Zamboanga del Norte: Old Town of Dapitan is the first declared Heritage Zone

With the enactment of the R.A. No. 10066 - National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 last year, a new designation for built heritage was created: the Heritage Zone or Historic Center. On May 24, 2011, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared its first Heritage Zone, the Old Town of Dapitan, through Resolution No. 03, s. 2011, in time for the 150th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal.

The NHCP, in its resolution, notes that "Dapitan is one of the oldest settlements in Northern Mindanao inhabited by Subanens" and that "according to Horacio de la Costa, S.J., the Dapitan mission was founded by Pedro Gutierrez, S.J. (in) 1629."


We all know the connection of Rizal with Dapitan. As the resolution states, "Jose Rizal lived in exile in Casa Real, the official residence and administration building of the politico-military governor of the District, from July 1892 to March 1893; and transferred to Talisay, now the Rizal Shrine Dapitan, where he spent a productive life."



The Old Town of Dapitan Heritage Zone includes "the established Heritage Dapitan district, the Rizal Shrine in Talisay and the buffer strip of creek along northern and eastern Heritage Dapitan." It is where "historic sites and structures such as Rizal National Shrine, Rizal's Disembarkation Site, Dapitan Plaza and Rizal Monument, Rizal's Relief Map of Mindanao, Town Hall Building (City Hall), Old Rizal Memorial District Hospital, Ilihan Hill, Parochial School, Casa Real, Gabaldon Building, St. James Church, the Sta. Cruz marker, Gabaldon school building, and old ancestral houses are located."


In fact, the zone is quite significant because the Relief Map of Mindanao and the Dapitan Town Plaza were previously declared as National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark respectively. Dapitan's declaration as a Heritage Zone is indeed a welcome development.

Anyway, we look forward to the declaration of more Heritage Zones or Historic Centers in the near future!

Taiwan: Visit to China Airlines Headquarters in Taoyuan Airport

China Airlines has continuously provided Filipinos one of the best options for air travel options not just to Taiwan, but onwards to the United States, Canada and Europe as well. Founded in 1959, China Airlines has become an airline of choice for many of our countrymen who look for value for money and great service. Today, the airline flies to 98 destinations in 29 countries.

During our visit to Taiwan, we had the chance to visit the newly-inaugurated China Airlines headquarters at the Taoyuan International Airport and tour its maintenance and training facilities.



Our first stop was Base Maintenance, which offers aircraft maintenance services including airframe, components, composites, cabin interior refurbishment, and painting & stripping. Several planes were actually being serviced while we were there.


We then visited China Airlines’ Engine Maintenance, which is actually one of Asia's advanced engine maintenance plants. It offers a comprehensive range of engine maintenance services.


Finally, we were toured around the Training Department which takes “an aggressive yet well-grounded approach to training to meet the requirements of international airline practices and operations.” The pilots and crew get intensive training for various aspects of the flights with state of the art simulators and facilities to help mimic actual flight situations and emergencies, including fires and water landings.

With all that attention to detail, it’s no surprise that China Airlines has strengthened its safety record, receiving the prestigious IATA IOSA Safety Certificate in 2005.

According to China Airlines Country Manager in the Philippines Michael Wu, “China Airlines continuously promotes a Corporate Safety Concept and has implemented a “Safety First” policy as the company core value. To achieve this core company value, China Airlines has implemented a companywide Safety Management System to promote safety and emphasize the safety responsibilities of each employee. Efforts have been made to build a three-dimensional safety net covering China Airlines operations both in the air and on the ground. Pilots and crew are given regular training in safety concepts, threat assessment methods, response techniques and ground safety. A series of regular safety activities have been arranged as a way of raising awareness about core values of safety and quality. China Airlines has passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) to become an IOSA certified operator from 2005, and passed the re-certificated audit to get the renewal IOSA certificate in 2011.”


And the great service has not gone unnoticed. In 2007, China Airlines was awarded highest ever rankings in Economy, Business and First Class service by Skytrax. As Mr. Wu shares, “The core value of our cabin service is that we treasure every moment with the passenger. We understand that for China Airlines to grow and remain strong & healthy, we have to focus on maintaining a base of loyal passengers. So passenger satisfaction is always the goal we pursue.”

In the past years, China Airlines marked some major milestones. In 2009, it celebrated its 50th anniversary. Just recently, China Airlines joined the SkyTeam Alliance, which thus firmly strengthened its Asia-Pacific network by welcoming its fifth carrier from the region. China Airlines leads the way as the preferred carrier for Filipinos to Taiwan and beyond.

Entries from Familiarization Tour
Kang Qing Long District in Taipei
Xiaolongbao 鼎泰豐 at Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐
Taipei 101 Observatory
2010 Taipei International Flora Expo
Raohe Street Night Market 饒河街觀光夜市 in Taipei
Treasures of the National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院
Taiwanese food at Wan Lin & Chi Chia Chuang Restaurant
Longshan Temple 艋舺龍山寺 & Huaxi Street Night Market 華西街夜市 in Taipei's Wanhua District 萬華區
Around Taipei's Beitou Hot Springs
Danshuei Old Street, Fort Santo Domingo & Danshui River cruise in Tamsui District 淡水區

Note: This familiarization tour of Taipei, Taiwan was organized by China Airlines. Book online at the China Airlines website.

McDonald's drive-thru and delivery for convenience when you travel

Driving has been an integral part of my travel around Luzon. The longest I've driven recently was the North Philippines route from Manila to Ilocos and back to Manila via Cagayan. Part of the trip involved driving at night. And it was a good thing there were 24-hour McDonald's stores open in the north. Twister Fries was part of my staple then when it was available. Too bad it's not available the whole year!


But even without the Twister Fries, I still look forward to my favorite McChicken Sandwich and Chicken McNuggets when I get hungry along the way. It's easy to plan a road trip since I know there are a lot of food options along the way. And for me, Chicken McNuggets is a really good option since it's easy to munch on along the way.


I don't remember how many times I stopped at McDonald's for Twister Fries during that really long road trip, especially when there was one open 24-hours. It was a lot definitely and it literally served as energy food for me along the way. I wonder why they don't keep it as part of the regular menu.

On the way to the airport for my recent trip to North America, we made sure to pass by McDonald's for a quick dinner. My niece always orders the Chicken McDo which is her favorite. At least we know we could manage our time when driving-thru at a McDonald's store.

We all know about the 8-MCDO deliveries in Metro Manila. But in some areas in the provinces, McDonald's delivery is also available. So if you suddenly get hungry and don't want to leave your hotel, you might want to try that option. Here is a list of all McDonald's stores for your conveniece.