Image courtesy Martyn Willes

New Corella is known as the “water basin of Davao Del Norte” and for good reason – its rainforested limestone hills have for aeons imbibed the monsoon rains and slowly released them, through hundreds of springs and streams, onto the plains below. The same aeons have slowly eroded the limestone beneath, creating some of the most beautiful cave systems in the World. Adventure tourists and speleologists can access the caves by hiking along forest trails or trekking up rivers, brimming with crystal clear water – filtered and pure.

Recognizing that it is the custodian of this area of outstanding natural beauty, the municipality of New Corella has created a series of adventure tourist packages, designed to allow those with a passion for the beauty of Mother Nature to enjoy the gifts that she has so generously bestowed upon Davao Del Norte.

Image courtesy John Smart

By Captain Pugwash

Following the Top of the Gulf Regatta, in Pattaya, Thailand, in April, a meeting was held that brought together the organizers of most of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit regattas. The regatta organizers were joined by members of the yachting press, race officers, media practitioners and other interested parties. The Philippines was represented by (international racing champion) Jun Avecilla and (international race officer) Jerry Rollin.

As outlined by the meeting convener, Mr Bill Gasson, the purpose of the forum was to discuss the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit and ways to increase the number of boats that can be included in the AYGP Championship. Currently 13 boats are eligible but only two compete for the championship.

Image courtesy Martyn Willes

The Philippine Independence Day Regatta 2011 will be held in Subic Bay to celebrate the Philippines' declaration of independence from Spanish Rule on 12th June, 1898. The regatta will attract racing and cruising yachts from around the country for two days of sailing in one of the most notable of Philippine sailing venues.

The actual Act of the Declaration of Independence was read in public for the first time at the residence of General Emilio Aguinaldo - the self-proclaimed leader of the Filipino revolutionary forces - in Kawit, Cavite. The act of reading the Declaration consolidated the power base that he had amassed by virtue of removing other notable Filipino revolutionaries such as Andres Bonifacio – hailed by many as the true hero of the revolution – by accusing him of treason.

Image courtesy Juliet Solar

Almost complete, atop the southern arm of Puerto Del Sol Bay, Busuanga, is a new lighthouse that will guide vessels from the South China Sea into Coron Bay. The Lighthouse is not an initiative of the Philippine MARINA Department nor the Philippine Coast Guard but instead a unique resort development by an entrepreneur who simply wishes to assist seafarers to find a safe anchorage.

Puerto Del Sol Bay is the home of the Busuanga Yacht Club and a dozen moorings are located in the sheltered bay, to the North of the lighthouse. Puerto Del Sol Bay is considered a safe typhoon anchorage and through the adjacent, Puerto Del Sol Resort, offers accommodation, restaurant facilities, Internet and freshwater at the moorings. Puerto Del Sol Bay is oft referred to by locals as the bay at the end of the Earth because it occupies one of the least accessible (by land) parts of Busuanga Island.

Image courtesy Teddy Aquino

The first organized Deep Water Soloing (DWS) venue in Busuanga was climbed this week. Teddy Aquino, the owner of Juju Island (about 20 minutes by speed-boat from Coron town), invited a group of climbing friends from overseas to join him in exploring the craggy limestone cliffs and walls of Sangat Island (and similar islands in the Calamianes Islands Group), for the purpose of identifying the best locations for Deep Water Soloing in the Philippines.

What is Deep Water Soloing? It is essentially rock-climbing with the objective of an eventual rapid descent into deep water. The word "soloing" is included because you are not tied to any other climbers in your ascent and you jump into the deep water at the moment that you decide is right, without reference to other climbers who may be ascending at the same time as you.