TRAVEL SNIPPET: One Fine Summer in Camaya Coast, Bataan

NOTE TO SELF: Your country has 7, 107 islands. You better plan your summer well.

As soon as summer started here in my country, March 1st to be exact, I wrote the above NOTE TO SELF on my Facebook page. I have been limiting my travels this year because I am preparing and saving up for a big one towards the end of the year. My friends and I wanted the beach but would really like to go friendly on the pocket so we signed up for deals. There were 8 of us originally but the number went down to four, which meant the budget will have to go up. Well, it was worth it!

We purchased an affordable promo package for four. The promo includes lunch, kayaking, snorkeling, use of facilities including the infinity pool, biking, nature trails, visit to waterfalls. etc. Frankly, I was just after the beach, really.

Camaya Coast is a residential project located along the coast of Mariveles Bataan targeting well-off families. Camaya boasts of its eco-tourism theme and offers outdoor activities such as biking, snorkeling, fishing, trails, diving, etc. It's like being home away from home. There are two ways to reach Camaya Coast - land and via ferry. Here are instructions I got from their site:

LAND VIA PRIVATE CAR (2 hours and 30 mins)

• Take NLEX about 50 meters after the Dau exit take the SCTEX.
• From SCTEX, head towards Subic & exit Dinalupihan to the Roman Superhighway.
• Turn RIGHT upon exit of SCTEX and follow the Roman Superhighway to Mariveles Bataan Economic Zone Authority (BEZA).
• From BEZA, you can: CONTINUE on until you reach CAMAYA COAST via Bagac-Mariveles Road.

If you want to take the land option, they prefer that you bring a car. We were glad that we did. The distance from the main gate to the beach area is far. It took us 30 mins. But if you are up for a little more road trip with no heavy traffic in a literally long and winding road to see the houses being being built and a fantastic view of the landscape and the coast from afar, then it's a good one. 

If you can't bring a private car, it is more advisable to take the ferry.

VIA SUNCRUISE FERRY (SUPERCAT) 1 hour and 30 mins

• Suncruise Ferry Terminal beside Jumbo Palace, CCP Complex Roxas Blvd, Pasay

We left Manila at 5AM on a Sunday so we can be one of the firsts to take advantage of the free lockers that go with the package. It worked. It took us 3 hours to reach our destination with a 30-minute stopover for breakfast. 

First thing that draws you to the place are the facilities and amenities. Let's start with one of the most important when visiting a resort, the toilets.

There are about 25 (more or less) lockers available for day tour guests. The lockers are inside the rest rooms that are well-maintained. There is someone dedicated to cleaning it almost every 15 minutes. The upper right corner of this photo shows you the water supply that you can use to wash up before entering the rest room. It keeps the floor clean all the time - the big pot and the wooden ladle give it a local touch.

A few meters away from the coast, you will find the dining area. You are free to secure a table for your group to dine or to chat and relax as soon as you arrive.

There's music, free drinking water supply, and you can also place food orders, if you can no longer wait for the lunch that usually comes with the package.Maybe a serving of halo-halo upon arrival will be a good way to freshen up after a long trip.

At the time that we visited, there was only one thing that we didn't like. I'm thinking that it was just an isolated case. I think the resort wasn't prepared for the number of visitors that day, which should not be since a reservation is required. The lunch was delayed, the lines for it were long, and there was not enough personnel to attend to our needs. No manager showed up, either, to talk to the visitors waiting in line under the heat of the sun to apologize or take responsibility. Am sure and I hope, the resort learned from it as there were a lot who complained and some even called their customer service number.

Back to the tour - 

Near the parking area is a basketball court that guests can also take advantage of. Just don't forget to wear sunblock as the heat can be painful to the skin. I couldn't stay any longer than this 5-second photo. I bet an afternoon or night game would be an awesome experience. I supposed there is proper lighting at night.

A few meters away from here is a billiard hall for those who want an indoor sport.

Let's visit the infinity pool -

It's located near the dining area and a great place for kids. They, however, follow strict swimwear guidelines. There are beach beds available around the pool. 

Now, let's check out what we came here for in the first place - the beach.

The beach has fine, white sand. The shore is well-kept. There are benches and beach beds for sun bathing. They also offer banana boat rides and other water adventures I previously mentioned. Here's a photo I got from their Facebook page.

Photo was taken from their official Facebook page. See this link. 

Here are photos of the beach:

These are what you see from the beach beds. 

This is what you see from the dock area or the beach.

Overall, the experience is worth the trip. A day trip is enough if you don't really plan on getting a house here. Come early, not just for the lockers, so you can enjoy the place while it's not jam-packed. We left the place early, at 4pm, so as not to get caught in traffic. It was a wise a decision.

We were swamped with work prior to this trip and we thought of going to the beach to de-stress. We were not disappointed.

The sea is a manifestation of the magnitude of God's love.  It will always remind us of how tiny we are. It tells us that the world does not revolve around us and not everything is about us. God made it so magnificent that every time we come to it, we get the kind of peace so humbling that we forget the very things that made us come to it.

Camaya Coast

 Sitio Wain, Brgy. Biaan, Municipality of Mariveles,

Province of Bataan, Central Luzon Region,Philippines.

TRAVEL SNIPPET 2010: A Trip to A White Paradise

As I write this, it's 35 degrees Celcius here in Manila and it's a Thursday. All I want to do right now is head to the beach and get that one cold drink after. Sadly, I can't. I have work to do and I can't just leave.
A summer Throwback Thursday is the closest I could do, for now.
 
In November of 2010, my friends and I completed our LuzViMinda (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao) adventure by visiting Cagayan de Oro.We decided to take a short tour to the province of Camiguin and visited the White Island.

The White Island is a sandbar found in the province of Camiguin in Mindanao. This C-shaped beauty whose shape changes with the season can amaze you even from afar.

It was quite a long travel from our host's home (from a jeepney ride, to a bus, to a ferry and a small boat) to get to the island, but it was worth it. We were never shortchanged.

The island is uninhabited so there are no cottages to stay under when the sun is at its peak and can be scorching hot. We have been warned by our host friend so we packed light, brought our sunblocks, and of course, our cameras. You just can't leave this island without bringing at least a still memory with you.

At the port, you will find locals who will offer you beach umbrellas and hats before you head to the island.

This sandbar experience will surely make you feel that you are one with nature. 

When you visit, do not forget to take a photo with Mt. Hibok Hibok as your backdrop. We took a bunch of jump shots of ourselves.

If you love marine life, you may also enjoy snorkeling to see not just the surface of the island but also what's underneath. It was said that one side of this island has a hidden colorful reef.

This is one of the most beautiful islands I have ever seen. I fell for it even from afar. It's a place I won't mind going back again and again. I hope you can come and experience it, too.

Photos are owned by Mapet Abesamis. Philnee Duran and myself.
A special thanks to Abesamis family for hosting this and all our other activities during this trip.

TRAVEL SNIPPETS: Selfie with Jake

Jake is a 12-yo kid who works at the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, PH. He goes to the farm every weekend to lend a hand and get paid. This helps him help his parents bring him to school. He will be in high school very soon. You could see his excitement when how his eyes lights up when talking about high school.

He works with a ready smile all the time. He ends his sentences with a “po” (a word in the Filipino language that expresses courtesy) always. When he felt comfortable talking to me, he shared stories of the people he met at the farm. You could say he was proud of the friendships he made. I’d like to think he was happy and proud to meet me, too.

He wants to become a teacher.

It was a short encounter but it was meaningful.

Thank you, Jake, for this wonderful chance to have a photo with you. I hope that you reach your dreams. Hope to see you again soon.

Travel Snippets: The Dignity of Bacolor, Pampanga

Travel Date: January 18, 2014
1st Leg of Attraversiamo 2014  - My Yearly Travel Series

This is the second stop of our Bits of Cuisine and Culture Trip to Pampanga. Our first stop was a full dining experience at Atching Lillian Borromeo’s house. You should read about it first from this link. The entry will lead you back to this. Enjoy!

Today's entry is about our visit to two amazing places, San Guillermo Church and Campo Santo de Bacolor.

San Guillermo Parish Church, also known as the "Sunken Church", is located in Bacolor, Pampanga, and was built in 1576 by the Augustinian friars. In 1880, the Church was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 1886. On June 15, 1991, another tragedy hit when Mt. Pinatubo erupted. According to USGS, it's  the second largest eruption in the 20th century; second to Novarupta 1912 eruption in AK.

The eruption caused so much damage when the lahar flowed from the slopes of the mountain onto the surrounding countryside burying residential areas including San Guillermo Church, which was half-buried.

I remember how the aftermath was also felt in Metro Manila due a typhoon that brought a mix of ash and rain all throughout the metro. We were asked to wear head gears every time we go outside the house. I can also clearly remember one person from a tv show who said, "The Lord wants Pampanga and the Philippines to repent from our sins." and how he related it to a scene of repentance in the Bible where people put ashes on their head to prove it.

Despite the lahar tragedy, you will still be amazed by the beauty of the church.

In fact, the beauty was also mixed with love when we visited it. There was a wedding.

We also found out that the easiest way to find the church is to use the name Santino - a child character in a local TV drama series, May Bukas Pa. When you ask where San Guillermo Church is, you might hear them say, "Ah yung kay Santino!" I was not a follower of the said drama series but it was interesting to know how the show made the place more famous. Am sure it has helped the community's tourism and income.

Just behind San Guillermo Church is also a lahar half-buried cemetery named Campo Santo de Bacolor.

Campo Santo de Bacolor is a one-hectare Roman Catholic cemetery. The thought that this place houses buried dead bodies, again, buried by lahar, can either give you the creeps or develop in you a greater respect for its history. It gives me the latter. I, actually, could not help but check the place myself. I had to tell my friends to come with me only if they are comfortable. A cemetery is one of my favorite photo subjects. I think it's a road less taken by photographers.

Let me give you a tour, if I may.

This is what's behind San Guillermo Church facing the entrance of Campo Santo de Bacolor.

You will find this before you enter the cemetery.

 Let's go inside.

 Inside you will also see the half-buried small chapel where the dead received final blessing. It is now a tourist spot.

 This is the view facing San Guillermo Church.

For some reason, I felt a little attached to this part of Pampanga.  It's a very simple place, nothing spectacular about it, but it has gained my utmost respect. Despite what it went through, it has kept its dignity in tact. This says so much about humanity. We could go through a lot of situations that could destroy us, half-bury us, make us struggle and limp through life, but we should never ever lose our dignity along the process. The tragedy should never turn us into another tragedy.

I plan on coming back because I still have a list to complete.

To all the locals of Pampanga, for now, let me celebrate you in the only way I know how.

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FOOD TRIP: The Flavors and Colors of China in Manila

What started as a commercial partnership through barter, ages ago, became a lasting relationship. From our language, to our daily products, food, fashion and lifestyle, the Chinese culture has blended well with our own. One of the best ways to experience the color, feel, and flavors of China in this country is to visit the Manila Chinatown.

Chinatown Manila was established in 1594, which is said to be the oldest in the world. It is located in Binondo, Manila. Binondo is the home to a very old church founded in 1596. Binondo Church is also known as Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, named after the first Filipino saint who served as an altar boy in the same church. Lorenzo Ruiz is Filipino-Chinese by descent.

A trip to Chinatown cannot be complete without a dining experience. In fact, when you mention Binondo, food comes to mind first. There's a long strip of eating places to choose from. You will never go hungry in this part of the world. Today, we decided to try Chuan Kee in Yuchengco St. corner Ongpin St. just behind Binondo Church.

The place was full for a morning visit. Looks like every day is a busy day for this place.

With Chinese songs in the background, Chinese-speaking guests coming in and out, and Chinese characters everywhere you look, you will surely be transported to a country, which is miles and miles away.

We asked for their most affordable bestsellers and here are what we were advised to taste:

From the inside of Chuan Kee, you can't help but notice this signage. It's inviting so why not give this a try too?

Cafe Mezzanine was featured in CNN's World's Best Chinatowns as a Must Visit Restaurant. Read more from this link.

A portion of this cafe's income goes to the Binondo Fire Department, whose iconic purple truck is parked beside Binondo church.

The place is cozy and is a nice place to hang out and chat. You will find interesting photos of firemen in action and other related displays.

You may try their signature coffee, Mezza Blend, which is refillable at P70. Not bad at all!

Or if you want a sweeter coffee, you may try their Cafe Latte. They also serve pasta, burgers, pancit, halo-halo and sandwiches.

Like I said, the food here never stops. When you pass by the newly established Lucky Chinatown Mall, you might be lucky to stumble upon any of their fun events such as this one below. We happened to have experienced their Weekend Asian Street Food Market.

We tried the following:

Dynamite (Chilli Cheese Sticks) @ P10 each

Pork and Chicken Isaw @ P20-

They're a little bit expensive compared to its real street prizes but, hey, extra bucks for the comfort.

Weekend Asian Street Food Market goes on Saturdays and Sundays of September.

This isn't my first time in Chinatown. In fact, visiting this place again brings so many childhood memories. I was born in Manila. My parents used to work in Escolta and my regular trips to Sta. Cruz, Quaipo and Binondo are memories I will always treasure.

Chinatown has, indeed, a world of its own. While walking the streets of Binondo on my way home,  I hoped that it gets to preserve its distinct culture and that it will never sell out. When I saw this roadside chapel still there, I was rest assured.