Friday, May 20, 2022

Finally, We Can Travel to South Korea Again Starting June 1! May 20, 2022 at 05:40AM

Out of Town Blog
Finally, We Can Travel to South Korea Again Starting June 1!

South Korea reopens to Filipino tourists in June photo via Pixabay

Ready Your Visa Requirements for Your Korea Travel Starting June 1!

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – Annyeong, chingu– we’ve got some excellent news for you: finally, South Korea allows tourist travel again starting June 1!

After years of just settling for k-dramas, k-pop playlists, samgyeopsal, and virtual concerts, you can now achieve your Hallyu dreams once again as South Korea resumes its processing service for all types of visas starting June 1, 2022.

South Korea reopens to Filipino tourists in June photo via Pixabay
South Korea reopens to Filipino tourists in June photo via Pixabay

According to the notice posted by the Korean Embassy in the Philippines, this includes a tourist visa, which means we can start our travel goals again and finally book that much-awaited flight to the land of oppas and unnies.

In the notice, multiple entry visas issued before April 5, 2022, which have not expired yet, may still be used without reapplying. There is also no need for Consent of Isolation as well.

However, quarantine health protocols should still be observed and COVID-19 testings are still required in the following scenarios:

  1. Passengers must present a negative PCR test issued within 48 hours or a negative RAT certificate within 24 hours before the intended departure date.
  2. Unvaccinated passengers should undergo quarantine, while vaccinated passengers shall be exempted.
  3. Register via Q-CODE for the online vaccination before your departure. 

Q-CODE is their Quarantine Information Advance Input System, where you’ll need to fill in your details to get a QR code before your departure. It’s just an 8-step application that includes your consent to the Terms and Conditions, passport info, quarantine info, and health details.

You may also learn more about the mandatory quarantine by visiting this link for more details.

Upon the resumption of visa processing in South Korea, the embassy hopes to “promote people-to-people exchanges between Korea and the Philippines through tourism.”

If it isn’t obvious yet, a lot of Filipinos are very fond of Korean culture. From the OG K-dramas that made us cry and laugh (Endless Love and Full House fans, where you at?!), the global sensation that is K-Pop (Super Junior to BTS stans, raise your hands!), up to the food (samgyup, G?), we can’t deny the fact that K-culture really influenced people of all ages in so many ways. 

Over the years before the pandemic began, the number of Filipino tourists going to Korea kept increasing in numbers, as more than 50,000 weekly seats on international flights were being filled. Adding to that, one of South Koreans’ favorite tourist destinations is the Philippines, with the latter expecting 2 million tourist arrivals in late 2019 – thanks to the increased number of airlines and flights and tourism cooperation details between the two countries.

With South Korea welcoming tourists again this year, we wonder, what are your dream destinations in the country? Are you the type to travel laidback and want to experience Jeju? Want to explore emerging destinations such as Busan? Or do you want to shop till you drop in South Korea’s Myeongdong?

Are you excited to travel again? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section!

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines

Also read: South Korea Announces 3 Ways On How To Go To Korea Visa-Free

Original article: Finally, We Can Travel to South Korea Again Starting June 1!

©2022 Out of Town Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Finally, We Can Travel to South Korea Again Starting June 1!
Team Out of Town
Out of Town Blog

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022: What to Expect on your Next Negros Travel May 17, 2022 at 08:37PM

Out of Town Blog
LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022: What to Expect on your Next Negros Travel

Rice Terraces near Murcia, Negros Occidental

Negros Occidental opens ‘LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022’

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – Negros is one of the underrated provinces in the Visayas region. It is home to many historical and cultural attractions such as The Ruins, Balay Negrense, Hofilena Heritage House, as well as tourism spots like Carbin Reef and Mag-aso Falls. To add, you can’t miss the exceptional cuisine this province has to offer.

Rice Terraces near Murcia, Negros Occidental
Rice Terraces near Murcia, Negros Occidental

Thankfully, the provincial government of Negros kickstarted the LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022 which started last May 16 at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, which aims to boost its tourism efforts. This is also the first tourism fair that was established since the pandemic, in an effort to “take their momentum back,” as mentioned by Governor Eugenio Lacson during the opening of the said fair.

2022 Lakbayanihan Tourism Fair
2022 Lakbayanihan Tourism Fair
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson with other govenment officials and tourism stakeholders at the launch of Lakbayanihan Tourism Fair 2022
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson with other govenment officials and tourism stakeholders at the launch of Lakbayanihan Tourism Fair 2022

To give you a background of what’s to see during the Lakbayanihan Fair, here are the highlights!

Farm tourism

In a report by the Philippine News Agency in 2019, there are 14 farm tourism sites accredited in Negros Occidental. This type of tourism is on the rise, as Negros works toward developing sustainable agritourism through organic farming in several of their farming villages. By opening farms to tourists, many people can learn and at the same time, enjoy tourism activities via experiential learning.

Organic Food at Rapha Valley Place of Wellness
Organic Food at Rapha Valley Place of Wellness
Organic vegetable and flower salad at Rapha Valley Place of Wellness
Organic vegetable and flower salad at Rapha Valley Place of Wellness
Organic Juices at Rapha Valley Place of Wellness
Organic Juices at Rapha Valley Place of Wellness

Some of the farm tourism sites you can visit in negros include Peñalosa Farms in Victorias City, Owataks Herbs Farm, and Rapha Valley Place of Wellness.

‘Slow food’ travel

As the pioneer of slow food travel in the Philippines, Negros Occidental also wants to highlight its own version of food tourism. Slow food travel is an ethical way of tourism that creates a connection between farmers and consumers, shortens the supply chain, and preserves local food heritage by offering gastronomic experiences through local culture. In Negros, they see slow food as good, clean, and fair food, all while recognizing the planet, culture, plate, and people.

Slow Food Dinner at Lanai by Fresh Start
Slow Food Dinner at Lanai by Fresh Start
Healthy Beverage at Lanai by Fresh Start
Healthy Beverage at Lanai by Fresh Start
Baked Garlic Angle Wings Clam at Lanai by Fresh Start
Baked Garlic Angle Wings Clam at Lanai by Fresh Start

Looking for good places to eat in Negros? Check out Negros Museum Cafe and Lanai by Fresh Start!

Handicrafts

Calatrava Booth at 2022 Negros Tourism Fair photo via Ayala Malls FB Page
Calatrava Booth at 2022 Negros Tourism Fair photo via Ayala Malls FB Page
LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022
LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022

Apart from the experiences, you can get when you visit Negros this 2022, you can also purchase local artisan products such as bags, house decors, and lots of souvenir items here!

Festivals

When it comes to travel experiences, you shouldn’t miss Negros festivals which are also showcased in LakBAYANIhan Fair 2022. One of which is the Panaad Festival, dubbed as the “festival of all festivals” which unites various cities in Negros to promote their culture and heritage every first week of April.

Masskara Festival by Billy Lopue via Flickr cc
Masskara Festival by Billy Lopue via Flickr cc

Another festival worth seeing in Negros is the well-known Masskara Festival in Bacolod, a colorful event where locals don colorful and creative masks to celebrate the festival that named them the “City of Smiles.” Masskara Festival is celebrated every 4th Sunday of October.

Sports tourism

The province also wants to venture into sports tourism, by hosting several sports activities in their province via the Panaad Stadium and Paglaum Sports Complex. Negros Occidental also offers outdoor tourism activities such as diving, perfect for those who want to try watersports activities in Negros.

The LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022 will run until May 29. Get to know more about the beauty of Negros Occidental and see what the Negrenses have to offer from arts, and food, to tourism!

Source: PNA, Slow Food Negros

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Read: Ultimate List Of The Best Hotels In Bacolod City

Original article: LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022: What to Expect on your Next Negros Travel

©2022 Out of Town Blog. All Rights Reserved.

LakBAYANIhan Tourism Fair 2022: What to Expect on your Next Negros Travel
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

Monday, May 16, 2022

5 most breathtaking Baguio sites showcased on The Broken Marriage Vow May 15, 2022 at 10:31PM

Out of Town Blog
5 most breathtaking Baguio sites showcased on The Broken Marriage Vow

PLDT Home Viu The Broken Marriage Vow Photo credits: Viu Philippines

Keep up with all the raging drama with Viu Premium powered by PLDT Home!

PLDT Home Viu The Broken Marriage Vow Photo credits: Viu Philippines
PLDT Home Viu The Broken Marriage Vow Photo credits: Viu Philippines

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – The log houses we all wish our parents own plus Baguio’s pine trees and gorgeous mountain views fill the backdrop of the emotional roller coaster hit drama series that is The Broken Marriage Vow.

Almost every episode lands on the trending pages of social media platforms. The show has become so popular it’s now one of the top titles on streaming platform Viu, made cheaper and more accessible through a Viu Premium account powered by PLDT Home.

The marriage of Dr. Jill Victorino (Jodi Sta. Maria) and David Ilustre (Zanjoe Marudo) may have crumbled because of his affair with Lexy Lucero (Sue Ramirez). Yet, as we’re watching the frustrating and heartbreaking moments, we can’t help but think, “Tara, let’s go to Baguio!”

Beyond the riveting drama, we also find ourselves captivated by the sights all found within our Summer Capital. Raring to travel again? Here are a few of the series’ most iconic filming locations you, too, can visit while channeling your inner drama heroine!

Burnham Park

Burnham Park
Burnham Park

Located in downtown Baguio, Burnham Park is the city’s most famous park. Here, you can go boating on colorful swan boats, people-watch by the lake, even ride a bike. If you’re Dr. Jill, however, the park designed by Daniel Burnham may just be the perfect place for you to take a walk to clear your mind — and maybe plan your revenge — after discovering your husband is into some monkey business. 

Camp John Hay

Camp John Hay Photo credits: Viu Philippines
Camp John Hay Photo credits: Viu Philippines

Surrounded by pine trees, fresh air, and the most amazing log cabins, Camp John Hay is a no-brainer must-visit for anyone visiting Baguio. To really complete the healing nature-filled experience, go enjoy the green scene and have a meal in Chef Billie King’s Le Chef Restaurant at the Manor.

Camp John Hay is more than just a sanctuary for our The Broken Marriage Vow family — in fact, it’s where most of the drama goes down.

White House of the Lord of Scents

White House of the Lord of Scents Photo credits: Baguio Country Club
White House of the Lord of Scents Photo credits: Baguio Country Club

In real life, the White House of the Lord of Scents is the abode of fragrance mogul Joel Cruz in Camp John Hay. While not a public tourist destination, it has become an attraction of its own because of its signature floor-to-ceiling windows that highlight its sweeping spiral staircase.

This is also where the show’s most iconic scene (colloquially called the batukan scene) happens. Knowing her husband is cheating with the daughter of the wealthy Luceros, Jill decides to invite themselves to dinner at the Lucero house for a grand confrontation.

Baguio Country Club

Baguio Country Club
Baguio Country Club

This is where Lexy Lucero’s parents often meet Jill — either as friends hanging out over lunch or in later episodes as enemies trading barbs as they are too civilized to go at each other’s throats.

The famous 117-year-old landmark isn’t just home to the best raisin bread and banana bread in the country, it also offers some of Baguio’s most breathtaking views!

Kennon Road

Kennon Road
Kennon Road

While definitely picturesque, Kennon Road is also among the country’s most hazardous thoroughfares. Cliffs bracket the narrow road, making for a very steep fall if one is not careful. The tragedy snaking through this beauty fits the outwardly perfect Ilustre family finally succumbing to its own troubles.

In a scene shot along Kennon Road, Gio confronts his mother for not having time for him while Jill tries to console him. Jill soon realizes the gravity of the situation, now taking a toll on her conflicted child. It’s a raw moment that zooms in on children often becoming the biggest victims of a broken family.

We live for the nonstop scandal and drama of The Broken Marriage Vow, but we also find comfort in how directors Connie Macatuno and Andoy Ranay handle touchier subjects on the show.

Entertainment made better (and cheaper) at home!

See the drama on The Broken Marriage Vow unfold further in Baguio’s sights to behold — through a Viu Premium access powered by PLDT Home’s fastest and most reliable connections! Enjoy more of the hottest Asian content with no ads and same-day subtitled releases for select titles at just P80/month, the cheapest in the Philippines and already charged to your account!

Learn more by visiting pldthome.com/viu.

Follow Out of Town Travel Blog on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and  Pinterest if you want more travel and tech-related updates.

Read: Watch The Best And Most Trending K-Dramas Now On Viu With PLDT Home

Original article: 5 most breathtaking Baguio sites showcased on The Broken Marriage Vow

©2022 Out of Town Blog. All Rights Reserved.

5 most breathtaking Baguio sites showcased on The Broken Marriage Vow
Team Out of Town
Out of Town Blog

Book your ‘revenge travel’ via the PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo May 15, 2022 at 02:13PM

Out of Town Blog
Book your ‘revenge travel’ via the PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo

Travel Tour Expo 2022 & 7th International Travel Trade Expo

PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo 2022 & 7th International Travel Trade Expo

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – After months of lockdown, travelers are more than ready to catch up on the trips they have missed and have put on hold. As the Covid-19 situation appears to be calming down and after the government’s decision to ease alert levels, people are now in a rush to book trips and vacations in a surge they call “revenge travel.” This reflects a newfound desire to travel like never before and make the next trip count. And what better way for travelers to take advantage of the opportunities to travel once again than by going to the next grand travel and tour expo.

PTTA Travel and Tour Expo 2022
PTTA Travel and Tour Expo 2022

On June 24-26, 2022, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) proudly presents the PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo to be held at the SMX Convention Center Manila. With the theme, “Braving and Shaping the Future of Travel”, the upcoming face-to-face travel tour expo will surely perk up the tourism industry with great travel deals and awesome tour packages available to both foreign and domestic travelers.

The PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo promises a bigger expo, with more than 150 exhibitors that will occupy Function Rooms 1-5 on the 2nd floor of SMX Convention Center Manila. Organizers estimate 35,000 to 45,000 visitors will be gathering at the three-day travel and tour expo to attend to their travel requirements.

The biggest travel trade event offers travelers the right kind of convenience and opportunities to choose their destination, pick from their favored travel schedules, and reserve their handpicked accommodation with total ease. Travelers can settle their itinerary, avail of travel insurance, and book their land transportation vehicles and airline tickets on the spot. Moreover, a good number of tour operators are present to assist travel seekers in choosing the best vacation packages and activities that fit their lifestyle, personality, and budget. Guests can also look forward to event-exclusive promotions and discounts on airfare, accommodations, and tours.

Travel Tour Expo 2022 & 7th International Travel Trade Expo
Travel Tour Expo 2022 & 7th International Travel Trade Expo

For PTAA, the 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo best coincides with the government’s decision to ease the travel restrictions in Metro Manila. With the lifting of the ‘No Vax, No Ride’ policy, local government units (LGUs) opted to relax their own protocols and further opened their borders to visitors coming from the National Capital Region. Given that health and safety concerns over the COVID-19 situation remain high among travelers, the standard health protocols are still in place, as facilitated and monitored by the LGUS, reassuring travelers of their safety.

Follow Out of Town Travel Blog on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and  Pinterest if you want more travel and tech-related updates.

Read: PTAA Is Hyping Up For The Upcoming 29th Travel Tour Expo & The 7th International Travel Trade Expo 2022

Original article: Book your ‘revenge travel’ via the PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo

©2022 Out of Town Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Book your ‘revenge travel’ via the PTAA 29th Travel Tour Expo & 7th International Travel Trade Expo
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog