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Australian couple killed in the Philippines identified

<p>An Australian couple who were allegedly murdered in the Philippines have been identified. </p> <p>The bodies of 54-year-old David Fisk and his de-facto partner Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, were found with their hands and feet tied by hotel staff at the Lake Hotel in Tagaytay city, south of Manila, on Wednesday. </p> <p>The body of another woman, Cortez's  30-year-old daughter-in-law Mary who lives in the Philippines, was also found in the room. </p> <p>Hotel staff were alerted to the issue when they knocked on the door repeatedly to tell the couple it was time to check out. </p> <p>Fisk allegedly had his throat was slit with a sharp object that may have caused his death while the two women apparently may have been suffocated using a pillow, Tagaytay police chief Charles Daven Capagcuan told The Associated Press.</p> <p>Ongoing autopsies would verify those initial indications, he said.</p> <p>Fisk's family, based in NSW's Sutherland Shire, issued a statement saying they "pray for answers and the truth in this horrific matter".</p> <p>"The love we have for our Father and Lucita is so dear and this situation is like living a nightmare," the family said.</p> <p>Capagcuan said the motive for the killings was not immediately clear and added some valuables of the victims, including their mobile phones, were not taken by the suspect.</p> <p>"We were shocked by this incident," Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino said, apologising to the families of the victims.</p> <p>"We're very sorry to our Australian friends. We will resolve this as soon as possible."</p> <p>Tolentino said investigators were interviewing witnesses and examining security cameras at the hotel which could help identify the suspect or suspects, as a suspicious hooded figure was seen in the corridors of the hotel around the time of their deaths. </p> <p>A Filipino relative of the Australian woman told the AP that the Australian couple flew from Sydney to the Indonesian resort island of Bali for a vacation then headed to the Philippines on Monday to visit her two children from a previous marriage in the country.</p> <p>It's understood the Australian couple had been due to fly back home to Sydney on July 13th. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Cavite Provincial Police Office</em></p>

Caring

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106-year-old tattoo artist becomes Vogue’s oldest cover star

<p>Apo Maria ‘Whang-Od’ Oggay has made history as the oldest woman to have featured on the cover of <em>Vogue</em>. </p> <p>Regarded as the last mambabatok of her generation, Whang-Od was born in the remote village of Buscalan in the northern Philippines’ province of Kalinga in 1918, and entered the world of tattooing at just 16 years old. </p> <p>As <em>Vogue Philippines</em>’s editor-in-chief Bea Valdes explained of their decision to feature her on the cover, “we felt she represented our ideals of what is beautiful about our Filipino culture.</p> <p>"We believe that the concept of beauty needs to evolve, and include diverse and inclusive faces and forms. What we hope to speak about is the beauty of humanity.”</p> <p>And Whang-Od was the perfect choice. <em>Vogue Philippines</em>’ demonstrated as much when they wrote on Twitter that “the symbols of the Kalinga tribe signifying strength, bravery &amp; beauty” are imprinted on her skin, and that Whang-Od embodies the “strength and beauty of the Filipino spirit”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Apo Maria “Whang-Od” Oggay symbolizes the strength and beauty of the Filipino spirit. </p> <p>Heralded as the last mambabatok of her generation, she has imprinted the symbols of the Kalinga tribe signifying strength, bravery &amp; beauty on the skin. </p> <p>Read more on <a href="https://t.co/2F1mJ5iQWG">https://t.co/2F1mJ5iQWG</a>. <a href="https://t.co/urVcA3g2Ek">pic.twitter.com/urVcA3g2Ek</a></p> <p>— Vogue Philippines (@vogueph) <a href="https://twitter.com/vogueph/status/1641276503433572353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>As tattoo anthropologist Dr Lars Krutak found out for <em>Vogue</em>, it was through Whang-Od’s father’s mentorship that she launched her career in tattooing. She was the first - and only - mambabatok of her time, and would spend her time visiting neighbouring villages - and beyond - to “to imprint the sacred symbols of their ancestors on individuals who have crossed or about to cross a threshold in their lives.”</p> <p>Her own life story can be found on her skin - featuring everything from her accomplishments to her ailments, and even the names of past lovers - in a story of beauty, bravery, and the heritage of the Kalinga tribe. </p> <p>For men, tattoos reflected them as “a headhunting warrior”, while women were typically tattooed for “fertility and beautification”. As <em>Vogue</em> reported, the elder women of Kalinga say that “when they die, they can’t take their beads and gold with them to the afterlife. They only have the markings on their body.” </p> <p>As <em>Vogue</em> went on to cover, decades of colonial erasure had a significant impact on batok - in Kalinga, village girls had to cover their arms, while many others abandoned the art. </p> <p>But through Whang-Od and her descendants, the ancient art of batok will continue - both in Buscalan and the rest of the world. </p> <p>Batok itself, as explained by the <em>Vogue</em> team who had the honour of receiving a tattoo from Whang-Od, involves “an unused gisi, a bamboo stick with a thorn attached to one end” and a pattern traced “using a length of grass dipped in the soot and charcoal mixture”. </p> <p>The process then sees Whang-Od hold the inked gisi in one hand, while she “uses a larger stick to whack it with her right hand, driving it over a hundred times per minute into the flesh until the three dots are filled and oozing with blood and ink. She dabs at them with a wet wipe before deciding to go over the freshly wounded spots again for good measure.”</p> <p>And now, Whang-Od has been teaching her craft to her grand-niece, Grace Palicas. </p> <p>Under Whang-Od’s mentorship, the thousand-year-old tradition will live on, as the next generation of stick-and-thorn artists strive to preserve their craft, and share it with the world. </p> <p>As for Whang-Od herself? Her plans are quite simple, with the artist explaining that “when visitors come from far away, I will give them the tatak Buscalan, tatak Kalinga for as long as my eyes can see.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Fake Bunnings! Overseas hardware clone baffles fans

<p dir="ltr">New photographs of an eerily similar Bunnings store have cropped up that have everyone talking on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">Builders Warehouse, not to be confused with Bunnings Warehouse, has opened in the Philippines. The two chains share the same classic colour scheme, hammer logo, and even the uniform are lookalikes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The only difference? Instead of the famous ‘Lowest prices are just the beginning’ slogan, Builders Warehouse has gone with ‘You build. We provide.’</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:375.3846153846154px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840811/builders-warehouse-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7c512fe3dd24449c904ac9e06a436c56" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840810/bunnings-warehouse-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4f089538f97f473e935ca4b591e3842f" /></p> <p dir="ltr">It is understood that Bunnings Warehouse isn’t affiliated with Builders Warehouse.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bunnings fans on Twitter were surprised by the similarities.</p> <p dir="ltr">‘Sincerest Form of Flattery? Meet #Bunnings Warehouse Clone - Our Builders Warehouse,’ said one.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840814/builders-warehouse-3.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/06cb1c5113f2449fb62b7c84ab057eef" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><span>According to </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://ourbuilderswarehouse.com.ph/home" target="_blank">its website</a><span>, Builders Warehouse started in 2018 and now has five stores across the Philippines, including Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, Malolos, and Bulacan. It describes itself as the go-to for home improvement in the Philippines.</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><span><img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840812/builders-warehouse-4.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0920009faac34e808f2199655e9b1da6" /></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The similarities don’t stop there either, with similar mission statements.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the Builders Warehouse website, ‘Builders Warehouse is anchored in delivering first-class construction materials to everyone who needs a hand in home building from the groundwork, furnishing up to the final modifications of any structural development’.</p> <p dir="ltr">On the Bunnings website, it reads, ‘Our ambition is to provide our customers with the widest range of home improvement products in accordance with our lowest prices policy, backed with the best service.’</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Bunnings did not wish to comment on the new Filipino stores.</p>

Legal

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Couple continue with wedding despite volcanic eruption

<p>A couple did not let a major volcanic emergency get in the way of their wedding as they walked down the aisle during an eruption.</p> <p>Chino Vaflor and Kat Bautista Palomar had been making plans for eight years to tie the knot on Sunday at Savannah Farm in the Philippines, 10 kilometres from Taal Volcano.</p> <p>White smoke came out of the active volcano hours before the ceremony began, but it hadn’t reached emergency level until the wedding was underway. Philippine authorities raised their alert to the second-highest level, and people within a 14km radius of the volcano were told to evacuate.</p> <p>Wedding photographer Randolf Evan told <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51087441">BBC</a></em> they felt “definitely safe as the venue was on higher ground and not directly around the volcano's vicinity”.</p> <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/photos/a.190435824367437/2733509743393353/?type=3" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/">Randolf Evan Photography</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/photos/a.190435824367437/2733509743393353/?type=3">Sunday, January 12, 2020</a></blockquote> </div> <p> </p> <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/photos/a.190435824367437/2733509883393339/?type=3" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/">Randolf Evan Photography</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/photos/a.190435824367437/2733509883393339/?type=3">Sunday, January 12, 2020</a></blockquote> </div> <p>Evan said the wedding guests were “calm and relaxed” despite the imminent danger.</p> <p>“Funny enough, the smoke from the volcano just kind of like served as an entertaining backdrop changing from white, yellow, pink and finally to grey,” he told <em><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/familyandrelationships/couple-continue-with-wedding-despite-volcano-erupting-in-the-background/ar-BBYUzCH?li=AAgfYrC">Mirror</a></em>.</p> <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/photos/a.190435824367437/2733509706726690/?type=3" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/">Randolf Evan Photography</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/photos/a.190435824367437/2733509706726690/?type=3">Sunday, January 12, 2020</a></blockquote> </div> <p>“Our team, as well as the rest of the suppliers, was just getting a feel if the couple wanted to postpone or not.</p> <p>“They ended up going ahead with everything as we later found out that they have been planning for this day for eight years and two kids in the making.</p> <p>“It was going to be a special day for them no matter what, and it definitely was.”</p> <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/photos/a.190435824367437/2733509730060021/?type=3" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/">Randolf Evan Photography</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randolfevanphotography/photos/a.190435824367437/2733509730060021/?type=3">Sunday, January 12, 2020</a></blockquote> </div> <p>Evan said ash rained on their clothes, but “it didn't feel alarming until nighttime came when it became a bit heavier and mud-like”.</p> <p>He confirmed that everyone was now safely out of the danger zone.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Nationals MP George Christensen under scrutiny over Philippines adult bar claims

<p>Nationals MP George Christensen has denied claims that he was a regular at an adult entertainment bar in the Philippines.</p> <p>The claim came as Christensen blocked the release of information about the Australian Federal Police probe into his frequent travels to the Philippines between 2014 and 2018.</p> <p>Christensen was revealed to have taken 28 trips and spent almost 300 days in the Philippines over the four-year period.</p> <p>The manager of bar Ponytails, which identifies itself as an “adult entertainment service”, said the federal politician was a “very regular visitor” and a “big spender” at the venue.</p> <p>“It was well known that he went to other bars in the areas,” manager Marjorie Lamsen told <span><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/george-christensen-a-regular-at-philippines-adult-entertainment-bar-manager-20191202-p53g57.html">Nine News, <em>The Age </em>and <em>The Herald</em></a><em>.</em></span></p> <p><span>“The weakness of George is women. He would usually give allowances to these people.”</span></p> <p><span>The joint investigation by the outlets also alleged that Christensen’s wife April Asuncion, whom he met in the Philippines in 2017, was an employee at the Ponytails bar.</span></p> <p>In a statement to Nine News, a<span> spokesperson for Christensen said the allegations were “highly defamatory”.</span></p> <p>“Your allegation made about my client’s wife is denied and the so-called documentary proof that you refer to, is therefore either false or fabricated,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p>“Slandering the wife of a sitting member of parliament, who is not in the public eye, is highly defamatory and needless to say the damages would be substantial.</p> <p>“If you should publish anything that is false about my client or his wife, we are instructed to commence defamation proceedings.”</p> <p>The AFP had previously briefed former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull six times on the matter and advised Christensen that his travel could put him at risk of blackmail. However, the organisation’s probe into Christensen’s overseas travel found “no evidence of wrongdoing” and “no evidence of criminal behaviour”.</p>

International Travel

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What you didn’t know about the Philippines

<p>The Philippines has more than 7641 lush tropical islands surrounded by turquoise water. For years, this incredible destination has gone under the radar. But Australian travellers are starting to take note.</p> <p> “It’s an incredible destination that is perfect for Australians’ considering their love of adventure, travel and passion for discovering unexplored destinations,” Norjamin Delos Reyes, Tourism Attaché at Philippine Department of Tourism Australia and New Zealand says.</p> <p>“Our lush, tropical backdrops, stunning sunsets, and dreamy tropical beaches make the Philippines one of the most exotic holiday destinations.</p> <p>“As a destination, it is still relatively undiscovered and offers unparalleled value, so there’s no better time to get to know our tropical archipelago, world-renowned for its abundance of beauty, wildlife and bio-diversity.”</p> <p>Here are 10 things you may not know about the Philippines according to Norjamin:</p> <p>1. The Philippines officially has 7641 islands. The number increased in 2018 when more islands were officially recognised and counted.</p> <p>2. We are a county of smiling, highly skilled, English-speaking people. Don’t be shy about approaching a Filipino and starting a conversation. We’re not just fun, we’re officially friendly too. Forbes.com ranked the Philippines as the friendliest country in Asia and the eighth friendliest place in the world.</p> <p>3. The Philippines is officially home to the ‘Best Islands in the World’, with the stunning destination’s islands consistently recognised in the highly acclaimed Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice. In October 2018, the awards were categorised into regions, with the Philippines scooping the top three best islands in Asia: Siargo, Boracay and Palawan were listed respectively.</p> <p>4. The Philippines was also named ‘Asia’s Leading Beach Destination 2018’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards.</p> <p>5. The Philippines offers excellent value for money, with a bottle of beer only $1.</p> <p>6. The town of Vigan in the province of Ilocos Sur was officially inaugurated as one of the Seven Wonder Cities of the World in May 2015.</p> <p>7. The Philippines is the heart of marine biodiversity. The Philippines archipelago is located within the Coral Triangle and has 76 per cent of the world’s coral species, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species and at least 2,228 reef fish species.</p> <p>8. The ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ marketing campaign, stemmed from a single question asked to the Department of Tourism ‘why would a tourist want to come to the Philippines?’</p> <p>9. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature.</p> <p>10. The Philippines was named in honour of King Philip II of Spain. Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, during his expedition in 1542, named the islands of Leyte and Samar Felipinas after the then Prince of Asturias. Eventually, the name Las Islas Filipinas would be used to cover all the island of the archipelago.</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/philippines-facts/">MyDiscoveries.</a> </em></p>

Cruising

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10 things you didn't know about the Philippines

<p>The Philippines has more than 7641 lush tropical islands surrounded by turquoise water. For years, this incredible destination has gone under the radar. But Australian travellers are starting to take note.</p> <p>It’s an incredible destination that is perfect for Australians’ considering their love of adventure, travel and passion for discovering unexplored destinations,” Norjamin Delos Reyes, Tourism Attaché at Philippine Department of Tourism Australia and New Zealand says.</p> <p>“Our lush, tropical backdrops, stunning sunsets, and dreamy tropical beaches make the Philippines one of the most exotic holiday destinations.</p> <p>“As a destination, it is still relatively undiscovered and offers unparalleled value, so there’s no better time to get to know our tropical archipelago, world-renowned for its abundance of beauty, wildlife and bio-diversity.”</p> <p>Here are 10 things you may not know about the Philippines according to Norjamin:</p> <p><strong>1. The Philippines officially has 7641 islands.</strong> The number increased in 2018 when more islands were officially recognised and counted.</p> <p><strong>2. We are a county of smiling, highly skilled, English-speaking people.</strong> Don’t be shy about approaching a Filipino and starting a conversation. We’re not just fun, we’re officially friendly too. Forbes.com ranked the Philippines as the friendliest country in Asia and the eighth friendliest place in the world.</p> <p><strong>3. The Philippines is officially home to the ‘Best Islands in the World’,</strong> with the stunning destination’s islands consistently recognised in the highly acclaimed Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice. In October 2018, the awards were categorised into regions, with the Philippines scooping the top three best islands in Asia: Siargo, Boracay and Palawan were listed respectively.</p> <p><strong>4. The Philippines was also named ‘Asia’s Leading Beach Destination 2018</strong>’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards.</p> <p><strong>5. The Philippines offers excellent value for money</strong>, with a bottle of beer only $1.</p> <p><strong>6. The town of Vigan in the province of Ilocos Sur</strong> was officially inaugurated as one of the Seven Wonder Cities of the World in May 2015.</p> <p><strong>7. The Philippines is the heart of marine biodiversity.</strong> The Philippines archipelago is located within the Coral Triangle and has 76 per cent of the world’s coral species, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species and at least 2,228 reef fish species.</p> <p><strong>8. The ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ marketing campaign,</strong> stemmed from a single question asked to the Department of Tourism ‘why would a tourist want to come to the Philippines?’</p> <p><strong>9. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong> and one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature.</p> <p><strong>10. The Philippines was named in honour of King Philip II of Spain.</strong> Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, during his expedition in 1542, named the islands of Leyte and Samar Felipinas after the then Prince of Asturias. Eventually, the name Las Islas Filipinas would be used to cover all the island of the archipelago.</p> <p>Did you know these facts? Have you ever been to the Philippines? Let us know in the comments!</p> <p class="p1"><em>Written by Editorial Staff.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/philippines-facts/">MyDiscoveries</a>.</em></p>

International Travel

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This island paradise is the next big cruising destination

<p>With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is just made for cruising. But despite that, the major cruise lines have yet to take advantage of this undiscovered gem. The Philippines is set to be the next big cruising destination and you’ll want to get onboard. </p> <p>The only major port in the country, at this stage, is the capital Manila. Large megaliners from lines like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises frequently call here. Manila is big and dirty and chaotic, but look beneath the surface and you’ll find a unique cultural mix, some gorgeous architecture and an emerging foodie scene.</p> <p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28670/image__498x245.jpg" alt="philippines (1)" width="498" height="245" /></p> <p>But the real appeal of the Philippines is away from the capital. Thousands of picture perfect islands are dotted throughout the dazzlingly blue ocean. Most of these can only be reached by smaller ships, so you’ll need to look to boutique or expedition cruise lines to sail with. Boracay is the most famous and has been a popular holiday destination since the 1980s. It was once considered the most beautiful beach in the world and, though it has become fairly touristy, it’s still incredibly picturesque.</p> <p>Further off the beaten track, islands like Coron and Puerto Princesa are even more rugged and remote. You’ll spend your days swimming in crystal clear lagoons, snorkelling over sunken Japanese warships and hiking through lush rainforest. Visits to small villages allow you to get a taste of local life with bustling markets and tiny cafes. The Hundred Islands National Park is a highlight, with 123 uninhabited islands. You’ll need to travel on a small outrigger or local sailing ship, cruising around the stunning outcrops and stopping to snorkel on pristine reefs.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwSCGgegpCI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwSCGgegpCI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by CBZ Adventures (@cbzadventures)</a> on Apr 15, 2019 at 8:47am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Filipino government is focused on developing the cruise industry and more port facilities will be built in coming years. The plan is to attract more than 65,000 cruisers a year, making the country one of the top cruise destinations in Asia. So we recommend you go now, before the crowds arrive. Then you’ll have this little piece of paradise (mostly) to yourself.</p> <p>Have you ever travelled to the Philippines before? If so, how did you enjoy your visit? Let us know in the comments section, we’d love to hear from you.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/domestic-travel/2016/09/hiking-the-hollyford-track-on-new-zealands-south-island/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Hiking the magnificent Hollyford Track in New Zealand</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/09/10-of-the-most-spectacular-islands-in-australia/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 of the most spectacular islands in Australia</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/09/5-alternatives-to-famous-romantic-spots/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">5 alternatives to famous romantic spots</span></em></strong></a></p>

Cruising

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5-year-old girl walks blind father to work every day

<p>A father and daughter in the Philippines have gone viral after video emerged of the five-year-old girl guiding her dad, who is blind, to work.</p> <p>Each day, young Jenny helps show her father the way to the copra farm in Sogod, Southern Leyte, where he works climbing coconut trees to collect fruit, earning just 300 pesos ($9) a day to provide for his family.</p> <p>In the sweet video, Jenny guides her father, Nelson “Dodong” Pepe, with the help of a stick. The footage was posted to Facebook a couple of weeks ago and the duo have since become online sensations.</p> <p>After Filipino news network ABS-CBN stumbled on the video, their foundation organised for the family to be relocated to a safer area and provide Dodong with livelihood training.</p> <p>What a wonderful story! What’s the most selfless act you’ve witnessed between a parent and child? Tell us about it in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Video: Rhuby Capunes / Facebook</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/nicole-kidmans-5-year-old-daughter-looks-just-like-her/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Nicole Kidman’s 5-year-old daughter looks just like her</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/petrol-station-worker-dances-with-senior/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Sweet moment a petrol station worker dances with a senior</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/boy-bursts-into-tears-when-meeting-the-queen/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Boy bursts into tears when meeting the Queen</span></em></strong></a></p>

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