GENSAN-SOUTH COTABATO-SARANGANI TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1, Friday
0530AM – 0600AM – Assembly Time NAIA Terminal 3
0600AM - 0710AM – Boarding of Passenger
0710AM - 0900AM – Manila to Gensan
0900AM - 1000AM – Airport to Gensan (Bulaong Terminal)
1000AM – 1130AM – Gensan (Bulaong Terminal) to Marvel
1130AM – 1215NN – Marvel to Surallah
1215NN – 0130PM – Surallah to Lake Sebu
0130PM – 0200PM – Check-in @ Punta Isla Resort, Rest, Prepare
0200PM – 0220PM – Habal-Habal Ride going to Zipline
0220PM – 0500PM – Zipline, Trek, Falls, Photo-Ops
0500PM – 0520PM – Back to Resort
0520PM – 0700PM – Rest, Prepare, Take a Bath
0700PM – 0800PM – Dinner, Cultural Show
0900PM - Lights Off!

Day 2, Saturday 
0430AM – 0530AM – Wake-up Call, Prepare
0530AM – 0730AM – Check-out @ Punta Isla Resort, Habal-Habal Ride going to Surallah
0730AM – 0815AM – Surallah to Marvel
0815AM – 1000AM – Marvel to Gensan
1000AM – 1200NN – Gensan AGP Terminal to Maitum
1200NN – 1200PM – Maitum Town Proper to Brgy. New La Union
1230PM – 0200PM – Pangi White Water Tubing
0200PM – 0230PM - Brgy. New La Union to Maitum Town Proper
0230PM – 0430PM – Maitum to Gensan AGP Terminal
0430PM – 0500PM – Gensan AGP Terminal to Gensan KCC Mall
0500PM – 0600PM – Gensan KCC Mall to Glan, Sarangani
0600PM – 0620PM – Glan, Sarangani Town Proper to Gumasa Beach
0620PM – 0630PM – Check-in @ White Haven Resort
0630PM – 0800PM – Prepare, Dinner
0800PM – 0830PM – Rest, Lights Off!

Day 3, Sunday
0530AM – 0600AM – Wake-up Call
0600AM – 0730AM – Swimming, Photo-Ops
0730AM – 0800AM – Take a bath, Prepare, Resort Check-out
0800AM – 0820AM - Gumasa Beach to Glan, Sarangani Town Proper
0820AM - 0930AM – Glan, Sarangani Town Proper to Gensan KCC Mall
0930AM – 1000AM – Gensan KCC Mall to Panatalan (Sweets Pasalubong)
1000AM – 1100AM – Pantalan to Citra Mina (Tuna Pasalubong)
1100AM – 1230PM – Citra Mina to Hannoks Grill & Resto (Lunch)
1230PM – 0100PM – Hannoks to KCC Mall (Buy Souvenir Shirt)
0100PM – 0200PM – KCC Mall to Gensan Airport
0200PM - 0245PM – Boarding of Passenger
0245PM – 0400PM – Gensan to Manila

GLAN, SARANGANI

The town is the first class municipality on the west by Sarangani Bay.

One of the most visited Barangay is the Gumasa wherein you can find the a long pristine powdery white sand beach.

White Haven Resort is the one of the most affordable to stay in for a backpacker.

MAITUM, SARANGANI

The town is the second municipality at the north of province of Sarangani, Philippines, The word "Maitum" refers to the black stones in Saub River. It is believed that the river stones turned black when the local native princess and her warrior lover passed through it as they eloped and escaped from the wrath of the princess' father who disapproved their marriage.

One of the most visited Barangay is the New La Union wherein you can find the famous White Water Tubing adventure at the Pangi River. As per advised by our habal-habal driver most of the resident in barangay is ilocano speaking, this was beacause some of the locals in San Fernando, La Union migrated in Sarangani and these are the reason why the barangay got its name, New La Union.

LAKE SEBU, SOUTH COTABATO

Lake Sebu is located at District II of South Cotabato, the town got its name from the biggest of the three lakes. The placid lake of Lake Sebu measures 354 hectares. The two other lakes are smaller; Lake Seloton is only 48 hectares while Lake Lahit is 24 hectares.

You can reach the town by riding a Yellow Bus Lane at Bulaong Terminal in General Santos City, there a two types of bus w/c will take you in Koronadal (often referred to as Marbel, its old name) - Option 1 is YBL Bus with signboard Marbel Non-stop about 1 hour w/c will cost Php70/passenger, air-conditioned. Option 2 is YBL Bus with signboard Marbel-Polomok about 1 hour and 20mins w/c will cost Php50/passenger, non-airconditioned and with stop to Polomok town to pick-up some passenger. From Koronadal, take the Yellow Bus to the town of Surralah (about 38 minutes). From Surralah, take a jeep to Lake Sebu (about 43 minutes). From Lake Sebu town proper take a habal-habal going to Punta Isla Resort (about 10 minutes)

DAKBAYAN SA GENERAL SANTOS CITY

Due to Cebu Pacific non-stop seat sale, my friend invited me to visit General Santos City, it really surprised me when she told me that the promo ticket was only Php768 roundtrip (really a great deal ^_^). Without any plan on my mind and no assurance on my sched yet, i told my friend that i can join her for 2-3days only, and still she got a good deal on a weekend sched good for 3 persons, and this is where it all started...... Amazing Race Backpacking of Three Ladies... tsk! tsk! tsk! ^_^

General Santos City or so called "Gensan" is almost 2 hours trip by plane. Cebu Pacific, PAL, and Airphil  has flight in and out on a daily basis with a schedule of as early as 7am, they say that the Gensan Airport is the second largest airport in the Philippines... no wonder when we landed i kept on saying to my friend that among the domestic airport i've been before Gensan Airport was the best for me so far..it was clean, wide runway and very nice comfort room..


Some Interesting Facts about Gensan

• Known as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines

• Hometown of the famous Filipino professional boxer and politician Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao and the fifth female Big Winner of the Pinoy Big Brother Melisa "Melai" Cantiveros

• Cebuano and Ilonggo are the main dialect spoken in the city. Filipino based on Tagalog is spoken as the National Language. English is also widely used.

• Kalilangan Festival, is the biggest festival in the City, celebrated every month-end of February.

• People from GenSan are mostly Roman Catholics. There are also a large number of Protestants and Muslims in the city.

NORTHERN SAMAR: Biri Island

Biri Island, is located in the province of Northern Samar. Island is blessed with its natural scenery  and known for its exotic rock formation w/c  has been carved by the tools used by nature itself.

It is a little less than 8 kilometres long and at its widest point is roughly 2 ½ kilometres. This has also been the location of a number of Filipino movies, one of this are the “Spirit Warriors directed by Chito Roño”.

The most famous rock formation to visit here is the Magasang , but there’s a lot to see in Biri such as Magsapad, Macadlao, Bil-at and the baby Mangroves along the island.

I must say that it’s a perfect place for a laid back kind of person and a playground for all the landscape photographer. I suggest that you should hire a guide to explore the place coz’ there’s a lot of walking trails crossing the island through the tropical rainforest.

Locals from Biri are very hospitable and accommodating, you can seek help from them w/ regards to your tour needs. I advise that getting around the island you should bring your own snorkel gear coz’ there are no dive shops in the island, our guide also told us that scuba diving here is also possible, some of their foreign guest did that… and of course bring sunscreen lotion as the sun was really hot that makes your skin very dark (I forgot to bring mine..tsk! tsk!)

ITINERARY

Day 1, August 29 (Sunday)

05:00am – Meet-ups @ NAIA Terminal 3

06:30am – Boarding of Passenger ETD Manila to Catarman

07:45am – ETA Catarman

08:00am – Cataman to Jeepney Terminal

08:10am – ETD Catarman to Lavezares

09:10am – ETA Lavezares

09:30am – ETD Lavezares to Biri Island

10:20am – ETA Biri Island

10:30pm – Meet our Guide, Lunch, Prepare, Rest

11:00pm – Check-in @ Villa Amor Pension House

12:00nn-02:30pm – Sleep, Rest & Prepare

03:00pm – Mag-asang Tour, Photo-ops, wait for sunset

07:00pm – Back to Pension House

07:30pm – Dinner, Take a Bath, Rest

11:00pm – Lights-off!

Day 2, August 30 (Monday)

03:00am – Wake-up Call

03:30am – Biri Island mangroves, Photo-ops, wait for sunrise

09:00am – Back to Villa Amor Pension House

10:00am – Breakfast

12:00nn – Lunch

01:00-02:30PM –Sleep, Rest & Prepare

03:00pm – Bil-at Tour, Photo-ops, Magsapad tour wait for sunset

07:00pm – Back to Pension House

07:30pm – Dinner, Take a Bath, Rest

11:00pm – Lights-off!

Day 3, August 31 (Tuesday)

03:00am – Wake-up Call

03:30am – Macadlao Tour, Photo-ops, wait for sunrise

09:00am – Back to Villa Amor Pension House

10:00am – Breakfast

12:00nn – Lunch

01:00-02:30PM – Sleep, Rest & Preparee

03:00pm – ETD Biri Island to Lavezares

04:30pm – ETD Lavezares to Catarman

06:00pm – Check-in @ DCC House

07:00pm – Dinner, Take a Bath, Rest

08:00pm – Lights off!

Day 4, September 1 (Wednesday)

06:00am – Wake-up Call, Prepare, Take a Bath

07:00am – ETD DCC to Catarman Airport

08:00am – Boarding of Passenger ETD Catarman to Manila

09:45am – ETA Manila

________________________________________________________

EXPENSE:

AIRFARE:

Manila to Catarman (via Air Philippines) – Php735.00

Catarman-Manila (via Philippine Airlines)– Php1,455.00

TERMINAL FEE:

Manila-Catarman: Php200.00

Catarman-Manila: Php25.00

CATARMAN – LAVEZARES –BIRI –CATARMAN:

Catarman-Lavezares (Jeepney Ride): Php120.00/2pax

Lavezares-Catarman (Jeepney Ride): Php110.00/2pax

Ø  Standard rate is Php55.00-60.00/pax

Lavezares-Biri Island (Boat Ride): Php200.00/2pax

Biri Island-Lavezares (Boat Ride): Php500.00/2pax (special trip)

Ø  Standard rate is Php50.00/pax

Ø  If special / private trip Php300.00/pax

 ACCOMODATION:

Biri Proper:
Fan Room with Private Bathroom:  Php1000.00/2 nights/2pax

Optional:

Fan Room w/ private bathroom: Php500.00/night/2pax

>  If additional pax in Fan room, Just add 150/pax (room is good up to 3pax)

Air-con Room w/ private bathroom: Php1000/night/2pax

>  If additional pax in Air-con room, Just add 250/pax (room is good up to 3pax)

Cooking Fee Charge: Php50.00/meal

Catarman Proper:
Fan Room with Private Bathroom:  Php150.00/night/2pax

FOOD & DRINKS:

Breakfast, Lunch, Merienda, Dinner: Php1,100.00/2pax including/3days & 3nights
NOTE: (food for our guide is included) 

TOUR GUIDE:

Biri Tour includes: Magsapad, Magasang, Macadlao, Bil-at, Biri Mangroves, Isalnd Side Tour 

> Php1,800.00/3days/2pax 

Standard Rate: Guide Fee w/ Habal-Habal: Php300/pax/day

___________________________________________
@ US$47 rate

SUMMARY OF EXPENSE w/ food & airfare
TOTAL (per pax) = Php5,030 or US$107.00
___________________________________________

HOW TO GET THERE:

By Plane: 

A.)   Flights from Manila will take you to either Catarman, which is the closest to Biri Island or to Calbayog, which is on the western side of Samar to the south of Biri Island. However, the best route is to fly to Catarman and take the short trip west along the coast to Lavezares, it’s a 1hour 20minutes ride.
You can take Air Philippines/PAL, Cebu Pacific, and Zest Air, most of the plane departs in the morning.

B.)    Once you have arrived at either airport you need to get yourself to the town of Lavezares, which is the jump off port, to get you to Biri Island. Numerous jeepneys will take you to Lavezares, 1 hour ride worth Php55.00-Php60.00 per person. Here you have a choice to experience topload J.

C.)    From Lavezares market, you will take a boat going to Biri Island, a 45minutes ride worth Php50.00 per person, or if you opt to have a special trip, you can rent the boat and pay Php500.00 for a private small boat good for 2-4pax.

By Land:

The best way, is to get a bus from Manila, bus transport such as PHILTRANCO & ELAVIL TOURS PHILS. INC  travel to port town of Matnog, which is on the southernmost tip of Luzon. This trip will take you about 15 hours.

From Matnog you need to catch the ferry to the town of Allen on Samar. Ferries make the crossing every hour or so.

Once you have arrived in Allen, get yourself into either a jeepney or a tricycle and head for Lavezares, which is where you need to be to get you to Biri Island, or follow the steps on letter C on By Plane.

__________________________________________________ 

For Island Trip Arrangement, Boat, Guide, Accomodation, Please see below contact details:

TOUR GUIDE, BOAT RIDE ARRANGEMENT:

Mr. Orlando Bulosan – 0920-5246773

ACCOMODATION:    
Biri Island

Manang Oning Amor
Villa Amor Pension House

Biri, Northern Samar

Contact Nos.: 0906-9681137

Vegas of Asia: MACAU

I had a chance to travel Macau at its best! love the lights, non-stop free taste foods at the Ruins of St. Paul, free shuttle bus in the hotel and hospitable macanese.

 SENADO SQUARE STREET

YUMMY PORTUGUESE EGG TART

PORK & BEEF JERKY

EN ROUTE: HONGKONG

A day before the Philippines Independence Day, finally i found my passport, so up to the last minute i decided to go to Hongkong, and end my summer season there :) (actually it was my second time to visit the place.) All of my stuff was on rush just to be on these trip. Thank God that he guided me all through out the trip.

It was 7pm when i landed to Hongkong via Cebu Pacific and my friend is waiting for almost 4 hours at Hongkong International Airport coz' we do have different flight. From the Airport we took the Airport Express Train going to Mongkok, Kowloon for our accomodation.. we thought that riding on it was for free but when we arrived in Mongkok station we saw some locals tapping their train card on the machine..in w/c we don't have.. so we decided to ask the customer service and he gave us HK$55 per card just to exit on the station (too expensive compare to an ordinary MTR train)

HONGKONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

At the Mongkok proper, it was like daytime maybe because of the lights surrounded by us.. as far as  i remember according to Guinness World Records, the city is known for having the highest population density in the world and having the most colorful and vibrant establishment.

HK LOCALS 

MONGKOK, KOWLOON

Were lucky that we found our accomodation along the busy street of Argyle, where you can find low-priced clothes and shoes that makes the street as a crowded center.  


Dragon Hostel is the place where we'd stayed, it was recommended by a friend. For a budget traveler this is worth staying for.. for more info about their services click here

PADRE BURGOS ADVENTURE

May 1-2, 2010 
For a Labor Day break.. we headed to BonPen!

SUNSET

As claimed by a known group of mountaineering club in the Philippines....
  
"Padre Burgos, was formerly known as LAGUIMANOC due to the shape of the coastline which resemble the bill of a chicken or "manok". Another version is that chickens were so abundant in the town that hawk always swiped down the place to snatch chicks from their mother hens. When hawks flew overhead, as warning to the neighborhood, people shouted "Hawk manok"On January 1, 1917 the villages of Laguimanoc, which until then was a barrio of atimonan, became a municipality. Ten years after, the towns council changed the name to Padre Burgos, in honor of one of our countrys martyr.
The streets were named after local leaders who rendered valuable services to the community. Because of the physical and topographical conditions to the town, four(4) sitios were cluster of houses were built became the main district of the town namely Campo, Burgos, Basio and Bundok-punta.Padre Burgos the entry point of BonPen.

BonPen for Bondoc Peninsula
If Bicol has CamSur for Camarines Sur, Quezon has BonPen for the Bondoc Peninsula. Part of the trend to jazz up the traditional names of regions, provinces and districts partly to give them a current feel and the convenience of namedropping, BonPen is succeeding is making itself a curious catchword when it was largely unknown before.

Rich in natural beauty and religious traditions, BonPen consists of the 12 towns of the 3rd district of Quezon which include Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Francisco, Buenavista and San Andres. To promote BonPen, Board Member Lourdes “Bunso” De Luna-Pasatiempo heads the BonPen Tourism Council to create it as a center of tourism in Southern Tagalog Region and a prime tourist spots."

It was 2:30am (2nd trip @ JAC LINER) when we left Manila to Padre Burgos, it's my first time to visit the province of Quezon, thanks to Yan for inviting me on these trip. We arrived at Lucena Grand Terminal exactly 6:30am, then rode a Mini Bus going to Padre Burgos almost an hour trip, the bus dropped us on Padre Burgos wooden arch along the highway where Mang Vic fetch us headed to Laguimanoc Pier.

first stop.... our trek to Mt. Lipata located at Lipata Island

MT. LIPATA ((427+) ~ [LLA: 13° 88.97N 121° 78.94 E, 130 MASL]

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail 1-2

CAVE @ THE SUMMIT

 LIPATA ISLAND VIEW

next... our beach bumming, snorkeling and chillax at 
Puting Buhangin Beach and Kwebang Lampas
located at Pagbilao Grande, Pagbilao, Quezon 

The white sand beach stretches 70 meters long and 10 meters wide. A small cave known to locals as Kwebang Lampas is found at one end of the beach. It is a favorite site of swimmers in Pagbilao during the summer months. 

CRYSTAL CLEAR CALM WATER, BLUE SKIES

at the end of the day.. we decided to camp at
Dampalitan Island

   

CAMPSITE

 SUNSET

LOWTIDE 

The following day we woke up as early as possible for us to witness the lowtide at Mag-asawang Bato Island
TIPS: really good for landscape photoshoot

  

 

 

then lastly is the Borawan Island
famous for rock climbing and bouldering activity.

ITINERARY

Day 1, May 1 (Saturday)

02:00am – Assembly time @ JAC Liner, Kamias Station

02:30am – Boarding of Passenger ETD Manila to Lucena Grand Terminal 
06:30am – ETA Lucena, Stopover at Lucena Grand terminal
07:30am – ETA Padre Burgos, Quezon
08:00am – ETA Laguimanoc Pier, Padre Burgos. board private bangka, island hopping starts
08:30am – Lipata Island,
11:30am – Puting Buhangin & Kwebang Lampas Island (swimming, snorkeling, brunch)
05:00pm – Dampalitan Island (Overnight Camping)
06:00pm – Dinner, Camping, swimming, Campfire socials,beach bumming, star-gazing
09:00pm – Lights off!

Day 2, May 2 (Sunday)
05:00am – Wake up call
05:30am – ETD Mag-asawang Bato Island
06:00am – ETA Mag-asawang Bato Island (Photo Ops)
09:00am – ETA Borawan Island
11:00pm – ETD to Laguimanoc Pier, Padre Burgos
11:30am – ETA Laguimanoc, Padre Burgos
12:00am – Rest, Prepare

01:30pm – ETD to Lucena Grand terminal
02:30pm – ETA Lucena Grand terminal

03:00pm – ETD Lucena Grand terminal to Manila

07:00pm – ETA Manila

EXPENSE:

TRANSPORTATION:

Manila - Lucena Grand Terminal: Php218/pax (JAC Liner Bus)

Lucena Grand Terminal - Padre Burgos: Php35/pax (Mini Bus)

Padre Burgos - Laguimanoc Pier: Php7/pax (Tricycle)

-------------------------------------------------

Laguimanoc Pier - Padre Burgos: Php7/pax (Tricycle)

Padre Burgos - Lucena Grand Terminal: Php35/pax (Mini Bus)

Lucena Grand Terminal - Manila:Php218/pax via Bus (JAC Liner Bus)

GUIDE FEE FOR MT. LIPATA

Tour Guide: Php300 (good for 6pax)

ISLAND ENTRANCE FEE & CAMPING FEE:

Puting Buhangin Island: 

~ Entrance Fee: Php50/pax 

Dampalitan Island: 

~ Entrance fee: Php35/pax

~ Camping fee: Php150/tent (overnight)

~ Fresh Water: Php300/drum (good for 6pax) 

BOAT FEE: Php 1800 (good for 6-10pax) includes:

Lipata Island

Puting Buhangin Island

Kwebang Lampas 

Dampalitan Island

Mag-asawang Bato Island

Borawan Isalnd 


___________________________________________
@ US$47 rate

SUMMARY OF EXPENSE excluding food
TOTAL (6pax)= Php6,330 or US$134.68
TOTAL (per pax) = Php1,055 or US$22.45
___________________________________________
 

Please contact Mang Vic @ 0912-9178637 for Island Trip Arrangement, Boat & Guide. 

"HAPPY TO LIVE. GLAD TO GIVE Season 2"

Mt. Pulag Charity Climb (April, 1-2, 2010)  
BENEFICIARY:
School Name: Abucot Elementary School
School Region: CAR
Division: Benguet
District: Kabayan
School Type: Public
School Level: Elementary
Barangay: Adaoay
No. of Students: 183 

GRADE SCHOOL & PRE-SCHOOL STUDENTS

Upon descend at Mt. Pulag, we took our rest at the ranger station, some of us bought souvenirs, fresh veggies direct from the farmville of the locals. At exactly 1:30pm we departed at the ranger station going to Abucot Elementary school accompanied by the school’s PTA President, Selaida Arais.

BOXES OF BOOKS & CLOTHES 

A boxes of books and clothes has been loaded to our service jeepney through the help of Sir Larry, the Park Ranger Head and our driver with some locals. This books was given by our sponsor namely Rex Bookstore Inc. 

@ THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

On our way, it’s a combination of smooth and rough road but most of the time we felt the dust beyond the road and we decided to close all the window louvers and doors to keep the dust out with all the rough roads, it took us 40mins to get to the school.

STUDENTS OF ABUCOT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL w/ OUR GROUP 
(photo courtesy of Monte Corpuz) 

At Abucot Elementary School, almost 100+ students welcomed us including their parents. On the school proper a cluster of bungalows perched on a hill, this includes the library, comfort rooms, and classrooms.

 TEACHER SAFERA MARCELO 

The Grade School Teacher, Safera Marcelo, says that some of the improved road has made it easier for many pupils to reach school. This includes those living in other part of the mountains.

 STUDENTS 

Before the road was improved, the number of students boarding at the school would rise sharply before exams so they could spend less time traveling and more time studying.

Click here for more details about our Mt. Pulag Climb.