So many inquiries in the past on the nearest beach resort to Manila and suggested beach resorts for company summer outing or team building activities but as always, Tutubi does not recommend specific beach resorts as he has no favorites nor even hidden affiliations. You can opt not to do the usual company outing ocular inspection to check beach quality, food tasting, amenities, and overnight room accommodations, just take note of these tips and suggestions.

UPDATED: March 2014

Herewith is only a general recommendation per area though there may be pockets of beaches that don't fit per Tutubi's description with estimated travel time out of Metro Manila and only land travel is considered i.e. no islands nor boat/ferry rides much more airplane rides (for those rich and generous companies)
Beach resorts in Cavite: travel time around 2 hours (even less due to Cavitex)

Tutubi visited Lido Beach Resort in Noveleta, Cavite without much expectation and he's right. The beach there is dirty as it's part of Manila Bay, you can even fish garbage out of the water. The sand is black and usually turns-off most city dwellers looking for a white beach in Cavite. The best beaches in Cavite are those at the southernmost tip of Cavite province with several high-end resorts like Puerto Azul (visited by Tutubi sometime in 1998), Caylabne Bay Resort, Boracay de Cavite

Beach Resorts in Bulacan: Travel Time: around 2-3 hours

not much is known about beach resorts in Bulacan due to it's also part of Manila Bay so if you can find them, expect them to be dirty and unfit for swimming. Bulacan though boasts of several nice resorts with wave pools.

Bataan Beach Resorts: travel time around 3 hours via NLEX

The beaches of Morong Bataan is inside Manila Bay, not that dirty as quite far already from Manila but the sand is fine gray. Reason why it's not that famous. The beaches of Bagac town (where Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar the resort of old houses is located), on the other side of Bataan Peninsula has white sand and good enough for human activities.

Batangas Beach Resorts: travel time varies from 3 hours to 5 hours

In Batangas province you have so many choices from Nasugbu (the nearest to Metro Manila via Tagaytay) but doesn't have real nice beaches and shoreline for swimming.

The much hyped Laiya Beach in San Juan is quite nice but not quite as raved by other people. On one end of the beach is fine sand bit murky and on the other end is the so-called La Luz point, a rocky part where it's nice to snorkel. In between the two is a short strip of fine white sand. Tutubi visited this in 2005 when the popular and pricey Acuatico Beach Resort with it's nice infinity pool is not yet built.

the nice part of the white beach of Laiya, San Juan, Batangas

Lobo Beach resorts, visited by Tutubi in summer of 2012 (unposted yet) does not offer very good beach too as the beach is full of pebbles (but not the same as those in Luna, La Union). They offer great diving experience though as you can see Isla verde from a distance, said to be one of the best dive sites in the country. Calatagan has also has nice beaches while Anilao town has mostly dive resorts catering to scuba divers.

The once famous Matabungkay beach in town deteriorated with too many balsa (bamboo rafts) parked on the shore that make swimming difficult and sometimes dangerous

munting buhangin beach with munting visitors

Nasugbu beaches hold promise with fine sand of Munting Buhangin Beach and nearby beaches where you can see Munting Buhangin Beach Resort, Punta Fuego, Canyon Cove and others.

Quezon Beach Resorts: travel time 4-5 hours

Parts of the beaches of Quezon Tutubi has visited include Sariaya (his first beach experience in "19forgotten" has dark gray sand but the area is good for swimming. Same in Atimonan town but the waves may be a bit dangerous. Up north in the towns of Real and Infanta, the beaches are gray sand, sometimes rocky, and with huge waves as they're facing the Pacific Ocean. The town of Pagbilao has nice white sand beaches though but there may not be enough beach resorts rooms and overnight accommodations for large companies.

Quezon has many islands too with fine white sand beaches that many bloggers hype to be like Boracay (usually exaggerated accounts) and also the southern towns are unexplored by Tutubi.

Zambales Beach Resorts: 3 to 5 hours travel time via NLEX-SCTEx

not so crowded and tourist-infested, the beach of Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales

Here you have lots of choices though may be quite far already for some companies. Subic Bay has nice resorts including the once popular White Rock and the pricey Marina Lighthouse Resort. Most of Zambales shoreline has black sand or fine gray sand like those in Pundaquit, San Antonio (where you can have nice yet pricey resorts like Punta de Uian)Pundaquit is the gateway to Anawangin Cove and Capones Island.

Pangasinan Beach Resorts: travel time 4 to 6 hours via NLEX, SCTEx

the backpacker-friendly Patar beach in Bolinao, Pangasinan

Pangasinan is a large province. there are many towns with pockets of nice white sand beaches sandwiched between those with gray sand. Western Pangasinan boasts of nice beaches of Anda, and Bolinao and Tambobong White Beach in Dasol town. In Bolinao beaches you can choose Ilog Malino for safe beach for family outings and the backpacker-friendly Patar beach has fine slightly brownish red sand. Pangasinan also has historic beaches in Mangaldan and Lingayen (where resorts like El Puerto Marina can be found) which played silent witness during the liberation of World War II. The Hundred Islands in Alaminos boasts of several beach resorts for overnight accommodations, some with cheap room rates, even dormitory-type rooms for the budget conscious (but usually without official websites nor any published telephone contact numbers)

Lingayen beach is typical Pangasinan and Zambales: fine gray sand with waves suitable for surfing school

La Union Beach Resorts: Travel time of 5 hours or more via NLEX, SCTEx (but expect this to shorten once TPLEx is completed)

La Union boasts of nice white sand beaches but they're actually popular for one thing: surfing. You can find beach resorts in the towns of Bauan and San Fernando (where the expensive Thunderbird Poro Point is located)

Further up north, lies Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte (where Pagudpud resorts await) that are too far away for most Manila-based companies to consider for summer outing. Not much nice white sand beaches in Ilocos Sur except Sabangan Beach in Santiago, Ilocos Sur (as Tutubi was able to scour most of seaside towns of Ilocos Sur) and probably other towns north of Vigan (unexplored by Tutubi)

Santiago Cove: a hidden treasure of Ilocos Sur, a white sand beach without the crowds

Lastly, if our company summer outing came too late for summer and into the rainy season, you can check out Pansol hotspring resorts in Calamba, Laguna where you can swim to your hearts content without getting out of the hot water due to freezing cold when out of it. :)

This is not a definitive list as Tutubi has yet to fully explore all of them. He may have left out some nice places or gave comments that don't agree with your own.

Labels: Bataan, Batangas, Beaches, Bulacan, Hotels and Resorts, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Luzon, Quezon, Zambales

A very popular resort and resort in Quezon Province that prides itself with eating lunch with wet feet in near a waterfall, Villa Escudero was visited by Tutubi for less than 4 hours, yet paid the whole day tour package rate, in order to catch up with his elementary class reunion.

Villa Escudero is a coconut plantation hacienda turned into a resort that caters to local and foreign tourists to give visitors a glimpse and experience life a hacienda. Here, tourists are ferried from the entrance to tour the resort facilities on carabao-pulled carts. Other facilities are swimming pool, team building activity area, river rafting, museum and church tour plus a cultural show (that Tutubi missed)

Pictures of Villa Escudero:

the primary come-on of Villa Escudero is the lunch buffet at the foot of a waterfalls (Libasan Falls) but the waterfall is actually not a falls but a spillway of the dam to hold water for a hydroelectric power plant generator

too many people at lunch time, hard to get a seat, but tourists savor the rustic and native feel of having lunch with feet wet at a waterfalls


some visitors try river rafting on bamboo rafts

carabao cart ferries tourists from the entrance to the activity area and for a day tour of hacienda escudero

review of villa escudero, tiaong, quezon:

buffett lunch is nothing to rave about though the caldereta is nice but not a hint of chili as it's supposed to be. other dishes on the menu are mango, bagoong, grilled tilapia, tinolang manok (served using coconut shells instead of cups/bowls), and pinakbet.

too many people on weekends, long queues plus it looks like a popular fast food restaurant where you need to wait for others to finish before you get a table (no reservations, first come first served)

Tutubi wonders how it VIlla Escudero vs Hidden Valley Springs will turn out but he still can't make a comparison. He hasn't been to Hidden Valley and he spent just less than 4 hours at Villa Escudero (though the lunch really deserves a negative review). Tutubi thinks he will never return to Villa Escudero unless his company again pays for it. For now, he can at least boast: been there, done that!

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Villa Escudero Entrance Fee/Rates: PhP1275.00 (corporate rate/discounted)
Villa Escudero day tour includes buffet lunch, river rafting, use of team building facilities
Resorts Opens: 8am to 5pm (no overnight accommodations?, visit Villa Escudero official website, call their contact numbers for inquiries and reservaations)

Warning:
try to avoid going to Villa Escudero on summer weekends due to it's really overflowing with people, something Tutubi doesn't really like. Weekdays may be a lot less touristy

sample menu prices:
buffett lunch does not include drinks, herewith
juices (mango, pineapple, orange): PhP45.00
nestea (lemon, calamansi): PhP35.00
softdrinks in can: PhP35.00
Coke light: PhP40.00
fresh buko juice (coco water): PhP30.00
San Miguel Beer Pale Pilsen: PhP50.00
SanMig Light: PhP50.00


How to get to Villa Escudero:

Commute to Villa Escudero: board a bus to Lucena (Jam Transit, Jac Liner et al. Bus fare from LRT Buendia/Taft Avenue is around PhP130.00+) then drop off in San Pablo along the highway. ride a tricycle

Driving directions to villa escudero, tiaong, quezon:

from Quezon City or Makati, villa Escudero is just a straight drive to SLEX, take Toll Road 3 to exit at Sto. Tomas Maharlika Highway, drive past Sto. Tomas (Batangas), the Laguna cities of Alaminos and San Pablo then turn left a few meters from the welcome arch of Quezon (the boundary of Laguna and Quezon Province). Open street map has a useful road map of Villa Escudero

Green Star Express Star Toll, SCTEx

Labels: Calabarzon, Hotels and Resorts, Quezon, Quezon Resorts, Southern Tagalog

Stuck in Metro Manila in Holy Week, like Tutubi and also allergic to malls and usual trips? Herewith is a suggested itinerary for a day or two around the so called Laguna Loop route:

Old Churches of Rizal (Visita Iglesia)
Baras Church
Morong Church
Tanay Church

after visiting Tanay Church, you can proceed to the giant Mother Mary shrine in Rizal in Sampaloc, Tanay near Camp Capinpin and Marcos Highway called Regina RICA

the shade under the giant statue can seat about 70 people. there's an adoration chapel insde the statue, the only place where picture taking is not allowed. guests are requested to dress modestly and keep quiet

Old Churches of Laguna (Visita Iglesia) with coordinates for your GPS:

Pakil Church: St. Peter of Alcantara Parish
Paete Church: St. James the Apostle Parish
Longos Church (Kalayaan): San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist)
Lumban Church
Pagsanjan Church: Our Lady of Guadalupe (not old though, it's reconstructed)

In Pakil, you can trek up Mt. Ping-as to visit the Holy Cross where a viewpoint offers a magnificent vista of Pakil town and Laguna de Bay.

In Paete, you may opt to drive to the top of the hill for the Tatlong Krus,
similar to the biblical Three Crosses on Calvary Hill in Jerusalem

the three crosses taken about 6 years ago using Tutubi's then trusted Canon Ixus 30

After Reaching Pagsanjan, you can opt to turn left after passing Pagsanjan Church (Our Lady of Guadalupe) and Pagsanjan Municipal Hall towards Cavinti and Luisiana (where the old churches await) en route to Lucban ( to visit Kamay ni Hesus, an already popular pilgrimage site on the hillsides of the Sierra Madre



From Lucban, you can drive back to Majayjay and Liliw where two old churches again await.

list of old churches in Laguna (from the northeast of Laguna de Bay (Laguna Lake))

Pakil Church, Paete church, Longos Church, Lumban Church, Cavinti Church, Luisiana Church, Magdalena Church, Majayjay Church (beautiful earthquake baroque), Liliw Church (red bricks), Sta. Cruz Church, Pila Church, Bay Church, Los Banos Church, Calamba Church (where Jose Rizal was baptized)

So many places to visit and explore, you really can't do it in a day, suggest an overnight somewhere probably in Paete, with the moving saints during the Holy Wednesday and Maundy Thursday Procession and the Dapit on Good Friday including the Mater Dolorosa, which won for Mariano Madrinan a Gold Medal in the

Estimated travel time, via the main roads, not the highway (Manila East Road)
conservative approximations:

Antipolo to Teresa, Rizal: 20 minutes
Pakil to Paete: 15 minutes
Paete to Longos, Kalayaan: 15 minutes
Lumban to Pagsanjan: 10 minutes
Pagsanjan to Lucban, Quezon : 1 hour


GPS coordinates/waypoints:

Tatlong Krus: N14 21 53.7 E121 29 32.8
Kamay ni Hesus: N14 06 00.5 E121 34 25.6

Pakil Church: N14 22 50.9 E121 28 44.7
Paete Church: N14 21 52.3 E121 28 54.4
Longos Church N14 20 25.0 E121 28 52.7

related post:
Holy Week in Paete, Laguna

Labels: Calabarzon, Holy Week, Laguna, Pilgrimage Sites, Quezon, Rizal, Southern Tagalog

Just a quick post on a Quezon specialty that doesn't really need an introduction: broas (lady finger) that Tutubi loves for refrigerator cake recipe than graham crackers.



broas up close and personal...

Tutubi Jr. loves broas, due to its usual sweet cookie taste toddlers love...you can buy broas almost everywhere even at malls in Manila but the pasalubong tradition is just one thing...a medium size can of broas costs around P180.00 in Quezon particularly in Lucban.

Labels: Pasalubong, Quezon

A portion of Jacinto St. between A.M. Regidor and Legaspi Streets is the so called Calle Budin of Tayabas, Quezon where you can buy budin (cassava pudding) and other Quezon specialties e.g. broas (ladyfingers), nilupak, pancit hab-hab (pancit lucban) noodles, tikoy, Lucban longganisa (pork sausage Lucban style), pinagong, sometimes pinais, lambanog (plain and flavored) as well as pasalubong products from nearby Laguna towns e.g. espasol, puto seko, shing-a-ling, uraro et al.

Photos of Tayabas' Calle Budin (Cassava Pudding Street, Olympus 1050SW):

Calle Budin sign at the corner of Legaspi and jacinto St.
you cannot park your car on Kalye Budin for it's too narrow or the house owner won't let you, park along Legazpi or Regidor
take your pick on Quezon pasalubong shopping at one store visited by Tutubi

Tutubi hurriedly bought 5 budin at a cost of P28.00/piece (good for 2-3 persons), a large can of Campville broas at P140.00, a small pack of Campita's tikoy at P40 each, plus a small bottle of lambanog (distilled coconut wine).

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Kalye Budin
Tayabas Pasalubong Shopping
Coordinates: N14°1'32" E121°35'38"

Labels: Calabarzon, Pasalubong, Quezon, Southern Tagalog

A large, beautiful and imposing church in Tayabas, Quezon, officially named the Minor Basilica of St. Michael de Archangel (San Miguel de Arcangel Basilica Menor or Tayabas Basilica for short) is a typical stop-over for Tutubi after visiting friends at Tayabas Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TMPC).

the imposing facade of Tayabas Basilica

the cavernous interiors of the minor basilica with the altar, apse in view

The National Historical Institute (NHI, now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) marker states that the previous stone church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1743 and present structure was built afterwards with various improvements. The NHI marker further states that it's one of the most beautiful churches in the Philippines.

The church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, thus the image of the angel on the church patio and the famous depiction of St. St. Michael The Archangel slaying the devil (which is made more famous on the label of a popular "stainless" gin maker).


the popular depiction of St. Michael the Archangel about to slay the devil



another popular church dedicated to the archangel can be found in San Miguel, Manila where a more dramatic representation of the San Miguel Arcanghel can be found.

Lastly, this is recommended stop for those planning for a Quezon Visita Iglesia itinerary during Holy Week.

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Minor Basilica of St. Michael The Archangel
Tayabas, Quezon
Coordinates: N14°1'33" E121°35'26

Labels: Calabarzon, Churches, Quezon, Southern Tagalog

A stone's throw away from the Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon is an old Spanish stone house (bahay na bato) built in 1831 and witnessed numerous historical events including serving as a Japanese garrison during the Second World War.

The original structure, made from light materials, was constructed in 1776 and was replaced with the stone house architecture in 1831 (as indicated on the National Historical Institute (NHI, now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines)

the bahay na bato picture taken at high noon, thus the harsh shadow

the NHI Marker narrating Casa de Comunidad de Tayabas' history in Tagalog (Tutubi has a collection of NHI markers, eh?)

Inside arch of the museum ground floor (no entrance fees but you can donate any amountfor museum upkeep

Inside the bahay na bato is a museum showcasing Tayabas town's famous products including the lambanog,a product of a local destilleria (distillery) plus thwo chambers: one with pictures of prominent sons of Tayabas and another with preserved native ternos (dresses) (taking pictures not allowed inside)

For a few minutes before leaving Tayabas, Tutubi traveled back in time through the displays of the museum and hurriedly took off to get home to Manila via Lucban, and the Laguna towns of Luisiana, Cavinti, Pagsanjan en route to Manila to avoid heavy traffic on Maharlika Highway.

Up Next...Tayabas Basilica

Labels: Calabarzon, Museums, Quezon, Southern Tagalog

Last week Tutubi saw a teaser on TV about an adventure attraction in Cebu that he intends do in his upcoming trip to Cebu (for the nth time). But due to his channel surfing ways, he forgot about it almost missed the entire episode of Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho's Summer Special.

The first segment featured some destinations tagged as alternative summer destinations to Bora, or groomed to be the next big thing as Bora-- very fine white sand beach, resorts and accommodations for every budget and an island of party animals.


If you weren't able to watch the KMJS April 4 episode, here's the summary of suggested destinations plus Tutubi's reviews and comments of the places mentioned-- because he's been to all of them-- and why he disagrees with the suggestion that the places won't be and can't be the next Bora
1. Anawangin Cove

A boat ride ride away from Barangay Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales (Also the gateway to Capones Lighthouse) is really picture-perfect place with a cove of fine white sand beach complimented with a backdrop of pine trees (actually agoho trees (Casuarina equisetifolia)), common to Zambales beaches) making the place a fusion of Bora and Baguio combined. It's a backpacker place, much like Bora decades ago, a favorite of trekkers who trek to the place and camp out.

Perfect, but, beware of a lurking danger in Anawangin with the presence of untertows/undercurrents making the beach not suitable for children and family vacations besides the place lacking facilities for such. Tutubi suggest staying at a Pundaquit beach resort (the best one seems to be
Punta de Uian though pricey), just hire a boat to get there and don't forget your life vests!

2. Pueblo Por La Playa

An exclusive members-only resort development in Pagbilao, Quezon was also visited by Tutubi recently when he saw the resort with people frolicking and riding the jet ski from Silangang Nayon Park & Restaurant. After he left Silangang Nayon, he proceeded to visit the place before going back to Lucena City.

Pueblo Por La Playa sign on the main entrance gate

Tutubi's Note: Pueblo Por La Playa has nice multi-colored houses and family-friendly facilities but the beach, again the beach, doesn't compare with Bora's if you're going to tag it as the next one. Tutubi wanted to explore the nearby Pagbilao Grande Island's beaches said to be very good but it will take time. To be able to enter the place, there's a membership fee of PhP300,000.00, plus the annual dues of course, making the place out of reach of ordinary mortals in the Philippines. Tutubi also loves to visit other places rather than to spend vacations regularly in just one place.

3. Munting Buhangin Beach Camp

A beach resort on a long stretch of fine white sand beach in Nasugbu, Batangas. It shares the beach with the exclusive Terrazas de Punta Fuego, beach resort partnered with Club Punta Fuego (they're different but within a few minutes driving distance from each other). The beach front can only accommodate a few more resorts and so the infestation of beach resorts there won't happen unlike in Bora's four kilometer long stretch.

Munting Muhangin beach with "munting" visitors

4. Calaguas Group of Islands

An island group part of Vinzons town of Camarines Norte in Bicol Region. It's about 3 hours by boat from Vinzon's port, Mercedes or even Bagasbas Beach in Daet and about an hour away from Apuao Grande Island. (Note the header, as of posting time, of this blog was taken on Calaguas Island in May 2008)

The super fine sand of Calaguas Island's Mahabang Buhangin beach doesn't feel hot on your feet

Feedback: The pristine long stretch of super fine white sand beach also perfect for swimming on Calaguas Island's Mahabang Buhangin has what it takes to make Boracay a run for its money. The sand is so fine, as fine as those in Bora, if not finer. It doesn't also feel hot on your feet probably due to its unique chemical composition similar to Boracay's white sand. It doesn't have the notorious green moss that litter Boracay's shoreline on summer mornings.

Calaguas Island as the next Boracay? Tutubi doesn't think so. It's too far from civilization making it fit for adventurous backpackers, the same mold of backpackers who leaked photos of Boracay to the world decades ago that started its ascension to its current place in Philippine tourism, when backpackers were displaced by the usual tourists and turned the paradise into a party-place if not of sex, drugs and booze. Calaguas Island is also not a place for all seasons, Tutubi doesn't recommend going there during the typhoon season lest you get stranded by big waves. He wants to return to the island again someday to find it like it was before: a communion with nature, sand, sun, stars at night, without the trappings of modern civilization for there's no electricity on the island.

Conclusion:

Boracay is Boracay, it has a different persona than the places mentioned, and there's absolutely no other place that can rival it at this time for being the place to be seen (even during Holy Week), but that doesn't mean there are no better alternatives to it. It only depends on your own taste and preferences.

Jessica Soho's episode researchers fell short of Bora's salacious charms if KMJS is really serious about the places, including two resorts, in tagging them as "The Next Bora."

Notes:

Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho
Schedule: Saturday, 9pm at GMA

About Melvic Brinas, the guy from Daet Tourism officer as contact person for Calaguas Group of Islands, all he can say about him for you readers are these two words: Caveat Emptor!

Please visit the links on this page for the contact numbers, reviews, driving directions and other details

Labels: Bicol Region, Boracay, Calabarzon, Camarines Norte, Central Luzon, Quezon, Southern Tagalog, Zambales

With everything done for the day in Lucena with a sidetrip to Silangang Nayon in Pgbilao, Tutubi didn't eat again at Panciteria Granja for chami nor at nearby Buddy's for their Pancit Lucban. He had another pasalubong and local delicacy in mind to search in Lucena City.

As a child, he used to eat tikoy in Paete as well as those made in nearby towns of Laguna and Quezon. Zabala's tikoy was one of his favorites due to it's no-cooking required tikoy recipe, unlike Chinese tikoy during Chinese New Year that require dipping in egg batter and deep-fried, Zabala's Tikoy can be eaten out of the packaging.

the sign in front of Zabala's with their address and contact numbers

Zabala's tikoy recipe is tasty and not too sweet, with slightly yellow color and sticky so you sometimes need an oil-dipped knife to cut it. All ingredients, mostly glutinous rice, mixed in a bowl and then steamed on trays stacked on one another. Too bad, all tikoy for the day were already cooked and Tutubi wasn't able to take pictures of tikoy being made for "documentation purposes."

Although business is brisk during the Christmas season for decades, the business has seen the best of days due to competition and changing people's habits.

half-tray of tikoy about an inch thick. these are sliced to the desired sizes then wrapped in colored plastic wrappers similar to those used for sweet yema.

Origin and history of Tikoy:

A chinese friend of Tutubi mentioned to him once that tikoy came from the Chinese word for sweet cake but Filipinos misheard the Chinese name and now calls the sweet pudding tikoy.

Tutubi was able to find Zabala's tikoy in Lucena through the help of his sister who used to live there as guest of the transient house, also at Zabala's tikoy factory.

Tip: looking for cheap accommodations in Lucena? Zabala's, besides having catering services and tikoy, also have rooms rented out to transients for just P150.00/night/person (that's about $3.30/day)

Zabala's Tikoy Especial
Zabala St., Marktown Subdivision
Red V, Lucena City
Tel. No.: +63.42.710.2402

How to get to Zabala's Tikoy Lucena City, Quezon:

Zabala's is inside Mark Town Subdivision and just a few meters from the highway where SM City Lucena is located. From SM Lucena, drive towards Lucena city center, look for a huge store with Quality Ceramics sign about 500 meters from SM and turn there. Zabala's Tikoy Especial is about 100 meters from the corner. If you're commuting, a tricycle ride from SM will do.

Labels: Calabarzon, Delicacies, Lucena City, Pasalubong, Quezon, Southern Tagalog

Right after leaving the grounds of Silangang Nayon Park and Restaurant, Tutubi requested his driver to turn left towards the end of the road going to the private resort with membership that saw from a distance with jet skiis and people frolicking on the water.

Owing to limited time, Tutubi was only able to take drive and shoot pictures of Pueblo Por La Playa Resort taken inside Tutubi's cruising van, instead of alighting and entering the resort and pretend to be walk-in clients on occular inspection of the place for a possible company outing, something he does so well to gain access to places he pass by :P

banners leading to the exclusive membership-required resort

the Pueblo Por La Playa sign on the main entrance gate

no, this ain't a panning shot, it's taken inside a cruising vehicle so it appeared as such. Tutubi wanted to take pictures of the evident infinity pool inside the resort facility
a guest accommodation of the resort. Note that the others are painted in a different color making the whole resort quite colorful. Too bad, trees obstruct the view from passers-by, good for privacy though.

This resort seems fine for family vacations where you can bum on the infinity pool, for company outings and team-building venue, but not for the peso-pinching Tutubi who's always on the move :P

Pueblo Por La Playa Day Tour Rate/Entrance Fee: PhP350.00/person (requires presence of a member as it's an exclusive membership resort)

Update:
Please dial Pueblo Por La Playa's Contact number at +63.42.716.0072 for your inquiries. This resort was featured on Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho's Summer Special episode on April 4, 2009.

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How to get to Pueblo Por La Playa Resort, Pagbilao Quezon:

If you're looking for driving directions to Pueble Por La Playa, it's just about a kilometer from Silangang Nayon Park and Restaurant, click the link for the details.

Please visit Pueblo Por La Playa's official website or call telephone number for details, inquiries, entrance fee, day tour rates and room rates, promo packages and other information.

Labels: Calabarzon, Hotels and Resorts, Quezon, Southern Tagalog

A day out for Tutubi is not complete sans the usual sidetrip to a new place, to explore interesting sights and visit refreshing spots to refresh his spirit. After a trip to a bank in Lucena City, just opposite Panciteria Granja and near Buddy's Restaurant, he went out to a place mentioned by his new acquaintance as a nice place jutting out of Pagbilao bay.

Hurrying to the place due to excite since it was still early in the afternoon, his effort to get there turned out alright with the sun-bathed sand near a beach though not really fit for swimming but just lounging at the huts on stilts.



first look at the restaurant houses on stilts with a long foot bridge



the foot bridge looks daunting from afar but actually sturdy when you get there


your order will be delivered using an "airplane" suspended on a cable, sort of a zipline delivery


below the huts on stilts are oysters grown by the restaurant for their own consumption making them the freshest there is for the customers



the largest hut is shaped like a ship ready to sail out to Pagbilao Bay, Tayabas Bay and beyond


you can admire the place from above the cliff with a view of Pagbilao bay, Pagbilao Power PLant, Pagbilao Grande Island and Patayan Island with visible white sand beaches from afar



A bottle of San Mig Lite (low calorie pale pilsen) costs P45.00 each, quite cheap for the ambiance of the place jutting out of Pagbilao



steamed capiz in oyster sauce complemented the cold san mig light. Cost is P165.00 good enough for the three of them



How would Tutubi review Silangang Nayon? It's Tutubi's first and only visit there and he ordered just a round of beer and the steamed capiz. The orders came fast, probably because there were only two groups of visitors there. Prices are ok, quite cheap actually for a place with nice ambiance. Tutubi intends to return to the place someday.

Silangang Nayon has hotel rooms available for overnight accomodations, something Tutubi intends to try someday since the place is really relaxing and probably use as a base to explore other interesting places in Pagbilao.

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Silangang Nayon Park & Restaurant
Pagbilao, Quezon
For inquiries and reservations, you may call Telephone number +63.42.716.0077


How to get to Pagbilao, Quezon:

Commute to Pagbilao, Quezon: Board buses to Lucena City either via Lucena Lines, Jam Transit or Jac Liner (it's better to board one with Dalahican signboard for it passes by SM City Lucena). In Lucena, transfer to jeepneys going to Pagbilao.

Buses from Bicol (Daet, Naga and Legaspi, Albay, even Ro-ro buses to Leyte and Samar) all pass by Pagbilao town before Lucena)

Driving Directions to Pagbilao, Quezon:

From Makati, drive towards NLEX then exit at Batangas Exit to Maharlika Highway passing by Turbina, First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), Star Toll. In Sto. Tomas, after passing Rose and Grace Restaurant (beside Jollibee) and Sto. Tomas Public Market, you'll encounter a fork on the road where you turn left going to San Pablo, Lucena and Bicol. Follow the highway that will lead you to Alaminos (Laguna), San Pablo City, then the Quezon towns of Tiaong, Cadelaria, Sariaya, then Lucena City. In Lucena, you need to choose left road when you see a fork (a right will lead you to Lucena City proper, even SM Lucena, but will lead you right back to the highway. After Lucena is the town of Pagbilao.

Silangang Nayon is on the road near 135 Kilometer marker with signs of Silangang Nayon and Pueblo Por La Playa on the roadside after a small bridge. It's about 6 kilometers from the highway.

Labels: Calabarzon, Quezon, Quezon Restaurants, Southern Tagalog

People say you've never been to a place if you've never seen the sights, imbibed the culture and ate the food of the place you visited. With this in mind on a recent visit to Lucena City, a highly-urbanized city in Quezon Province about 120 kilometers south of Manila, was highlighted by a sampling of the city's signature dish: the chami, the local version of pancit, the ubiquitous Filipino comfort food.

Armed with tips from fellow frugal food trippers, Tutubi hied off to Lucena City and searched for Granja Panciteria, Restaurant and Fastfood at the corner of Granja St and Leon Guinto, a corner away from Buddy's Lucena branch, and hastily ordered the famous dish wherein a festival, held every merry month of May to celebrate the thriving industry spawned by the dish, called Pasayahan sa Lucena.

sign of Granja Panciteria with telephone number displayed

chami, a single order for just P35, a small price to pay for a satisfying, filling meal with sinful chicharon

If nearby Lucban town is famous for the pancit habhab, sometimes called pancit Lucban, lomi in Batangas, then chami is it for Lucena.

Chami is made from locally made noodles cooked the usual pancit ways added with condiments and spices. Granja's version comes with chicharon toppings, a single serving, cost of P35, is too much for Tutubi who had just finished a hearty lunch.


How to get to Lucena City, Quezon:

Commute: Buses to Lucena City are available at Lucena Lines, N dela Rosa and Jac Liner with terminals on EDSA Cubao, Quezon City or Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat (LRT) in Pasay City. Travel time is about 3.5 hours to 5hrs depending on traffic.

Driving directions to Lucena City

From Makati, head towards SLEX and take Batangas exit (second to the last one of SLEX). Along the way you'll see Shell Turbina, Angel's Nest Drive-inn Hotel, Carmelray, Rose and Grace. Turn left tt the junction in Sto. Tomas and pass by Laguna town of Alaminos, the city of seven lakes in San Pablo then Quezon province starting with Tiaong (to the left after the boundary arch is the entrance of Villa Escudero, now called Hacienda Escudero), Candelaria, Sariaya. You will see another junction where you turn right (straight ahead leads to Tayabas) then finally Lucena City. Lucena is about 120 kms from Manila.

There are alternate routes via StarToll and Lipa and the route via Rizal and Laguna via the Manila East Road.

Labels: Calabarzon, Filipino Food, Lucena City, Quezon, Quezon Restaurants, Southern Tagalog

'Tis the last day of the year with my family when suddenly the idea of going to Real in Quezon, a former barrio of Infanta, and about an hour drive away.

Meandering through the zigzag streets we passed by the neighboring towns of Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan and Famy including the jumpoff points of Famy's waterfalls.Numerous mini waterfalls can also seen on the way.





reaching Real, some seafood vendors informed us fishermen didn't go out to sea due to the strong currents but luckily we found some.

I bough nearly two kilos of stingray for only P130. I know catching stingrays should never be condoned but I only remember Steve Irwin so accept my apologies :)



I was about to take pictures of shrimps (bought for P290/kg, samaral (P90/kg) and other stuff but my battery died on me and I forgot to take my spare battery :(

How to get to Real and Infanta Quezon:

Commute: Raymond bus on EDSA Cubao has daily trips to Infanta and Real towns.
Driving Directions: Fastest way to get there is via Marcos Highway and Sumulong highway of Antipolo, passing by Manila East road until you see the road to Infanta near Famy and Mabitac towns of Laguna.

Labels: Calabarzon, Quezon, Southern Tagalog, Waterfalls

Kinabuhayan cafe is a garden and an art work in progress that will continue to evolve and provide a respite from tired souls from the big city. (Please see links to related posts below)

after a morning of taking pictures, wonderful breakfast again with fern salad and washed down with kapeng barako, we prepared to return to the big city.


(portraits of the place's two inhabitants)

















saying goodbye to our host Jay, one of us remarked the food was good. I remarked that the food ain't good, 'twas great!

(JB Nalang "stolen" portrait)


the best thing about the Kinabuhayan cafe experience wasn't exactly the food, place or the new things learned from photography-- it's the people I met have who share the same passion for travel and photography I now call friends!

Related Posts:

Banahaw Trek, Kinabuhayan Cafe Gateway to Mt Banahaw

Kinabuhayan Cafe is part of Viaje Del Sol

How to go to Kinabuhayan Cafe from the words of the co-owner himself (Winston Baltasar aka JB Nalang)

How to Commute/Commuting to Kinabuhayan Cafe:

Take any bus going south to Quezon or Bicol province like Jac or Jam liner. Make sure it stops in Tiaong, Quezon. Bus stations in Cubao or Buendia corner Taft.

Get off at the new Tiaong market. The jeepney to Dolores waits there. Last trip is at 6pm. Get off in Dolores at Dejarme St. which is 4 streets before the Dolores church (Our Lady of Sorrows). There is no Dejarme (pronounced "deHARme") sign but there is a
white grill sign saying "Paaralang Sentral ng Dolores". If you miss it, get off before the church and walk back.

Kinabuhayan Cafe is 50 feet away from the corner. Look for the tree house by the road, the bougainvilla in front, and the stained glass windows in the cafe.

IF YOU GET LOST IN DOLORES, DON'T ASK FOR 'KINABUHAYAN CAFE' OR YOU MIGHT BE DIRECTED TO 'KINABUHAYAN BARANGAY' ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. ASK FOR 'DEJARME ST' OR 'THE RESTAURANT OF JAY HERRERA'.

It's all good roads to Kinabuhayan Cafe. If you are on rough roads, you're probably past the cafe and heading towards the mountain side.

Labels: Calabarzon, Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Hotels and Resorts, Quezon, Resorts, Southern Tagalog, Viaje del Sol