Where the Heck is Marinduque?: My Favorite Television Shows

Planning to Visit the Philippines Soon?

There are hundreds of tourists attractions in the Philippines. But as a lover of the Island of Marinduque (Home of the Morions and Heart of the Philippines), I am indeed partial to its beauty, charm and its friendly and hospitable residents. Therefore, help me achieve my dream of seeing this island becomes a world tourist destination, by telling all your friends and relatives about this site. Welcome, to you all, new readers and faithful followers of this site! The photo above is Poctoy White Beach in Torrijos, Marinduque with beautiful and majestic Mt Malindig in the background. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing your copyrights.

Monday, September 10, 2012

My Favorite Television Shows

This week and the next two weeks will be the start of the Fall Season for my favorite Television Shows. This week and next week will also be the finale of four of my favorite TV reality shows, namely, FOX-So you Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD), NBC-America Got Talent (AGT), Bachelor Pad (ABC) and Big Brother (CBS) . The finale for this season for Bachelor Pad is today, Monday, September 10. I am getting curious who will win the quarter million dollars. I enjoy this show because of the cheating, back stubbing, lying and romancing in this reality TV show. Most of the characters are without any class, but real life actors and actresses shedding tears real or imagined. Their acting is not artificial or trained but a true to life experiences.

Big Brother is another reality TV show I like because of the lying, cheating and back stubbing to win 0ne Million dollars. My favorite character this season is Ian- the kid. I also love dance, talent and singing shows, that is why SYTYCD and AGT are two of my favorite reality TV shows.

The first of my favorite reality TV show to premier this week is Survivor (PHILIPPINES),on 9/12, followed by the Voice ( NBC Singing Show) on 9/10 and 9/11, the X Factor ( competing singing show from FOX) on 9/12 and 13, Glee ( 9/13), ABC-Dancing with the Stars ( 9/17) and CBS-Amazing Race (9/30). The premier of American Idol ( singing show) for this season has not been announced since new judges have not been finalized with the exception of Mariah Carey. Three other names mentioned are Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Enrique Iglesias. I hope Enrique Iglesias will be one of the four new judges in American Idol. Two of my other favorite TV shows with new episodes are : Revenge and American Horror Story. If you watched television, what are you favorite show and why are you watching them. If you live in the Philippines, what are your favorite Pinoy shows? I will be delighted to hear from you.

ABOUT ME

I am a retired (Chemistry Team Leader from USFDA) Filipino-American who loves writing, gardening and photography. My wife (of 58 years) and I enjoy the snowbird lifestyle between the US and the Philippines. We have a small but very private beach resort( see above video) in the beautiful island of Marinduque, Philippines. I have several blog sites(ten), a personal blog, blogs about retiring in Marinduque and our beach resort and conference center-CHATEAU DU MER. I also write for www.squidoo.com now owned by HubPages.com

Marinduque: A Photogenic Province and Tourists Destination

Marinduque is a photoblogger dream. The province is endowed with unspoiled white sand beaches, pristine blue waters, fringing reefs, virgin coral reefs, coves, limestone caves, meandering rivers, mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls and streams, fabled sulfur and hot mineral springs,old churches and of course beautiful sunsets. The Internet is filled with photographs of the scenic beauty of this island not only from the local professional photographers but also from amateur photographers all over the world. The province has more than six big islands popular to beach lovers, scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. It has Mt Malindig known to mountain climbers and hikers. It has Bathala and Tarug Caves popular to spelunkers and just curious seekers. In one of the eight caves of Bathala, there is a resident python, believed to be enchanted. If he shows himself when you visit the caves, it is suppose to bring you good luck.

Sunset over Tres Reyes Islands- Photo from panoramnio.com The nearest and most accessible islands from the capital town of Boac are the Tres Reyes Islands ( Islands of the Three Kings), Gaspar, Melchor and Baltazar in the town of Gasan. The local names are Laki, Pangkog and Man-nga ( see map above). These islands are located southwest of the mainland. The other three group of islands bigger in area and more populated are Polo, Maniwaya and Mongpong Islands. These are located in the Northeast part of the mainland in the town of Santa Cruz. Maniwaya's Polo Maria White Beach is being develop as an alternative to Boracay. There is a bigger island, Salamongue Island which is not as well known to the tourists and residents.. I really do not know the reason, but I believe it is not as accessible from the mainland . Moreover, it is not as developed( no electricity or running water) compared to the other islands.

One of the most popular white beach located in the mainland in the town of Torrijos is Poctoy White Beach. It is about a 70 minutes drive from downtown Boac. Poctoy White beach with Mt, Malindig as the background is the most photogenic and the most photographed scenery in the island.

Just late last year, the former Elephant Island in Lipata, Buenavista, owned privately, was renamed Bellarocca Resort Island and Spa. It has been converted to look like Santorini Island, Greece with buildings all painted in white sticking in the cliffs. From what I heard, this resort is one of the most expensive and luxurious resort in Southeast Asia. The cheapest room charges $300 per night excluding meals and other amenities. When I was in Marinduque last year, I met a few rich and famous Filipinos( businessmen, actors and actresses, TV personalities)) from Manila as well as Korean and Japanese tourists at Masiga Airport in Gasan on their way to the resort. From the resort advertisement, I know that the most expensive accommodation is a 3-bedroom villa with its own pool and jacussi charging about $ 800 per night without meals. Dong Ho, Oggie Ramos, Ferdz Decena, Allan Barredo, Sydney Snoeck and Dennis Villegas are some of the photographers that I know who have photo blogs about Marinduque. Their pictures are beautiful, unique and mesmerizing. It is worth your time to visit their photo blogs sites. Looking at their photographs of Marinduque, its Tradition and Culture will surely make you proud of the beauty of our island paradise.