Visiting the Philippines

Welcome Message | Within Manila | Outside Manila

T he capital city of the Philippines, Manila definitely makes for a great poker environment. Aside from the various casinos scattered all throughout the area, the city is also home to many poker players and gamblers who will typically not back down from a challenge.

GETTING THERE

Visiting Manila for the first time? Don’t worry, because the city is definitely a tourist friendly location. Eight kilometers, about 20 minutes from the city center, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) serves Manila, the Metro Manila area and the nearby provinces. Over 40 airlines provide daily service to over 26 cities and 19 countries worldwide.

Upon arriving at the airport, you can easily get help and directions from the friendly, English-speaking staff. Taxis are available at the airport to bring you to your hotel. The prevailing currency in Manila is the Philippine Peso, which is the country’s national monetary unit. Need help with converting your money? There are plenty of money changer shops all around the city. You can also ask your hotel for assistance on converting your currency to Peso.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time: GMT+8

Language: The vernacular language is Filipino in the form of Tagalog, while English is the language most widely used in education and business throughout the Metro Manila region.

Climate: It is summer time in May when the APT will take place.

Currency: Philippine Peso. Click here for the latest currency information.

Visas: Citizens of 145 countries can enter the Philippines without a visa for visits of up to 21 days. Please visit http://www.gov.ph/faqs/visa.asp for more details.

TRAVEL AGENCIES

For your total convenience, here are accredited travel agencies that you can contact.

Blue Horizons Travel & Tours, Inc.

Contact Name: CESAR LACHICA (Travel Consultant)
Telephone: +63 2 848 3901 ext. 114
Mobile: +63 920 909 7301
Email: cesar_lachica@bluehorizons.com.ph
Website: www.bluehorizons.com.ph

*In making reservations, please write “Asian Poker Tour-Manila” in the special instructions box.
This travel agency will be present during the APT in Manila to accommodate bookings for the side trips of interested guests.

For more infomation on Blue Horizon's beach get-away packages,please click here.
For more infomation on Blue Horizon's Manila tour packages,please click here.

Link World Travel

Contact Person: MABEL M. RONDERA
Telephone: + 63 2 309 2615 to 17 / +63 2 243 3027
Fax: +63 2 242 8146 / +63 2 309-7445
Email: linktra@i-nex.net / linktra610@yahoo.com

For more information about Manila and the Philippines in general, please visit www.tourism.gov.ph

WELCOME MESSAGE

We are pleased that the first leg of the APT, Asia’s original poker tour, will be held here in the Philippines from 27 May to 01 June 2008 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati where some 400 poker players and internet qualifiers from all over the world are estimated to compete for the upper hand and the prize pool of One Million US Dollars. We are delighted that the Philippine debut will also feature a number of Freeze-out tournaments, Asia’s first-ever 13 Card Poker Tournament as well as a Celebrity Charity Poker Game.

We hope you enjoy your stay in the Philippines and we take this opportunity to invite you to also check out our exciting outdoor and nightfall activities, shop at our bargain malls and town centers and experience the world-famous warmth and hospitality of one of the most beautiful combinations of 7,107 islands in the Asia-Pacific region that are absolutely beyond the usual.

Congratulations in advance to the organizers of the APT for a successful Philippine run.

Mabuhay!

JOSEPH H. DURANO
Secretary

WITHIN MANILA

ATTRACTIONS
If you want more than just poker, though, you will not run out of things to do in Manila. Home to some of the friendliest people in Asia, there are plenty of attractions for the everyday visitor. When you are not playing poker, you can go and visit the various tourist and historical attractions around the city. From colonial era churches and buildings to the famous Luneta Park, there are a lot of places to go. You have a handful of choices like San Agustin Church Museum in Intramuros, Museo Pambata in Rizal Park where the children will definitely enjoy learning and the National Museum of the Filipino People also in Rizal Park.

The city also has plenty of places to shop for anything and everything under the sun. For a hassle-free shopping experience, you can visit the interconnected shopping malls in Makati like Glorietta and Greenbelt which are only a matter of steps from the tournament venue. You can also find diversified supermarkets like Rustan’s and SM Hypermarket where you can buy anything that you need. For a full day of shopping, you can head over to the SM Mall of Asia, the third largest shopping mall in the world. Here you will find a wide variety of stores and resturants as well as the astounding I-Max 3D Theater. Whether you are looking for fashion, art, or the latest mobile phones, Manila’s bustling shopping centers are sure to keep you occupied.

If golf is what your heart clamors for, you can have a good time playing at golf clubs like Club Intramuros Golf Course, Villamor Golf Club and Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

In the evening, you can enjoy dining at all the different restaurants all around town. No matter what kind of cuisine you are looking for, Manila will probably have it. From Chinese and Mediterranean to Indian and local Filipino food, there’s something for everybody.

OUTSIDE MANILA

Click on each link for more information and photos of some of the top tourist attractions in the Philippines!

Amanpulo

Want to go on a fantastic vacation to one of the most exclusive and secluded islands in the Philippines? Then try Amanpulo, a private island resort on Pamalican Island in Palawan. A beautiful escape from city life, the resort is brimming with beautiful beaches, water, and nature. You can enjoy their modern amenities, such as tennis, swimming, and even a gym. In addition, there are a variety of watersport activities all around Amanpulo – from fishing and diving to sailing and windsurfing.

Boracay

If you can snatch away some more time during your visit to this nature-filled country, there are plenty of beautiful places you can visit outside Manila. After the tournament, you can fly straight to Boracay in Kalibo, Aklan where you can enjoy the festive partying at night, feasting on the beach, and the other exciting activities that the island offers during daytime.

Batangas

You can also enjoy the beauty of the underwater world without going too far in Anilao, Batangas, where the country boasts one of the most beautiful diving spots in the world. Batangas is just 3 hours away from Manila.

Bohol

This country will never run out of paradise where one can relax and experience the best things in life. In the heart of Visayas you can find Bohol, an island province that has a lot to offer to its guests. It indeed deserves to be tagged as the top tourism destination in the Philippines. The Bohol experience is not only limited to the awesome beauty of the famous Chocolate Hills and the unique native creature- Tarsier. Its guests can also enjoy scuba diving, dolphin and whale watching, or simply take pleasure in the white sandy beaches and crystal blue sea waters of Bohol under the sun.

Palawan

Another wonderful tourist spot that is worth your while to pay a visit to is Palawan. The famous underground river and plenty of beach resorts and diving sites can be found in this paradise. Among the activities that can be enjoyed in this island are snorkeling, diving, city tours, and a host of other water activities.

Sorsogon

If you are looking for a breath-taking experience that you surely would not want to miss, Sorsogon, the whale shark capital of the world, is the place to be. Swimming with a Whale Shark, locally known as Butanding, is an experience of a lifetime. Sorsogon is located in the Bicol Region, which you can reach by land, approximately 13 hours from Manila. You can also catch a plane which is an easier way to get to this province.

Cebu

Another must-see place outside Manila is Cebu. It is not just a paradise for nature lovers, but a historical site as well. Centuries ago, way back in 1521, the Spanish era was marked with the landing of Fernando de Magallanes and the baptismal to Christianity of Datu Humabon and Queen Juana and their followers in this very island. One of the most visited sites in Cebu is the Magellan’s Cross which is housed in a small chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño on Magallanes Street, just in front of the city hall of Cebu City. Aside from the historical sites, Cebu is also blessed with nature’s beauty. You can choose among the beach resorts in the island, together with the diving sites that will surely take your breath away.