altum viditur

Our journey from Manila started at around 2AM. At dusk, we were somewhere along Zambales to take photographs of the beautiful sunrise. At lunch, we were at Vigan Heritage Village, eating Vigan Empanada at the Plaza in front of the Vigan Cathedral. By sunset, we were shooting the very awesome Bangui Windmills. Note, very awesome!!! As the sun disappeared from the horizon, we continued our journey to Pagudpud. Saud, a public beach was much closer to Bangui. But I insisted that we go directly to the Blue Lagoon.

I remember my first trip to Pagudpud. We went to Saud Beach, slept on the sand overnight, the next day, rented a van to Blue Lagoon. Blue Lagoon was really blue. And from afar, we could see some surfers. I really wondered if they were locals, or tourists who brought their own surfboards. They were about a kilometer away from Blue Lagoon. There were seldom waves waiting for someone to hitch. We walked from Blue Lagoon towards the surf but was not lucky to reach the tip of Luzon. Yes, I could really imagine then that the beach break was at the tip of the left of North of Luzon.

Kapuluan Vista Resort

And I was right. It was the tip of Luzon. And there’s a resort there. A beautiful resort, actually. It’s the Kapuluan Vista Resort. It was fully booked when we arrived, and so were most of the resorts. We couldn’t find a resort that could accommodate all five of us and our requirements, so we settled for a homestay accommodation in Wally’s World. Since Mang Wally, the owner of the homestay rooms, did not prepare dinner for night walk-in guests, we ate at Kapuluan Vista Resort. These were our orders:

Yummy chicken with salsa

Adobo

Tinola

The food was good and in generous servings for PHP 150-250 (+ 5 USD). While waiting for our food, we saw Bb Gandanghari. Of course, we did not pass the chance to have our picture taken with her!

i know i look a bit starstruck here, but this one's for the community! :)

The next day, when I got halo-halo from a store, the lady who sold me Halo Halo said Jericho Rosales was in Kapuluan, surfing. We were supposed to surf that morning, but was not able to wake up early. Then in the afternoon, we would have gotten to surf with Echo on the same beach (would have been my second time since someone told me that when I attended the Surf Clinic in La Union in 2008, Echo was also there, but I did not see him since the Urbiztondo beach is always jam packed at Surf Clinics) but the waves seemed to be lazy that afternoon with very short and seldom rides. So we passed up until the next morning.

View from the outside

longboard and shortboard just lying around

resting areas near the beach

The next morning, there’s a very wild Amihan and doesn’t look advisable to surf. Though not able to surf, we still enjoyed our breakfast by the beach and I took the chance to photoshoot Ananda Kanani’s Summer Earring Collection! :)

It was unfortunate that Kapuluan Vista Resort was fully booked then. But there’s always a ‘next time’.

Resort Photos by Amrei Dizon

Related Posts:
Wally’s World Homestay, Pagudpud Ilocos Norte
Vigan Heritage Village, Ilocos Sur
North Luzon Road Trip
Bangui Windmills, Bangui Ilocos Norte
What is the Best Empanada in Ilocos?

According to a Travelpod Article

The seven-hectare Isla Malipano, also a part of the resort, has a white sand beach, an offshore reef plus 7 private luxury villas (5 three-bedroom and 2 four-bedroom), each with a wide veranda and its own butler for food orders and other guest assistance.

Take a look how pretty this place is:

The sandbar overlooking Pearl Farm Beach resort

resort rules and beautiful tree

the island is surrounded by white sand and greens

Isla Malipano's Luxury Villa

It’s just too bad that when one of my friends accidentally stepped on a sea urchin, no one was there to help. Was it because no one was checked in at the resort that time?

Related Posts:

Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Davao (part 1)
Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Davao (part 2)
White Water Rafting in the Davao River
Giant Slide at Maxima Aquafun, Garden City of Samal
Aldevinco Shopping Center, Davao City
Crocodile Park and Tribu K’Mindanawan Cultural Village, Davao
Bogser’s Coffee House, Bangkal Davao

After enjoying the beautiful Isla Malipano and the yummy buffet lunch, me and my friends had fun in the infinity pool. Here are some beauty shots of the Pearl Farm Beach Resort’s infinity pool:

Beautiful Infinity Pool at Pearl Farm Beach Resort

And here we were, chatting and fooling around:

Gossiping girls, facing the sea

Fooling Around. That's Mems, Joan, Arvee, Me and Ria

Related Posts:

This was what I was really excited about, going to one of the most famous and recommended beach resorts in the Philippines, the Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Davao. I used to only see it in photos, DOT’s website, videokes and on TV. It has always been a wonderful sight. The seawater was always cool green and blue, the sand always white, and the fishes, always near the shore. Most famous of all Pearl Farm photos is the floating cottages. Hundreds of media have already featured that view.

Samal Cottages

And that same view greeted us when we neared its shores in the Garden Island City of Samal. Though the water was not as cool green then, it was still a delight. I was looking for a longer shoreline but then realized that the beach resort had only small beach fronts on both sides of the main dock. While the boat was getting near the dock, I could see a couple of tourists in the terrace of their floating Samal cottage, throwing bread in the water below to attract fish.

A walk where one can see the schools of fish

Everything is an experience in this premier beach resort. A welcome drink of pineapple juice greets the guests in the Parola. A resort staff will brief the guests about the resort and its neighbor, the Isla Malipano. After the briefing, we crossed a short bridge leading to the main dining area, passing by the clear water of the beach. It was low tide and I could see a lot of starfishes on the sand.

At lowtide, the Parola from afar.

A typical Mandaya Room

We frolicked a bit in the low tide before visiting the Isla Malipano.

Food in the plate looks good, tastes good too!

We went to Davao City to attend one of my close friends’ wedding that turned out to be one of the loveliest ceremonies I’ve been to. The guest list was exclusive to family and close friends. The vows happened at the St. Paul’s Parish in Davao City, reception followed at the Apo View Hotel. Since we got there a day earlier, we decided to book for a white water rafting adventure at Crocodile Farm the headed to Island Garden City of Samal, just below Davao del Norte for some adventure.

It was a long ride to Samal so we had buffet lunch at The Stadium Sports Lounge in the City first. Buffet costs only Php 129 (less than $3)!

We then took a cab ride to Sta. Ana wharf for around 30 minutes, a bus ride to Peñaplata for 45 minutes, including a 5-minute Roll On Roll Off (RORO), and finally, a 10-minute habal habal (single motorcycles) trek to Maxima Aquafun. Bus fare is Php 40 ($1), habal habal fare is Php 25.

Maxima's Giant Slide

Maxima Aquafun is right on a cliff to the open sea of Davao Gulf. It has several water-fun features like the 40-meter drop Giant Slide, a diving board and a floating trampoline — all of these will throw you to the open sea! But don’t worry. They have a “No life vest, no swim” policy. There are also resort staff that will watch you when you’re in the water.

First thing we tried was the Giant Slide. Here’s my video, on my first slide down  to the Davao Gulf:

I did not scream. It was the person behind the videocam. :P The person that you see at the end of the slide is the staff that takes photos while you’re on the slide, upon request. They’ll give you a print out at Php 60.

We also tried the diving board. I jumped twice! :)

Related posts:

Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Davao (Part 1)
Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Davao (Part 2)
Isla Malipano, Davao
White Water Rafting in the Davao River
Crocodile Park and Tribu K’Mindanawan Cultural Village, Davao
Aldevinco Shopping Center, Davao City
Bogser’s Coffe House, Bangkal Davao

In April of 2007, Amrei and I went to Bicol in time for the Holy Week vacation, we were going to meet with Angku and Ryan who were currently vacationing there (Angku’s hometown is Bicol), the day after we arrived. Then Abet and Hasmin will follow from Manila, on our third day.

Jetski

Our first stop was where we would be staying – EcoVillage. It was only very lucky for us to be able to book a room in EcoVillage because it was the holy week so all accommodations that we contacted near CWC were all fully booked. We got a room because we very eagerly followed up for cancellations. The Eco Village management was nice enough to notify us when a room became available.

Fooling Around

Ate Lyn (but we call each other “Teng” short for “Ateng”), my sister, her husband and their friends were already in Bicol for three days when we arrived. They’ve already swam with the whale sharks in Donsol. On their last day in Bicol, they tried out the Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC) where we met them up for breakfast.

Pancake with Bacon and Egg (Php 100)

We had pancakes and omelet. I remember that the breakfast foods were only around Php 90-110. I was a vegetarian then so I requested for a tomato and mushroom omelet.

Vegetarian Omelet by Request (Mushroom and Tomatoes only)

CWC at that time only had a few accommodations, the containers were under construction.

The Clubhouse

Pool with Bamboo Lounge Chairs

I was delighted to enter the complex, with a big pool that’s surrounded by cabanas for spa and lounging, the clubhouse, and the 6-point cable ski system. The whole walking area is made of wooden flooring too! It’s a very relaxing atmosphere.

Cable Park

The place also has a good view of Mt. Isarog.

Pool Surrounded by Cabanas

Read what you can do when in CWC here.

Contact Camsur Watersports Complex at these details:

Camsur Watersports Complex Office:
Provincial Capitol Complex
Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur
Contact Number: +63(54) 4773344 / 4773347
Fax Number: +63(54) 477-5162
E-mail: infocamsur@gmail.com

Related Posts:

The Great Bicol Adventure: Rest and Relaxation in Awesome Camsur
Eco Village, Pili, Camarines Sur

On January 01, my family went to White Cove, Laiya Batangas to jump start a year of lakwatsa. You’ve heard the saying — whatever you have in the first day of the year, you’ll have the whole year round. That’s why we always welcome the New Year with a feast, hope that no one’s sick or broken hearted at the time, and the family is celebrating together. I was not able to come with them because I was not prepared, and I never go to the beach unprepared. I was not informed that we were going out of town that day, and the only clothes I had on my bag were overnight clothes, and this was because I do not live with my parents, so all my gears are in my apartment, far away.

At night, with Laiya on my mind, I thought of a place that I would want to go to. I thought of Subic because Amrei, my travel buddy and designated driver, has been saying that she wanted to drive to Subic and experience the beautiful Subic Clark Tarlac Express Way (SCTEx). We also wanted to go to the zoo and shake hands with some monkeys on the way.

So off we go at 11 AM of the second day of the year. We stopped by at a convenience store in Timog Avenue to pick up chips and water while we fill the gas of the car. At around 1PM, we’re in North Luzon Expressway (NLEx). The first stop over is a Shell Station but we opted to stop at the Petron Station in Balagtas.

Balagtas Shell-Select Stop Over

This is our favorite stop over, last time I was here was last November when we drove off to Dagupan.

Road Sign along SCTEx

We entered the Subic Bay Freeport Zone at around 2:30 PM, we followed the signs that said “BEACHES” which was also the same way as Zoobic Safari. We took a left turn after exiting SCTEx and drove until there were signs that said “Beaches”. We  realized that we’re on the wrong route when all we can see was the way to Camayan Cove and Ocean Adventure, after passing by the Zoobic Safari road and meeting some monkeys on the way, and since we’re already there, we went ahead and checked out Camayan Cove. The place was fully booked. We turned back and checked out two other beaches at the other end of the road — Bungaree Beach, at Php150 (3.27 USD) entrance fee, without overnight rooms. Then All Hands Resort, P150 entrance and only one type of room available for overnight stay at Php 4,500 (98.09 USD). Since it seems that this was not going to work, we headed back to where we should’ve come to in the first place — Olongapo’s National Road where most of the Subic Bay beaches are. We checked out several other resorts, where the look, feel and rates vary wildly, before we finally found a nice place. Playa Papagayo. Read more about our fun stay at Playa Papagayo.

SCTEx - beautiful road surrounded by mountains

Camayan Cove's Shore

Handsome Monkey on the Road

Playa Papagayo Beach Inn and Restaurant

We were able to catch the last minutes of sun, had a wonderful dinner at Playa Papagayo, rested for a while and went out at night to have a few round of beer and billiards. In the morning, we got our free continental breakfast, enjoyed some more morning beach, and checked out at 1 PM to go to the Zoobic Safari. Read more about our tour in the Zoobic Safari.

Related Posts:

Playa Papagayo Beach Inn and Restaurant
Cantina Mexicana, Playa Papagayo Beach Inn and Restaurant, Subic Bay
Zoobic Safari – The Only Tiger Safari in the Philippines

As an annual family vacation every May, we went up North to Baguio City last weekend.

We haven’t been going to the usual tourist spots like Mines View Park, Botanical Garden, Wright Park and Philippine Military Academy (PMA) since we’ve visited these places a couple of times years before.

This time, we went to Tam-Awan Village for a different experience. I’ll post a separate article about that, meanwhile, let me tell you what I do when 0n vacation in Baguio.

One of the fun things that I always do when is going to Ukay Ukay stores to look for very affordable fashion finds.

Aside from the cool weather, Baguio City has also become famous for its Ukay-Ukay (probably derived from the Filipino word Hukay, or to dig) or Wagwagan (to shake) shops. Originally, clothes, bags, shoes are thrown in on a mat, table, or big boxes where you can dig to find your match, these were on small shops and  side walks.

Now there are several Ukay Ukay joints in Baguio, most famous are the Skyworld along Session Road, and Bayanihan, near Burnham Park. They have rows of clothes racks, and shoes are displayed in an organized manner.

I still do not know where the items come from, some say these are surpluses from abroad, maybe why some items are brand new and still have tags.

Most of the items are pre-owned goods and if you’re lucky, you’ll find new, branded stuff at very cheap prices.

Manolo Blahnik, Bally, DKNY and Naturalizer

Another place to visit is an area called Hilltop, behind the Baguio Market where they sell all sorts of clothes, accessories and even home furnishings like curtains and bed sheets. You can find streets and blocks of Ukay Ukay shops in Hilltop. A few years ago, I was also able to buy a couple of good finds in Harrison Building in Harrison Street, beside Burnham Park. At night, Ukay Ukay sellers would spread out their selling goods around Harrison Building, passing through Mabini Street going up to Calderon Street. Calderon Street is intersection Session Road. At the corner is Skyworld. So that’s a whole block of Ukay Ukay stuff!

a customer fitting a pair of Guess shoes

Related Post:

Oh My Gulay! Baguio City
Filomena’s Restaurant and Bakeshop, Baguio City
Tam-Awan Village, Baguio City
Strawberry Farm, La Trinidad Benguet

This year at Puerto Galera, instead of the usual Coral Garden – Bukete – Bayanan island hopping, we only went to Coral Garden and Bayanan. We were supposed to go back to White Beach, where we were checked in, but the boatman was nice enough to wait for us while we have lunch at the nearby Aninuan Island. So instead of going to Bukete, we went to Tamaraw Beach Resort to have lunch.

We went to the small dining area and ordered for food.  think it took about an hour before our food was served. While waiting, I took photos around and surveyed the place. They offer different water rides: banana boat, glass bottom boat and wakeboarding, even. But a little pricey for half an hour’s worth.

There are lounge chairs in the shore, and ping pong table beside the coffee shop. The place is full of plants and flowers too.

It’s peaceful and quiet, with its quaint own shoreline. I wish to get away to Tamaraw Beach Resort soon!

Related Post:

AMCI Anniversary Weekend

I booked a room for six on the night of Maundy Thursday. I said that we would be checking in at 12 noon on Black Saturday.

CSI Warehouse Club Alaminos

We rented a van from Alaminos town to take us to Bolinao. We passed by CSI Warehouse Club Alaminos to buy canned food, chips and drinks. Then at a flea market in Brgy. Balingasay get some food to cook.

flea market at Brgy. Balingasay

We got to Bing’s Beach Resort (which is actually the last resort in the stretch, together with Hans-Min Beach Garden) at around 11 am and my contact person informed me that there were still guests in the room that I booked and they would leave after eating lunch, and we could get the room after they clean it.

bing's beach resort

main building

We did not want to waste time so we hired a tricycle to take us to other resorts so we could canvass for more rooms. Unfortunately, Bing’s Beach Resort had the best deal compared to Hans-Min and Dutch Beach Resort.

The room was not yet ready when we came back so we started cooking our food. The staff at the resort were nice enough to lend us one of their grills at the back kitchen, and let us stayed in the air-con function room in the reception hall. They let us keep our food in their ref too, wash our food in their sink and gave us glasses with ice on the house.

function room

relyenong bangus!

sauce for the grilled stuffed milkfish

We passed the time cooking, eating, playing PSP and cards. So much time wasted. And when we finally got our room at 3PM, yeah, we waited that long, the staff still made me wait when I asked for an extra mattress. Generally, they were nice and apologetic, but they still need to learn more about client servicing. Especially that most guests on peak seasons, like this lent, were from Manila, and went there to enjoy the beach. And waiting wasted us precious time and left us with only two to three hours of sun in the beach.

Here is the room that we rented for Php 2000 and P100 for an extra mattress:

Kubo unit 6

Kubo unit 8

dining area outside the room

The water in the bathroom is definitely stronger than the water in Lucap Point.

clean w/ strong water

Bing’s Beach Resort has units on both sides of the road. What we got was not on the side of the beach. Here are some photos of the units that are on the beach front:

bungalows in front of the beach (shot from the road)

bungalow-type units

This is in the middle of everything. I don’t know if it’s an elevated cottage, or just a view deck.

elevated cottage

Bing’s Beach Resort
09282477501
09212807142
Look for Grace

Related Posts:

Hundred Islands, Alaminos Pangasinan

There should not be anything stopping us from going to different islands of our country. The Philippines is really beautiful, so go on, explore. And enjoy the promo fares that airline companies are offering.

Now that Philippine Airlines’ Seat-All-You-Can Promo is back, with flights to major destinations, what else are you waiting for? Click on the photo to book a flight!

We went to Pangasinan for The Hundred Islands National Park for the long weekend and our first stop was well, the Last Resort. The Last Resort is in Lucap Point, Alaminos Pangsinan. The resort is just in front of the pier where outrigger boats bound for The Hundred Islands dock.

We got a big closed cottage with an air conditioned room, good for 10 single beds, a spacious room with kitchen lavatory for cooking, two bathrooms (showers of both not working, but faucet water was ok, water’s not too strong) and a long dining table with matching benches on the porch. It’s originally priced at Php 3000 for 10 beds. But we got it for Php 2500 since we were only six.

our bed room

REALLY big kitchen

dining outside

room number 7 - good for 10

The Last Resort do not sell food so we ate brunch at the Maxine by the Sea Lodge & Restaurant which is just in front of it, right beside the wharf.

Lodging at The Last Resort is generaly comfortable since visitors need not share a bed, and a big space for cooking is advisable for families. Market is in town, 10-15 minutes by tricycle. Tricycle from the town (where Alaminos-bound buses from Manila arrive) to Lucap Point is P100.  Manila to Alaminos is P350 via Victory Liner. First trip from Cubao is 430 AM.