Showing posts with label beyond the volcano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beyond the volcano. Show all posts

Sa Pagtatapos ng Tag Araw

Category: , By DuNi


“Oy, kumusta ka na?”

“Okay naman ako. Ikaw?”
“Okay naman din ako. Tagal nating hindi nagkita ah!”


 Sa tinagal-tagal nang hindi naming pagkikita, natameme pa rin ako at walang akong nasambit kundi kumusta. Hindi ko akalain na makikita ko pa uli siya pagkatapos ng mahigit ng dalawampung taon. Bumalik tuloy ulit ang mga katangi-tanging alaala sa buhay ko. 
Tag-araw nang magkakilala kami. Panahon ng tag-araw, syempre bakasyon para sa mga kabataan. Kung ngayon maraming gadgets at lugar na pwedeng mapaglibangan ng mga teenager, sa probinsya naman ang takbuhan ng karamihan noon, lalo na ako na hindi mabilang ang pagpipilian sa dami ng mga kamag-anak ko na nakatira sa probinsya. Sa mga kabataang kumukuha lang sa facebook ng paglilibangan, walang katapat ang mga karanasan ko noong bakasyon nung bata pa ako.


 Tag-araw ulet ng maisipan kong pumasyal. Sa mahigit na dalawang dekadang itinagal, alam kong maraming nagbago. Mula sa poste, sa mga lubak ng kalsada, at maging sa mga dating bukirin na tila tinangay na rin ng agos ng kaunlaran, ramdam ko sa sarili ko ang kaunting kaba habang binabaybay ang bagong daan patungo sa nakaraan. 


 Kilala pa rin niya ako sa kabila ng matagal na panahon. Hindi ko inaasahan yun. Mga bata pa kami noon, mas madalas na paglalaro ang inaatupag, at marahil iyon na rin ang dahilan kung bakit nananatili pa rin sa alaala yung masasayang oras, yung panahong nagkakasundo kayo sa mga paksang pinag-uusapan nyo, at kahit yung mga oras na nagtatalo kayo dahil sa magkaibang pananaw sa buhay.


 Patapos na ang tag-araw. Unti-unting binabalot ng kulay abong ulap ang matingkad na asul na langit. Gustuhin ko man ituloy ang pagbabalik-tanaw sa masasayang alaala namin, may hangganan din ito. Katulad ng bakasyon tuwing tag-araw na natatapos sa pagsapit ng tag-ulan, ang dagliang pagpapaalam ay mukhang naulit na naman. Parang noong huli akong umalis. Biglaan. Madalian. Walang patumpik-tumpik. Wala nga yatang pormal na paalam, yung tipong basta na lang umalis para hindi maabutan ng tag-ulan. Baon ang pag-asang magbabalik muli sa susunod na tag-araw, na hindi na naulit hanggang sa lumipas ang mga taon.


 Ngayon, magtatag-ulan na naman. Oras na naman para magpaalam. Paalis na lang ulit ako kaso hanggang kumusta lang ang nasabi ko. Buti na lang inabot ako ng malakas na ulan. Kahit papano hindi nya nakita ang pighati na ini-inda ko sa matagal na panahon.
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Unforgettable long weekend in Bolinao

Category: By DuNi


If it’s hard to start a blog, it might be that the topic is not an interesting one, or in my case, it’s hard to tell the things I wanted to say when I am lost for words.  It should not have been the case, since I sensed that it’s just another long weekend(longer weekend for us here in Angeles because of a local holiday), and it’s just another trip to the beach.  I think I am still having a hangover even 2 days after we got back home and having the laptop for myself all the time.

The destination this time was Bolinao.  To think that it was just another beach was probably an understatement, and a mistake on my part.  I guess I have to condition myself that we need to travel far to experience the best beach destinations.  The uncomfortable long travel was transformed into awe as we stepped inside Punta Riviera and got a glimpse of its facilities, and surroundings.  Depending on each and everyone’s preference, the place has its pros and cons, too.  But with the kids as company, I have to say Punta Riviera would be a good choice to stay, sans the food and some lodging issues.  Just bring lots of money though, as Punta Riviera is somewhat categorized as “big-budget” friendly resort along Bolinao.


The beachfront is shallow until about a hundred meters and more during low tide, perfect for kids and young people like me who are a little bit afraid of the waves.  If you are into surfing and/or tackling West Philippine Sea’s awesome waves, Punta Riviera is not the place for you, you need to go farther unto Patar.  Your kid/s (if you happen to have even just one) will surely enjoy the beachfront, though.  Even the infinity pool is a great place to swim even at night, with its lukewarm water allowing our daughter to enjoy night swimming.  Hunger and tiredness were probably the reasons that convinced her to stop at 8 in the evening and continue swimming the next day.  


The adventure did not stop at the infinity pool and the beach.  There was kayaking at the river beside the resort, a pool table and a badminton table, a videoke machine beside the bar which has the river and beach view, a Jacuzzi, lots of benches near the pool for some solitude, and even limited cable channels in your rooms.  There are even attractions like the 400 year old St. James Cathedral, the Bolinao Lighthouse, and various caves in Patar, the Bolinao Falls aside from some rock formations on the beaches.  Due to time constraints, we only got to visit the lighthouse, Cindy’s cave and a quick trip to the town proper to see the cathedral and taste some binaguey, but still those experiences were enough to make our trip an unforgettable one.


We’ve read some bad reviews prior to our trip so we brought food just in case.  The bad reviews were, actually bad, considering the sumptuous meal served to us.  The food was a little expensive and the breakfast was almost the same as your average meal, but some on the menu was quite a feast for us.  I have never tasted fish as fresh and tasty as the ones served.  Now, where did I saw that bad food review?  It was total opposite of what were served to us.  Still with kids around, we had to bring comfort foods for them in case they turned their heads away from the menu.  You just have to pay the corresponding corkage fee.


The staffs were very accommodating.  Even though we opted to change room because we are not comfortable over our reserved room, they assisted us every time.  We even had our toilet bowl fixed as soon as possible.  We were assisted when we asked for a barbecue grill (of course we also have to pay extra for that).  We were provided with most of the things we asked immediately, and they were smiling every time if we’re out of earshot of their customary greetings.  Even the guards were friendly and accommodating in some ways.  Except for some problems in our room which were fixed immediately, our stay at Punta Riviera were satisfactory.

Bolinao, I would say, is one of the best destinations I have been to so far.  Even though I read some different review from other travelers, it’s the personal experience that counts the most.  I could only say this much about our stay in Bolinao.  I will just let the pictures speak for itself.


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Dormant and Disappointed

Category: , By DuNi
I dream of paradise most of the time.  Unfortunately, I was having a hard time looking for it nowadays.  I have not been travelling to places I wanted to see so I wasn’t sure what to write.  I have been roaming around my city with my bike every weekend, since I cannot contain my feet from itching to travel.

It has been frustrating not to see Mt. Pinatubo, Hundred islands, and even my mother’s hometown attraction, Taal Volcano  ( even now that it is showing signs of volcanic activity and might lead to an eruption).  I even had planned on biking to Subic but there is something wrong with my bike so the plan fell apart.  I am going to do some minor upgrades and see if I can revive my botched plan.

The only solace so far was going back to Pundakit and Anawangin Cove this year.  The family went there last Holy Week to relax.  I have been to Pundakit a lot of times, the first in 2004 when I was “saving turtles”.  This is actually the first time the four of us went there – me, wifey, and the two kids with only the four of us to enjoy and experience travelling together.

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The quick ALA EH... YEAH! getaway...

Category: By DuNi

I was in the middle of an election-related event when I received a message from a friend asking for a favor.  It was not an easy one but very tempting, indeed.  And so, midway through the afternoon I found myself packing some stuffs and hopping on the first bus I saw on the terminal to go South, specifically to San Juan, Batangas.

I arrived at a few minutes past five in the afternoon in Lipa to meet my friend, who, just like me, is very much excited on our first trip to Laiya.  Both of us are first timers and have no clear idea about going there.  Relying only on bloggers’ experiences we have read from the internet, we embarked on our adventure to see that far and very famous getaway at the edge of Batangas province.  We rode for more than an hour’s jeepney ride from Lipa to San Juan town proper with the mood between excitement and anticipation, and as the yellow sky turns to dark, our eagerness turned into slight fear since we’ll be entering into an unexplored territory - in personal terms.  It was a good thing that the jeepney driver was gracious enough to help ease our anxiety, assuring us that we won’t get lost since San Juan is also the end of the route for him.

We reached San Juan town proper at around seven in the evening and we were almost dispirited that there was no more jeepney bound for Laiya at that time of the night.  After waiting for almost an eternity, we decided to haggle for a reasonable tricycle fare and we cruised on that long stretch of mostly empty highway.  After about an hour, we reached our initial and preferred destination, which was Aquatico Resort.  I said ‘WAS’ since we didn’t get what we wanted.  The resort was fully booked even on a weekday, including the other nearby resorts.  We also tried Virgin Islands but I think they were skeptical about our ability to pay for their luxurious accommodations when they saw us alight from our country’s distinctive three-wheeled transport.




We settled for the cozy Kabayan Resort in Aplaya, and after settling in our room, we had a quick, late dinner and immediately went to what we were really after, the beach.  We immersed ourselves under the clear night sky with the moon and some stars to gaze while floating from the waters at the beach, staying comfortably for more than an hour.We slept well and woke up at dawn, ate breakfast and exploited the beach early.  We rented a kayak and planned to try rowing up to Aquatico Resort.  A big task indeed, since we weren’t able to reach our destination.  The searing heat, adding the limitless muscle power needed to row - which I do not really have (both muscle and power) - contributed to our failure in reaching our target destination.  We consoled ourselves midway through the wide bay by meeting local fishermen diving for their daily food supply although we weren’t able to determine whether it is intended for lunch or for dinner.  They were very good divers and very friendly that we were engaged in conversation with them while they were staying afloat and resting in between dives.  We sunbathed and rested on the kayak for a short while and went back at the beach.










We went out of the vicinity of the resort to look for food and we found a nice little native eatery.  The food at Kabayan was satisfactory but we were looking for something local, and cheap.  The eatery near Laiya main road served the purpose.  We wandered around the neighborhood and even played billiards at the adjacent resort while munching on buko salad packed on ice candy plastic bags sold by locals.  We were planning to go island hopping and snorkeling, we were able to convince two sexy strangers to share the expenses but they were discouraged by their other companions, so we decided to forego at the last minute since the fee was expensive for two persons.  We went back to dip in the shallow waters of the beach front of Kabayan Resort that we were enjoying every moment of our wet, unplanned adventure.  We rested at high noon by tasting their Halo Halo specialty.  Then after an hour, we went back to our room and start preparing to leave Laiya.






We waited at the roadside since we were assured that there are jeepneys going to town.  We were accompanied by two taho vendors and another lady stranger who was also waiting for the ride to San Juan.  It was still two hours past noon so it is still too early to panic about being stranded.  A few minutes and the jeepney arrived with only a passenger inside so we felt all right although a little uncomfortable, since one of the taho vendor was probably too tired from his daily job that he fell asleep and was not aware of his head hitting my shoulders on occasions during the ride.  We reached the town proper and rode a public van up to Lipa terminal were me and my friend separated ways and I, once again, got on the bus going to Manila still daydreaming about our unplanned, unforgettable, and exciting Laiya getaway.
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The less paved road leads to paradise

Category: By DuNi

I’ve always thought that it would take some time before our planned trip to Dasol Bay would push through.  The remoteness of the place and the hours of long travel to a less familiar place is discouraging a lot of visitors but the feedback from those who have been there has been very positive. 

Actually, a week before the Holy Week, we were scrambling to look for a decent resort to stay in Zambales when some people recommended Dasol in Pangasinan although the drawback is the rough road leading to the place.  In addition, there were lots of pictures uploaded to prove the beauty of the place so we decided it was Dasol for the ultimate trip this vacation.  We contacted the only beach resort in the stretch of Tambobong beach and unfortunately, it is fully booked this coming Holy Week.  Instead they gave us the weekend before the Holy Week so we confirmed our reservations and prepared everything we needed.
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Subic on top of a tree...

Category: By DuNi





When the Americans left Subic devastated by Mt. Pinatubo in the 90’s, then Mayor Richard Gordon had a daunting task on how will Olongapo survive with its bread and butter away for good. It took unselfish dedication from Olongapeños until Subic was reinvented as a mix industrial and recreational location for people in nearby provinces, including Manila. Unlike in Clark Air Base were major looting happened perpetrated by people from adjacent towns, Subic has somewhat retained some of its natural beauty and is now known as one of the premiere leisure hubs in the country. So when people are actually looking for quick adventures, Subic usually comes into mind.


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February is also Hot Air Balloon month

Category: By DuNi

I have always looked forward to February not because it is the month of love but for something much hotter than hundreds of intimate lovers on a romantic evening.  I hate PDA's, and I prefer to be affectionate and romantic in private.  So frankly, I am not anticipating a romantic February, but instead the feeling of excitement goes for the Hot Air Balloon festival.

The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival is the country’s biggest aviation event that started around 14 years ago and is held annually during the second week of February.  I remember around 5 to 8 years ago, we would always see those hot air balloons in the sky early in the morning while I was bringing my son to school.  We weren’t attending the event then, we were just admiring them fly near my son’s school which is just a short distance from where those balloons take off.  It was exciting to see those colorful balloons racing to the sky as high and as far away as they can.  Seeing one might just be as ordinary as it can be, but seeing almost 25 of them lined up early in the morning sky is altogether a different experience.  And seeing them up close is a once in a lifetime chance.



And so three years ago, I went to see the Hot Air Balloon Festival officially.  I paid for the entrance fee, and I went inside the festival grounds.  I was not just admiring them from outside the Clark perimeter which I usually do, but that time I attempted to get as close to the balloons as I possibly can.  It is a four day-whole day event, and the main attraction are the colorful hot air balloons, which unfortunately, you can only see during their early morning flight at 5 to 7 in the morning and at the afternoon which is the day’s culminating event.  But in between the time where the hot air balloons are in flight, the whole festival in busy with other activities like the numerous exhibits, games, photo-ops, flying exhibitions, paragliding, skydiving and even kite flying for kids and enthusiasts.  The event was used to be held at OMNI Aviation grounds, but with the influx of increasing spectators, they transferred to the nearby and bigger Air Force Grounds right at the edge of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport runway.


I have been attending the festival for the past 3 years.  This year may not be altogether different from the previous years, but still it is something to look forward again.  Perhaps there may be a different sets of balloons coming from different parts of the world (I miss the square Whiskas, by the way), or they may be the same sets from last year.  Nevertheless, I am still looking forward to this year’s event, and a nice green grass to picnic while watching the colorful balloons up in the sky.

Oh… by the way, have I told you that they glow in the dark?


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Boracay Experience - serenity at a price...

Category: By DuNi

When we talk about Boracay, we can generally agree that every wonderful article, blog and comments had already been said about this beautiful island in Aklan.  What could somebody like me add that hasn’t been said?

Boracay is an island paradise and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  The island’s beauty transcends above the 7000 wonders the Philippines has to offer and is probably the most visited place, both foreign and domestic tourists alike.  Any travel-frenzy Pinoy have been to Boracay once or twice in their life.  Majority of Pinoys on social networking sites do have an album about their Boracay escapades.  Those who has been to Boracay has probably been to one of its famous hang-outs (Station 1 to 3), they have bought some souvenirs in d’Mall, they have taken pictures in Willy’s Rock and the sand castles. 


So what more can I tell about Boracay from my experience that is different?  It is experiencing it first class.  Truthfully, I was always imagining going to Boracay, let alone stay in posh room accommodations and meals.  Well, my imagination turned into reality this year.  Except with some rain and monsoon winds, our trip and stay was really relaxing.  We decided to choose Cebu Pacific because of their promos, but it didn’t really made a big difference with the other airlines’ fare when you add the surcharges.  Too late after we heard that PAL Express might still be the best trip to look forward to.

Excitement was teeming almost the whole night before the trip.  Everybody was tense, nobody was sleeping early even the kids, and everyone was anticipating the 2AM arrival of the service van we hired to bring us to NAIA 3 from Angeles City.  We decided to forego the possibility of flying through Clark since there is no direct flight to Caticlan - only to Cebu - and it will probably take longer than Manila.

Fast Forward and skipping the details of the airplane ride, we found ourselves stuck for a short time in Caticlan Airport.  Due to the unpredictable weather, the airlines decided to delay our baggage until the next flight.  But this is where we started to experience first class accommodations right from the airport.  Our resort guide assured us that he will be bringing our baggage right to our room as soon as it arrives. In short, we didn’t have to wait for our things, he brought us to the jetty port in Tabon and accompanied us up to the hotel reception.  He then excused himself to go back to Caticlan to wait for our baggage.  Imagine if we decided to wait for our bags – we arrived in Caticlan at 8AM: our bags arrived at 1PM.


Fridays’ Resort is located at the white beach area just beside Discovery Suites, popular for its talcum-like sand you could mistake for your regular baby powder, or probably masses of cement powder from a building construction.  We considered Discovery at first but I guess we made the right choice in staying at Fridays.  We were welcomed at the front with complimentary drinks and a souvenir already consisting of shell necklace for each of us.  Our names are written outside the reception, together with other guests.  We were assured that our rooms were ready, even if check-in time is still at 12 noon.



 Boracay’s tropical setting was complemented by Fridays’ ambiance.  As someone who grew up in Manila, for some reason I have this distaste for concrete buildings for aesthetic reasons.  Tropical and concrete does not really mix well, except if you are Francisco Mañosa.  Fridays’ native setting was perfect for me: its Nipa Hut style using bamboo, wood, and pawid roofs as major materials made it a paradise within a paradise.  A terrace with a hammock and overlooking the beach and also the pool at the side, this is almost my dream house.  And if it isn’t enough, the rooms were elegantly awesome.  Even without the television and the ref, it is almost a honeymoon suite – except that it has 2 additional beds – probably perfect for an orgy.  The bathroom is magnificent that would sometimes set the tone for a romantic night.  With the ambiance as perfect as I have imagined it would be, I am saving my excitement until dinner.



 Fridays’ is famous for its restaurant, if you have the right budget.  Nightly buffet are expensive even though they have specialties each night.  Their best buffet is served at Friday nights, including cultural shows for guests, and even voluntary participation with the dreaded tinikling dance.  As a token, they are giving certificates to those who are brave enough to dance through those bamboo poles.  The last time I was involved in tinikling was in grade 2 where my feet would always get hit by the poles, so I decided to just be a spectator for the night.  The restaurant offers a regional Asian, European, Fusion, American and Filipino cuisine, and daily special breakfast set, lunch and dinner menu in addition to its ala carte specialties. 



Aside from what we have tasted at Fridays', there is this not-so-expensive restaurant in Ilig-Iligan that serves fresh seafoods where we ate after snorkeling.  I forgot the name of the place but as far as I can remember they have served the most tasting white snapper Sinigang that I have ever tasted.  We bought this big fish, they cooked the head and tail in Sinigang and the middle part were only steam fried, and we also had those spicy crabs and shrimps.  My diet plans just crashed after seeing those foods on the table.  If these are expensive for your taste, you can always fall back on Andok’s in d’Mall, for there is no Jollibee out there yet as far as I know.  Oh one more thing, don’t ever try those fly infested breads at Julie’s.  I’ve seen them. Disgusting in a sort of way, especially if you see the flies squeezed between the glass containers and the bread.  They might look like raisins from a far but they don’t taste like one.  Don’t forget to buy a souvenir shirt, its buy 1 take 1 for a hundred and fifty, sounds cheap but some of them doesn’t look cheap.  There are designs that are classy when you wear them.
Wherever you want to stay in Boracay, you will never run out of things to do.  There are lots of activities for the adventurous, for nature lovers, for the party animals, for those who wanted to relax, and even for the hopeless romantics, though it could come at a price, an expensive one, to be frank about it.  We were there to relax, to getaway from the busy city life.  Angeles is a chartered city full of exoticity but we wanted to experience the kind of relaxation only found in an island paradise – serenity.  And serenity in Boracay is synonymous to Fridays’…

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Subic on Top of a Tree!

Category: By DuNi


When the Americans left Subic devastated by Mt. Pinatubo in the 90’s, then Mayor Richard Gordon had a daunting task on how will Olongapo survive with its bread and butter away for good.  It took unselfish dedication from Olongapeños until Subic was reinvented as a mix industrial and recreational location for people in nearby provinces, including Manila.  Unlike in Clark Air Base were major looting happened perpetrated by people from adjacent towns, Subic has somewhat retained some of its natural beauty and is now known as one of the premiere leisure hubs in the country.  So when people are actually looking for quick adventures, Subic usually comes into mind.

There are a lot of activities to do in Subic.  You can try them all, or if you are budget conscious, you could at least try one.  Whether looking at wild animals, learning jungle survival tips, or just merely taking a dip in its calm waters on the bay, each adventure is unique.  You can even stroll at the boardwalk without any cost if you suddenly feel a little romantic and share the moment with somebody special.

With our limited budget and other plans lined up for us in the weekend, we decided to experience hanging on a tree top.  While there are other greater activities to explore, we chose this because of the following reasons:

EL KABAYO – been there, have done horseriding already in Baguio and much better in Taal Volcano… it’s almost the same;

OCEAN ADVENTURE – getting wet by the dolphins is not enjoyable… we used to have an open invitation from its former marine biologist but since he’s gone, there’s no point visiting now;

ZOOBIC SAFARI – I had enough seeing wild animals every time the Congressional proceedings from Batasan were televised;

JEST(Jungle Environment Survival Training) – what I want is to be able to survive the urban jungle where greed and envy has encouraged corruption and moral degradation;

And the reason why we chose TREE TOP ADVENTURE?







Because we were all monkeys a long long time ago…
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The dimming light of Capones Island

Category: By DuNi
I decided to create a separate entry for my Capones Island adventure since the lighthouse was special to me in some ways. It was the site of my first outdoor exploration when I was still with Environmental Protection of Asia Foundation, an environmental non-governmental organization. Around 5 years ago, they sort of needed an errand boy - that is - taking pictures, doing research, and a little image or graphic optimization for the website. I have never seen a lighthouse at close, so there was a lot of excitement back then.
If my previous trips (yes, I have been there a couple of times) were pure work, this year was the first time that I went there to really enjoy the scenery.
From our camp in Anawangin (see separate blog), we were fetched at around 7AM. We decided to go to the lighthouse as early as possible since most of the time, the waters of the South China Sea are rough and there are waves that could scare the hell out of you. In my previous experiences, if you don’t want to get nervous with the waves in front of you, go to Capones as early as possible. Pundakit Bay is much calmer during the morning. Apparently, it was too calm during that day that we could risk taking photographs in the middle of the sea and still not get the cameras wet.
We reached the rocky shores of Capones shortly since the boat ride was smooth but we had to deal with getting ourselves soaked from waist down. The boat cannot get near the dry land since rocks and corals have filled the beach down to the seabed, some are large enough to make you swim back to Pundakit if the boat gets cracked in its bottom. We were struggling in the water with all those slippery rocks and corals and trying to balance our way to the beach so as not to get our cameras wet. I still remember they used to call it Slippers Island since there are a lot of lost slippers trapped in the beaches, and sure enough, the beach is still packed by a lot of them. I was searching, trying to get lucky and find a Havaianas but there wasn’t any.
The hike up was easy since there is a concrete plight of stairs midway to help ease up climbing the rocky hill. After that, there is a short walk as we entered a pathway with lush vegetations of trees and plants that enclosed the path as if you are entering a cave.
We reached the gate of the lighthouse compound and I was a little disappointed to see how the surroundings have gone from bad into worst. The only thing the government can do with a measly budget on maintaining the lighthouse was to let it rot.
Capones and Bojeador lighthouse in Ilocos Norte are - should we say - twins. The design used were typical with both lighthouses, with a little bit of revisions that was mostly dependent on each of the lighthouses’ location. Although I might be wrong, I believe both places was commissioned by the Spanish government to a single surveyor, Antonio de la Camara (whom Camara Island was named) and the very same Engineers that designed and built the two lighthouses, so they almost look a lot like each other. Capones lighthouse is unique since the island is sometimes inaccessible during stormy seasons. The tower was designed to include a living quarter, an office, and a yard for the keeper, sometimes including his family, to survive those days that the island is inaccessible from the mainland of Zambales. The roofs and the drains inside the compound are directly collected to the cistern under the ground and served as potable water from the well inside the compound. Ingenious, since water supply was scarce on that rocky island, they had to improvise when it is hard to navigate by boat from Pundakit to the lighthouse and supplies aren’t coming in.

The only other remaining traces of the Spanish era were the red bricks that were believed to be made within the island itself. The original clay roof was replaced by galvanized iron sheets. The helicoidally made iron stair still stands but is rotting at some joints at the wall, which tends to shake while you climb up the tower. Even the lighthouse tower was renovated so that it can function through the changing times. The old lantern which uses vegetable oils and minerals was replaced by the solar-powered light installed and donated by the Japanese government. It has a radio transmission system which notifies the Philippine Coast Guard when the light is not working in order. The Coast Guard are the ones managing (or mismanaging, whatever you may call it) all the lighthouses within the country. All the improvements have restored the lighthouse tower into full operational capacity, while the building and the yard remain in a highly denuded state.
But still, the view from the tower is magnificent, facing probably Vietnam, or Thailand, or maybe China, depending on which direction you look at. The sea in front is an important shipping route, and Capones lighthouse serves as a main navigational point for ships bound to China. Some parts of the lighthouse have withstood the test of times, but unfortunately, only those who have been to Capones can vouch for its historical legacy, as the government and its greedy officials continue to ignore its cries of decay for decades.
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A camper's paradise in Anawangin

Category: By DuNi

With the new Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, it’s hard not to think about Subic if you wanted to temporarily escape from your hectic chores or on your busy work.  So when I decided to plan for a quick getaway, the area of Subic popped first in my list of places.  And since travel time to Subic Bay, even for those coming to Manila, has been shortened by the newly-built SCTEX (it’s famous acronym), my friends and I decided to make the trip a little bit farther, to Anawangin cove.

 Anawangin is a secluded cove in San Antonio, Zambales.  The best way to reach it is to ride by boat from Brgy. Pundakit, the same jump-off place going to Capones Island Lighthouse.  From Cubao, you can ride the bus going to Iba or Sta. Cruz Zambales and get off in front of San Antonio Municipal Building and then ask the tricycle driver to bring you to Pundakit.
I wanted to pass the SCTEX on the way to Zambales since I can catch a ride from Dau Terminal in Mabalacat, but my friends are coming from Bulacan and Manila so we decided to meet in San Fernando instead, since that was the most convenient place to meet by public commute.  We then took a ride on one of those PUV’s, or public vans, to Olongapo and then caught a mini bus going to San Antonio.  We bought some of the stuffs we needed at the market in San Antonio and hopped a ride in a tricycle to Pundakit.

 In Pundakit, you can negotiate for the boat ride that will take you to Anawangin or depending on where you want to go.  Our package costs 1,500 pesos – they will be bringing us to Anawangin, leave us there to camp overnight, fetch us the following morning and bring us to Capones Island, and back to Pundakit.  Not bad considering we got a new boat and a courteous owner.  The last time we were there 2 years ago was traumatic since we overpaid and the one navigating the boat was rude and threatened to leave us in Camara Island and never come back for us.

 I was worried about the trip since about a week ago there was a typhoon that passed north of Iba, but the weather was cooperating - actually it was perfect!  The sky was clear and blue, telling us that there won’t be rain spoiling the rest of the day, and night.  The waters of Pundakit bay was calm even at five o’clock in the afternoon, considering this is one of the practice areas of those who want to learn surfing. 

We arrived at the cove with still a lot of time to setup the tent, prepare the foods, frolic in the water, and enjoy the sunset even though the sun was blocked by a cliff at the edge of the cove.  The cove was full of campers, but luckily we were provided with a place to camp - a few meters away from the makeshift toilets and the fresh water pump, a small table, plus we were just a few meters away from a kiosk selling important stuffs managed by locals from Pundakit.  With a great location to camp, we didn’t even complain for the 100 pesos per head payment for staying there. 






The campsite was divided in two, just as the cove is divided by a rock cliff in the middle.  Only one side of the cove has the store so the campers were all concentrated on that part.  We humorously thought that the store in the middle was the only thing that separates the campsites of La Salle and Ateneo, since we saw a couple of campers wearing shirts resembling of those coming from the two arch rival schools.

 The nicest thing about Anawangin is that it makes you feel separated from civilization with its seclusion and serene surroundings, yet it is not that far to reach.  There is no electricity in the cove, so you have to provide your own means of light, whether bringing something rechargeable or collecting wood for your momentous bonfire sessions.  The warm waters at the cove were the ultimate climax of our stay, there was not a cold breeze that might spoil our dip in the beach even during the night.  We were able to see the bright stars of the sky even with the bonfires and lights around the beaches.  It was every moment enjoyable, that is why Anawangin is a byword for campers, trekkers(around 6 hour trek over the mountains from Pundakit), would-be’s, and even those show offs.  Even though some groups were noisy and there were killjoys who brought their music players and spoiled the quiet ambiance, the overnight stay was worth repeating over and over again, depending on my budget, of course.  I guess if I needed to be as close to nature as I want it to be, Anawangin would be the first place that will come in my mind.

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I Miss...

Category: By DuNi

I made a mistake.

I believe it was two years ago that I decided to distance myself with EPAFI, my very first community involvement activity.  EPAFI stands for Environmental Protection of Asia Foundation, Inc., an non-profit, non governmental organization which helps protects the environment.  To make the story short, I decided to cut any involvement to the organization.  

 It was a decision I didn't want to do, but there were certain factors that made me decide to quit.  The organization has taken a lot of my time that there were times I neglected some of my parental duties.  And also, financial problems have started to give me a lot of pressures that broke my wallet, figuratively.  I had a part time job during that time, and I was shuffling my schedules between the organization and my job.  When my earnings was not enough for me to have allowances during my volunteer days at EPAFI, I felt the relationship with the organization was doomed.  I loved working with EPAFI, but I need to seek greener pastures.  It was not enough to cover the daily expenses that even going to the EPAFI office was even very hard.  It was located during that time near the edge of Clark Economic Zone, almost just like going to a remote town with no way of going out after the sun sets. 

Even though Bruce, our chairman, was sometimes eccentric, visionary, meticulous, very much talkative, and was always very demanding in terms of work, most of the time it did not affect me much that I admit I had enjoyed my days with them.  I got McDonalds for free at breakfast every travel to Zambales, ocasionally a pound of burger steak, roasted chicken, and your typical american meal – without rice.  Beach patrols at Pundakit, trips to Capones Lighthouse, dinners and sometimes breakfast at Subic Bay, and even having to drive from Dinalupihan to Angeles one moonless night without any license, hahaha.

Most important of all, I got firsthand experiences on community work, information dissemination about EPAFI and our pet project, the Turtle Conservation Program.  I was one of the facilitators of the first technical seminar on turtle conservation in 2004.  We spent 10 days at the beach preparing the materials, I even had participated in one of DENR's research, although I hated how ugly I looked in the video.  And most of all, I had experiences with live marine turtles and even baby hatchlings.

Right now, I miss all the fun, I even misses James' red Acura Integra 91' traversing the uphill road going to Olongapo in 4th gear having a blue plate that is immune to almost every traffic violations that can be easily created on the spot by traffic enforcers.  I miss Pundakit, Capones, the hatchery, the San Antonio town plaza, Times Square in Subic, Scuba Shack where you can find the best breakfast egg omelets, the bus terminal in Olongapo, Magsaysay drive, and even the Dinalupihan-Porac alternate road.

I miss the baby turtles that I used to hold during hatching season and I miss the sleep at the beach. 

I miss the good old times with EPAFI.

I wish I were still with the organization, for I wouldn't have missed this:


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