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Cool air has officially invaded Philippine shores. It’s beginning to feel and smell like Christmas. Okay, it’s only cold at 5 a.m., but that’s what PAG-ASA said. But if there’s any doubt that Christmas is here, you need only experience the heavy volume of traffic in and around the Metro starting last weekend. Now that there’s more than one week of continuous holidays this Christmas season, let’s look at the Top Ten Philippine destinations for the couple, family or barkada to go and stay for a while:

3. Boracay. It’s a cool summer hang-out, I know just like anybody else, but it’s also a hot Christmas vacation destination. You’ll hardly notice because you could imagine the white, fine sand as snow. Just run a couple of cold San Mig Light ’round your forehead and it’s going to be cool. For the moment, at least. Santa would probably be tanned, sporting reggae hair and clad in shorts. He would be barefoot or in slippers, instead of the heavy boots, and he won’t have a beer belly. It’s third in the list because it’s more expensive to go to Boracay.

2. Tagaytay. As the sun goes down behind the majestic Taal Volcano, you’ll see the fog slowly creep into the veranda of wherever you’re staying. It’s far from the pollution of the Metro. There’s plenty of fruits (good for your figure come January) and so many places to eat (I take back what I said about January). There are many places to stay, for different budget sizes and varied preferences.

1. Baguio. If there’s a place much colder than Tagaytay, it’s Baguio. Sagada or Mt. Pulag is probably colder, but would you go there instead of Baguio? I thought so. Cold temperature (mind you, it’s a perfect excuse not to take a bath). Smell of pine-laced fresh air. The fireplace. And still enjoying all the comforts of the modern world. There are a number of tourist spots to visit and enjoy, especially with the kids.

Don’t feel cheated if there are only three destinations in this list. The remaining 7 is for you, dear readers, to fill in. After all, we don’t have a monopoly of opinion on the best places to go this Christmas. If you express your choices of best spots for Philippine Christmas or Pasko through the comment section below, we promise to revise the list. If you won’t be nice and give your list, you won’t receive a gift from Santa. Promise.