Magalawa Island, an island lined with white sand beach can be found in Palauig, Zambales. It's mostly divided into three parts, the first is settled by a small community of fishermen, the second is owned by a politician who owns Ruiz Resort and the third is by the Armada family who owns Armada Resort Magalawa Island (who claims to own the whole island which is disputed in court against the owners of Ruiz Resort).

the white sand beach of Magalawa Island Armada Resort

Magalawa Island Resort Entrance Fee/Daytour rate:

PhP700.00/head, free for children/babies, inclusive of parking fee, round-trip boat transfers, lunch, and use of resort facilities (including rooms if available) from 8am to 5pm
Overnight accommodations are available, latest rates posted on their official website. Snorkeling is included in the Magalawa Island itinerary and rates, including free use of snorkels, masks and even underwater pictures by the boatmen.

How to Get to Magalawa Island:

Online map of Magalawa Island can be found here via OpenStreetMap. You can use Garmin GPS Navigators or iOS and Android apps (e.g. OSMAnd) to easily find the place.

How to Commute to Magalawa Island (Public transportation, the backpacking way):

1. Take a Victory Liner bus bound to Sta. Cruz, Zambales at Victory Liner Caloocan just near LRT Monumento station. Bus Fare is around PhP650.00
2. Request the bus driver to drop you off in Barangay Pangolingan, Palauig Zambales (near Radio Veritas Road), expect total travel time of around six hours where you will pass by
San Fernando, Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao in Pampanga, Dinalupihan (Bataan), Olongapo City, and the Zambales towns of Subic, San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Iba (the capital of Zambales), Palauig town proper.
3. Take a tricycle to take you to Armada Fish dealer compound in Brgy. Luan where you can find a small pier (Fare is PhP150.00/trip, negotiable)
4. Ride the boat to Magalawa Island (this is included in the package of PhP700.00/person day tour rate). Boat ride is around 10-15 minutes

Driving Directions to Magalawa Island:

1. Follow one of these two routes:
1.1 NLEX -SCTEX - Tipo Exit to reach Olongapo City or Subic Bay Freeport
1.2 NLEX - left San Fernando Exit and follow Jose Abad Santos Avenue to pass by Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao (where Double Happiness Restaurant is, the stop-over of Victory Liner buses), Dinalupihan (turn right here, if you missed this you'll find yourself on Bataan Provincial Highway going to Balanga), pass by Olongapo city proper (Rizal Avenue) then turn right when you see the Ulo ng Apo monument, a rotonda (roundabout, with landmarks Victory Liner Olongapo and Jollibee)

2. After Olongapo City, you'll pass by town of Subic, Zambales, San Marcelino (the hometown of Ramon Magsaysay and where you can find vendors selling singkamas), San Narciso (you won't pass by San Antonio, where you can find Pundaquit, the gateway to Camara Island, Capones Island, Capones Lighthouse, Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove) San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Iba (the capital of Zambales), and Palauig.

3. After passing by the intersection of the highway and the road leading to Palauig town proper, you will pass by a zigzag road (twisties) then turn left to a corner. This road (mostly rough road) leads to the jump off point to Magalawa Island. Travel time here is around thirty minutes.

4. Enter the Armada Resort compound and park there, board the boat to Magalawa Island.

Enjoy!

Other notable islands in Zambales with white sand beaches:
Capones Island in San Antonio
Potipot Island in Candelaria
Hermana Mayor Island in Sta. Cruz
Hermana Menor Island in Sta. Cruz
Balaki Island in Infanta
San Salvador Island in San Salvador
Matalvis Island in Masinloc
Agat Island
Pilapir Island

lots of islands indeed to explore in Zambales!

Labels: Beaches, Central Luzon, Islands, Travel Guides, Zambales

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

The recent visit to Balanga, Bataan was capped by an unplanned visit to Subic since the lead vehicle in the 3 car convoy didn't see the exit to NLEX along SCTEx due to heavy rain and thus just decided to head straight to do some dutyfree shopping in Subic instead.

Royal Subic Mall, picture taken while raining. beside it is Puregold DutyFree

Herewith is Tutubi's review of dutyfree shopping in Subic to answer the question: Is Dutyfree shopping worth it?

It depends on the buyer. If the shopper knows the prices of the goods
before going there all the way from Manila, it's a bargain otherwise
she's just wasting her money for the items you can have at the same or
slightly more expensive price in Manila.

Tutubi found out the price of Spam Lite (yeah, forget original Spam,
even Spam with less Sodium for they're too salty) at Royal Subic is just
the same at Walter Mart and SM but Snickers chocolate bars are sold with
a PhP7 difference than the mentioned malls.

If you're looking for local items, why bother going there to buy those
things?

Infant milk formula, though a tad cheaper, but not all brands are on
sale like Nan One HW for hypoallergenic milk formulas for sensitive babies like Tutubi, Jr.

Havaianas flip-flops prices are PhP100 lower than Manila's malls, that's
according to Tutubi's peer who loves those expensive footwear from
Brazil (Tutubi prefers the low priced flip-flops at Munoz Market, dirt
cheap and not heartbreaking should he lose or break one)

The only reason people should go duty-free shopping is when the products
they're looking for are not available at the local malls or hard-to-find
items.

The best reason not to go there: Buy Philippine-made products, it
creates jobs and helps the economy. Discard the colonial-mentality that
everything imported is better than local products. It's not always the case.

Lastly, try to internalize this mantra: Buy not what you need, not what
you want. What you don't really need, however cheap, is expensive!

Notes on Subic Duty Free Shopping:

Credit cards are accepted as well as US dollar notes for payment. BancNet ATM cards can also be used to pay for your purchases at Puregold Duty Free Mall

Royal Subic Mall
Mall hours: open from 10am to 7pm (Monday - Thursday)
9am to 7pm (Friday - Sunday)
Tel. No: +63.47.252.3015; +63.47.252.6115

Tip: also in Subic Petron gas station is a Nike Factory store (another nike factory outlet is in the Shell gas station on the southbound lane of NLEX)

Labels: Central Luzon, Malls, Shopping, Subic, Zambales

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

For those looking for extra adrenaline rush and muscle-flexing beyond the usual beach bumming, there are many known and unknown places in the Philippines where waves can be found that surfers, both local and foreign, will find challenging. Herewith is a list of surfing spots, both for newbies and surfers looking for "killer waves," gathered from various sources including various travel shows on TV.

Best Surfing Beaches in the Philippines:

Aurora: Baler's Sabang and Cemento Beach
If the ending scene of Francis Ford Copola's movie "Apocalypse Now" was shot in Pagsanjan Falls, Baler's beach was the location shoot of the surfing scene. To get there, board a Manila to Baler bus of Genesis Transport bus (terminal on EDSA, Pasay City) or a flight to Baler via SeAir.

Camarines Norte: Bagasbas Beach in Daet,
A surfing beach in the Bicol Region ideal for surfing lessons with fine black sand. It can be reached by buses going to Daet (Amihan, Philtranco and Superlines) followed by a short tricycle ride to the beach facing the vast Pacific Ocean.

Surfer on a surfboard on Bagasbas Beach

Catanduanes: Puraran Beach, Baras
Known in the international surfing circuit as "Majestic," with its awesome long-barrel waves made spectacular by visiting typhoons

Eastern Samar: Calicoan Island, Guiuan,
The home of The Surf Camp with ABCD Beach has both left-hand and right-hand waves. Surfing season runs from April to November

Eastern Samar: Macate Island and San Vicente, Sulat town
An "off the beaten track" surfing destination without the surfing tourist crowd in the town of Sulat, Eastern Samar is Macate Island (and San Vicente) where about eight feet high waves welcoming surfers can on a deserted beach. To get to Sulat, book a flight to Tacloban City, from Tacloban Airport, get on the San Jose jeep to Duptours terminal or Tacloban Bus Terminal, followed by a van ride to Borongan (via Duptours with regular trips to Borongan via plus another jeepney to Sulat) or bus to Borongan to take you to straight to Sulat, Eastern Samar.

Ilocos Norte: Maira-Ira Beach, Pagudpud
In an secret area in Pagudpud known as Blue Lagoon. It can be reached by boat from Pagudpud's Saud Beach

Ilocos Sur: Kido's Point, Cabugao
Kido's Point, after Cabugao's surfing hero Kido Cabasug, is another popular surfing site in Ilocos Sur.

La Union: San Juan
Perfect place for longboarders. It can be reached by any bus to Ilocos (Vigan, Laoag, Pagudpud) and drop off near the San Fernando-San Juan boundary.

Sorsogon: Gubat Bay, Gubat
Located in the Bicol Peninsula in Gubat, Sorsogon south of Legazpi City, it faces the San Juanico Strait. It has three kilometers of gray-sand beach very good for surfing school.

Surigao del Norte: Siargao Island
Known as "The Surfing Capital of the Philippines" with the world-famous Cloud 9 waves of General Luna town facing the Pacific Ocean. Cloud Nine was named after a chocolate bar that surfers kept in their shorts. The surfing beach offers a powerful hollow right hander hailed as one of the ten best waves in the world comparable to the renowned surf of Hawaii and Indonesia. Besides Clud Nine, there's Jacking Horse, Tuason Left, Rock Island, Stimpies and Pacifico. Best time for surfing in Siargao is from August up to the start of November due to the presence of typhoon swells and winds. Waves are smaller from May to July while December to April the winds are strong with pretty big swell preferred by some surfers.

Surigao del Sur: Lanuza Bay,
With waves as high as 15 feet, it's known "Doot Poktoy." Alternatives to Siargao includes Lanuza Rivermouth, Sabang, Moshimoshi left and right, Badjang-BigStar

Zambales: San Narciso and Pundaquit, San Antonio
Good for newbie surfers, the beaches of Brgy Pundaquit in San Antonio and of San Narciso beckons Metro Manilans due to its proximity.

Skimboarding in the Phlippines:

Skimboarding (or skimming), another water sport gaining popularity is some areas is a boardsport in which a skimboard (a sort of little surfboard) is used to ride on an incoming wave.

Note that the places listed above are also ideal for skimboarding where the towns of Tanauan and Dulag in Leyte is gaining popularity.

Want to learn how to surf without heading for the beach?

For furfing lessons nearest Metro Manila, OceanWaves at Club Manila Eastin Taytay Rizal offers surfing lessons by appointment-only basis. Call 6312805 or 3575452 for details, cost and other inquiries. Facilities include a 14-ft-deep diving pool with four diving platforms and a 20-ft-high waterfall; and a 30-m wide, 76-m long family wave pool that’s only 4 ft deep. OceanWaves is open every day with two-hour surfing lessons scheduled at 8-10 a.m., 10 a.m.-12 noon and 2-4 p.m.

Labels: Aurora, Beaches, Boardsports, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Sorsogon, Surfing, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Zambales

"Come on and get me, get me. Baby, I'm yours. Come on and get me. You'll never be lonely, lonely. So baby, come on and get me," sings sultry siren Juris of MYMP on the beach of this "getting popular" beach in the town of San Antonio, Zambales, a few hours drive north of Manila.

Barangay Pundaquit, the gateway to the romantic Capones Lighthouse, the secluded Anawangin Cove, Capones Island and Camara Islands and now a favorite shoot locations for television series and music videos with fine gray sand, semi-private and waves/surf breaks ideal for newbie surfers has only a handful of beach resorts.

the fine gray sand of the beach where a team building activity is being held.
not so crowded and tourist-infested, the beach can also be a place to learn surfing plus island-hopping invites adventurers.
the red sun set viewed on the beach for romantic setting
Mount Pundaquit beckons for trekkers and mountaineers. There is a waterfall on one end of the beach where you only need to follow a stream to find it plus the secluded Anawangin cove shielded by the mountain with its agoho trees (similar to pine trees)

Pundaquit Beach Resorts:

Megan's Paradise Beach Resort
Pundaquit, San Antonio
Telephone No.: +63.47.621.0507; +63.47.913.3784
Mobile: +63.919.480.8520
Email: virgieh@mail.com
Review: Budget resort where many people can share a room. Tutubi stayed here in 2005 in his first trip to Capones Island Lighthouse.

Nora’s Beach Resort
Brgy. Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales
Contact Number: +63.918.278.8188; +63.919.637.4917

Punta De Uian
Pundaquit San Antonio
Telephone Number: +63.47.252.2692
Mobile: +63.918.888.UIAN (that's 0918.888.8426)
Email: elsa.puntadeuian@gmail.com
Review: Upscale resort with nice swimming pool.

Wild Rose Beach Inn
Pundaquit, San Antonio
Contact Number: +63.910.661.5613
Email: info@wildrosebeachinn.com

Some signs spell Pundaquit as Pundakit (Filipinized spelling). No information yet on cheap homestays, restaurants, hotels and other "where to stay" places but intrepid travelers can camp out at Anawangin Cove. If you have time, you may also check out Casa San Miguel, a farm and school for gifted children.

How to get to Pundaquit, San Antonio Zambales:

Commute: Ride a bus to Zambales at Victory Liner (terminal on Rizal Avenue (Avenida) near LRT Monumento Station) with signboard Iba, or Sta. Cruz and drop off in San Antonio town. Hire a tricycle to take you to the beach resort of your choice.

Driving Directions:

From Manila, Head towards NLEX and exit at San Fernando. In San Fernando, drive all the way to Olongapo City where you pass by Subic town, Castillejos, San Marcelino then San Antonio. In San Antonio, ask around for directions to Pundakit for it's not easy to describe it here. (No information yet on the new route via SCTEx for Tutubi has yet to pass by the new tollway)

To get to Anawangin Cove, or Capones Island, rent a boat to take you there. Negotiate pick up time with the boatmen.

Sources and Related Links:
Zambales Resorts
Punta De Uian Review
Zambales Travel Guide
Capones Lighthouse
Ocean Adventure

Labels: Beaches, Central Luzon, Hotels and Resorts, Pundaquit, Resorts, Zambales

The first time Tutubi sat foot on the sands of Barangay Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales, his feet and legs tired and weary from climbing Mt. Pinatubo, his itchy feet took him to nearby Capones Island and its romantic lighthouse, and his back later rested on the bed of Megan's Paradisio Beach Resort
The second time in Pundakit, it's not a backpacking tour but purely a relaxation/vacation mode in the form of a company outing with his rowdy officemates in a rather upscale resort on the other end of the beach-- Punta de Uian.

Planned by his officemates, who up to now didn't know that one of the websites they referred to researching Capones Island Lighhouse is actually owned by an officemate, the summer outing was booked at Punta de Uian, a resort and hotel with amenities and facilities Tutubi never knew existed in San Antonio. He found out later that the resort was the "Villa Santibañez" of the popular local adaptation of the Mexican TV series Marimar.

Punta de Uian Photos:

the welcome sign giving directions to the place since getting there is not easy from town center of San Antonio starting at Casa San Miguel

The homey feel of Tutubi's room

the swim-around pool with gazebo in the middle

sunrise at Punta de Uian, a rare time Tutubi, a frustrated landscape photographer, was able to get up at dawn to catch the "golden" sky

Punta de Uian Review:

The place has a swimaround pool for those "allergic" to salt water with a depth of 6 feet at its deepest; children or those who can't swim can just stay near the poolside. Service is ok with friend staff even exchanging banters with their guests. The lobby with spiral staircase is inviting for photo-op. Rooms are cozy and homey; particularly loved the wood furnishings and the shower rooms. Even toiletries can match, if not exceed, those in plush hotels in Manila. Food is generally fine, though not something to rave about, except for the halo-halo (Filipino dessert of shaved ice, milk and various fruits and sweet stuff) which is forgettable. They have available boatmen who can take you to island-hopping to Capones Island to see the lighthouse, Camara Island or to Anawangin Cove. Overall, Tutubi gives this resort a highly-recommended mark for vacationers but not for budget travelers due to the price tag.

For room rates, photos, and other inquiries, you may visit Punta de Uian's official website here, call telephone number +63.918.800.8426 Punta de Uian contact number) or email elsa@puntadeuian.com.

Related Post:

Capones Lighthouse

Labels: Central Luzon, Hotels and Resorts, Resorts, Zambales

Tutubi's memories of Iba, Zambales include his visits to the pink sand beach-fringed Potipot Island in Candelaria where he just passed by the capital town with it's church (St. Augustine), old houses and large public square. This time, however, Tutubi found himself adrift for a day in Iba and Palauig towns where he visited a black sand beach with few people frolicking early in the morning yet too late for the "Golden Hour" that landscape photographers seek.

Zambales has around 100 kilometers of coastline facing the South China Sea where you can also see (and buy) beach front property for sale plucked by foreigners looking for a nice, retirement place.

the approach to the beach after the tricycle ride from Palauig.


a family frolicking in the early morning waves on the beach's fine black sand
picture of butterfly on a mango tree. Butterflies are cousins of Tutubi :P
here's a rare picture of Tutubi, a self-portrait

The trip was just a short one so Tutubi didn't have the time to explore more of Iba and Palauig since his main purpose was to visit a relative and check out a piece of land in Bangkal, Botolan he wants to acquire someday.

Zambales remains off the radar of most tourists but it holds much promise. Only Subic Bay seems to be promoted and developed for mainstrean tourism which is good for backpackers looking for secluded places away from the crowds.

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Notes and Related Posts:

Other Zambales "places to see" include the white sand beaches of San Antonio (Anawangin and Pundaquit), Cabangan (where Mango Camp Adventure and Leisure Farm is) and Subic where White Rock, The Lighouse Marina Resort and others are located in addition to Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari. Other natural attractions are Balon Falls, Sto. Nino and Sagrada Familia Caves, and Baloc-baloc Springs. Historical marker of the birthplace of Ramon Magsaysay and ancestral house in Castillejos.

Similar to Corregidor Island guarding the mouth of Manila Bay, Grande Island acted as sentry to the entrance of Subic Bay with bunkers and batteries for defense.

San Salvador Island, off Masinloc town, is a white sand beach island similar to Potipot Island in Candelaria.

Capones Island and Lighthouse Pundaquit, San Antonio,
Ocean Adventure, Subic Bay

How to go to Zambales, the commute way:

At Victory Liner bus terminal on Rizal Avenue (Avenida), Caloocan (near Monumento LRT station), buses bound for Iba can take you there and will pass by Double Happiness for a stop-over, Olongapo, Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Iba, Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, and Sta Cruz (which is the northernmost town adjacent to Pangasinan). Bus fare from Manila (Caloocan) to Iba, Zambales is P371.00 (as of posting time) while commuting time is around 5 hours, 3 hours to Olongapo City from Manila.

If you're looking for directions to Potipot Island, board a bus to Sta. Cruz, Zambales and ask the driver to drop you off at Dawal Resort in Candelaria where you can hire boats for the 15 minute ride to Potipot Island.

"Zambales, Iba Ka Talaga" means "Zambales, you're really different!" in Pilipino.


Tags: Zambales Travel, 菲律賓, 菲律宾, 필리핀, フィリピン, Filippine, Philippinen, Filipinas, Filippijnen, Paradise Philippines

Labels: Beaches, Butterflies, Zambales

After Pinatubo and the brief stopover at Capas National Shrine, the group headed to San Antonio town in Zambales and checked in at Megan's resort (it's low budget resort with good enough facilities for backpackers like us) in barangay Pundaquit.

We hired outrigger boats (banca), for a few hundred pesos, to take us to Capones Island for us to satiate the beachbums in all of us. Stretches of white sand beaches can be found on Capones and the larger Camara island.

Do you remember Juris of MYMP singing "Get Me" on this very same beach? On the background are Camara (named after Antonio de la Camara, a Spaniard who surveyed the islands in 1884) and Capones islands (Isla de Gran Capones) :)

A short boatride took us to the island of Capones where beaches, fascinating rock formations inviting for rockclimbers, corals and turquoise water beckons.





On the island beach, we found a nice, cozy cave where the Tutubi hibernated and dozed off for a few minutes.



picture of a limbless, but not lifeless, crab i found on the lee shore of the island (not actually limbless since the pincers are also limbs)

History of Capones Island Lighthouse

What we're really after, as you already know, is the old lighthouse (Faro de Punta Capones on the Isla de Gran Capon) finished in 1890 and built purposely to guide ships entering and leaving Manila Bay and Subic and warns passing ship of the dangers of rocky shores surrounding the island.

In search of the lighthouse on the island, I hacked my way out of tall grass, rocky shores and unmarked trail before finding the right path to take to the top of the rocky hill where the "romantic" lighthouse proudly stands.

The old structure still stands, made of red bricks, but the facility inside already has a creepy feel to it with broken windows and rubbish littered on the floors.







The stairs leading to the top of the tower is closed and we're not pasaway enough to enter the restricted area.
The lighthouse is now powered by solar energy, mush like its brother in the island fortress of Corregidor

After exploring the surrounding beaches, rocks and interesting coral formations, without actually swimming, we boarded the boat for the return trip to the beach resort.

Another romantic lighthouse "conquered" by the Tutubi!

On our way back to Manila, we stopped by for a hearty dinner in Subic bay; tired and sunburnt, most of os slept thoughout the return trip to reality we call Manila.

How to go to Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales and Capones Island:

From Manila, take a the NLEX exit at San Fernando Pampanga, from San Fernando, head southwestward to Olongapo city. In Olongapo city, at the the head boundary of Olongapo, make a right turn going to Subic Castillejos then San Marcelino, at San Marcelino, take westward to San Antonio. In San Antonio, head southwestward to Pundaquit. The road to Pundaquit is circuitous so better ask around when you're there.

For an idea about the room rates, try to contact Megan's resort through ther website here or try camping on the slopes of Mt Pundaquit

List of other Historic Lighthouses in the Philippines visited by Tutubi:

Faro de Rio de Pasig (Pasig River Lighthouse
Faro de Isla Corregidor (Corregidor Lighthouse)
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

Labels: Beaches, Central Luzon, Islands, Lighthouses, Zambales

Ocean Adventure, South East Asia's only open water marine park, located in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales in the sprawling former US military base about 100 kilometers north of Manila. Attractions include Killer Whale and Dolphin show, sea lion show, Discovery Aquarium, Learning Center and personal encounters with the sea lions and dolphins.


The Discovery Aquarium features various fishes and crustaceans in aquariums including the loveable clown fish living near the anemone (a filter-feeding animalrelated to corals, jellyfish and hydra) popularized by the animated movie Nemo.



The Sea Lion show features a sea lion choreographed to synchronize with music and boasts of an interactive audience participation



The Dolphins and Whales Show showcases two false killer whales and two dolphins obeying commands of the trainers obviously with the poor creatures being rewarded with fish food for their obedience.












The dolphin interaction part allows spectators to actually commune with the intelligent creatures (for a fee of course) even allowing close-up pictures.





Backpacking Subic Bay and Ocean Adventure:

How to get to Ocean Adventure, Subic Bay Zambales:

Commuting to Subic Bay is via Victory Liner, with terminals in Pasay City and Cubao, Quezon City has daily trips to Olongapo City.

Entrance to the facility is P450 and very near Camayan Beach Resort. The place is too humid with not much wind so suggest you come with bottled water, shades, caps and towels.

Driving Directions: in April 2008, try taking the new SCTEx for faster travel time from NLEx to Subic.

Note:

I recommend avoiding the pricey resort "Puting Bato" due to poor service in contrast to their high rating. The said resort should be re-evaluated by the DOT. It's because of their lamentable service that I wasn't able to go to Zoobic Safari :(

All pictures taken exactly one year ago using my then 2-day old Canon EOS 300D with standard 18-55 kit lens that I still don't know how to operate. I just used Sports mode and shoot away.

Related Posts:

Manila Ocean Park
Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx)

Labels: Central Luzon, Marine Parks, Subic, Zambales

A small island reachable by a short boatride from the beach of Candelaria town in Zambales was visited by Tutubi twice alredy. You can walk around the whole island in about 30 minutes and enjoy the are pinkish sand of the small island, more like an islet.

Travel Guide to Potipot Island:

picture of Potipot Island taken from Wikimapia's "eye in the sky" with Uacon river also in view

Potipot is 5-10 minutes away by banca from the beach and resorts:

Beach Resorts near Potipot Island:

Alta Nina Beach Resort
Dawal Beach Resort
Sun Bloom Resort contact number: +63.916.543.9709
Harvest Beach Resort
Isla Vista Beach Resort
Milagrosa Candelaria Beach
Potipot Gateway Resort
Puerto del Mar Beach Resort
Sunbloom Resort
Trinidad Bay Resort

please call the resort contact number or visit their official websites for room rates, boat rentals, entrance fee/swimming rates

How to Get to Potipot Island:

From Manila (Victory Mall Caloocan near Monumento), take Victory Liner bus to Sta. Cruz, Zambales and drop off along the highway going in Candelaria (Dawal, fare: PhP430.00) travel time is 6 hours. Rent a boat to take you to Potipot Island.

Boat to Potipot Island costs PhP400 for 6-8 persons but always depend on your negotiation skills

Entrance Fee to Potipot Island: PhP20 for adults less for kids. Overnight camping
costs more like PhP100.00 per head. Cottage rentals are available, you can bring food and drinks to the island.

Where to eat:
Floating Restaurant in Brgy. Uacon

UPDATED: April 2013

Labels: Beaches, Central Luzon, Hotels and Resorts, Islands, Resorts, Zambales