Cagbalete Island: How to go there

I teased you with pictures of Cagbalete Island, then you excitedly packed your bag with your swimsuits and sunblock, your shades and that book that takes you forever to finish, you already planned what you'll do on the island, that you'll swim to your heart's content, that you'll do this pose, that you'll shoot this and take picture of that, BUT, do you know how to go there?

The internet is laden with all the informations you need, but you don't have to go far as you can get them from here, and for me, getting to Cagbalete Island is not rocket science, it's as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Go to Lucena. Ideally at 3:30 am, take the Jac Liner or Lucena Liner bus in the corner of Buendia and Taft Avenue, very near the LRT Buendia station. There is also Jam Liner but the first two are better as they go inside the Grand Central Terminal in Lucena while Jam do not. Ask the bus conductor to drop you off in the Grand Terminal. Fare is P187.00 (air-conditioned) and travel time from Manila is only three hours.

2. In Lucena terminal, take the Mauban mini-bus that can be found on the left side of the terminal, which is just a few steps from where the bus will drop you. If you leave Manila by 3:30 am, you will be in Lucena by 6:30 am, you can have your breakfast at the terminal and board on the bus that leave for Mauban either at 7:30 am or 8:00 am (there's a trip every 30 minutes, earliest at 5:00 am). This is an ordinary bus but the morning breeze is refreshing as you will be travelling on a mountainous area. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes to one hour, fare is P50.00.

For those who prefer air-conditioned buses, sorry, there's none. But there are air-conditioned FX/Vans in SM City Lucena that can take you to Mauban. Fare is P60.00 and travel time is faster at 30 minutes, but the waiting period (both for passengers and available vans coming from Mauban) is both longer and crucial. From the Grand terminal, just wait for a jeep with SM Lucena as sign board.

3. By 9:00 am, you're already in the small town of Mauban. You can walk (around 7 minutes) or you can take a tricycle and ask the driver to take you to Pantalan (small port) and tell him to bring you near the passenger boat going to Cagbalete, tricyle fare is P7.00 per head.

The passenger boat has two trips everyday, 10:30 am and 4:00 pm. Fare is only P30.00 and you will be sharing the boat with everyone and everything from hundreds of kilo of rice, flour, breads, vegetables and other necessities. You can observe that everyone in the boat knows everybody, except for you, of course. And can you take note of tagalog words that you did not understand? That would be quite a lot hehe.

At 9:00 am, you also have the option to pass by the public market and get your provisions from there. I assure you that you can get there the freshest catch and vegetables, you can also buy your drinking water and some more chichirya.

The water can be rough as the boat will go against the wave, so better secure your belongings and yourselves (don't worry, there's a vest).

There. Before noon, you'll be in Sabang, you'll be in Cagbalete island. Though the "welcoming sight" may not be very ideal (there are informal settlers in the area), you can already sense in the water that the fun and enjoyment and relaxation is about to start.

Whether you'll stay in Pensacola resort (0427840158) - which we did - or in Villa Cleofas (our next destination), you'll be walking for about 10-15 minutes. You can ask around if you're going the right way. The island occupants may appear to be a bit intimated by your presence and all of them will look and/or stare at you, but they are friendly and you have to understand and expect such reaction because it is only know that tourists (like you and i) are starting to flock to their once secret place.

Being the guests, we have to be humble and friendly, and not the loud type that's usually associated with Manila people (which is bad). In other words, once there, we are the ones who will make the adjustment and not the other way around. I should know, as I grow up in the province. :)

But, is the almost five hours of travel by land and sea worth all the trouble?

to be continued...

it's Cagbalete Island!

and it's in Mauban, Quezon.

it has Boracay's sand, the serenity of Anawangin, the food trip of La Luz, and hear this, on a backpacker's budget. san ka pa?

enjoy? ENJOY!!! (details coming up...)

teaser...

where is this place?

no, it's not boracay or palawan, not even cebu or davao. forget about puerto galera and even zambales. pagudpud is quite far.

so where is it? sirit? in my beloved province, Quezon.

believe it.

more later...

Anawangin: How to's

Years ago, Anawangin is a secret place, a paradise known and frequented by mountaineers, a very serene cove hidden from the tourists' eyes, behind the grassy mountains and fenced by the sometime powerful waves of the South China Sea. And the beach is basically free.

2008. The place is no longer secret, mountaineers now shared the still serene but now very fragile cove to throng of tourists, behind the burnt grassy mountains and fenced not just by waves but also by barbed wire. And it's no longer free.

Before the place gets commercialized (hopefully not! hopefully not!), it would be nice if you can experience a slice of one of the Philippines unexpected beach sceneries. Here's how to go to Anawangin, in San Antonio, Zambales (based on my third time in Anawangin):

Take an early morning Iba, Zambales-bound Victory Liner bus either in Pasay or better yet in Caloocan (bus leaves every 30 minutes starting at 4:20 am). It will pass on the San Antonio town proper. Ask the bus conductor to drop you off near the public market. Travel time is normally three to three-and-a-half hours of bus ride. Fare (Caloocan-San Antonio) P227.00 (including P5.00 for insurance).

Once in San Antonio, you have the option to get your provisions (foods, water) in the public market. The market usually opens at 7 in the morning, so to get the freshest catch of the day, going there early is better. You can also have your breakfast there and your lunch as take out. :)

After doing the market rounds, look for a tricycle (they're everywhere) to take you to Brgy. Pundaquit. It can load a maximum of four passengers plus baggages, and the 10-15 minute bumpy ride will cost you P20.00 per head, but it would nice if you can give the driver P100.00 for four passengers and your baggages (diesel is expensive and most of the time, he will be going back to the town proper without a passenger, so consider the excess P20.00 as a tip).

In Brgy. Pundaquit, looking for a boat is next, and it's not going to be very hard as there are a lot of them who'll offer their service once you've alighted from the tricycle (don't worry, boat operators here are much, much, much nicer as they won't harass you like those in Batangas pier). The standard price for a small banca that can sit a maximum of four is P800.00, two-way (Pundaquit-Anawangin-Pundaquit). Just specify to the boatman the time that you need to be fetch the next day (if you are staying overnight in anawangin). There are also bigger boats that can sit six (P900.00) but there's very few. The biggest boat that can bring up to 15 persons is on the P2000-3000 price range, but i think it needs a prior arrangement.

The boat ride will be 20-30 minutes depending on how calm the sea is. If you can secure a lifevest, that would be better. A little warning though, not all boats can provide a lifevest. And make sure that your things are properly sealed/waterproofed as the water can sometimes be rough. You won't really feel the 20-30 minute boat ride as the view offers a very relaxing mood, it actually readies you for a change of sceneries.

As your boat pass the second hat-like islet (it's actuall a rock), Anawangin cove is now visible to your left and you will be welcomed by the pine tree-lined shore and the clear water will call you like how a flower attracts a bee.

Anawangin now has a conservation fee (glamorous term for entrance fee) of P150.00 and P50.00 depending on where you want to camp. Except for the price, the two campsites actually are the same, they're just separated with a barbed wire (i don't want to dig deeper into those wire, let us just put it as a "boundary" to one's property). The more expensive campsite is the "wholesome side" as it do not allow drinking and smoking in the area, but it doesn't mean that the less expensive is not wholesome. :)

Ask your boatman where is the P150 and where is the P50, and set your tent to where you want to camp. Whichever, a caretaker will welcome you and remind you of the conservation fee that you will settle before you leave the cove. Again, arrange with your boatman the time that you will be picked up (don't pay them yet).

When you already settled your things and camping gears, you can now roam and explore the area and have an endless (and i mean, eeeendless!) photo-ops. TIP: facing the sea, walk towards the left side of the shore, you will see a swamp with poetically lined pine trees ala-New Zealand, and if you walk farther until the you reach the foot of the rocky mountain (and sometimes where fresh and saltwater meet), you can climb that mountain (just follow the trail) and have a better view of the sandbar. believe me, the view there is awesome!

The best sunset spot in Anawangin is near that mountain/swamp as you can clearly see the sun setting.

In the morning, in time for sunrise, go back to the swamp and have another round of picture taking as the view's different with the swamp water completely still and the reflections of trees and mountains are so perfect you'll forget you're still in the Philippines.

You can also bring a hammock and a book. Or take a nap. Or explore the right side of the cove and discover a little cave (and another round of photo-ops). It is also the better site for snorkeling as this is where the fishes are.

When you go to Anawangin, don't forget to bring garbage bag. The garbage/waste that you bring is not the caretakers responsibility, it's yours. Be courteous and responsible enough to clean the area where you camp. There are other people who also need to see the place in it's serenity.

When the boatman arrived to pick you up, pay the caretaker the conservation fee. Although you can clean and take a bath in Anawangin, it would be better if you'll that in Pundaquit (just ask your boatman where) as you can get wet from the boat ride.

In Pundaquit, there are a lot of tricycles that can bring you to the highway, same price. You just have to wait for a Manila-bound bus which is normally full. The best option is for you to ride an ordinary bus going to Olongapo (which is usually half-full) and then in Olongapo, go to the Victory Liner terminal and fall in line to get your bus ticket going to Manila.

There. Next time, I'll post about things to bring.

Happy weekend everyone! kanpai!

unang hirit sa umagang kay ganda

after a fast paced night trek, and hours of alcohol-glazed bonding with fellow mountaineers, waking up and being greeted with a spectacular explosion of morning colors is just priceless.

(photos taken in Mt. Batulao)

me ganyan ba sa manila? :)

happy c",)

minsan, me nagtanong sa akin: "hindi ba masakit?"

sabi ko, "ang alin?"

"ang katawan mo."


nagtaka ako, "ha? bakit naman?"



"tinadtad ka kasi ng kaguwapuhan eh!!!"


wehehehe.

pagbigyan nyo na ako, birthday ko naman eh. :)

for one week

i'll be in Quezon.

for one week

i'll be away.

for one week

i'll miss posting here.

and, for one week

i'll miss you all.

(taken using a camera phone)

May we all have a meaningful Holy Week. :)

Ken Lee?

it has been going around for weeks already, and i've lost count how many times i ignored this video, but when i watched it the other day, i didn't know what hit me! geesh! turn that speaker on, at LSS (last song syndrome) na naman! pasintabi sa Keys Me.

we need a break from all the chaos around us, i hope you had a good laugh.

happy weekend everyone, kanpai!

beatles' world

i still have the Beatles love bugging me in a good way, my head is still dancing with their songs (nothing's gonna change my world, nothing's gonna...) and the unusual humming every now and then can really get the attention of whoever's near the 10-ft radius. a combined aftermath of watching Across the Universe.

got enough of the Beatles?

surprise! surprise! it's Beatles' night in American Idol!

I haven't seen the entire show as of this writing but I was able to take a peek on some of the Top 12's performances including that of Michael Johns, my bet to win the plum (although if there's money involve in the betting, i'll placed it on David Archuleta as he's the chosen one), and guess what? he sang across the universe!

i am a fan of his voice, i like the Eddie Vedder-ish rocker's tremble, the confidence to hit high notes and the ability to make the song his own.

want to see the video? go here.

you may also want to hear Ramiele Malubay's rendition of In my life. go here.

for anything American Idol, go to Rickey's site, a US-based Filipino blogger who's an avid follower of the show, and considered the "fastest" when it comes to uploading the videos.

for sure, i'll be seeing the show later, but for the meantime...(nothing's gonna change my world, nothing's gonna...)

UPDATE: i already saw the entire show, and some of the arrangements were trash! goodness, what have they done to Eight days a week? for reasons beyond me, i actually liked Carly Smithson's (sp?) Come Together (but still, i am not a fan). and i thought the braided guy somehow missed some tunes when doing the falsetto.

Across the universe

"Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup

They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe

Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind,

Possessing and caressing me.

Jai guru de va om

Nothing's gonna change my world

Nothing's gonna change my world"

if there's one movie that you need to see at least for this week, it has to be Across the universe.

from clickthecity:

"A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll, the film moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with “Dr. Robert” (Bono) and “Mr. Kite” (Eddie Izzard) as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy – against all odds – to find their own way back to each other."

i am not good at movie reviews but i can tell you that i really enjoyed this film, from the very impressive opening credits to the music (of The Beatles, no less) to the singing and the acting and the amazing use of colors and elements, to the explosion of weirdness and how it was used and weaved to create that psychedelic feel, it was wonderfully weird!

"Let me take you down,

'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.

Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.

Strawberry Fields forever"

i am a fan of the Beatles (though not at the level that knows every story behind each song, just a fan) and this musical is sure a fan-pleaser. i cannot speak for those who loved (and continue loving) the original arrangements, but for this member of the eraserheads generation, i just love the fresh takes on those Beatles' classics.

"Is there anybody gone to listen to my story

All about the girl who came to stay?

She's the kind of girl you want so much

It makes you sorry;

Still, you don't regret a single day.

Ah girl! Girl."

except for the lead actress Lucy, all the actors were neophyte or at least doesn't have that huge movie/hollywood credentials. the guy who played Jude auditioned for the role and Julie Taymor, the director, knew that it would be him the first time she saw him, and what a voice this Jude guy has, not the operatic/poppy type but a rock band vocalist which is suprisingly pleasant and the Beatles songs just fit him right. and he's not a john lennon/paul macartney wannabe either.

one more thing, the character Prudence was played by a Filipina, T.V. Carpio (what a name!).

across the universe is perhaps the best musical i've seen since Moulin Rouge (or maybe because i haven't seen too many musicals since Moulin Rouge) and although my words may not be enough to describe how remarkable this film was, i still encourage you to see it, showing exclusively at Glorietta 4 and Greenbelt 3 theaters (go to Sureseats.com for schedule).

and don't forget the soundtrack!!!!

click here for the trailer.

"There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game

It's easy.

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.

No one you can save that can't be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time

It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love"

All together now...

isang hapon...

sa paglabas natin ng pintuan, kung ano'ng naghihintay sa atin ay di natin alam. maaaring nakakagulat, maaaring nakakainis, pwede ka ring matuwa, at pwede ring hindi.

sa madaling salita, walang kasiguraduhan. sa pagtapak ng mga paa sa labas, handa ka ba?

hehehe.

playtime lang, di ako makaisip ng magandang intro para sa picture na ito na kinuha ko gamit ang camera phone habang pauwi ako noong isang araw. tungkol sana sa pagkain ang nakatoka ngayon kaso parang ansagwang tingnan na mula sa dalawang madudugong kwento ay pagkain ang kasunod.

lagyan natin ng pagitan para malimutan natin sandali ang tungkol sa limatik at sa kutsilyo. yaiks, ipinaalala ko ba? :)

para ngayong weekend, relax-relax lang tayo.

kanpai!

kwentong madugo

hindi ito tungkol sa limatik pero warning na rin, wag basahin kung takot sa dugo.

noong huwebes, nalimutan kong ilabas mula sa freezer yung burger patties na lulutuin ko kaya pagdating ko sa bahay kinagabihan, matigas yung patties. palalambutin ko muna sana para madaling mahiwalay pero naisip kong matatagalan pa yun kaya sundot-sundotin na lang ng kutsilyo para mabilis...

unang patty, tagumpay, naihiwalay ko mula sa limang magkapatong...

ikalawang patty, okey din.

ikatlo, uhm, medyo matigas kasi gitna ito. medyo nilakasan ko ng konti yung sundot, nilagyan ng diin yung kutsilyo at KATSAK!!!!

lumampas sa patties yung kutsilyo, diretso sa palad ko! arrggh!

kung anong bilis ng pagkatusok ng kutsilyo sa palad ko ay sya ring bilis ng pagbunot ko at kasunod nito'y bumulwak ang dugo sa palad ko. shit! nilagyan ko agad ng towel para matigil yung pagdugo. kabado pero pasok agad ako sa kwarto para kunin ang first aid kit ko. medyo napatigil ko yung dugo sa palad ko pero bakit meron pa ring tumutulo sa sahig?

leche! lumampas pala yung kutsilyo hanggang sa pagitan ng hintuturo at middle finger ko!

di ko na ito kakayanin, kelangan ko nang pumunta sa hospital, hanap ng shorts na pang-ibabaw sa boxer shorts (ayaw ko namang sumugod sa emergency na parang hubo hehehe), nakasando at suot ay kulay dilaw na feathery slippers (natatawa ako pag naaalala ko) ay tumawag ako ng tricycle at nagpahatid sa hospital.

mga sampung minuto yata akong dinudugo bago makarating ng hospital dahil naabutan ko ang buntot ng traffic papuntang highway. (kabado yung kapitbahay kong driver sa akin: kuya, okey ka lang? ako: malayo to sa bituka, okey lang)

eksena sa emergency room:

guard: anong nangyari dyan? (sabay bukas ng pinto)
ako: aksidenteng natusok ng kutsilyo.

pagpasok ko ng ER (sosyal hehe)
unang nurse: anong nangyari dyan?
ako: aksidenteng natusok ng kutsilyo
UN: hugasan mo muna sir (at sinamahan ako sa lababo)

at habang hinuhugasan ko ang mga sugat ko, ang hapdi ng tubig ha! dumugo na naman!!!!

MGA NURSE: anong nangyari dyan?
ako: aksidenteng natusok ng kutsilyo.

Unang doktor: anong nangyari dyan?
ako: aksidenteng natusok ng kutsilyo.

UD: panong aksidente? nakipag-away ka?
ako: no (talagang ingles ha, at ikinuwento ko ang mga pangyayari).

at paulit-ulit na same question, same answer, same story ang nangyari habang nililinis ang mga sugat ko, binigyan ng first shot ng anti-tetanus, kinuha bp ko, body temperature, weight (kelangan talaga? nalaman ko tuloy bumibigat na naman ako!) at tinest kung me allergy ako sa anesthesia.

dumating na yung doktor na magtatahi ng sugat ko, at...

Dok: anong nangyari dyan? (wahahahaha)
ako: (wahahahaha)

ayun, matagumpay naman ang pagtatahi, parang pamingwit ng isda yung ginamit, merong hook! me ginupit pa syang konting laman at diniinan pa yung sugat para mabawasan yung pagdurugo (buti na lang me anesthesia, kundi baka me umaatungal sa sakit dun).

four stitches sa palad at three sa likod. tagos!

medyo gumagaling na sila, at nakakapag-type na rin yung left hand ko.

on the bright side, natuwa na ako sa sarili ko, di ako nagpanic. at alam ko kung anong gagawin at kung anong kukunin ko. nagawa ko pang magsarado ng bintana at mag-check ng mga lock ng pinto bago ako pumuntang hospital (yun nga lang, feathery slipper pa rin ang suot ko hehe), nakarating at nakaalis ako ng ER ng kalmante, nakipag-usap ng maayos, nakipagtawanan pa sa mga magagaling na nurse at doktor habang nililinis at tinatahi ang mga sugat ko.

pinoy nga ako, nagagawa ko pang tawanan ang sakit!

Mt. Malasimbo

when you think of Mindoro, the things that come to mind were Puerto Galera, white beach, wild partying, tamaraw and mindoro sling. and when you take pictures of galera, you'll have the sunset, the sand, the party people, boats and this mountain looming majestically in the background.

that's mt. malasimbo.

years ago, when i first set foot in galera, i just thought of the mountain as a nice background that compliments the sea, but now, whenever i go to galera, i am now looking beyond the shore, away from smokes of barbeque grills and past the shops crowding the beach, my eyes automatically head toward the mountain and remember how it gave me an unforgettable climbing experience...

we arrived in galera via a scary ride with the boat that stopped in the middle of the sea due to mechanical trouble and during the time when the waves are in the mood for playing swing and see-saw, good thing i no longer have motion sickness otherwise i'll join the others throwing up in the sea (maybe, at the delight of some fish, eww). we settled our things in the rooms we rented, and unmindful of the drizzle that's turning into a heavy rain, wearing our uniform with our packed lunch and gears, we paced the shore like a marching band with lots of curious eyes going our way. as we reached the cemented street going to the trail, the sound of waves crushing on the shore was overpowered by raindrops racing from the sky. our steps are now faster, and so are the rain...

soaking wet and with adrenalin pumping, the rain stopped as we reached the jump-off point.

we past by a mangyan community, we stop by to what i thought was a falls for some picture taking and from then on, muddy and slippery assault towards the saddle.

actually, i don't mind the mud, i don't mind the assault, i do not mind even the occassional slips and some thorns/weeds prickling my hands and arms as i grabbed them for support, what worries me (and the rest of the group) are these icky little blood suckers called limatik (small leeches).

before our climb, we're already warned that some parts of malasimbo are teeming with these tiny parasites and that they are just there waiting to feast on us. just the thought of them crawling on our skin, biting for that blood meal, and suck until they're full and then they just fall off is enough for some newbies to back off. obviously, we're not one of them. just moments after stepping on their territory, a groupmate has already got hold of one slimy brown creature and proudly showed it to us. the curious that we are, we oogled on it and then later sprayed it with alcohol and dunked it on efficascent oil. we laughed on it, little did we know that a few more steps, a batallion of them has already sensed that lunch will be served early!

as a precaution, or to minimize the bites, we applied efficascent oil on our arms, necks and faces, some put too much that minutes later they're screaming as the oil's very hot hehehe. still, even with the oil and an alcohol sprayer on hand, limatiks still find their way into my arms, neck and even inside my shirt and my pants! argh! i have bites on my back, my legs and my arms. AND THEY ARE ITCHY!!!!!!

the limatik attack upped the adrenalin rush that makes our pace faster and soon enough we reached the saddle, and we're hungry and most of our shirts and socks were blood-stained!

the view at the saddle, although most of the time was covered with fog because of the rain, was more than enough to made up for the bloody experience. we had our lunch there and savor the fresh air and marvel at the view.

we didn't stay long and just forego the summit assault (there's no clearing at the summit and there are more limatik) as it started to rain again and the fog, all of a sudden, had surrounded us. the rainwater and the fog somehow blinded us and we need to make a new trail as we lost our way! the rain pounded even harder, the loose soil was more slippery and some groupmates panic for the rain, the fog and the thought of being lost. i was at the lead group but went back to assist some of my groupmates.

we eventually find the old trail and continue with the traverse. if going up is slippery, double that on our way down. someone joked that if not for the rain and the mud, we can run on this trail! instead, we have to walk with our butts or sometimes just slide our way down, and oh, sliding while sitting on coconut leaves is the fun way to do it.

if we climbed malasimbo with a more cooperative weather, the view must have been better.

we went directly to the beach to wash ourselves and get rid of the remaining limatiks we did not know we still have! one lady groupmate screamed her lungs out when she saw four very fat limatiks on her legs after she removed her trekking pants. me? i got one on my pocket! hehehe.

the limatik experience can be very traumatic, but it's part of every mountaineer's life. this climb also exemplifies what a teamwork can do, and in the mountain, it's just your guts, your instincts and your co-mountaineers that you can depend on.

and while we're still talking about limatiks while resting, a scream from another room disturbed the peace and quiet, it turned out that another lady groupmate saw a limatik on her underwear while taking a shower! see? they can crawl anywhere! i also observed that even though the limatiks were already removed, the skin they've bitten will continue to bleed like you have a fresh wound. scary!

to celebrate the limatik, este, climb, we drowned ourselves with videoke, lambanog and red horse, and what happens next is another long post...

kanpai!!!!