Cagbalete Island, Mauban, Quezon

After the Nagcarlan trip, the elders requested for another trip and I had suggested island hopping in Quezon. Then I realized Mama and Rina's parents are not exactly young anymore. So I suggested visiting the white sand beach of Cagbalete Island. I had heard it was fairly easy to get there and didn't cost an arm and a leg. So after weeks of research and planning, we spent last weekend there.

We were too small a group to make the van cheap enough, so we invited joiners. The van was more for comfort of the elders (and one who has been traumatized by public buses). All in all, we were 17pax, awake at the wee hours of the morning, and ready to hit the road. As usual, I was the last one ready to leave (I really gotta change that).

Again, I will break it down in sections for those who are just after the information and not the story. No problems, go ahead and skip. I know how frustrating it can be to read through a blog only to find that you are left with more questions than answers. But if you decide to read through all, thank you very much for your time. :) <3

PLANNING

This is the first time that I was the main organizer for an overnight trip to a beach, so I was feeling unsure of how I was doing it. If there was something missing in what I did, it was extra activities or a program more or less for the joiners to enjoy (my bad guys soweeee *poor puppy look*). I had the mindset of how with family it's a let's-see-when-we-get-there-let's-just-get-there situation. Next time around, I'll do better. ;)

Itinerary. It was just a rough estimate based on travel time and no strict time for anything really, but here is it: 

Day 1: Saturday

0400 Leave Las Pinas for Mauban Quezon - breakfast in van

0800 ETA Mauban Town Proper - market for seafood, buy water and ice

1000 ETD Cagbalete Island via Passenger Ferry

1100 ETA Pansacola Beach Resort

1130 Lunch

1300 Free time

1800 Prep for dinner

1900 Dinner

Day 2: Sunday

0500 Sunrise photo-ops

0800 Breakfast

1000 Pack up

1100 Check out

1300 ETD Mauban Tourist Port via Passenger Ferry

1400 ETD Manila

1900 ETA Las Pinas

As expected, changes were made along the way. This is what happened:

Day 1: Saturday

0430 Leave Las Pinas for Mauban Quezon - breakfast in van

0930 Arrived Mauban Town Proper - market for seafood, buy water and ice

1330 Board Passenger Ferry (Yeah grabe noh? Tell you about it later)

1430 Arrival at Cagbalete Island

1450 Arrival at Pansacola Beach Resort

1500 Lunch

1600 Free time

1800 Prep for dinner

2000 Fireworks and fire dance by Pansacola Beach Resort

2015 Dinner

Day 2: Sunday

0500 Sunrise photo-ops

0800 Breakfast (For those looking at just the itinerary, resort schedule for Island Hopping is 9AM)

1030 Pack up

1130 Check out (they're not very strict, unless it's booked after you)

0100 Board Passenger Ferry

0230 Lunch at Parking Area

0300 Head back to Manila

0830 Arrival at Las Pinas

Food. We brought food that was pre-cooked and stuff that could easily be cooked later. We had Pork Adobo, Laing, Ensaladang Mangga at Itlog na Maalat, Kuwalo, Inihaw na Pusit at Isda, Inihaw na Liempo, Pakbet, Rina's Tufo, and others. Pansacola Beach Resort allows cooking, but it is all with use of coal only. Bring your own mesh kits because use of disposable plates, cups, and utensils are strictly prohibited to minimize trash on the island. If you need dinnerware, kitchenware, or griller, it is available for rent on the resort. They have ice and drinking water on the island that you can buy as well. It is suggested to buy water for cooking needs because the water in the faucets are not potable. Oh and do not bring electrical appliances like rice cookers, electric griller or electric water heaters/pots. The whole island is running on generators and use of the electrical appliances might cause problems for the generators. Camping style cooking is good and old school, provincial, de-uling cooking is the way to go on this island. No bonfire food like s'mores or roasted marshmallows because bonfires are not allowed as it ruins the white sand.

Transportation. Commute I know of is coming from Alabang. Take a bus at Alabang to Lucena, then a mini-bus from Lucena Grand Terminal to Mauban. Once in Mauban, tricycles are everywhere for P10 per head per destination. We opted to go for the van though. Once in Mauban, there are many parking areas where you can leave your cars for the night. Then it's a boat ride to Cagbalete Island from Mauban's Tourist Port. There are private boats at P5,000 round trip or P2,500 one way, and there are 3 passenger ferries at P50-P100 per head per way. The private boats can take you directly to the beach resort you booked at.

Accommodation. There are many resorts in Cagbalete Island. Some have amenities that others don't have like horse back riding or banana boating. Others also do not have sunset and/or sunrise views. So go through the many Facebook pages and blogs to pick your resort. We went for Pansacola Beach Resort. We basically wanted to beach bum, enjoy the view, island hopping (next time I will do this since we didn't get a chance to do then), and take pictures. Ms. Ice of Pansacola Beach Resort was very nice and patient enough to answer all our questions. If you have tons of questions though like I did, make a call. It's faster that way. Check out their Facebook page.

Budget. Short answer is P1,200 per head. We were supposed to be 18 heads, but one backed out last minute, so we technically over spent. Here are expenses to consider:
Budget for food for all 18 = P4000
Resort hut good for 20pax (best deal not involving camping) =P5,000
Van = P7,000 + Toll
Ferry = P100 per head for Jamelle per way
Tricycle ride = P10 per head, per destination
Mini-boat = P10 per head (although I don't remember paying for this..)
Parking = P200 per night (I heard there are those that charge only P50, but I didn't see any)
Environmental fee = P50 per head
Ice, water, coal and other minor items, we had set aside a budget of P1,000 to be sure.

THE JOURNEY

Going to Cagbalete Island
We left in the wee hours and headed to Mauban, Quezon. Amazing when we're with Papa J (my stepdad) and apparently Tito Rod (Rina's Tatay) on a road trip! It's like riding with a walking and talking Waze. They knew every turn, every corner and side streets! Sometimes I wonder where haven't they been to! That being said, we did not get lost. There was one wrong turn, but that was because I didn't understand the instruction. I thought I heard "turn into the direction if Lucban", but he meant do not turn into that direction. LOL. Other than that, we were good. Locating the Mauban Tourist Port though was the challenge if using your own vehicle. All the streets are one-way and the only way to get to the port office is by walking. So we went ahead to look for the office, pay for the environmental fee of P50 per head, and went back for the rest of the group waiting in the van. After dropping them off at the port office, Rino and I went back to Kuya Jun to park the van and drop him off at the port office, There are so many parking areas to choose from, signs are everywhere. I had asked if there was a parking area near the pantalan, or pier, and the tricycle driver had said there was none. Actually, I saw that there were, but it was full and tiny, and looked unsafe. The one we parked at was an apartment style house with a big garage that could fit about 16-14 cars. The fee there was P200 for a van. After dropping Kuya Jun off, Rino and I proceeded to the market. We bought fresh (cheap!) seafood and headed back to the port office.

It was the wait for the ferry that was frustrating. As per Google, the time for the boat is at 10AM and 3PM from Mauban. Apparently on weekends, that schedule is not followed. It is a system of load till full, unload on the other side, load again from there and travel back. Non-stop loading and unloading, starting at earlier than 10. By the time we got there, the 10AM ferry was full and the line was long. Each group is given a number for the ferry ride and you will have to wait to be called before you can go to the pier. The boat we would most likely ride on was the Jamelle, the bigger one of 3 Ferry boats and most expensive at P100 per head one way. Although we could opt out and wait for the cheaper one, it would mean a longer wait time. We waited 4 hours before our ferry came. Four. Hours. When we finally boarded, we couldn't leave right away. The listing of names on the manifest did not tally with the head count. And it took them forever to decide what to do. Finally, they decided to have us rewrite on the manifest one by one.

When you reach Cagbalete Island, and it's low tide, you will have to move to a mini-boat to get to the shore. Yes, your feet will still get wet so I suggest wearing slippers on the way to the island. There are porters and guides that can take you to your resort once there. We walked through the town along the beach to get to Pansacola Beach Resort. You get to see a piece of what living on the beach was like, with trees around your house and a beautiful sea beyond the walls.

The Resort
The entrance to Pansacola Beach Resort is not obvious. You go down what is obviously a cared for pathway and then you'll just slowly notice the bent tree branches like arcs on the pathway and a change in the atmosphere as you enter the resort. I did not notice any signs, maybe I just missed it? But anyway, I liked that feeling of a gradual change from daily life to an escapade. Coming from the sea, I saw later, you would see a more obvious welcome area to the resort but again, no name.

We stayed in a hut good for 20pax, beach fronting and with dining hut separate from the main hut. It was spacious and relaxing. They also had a volleyball net on the beach that could be used.

The Beach
It was low tide by the time we got there and it was a pretty sight! Fine white sand and an exposed sand bar with patterns of the waves greeted us. We were starving, so we unloaded our stuff and set up for lunch. After that it was free time on the beach! The tide came in later in the afternoon but it was still quite shallow even if we were far off away from shore. The water was clear and blueish-green. There are big birds flying over the shore and a lot of beetles, and shelled animals. It was gorgeous! The water was just the right kind of cool and clean with the occasional seaweed. There are spots near the shore that I noticed were a bit deeper than the rest, and some spots that had fish and small patches of rocks. I avoided those areas and stay pretty much where I saw the sand bar during low tide. Word of warning, along the shore shells and broken off corals are washed up forming a strip that is kindda painful to walk across.

Of course we had to take pictures! Especially of the view from the sea facing the island!

 After the afternoon swim, we had to start preparing for the dinner. We were informed by the owners of the resort that there would be a fire dance and fireworks later that night at around 7:30 to 8:00PM. It was a treat! After dinner, I took a walk along the shore, under the star filled sky, surrounded by the quiet and dim lights of the resort. The others had rounds of alcohol and shared stories.

I was planning on waking up early in the morning to catch the sunrise. I woke up too early and when back to bed. When I woke up the sun had shown itself pretty much, so there goes any sunrise shots for me. I shouldn't have gone back to bed.

Last night it was this! Now it's my bed and pillows.. bitin talaga. I will visit you again Cagbalete Island!
Posted by Ang Galang Bata on Sunday, March 13, 2016

At 9AM there was a schedule for Island Hopping, particularly to see the Yang-In and the mangroves, but the elders opted out, and on one else didn't seem to want to go, so I decided not to go anymore.

Took a swim after breaky and I fell in love with the beach, especially on the far end where there were no huts and no one else. I had to go back to the hut, pick up Ma and Papa J to take show them and take pictures. I got that feeling again where it's like you are one with the place, at peace and just a tiny part of everything around you.

Forgive the cracked phone camera.. #beachtime #summerlovin
Posted by Ang Galang Bata on Sunday, March 13, 2016

Forgive the cracked phone camera..

For more pictures, check out my Facebook page.

Saying Goodbye
When we got back to the hut, it was time to pack up and hit the road. We were told that the ferry leaves at 1PM. Not wanting to miss that, we left at what we thought was a good early time. Again it was the wait for the ferry that was frustrating. This time there was no numbering. It was based on the color of your tickets. They would call out the ticket color once the ferry arrived. Again, there was no schedule. It was the same non-stop load and unload. And they had started earlier than we were told. By the time we got there, the ferry had just left and there was a long line. This time though the wait wasn't too long and we still got to leave at 1PM. The ferry we were assigned to was, again, Jamelle we were on. From the pier we went straight to the parking area and grabbed a quick lunch before the long ride back to Las Pinas.

It was all-in-all a good, relaxing weekend. A little too short a stay for my taste. The beauty of Cagbalete Island makes me want to go back, also because I want to see Yang-In and Bonsai Island. Yes, I shall come back.

Next up, Jomalig Island! :) Until then, sleep well, dream big!

Much love.

Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon

I had shared this trip to Kamay ni Hesus before in My Bedtime Stories way back May 2012. With holy week drawing near, my Mom has been talking about paying the place a visit. Thought I would share this again here for those who are planning to take the same trip. Keep in mind though that prices may have already changed.

Kamay ni Hesus | Lucban, Quezon
I had a choice of either an underdeveloped resort in an island in Zambales, or a pilgrimage to Kamay ni Hesus (Hands of Jesus), a shrine in Lucban, Quezon province, at the slopes of Mt. Banahaw. Zambales was tempting, but I was inclined to go to Kamay ni Hesus instead since it was a plan looooong over due. I convinced my cousin to ditch whatever he had planned that day and asked him to come with me. Lucky me he wanted to go there as well. So the plan was set - the shrine on Saturday, then I ride back with him to hang out with family till Sunday in Gumaca, Quezon. I live in Manila, so I had to take a 4 hour trip to the Lucena Grand Terminal in Quezon province, where we were meeting up (bus fare = P185). From there it was a little under an hour to get to the shrine (we were on a motorcycle; gas = P200). At the terminal one can take a jeep or bus to the shrine. It was the height of summer, which probably wasn't the best time to go because of the humidity, but I didn't care. The first thing we saw was the tall statue of Mother Mary (don't know how tall, but definitely can't be missed) facing towards the mountain, back turned to the road. The entrance and exit is surrounded by stalls selling native hats and souvenirs like little rosaries and key chains, native coin purses and what-nots. Upon entering, if you have a vehicle, there is a parking fee of P10 for a motorcycle. I believe it's P20 for a car, not quite sure.

Huts in the Garden of Eden

A gravel path surrounded by trees leads into the parking lot with food and, again, souvenir stalls. I didn't notice the other statues near the entrance until we left but there were other imaged of bible stories at the foot of Mother Mary. What I did notice was a pathway into what was named "Garden of Eden". It was a stone arc with flowering plants, welcoming us away from the heat. Inside are huts and picnic areas under shady trees. We walked on further down the path, towards what apparently was to the side of the whole place, and we found a playground. It looked like a zoo of stone animals. The slide was an elephant and there were giraffes and other animals scattered around. Then there in background was the huge ark, with statues of animals around and on it, situated behind a fish pond. It is the retreat house / accommodation of the place. It looked like a real ark, with a status of Noah up on the balcony. It was, of course, called "Noah's Ark". Silence is observed within that area and we were not allowed in to see the view from the top. Nonetheless, it was cool to see a building intentionally made to look like ark.

Courtesy of the official website

That's my cousin

After we had our fill of the retreat house, we moved on towards the left, facing the side of the mountain. There are statues of bible stories such as Moses holding the 10 commandments, and Abraham with Isaac on a stone altar. They were situated apart from each other, with stairs to get between each. We realized later though that the stairs ended there with no other way but down. So, back down, up front, we went on more stairs and we ended up in the center of the Garden. There was a man-made (but small) waterfall above one of many fish ponds. Adam and Eve statues were all over the place. We moved further on and saw the church standing at the foot of 292 steps leading to the looming 50-foot statue of Jesus, hands raised to the sky, at the top of the mountain. And so the climb begins.

Credits to the official website. I believe this was during
Holy Week which is why it is filled with people. When we were there,
there was hardly anyone visiting.

Mind you, it was the height of summer. We were hitting 36°C more or less during that time. Just imagine what we were getting ourselves into. Off we went anyway, a bottle of buko shake and a towelette in hand.

The way up was not a straight climb (unlike the one in Baguio). There are several stops and turns which we were very grateful for. It was in these turns that we saw the story of Jesus from the last supper, to His suffering via the Station of the Cross, all the way to His tomb. Mid-way the mountain is a statue of Mother Mary, definitely taller than 7 feet. The landscape was well maintained and the statues life-sized, and the main attraction got bigger and bigger as we went higher and higher. When we got to the top, we were so tired! We rested under the trees as we admired how huge His shrine was. And the view! It was worth it. We could see far out, past the town proper of Lucban. It reminded me how "big" He was, nothing compared to the size of His shrine, or anything we can see as "big". We are just specs in this world and He is the bigger picture. I was reminded that we have a lot to be thankful for and we are blessed. That there was more to our lives than our jobs, our petty problems, and the space we roamed in. We said our prayers and thanks, and of course took pictures, then headed down the stairs. This time it was straight down.

The view from the top.

The church was at the bottom of the stairs. There was a scheduled mass at 5PM that afternoon, but we had a long way back to Gumaca and a drive through the zig zag on a motorcycle at night was not a good idea. So we decided to visit the church, say our prayers, then hit the road. The church was simple and a relatively recent build. It is in this church that a well known priest, Fr. Joey Ayala Faller, leads a Healing Mass regularly. For schedules, you may visit the official website of the shrine: http://www.joeyfaller.org. The tiles at the entrance of the church had etchings of thanks and prayers. I believe you can get a tile printed for you at a cost. On the other side of the church was a pathway leading towards the back, lined with images of saints. We didn't have time to see the rest of the place as it was getting late. Maybe next time, we'll get to see more.

That weekend trip was a success. I did something different and forced myself outside my cocoon. We spent, between the 2 of us, more or less P1,000 (including food - those stairs made us hungry!). Not bad. Not bad at all.