San Miguel, Bulacan

“Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts.”

From Minalungao National Park in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, my next destination was to visit the Biak Na Bato National Park in San Miguel, Bulacan. It was my first time to go to Bulacan and I was also interested about the national park.

San Miguel, Bulacan is an urban municipality of the province of Bulacan. It is one the largest town after Norzagaray and Doña Remedios Trinidad which is bounded by Nueva Ecija in the north and Pampanga in the west and San Ildefonso in the south.

How to get to General Tinio, Nueva Ecija

There are daily bus schedules from Manila to San Miguel, Bulacan through Baliwag Transit. You can also take the Cabanatuan Route since the bus will pass along Bulacan before reaching Nueva Ecija. In my case, since it was an expedition, from Gapan City, I rode a bus back to Bulacan via Baliwag Transit with a travel time of 30 minutes for php50. When you reach the town proper, you can ride a tricycle going to Biak Na Bato National Park.

Biak-na-Bato National Park

Biak-na-Bato National Park is located within barangay Biak-na-Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan where it name came derive from. It has a total land area of 2, 117 hectares that extends to its nearby municipalities. It was declared as a National Park in 1973 by President Manuel Luis Quezon by virtue of its association with the history and site of the Biak-na-Bato Republic.

Below is the list fees in the park.

• Adult – php50
• Student/Senior Citizen – php40
• For Overnight Stay ( additional ) – php 50
• Mandatory Guide Fee- php 150 (regardless if solo or group)
• Pavilion Rental Fee- php 3,500 (inclusive 30 chairs, 4 tables and sound system)
• Picnic Sheds – php 150 ( half-day) , php 200 ( whole day)
• Comfort Rooms- php 5

The park is composed of more than a hundred caves with various sized and crystalline formation. The most famous cave is the Aguinaldo Cave which was once a headquarters of the President Emilio Aguinaldo, the Bat Cave which has a least six species of bats. There are also other animals such swiftlets, wild boar, eagles, lizards and at the same time, there are a different types of trees, shrubs, ferns that can be found in the park.

The Biak Na Bato National Park is very significant to the Philippine History because it served as a headquarter of the first president together with his men during the revolutionary government. The caves became their shelter to protect them from exhaustion, the trees became their ears as they discussed all game plans for revolution and rivers provided them comfort and served as an inspiration in their ambition of independence.

You do not really need to stay longer when you are at the park unless you wanted to have a picnic or enjoy your moment with nature. If you want to enter each cave, according to the tour guide, there will additional fees. I left the park around 3pm and went to my friend’s house in San Idelfonso, Bulacan.

Travel Expenses:

• Bus Fare – php 50 (Gapan City. Nueva Ecija- San Miguel, Bulacan)
• Tricycle Fare – php 300 ( round trip from town proper to park- good for sharing)
• Entrance Fee-  php 50
• Mandatory Tour Guide Fee-  php 150

 

 

 

 

General Tinio, Nueva Ecija

“We spend our lives waiting for the great day, the great battle, or the deed of power. But that external consummation is not given to many: nor is it necessary. So long as our being is tensed, directed with passion, towards that which is the spirit of all things, then that spirit will emerge from our own hidden, nameless effort.”

In my mission to complete the 81 provinces, I decided to go to Nueva Ecija to visit Minalungao National Park which is located at General Tinio also known as Papaya. It is said that the town is at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Minalungao National Park is a must visit destination when you are in Nueva Ecija.

How to get to General Tinio, Nueva Ecija

From Manila, you will need to ride a bus going to Gapan City or Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija through Baliwag Transit with a travel time of about 2-3 hours with fare of php150. Gapan City will be your drop off place since there are no busses or jeep directly going to the General Tinio.

From Gapan, you can rent a tricycle going directly to Minalungao with an estimated travel time of 1-1.5 hours. This is best and most convenient way because there are only few trips going papaya and from the town proper, you will still need to ride another tricycle going to the park which is more time consuming and impractical.  Jimmy de la Cruz was my tricycle driver  and waited for me for almost 3 hours. He is really nice and does not take advantage of tourist.

Minalungao National Park

Minalungao National Park is a protected area which is located at General Tinio, Nueva Ecija. The park is 2, 018 hectares along Peñaranda River which is composed of limestone walls along the Sierra Madre mountain range. This was established as a national park in 1967 under Republic Act. No. 5100.

An entrance fee of php100 per pax when you visit the park. If you wanted to take a bamboo/balsa ride, you need to pay php 600 good for 8 pax with life vest included. You can also try their zip line for php 100 and though swimming is for free, you will need to rent a life vest for php25. You can also try to cross their hanging bridge, trek their 1000 steps to have peek of their mountain view and have a mini – spelunking in a cave. I know that there are a lot of fees but it is for  their livelihood and maintenance of the park.

The best time to go there is during summer months since the water is very clear. However, schedule your visit on a weekday because you might get disappointed because it is too much crowded during weekends. The area is not that big and there are a lot visitors who wanted to try their balsa ride. You might also get disappointed because you can never get a perfect picture without any photo bombers.

Do not go there during rainy season because the water level maybe unpredictable. You are not also allowed to swim without a life vest and always make sure to follow the rules and regulations of the park.  You can bring your own food or dine at Minalungao Restaurant.

I did not pay any entrance  fee because the park was under maintenance.  I also did not have a ride at their balsa/bamboo because it was a bit expensive and did not have any plans to swim. Though I enjoyed my mini- trekking to the cliff and mini- spelunking to the cave but most of the time, I was just sitting on the rock enjoying the place with less visitors and  after 3 hours, I decided to go to my next destination.

Travel Expenses:

• Bus Fee (Manila – Gapan City) – php 150 (php300 roundtrip)
• Tricycle Fare (Gapan – General Tinio) – php 600 (round trip for sharing)

Sample Itinerary

• 4:00 am – 6:30 am – Traveled from Manila to Gapan, Nueva Ecija
• 6: 30 am – 7:00 am – Breakfast at Gapan Public Market
• 7:00 am – 8:30 am – Traveled from Gapan to General Tinio through tricycle
• 8:30 am – 11:00 am – Stayed at Minalugao National Park
• 11:00 – 12:30 pm – Departed from the park going back to Gapan town proper.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Rode a bus going to Biak Na Bato National Park in San Miguel, Bulacan

Bangui, Ilocos Norte

“Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. There’s going to be stress in life, but it’s your choice whether you let it affect you or not.”

After spending three days and two nights in Calayan Island, I planned to have a side tour in some tourist destinations in Ilocos. I departed from the island around 8am then arrived in Claveria by 1pm.  My plan was to visit the windmills of Bangui in Ilocos Norte. Bangui is one of the 21 municipalities of Ilocos Norte which is situated in the coastal area of the province. The place is famous because of the windmills that supplies electricity throughout the province and eventually became a tourist attraction.

How to get to Bangui, Ilocos Norte

From Manila, you can either ride a bus bound for Ilocos, Junction Luna or Claveria. The province is located in Ilocos Norte and most of the bus going to Cagayan usually passes by the municipality.

From Claveria, I just waited for the Florida bus along the highway bound for Manila. There are no other route going to Bangui so it won’t be difficult to locate. You just need to inform the bus driver that you are going to the windmills and they already know where to drop you off. From Claveria, it takes for about 2-3 hours going to Bangui.

Bangui Windmills

A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electricity. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other purposes. A wind farm can also be located offshore. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_farm

The wind farm is divided into 2 phases. Phase 1 is consisting of 15 wind mills located in the coastal area of Bangui capable of producing electricity up to a maximum capacity of 1.65 MW, for a total of 24.75 MW.  While Phase II with additional of 5 windmills which was completed in 2008. The purpose of the windmills constructed near the shores of Bangui Bay because of the wind intensity is much stronger which coverts to electric energy.

The windmills became an attraction and most of the tourists visit the site because of astonishing bay view with the mills as your background. The windmills are constructed near the shore but swimming is not allowed due to series of drowning incidents in the past. You really do not need to spend a lot time in the area. You can just have your lunch since there are already restaurants in the area, have your photo ops and buy souvenir items then you can go proceed in your next destination.

Travel Expenses 

• Bus Fare (Claveria to Bangui) – php 200
• Tricyle Fare – php 100 (good for 4)

Mercedes, Camarines Norte

“You are not being hurt by the love that you give. But you are hurt by the love you expected to receive.”

Part of my goal as a solo traveller is to visit small islands in the country because whenever I check the map, I get curious of what are the beautiful spots and also wanted to face the challenge of going there. One of the places I wanted to visit is the Mercedes Group of Islands in Camarines Norte. It was my first time to visit Camarines Norte and at the same time, my travel buddies Marsha Godino and Niña Platero are from Mercedes. I took the opportunity to organize a group tour last June 10-12, 2017 and yes, it’s a group tour because it is expensive if go there solo.

Mercedes is one the municipalities of Camarines Norte. It lies in between Daet and Libmanan which are part of the Bicol Region. There are several barangays in Mercedes but this article will be featuring the seven islands which are not part of the mainland namely Apuao Grande Island, Apuao Pequeña Island Caringo Island, Quinapaguian Island, Canimog Island, Malasugui Island and Canton Island.

How to get to Mercedes, Camarines Norte

There are no direct flights going to Camarines Norte. By plane, you can book a flight going to Pili Airport to Naga City. Then from Naga City, you can either take a bus or van to Daet then another jeep ride to Mercedes.

Daily bus schedules from Manila to Daet through Superlines, Philtranco, DLTB, or Amihan with terminals in Pasay and Cubao. I preferred to take Superlines because of no recorded road accidents. Travel time may take up to 8 hours but you can also take their special trips every 9pm for 6 hours. However, you will arrive in Daet by 3am and there is still no available jeep to Mercedes. Tickets for air-con buses range from P550 to P600+ from Daet-Manila and vice versa. From Daet, you can take a 10-15 minute jeep or tricycle ride to Mercedes town proper.

Siete Pecados: Seven Islands of Mercedes        

Since my goal was to visit the seven islands of Mercedes, it is going to be difficult to go there solo. So, I organized a non- profit tour in order to save money especially for the island hopping. With the help of my travel buddy Marsha, she was able to get in touch with Sir Ruel Santelices, a local operator that offers the cheapest tour packages in Mercedes that includes food, island hopping activities and tent accommodation.

The Siete Pecados is composed of islands namely Apuao Grande Island, Apuao Pequeña Island, Caringo Island, Quinapaguian Island, Canimog Island, Malasugui Island and Canton Island. I decided to visit the first four islands in day one then the rest of the three islands in day two so we can take our time in enjoying the beach.

Canimog Island

This island is roughly about 15-25 minutes from Pandawan Port in Mercedes. This was the first island we visited. Upon arriving at the shore, I was really amazed that there are no resorts in the island. This is the closest island to the mainland. There is also a small death pool on the other side of the island.

Apuao Grande Island

The Apuao Islands are two connecting islands with white sandy beach and pine trees connected by a sandbar to Apuao Pequeña Island. There is no usual beach resorts in the island but there are beach cottages and tents for overnight stay. The island is only for about 15-20 minutes away from Canimog Island.

Apuao Pequeña Island

This is an adjacent island to Apuao Grande which is connected by sand bar, sandbanks or gravelbars. This is the process when surface waves moves towards a shallow water like a beach shore and when two opposite waves pass through, it creates a sand bar. Through years of wave shoaling, it created a large sand bar that interconnected two separate islands. We decided to stay in the island because it is suitable for camping or installing hammocks and at the same time, the pine trees provide shelter. Take note that there is no electricity in the island.

Quinapaguian Island

This was the fourth island we visited after we had our lunch in Apuao Pequeña Island. This  island is just near Apuao Grande and Apuao Pequeña. Good to note that our boat was much faster than the regular boats because it will only take you minutes to go from island to another island.

Caringo Island

We went to Caringo Island the following day because of the fish sanctuary. According to the guide, the locals are prohibited to catch fishes along the hectares of the marine sanctuary since it is a breeding ground. I was able to witness what was underwater. A vast of live corals with a lot of different types of fish really amazed me during my free dive. The snorkeling fee is already included in the tour package. You just need to bring your own swimming gears so you don’t need to rent. Take note that you will need to transfer to a smaller boats because they do not allow motorized boats at the sanctuary.

Malasugui Island

The island is known to have a small sand bar facing the west side of the side suitable for sunset shots. This is the smallest island out of the seven and you can even navigate the whole island for less than an hour.

Canton Island

This was the last island we visited. We decided to do sightseeing only because the underwater current was so big enough that it will be difficult for us to dock. The island is facing Butauanan Island in the east and composed of stiff rock formations for cliff jumps. There are also series of caves in the island but we decided not to take the risk of going inside. But we were already satisfied of just looking at the island and appreciate its beauty.

 We went back to Apuao Pequeña Island to have our lunch and prepared to depart by 1pm. Visiting the seven islands of Mercedes was an awesome experience and able to free dive at the marine sanctuary was epic. We arrived at Pandawan around 3pm and did a side tour at Bagasbas Beach in Daet before going to the terminal for our 8pm trip back to Manila.

Contact Information:

Ruel Santelices (Tour Operator)   – 09482345689

Travel Expenses:

• Bus Fee (Manila to Daet) – Php 515 RT Php 1030
• Tricycle Fee (Daet to Mercedes Terminal) – Php 20
• Jeep Fee (Daet to Mercedes) – php 8
• Tour Package – php 1, 600 per pax with minimum of 10 pax
• All -in Package includes ( Day 1 (lunch & Dinner) Day 2 (breakfast & lunch), tent accommodation, boat transfer, island hopping fee, marine sanctuary fee, with alcoholic beverages & musical instruments for socials.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

• 9:00 pm – 5 :00 am – Travelled from Manila to Daet, Camarines Norte via Superlines (deluxe) in Cubao Terminal. Travel time is 8 hrs. Take note that Superlines busses leaves the terminal on time. Then ride a tricycle going to Mercedes Jeep Terminal.
• 5:00 am – 5:30 am – Jeep ride to Mercedes, Camarines Norte for 30 minutes.
• 6:00 am – 8:00 am – Breakfast at my friend’s house which is also a travel blogger. She is the Travelling Teacher and a local from Mercedes.
• 8:00am – 8:15 am – Took another tricycle ride going to Pandawan Port in Mercedes where Kuya Ruel Santelices, a tour operator from Mercedes was waiting for us.
• 8:30 am – 10:30 am – Departed from Mercedes Port and our first stop was Canimog Island. We had photo ops and enjoyed the white sand beach.
• 11:00 am -1:00 pm – Next stop at Apuao Pequeña Island which was our camp site and adjacent to Apuao Grande Island through a permanent sand bar. We also had our lunch and prepared our things to continue with the island hopping.
• 1:30 pm – 2: 30 pm – Next island was Quinapaguian Island which was near Apuao Pequeña Island. We had photos ops and swimming.
• 3:00 pm – 4: 00 pm – Went back to Apuao Pequeña Island, our camp site and enjoyed swimming, photo ops while Kuya Ruel and his team where preparing our dinner.
• 4: 30 pm – 6: 00 pm – We went to some areas in Apuao Pequeña Island for bat watching and toured around the island.
• 7:00 pm – 8: 00 pm – Dinner time
• 8: 30 pm – 10:00 pm – Socials (Kuya Ruel prepared some cocktail drinks for everyone)
• 11:00 pm – Lights Off (But I waited 12mn to greet the birthday girl)

 

Day 2

• 6:00 am- 7:00 am – Wake- up call while Kuya Ruel and his team were preparing breakfast.
• 8:00 am – 9:30 am- Start of island hopping and first stop is Caringo Island and snorkeling at the marine sanctuary. We were transferred to smaller boats because they do not allow motorized boats at the sanctuary.
• 10: 00 – 11:00 am – We visited the last island which is Canton Island but we opted not to swim anymore since the waves were getting bigger.
• 11: 00 am – 12:00 pm- Back to Apuao Pequeña Island and continued swimming while Kuya Ruel and his team where preparing our lunch.
• 12: 00 pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch Time and socials.
• 1: 30 pm – 2:00 pm – Prepared our things and departed from Apuao Pequeña Island.
• 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm – Departed Apuao Pequeña Island and arrived at Pandawan Port in Mercedes.
• 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm – Went back to my friend’s house to take a bath and prepared our things since our scheduled bus from Daet to Manila is at 8pm.
• 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm – Went to Mercedes Town Proper to buy pasalubong.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Went to Bagasbas and had an early dinner. We decided not to check out the beach since our purpose was just to eat.
• 7:30 pm – 7:45 pm – Arrived at Daet Bus Terminal
• 8:00 pm- 4:00 am – Travelled from Daet, Camarines Norte and arrived at Alabang Terminal. Take note that Superlines busses leaves the terminal on time.

 

 

 

Nasugbu, Batangas

“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”

Nasugbu is one of the municipalities in the Province of Batangas under the CALABARZON region. The town is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Maragondon, Magallanes and Alfonso in the province of Cavite; on the east by the Batangas municipalities of Laurel, Calaca and Balayan; on the south by the Batangas municipalities of Lian and Tuy; and on the west by the South China Sea.

Most of the barangays in Nasugbu are located near the coastline. So it is expected that there are a lot of beach resorts in the area from the cheapest up to the most expressive ones. One of the must – visit beach resorts in Nasugbu is the Tali Beach. My friend Gene Vicencio invited me to join together with her teammates for a day tour at the Tali Beach. I took the opportunity not only to experience what Tali Beach can offer but also to gain new set of friends.

How to get to Tali Beach House, Nasugbu, Batangas

Going to Tali Beach House necessitates you to rent a car because it situated far from the town proper. Though there are buses from Manila to Nasugbu via Tagaytay but it will be difficult for a solo traveler since it is a privately own beach area. Aside from that, you are also required to rent one of their “Villas” which is more expensive. It is recommended to join a group or invite more people if you wanted to go to there.

There are many ways to go to Tali Beach. You can either choose from the following routes;

• Manila – Cavite Exit (Cavitex)- Tanza – Maragondon (Kaybiang Tunnel) – Nasugbu
• Manila – Tagaytay City – Nasugbu.
• Alabang – Daang Hari Road – Dasmariñas- Trece Martires- Maragondon (Kaybiang Tunnel) to Nasugbu.

When you get inside the Tali Beach House, do not expect that it will be like regulae beach resorts in San Juan. Like what I said, you are obligated to rent a house if you wanted to stay overnight. However, you also have an option to have a day tour where you get to experience the beach areas inside Tali and their famous cliff jump. Here is the list of the beach areas that you can enjoy while you are in Tali Beach House.

• Tali Beach Cliff Jump Site
• Sunset Beach
• Palm Beach
• Main Beach
• Coral Garden Beach
• Barrier Beach

Tali Beach Cliff Jump Site

Tali Beach House has been known to travelers because of its famous jump site. For those who love cliff jumps and wanted to experience a heart- thrashing activity, then the Tali Beach Cliff Jump Site is for you. The cliff is about 30 feet high. When are below the cliff, it seems that it very easy to jump but when you are already on the top of the cliff and ready to jump, that’s the time you will feel the difference especially when you are afraid of heights. Here are the tips before you jump.

• Pay attention to your tour guide, they know the place more than you do. When he says that it is not good to jump due to strong waves, then abide.
• Do an ocular before you jump. Evaluate first to which area you wanted to land.
• Learn the principles of proper cliff jumping. There are a lot of instructional videos in YouTube.
• Listen to your body. If you are afraid of heights, don’t jump.
• Don’t get pressured with your friends.
• Respect the height of the cliff.
• If you are eager to jump, don’t think twice. Just JUMP. Be sure to jump far away from the ledge.

Once you are done with the cliff jump, you can proceed in enjoying the other beach areas in Tali Beach House such as the Sunset Beach, Palm Beach, and Barrier Beach, go snorkeling at Coral Garden Beach and the Main Beach. One thing that you need to remember is that there are no lifeguards within all the beaches in Tali. Swim at your own risk. Parents must be with their children at all times. It is also important to know that when you are in Tali Beach House, you are already facing an open sea, meaning there are no other islands in between near the mainland. The current is unpredictable since the area it is located at the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

You can visit their website at http://talibeachhouse.weebly.com/ to get more information for rates and other amenities or you can also contact Mr. Allan Manuel at 09228398127.

Thank you guys for a wonder day tour at the Tali Beach House. It was definitely a fun day and I really enjoyed every moment. You all are amazing people.

 

Apo Reef, Occidental Mindoro

“Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hand. Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”

Apo Reef is a coral system situated on the western water of Occidental Mindoro Straight. It is 34 sq. kilometers and is considered as the second largest coral reef system in the country. The reef is being protected by the Apo Reef Natural Park. It can be found 15 nautical miles west of Mindoro. The jurisdiction of the reef lies within the Province of Occidental Mindoro under MIMAROPA regions and administered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from the Province of Sablayan.

How to get to Apo Reef, Occidental Mindoro

From Manila or Alabang, you need to ride a bus going to Batangas port. I went to South Station in Alabang since there are a lot of passengers at LRT Buendia during weekends. Alabang to Batangas Port is php127. From Batangas Port, you need to ride a RoRo (roll on/roll off) going to Port of Abra de Ilog. You can either choose Montenegro or Balino Shipping Lines. From Abra de Ilog port, you need to ride a bus again going to Sablayan or San Jose which is the next province. You will pay php220 from the port going to Sablayan. It will take another 2.5 to 3 hour ride.

Apo Reef Natural Park

The main geographical feature of Apo Reef is submerged, but three islands mark it on the surface: the Apo Island, Apo Menor (locally known as Binangaan) and Cayos del Bajo (“Keys of the bank”, locally known as Tinangkapan).  The islands are uninhabited. Since the declaration of “no-take-zone” policy at Apo Reef Natural Park in 2007, only protected area personnel and members of the Task Force MARLEN (Marine and Apo Reef Law Enforcement for Nature), who are task to implement protection and conservation work at the park, stays in the protected area on weekly shifts. Source: Wiki Apo

The boat is a bit expensive since it is php 8,500 roundtrip but with tour guide and activities. I suggest that you should be in a group to save money. Apo Reef is about 3 hours away from Sablayan Port. You will need to go to the Tourism Office headed by Sylvia Salgado for more information. She will be able to assist you on what will be your itinerary when you are in Sablayan. Her staff is very accommodating and will surely give you alternatives for a perfect and safe travel. You need to bring your own food and water since there are no establishments on the island. The entrance fee is php350 for non-Sablayan residence.

Restricted Area at Apo Reef Natural Park

The west side of the natural park is restricted for tourist. According to my guide, it is a breeding area for Philippine turtles. The tourists were used to be allowed to watch the turtles lay their eggs during night but because some of them disturbed the turtles, the local government decided to have this area restricted so that the turtles can lay their eggs without any disturbances.

The Mangrove Forest at Apo Reef Natural Park 

The Apo Reef Lagoon is situated after the Mangrove forest which is nursery of fishes and some sharks before they reach the ocean.  It is also known as a shark sanctuary where no fishing is allowed so that fish  and other sea life have a sea haven to breed and grow to increase the fish stock and keep them healthy.

Contact Information

Sylvia Salgado (Tourism Head)

• Smart – 099-8547-1185
• Globe – 0915-502-1911

Travel Expenses:

• Manila to Batangas Bus Fare- php157 (php 314 round trip)
• Alabang to Batangas Bus Fare- php127 ( php 254 round trip)
• Batangas Port to Abra de Ilog Port – php260  (php 520 round trip)
• Abra de Ilog to Sablayan Bus Fare- php220 (php 440 roundtrip)
• LandManz Hotel Accommodation-  php800/night per day good for 2
• Sablayan Zip Line-  1 -way (php500)  (php 1000 round trip)
• Apo Reef Boat Fare- php8,500 (2 roundtrip)
• Apo Reef Entrance Fee- php350
• Snorkeling goggles- php150

Candelaria, Zambales

“I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we’re all teachers – if we’re willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door.”

After my wonderful experience in Calayan Island, I invited a friend to go to this island located in northern Luzon.  I also wanted to visit nice beaches in Zambales, so we decided to go to Potipot Island.

Zambales is a province located in the Central Luzon region with Iba as its capital. With a land area of 1,479.09 sq. miles, it is the second largest province next to Nueva Ecija. The province boarders Pangasinan to the north and Bataan to the south.

Zambales can only be accessed through land transportation because there is no functional airport and the closest one is the Clark International Airport. Subic Bay International Airport in Pampanga. The province is merely a coastal area. Most of the municipalities are located near the coast line like Subic, San Antonio, Iba, Batolan, San Narciso and Candelaria. This article will feature Potipot Island in Candelaria, Zambales.

How to get to Potipot Island, Candelaria, Zambales

Candelaria is one of the municipalities of Zambales. It is located 26 miles from Iba and lies along the coastline of the South China Sea. It is also known to have numerous beach resorts and one of those is the Potipot Island.

How to get to Potipot Island, Candelaria, Zambales

Candelaria is one of the municipalities of Zambales. It is located 26 miles from Iba and lies along the coastline of the South China Sea. It is also known to have numerous beach resorts and one of those is the Potipot Island. From Manila, take a bus to Sta. Cruz Zambales via Victory Liner in Pasay, Cubao or Caloocan Terminals. Make sure to go down at Uacon Barangay Hall in Candelaria. The travel time usually takes for about 7 hours. There are already tricycles along the highway  where you can ask to drop you off to the Potipot docking area. You can also walk towards the bay part if you want to save money.

There are already tricycles along the highway and you can ask them to drop you off to the Potipot docking area. You can also walk towards the bay part if you want to save money. It is strongly suggested that you need to buy food first before going to the island because they only have limited varieties.   I suggest for you to drop off to the public market first which is only few kilometers away from the Uacon Barangay Hall to buy food before you go to the island.

Potipot is just an islet. The travel time from the main land is only for about 10-12 minutes. Once you reach the island, you can start looking for place where you can pitch your tent then enjoy the white sand beach and clear waters. But of course, you also need to be careful with ocean water current just to be safe. It is also best to stay overnight at the island to do stargazing.

You can also ask Mr. Boyet Dayto and his wife Dory Dayto to prepare your food. Additional payments is expected since they will cook your food and deliver it to the island.

Contact for Food Preparation:

• Dory Dayto – 09297249408
• Boyet Dayto – 09197327715

Travel Expenses:

• Bus (Manila to Zambales) – php 450 (900 roundtrip)
• Island Entrance Fee Day Tour – php 100 / pax (day tour)
• Island Entrance Fee Overnight – php 300 / pax (day tour)
• Boat Transfer  Round Trip – php 600 / 6 pax

Verde Island, Batangas

“I was forced to wander, having no one, forced by my nature to keep wandering because wandering was the only thing that I believed in, and the only thing that believed in me.”

After the TV interview, I had an opportunity to meet the founder of the DIY Travel Philippines Michelle Enriquez. It was somehow a dream come true to finally meet the person behind a group composed of almost four hundred thousand members with the same passion and that is to travel. She invited me to join their summer gathering in Verde Island last May 20-21, 2017. A non- profit summer gathering aiming to meet and greet all members of the group. Of course, I did not miss the opportunity and was excited for the event.

How to get Verde Island, Batangas City

Verde Island is situated along the bodies of Verde Island Passage between the islands of South Luzon and Mindoro. It lies south of Brgy. Ilijan, Batangas City and is separated from Luzon by the North Pass. It takes 45 minutes by a boat or 25 minutes by a ferry boat from Batangas City. The island is known to be rich in marine life and has been noted of the Philippine Tourism as one of the best dive spots in the country.

From Manila, you will need to ride a bus going to Batangas Grand Terminal then a jeep from the terminal going to SM City Batangas. You will need to take another jeep going to Batangas City to Tabangao Docking Area passing by San Isidro, Shell Refinery.

From Batangas Grand Terminal, find a tricycle and ask the driver to take you to Tabangao Aplaya or Tabangao Docking Area. Tricycle cost is about PHP 350 pesos and takes about 30-45 minutes. A tricycle can usually take up to 3 passengers.

According to the locals, there are only 2 boat rides going to Isla Verde. One from 9am going to the island and 3am going back to Brgy. Tabangao, Batangas City. It is very important to plan your trip ahead because there are only 2 boat transfer schedules daily.

There are several resorts in the island and all you need to do is to book your accommodation ahead of time because it going to be difficult if you walk in without any reservations.

• Verde Island Resort – http://batangasresorts.info/verde-island-resort-batangas/
• Isla Verde Tropical Friendly Resort – http://islaverderesort.com/

The island is also known for dive sites which have incredibly abundant in marine life. The locals are making sure that they are protecting these sites not only for tourism purposes but it is primarily their source of living. You may need to coordinate with the resort so they can let you join a group if you are solo traveler. Just make sure to plan everything ahead because the boat transfer back to Batangas City is at 3am daily.

Travel Expenses

• Bus Ride (Manila to Batangas Grand Terminal) – php157 ( Round trip php 314)
• Bus Ride (Alabang to Batangas Grand Terminal) – php127 (Round trip php 254
• Boat Transfer – php100 ( Round trip php 200)
• Boat Rental Island Hopping – depends on the boat capacity
• Resort Fee – depends on you resort choice

Nagudungan Hills, Calayan

  “In my life I’ve learned that true happiness comes from giving. Helping others along the way makes you evaluate who you are. I think that love is what we’re all searching for. I haven’t come across anyone who didn’t become a better person through love.”

One of the most memorable experience I had when I went to Calayan Island aside from the amazing beaches was to be on topmost of the Nagudungan Hill. Surely, the memory was priceless and the view is incomparable. I am not a climber nor have joined mountaineering but I definitely know that feeling when you are at the summit. The serenity, calmness and tranquility was worth it after hours and hours of travel.

How to get to Calayan Island

From Manila, you will need to ride a bus via Junction Luna going to Claveria, Cagayan. The fare is php850 and make sure to reserve you seats because there are a lot of passengers going to the north. Travel time is roughly between 12-13 hours, so prepare yourself and make sure you don’t get bored. There are two stop overs, one in Tarlac (TPLEX) and in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. No need to worry because the bus is secured with a comfort room and their seats are comfortable enough designed for a long travel.

Once you arrived in Claveria, Cagayan town proper, you will need to take a tricycle going to Fish Landing Port for php20 per head. You next trip will be a 5-6 hours boat ride from Claveria to Calayan. A ferry boat will bring you to the island via the South China Sea (Philippine Sea) about 83.9 KM Northeast with a fare of php500. The best months to go to the island is from April to first week of June.

Where to Stay in Calayan Island

The island does not have any hotels or beach resorts. Most are Homestay business wherein it a form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors stay in a house or apartment of a local. The prices vary depending on what type of services the homestay offers. I personally recommend Pagdagusan Homestay because aside from accommodation, part of their service is to provide complete meal to their guest. Take note, it’s not the typical everyday meal. For more information, you can visit their facebook page.

Pagdagusan Homestay

How to get to Nagudungan Hills, Calayan

A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit and is universally considered to be less tall and less steep than a mountain. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill

From Centro I where Pagdagusan Homestay is located, you will need to ride a tricycle going to a wood bridge in Brgy. Dadao about 4KMs then trek towards Caniwara and Sibang Coves for another 4KMs within 30-45 minutes. Trekking towards the site is not difficult because the road is not dilapidated and you get to experience clear air and all you can hear is the sound of nature.

Once you read the end of the road, you will need to pass by Caniwara Cove then trek uphill towards the summit of the hill. The hill is not that difficult to climb because it is only 2, 922 meters above sea level. It won’t be much of a challenge for non- experience climbers as well. When you reach the summit, there is a light house but not functioning anymore which serves as a center point of the area.

When you are at the peak of the hill, you get to see top view of Caniwara Cove, Sibang Cove and the rock formations of Dadao. Its breathtaking scenery will surely captivate your heart and will be thankful of the gift of nature.

It is also the best avenue to reflect and relax your mind from all the negativities you have been through in your life. You can also shout your heart out from the pains you encountered and let the hills be your listener. The hill is also a nice venue for pre-nuptial shoots because of its amazing rock formations which will serve as you’re true to life back draft.

Sibang Cove, Calayan

 “Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain… To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.”

It was not my first time to visit Calayan. In fact, I decided to do it as a yearly escape in order to at least experience being away from the city. I was expecting that there will be no more excitement since I have visited the place. For some reason when I arrived at the port area, I felt that it was my first time when I saw the white sand beach and clear waters of the island. Happiness was all over me and got thrilled again to explore the place.

How to get to Calayan Island

From Manila, you will need to ride a bus via Junction Luna going to Claveria, Cagayan. The fare is php850 and make sure to reserve you seats because there are a lot of passengers going to the north. Travel time is roughly between 12-13 hours, so prepare yourself and make sure you don’t get bored. There are two stop overs, one in Tarlac (TPLEX) and in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. No need to worry because the bus is secured with a comfort room and their seats are comfortable enough designed for a long travel.

Once you arrived in Claveria, Cagayan town proper, you will need to take a tricycle going to Fish Landing Port for php20 per head. You next trip will be a 5-6 hours boat ride from Claveria to Calayan. A ferry boat will bring you to the island via the South China Sea (Philippine Sea) about 83.9 KM Northeast with a fare of php500. The best months to go to the island is from April to first week of June.

Where to Stay in Calayan Island

The island does not have any hotels or beach resorts. Most are Homestay business wherein it a form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors stay in a house or apartment of a local. The prices vary depending on what type of services the homestay offers. I personally recommend Pagdagusan Homestay because aside from accommodation, part of their service is to provide complete meal to their guests. Take note, it’s not the typical everyday meal. For more information, you can visit their facebook page. Pagdagusan Homestay

Sibang Cove, Calayan

A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. Coves usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often situated within a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cove.

The most famous cove in Calayan is the Sibang Cove. This is located within the geographical jurisdiction of Brgy. Dadao. Its adjacent coves are Caniwara and Cababaan but what separates Sibang from the rest is the fine white sand and a broader clean shoreline with not much of rock formations which you will surely be amazed.

The coastline is perfect for landscape photography and suitable for relaxation because for the unspoiled beach and clear waters. The locals are also doing their best to maintain the cleanliness and penalties are being charged to those who violate the municipal ordinance. Even non- residents of the island are also obligated to continue in preserving its beauty.  Overnight camp including bonfire is not any allowed in Sibang Cove. The municipal government  wanted all the tourists  and the locals  follow the ordinance so that others can also experience the exquisiteness of the cove.