Mt. Balagbag with a purpose (Christmas Trekking 2017)

Mt Balagbag
After Christmas Trekking 

Our trek to Mt. Balagbag started  around 5pm in the afternoon after to avoid the harsh sun and 

also finish the set up our tent early because the weather was not good that time.The trip started out fine.We plan to overnight to see famous overlooking view at the summit.Our organizer Sir Joe plan to have gift giving activities after our overnight stay in the summit. We have arrived at the jump-off point of the Trek. We paid Php 200 per head for the Mt. Balagbag registration fee. On the way to the summit, you will have to pay another Php 20 because it’s a private property.

Once you reach the store in the intersection point of the mountain where other hikers meet, you can choose to whether start on the left or the right part of the mountain for the climb. We chose to go to the left side first.

How to go to Mt. Balagbag

From Manila via commute:
From Cubao, ride a bus with the signage ‘Tungko’. Tell the driver to drop you off at BDO or Jolibee Tungko.
There’s a  jeepney terminal at the back of BDO bound to Licao- Licao. Fare is Php 27.00  per head.
From Licao-Licao, you can start your hike to Mt. Balagbag or ride a tricycle bound to Brgy. Balagbag jump-off point. Tricycle’s fare is Php 30.00 per head.

Note: Last trip of Licao-Licao jeepneys to Tungko are until 6:00 pm only. So make sure to be on time if you’re not planning to have an overnight in the mountain. 

Children during gift giving headed by Sir Joe team Captain of the Team Barucho's

THank YOU "Baruchos"
For inviting me to join 
Sir Joe and Sir Dennis
and 
the rest of the team Baruchos.

 

Mt.Pulag

                                                              MOUNT PULAG
Last March 23, 2017

One of the most well-maintained “premier” national parks in the country, it is home of the nation’s rare and endangered species of flora (like the dwarf bamboo) and fauna (e.g., the cloud rat, kock’s pita, serpent eagle, Philippine deer, Philippine pig, etc.). It is also home to some of North Luzon’s ethnic tribes; four of them actually reside within the park - Ibaloi, Kalanguya, Kankana-ey, and Ibanag, and most of them consider Mt. Pulag a sacred place not only because they consider it a resting place and playground of their gods but also a place where they bury their dead.

Mt. Pulag is located within the municipalities of Buguias, Kabayan and Bokod in Benguet, Tinoc in Ifugao and Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya. Deep ravines, gorges and steep terrain characterize Mt. Pulag.

The Trail:

Ambangeg/Babadac Trail

 

This is the well established and considered the main trail going to Mt. Pulag. Vehicles can negotiate the trail all the way to the Ranger Station which is the entire Ambangeg Trail. Still others can choose to hike the entire trail.

The DENR office and the Ranger station are located along the trail, a few meters from the park entrance. From there, the Mt. Pulag base camp is a 4-km hike along the well-paved trails with a convenient rest stop waiting shed. From the base camp, the summit is just a 45-90 minute hike away.

 My team promise to revenge a climb again....

NAGSASA Cove, San Antonio Zambales

The rise to fame of Anawangin paved the way for other hidden coves in the western coast of Zambales to be known, and one that is fast becoming popular is the Nagsasa Cove.
With sand that is the same with Anawangin, an area twice as big, and perhaps a more beautiful backdrop, Nagsasa Cove promises everyone a more fun adventure.

Tourists often come to Nagsasa Cove when there are too many of their kind in Anawangin. Well, if the word “overcrowded” bothers you, as is often the case with the latter, then Nagsasa Cove is the right place for you.

Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio, Zambales, used to be rocky until the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, which dumped tons of volcanic ash in many parts of the region. Nagsasa Cove is endowed with the same features as Anawangin: a beach of ash that absorbs hear faster than the usual sand; a blanket of agoho trees, a type of casuarina tree, often mistaken for pine trees; the azure sea teeming with life and color; and gently sloping hills framing the view.

An hour and a half from barangay San Miguel and Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales, the cove offers more than what other coves in the area can offer: a lovely beach on a grayish sand; a lake that reflects the beautiful landscape; a grassy mountains that turn brown on summer; a waterfalls hidden in the mountain’s side; and the serenity and simplicity of life that the place guarantees.

How to Get There:

Going to Nagsasa Cove is pretty similar to Anawangin Cove, and the same applies to Talisayin Cove and even the farthest Silanguin Cove.

By Land

To get there, one must go to Barangay San Miguel or Pundaquit, in San Antionio, Zambales, where boats to Nagsasa can be rented for P2000.00, round trip, good for 4 persons. It is an hour and a half boat ride.

To go to San Antonio, ride a bus bound to Iba or Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Victory Liner has scheduled trips to those destinations. The earliest trip direct to Iba is at 5AM in Victory Pasay and Caloocan. Tell the driver to drop you off at San Antonio. If you

are coming from their terminal in Sampaloc, fare is at P270.00. Travel time is around 2.5 to 4 hours via NLEX and SCTEX.

Alternatively, if you want to leave earlier than the 5AM first trip, you can hop to any Olongapo bound bus. Victory Liner’s first trip to Olongapo is at 2AM in Pasay, fare is P215.

From San Antonio, ride a tricycle to Barangay San Miguel or Pundaquit, standard rate is P20.00 per passenger.

By Air/Sea

By ferry, take a Mt. Samat Express (Contact No: 551-5290) ferry ride to Subic in CCP (~P250.00 – P300.00) or the Supercat from Mall of Asia (P300.00) . It is an hour ferry ride to Orion Bataan. From there catch a bus to Subic for another hour or less and then a bus to Iba, Zambales, passing to San Antonio.

By air, charter an aircraft to International Subic Airport, Castillejos Airstrip, or to Iba Local Airport.

Where to Stay:

Since there are no commercial accommodation in this island, you may bring a tent or camping equipments (plus foods and drinking water) if you are planning to stay there overnight. Just tell the boatman your planned date and time of return to San Antonio.

If you are not into camping, you can have a day trip in Nagsasa and stay overnight in Pundaquit or San Miguel where numerous hotels and restaurants can be found. You can have a room for as low as P1000.00 there. here are some of the hotels/inns/resorts in Barangay Pundaquit and San Miguel.

Magical and Enchanting Island of Fortune ( Fortune Island in Batangas)

Fortune Island gave highlights during our day tour to this magical and enchanting island of Fortune.Fortune Island is located Nasugbu in Batangas. It used to be a private island harboring an exclusive luxury resort.


The Island gave me that feeling. When we finally arrived, it did not disappoint us. The timing of our visit contributed a lot in enabling me to take in as much as I wanted from the trip – have quality time with friends, appreciate the ruins, enjoy the waves, and revel in the calm blue waters.

 Fortune Island is not your typical tropical paradise. It is that and more. Surreal. Mystique. Mythical. So if you need a quick beach fix with a goddess’ touch, simply head your way to our country’s own version of Athens.

How to Get There

Public Transportation

1. Take the bus from Manila to Nasugbu, Batangas.

   There are several bus companies with direct route to Nasugbu: 

    DLTB (Buendia Taft Ave corner Sen. Gil Puyat)

    San Agustin Bus Line (Cubao)

Travel time: around 4 hours (depending on the traffic)

Fare: Php168

Tell the driver to drop you off Jollibee-Nasugbu.

2. Ride a tricycle to Fortune Island Resort in Brgy Wawa.

     Fare: Php10-P15 per person

3. At Fortune Island Resort, pay entrance fee:

     Day Trip: Php300

     Overnight/Camping: Php400

4. From Fortune Island Resort (mainland), rent a boat going to Fortune Island.

     Travel Time: 1 to 1.5 hour

     Day Trip: Php3000 (5-10 pax) / Php4500 (10+ pax)

     Overnight/Camping: Php4500 (5-10 pax) / Php6000 (10+ pax)

You can find boats for hire outside the resort at a cheaper rate.