The Mariit Conservation Park located in Brgy. Jayubo, Lambunao is the largest Hornbill Breeding Facility in the world. In its care are two critically endangered hornbill species: Dolongan (Visayan Writhe Hornbill) and Panay Tariktik Hornbill. The conservation park also provides resources for the breeding of Native Pikoy “Dangag” ( Racquet Tail Parrot) and wild boar among other endangered species.  The Mariit Conservation Park, which is being run by the West Visayas State University - College of Agriculture and Forestry, was established in 1993 and is located in Brgy. Jayubo, Lambunao. This is through a Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Mulhouse Zoo in France for the conservation of the Visayan Spotted Deer. This critically endangered specie was chosen as the “flagship specie” for conservation of bio-diversity of Panay Island. Read more about Mariit Conservation Park. 

 Marikina River Park is located at Marikina, Metro Manila, Philippines.  The park is a popular recreational park and the most awarded river with a Hall of Fame award for the cleanest inland body of water in NCR. Site attractions are the Roman Garden, Chinese Pagoda, Youth Camp and Animal Trail, among others. This is also were Christmas Festival is being held yearly. Source:1stPhilippines.com

Ever wondered what the widow of a former dictator does with her thousands of shoes? In the case of former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, a shoe museum along J. P. Rizal Street in Marikina City, has been built and dedicated in her honor to store part of her shoe bounty. The Marikina Shoe Museum is now housed in a proper facility managed by the city government of Marikina, not just to showcase Imelda’s famous shoes but also to showcase the city’s own shoe brands, designs and also some other shoes of famous local politicians.It is a fitting role for the woman whose place in history was ensured by an extravagant lifestyle that saw her amass 3,500 pairs of shoes while helping her husband rule our poverty-stricken nation. When asked how many pieces the city government has, more than 700 pairs of the famous collection are apparently kept in this museum. The shoe collection features shoes made by Italian designers like Salvatorre Ferragamo, Charles Jourdan, Beltrami, Bally of Switzerland and our very own, Maro by Mario Katigbak, which was formerly sold at Rustans Department Store.It is also a clever marketing coup for Marikina City, a small town on Manila’s northeastern border. There isn’t a lot of tourism in Marikina, but there’s a lot of shoemaking, with some 40% of the town’s 550,000 people involved. What better way to promote the two than a museum filled with Imelda’s shoes?Until now, the surviving shoe collection was kept at Malacanang Palace, more or less where Imelda left them in 1986 when she boarded into a helicopter with her husband to flee to Hawaii. It was the current Mayor of Marikina, Marides Fernando, who was then the First Lady of the city who had the idea of asking the government for permission to rehouse the infamous footwear collection in Marikina.Sadly, there are only less than 700 pairs left from the original collection – what happened to the other 3,000 plus pairs, nobody seems to know – but there’s still enough to fill the glass display cases that line the two walls of the renovated 19th century rice warehouse.Dressy Charles Jourdan pumps, comfy espadrilles, knee high leather boots, a shoe phone, all size 8 ½, compete for attention with photos of Imelda with other world leaders like Prince Charles, a French president, China’s Deng Xiaoping, and the cigar chomping Fidel Castro of Cuba.Squeezed forlornly into a corner, next to a small photo of the late president, are a few pairs of worn out-looking shoes that once belonged to Ferdinand. There’s also a pair of current President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s shoes, Gringo Honasan, Juan Flavier, Teofisto Guingona, Emmanuel Pelaez and church leader Cardinal Sin’s loafers.For educational value the second floor has displays of the shoemaker’s tools and a diorama of Marikina shoemakers. Personally, I’d like to bring foreign friends to visit. A teacher at nearby Barangka Elementary School plans to bring her class to the museum as well. “It's part of the country's history,” she says. But I ask, “do young school kids know anything about the 21-year rule of Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos? The same woman who allegedly pocketed something like 5 to 10 billion dollars of the country’s wealth?”“Not really,” the teacher replied. “But they still know who Imelda is.”It seems that the Marcos legacy is infamy, but the former first lady remains serenely unperturbed by the tag. She’s not at all embarrassed to be known for her shopaholic predilection. “They looked in my closets for skeletons, thank God all they found were shoes,” she was quoted during the opening of the shoe museum.First Image courtesy of the Marikina Shoe Museum. Black and white image of a protest held during Imelda Marcos' exile in the States provided by Vic Lactaoen.How to get thereManila to Marikina and Back: There are two approaches to Marikina from Manila City Hall. The first is through the Magsaysay Avenue-Aurora Boulevard route via Ayala Bridge and the second is through the Quezon Boulevard-Espana-E. Rodriguez Avenue route via Quiapo Bridge. The modes of transportation plying both routes are buses, jeepneys and cabs. A portion of the Magsaysay Ave.-Aurora Blvd. route is service by the Metro Rail Transit system starting from the Legarda Street-C.Recto Avenue junction in Manila all the way up to Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. From there, you can hop into a jeepney, bus or cab that will take you to the country’s shoe capital. The fare for any combination of jeepney, bus or MRT is approximately P30.00 (one way), while a cab ride from Manila will cost you somewhere in the vicinity of P300.00 to P500.00 (one way) taking into account the notorious Metro Manila weekday traffic.Source:Guides.clickthecity.com

Marikit Park is located in Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines. Considered to be the main city park, where some of Olongapo’s big activities are staged. Features a playground for children, big shady trees, and an amphitheater-like section for big audiences. Source:Wowphilippines.com.ph

Marina Park Stables is one of the best horse-riding facilities in Mindanao. It has enough space to accomodate around 25 horses and enough equipment to host an equestrian training camp. It is home to the Davao Horse Club, an organization known for producing skilled horse riders. HOW TO GET THERE Marina Park Stables is located in Matina Aplaya. It is situated in a strip of beach resorts. If interested in enlisting for a training program, you can contact Marina Park Stables through their telephone number: 2978213.

Marinduque National Museums is located in Poblacion, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines.  It houses the antique collections of town of Boac. Source:Visitmyphilippines.com 

The Marine Reserve Station in Sitio Lusay, Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras is a project of the Local Government Unit and Barangay Lawi which aims to protect endangered marine creatures especially Hawksbill Turtle locally known as pawikan. During mating season, turtles return to the Marine Reserve Station to lay eggs eggs in the sand. When hatched the eggs are then cared in a nursery and released when they are ready to go out to the sea. More about Marine Reserve Station.

Mariner's Hill is located in Barangay Catbangen, San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines.  It served as a navigational reference point to guide ships and seafarers sailing the San Fernando City Harbor Source:Sanfernandocity.gov.ph

The Mariyah Gallery in Dumaguete City Negros Oriental Philippines was established in 1992 for the promotion and advancement of art and culture. It is coordinating and the implementing body of the Dumaguete Open Biennial Terra Cotta Art Festival Exhibit and Competition, which was launched in 2005.  The Gallery is a haven to visual artists and a host to various arts-related events like the Philippine Writing Workshop, Visual Artists Exhibit and Conference and the like. Moreover, Mariyah Gallery opens its doors and extends its services to local performers in the region. It also, initiates Art Workshops for both children and adults during summer.  Another interesting attribute of Mariyah Gallery is their Residency Program on Terra Cotta which is held every two years. Artists who show interest in the medium are welcome.   When you visit Mariyah Gallery, what you will see there are the artworks of Cristina “Kitty” S. Taniguchi, Maria S. Taniguchi and Danni Sollesta. The garden outside is used for sculptures and other installations, and there is the wall area that can accommodate at least 10 to 15 regular-sized paintings. HOW TO GET THERE :Mariyah Gallery is located within the city area. It is approximately 3- to 5-minute ride from the Dumaguete Airport, the Dumaguete Warf, and the commercial area.  Source:Artpinas    

Marker of the Burial Grounds is located in Lumbang, Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines.  The place served as a burial ground during the Japanese massacre. Source:1stphilippines.com