The name of the Municipality "Banaue" was derived from the term "Bannawor" which is the primitive call for a now endangered medium-sized swift flying bird. Originally, "Bannawor" is refered to a sitio (now part of the Poblacion area) where these swift flying birds occassionally lark around and settle.

These four churches, the first of which was built by the Spanish in the late 16th century, are located in Manila, Santa Maria, Paoay and Miag-ao. Their unique architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine craftsmen. Immaculate Conception: District of Intramuros, City of Manila Nuestra Senora: Municipality of Santa Maria, Province of Ilocos Sur San Agustin: Municipality of Paoay, Province of Ilocos Norte Santo Tomas: Municipality of Miag-ao, Province of Iloilo. World Heritage Site inscription: 1993,

Entry at the UNESCO world heritage site. Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia.

From the website of Els Stots who is trying to visit all the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. World Heritage Site inscription: 1999.

The official nominee of the Philippines to the new 7 wonders of the world.

For 2,000 years, the high rice fields of the Ifugao have followed the contours of the mountains. The fruit of knowledge handed down from one generation to the next, and the expression of sacred traditions and a delicate social balance, they have helped to create a landscape of great beauty that expresses the harmony between humankind and the environment.

In the heart of Sulu Sea lies the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park√·∆Ì√Ï 33,200 hectares of underwater paradise teeming with diverse marine life. It is the Philippines√·∆Ì√Ù first and only national marine park and its only coral reef atoll. Tubbataha was inscribed by UNESCO in the prestigious World Heritage List because of its significance to regional and global biodiversity and its outstanding universal value. It is one of only nine purely marine World Heritage Sites in the world and the only one in South East Asia. The Tubbataha Management Office is in Puerto Princesa.

Boat tours around Palawan, dive trips to Tubbataha, boat charter Philippines - Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in the western Philippines, these magnificent atolls encompass an astonishing diversity of marine life. The park is an underwater sanctuary where nature can thrive. Tubbataha is the Philippines' only marine natural Park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place of global importance, being preserved for generations to come.

The old mestizo district of Vigan, Ilocos Sur is a living museum of Filipino-Spanish-Chinese architectural heritage. The local government, homeowners, the National Museum, University of Northern Philippines and non-government organizations (NGO's) had organized together with a common goal to preserve the historic century-old structures. Vigan was called the Intramuros of the North during the Spanish colonial regime.

World Heritage sites in panography - 360 degree imaging. Incredible panoramic imaging. For Philippine sites, go the browse by country menu - P. Four sites are listed so far: Vigan, the Subterranean River National Park, baroque churches and the rice terraces of Philippine Cordilleras.