First up I must declare an interest when I write about The Philippines.
I love the islands; I have travelled the country north to south, east to west and back again, over many years dating back to the old days when Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda ruled from Malacanang.
I even defied well-intentioned advice, time and again, to head south to the giant island of Mindanao, taking care to avoid, where possible, pockets of possible unrest.
I not only lived to tell a hundred tales; I did a “Macarthur” and returned, time and again.
It has, however, been a while between San Miguels in the lobby bar of the Manila Hotel (the same establishment where the generalissimo set up his lavish penthouse quarters).
Imagine my enthusiasm for a communication from the beavers at Grebstadt Hicks in Hong Kong telling me all about “a new travel concierge service offers bespoke trips to spectacular beaches, luxury villas and private islands in The Philippines''.
The organisation in question is Global Nomad and their new tour products are geared to “refreshing and redefining perceptions of The Philippines as a travel destination”.
I need no reassurance, but there are travellers out there who, for one reason or another, valid and in-valid, struck The Philippines from the map.
Global Nomad promises discerning travellers access to places and experiences that they would be unlikely to discover for themselves - including breathtakingly beautiful private islands, even stays at the private homes of the rich and famous (and, boy, they have a lot of these in PI).
The Philippines is a destination for discerning adventurers, ever eager to be first and to enjoy a real, not virtual experience with the people and nature.
Manila must be an integral part of any visit to PI, just as any visit would be lacking if it did not include cool (climatically) Baguio, the rice terraces at Banaue, the gleaming sands of Palawan and, a special favourite of mine, the old town of Vigan with its magical Spanish heritage.
Communicating with the locals wherever you are in The Philippines is hassle free. Young, old and in between, everyone speaks English and once you tune in to the heavily accented Philippine English, it's a breeze.
Global Nomad founder, philanthropist Angelica Berrie, is a stickler for quality, not quantity.
“We spend a considerable amount of time ensuring the enjoyment of every individual. Wherever we go, we connect our guests with local people and places, which are the heart and soul of our island experience,'' she says.
There is also an overriding commitment to protecting local culture and the environment, something which has facilitated useful partnerships with Filipinos, anxious to share their heritage.
“Memorable experiences of a lifetime range from dining barefoot under a full moon on an exposed sandbar, to feasting on fresh-caught fish off banana leaves on an isolated beach, or watching the sun set from the sand dunes of Ilocos, listening to schoolchildren singing welcome native songs and joining fisherfolk hauling in their nets....''. Still need convincing?
For the more active, there is trekking, rock climbing, hiking and world-class dive sites including the famed Tubbataha Reef and the Japanese wrecks of Coron.
“Luxurious island villas or majestic mountain getaways can also be arranged for weddings, family reunions, and other special events, with event coordinators organising photographers, film crews, musicians, dancers, personal butlers, nannies or any other one-of-a-kind experiences,'' the announcement promised.
I shall return.
Why don't you? | 
