Binibining Gala: 2017

Thursday, July 20, 2017

2D/1N DIY Itinerary Cagbalete Island, Mauban Quezon

If you want to have a quick getaway and looking for a place to chill away from the city, have a great scenic view, take a dip, enjoy a dose of vitamin sea, and is very affordable (you can get here at less than 1500 Php in your pocket)... then Cagbalete Island is so perfect for you.

We've been here twice, first is 2015, we have experienced the not-so-crowded Cagbalete then, very serene and very relaxing. I am not sure if it was not widely known that time or we just went there during October (almost rainy season but we had the sunny sun with us that time! lucky!). Second time was in 2016, went team building here during summer, quite crowded but the beauty of the sea, sand, and everything in between were still there.

Experience the beauty of endless sand ripples and sand bars that you may see during low tide (mostly in the morning). High tide is in the afternoon that will make it tempting to swim in the clear waters of this island (personally, I can compare it to how clear the water it is in Boracay).

This island is not your typical island that will give you night life and food feast. This one is kind of laid back .

ITINERARY

Day 1

4:00 AM ETD JAC Liner Cubao to Mauban Quezon
9:00 AM ETA to Mauban Quezon Terminal
10:00 AM ETD Mauban Port to Cagbalete Island via Passenger Boat
11:00 AM ETA at Cagbalete Island
11:15 AM ETA To Villa Noe Resort (walk from Cagbalete port to the resort)
12:00 PM Free time to chill, relax, and enjoy the beach until dawn

Day 2

12:00 PM ETD Cagbalete port to Mauban port via Passenger Boat
1:00 PM ETD Mauban port to Lucena Van Terminal via tricycle
1:10 PM ETA to Lucena Van Terminal to Lucena Grand Terminal
2:30 PM ETD Lucena Grand Terminal to Cubao via bus
7:00 PM ETA Cubao

Tips and Expenses :

- The Jac Liner Bus bound to Mauban has only two trips in a day, one is 4AM (and it leaves the terminal as soon as their bus is full, best to book in advance!) and one is 11 AM. Cubao to Mauban fare is ranging from 270Php to 290 Php.

- If you missed the schedule of the bus directly to Mauban, you can take a bus bound to Lucena instead for 218Php one way. You will be alighted at Lucena Grand Terminal where you can ride an ordinary mini bus to Mauban (I forgot how much is the fare for the bus, it will take you 45 mins to and hour). Alternatively, if you're after comfortable ride, from Lucena Grand Terminal, you can ride a tricycle to bring you to SM Lucena (5 mins away at 10Php each person) and there are FX's bound to Mauban there (from 80 to 100 Php each person I guess)

- In Mauban Port, if you were after saving up money, you should try having the passenger boat from Mauban port to Cagbalete for just 50Php, its just that it has only two schedule of departure, one is 10AM and another is 4pm from Mauban Port. Another alternative if you missed the schedule of passenger boat is to hire a private boat, rent price starts at 2000 Php depending on how many you are in a group.

- Both of my trips here we chose to stay at Villa Noe (09292176971/09052054348), because of 3 reasons, 1.) Cheap accomodation 2.) Cozy-iest resort by far 3.) Cheap, delicious food package (4 Meals for 1000 Php). They do not have airconditioned rooms but who cares anyway, you can only enjoy the electricity during evening as the island still having electricity from generator.

- You can also bring your own tent and pay the resort 200 Php for staying overnight or even your own food to cook to save on packaged meals.

- Don't forget your mosquito repellent when going here, there are nights that mosquitoes are very annoying here.

- Other resorts to choose from are Pansacola Resort, Villa Cleofas, Dona Choleng (they have airconditioned rooms and recommended for big groups), Joven's Resort, or MVT Sto Nino (this resort however is the farthers among all)

- This island is best for chilling, soul searching, and enjoying the simple life in the province so make the best out of it! You'll never regret it.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Foodtrip: Biggs Diner and DJC Halo Halo

We still got our free time from 1pm to 6pm (scheduled bus trip to Manila) so we decided to have our lunch at Bigg's Diner in Ayala Malls Legazpi. It is more likely a fastfood chain that offers Western meals like burgers, fries, chicken, steak, desserts, and meals with a taste of Bicol (like the one I had, which is Beef Salpicao, it has red hot chili pepper on it!). Meal price range from180 Php - up. Brief history of Bigg's Diner that it was founded by three women entrepreneur, namely Nena Bichara, Nienie Buenaflor, and Maricar Manjon, who have passion in food business in 1983 as "Mang Donald's". But later had a problem with similarity of name with the famous Mcdonalds that they need to close down then reopened with its new name "Bigg's Diner in Old Albay". Originated in Bicol, Bigg's Diner now have 9 company owned store and 7 franchised stores located in all over Bicol Region as well as Batangas and Lipa. (Source: Bigg's Diner Official Website)

Beef Salpicao with A Twist

We still have time for some merienda and we are really saving it for DJC Halo Halo as I have read a lot of good reviews and recommendations for this establishment. It is located at Landco Business Park and across Metro Gaisano Mall (From Ayala Malls Legazpi, you can take a tricycle for 25 Php, but if you have more time, you can walk for about 10 minutes to get to Landco Business Park). I don't know if I had set my expectations very high but I didn't find the halo halo here very special. It taste more like Mais Con Hielo than a Halo-Halo though. I don't know if its just us, or was it just a volume of people were there at the same time, that is why the quality of the product is not exemplary. But nevertheless, it is a must go place still to ease the heat of the Philippine summer. It was at 34c at the time we were there!

DJC Halo Halo

Bicol Adventure Links:

Day 2:
Where to Stay in Bicol : Mayon Lodging House
Lignon Hill
Foodtrip: 1st Colonial Grill
Embarcadero de Legazpi

Day 3:
Cagsawa Ruins
Cagsawa ATV Adventure
Sumlang Lake
Hoyop Hoyopan Cave
Daraga Church
Albay Pili Nut Candy
Foodtrip : Bigg's Diner and DJC Halo Halo

Albay Pili Nut Candy

Store Front along Rizal Ave

After checking out to our hostel, before having our lunch to Ayala Malls Legazpi, we opt to check out Albay Pili Nut Candy. I know there were a lot of souvenirs and pasalubong shops around but I just wanna check out this store as this store is as old as my dad and mom (1930's babies).

Inside, was a bit dark and as usual, expected that the store is a bit old but I believe the age of this store have witnessed a lot of happy tourist coming along and buying pasalubong. They offer a variety of Bicol's best treats which is Pili Nut. You can choose from the Roasted Pili, Pili Tart, Marzipan de Pili, Pili with Toffee, Pili Butternut, and a lot more. Expect that the price here is quite pricey compare to other shops, but it's alright because you're paying for the quality authentic taste anyway, right?

Around the shop are different pictures with the most famous people, may be a politician or a celebrity, who visited Albay Pili Nut Candy. In getting here, if you are from Cagsawa, take a Jeepney bound to Oas and asked the driver to drop you off at Albay Pili Nut Candy store, fare is 7 Php.

Bicol Adventure Links:

Day 2:
Where to Stay in Bicol : Mayon Lodging House
Lignon Hill
Foodtrip: 1st Colonial Grill
Embarcadero de Legazpi

Day 3:
Cagsawa Ruins
Cagsawa ATV Adventure
Sumlang Lake
Hoyop Hoyopan Cave
Daraga Church
Albay Pili Nut Candy
Foodtrip : Bigg's Diner and DJC Halo Halo

Daraga Church

About 20 minutes tricycle ride from Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave, we have reach the last leg of our tour from our Kuya driver, Daraga Church (Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church).

"The church was built by the Franciscans in 1772 under the patronage of the Our Lady of the Gate. Certain church sections were declared as a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2007. Daraga was established as a settlement by people relocating from Cagsawa, who feared another eruption of the Mayon Volcano in that region. They requested permission from the Spanish government to establish a new community and church south of Cagsawa.[1] Their request was granted by Governor-General Simon de Salazar through a communication to the Alcade-mayor of the province of Camarines, dated June 12, 1772" (Source: Wikipedia)

You can tell by looking at its design that this church was built ages ago, during the times when Spanish was still introducing Christianity to our ancestors. I can compare it to Paoay Church in Ilocos (the design at the side of the church is similar). I have also read that the church was built with volcanic rock, maybe that's why it survived decades of storms and heat of summer.

Since the church is located up the hill it is quite windy in Daraga church grounds. Like any other spots here in Albay, you can also have a great view of Mayon Volcano plus you can capture it with the statue of a woman carrying a siling labuyo (red hot chili pepper, Bicolanos are known for their love of spicy food). The statue belongs to a restaurant at the side of Daraga Church called "Red Labuyo Restaurant". We never had a chance to dine here due to lack of time, we need to check out from Mayon Lodging House at 12 noon.

The Altar

Statue of a woman carrying Sili (Red hot chili pepper)

Inside the church, you can see tourist, some are devotees, praying and roaming around. At the leftmost side of the church you can take a view and say a little prayer for your own patron saint. I observed that there were a lot of people sitting, I am just not sure if a mass has just ended or a mass will begin any time from then because it is a Sunday.

Patron Saints

Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave

Hoyop-hoyopan Cave

From the series of must-go scenic spots in Bicol, Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave is (as for me) the farthest. From Sumlang Lake we went straight to Hoyop-Hoyopan cave. Our tricycle driver/guide told us that we were passing through a shortcut because passing through the normal route will take us 45 minutes in getting there. We got there 15 minutes early than the normal route! Good job Kuya!

From the word "Hoyop" which means "to blow", this cave was called as such because you can literally feel the breeze of wind blowing to your skin in every entrance of the cave. Located in Cotmon, Albay, Hoyop-Hoyopan cave was now privately owned by 3 families, Nuylan, Guerrero, and Nieva families. Our tour guide told us that each opening (there are 3 openings) was owned by each of the family.

Entrance to the cave

The Entrance here is 300 Php for the first 6 person. Best to go here in groups to save money, we are just a couple so we have to share 150 Php each for the whole tour. It will take you around maximum of 30 minutes going around and appreciating the stalactites/stalagmites and the different rock formation that when you use your wild imagination you can compare its structure to an actual thing like angel's wings, a head of a dinosaur, a dementor from Harry potter, and a fried chicken leg.

A giant hole above!

The Hand

Dementors

Hoyop-Hoyopan cave, according to our guide is a place where the guerilla hides during the war. It was easy to roam around even for the elderly as the cave have staircase and mostly flat grounds. There is just one challenge going to the third opening. We need to pass through a very narrow path and our guide jokingly said that this area is called the "paseksihan challenge" (challenge for being sexy) for the tourist. Well, luckily I fit in and able to pass through with my current physique (but its not easy!), our guide told me to go back so that he can take a picture of me while passing through and I said no, LOL! He just recalled a story of Jessica Soho (a female broadcast journalist in the Philippines) upon promoting the cave, was not able to fit in there and need to go back around so that she can explore the third opening.

after surviving paseksihan challenge!

Easy to go aroung there are stairs along the way

The third opening is interesting, this used to be the burial grounds of our ancestors, the early inhabitants of the cave. It was said that the area was dug a long time ago so that they can study the bones that was buried there. After the burial grounds, you can see a circular area that used to be a dance floor.

The Burial Grounds

The Dance Floor

Sumlang Lake

One of the newest must-visit attraction in Albay, Sumlang Lake, offers tourist a different view of Mayon Volcano with laid back and more relax water activities. We rented a tricycle (for 700 Php) to bring us here, in Hoyop Hoyopan Cave, and Daraga Church. But just in case you want to commute going to Sumlang Lake, if you are from Legazpi, ride a jeep bound to Camalig (15 Php fare) and tell the driver to get you off at Sumlang Lake. Getting off at the main road you should (SHOULD! because for me its a long walk from the main road) ride a tricycle going to the lake proper, I am not just sure how much, but because it is nearer I think its about 10 Php per person or 30 Php for special ride.

Signage at the front

Tourist and guides preparing for bamboo raft ride

With just 20 Php as entrance fee per adult, you can enjoy this hidden gem of Camalig, Albay. Upon entering the place, you can feel the vibe of the place where you can chill and sit for a while. Well-maintained cleanliness and cozy and "instagrammable" benches, swings, and chairs made of local materials can be seen around the area.

Stylish Sofa

Cozy place to Chill

The lake proper offers you water activities like chilling for a while in riding a bamboo raft for 25 Php each person and with a guide that will get you around the lake (you can also try kayak or pedal boat at different rate). The guide will also be a good help in capturing the best shot around Sumlang Lake, you can take pictures with Mayon Volcano as your background, or the blooming water lilies on the side, the Sumlang Lake signage, or capturing everything because every angle you look here gives you an amazing view of nature!

Water Lily in Sumlang Lake

Stylish Bench good for picture ❤

Monday, May 15, 2017

Cagsawa ATV Adventure

There were a lot of groups in Legazpi (Lignon Hill) and Daraga (Cagsawa Ruins and Sumlang Lake) that offers an ATV adventure that you should try in visiting Albay. I recommend doing this activity early in the morning so that you should have a good view of the Mayon Volcano and you don't have to suffer the heat of the scorching sun. Few years back, the famous Zac Efron made a visit to Albay and tried driving ATV here :)

At first I was hesitant to do this because one, I don't have any driving experience, and two, I am with Cris (the first time I tried ATV was way back 2013 in Boracay and I cannot drive well enough because Cris always shouts "tumabi ka" (go at the side), "malalaglag ka" (you'll fall), and lot of discouraging words enough to make me scared of what I am doing lol. I know he's just concerned but that left me a feeling of trauma ever since. This time in Cagsawa, Cris was the one pursuing me to do the activity, and so it goes.

We opt to have this activity in Cagsawa Ruins because this is the place we can hangout as early as 6am. There are 3 kinds of trail that you can avail for the ATV adventure. You can have the longest trail, the Black Lava trail, for 1500 Php and it will last 3.5 hours back and forth. The Green Lava trail can last up to 2.5 hours and will cost you 1000 Php. The shortest one, which is the Cagsawa Short Trail can last up to 30 to 45 minutes back and forth and will cost you 700 Php.

Of course we purchased the shortest trail because I am a bit scared and unsure if I can do it. After having our payment, our tour guide instructed us to operate the ATV and gave us few minutes to practice.

At first I asked the guide, "Kuya, masyado bang mabato?" (Kuya, is the trail very rocky?) and he responded, "No ma'am, it's mostly flat road". Then I asked, "Will my feet get wet along the way?" (because I've seen photos of watery path online). He responded, "No ma'am we won't be passing through the water". And then look at the below pic:

Our tour guide's lying with me all along! But nevertheless even though he did it on purpose, I should thank him because I had fun, extreme fun. You know the feeling of adrenaline rush?? Most of the trail is rocky, I have to control my grip on the ATV. My favorite part is when we crossed a through a small swamp, it felt like I am a pro! hahaha. And Cris wasn't that scared of me falling over anymore so he did not shout along the trail. I think I improved a lot? Idk! I would recommend trying this for anyone who wanna visit Albay, it's fun!

Bicol Adventure Links:

Day 2:
Where to Stay in Bicol : Mayon Lodging House
Lignon Hill
Foodtrip: 1st Colonial Grill
Embarcadero de Legazpi

Day 3:
Cagsawa Ruins
Cagsawa ATV Adventure
Sumlang Lake
Hoyop Hoyopan Cave
Daraga Church
Albay Pili Nut Candy
Foodtrip : Bigg's Diner and DJC Halo Halo

Friday, May 12, 2017

Cagsawa Ruins

From the lodging house that we are renting (Mayon Lodging House) Cagsawa ruins is just a 10 to 15 minutes walk, or you can ride a tricycle for 10 Php each person.

As a brief background..

"The Cagsawa Ruins (also spelled as Kagsawa or Cagsaua) are the remnants of a 16th-century Franciscan church, the Cagsawa church. It was built in 1587 but was burned down by the marauding Dutch in 1636. However, it was reconstructed again in 1724 by Fr. Francisco Blanco. In February 1, 1814, Mayon Volcano caused its most violent and deadly eruption that engulfed the surrounding houses and killed nearly 2,000 people who took refuge inside the church. Only the belfry of the Cagsawa church remains as a grim and silent testimony of that fateful day. For almost two hundred years, it has withstood the test of time and the elements to become one of the most recognizable landmarks of Albay Province. The ruins are located in Barangay Busay, Cagsawa, in the municipality of Daraga, Albay, Philippines.

The ruins, currently became a park, known as the "Cagsawa Park," protected and maintained by the municipal government of Daraga and the National Museum of the Philippines, are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area.The International Tourism Bourse, one of the world’s top travel trade shows based in Berlin, has even recognized the site as one of the places to visit in Asia." [Source: Wikipedia]"

Cagsawa Ruins

Perfect capture of Mayon Volacano at Cagsawa Ruins

Must-do picture effect with 100 Philippine Peso Bill

I highly recommend going here at early in the morning if you want to capture a good image of the Cagsawa Ruins together with the Mayon Volcano. It is also traditional to have an artistic pose beside Cagsawa (though we miss doing a lot of crazy poses because there were a lot of people roaming around already). We just had fun watching people doing it though, sometimes they wanna capture it like as if they are lifting it or crushing it, and etc. :)

Around the area are a lot of souvenir shops and carenderia (food stalls) perfect for hungry tummy if you haven't had your breakfast yet. But then, eating here is quite pricey compared to a normal carenderia along Daraga or Legazpi so I recommend having your breakfast first before heading here.

Roaming around we've also found "Patio de Cagsawa", it has a mini bar at the corner and a centralized terrace surrounded by a swamp full of koi's. Seeing this I think that this place is being rented for special occasions such as wedding or debut for the locals. It is also perfect to have instagram-worthy pictures, haha!

Embarcadero de Legazpi

I went here alone and explore the commuting adventure in solo from Daraga to Legazpi. I chose the harder route (which is 3 jeep ride that I won't suggest anymore) but if you ride a Jeep from Daraga with "Oas" as a signboard it will alight you on the street beside Ayala Mall Legazpi and from there you can ride a tricycle for 25 Php going to Embaracadero de Legazpi.

I haven't read much of what Embarcadero de Legazpi is but few of the things I've research was there were a lot of food stalls here where you can chill and wait for the sunset, as the view of Mayon Volcano is more beautiful at this side of Legazpi. But all those little expectation somehow disappoint me. When I got there I thought it was an abandoned building and people just chose to sit and relax here because it's beside the sea and you can feel a cool breeze of wind pass you. Going inside, I saw closed stalls, abandoned zipline at the top, a chapel, and a few open stalls like furniture shop and souvenir shop.

Abandoned zipline

There is a chapel inside Embarcadero de Legazpi. I must say that this part of the establishment was well maintained. You can see St. Jude Thaddeus at the side holding a number of rosaries. There is a note there saying that "don't get the rosaries, these are donated by the people who have already granted their wish and wanted to thank St. Jude". I donated one of my rosary too, though i'm still working on my wishes to come true, I donated mine as a thank you for appreciating every blessing that I am receiving.

Chapel inside Embarcadero De Legazpi

As I have decided to sit for a while and wait for the sunset and hope the clouds would clear the top of Mayon Volcano, I got some time to research some information of what was Embarcadero de Legazpi before. I have read that during Spanish Era, Embarcadero de Legazpi is a port where livelihood goods were brought. It was planned to relieve its beauty and attract tourist by offering a variety of food stalls, different exciting activities such as zipline and helicopter ride near Mayon Volcano. But as of date, (May 2017) I believe this place lost a big part of its beauty and I miss seeing the lively Embarcadero de Legazpi. I hope someday there will be enough budget to maintain a great place like this.

Bicol Adventure Links:

Day 2:
Where to Stay in Bicol : Mayon Lodging House
Lignon Hill
Foodtrip: 1st Colonial Grill
Embarcadero de Legazpi

Day 3:
Cagsawa Ruins
Cagsawa ATV Adventure
Sumlang Lake
Hoyop Hoyopan Cave
Daraga Church
Albay Pili Nut Candy
Foodtrip : Bigg's Diner and DJC Halo Halo

Lignon Hill

After almost 14-hour bus travel, our first destination is Lignon Hill, which is a very wrong decision. We are tired, and 10:00 in the morning's temperature rises at 31°c, plus you have to hike a very steep hill like Lignon Hill.. a big no-no.

Lignon Hill

Upon entering, you have to pay 25 Php per adult as entrance fee, they offered us a package worth 1500Php with ATV adventure plus we don't need to hike the hill. But as we are on a budget we opt to give in to their offer (and we also prefer to have the ATV adventure at Cagsawa Ruins because it is much cheaper there). I have read online that if you think you cannot trek up to the top you can rent a motorcycle to bring you at the top of the hill with just 20Php (it is really tiring especially with the time we went there and I am sweating as hell haha) and I ask the staff about it but they told there were no such motorcycle which will bring tourist up the hill.

We started the trek though, 1st stop is the Japanese Tunnel. Constructed by the Japanese during the war, this tunnel is an advantage of the Japanese because of its height and you can overlook if there will be an upcoming aerial or naval assault coming. You will be cost 10 Php entering the tunnel with a guide, but the guide wasn't there at the time we went up there so we just decided to take a picture of it.

Japanese Tunnel

Continuing the trek, we have seen a view of the airport runway of Legazpi and their so-called sleeping lion (the hill that looks like a sleeping lion).

Sleeping Lion

Legazpi Airport Runway

After about some walk-rest-walk-rest for 15 minutes away from the tunnel, we saw a lady sweeper along (saw us tired and sweaty) and asked us why we didn't try to rent a motorcycle to bring us up the hill. We told them the staff we asked told us that there were no such motorcycle to be rented. So what she did she made a call to a colleague if there will be available motorcycle to pick us up and we will just be waiting there. I don't know if they are operating legally but then we gave in to her offer for 40 Php each person because we are dead tired and sweating due to the heat of the scorching sun and its almost noon haha.

At the top of the hill there is a small establishment where you can buy some refreshment and some souvenirs. You can also have a 360-degree view of Legazpi, too bad that Mayon Volcano was covered with clouds that time. You can also have other activities here such as crossing the hanging bridge and zipline which we didn't try because we are already not in the mood and its really hot because its almost noon, and also, I believe they have paintball activity that millenials could enjoy.

Bicol Adventure Links:

Day 2:
Where to Stay in Bicol : Mayon Lodging House
Lignon Hill
Foodtrip: 1st Colonial Grill
Embarcadero de Legazpi

Day 3:
Cagsawa Ruins
Cagsawa ATV Adventure
Sumlang Lake
Hoyop Hoyopan Cave
Daraga Church
Albay Pili Nut Candy
Foodtrip : Bigg's Diner and DJC Halo Halo

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Thursday, July 20, 2017

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Monday, May 15, 2017

Friday, May 12, 2017