Beating the Summer Heat at Calatagan’s Manuel Uy Beach

Much of the Philippines is currently feeling the effects of an unusually hot dry season with heat indexes in some areas reaching an alarming 53°C. The latter figure is classified as extremely dangerous and could result in heat stroke for some people. (Four people had already died from heat stroke in Pili, Camarines Sur recently.) As a result, we had to think twice about going to a beach in Calatagan, Batangas to accompany a nephew here on a short vacation from his work overseas.

The Taal Heritage Town, Part 1: One More Look

It is named after one of the Philippines’ deadliest and most active volcanoes causing many people to think that it is located near Taal Volcano and right on the shores of Taal Lake. At least that was on our minds during our first visit to this town years ago, only to discover that there are other cities and towns in Batangas that are nearer to the volcano than its namesake town.

Sibuyan’s Busay Falls

Sibuyan Island is a budding ecotourism destination with its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, a landscape that includes towering peaks over lush forest canopies and plenty of pristine waterfalls. We were in Sibuyan primarily for the scenic island of Cresta de Gallo but had enough time to explore the town of San Fernando. We eventually ended up visiting the most popular waterfall in this town – Busay Falls.

The Remote Paradise of Cresta De Gallo

With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines contain several pockets of paradise that are sometimes even more beautiful than the popular tourist destinations of Boracay, El Nido, Coron and Siargao. The only reason why these have not made their way to travel guides is because of their remoteness and relative inaccessibility. Cresta de Gallo off Sibuyan Island, Romblon province, is one of these.

Rambling Through Romblon 1: Bonbon Beach Revisited

With its picture-perfect white sand beach and long, snaking sandbar, Bonbon Beach in Romblon province is easily one of the Philippines’ top beaches in our opinion. So, despite having visited it 7 years ago, we did not hesitate to come back when the opportunity presented itself very recently.

Calatagan’s Starfish Island and Sandbar

We had scarcely settled into our seats on a balmy Thursday when our sea taxi broke the mid-morning silence at Edna’s Beach and Campsite. Swiftly motoring across the mildly turbulent blue waters, we were soon on our way to our first destination. In less than 15 minutes we found ourselves in the middle of a vast sandbar, with patches of white sand rising slightly above a now calm, crystal-clear turquoise sea.

More Calatagan Seascapes: Edna’s Beach and Campsite

We’ve had the beaches of Calatagan, Batangas on our bucket list for some time but it was only late last year that we finally got to visit one. Despite its proximity to Metro Manila, it was only in recent years that it had begun to draw more visitors to its nearly white sand beaches.

More Colors at Perlas ng Silang

The highlands of Tagaytay which offer a scenic view of Taal Lake and Volcano from its multitude of cafes and restaurants are just minutes away from our place. So, when taking visiting friends from Metro Manila on a tour around our locality, Tagaytay is often the first option. But as it often happens, most of them have been to Tagaytay numerous times already. Fortunately, a place that just opened in 2022 has proven to be an option that can satisfy both their eyes and their palates.

Malabrigo Point: A Lighthouse’s Story

Ever since we visited distant Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Ilocos Norte years ago we have always been intrigued by lighthouses. Not so much by the picturesque landscapes they often find themselves in or in the panoramic coastal views they provide but by the history that accompanies them. The Malabrigo Point Lighthouse in the town of Lobo, Batangas province is no exception.

Lobo’s Malabrigo Beach: Not Your Usual Philippine Beach Destination

The vast majority of the beaches we have visited in the Philippines are those of the white or creamy white sand variety. These happen to be our inclination. Preferably fine, white sand supplemented by crystal-clear turquoise waters. So, when the idea about visiting a pebble beach in Batangas province came up, we immediately shot it down.

An Accidental Discovery: Calaca’s Ancestral Homes

It was named after a type of native bamboo roof that locals used during the Spanish era. It also used to be a barrio of the large and then-influential town of Balayan. But Calaca became a separate municipality in 1835 and eventually the site of a large coal-fired power plant during the 1980s. That was just about everything we knew about this small city on the shores of Balayan Bay in Batangas.

Agapeng Cove: Bituin Cove’s Unassuming Twin

Originally, our Nasugbu cove-hopping foray included Bituin Cove and the slightly more distant Kayraang Cove. While exploring the former, however, our curiosity brought us to an adjacent beach cove we had not encountered among the blog posts we visited in our research about this place. And what a pleasant surprise Agapeng Cove turned out to be.

Kayraang Cove: Hidden Tranquility at Nasugbu

Nasugbu is the largest municipality in Batangas province with large tracts of land still in their natural, unexploited state. Lying along the northwestern coastal part of the province, this sizable town boasts several white and beige sand beaches and coves. While a number of these have seen massive development in recent years with names such as Punta Fuego, Canyon Cove, Kawayan Cove, Hamilo Coast and Pico de Loro, many are still relatively pristine and hidden from prying tourist eyes.

Trying Out the Cafés and Restos of the Country’s Coffee Capital

We had known for several years that Amadeo town in Cavite has been christened as the Philippines’ Coffee Capital. This despite the fact other regions are more famous for their coffee such as Batangas and Benguet. Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao also has a much larger land area devoted to planting coffee and supplies almost 35% of the country’s dried coffee and green coffee beans.

Café and Restaurant-Hopping in Silang

The volcanic vog (air pollution that results when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles emitted by a volcano react with oxygen and moisture) from nearby Taal Volcano in the last few days have inundated us here at Silang. As of this writing conditions have improved somewhat but we decided to stay indoors until it is much safer to travel. Which is a shame since there are many good coffee spots and restaurants – many of them Instagram-worthy – that we could visit in the area. Here are some of them:

Balite Falls: Revisiting Amadeo

It has been a while since we last went to a beach and were looking forward to visit Calatagan’s white sand coastline in Batangas province last Friday. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit iffy. Instead, we changed gears at the last possible moment to visit a cascade that has been our go-to place in Cavite besides Tagaytay.

Flower Fields Forever: Perlas ng Silang

The town where we now reside, Silang, is probably one of the least known tourism areas in the province of Cavite. But, as we are now discovering, it has a beauty and charm that is only now emerging amidst the spate of industrial and commercial developments in the area.

Flowers and Fruits Galore at Tiaong, Quezon

By chance we timed a recent visit to Uncle Rene and Aunt Tess at their retirement home in Tiaong, Quezon at the start of the harvest season for a hairy fruit that we have grown to love. Unexpectedly, we also encountered several small but fragrant and curious-looking, if unique, flowers in their backyard.

The Camotes Islands: Cebu’s Unsung Destination

Its white sandy beaches, glassy turquoise waters, majestic rock formations, striking subterranean caves and lush mangrove forests would easily make Cebu’s Camotes Islands a bustling destination for visitors. However, it has remained remarkably quiet, offbeat, and not as frequented as the more popular destinations of Bantayan Island, Malapascua, Oslob and Moalboal of the same province.

Native Dancers and Choco Drinks: Enjoying Baguio’s Cultural Side

After our morning visit to the Mirador Heritage and Eco Park in Baguio City, we drove 15 minutes to our next destination – a cultural village that we last visited more than 20 years ago when it had recently opened. Just a few steps up into the interior of the village and we realized how different it was from that initial visit.