Siargao is Condé Nast Traveler Editors Choice as 2019 travel destination

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Planning to travel this year? Here's one of  “The 19 Best Places to Go in 2019"!

Siargao continues to be favored by international travelers, getting 3rd top rank for travel destinations in 2019 endorsed by Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) editors.

The Mindanao island in the Philippines’ archipelago first made a strong entry into the CNT choice lists after being voted Best Island In Asia in the 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards, along with Boracay and Palawan.

In the gallery of photos for “The 19 Best Places to Go in 2019” published on December 4, CNT editor Megan Spurrell likened Siargao to “Boracay before everyone found out—and better managed.” Boracay was once the most favored island destination in the world but was closed for rehabilitation after suffering the effects of overtourism. Boracay reopened on October 26 to international travelers after being certified for compliance in environmental standards. 

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/19-best-places-to-go-in-2019

Siargao, The Philippines

The desire to skip town for a white-sand tropical paradise is universal—and for a time, everyone’s paradise was Boracay. The semi-remote island in the Philippines had a small stretch of sand, low-strung hammocks, and pastel sunsets every day. It was picture perfect...until it became the poster child for overtourism, with overcrowding, pollution, and, eventually, a complete closure to tourists for six months. Now, Siargao is Boracay before everyone found out—and better managed. This teardrop-shaped island has long been a surf mecca, with more than 15 world-class breaks (including the legendary Cloud 9) and a handful of locally run surf schools to keep beginners busy. The see-your-toes water is heaven for snorkelers, with healthy coral reefs teeming with life. 

A handful of smaller, equally idyllic islands off the coast of Siargao, like secluded Mamon Island and non-sting jellyfish sanctuary Bucas Grande, are perfect for island hopping. Siargao is slightly harder to get to than other destination islands in the Philippines—there are no international flights, and travelers must connect through Manila or Cebu—but that’s a good thing. There are luxe accommodations, like the chic villas of Nay Palad Hideaway (formerly Dedon Island Resort), but it hasn’t been overbuilt (yet). Our readers voted Siargao the world’s top island in 2018. Go now—before everyone else does. —Megan Spurrell

CNT cites among Siargao’s charms the legendary Cloud 9 for surfers, clear waters for snorkelers, island-hopping spots, and luxe accommodations.

“This teardrop-shaped island has long been a surf mecca, with more than 15 world-class breaks (including the legendary Cloud 9) and a handful of locally run surf schools to keep beginners busy. The see-your-toes water is heaven for snorkelers, with healthy coral reefs teeming with life.

A handful of smaller, equally idyllic islands off the coast of Siargao, like secluded Mamon Island and non-sting jellyfish sanctuary Bucas Grande, are perfect for island hopping,” writes Spurrell.

The fact that getting to Siargao is through a connecting flight instead of direct international flight “is a good thing,” says CNT, “Go now—before everyone else does.”

CNT describes Siargao and the 18 other destinations’ common appeal: “It’s having a moment. It comes up a lot—that near-impossible-to-pin-down, can’t-put-our-thumb-on-it logic as to why you should visit somewhere, now.”

Siargao is joined in the CNT-endorsed list, vetted by editors from both Traveler U.S. and Traveller U.K., by legendary travel spots such as Egypt and Japan.

Travelers from around the world surveyed by leading travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) have again given the top 3 spots to Philippine islands.

“The Best Islands in the World: 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards” ranked Siargao, Boracay, and Palawan as the top 3 best islands in Asia.

In 2017 the CNT World’s Best Islands survey also gave thetop ranking to the Philippine islands of Boracay, Cebu, and Palawan.

The 2018 edition of Condé Nast Traveler awards had over 400,000 readers preferring the Philippines’ tourist destinations in the annual survey for best destinations for travel comfort and attractions.

The Philippine islands were ranked among the 30 best islands in the world outside the United States with Siargao, Boracay, and Palawan taking the top 3 in the Asian islands category.

The 31st edition of the CNT awards categorized ranking by region: the best in Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, Caribbean and the Atlantic, Europe, North America, and best in the rest of the world.

MICECON 2018, a success!

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MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions/Events) Conference, the largest gathering of local and international MICE industry experts and practitioners, was successfully mounted this year in Bacolod. Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), MICECON 2018 featured educational talks from world-class experts. TPB uses MICECON to strengthen the country’s reputation as the preferred MICE destination in Asia. 

The four-day conference was spearheaded by (center) TPB chief operating officer Marie Venus Tan and Bacolod City mayor Evelio Leonardia. Others in photo are (L-R) Bacolod City councilor Em Ang, DOT regional director Helen Catalbas, Bacolod City administrator John Orola, DOT assistant secretary Robert Alabado III and DOT Policy Formulation and International Cooperation division chief Alex Macatuno. 

The Holidays are officially extended with 7-Eleven’s MONEYgayang Pasko at MONEYgong Bagong Taon promo

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Good news! 7-Eleven is making 2019 happier for three lucky winners who’ll each get to take home P1 Million with theirMONEYgayang Pasko at MONEYgong Bagong Taon promo!

Get a chance to have a wonderful new year by buying any treat or item sold at 7-Eleven stores nationwide. You can earn one (1) e-raffle ticket with every P100 purchase when you scan your CLiQQ rewards barcode before payment. For non-CLiQQ members, you can also join the raffle with a minimum P100 purchase at any 7-Eleven store. To qualify for the promo, you need to write your name, address, contact number, and then affix your signature at the back of the receipt. Accomplished receipts should be dropped in designated drop boxes.

CLiQQ members have an advantage, as they get to earn instant or additional e-raffle entries when they buy booster products! So make sure to keep your eyes peeled for these items whenever you visit a 7-Eleven store!

Amazing cash prizes await lucky 7-Eleven customers! Three winners will go home with P1,000,000 each, 40 winners with P50,000 each, and 250 winners with P10,000 each. That surely is a way to welcome 2019 with a bang!

What are you waiting for? Make your way to the nearest 7-Eleven store and shop now! Who knows? You might be one of the lucky winners who will usher in abundance this new year!

The MONEYgayang Pasko at MONEYgong Bagong Taon promo runs until January 29, 2019.

For more information, visit 7-Eleven’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/711philippines/.

PLDT introduces a new era of home broadband with all-new Google Wifi Plans

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Enjoy Unli Fibr in every room, on every device starting at Php2,299 per month

Leading digital services provider PLDT is ushering in a new era of home broadband as it introduces the new PLDT Home Google Wifi Plans, which lets you enjoy Unli Fibr in every room and on every device starting at Php2,299 per month.

The new PLDT Home Google Wifi Plans come with Unli Fibr and three Google Wifi 'points,' which you can strategically install around your home, so your family can make the most of PLDT Home’s fastest Unli Fibr connection in all their online activities. The new PLDT Home Google Wifi Plans also come with a free landline with unlimited calls to Smart, TNT, and Sun.

With PLDT Home Google Wifi Plans, you can put an end to Wi-Fi dead spots – those corners in your home or office where Wi-Fi signal just cannot get through – an especially common problem in huge houses with thick walls, multiple levels, and other features that block or hinder Wi-Fi signals.

A bane to our increasingly digital lifestyle, Wi-Fi dead spots result to interrupted online activities: One minute you are making a perfectly fine video call with your best friend, uploading an important file, or streaming your favorite series from your living room – only to get cut off the moment you go to another room, head to the kitchen, or move upstairs.

Using mesh networking technology, PLDT Home Google Wifi Plans let you enjoy not only fast but also reliable and seamless Unli Fibr around your home, delivered by strategically located Google Wifi 'points'.

Powered by Unli Fibr with speeds ranging from 30Mbps, 60 Mbps, 120 Mbps, 250 Mbps, up to 1Gbps, the PLDT Home Google Wifi Plans let you stream videos seamlessly, upload and download heavy files in an instant, play games without lag, and make clear and video calls without any interruption.

Making sure that your home is blanketed with Wi-Fi is a custom job, as no two homes are exactly the same. That’s why as part of the package, PLDT Home Google Wifi Plans come with free service from the Home Geek Squad to help you position and set up the Google Wifi ‘points’ for optimal experience.

Google Wifi is designed intuitively, ensuring that connected devices are always latched on to the channel with the strongest Wi-Fi signal from PLDT Home Fibr. So even if you move around the house, the Network Assist feature will keep you connected online, leaving you with a seamless and uninterrupted internet experience no matter where you go.

To manage Google Wifi, you can download the companion app (available for Android and iOS) to manage settings, allocate bandwidth to different devices, and create scheduled pauses on devices used by kids.

Put an end to your Wi-Fi dead spots now and enjoy Unli Fibr in every room, on every device by upgrading to the all-new Google Wifi Plans! Know more by visiting www.pldthome.com.

Coco Martin and Angel Locsin invite ‘Samahang Solb’ to Mang Inasal

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We Filipinos love to eat. And we don’t just want to eat – we want to be solb!

A commonly used term in Pinoy pop culture, ‘solb’ refers to the state of being truly satisfied with one’s great-tasting meal that they get to eat the way they want to.

Mang Inasal, the leading branded grilled chicken, has recently launched a new television commercial (TVC) that captures the peculiar eating habits of Filipinos that make their dining “solb”

Starring Mang Inasal endorsers Coco Martin and Angel Locsin, the 30-seconder starts with a scene where Coco and Angel are each leading a group of hungry diners to a Mang Inasal store.

Once inside Mang Inasal, Coco’s group, the “Samahang Nagkakamay,” is shown eating their Chicken Inasal with their bare hands, while Angel’s group, the “Samahang Simot,” is shown finishing their halo-halo up to the last drop. Lastly, another group of diners dubbed “Samahang Crunchy Kumagat” is shown enjoying the loud crunchy bite of their Pork Sisig.

Although having different quirks when enjoying their food, these groups converge in their number one destination for delicious, satisfying food: Mang Inasal. Together, they are known as the Samahang Solb.

The 30-seconder ends with a scene showing the three groups all seated in one long table, celebrating a toast with their Mang Inasal favorites, as Coco and Angel speak out “Solb sa sarap! Solb sa saya!”

According to Mang Inasal Marketing Head Aileen Natividad, their latest catchphrase perfectly captures the quick service restaurant’s brand promise, that is, to satisfy every Pinoy’s desire to be “solb” or to have their hunger satisfied with a filling meal that they can eat the way they want to.

“One sure way to be solb is to go to a place like Mang Inasal where we can eat our favorite meals the way we love to, that is, nakakamay, nagsisimut-sarap, crunchy kumagat (with our hands, finishing it to the last few bits, or with a loud crunchy sound), or whichever way we prefer,” she said.

Mang Inasal serves the country’s No.1 Chicken Inasal and other favorites like Pinoy Halo-Halo, Pork BBQ, Pork Sisig, Bangus Sisig, Palabok, and Lumpiang Togue.

No matter which group you belong to, Mang Inasal simply has what it takes to make you Solb sa sarap! Solb sa saya! Bring your friends now to any of Mang Inasal’s over 500 stores nationwide!