Laguna Trips

 

Resort Capital of the Philippines! This is the tag that best known for Laguna Province most especially in Calamba City and Los Baños. It is located on the southeast part of Metro Manila and more than an hour away from Gil Puyat Bus Station. It is also famous and notable for being the birthplace of our National Hero – Dr. Jose Rizal and for the Laguna De Bay which is the largest lake of the country. It is also enrich with historical places and boast with different tourist destinations.

For the past two year, Laguna was our regular avenue to escape the hassle world of Metropolis and a place wherein we used to celebrate things together with my previous colleagues and friends. I remember back then, when I celebrated my 23^rd birthday at one of the private resorts in Pansol, Laguna – Casita De Anna Maria. This private resort is not just also perfect for overnight group trip. It is also perfect for companies who have small business seminars and workshops because they have a conference room that can cater 50-70 people. Likewise, they have air-conditioned rooms and areas for entertainment and relaxation. When we went here, we left Manila after office hours at around 8 in the evening and rented a Jeepney passing through the South Super Highway and led us to this private resort. At first, we stocked for more than an hour in one area in Makati (because there was an engine problem on the jeepney that we rented) but pushed through and arrived in Casita De Anna Maria before 12 Midnight. We enjoyed the overnight trip by drinking hard alcohol and a whole out singing in a karaoke and relaxed with the warm water of the resort’s pool. Hahaha! It was indeed my first time to drink much alcohol and I will not discuss further what happened to me on that overnight trip at Casita De Anna Maria. But in totality all of us enjoyed the amenities of the resort and the services they have been provided to us.

Few months after, we came back here in Pansol but this time in Villa Guadalupe Resort which is distance away from our friend’s house. This private resort has 2 to 3 pools having an air conditioned rooms, a kitchen, a whole night long karaoke machine and a warm pool. That was perfectly good for an overnight bonding and somehow a stress reliever on a daily work routine. For the second time, we came back here last October 2010. This time we took this opportunity to have a last stop, because some of us were leaving our previous company and some of my colleagues and friends were already left and have good business opportunities in other company. That also served as a despedida for us but not definitely goodbye for the years of priceless friendship. I can say, it all started here (referring to the trips on my previous company accompanied by my previous colleagues and friends) and it was ended up here with a smile and a word good luck on our plans and for our future endeavors.

References:

http://www.laguna.gov.ph/

http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/travel_laguna.html

http://ph.88db.com/Travel-Leisure/Resorts/ad-112526/

http://villaguadaluperesort.multiply.com/

2009 Batangas Trip

Batangas is one of the provinces near Metro Manila (2 to 3 hours away from Alimall Bus Station) and considered as a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region.  Geographically, the province bordered by the provinces of Laguna and Cavite to the north, Province of Quezon to the east, across the Verde Island Passages to the south and lies the South China Sea to the west. Batangas is known for its beautiful beach resorts and good diving spots most especially in the part of Anilao in Mabini, Matabungkay in Lian, Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Calatagan and Laiya in San Juan.

When we had a company outing way back July 2009, we stayed in one of the nicest beach resort in Laiya San Juan, Batangas – La Luz Beach Resort. We carried by a rented private bus that led us from Ortigas Business Center passing through South Super Highway and landed to La Luz Beach Resort before lunch. During  2 to 3 hours of travel time, my colleagues were enjoying chatting, throwing big time jokes  and singing pieces of song powered by a screen TV inside our private bus. La Luz Beach Resort is a nice place for team building and a good stress reliever on a half year of busyness due to non-stop routeing works. In this place, there is a one stop shop activities such as snorkeling, boating, kayak, diving, volleyball, hiking and board games. You can even enjoy  the massage service offered by the resort and the bonfire set-up at night.

Our day started here after eating our buffet lunch. Then few minutes after, we opened bottles of vodka mixed and prepared by my former boss and colleagues. Simultaneously, some were doing naughty scenes and some were enjoying picture taking on the different part of the resort. Then after more than hour, we decided to go to beach front and splashed the blue water of La Luz Beach Resort. We enjoyed swimming and snorkeling back then and rowed kayak in late afternoon. Hahaha! I remember when we did kayak, the wind was so strong and the flow of water brought us distance away to the shore. Luckily! Hahaha after several attempts of paddling and rowing the kayak, we pushed back to the line where we wanted to reach on. Oh my! that experience was somehow pushed us on trouble and it makes me smile every time I recalling it.  After that scene, we set two groups  and played beach volleyball.

At night and after eating our buffet set-up dinner, we did a bonfire while having a drinking and sharing session. Sharing of things we initially know to our buddy (this buddy system game was set-up day before this team building event).  Time had been passing by  and the atmosphere of the place was indeed relaxing while doing star gazing, drinking and sharing things to our colleagues. We ended up around 2 or 3am and woke up  at around 8am. After eating our breakfast, we hit again the beach front and enjoyed the remaining hours of fun activities in La Luz Beach Resort. 

References:

http://www.laluzresort.com/activities.html

http://www.batangas.gov.ph/

http://www.batangasnow.com/

http://www.mapmonde.org/asia/philippines/province-of-batangas/

http://www.laluzresort.com/activities.html

2010 Back to Back Trip in Rizal

       

         If you want to skip the haggard traffic, the irritating noise and the never ending busy world of Metro Manila. Take less than hour away going to the places in Rizal such as Resorts and different tourist destinations (coming from Cubao, Quezon City and to its nearby districts and cities).   Nowadays, Rizal is also considered as one of the first class provinces that belongs to CALABARZON (Region 1V-A) and boast with green nature and growing industries.

It was unplanned when we went to one of the class resorts in Taytay, Rizal – Thunderbird Resort. My former officemate who has contact here invited us to spend our weekend in Thunderbird resort right after  five days of non-stop working days. I remember I don’t’ have any extra shirts to use that time so we decided to buy shirt and other things needed to Robinson Galleria.  Then, it has been hours when we left Santolan, Pasig and arrived to Thunderbird Resort, because that time it was quite difficult to get private vehicle that can brought us to the said resort.

                I can’t recall what time we had been arrived. I guess it was 1 or 2 in the morning when we arrived and putting all our things inside the VIP room of Thunderbird Hotel, Then after eating some foods (served by the crews of the resort), we tried to play to the hotel and resort’s casino. We enjoyed the casino inside the Thunderbird Resort, most especially when we won during the first few games of betting (but suddenly lost in the end). After playing casino, we slept over until 9 in the morning. From our room, you can see the top view of the Thunderbird Resort highlighting the Infinity pool, the green field and the morning sun which was bit up away on the horizon of Laguna de bay. Then few steps away from the hotel, there was a buffet set up, a beach volleyball court for sport activity and playground for kids. It was a whole day of Saturday back then when we enjoyed the greenfield and activity center, its infinity pool and the service of the staffs and crews of Thunderbird Resort.

                Few weeks after, we planned to go back in Rizal but this time in one of the known resorts in Antipolo and stayed there for overnight – Bosay Resort. From SM Megamall we rented an FX that led us 45 minutes to an hour away from the business center of Ortigas. It was late night when we arrived in Bosay Resort. So that, we quickly prepared all the things we brought most especially the foods and the drinks bought at SM Department Store in SM Megamall. Not to go further and before the highlight of this overnight trip, we used to move around first and saw what makes this place popular for people who used to spend their weekend together with their friends and family. Aside from public pools, there is an Olympic and a Disco pool wherein you need to wear swimsuit and trunks (strictly implemented). 

                Time goes by that time, we started our drinking session. We started to drink beer then after drank shot glasses of tequila. Music has been set that time courtesy of a small speaker brought by one of our colleagues. After tequila, we twisted to drink hard rum that absolutely made the people wild and tipsy. A Glass of rum moving and passing around and some of our colleagues were grooving to the pop music playing inside our cottage.  Tugs! Tugs! Tugs! until 2 to 4am and until we finally drank a bottom’s up game of vodka and lost the consciousness on some of our friends. Well, that trip was somehow stressing and I will not further discuss the happy and naughty scenes acted upon most especially to those who had been sponsored by the spirit of alcohol. I woke up in the morning and drank a cup of coffee which had been given by one of our friends. I looked around. Hahaha! Obviously, some were wasted, some were not and some needed an assistance to take them up. We fetch up some of our friends and brought them up and put inside the car. We led them to the apartment of my friend in Santolan, Pasig City. We couldn’t bring them home because of their unconscious condition and because of the outcome of the four types of alcohol we had been drunk that time. Hahaha! Until now and when I recall that day, it always keep me smile and it was indeed memorable and funny.

References:

http://www.rizalprovince.gov.ph/

http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/travel_rizal.html

http://www.thunderbirdresorts.com/

http://www.bosayresort.com/rates.html

On our way to Subic!

Subic is the 1^st class municipality of the Province of Zambales and 3 to 4 hours away from Metro Manila via NLEX and SCTEX. It is quite long if I state the rich history and geographic of this place. But when I came back here 2 years ago to participate in the much awaited Ad Congress in 2009, what surprised and really caught my attention was the cleanliness and orderliness of this place most especially in the SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority). For almost five days staying in this place, I noticed that people are more disciplined, the street is safe and quiet at night and there’s no volume of vehicles and huge traffic. On the other hand, Subic boasts with good infrastructure, safe community and like in Metro Manila, there are also hotels, big restaurants, night out places and tourist destinations not only for local travelers most especially for foreign tourists. It was indeed a good experienced when we stayed here over the stress and pressure on the in and out of the foot traffic and noise of Ad Congress that year.

Way back May of 2010, in line with the celebration of my two friend’s birthday. We decided to extend their birthday celebration and went to one of the beach resorts in Subic – @ The Camayan Beach Resort (besides Ocean Adventure). Using a private vehicle, we left Manila at about 6am (after picking me up to Mcdonald Munoz and after 45 minutes of long waiting) then ran before the rays of the sun blowing up to the sky and for us to skip the possible traffic that occurred in the big and long snake road connecting from the busy world of Metro Manila to target non-stress place of Subic.  We took the big and long snake road for about 3 to 4 hours travel time via NLEX and SCTEX and arrived at around 10am at Camayan Beach Resort. Afterwards, we put our prepared foods and a cake with candle to a table for our birthday celebrants. Then after lighting the candles on and blowing it up by the celebrants, we started our day activities by enjoying swimming and fun beach activities.

The Camayan Beach Resort is accredited with The Department of Tourism and screaming with the noise of monkeys and birds from the big trees in the near forest which footsteps away from the shore. Like other beach resorts, Camayan Beach Resort also have a one stop shop beach activities where you can enjoy playing beach volleyball, beach soccer, water gladiator and beach Frisbee and even exploring the nature by kayaking in the Mangroves, snorkeling on the reef and biking in the forest. Likewise, you can even relax on beach cabanas, enjoy on the available foods in their restaurant and to the available de luxe rooms where you can stay hours of overnight.  This birthday treat by my friends was somehow a stress reliever for more than 8 hours of work times to the five days of none stop cold calling and client calls in the never ending routine of sales world.

 

Travel Guide

How to go to Subic?

By Land:

It is clearly stated above that if you go to subic via Private vehicle you will pass the NLEX and SCTEX. Otherwise, if you going to commute and take a public vehicle to reach Subic you can take one through the following bus stations and starting points via Victory Liner: Caloocan, Sampaloc, Pasay and Cubao.

By Air and Sea:

Through sea, you can take the Manila CCP bay terminal that exits to Orion, Bataan. Then use a vehicle to reach Subic. Otherwise, if you don’t want to spend several hours through land and sea, you can take a domestic flight and land to Diosdado Macapagal Airport (DMIA). From here, there are available vehicles that can bring you to Subic.

Below are the reference links that can lead you to hotels and resorts of Subic:

http://www.subic.com/

http://www.southtravels.com/asia/philippines/subic.html

http://www.islandsaccommodations.com/hotels-resorts/subic/

http://www.mysubic.com/

http://www.hotelssubic.com/listhotel.php

2009 and 2010 Cool Trip at Baguio City

 

Summer Capital and The City of Pine! These are the words that best describe the highly urbanized city in northern Luzon, Philippines – Baguio City.  Baguio is the place where you can enjoy the cold climate and fresh air of Cordillera mountain range. Aside from different tourist destinations, Baguio is famous for Panagbenga Festival (Flower Festival)– a much awaited event every February wherein local and foreign travelers enjoy the colorful parade of floats enriching with different kind of flowers and delightful street dancers.

I been in Baguio way back years ago and came back here last August 2009. This was when my previous company assigned us to go here for 18^th North Luzon Area Business Conference held in Baguio Country Club. The Baguio Country Club boasts with good architecture and wide range of golf field and this is the most prefer place for business conferences, special events and the like. We landed in Baguio at 5am and stayed in an affordable Inn in Jungle Town Street (minutes away from Victory Liner and Session Road). On top of the 3 days event, we took the opportunity to go around in different tourist places in Baguio – Burnham Park, Botanical Garden, The Mansion, The Mines View, The high landmark which is the Baguio Church as well as the bars in Nevada.

Few months after, we went back here to see and experience the annual event of Panagbenga Festival and treat this as a birthday gift for myself. We left Manila at 1am and arrived here at 7am and stayed for 3 days and two nights in an Inn on Downtown Baguio (another few minutes away in Session Road). After putting our things and eating our breakfast, we went to Session road and saw the Parade of Floats for Panagbenga Festival. It was quite difficult to see the street dancers and the floats covering with colorful flowers because of the high density of people who wanted to witness and see this highly anticipated event.

As we go along that day, we went to several places and did our itineraries prepared by my friend who stayed to this place couple of years ago. First stop was on Botanical Garden followed by Wright Park and Camp John Hay. It was really nice to walk and stay in Camp John Hay while enjoying the non-polluted air of Baguio sponsoring by the fresh breeze of Pine trees and the native foods alienating the taste of known foods in urban. At night, we ate our dinner in a Chinese restaurant in SM Baguio, walked around and stayed in one area wherein you will enjoy the top view and mainstream of Baguio City.

The next day, we went to Mines view not only to see what best known for this place moreover to buy souvenir items and pasalubong for our friends and family. Every single minute was counting during our last day. So after walking around from Session Road where you can see the busy traffic of people doing several activities and in Burnham Park wherein people enjoy the company of their friends and family we ended up and ate in another Chinese Restaurant near Burnham Park. Then, we decided to spend our last night by  staying in one private room and enjoyed bottles of drinks while singing pieces of song in a videoke machine.

TRAVEL GUIDE

How to go to Baguio?

If you don’t have a private vehicle, from the following starting points: Cubao, Caloocan, Pasay and Sampaloc take a ticket in Victory Liner Bus Station. This Bus will lead you to NLEX passing by the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union. Travel time is approximately 6 hours away from Manila and depends on the volume of traffic in sub-urban. The travel fee is Php 445 and it is advisable to buy and take a ticket ahead of time for you to have a definite schedule of departure and arrival.

The following reference links could help you in finding best Inns and hotels in Baguio City:

http://www.agoda.com/asia/philippines/baguio/maps/baguio_city.html?type=1&site_id=1410012&url=http://www.agoda.com/asia/philippines/baguio/maps/baguio_city.html&tag=e2506861-f0bd-48a8-b7d3-f2

http://www.philippines-travel-guide.com/baguio-hotels.html

Want to know more on Baguio?

Click this link to view the official Government website of Baguio:

http://www.baguio.gov.ph/index.php?q=content/welcome-baguio-city

2008 and 2009 Holyweek Trip at Puerto Galera

For two consecutive years, I spent my Holy week in Puerto Galera – located in northwestern part of the province of Oriental Mindoro and southwestern end of Isla Verde Passage (about 130 Km or 81 miles of Manila) and more than an hour boat ride from Batangas Port to Sabang Beach. In 2008, we had been in Sabang Beach, White Beach and Tamaraw Falls and stayed to my cousin’s house at Barangay Sinandigan (a small barangay up way to Sabang Beach). From Sabang, we took motorcycles that lead us going to my cousin's house at Barangay Sinandigan and stayed there for a while. After putting all our things and eating our lunch in my cousin’s house, we went down again to Sabang Beach to experience few things that best describe and known for this place. Sabang is the main destination for foreign tourists and you can see here several hotels and inns, restaurants, bars and diving spots.

On our first stop in Sabang, we decided to go to floating bar (meters away to the shore of Sabang beach) and experienced the life of the foreign peeps that used to stay and spend their day while enjoying bottles of beer and the long slide plunging directly to the deep blue water. After sunset, the lights were on for restaurants and bars in Sabang Beach and the place was starting to become busy and the people set their mode to party. We did bar hopping and noticed that every bar has an area for billiard table wherein tournament occurred at late night.

The night had been ended and ate our breakfast the next day with vegetables and sausages. After an hour, we prepared foods and packed our things for another whole day trip. Our first stop that day was in White Beach, and I think this is the place where local travelers enjoying the heat of the sun and their top of mind place when you say Puerto Galera. Unlike to Sabang Beach, here, there are lots of affordable inns and restaurants, souvenir shops are present and individuals who do henna tattoo. Also, there are banana boats, Jet Ski, kayak, beach volleyball court for you to experience a one stop shop summer activity. In this place I never experience the night life but according to my cousin, same with Sabang Beach, local travelers are also enjoying the active night bars. We stayed there for almost 4 hours and made a picnic set up covering by the shadow of small coconut tree and ate our prepared foods while looking to the people doing different beach activities. We even enjoyed snorkeling, swimming and playing beach volleyball under the heat of the sun.       

Afterwards, we decided to pack our things and brought it to the car and move to other destination. For 30 to 45 minutes away from White Beach, we reached the silent and another great tourist spot of Puerto Galera – The Tamaraw Falls. This place has an entrance fee and there are available pools connected from the falls up and flowing down to the small river. From the pool, there is a way to go up to the Tamaraw falls but you need to cross the stony way under the bridge. I didn’t swim in the two pools nor even tried to experience and jump from up the bridge down and plunge to the 8 to 12 feet swimming pool. What caught and fulfill my stay here in this place is the cold and fresh water coming from the mountain and formed rocks around the Tamaraw Falls.

Year after (2009) Holyweek , we came back in Puerto Galera. We stayed first and put all our things in the apartment of my cousin’s aunt (located in Sabang). Then, went to another part of Sabang which we didn’t see the last time we’ve been here – La Laguna Beach. I pleasantly surprised to this place. Why? It simply because of the powdered white sand and I can say that this place is better compare to White Beach where local travelers used to spend their holy week vacation. There are also available inns and restaurants in this place, and if it is low tide, you can see sea urchins, crabs and the like on the stony part of La Laguna Beach. After enjoying several things in La Laguna Beach, we went to my cousin’s new house which is 20 to 30 minutes away from Sabang Beach and stayed and spent our night by eating our dinner and played cards after. The next day we went back again to White Beach and ended up our day to Sabang  Beach. We started and ended our day in these two places the same things that we did a year ago– Snorkeling, swimming and beach volleyball in White Beach, went to floating bar, ate in restaurant and bar hopping in Sabang Beach.

On our last day trip, we went to Rocky Beach – another beautiful spot and beach in Puerto Galera. I can say that this is also another undiscovered place of Puerto Galera for local travelers and foreign tourists. There are no inns and hotels here nor bars and restaurants compared to Sabang Beach and White Beach. Here, you can see pebbles instead of white sand; there is a Grotto on the rocky and right side of the beach, mangroves to the left side and big waves splashing to the shore. The place is quite near and located up away to my cousin’s house and it is near in the highway so that we have more time to stay here and enjoy our last stop in Puerto Galera.

         

Travel Guide

How to go to Puerto Galera?

If you are in North area, you can go to Cubao Bus Station near Alimall. Take the Calabarson Bus and the destination will pick you down to Batangas Port. Likewise, if you are in south area, you can take a bus from Buendia/ Taft Station and will also pick you down to Batangas Port. Usually the Bus Fee range  from Php 160-180 depends on your starting point. Then from Batangas Port, there are several booths wherein you can buy tickets going to Sabang Beach (main destination for foreign tourist) and White Beach (for local travelers) and in Muelle. Usually, the boat fee ranges to Php 360 for peak season while Php 260 for non-peak season.

The following reference links could help you in finding best hotels in Puerto Galera:

@Sabang Beach

http://www.agoda.com/asia/philippines/puerto_galera/maps/sabang.html?type=1&site_id=1410012&url=http://www.agoda.com/asia/philippines/puerto_galera/maps/sabang.html&tag=e5d6b48c-9af7

http://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g294254-Puerto_Galera_Oriental_Mindoro_Province_Mindoro-Hotel-Deals.html

@White Beach

http://www.agoda.com/asia/philippines/puerto_galera/maps/white_beach.html?type=1&site_id=1410012&url=http://www.agoda.com/asia/philippines/puerto_galera/maps/white_beach.html&tag=839271c0-06a8-4b6e-ac9c