Mondejares Puertes Resort
Even if I'm a sworn (self-proclaimed) "Son of a Beach", I did not and do not know this resort (yet). But this afternoon, after that lunch at Carlos & Carmelo's, I had to see it!
Why? Because somebody told me to check it out, just the way I did Rosario Hills. Eh why not coconut chocnut, andito na rin lang tayo e. Ayun, nadaanan ko pa si Uragon!
Now children.., because I needed to "report" to that somebody who requested me to go see Mondejares, I might as well tell you about it, di ba?! Masalimuot na masaya!
Unless you 'commission' a tricycle or jeep (called "special trip" - prepare to haggle)!
Alternatively but more cumbersomely, you can ride any public commuter jeeps, vans, buses going north of Calbayog such as San Isidro, Victoria, Allen, or even to Manila!
That is if they will take you for just about 8 kms (many don't). Then, from a corner of the national highway where you get off your jeep, bus or van, you pray to find a trike or habal-habal to bring you to the resort (2 kms) as there are few even on weekends.
Anyway, I noted the following, dahil kahit kami man nawala, lumagpas, nasaag ba!
A landmark is Calbayog Airport, which should be around 6kms from their city center (i.e., the city hall). It has nothing to do with the resort hehehe - just a noted landmark.
In fact, there's a coming diversion road (target June 2014). Should that be already in place and you pass there, you won't see the airport! Just be sure you're going north.
Then this one is important, Oquendo Junction - which you should reach, whether you pass by the old & existing national highway (airport) or the upcoming diversion road.
Don't ever turn right, because that goes to the mountains. You're headed to a beach! The next crucial corner is just 500 meters from here -after a bridge around that bend.
This is the Jibatang bridge over the Jibatang River where Calbayog actually started!
About 100 meters long historical bridge, over a historic river. But you are looking for Mondejares Resort, wag muna tingin ng tingin kung saan-saan so you don't get lost!
I say that since this was where we "got lost"! 400 meters from the bridge, turn left!
There are those mala-advertisement signages, kaso ang liliit na nga, they overlap pa.
Don't anymore ask (I'm not telling anyway!), how far away north we went beyond that corner. Gino-o ko! Well, hindi naman umabot sa San Isidro, Victoria or Allen hahaha!
There's something wrong with the mapping done in this area - whether by google or the LGU. For example, the resort is in Brgy. Saljag, but on googlemaps, it's not there!
Oh, there is/was something being constructed, to the right of that photo above, and it looked commercial-enough for us travelers to use as landmark. Kaso di pa tapos!
One thing very sure is: look for Salhag Elementary School - that is the only way! And its gate is just across the gate of Mondejares Puertes Resort. You can't ever miss it.
Mind you, it is still 2kms from that corner described in the photo above. If you were commuting and got-off that corner.., nganga hahaha! Very few rides going in there.
This barangay road is generally flat going down to the beach, and paved all the way.
That means it's fine driving even your tiny city vehicles going to Mondejares Resort.
Along the way, you will encounter a 'Y Intersection', choose the one at right.
But if you choose left, okay lang, no big issue - in 500 meters or so, you'll just reach the barangay proper of Brgy. Tomaliguez, so babalik ka rin sa kanto na yan hehehe!
By the way, in my experience roaming this country, very often being (getting) lost on your way to somewhere is a hidden advantage. You get to see and experience more!
Di ba?!
That's the guest entrance. Not clear, but that gate says Mondejares Puertes Resort.
That path at left is a Brgy. Road to more houses and other resorts. I think that hut at left is barangay-owned, since it seems part of the school, though outside the fence.
What school? Aw, I'll tell you more about it later, pag-labas natin!
I forgot to ask, but I guess Mondejares is a surname of the owners? Maybe. Ah even Puertes, although I remember from my Spanish 5, the word "puertes" means "gates".
So, it's The Gates of Mondejares? Ayos ah, sosyalin ang arrive! Whatever, basta diyan sa tower na yan ka magbabayad ng Entrance Fee: P30 (2-3 yo) & P50 (4 yo or older)!
Note: that's only for you to enter and perhaps mag-selfie-selfie. So, better around.
First I saw and appreciated is this sizeable kiosk for the little ones.
I think there are mini-rides there. Not really hi-tech or sosyalin, but play area enough, to excite your little children - that helps in developing their creative and motor skills.
I didn't really check that play area. Just passed-by, to see other things in the resort.
Eh, I came here as requested by a friend to see this-and-that, remember? Because, if I personally wanted to check-out this place, I would have stayed at least overnight.
So that is your entrance path, after paying the fees at left, whether you're going to the sandy beach, the rooms (some you can already see), the restaurant and the big pool.
The rooms? I said oh my gee, grabe ang dami, schwak ang team building mo hahaha!
And oh, the 3rd levels of the 2 big buildings are function halls or conference venues!
Convenient for seminar participants as their rooms would just be downstairs.
I got to see only those two rooms - being made up - as the rest were fully occupied.
Hey I did not need to go to the swimming pool, since I already saw it from above!
That is a big one (half an olympic size = 25m) with a kiddie pool at left (not in photo).
The other side of those buildings are rooms too, many of them facing the sea.
I consider these rooms "the premium side" since they face the sea, the sand, and the sun(set). But that is just me I guess, as majority of guests prefer pool-facing rooms.
How did I know? Ah the resort supervisor who toured me around said so hehe! Even the way she talked assumed I would love the pool-facing rooms at the second level.
In my mind I was saying kung yaya ako watching over my wards, yes 2nd floor is it!
Aw, miss supervisor may have a point, as in front of the sea-facing room are these:
Lovely open cottages, until she said something like "we provide videoke if requested". Ta! Therefore, those rooms would naturally be noisiest with all the croaking hahaha!
Still I imagine, during early mornings, those rooms facing the sea would be serene.
Oh, part of the spacious restaurant faces the sand, sea and sunset. Great!
And this is their beachfront during low tide.., with wide gray to black fine sand.
How wide? Well, probably as wide as anyone wants or dislikes it to be hahaha!
Team games and activities will surely be fantastic to hold in that wide expanse 'no?
Anyway, on my way out, I saw that they have that humungous power generator.
Far enough from the resort's accommodation facilities, so noise won't be an issue.
And that souvenir shop is quite wittingly just before you step out of the compound!
We all know, according to research, mas madami kang binibili sa last-minute shopping! Oo, alam ko. This time I did not! I did not hesitate to buy a t-shirt. And a cap. And...
Buset kasing research na yan, ipinaalam pa kasi, kaya nagi-guilty tayo hahaha!
One last thing, I earlier said there is a school, right? Ayun siya sa labas lang ng gate ni Mondejares Resort. That is Salhag Elementary School at Brgy. Saljag, Calbayog.
Okay, I sent my report to the friend saying: Promising!
Why? Because somebody told me to check it out, just the way I did Rosario Hills. Eh why not coconut chocnut, andito na rin lang tayo e. Ayun, nadaanan ko pa si Uragon!
Now children.., because I needed to "report" to that somebody who requested me to go see Mondejares, I might as well tell you about it, di ba?! Masalimuot na masaya!
Going there
It's not near. Driver told me that should be 10kms or more from city center. And, like most resorts on this side of Calbayog (Tinambacan), no direct commute to the area.Unless you 'commission' a tricycle or jeep (called "special trip" - prepare to haggle)!
Alternatively but more cumbersomely, you can ride any public commuter jeeps, vans, buses going north of Calbayog such as San Isidro, Victoria, Allen, or even to Manila!
That is if they will take you for just about 8 kms (many don't). Then, from a corner of the national highway where you get off your jeep, bus or van, you pray to find a trike or habal-habal to bring you to the resort (2 kms) as there are few even on weekends.
Anyway, I noted the following, dahil kahit kami man nawala, lumagpas, nasaag ba!
A landmark is Calbayog Airport, which should be around 6kms from their city center (i.e., the city hall). It has nothing to do with the resort hehehe - just a noted landmark.
In fact, there's a coming diversion road (target June 2014). Should that be already in place and you pass there, you won't see the airport! Just be sure you're going north.
Then this one is important, Oquendo Junction - which you should reach, whether you pass by the old & existing national highway (airport) or the upcoming diversion road.
This is the Jibatang bridge over the Jibatang River where Calbayog actually started!
I say that since this was where we "got lost"! 400 meters from the bridge, turn left!
Don't anymore ask (I'm not telling anyway!), how far away north we went beyond that corner. Gino-o ko! Well, hindi naman umabot sa San Isidro, Victoria or Allen hahaha!
There's something wrong with the mapping done in this area - whether by google or the LGU. For example, the resort is in Brgy. Saljag, but on googlemaps, it's not there!
Oh, there is/was something being constructed, to the right of that photo above, and it looked commercial-enough for us travelers to use as landmark. Kaso di pa tapos!
One thing very sure is: look for Salhag Elementary School - that is the only way! And its gate is just across the gate of Mondejares Puertes Resort. You can't ever miss it.
Mind you, it is still 2kms from that corner described in the photo above. If you were commuting and got-off that corner.., nganga hahaha! Very few rides going in there.
This barangay road is generally flat going down to the beach, and paved all the way.
Along the way, you will encounter a 'Y Intersection', choose the one at right.
By the way, in my experience roaming this country, very often being (getting) lost on your way to somewhere is a hidden advantage. You get to see and experience more!
Di ba?!
The resort
This is big. I mean there are lots of rooms than you'd expect on a remote resort!
That path at left is a Brgy. Road to more houses and other resorts. I think that hut at left is barangay-owned, since it seems part of the school, though outside the fence.
What school? Aw, I'll tell you more about it later, pag-labas natin!
I forgot to ask, but I guess Mondejares is a surname of the owners? Maybe. Ah even Puertes, although I remember from my Spanish 5, the word "puertes" means "gates".
Note: that's only for you to enter and perhaps mag-selfie-selfie. So, better around.
First I saw and appreciated is this sizeable kiosk for the little ones.
I didn't really check that play area. Just passed-by, to see other things in the resort.
So that is your entrance path, after paying the fees at left, whether you're going to the sandy beach, the rooms (some you can already see), the restaurant and the big pool.
The rooms? I said oh my gee, grabe ang dami, schwak ang team building mo hahaha!
Convenient for seminar participants as their rooms would just be downstairs.
Hey I did not need to go to the swimming pool, since I already saw it from above!
The other side of those buildings are rooms too, many of them facing the sea.
How did I know? Ah the resort supervisor who toured me around said so hehe! Even the way she talked assumed I would love the pool-facing rooms at the second level.
In my mind I was saying kung yaya ako watching over my wards, yes 2nd floor is it!
Aw, miss supervisor may have a point, as in front of the sea-facing room are these:
Still I imagine, during early mornings, those rooms facing the sea would be serene.
Oh, part of the spacious restaurant faces the sand, sea and sunset. Great!
And this is their beachfront during low tide.., with wide gray to black fine sand.
How wide? Well, probably as wide as anyone wants or dislikes it to be hahaha!
Anyway, on my way out, I saw that they have that humungous power generator.
And that souvenir shop is quite wittingly just before you step out of the compound!
Buset kasing research na yan, ipinaalam pa kasi, kaya nagi-guilty tayo hahaha!
One last thing, I earlier said there is a school, right? Ayun siya sa labas lang ng gate ni Mondejares Resort. That is Salhag Elementary School at Brgy. Saljag, Calbayog.
Okay, I sent my report to the friend saying: Promising!
#EasternVisayas #TravelPhilippines #SamarIsland
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