Gala sa Magalawa: Magalawa Island - Palauig, Zambales - Sept 2013

The island is now one of the newest tourist destination in Zambales province because it's perfect for beach bumming and island hopping or just relaxing on the sandy shore. Ideal for a quick getaway. 

Tour Package and Accommodation: 
Ruiz Resort
https://www.facebook.com/MagalawaIslandRuizResort
Contact info:
Mang Mulo - 0929 467 0505
Ate Bing - 0922 268 8111
8pax Overnight
Fee: around 2,500-3000/each (all-in)
Inclusions: 
Van pick up and drop off
Boat back and forth the island
Fan kubo room and open cottages (common CR)
Food (they will ask you which food you would like them to prepare. superb!)
Island hopping with snorkeling gear set

How we get there:
1. Pick up and drop off QC-Zambales-QC 
    travel time: 5-6hrs. from QC - Brgy. Luan
2. Boat from Oslet Armada Fishdealer Compound (vehicle can be parked in the compound, P100/vehicle) - Magalawa Island 
    travel time: 10-15mins.

What's there to look forward to? 
1. Creamy white sand and unspoiled waters. You will appreciate the beauty of the island. 
2. Still silence. Maybe because we were the only guests at that time, literally. We had the beach to ourselves! 
3. The place is serene and soothing. Perfect for afternoon siesta near the beach. There is a hammock available and you can even pitch your own tent.
4. People are very accommodating and friendly. They are trust-worthy too. You can comfortably leave your belongings in your kubo. 
5. No electricity in the resort. The generator runs only between 6PM-6AM. 
6. There are 3 available clean common CR with abundant water resource. 
7. They have beach volleyball court  where you can play with some of the teens residing just outside the resort. Pwede makipagpustahan ng softdrinks!:P There are sari-sari stores nearby. 

travel experience: 10/10

Enjoy your stay! :) 

White shoreline lined up with trees, blue water and sky.

Crystal clear water.

Calmness in the late afternoon.

The actual shoreline lined up with trees.

Pitch your own tent. 

This is their volleyball court. Again, pwede makipagpustahan. :P

The most special thing about this trip is not only the place but, we had a chance to share gifts to the kids. We are always filled with joy and remember every moment of the places we visited and its people. Then, we came to realize, why not this time we leave something behind that can bring smile to those faces that they will also remember?  So there, it was our turn. Just our simple way of saying thank you. :)

Meet the kids in the island... See those faces? Priceless! 

Another special thing about this trip is we celebrated our (me and Amore) birthday in the island. One of the most memorable. 

Thanks guys for the cake! Saraaaap! 

Capped off with bonfire, booze and starry sky.

And on our 2nd day... 

Meet our pack. L-R: Marianne, Roxanne, Amore, Pia, Jad, Iris, Gly, Doc.
Getting ready to explore. :)

Crystal clear and blue water. Sarap lumangoy! 

Red orange starfish....

...na kinuha namin saglit para lang up close. :P 
We put it back to the water. 

Blue starfish na payat :P Again, para lang up close.

I don't know the name of this. It's some kind of a big fat worm. Scary!

Picture pa more! :)

Jet ski tubing.

Worth Every Step: Sagada, Mountain Province - June 2013

Sagada is one of the most visited places in Cordillera Region. It is known for its mummy caves which contain naturally mummified bodies and its hanging coffins. 
*Offers many spectacular natural wonders.
*Best restaurants for food tripping. 
*Activities include visiting historical sites, nature hikes, spelunking, waterfalls trek, picnics and bonfires. There are also lots of rice terraces that you can visit.

Tour Package and Accommodation: 
https://www.facebook.com/exploreislandphilippines/ 
http://exploreislandphilippines.weebly.com/
We are 8 in the group for 3D2N tour.
Fee: around 3-3,500/each
Inclusions: Pick up and drop off QC-Sagada-QC, room accommodation and tour
Exclusions: spelunking fee and food

How we get there:
Pick up from McDonalds in front of Trinoma, QC.
    departure time: 8PM, Saturday 
    travel time: 12hrs.

What's there to look forward to? 
1. It's cold! The climate is similar to those of Baguio and Benguet. You can fill your lungs with Sagada's fresh clean air.
2. The town is rustic and attractively unusual. It's like a hidden gem in the mountains.
3. You can see lots of backpacker guests visiting the place including foreigners ready for the adventure.
4. Locals are friendly and accommodating. Most of them are Igorots or the 'Mountain People'. They can speak Tagalog, English and their native tongue.
5. Sagada offers a lot of nice and cozy place to eat. Just go around town and have a hearty meal at affordable price.


my travel experience: 10/10

Enjoy your stay! :)

Welcome to Banaue! Our first stop after a long drive. We had our breakfast, checked out some souvenirs and took photos too.

The famous Banaue Rice Terraces or Hagdan-hagdang Palayan. It's a 2,000 year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao and were most likely done by hand. Considered as the 8th Natural Wonder of the World by Filipinos. To learn more, you can visit : http://www.banaueterraces.com/

Viewing deck where you can take photos and appreciate the place. Very relaxing indeed. 

Banaue wood carving souvenirs.

Welcome to Sagada! Sagada Weaving has been weaving traditional products since 1968. They do not allow taking photos inside nor while at work.

The large old Bell with the inscription of Sagada AD 1921 located near the church.

The Parish Wheel has a historical role in the church and in the community.

The Church of St. Mary the Virgin is the main Episcopalian church in Sagada.

A bit of walk going to the cemetery.

Sagada Anglican Cemetery where World War veterans are resting.

On the way to Echo Valley.

Scream your heart out at the Echo Valley. 

The trail going down to reach the coffins on the other side.

The famous Hanging Coffins. This is a traditional way of burying people.

Most of them are high on the cliffs surrounding the Echo Valley.

Photo taken at the Hanging Coffins view deck.

Our next stop : Lumiang - Sumaguing cave connection.
Sumaguing is famously called as the 'Big Cave' and this will be spelunking to the highest level.
 

The trail going to Lumiang Cave.

Lumiang Cave entrance.

More of the coffins can be seen at the cave entrance.

Our guides are getting ready.

And the spelunking begins!

This is a buwis buhay challenge. You need to scramble to get to the other side.

Take five!

You see cold water below. You need to cross the water to get to the other side. The guide will help you ascend to the wall via top-roping to get out.

Stunning rock

Into the bat cave. I'm sorry, they are hard to see on this photo.

Creepy...

Hair-rising steep but, you got no choice. You need to descend to the bottom.

And this is how you do it!

Meet our guides.

Now, check out the cave's stunning formation.

After 3hrs of cave exploration, glad to say that we conquered the connection. Yey! Big thanks to our guides for taking good care of us and most especially, for the certificates they have given as certified spelunker. Woohoo! Beat that! :P

Now, let's move on to our 2nd day in Sagada. 

The Orange Farm (yeah I know, it's all green). Too bad, it wasn't orange season when we went there.

Now, we're talking. You can see the color, right? :P Anyway, this is the entrance to the Orange Farm and where you can buy fruit shake.

This is the area where you can enjoy your shake.

To know more about Sagada culture, Ganduyan Museum is just nearby. It's worth a visit to see some artifacts and glimpse of history. Oh by the way, it's English Only Please. :P

Interested in pottery? Go and visit Sagada Pottery. Auntie will demonstrate and explain the whole process. You can even try it too at affordable fee.

Lake Danum. There is nothing much you can do here but, to sit quietly and feel the tranquility while watching the lake.

We didn't waste our remaining hours on our last day. We went to the most popular attraction in Sagada before heading back to Manila -- The Kiltean Peak. 

This is my most favorite place in town. See for yourself. 

Sun peeking from behind the clouds. Most stunning I have ever seen!

Impressive sunrise and sea of clouds. It's totally indefinable!

Oh, Sagada! Your distance is worth travelling for...