Daily Archives: 31 March, 2023

Murong Burongan Island Resort (Matnog, Sorsogon)

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Murong Burongan Island Resort

Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour

After our short visit to Subic Dako Beach on Calintaan Island, we gain boarded our respective boats for the short trip to Murong Burongan Island Resort on the arrowhead-shaped Murong Burongan Island.

Check out “Subic Pink Sand Beach”

Murong Burongan Island

This beautiful, one-of-a-kind island has a long white sand beach ideal for swimming and snorkeling, a large lagoon and a historical, American-era lighthouse at Murong-Buorongan Point.

Making landfall

A guiding beacon for sailors the latter was constructed on top of a sand bar with coral stones and rock corals making it a perfect spot for snorkeling and diving, with different varieties of soft and hard corals that give you an idea how beautiful the underwater world is.

Alfresco lunch

Upon making landfall on the island, we were welcomed by a feast, at their open-air restaurant/dining area, of seafood (crabs, fish and shrimps) and barbecued delights, plus pako salad, salted eggs and turmeric rice.

After this filling lunch, some of the ladies did some line dancing to burn some of the calories they gained.

Native-style cottages

The resort also features modern, comfortable native-style beachfront cottages with wooden accents, airconditioning, lofts, private bathrooms and mini refrigerators.

Cottage interior (photo: Ms. Sheila Silvestre)

Bedroom loft (photo: Ms. Sheila Silvestre)

Along the beach are cabanas and hammocks where one can relax and appreciate the crystal-clear waters and beautiful ocean view. Free-roaming geese and turkeys also had the run of the place.  The resort can be rented for your own exclusive use.

A pair of free-roaming turkeys

Murong Burongan Island Resort: Murong Burongan Island, Matnog, Sorsogon.  Mobile number: (0966) 951-1954.

How to Get There: Matnog is located 575.9 kms. (a 13.25–hr. drive) from Manila and 61.2 kms. (a 1–hr. drive) from Sorsogon City, both via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26..

Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office: Ground Floor, Capitol Building, 4700 Sorsogon City. Mobile number: (0968) 624-6279. E-mail: tourism@sorsogon.gov.ph.  Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorsogonprovincialtourismoffice.

Matnog Tourism, Culture andArts Office: Brgy. Camcaman, Matnog 4708, Sorsogon. Mobile number: (097) 231-8168. Facebook: www.facebook.com/Matnog Tourism.  Fees: Environmental Fee: Php20/pax and Php16 (senior citizens). Registration Fee: Php320 (foreigners), Php70 (locals) and Php40 (senior citizens).

Ur Place Travel & Tours: OLV Pangpang, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon.  Mobile number (Viber): (0927) 950-3927 (Ms. Annie Gueb).  Facebook: www.facebook.com/urplacetravel.

Subic Pink Sand Beach (Matnog, Sorsogon)

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Subic Pink Sand Beach

Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour

After our enjoyable tour of Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary on Juag Island, we again boarded or boat for the short 20-min. ride to Calintaan Island. On this island is pristine Subic Beach (locally called “La Playa Rosa”), one of two places in Sorsogon (the other is Tikling Island) with sand that has a pinkish hue. This is due to a combination of creamy white sand with crushed organ pipe coral (Tubipora musica).

Check out “Juag Lagoon Fish Santuary“

Calintaan Island

There are actually two adjacent Subic beaches – the quieter and less developed Subic Liit (Little Subic) and a longer stretch called Subic Laki or Subic Dako (Big Subic), both separated by a short stretch of land.

Landfall at Subic Dako Beach

We landed at the latter, the more popular of the two due to the presence of basic amenities that allow visitors to rent native-style nipa huts with anahaw roofing for day use (Php400), pitch tents and cook their own food.There are also sari-sari stores and grilling stations.   Potable water is also available. 

There are also two or three resorts (the best is Holy Trinity Beach Resort which has airconditioned rooms and a swimming pool) for overnight stays, .   Calintaan Island  has electricity thanks to a wired connection with Matnog town in the mainland.

We stayed at this so-called “Boracay of Matnog” for about 45 mins., swimming its calm and crystal-clear waters or just taking pictures as we enjoyed its beauty. You can also snorkel here (bring your own snorkeling gear).

Picnic huts

Too bad we didn’t have time to explore the hidden lagoon at the back of the beach and the old lighthouse (parola).  Despite recent developments on this beach, it still retains its pristine charm and it is my hope that it would remain that way in the future.  Truly, it was a picture-perfect example of a tropical island paradise.

Rustic accommodations

More modern, airconditioned accommodations

Back at our boats, we proceeded to Murong Burongan Island where we were to have lunch.  About 10 mins. into our trip, we passed by Calintaan Cave, a small cave opening into a one-of-a-kind cove, amidst cliffs at the southeastern end of the island, with green vegetation and a flat, grassy terrain with coconut trees.  A great site for snorkeling, under ideal conditions you can enter the cave.

Check out “Murong Burongan Island Resort”

Calintaan Cave

Subic Beach, Calintaan Island, Brgy. Calintaan, Matnog 4708, Sorsogon.

How to Get There: Matnog is located 575.9 kms. (a 13.25–hr. drive) from Manila and 61.2 kms. (a 1–hr. drive) from Sorsogon City, both via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26..

Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office: Ground Floor, Capitol Building, 4700 Sorsogon City. Mobile number: (0968) 624-6279. E-mail: tourism@sorsogon.gov.ph.  Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorsogonprovincialtourismoffice

Matnog Tourism, Culture and Arts Office: Brgy. Camcaman, Matnog 4708, Sorsogon. Mobile number: (097) 231-8168. Facebook: www.facebook.com/Matnog Tourism.  Fees: Environmental Fee: Php20/pax and Php16 (senior citizens). Registration Fee: Php320 (foreigners), Php70 (locals) and Php40 (senior citizens).

Ur Place Travel & Tours: OLV Pangpang, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon.  Mobile number (Viber): (0927) 950-3927 (Ms. Annie Gueb).  Facebook: www.facebook.com/urplacetravel.

Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary (Matnog, Sorsogon)

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Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary

Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour

After breakfast and checking out at Residencia del Hamor Casiguran, we again boarded our coaster for 56.4-km. (1-hr.) drive to Matnog Port, the jump off point to the southern Philippines and vice-versa. From here, we were to explore the three of the town’s outlying islands – Juag Island  Calintaan Island and Murong Burongan Island.

Check out “Hotel and Inn Review: Residencia del Hamor Casiguran”

Matnog Tourism Office

Upon arrival at Matnog Tourism Office, we had to first register ourselves.  Then, we attended a 5-min. briefing (on proper waste disposal and the importance of keeping the beach clean) before boarding our respective motorized outrigger boats at Matnog Port. There were seven of us plus two boatmen and a security escort. Our first destination was to be Juag Island where the Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary is located. The boat trip from the port to the island took about 20 mins. and, as we neared the island, we were greeted by a stunning scenery of white sand beaches, mangrove tress and coconut trees.

Matnog Port

Privately owned and maintained (by the Geneblazo family headed by Mr. Alex Geneblazo, Juag Island has an area of 572 sq. m. and is home to 40 fish species.  It was started in 2000 with a few pairs of bangus (milkfish) fed with seaweed.

The author (right) with is companions

Despite being privately owned, the family decided to open it up to the public to educate and entertain, thereby contributing towards the conservation of aquatic species and marine environment by protecting several aquatic animals and plants in a sanctuary.

Making landfall at Juag Island

Residing on the shore of the sanctuary, he and his family are and have made great efforts in providing the marine creatures with a healthy habitat and environment to grow and multiply. The Geneblazo family does not charge an entrance fee to the property but donations for the maintenance of the sanctuary are very welcome.

The ladies at the first platform

The sanctuary, nothing like a fish farm, aims to make people aware of as well as to protect and conserve aquatic life, helping tourists understand the importance of marine biodiversity.  It prides itself with a wide variety of beautiful marine animals and aquatic species.

Transferring to the second platform via bamboo raft

To protect the variety of species enclosures of bamboo are built inside which the species move freely in herds. Each enclosure holds different aquatic creatures that are raised by Sir Alex and his family, along with their caretakers. Touring the sanctuary made us experience the significance of protecting the beautiful marine life.

The author (left) with the others at the second platform

The first bamboo platform is used for briefing the visitors on what not to do while exploring the sanctuary. Here, we got to view underwater coral fishes, reefs and other aquatic weeds and plants.

View of the fish from above ……

No diving is allowed since it might distract the fishes but visitors are allowed to swim with the fishes as long as the influx of travelers is controlled. They allow tourists to go there by batch.  Here, we got to feed the fish with fish pellets, small fish and bread.

When it was our group’s turn, we hopped on this bamboo raft and, guided by ropes, crossed the sanctuary leading, from the owners’ hut, into a second bamboo platform  on stilts in the middle.

Fish feeding time

This platform contained the real giants of Juag – namely large baraka/lapu-lapu (brown marble grouper), mameng (Napoleon wrasse) and mamsa/talakitok (trevally or big-eyed jack) as well as bangus (milkfish), dugso (long nose emperor), saploran/maya-maya (emperor red snapper), loro/kalolong (parrotfish), pasingko/maynila (Goldman sweetlips), bayang (long-fin batfish), angelfish, labahita (surgeonfish), alatan (harlequin sweetlips) and maramara/samaral (orange-spotted spinefoot).

The author all geared up for snorkeling

Donning our snorkels, we were allowed to swim with the fishes in the shallow, crystal-clear waters.  However, they have a strict no-sunblock policy to avoid poisoning the fishes.

The view from below…..

A batfish

I also posed for the camera carrying a huge balat (pineapple sea cucumber, Thelenota ananas), There are also pawikan (sea turtles), starfishes, banagan/banahawon (tiger lobsters) and taklobo (giant clams).

The author holding a huge  balat (pineapple sea cucumber)

Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary: Matnog, Sorsogon.  Mobile numbers: (0907) 957-7748 and (0918) 304-5437. Fish pellets can be bought (php35/kg.) from a sari-sari store near the feeding area.  Facebook page: http://juaglagoon.wix.com/sanctuary
https://www.facebook.com/JuagLagoonMarineSanctuary

How to Get There: Matnog is located 575.9 kms. (a 13.25–hr. drive) from Manila and 61.2 kms. (a 1–hr. drive) from Sorsogon City, both via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26..Manila to

Matnog by Bus:
There are several bus liners going straight to Matnog including Philtranco, Penafrancia, Raymund and Amihan. The trip takes 12-15 hours depending on the traffic.

Manila to Legazpi City by Air:
Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines fly daily to Legazpi City from Manila. Legazpi City is about an hour travel by plane from the capital.

Legazpi City to Matnog:
To get to Matnog from Legazpi City, ride a tricycle going to the bus terminal located near Gaisano Mall. Ride the bus bound for Sorsogon. From Sorsogon, ride the jeepney heading to Matnog and ask to be dropped off near the port. From Matnog Pier, it is a 20-min. motorized boat ride to Juag. 

Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office: Ground Floor, Capitol Building, 4700 Sorsogon City. Mobile number: (0968) 624-6279. E-mail: tourism@sorsogon.gov.ph.  Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorsogonprovincialtourismoffice. 

Matnog Tourism, Culture andArts Office: Brgy. Camcaman, Matnog 4708, Sorsogon. Mobile number: (097) 231-8168. Facebook: www.facebook.com/Matnog Tourism.  Fees: Environmental Fee: Php20/pax and Php16 (senior citizens). Registration Fee: Php320 (foreigners), Php70 (locals) and Php40 (senior citizens). 

Ur Place Travel & Tours: OLV Pangpang, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon.  Mobile number (Viber): (0927) 950-3927 (Ms. Annie Gueb).  Facebook: www.facebook.com/urplacetravel.

The Ancestral Houses of Juban (Sorsogon)

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Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour

After breakfast and checking out of Residencia del Hamor in Casiguran, we again boarded our coaster for the 56.4-km. (one-hour, 15-min.) drive to Matnog Port. Along the way, we passed by the town of Juban and made a short stopover as we saw some well-preserved ancestral houses along the highway. The old bahay na bato (“stone houses”) of Juban were once the residences of some of the town’s richest families – the Bendillos, Guevaras, Grajos, Alindogans, Guarins, Lasalas and Gorospes.

Casa Feliz

One such structure that still exists is Casa Feliz. Built in 1898, the first owner of the house was Don Leoncio Grajo who was gifted this house by his father when he passed the bar exams in the early 1900s.  Leoncio was elected the First Representative of Sorsogon in the Philippine Assembly of 1912. One of the most beautiful old houses in Juban, it became Don Leoncio’s district office during his incumbency.

Casa Feliz

After his death, his son, Leoncio Grajo Jr., inherited the house. However, to pursue his career in Manila, the young Leoncio had to sell the place to his sister Lourdes Grajo Hubilla. As she grew old, Lourdes decided to transfer ownership of the house to Dr. Teresita Lasala-Ruth, a neighbor.

Lasala-Guarin Ancestral House

With the help of National Historical Commission of the Philippines, she really spent so much effort to restore this once almost dilapidated ancestral house. The restoration took over a year.  It was named after Dr. Teresita’s mother, Felicidad.  Jesus N. Lasala is the current owner of Casa Feliz.  The house was converted into a bed and breakfast with eight rooms.   Casa Feliz has annexes –Ann’s Garden (a function hall) and Café Jeronimo (a bar and restaurant), located a block near the old house.

Casa Feliz is not the only ancestral houses we saw along the highway in Juban. There are 3 more old houses nearby but these ancestral houses are private and do not accept guests.

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

Like most bahay na bato, the foundations of these two-storey, gaily painted houses are made from Spanish-style, solid stone blocks or bricks where the overhanging wooden upper-storey rests on. The exteriors typically have exquisite and tall capiz shell or persiana sliding windows, double eaves supported by diagonal brackets, ventanillas (small shuttered windows below the large windows with wooden balustrades),wooden moldings on the walls and calado (lace-like fretwork or latticework).

Today, the threat of demolition hangs over their heads to make way for the road widening project of the Department of Public Works and Highway’s (DPWH).

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS

These old houses, one of the well known tourist attractions of the province, are rich historical and cultural heritage sites in the idyllic town of Juban that are considered priceless gems that can never be replaced by road widening and progress. In lieu of the road widening, the solution I suggest is a bypass or diversion road be built a few kilometers before the town proper on vast tracts of idle or unproductive land that can be acquired, at a minimal cost, by the provincial government.

These ancestral houses should also registered as Presumed Important Cultural Properties under the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property.  For the time being, the provincial government can install their own plaques recognizing them as a Provincial Cultural Treasure.  These houses have survived World War II and natural calamities such as typhoons, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Let’s hope they survive the wrecking ball.

Casa Feliz: Pan-Philippine Highway cor. L. Grajo St., AH26, South Poblacion,  Juban, 4703 Sorsogon. Mobile number: (0919) 991-2297. Website: www.casafeliz.org.

How to Get There: Juban is located 545.3 kms. (a 13–hr. ) drive from Manila and 30.6 kms. (a 40-min.) drive from Sorsogon City, all via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26.

Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office: Ground Floor, Capitol Building, 4700 Sorsogon City. Mobile number: (0968) 624-6279. E-mail: tourism@sorsogon.gov.ph.  Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorsogonprovincialtourismoffice.

Juban Municipal Tourism, Cuture and Arts Office: E-mail: jubanturismo@gmail.com.  www.jubansorsogon.com.ph. Facebook: www.facebook.com/JubanTurismo 

Ur Place Travel & Tours: OLV Pangpang, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon.  Mobile number (Viber): (0927) 950-3927 (Ms. Annie Gueb).  Facebook: www.facebook.com/urplacetravel