Category Archives: Nature Trip
Fun with the Fam at Nangaramoan
I could’ve spent the long weekend in either in Calaguas or CamSur and probably didn’t miss Manila Music Festival had I decided not to go home for a friend’s wedding. But I’m glad I chose to attend the wedding, or else I wouldn’t have been in this piece or paradise that is Nangaramoan Beach, located somewhere in the tails of Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
It’s a shame how I like going places but when it comes to my home province, I am almost a stranger. Well, as a kid I used to join Girl Scout camps that somehow showed me a number of places around the province and I had my fair share of wandering as a teenager, but still, it’s not enough. There are lots of nice spots to see in Cagayan but I just didn’t have the opportunity and the money, of course. I guess I’ll try to make it up now before everything gets abused (I’m just being realistic, it’s almost always the case in burgeoning tourist spots).
After that incident in 2005, when our youngest drowned in Tallag Beach in Gonzaga, Cagayan, my parents never allowed us (me and my older brother) to go to the beach again. But I lived in Baguio and likes doing things anyway so I managed to sneak to the beach every now and then without my parents knowing about it. I tell them sometimes though, bawas-dinadala. :p
This is our first trip to the beach as a family since that fateful day. I don’t know how I convinced my mother to go. I know she’s still traumatized but she gave in to my plea, maybe because I was paying for the trip, and she knows how walay (wanderer) I am.
Anyway, let me share the beauty of the northeast.
Pozu Rubo Beach
We started the with the road trip at around 5:20 am and reached our destination at half-past 7. But first, we got lost and randomly found ourselves at the port going to Palaui Island. Our driver has never been to that place before and our companions who’ve been to Anguib couldn’t remember the directions. I myself mistook the signage at the entrance of the road going to Anguib for an advertisement.
Going to Anguib is just like going to Pagudpud, with the long winding road you have to take (about 20 minutes). Thank goodness the road is concrete. How fast things change because those who’ve been there said that in 2011, it’s the usual bumpy ride in a dusty road. The Enriles who own a resort in Anguib must be responsible for this really fast act. I like the comfort but somehow I missed going to the beach through bumpy and dusty roads pass the mountains. Maybe it’s the sense of adventure that comes with it.
Because there is hardly any signage along the way, we just followed the main road that lead us to a dead end, the Pozu Rubo Beach. The beach is empty when we arrived. The non-first timers said it isn’t Anguib so we climbed back and searched for Anguib. If I was with friends, I would’ve preferred Pozu Rubo Cove for it’s isolation but the oldies wanted somewhere there are more people.
Semi-virgin beach
When we saw a sub-road with an arrow pointing to the beach and a sign that says “Golden Beach” we took it without hesitations. We ignored this one earlier because we thought the beach at sight has no shores. Still, it’s not the Anguib Beach we’re aiming for but we settled for it since we were immediately captivated by this breathtaking scene.
Of course we immediately went in to test the waters!
Unlike what people claim, Nangaramoan is no Boracay, instead it’s more like Pagudpud. What sets Nangaramoan apart from the other white-sand beaches I’ve been to is the 200 meter still water before the surf. It’s like a huge pool that spared by the surf for the people to enjoy and at. I wanted to go to that part where the pool-like body of water kisses the surf but I retreat when in the middle because I’m not allowed to go to a distance my parents think is far.
The hills extending on the beach separate Nangaramoan from its neighboring coves, Anguib and Puzo Rubo.
At the bottom of the water is a lush land of seaweeds making snorkeling more lovely with the added sight of rich greens.
They found a wooden board.
One, two , jump!
In Nangaramoan, there are no hotels or resorts in the vicinity. To get a legit accommodation, you have to go to the main highway, a few kilometers drive. However, there are cottages by the beach where you can stay for a day or overnight. This particular cottage costs Php400 and it has an attic where you can change clothes or sleep. Tents are also allowed in the place. Oh, and there’s an electricity in the place! 
There are boats rented out for beach hopping at Php300 for 30 minutes.
How to get there:
Sta. Ana beaches are getting popular among beach lovers and backpackers. However, it’s not easy getting there with the fact that it’s located at the northeastern tip of the Philippines Sta. Ana is 4-5 hours aways from Tuguegarao City (all depends on the driving). Florida bus lines (terminal in Cubao and Sampaloc) have trips going to Sta. Ana. You may also take broken trips by getting a bus bound to Tuguegarao City. Bus lines bound to Cagayan are Victory Liner, Dalin, Ballesteros Bus Lines, Guardian Angels/Everlasting, Northstar, among others. You can also get to Tuguegarao via air. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have daily flights to Tuguegarao. From Tuguegarao, take a bus ride to Sta. Ana.
From Sta. Ana (most probably you’ll be dropped at the town commercial center), you can just ask the locals on how to get transportation going to Anguib. I don’t know the particulars because for our trip, we hired a jeepney and paid a total of P2070 for the rent and the gas.
Too steep.
I wanted to take as much photos as I can but I myself preferred to just relax and enjoy the water. As a matter of fact I stayed too long in the water my shoulders were badly burnt. That’s the essence of this trip anyway.
(Not) Conquering Mt. Pico de Loro
Mt. Palay Palay
I can easily enumerate the times I’ve gone hiking to the mountains because there are very few. I have weak lungs and just plain lazy to do long hikes. But with the few chances I made it up to the peak, I understand why there are people who doesn’t mind doing long hikes because once they made it up there, every drop of sweat will get paid off.
It’s a wonderful feeling up in the mountains but still, I can’t get myself into serious mountaineering because I am lazy. So what made me go hiking this time? It’s always one thing: friends- I have lots of outdoor-sy friends that’s why. (Translation: kaladkarin ka lang talaga.)
This was supposedly a two-day camping but we had to make it a day hike because people had emergency stuff to attend to.
We only had an hour of sleep the night before because Dona, Mara and I dropped by the at the Coca-Cola Concert ng Bayan and made it home so late and we had to wake up at 3 am. It’s always best to start hikes the earliest possible time.
Things started to get f*cked up when we couldn’t find the Saulog bus in Lawton. Thank goodness our cab driver was kind enough to drive us to Baclaran where we found a bus bound to Ternate, Cavite. Fare is P75 and the trips took one hour. We got off somewhere there are tricyles going to this this certain market. We’re supposed to get a trike ride and then hire a jeepney to take us to Pico de Loro jump off. (Sorry I don’t know the exact direction clearly because I did not pay attention to the details.)
Lucky for us, upon alighting the bus, a van stopped right before us and inside were Mara’s friends from Tagaytay who happened to go to Pico de Loro, too. Instant free ride for us! We saved P500 for the jeepney/tricycle ride. 
Also, we reached the jump off earlier.
At the jump off, you have to pay P20 per person, most probably for conservation fee because the DENR collects it.
We began hiking at a little before 7am. We were left behind because Mara’s friends were running the trails and we had to stop every now and then to take photos and eat. I refer to our slow pacing as nature tripping. :p
(Photo by Mara Clemente)
(Photo by Mara Clemente)
(Photo by Mara Clemente)
(Photo by Kara)
If you look closely... (Photo by Kara)
At around 11 am, we reached this deck that gives a hint on how much longer you’re gonna have to climb since it offers a good view of the peak of Mt. Palay Palay and Pico de Loro and also a top view of Cavite. From this point, you’ll get all excited to reach that peak.
One miss, you die. (Photo by Mara Clemente)
(Photo by Mara Clemente)
Superman (Photo by Mara Clemente)
It was also at this point where we met Mara’s friends again. They’ve already climbed the summit and were on the way to the waterfalls. After the necessary photos, we preceded to the last final leg of the climb.
(Photo by Kara)
Pico de Loro
(Photo by Kara)
Because we didn’t have the appropirate rope, we didn’t make it to Pico de Loro. Mt. Palay Palay is higher but Pico de Loro looks more challenging because it requires rock climbing. We just took bunch of daya shots instead and had lunch right there at the summit with the 12 noon sun above, upon my request. We did not have any breakfast yo.
We have food more than enough for four (Photo by Kara)
Before we could even clean up our leftover, the rain poured. We were two groups at the peak that time, the other we befriended along the way. We thought the clouds were just passing by but we decided to go with the downpour because it’s too cold and who knows what might happen to the trail if it rains harder.
I think the reason for this rain is because Mara just bought an underwater camera. Boom. Buti na lang nakakain na kami.
(Photo by Mara Clemente)
(Photo by Kara)
After sometime, when the rain stopped, I felt sleepy while hiking I wished it’ll just rain. The rain went on and off though and our ultimate inspiration was to reach Camp 1 so we can a nice cold coke.
We reached the end of the trail at around 5 pm. There were a couple of tricycles waiting there at the trail entrance.
Conquering Mt. Pinatubo
Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake is a magnificent work of art. God really is amazing- he destroys something and then creates another wonderful thing from it.
I never included Mt. Pinatubo on my bucket list before as I am not really into hiking. This might explain why I was so amused when we reached the crater lake. I kept saying, “wow, it’s like a painting!” A true wonder of nature.
From Manila
Our group availed of a tour package from Tripinas, P2050 per person inclusive of everything except lunch. It was cheap compared to other deals but I think it will be cheaper if you go backpacking by yourselves. The good thing about tour packages, they do all the work and all you have to do is pay and show up at the meet-up point.
Meeting place was at McDonald’s in Panay, Quezon City and call time was 2:30am, this is supposedly so we can have breakfast and buy other needs before heading off to Tarlac. Alanganing oras so all of us just stayed up. Shyne and the boys volunteered to cook food for lunch and since we’re from the same barangay, we decided to go to the meeting place altogether. We were running late but we were lucky to make it before boarding (3am)- either that or the others waited for our group to be completed, hehe. It says in the tour guidelines that we cannot delay departure since there is a cut-ff at the base camp. We left QC shortly after our organizer gave me some orientation, made us sign the waiver form and took the rest of our payment.
None of us had slept the night before so we tried getting a nap while on the way to Capas, Tarlac. But we reached the destination too fast.
A little before 6am, we were already at the base camp. While waiting for our 4×4 jeep, we munched on the sandwich and hotdogs.
The Ride
To get to Pinatubo, the first step is to take the 4×4 jeep- an hour of bumpy ride, which I immensely enjoyed. I claimed this is the most exciting part of the trip. You can ask your driver to stop for photos but we opted to have just one stop to get to the destination faster.
With my bro Doc Rex (Photo by Emman Dilanco)
The Scenery
Pinatubo Expressway (this vast desert as they call it) is so lovely in the morning.
Did you know that this desertland is used in testing bombs? I’m not sure if our tour guide ever mentioned the agency who does this but according to him, some bomb-carrying jets use the area to test probably the strength of the bombs. The place is shaken everytime and the explosions result to the grand rock and hill formations. This was the answer to my asking what were the Aetas (natives of Pinatubo) doing there that early because they seem to be picking something from the grounds. Apparently, they are picking up the metal scraps from the explosions.
The Hike
After the 4×4 ride, the hiking begins. The time you’re going to spend hiking all depends on your pacing and camwhoring. The terrain is rocky and dusty with creeks to be crossed from time to time. Even if you are a fast hiker, there may be times when you have to stopped because there are lots of tourists along the way. You may advance and pass by other hikers though if you there’s an opportunity.
(Photo by Shyne Bernardino)
(Photo by Karen Nono)
After the flat lands comes some trekking. Non-regular hiker me says it’s not difficult as there is no assault. From this point, you’ll probably increase your pacing as you are already too excited to see…
The Lake
…this.
Mawawala talaga ang pagod mo pagkakita ng view na ‘to. Sulit ang paglalakad!
After taking photos, from the viewdeck, our guides lead us down the lake where people are swimming, camping out and just enjoying the view. We had lunch right there in the grounds not minding the noontime sun. At one point, there was an erosion in the mountains surrounding the lake but it didn’t seem to bother anyone. Later, I read this sign that says, loud noises is prohibited because it causes erosion. Ironically, they allow bomb tests near the area.
During the hike, all of us were so excited to go and swim at the lake but once we got there, nobody dared. Well, I did not because the water’s cold- too cold for me- and deep and I’m can’t swim.
The Hot Spring
After lunch, we went to the other side of the lake which is a hot spring. Boat ride is P350 per person. I thought I can now bathe in this part of the lake. Oh well…
It's boiling!
Still, nobody dared to go swimming because the lake’s depth is uncertain and I still find it cold because the part that’s superhot is only on the ‘shores.’ We had to content ourselves with ‘self-steaming.’
Foot Spa
Hard boiled :p
(Photo by Emman Dilanco)
While in the hot spring, I couldn’t help but express my awe again because the lake is really amazing, the clear blue waters and how it’s located in at the top of the mountains.
On our way back, our guide said that Mt. Pinatubo once stood high, probably one of the highest peaks in Luzon, but when it erupted in 1991, the whole peak blasted and resulted in this beauty we now call the Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake.
Way Back
We spent lesser time on the hike back. Probably because it’s too hot and we all just want to get to the jeeps. Now, the jeep ride is enduring. I enjoyed the 4×4 ride earlier but not on the way back because of the heat, dust and sleepiness. Despite the fact that the ride is too bumpy, I still managed to take a nap. We arrived at Manila earlier than the stated expected time of arrival in our tour guidelines.
Conquering Bomod-ok and Sumaguing
Sunday was spent acquiring muscle and body pains.
Day 2 AM: Trekking
We woke up super early but our effort was trashed because there was no guide instantly available.
At Saggas, waiting for our guide. (Photo: Emman)
We hired a van (P450 back and forth) to take us to the start of the race to Bomod-ok. My friends who’ve been to the Big Falls were right, the hike to the falls is no joke. None of us saw this coming, therefore none of had thought of doing some stretching before the long hike.
May energy pa magphoto-op. (Photo: Diana)
Walking down the fields. (Photo: Diana)
Spotted in Sagada
Finally, we made it to Sagada. The same group that was stranded in Baguio last year due to a typhoon, has decided to conquer the mountain paradise once again, only this time there were additions to the gang. Fortunately, the Gods were with them this time, blessing them with a fair weather, enough for a whole weekend of muscle-stretching and gastronomic-satisfying activities.
The Last Day in Bohol is the Last Day in Cebu
Taste the Bohol Waters
When in Bohol, make sure to hit the beach. Bohol beaches have much beauty comparable that of the famed Boracay Island. Panglao beach is most popular among tourists but the province has other beaches that are equally beautiful. On our second day in Bohol, we succeeded in waking up early to witness the sunrise but the sunrise itsef didn’t succeed in amusing us. Unfortunately, the sun rose in the mountains.
