Three beaches in three days!

Summer time is here again, and doing nothing about it should not be an excuse! Whether you're on a budget, there are still simple ways of enjoying the summer heat. After paying some of our bills, I have set aside money for some vacation fun, I had my family go on a brief vacation to Unisan, the hometown of my husband Pepe's parents (he refuses to call the province Quezon for historical reasons). Unisan is located in Bondoc Peninsula were there are still a lot of unspoiled beaches. Not only were we able to save a lot, we were also able to enjoy those beaches.

Day 1: Monte Carlo Beach Resort, Agdañgán (April 29)

The road to the beach has a great view of the countryside. Before going to Unisan, we decided to take a short dip in one of Agdañgán's beach resorts. We always pass by Agdañgán whenever we go to Unisan, but we've never tried its beaches. We got there a few minutes past four in the afternoon. The locals there recommended Monte Carlo Beach Resort, a few minutes from the población, so off we went. Anyway, the sun was still up and the day was still bright, that is why we were able to enjoy the beach until 5:15 P.M. Actually, we contracted a tricycle driver to pick us up at that time. When he fetched us, it suddenly rained hard even before the sun had fully set. The amazing thing during the drive to the town proper was that it was raining hard complete with loud thunderstorms and lightning. Daddy Pepe and Mómay were at the back ride and they were soaking wet because of the rain and the puddles of rainwater along the road. But it was a refreshing rain, and the waters on the puddles were clean because we were at the countryside. At least, our kids got to experience heavy rain on a summer day. The tricycle driver told us that it had not rained for weeks, and that sudden downpour was weird.

Day 2: Soliyao Beach, Pitogo (April 30)

We didn't know that the travel time from Unisan's town proper to Pitogo is quite far but adventurous. The paved road towards the municipality is smooth and the environs surrounding it are refreshing, but the route towards the beach is a dirt road, and it took us a lot longer to traverse it because we were only riding a tricycle that is owned and driven by my hubby Pepe's second cousin, Cuya Cocò. The dirt road going to Soliyao Beach would have be an easy drive for 4x4 vehicles, but not for tricycles. Good thing the build of Cuya Coco's tricycle was strong, and he seemed so relaxed while driving it. Thanks again, Cuya Coco! =) 

Soliyao is a hidden beach for me, still undiscovered by many. When you enter the beach premises, you will immediately notice the huge Talisay tree to the right. That tree is the biggest and tallest Talisay tree we have ever seen so far. We do hope that it will remain as it is for a long, long time, and may the people there will not cut it down. Its fruits are a sight to see, and its weird-looking pink-white flowers look like straws from broomstick!

One thing I love about Soliyao beach is its turquoise-colored waters. But beware because there are small sea creatures that will bite your skin, not to mention jellyfishes. My hubby Pepe actually got stung on his right wrist. Good thing he was able to immediately remove the slimy toxin from the jellyfish, and I brought calamansì with us. But he was still hurt (up to now, his left wrist still bears the scar of that jellyfish sting). Tayabas Bay of which Soliyao Beach is a part of has many jellyfishes which the locals call salabay. But if you are the adventurous type and you really love the sea like me, then take the risk. Just take extra care. Wear goggles most of the time, and don't forget to bring vinegar or calamansì, in case you got stung.

Day 3: Malatandang Beach, Unisan (May 1)

Since my husband's parents are from Unisan, Malatandang Beach has become very familiar to us. We've been here many times already (it's Daddy Pepe and Krystal's first beach while they were still babies). Its golden-like sands are what I love the most in this beach plus the clarity of its waters. It is always exciting to go back here and I do hope they will continue to maintain its beauty and cleanliness, I noticed a few black patches on some parts of the beach, and I hope it is not what I thought it was, that these are oil spills from boat owners who change fuel while on the shore. If this continues, this will put ruin the beauty of the Malatandang. I hope this will not be the case. I keep on telling my husband that Malatandang is on my top three list of the best beaches I've ever visited. =)

Cost

How were we able to afford three beaches in three days? Because the beaches here in Bondoc Peninsula are not expensive despite of their beauty. Actually, the most expensive that we have visited during those three days was Monte Carlo Beach Resort. They charged us for ₱100 each. Since we were seven, it would have cost us ₱700. But I bargained since we only stayed there for about two hours, and we didn't rent any cottage. We just laid our baggages on the sand. In the end, they gave us a discount and I paid them only ₱300.

In Soliyao Beach, a cottage is worth ₱350 pesos, but we opted to stay on the sands of the beach. Anyway, we love picnicking on the sands using just a malong to place our stuff. Renting nipa cottages for me is just a waste of money especially if we would stay on a beach for only a few hours. We placed our stuff underneath the huge Talisay tree. We were charged for only ₱5.00 per person! Perhaps the most expensive part of going to Soliyao is the commute. If you have your own vehicle, then you're lucky (but still, you will have to pay for the high cost of fuel).

In Unisan, we still did the same. We did not rent any cottage. It is still more fun and practical to picnic on the sands. And we were not charged anything at all because we did not use cottages.

For a large group, or those who are not accustomed to staying on the sands, then you may of course go ahead and rent cottages. But for my family of seven who love staying most of the time on the sands and in the water, my malong is enough. =) =)

And lastly, we brought our own food. While there are small stores in all three beaches we visited, it is still best if you bring your own báon so that you'd just spend on transportation. That is what we did.

Tanned skin and jellyfish sting, we didn't mind them all because we really enjoyed our summer! Till next time!!!

Our 3 Beaches In 3 Days, summer photos are already available in our Facebook fan page!!! Please click the link below: =)

Don't forget to LIKE US on Facebook! ¡Gracias! =)

Have a happy Summer 2017, everyone!!!

-Yeyette-

La Muy Noble Villa de Tayabas

At the Parque Rizal in front of city hall. Tayabas is a city that doesn't look like one. Thank goodness for that.

The main reason why we traveled to far away Tayabas last December 27 was to satiate Yeyette's hunger for that famous Rodillas Yema Cake she tasted in a reunion with my Alas cousins in Lucena almost five years ago. During that small gathering, one of my cousins brought a yema cake from Rodillas Restaurant. Yeyette only had a slice because we were too many. But she has never forgotten its magical flavor. Since then, she's been eager to visit Tayabas just to buy for ourselves a whole box of that famous yema cake (she's been bugging us about it for the longest time). Due to the place's distance and time constraints, it took us years to fulfill our plan. It was a relief that we were free to visit the town known for its budín, strong lambanóg, and Spanish-era bridges on the above-mentioned date. The rest of the family really didn't mind. All our kids, even li'l Junífera Clarita, are travel freaks. And I had my own agenda, of course: to explore the town's history.

This Rizal monument was inaugurated on 19 June 1914, on the occasion of José Rizal's 53rd birth anniversary, making it one of the oldest monuments in the country to honor the national hero. The centuries-old park/plaza where this monument stands was in the news last year because of a planned underground parking lot. Imagine that. 

Scenic Tayabas-Lucbán Road, facing Monte de Banajao's eastern side.

Rodillas Restaurant and its famous yema cake! The name of this restaurant in Spanish means "knees".

Tayabas is an old Tagálog town strategically perched more than 600 ft above sea level along the southeastern slopes of thickly forested Monte de Banajao. It was founded by the Spaniards (Franciscan missionaries) in 1578, making the place 437 years old. The old town of Tayabas, in fact, was the capital of the province of the same name, Provincia de Tayabas, from 1749 to 1901 (before that, the capital of Tayabas Province was Calilayan, now known as Unisan, the hometown of my dad). Irritatingly, the province is now divided into two, with neither carrying the original name (Aurora and Quezon). The province's former name is now carried solely by its namesake town which has become a city just a few years ago.

Two years after its founding, Tayabas was established as a parish with San Miguel Arcángel (Saint Michael the Archangel) as its patron saint. The first church was made of light materials (bamboo, nipa palm, etc.). The church was repaired under the supervision of Fr. Pedro Bautista in 1590. Ten years later, it was rebuilt using strong materials (bricks, etc.). It is interesting to note that Fr. Bautista was later declared a saint in 1862.

Basílica Menor de San Miguel Arcángel. This became a minor basilica on 18 October 1988. No other than Pope John Paul II, who recently became a saint, conferred the title.

The old entrance of this church was designated as a Porta Sancta (Holy Door) 11 days before our visit following Papa Francisco's Misericordiae Vultus.

Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel.

In 1703, the town was conferred the title La Muy Noble Villa de Tayabas. Villa is a Spanish territorial classification as well as an institution. Aside from Tayabas, only seven other towns were classified as such. Although there were a few villas back then, they were highly significant insofar as they are considered as the centers for regional consolidation as well as a means of disseminating Spanish governance, culture, and commerce throughout the country.

In the 19th century, Tayabas grew to become one of the biggest towns in the country. It had 1,800 houses with more than 22,000 people. The town church was also enlarged. Its 338-ft nave was said to be one of the longest among Spanish colonial era churches in Filipinas. In fact, the church was the largest in all of Tayabas. From above, the church is built in the shape of a key (if the basilica rectory is included).

Krystal in front of Casa Comunidad, Tayabas' old tribunal. It was built by Gobernadorcillo Francisco López in 1776. In 1831, it was rebuilt into a much stronger and grander edifice by Gobernadorcillo Diego Enríquez. This structure was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1978. 

Tayabas is also known as the "City of 11 Spanish Bridges", but only one of them stands out from the rest: the bridge of Malagonlong. Thankfully, it's still popularly known in its Spanish original: the Puente de Malagonlong.

Puente de Malagonlong taken from the new Malagonlong bridge.

Puente de Malagonlong is located outside the población. It runs over the Río de Dumacaa. It is classified as a stone arch bridge that has a total length of 445 ft (136 m) and with four arches underneath. The arches served not merely as a design but also to mitigate the strong currents of the water (the river used to be deeper during the Spanish times), thus ensuring the stability of the bridge.

I also have a suspicion that it served as an aqueduct. If precise, the water must have been sourced from the northern part of the Dumacaa River whose elevation is higher compared to the part where the river courses underneath the bridge. The water within the this theoretical aqueduct could have been delivered to some settlement south of Tayabas, or perhaps to irrigate farmlands.

Take note that this is all just conjecture from my part. But what is not conjecture is that this bridge had strong potential to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Unfortunately, it can no longer qualify because the government built a new one very near to it, thus ruining its visual setting. Sayang.

After exploring the old bridge and the town proper, we spent the rest of the afternoon in the población's most popular street: Calle Budín!

The street is made famous for its many stores selling the town's delicacies such as ticoy (Chinese New Year's cake made from glutinous rice), pancít habháb (dried flour noodles eaten using only the mouth), longanizang Lucbán (Spanish sausage prepared Lucbán-style), and of course, budín (cassava cake). Along with Yeyette's box of Rodillas Yema Cake, we also purchased a couple of budín. All in all, Tayabas is a tasty treat for the senses, spirit, and tummy.

Did you know? Budín is Spanish for pudding!

Click here for more photos of our Tayabas adventure! And don't forget to LIKE US on Facebook! ¡Hasta la vista!

Puente de Malagonlong

Before 2015 ends, let us just share to you these videos of our adventurous selves visiting one of the country's oldest Spanish-era bridges. I'll be blogging about this next year — that's technically a few hours from now. Can't do it right away because of time constraints (oh poor corporate slave that I am).

This bridge which we visited last Sunday (December 27) is the fabled Malagonlong Bridge, more popularly know by its Spanish name: Puente de Malagonlong. At 445 feet, it is said to be the longest bridge during its time. It's located in the pastoral outskirts of still rural Tayabas City in the province of the same name. Puente de Malagonlong, which I also suspect served as an aqueduct, was constructed between 1841 to 1850 using manual labor. Coral stones, egg whites, and apog (lime) were used as mortar because cement wasn't available back then. But look at it now: it's still standing proud despite the greens covering it. It was built to last, having survived numerous earthquakes, typhoons, and the last great war.

It was a fun experience for the whole family, especially for my kids who don't have the luxury of roaming around our noisy neighborhood. But we didn't allow them to swim because the current is so strong and the cold climate is not fit for swimming. Perhaps next time when time (and budget) permits.

Without further ado, here's the bridge.

Río de Dumacaa.

Advanced Happy New Year to all!

Villa Escudero: a fun way to enjoy Filipino culture

A tropical storm was threatening to ruin our planned excursion last November 22, a Sunday. Thankfully, the heavens decided to set it off course. Our one-day vacation even felt like it was summer! The original plan was for a simple lunch date. But Gemma Cruz de Araneta, our daughter Junifera Clarita's iconic godmother, decided to see not just our little princess but the whole Alas caboodle as well. So off we went to Southern Luzón's famous tourist attraction: Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort. Gemma picked us up from our home a few minutes past eight in the morning and arrived at the resort at around ten to beautiful sunshine.

Arrival at the reception area.

These sombreros are from their Tía Gemma.

The employees were all dressed in traditional Filipino attire: camiso de chino, barò at saya, etc. An affable lady by the name of Sally was our assigned companion. She accompanied us all throughout, from the carabao ride all the way to our cottage.

Gemma already lost count as to how many times she has been to this resort. Her first was when she was nine years old, when the place was not yet open to the public (her family and the Escuderos have been longtime friends). It was my second; my first here was in high school during my late paternal grandmother's birthday. But that Sunday visit was my family's first ever.

My family's first carabao ride, complete with live Filipino music!

My recollections of Villa Escudero, though it happened in high school, were not very vivid. I couldn't even remember what exact year I first visited the place. Maybe I was a bit bored during that time because the first site we visited in the resort was a museum, a place which, admittedly, is not a favorite hangout for city kids. At that phase in my life, I still didn't possess any appreciation or interest whatsoever in culture, art, and history. And instead of being thrilled, I found the carabao ride a bit amusing. Having grown in the city, me, my brother, and an elder cousin were chuckling in secret at the "strange predicament" we were all in: being serenaded by musicians and singers in a carabao-drawn cart. Looking back, I now feel embarrassed and disappointed at how I found all those things funny considering that I was already a young adult. I guess that it is imperative for all Filipino parents to rear their children on how to appreciate our culture.

What I vividly remember about Villa Escudero is that it had an abundance of coconut trees. But during our visit there last month, I only saw a few; I was to find out later during the day from one of the owners herself, Rosalie Escudero-Blume (a friend of Gemma's who we met later before lunch), that the family plantation was not spared from last year's destructive cocolisap infestation, not to mention the lack of government support to replace the many coconut trees throughout Southern Luzón that have already aged. Also, a sizable amount of Villa Escudero's territory has been converted into an exclusive residential area. Still, in spite of rapid modernization all around it, Villa Escudero has not lost its rural charm.

Our first activity upon entering the resort was riding a decorated cart-pulled by a carabao.

Pastoral scenes such as this one can be seen via the resort's carabao ride. The Malepuño (or Malepunyó) mountain range is at the background.

Yeyette was nostalgically delighted to see this mantel (tablecloth) because she and her family used to have one back in her ancestral home in Abra de Ilog, Mindoro Occidental. Her late maternal grandmother wove the exact same design as the one in this photo!

The resort is already prepared for Christmas.

"Cadena de Amor" is the name of our cottage which lies along the emerald waters of Labasín Lake.

Cozying up to the placidity.

The carabao ride brought us to a reception area where we signed up for a cottage. Gemma chose one fronting Lake Labasín.

Now, Lake Labasín and its wooden cottages on stilts were something I do not remember during my first visit to Villa Escudero. After lodging our stuff in the cottage fronting the greenish waters of Lake Labasín, Gemma bade me and the kids to try out rafting. We had to leave Juanito because only kids seven and up were allowed.

Seeing the rafters drifting peacefully from afar made me more excited than my children.

It was a good three minute jog from our cottage to the raft dock. Upon reaching the dock, Imagine my horror when I found out that we have to do all the rowing to ourselves (that's how lazy I am). I thought staff members will do it for us. The first and last time I did some rowing was in the murky waters of Manila Bay way back 1996 as a midshipman for my alma mater's Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. But here, it's all green and sun. At least, that's a compensation. Besides, we were provided life vests. And best of all, we were assured that there were no crocodiles around. The waters were practically clean and safe. =)

Only two persons were allowed per raft. Since Jefe was the youngest in our group, I had him as my rowing partner. Krystal and Mómay took the other raft. Krystal and I were at the rear of our respective rafts.

It took us a good ten minutes or so to get our bearings and learn how to maneuver our rafts all around the lake. After some impromptu self-teaching, we were able to row ourselves towards our cottage. Hurrah.

Bamboo rafting (raft 1: Daddy Pepe & Jefe / raft 2: Krystal & Mómay).

After about an hour of rowing under the hot morning sun, it was time for lunch. We returned to the cottage to fetch the others. Off we went to Villa Escudero's most popular site: its waterfalls restaurant, the only place there that I remember so well.

We're flooded not just with water but with mouth-watering Filipino delicacies!

The waterfalls restaurant is right below Lake Labasín, towards its southern end. The waters at that point are dammed to accomodate a hydroelectric plant (the first in the country). At the restaurant proper below it, lunch is served al fresco on bamboo dining tables set in a few inches of crystalline running water from the falls. Diners enjoy sumptuous Filipino dishes as their feet are submerged in ankle-deep waters. Our kids, especially Junífera Clarita, had a grand time dipping themselves while eating. And right after lunch, they swam all around. I would've joined them, but saw no adults dripping wet. The disadvantages of parents who are kids at heart.

Villa Escudero has been around for more than a century, but it was only in 1981 when it was opened to the public as a tourist spot. Gemma remembers how apprehensive the Escuderos were with their plan of converting their plantation into a resort that focuses on Filipino culture. They turned to her and asked her if the idea was of any good; she thought it was marvelous.

The Escudero family apparently made a wise decision. Throughout the years, their resort developed a worldwide reputation as a focal point in experiencing Filipino culture and history in a rustic Filipino setting.

Junífera Clarita y su legendaria madrina.

Junífera Clarita practically led her madrina Gemma from our table at the farthest end of the open-air restaurant all the way to the waterfalls.

Mómay and Jefe enjoying the waterfall of Labasín Dam after our hearty lunch. Little did they know that they're enjoying the cascades of the country’s first working hydroelectric plant by Arsenio Escudero during the early 1900s to supply his desiccated coconut factory.

After lunch, we returned to our cottage to get dressed and prepare for the Philippine Experience Show set at 2:00 PM. With glasses of halo-halo courtesy of Gemma, we were treated to authentic cultural dance performances which were personally choreographed by the late Ramón Obusan, 2006 National Artist for Dance (whose sister I happened to meet two years ago).

Top left: ragragsacan (Lubuagan, Calinga). Lower left: sinquíl (Lago de Lanáo). Top right: Fandango sa Ilao (Pangasinán). Lower right: tiniclíng. Center: curtain call.

The dances, ranging from pre-Filipino (a more appropriate term for pre-Hispanic) dances to those that date during colonial times, were all performed with live music. All performances were deftly executed (at least from the audience perspective), especially those dances that required balance (Binasúan), timeliness of steps (La Jota), and grace (Yacán). It was a treat to watch our own native dances together with hundreds of people, including non-Filipinos. It also gave me an opportunity to examine the mood of the audience objectively — with pre-Filipino dances they were engaged but disinterested; the rhythmic patterns of the musical instruments (mostly percussion) coupled with the dancers' graceful choreography seduced people to take some forty winks during that hot mid-afternoon (I saw one table in front of the stage with two or three unconscious heads). Even Krystal fell asleep, her head propped to the top rail of her chair. The feeling towards the performances, though they were a sight to behold, seemed distant, foreign.

But when it was time for Filipino dances, i.e., those which many people call today as "Spanish Colonial", the atmosphere became lively. Rhythm was partnered with melody with the arrival of the resort's local rondalla group. All eyes were onstage. There was no more giddy head.

Krystal woke up. And that "foreign" feeling had dissipated.

After the show, people lined up to have photo sessions with the country's first international beauty titlist...

...while we had photo sessions with the dancers!

After the one hour or so performance, it was curtain call time. The emcee introduced all the dancers and musicians. Everyone in the hall was surprised when the emcee mentioned that all performers were actually the very same employees who have been assisting all the guests of the resort, from customer service to the accounting department. Those incredible people were doubling as cultural performers! No wonder we saw Sally performing with them in some of the dances!

Afterwards, we trooped to the children's playground. Our three boys had a grand time running around (something they couldn't do back home), Krystal took it as an opportunity to learn how to ride a bike (the place has an in-house bike rental with one-hour training program for a mere ₱100), while the grown-ups chatted on the grass (Junífera Clarita was having her siesta on her mother's lap). Sally caught up with us. Even Rosalie joined in the fun conversation.

It's never too late to learn how to bike, even if you're fifteen! Villa Escudero has an in-house bike rental and workshop available. Here Krystal is handed a certificate by Red, her trainer.

Rosalie later invited us back to the hall for some good coffee, leaving the kids behind at the playground with Sally. We were privileged to get to know Rosalie more, how she and Gemma go way back, and how she and her family handle Villa Escudero, including their beloved employees-slash-cultural performers. In fact, Rosalie tells us that they don't treat their employees as workers. They treat them as family. And she says this to us in a matter-of-factly manner. She told us how she saw red when a rude customer called her staff "peons". She chose to defend her employees' dignity rather than to accommodate an impolite customer.

How ironic that a more wealthy hacienda in Central Luzón couldn't reciprocate what the Escuderos have been doing to their employees. While the Escuderos treat their employees as family, the owners of this wealthy Central Luzón hacienda treat their workers as peons (sadly, many of them were even shot to death back in 2004).

¡Felicidades a los Escudero! May their tribe increase!

With Rosalie Escudero-Blume, one of the owners of Villa Escudero. I was delighted to learn that she's an AlDub fan too!

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*L*A*F*A*M*I*L*I*A*V*I*A*J*E*R*A*

Gracias Gemma por esa excursión tan memorable y maravilla que regalaste a mi familia. Eres muy amable. Nunca olvidaremos ese día.