| The Philippines is composed of 7,107 islands stretching | | | | They lord over the seas and they raise the ticket |
| as far as the tip of Borneo and Sabah, and in the | | | | price without public announcement and as often as |
| northern part of the Philippines, one can travel to | | | | they want. Still, Filipino travelers would take the boat |
| Japan by boat in less than 10 hours because Batanes | | | | since a plane ticket will cost two or three months of |
| Island is just a couple of hundred miles away from | | | | an ordinary employee's salary. |
| the territorial sea border of Japan. | | | | But in the last five years, traveling in the Philippines |
| Practically, boats, mostly old, dilapidated, are the | | | | has significantly been revolutionized. There are now |
| mode of getting from one Philippine island to another. | | | | low budget airlines such as Cebu Pacific Air, Air |
| Because islands are situated relatively close to each | | | | Philippines, Zest Air, or Sea Air that will connect you |
| other, taking a medium-sized boat is the best option | | | | from one island to another in less than an hour. The |
| for tourist travelers and Filipino commuters. A trip | | | | flag carrier, the Philippine Airlines, the first airline in |
| from Manila, the capital city of the country, to one of | | | | Asia, has been forced to slash down its rate as it can |
| the islands in the Visayas region will take 24 to 26 | | | | no longer compete with low budget airlines. This is |
| hours. That is quiet a hassle for those who are | | | | good for all Pinoy and foreign travelers. They now |
| traveling with small kids. | | | | have an option. Taking a boat will cost the same as |
| In recent years there have been many sea tragedies | | | | traveling by plane. Why take the boat when you can |
| that hit the Philippine sea waters. The deadliest one | | | | have the comfort of a plane ride? |
| was the sinking of a Sulpicio passenger boat off the | | | | What follows is a bit odd. Boat operators are now |
| cost of Romblon and Masbate which claimed nearly | | | | trying to compete with low budget airlines. They too |
| 2,000 lives. The Philippines is facing the vast Pacific | | | | slash down their fare rate and they have been |
| Ocean. Understandably the country is a recipient of | | | | aggressively advertising their travel offers. |
| south monsoon winds from the Pacific. Typhoons | | | | It seems that the era of the shipping industry in the |
| always pass by the central part of the Philippines | | | | Philippines would be best left for cargo and logistics |
| before they proceed to Taiwan or Vietnam or Japan. | | | | purposes only. |
| Before the arrival of low budget airlines, people had | | | | As for most travelers today, getting around the |
| no choice but to take the long torturous boat | | | | country's thousands of islands has been made easier |
| journey. It was like a monopoly for the traditional big | | | | without hurting their pocket. Thanks to low budget |
| boat operators, mostly Filipino-Chinese businessmen. | | | | airlines. People now have a choice. |