Philippine Travel Notes

Hah! Your PinoyTraveler finally made a go at this alluring little island one hot weekend. I realized the fun was not only at the island but also during the ‘going to’ and ‘coming from’! What and where is this Potipot anyway? Potipot is a tiny island where there’s nothing but creamy white sand, some little rocks and stones, trees, grass, bushes and shrubberies. That’s it! No one lives there but tourists have started frequenting it. The island offers a spectacular view of the Zambales coastline & the China Sea plus a tranquil environment you will want to make sure that your ‘quickie nappie’ or ‘serene siesta’ does not progress to a deep slumber well into the night hehe! It’s about a mile off the shores of Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales. If you want to get technical, the island is at 15° 40.700N and 119° 55.410E! That is after you cross from mainland via a motorized banca that takes just about 5 minutes or less. Uacon is almost 250 kilometers from Metro Manila on your way to Sta Cruz, Za...

This topic started with this article There are 6 and all are towns. Whew! Still in the province of Ilocos Sur (you probably have noticed, almost all towns in this province are named after saints) is the town of Santa Cruz. A farming fishing community with a long coastline, this town does have a waterfall frequented by tourists and residents. Next there is the town of Sta. Cruz in the province of Zambales (Region 3), and like above, also faces the south china sea not to be outdone in terms of beaches. There are even the Hermana Mayor and Hermana Menor Islands each having its own airstrip! This town has a cave, a cold spring and a fish sanctuary while they remain in the Guinness book of records as having the sweetest mango in the world. Hmm. Then there is the big town of Sta. Cruz in the province of Laguna (Region 4A) by the southeastern edge of the Laguna lake. Being the provincial capital, this town is more of a commercial center where folks get supplies going to the various tourism so...

This topic started with this article San Narciso. There are only two towns with this name and though they are in Regions 3 and 4 respectively, they’re in opposite directions from the metropolis. First is the town of San Narciso in Zambales. If you have not been there yet, better pack now and go! This is an interesting place. I would usually pass by this town on my way to Potipot, but one time I checked it out and whoa! The beach is clean and good with good resorts and a good crowd of surfers. Yep, there is a part of the beach where waves ram strong into the sand. Though easily tiring, its nice playing by those little big crashing waves hehe! Roaming around town itself is a nice leisurely stroll. The church looks nice and there is that marine school that makes the town center jolly full of people! Now, the other San Narciso, is a town in the province of Quezon. Ah this quaint elongated town is also water bound as it faces the Ragay Gulf in what is called the Bondoc Peninsula. Have you h...

This topic started with this article There are four towns that sport the name San Antonio! First is a town in the province of Nueva Ecija (Region 3 – Central Luzon). This San Antonio is in the southwestern tip of the province bordering with Pangasinan. Like the rest of the province, this is also a farming town but check-out the multitude of fresh water fish-ponds in this town. Scenic, especially against the solitary Mt. Arayat as the backdrop! Moving west on the same Region is our 2nd town named San Antonio – and that is in the province of Zambales. Situated on the province’s southwestern tip, this is a sunset town and the jump-off point to Capones and Camera Islands – which you should not miss when in the area. What with beaches literally moving from one place to another. Really! Then again, for the culture savvy, never miss Casa San Miguel – which in itself is a destination already! 3rd in our list of San Antonios is little town in the province of Quezon, on its western-most side, in...

This topic started with this article Then we have Candelaria. There are two towns! One is of course the well-known copra town in the province of Quezon near the capital Lucena City (Region 4A – CALABARZON). This Candelaria being at the foot of Mt. Banahaw has a lot for the nature lover. Spring and nature resorts, waterfalls, ancestral houses abound. The other Candelaria is up in the province of Zambales (Region 3 – Central Luzon). This Candelaria also teems with resorts. Not spring or mountain resorts this time but sunny sandy beach resorts facing the South China Sea! But it’s not all coastal paradise here. There is also a lake purported to be the cleanest in the region. Ah, the now getting famous Potipot Island can be accessed from this town. Not a beach bum? Well, look around and feast your tongue with the delectable big Zambales Mangoes! Ahh!

What a grand place! This is not inside the freeport but is at the very end of the long coastal town of Subic. If you know White Rock Resort, well Club Morocco is way farther up the road. This place is some 30-minutes drive from the naval base. While on the main road (the national highway), you take a left turn at some clearly marked intersection to a road that leads to the resort. You will notice though that ads or signs about (or leading to the) club is very sparse along Subic. Thus, don't hesitate to ask around. And don't worry, like anywhere else in the country, people here speak English. In fact, there are a lot of foreigners who live in the town of Subic (probably the ex-servicemen who found their wives and settled here)! There are two approaches to the resort and it is better if you pass through the hills. Just watch out for the signs leading there. The upland route is concrete and will give you a good panorama of the bay and the islands beyond, while the lowland route is...

My second time in this place, I was totally disillusioned and I was so ashamed that I had to literally drag a friend to this joint! How did it all happen? Here is the funny story. It was about 10PM, on a Saturday. My friend and I were deciding on which place in Subic we should visit for dinner. I was quick to suggest and very enthusiastically exclaimed Pier One should be it! So we went there! My friend did not at all tell me, but I can make from his face that he was kind of uncomfortable – even irritated being there on a Saturday night. Background why I decided to choose and brag about Pier One - Subic : I first visited the place last May 2004. I arrived there 9PM or so with several friends. I was instantly wowed! It was a far cry from Gerry’s Grill on the other side of the strip where I, my family and friends are very used to. Right in front of where we parked was the entrance or what you might call an empty façade devoid of the grand trimmings – except that there was some kind of a p...

This is different from the Legenda Suites, ok? For those not really in the know, the " suites " are those buildings on a hill just above the airport near the monkeys and the bats, while the " hotel and casino " is this building beside SBMA Offices along that thriving entertainment strip by the water's edge - almost exactly on the other side of the bay from where the air-strip is! I would usually stay at the Legenda Hotel (particularly the Garden Units near the church) when I'm in Subic. This time however, I chose to check-in somewhere else, not for anything else, but because it was offered to me free! But I still went in to check-out the place even if was staying somewhere else! At 7:30PM Saturday, I was surprised to find that the hotel was not bustling with a lot of humans! I went into the casino just to check out the "people". Spent P200 worth of 2-peso-tokens and another P200 worth of 5-peso-tokens. All these were devoured by the slot machines i...

Just an update on Subic's Legenda Suites! Went to 'deliver' a friend booked at Legenda Suites. The place look worn and lonely on the outside, but inside (at least in my friends' suite) the same old spic and span tidiness is maintained! The upholstery of the couch is old from wherever you look at it. On closer inspection it even had a little hole (probably a cigarette burn) making way to a view of the foam! But yes, it is clean... no stains... and does not smell of anything offensive. The bedroom is fine as usual, the sheets white clean with a fresh scent! Outside, the building's paint need a re-touch, the plants are not well maintained, grass sporadically thriving in many of the flower islands, fallen leaves strewn everywhere... but I liked it! It did not have pretentions of a fine 5-star. Its like a visit to your old provincial abode! And yes, I ate macopa, which I personally handpicked from a tree at the parking lot just in front of the check-in area! This place i...

This is the EVERYTHING Region of the Philippines! Region 3 also mostly indicated as REGION III or Central Luzon has everything for everyone, from kids to serious businessmen. This region is one of the best for outdoor fanatics to history and culture enthusiasts! It has everything from rural seaside towns to exclusive members-only resorts and everything from the illegal gambling operations to glittering modern casinos hahaha! To be able to completely roam and absorb everything that this region has to offer, a month or two may not even be enough! Composed of 7 provinces (12 cities and 118 municipalities), Central Luzon is one of only two regions in the country that spans it shore-to-shore from east to west. I even call this vast place as the region from A to Z! That is A = Aurora (the eastern-most province, kissing sunrise and the Pacific Ocean) and Z = Zambales (the western-most province, hugging sunset and the West Philippine Sea (formerly the South China Sea). This area of the co...