A day before the voting ended yesterday night, the Philippine government mounted a “last ditch” effort through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) by ordering all local government officials from governors down to barangay captains to urge Filipinos around the country to cast their vote for the underground river.

Agencies under the DILG, including the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, were also ordered to urge their members and linked groups to vote for the underground river.

The other six New 7 Wonders of Nature, based on provisional results, were South America’s Amazon River, Vietnman’s Halong Bay, Argentina’s Iguazu Fallas, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo Island and South Africa’s Table Mountain.

The New7Wondres Foundation, meanwhile, clarified that “it is possible that there will be changes between the above provisional winners and the eventual finally confirmed winners.”

It said that the list released early today was “in alphabetical order” and not in any position of ranking.

The foundation said that the voting calculation is now being checked, validated and independently verified. The official New 7 Wonders of Nature will be announced early 2012, it added.

“The results will now be checked, validated and independently verified. Once the voting validation process is completed, in early 2012, New7Wonders will then work with the confirmed winners to organise the Official Inauguration events,” Bernard Weber, the foundation’s founder and president, said as he announced the provisional winners.

Weber announced that “one or more” may be erased from the list of the provisional winners.

“It may happen that one or more of the provisional winners announced today will not be confirmed during the validation process, New7Wonders will issue a media update should this happen,” he said.

Weber also commended the other participants and the people who joined the voting for the search for the new seven wonders of the world.

“I would like to thank the many champions, citizens, voluntary organisations, public bodies and governments that have helped promote the New7Wonders of Nature campaign over the past four years, starting with over 440 locations from over 220 countries and all the way to the 28 Finalist candidates from whom the New7Wonders of Nature have been chosen,” he said.

The foundation said that more than a million cast their vote since the start of the search. From 440 contenders, the list was trimmed to 220 and then to a shortlist of 77.

From 77, the number of contenders was trimmed further down to 28 and finally the seven provisional winners.

The votes were cast through text, internet and by telephone. — Angelo L. Gutierrez

Rates:

* Single -  Php 2,500
* Twin / Double / Triple -  Php 2,250 per person

Amenities:

* Restaurant
* Bar
* Dive shop
* souvenir shop
* cottages
* swimming pool
* Sundeck
* Parking lot
* private lockers

Punta Isla offers the lake for a day tour. It is also a home of tilapias, where Lake Sebu is famous for. Of course, it is only in Lake Sebu wherein you can taste a variety of tilapia delicacies from kinilaw, sinugbang tilapia, spicy fillet, tilapora and a lot more.

Also, when taking your meals, you either eat in the floating restaurant or in the hilltop. A floating restaurant is a nice option during lunch, plus there are young Tibolis performing their different dance steps. The restaurant in the hilltop is a nice spot to see the panoramic of the Lake Sebu and a lot of tilapia breeding nets. Tourists really love the place because of its peaceful ambience and relaxation effect.

This lake resort has rooms and cottages good for couples, families and groups. The basic amenities are available in every room. There is also a souvenier shop with native handicraft products display for a very reasonable price. Although the facilities are not that world-class, but in terms of hospitality, you’ll never get wrong when picking this resort.

Rates:

* Boating Trip (Around the Lake)Good for 15 Persons – 400.00 Php
* Cottage Fee Lakeside (Maximum of 10 – 12 Persons) – 100.00 Php
* Floating Restaurant – 150.00Php / Table
* Floating Restaurant Video-K – 5.00 Php for 2 songs
* Entrance Fee – 5.00 Php
* Meals (good for 4 persons) – 150.00 – 200.00 Php

ROOM RATE / PAX

VIP Room SingleBed w/ Bath,CR and TV
750.00 Php
Good for 2 Person

Family Room TwinBed w/Bath,CR and TV
850.00 Php
Good for 4 Person

Family Room TwinBed w/Bath,CR and TV
950.00Php
Good for 8 Person

Family Room Dormitory Type
500.00 Php
Good for4 Person

Amenties & Services:

* Tribal Native Products
* Floating Restaurant
* Videoke
* Kiddie Pool
* Conference Halls
* Gono Magud
* Zipline

If there’s one thing we take pride in, it’s the beaches of Antulang. White and pristine against the beckoning turquoise-blue seas, few guests have resisted its allure. Take a walk down a winding staircase from your cottage on the cliff and stroll along the shell-cluttered, secluded beach as you welcome the sunrise. And keep an eye on the water, you just might see a jumping sailfish or a glimpse of a resident spinner dolphin!

Antulang is home to 17 documented dive sites. Manta rays, hawksbill turtles, groupers and a multitude of marine life await the most discriminating diver. Our night dives come highly recommended–guests swear it’s like diving in your very own private aquarium! And if snorkeling is more up your alley, Antulang’s shallow corals are home to colorful clownfish, butterfly fish, eels and the occasional octopus.

While you wander around the resort, you may notice some fruit-bearing trees which are endemic to the area, so by all means, indulge and help yourself to some manzanitas (bears fruit all-year round–try to get some ahead of the fruit bats and birds), sereguelas (abundant in April and May) bayabas (wild guavas, available most of the year) and wild passion fruit; just stay away from the fruits of the noni tree, which are not edible, and the fruits of the ubiquitous tigpud trees, which is strictly for the birds!

And speaking of birds, expect to listen in on their chirping, especially in the early mornings. Meanwhile, please don’t be surprised to spot the occasional monitor lizard (locally called “halo”), hermit crabs (“umang”), sentinel crabs (“kagang”) and geckos (“tuko”) who, like you are also out to enjoy themselves in their natural habitat.

Other than diving and snorkeling, kayaking, horseback riding and rappelling are offered along with scheduled cruises to famed Apo Island and nearby Tambobo Bay. An added highlight for our guests: Although sunrise and sunset are both visible from the resort, at certain times of the year one can marvel at Antulang’s sunset and the simultaneous rising of a full moon.

Scuba diving is all about that elusive, natural high of an adrenaline rush, that blend of exhilaration and anticipation that comes with every dive…So no matter how you define diving—sport, hobby, profession, a spiritual experience—at Antulang you’ll discover that first and foremost, diving is all about having fun, respect for nature and the realization that we are indeed very privileged underwater guests who need to be mindful of our safety and environment.

Antulang is home to numerous lush, spectacular dive sites, most of which are a 5-minute boat ride away, with some barely a few meters from our shores. Guaranteed to captivate both novice and seasoned divers, we think one Australian PADI dive instructor put it best: “Unlike other dive spots where you expect to see one or two specific species of fish or coral, at Antulang you are at once immersed in a smorgasbord of marine life! There’s so much variety that every dive goes beyond your expectations.”

How to get there:

FROM MANILA:
4 daily flights to Dumaguete City Airport. Travel time: 1 hour. Book with Air Philippines or Cebu Pacific Air.

FROM CEBU:
2 daily trips to Dumaguete City Seaport via fast ferries. Travel time: 3 1/2 hours.

Benthel Resort Hotel Corp. is a Filipino owned company which owns, operates, and markets its two resort-hotel destinations in Cebu, Philippines – Cordova Reef Village Resort and Island and Sun Beach Resort.

The market niche that the company was created for is that exclusive segment of travelers who recognize quality and require luxurious accommodations in a tranquil, natural environment.

In its desire to provide the ultimate guest experience, the company continuously upgrades and introduces new facilities, which have been meticulously designed, as they are integral components of the overall development plan.

Individually, Benthel Resort Hotel properties are unique on their own. However, both hotels evidently share a distinct character that is expressed through its special attention to quality, excellent food and wine, elegant and luxurious accommodations, personalized service, preservation of the natural environment, and an atmosphere of absolute privacy and exclusivity.

The management team of the hotel is a collaboration of minds of professional individuals who come from highly esteemed hotel and resort establishments which have put the Philippines back in the world map of tourism. It is only inevitable therefore, that the bringing together of these competent individuals guarantee excellence in service and hotel operational standards.

Marketing efforts are primarily geared towards the individual travelers from three major areas — Domestic & Regional, Western, European and Asian. Facilitating this objective is the company’s affiliation with select Travel Professionals and membership in major Travel and Tourism Organizations both in the local and international front.

Cordova Reef Village Resort has an excellent location beside the beach and is ideal for relaxing or beach activities. The hotel provides guests with a variety of outdoor activities, particularly water sports such as snorkeling, jet skiing, kayaking, parasailing, fishing, and open water scuba diving certification.

Golfing can also be arranged for guests at a nearby golf course. The hotel can assist guests with airline reservations or reconfirmation, foreign exchange, laundry and dry cleaning, transportation, and medical assistance. The hotel also has massage and aromatherapy services, and life guards overseeing swimmers at the beach and the free form swimming pool.

Contact Information:

Cordova, Mactan, Cebu Philippines
Location: Southeastern most tip of Mactan Island
Tel #: (6332) 2381878 / 2363343 / 2363344 / 4968079
Telefax #: (6332) 4968050
Mobile # 639228570236 / 639228570238
Email: benthelresorts@globelines.com.ph, reservations@cordovareef.com, cordovasales@cordovareef.com

Since then the municipality has grown in a bustling town with more than 50,000 inhabitants divided over 15,282 hectares and 33 Barangays.

Ocean Bay Beach Resort is a privately owned boutique beach resort situated on 4500 square meter of fore shore land, with a 120 meter long shoreline and an easy stroll away from the town centre with its historic church and buildings.

Amenities

The gazebo is good for around 36 people where breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served per a la carte menu. The local beer here cost 35 PHP only.

The Pool has a roof to protect you from the UV rays of the sun. There is a spa and children’s area. On one side the pool is 2.40 meters deep and can be used for diving instructions. There are swim jets for the sports people under the guest and the whole pool is fenced off.

The conference room can seat 36 people comfortable. There are bar facilities and a small kitchen from where guests can be served. On request, the resort can supply a simple sound system, overhead projector, lectern, etc.

There are 3 different area’s where the guest can prepare their own food. The resort can provide a stove for a fee of PHP 100.00 (US $ 2.00). Additional corkage will be charged for groups. The main barbeque area can seat 16 people comfortably and has it’s own wash basin.

The resort is happy to offer, quote and co-ordinate any banquet facilities that might be required for events like

The Gift shop carries some souvenirs and personal use items. It also houses our collection of video’s that can be borrowed and watched in the rooms. (DVD players are available for rent at the front desk)

Rental of cars, with or without driver, are available upon request but needs 2 days notice. Airport pick up and drop off can be organized for a fee and have to be booked in advance. The resort is about 2 hours away from the Mactan International Airport.

Accommodations

All rooms have there own air-conditioning system, bathroom with toilet and shower, and a terrace facing the ocean (Bohol Straight).

The standard room has 2 beds or a double bed, it has a TV with local channels, a refrigerator, a cloth cabinet and a bathroom where the shower has hot and cold water. Outside is a terrace facing the ocean and pool.

The studio room is like the standard room with more space and a small kitchenette.

The 1 bedroom family unit has a living room, small kitchen, and a bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The living room has chairs coffee table and tv. The kitchen has a refrigerator and the bedroom has air-conditioning.

The 2 bedroom family units have a living room, small kitchen, and two bedrooms with ensuite bathroom. The living room has chairs coffee table and tv. The kitchen has a refrigerator and the bedrooms have air-conditioning.

The Captains Room have a more luxurious layout, with a double bed and a single bed, desk, cloth cabinet, safety box, TV with satellite connection, split system air-conditioning, refrigerator, hot & cold water, a bathroom with double spa-bath (Jacuzzi) and shower. Outside is a private terrace facing the ocean.

Contact Information:

Guiwanon, Poblacion, Dalaguete,
Cebu, Philippines 6022
Tel: + 63 32 4848 003
Fax: + 63 32 4845 678
Email: info@oceanbaybeachresort.com,
reservation@oceanbaybeachresort.com

Swimming Pool

The pool can be seen from the terrace-bar. Here, you can forget the hectic life everyday and enjoy swimming in peace. Or sun-bathing or just reading a good book seems fun!

Ease on the grass while you enjoy a fruit cocktail. Looking at the majestic curvature of the island and the endless sea. The sound of the man-made waterfall and the cool atmosphere of the pool invites one of being lazy. The sea view calms the soul and comfort the aching heart.

Apart from various activities – offshore or in water – you can also frolick on a beach chair and ease simply under the sun. From our front yard – you can have a beautiful view of Bohol Island, it lies approx. 30 Km from Argao at any time by booked boat routes by Woodruffs Beach Resort.

Pavilion

From the Pavillion you have a view of the Woodruffs Beach Resort as well as the Islands of Bohol, Panglao and Balingasag. Pavillion by night is breathtaking! Enjoy a moment of peace for your soul.

The complete painting of Woodruffs Beach Resort is implemented into tender pink. What is marvelous on this resort is the situation. With us you can experience sunrise and sunset from the Pavillion!

Amenities:

* Internet Cafe
* Pool Billiard, Dart Game, Play Automats
* Beauty-Saloon
* Boat Routes & Fishing Rods
* Car Trips
* Video Karaoke
* Party and Fun

Contact Information:

Tulic, Argao, Cebu, Philippines 6021
Telephone: +63-32-367-7388
Cellphone Tom: +63-919-727 54 866, +63-922-548 36 00
E-Mail: info@woodruffs-beachresort.com, booking@woodruffs-beachresort.com

We have a 130 meters wide beach front with a natural rustic ambiance. Hear the melody of the chirping birds, view the carabaos grazing with the hum of the beach. Experience the soft tropical hide away on a silver beach with gray fine sand and crystal clear water that slopes
gradually.

Affordable and clean facilities are nestled in a lush garden of more than 200 coconut trees, fruit trees and orchids. Best for weekend vacations, company outings, overnight for 120 persons. Reception for weddings, reunions, parties for 500 pax.

Isla Vista means “VIEW OF THE ISLAND”. We enjoy not only the view of the beach with its magnificent sunset but also the white sands of Potipot Island, a 3 minute boat ride away.

Accommodations and Facilities:

* Superior Rooms
* Premium Rooms
* Regular Rooms
* Dormitory
* Beach Front Kubo
* Clubhouse
* Plaza
* Pavilion

How to get there:

By private vehicle, the resort is about 5 hours (249 kilometers) from Manila. OR 2 and a half hours from Subic Bay. Take NLEX to Subic-Clark Expressway (SCTEX). From Subic Bay, follow “to (Sta Cruz) ZAMBALES” road directions.

Contact Information:

Ealdama St, Km Post 249, Barangay Uacon
Candelaria, Zambales, Philippines
Mobile: (+63)919-244-9084, (+63)922 885 1964, (+63)917 514 9007
Email address: isla_vista_resort@yahoo.com
www.islavistabeacresort.com