Guimaras | An Enticing Island Daytrip

We manage to see some of the islands beautiful scenery even for a limited time. A mere short boat ride from Iloilo City the island of Guimaras has been a top tourist destination in Western Visayas.

We had the tricycle tour around the island. We had a quick stop-over at the world’s smallest plaza, Guimaras Provincial Capitol and mango research plantation. Along the highway you can see a lot of mango trees.

We buy some pasalubong at Trappist monastery and headed to Guisi beach and Light House. The powdery sand of the beach and there’s some rock formations is a postcard perfect scenery. We also bought a box of mango pizza at The Pitstop. 

It was a short trip to island of Guimaras. There are more places to explore and I hope to comeback to this island soon.

This is part of my Western Visayas Trip.

Aklan | Antique | Iloilo | Guimaras

Iloilo | Old Churches Of San Joaquin, Miag-ao & Molo

San Joaquin Church

After 2 hours we reached the town of San Joaquin in Iloilo. The century old church of San Joaquin is one of a kind. The façade of church has the militaristic motif. From San Joaquin we hop a bus to the nearby town of Miagao. The Santo Tomas de Villanueva church is one of the 4 baroque churches in the UNESCO’s Worlds Heritage list. Built between 1787-1797 and served as fortress against Muslim invaders. Its fabulous bas-relief sandstone façade depicts St. Christopher strolling through a tropical forest of coconut palms and papaya trees with baby Jesus.

After exploring Miagao church we boarded a bus bound to Iloilo City. It’s raining that afternoon that weren’t able to pass by the Molo church. We left our backpack at City Dorm and stroll around the city. Most of the old buildings in Iloilo were restored. 

The streets were filled with locals and tourist enjoying the Dignayang festivities. We had seafood overload for our dinner.

Miag-ao Church

The following day after our short Guimaras trip we have heritage tour at Camina Balay Na Bato in Arevalo. We tried their pancit molo and chocolate de baterol. Afterwards we drop by the Molo Church. A tasty bibingka is a must try when visiting the church.

Molo Church was visited by Dr. Jose Rizal in 1886 because of its biblical paintings and it served as the evacuation center during World War II. The church was damaged during the liberation of the Philippines from Japan and was repaired by Rev. Manuel Alba with the help of the congregation. The church was declared a national landmark by the National Historical Institute in 1992 through the representation of Sir Knight Rex S. Salvilla. It is the only Gothic church outside Manila. 

Molo Church

Before Racky flies back to Manila we jog at Esplanade, had coffee at Madge Café and a delicious bowl of batchoy in Lapaz market.

This is part of my Western Visayas Trip.

Aklan | Antique | Iloilo | Guimaras

Antique | Island-hopping Malalison & Kawa Hotbath Experience

From the Bakhawan Eco Park we ride a tricycle to the transport terminal. We boarded a van and alight at the Culasi town plaza in Antique. We ate lunch at the nearby restaurant then we look a boat that will transport us to the Malalison Island.

We haggle and the boatman agreed that well charter the boat for 400 pesos round-trip. He also served us our guide. We trek the grassy hill of the island. It’s similar to the hills of Batanes and the grassy land of Mt. Pulag. 

There is also a sandbar and the sands of the island were powdery white. This island is also a marine sanctuary.

From the island we go back to the mainland and took a tricycle to the next town Tibiao, we alighted at the junction leading to the village were kawa hot-bath is located. It’s late in the afternoon that we decided to check in at Kasa Raya Travellers Inn just beside the national highway. The inn staffs were so accommodating that they allow us to occupy their aircon room and we agreed that we’ll only use fan because were on tight budget. The inn is made of bamboo materials. There is also a free breakfast. The room with private toilet is spacious and clean.

The following day we walked towards Brgy. Importante. We pass by the rice terraces and Tibiao River. We trek up to the waterfalls and have ourselves a kawa hot-bath. Going back to the inn we ride a habal-habal. We packed our things and waited a bus bound to Iloilo.

This is part of my Western Visayas Trip.

Aklan | Antique | Iloilo | Guimaras

Aklan | A Morning Walk At Bakhawan Ecopark

Together with my friend Racky we explore Western Visayas covering the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras Island. We landed Kalibo airport at around 10 pm with Air Asia. Since were arriving late at night our initial plan is to stay at the airport but we can’t find a place because the Air Asia-airport lounge is occupied by Korean tourist. We check the net for a budget accommodation nearby. We stayed at Airport Line Pension House.

We check-out at the pension house early in the morning and chartered a tricycle to the Bakhawan Eco Park in Brgy. New Buswang.  This eco park is managed by Kalibo Save The Mangroves Association, Inc. (KASAMA). Were too early that the eco-park is still closed. We had coffee and hard boiled camote for breakfast in a sari-sari store just across the park.

The community transformed mudflats into a mangrove forest. Their vision is shared by the municipality of Kalibo, USWAG Foundation, DENR and people’s organization KASAMA. This community based management was adopted a national strategy and received a various local and international awards. The United Nations FAO acclaimed this one of the exemplary forest managed in the whole of Asia and the Pacific.

Entrance fees were 100.00 for general admission, 60.00-Aklanons/senior citizen, 50.00-students. The 1 kilometers wooden walkway leads to the sea, passing through forest mangroves.

After spending that whole morning walking through the mangrove forest we bought some clams for our early lunch then we headed to the Kalibo transport terminal and were bound to our next destination Antique!

This is part of my Western Visayas Trip.

Aklan | Antique | Iloilo | Guimaras

Capiz | Pan-ay River,Sta.Monica Church & Bell & Baybay Beach

The province of Capiz is located on the northern part of Panay Island in Western Visayas. This place popularly known for Aswang. Aside from aswang this province is also the birthplace of President Manuel Roxas. Its capital Roxas City is named after the late president. This also dubbed as the seafood capital of the Philippines.

As part of my #ikotPinas project straight from my vacation in my hometown Iloilo going back to Manila I decided to drop by this province. 

Pan-ay River lies in the middle of the city. This is one of the cleanest rivers in the country. Panay River, which has given the City of Roxas the moniker as "City by the Sea," is a 152-kilometer waterway that starts from Tapaz town, passing through several municipalities and Roxas City. It empties itself into the Tinagond Dagat Bay in Pontevedra town.

Sta. Monica Church and Bell in Pan-ay town is established in 1572. It was heavily damaged by typhoon and restored in 1884. The bell of the church is the largest in Asia. It is made of seventy sacks of coins from the donation of townspeople. It measures seven feet in diameter, five feet in height and weighs 10,400 kilograms. This church is declared as a national historical landmark.

Baybay beach is about 3 kilometers north of downtown Roxas. It’s near the airport. This 7 kilometers brown-sand beach is lined with restaurants that served delicious and incredibly cheap seafoods.

I stayed at Halaran Plaza Hotel.

How to get there:

From Manila budget airlines have daily flight to Roxas. Frequent buses/airconvans from Iloilo runs to Roxas. (P146.00/3 hours.) From Kalibo only aircon vans are bound for Roxas City (P120.00/2 hours). Tricycles are mode of transportation with the city and nearby Pan-ay town.

Bohol | The Stunning Chocolate Hills

We took the early morning trip of Oceanjet bound for Tagbilaran City, the gateway to Bohol Island. It’s my second time for Bohol! I always look forward to go back to that wonderful island! It's a stunning Visayan jewel. Kuya Sherwin 0910-612-3168 / 0926-7103-220  is waiting for us at the seaport. He is the one I contacted to be our driver/tourguide. He charges us lesser than those other contacts I asked.

Kuya is so nice. He keeps on sharing with us the history of their island. Our fist stop is the historical blood compact site.  We got so excited to see a tarsier. This endangered species can be found mainly in the town of Corella. It’s a wonderful experience passing through the highway of manmade forest. This long stretch of highway is planted by hundreds of thousands of mahogany trees. They compare this to one of the scene in the movie Twilight.

                       

It took an hour and we finally reached the world’s famous chocolate hills located in the town of Carmen. Jimmelyn and Jenel were so excited to take the stairs going on top of the hill’s viewing area. The foreigners were also amazed. After that we have an extreme adventure at Loboc Adventure Park. It’s my first time to try the zip line ride. I feel like a superman flying from one mountain to the other side. An adrenaline rush experience.

We pass by the hanging bridge. There we bought some peanut kisses and other pasalubong stuff. It’s time for lunch. The perfect time and place to have it is by Loboc River Cruise. As we are having our buffet lunch the cruise started. The river was so breathtaking. There are cultural presentations at the riverbanks.

Our tour ended at the Baclayon Chruch, the oldest coral stone church in the region. The place is open for tourist. The artifacts were stored.

We spend the rest of the day at Dumaluan Beach Resort in Panglao Island. I love this island and I am dreaming of residing here someday, the white sand, fresh sea foods and the friendly Boholanos. One thing that weren’t experience is the island hoping and snorkelling because we woke up late! We just enjoy the day beside the shore watching some Japanese nationals enjoying beach volleyball. They don’t mind what is going on in Japan.

Last of day of our trip we are bound for Tagbilaran City. Jim and Jenel headed to the seaport for their Cebu trip while I attended a mass at the Tagbilaran Cathedral. I am fortunate because the mass is in English! After that I spend the day strolling at the plaza just across the church. Good thing about the city is that you can enjoy it by just walking. Eating breakfast at McDo and malling at BC Mall! By 4pm I will be flying back to Manila with ZestAir!:)

Iloilo | Revisiting My Home Town

miag-ao church

Everytime I go home to my province Iloilo I made it to the point to visit the tourist spot in my hometown. Iloilo city, is known as “the city of love”  maybe because Ilonggos are known for being malambing! It is one of the progressive urban center in the Visayas region.

Miag-ao Church (Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva) is declared as the part of UNESCO world heritage site as one of the 4 baroque churches of the Philippines. The century old gothic-renaissance Molo Church (St. Anne Church) is known a  feminist church. sixteen female saints line on both sides of the altar. Dr. Jose Rizal used to visit the church because of it’s biblical paintings and it served as an evacuation center during world war 2.

molo church

Iloilo International Airport serves direct flight to/from Manila, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Puerto Prinsesa. There’s also an international flight to/from Hongkong and Singapore.

iloilo provincial capitol

Museo Iloilo display artifacts that deficts the colorful history of Panay island. Beside is the restored Iloilo Provincial Capitol building with a combination of modern and old architecture. 

museo iloilo

The Jaro Cathedral (Nuestra Seniora Candelaria Church) is famous for it’s belfry that is not attached to the church instead it’s the front across the street. Ancestral houses were aligned along the Lopez Jaena street in Jaro district.

madge cafe

batchoy

Try a bowl of authentic Lapaz batchoy served by old timer restaurant inside the Lapaz market and the famous Madge Café is a must try when visiting Iloilo!

how to get there

There are daily flights from Manila to Iloilo. There are also direct flights from Cebu, Puerto Prinsesa, Tacloban, Cagayan De Oro ,Davao and General Santos. The new Iloilo Airport located in Cabatuan is 18 kilometers from the city proper and is accessible by jeepney, bus, and taxi.

You can reach Iloilo City by land from the other areas of Panay Island. There is also bus service through the RORO (roll-on roll-off) system.

Iloilo City is the province’s port of entry for sea transport and is just five minutes away from the city’s main commercial district. Ships sail from Manila 12 times a week, from Zamboanga or Cagayan De Oro twice a week, and from Cebu daily. Fast crafts from Bacolod City take one hour daily.

Leyte | Walking Around Tacloban City

I spend my last day of Eastern Visayas trip in Tacloban City. It is the political and commercial center of Eastern Visayas. I walked the long stretch of Magsaysay Boulevard down to Trece Martirez then the Justice Romualdez St. I pass by the Tacloban City Hall, University of the Philippines-Tacloban and the Leyte Provincial Capitol.

The elegant design of the capitol really amuses me. There is a huge mural of General Mc Arthur and Ferdinand Magellan on the side of the building. On the flag pole there are statues of some Philippine heroes.

After that i packed my things checked out at the Tacloban Village Townhouse then I drop by the Robinsons mall were I left my backpack. I headed to Palo town to visit the Leyte memorial landing park where the historic larger than life monument of General Mc Arthur and his cohort stands.

A few hours left before my flight back to Manila I told myself that I have to comeback to this region soon to explore further the provinces of Eastern Samar and Biliran, to walk the 2 km stretch of San Juanico bridge, spend a night at Limasawa island and to experience the zip lining in Agas-Agas bridge! I shall return Eastern Visayas!

This part of my Eastern Visayas trip series.

Budget | Southern Leyte | Samar | Northern Samar | Leyte

Northern Samar | Exploring Rock Formations Of Biri Island

After five hours of land travel I finally landed Catarman City in Northern Samar. After checking in at GV Hotel-Catarman I roam around the city. I checked their dilapidated Northern Samar Provincial Capitol. Riding a trisikad we pass by the airport runway.

I explore the rock formation of Biri Island on my fourth day. Biri Island is an hour boat ride away from Lavezares town. Behind the Laverzares market is the port where boat docked that awaits passenger like tourist and locals bound for Biri.

The boat took an hour to crossed the island from the mainland of Lavezares, good thing the weather is fine.

This is the wooden walkway going to the rock formations.

bel-at rock formation

magasang rock formation

Upon docking in the island habal-habal drivers were waiting to transport tourist to the rock formations in the island. This island was really a piece of paradise to be hold. It’s amazing to see those picturesque rock formations.

This part of my Eastern Visayas trip series.

Budget | Southern Leyte | Samar | Northern Samar | Leyte