Maniwaya Island in Marinduque (Holy Week 2017)

First of all, this is by far one of my craziest, silliest, last minute trip I ever did in my wanderlust-ing life. This also took place during Holy Week, the busiest holiday in Manila so I don't know how I pull this one off. I think ako na ang reyna ng last minute trip haha Seriously, this is really not advisable because I was dead tired after I got home but it was all worth it in the end. It has to be lol.

Prior to this trip, I was actually planning to just stay at home. Yes, ladies & gentlemen, I really did consider that because everything is already fully booked from hotels to bus tickets. You have to plan & book everything months before holy week if you want to have a stress-free vacation which I failed to do so. On the night of Holy Wednesday, I still haven't made up my mind whether I should leave or not but all my officemates doesn't believe me that I don't have any plans to travel. They were like "Weh? Di kami naniniwala.." And then when I come home, all my boardmates were like "Wala kang travel ngayon of all days?" I was like am I not allowed to just stay at home?lol But I guess since everyone have their own plans & social media posts doesn't help either because I ended up getting jealous & restless, I decided to push through going to Marinduque on Thursday night. Which turn out to be a good thing because there's no long queue in the bus & ferry terminal since almost everyone already left Manila the night before.

Honestly, this is really not my first choice for my Holy Week vacation but given the limited time that I have (I only research about this mysterious place days before Holy Week), I think I was already lucky that this trip turn out to be a success. Why Marinduque? Well, I don't know anything about this place actually but I read that the city has a lot of nice beaches to offer so that's already enough to sent me packing hehe

Marinduque is dubbed as "The heart of the Philippines" because it is located in the center of the Philippines & the island itself is shaped like heart. It is one of the five regions in the country having no land border with another region or commonly known as MIMAROPA, an acronym combination of its constituent provinces namely MIndoro (Occidental & Oriental Mindoro), MArinduque, ROmblon & PAlawan. The province is home to one of the oldest religious festivals of the country, the Moriones which is celebrated every Holy Week. It is composed of six municipalities: Boac (the capital of this province), Buenavista, Gasan, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz & Torrijos. Out of this 6, I only get to visit Mogpog, Boac & Sta. Cruz due to time constraints so this blog will be just about this three.

Boac Cathedral

How to go to Marinduque:

There are various ways to reach this island but the most popular one is the route Manila-Dalahican Port-Balanacan Port (Marinduque). Jac Liner has a daily trips to Lucena/Dalahican Port from Cubao or Buendia Terminal. Try to catch the bus with the sign board bound to Dalahican Port but if not, you can ride the Lucena bus & alight in the Lucena Terminal. From there you can take the jeepney or bus going to Dalahican Port for a minimal fare.

It is safe to arrive in Balanacan Port even in the wee hours of the morning. In fact they are reported to have the lowest crime rate in the country alternately ranking with Batanes so I don't really feel any pressure at all choz. I even slept in the waiting shade of Sta. Cruz along with other travellers to wait for the morning (I arrive around 2:30AM) Still, be mindful of your belongings though. The jeepneys/tricycles are available 24/7 outside the Balanacan Port that could take you to other parts of Marinduque so need to worry if you arrive late at night or early in the morning. If you are going to Maniwaya Island, take the jeep going to Sta. Cruz. From there, ride a tricycle going to Buyabod Port. Public boat going to Maniwaya Island is scheduled around noon & since that's already too late for me, I befriended other travellers (nakakahiya pero kailangan lol) so we can split the cost for the whole boat which already includes island hopping.

This was the famous Palad Sandbar..kaya lang high tide!

My new-found friends!

Where to stay in Maniwaya Island:

If you are on a budget, I recommend to stay in Wawie Beach because they have available tents for only Php 350.00 or you can bring your own tent for a minimum fee. Below is their contact details:

FB: Wawie Beach Resort
Contact#: 09067512497 / 09213695359 / 09081828156

FB: Marikit-Na Beach House
Contact#: 09278789782 / 09219785565

FB: Playa Amara Beach Resort
Contact#: 09285070362

FB: Residencia De Palo Maria
Contact#: 09505055937 / 09985394726

On my way home back to Buyabod Port. Crowd lining up the boat on their way to Maniwaya Island.

First time to see this huge jellyfish in Balanacan Port!

Itinerary:

Day 0-1:
6:00PM-10:00PM -   Bus from Buendia to Lucena Terminal: Php 210.00
10:00PM-10:15PM - Bus from Lucena Terminal to Dalahican Port: Php 35.00
10:15PM                 - Arrival in Dalahican Port (Pay Terminal Fee): Php 30.00
10:30PM -1:30AM - Roro to Balanacan Port (Mogpog-Marinduque): Php 270.00
1:30AM-2:30AM - Jeep from Balanacan Port to Sta. Cruz: Php 70.00
***Tried to sleep in waiting shade, didn't work though***
5:00AM-5:15AM - Ride a tricycle from Sta. Cruz market to Buyabod Port: Php 100.00
6:00AM-10:00AM - Start of Island Hopping (Palad Sandbar, Ungab Rock Formation & Maniwaya                                       Island) : Php 340.00 **
11:00AM Onwards - Lunch, Beach bumming in Wawie Beach
6:00PM - Dinner: Php 150.00
11:00PM - Overnight stay (Tent) : Php 350.00

** The price of the whole boat is Php 2,000.00 which includes island hopping & back to Buyabod Port for six persons. I think the price depends on your haggling skillls so haggle, haggle & haggle. My new found friends are not staying overnight in Maniwaya Island though since they only plan to stay for day tour.

Day 2:
7:00AM-8:00AM - Public boat from Wawie Beach to Buyabod Port: Php 70.00
8:00AM-8:15AM - Tricycle from Buyabod Port to Sta. Cruz Market: Php 20.00
8:15AM-9:15AM - Jeep from Sta. Cruz to Boac: Php 50.00
9:15Am-11:00AM - Walking City Tour in Boac
11:00AM-11:30AM - Jeep from Boac to Balanacan Port: Php 50.00
11:30AM-12:00NN - Lunch near the Port (Seafood & Halo2x): Php 110.00
12:00NN-12:15PM - Pay Terminal Fee: Php 30.00
2:00PM-5:00PM - Roro from Balanacan Port to Dalahican Port: Php 270.00
5:00PM-10:00PM - Bus from Dalahican Port to Buendia: Php 220.00
Miscellaneous (Food & Pasalubong) : Php 150.00
TOTAL: Php 2,525.00

La Union: Weekend Budget Travel Guide

I've been to La Union twice already but for some reason I've never visited any of the famous surfing resort which La Union was known for. It's a shame actually because I just witnessed one of the most magical sunset ever. I should have visit this place years ago. Anyway here's a quick guide if you're planning to visit eLyU!

How To Go To La Union

Estimated travel time from Manila to La Union is around 6-7 hours depending on the traffic so it's best to leave around midnight so you can arrive there by early morning. Partas Transportation in Cubao & Pasay have an hourly schedule that departs from the terminal. Board the bus bound to Vigan or Laoag & tell the conductor to drop you off in San Juan. Another option would be to take the San Fernando (Php 453.00) bus & then ride a jeepney (Php 8.00) or tricycle to Urbiztondo, San Juan.

Where To Stay

Once you arrived in San Juan, you can see that all the resorts are just sitting in the highway & behind them are the enticing ocean waves beckoning towards you. Have I known this beforehand, I think I would be here every weekend lol! There are a lot of resorts to choose from but I already made up my mind from the very beginning to stay in Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel, mostly because I love the name so much (its very catchy, natutuwa lang tlga ako haha). Also, it's for all kinds of traveller whether you want to splurge or you are on a budget. They have a mixed dormitory room for as low as Php 680.00.

Flotsam & Jetsam Hostel

Chicken Parang worth Php 250.00. This dish is divine! One of the best seller in Flotsam & Jetsam restaurant which is also open to non-guest.

You can also try the following resorts in San Juan or book thru Agoda.com
San Juan Surf Resort
The Circle Hostel
Thunderbird Resort

Note: Sadly I didn't get to try surfing that afternoon because of strong current. I even tried to insist but was strongly discouraged. So don't me lol I guess it's only for precautionary purposes since tourist/guest were not advisable to swim. Infair ibang klase rin kc ang lakas ng waves. Afraid haha If you do try which is a must, the rate is Php 400.00 per hour inclusive of board rental & surf instructor.

How To Go To Tangadan Falls

Another famous attraction in La Union is the Tangadan Falls. It is located in San Gabriel, around 40 minutes to 1 hour away from San Juan. A lot of resorts offer a Tangadan Falls tour package just like in Flotsam & Jetsam. It was around Php 850.00 each for 2 persons and Php 1,400.00 if it's only for one person. Because I'm on a budget I decided to do it DIY.

Getting There:

• From San Juan or any resort you're staying, ride a jeepney going to San Gabriel
• From San Gabriel, ride a tricycle going to Tangadan Falls jump-off point. 

Stated above was supposed to be my "expected" itinerary but in "reality" that wasn't the case. Well if you've been travelling a lot, this is not surprising anymore. There will always be last minute changes no matter how much time you planned on the trip. Which is why sometimes I don't plan any itinerary at all, just go with the flow & trust your instinct. It's better that way.

I was informed by the locals that it's difficult to ride a jeepney to San Gabriel since only a few passed by along the highway. Due to time constraints, I just have a tricycle tour package (Php 400.00) back & fort from the hotel to Tangadan Falls. Upon arrival in the jump-off point, you can choose either to walk a 45 mins-1 hour hike towards the falls or ride a habal-habal (Php 150.00-200.00 fee) & then walk for 15-20 minutes. Of course I just choose to walk, it's a good exercise anyway. Anyone who wants to visit the falls are required to take a tour guide. Minimum tour guide fee is Php 500.00 for 5 persons. If your group is 6 & up, then its Php 100.00 each. So if you're going to here & you're less than 5, the total amount you will pay is still Php 500.00. For my case since I'm going solo, I was about to back out lol. Seriously, I just haggle in my tour guide but I ended up feeling guilty since he doesn't insist on what amount I should pay him. Ako na daw ang bahala. In the end I paid him Php 400.00 since it's his only source of income. You can contact Kuya Oliver to be your tour guide here +639121759520

20 feet Cliff diving spot!

Tip: Trekking hours can start as early as 5:30 in the morning & only up to 3:30 in the afternoon. You can stay for as long as you want in the falls though so it's really worth the visit.

Itinerary
Ok I have to confess, I went here solo. Sorry Mom. Like I said, I've been dying to go here so I really don't care whether I'm going solo or not. It's do or die haha Para sa blog lol I am forever grateful to all my guardian angel out there, I hope you won't get tired of my recklessness & impulsiveness because there's still more to come. Anyway I went to La Union just over the weekend with a sidetrip to Tangadan Falls and I think that's already enough to explore eLyU but you can extend a day or two if you couldn't get enough of it.

Breakdown of Expenses:

Day 1
Bus Fare: Php 453.00
Breakfast (Stop-over): Php 50.00
Accomodation: Php 936.00
Lunch at Flotsam & Jetsam: Php 250.00
Dinner: Php 120.00
Kikiam (streetfood): Php 10.00

Day 2
Breakfast in Flotsam & Jetsam: Free
Tricycle tour to Tangadan Falls: Php 400.00
Tour Guide Fee: Php 400.00
Rent (Life-Vest): Php 50.00
Entrance Fee: Php 30.00
Food (Drinks): Php 40.00
Jeepney to San Fernando: Php 8.00 **
Tricycle from San Fernando Market to Partas Terminal: Php 15.00
Bus Fare: Php 453.00
Dinner (Stop-over): Php 50.00
TOTAL: Php 3,265.00

I know its pretty expensive and I didn't even bought a pasalubong lol. But you can still bring down the cost if you are travelling in big groups though.

**Tip: If you're really hungry or haven't taken a lunch yet, buy some food first on a nearby fast food chain once you arrive in San Fernando City/Market because there's no food stall available near the Partas Terminal.

Quick getaway to Masasa Beach, Batangas

January has always been a busy month for me, well aside from April which is hellish to describe it mildly lol! I think you will understand what I'm talking about if you're Accountant/Auditor who works for a big company. Anyway I don't want to bore you about my job so lets get to the good part. Considering this month is already the start of my busy schedule, I actually push myself to just getaway from draManila even though I wasn't really feeling well that day & I woke up late that morning but I still decided to go because maybe I just needed some vitamin sea to feel better.

My destination for that day was Masasa Beach, it is a public beach located in Tingloy Island in the province of Batangas. I don't think it's famous yet (for me at least) which I actually like because I personally prefer secluded beach, that 'away from the crowd' thing, yung lakas maka-The Beach choz so its more private. I've only knew about this island last year when I was searching for beaches here in Manila that are not too crowded & Masasa Beach came up along with Cagbalete Island (which I chose to go at that time) & many others.

Anilao Port

Batangas is always my go-to place if I am craving for a beach (malala na ata ako choz). I cannot count how many times I've been here because Batangas definitely have a lot of nice beaches but I do remember that the first itinerary that I ever made was going here, the famous Laiya beach. It was a success actually (ahem) & I never stopped since then.

Tingloy Port

How to go to Masasa Beach:
Jam Liner & DLTB bus lines in Buendia terminal offers a daily trips going to Batangas Grand Terminal. Travel time is around 2-3 hours depending on the traffic. From there take the jeep going to Anilao (the jeep will leave once it is full) & tell the driver to drop you off in Anilao Port. Travel time is 45 minutes to 1 hour. Upon arriving in Anilao Port, you will be asked to register your name before you can ride in the public boat going to Tingloy island. Travel time is almost 1 hour. Once you reached TIngloy island, there are a lot of tricycle available in Tingloy port so you can ride one & tell the driver to drop you off in Masasa Beach, Travel time is only 10 to 20 minutes. But its not yet the end though, there's a short hike going to the beach for about 10-15 minutes which I think was actually part of its charm. Don't worry the rice fields & lush mountains scenery is quite refreshing after those long travel time.

Rice fields on the way to the beach

Note: First trip from Anilao Port going to Tingloy island starts at 9:00AM. The last trip from Tingloy island to Anilao Port is at 3:00PM.

Where to stay:
Since the island is not yet developed, there are no resorts available in the beach. You can bring your own tent (free) if you want to stay overnight or you can stay in Aling Rosie's Bahay Kubo for Php200.00/person. You can contact her at 09196864368.

The water was very clear..all the more reason whyI like Batangas!

Here's a short clip of Masasa Beach. It's my first time to post a video though so don't judge haha

Breakdown of Expenses:
Bus from Manila to Batangas Grand Terminal: Php 157.00
Jeep from Batangas Terminal to Anilao Port: Php 37.00
Public boat from Anilao Port to Tingloy Port: Php 70.00
Tricycle from Tingloy Port to Masasa Beach: Php 20.00
Entrance Fee in Masasa Beach: Php 30.00
Tricycle from Masasa Beach to TIngloy Port: Php 20.00
Public boat from Tingloy Port to Anilao Port: Php 70.00 **
Jeep from Anilao Port to Batangas Grand Terminal: Php 40.00
Bus going back to Manila: Php 157.00
Total: Php 601.00

** In case you missed the last public boat going back to Anilao Port which happened to me (kc nman bkt maaga ang last trip, nagtatampisaw pa ako haha), there are private boat that can take you back to Anilao Port but of course it will be for a higher price. It's a good thing that there are also a lot of us stranded in Tingloy Port so who chipped in together & haggle to the boatmen. We agreed for the boat price of Php 2,500.00 to be divided for 15 persons so it will be Php 170.00 each. Be mindful of the boat schedule at wag ako tularan haha