BIGGEST MISTAKES NOT to MAKE in the PHILIPPINES (2020) | TRAVEL VLOG IV

Summary

In this video, the traveler discovers the rich history and natural beauty of the Philippines, having visited Cebu and Bohol. They marvel at the historical significance of figures like Lapu-Lapu and the Spanish colonization's impact on the region's predominantly Roman Catholic culture. The traveler recommends renting cars with licensed drivers for safety and using local guides to delve into the local culture and cuisine. They also highlight the Philippines as a budget-friendly destination with hidden luxury, urging viewers to avoid the mistake of excessive island-hopping and instead explore the depth of what each island offers.

Takeaways

• 📺 The speaker encourages subscribing for more videos and hitting the bell icon for notifications.
• 🏝️ The Philippines has a rich history, with each island having its own story, and a joint history as a Spanish colony for over 300 years.
• 🤴 Key historical figures mentioned include King Goobot, Lapu-lapu, and Ferdinand Magellan, who contributed to the spread of Roman Catholicism in Cebu.
• ⛪ The majority of Cebuanos are Roman Catholic, which is reflected in their daily life, architecture, and family connections.
• 🚗 When renting a car and driver in the Philippines, ensure the driver has a Department of Tourism license for safety and legal reasons.
• 🎶 The song 'Bethlo' is popular in the Philippines and is about food, contrary to the speaker's initial assumption.
• 🌄 Hiring a local guide is recommended for a deeper understanding of Filipino culture and history, as exemplified by the guides in Cebu and Bohol.
• 🍫 The Chocolate Hills in Bohol got their name from their resemblance to chocolate kisses during the dry season and are a protected national geological monument.
• 📸 Colossal Falls is a famous Instagram spot that exceeded the speaker's expectations in terms of its beauty in real life.
• 🌞 The Philippines offers great value for money for middle-class and luxury travelers, contrary to the budget destination stereotype.
• ⛱️ The speaker advises against excessive island hopping and recommends exploring one island thoroughly to avoid travel fatigue and to fully experience what each island offers.

Q & A

Why should viewers subscribe to the channel and hit the bell icon?

Viewers should subscribe and hit the bell icon to receive notifications whenever new videos are posted, ensuring they don't miss out on the beauty and insights shared in future videos.

What was the speaker's initial perception of the Philippines before visiting?

The speaker had not heard much about the Philippines' history and was unaware of the rich history of each island before visiting.

How long was the Philippines a Spanish colony?

The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years.

Who are the three significant historical figures mentioned in the script related to the Philippines?

The three significant historical figures mentioned are King Goobot of Cebu, Lapu-lapu the king of Mactan, and Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer.

Why is the majority of Cebu's population Roman Catholic?

Cebu has a majority Roman Catholic population because of the influence of Ferdinand Magellan, who baptized Rajah Humabon, converting him and his people to Roman Catholicism.

What is the importance of having a Department of Tourism license for private drivers in the Philippines?

A Department of Tourism license ensures the safety and legality of private drivers, protecting both the driver and the passenger from potential fines and risks.

What is the significance of the song 'Bethlo' in the Philippines?

The song 'Bethlo' is a popular song in the Philippines, which the speaker mentions but does not elaborate on its significance beyond its popularity.

Why is having a local guide recommended when visiting the Philippines?

A local guide can provide a deeper understanding of the culture, history, and local attractions, enhancing the visitor's experience and ensuring a more immersive and safe journey.

What is the origin of the name 'Chocolate Hills' in Bohol?

The Chocolate Hills got their name due to their resemblance to chocolate kisses during the summer season when the grass turns brown, as noted by an American tourist in the 1970s.

Why is the Philippines considered a budget destination by the speaker?

The speaker initially considered the Philippines a budget destination due to the prevalence of budget travel vlogs, which rarely showcased middle-class or luxury travel options.

What is the speaker's advice regarding island hopping in the Philippines?

The speaker advises against excessive island hopping due to the potential for travel fatigue and recommends exploring the offerings of a single island to fully experience what it has to offer.

Outlines

00:00

🇵🇭 Discovering the Rich History of the Philippines

The narrator reflects on their first visit to the Philippines, expressing amazement at the rich history of the islands they have visited, specifically Cebu and Bohol. They explain the Philippines' historical ties to Spain, mentioning key historical figures like King Goobot, Lapu-Lapu, and Ferdinand Magellan, who introduced Catholicism to Cebu. The narrator encourages travelers to explore the Philippines' history and offers practical advice on hiring licensed drivers for safety. They also emphasize the importance of getting a local guide to enhance the travel experience.

05:00

🌊 Colossal Falls & Embracing Filipino Culture

The narrator visits the popular Instagram destination, Colossal Falls, and discusses their initial fears of disappointment, which are dispelled upon seeing the beauty of the falls. They appreciate the warm, sunny personalities of Filipinos and recommend connecting with locals for a deeper cultural experience. Additionally, the narrator is surprised by the affordable luxury available in the Philippines, challenging the misconception that it is solely a budget travel destination. They showcase Radisson Blu in Cebu City as an example of accessible luxury and emphasize the diverse offerings beyond resorts.

10:03

🏝 The Balance of Exploring the Philippines

The narrator shares their insights on the common mistake of excessive island hopping in the Philippines. They explain that it's unnecessary to visit multiple islands, as each one offers a rich array of experiences. They recount their own week-long trip, where they explored Cebu's city life, waterfalls, and whale sharks, while also enjoying a short island hop to Bohol. They suggest that visitors focus on one island at a time, ensuring a fulfilling and relaxed experience. The narrator concludes by encouraging viewers to avoid over-scheduling and to embrace the diverse offerings of each island.

Keywords

💡Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, known for its rich history and diverse culture. In the video, the Philippines is the main subject, showcasing its beauty, history, and travel experiences. The speaker expresses their amazement at the country's rich history and the unique experiences each island offers.

💡Spanish colony

The term 'Spanish colony' refers to the period when the Philippines was under Spanish rule for over 300 years. This historical context is significant in the video as it explains the cultural and architectural influences seen throughout the country, particularly the prevalence of Roman Catholicism.

💡Lapu-lapu

Lapu-lapu is a significant historical figure in the Philippines, known as the king of Mactan who defeated Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. In the video, Lapu-lapu is mentioned as one of the key historical figures that contribute to the rich tapestry of Philippine history.

💡Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who initiated the first circumnavigation of the Earth and is a pivotal figure in the Philippines' history due to his encounter with the native king, Lapu-lapu. The video script discusses Magellan's role in the country's past and his interaction with the local king, which led to the spread of Roman Catholicism.

💡Roman Catholic

Roman Catholicism is a branch of Christianity that has a significant presence in the Philippines due to the Spanish colonization. The video highlights the influence of Roman Catholicism in the country, with 80% of Cebu's population being Roman Catholic, as a result of Magellan's efforts to baptize the locals.

💡Cebu

Cebu is an island in the Philippines and is a central location in the video. It is known for its historical significance and is the place where Magellan was killed. The video discusses the cultural and religious impact in Cebu, including the majority Roman Catholic population.

💡Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills are a famous geological formation in the Bohol province of the Philippines, characterized by their unique cone-shaped hills. The video script explains the origin of their name and their status as a national geological monument, illustrating the natural wonders the Philippines has to offer.

💡Island hopping

Island hopping refers to the practice of visiting multiple islands in a region, often for travel and tourism purposes. The video script advises against excessive island hopping in the Philippines, suggesting that each island offers so much to explore that it's unnecessary to overextend oneself.

💡Value for money

Value for money is a concept that refers to the perceived worth or quality of a product or experience in relation to its cost. The video emphasizes that the Philippines offers great value for money, especially for those interested in middle-class or luxury travel, due to its affordability compared to Western or other South Asian destinations.

💡Radisson Blu

Radisson Blu is an international hotel chain known for its luxury accommodations. In the video, the speaker mentions staying at the Radisson Blu in Cebu City, using it as an example of the comfortable and luxurious travel options available in the Philippines.

💡Local guide

A local guide is a person who is familiar with the local area and can provide insights, recommendations, and assistance to travelers. The video script highlights the importance of having a local guide in the Philippines to enrich the travel experience and gain a deeper understanding of Filipino culture.

Highlights

The Philippines has a rich history, with each island having its own unique story.

The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years, influencing its culture and architecture.

Key historical figures like King Goobot, Lapu-lapu, and Ferdinand Magellan played significant roles in the country's past.

Cebu is predominantly Roman Catholic due to Magellan's influence and the baptism of Rajah Humabon.

The speaker highly recommends diving into the history of the Philippines for a deeper understanding of its culture.

Renting a car with a Department of Tourism-licensed driver is advised for safety and legal reasons.

The use of the Grab app is recommended for transportation as it is reliable and widely used in the Philippines.

Local guides are essential for an immersive experience and understanding of Filipino culture.

The Chocolate Hills in Bohol got their name from their resemblance to chocolate kisses during the dry season.

The Chocolate Hills are a national geological monument, protected by the government.

Colossal Falls is a famous Instagram spot that lives up to its online reputation in real life.

Filipinos are described as rays of sunshine, contributing to the pleasant experience for visitors.

The Philippines offers great value for money, especially for those interested in middle-class or luxury travel.

Staying at the Radisson Blu in Cebu City provides a glimpse into the comfortable travel options available.

Overlooking the Philippines as just a budget destination is a mistake, as it offers a range of travel experiences.

Island hopping can lead to travel fatigue; exploring one island thoroughly can be more rewarding.

The Philippines has so much to offer on each island that a week's stay can be fulfilling without the need for extensive island hopping.

The video aims to correct misconceptions about the Philippines and encourage a deeper exploration of its culture and history.

Transcripts

now that I'm here for the first time I'm

like why oh you're missing out on so

much of the beauty for more videos in

the future make sure to subscribe and

hit the bell icon to get notifications

whenever I post a new video before I

came to the Philippines I had never

heard much about the history now that

I've been here I am just absolutely

baffled by the rich history of each and

every island actually I've only been to

do simple and boho but each one of them

has their own history obviously they

also have a joint history the

Philippines has been a Spanish colony

for over 300 years there's four people

year that's very important first one is

king goobot one that's actually the king

of Cebu the second one is lapu-lapu the

king of NOK time which where the airport

is the third person which is Ferdinand

Magellan he was the Portuguese he wasn't

a Spanish by the way so Spanish

Portuguese why because Spain supported

his plan to discover the world is round

so when he came here in Cebu he actually

have a gift as a sign of friendship of

Rahul Baba which is the king of Cebu

Island which is the Santoni new

Saturninus of baby Jesus we have is the

patron saint here in Cebu Ferdinand

Magellan baptized realm able to be a

Roman Catholic okay that's why in Cebu

80% is more on the Roman Catholic care

and the 20% is the other religion if you

know more about that history it is also

so easy to see it in streets and in

daily life and then the architecture

also in the religion of people and how

they connect with their families it's

amazing I have to say I really really

appreciate the history of the

Philippines and I can tend to recommend

you to dive into it when you come here

it would be absolutely one of the

biggest mistakes not to dive into the

history of the Philippines I'm not a

mistake and recommendation that my tour

guide here in Cebu actually gave me if

you are renting a car with a private

driver at the airport please don't take

any risks with a random drivers get

somebody who actually has a Department

of Tourism license because if they don't

have that

first of all they can get fined two

hundred and fifty thousand pesos which

is kind of sad for those drivers also if

they don't have that license you are

taking a huge safety risk because you

literally don't know who you are getting

in a car with so you can also install

grab that's what I've been using here it

is working quite well I have to say

although I am mostly paying in cash the

drivers do have change most of the time

so that's good but if you are renting a

private driver just make sure that they

have a Department of Tourism license so

you know that you are safe and also that

a driver is safe that's a very popular

song here bethlo I looked up the lyrics

and I was like it's all about food no

it's a club song it's a grind song so a

huge mistake that you would be making

here in the Philippines is not getting a

local guide this girl is the cutest ever

my guide in Bohol was also absolutely

phenomenal hello why is it called

chocolate hills way back nineteen

seventies so there was a American form a

circle came in he came in here in

Thailand alcohol it was summer season so

when the professor first time saw those

heels he shot that oh it's look like

Kisses chocolates every summer season

comes the gas of the hills thirds in the

ground so that's why

is called chocolate hills but the first

name of chocolate Hills was Carmen Hills

those perfectly cone shape heels was was

retreated in the town of Hermon

chocolate is also ranges from 40 to 120

from top to bottom so chocolate is also

declared as a national geological

monument it is protected by the

government

[Music]

they added literally ten layers to my

trip of fun knowledge experience safety

everything they're absolutely amazing

colossal Falls is one of the most famous

Instagram waterfalls and I was scared

Instagram versus reality would kick in

and leave me disappointed so let's see

what it actually looks like in real life

[Music]

I have already said this on Instagram

but I believe that every Filipino is a

little ray of sunshine so get yourself a

local little ray of sunshine to guide

you around here and get you into the

Filipino culture real quick and you know

to speak Messiah okay Tata OK ROCK oh

she's amazing that the Philippines is

only a budget destination to be honest

this was my perception because I watch

so many Philippines vlogs and they are

all about budget travel there are very

rarely any vlogs about luxury travel in

the Philippines or even like

middle-class travel if we would call it

like that so for me it was a very very

pleasant surprise to see that the

lifestyle of the regular Filipinos is

actually really good I don't see

anything lacking here in the Philippines

as a matter of fact I actually think the

Philippines is mad value for money if

you like middle class or a luxury travel

because it is more affordable than for

instance in the West or you know the

well-traveled South Asia destinations

it's truly a gem in terms of value for

money currently I am staying here in

Radisson Blu here in Cebu City let me

show you around a little bit non

sponsored by the way I just want to show

you that if you like luxury travel or

just comfort travel the Philippines

might be a good idea for you to a

completely opposite mistake is a mistake

that I've actually heard from my expert

friends who used to live in Singapore

and Hong Kong I always heard their

stories of how it was so easy to go to

the Philippines on a vacation but what I

also heard from them is that they only

say that there are resorts now that I'm

here for the first time I'm like why oh

you're missing out on so much of the

beauty even if you just go out for one

day go to cover some falls go swimming

with the whale sharks maybe

one day trip to Volvo the Philippines

really has so much to offer I'm very

surprised how much you can already find

on just one island which is another

mistake that I want to talk to you about

knowing too much island hopping a lot of

people who have visited the Philippines

experienced a travel fatigue because

they just go island hopping too much and

you get really tired doing that it is

not necessary as I've shown you in the

first impressions of the Philippines

video you can actually already

experience so much on just one island in

the Philippines in the past thinking of

island hopping is actually also

something and healthy back from visiting

the Philippines because I thought I

needed at least three weeks if I would

be coming to the Philippines

- pop to as many islands as possible now

that I'm here I realizing that no that's

actually not the way to do it you can

visit the Philippines perfectly under

one week if you just stick to an island

and explore what that island has to

offer believe I promise you you

definitely won't get bored because just

on Cebu I already went

exploring the city I went to a waterfall

I went swimming with whale sharks and

currently I am doing some island hopping

because we are on our way to go home but

it is only a small ferry ride away

then I've seen two islands in less than

a week which is already quite a lot I

feel you

just stay oh before we can

definitely not get for it so don't make

that mistake don't do too much

island-hopping

it is not necessary Philippines has so

much to offer on already each are you I

really hope this video was helpful if it

was make sure to put a thumbs up also if

you enjoyed it and you would like to see

more of my videos make sure to subscribe

to my channel and then I will see you

next time thank you so much for watching

bye