If you’re still undecided on where to begin your next vacation in the Philippines, you can start in Laguna. Accessible with less an hour drive from Metro Manila, Laguna is a perfect destination to explore the natural beauty of the country. Its immediate proximity from the metro makes the province a magnet for first-time and repeat tourists in the country.

Considered as one of the most progressive provinces in the archipelago, Laguna charms holidaymakers with its panorama of natural wonders, historic landmarks, and man-made delights. The province is known for its meticulous craftsmanship of embroidery, woodcarvings, and footwear. Laguna is not the place to be for beach bummers but perfect for those looking for a different kind of adventure and relaxing vacation.

A whole day is not enough to roam around Laguna and witness its amazing offerings. So below is a recommended list of tourist attractions that are worth your time and money.

Rizal Shrine
Most Philippine travel guides advise tourists in Laguna to pay a visit to Rizal Shrine in Calamba City. The shrine is the ancestral home of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Inside the house, which has undergone a number of renovations over the past years, are memorabilia of Rizal’s childhood. Visitors are only allowed to take pictures outside the two-story house, which boasts of a vintage Spanish flavor.

Pagsanjan Falls
One of the famous natural wonders in Laguna is Pagsanjan Falls. Located in Brgy. Anglas, Cavinti, the falls measures 91 meters high. Expert boatmen battle strong currents to take tourists to the falls. Visitors can also ride a bamboo raft to enter a cave located behind the falls. As a travel tip, place you cameras inside a water-proof container. Also, don’t haggle with illegal boatmen. They notoriously demand exorbitant fees.

Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery
Another must-see attraction in Laguna is the Underground Cemetery in Nagcarlan. Built by the Franciscan Missionaries in 1851, this historical landmark was used a burial ground for Spanish priests. It was also used as a secret meeting place by Filipino revolutionaries. As part of preservation efforts, tourists are prohibited from taking pictures inside the underground crypt.

Mt. Makiling
Mt. Makiling is the pride of Laguna. With an elevation of 1,090 meters, this majestic mountain is a popular hiking destination among local and foreign tourists. There is a host of attractions on the foot of Mt. Makiling such as the Mud Springs, the Makiling National Scout Reservation, the Philippine High School of the Arts, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

Enchanted Kingdom
If nature and historical trips do not appeal to you, then enjoy the rides at Enchanted Kingdom. Located in Sta. Rosa, this theme park covers 17 hectares and hosts dozens of world-class rides such as the Space Shuttle, Rio Grande Rapids, Anchors Away, and Flying Fiesta. Opened in 1995, Enchanted Kingdom is also home to fancy restaurants, souvenir shops, and amusement centers.

There more things to do in Laguna such as swimming at Pansol resorts, footwear shopping in Liliw, and buying woodcarvings in Paete. You must also see the Seven Lakes of San Pablo and the Eight Mountains of Nagcarlan. Finally, taste various delicacies such as buko pie in Los Baños and white cheese in Sta. Cruz. There are also a variety of accommodations – from the most basic to the very lavish – across the province.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.

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Most Filipinos would love to hear from their relatives or friends from the US. Who won’t? There’s just so much to tell and burning the lines would be one helluvah understatement if you are to make an international call to the Philippines. This is because the Philippines is one of the most eventful places in the world right now. See the news to prove this.

Placing an international call could be a very wallet-pinching endeavor. But this should not always be the case. There are numerous ways to make a long distance call, especially if the destination of your call is the Pearl of the Orient, the Philippines.

Here is a rundown of suggestions on how to make that international call to the Philippines without shelling out much of your hard-earned dollars.

1. Be careful when buying call cards.

Several prepaid phone cards have hidden charges. There could be a connection fee that could be almost tantamount to getting ripped off especially when the card buyer makes a call and either the call is routed to a voice mailbox or to an answering machine. Connection fee deduction is automatically done even when the caller did not say anything yet.

Other phone card hidden charges include service fee, maintenance fee, access number and long talking fee. The expiration date should also be checked.

2. Know what type of phone will receive your call.

It won’t be advisable to make a long distance call to any mobile device. This is because most of overseas carriers implement the “calling party pays” system. The tariff rate of an international wireless phone could be a lot higher compared to a call made to a land-line in the same country.

3. Say no to a telephone operator.

When you choose to be assisted by a telephone operator when placing an international call, you choose to pay considerably more. Whenever possible opt to use a dial-around service or dial direct.

4. Sign up to a prepaid long distance plan.

Various carriers offer this kind of service to those who frequently place long distance calls. Opt for those with flexible programs. These plans work like phone cards but do not have fees and charges associated with prepaid phone cards. They usually have very low domestic and international rates 24/7 and call quality is usually excellent. One more thing about these prepaid plans is the convenience of being able to use them when placing calls from any telephones be it cell phones or public phones.

5. Calling during non-business days or off-peak time will help you save.

Make the most out of these privileges by checking on what your carrier offers. Just make sure that it won’t be too much of an inconvenience to the recipient of your call.

6. Bad connections should be noted.

Bad connections happen and the Philippines is not an exception to this nuisance. When this happens, take note of the time and the number you called. Prepaid calling cards rarely gives you credit for bad connections. But if you made an international call using a standard long distance carrier, or prepaid long distance plans, better check if you could be given credit for that call. They always do.

It would help if you print this info to be always reminded of the Do’s and Don’t's when it comes to making an international call.

With these simple tips, you don’t have to worry when your phone bill arrives.

Finally, here’s the step-by-step process in calling the Philippines.

a. Dial 011, which is the international code

b. Then, key in the Philippines’ country code, which is 63.

c. Now, dial the city area code where your your wife and kids are.

Here are the major cities in the Philippines with their respective city area codes:

Angeles Luzon – 455

Bacolod – 34

Baguio – 74

Cebu – 32

Clarkfield, Pampanga – 45

Dagupan, Pangasinan – 75

Davao – 82

Iloilo – 33

Laguna Province – 49562

Lucena, Luzon – 42

Makati, Luzon – 2

Manila – 2

Ozamiz City – 88

San Fernando, Pampanga – 45

San Fernando, La Union – 72

San Pablo – 49

Subic, Zambales – 47

Tarlac – 452

Tarlac Province – 45

Zamboanga – 62

d. Finally, dial the remaining digits.

Also, don’t forget to greet your Filipino friend using her native lingo. “Kumusta”, pronounced as “cooh-moose-TAH” surely will never fail to make her smile.