Category Archives: Beach Bumming

Commuting 101: Travel guide to Calaguas Islands

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You’ve seen pictures of its aquamarine waters and your desire to visit this pristine beach might have brought you here. This beach is called Mahabang Buhangin (Long Beach) of Tinaga Island. Tinaga Island is part of the 17 islands and islets that compose the Calaguas Group of Islands in Camarines Norte.

Mahabang Buhangin, which has a 1.2 kilometer shoreline, has become a sweet escape from the busy life in the metro. It has now gained popularity especially among campers.

How to get to Calaguas Islands: 

  • From Manila, ride a bus going to Daet. Bus lines that ply the Manila-Daet route are Superlines and Philtranco. Travel time by bus from Manila to Daet is approximately 8-10 hours. Fare is around Php 600/way.
  • Superlines (Cubao Station) - +63 2 414-3321 / 414-3319
  • Philtranco Bus Schedule (MNL-Daet): 8:00am, 8:00pm, 9:00pm
  • Philtranco Bus Schedule (Daet-Cubao): 7:00 am, 9:00pm / Daet-Pasay: 8:00am
  • Tell the conductor that you’ll be alighting at the Talobatid Junction (Centro). From the Junction, ride a bus going to Paracale. Fare is around Php 20-30.
  • When you’re in Paracale, ride a tricycle to the fish port.
  • Since the Paracale port is a fishing port, you shouldn’t expect much. The boat that you’ll be riding is not a passenger boat but a fishing boat.
  • Travel time from Paracale to Mahabang Buhangin, Tinaga Island is approximately 2 hours
WHAT TO BRING: 
  • Before leaving Paracale, buy all the food and water that you need from the market.
  • Blankets/ Sleeping bag
  • Sunblock /lotion to protect yourself from mosquitoes
  • Shades
  • Camera
  • Dry bag /waterproof bag to keep your gadgets safe
  • Trash Bag (not just for your own trash but also to protect your bags from getting wet)
  • Extra trash bag in case you need to throw up. Don’t feed the fish :)
  • Anti-dizziness tab/ medicines (?)
  • Extra batteries
  • Flashlights
WHAT TO EXPECT:
  • Expect to get wet when going to Calaguas. Waves coming from the Pacific Ocean are huge. Watch how we conquered the waves of Calaguas.
  • Entrance Fees / Environmental fees: Php 100/person.
  • No cellular signal especially for Globe and Sun subscribers. Smart has a low signal though. You need to climb Tinago Hill just to get a signal. So if you want to be disconnected with the world for a day or two, then come to Calaguas.

  • There’s no electricity in the island.
  • There’s no sari-sari store or any establishment.
  • You may choose to sleep under the stars, under the tree by putting up a hammock, or you can rent a tent or stay inside a native hut.

  • Native Hut Rental is Php 200/night.

  • There are make-shift comfort rooms.
  • Water is scarce in the island. The locals whom I met (Ate Jennifer and his husband, Kuya Danilo) can fetch water for you. One pail of water costs Php 10.00 each. It’s one of their sources of income so support them and give generously.

BOAT RENTALS to Calaguas

  • Boy Quiajano- +63 917 449 2445
  • Rogelio Austria “Kuya Putoy” – +63 909 301 5417
  • Smaller boats can be cheaper but bear in mind that the waves are wild. Make sure that your rented boat has life vests.

PASSENGER BOAT to Brgy. Mangcawayan

  • If you’re really on a tight budget, you may opt to ride the passenger boat to Brgy. Mangcawayan. However, this passenger boat doesn’t have a definite schedule. According to Kuya Danilo, the passenger boat leaves Paracale at around 1:00pm to 2:00pm. The boat can carry six passengers. The locals call it Straton. Fare is Php 100/person.

  • From Brgy. Mangcawayan, you have to walk around 20-30 minutes to reach Mahabang Buhangin.

Just a friendly reminder: Don’t leave your trash behind. Pick up the garbage that you may find along the way. Let’s maintain the cleanliness of Mahabang Buhangin. So far, I can say that this is one of the best beaches that the Philippines has. I hope it remains as pristine as it is.

 

Sidetrips:

Essential Contacts:

  • Provincial Tourism of Camarines Norte – cometocamnorte@yahoo.com
  • +63 054 721-3087

Trip@dora Published: How is it to live on an island?

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Curiosity killed the cat but curiosity led me to uncover the stories of two different island dwellers whom I met in Bohol in 2009. 

No man is an island. We heard this cliche hundreds of times. But what if a man and his family live on an island? How do they live?

***

Pandanon Island Bohol

The fast-paced life in the city is good enough reason for most people to escape to a remote island. But not so for someone who has lived all his life in a one-hectare white sand bar situated between crystal clear blue green waters.

Fifty-one year old fisherman Guilly Alonar, who grew up in Pandanon Island, said that life in the city would be much better than on the island.

“Sa siyudad, basta magtiyaga, mas maraming pera dun. Dito sa isla, magtiyaga ka, kakaunti lang ang huli na isda (In the city, as long as you’re hardworking there’s money to earn. Here in the island, even if you work hard, you only catch a few fish,” replied Guilly, who lives in the island village along with some 2,000 residents.

Pandanon Island is one of the nine island villages of the municipality of Getafe in Bohol province.

pandanon island bohol

Guilly told me that the island has no market but has an elementary school and a health center, with one midwife to help pregnant women give labor. Instead of going to another island, they buy food from middlemen.

Guilly is a father of six. He sustains his family by fishing and cleaning the beachfront. From fishing alone, he just earns Php 90 per kilo of fish.

“Kung ako lang, dito na lang din ako sa isla pero may pangarap ako para sa mga anak ko. Gusto ko silang makatapos ng pag-aaral kahit high school lang (If I don’t have a family to feed I can live here but I want my children to finish even high school),” said Guilly, who did not finish his secondary education.

His first-born is currently in first year high school in Cempao Village while his other kids are studying at the Pandanon Elementary School.

Life in the island may seem complicated for Guilly but not for Adi Tañeca who found contentment and peace in Dumog Islet near Bilangbilangan Village in the municipality of Tubigon.

dumog islet bohol

Tañeca, a housewife and mother of three, transferred with her family on the islet upon the village captain’s request. Her husband was assigned to look after the island.

“Sinabi kasi ni kapitan na kelangan daw bantayan itong isla kasi maraming nangunguha ng buhangin (The village captain said the island needs to be guarded because of sand here is being carted away),” said Tañeca adding, “Noon, marami din ang nagpapasabog ng dinamita pero nung nalaman nila na may nakatira na dito sa isla, tumigil na. (Dynamite fishing also used to be rampant but not since there are already inhabitants).”

Tañeca lives with her family in a humble native nipa hut, which is the lone hut on the island. Her husband is given a sack of rice per month in exchange of guarding the island.

“Kung ako tatanungin, gusto ko dito nalang kami. Noon, ‘yung mga anak ko nagkakasakit doon sa nayon, dito hindi. Masaya dito kaysa doon sa Bilangbilangan. Maingay dun, dito tahimik talaga (I prefer living here. My kids don’t get sick as much and it’s much quieter in here),” she said.

kids

****

This story was published on Inquirer.net. Here’s the link to the original story. 

TRAVEL NOTES:

  • How to get to Pandanon Island- One can reach Pandanon Island by boat from Mactan Island, Cebu or by boat from Getafe, Bohol.
  • Pandanon Island has a chapel and a mini-park, which serve as venues for beach weddings. Kayaking is another activity to do in this island.

pandanon island

  • How to get to Dumog Islet- hire a boat from Brgy. Bilangbilangan, Tubigon, Bohol
  • In Dumog Islet, there’s only one hut and a long stretch of white sand bar. 

Batanes Diaries: Speechless with Chamantad

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Dear Batanes, 

You made me speechless. The winds blew the words away as I struggled to stand firm on the ground. I was in awe as my eyes gazed at the rocky hill enclosing the turquoise waters. The Chamantad Viewpoint was a sight to behold. Pristine. 

The waves were not violent. The sea was at peace. I sat down after taking some photographs. The winds continued to give us chills. I closed my eyes and felt the breeze touching my face. Breathe in. Breathe out. Fresh air. Ahhh….this is peace.

Where is Chamantad Cove?

Before going to the town of Chavayan in Sabtang Island, you’ll pass by Chamantad Cove. You wouldn’t miss such a beauty. But you have to climb the slopes to see the cove. 

Until now, the memories were vivid. The photo of Chamantad Cove served as my phone’s wallpaper. I’ll be back Chamantad! I want to go down to the shores, put up a tent, spend the night (but I don’t know if camping is allowed), and see the sunrise. They say that sunrise in Sabtang Island is best seen in Chamantad Cove, which is one of the highest points in the island. That I’ve yet to see.

Till here, 

Trip@dora

***Batanes Diaries are series of posts of my experiences in Batanes. This is my way of encouraging you guys to get to know one of the best places in the Philippines. Special Thanks to South East Asian Airlines for bringing us to Batanes as part of the Batanes Winter Bloggers’ Tour Contest. And for the warm hospitality, my utmost gratitude to Tita Lydia Roberto of Batanes Seaside Lodge & Restaurant and Hiro’s Cafe, and to DOT Region 2 director Bless Diwa for the assistance.

Batanes Diaries: “I never thought I’d do it but I did”

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Photo by Izah Morales

Dear Batanes,

It’s been eight months since you’ve shown me your captivating beauty. I wanted to share stories about your people and your grandeur. But whenever I reminisce and look at the photos, words ran out and I was just left with a blinking cursor on the screen. I guess the wonderful experiences were indescribable. Words weren’t enough to encapsulate everything. 

But right now, I’m typing these words as I felt happy once again when I saw the following photos taken in Morong Beach, Sabtang Island, Batanes.

I never thought I’ll do it. But I did. –Yes, I’m referring to the cartwheel, which I did after we ate a sumptuous lunch prepared by Mang Pinding Elesterio (I’ll write more in a separate post). Instead of swimming in the bone-chilling waters of Morong Beach, I did the cartwheel.

When I was a kid, I did cartwheels whenever I’m happy. I’m not a gymnast but there’s a sense of accomplishment when you can turn your body upside down and bounce back on the ground. Just like in life, we take risks, fall down, bounce back and stand up. 

My favorite quote of Mark Twain simply puts it: 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

And recently, the legend, Steve Jobs, left the world with remarkable and striking words:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

That’s why I live life to its fullest. The memories of you, Batanes, will remain forever. And you always remind me, that, yes, dreams do come true. We just have to believe and do something about it. 

Till here, 

Trip@dora

 

***Batanes Diaries are series of posts of my experiences in Batanes. This is my way of encouraging you guys to get to know one of the best places in the Philippines. Special Thanks to South East Asian Airlines for bringing us to Batanes as part of the Batanes Winter Bloggers’ Tour Contest. And for the warm hospitality, my utmost gratitude to Tita Lydia Roberto of Batanes Seaside Lodge & Restaurant and Hiro’s Cafe, and to DOT Region 2 director Bless Diwa for the assistance. 

The Castaways at Sabitang Laiya

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What would you feel when a foreigner forbids you to enjoy in your own land? 

“We’re not banning you from coming here but please don’t touch the set.”

One of the staff of the popular reality show told us as he saw our boat dock at Sabitang Laiya. Wow! <insert sarcasm>

Yes, we won’t. But are we back in the Spanish period when conquerors grab lands from the locals and just dictate what they want? We want to enjoy the island too.
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