‘Too early to discuss Sendong’s effects on CDO tourism’

AN official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said the agency has yet to fully assess the possible effects of Tropical Storm Sendong (international name: Washi) on Cagayan de Oro’s growing tourism industry.
Some villages of Cagayan de Oro, a first class city located in Northern Mindanao, were wiped out after the storm brought a month’s worth of rain over the weekend.
It left at least 500 people dead while others were forced to climb nearby buildings to avoid being swept away by the surge of flood waters coming from the 22-kilometer Cagayan de Oro River.
“We do not have any official report yet on the possible effect on tourism. We shall update you as soon as we get the report from our regional office (in Northern Mindanao),” Assistant Secretary for International Tourism Promotions Benito Bengzon Jr. told Sun.Star.
The department’s focus now, he said, is to assist other government agencies in providing relief to thousands of families displaced by Sendong, whose strong winds also battered houses and buildings in the city of over half a million.
“We are already preparing the relief goods that we expect to send to CDO as soon as possible,” he said.
Bengzon’s sentiment was shared by national carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), which operates five daily flights from Manila.
“It’s too early to tell regarding effects on tourist arrivals. Besides, it’s in bad taste to talk about it in this tragic hour. PAL’s priority is to help in the relief efforts,” PAL vice president for corporate communications Joey de Guzman told Sun.Star.
Since Saturday night, PAL offered to ferry relief donations such as medicines and foodstuff for free coming from non-government organizations, private companies and religious groups addressed to their designated recipients in the city.
The city, capital of the agro-industrial province of Misamis Oriental, can be reached in only one hour and 10 minutes by plane from Manila.
Sun.Star tried to reach Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and distribution of leading budget airline Cebu Pacific, but she was unavailable for comment as of this posting Monday.
The Gokongwei-led carrier flies four times daily to Cagayan de Oro.
Dubbed as gateway to the Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro is the third most visited in the Philippines last year, attracting 374,872 tourists, up 26.04 percent in 2009.
The city was also the most favored destination by foreign tourists in Northern Mindanao, cornering 31,032 or 70.38 percent, followed by the island province of Camiguin with 8,152 or 18.49 percent, data from the tourism department show.
Last summer, the city’s tourism department unveiled a to-do list for visitors in “Cagayan de Oro City in Bloom, in Blossom and in Boom Situationer 2011,” in a bid to shore up arrivals and revenues.
Among the popular sites in the city are the Gardens of Malasag Eco-tourism Village, which is nestled in the 7.5-hectare hilly reforestation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Cugman village.
The place features tribal houses, souvenir shop, open air coffee shop, swimming pool, multi-purpose air-conditioned building, guest cottages, dormitories, picnic area, and open amphitheatre, among others.
Thrill seekers, meanwhile, can try the Macahambus Adventure Park, where they can view the gigantic century-old trees and the Macahambus Gorge by walking through the 120-feet high Sky Bridge.
Lately, it was the Cagayan de Oro River White Water Rafting that caught visitors’ attention.
The rafting stretch provides a view of the rocky walls, lush vegetation, and challenging varied rapids of between 10 and 15 minute-intervals.
But this same river claimed hundreds of lives in rainy Saturday dawn as the city vows to bring itself back on its feet.(Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2011/12/19/too-early-discuss-sendongs-effects-cdo-tourism-196570

Recent opinion survey of frequent travelers heading north towards Subic and Clark Pampanga revealed that the number one most frequently visited wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center located in Clark Philippines. Reasons given include good selection of fine vintage as well as affordable wines for everyday drinking also. This wine shop also has a beautiful roof deck lawn which serves as a nice venue for outdoor alfresco dining, cocktail parties and small functions and events. There are five large wine cellars that contain some of the world’s finest wines and rare vintages as well as wines that are excellent value that every wine shoppers love to discover. This wine shop in Clark is frequently visited not only by local residents but also tourists arriving in the Philippines looking to pick up a few bottles of good wine that are not normally available in their home town.

Subic is well known for diving, the sea and water sports that come with the territory. However one thing that Subic is not famous for is dining options. For years, visitors to Subic have complained about the quality of the restaurants and dining establishments but it is only until recently that travelers to Subic discovered the best restaurant to wine and dine, even for visitors with families and children. Now most residents of Subic and also Tarlac and Baguio know of this wine shop in Clark as the best place to buy wines in the Philippines and certainly the best wine shop in Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark Philippines.

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

The next time you are in Pampanga and are looking for things to do in Clark Philippines spend some time to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com