"Buwis buhay" aptly describes this Pangasinan trip straight from Zambales where almost all ingredients of Murphy's Law were present: unplanned trip, wrong turn due to unreliable information provided by a local, twenty kilometers of very rough road, vehicle was trapped on the sand of the beach and had to be helped by three locals who helped Tutubi push Scarlett back on the road then an almost empty gas tank with the nearest gas station many miles away, it's getting dark where 24/7 gas stations may not be present.

Osmena Beach and Tambobong White Beach are the hidden gems of Dasol, Pangasinan, unreachable by the usual tourists and where you can find only one beach resort (you can pitch a tent on the beach though if you're adventurous enough as a small community of fishermen lives around the area)

The unplanned adventure road trip to Osmena Beach and Tambobong White Beach in Dasol, Pangasinan in pictures:

after twenty kilometers which took more than one hour from the main highway, Tutubi and Scarlett reached this road fronting Tambobong Beach. It's past 6pm and the sun's about to set

Scarlett got trapped on the sand of the beach. Backing up didn't get it. Luckily, three locals in two motorcycles passed by and helped pushed her back to the road.

Osmena, Dasol, Pangasinan written near the bow of the banca. Notice the fine white sand?

one end of nice secluded beach with coral stones and small caves, pointed out by some locals as the location shoot of several teleserye like GMA7's Dyesebel starring Marian Rivera

it took Tutubi more than an hour to get there but he stayed for just about fifteen minutes to take pictures. This sunset though is priceless!

Coming Up:
How to Get to Dasol, pangasinan,
Beach Resorts in Tambobong
Travel tips et al

Notes:
Tutubi truly knows Scarlett well. He can go running empty from his office in Makati to Quezon City endure heavy EDSA traffic and gas up at his favorite gas station offering EuroDiesel 4.

The wrong turn was due to right direction but very bad information by a local. Tutubi should have driven to the next town where the road is so much better even if longer.

The beach is open to the public, no entrance fee, you can actually pitch a tent there to camp overnight.

Labels: Beaches, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

Want to visit Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos, Pangasinan on a tight budget? Here's latest information on how to get there plus standard price of island-hopping/boat ride rentals for day tour or overnight tours.

UPDATED: November 2015

Travel Guide to Hundred Islands National Park:

One of the large boats for hire for island-hopping in Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan

Hundred Islands Rates/Fees (to be booked at Lucap Wharf in Alaminos, Pangasinan)

Entrance Fee and Island-hopping rates are standard, no worries against overcharging here

Day Tour:
Entrance Fee: PhP40.00
Small Boat (1-5 persons): Ph1,000.00
Medium Boat (6-10 persons): PhP1,300.00
Big Boat (11-15 persons): PhP1,500.00

Overnight Tour:
Entrance Fee: PhP80.00
Small Boat (1-5 persons): PhP2,000.00
Medium Boat (6-10 persons): PhP2,500.00
Big Boat (11-15 persons): PhP3,000.00

A bit of spelunking/caving on one of small islands



How to get to Hundred Islands National Park:

How to Commute to Hundred Islands

from Manila, take a bus to Alaminos, Pangasinan

Bus to Alaminos, Pangasinan:
Victory Liner
Cubao to Alaminos, Pangasinan via Camiling, Tarlac
Fare: PhP393.00
Trip Schedules: 4am (first trip), 5:30am, 6am, 7am, 8am, 9am,
10am, 11am, 12nn, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm
10:40pm, 11:50pm (last trip)
Travel time around 5 hours

Five Star Bus
Cubao to Alaminos: PhP393.00 (air-conditioned) PhP300.00 (ordinary)
Pasay to Alaminos: PhP403.00 (air-conditioned) PhP308.00 (ordinary)
Trip schedules: please call Five Star hotline +63.927.712.4349 for the latest bus trip schedule


Driving Directions to Hundred Islands:

From Manila, head to EDSA then NLEX and SCTEX all the way to Tarlac then take the road going to Camiling, San Clemente, Mangatarem (Pangasinan), Aguilar, Bugallon, Labrador, Sual, and Alaminos

Activities:

swimming, snorkeling, diving, beach bumming (some beaches have lots of jelly fishes (dikya) if in season), rappeling

Coming Up:

Hundred Islands Beach Resorts, Hotels, Accommodations

Labels: Ilocos Region, Islands, National Parks, Pangasinan, Travel Guides

There are claims that the Hollywood movies Lord of the Rings ("The Felloswhip of the Ring," "The Two Towers," "The Return of the King") used swords forged not in the fires of Mordor but in the fires of the northern town of Pozzorubio, Pangasinan. This claim is also made for the Braveheart (Mel Gibson) and Batman Begins (Christian Bale) using old jeepney leaf springs (called molye in Tagalog) and ordered by Hollywood movie producers.

What's definite though is that the Hollywood movies of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy were shot in New Zealand but the swords of Gandalf, the little Hobbit Frodo, the Dark Lord Sauron and "The Return of the King" Aragorn can be bought at swordsmiths shops (Panday or pandayan) scattered in this northern town of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan.

Known to Tutubi for years yet the chance to actually find time to look for the place known as the Bayan ng Panday (town of blacksmiths) and Pandayan (blacksmith shop) in barangay Palacpalac of Pozzorubio. He, on one occasion, asked around but didn't find time to look for it due to lack of time

On the way home from Baguio, without an inkling to look for the blacksmith shops, he spotted a shop selling knives, swords, battle axes, katana, kris and kampilan along the national highway of Pangasinan that ended his quest, and still unplanned at that: he met one of the legendary panday of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan


How much do sword replicas cost in Pozzorubio? It's around PhP3,000.00 up, the longer the sword, more expensive it gets of course. Tutubi asked for the price of the Braveheart sword, 1.8 meters long and a few kilograms in weight that must give an idea how big and tall the real William Wallace was, the shopkeeper told him it's PhP8,000.000 while a Rambo jungle survival knife, a replica of Sylvester Stallone's knife in the popular Vietnam War movie is around PhP1,500.00.

He asked for his business card and took note of the shops address, contact number and location coordinates in his GPS navigator so he can go back anytime without getting lost.

Tutubi loves epic drama movies, or those set in the middle ages even prehistoric times (even if they mostly have historically fictitious scripts) and would love to buy replicas of swords used in those movies he loves: The Last Samurai (Tom Cruise), Kingdom of Heaven (Orlando Bloom), 300 (Gerard Butler), but money and space to actually display them swords are not yet in his arsenal.

Someday, he'll probably will but he ensures that he'll buy three swords first, the kampilan, kris and the katana. Two Filipino swords and a Japanese sword used by a samurai (yes, the samurai is the warrior brandishing a katana, the sword. Most Filipinos call the sword samurai)

Looking for an authentic cosplay with medieval armor and real swords as costumes? :P

---

Hollywood Movie Notes:

The claimed original sword of William Wallace, a Scotsman who rebelled against the king of England in the 13th century and whose life was made into the movie Braveheart, is 1.8 meters long and is stored at a museum in Scotland.

The Kingdom of Heaven is about the Crusades and the war of Jerusalem against Saladin during the Middle Ages

The Last Samurai is a fictional epic drama set during the late nineteenth century Japan

300 tells a fictionalized story about the Battle of Thermopylae where King Leonidas led 300 Spartan warriors to a battle against the Persian king Xerxes. The Battle of Thermopylae has a similar tale and ending as the Battle of Tirad Pass in Philippine history.

Labels: Central Luzon, OTOP, Pangasinan

Just some sort of drive-by Visita Iglesia in Pangasinan on the way to Bolinao town, you can see two old churches along the way

These are just two drive-by photos, you can see the effect of the car tint plus some slight blur and poor composition :(

St. Raymund the Peñafort Church, Mangatarem, Pangasinan (Mangatarem Church)

Mangatarem church features a large green dome, technically called the apse, common in baroque style churches of old

St. Joseph The Patriarch Church Aguilar, Pangasinan (Aguilar Church):

the church has similar architecture and facade with the churches of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte but not the earthquake baroque style of siblings up north

these two churches are easiest to visit should you decide to do a Visita Iglesia Pangasinan in Holy Week, particularly on Holy Thursday where Catholic faithful visit seven churches.

related posts:
Bolinao Church
Visita Iglesia Ilocos Sur

Labels: Churches, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Visita Iglesia

A hidden gem of Bolinao, Pangasinan unknown to ordinary people is the presence of a long fine white sand beach in barangay Patar, less than a kilometer from Cape Bolinao Lighthouse that is a perfect spot for backpackers and travelers with a shoestring budget.

Patar Shite Beach's stretch of fine white sand, with Treasures of Bolinao Beach Resort on the background

fine white sand, clear waters, no hecklers and pesky vendors in sight unlike...it's more fun here than...

Patar Beach Resorts, hotels, accommodations and camp site:

there are really two "Patar Beach resorts" here on Patar White Beach, there's the 5 star Treasures of Bolinao Beach Resort and the bundget travel-friendly cottages for rent on the beachfront.

Cottages for rent rates are pegged at PhP200/cottage for a day. Backpackers can pitch tents on the beach but camping rates for PhP200 to be paid at barangay Patar for them to provide security and for the use of public restrooms/washroom/toilets.

Tutubi asked around for overnight accommodations, he got quotes for as low as PhP1500.00/cottage good for 15 people (backpacker or dorm type) not for the squimish but very cheap beachfront accommodations.

the public restroom near the service road to Patar White beach

open cottages for family picnics/company outings for only PhP200.00/cottage/day

Next...cheap souvenir shirts and shellcrafts

Related Posts on Bolinao, Pangasinan:

Bolinao Beach Resorts
Puerto del Sol beach Resort and Spa
Enchanted Cave Bolinao Pangasinan
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
Bolinao Church
Binungey

Labels: Beaches, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

Standing 101 feet high, Cape Bolinao Lighthouse is the second tallest lighthouse in the Philippines, next only to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. Located in Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan, it guides sailors and fishermen from the coast of Cape Bolinao. It was built by the Americans some time in 1903 (thus it's not really an old Spanish Lighthouse)

Like most lighthouses in the Philippines, it's operated by the Philippine Coast Guard and now running on solar power.

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse with Scarlett, Tutubi's new travel buddy in view




a crude attempt at framing the shot behind a flower with the camera held so low without even looking at the viewfinder...turned out fine though

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse offers a sweeping view of Cape Bolinao passage, the iconic Treasures of Bolinao beach resort with its lighthouse logo and the backpacker-friendly white sand beach of Patar.

---

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
Coordinates: N16 18 25.6 E119 47 07.8

Labels: Ilocos Region, Lighthouses, Pangasinan

A few hundred meters from Puerto del Sol Beach Resort and Spa, along the road going to Cape Bolinao Lighthouse and Patar white beach, are several underground caves with natural swimming pools where tourists go to after beach bumming on the white sand beach of Patar.



One of the more popular, and promoted by Bolinao Tourism people, is the so called Enchanted Cave, a privately-owned resort/park with the underground cave and a natural pool of cold, refreshing fresh water.

On the way to the cave entrance, near the parking lot are coral stones, testament to the fact that Luzon Island, not just Bolinao used to be underwater (did you also notice this in Sagada? way up in the mountains of the Cordillera?)

these rocks are actually dead corals, proof that at least this part of Bolinao used to be submerged under the sea

fossilized giant clams probably millions of years old though no carbon dating of scientific way to verify the claim

the underground natural swimming pool of Enchanted Cave beckons to swimmers

Review and Comment on Enchanted Cave:

This cave reminds Tutubi of Bohol's Hinagdanan Cave, something overrated and bordering as a tourist trap with expensive entrance fee plus the fact that it's being promoted as something enchanted or mystic just to lure tourists. Near Enchanted Cave are other pseudo-spelunking attractions e.g. Wonderful Cave then Cindy's Cave.

---

Enchanted Cave:
Contact Numbers: +63.928.783.9890; +63.939.5709907
Coordinates: N16 20 35.5 E119 48 13.6

Enchanted Cave Entrance Fee:

Entrance Fee: PhP50.00
Swimming: PhP70.00 (PhP50.00 + PhP20.00)

Parking:
4 wheel vehicle: PhP25.00 (cars, jeeps, vans)
3 wheel vehicle: PhP15.00
2 wheel vehicle: PhP10.00

How to get there:

Ride a tricycle from Bolinao town proper. Bolinao is a bus ride from Manila (e.g. Victory Liner) and about 1 hour from Alaminos, Pangasinan

Labels: Caves, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

A visit to the local market is always recommended by Tutubi for first time visitors to a place. There you can see various delicacies and local specialties unknown to Manila denizens that locals are not aware are sought after by "intrepid" explorers like Tutubi always on the lookout for something fresh and new. In front of Bolinao town hall and Bolinao church, there are several stalls chanced upon by Tutubi selling Pangasinan's version of suman: binungey



Similar in manner of cooking to the tinubong of Ilocos, binungey recipe involves cooking sticky rice and coconut milk inside bamboo tubes roasted in fire. Prices range from PhP20.00 each to PhP33.00 (3 for PhP100.00) depending on size of the bamboo tube container.



How does binungey taste like? It's something similar to the sinaing sa gata of Paete, Laguna without the chocolate dip. Binungey though has the slight taste of bamboo, unlike sinaing sa gata cooked in metal cookware and dipped in hot chocolate, often served for breakfast at Paete Public Market.

---

How to make Binungey (Source: Alaminos government website):

"1. Soak glutinous rice in coconut extract for a few hours.
2. Then, fill the bamboo tubes with glutinous rice, ¾ full.
3. Top the glutinous rice either with a banana leaf or the coconut shavings that was extracted for the coconut extract.
4. Arrange bamboo tubes in a row in an upright position. Then, lit up a fire on each side, using either wood or coal, just near enough to allow the heat to reach the tubes.
5. Let it steam for a few hours. Then, you can either top it with sugar, nuts or milk upon serving"

Related posts on Bolinao, Pangasinan:

Bolinao Catholic Church
Puerto del Sol

Labels: Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Pasalubong

Just two drive-by pictures of two landmarks in Bolinao, Pangasinan: The old stone church of Bolinao, formally called St. James the Great Parish (same with Paete, Laguna making July 25 the date of Bolinao town fiesta) and the red brick Bolinao town hall.

The Bolinao Church was built by the Augustinians in 1609 and still stands to this day. Behind the church is Bolinao Public Market where you can buy danggit at just PhP250.00/kilo (similar danggit in Cebu costs around PhP750.00) but at limited supply. There several hotels, bars, restaurants and hotels in town, and a 24 hour eatery.



Across the church is the red brick Bolinao town hall. In between the two structures is the main road where you can also see stalls selling binungey. Near the town hall are several banks (one of them with an ATM), and a handful of bus companies going to Bolinao either from Manila, Alaminos or Dagupan: Boltex Express, Bolinao Express, Mhel Ben, Dagupan Bus Company, Victory Liner, Santrans, et al.



Related posts on Bolinao, Pangasinan:

Binungey
Puerto del Sol

Labels: Churches, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

With his family in tow, comfortably seated in a shiny, new red Toyota Innova, which he christened Scarlett, Tutubi went to visit the tip of Pangasinan peninsula north of Manila on a roadtrip to celebrate his nth birthday. His destination, one of the three high-end resorts in Bolinao, Pangasinan: Puerto del Sol, Punta Riviera and Treasures of Bolinao. He chose Puerto del Sol (meaning: "gate of the sun" in Spanish) for this one though he intends to visit the latter two resorts in the future.

Located about an hour drive from the Hundred Islands city of Alaminos, Bolinao stands at the tip of Pangasinan peninsula with a string of resorts in Barangay Ilog Malino up to Barangay Patar (with it's white sand beach). Welcome to Puerto del Sol: Tutubi's home for 3D/2N for his birthday with loved ones.

Pictures of Puerto del Sol Beach Resort, Bolinao, Pangasinan:

the comfy room of mansion villa where Tutubi spent 3D/2N in

no other people using the pool as it's a weekday and few guests besides Tutubi. In fact, Tutubi had the resort entirely on his own the first day he was there

guests gamely pose for pictures with picturesque palm trees inside the resort

Review of Puerto del Sol Beach Resort:

Facilities: excellent and family-friendly. Large swimming pool with a lighted jacuzzi you can enjoy for a few hours everyday.

a washroom featuring clams, just hope they're not the endanged tridacna gigas. this room, near the beachfront, needs maintenance

Room Rate: Expensive. You get your money's worth but not fit for backpackers who opt to explore places, not stay in expensive resorts. Tutubi rented two rooms for 3D/2N and imagine how much he spent for his family (9 in all including his sister and nephew) but family bonding time is simply-- priceless!
Parking: free parking in front of the resort, open yet guarded by resort security

Food: nothing to rave about, breakfast is ok but the food is so-so. Restaurant menu prices will easily cost you about PhP300/person. Tutubi went out of the resort to enjoy cheaper meals for his big entourage.

Beachfront: Ilog Malino Beach is nowhere near Patar White Beach in terms of sand quality but the presence of a breakwater makes it safe even for children to play around (though they still have to closely guarded)



Lastly and as always, this is not a sponsored post and thus an independent review of Puerto Del Sol Beach Resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

--

Puerto del Sol Beach Resort
Coordinates: N16 21 18.1 E119 48 46.1

Booking Office is on Meralco Avenue at Rennaisance Towers, Pasig City

PLease contact Puerto del Sol Beach resort directly through their published contact numbers or visit their official website for promos, bookings, events, current room rates and other inquiries (like: No, you can't bring food and drinks inside the resort)

Related Posts:
Directions to Pangasinan
Bolinao Beach Resorts
Pangasinan Beach Resorts
Enchanted Cave Bolinao Pangasinan
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
Bolinao Church
Binungey
Patar White Beach

Labels: Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Resorts

A visit or a drive-by Pangasinan won't ever be complete without noticing stalls and stalls of various Pangasinan pasalubong in bottles called bagoong and patis, but it's more enlightening if a short visit to a bagoong factory, particularly in Lingayen, would be made for a short cultural tour of bagoong making.

How to make Bagoong?

Bagoong's ingredients are just fish (usually galunggong (round scad), dilis (anchovy) and tirong (similar to dilis)), solar salt (naturally evaporated salt from seawater sourced mainly from the towns of Bolinao and Anda, Pangasinan) and water, mixed together and left to ferment for a few months in earthen pots called burnay in Ilocos. It's a process where patis is also created.

a room full of earthen pots, called burnay in the vernacular, where bagoong fermentation process takes place for a few months
burnay jar with bagoong up close
a motion-blurred picture of a bagoong maker stirring the stinking concoction of fermented fish, salt and water
patis (fish sauce) and bagoong for sale at a roadside stall selling pasalubong on the national highway in Lingayen, Pangasinan

With the mixture of fish, salt and water fermenting inside the clay pots (the burnay) for a few months resulting in the exotic aroma loved by many, hated by some, combine it with calamansi for a truly Filipino dip for almost everything or an ulam by itself to underprivileged Filipinos.

Bagoong is loved so much by Filipinos that it's not uncommon to see them at airports trying to "smuggle" bottles hand-carried only to be intercepted at destination airports abroad by customs and quarantine people (e.g. Australia and the US).

Bagoong, the stinking fish sauce of Pangasinan: Smells like hell yet tastes like heaven.


Related Post:
Rufina Patis Factory, Malabon

Labels: Filipino Food, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Pasalubong

Going to Pangasinan with your own vehicle? Here's an updated route guide for you to get to Pangasinan the fastest and safest way via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway or SCTEx that shortened travel time to Pangasinan.

Driving Directions to Pangasinan via SCTEx:

From EDSA going to Monumento, turn right towards NLEX, drive towards the end of the modern tollway, take Dau exit toll gate and follow the SCTEx spur, pay the toll fees. Turn right on seeing direction signs to Tarlac City. On reaching the end of the expressway, turn left, follow the road (Landmarks: Central Park Hotel, Microtel Inns and Suites and Aquino Center) then right on MacArthur Highway (beside Hacienda Luisita)

In Tarlac City portion of MacArthur Highway you will see the gate of Camp General Servillano Aquino, Servillano Aquino Park (where vintage tanks and airplanes are on display), Vilmar Hotel and Restaurant and SM Tarlac (under Construction)

Choose left fork where Mercury Drug is and the Siesta Bus Station (bus terminals of Victory Liner and Five Star)

You will see Tarlac State University then Ninoy Aquino Monument then turn left right at Agana bridge, continue driving and pass by Santa Ignacia, Camiling (camiling Church: St. Michael and Camiling Public Market), then left to San Clemente (a right turn will lead to Paniqui, Tarlac while going straight will take you to Pangasinan towns of Bayambang, Urbiztondo, Bautista, Alcala, Sto. Tomas, Malasiqui,and San Carlos City)

After the town of San Clemente, Tarlac is now the province of Pangasinan with the towns of Mangatarem, Aguilar, Bugallon then Labrador.

In Labrador, you have the option to get to Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan, Mangladan or San Fabian if you go eastbound or head straight to Sual, Alaminos (going to Hundred Islands National Park or Mabini), Bani, Agno Anda, and Bolinao.

The towns of Infanta, Dasol and Burgos are more accessible via Zambales than Tarlac.

If you're going to the northern Pangasinan towns drive straight on MacArthur Highway and pass by Gerona, before entering Pangasinan town of San Manuel, Rosales (where the new SM City Rosales is located and a road leading to Balungao, Uringan, San Quintin, Natividad, San Nicolas), Villasis, Urdaneta City (where roads lead to Calasiao, Mapandan, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, Dagupan City and San Fabian even Asingan), Binalonan (with roads leading to Laoac, Manaoag, San Manuel,), Pozzorubio, and Sison.

After Sison town is the town of Rosario, La Union province, the gateway to Baguio City, or onwards to Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

Related Post:
SCTEx Map

Labels: Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

The search for possible beach resorts for company outing in Pangasinan yielded a long list of Pangasinan Beach Resorts for Tutubi and his officemates to choose from. The beaches of Pangasinan are located on the Lingayen Gulf or facing the South China Sea.

Herewith is the list of beach resorts in Pangasinan for your information. No information on the cheapest rates and accommodations. Please visit the official websites or contact the published telephone numbers for information and inquiries. Some information sourced from Wikimapia.

San Fabian Beach resorts, bordering the town of Rosario, la Union in Lingayen Gulf. There are cottages on Blue Beach, Bolasi Beach and Mabilao Beach

Charissa's Beach Houses with swimming pool and a kiddie pool
Contact details: +63.75.523.6861

Coconut Cove Resort

Judge Benitez beach house on Bolasi Beach

Jon Jon Ang Resort

Lazy "A" Beach Resort

Porto Paradiso

PTA Resort - operated by the Philippine Tourism Authority, quite old actually

Sand Castles Resort (under construction)

Sierra Vista Beach Resort
http://www.sierravistabeachresort.com/

Soller's Beach House

Waverunner Resort

Windsurf Resort

Dagupan Beach Resorts - with Bonuan beach, together with the beach of Lingayen, served as liberation landing points during WWII

J.P.Lalas Beach Haus
there are many cheap resorts on Bonuan Beach that you can visit for walk-in beach bums :P

Binmaley Beach Resorts

Lingayen Beach Resorts - historic landing site of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II and cut by the Limahong Channel.

Beach of Lingayen with fine gray sand with waves suitable for newbie surfing and skimboarding

Dona Evelyn Beach Resort

El Puerto Marina Beach Resort and Spa

Lingayen Gulf Resort - owned and operated by the provincial goverment and near the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol

Labrador Beach Resorts: there's Uyong Beach open to the public with cottages for rent

Villa Jireh Resort (not beach front), Bargy. Laois, Labrador

Sual Beach Resorts, includes Cabalitian Island

Tres Amiga's Beach Resort

Alaminos Beach Resorts (Hundred Islands Beach Resorts)

Bolo Beach Resort

Maxine Paradise Resort

Anda Beach Resorts on Tondol Beach in Anda Pangasinan, about two hours away from Dagupan City. Siapar Island is also part of Anda town.

Tondol White Beach Resort, a community-based beach resort in Anda, Pangasinan

Bolinao Beach Resorts, particularly the white sand of Patar Beach, Balingasay Beach
Arnedo Beach, Ubog beach and Long Beach

A & E Garden

Andy's Dodson Resort And Game Cock Farm

Arguero Beach Resort

Balingasay Perpetual Beach Resort

Bing's Beach Resort
Tel. No.: +63.912.856.1585; +63.912.691.0082

Bolinao Getaway (Coolspot Resort) on Ubog Beach

Bolinao Treasures Beach Resort

Celeste Seabreeze Inn & Restaurant
Tel. No.: +63.75.554.2035

Chiling And Balmer Beach Resort

Coco Beach Resort

Dutch Beach Resort

El Pescador Village Inn
Tel. No.: +63.75.554.2559

El Piscador Hotel and Resort

Garden Paradise Resort

Ilog Malino Hotel and Resort
http://sunrisebolinao.com

Kuroshark Beach Resort

La Taverna De Orlanda Beach Resort

Lady Irish Beach Resort

Patar White Beach Resort

Polly's Beach Resort

Punta Riviera Resort - with infinity pool

Puerto del Sol Beach Hotel and Resort Club (most expensive)
http://www.puertodelsol.com.ph

Ramos Villareal Beach Resort

Rock Garden Resort & Rest.
Arnedo, Bolinao
Tel.No.: +63.75.554.2876; +63.912.313.9553

Stefania Beach Resort

Tropical Hut Beach Resort

Treasures of Bolinao, located on Patar White Beach: nearest to Bolinao Lighthouse
Official website: http://www.treasuresofbolinao.com
Manila Office Tel. No. : +632.375.8884; +632.413.4914
Bolinao Office Tel. No.: +63.916.372-1979; +63.916.372.5365; +63.919.669.2390

Verling Beach Resort

Villa Carolina y Juan Beach Resort
http://www.villacarolinapangasinan.com

Villa Soledad Beach Resort

Villa Vicente Leisure & Beach Resort Ilog-Malino

White Beach Resort "Dutch Beach Resort"
Tel. No.: +63.75.554.2292
Email: dutch.beach.nl@wxs.nl

Santiago Island beach Resorts

Agno Beach Resorts - mainly Aloleng Beach in Barangay Aloleng, Agno, Pangasinan

Bo.Abagatanen White Sand Beach, Umbrella Rocks of Sabangan Beach, and Aloleng Beach

Burgos beach Resorts
Sitio Cabongaoan, Ilio-Ilio, Burgos, Paratec Beach, Pedeg Beach

Dasol Beach Resorts: mainly on the white sand of Tambobong beach and Paratec Beach (secluded yet said to be SRO during holy week)

Infanta Beach Resorts - bordering Sta. Cruz, Zambales

Should you have additional information, correction or updates to this list, please feel free to leave comments.

Related Post:
Hundred Islands Tour

Labels: Beaches, Hotels and Resorts, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

Summer time, and company outing again for Tutubi and his officemates. This time, they were treated and pampered at a resort on the historic beach of Lingayen, Pangasinan: El Puerto Marina Resort and Spa

Located on Lingayen Gulf's long beachfront with fine gray sand with waves suitable for newbie surfing, El Puerto Marina provided the welcome respite from tired corporate slaves.

El Puerto Marina Pictures

Deluxe Accommodations at El Puerto Marina Resort and Spa. On the ground floor are the three massage rooms, spa with steam bath

A row of huts with a fishpond

the salt water swimming pool with odd green color possibly with algae
Lingayen beach is typical Pangasinan and Zambales: fine gray sand with waves suitable for surfing school

El Puerto Marina Beach Resort Review:

Accommodations: Tutubi's room is good for 4 persons with 2 single beds with little space in between plus a double-decker. It's suited more for budget-conscious families or for company outings. Rooms were clean though the beds need to be a little wider. The other rooms, more expensive are not like that though.

Food: The first buffet meal, a must for Tutubi's company, was miscalculated for the number of persons reserved and had to add more food to satiate Tutubi's voracious officemates. The resort management made up for it the next meals. There's an ice cream machine for the kids. Food was generally fine and the waiters/servers polite.

Facilities: the swimming pool is a little small for all large companies, saltwater system with green color possibly due to algae. The pool needs to be lit by a spotlight or in-pool lighting at night. The place has a large activity area and lawn suitable for team-building activities and games. Surf boards can be rented as well as ATVs, fishing rods (plus bait) and kayaks. The videoke is projected on a large screen to the delight of videoke-crazy people.

Price: accommodations are more for budget-conscious people though the rooms near the fishpond are more expensive and private. Beer costs PhP60.00/bottle, a little pricey for the place.

Overall: As earlier mentioned, it's not a cheap resort but a mid-end one. Companies looking for alternative summer outing destination can find the resort tailor-fit for their budget though it's about 4 hours from Manila via NLEX-SCTEx-Tarlac and about an hour to the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Related Post:
Hundred Islands National Park

Labels: Beaches, Hotels and Resorts, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Resorts

A town bordered by the province of La Union to the north and Pangasinan town of Mangaldan and Dagupan City to the south, San Fabian town is named after St. Fabian, who became a pope in the 3rd century.

Tutubi passed by the town to look for a particular ATM at the public market; found none, and instead caught sight of dozens of tricycles parked there.

Tricycles, so many of them parked in one place

A quick snapshot of white-colored San Fabian Church, without leaving the car, produced these photos below. Due to very limited time, no pictures of the church facade and interiors were taken...probably next time.

the entrance arch of the church compound, still colored white
the belfry of San Fabian Church, partially obstructed by a tree

San Fabian has a long beach on Lingayen Gulf, used as landing points of the US Naval and Marine forces during World War II Liberation period. Its beaches were tactically designated as Blue Beach, White Beach and Central Beach. (In similar fashion, the beaches of La Union were used by the invading Japanese forces at the start of WWII). Numerous beach resorts are located on the long strip of white sand beach today.

How to get there:

There are buses on EDSA going to Dagupan at regular schedules (e.g. Dagupan Bus Line). In Dagupan, transfer to jeepneys that pass by San Fabian.

Labels: Churches, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

Mention Calasiao to many people and they will automatically say puto, rice cakes, that is produced by the town using a simple yet famous recipe. Tutubi had a chance to re-visit the place after doing his usual work in Malasiqui town of Pangasinan.

Tutubi's main reason for passing by the town is to sample the famous puto, sold at the so called Calasiao Puto Produce, a market lines with stalls in front of the municipal hall.

Calasiao Puto Produce stalls selling puto and kutsinta (cuchinta) by the kilo (photo taken through a car windshield)
puto on a plate, a quick picture before munching the delectable dessert/delicacy.

After buying his pasalubong at one stall, Tutubi noticed the old church of Calasiao with a facade made of red bricks and officially called Saints Peter & Paul Church (same name as the old church in Makati on Burgos St.)

The old church of Calasiao, Pangasinan, constructed in 1621. (note to photogrpahers: church is facing west, this photo was taken around 11am)

a quick picture of the interiors with fairly recent look.

All this took only a few minutes as Tutubi had to rush to Dagupan to again check on something plus a re-visit to his favorite restaurant in Dagupan.

Labels: Churches, Filipino Food, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan

A favorite pilgrimage site for Catholics, the Our Lady of Manaoag, revered patroness of the sick, the helpless and the needy draws the faithful to the shrine in Manaoag, Pangasinan.

History of Manaoag shrine dates back to 1605 by its establishment by the Dominicans. The present church is a showcase of Romanesque architecture (the same one used by the Baclaran Church).

The ivory image was brought from Spain by way of Acapulco and venerated by many faithful Catholics who flock to the site on pilgrimages.





Travel Guide Manaoag Church

Manaoag Shrine Mass Schedules according to the official website:

Monday - Friday every hour 5am - 11am
Saturday - every hour 5am - 12nn & 4:30pm
Sunday - every hour 5am - 12nn, 3pm & 4:30pm

Feast of Senora de Manaoag: The fiesta of the Lady of the Most Holy Rosary popularly known as Señora de Manaoag, is celebrated on the third Wednesday after Easter Sunday.

Telephone number: +63.75.529.0132

How to get to Manaoag Church from Manila:

Commute: Bus companies Five Star, Victory Liner, and Dagupan Bus Line with bus terminals in on EDSA Cubao, Quezon City, have daily trip schedules that'll take you directly to Manaoag Church. Fare is around PhP231 one way and thr trip takes about 4 hours.

Victory Liner bus to Manaoag trip schedules: Sunday at 4 a.m. at the Pasay terminal and at 4 a.m. at the Cubao bus terminal of Victory Liner. Bus fare to Manaoag: PhP350.00

Other directions: Manaoag is bordered by Pozorrubio in the north, Urdaneta and Mapandan in the South, Binalonan in the east, and San Jacinto in the west all in Pangasinan.

Pasalubong: look for tupig sold in the vicinity of the church.

UPDATED: March 2013

Related Posts:
St. Clare Monastery
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Lipa
Our Lady of the Pillar
Kamay ni Hesus
Visita Iglesia Manila
Visita Iglesia Rizal and Laguna

Labels: Churches, Pangasinan, Pilgrimage Sites