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Published November 1, 2009 | 
CEBU MAINTAINS CONDE NAST MAGAZINE'S 7TH ISLAND RANK IN THE WORLD
CEBU CITY, Oct. 27 (PNA) – Cebu has retained for the third straight year its seventh ranking in the list of best island destinations in the world by international Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
A Cebu resort, the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City has also maintained its ranking in the prestigious list.
Conde Nast Traveler magazine has recently released the results of the annual Readers’ Choice Awards 2009, a listing of the best cities, islands, hotels, transportation and resorts worldwide.
At 72.6 points, this is Cebu’s ranking for the third straight year and the fourth time in the last five years. Cebu got 70.9 in 2008; 72.3 in 2007 and 72.8 in 2004.
It has been ranked 8th best island destination twice in 2006 with 71.0 points and in 2005, with 69.5.
Rounding up this year’s top 10 island destinations in the Asia/Indian Ocean group are: Maldives-87.5, Bali-84, Phuket-79.9, Sychelles-76.7, Koh Samui-75.3, Mauritius-74.1, Cebu-72.6, Langkawi-69.8, Borneo-65..4, and Lamu-63.6.
This year, Cebu, along with Maldives, Bali, Phuket, Langkawi and Borneo, maintained their rankings, while Mauritius slid down. Seychelles and Koh Samui each earned one notch higher. Lamu, a new entrant, edged out Lombok at tenth place last year.
Borneo maintained is 9th ranking since it joined the list last year.
On the same survey, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, an 11.4 hectare resort in Mactan has maintained its position at 16th place with 88.5, lower by 5 points in last year’s score.
The resort surpassed some resorts in Bali, Cambodia and Phuket; trailing behind resorts in Langkawi and Maldives in the resorts category. It is the only Philippine resort included in the 25 top Resorts in Asia.
Every year since 1988, a select sample of Conde Nast Traveler readers have taken the Readers’ Choice Survey.
This year, the questionnaire was available to all readers through a secure web site. The final tabulations of 25,008 responses this year were done by Madiamark Research Inc. of New York City.
Last August, Cebu was also named 4th best island in Asia by another New York-based magazine Travel + Leisure, when it released its World’s Best Awards 2009, a listing of the best hotels, airlines, cruises islands and cities all over the world.
Cebu got a rating of 79.68 points and trailed behind Bali (87.41), Maldives (84.43) and Phuket (80.93). (PNA)
(Philippine News)
Philippine Embassy in Dublin
Email: dublin.philembassy@gmail.com
Published August 3, 2009 | I Have Fallen in Love (with the Same Woman Three Times) was a poem Ninoy Aquino wrote for his wife Corazon “Cory” Aquino when the former was a political detainee. It speaks of Ninoy’s love and admiration for his wife and how he has continually fallen in love with her through their nineteen years (at the time) of marriage. Very few people knew about this poem. Only family members were privy to its contents even after Ninoy’s assassination in 1983.
I have fallen in love
with the same woman three times;
In a day spanning 19 years
of tearful joys and joyful tears.
I loved her first when she was young,
enchanting and vibrant, eternally new.
She was brilliant, fragrant,
and cool as the morning dew.
I fell in love with her the second time;
when first she bore her child and mine
always by my side, the source of my strength,
helping to turn the tide.
But there were candles to burn
the world was my concern;
while our home was her domain.
and the people were mine
while the children were hers to maintain;
So it was in those eighteen years and a day.
’till I was detained; forced in prison to stay.
Suddenly she’s our sole support;
source of comfort,
our wellspring of Hope.
On her shoulders felt the burden of Life.
I fell in love again,
with the same woman the third time.
Looming from the battle,
her courage will never fade
Amidst the hardships she has remained,
undaunted and unafraid.
she is calm and composed,
she is God’s lovely maid.
Published July 20, 2009 | So what do prisoners in prison in the Philippines do to pass the time?
Published July 20, 2009 | Are Filipino women beautiful? Can’t remember how many times I have been asked this question. So for everyone who wants to know the answer here is a video of some of the Most Beautiful and Hottest Filipina of 2008.
Published June 26, 2009 | Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and dubbed as the “Eight Wonder of the World,” the 2,000-year-old terraces manifest the engineering skill and ingenuity of the sturdy Ifugao people.
A must see place for anyone who travels to the Philippines
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