Pagudpud Two-Day Itinerary



Saud Beach, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Pagudpud can be reached by a 10-12 hour drive or bus ride from Manila. Another alternative is by plane through the Laoag City Airport.

Pagudpud is part of most Ilocos tour packages. Here's a sample itinerary on how one could maximize a two-day stay in this northern paradise.

To Do's
     Day 1
          0930PM Estimated Time of Departure from Manila.
          0830AM Estimated Time of Arrival in Pagudpud.
          0930AM Check-in at hotel, resort or homestay in Saud Beach, Pagaudpud.
          1030AM Explore the beach.
          1200PM Lunch in one of the beach-front restaurants.
          0100PM Rest at hotel.
          0300PM Explore the beach and enjoy the sun, sand and water of the West Philippine Sea.
          0600PM Enjoy the view of the sunset.
          0700PM Dinner in one of the beach-front restaurants.
          0900PM Party, party, party.
          1100PM Sleep at hotel.

     Day 2
          0700AM Breakfast at hotel.
          0800AM Start of South Pagudpud Tour.
          0900AM Buy fresh produce from Bangui Market.
          1000AM Explore Bangui Windmills.
          1100AM Back to hotel for lunch using fresh buys from Bangui market.
          1200PM Lunch at hotel.
          0100PM Start of the North Pagdpud Tour.
          0130PM Start of a 30-minute trek to Kabigan Falls.
          0200PM Enjoy the cold water of Kabigan Falls.
          0230PM Start of trek back to the main road.
          0330PM Stopver at Patapat Viaduct.
          0400PM Visit Paraiso ni Anton and the Agua Grande River Park.
          0430PM See the Bantay Abot Cave.
          0500PM Explore the Blue Lagoon beach.
          0600PM Enjoy the sunset at Blue Lagoon.
          0700PM Check out.
          0800PM Bus ride to Manila.

Budget
     Transportation
          Bus (RCJ Lines or Florida) - P600.00 (one-way)
          Tricycle (from Town Proper to Saud Beach) - P50.00
          Traysi Tour - P1,200 (includes South and North Pagudpud Tours good for 3), P800.00 (South and North Pagudpud tour excluding Burgos Light House and Kapurpurawan)
         
     Accommodation
          Homestay (Cathy's Homestay) - P800.00/day (air-conditioned room good for 4).

     Food
          Restaurants in front of the beach - P100.00 to P200.00 per meal.

     Estimated Budget
          P4,000.00 to P5,000.00 per head.

Contact Information
     Florida Bus Lines
          Sampaloc, Manila
          +63 2 749 4862
          Manila to Pagudpud Schedule: 930PM
          Pagudpud to Manila Schedule: 800PM
          Fare: P500.00 (De Luxe with Comfort Room)

     RCJ Lines
          Sampaloc, Manila
          +63 2 781 9306
          Manila to Pagudpud VV: 430PM, 630PM, 830PM
          Fare: P600.00 (Regular Air-Conditioned)

     Cathy's Homestay
           Saud Beach, Pagudpud

           +63 919 571 6680

Sprint Account Wins TP EDSA's Giant Easter Egg Making Contest

Sprint Account won Teleperformance EDSA's Giant Easter Egg Hunting Contest besting 3 entries from other accounts. The winner was adjudged based on size (40%), design *30%) and use of recycled and indigenous materials (30%).

The judging and awarding ceremonies were held at the Teleperformance EDSA's Excutive Lobby. There was also an Easter Egg Hunting activity for the kids who visited the site.

Israel Marcelo, the master planner and designer of the Easter Egg holds the certificate of the winning Easter Egg.

The 7.6-foot Easter Egg on display.

Employees from other accounts also had their pictures taken with the Giant Easter Egg.

Used plywood served at the Easter Egg's base. 

Used crepe papers were used to decorate the Giant Easter Egg.

My Ilocos Sojourn - Destination: Pagudpud

Background

Pagudpud a fourth class municipality and a coastal resort town of Ilocos Norte province, in the northern Ilocos Region of the Philippines. According to the latest census, Pagudpud has a population of 20,385 people in 3,804 households. It is the northernmost settlement on Luzon Island.

The town is bounded to the south by the town of Bangui and to the east by the Cordillera Mountain Range, the town of Adams and the province of Cagayan. The South China Sea lies to the west and north. The town rolls over mountains, hills, valleys and flat coastal land. It lies 45 miles (72 km) north of Laoag City, the provincial capital, and about 350 miles (560 km) north of Manila. They reside in 3,804 homes that are spread across 83 square miles (210 km²). Most make their living through farming, fishing and subsistence retailing. Tourism is a growing part of the economy.

Pagudpud was made a municipality on February 3, 1954. Unlike Laoag City, the province's only autonomous city, Pagudpud derives its authority from the provincial government. It had previously been a part of the neighboring town of Bangui.

There are no ATM"s in Pagudpud. The nearest ATM is in Loang which is about 2 hours on a local bus.

Attractions

Its white-sand beaches and crystal-blue water makes Pagudpud a haven for tourists. Maira-Ira Point is also an emerging attraction with its secluded beach known as the Blue Lagoon, as well as kilometer-long Saud Beach. Access to this public beach is from a secondary concrete road on the north side of the Maharlika Highway just before approaching the Patapat Viaduct. On the way to the Blue Lagoon, a sea arch can be seen. Coconut trees line much of the town's coast. On a clear day, the Babuyan Islands are visible from Patapat National Park.
The Patapat Viaduct, elevated 31 metres (102 ft) above sea level, is 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) concrete coastal viaduct that connects the Maharlika Highway from Laoag to the Cagayan Valley Region. It rises along the town's coastal mountains, which is the starting point of the Cordillera Mountain Range that snakes through Northern Luzon. It is the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines. Located more than 16 kilometers from the town proper, it offers a scenic view of Pasaleng Bay- a view that leads towards wide and pristine beaches backed by mountains with breathtaking waterfalls Kabigan and Mabaga, along with the many cool, refreshing springs waiting to be discovered within.

Kabigan Falls is surrounded by thick forest and well known for its concaved basin, located at the eastern part of Barangay Balaoi, about 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) away from the national highway. Kabigan falls is also part of the town of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and a trek going to this falls is usually included in the tricycle tour offered in the area. There is a 20 Pesos/pax entrance fee at the jump-off point where you will be assigned your official trek guide going to the falls. You don't have to worry about being lost or being conned in the area because the locals organized their official group to guide tourist and receive payment. The trek going to Kabigan Falls takes 30 to 40 minutes mostly of flat area so you'll have time to enjoy the verdant panorama. Although there is a visible trail going to the falls, you'll still need a tour guide if it's your first time there just to be safe.

Transportation

By land, Pagudpud is approximately a 90 minute bus ride from Laoag City. Several bus lines serve the Manila-Laoag route, namely Partas, Florida, Farinas, and Maria de Leon among others.

(Reference: Wikipedia)

The Experience
If you love white sand, sun and waves without the crowd, Pagudpud in the Northern tip of Luzon, Province of Ilocos Norte, is the place to be. But Pagudpud is not just about beaches. Aside from the stunning beaches, Pagudpud offers a lot of other attractions as well. 

Pagudpud was the final destination of our northern summer getaway. We first went to Vigan then Laoag then Pagudpud with side trip to Bangui, the town right before Pagudpud, where the famous Bangui Windmills are.

The Bangui Windmills.

The Bangui Windmills.

Our home for two days - Saud is where all the resorts are. The beach is long, palm-fringed and the water is emerald. The waters can be rough and dangerous during the rainy season as Saud faces the open sea and the current can be very treacherous so adequate caution is needed. Also, there are sudden drops a few meters from the shore. Resorts lined the shore and several houses also offer homestay, the cheaper way of accommodation in this idyllic town.

In 2007, Sunday Herald Sun of Australia ranked Saud Beach as Number 1 on its list of the top ten best, lesser-known beaches of Asia besting Thailand’s Ko Adang, Sri Lanka’s Bentota, and Cambodia’s Occheuteal among others. 

Saud Beach, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Saud Beach, pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Saud Beach, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

But Pagudpud is not just about beaches. Aside from the stunning beaches, Pagudpud offers a lot of other attractions as well. The waterfalls of Kabigan is quite dramatic. It is an-80-feet falls surrounded by lush forest and a concave basin. The almost one-hour walk is all worth it once you reach the small lagoon in the greens!  

Kabigan Falls, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Kabigan Falls, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Another popular place to visit in this northern town. is the Patapat Viaduct, considered as the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines at 1.2 kilometers. This winding bridge hugs the cliffs of the Northern Cordillera Mountain Ranges with a breathtaking view of the beautiful coast on one side - the reason why it was dubbed as the “French Riviera of the North”. Another falls could be found just after the viaduct - the Mabugabog Falls, a source of power for the mini-hydroelectric plant. 

Shore at the Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Blue Lagoon, also known as Maira-ira, has a shorter beach but has calmer waters compared to Saud. It boasts of a mostly gently sloping beach into the ocean. For me, Blue Lagoon is more scenic than Saud - the beach forms a graceful arc, surrounded by magnificent rock formations and small islands. One of the best perks of the Blue Lagoon is one can actually lie down in sand and have your own little space of paradise - without being bothered by anyone.

Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Check out for my next post - The Pagudpud Itinerary - my way!

Puerto Galera - Do It Yourself Two-Day Itinerary

White Beach, Puerto Galera.

Summer months is here. It's time to experience the beach, sun, and well, the massage. Here's a suggested itinerary for a great and budget friendly weekend getaway at the White Beach, Puerto Galera.

Itinerary
Day 1
     0500AM Convene in any of the bus terminals in Cubao or Buendia going to Batangas City
     0600AM Estimated Time of Departure for Batangas Pier
     0830AM Estimated Time of Arrival at Batangas Pier
     0840AM Get a ticket from any of the ferries going to Puerto Galera. I recommend Father and Sons.
     0900AM Estimated Time of Departure for Puerto Galera.
     0950AM Estimated Time of Arrival at the Muelle Pier (first stop over), entry to the Pueto Galera town proper.
     1030AM Estimated Time of Arrival at the White Beach Resort
     1040AM Check-in at the hotel.
     1045AM Explore White Beach.
     1200PM Lunch at a beachfront restaurant
     0100PM Rest at the hotel.
     0200PM Explore the stores and familiarize the vicinity of the beach.
     0300PM Swim, swim, swim.
     0500PM Banana Boat ride.
     0600PM Scout for great dinner restaurant.
     0700PM Dinner.
     0830PM Swim or stroll the beach.
     0930PM Party, party, party.
     1200AM Back to hotel.
         
Day 2
     0700AM Breakfast.
     0800AM Swim, swim, swim.
     0900AM Souvenir Shopping.
     1000AM Packing Up.
     1100AM Hair Braiding.
     1200PM Estimated Time of Departure for Batangas Pier.
     0130PM Estimated Time of Arrival at Batangas Pier.
     0200PM Lunch with Batangas Bulalo or Lomi at Batangas Pier.

Budget
Getting There:
     Bus from Cubao or Buendia to Batangas Pier: P170.00
     Ferry Boat from Batangas Pier to Puerto Galera: P250.00 (one-way) / P450 (two-way)
     Environmental Fees: P50.00
     Terminal Fee: P30.00

Where to Stay:
     Peter's Inn: P700.00/head for a two-day stay

Where to Eat:
     Any of the beachfront restaurants: P100.00-P200/meal

What to Do:
     Banana Boat: P100.00-P200.00/head
     Massage: P250.00-P300.00/hour
     Hair Braiding: P100.00-P200.00

Estimated Budget:
     Transportation: P870.00
     Accomodation: P700.00
     Food: P400.00-P800.00
     Activities: P450.00-P700.00
     Total: P2500.00-P3000.00

Contact Information:
     Peter's Inn: +63.2.514-8838    

Puerto Galera - Great Weekend Getaway

Background

Puerto Galera is the northwesternmost municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is located at the southwestern end of the Isla Verde Passage, about 130 kilometers (81 mi) south of Manila. This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and Scuba diving spots.

The area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia. The marine environment has benefited in recent years from the influx of tourist dollars. This has seen a huge reduction in the number of fishermen in the area, as they gain higher revenue from tourists.

Puerto Galera is a listed by the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World, and is the only bay in the Philippines to be listed there.

Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and White Beach, which have an active nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants. Both beaches also have an array of first-class and economy-class accommodations.

Sabang beach is the main destination for foreign tourists, while White Beach remains popular with local travelers. Big La Laguna Beach and Small La Laguna Beach are considered part of Sabang with resorts lining the beaches. Big La Laguna Beach is popular for local swimmers and snorkelers. Since 2001 White beach has seen uncontrolled development. New restaurants and places to stay are rapidly encroaching on the beach itself and little remains of the once charming beach. Puerto Galera town is a pleasant but sleepy Philippine town with few attractions. It has a large central catholic church and a Pier area, with a selection of bistros and cafes.

Behind the beaches are the huge and generally unexplored mountain ranges of central Mindoro. A particular local attraction is the nine hole golf course perched on the hillside above White Beach which commands spectacular views over Puerto Galera's natural harbor and the Verde Island Passage. Mangyan tribes are scattered over the mountain sides - some of the more remote tribes have virtually no contact with the outside world. Of the eight tribes on Mindoro, the Iraya are the largest. They are based in the Puerto Galera area.

Puerto Galera is among the top diving destination in the Philippines. Excellent diving is found less than 5 minutes from Sabang Beach. The diving generally focuses around the areas either side of Escarceo Point, which is famous for its current rips. Strong currents are a feature of the diving in Puerto Galera and it is good advice to employ the services of an experienced local guide or dive centre. There are more than thirty dive sites all within a 5-10 minute banca ride from Sabang Beach. Marine life is highly diverse. 180+ species of nudibranchs are found in the area and many species of fish can be seen. A variety of wrecks have been sunk over the years in addition to the one wreck of an engine of a WWII Japanese patrol boat.

Puerto Galera is also one of the main technical diving destinations in Asia. Technical Diving International - [TDI] has many dive centers in the area, offering the full range of TDI courses from Basic nitrox to advanced trimix.

(Reference: Wikepedia)

The Experience

I had been to Puerto Galera three times in my life. Puerto Galera is one of the most visited weekend getaway for the big city dwellers. From Manila, it can be reached within three hours by land (1.5-2 hours drive to the Port of Batangas) and sea (45-minute ferry ride).

The first ferry stop in Puerto Galera is the Muelle Pier where the Puerto Galera Yacht Club is based. This port is nearer to the Poblacion where most of the business establishments, market and banks are.



The Puerto Galera Yatch Club.

One of the activities in Puerto Galera is riding the Banana boat. Well, they are named after the fruit where they are shaped from.

The Banana Boats at the shore of the White Beach, Puerto Galera.

The Banana Boat is attached to a speedboat by a rope. It was my first time to ride this inflated rubber banana here at Puerto Galera.



The Banana Boat in Action.

We were asked if we want to have a regular ride or a ride with a twist. We chose the one with the twist - there was really a twist.



The Twist! Everyone Gets Thrown Away from the Banana Boat!

This is White Beach, this is where most of the tourists flock especially during summer. The blue sea looks great in the morning! And seeing a rainbow against the serene blue sea and sky was breathtaking!

 

Morning at the White Beach, Puerto Galera.

I was able to catch one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen here at Puerto Galera.

Sunset at the White Beach, Puerto Galera.

This was taken a minute before the sun finally disappeared of my sight.

The Sun, Sky and Sea.

Check my next post on how to create a Puerto Galera weekend getaway your way!

On Changes and Letting Go

Change happens.

September reminds me of this. I always remember the time of the year that goes from my birthday in the middle of September through the Holiday Season. The weather changes, the colors of the day and night transform to the familiar hues of red and green. The dark streets are transformed into ecstatic display of lights and sounds.

We transform.

From the time we are conceived, we continually transform physically without us noticing or knowing it. We transition through life. And many of these changes are things we are not even aware of.
But there are also changes that happen that we are well aware of. Like what we just had a few weeks back. We all see these transitions and changes coming on the horizon. The question is how do we react to these changes?

Do we act like UP students who march on the streets with the slightest provocation, resisting any change that they think are against their liberty and will? Or are we like most of our younger generation, embracing changes as if they are their own? It is a simple question of whether we resist or embrace changes. Do we move slowly to the "new" or do we hold on to what is comfortable and known to us? Both are valid options. But resisting, most of the time is futile (like in our case) simply because these changes are beyond our control.

We sometimes resist change because we are scared of the unknown. It makes us feel uncertain about what will happen next. Oftentimes, we resist change because we do not want to miss the comfortable. We always want to stay or even go back to what we call "the good old days."

It is OK to resist the unknown. It is OK to miss the comfortable. It is OK to feel sad. It is ok to cry for a while. It is OK to be in a state of denial for a certain period of time. But we have to deal with changes. It is a natural part of our lives. We must adapt to these changes in order for us to survive. We need to survive new challenges, new faces, new attitudes, new behaviors, new processes.

Now, try to look back. It is sometimes hard to go through changes when looking back reminds us of how "good and comfortable" the way things were before. But oftentimes, we will realize that there are a lot of great things that happened to our lives because of change.

Move on. Aim high. Change for the better.

Of Streets and People

To understand why people go to the streets and why the government of this country is under such a huge attack, one must look closely to the popular notion of a normal life in a Filipino family - that a man doing the productive work, while a woman as an ornamental consumer.

In a Filipino family, the role of the father is believed to be very important because without him the family cannot survive. "I have to take care of them. I am responsible. They are weak. Without me they would perish." These are just some of the fatherly claims. Hence, he holds the highest authority in the family.

On the other hand, the mother nurtures the child. The mother becomes the disciplinarian, the value giver, who tells what's right and what's not. In short, mother knows best.

But a small child recognizes what he sees more than what he is told. Words have less impact on him. A child sees his mother working around for him. He is told only that his fathers also works for him. When a father commutes to work, he has to leave early while the child is still sleeping and he comes home when the child is about to sleep. More often, the child sees his father watching TV, reading newspaper or taking a well-deserved nap. But to a child, these seem like sheer idleness. These experiences can hardly dispel the notion that his father is really not up to much tasks. The father's work remains unseen and seems unreal, while the mother's activities are very visible, hence real. Now the mother becomes the carrier of the authority. While the child comes to doubt the legitimacy of the father's authority and may grow up to doubt the legitimacy of all authorities.A child seeing his father at his place of work, with other strong men working hard, without him being aware of it, makes a deep impression on him. Such experiences make identification with his father seems worthwhile for a child.I am not claiming that these observations are absolute and correct. I might not even have scientific basis for these. I am not saying that the a government that works in front of our eyes will shun people from going to the streets but this would at least lessens the occurence of demonstration. Afterall, the absence of tension is just as deadly as too much of it.

Yes, I may sound vague and too general. But the premises are simple, just the basics of life. Life is not about harmony. It is more of a conflict. Life results from an imbalance and the effort to establish balance. It is a conflict between thesis and antithesis, which is resolved in synthesis, which in turn generates a new antithesis for a new conflict. Without this process, life would come to a halt.One of the greatest experiences of life is climbing a mountain and growing hot and sweaty in the process then plunging into a cold lake. You may be shivering for a minute but what makes the difference is the sudden change from hot to cold. Where there is no tension, none is relieved.

But the present and past governments want life to run smoothly, doesn't want any difficulties. It wants the mountain to be lever and the pool to be lukewarm. Then it demands to be applauded.

But what is the sound of one hand clapping? One hand alone strikes empty air and makes no sound at all.