By Pamela Quintos-Reblora / Special to the BusinessMirror
WHEN you book a tour, where do you usually go? Surely, famous tourist spots instantly come to mind, such as Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Batanes and Palawan.
But did you know that there are other places in the Philippines where you can enjoy history, culture and biodiversity richness all at the same time? These places are protected areas called Asean Heritage Parks (AHPs).
AHPs are protected areas of high-conservation importance, preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the Asean region.
These areas are established to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment and conservation of Asean’s rich natural heritage, through a regional network of representative-protected areas, and to create greater collaboration among the Asean member-states in preserving their shared natural heritage.
As we celebrate this year’s World Tourism Day today, September 27, let us take a peek at these hidden gems in the Philippines.
Mount Makiling Forest Reserve
Tired of the hustle and bustle in the city? Find serenity and enjoy fresh air at the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) in Los Baños, Laguna. This dormant volcano rises to an elevation of 1,090 meters above mean sea level. MMFR is home to an abundance of plant and animal species, and is also home to the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB).
Be mesmerized by the crystal-clear waters and the amazing sight of underwater species in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) in the middle of the Sulu Sea. Besides being an AHP, the TRNP is also declared as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Heritage Site in 1993.
Mount Apo Natural Park
Looking for some mountain-climbing adventure? Mount Apo, regarded as the last stronghold of the remaining population of the rare and endangered Philippine Eagle, is named after the majestic Mount Apo, a volcanic mountain rising to 3,143.6 meters and the highest mountain in the country. The park is in Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park
Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park covers 47,270 hectares and is one of the few remaining rain forests in the Philippines hosting important diverse species of rare and endemic wildlife. Among them are the Philippine Eagle, Whitehead’s swiftlet, Mindanao lorikeet, Mindanao racquet-tail, Mindanao scops sowl, slaty-backed jungle-flycatcher, red-eared parrot finch and Apo myna.
Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park
Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park is the only place in the world where one can find the tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), a type of water buffalo that is endemic to Mindoro Island. There are 314 recorded tamaraws living in the wild, and this is the major reason for the park’s declaration as an AHP. The 75,445-hectare park features Mount Baco (2,354 meters) and Mount Iglit (2,364 meters).
Mount Malindang Range Natural Park
Who would not be captured by the beauty of Mount Malindang Range Natural Park (MMRNP), a mountain range consisting of luscious green forests, a lake, waterfalls, and a very diverse plant and animal species? MMRNP covers a 34,694-hectare core zone and 18,334 hectares of buffer zone, spanning the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.
Mount Hamiguitan National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
Nature and wildlife enthusiasts will definitely enjoy Mount Hamiguitan, which has one of the most diverse wildlife populations in the Philippines. This 1,620-meter-high mountain is in San Isidro, Davao Oriental.
“As the Secretariat of the Asean Heritage Parks Program, ACB is inviting the public to visit the 35 Asean Heritage Parks in the Asean region. These are hidden tourist gems where one can enjoy the diverse culture, history and biological richness of Southeast Asia,” ACB Executive Director Atty. Roberto V. Oliva said. To know more about the Asean Heritage Parks in 10 different Asean countries, log on to www.chm.aseanbiodiversity.org.