7.06.2012

Day 2. Pagbilao, Quezon

DAY 2. PAGBILAO, QUEZON

          Pagbilao is a new attraction in Quezon, a home for the dazzling, unspoiled beaches, found in the southwest of Lucena, north of Tayabas Bay. It is known for its bountiful, rich, marine life, crystal clear seas and limestone rock formations, best of such can be found in 'Kwebang Lampas'. Reaching the place is however not easy. But the moment you'll see the hidden paradise, you will definitely got mesmerized and all your tiredness will definitely fade away. 

          If you are commuting, you can reach Lucena by bus via the following:

Bus Route:
Alabang-Lucena
Batangas-Lucena
Candelaria-Lucena
Kamuning/Kamias-Lucena
Laguna-Lucena
Lawton-Lucena
Cubao-Lucena
Pasay-Lucena
Pureza-Lucena
Sariaya-Lucena
Tiaong (Villa Escudero)-Lucena


Jeepney Route:

Lucban-Lucena

Lucena- Pagbilao: How to get there via land

             If from Cubao, reaching Lucena is a 4 hour drive via SLEX. Cost of fare is around 200pesos. At Lucena Bus Terminal, ride a jeep bound to Pagbilao Market Jeep Terminal. Fare costs 10php. 

          There are lots of tricycles there, offering fixed rates at 120-150, one way. However, just continue your walk till you reach the jeepney terminal bound to Brgy. Polo. Fare costs 35/pax. Ask the driver to drop you off to the tryke terminal to Kwebang Lampas. The tryke ride costs 45pesos (roundtrip). He will drop you off to the bay side, where a paddle boat good for 2-4 pax will bring you towards the start of trekking site at 20php (roundtrip). There, you walk along the rough, narrow, sometimes muddy road towards the Puting Buhanginan and Kwebang Lampas or Lukang Beach ( named after Atty. Peter Lukang), the beach owner. 

                   You'll know you have reached your destination, when you see the signage             ' Private Property'. Entrance is Php50. 

Lucena- Pagbilao via boat

         Another option, which we did is to have a Package Tours with Appsline. This is a trusted travel agency for 18 years, which offers a lot of package tours to Quezon, from Cultural Tour to Team Building Tours. 


Package Tour with Appsline
          They gave us our package tour for 6000 Php/ 4 pax, with inclusion of 1 day hotel accomodation, roundtrip transfers and entrance. Details are as follows:


        Inclusions:

          Overnight Accommodation, Bangka Ride with Island Hopping, Land Transfer.

        Itinerary:

               0800                                             Pick-up in Grand Central Terminal Lucena City
               0900                                             Bangka Ride/Island Hopping
                                                                            Patayan Island
                                                                      Power Plant Station
                                                                            Puting Buhangin
                                                                      Kwebang Lampas
               1200                                             Lunch at Kwebang Lampas(on pax account)
               1400                                             ETD from the Island going to Pantalan
               1700                                             ETA to Pantalan
               1800                                             Dinner  at Silangang Nayon 
                                                                            or Butterfly Restaurant
                                                                             (on pax account
              1830                                             Check-in to the resort (Ouan's Worth Farm Resort)

----------------
           You my inquire and contact Mam Yvette ( the owner) at  09226330363 or at (042) 716 - 0067; or you may read more of their Package Tour offers at their sulit.com websiteat http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/5845540/quezon+at+its+best?referralKeywords=borawan+quezon&event=Search+Ranking,Position,1-3,3
             
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OUR TRIP
         We then headed to Silangang Nayon Resort, Brgy. Bantigue, where our motorboat was waiting.  Boat rides are also available here. Just ask the staff at the info booth. 


          A small motorboat good for 3-4 persons drove us.. The ride is around 2 hours. The first hour is a smooth sailing on a calm, non-wavy azure sea, the other half, is cascading with the moderate high waves most specially after passing the Power Plant.


1. POWERPLANT


          That's the Coal- fired Thermal Power Plant, one of the biggest power suppliers in the country. Ah, looks so near, yet so far.....

At last, we are on our 3/4 of our way...

       
2. KWEBANG LAMPAS
                 At last, we reached our destination. After 2 hours of boredom in the sea, I got excited as the limestone rocks of Kwebang Lampas welcomes us. Yahoo! This is it! Lucky Us!..
the entrance to the cave.... looks like a cave house to me...
             Entrance fee- 50/pax
             Cottage rentals- 400-500
             If you are on a tight budget, I suggest you bring some mats, or camping tents.. Don't forget to bring your packed foods, because sometimes, they run out of stocks of snacks and bottled water... 




           Since swimming is one of my frustrations, I just made myself  hop on the rocky shores found beside the cave, with some submersion on around 4 feet water deep holding tightly to the limestones, preventing my body to be blown away by the strong current. Good thing, I wore my Crocs shoes. If not, maybe, my slippers were taken by  the strong waves, or maybe if I'd walked barefoot, I felt aching soles.

3. Puting Buhanginan

          Puting Buhanginan or White Sandy Beach is a Costal cove beside the "Kwebang Lampas". The sand is not fine white, but of off-white to rocky sand, comparable to Boracay's Station 3. 




            A relaxing site, overlooking the emerald sea and cobalt blue skies. Afar is the extinct Volcano Island.

               The beach front offers also a nice camping site. Overnight stay is allowed here for 100php/pax.


           We had our packed lunch from our hotel at Ouan's Farm and Resort... Unknowingly, that we must also brought some for our bankero, whose so nice enough to give us some extra info about their area, and become also our photographer. He even follow us to take some shots inside the rocky cave.


           If u wish to contact our bankero, Kuya Oscar, here's his contact number 09071069933. We just gave him a tip of 100 pesos, and so grateful to receive such...


         It's 1 pm, and we have to go to our next island destination, the Patayan  Island. Waves arenot agaist us, so way back is much smoother and easier.


          Two hours of listening to waves, playing with the fishes and some cam-whoring
          We have no idea what Patayan Island can offer, We have just thought that it's not a nice play for adventures, but we got wronged. I am really awed by its uniqueness! I really enjoyed the place!

          It's like walking in the center of the sea! Super long fine trench of sand... We were able to swim with the fishes, play some friendly marine creatures!...  I can compare it to the White Island of Camiguin, this however had off white to brown sand, but with longer pile of sands between deep seas...


              From afar is the Silangang Nayon Pantalan, where we make our boat ride before and where will we be headed after here


Splendid island destination

4. SILANGANG NAYON

              We take some quick shower,and we ate our early dinner at their well- known Silangang Nayon Restaurant, a restaurant at the bay, overlooking the Tayabas Bay, the Powerplant and Pueblo por la Playa, the first class resort in Quezon.

Pueblo porla Playa at far...


                At Silangang Nayon Restaurant.. Only here, you will meet, the flying waiter! Foods are delivered via a helicopter cabin connected on a pulley from the hill up.... Ayos!


Powerplant and Pueblo porla Playa

Padre Burgos Island

Looks like Bangui Windmills of Ilocos

Silangang Nayon Resort and Restaurant

Silangang Nayon at the Bay. Notice the string like structire at the right.. that's where the Flying Waiter runs =)

          The superb resort serves  Filipino and Chinese foods. A must try is their seafood chapsuey in a crispy noodle basket. We spent 1000 for 5pax (with Mam Yvette) on our bountiful ealy dinner.

        They also offer overnight stay here. For reservations and inquiry, you may contact them at Tel: 042-7160077 ;Mobile: 0922-8867677, 0919-4420042 or email them at silangang_nayon@yahoo.com.ph.

        They offer room for 2-4 persons at 2500php, with free breakfast for two, and for 8 persons worth 4000php with free breakfast for 4.


          It's about 5 in the afternoon, and before we got back to our hotel at Ouan's Worth Farm and Resort, Mam Yvette drove us for another more bonus tour... at Pueblo porla Playa...

5. Pueblo porla Playa
                     This is a 12.5 hectare Mexican- inspired exclusive leisure club located beside Silangang Nayon. Most enticing facilities here are their 2 giant infinity pools, jacuzzi and duplex villas. We are fortunate enough Mam Yvette drove us inside, and we were also offered to take a dip on the pools and beach, but we refused the nice invitation, as we got tired already.


                     For inquiries on their accomodation rates, you may contact them at (042) 373-3808 or 373-6946.


                        Another day was about to end, leaving us memories of experience, to cherish and share...


              Thanks, Mam Yvette Tumacder of Appsline! We really enjoyed our trip to Quezon!

                   Nice AC Bus to Cubao from Lucena Bus Terminal, Fare costs 215/pax.

                     I though the adventures and foodtrips are over, until some vendors sells some unique bread. This is a must taste, their version of little monay- the Pinagong.. We bought some, I think at 25-30/ 4 pieces.. They are pretty delicious! We got so satisfied...

             Not far away from the Bus Terminal, we noticed a common ancestral house ... Yes this is it! The house used in the movie Tanging Yaman.. Wow, seems like I have a non-stop discoveries here in Quezon! =)

         Overall, I really enjoyed the serenity, the calmness, the unspoiled beauty of alluring mountains and seas of Quezon.. Looking forward to go back and have some adventures again! =)))


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