Rediscovering Puerto Galera and that Mindoro sling :-)

Summer’s almost over. I’m glad that as compared to my previous summers where I barely had time to swim, this summer is a haze of sun, water, boat rides, and… Mindoro sling!

with my panyeras, at the Puerto Galera marker

The last time that I was in Puerto Galera was more than ten years ago, fresh out of college, with my batch mates from high school. It was our first out-of-Luzon island trip together, even though Puerto Galera is merely an hour of ferry boat ride away from our province, Batangas.

This summer, I was able to visit this island twice. Once last April, on a day tour with hubby and friends from law school, and the second one, this last week of May, on an overnight stay with hubby, mom and my relatives. Both visits are equally memorable, not just because of the companionship but also because of the new things that I discovered about Puerto Galera (as my knowledge about the beach is limited and outdated).

AT THE TAMARAW FALLS

For starters, it was my first time to visit Tamaraw Falls, as way back in 2003 this wasn’t even considered as part of tourist destination in Puerto Galera then. This is located about thirty (30) minutes away from the White Beach. If you have a vehicle, it is easier to visit this as this is located along the road. It’s also near the Puerto Galera “Heart of Asia” marker. If you do not have a private vehicle, you can ride a tricycle to visit Tamaraw Falls, however, price can be hefty, for a fee of eight hundred pesos (PhP800.00) for a group of four. Only four people can be accommodated by the tricycle as the Tamaraw Falls is located in the mountainous part of Puerto Galera.

AT A SECLUDED BEACH CALLED SANDBAR RESORT

The last time I visited Puerto Galera, we stayed at White Beach, where numerous resorts, restaurants and bars are scattered all over the place. However, I was able to discover a private resort during our visit in April, thanks to our ninong and ninang who brought us there together with my law school buds. The name of the resort is Sandbar. And it is literally a breathtaking resort.

At Sandbar Resort

A private resort

We went to Sandbar Resort on a day tour. We had breakfast at the beachfront and got to swim in the late morning. For those who opt for a quieter side of Puerto Galera, you can stay at Sandbar Resort. They serve sumptuous food and offer water activities, less the crowded beach. While we were there we also got to watch kids taking kite surf and wind surf lessons.

Lying on the beach, while a kid learns how to wind surf

NIGHTLIFE AT WHITE BEACH

My cousin with a fire dancer

The second time that we went to Puerto Galera, we stayed overnight at White Beach. This time, I wanted my companions to experience the Puerto Galera nightlife. I was the youngest in our group, with my hubby and a cousin as the next youngest, and two senior citizens (mom and aunt) with us. It was literally the first time for my companions to experience the nightlife at Puerto Galera. Since it was the last hurrah for summer (last week of May when we went there), the nightlife was in full swing. There were the fire dancers (who would gladly take picture with you for a fee), the beach party, the gay impersonators, the live band…

Dancers at the beach

Hubby and I were able to steal alone time that night, and had a date under the stars, on a candlelit table, drinking Mindoro sling. It was my first time to try the Mindoro sling and I love it. No hangover the day after, and I love the citrus taste. 🙂

A date by the sea

The next day, we enjoyed swimming at the beach together with other people who were savoring the last few days of summer. I highly recommend that you try having breakfast at Foodtrip sa Galera. You will get your money’s worth and the food serving is really generous. 🙂 I had a longanisa sampler for brunch, and I added merely 10 pesos so that I can have brewed coffee with my brekky.

Foodtrip sa Galera

REFLECTIONS

It was a memorable last hurrah for summer. They say Puerto Galera is the poor man’s Boracay. However, I will never get tired of the place or consider it as jologs. For me, it is how a person appreciates the beauty of a place, the atmosphere, the energy of the people, that defines the worth of a place. If you will carry that superior attitude that a place is far more classy than another, then no other place will meet your expectations. But if you see beyond the physical aspect and bask in what the place has to offer, then you will definitely have the time of your life. We definitely did. 🙂

Roundtrip from Batangas to Calapan City via Fastcat Ferry

Very clean and organized

See the picture above? See how clean it is? Not to mention how organized the seating arrangement is.. This is the first impression that Fastcat Ferry gave us while aboard and bound to Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. 🙂

Last December, we got to visit Calapan City for the second time. During our first visit, we got to experience for the first time to ride a Ro-Ro vessel, via Montenegro Lines. And coming back to Batangas, we rode the 2Go vessel, which was formerly Supercat. But for me, the best ride you can take to Calapan City is via the Fastcat Ferry. It’s faster than the usual Ro-Ro vessels, as travel time is one and a half hour, instead of three hours. The ride is also more tolerable than the 2Go vessel, as we barely felt the waves even though it’s just a bit bigger than a 2Go vessel.

Upon arrival at the Port of Calapan

We rode Fastcat Ferry on our way to Calapan City and also on our way back to Batangas City. We just can’t get enough. 🙂 It’s definitely more convenient. The snack bar also has more choices for passenger. More than just the usual instant noodles. There are sandwiches and hot meals, mineral water, coffee, and variety of canned and bottled beverages. There are also souvenir items of Fastcat for sale.

snack bar

Most of all, we love the seats and the view from the seat. 🙂 From my seat, it felt as we were on a cruise as we glide smoothly by the sea.

Taken at the Calapan Port

Tickets are reasonably priced at Three Hundred Pesos each.

tickets of our companions

Come ride the Fastcat Ferry if you are going to Calapan City. You won’t regret it, promise. 🙂 You can check schedule at their website. They abide strictly by the schedule and passenger and cargo limit, so be early for a sure seat.

Our 2014 Trips: First-time travels and Revisits

For me and hubby, 2014 is… cliche as it may sound… a roller-coaster ride. But since it’s a brand new year so I will not dwell on the sad memories but focus on the positive. 🙂 2014 gave us so many opportunities to travel, and most of our travels are all-expense paid by clients. While we had more work-related trips than leisure trips, just being together during our work-related trips made the experience feels as if we were just playing. 🙂

JANUARY: OUR 2ND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AT TAGAYTAY CITY

Windy January at Skyranch Tagaytay.

We started the year by celebrating our second wedding anniversary at Tagaytay City, Cavite. It was a blissful celebration, a day trip at one of the coolest (literally) destinations last January 2014. It was also our first time to visit Tagaytay City as a couple, although we have been there countless times during our childhood and college yeaers.

We had late lunch at Mahogany Market, where we ordered steaming bowl of bulalo and crispy tawilis. Then, a first time visit to Sky Ranch. We endured the long lines in order to ride the Sky Eye, which was then the tallest ferris wheel in the country (as of now it’s the Sky Eye in Pampanga). We ended the day by having dinner and coffee at Bag of Beans. It’s a first time experience for us as a couple and up to this date that 11th day of January 2014 (a belated celebration, our anniv is January 8) will always feel as if I’m on cloud nine. 🙂 ❤

MARCH: RE-VISITING TAGAYTAY CITY VIA TALISAY ROAD

Taal Volcano as seen from Talisay, Batangas

It was during the first week of March when we got to visit again Tagaytay City, for a work-related trip. This time, we went up to Tagaytay City via the Talisay Road or what the locals call the “Sungay Road”. While this route will give you picturesque view of the Taal Volcano and Tagaytay Ridge, this road is not for the faint of heart. One have to be skilled and experienced before traversing this zigzag-gy and very steep road.

APRIL: MOM’S BIRTHDAY AT A MOUNTAIN RESORT IN BAY, LAGUNA

On mid-April, we celebrated my mom’s 61st birthday (and our third anniversary as a couple or “bf-gf anniv”) at Grand Villa Resort and Butterfly Centre, a mountain resort in Bay, Laguna.

Pool area at night

It was a perfect day for swimming, a special day last summer spent with family and relatives. This sprawling resort will provide you tons of activities to engage in, so that you would momentarily forget the stress of city life. To read my review of this mountain resort, click here.

MAY: FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND PROVINCES OF MARINDUQUE AND CATANDUANES; RE-VISITED ALBAY

The month of May was totally unpredictable and bittersweet. But as what I said, I will focus on the good things that happened to keep reminding that despite the trials, we are still very much blessed.

On the first week of May, hubby and I got to visit the pristine island of Marinduque. It’s hubby’s second time to visit the province, while it was my first time. It’s a work-related trip as our purpose to go there is to attend a hearing at the Municipal Trial Court  I was enchanted at my first glimpse of Balanacan Port, where the giant statue of Ina ng Biglang Awa welcomes you upon arrival at the port.

Ina ng Biglang Awa at Balanacan Port

On the third week of May 2014, another opportunity to travel beckoned. This is my first time to travel solo, as the trip was sponsored by another law firm and not by our law office. I attended a hearing in Virac, Catanduanes, but before that hearing I first have to travel by air, land and water. Since there were no direct flights at that time to Virac, I took the flight to Legazpi, which is pure ecstasy, as the flight gave me a chance to revisit the province of Albay and see again the beautiful and majestic Mayon Volcano.

View of Mayon Volcano from the plane

After the air travel, my client and I traveled by land since we’ll be riding a Ro-Ro vessel at the Tabaco Port. At the port, I got to witness one of 2014’s biggest phenomena, the solar halo which was seen only in the Bicol Region that 22nd day of May 2014.

Solar halo. Seen only in Bicol region.

Dining alone. Inside Blossoms Restaurant in Virac, Catanduanes.

My experience at the rustic province of Catanduanes is pure bliss. It’s where I had my first media exposure/interview. 😀 And I explored the town of Virac literally by foot. As what I said, it was my first time to travel solo. While I sorely missed my hubby during that trip as he is my constant companion, the chance to travel solo made me braver, more aware of the surroundings, more alert. The three days and two nights experience in Catanduanes reminded me to enjoy my own company and to be independent when the situation calls for it. 🙂

The Bato River. No filter.

JUNE: REVISITED BOAC, MARINDUQUE; FIRST TIME AT GASAN, MARINDUQUE

June is the birthday month of my hubby. We had an overnight trip at Tagaytay City and celebrated his birthday. 🙂 Again, he had post-birthday celebration in Marinduque, when we went there the third week of June, for another work-related trip. But since we brought along my mom and aunt so that they can also visit Marinduque, we extended our trip to three days. 🙂 After touring our companions at Boac, Marinduque, we took a side trip at the nearby town of Gasan, Marinduque, to meet up with another client who is based in Gasan. It’s our first time to visit this time and we got to visit another heritage church perched on a hill, the St. Joseph Church of Gasan, Marinduque.

Another heritage church perched on a hill.

AUGUST: CEBU REVISITED

Last August, we got the chance to visit a city that I missed so much, Cebu City! It’s my hubby’s first time to visit this island, while it’s my second. 🙂 While it’s a work-related trip, we consider it as a beautiful opportunity to explore the historic urban city of Cebu. It’s only a two-day trip but on our two days we were able to go not just to the Capitol Building and Court of Appeals but also to Magellan’s Cross, Sto. Nino de Cebu Church, Ayala Center Cebu, Chapel of St. Pedro Calungsod, buy pasalubongs at Taboan Market, and enjoy buffet breakfast at Wellcome Hotel. 🙂

SEPTEMBER: FIRST TIME AT TRECE MARTIRES, CAVITE

Republic of Cavite

Last September we got to visit another historic town, Trece Martires, the capital and heart of Cavite. We roamed around the capitol compound and after done with work, we can’t help but take pictures of the Capitol building of Cavite and the majestic Legislative Building. We had a walking tour of Governors Drive and dropped by at the Shrine of the Thirteen Martyrs, church visit at the Chapel of St. Jude Thaddeus, and had coffee and ube buchi at Republic of Cavite, a cafe and restaurant often mistaken as the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine as it is a replica of the same.

OCTOBER: REVISITED CEBU AND FIRST TIME AT LAPU-LAPU SHRINE; HALLOWEEN IN MARINDUQUE

Another work-related trip brought us back to Cebu in October. We had an early flight to Cebu which allowed us to explore Mactan Island and take a side-trip first to Lapu-Lapu Shrine, which is near the airport vicinity.

Larsian barbecue

This trip is a more relaxed one than our previous trip to Cebu, as after we are done at the Court of Appeals, we got to enjoy the city the whole day, with prolonged stay at IT Park and Ayala Center Cebu, and ending the day having late dinner Cebuano style at Larsian Barbecue. On the other hand, the last week of October gave us a chance to spend Halloween in Boac as we took our third work-related trip to Marinduque this year.

Halloween festivities at Case De Don Emilio, Boac, Marinduque.

DECEMBER: REVISITED BAGUIO CITY AND CALAPAN CITY, ORIENTAL MINDORO

strawberry taho

Come December, we were able to squeeze in two work-related out-of-town trips despite the uncertain weather. On the first week of December, just before my birthday, we got to revisit the city of pines, Baguio City. It was a quick trip, less than twenty four hours including travel time. But the trip gave us new experiences, such as getting to taste the strawberry taho, food trip at Good Taste Restaurant, and non-stop travel from Baguio City to Manila via the Genesis Executive Coach, Joy Bus.

By third week of December, we got to revisit Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro due to another work-related trip with our clients. After done with work, we visited my law school best friend and our godparents and stayed at their home. The weekend trip allowed us to explore the bustling city of Calapan, food trips and bonding moments with what we consider as our second family. 🙂

Capitol Building of Oriental Mindoro

We are thankful for a year full of safe travels. Indeed, travel broadened our horizons and made us see how beautiful and diverse our motherland is. This 2015, we are targeting to explore more the Visayas region and perhaps, a first time trip to Mindanao. We are also claiming that we would be able to travel abroad. Anything’s possible, all in the right time. 🙂

Re-visiting Calapan City during Christmas Season

It was a trip we thought would never push through.

We planned the trip as early as the first week of December. It’s a work-related trip with our clients who need to have a meeting and settle matters at the adverse party’s main office in Calapan City. However, there was super typhoon at that time which was supposed to make landfall in Oriental Mindoro. Thank goodness there was minimal damage as the typhoon weakened and became a tropical storm. On the second week of December, I was the one unavailable, plus there was low pressure at that time. Finally, we were given a chance to push through with the meeting on the third week of December. And we were blessed to travel on a good weather even though December is known as “tag-alon” month, or the month when waves are huge, and not favorable to travel by sea. Our journey to Calapan City is very much tranquil; there were no turbulent waves.

Peaceful sea

FASTCAT FERRY

We went to Calapan City via the Fastcat Ferry. It’s a Ro-Ro vessel but with limited seating and cargo capacity, so it travels quicker than the usual Ro-Ro vessels. Travel time is one hour and thirty minutes. I will post a separate blog entry/review regarding this one, as I can say we loved every moment to and from Calapan City via Fastcat. 🙂

THE VERY FESTIVE CAPITOL BUILDING OF ORIENTAL MINDORO

We went to Calapan City last year to attend a wedding. Due to the limited time, we were unable roam around Calapan City, as the wedding took place in Benilda ng Bancuro Resort in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. This particular trip gave us a chance to explore Calapan City with Atty. Juno, one of my law school best friends. She invited us to stay at their house in Calapan City after our work is done.

One of the places we got to visit is the very festive Capitol building of Oriental Mindoro. According to Juno, every year, different government agencies in Calapan City create their own Christmas exhibits at the Capitolio, so that the Capitol compound would be glistening at night with all the Christmas lights and decorations.

This is how the Capitol building look during daytime.

Capitol Building of Oriental Mindoro

And this is how it looks at nighttime.

So many Christmas lights

Check out the “Frozen” Christmas exhibit at the Legislative Building.

One of the most popular Christmas exhibits

We saw various Christmas exhibits that night, ranging from Minions, Hello Kitty, Barbie Doll house, Super Mario brothers, Sailor Moon and many more Disney characters. The Christmas exhibit proved to be such a hit to children, families, and groups of friends. There were many people that night, taking a stroll at the Capitol compound, having selfies or groufies. There were food stalls selling popcorn, shawarma, and grilled barbecue. It’s such a festive atmosphere, plus add the December night chill. Epic. 🙂

The various Christmas exhibits gave impression to tourists like us how much the local government of Oriental Mindoro would want to extend the festivities to the people.

THE BEST LASAGNA AT CAFE MEOW

That night, we also got to taste the best lasagna in town, at Cafe Meow. The sumptuous meals, the coffee, and the wine experience at Cafe Meow compels me to write a separate blog entry about it. 🙂

with hubby, Atty. Juno and her beau at Cafe Meow

FOOD TRIP IN CALAPAN CITY

The next day, we got to explore more the city for some food trip, pasalubong and souvenir shopping.

We had brunch at Wil’s Diner, a sports bar and restaurant which serves one of the best buttered chicken we have ever tasted. I was unable to take pictures as we immediately dig in once it was served. Crispy and garlicky, the buttered chicken is such a winner. 🙂 We also ordered grilled tanigue and sinigang na hipon.

After buying some suman sa lihiya, banana chips, pastillas, ref magnets, and souvenir shirts, we had some halo-halo highly-recommended by Atty. Juno at Isel Ian’s Halo Halo. 🙂 The ingredients for the halo-halo are on display and you can opt to have all the ingredients mixed in your tall glass (for 100 pesos) or you can choose to leave out some. There are 12 ingredients, but I only chose 8 ingredients as I do not like beans that much. The halo-halo is topped with ube, leche flan, and ice cream scoop of your preferred flavor. There’s milk on the side and sugar syrup. I am not a big fan of halo-halo but this one made me crave again for halo-halo, as of this writing. 🙂 You’ll get your money’s worth. The eight ingredients that I chose for my halo-halo only costs 50 pesos.

THANKS TO CONCEPCION FAMILY

It would have been a plain work-related trip had it not been for the invitation from Atty. Juno to spend the night at their wonderful home in Calapan City. Thanks to her, we were able to explore the city proper, got to taste the most amazing foods at homegrown restaurants in Calapan City, and discovered where to buy souvenirs. It was our last out-of-town trip for the year, and one of the most memorable. Atty. Juno’s parents are our godparents during our wedding and the warmth of their family is incomparable and never-changing, way back during the early 2000s when I first met them. Her brothers treat us as if we were siblings. I am forever thankful for their family, who have always been there, at the happiest and lowest points in my life.

Thank you so much.

Aboard Montenegro Lines and 2Go Vessel: The Batangas City-Calapan City Experience

It was my first time to ride a Roll-on, Roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel. Way back in 2004, I have experienced riding a passenger vessel bound to Aklan with my law school friends. We had a good time because the ship has so many amenities, including a mini-theater. Riding a Ro-Ro vessel is different experience, as you would experience a laid-back pace of  the vessel, since it’s carrying not just passengers but huge vehicles as well.

My hubby and I were bound to Calapan City to attend the wedding of the brother of one of my law school best friends. We asked around what’s the best mode to go to Calapan City. A friend said that if we wanted a quicker travel period, then we should ride the 2Go vessel (formerly Supercat). And that if we wanted a slow, leisurely travel, then we should try a Ro-Ro vessel. And so we decided to try both: To ride the Ro-Ro vessel on our way to Calapan City, and to ride the 2Go vessel on our way back to Batangas City.

So this was taken at the Batangas City Port, when we were about to board the Montenegro Lines.

At the Batangas City Port

I highly recommend riding the Montenegro Lines vessel, as compared to the other Ro-Ro vessels docketed on the area. This is not just based on our experience, but also from the recommendation of our Mindoro-based friends. The vessel has an air-conditioned area where the passengers can lie around, sleep, watch television. The other area is open air, where there are also seats for those who wanted to enjoy the view all throughout the travel time, which is approximately three (3) hours. We also climbed the open deck for a better view. 🙂

Afternoon travel

Overall, we had pleasant experience riding the Montenegro Lines vessel. We experienced what we are aiming for: to have a long leisurely trip and to enjoy the view. 🙂 But for me, the best view is when we arrived at the Calapan City Port. This is the view that greeted us.

Calapan City Port

On our way back to Batangas City, we opted to ride the 2Go vessel, since it’s already late afternoon and we would love a quicker travel period. It’s not my first time to ride the 2Go vessel. It was formerly named Supercat, and I got a chance to ride a Supercat vessel bound to Bataan way back in 2010. Sadly, the Bataan-bound Supercat vessels were no longer in operation. 😦

It was already late afternoon, and I was anticipating a quicker travel period going back to Batangas City. The shot below was taken by my husband when the 2Go vessel (which we will be riding) was arriving at the port. The ticket for the 2Go vessel is much more expensive, but there were snacks offered during the trip. We were also each provided with our own lifejacket. Since the 2Go vessel is smaller than a Ro-Ro vessel, the ride is not that smooth. In fact, since it’s already late afternoon, we experienced being tossed by the waves during our initial journey. However, somewhere in the middle of the trip, the waves calmed down. But I could not forget how tough it was going to the rest room. I almost lost my balance. It was such an adventure. 🙂 The advantage of riding the 2Go vessel is the shorter travel period from Calapan City to Batangas City, which is for merely an hour. Plus, it was like riding an airplane, since there are snacks provided and friendly vessel attendants.

Weekend Journey at Oriental Mindoro, Overnight at Benilda ng Bancuro Resort

Oriental Mindoro, the rice granary of Southern Luzon.

It’s not my first time to visit the island of Mindoro since I managed to be a beach bum at Puerto Galera way back in 2003. But the trip to Calapan City early this May is a first for me and hubby. We visited one of my closest friends in law school together with other law school buddies.

There are two ways of reaching Calapan City from the Batangas City port. First, via 2Go passenger ship (formerly Supercat), which is an hour ride from the Batangas City. Second mode is via Montenegro Lines (or other “Ro-Ro” Roll On, Roll Off ship), the travel time of which ranges from two to three hours.

We opted for the second mode, which is via Montenegro Lines. We want the open-deck experience. And you would not regret the longer travel time for views like these:

Upon arrival at the Port of Calapan, this is the sight that will greet you.

We were fetched from the port by our “ninong sa kasal”. 🙂 We got to see more of the city on our way to their house.

From Calapan City, our caravan went to Naujan, Oriental Mindoro where the Benilda ng Bancuro Resort is located—which is the venue for the wedding of my friend’s brother.

The municipality of Naujan is almost an hour away from Calapan City. The Benilda ng Bancuro Resort is one of the major tourist attractions in the said municipality. At the entrance of the resort, you will see this.

You will also see this at the front, beside the resort. This is allegedly the home of the owner of Benilda ng Bancuro.

This delightful resort boasts of ornate woodworks, a huge (glowing) pool, huge statues, and Spanish-inspired structures and accommodation houses.

Refreshing to swim on the glowing pool

Spanish-style

The wise monkeys

 

As they say, if you are getting sick of the sun, sand and crowded beachfront, then try a weekend at Benilda Resort in Brgy. Nancuro, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. You get lots of space to think, relax and dwell upon things. And night swimming at the “glowing” pool is as refreshing as spritzing on your favorite citrus cologne.

On our way back to Batangas city, we tried the 2Go passenger vessel for a quicker travel time.

It’s like riding an airplane, with ship attendants giving out snacks during the trip, and the waves creating some “turbulence”. 😀