Latest News on Cawit Sea Port and The Airport, Marinduque Island, P.I.

Yesterday, the provincial government website blogged that Cawit Seaport opened last October 8. The MV Rebecca a -4 story roro leaves Cawit Port at 12:00 noon and 8:00PM daily.

In addition, the Masiga airport ( known as the Marinduque airport) in Gasan is scheduled to open the first week of December. Zestair, formerly Asian Spirit will operate air services from Manila. The schedule days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A promotional one way fare of 499 pesos plus terminal fee has been announced and must be booked by October 29. For other details visit the airlines website, http://www.zestair.com.ph

This is indeed good news for the tourism business in Marinduque. One question that I had has not been answered by the provincial government. This pertains to the date of the GRAND OPENING of the Elephant Island resort.

I have heard it is a 6-star resort. Anyone knows if this is true? If anybody knows the latest development on Elephant Island please response to the comment box of this blog.

Note: Last week, I received an e-mail from Yong Nieva, that the maiden flight of Zestair from Manila to Marinduque is scheduled for November 15. The promotional round trip fare is only 946 pesos. What a bargain! The flight will leave Manila 11:20AM and will return to Manila at 1:30PM.

Win 2 nights-Stay at Chateau Du Mer, Marinduque

Several months ago, I published a contest for photography experts regarding the two night photographs taken at Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines in my blog site, http://marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com Unfortunately, there were no responses. So, today I am making it easier for everybody to participate in this contest to win a free 2-night stay in the beach house worth $100( about 4600 pesos as of October, 2008). All you have to do is write an essay (not more than 250 words) why you want to visit Marinduque and why you deserve to win the free 2-night stay at the beach resort. The winning essay will be published in my blog/website. The prize is redeemable any time of the year( check for availability 60 days prior to date of arrival) except for the week of Easter and Christmas and expires in December, 2011. Note that the beach house can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children. For detail description of the beach house visit http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com or www.chateaudumer.com

Please submit your essay to tagajaro@comcast.net or type your essay as a comment in my blog site above.

Reasons for Blogging/Tips for Beginners

I was just scanning an article by Susan Gunelius ( About.com) on tips for new bloggers. But before I discussed some of her tips, I know there are three main reasons why people blog.

1. You want to inform and be an expert in your field and perhaps earned income via ads in your blog
2. You want to promote a business. By blogging you will attract clients as well as developed social networks
3. You blog just for the fun of it. You want to share your ideas and opinions. In doing so, you improved your writing style and have fun sharing your ideas and joining discussions on topics you like.

I know there are other reasons why people blog. I will be happy if you share your reasons for blogging. For me my reasons are a combination of #2 and #3. I have no expectations to earn with ads in my blog and website.

Now let me discuss some of the tips for beginner blogger:

1. Be yourself. Your blog is an extension of your self, your brand or niche!
2. Be inviting. Joined social networks ( twitter, face book etc...) to increase traffic
3. Be risky. Try new things like plug ins or sponsor a contest

Speaking of sponsoring a contest, I have published in my blog, a two-nights free stay at my beach house in Marinduque worth $100, for the first person to comment and guess the setting of the two photographs taken at night in the beach house. So far, I have not received any reply. So, to make it easier for everybody, I change the contest. All you have to do is write an essay in not more than 250 words, why you want to visit Marimduque. Conditions for redeeming the prize remain the same.

Last, but not least,

4. Be persistent. Try to update your blog as often as you could. If you run out of ideas, recycle your old blogs. Remember readers do not read at the end of your blog. It is not a book.

There were several other tips in the articles . But the above 4, I consider the basic tips, one must practice to be a good blogger for whatever reason.

Please let me know of other reasons why people blog and also if you have other tips for new bloggers that I have not mentioned above.

Carabao Island- A New Boracay?

I just finished reading a tourist brochure promoting Carabao Island, Romblon as the next Boracay. In this old article, it states that the Department of Tourism in cooperation with a Korean Company is building a new airport in Carabao Island to start in July, 2007. Is the airport finished ? Because of the proximity of Carabao Island to Boracay ( 15 minutes from the north end of Boracay), the Korean developers and our department of tourism is hoping that this will relieve the congestion in Boracay.

The above article reminds me of our Elephant Island Resort. Are the developers also from Korea? What is the status of this development?. I have heard that development in Elephant Island has stopped temporarily due to local red tape. Is this true? If this is the case, what a shame! I hope it is not true.

The news about Carabao Island as the next Boracay upsets me, since I was hoping it will be Marinduque. With this news, my dream of seeing Marinduque as another Boracay will probably not be realized in my lifetime.

Goblins ( Nono), Ghosts and Witches

Recently, I was reading the Philippine Inquirer on line. An article and video clips regarding the evil possessions of 27 students in an Oriental Mindoro school attracted my attention. You could see the haunted look in the eyes of students "possessed". The authorities have called a local priest to exorcise the evil spirits, but the phenomena has not stopped. They are also planning to call the health authorities, to see if there is a health related explanation. As of this date, I have not heard of any explanation. Any one knows of the latest developments?

This news reminds me of Marinduque's local beliefs of the existence of Nono ( goblins) in the area. There are also stories about ghosts( white lady apparition) and witches. I know that in Iloilo, there is one town there that is supposed to be a lot of witches. However, there is no proof, this is true. In our resort property in Amoingon, some of our neighbors inform us, that once in a while in a moonless night they have seen an apparition of a white lady. I have never seen one during our annual six months stay at the beach resort. The white lady is supposed to guard the property from robbers and intruders. I hope this is true.

With regards to the Nono,( they reside in the big trees),even though I really do not believe it, I still say TABI PO NONO (Excuse me Nono,I have to pass by) when passing under the trees and bridges in my property at night. Even my 5 year old grand daughter from Sacramento, has learned of this phrase. We told her of the TABI PO NONO phrase last December, 2007 during our golden wedding anniversary celebration. The funny part is, when they were in Boracay a week later, she said the same phrase while passing a bridge at the Boracay Regency Hotel, where her MOM and Lola were staying. Hurrah to the memory of a 5-year old. Anyway, if you experience or hear of any stories about ghosts, nono and witches, please let me know.

Letter from Governor Carrion

On August 27, my wife and I received a letter from the office of the governor sign by Atty. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, Provincial Administrator. I like to share it with you fellow blogger:

Dave and Macrine Katague,

Peaceful greetings from the Marinduque Provincial Government!

Having read your messages through the official website of the province, we are very thankful and overwhelmed for promoting Marinduque as a tourist destination not just in the country but also worldwide.

Indeed, Marinduque is a beauty not just because of its scenic spots but also because of people like you who support and promote this province and considers it their home. Hearing beautiful comments from people like you enthuse me more to serve my people and gives me the strong will to develop the province into a first class tourist destination.

In behalf of the people of the province, thank you very much and I salute you for making us proud of our province.

Jose Antonio N. Carrion
Governor


OUR RESPONSE:

Thank you for recognizing our work and effort to publicize Marinduque as a world tourist destination not only on Easter week but also whole year round. We have been publicizing our province as a tourist destination via my blogs for the last six months. My blogs are:

http://marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com and

http://planningtovisitthephilippines.blogspot.com

Every chance I had, I mentioned the beauty of Marinduque to all my blogger friends as well as non-blogger friends here in US. Please visit my blogs if you have not done it yet. I have also combined a few positive comments of visitors and tourists that I found in the Internet in my blog, "What Others Say About Marinduque".

I suggest you include these comments in the preparation of your travel brochures to promote tourism in our beloved province.

Again, thank you for your letter and recognition of our efforts to promote tourism in Marinduque

Dave and Macrine Katague