Unplanned Road Trip to South of Metro in Search of "The Beach"

Truckload of Sugarcane along Nasugbu, Batangas

Finally, I'm back to writing on this blog.

It's been a dizzying 10 months as I had to adjust to new challenges of my job and did a lot of traveling. I'm back in Manila (and will be off again soon) and the last article about the South of Metro I wrote was in June 2011. Whew! Yes, that long.

I've been to a lot of places in almost a year and I saw it fit to kick-off my 2012 summer blog with something about our unplanned road trip to Batangas in time for my kids' summer vacation.

The goal was to look for new beach spot south of the metro. It shouldn't cost an arm and a leg but should have white sand, a pool, and a feel of exclusivity in a tropical forest setting.

We searched the Internet and Tripadvisor the night before our trip. I printed some maps and target spots then went to sleep.


We were up late (around 9am), prepared our stuff good for 2-3 days, and had breakfast at McDonalds near our village. We discussed our options of either taking the Sto. Tomas (towards Laiya) or Sta. Rosa (towards Nasugbu or Calatagan) exits. We called up 2 places in Laiya and reserved for 2 days just in case we won't be able to discover a new spot.

While at SLEX, we decided to exit at Sta. Rosa towards Tagaytay and even thought of going to Taal. The trip, being a Holy Monday, was easy going up to Tagaytay that we eventually decided to look for some places in Calatagan.

St. John the Baptist, Lian, Batangas

We passed by Lian and took some photos of the Shrine of St. John the Baptist. It was midday so it was scorching!

Still, the kids went down the car to take some pics.

It took us 2.5 hours to get to Calatagan. We heard from the locals that the Stilts was the best place in Calatagan.

Unfortunately, the sea was rough and the Stilts Beach Resort was fully booked.

Though we decided to look for Ronco beach which was in our map, we couldn't find it and ended up in a single-lane paved road which was really scary. This was way after Playa Calatagan. There were no structures on either side of the road and some farmers beside the road gave us questioning stares -- as if asking, "where the hell are these guys going?"

On the way back, we still gave Calatagan a shot. We passed by this old rustic blue-roofed house with a Suntan-lined long driveway. It had a small round-about infront of the house. The kids gave it one look and said that it looked like scary mansion more than a resthouse.

Calatagan beach as seen from the road

View from SLEX

We continued on and passed by the Matabungkay area. We decided to take a peak. The SK of the area charged 5 pesos per head at the entrance to the barangay. As our car slowly edged towards the area, a bunch of so called "beach agents" approached us and were leading us toward their resorts. It reminded me of the old-fashioned way of getting into beach resorts in Cavite and Batangas where there seemed like a bid for each customer. It was bordering on chaos with summer beach goers flocking to the area. Well, we were really for a more private area, so we turned around again towards the main highway. Mission failed.

We drove towards Nasugbu. We had one more shot for day. We could stay at Johndel or El Cacar in Barangay Wawa for the night then head off to the pricey Canyon Cove in the morning.

Old-style Mercury Drug, Nasugbu town proper

After a quickstop at the local pharmacy (an old-style Mercury Drugstore) and a quick meal at Chowking at the Nasugbu town proper, I asked recommendations from a local traffic enforcer. He obviously endorsed the local resorts but whispered the better settings at Munting Buhangin, Canyon Cove and Terrazas (famous for Ogie and Regine's wedding). Hmmm...interesting.

Fisherman on their way to work at dusk

A few meters away from Chowking, we turned left on the road after Andoks. As we approached Johndel and El Cacar beach resorts, "beach peddlers" went about flashing pictures of their "choice" places. We parked at El Cacar to check out the beach. The kids were obviously disappointed with grey sand and lack of privacy. One peddler flashed a picture of a place with white sand which he said was only 15 minutes away by boat. The kicker was the price. It was half of what one would pay at Canyon Cove.

In 10 minutes, we were on board the banca captained by "Ama," a veteran with more than 20 years experience. We securely parked our car at Aling Ana's residence (she is the caretaker). Overnight parking is 200 pesos and the cost of the banca (round-trip) ranges from PhP1,200 for a direct deal, and PhP1,500 it goes through a peddler.

Costa De Oro

Costa De Oro beach line

This place is truly amazing!

Costa de Oro is located in Barangay Natipuan, Nasugbu, Batangas.

It's the same area where the rich and famous have their rest houses in this part of Batangas. The houses dot the coastline and beside the hilly areas of the island. You would also notice that the more affluent have their yachts parked on the shore.

Resort's own banca (P1,200 fee round-trip)

It didn't appear in any Internet searches and was believed to be known only to locals and foreigners (mostly Japanese). There is no road leading to it. Just reachable by banca or yacht.

However, club  members of Terraza can gain access to it via a 5-minute walk from the beach, and those from far away Munting Buhangin can walk the beach in about 15 minutes. Otherwise, it's faster and more enjoyable to reach the place via banca ride if you come from other parts of the island.

The Main Villa

Owned by a British couple (the wife is Pinay), Costa De Oro is well maintained and has the luxurious feel of a private resort with its own swimming pool and covered by forest. During the day, you'd hear different calls of birds -- reminiscent of the Mocking Jays in Hunger Games. At night, you'd hear the sound of Geckos (local: Tuko).

Living area (Main Villa)

The airconditioned rooms are large enough to accommodate as much as 7 people. There's a spacious kitchen, dining, and living area in the main villa where we stayed. To get to the main villa, you'd have to walk a 3 flights of cobbled-stone stairs. Since there was a huge lanai (by the pool), we would bring our things for the day and just hangout by the pool. The beach is a few meters away.

Main pool and lanai

In the main pool area and lanai, you can either buy fresh seafood to be cooked by Chef Baggy -- a veteran cook and chef from the old Anito and Victoria lodges. Thus, we bought fresh lobsters and tuna from fisherfolk, had them grilled also by them, then order the rest from Chef Baggy. I even ordered fresh Talbos ng Kamote (Camote Tops) which he picked from the garden!

The long beach is shared by the more exclusive Terraza and Canyon Cove. There are 2 more small resorts in the area where locals usually stay to rent cottages for the day. Some even bring their own tent.

Typical food fare: Freshly grilled Lobsters & Tuna!

During the day, local banceros can take you on a boat ride towards the whole island, even as far as Fortune Island and Twin Island. From across Costa De Oro, you can see exclusive summer dwellings of the titled few and see their parked yachts and sailboats. It is said that the island hosts the likes of Aga Muhlach, Rica Peralejo, The Marcoses and even FVR. Willi Revillame's yacht is also seen docked across Costa De Oro.

How much does it cost?

For 2 days, inclusive of all the frills, fresh bounty and banca ride, it only cost us less than P20,000! There were 5 of us. Not bad, eh?

Things to Note:

The author amidst the forest

1) Getting there is via Nasugbu route (Town proper), then park your car c/o Aling Ana's residence. Drop me a comment if you want to get in touch. Only personal referrals allowed by her.
2) You need a banca to get to the island.
3) Stay away from peddlers if you want to make the most of your money.
4) Discover the Islands of the Philippines





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HOMER NIEVERA Business Development in Digital Media http://homernievera.net

Vacation Time? B-L-O-W B-A-G!

By Jonathan de Santos | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Going elsewhere this Holy Week? Make sure your house is safe.

The Philippine National Police on Wednesday released public safety tips against crimes and accidents during the Lenten break.

If going out of town and leaving the house unattended, the PNP suggested making sure appliances are unplugged, gas stoves are shut off,  and all doors and windows are locked.

Although it is best to tell a trusted neighbor that you are going away and when you will be coming home, avoid leaving notes outside the house telling people you are away. The PNP suggested leaving a radio turned on to make it seem like somebody is home.

Bicycles, laundry, and vehicles left outside the house should also be secured before leaving.

On the Road

Before heading out, check your vehicle with this handy mnemonic device:

B       - Battery                       B       - Brakes

L       - Light                            A       - Air

O       - Oil                             G       - Gas

W      - Water

Make sure all your documents, like license and registration, are in order before leaving the city. Also make sure you brought early-warning device in case you need to do road-side repairs. Bring a flashlight or emergency light, and, for long drives, bring a driving buddy who can take the wheel when you get tired.

If traveling on public transportation, the PNP said you should put away your jewellery and cellphone and avoid bringing large amounts of cash. It is also best to travel light so you won't have to keep an eye on too many bags. Travelers should also keep an eye out for suspicious bags and packages that may contain bombs, the police said.

If traveling with children, make sure they have an ID or at least a piece of paper with their name and important contact numbers. This will help in case they get lost in the crowd at churches or at the beach.

The PNP also reminded travelers to take note of the nearest First Aid stations or police assistance desks in case of emergencies.

Aside from setting up assistance desks, PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome also ordered Police Regional Offices and units to coordinate with local government units and volunteer groups for "a collaborative and unified delivery of public safety services and assistance."

Source: Yahoo News

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HOMER NIEVERA Business Development in Digital Media http://homernievera.net

Rediscovering Corregidor, the brave little island

By Elizabeth Lolarga, VERA Files


It is the island fortress where the blood of Filipino, American and Japanese soldiers was spilled, all of them convinced it was for a cause bigger than them.

Visitors who choose Corregidor as a summer destination this year will find many other reminders of its place in history from the time the Spaniards set it up as a correctional institution for prisoners doing hard labor to the time coastal inspectors or correctors were stationed there to check if ships entering Manila Bay had the proper papers all the way to this era when it has become a living museum.

Situated between Cavite and Bataan, the  island, also known as the "The Rock", because its rocky landscape, has often been mistaken as part of the latter province because its original name was Isla de Mariveles. It is actually part of Cavite.

With Sun Cruise tours in place and when the waters are not choppy and storm signals are not raised, Corregidor has more to offer than three decades ago.

Once tourists get off the wharf on the lowest level of the isle, also called Bottom Side, they can board the open-sided tranvia that sits 35 people inside.  The fleet of tranvia, replica of the original trams, is a reminder that the island once had 13 miles of railway. The pseudo-trams are really mini-buses.

Barracks. Photo by Mila D. Aguilar

Tour guide Jose Baja runs through the entire history of Corregidor as the tranvia slowly makes its way to the highest site, sometimes called Swiss site, too, with some 10-15-minute pit stops along the way for picture-taking and a walk around some ruins like bombed-out craters that are cordoned off. The Swiss site is where surviving Japanese soldiers who did not want to be caught by returning Americans near the end of World War II jumped to their deaths "in the way of the warriors," Baja says.
Before the war, there were five communities of civilians living on the island in Barrio Lourdes, including Chinese-Filipinos who supplied the groceries. Today there are no permanent residents. Island employees and vendors go home to any of the nearby provinces or Metro Manila.

The American colonial masters spent $150 million to fortify the 900-hectare island whose mission then was to deny the enemy entry to Manila to the extent that their soldiers were required not to surrender.

The stops include Battery Way, a cannon that could then be fired in any direction and hit a target eight miles away. It was the last big gun to be fired before the Americans surrendered to the Japanese.

Baja says the silent Battery Hearn, named after a US corps commander, had a longer radius (17 miles). It was the most publicized at the time, the spot where Japanese soldiers posed and cried, "Banzai!" to show they had conquered the Philippines.

At the Topside, the ruins of the mile-long barracks can be found. The parade grounds and golf course there was where 1,300 paratroopers landed to liberate the island although the Americans caused the most destruction during Liberation.

Baja says before the Japanese invasion, Cine Corregidor was "the best movie house in the Philippines." The last movie shown, a foreboding of what was to come, was Gone with the Wind.

Tranvia.Photo by Mila D. Aguilar

The white Pacific War Memorial that resembles a parachute commemorates soldiers who died in the battle for the island. The museum displays, among others, a Coke bottle, broken china, a mosaic of the war's Pacific Ocean areas, money bills and coins from the American and Japanese periods, the first US flag hoisted on the island (that flag had only 45 stars), spent mortars, a soldier's goggles.
Outside a towering sculpture in orange, an abstraction of the eternal flame, has these words carved on stone: "To live in freedom's light is the right of mankind."

Baja says Japan's timetable of conquest was delayed because Filipinos put up a good fight. Six years ago, the widow of Lt. Norman Reyes, who read the announcement over the Voice of Freedom that "Bataan has fallen," requested that her husband's ashes be scattered in the lawn behind the flame.

The Filipino Heroes Memorial depicts revolts throughout Philippine history. It includes the statue of a Filipino peasant who is a guerrilla in disguise. The Spanish Museum recreates a tiny pueblo with 60 steps leading to a lighthouse. The Japanese Memorial, opened in 1991, perhaps a work in progress, has a traditional Oriental arch and a few display cases showing wartime Japanese bills and coins.

A must-stop is "The Malinta Experience," billed as National Artist Lamberto Avellana's "final tribute to valor, peace and international understanding." The diorama of sound and light recreates how the tunnel was used as storage facility, then later served as subterranean shelter as the Japanese closed in.

Baja assures visitors that storied Corregidor does not harbor ghosts, adding, "They are all at peace."
(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for "true.")



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HOMER NIEVERA Business Development in Digital Media http://homernievera.net