The Road to Kalinga (Almost Buscalan)

The trip was with my professors when I was in college. Since they are on term break and they only need to work for 4 days so this is a long weekend for us.

Since I came from Isabela and our place is just less than an hour to Tabuk, I suggested that our trip should start from home and will borrow our car for us not to have difficulties for the transportation, we can have easy access to the places we want to go and we can have our own phase of time.

From Metro Manila we rode Florida bus which stops directly to our house. We arrive late than expected. My family made us pansit for breakfast and after we ate our breakfast, do some freshen up at 9am we are now on the road going to Tabuk.

On our way we passed by beautiful sceneries. Even though its a long ride, the sceneries along the way were so pleasing in the eye.

We had lunch at Ethnic Boutique Cafe wherein you can see nature's beauty. At this place you already ate a cheap delicious food while looking at the green sceneries that will relax those tired travelers like us.

We passed the never ending chicco river, rice terraces, mountains to sum it up the beautiful creations of mother  nature. 

We wanted to go to Buscalan to visit the Whang-od but time did not permit us. After a long hour drive we have decided to stay in a lodge because its getting darker and its hard to drive in the dark especially that the other side of the road are mostly cliff. We stayed in sleeping beauty hotel. its a small inn where you can see the view of sleeping beauty.

Early in the morning at around 5am we decided to go back to Isabela to continue our journey to the north, since our companions are not fan of hiking we no longer continue to go to Buscalan as originally planned. We went back home directly to get our things and continue our journey to the tip of the north. (this is our mistake, we did not bring our things if we brought our we might save more time).

On our way to Isabela, we experienced to view the beautiful sunrise with sea of clouds. 

Expenses:

Bus going to Isabela:   PhP 500.00

Gasoline (PhP 1,800/4):  PhP 450.00

Lunch: PhP 200.00

Hotel (PhP 800/4):  PhP200.00

Breakfast: PhP 60.00

Total Expenses: PhP 1,410.00

Note: the room is good for 3 person but since it was already agreed that they accommodation us 4 without any additional expenses we paid only PhP 800.00. From Sleeping Beauty Hotel to Buscalan they say it would take up to 30 minutes of driving.

Note: there is nothing to tackle about the itinerary as the trip is more on sceneries along the road but if you want to explore more about kalinga, you can visit naneng village, take water rafting at the chicco river, visit buscalan, see the scenic view of the sleeping beauty and drink the free flowing kalinga coffee.

The Road to Isla Verde

When my colleague and I wanted a quick escape from this busy city, our first option is to try glamping in San Rafael but the place is fully booked for the weekend so we search a beach near Manila. After thorough searching we decided to go to Isla Verde in Batangas because of the clear blue sea.

Isla Verde is situated along the bodies of Verde Island Passage between the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, Philippines. One of the famous destination within the island is Mahabang Buhangin, a kilometer-long stretch of white sand beach. Another one is Cueva Sitio, a cave that leads to the other side of the island. And we stayed at Isla Verde Tropical Friendly Resort, we choose this place because the review was good and it’s a good place for snorkeling.

We leave Manila early in the morning at around 330am. We ride a bus going to Batangas Pier as this will alight us to Batangas Terminal Station. Upon arriving in Batangas Grand Terminal there were 3 options to ride, the first one is ride a jeep that go directly to Tabangao the problem with this is that you will wait for other passengers to fill-in the jeep,  the other one is ride a jeep going to Bayan then from Bayan ride a jeep going to Tabangao Pier. We choose the third option which is riding a tricycle, since we are four this is more convenient to us as we can control our time and we still need to buy things for our meals for our stay at Isla Verde. After going to the market, we went directly to Tabangao Pier, it was 8am when we arrived there and the boat will leave at around 9am. It is okay to wait at the pier than left by the boat as there is only one schedule of boat going to Isla verde.

Tita Joe, ask us if we want to join the boat tour on that day but we opted to rest as there is still time for us to explore the place the next day. So we cook our meal than take a nap in our tent. 

They say that the resort is a good place to view the sunset and yes it was!.

In the morning of Sunday, we went some snorkeling and yes you can see fishes on the shore.

At 10am we went for island hopping, unfortunately we weren't able to go to the cave as the wave is getting bigger so we decided to have a swim at mahabang buhangin than return to Isla Verde Resort

Isla Verde is a great place to escape the busy life in the city. It is not yet crowded, people are friendly. You can sun dipped at the shore and go snorkeling.

Itinerary

Day 1

3am - Meeting place at 711 Eastgate

4:00AM: ETD Jam Liner Cubao

6:30AM: ETA Batangas Grand Terminal

7:00AM: Arrived at Poblacion Palengke

8:00AM: ETA Tabangao Pier

9:00AM: ETD Tabangao Pier

10:00AM: ETA Isla Verde Tropical Friendly Resort

10:30AM: Prepare food and Rest

4:00PM: explore the resort and sunset viewing

8:00PM: bonfire, socials

Day 2

10:30AM: Island Hopping

3:00PM: Snorkeling

5:00PM: Explore Mahabng Buhangin

8:00PM: bonfire, socials

Day3

3:30AM: ETD Isla Verde

7:30AM: ETA Manila

Expenses

Round trip bus ride Manila to Batangas Grand Terminal (PHP 165*2):  PHP 330.00

Round trip tricycle Batangas Grand Terminal to Tabangao Pier (PHP 600/4):  PHP 150.00

Round trip boat (PHP 100*2):   PHP 200.00

Small boat (PHP 5*2):  PHP 10.00

Accommodation (PHP 900/4):  PHP 225.00

Meals (PHP 1,200/4):  PHP 300

Island Hopping:  PHP 250.00

Total Expenses:  PHP 1,455.00

Contact Person: Tita Joe

Contact Number: 09164408647

Website: http://islaverderesort.com/

Note: The original price of the accommodation per night is PHP 600.00 but my friend knows how to bargain with Tita Joe that is why we only paid PHP 900.00 for two nights. For the meals, we cook our meals and bring portable gas stove to minimize our expenses. Bring water as it’s too expensive at Isla Verde. For soft drinks and other needs you can buy at the sari sari store at the back of the resort.

                

The Road to Tabayoc - My First Solo Hike

A friend ask me "where are you?" and I answered I'm on my way to Kabayan, Benguet then a follow up question from her "who are you with?" and I my answer "its just me, myself and I." Then she told me "are you crazy? what are you going to do there?", and me proud as ever "I'm going to climb the second highest mountain in Luzon... then a question from "Is it safe?".. Of course I'm with Kuya Santiago, I already met him"

The trip started back in Manila. On a Saturday evening I went to Victory Liner Bus Station at around 10pm and booked a bus ride going to Baguio at 12 midnight. It was  a 6 hour ride from Manila to Baguio, since the bus from Baguio to Ballay, Kabayan will depart at 10am, I still have have time to roam around the city. I decided firt to find a place to eat becuase I was starving when I arrive but I'm not so lucky to find a place to eat, I ended up at chowking and after eating I decided to go to Slaughter House and wait for the bus going to Ballay, Kabayan.

The bus ride from Slaughter House, Baguio to Ballay, Kabayan took 5 hours. In Ballay, Kuya Santiago Ballagan was already waiting for me. It was raining that day, he told me that there were four moutaineers also that will climb Tabayoc but it was only me who arrived and the there is only one bus per day. Yes, there is another way to get to Tabayoc, there is also van going to Tabayoc but it is more costly than taking a bus.

My plan is to camp at Lake Tabeo but the rain prevented me, the next plan was to stay at Kuya Santiago's house but since it was already raining hard and we need to ride a habal habal to get to his house, we decided to stay at his friend's house. The people at Kabayan are very accommodating. The people offered me coffee every hour because the place was too cold and your hot coffee will get cold easily

During my stay there, Kuya Santiago brought me to a wake to show their tradition.

Its hike time. It is supposed to be a 3am hike because I wanted to view the sunrise from the peak but the rain forbids us so we decided to start our hike at 530am from Ballay. We reached lake Tabeo at 630am for the registration and we started the hike at 645.

The hike to the peak of Mt. Tabeo is magnificent, you will be welcome by its mossy forest. Kuya Santiago told me that the trail was also known as the monkey trail as you need to duck your head to prevent you from hitting the mossy vines alog the trail.

My Guide Kuya Santiago Ballagan

The mossy trail

I climb a tree and saw this magnificent view of a rice terraces surrounded by mountains

at peak one of Mt. Tabayoc

At around 9 to 930 we arrived at the summit. The peak is composed of trees, a view deck was created to see the beautiful summit. From the summit you will see the highest mountain in Luzon, Mt. Pulag, Mt. Ugo and Mt. Timbak.

At the view deck, I'm facing the highest mountain in Luzon - Mt. Pulag

the view deck

the stairs

Here is my full Itinerary and expenses.

Day 1

12:15AM: ETD Manila

6:00AM: ETA Baguio City

10:00AM: ETD Slaughter House (take bus N-A Liner)

3:00PM: ETA Ballay, Kabayan

Day 2

5:00AM: Wake Up Call

5:30AM: ETD from Ballay, Kabayan

6:30AM: ETA Lake Tabeo - for registration

6:45AM: Start Trek

9:00AM: ETA Mt. Tabayoc Summit

10:30AM: Start Descend

12:10PM: ETA Lake Tabeo

1:10PM: ETD Lake Tabeo (take van to Baguio)

5:30PM: ETA Baguio City

8:00PM: ETD Baguio City

Day 3

1:00AM: ETA Manila

Expenses:

Round trip bus ride Manila to Baguio:  PhP 900.00

Bus from Slaughter House to Ballay, Kabayan: PhP 155

DENR fee and Registration: PhP 325.00

Van from Lake Tabeo to Baguio: PhP 300.00

Guide Fee: PhP 1,000.00 per 5 person

Total Expenses:  PhP 2,680.00

Note: food expenses are not included and I did not pay camping fee as I stayed at Kuya Santiago's friend.

Contact Person: Santiago Ballagan

Contact Number: 0910-752-2655

Note: for transportation arrangement from Baguio, you can contact Kuya Santiago