Cavite is really home to nice, cheap beach resorts near Manila for less than two hours via Cavitex. Tutubi's doing research on Cavite beach resorts, beyond Lido Beach Resort he visited a few years back besides Puerto Azul Beach Club, the first true beach resort he visited from way back in 1998.

Herewith is his compiled list of Beach Resorts in Cavite (with or without swimming pool), with official websites, telephone numbers, email address/contact details, current room rates/entrance fee, swimming pool (or infinity pool if available)
and other facilities.

UPDATED: January 2016

Bacoor Beach Resorts

no white beaches here, too dirty. expect vendors/fishermen of talaba and tahong

Kawit Beach Resorts

Cavite City Beach Resorts

Noveleta Beach Resorts

Cavite beaches are all inside Manila Bay except those in Naic and Ternate where you can see fine white sand beaches with clear water and trash-free

Lido Beach Resort
Telephone Number: +63.947.150.0298

Villamar Beach Resort
Entrance fee: PhP30.00, shower stalls at only PhP15.00/person.
Picnic tables rental prices: PHP100.00, PhP250.00
Overnight Accommodations (Room rates): PhP1,000/2 persons (ordinary fan room, extra person PhP100.00), PhP3,000.00 for 2 persons aircon room, PhP200.00 extra person)
Contact Numbers for reservations/inquiries:Baby +63.929.8905763; Lolit +63.920.408.4444

Rosario Beach Resorts

La Isla Bonita De Salinas
Entrance Fee/Admission: PhP20.00 (free for Rosario residents)

Mount Sea Resort and Hotel
Room Rates: PhP2998.00 (budget package), PhP5,500.00 (superior)
Telephone Number: +63.46.438.3888
Remarks: nice facilities

Tanza Beach Resorts

La Playa Resort
Address: Halayhay Rd, Tanza
Telephone Number: +63.46.686.9069

Starfish Beach Resort

Tanza Oasis Hotel and Resort
Room Rates: PhP2,500.00 to PhP5,000.00
Telephone Numbers: +63.2.524.3876;+63.2.708.0704;+63.2.516.5432

Villa Excellance Beach Resort in Tanza
Here is the list of the rates and entrance fees of Villa Excellance Beach Resort in Tanza, Cavite.
Beach Entrance Fee: PhP40.00 (weekday), PhP50.00 Weekends and holidays
Swimming Pool rates: PhP60.00 adults (PhP70.00 overnight)

Villa Buenaflor Resort
Address: Brgy. Calibuyo Tanza Cavite
Telephone Number: +63.46.886.1014

Villa Christina Resort

Villa Excellance Beach Resort
Address: Brgy. Sahud Ulan, Postema, Tanza 4108
Telephone Numbers: +63.46.885.2220


Naic Beach Resorts

Aroma Beach Resort,
Naic Cavite
Phone Number: +63.939.407.1304

Ternate Beach Resorts:

* the best beaches in Cavite can really be found in the southernmost town of Ternate due to its distance
from Manila, meaning it's already clean, unlike filth you see on the beach of Noveleta (sorry, Tutubi is an honest blogger)

Boracay de Cavite Beach Resort (Marine Base)
Entrance fee: PhP100.00, PhP200.00 overnight
Parking Fee: PhP50.00 jeep/cars
Remarks: the beach has a checkpoint as it's inside a General Lim Marine barracks.

Caylabne Bay Resort
Website: http://www.caylabne.com.ph/‎
Contact Number: +63.2.813.8520

Little Boracay Ternate (also known as Marine Base Ternate Beach)
Entrance fee: PhP100 per head
Cottage is P350
Overnight stay room rate PhP500.00

Marine Base Katungkulan Beach Resort
Entrance fee: PhP100.00, PhP200.00 overnight
Remarks: the beach has a checkpoint as it's inside a General Lim Marine barracks.

Puerto Azul Golf and Country Club
Day tour rates:
PhP 650/person with buffet lunch (subject to minimum guests), PhP 450/person with plated lunch,
PhP 300/person – just entrance fee , no meals
Remarks: Tutubi visited this place in 1998 but current pictures in the Internet seems nothing much changed :(
this used to be an exclusive, invitation-only resort then. Puerto Azul website not visible now
Contact Numbers: +63.932.863.6070; +63.919.533.5391

Ternate Beach Resort
Entrance Fee: PhP75.00 day tour, PhP150.00 overnight
Telephone Numbers:
Ms. Beth +63.932.211.2725; +63.908.862.7785
+63.46.515.0662
Website: http://ternatebeachresort.weebly.com/contacts.html

RanRich Beach Resort
Address: San Jose 4, Ternate, Cavite
Entrance Fee: day swimming rates at PhP100.00
Room Rates start at PhP1000.00 including big groups, Cottage rentals at PhP500 and up
Contact Number: +63.908.876.5696
Remarks: with big swimming pool, you can also pitch a tent on the beach (PhP150.00) but bring your own tent at the campsite.
You can bring your own food and drinks at no corkage fee

Beach resorts in Cavite with swimming pool

Coming up:

How to Get to Cavite: Map, Bus and Jeepney routes

Labels: Beaches, Calabarzon, Cavite, Cavite Resorts, Southern Tagalog

Featured on various TV shows as serving "very good" and "to-die-for" halo-halo, a Filipino dessert of various sweet ingredients mixed with shaved ice and milk, it litterally means "mix-mix" and is one of Filipinos favorite desserts during the hot summer months.

Tutubi, when he visited the town of Kawit, also passed by Barangay Digman in Bacoor town to sample this famous ice concoction named after the village of its birth (and you thought it's named after the owner of the place?)

There are actually two of them "holes in the wall" in Digman claiming to be the original (plus another 2 or more beside them) and you guessed it right, they both have the name "Original" appended on their registered name (much like the Original syndrome on buko pie shops in Laguna): The Original Digman Halo-halo and BC2 Original Halo-halo. One of them even had the name patented but not enforced (a patent holder doesn't necessarily mean the original, just the first to legally claim the name or idea or innovation)

Tutubi chose "BC2 Original Digman Halo-halo Talk of the Town" as it's the one with parking space (read: vacant street parking in front, unlike the other "Original" halo-halo parlor) and this is his take on the famous dessert this side of town.

BC2 Original Digman Halo-halo costs PhP55.00 (with ice cream), regular variant costs PhP45.00 on the menu

Digman Halo-halo ingredients (sangkap/sahog):

Tutubi counted twelve ingredients on the counter:

Beans, corn, ube halaya, mongo (mung beans), minatamis na saba (sweetened banana), green and red gulaman (gelatin), langka (jackfruit), nata de coco, macapuno (mutant coconuts), sago. Note the usual suspects: shaved ice, leche flan toppings then ice cream for special halo-halo orders. (Does it have lambanog (coconut sap wine) as secret ingredient?)

Review of Digman halo-halo:

One word: overrated! Sometimes, simple is better probably why Razon's halo-halo (or it's derivative Teresita's) stands out from the rest. Yes, there were many ingredients but even with that number of ingredients don't make it sweet and creamy, in fact it lacks creaminess factor even if Tutubi tried to add more milk to compensate.

The beans, yes the beans, Tutubi's favorite halo-halo ingredient (or sometimes he prefers just the beans with shaved ice and milk) were not cooked right-- not tender and bit raw. If they're in business for quite some time, how come they don't know how to properly cook the beans?

Is it worth going all the way from Manila just for this? No, but if you're the area, probably near Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine, it's worth your try if you just need to sample it yourself. Tutubi prefers just going to Hidden Tapsi for tapsilog frugal food find, even taking out half-kilo of tapa, which rumors say are horse meat (tapang kabayo) and not beef tapa.


How to get there:

GPS coordinates: 14°27'37"N 120°56'34"E

If you're still looking for some kind of Bacoor Food Trip or even Cavite Food Trip that includes Digman Halo-halo in your itinerary, here's a map of Bacoor town proper where you can see old stone church of Bacoor upper left and Digman Halo-halo upper right. Manila is to the right while Cavite City and Kawit town is to the left.

If you have a private vehicle, you can get there fastest from Manila via Cavitex but you need to exit via Bacoor then turn left towards Bacoor town. Look for a road after passing Bacoor Church where you turn left.

If you're commuting, you can get there via buses from Baclaran and drop by just before you reach Bacoor Church (Church of Saint Michael the Archangel)

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Filipino Food

When the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP, formerly National Historical Institute (NHI)) launched the Jose Rizal @150 Heritage Trail Project, Tutubi wasn't able to get even a Rizal passport (you need to get it at the DOT) and though he has been to most of the sites mentioned there to be visited, he didn't bother to re-visit just to get a stamp.

Now here comes the celebration of the 150th birthday of Andres Bonifacio that will culminate on Bonifacio Day, as knows how to get to all the places associated with Andres Bonifacio in Metro Manila (one particular site is within 10 minutes from his home).

Now, he will secure first the Byaheng Bonifacio brochure then visit the sites in Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasig and Quezon City taking public transportation, then he will visit the site in Rodriguez Rizal then finally probably a road trip to Cavite with Scarlett (Tutubi's Toyota Innova, can you guess the color? :)

Andres Bonifacio depicted not in the usual (and false) bolo and red trousers

Herewith are the official mechanics, list of sites including "how to get there" information to the sites copied ad verbatim from the official website of the Department of Tourism (hey, government works are not covered by copyright and this is also a press release :)

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Mechanics

In celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio on 30 November 2013, The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) cordially invite the public to rediscover and visit the sites associated with Bonifacio’s life.

Be a Bonifacio Pilgrim! Complete the Byaheng Bonifacio: Byaheng Bayani ng Bayan

Visit the sites featured in the Bonifacio @ 150 brochures and paste your photos taken at the sites provided. The first 100 participants to complete shall receive a token and a Byaheng Bonifacio: Byaheng Bayani ng Bayan certificate, subject to validation by the NHCP. All finishers will receive a Ka- Byahe ni Bonifacio certificate.

Bonifacio @ 150 Brochures are available at the following offices:

1. National Historical Commission – Office of the Historic Sites and Education Division
2. Department of Tourism – Information Office
3. Department of Tourism – Regional Offices

Eligibility:

The competition is open to all domestic and international tourists. Organizers, sponsors and members of the Bonifacio @ 150 Technical Working Group Committee / Organizing Committee are not eligible to join.

Redemption of Prizes:

A. The token and certificate may be claimed at the office of the National Historic Sites and Education Division, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita Manila.
Tel. nos.: (02)254-7482 or (02)523-1019
Email Address: hsed@nhcp.gov.ph

B. Winners shall shoulder all cost they will incur in claiming their prize.

C. When claiming their prize, winners must present to the authorized NHCP representative the completed brochure and a valid ID with name, address, photo and signature.

D. Winners should claim their prizes within sixty (60) days from receipt of notification; otherwise, the prizes will be forfeited in favor of the Philippine government.


Direction for Manila Trail

1. Tutuban, Manila
Tutuban Mall, C.M. Recto Ave., Manila

How to get there:

If taking public transportation:
Via LRT 1 : Alight at Doroteo Jose Station, walk towards CM Recto then ride jeepneys going to Divisoria.

Via LRT2: Alight at Recto Station ride jeepneys going to Divisoria

Via Jeepneys: Jeepneys plying Baclaran- Divisoria/ Cubao to Divisoria pass by Tutuban Mall area

Parking, Dining stops and comfort rooms are available at Tutuban Mall.

2. KKK Foundation Site
El Cano cor. Recto Ave., Manila

How to get there:

If taking public transportation:
Via LRT 1 : Alight at Doroteo Jose Station, walk towards CM Recto then ride jeepneys going to Divisoria.

Via LRT2: Alight at Recto Station ride jeepneys going to Divisoria

Via Jeepneys: Jeepneys plying Baclaran- Divisoria/ Cubao to Divisoria pass by Tutuban Mall area

Taxis are also available going to the area.

The area is near Tutuban Mall. Best to park in Tutuban Mall then just walk towards El Cano Street. Dining stops and comfort rooms are available at Tutuban Mall.

3. Binondo Church, Manila
Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila

How to get there:

If taking public transportation:
Via LRT 1: Alight at Central Station, walk towards the Jones bridge area, ride jeepneys or FX going to Divisoria which passes in front of the church

Via Jeepneys: Jeepneys plying Baclaran- Divisoria pass by the church

Taxis are also available going to the area.

Tips: Best to park along the streets or pay parking areas around the church. Dining stops with comfort rooms are available at Ongpin St and other streets near the church.


4. Cry of Pugad Lawin Shrine, Quezon City
Seminary Road, Brgy. Bahay Toro, Quezon City

How to get there:

Taxis are available going to the area. Tricycles are available along Congressional Avenue going to the site.

Parking available within the park.

No dining and rest stops available near the area. The location is next to the Pugad Lawin High School and Quezon City General Hospital. The Shrine is open daily 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

5. Krus na Ligas, Quezon City

How to get there:

UP Ikot jeepneys are available going to the area then board a tricycle going to the barangay hall.

Taxis are also available going to the area.

Tips: Street parking only.

6. Pinaglabanan Shrine, San Juan City
Pinaglabanan St., San Juan City

How to get there:
From Recto, buses are available going to Ortigas, alight at Pinaglabanan St. in San Juan. Jeeps are available going to the site.

From Ortigas, ride a bus going to Quiapo, alight at Pinaglabanan st in San Juan City.

Tips: Parking and comfort rooms are available on-site. The Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine is open daily. The Museo ng Katipunan is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 Am – 4:00 PM.


7. Hagdang Bato, Mandaluyong
Hagdang Bato Barangay Center, A. Bonifacio St., Mandaluyong City

How to get there:
Jeepneys from Kalentong, Quiapo and Pasig passes by Shaw Boulevard. Alight at Bonifacio St. Tricycles are available going to the Hagdang Bato Barangay Center.

Street parking available for buses, small vehicles can park at the barangay center. Comfort rooms available at the barangay hall.


8.Pasig Catholic Church/ Valentin Cruz Marker, Pasig City
Caruncho Avenue, (MH del Pilar St.,) Pasig City

If taking public transportation:

Via MRT (1): Alight at Ortigas Station , walk towards Robinson’s Galleria, FX and jeepneys going to Pasig Bayan are available. The Church and the Marker are within the town center.

Via MRT (2): Alight at Shaw Boulevard Station, FX and jeepneys going to Pasig bayan are available. The Church and the Marker are within the town center.

Via Jeepneys/ FX: Jeepneys and FX plying Quiapo-Pasig Bayan that passes by Shaw Boulevard are available. Church and the Marker are within the town center.
Parking, Dining stops and comfort rooms are available in the area of Pasig Bayan.


16. Pamitinan Caves
Sitio Wawa, Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal

If taking public transportation:

From Cubao, buses, jeepneys and FX vans are available going to Rodriguez. From the town center, tricycles can bring you to the site.

A designated parking area, registration office and comfort rooms are available at the area. Dining stops are available around the town of Rodriguez.

Visitors need to pay environmental fess (P2.00) upon entrance to the park.
CAVITE TRAIL

9. Imus Plaza, Imus, Cavite
Tirona St., Poblacion, Imus, Cavite

How to get there:

If taking public transportation:

Buses bound for Dasmariñas passes by the Imus junction. From there, jeepneys and tricycles are available going to the Imus Plaza.

Street parking around the plaza, Dining stops are available near the plaza. Comfort rooms available at the Imus City Municipal Hall.


10. Tribunal, Noveleta, Cavite
Gen. Antonio St., Poblacion, Noveleta, Cavite

If taking public transportation:

Buses bound for Cavite City passes by the Noveleta Municipal Hall. Walk towards the tribunal located at the back of the municipal building.

Street parking near the municipal hall, Dining stops are available in the area. Comfort rooms available at the Noveleta Municipal Hall.

Open daily from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. No entrance fee.

11. Tejeros Convention Site, Rosario, Cavite
Gen. Trias Drive, Brgy. Tejeros, Rosario, Cavite

If taking public transportation:

Buses bound for Ternate/ Naic/ Maragondon passes by the Tejeros junction. From there, ride jeepneys or baby buses bound for SM Rosario or Cavite City which passes by the Tejeros Convention Site.

Parking and comfort rooms are available at the building compound. Dining stop at nearby SM Rosario.

12. Pinagbarilan, Indang, Cavite
Brgy. Limbon, Indang, Cavite

If taking public transportation:

Buses bound for Indang are available in Baclaran. Alight at the town center of Indang, tricycles are vailable going to the site.

Street parking only. Dining stop available at the Indang town proper.

13. Casa Hacienda de Naic, Naic, Cavite
Brgy. C. Nazareno, Poblacion, Naic, Cavite

If taking public transportation:
Buses bound for Ternate/ Naic/ Maragondon passes by the Naic junction. From there, ride jeepneys, baby buses or tricycles going to the town plaza. The Casa Hacienda is just a few minutes walk away.

Parking and comfort rooms available at the town plaza area. Dining stops are available around town.

Open daily from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. No entrance fee.

14. Trial House, Maragondon, Cavite
Col. Riel St., (Poblacion), Maragondon, Cavite

If taking public transportation:
Buses bound for Ternate/ Naic/ Maragondon passes by the Maragondon junction (Brgy. Garita). From there, ride jeepneys or tricycles going to the town plaza. The Trial House is just some few minutes walk away from the public market.

Street parking only. Comfort rooms available at the Shrine. Dining stops are available around town.

Open daily from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. No entrance fee.


15. Execution Site, Maragondon, Cavite
Mt. Nagpatong, Maragondon, Cavite

No public transportation going to the site. Because of the all-weather road, private vehicles are best to use during dry months but at a certain point only. Hiking is best going to the site [about one (1)hour].

Tourists are advised to coordinate with local guides at the Local Government of Maragondon before proceeding to the site.

Labels: Andres Bonifacio, Cavite, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Metro Manila, National Heroes, Pasig City, Quezon City, Rizal, San Juan

As confirmed by a friend of Tutubi who went to Sonya's Garden (Sonya's Country Bed and Breakfast) some time ago, here's information on how to get to Sonia's Garden near Tagaytay for people taking public transportation plus "driving directions to Sonya's Garden" for those lucky enough to be at the convenience of their own vehicles.

Important Note: make a reservation at Sonya's garden before actually going there, you may call or text Sonya's garden contact number at +63.917.532.9097 or +63.917.533.5140 or email info@sonyasgarden.com

How to get to Sonya's Garden:

Firt, look for appropriate buses to Tagaytay or Nasugbu on the How to Get to Tagaytay post then follow directions below.

Commute to Sonya's Garden is easy though with three rides: a bus, a jeepney and a tricycle ride. First ride a Bus to Tagaytay or Nasugbu, Batangas and request the conductor to drop you off at Alfonso Crossing on the highway. Transfer to a jeepney to take you to Buck Estate then ride a tricycle to Sonya's Garden. You can request the tricycle driver to fetch you at an appointed time to avoid the hassle of waiting for one on your return trip. (Current fares not available due to memory gap of Tutubi's friend)

If you are already touring Tagaytay, you can ride jeepneys that pass by Buck Estate then transfer to a trike to Sonya's Country Bed and Breakfast.

Driving Directions to Sonya's Garden:

According to Sonya's Garden's official website: "From South Superhighway
exit Santa Rosa and turn right towards Tagaytay. Upon reaching main
Aguinaldo highway, turn right toward Nasugbu, Batangas. Go past Tagaytay
Rotonda and proceed for 10km. After Splendido Golf course and Sunrise
Hill make a right turn on the Buck Estate. Drive for 2km and watch out
for Sonya's on the left side. Use the first gate and drive towards the
end of the driveway and make a right towards parking lot."

How to commute to Sonya's garden Tagaytay, Sonya's Garden hotline, contact
number, reservation

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Metro Tagaytay, Southern Tagalog

UPDATE: Lido Beach Resort CLOSED in 2016

The beach nearest to Metro Manila can be found in the province of Cavite, with it's numerous historical sites, sharing the coastline of Manila Bay. As soon as Tutubi learned his mommy's going to treat her jeepney drivers for a summer outing somewhere in Cavite, he requested to tag along even if he knew how the beaches there look like.

Travel time to Cavite was quite fast, on a Saturday morning that is, and should've been there in an hour if not for the driver unfamiliar with it drove straight to Aguinaldo Highway when Tutubi informed the driver that there's no beach in Imus and Dasmariñas, so they made a U-turn and asked their way towards Cavite City and found the first resort on the road of Noveleta town.

UPDATE: a newer list of Cavite Beach Resorts published March 2014.

With his expectations set low, he saw for himself Lido Beach Resort...




Lido Beach Resort
Contact Numbers: (to be re-posted once validated)

Rates here are cheap and cater to common "masa":

Lido Beach Resort Entrance Fees:
Adult: PhP30.00
Children 4 years and above : PhP30
Table for rent: PhP150
shower/person PhP15

Entrance Fee Vehicles:
Light Vehicles P30
Medium Vehicles: P60
Heavy Trucks and Buses: P120

Tent Rates: P100 (small) P150 (medium) P200 (large) P250 (x-large)
There are about two rooms for people who wish to stay overnight.


a tyrannosaurus rex inviting children for a photo-op


the missing beachfront: tables now occupy the beach leaving no space to do the usual beach activities except for people playing "gulp."

The beach resorts in Cavite can be classified as common people's beach. There are no white sands and facilities are usually targeted for low-budget people, except those in the upscale Caylabne and Puerto Azul (that Tutubi stayed in about ten years ago), plus the thought that it's in Manila Bay, so you know what is meant by that.

If you're looking for better ones quite close to Manila, head off to Batangas and Bataan... :P

The biggest disappointment can be seen on the sign at the entrance of the resort

Signspotting: this man may have fallen asleep due to frustration about the prohibition on love making :P (picture taken inside a moving jeep that's why it's slightly blurred)

please call Lido Beach Resort telephone number or visit their official website for entrance fee, overnight accommodations, room rates and other information and inquiries

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How to get there:

Commute to Cavite: Ride a bus to Cavite at Coastal Mall with signboard Cavite City (e.g. St. Anthony of Padua) or Naic or Ternate.

An alternative way is to ride the ferry to Cavite City, operated my MetroStar, with port in the sprawling Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City. In Cavite City ride a jeepney to take you to Noveleta. (Trivia: did you know, the historic island fortress of Corregidor is politically part of Cavite and not of Bataan?)

Other info, in commuting to Cavite, particularly Bacoor, Imus, Dasmariñas, buses are also available with signboard Dasmariñas at Harrison Plaza on Vito Cruz (Pablo Ocampo) on their way to Cavite via Coastal Road and Aguinaldo Highway. This route is serviced by Starliner, Jethro Liner and Erjohn and Almark. (you want to know where did Tutubi got these bus companies' names? He waited for those buses to pass by Harrison Plaza in Manila)

Dasmariñas to Mendez via Imus: Starliner, San Agustin, Saulog, Aljohn and Almark and mini-buses from Baclaran.

For those going to Maragondon, there are also buses by St. Anthony of Padua and Ariel Express, Saulog, and Jethro. No idea yet on current fares.

For those going to General Trias, ride buses first to Bacoor and transfer to jeeps going to Gen. Trias.

Driving Directions to Cavite:

From Makati, head towards Coastal Road and proceed to Aguinaldo Highway. Turn right At the so-called rotonda (landmark: SM Bacoor) on your way to Kawit. You will pass by Island Cove, Aguinaldo Mansion (to your left), then Josephine Restaurant. Continue driving until you reach Noveleta town proper where you turn right towards Cavite City. Lido Beach Resort is the first resort you'll see on the highway going to Cavite City.

An alternate way is to turn right at Talaba, instead of Rotonda, which is faster going to Bacoor church and straight to Binakayan and Kawit. Problem is that there's no easily recognizable landmark but a vacant lot compared to Rotonda where SM Bacoor stands.


Other Beach Resorts in Cavite:


Ternate Beach Resorts:

Caylabne Bay Resort, Puerto Azul Beach Hotel, Marbella Marina Beach Resort, Marine Base Katungkulan Beach Resort, Boracay de Cavite

Noveleta Beach Resorts:
Villamor Beach Resort, Lido Beach Resort

Kawit Beach Resort
Josephine Resort

Naic Beach Resorts:

Rikkitoy Tent and Beach City, Vista del Mar, Aroma Beach Resort, Happy Holiday Beach Resorts, Punta Grande Beach Resort, and Lourdes Hydee

Tanza Beach Resorts:

P&E de Castro Beach Resort, Rio Delta Beach Resort, Celebrity Beach Resort, Las Palmas Beach Resort, Villa Excellence Beach Resort, Anva Maria Beach Resort, Florante Beach Resort, Sto. Niño Beach Resort, Costa del Rio Beach Resort

UPDATED: March 2014

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Cavite Resorts, Hotels and Resorts, Signspotting, Southern Tagalog

A rare chance to be part of a corporate golf tournament, privilege to travel for free and opportunity to take picture of the spanking Splendido Taal Residential, Golf, and Country Club in Alfonso, Cavite in the vicinity of Tagaytay City found itself in Tutubi even for a short notice of the engagement of just two days.

Packing his bag and getting ready with his camera, Tutubi traveled on a Friday evening to Tagaytay City, checking in at the swanky Taal Vista Hotel for a couple of hours sleep before waking up early, much too early actually for a weary corporate slave, for the golf tournament that usually begins at daybreak when the heat of the sun is still bearable.

With the tee off starting after a hearty breakfast, Tutubi took pictures of the vast estate and playground of the rich and famous that is Splendido Taal Golf Course.

Splendido Taal Golf Course, an 18-hole Par 72 signature championship golf course by Greg Norman, comes with a golf clubhouse, country clubhouse and residential community for those who got money to burn. Future Developments in the pipeline include a town center, hotel and resort, townhouses, condotels.

Let these pictures show you around the place:

Splendido Taal's Golf Clubhouse

The opening remarks before the official tee-off

The golf cart used by Tutubi

A huge crater, called a bunker, in golf courses

seeing green is the in thing!


All the caddies of the golf course are girls wearing white long sleeve shirts

Didn't Tutubi tell you that the food at Splendido Taal are also splendid particularly their paella and beef salpicao the the Golf Clubhouse?

The only problem with Splendido Taal was the absence of a system of fast counting/ tallying of scores so much like the Comelec. You know what that is.

How to get to Splendido Taal, Alfonso, Cavite:

The entrance to Splendido Taal is about 13 kilometers from the Tagaytay city rotunda (roundabout) and near the Tagaytay City-Alfonso boundary (remember Sonya's Garden?). If you want to take a peek, suggest you inform the guard that you're making an inquiry about the place for possible wedding or other events venue.


Related Posts:
Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club
Tagaytay Highlands Golf & Country Club
Philippine Golf Courses

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Golf, Golf Courses, Metro Tagaytay, Southern Tagalog

After the exhausting team building/light trek activities and forgettable dinner by the beach (didn't I tell you food in the tourism-accredited facility is not worth the price tag?), most of us raised our hands when one of the leaders asked us if we wanted to hunt for ghosts in the old hospital building where ghosts of dead Japanese soldiers still on tour of duty can be caught on film.

Oh boy, this is the most exciting and much awaited part of the day!

But sadly, one of the guides informed us it was already too late since too many spirits will be disturbed, the foundation banned ghosthunters to stray near the alleged haunted grounds.

To my dismay, I just pointed my camera towards the pier where Gen. Douglas MacArthur mentioned the all-too-familiar "I shall return" before boarding a PT boat to escape and leave his men behind and here's what I got:
I saw a black cat crossed the frame of my camera but it did not register on the picture-- not even a slight shadow. There are many black cats at the recreation center, by the way.

The following day, I took my friends on the tutubi DIY (do-it-yourself) tour of corregidor and went to places not normally visited by regular Corregidor day tours. One of those places are the ruins of the hospital, abandoned and creepy, with its walls showing signs of bullets and bombs, it's halls filled with litter, crevices filled with plants and trees. We're the only people in that forsaken place with writings on the wall, vandalism, graffiti, and vestiges of a true ghost of history that is the Jabidah massacre that happened here during the repressive Marcos years.

A strange picture pointed to me by one of my officemates later in the office, that a photo taken at the hospital, there's a shadow of a man inside the dreary place even if I was the first one to enter the place and my officemates were busy taking pictures outside. I traced the sequence of my pictures since I have captures that corroborates the claim that all of them were still outside when I released the shutter of my camera. (click the picture if you want a large one)



I have to tell you the truth though, the truth that I'm not afraid of ghosts, if there really are such things. I'm more afraid of the living!

Amenities and other activities in the island fortress

For overnight accomodations there's nice Corregidor Inn that my macho officemates were so afraid to sleep alone at night (this I found out with my roommate). You can ask for free tranvia service if you want to tour the island. There's also a van for hire there.





For budget travellers, there's dormitory-like accomodation (that I call charity ward) at P500/night/pax

For backpackers, you can pitch a tent at the beach or near some ruins for a haunted and chilly sleeping experience.

Small swimming pool for children (no lifeguards, swim at your own risk) and the beaches for bumming around.

Aside from the accomodations, there's recreation center, with its all-too-familiar videoke machine, billiards et al, conference room for meetings etc.

Getting to Corregidor requires a ferry ride at the CCP complex (Manila, near Harbour Square) or if you're adventurous, try the outrigger boats on the shores of Mariveles, Bataan. Another option, and free at that, is to join the annual trip sponsored by the Philippine Navy, with it's WW2 vintage ships. Also you may want to join the annual tree planting activity by the Clean and Green Foundation (IIRC).

The daytour to the island is highly recommended due to its being highly organized, but the food, the food at the hotel is lamentable and pathetic for a tourism-accredited establishment serving Filipino food. (I was there thrice and this hasn't changed. Calling Sun Cruises and Corregidor Foundation people, why didn't you act on my comments and suggestions?)

More information about Corregidor tours and hotel accommodations can be found at the official website of Sun Cruises.

And you thought I'm gonna blog about Corregidor for eternity? :)

Related Posts:

Fall of Corregidor,
Corregidor Guided Tour Part 1,
Corregidor Guided Tour Part 2,
Corregidor Teambuilding and Light Trek Activities,

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Corregidor, Hotels and Resorts, Southern Tagalog

Our company went to Corregidor, with myself part of the triumvirate of organizers, with team building activities in mind, organized by Mentor Group and very similar setup to the popular TV reality game Amazing Race.

We were divided into four groups with the following names that we thought were very appropriate: Hampas Lupa, Patay Gutom, Kapal Muks and Sunog Baga (names that defy direct translation but mostly derisive Filipino terms) and each with own group colored shirts. Names that the organizers were not used to but often shout out the names due to their being unique aside from having a license for derision.

Draw a house

The first part of the event was an indoor game for us to draw rockets using limited amount of straight lines. We won this won due to proper planning, coordination and creativity.

The second event was the team shout and cheering competition that required us to to compose, choreograph, sing and dance aside from usual taunts and heckling other groups. Due to our creative mix of Filipino songs and chorus of the Carpenter's "Sing" akin to Bulagaan segment of a popular noontime show, we handily won this one.

Team Relay



With Battery Crockett as our backdrop, the third part was some sort of n caterpillar obstacle race, with feet tied together and holding on to one another, with some members blinfolded and eventually all but one were, evading obstacles of rocks, tape and markings with non-blidfolded members guiding the "blind." One of the obstacles was tape hanging so low that we were able to slip past through by crawling under. The group with the fastest time wins after deducting penalties for tripping over obstacles.



Three Treasures

At the opening part, we were taken to a road junction where we tried to find pieces of maps inside colored baloons and where the clues were hidden in three batteries: Grubbs, Geary, and Smith (for pictures of these batteries, click here)

I naturally chose to proceed to Battery Smith since I haven't seen that battery, only to find out it's hidden and accesible only through a tunnel that you have to descend to using a rope. The battery looks so much like Battery Hearn but I forgot to take a picture since I was in a hurry to return to the rendezvous point of my team.

Back at the road crossing, we discovered that a third of our map was missing, maybe due to other visitors might have seen the baloons and took them, made us lose time that we've never fully recovered back.

Shell Shocked and Quack-Quack

The map, using a spare map given by our guides, pointed us to Battery Way where our next clue hidden there showed the way to the duck-walk tunnel, not recommended for claustrophobic people, more like a culvert, where we literally walked like a duck or bend while walking, about 40 meters long, and has a sturdy wooden ladder at the end. It's inside this tunnel where we saw a tuko (gecko) up close where one of bigger guys among us, ironically, was so afraid of.


On exiting the tunnel, refreshing, cold bottles of water were handed to us and also next clues hanging on the surrounding trees.

Mark or Dark

This time, there was a detour where we had to choose among two activities that we like, that is if we still have a choice: Mark or Dark

The first two groups chose DARK, a more exciting trip by passing through the Batcave, an eerie undeground cave full of bats that come out late in the afternoon, something I wanted to do, plus the arduous uphill trek of three hundred steps that made their knees wobble.

We got MARK, no choice since we're on third place, an activity where we tried to hit targets using tennis balls shot by an improvised slingshot that we need to make five bullseye or thirty minutes whichever comes first. We finished this in thirteen minutes.

The clue given at the end of the slingshot activity led us to the ruins of the old hospital where our next clue, actually a puzzle, was hidden; where ghosts of history dawned on me with the writings I saw on the wall of the dark and dreary place-- the Jabidah Massacre (of which I will blog one of these days).

On getting our next task, we're given a large bingo card where historical trivias about Corregidor were asked in each square and an acrostic, formed from the answers to the clues. This is where the knowledge of the tutubi in history came into useful existence since we were able to answer most of the questions.

Tunnel Time

Having deciphered the clue to the puzzle pointed to the Japanese Tunnel, I immediately told the team to hurry to the Eternal Flame of Freedom monument since I remembered a sign pointing to the entrance of the Japanese tunnel near the cliff. The tunnel about 40 meters long, also with laterals but not made of concrete like Malinta tunnel, with a cave entrance and exit at the other end is a ladder and rope. I also expected pythons, spiders and other scary yet interesting tenants of the place aside from ghostly imprints in my pictures inside but found none.


On seeing light at the end of the tunnel, we're tasked to eat pancit (Filipino noodle dish) with our bare, soiled hands since we drank all of our water. The next clue was actually hidden beneath the pancit wrapped in plastic and this time pointed to our pitstop: the old spanish lighthouse.

Patriotic pledge

Inside the lighthouse were a couple of steps of spiral stairway and a ladder going up to the top. At the top, acrophobic guys among us suffered usual dizziness, and where we sang the Philippine national anthem at the top of our voices drowned out by the vast space around us, particularly with Mt Samat in Bataan as silent witness to our "heroic journey."

We only managed to secure third place for this Amazing Race but we earlier won the cheering competition part mocking other teams with the chant of the HAMPAS LUPA team!

These activities, even if physically demanding, were endured by senior employees with their medicine bags in tow.

Related Posts:

Fall of Corregidor,
Corregidor Guided Tour Part 1,
Corregidor Guided Tour Part 2,
Corregidor Ghosthunting

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Corregidor, Southern Tagalog

Let me now take you to a walking tour of the island starting at the parade grounds of the island known as "Gibraltar of the East"






The parade ground with a howitzer on display



The Filipino-American Friendship Park beside Cine Corregidor



The Pacific War Memorial completed in 1968 dedicated to American and Filipino servicemen. Nearby is a museum of war memorabilias.


The altar inside the Pacific War Memorial dome where light from above sometimes fall perfectly into place



The Eternal Flame of Freedom, a large steel structure, symbolizing the Flame of Freedom burning for eternity. )I wanted to take pictures of this structure at night but my colleagues are so afraid of ghosts and the tranvia is not available.)



The sweeping view from the platform of the Eternal Flame of Freedom with the tail of the tadpole in sight, the other islands, Bataan and Cavite. (sorry for the dirt on my lens. too lazy to clean it up)



The Buddhist statue at the Japanese Garden of Peace. This garden, used to be the Japanese cemetery, also has a Shinto shrine.



One of the anti-aircraft guns at the garden



The spanish lighthouse, Faro de Isla Corrigedor (Corregidor Lighthouse), originally built in 1836, the present structure is a reconstruction since it was destroyed during the war. On the viewdeck of the lighthouse is a 360 degree view of the island, South China Sea, Manila Bay, Bataan and Cavite provinces. Isn't it obvious that I really, really love lighthouses? There are many more lighthouses posted here :)





A winding road on the island reputed to be the most heavily bombed place on earth (per unit area) during the war. Note that during the siege of Corregidor, the Japanese dropped tons and tons of bombs from airplanes and borbarded it from batteries in ships, and on the beaches of Bataan and Cavite in present day Puerto Azul.

Related Posts:

Fall of Corregidor,
Corregidor Guided Tour Part 1,
Corregidor Teambuilding and Light Trek Activities,
Corregidor Ghosthunting

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Corregidor, Lighthouses, Southern Tagalog, World War II

Sun Cruises, the operator of the Corregidor tour, gets my nod for a well-organized tour starting at the CCP complex where we boarded an air-conditioned ferry. Much of the upper deck of the ferry was reserved for us where films about the war was shown and one of the tour guide will give you a primer of "boring" history that delved too much on facts and figures...how i wish those guys emulate Ambeth Ocampo :(


the Sun Cruises II ferry with Caballo Island in the background

All of us were whisked to waiting tranvias as soon as we arrived and passed by four of the most accessible batteries (gun emplacements): Way, Crockett, Geary, Grubbs and Hearn all named after soldiers of Uncle Sam who were killed in the Philippines.

Battery Crockett with it's disappearing guns mounted on a parapet (i intentionally included the man standing at one end of the barrel to add scale for you to get an idea how huge the gun is)

Battery Hearn with its massive 12 inch guns, the largest in the island

One of the 10 inch mortars of Battery way, one of which was the last one to fall silent before the surrender to the Japanese

Our Tranvia at the entrance to Malinta Tunnel (entrance cost is P150). Malinta tunnel is a 255 meter long bomb-proof tunnel served as hospital and seat of Philippine Commonwealth where Pres. Quezon and VP Osmena were sworn into office on Dec 30, 1941

One of the laterals of Malinta Tunnel Light and Sound Show, that I call powerpoint slides, with Japanese Imperial Army

Cine Corregidor ruins where the last movie shown was Gone With The Wind

the mile long barracks, the most photographed structure in the island, not actually a mile long :)

How to get to Corregidor Island:

Corregidor can only be reached by ferry of Sun Cruises at the CCP Complex in Pasay City. current ferry fare is PhP1,350.00 per person (no buffett)

Related Posts:

Fall of Corregidor,
Corregidor Guided Tour Part 2,
Corregidor Teambuilding and Light Trek,
Corregidor Ghosthunting

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Corregidor, World War II

May 6, 1942: A gloomy day in history when the combined force of the United States' armed forces and Filipinos, abandoned by the US led by president Roosevelt (the Europe-first policy), without food, ammunition, medicines; with gangrened bodies piled up, capitulated almost a month after the Bataan peninsula gave up the gallant fight; a heroic fight that delayed Japanese timetable of occupation to the point of saving Australia from the Japanese juggernaut. By this time, much of East Asia already fell under the shadow of the Land of the Rising Sun except Thailand who collaborated with the Nihon-jin invaders.

This happened long after British-controlled Singapore, a vaunted impregnable fortess, capitulated in the middle of February 1942 that ended British's feared invinciblity in Asia. (note the brilliant strategist of Singapore invasion was Tomoyuki Yamashita)

a memorial to the heroes of war near the ruins of Cine Corregidor

This is the first of a series on Corregidor, a tadpole-shaped island fortress at the mouth of Manila Bay, politically part of Cavite even if geographically nearer to Bataan, that I visited three times: the first time in 2004 with Japanese friends (my rusty knowledge of Japanese helped a lot), the second time for the occular inspection and the third time for company team building activities

To be continued...

Related Posts:

Corregidor Guided Tour,
Corregidor Guided Tour,
Corregidor Team building,
Corregidor Ghosthunting

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Corregidor, History, World War II

Much like the nearby Splendido Taal, Tagaytay Highlands is a private country club with golf course, cable car, swimming pools, mini-zoo and homes for the rich and famous with a breathtaking view of the beautiful Taal Volcano

Pictures of Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club (taken using Canon Ixus 30):




How would you like to own a nice home like this?

the lagoon inside the mini-zoo
one of the many swimming pools inside Tagaytay Highlands


Tagaytay Highlands Golf & Country Club
Tagaytay Midlands Golf & Country Club

How to get to Tagaytay Highlands:

Commute: there are buses going to going to Alfonso or any bus going to tagaytay. Reuest the conductor to drop you off at Olivarez then take a jeepney going to Peoples Park where you can see the entrance of the place.

Driving Directions to Tagaytay Highlands: from Manila, head off to SLEX and exit at Sta. Rosa exit and drive all the way to the Tagaytay Ridge road where you turn left. Look for signage on the road for directions of you may refer to map.

Related Posts:
Taal Volcano Trek Guide
Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club
Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club
Philippine Golf Courses and Driving Ranges

Labels: Calabarzon, Cavite, Golf Courses, Metro Tagaytay, Southern Tagalog, Tagaytay City