Re-visiting Legazpi, Albay and the Solar Halo at Tabaco Port

A hearing at the province of Catanduanes paved way for me to re-visit Albay province and see again the majestic and beautiful Mayon Volcano. Since there were no available direct flights to Virac, Catanduanes the day before my hearing, my client and I took the morning flight to Legazpi, Albay. From Legazpi, we would be travelling by land for almost an hour to Port of Tabaco, then ride a Ro-Ro vessel bound to Port of San Andres in Catanduanes. Adventure, isn’t it?

And so, the only thing that would take off the anxiety for this air/land/sea adventure would be the chance to take a glimpse again of Mayon Volcano.. I could not get over the beauty and the perfect cone of Mayon Volcano ever since hubby and I went to Legazpi (for the first time) last year. In fact, I posted several blog entries about this, which I called the Albay series. 🙂

View of Mayon Volcano from the plane

It was a perfect day to fly, and as soon as we were about to land in Legazpi Airport, the pilot even announced the perfect weather and the clear skies, and for the passengers to get their cameras ready as they could take good shots of the Mayon Volcano–which was not hidden from the clouds that day. And so again, that feeling that just when I was terribly missing and aching to get a glimpse of Mayon Volcano and then this opportunity to re-visit Legazpi came? Priceless!!

My client and I had brunch at one of the restaurants in the airport compound. One of the things that I miss from Albay province is their version of suman, which they call “Binutong”. It’s like the usual suman, with gata (coconut milk). I was pleasantly surprised when I saw near the counter a pile of binutong; my client ordered for the two of us, as I could not contain my glee when the cashier confirmed that it was indeed binutong. And when I took that first bite? Ahh, delicious!! 🙂

Binutong

Inside the airport compound, there were vans for hire towards different parts of Albay province, or even as far as Sorsogon province. We hired a Toyota Innova van, which would take us to Port of Tabaco in Tabaco, Albay.

On the way to Tabaco, I was able to take several pictures of the Mayon Volcano. I felt insatiable as to its beauty. 🙂

The shot below is one of the closest and most unobstructed view that I could take of the Mayon Volcano, according to the van driver. In fact, he even stopped driving so that I could get out and take a picture.

It was almost an hour of travel time to the Port of Tabaco. There were interesting sights along the way, such as the churches and malls in Tabaco, Albay. Tabaco is like Legazpi, as to urbanization and proximity to transportation channels. While Legazpi has the airport, Tabaco Port is the converging point for passage to Catanduanes and other nearby islands.

While my client was buying our tickets for the Ro-Ro vessel, I stayed inside the van since it’s very hot outside. Suddenly, the driver of the van told me to step outside and take a look at the sun. I was surprised when he told me to do that, but I complied since I saw people outside taking pictures of the sun.

And this is what I saw…

Unobstructed view (I took this with sunglasses on)

View under the shade of a tree

The solar halo became part of the news that day, the 22nd day of May 2014. While the solar halo is indeed a phenomenon, many people felt fear when they saw it, as if it is a bad omen. For me though, I felt lucky enough to have witnessed seeing a rainbow around the sun; and it happened when I’m in Bicol region, the only region privileged enough to have seen this phenomenon. Such an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. 🙂

Mayon Volcano view from Port of Tabaco

My next blog entry (or blog series) would be about the captivating province of Catanduanes… Captivating because my heart was really captivated (cheesy isn’t it) with the province’s rustic charm.

 

The Cathedral of Immaculate Concepcion: Overlooking the Lower Town of Boac

The Boac Cathedral (The Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion) is located at the top of the hill, overlooking the town of Boac. You can just imagine how glorious it looks from afar, with the centuries-old facade illuminated by the blue sky.

The majestic Boac Cathedral

The Boac Cathedral was built sometime in the 17th century. It then served as a refuge for the Marinduquenos whenever Moro pirates would attempt to conquer the town of Boac. They would pray fervently for the safety of their town.

One day, the Moros came into the shores of Boac, aboard their vinta. Suddenly, there were heavy rains and floods; the attempt to conquer Marinduque did not prosper, as when the Moros are approaching, a mirage of a Senyora appeared on the wall of the cathedral, her hand outstretched, as if telling the Moros to stay away. And so, the Blessed Virgin became known as the Mother of Immediate Succor, “Ina ng Biglang Awa“, due to the immediate action and mercy from the Heavens to save the town from the invaders.

May, the month of “Alay para kay Ave Maria”

Inside the cathedral.

Feast day for Boac is during the 8th of December, the birth date of Immaculate Concepcion. Outside the Cathedral and within the cathedral compound is the shrine for Mother of Immediate Succor.

Inside the shrine of Ina ng Biglang Awa

There are also religious items and souvenirs sold inside the shrine if you want remembrance and novena/prayer book of the Mother of Immediate Succor.

We visited after our hearing and before the leaving the beautiful town of Boac.

The Ro-Ro Experience: From Dalahican Pier to Balanacan Port and Vice Versa

Port of Lucena at Dalahican

Last year, the summer of 2013, was the first time that hubby and I got to ride a Ro-Ro vessel when we went to Oriental Mindoro. A year later, on the same month of May, we got to experience riding again a Ro-Ro vessel, this time bound to Mogpog, Marinduque.

From Manila, we rode a bus bound to Dalahican Pier in Lucena City. Our travel time took three hours and thirty minutes. It was an interesting ride, especially around the town of Sariaya, Quezon, where there are lots of ancestral houses. We arrived at DalahicanPier at about 11:45 in the afternoon. Fortunately, the line at the Montenegro vessel window was not long. After we purchased our ticket, we went to embark on the Montenegro vessel. It’s our second time to ride a Montenegro Ro-Ro vessel; the first time was when we went to Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro last year.

Montenegro Ro-Ro vessel

Our ride to Balanacan Port in Mogpog, Marinduque is very smooth. Personally, I prefer riding a vessel during summer time, as I am confident that the waves are not that strong. Montenegro has air-conditioned sitting areas and open air areas. We sat at the third floor of the vessel and enjoyed the sea breeze.

Hubby aboard Montenegro vessel

Just a few things that I’ve noticed… The comfort room is not that clean. There are no tissues available. It literally has the look and feel of a public comfort room. I also have comments as to the food available at the snack bar. There are junk foods, soft drinks and bottled water for sale. But since it’s a three-hour trip, I was expecting that there would be hot meals available. However, the only hot meals available are cup noodles, overpriced at 50 pesos each.

We were able to course through Tayabas Bay smoothly. It was almost 3:oo p.m. when I first got a glimpse of the island of Marinduque. As we come nearer, I could not help but gasp at the breathtaking sights. It felt like an island hopping tour, but on a big vessel instead of a small boat or ferry.

We arrived at the Balanacan Port at about 3:30 in the afternoon. We were not able to disembark immediately because we took the opportunity to take pictures of the picturesque Balanacan Port and the gigantic statue of “Ina ng Biglang Awa“.

The next day, we left the Balanacan Port at about 2:30 in the afternoon. This time, we rode the Starhorse Ro-Ro vessel, which is smaller than the Montenegro vessel, but definitely much conscious about the comfort of the passengers.

The Starhorse vessel which we rode looks like this one.

We rode at the topmost floor and found ourselves seated comfortably at the monoblock chairs that are slightly inclined so that it’s easier to sleep and relax. We sat on the last row, near the railings. We got to enjoy the view and that feeling as if you’re in a hammock, with the sea gently swaying the vessel.

Rodeo Bar

The comfort room of Starhorse vessel is air-conditioned. Tissue papers are readily available inside the comfort room. Near the comfort room at the second floor, you will see the Rodeo Bar, where you can buy snacks and hang out at the bar stools.

There is also an air-conditioned area inside the vessel, which looks much elegant and comfortable than the air-conditioned area of Montenegro vessel. Next time we plan to try the air-conditioned area.

Another thing that I like about Starhorse vessel is the open deck area. 🙂 The view of the blue-green waters of Tayabas Bay, the looming Mt. Banahaw, and the sunset boosted my open-deck experience.

You can see the navigators here. 🙂

Selfie

Once out at the open deck, you will feel compelled to take a selfie, with the aquamarine waters and blue sky as your background. It really is an exceptional experience to be out on open deck and to see and feel the vessel sailing smoothly, with the silhouette of the mountain outlined from afar, and the sunlight softly caressing your skin. 🙂

And from where I stood, I could not help but keep taking pictures…

 

The sun, the sky, and the sea.

Beautiful, isn’t it?

These are the views that can only be seen when aboard a vessel. An advantage of a longer journey, than a quick airplane ride. 🙂

Unique native dishes and Time warp at Boac, Marinduque

From the Balanacan Port in Mompog, Marinduque, we were fetched by our clients and we traversed through zigzag roads before finally arriving at the town of Boac. It felt as though we went back in time.

Spanish-style Houses

Heritage houses lined up the streets, whether for residential or commercial purposes. I can’t help but feel nostalgic, looking at the Spanish-style houses. The roads are wide and clean; tree branches are swaying and you can feel the gentle breeze. There are no loud signage of fast food chains or huge billboards. There are no malls, no tall buildings. We are in the town of Boac but the rural setting added to the charm.

Below is an old Spanish-style house turned into a restaurant named “Casa de Don Emilio”. This restaurant is considered as one that offers fine dining in Boac town.

Casa de Don Emilio

Lunch at Kusina sa Plaza after hearing

Beside Casa de Don Emilio is the famous “Kusina sa Plaza” restaurant. “Kusina sa Plaza” offers Marinduqueno dishes. This is where we got to taste “Kare-Kare”. No, the Kare-Kare referred to is not the Filipino stew with peanut sauce, and orangey in color. The Kare-Kare dish in Marinduque is like the traditional Dinuguan and bopis. It’s chopped as small as bopis, mixed with pork blood like dinuguan. But it tastes different. It’s delicious! There is that smoky flavor that you can’t explain. Hubby loved it instantly.

Kusina sa Plaza

Boac is very easy to navigate. You can easily locate where the restaurants are, which is near the plaza. You would see the library, the national museum, the old townhall, and from afar you would see the Boac Cathedral at the top of the hill.

The Plaza

Another homegrown restaurant in Boac is GoodChow Food Express, which is beside Kusina sa Plaza. GoodChow has both airconditioned and non-airconditioned dining areas. If you want to eat al fresco  then you can dine at the ground floor. If you want an air-conditioned dining area, with great view of the Boac Cathedral, then you can eat at the third floor. We highly recommend the homemade pizza and birthday pancit canton. 🙂

There are also lovely maroon-colored coffee tables lined up at the third floor beside the glass windows. When we come back, we plan to have coffee at GoodChow by the maroon tables and to enjoy the scenic view of the town.

Good Chow Food Express

Souvenirs can be bought at the Boac Hotel and Bodette’s Gift Shop, which is across GoodChow Food Express. Souvenir items in Bodette’s are much cheaper; however, you can only find Arrowroot (uraro) cookies at the Boac Hotel.

Bodette’s Gift Shop

Beside the hotel where we stayed is a computer shop. Not your ordinary computer shop though. 🙂

Internet cafe

It’s easy to fall in love with a town like Boac. It’s rare nowadays to experience simplicity at its finest. 🙂

*This is part two of my Marinduque blog series. I will also be posting a review of our stay at The Boac Hotel, our experience aboard the Montenegro and Starhorse vessel, and a feature on the Boac Cathedral. Stay tuned. 🙂  

Marinduque’s natural beauty starts at the Balanacan Port

It was during my elementary education years when I first heard of Marinduque and the famous Moriones Festival. Our history books boast of Marinduque’s Moriones Festival as one of the Philippines’ festivals and Lenten season practices. This summer, a hearing at Boac, Marinduque gave me an opportunity to take the first glimpse of the naturally beautiful island of Marinduque.

Small picturesque islands

Hubby and I were aboard the Montenegro vessel when small islands came into view. These islands are literally virgin islands; the islands are of green color because of the trees planted almost up to the shoreline. The islands are “untouched”. And it’s such a breathtaking sight, and at the same time that giddy feeling as if you’re getting a free island hopping tour while aboard the vessel.

Blue and green colors

Calm waters

Hubby can’t stop taking pictures

I thought these islands only exist in Palawan. But no, Marinduque boasts of the same virgin islands (or islets). What’s more, you get to view these islands for free, while aboard a vessel bound to Balanacan Port. Hubby and I kept kept dashing to one side of the vessel to another; you would not want to miss these beautiful sights. You’ll see tourists aboard the vessel preparing their cameras and taking pictures non-stop. What a natural beauty!

As we come closer, you would see the shoreline of the Marinduque island, the residential houses, the gleaming white sand…

the shoreline

And the best and most beautiful view of all is when you approach the Balanacan Port in Mogpog, Marinduque. From afar, you will see a lady standing atop a small island, as if welcoming,beckoning…

The “Ina ng Biglang Awa” from afar

As you approach the port, your eyes would not be riveted. You would feel at peace. The gigantic statue of Ina ng Biglang Awa (Mother of Immediate Succor) seemingly greets the passengers, surrounded by the calm, aquamarine waters.

Mother of Immediate Succor at the Balanacan Port

Marinduquenos are devotees of the Mother of Immediate Succor. The devotion originated sometime in the 1700s, when the Moros of Mindanao plotted to conquer the island of Marinduque. The Marinduquenos fervently prayed at the Boac Cathedral for the safety of the island. They felt that their prayers were heard, when strong torrential rains came pouring in when the Moros were arriving, and a Senyora suddenly appeared standing at the wall, as if ordering the Moros to stay away. The Moros hurriedly left aboard the vinta. (Source: www.dioceseofboac.org)

If the Legazpi Airport is considered as the most picturesque airport in the Philippines, for me, the Balanacan Port is the most picturesque port in the country. Truly, Marinduque is more than the Moriones Festival. I hope that the provincial government will preserve the natural beauty of the island and promote more the tourism. I can’t wait to come back on the next hearing. 🙂

Perfect combination: Buko tarts and brewed coffee at Rowena’s Tagaytay

One summery day, after attending hearing at Dasmarinas City, Cavite, instead of going back to Manila, hubby and I decided to go further along the Aguinaldo Highway… Right smack at the Tagaytay Rotunda where Rowena’s Pasalubong and Restaurant is located.

Rowena’s is located at the Hillcrest Plaza near Tagaytay Rotunda. It’s famous for the mini-size buko tarts and other sweet (and salty) pasalubong items. A box of buko tart is the perfect pasalubong for your family and costs PhP180.00. Aside from the buko tart, you can also buy boxes full of apple tarts, ube macapuno tarts, blueberry cheese tarts, and silvanas stored at the store’s fridge.

Rowena’s also have a coffee shop/restaurant adjoined on its pasalubong center, which has a great view of the busy city outside. You can order buko tart, apple tart or other flavors of mini tart which is the perfect combination for a cup of steaming hot coffee. I ordered one piece apple tart that day, which is priced at PhP30.00.

Coffees are also reasonably priced, all below a hundred bucks each.

Perfect combination

The apple tart is really good; it has the same melts-in-your-mouth texture as that of a buko tart. But of course, nothing would beat the sumptuous and not-too-crumbly buko pie as partner for brewed coffee and other strong-flavored coffee. My hubby ordered silvana, which is also a good partner for hot coffee. The silvana is firm and not too sweet.

SIlvanas and apple tart

Interestingly, you can also order what is considered as the most expensive coffee in the world at Rowena’s. The Alamid coffee or the Philippine civet coffee is made much more affordable as you can buy a single pack of Alamid coffee for PhP250.00. I think the the Alamid coffee is contained inside a coffee bag, which is like a tea bag.

Rowena’s is located at Hillcrest Plaza, which has a beautiful lookout point overlooking the Taal Lake. Below is a picture taken by hubby while I was enjoying the view at the lookout point.