 48 hours before departure.It is mandatory that the negative test report includes a QR code, which is linked to the original report for verification purposes by the airlines through a mobile/cell phone and validation by the representatives of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) upon the passenger arrivals at the Dubai Airports.
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Traveling overseas is exciting and Cebu Pacific will guarantee safe flights for everyJuan, and also a foreign traveler who wants to experience the beauty of the Philippines. Book your trips and check out travel requirements on www.cebupacificair.com.
