HOT SPOTS IN THE PHILIPPINES - The Best Places To See When You visit

Pea sits down with three young Filipina friends — Richie (engineering student), Angel, and Cindy (nursing student) — at Buglas Cafe in Dumaguete to give first-time visitors a region-by-region guide to the best Philippine destinations. The conversation covers Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Manila/Makati/BGC, Baguio, and local spots in Negros Oriental, with honest assessments of cost, safety, and what to expect.

Cebu — Cindy's pick ​

• Cindy calls Cebu her favorite recent travel destination: great food, lively culture, friendly people
• Wide variety of cuisine available: Japanese, Korean, and other international options alongside local food
• Nightlife reportedly excellent (though Cindy and friends didn't go to bars due to COVID caution)
• COVID protocols still in effect at the time: masks required in malls but not enforced as strictly on streets
• Both northern and southern Cebu have resorts, beaches, waterfalls, and festivals — Cindy specifically mentions the Kawasan waterfalls
• Cebu described as "the queen city of the south" — one of the richest and most populated cities in the Visayas
• Offers "the best of both worlds": city nightlife and island beaches

Whale shark swimming in Oslob (near Cebu) — Angel's story ​

• Angel shares a vivid childhood story: her family stopped in Oslob en route to Cebu
• She was put on a small bangka boat and taken to the middle of the ocean where whale sharks were being fed
• She didn't know how to swim at the time
• Four whale sharks were feeding nearby with their giant mouths open
• Her mother literally threw her off the boat without a life vest
• Angel learned to swim in approximately three minutes out of pure survival instinct — "I need to or else I'll die"
• She was paddling with whale sharks directly below her
• Despite the terror, she says they were "still cute"
• Lifeguards were swimming around to ensure safety
• The experience offers underwater photography with hard copy and soft copy photos provided
• Reservations can be booked online ahead of time

Sumilon Island (near Cebu) ​

• A very small island described as "a pimple of the Philippines"
• Features white sand and extremely clear water — "the clearest sea ever, you could see all the corals"
• Called "a very enchanted island" with great vibes

Cash and credit card situation in the Philippines ​

• Credit cards are accepted at some establishments, but cash is still the dominant form of payment
• The group all used cash in Cebu despite card readers being available
• GCash (mobile payment) is growing but cash is still king
• ATMs exist but are sometimes out of cash or under maintenance
• Strong advice: always carry cash no matter what, and bring your card as backup

Siquijor — Angel's pick ​

• Resorts everywhere — "just three blocks away, five blocks away, there's another resort"
• Clean sand, nice and friendly people
• Motorbike rental: 300 pesos for one motorbike (two riders)
• Can circle the entire island in just two hours
• Famous for love potions and witchcraft/love spells — Angel jokes if you're desperately in love with a Filipino who doesn't love you back, "you can always" go get a love potion
• Very cheap overall: they stayed at an 800-peso-a-night apartment
• Other options include resorts with pools and beachfront access
• Nice bars with lots of foreigners on vacation
• Mask enforcement was relaxed due to open-air island lifestyle

Bohol — Richie's pick ​

• About two hours from Dumaguete
• Major attractions:
  • Chocolate Hills: small mountains shaped like Hershey's Kisses; local peanut-shaped candies called "Peanut Kisses" are sold as souvenirs
  • Tarsiers: tiny monkeys with enormous eyes found only in Bohol; a protected species with a small and vulnerable population; there's a dedicated conservation area
  • Giant snake: a massive black snake (described as anaconda-like) requiring 10–12 people to carry; Richie says it could eat "five to seven people" (the girls joke "five tiny Filipinas")
  • Man-made mahogany forest: a road lined with mahogany trees that's free to drive through; the air is fresh and the atmosphere relaxing
  • Panglao Island: white sand beaches
• Pea lived in Bohol for about a year in 2012 and confirms it was cheap and touristy
• The girls express interest in doing a diving vlog together in Bohol — Pea, Angel, and Cindy as "three beautiful Filipinas underwater like mermaids"
• Transportation options: vans, rental cars, Easy Ride, jeepneys, and tricycles (the group chose tricycles for their cute appearance)
• A tricycle driver for the whole day (8am–5pm) cost 800–1,000 pesos
• The people are described as very friendly, accommodating, and welcoming to both Filipinos and foreigners

Boracay ​

• Pea visited in 2015 and stayed for a week
• The beach has the clearest water she's ever seen and "what you see in pictures is what you get in real life"
• Very fine, powdery white sand
• Famous sunset views with vintas (traditional sailboats) that look "like a postcard"
• President Duterte mandated a cleanup — Boracay was closed for about a year to restore the environment
• The group believes it's better now post-cleanup
• Can be cheap but also has high-end restaurants, hotels, and resorts
• Extremely popular and touristy — one of the Philippines' most internationally known destinations

Palawan ​

• Three major tourist spots: Puerto Princesa, Coron, and El Nido
• Puerto Princesa's Underground River is one of the Seven Wonders of the World
• Angel describes it as "a place for angels... like another dimension" — magical and beautiful
• Also mentions the Enchanted River

Manila / Makati / BGC — for city lovers ​

• Pea personally prefers nature and laid-back vibes, but acknowledges some viewers want urban energy
• Makati and BGC are described as "the New York of the Philippines" — skyscrapers, high-end living, five-star experiences
• Cost of living there is expensive even for Filipinos
• Not really the Philippines' vacation identity — "when you say Philippines, it's the beaches, the waterfalls, nature"

Baguio — the summer capital ​

• Located in the mountains; much cooler climate
• Pea lived there for about a year in 2017 for work
• Good Taste Chinese Restaurant: a three-level building that's always packed; known for fresh food, generous portions, and not skimping
• Baguio is the main supplier of the freshest vegetables in the entire country due to its farms
• The Igorot/Cordillera culture is distinct: traditional dances with gongs, unique funeral traditions
  • They exhume remains after a period (nine days or one year), dress the body in nice clothing and jewelry, and hold a reunion/celebration party
  • Pea attended one and says it was "amazing" and "not creepy at all" — it's about honoring and celebrating the dead person's life
• Famous for strawberries and strawberry farms
• Local languages include Ilocano and Tagalog

Sagada (near Baguio) ​

• Known for hanging coffins — coffins raised up high "to be closer to the gods"
• Excellent local coffee beans — the group says possibly the best coffee in the Philippines
• Home to Whang-Od (spelled "Apo Whang-Od"), the oldest traditional tattoo artist
• She's still alive and tattooing; famous worldwide, with well-known artists traveling from around the globe to get tattooed by her

Negros Oriental and Dumaguete local spots ​

• The group is filming at Buglas Cafe in Piapi, Dumaguete — described as having an 80s rustic/vintage vibe with organic food from their own garden
• With over 120 local dialects, Visayan in Cebu differs slightly from Visayan in Dumaguete in words and intonation
• Nearest nice beaches: Balcong and Dauin
• Diving spots nearby
• Apo Island is called "the Maldives of the Philippines" — a white sandbar about two hours away
• Dolphin watching available in Bais
• The nearest mountains are in Valencia; there's also a volcano with hot springs and sulfur vents

Nude beaches question ​

• Pea says viewers have asked about nude beaches in the Philippines
• The group confirms there are no official nude beaches — the Philippines is too conservative
• One workaround: go to beaches very early (4–5am) and you'll be alone
• There was reportedly a clothing-optional resort between Dumaguete and Cebu owned by naturists, but Pea believes it's closed now

Safety in Mindanao ​

• The group advises that while not all of Mindanao is dangerous, there are areas in the far south to avoid
• Davao is specifically called out as "one of the safest cities in the Philippines"
• Strong recommendation to research specific areas thoroughly before visiting
• Overall assessment: the Philippines is a very safe country "as long as you're with good people"

The group's closing pitch ​

• "Just try out the Philippines — who knows, you might end up living here forever"
• "There's one-way tickets... this might be the best trip of your life"
• They emphasize that Filipinos are friendly, speak English, and "don't bite... don't bite hard"
• Pea offers herself as a friend and resource for first-time visitors

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