Category Archives: Recreational Outdoor Activities

Zoobic Safari (Subic Freeport Zone, Zambales)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

 

A tiger bathing in a pond

After an overnight stay at Subic Yacht Club with my son Jandy, we proceeded, after a Chowking lunch and duty-free shopping at the Freeport Exchange, for a short-haul drive to this sprawling 25-hectare Zoobic Safari theme park and zoo located deep in the old Naval Magazine at the Jungle/Forest Adventure zone.  Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Gen. Manager Ms. Delia C. De Jesus who assigned to me the affable Mr. Noel Caneda to guide me on this 2-hr., 5-part tour. He explained to us the different species that can be found inside the park, extolling their virtues as well as their deadly qualities.

Noel Caneda feeding a camel

At the reception area, we already got to see adult and baby tigers in large cages, all crossbred from Bengal and Siberian varieties in Residence Inns’ tiger cub breeding facility.  A joint venture with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the PhP80 million Zoobic Safari was opened to the public on November 2004 and is part of Residence Inn’s chain of zoo cum resort businesses. The animals here may not be all originally from the Philippines but the place was still developed with a Filipino theme in mind.

Our first stop was the Petting Zoo a path through a forest with different animals stationed on the both sides of the walkway.  Here we saw exotic animals such as deer, temperamental and territorial cassowary, bearcats, monkeys, mini horses, several rabbits, plus some farm animals such a number of goats, sheep, carabao, pigs and a pinkish albino cow, all roaming and frolicking about in their natural habitat. Jandy and I had a wonderful time petting and feeding dried leaves to a camel.  A close encounter with an Asiatic black bear (or moon bear) named Nicholas, the only one in the zoo (and thus lonely), was a highlight. Other stops include the Serpentarium, the only one of its kind in the country.  Housed in one of the former ammunition bunkers, it showcases a variety of reptiles including a Malaysian water monitor, blood pythons, a Burmese albino, reticulated python, the Philippine monitor lizard, iguanas and turtles.  The star here was “Biggy,” a 15-ft. long, 10 year old female Indian python.

An Asiatic black bear named Nicolas

The highlight of the tour was the Tiger Safari.  Here, we boarded a customized “safari” jeepney colorfully painted in tiger-inspired golden stripes and enclosed with one inch, open wire mesh which covered the windows and doors.  It was driven by a professional Aeta who drove us, through a gate, to the well-kept Ilanin forest (although a number of big trees were uprooted due to typhoon Milenyo) where four full grown, 500+ pound tigers, with their trademark rust orange and black stripes, were roaming around.  Most lazed about in a large pond, their deep-set, golden eyes staring back at us, probably wondering why we were “caged” inside our vehicle while they were roaming freely in the open.  During the ride, one of the guides inside our vehicle dangled a dressed chicken from a small window. On instinct, one of the tigers ran over to the vehicle and grabbed the chicken, an encounter so close you can really see his teeth.  Another tiger jumps on the roof.

Tiger’s Den

After the Tiger Safari, we all dropped by the “Tigers Den” where we got up close and personal, along a narrow aisle, with tigers inside their cages, barely two feet away from these awe-inspiring beasts christened with such cute names as Cynthia, Gimo, Jana, Krishna, Nasha, Nico, Sharon and George. The last named, a mammoth Alpha male and the oldest at 16 years, is the acknowledged leader of the pack and king of the harem, with all of the female tigers his for the taking. Noel explained that a tiger’s urine smell marks his territory.

A fleet-footed ostrich

Adjacent to the Tigers Den is the dusty Savannah Trail.  This we traversed via an open, red and blue Zoobic Safari train (with 20-30 seating capacity), watching 50 long-legged ostriches from Africa and Australia as well as potbellied pigs, swift mountain goats, wild boar (from the USA, Vietnam and the Philippines) and 200 guinea fowl (from Papua New Guinea) glide past our vehicle.   Next stop was the Animal MuZOOeum, housed in another former ammunition bunker.  This interesting and educational tour features a rare collection of real stuffed animals and skeletons.

Croco Loco

Our last stop was the Croco Loco section.  Here, we trekked, via the Aeta Trail, to an Aeta Village where a group of Aetas performed, to the delight of the tourists, the dragonfly dance and a war dance, both accompanied by an Aeta guitarist. Of course, we also went to the 3,000 square meter Crocodile Farm, again seeing up close and personal, in their carefully designed natural habitat, 200 of these thick-skinned, long-bodied carnivorous saltwater crocodiles from Palawan. In the future, Zoobic Safari has plans to expand with Elephant World, Honey Bee Farm, Alligator Land and the Rice Wine Brewery.

Aetas performing a war dance

Zoobic Safari: Group I, Ilanin Forest, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.  Tel: (047) 252-2272.  Fax: (047) 252-2272.  Website: www.zoobic.com.ph. Entrance fee is PhP295 (Monday-Thursday) and PhP395 (Friday-Sunday).  Manila booking office: 3/F, Yupangco Bldg., 339 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City.  Website: www.residenceinnresorts.com.

Le Mans Go Kart Track (Subic Freeport Zone, Zambales)

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Ready to burn the track

Prior to our checking out of the Subic Yacht Club, I decided to check out, with my son Jandy, the Le Mans Go Kart Track just across the street, beside the Bicentennial Park and next door to the Magic Lagoon Park Grill and Bar.  Go karts are smaller version of race cars that are much closer to the ground.  Still, they are  exciting enough for someone wanting the feel of a quick-turning, fast moving vehicle without risking your life.

Jandy

They have various types of go-karts that can be rented at different rates.  The single and double (perfect for parents to supervise their kids, PhP400 for 10 laps) seat go-karts, safe enough for children, are generally just for fun rides or test runs. For experienced kart racing enthusiasts, there are really fast racing kart models (PhP600 for 10 laps), ideal for annual racing competitions, that can run one 420 m. (1/4 mile) long track lap in a quick 10 seconds.

Frank and Gelo burning rubber

There were still a number of racers using the track when we arrived.  However, it wasn’t long before they left, it being near noon and lunch time, and soon we had the track all to ourselves.  We opted for single seaters and were only allowed to go around 10 laps for a fixed rate of PhP250 per person. Jandy and I were both first timers at this and, thus, we were both excited.  My son had first crack at it and, after a short lecture on how to operate the steering wheel, brakes and accelerator and donning his helmet, was soon on his way, warily at first, then more confident later on.  Upon my turn, I got my frustrated-racer anxieties out on the paved track, pretending I was Mario Andretti.  Later, my brother Frank and his son Gelo came out and joined us on the track, making it a true Layug family fun run.

Le Man’s Go Kart – Rizal Highway, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales. Tel: (047) 252-2272. Open 10 AM to 7 PM.

Davao Crocodile Park Complex (Davao City, Davao del Sur)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

After our visit to the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve, Jay next drove 35 kms., via the Davao-Bukidnon Rd. and Davao City Diversion Rd/Pan-Philippine Hwy/AH26, to the 7-hectare Davao Crocodile Park Complex, a mere 15-30-min. drive from the city’s downtown area.  The park’s main attractions, naturally, are its 700 saltwater crocodiles and the park has facilities solely for the propagation of these ferocious reptiles, showcasing state-of-the-art crocodile farming in the Philippines.

Check out “Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve“

The author at Davao Crocodile Park

Owned and operated by a group of businessmen headed by Davao City resident Philip “Sonny” Dizon, this world-class park was opened on August 18, 2005 with the help of consultant Dr. Gilbert Buenviaje.  The park has 3 breeding ponds literally teeming with languid crocodiles stretching out and soaking up the sun, completely unmindful of the excited noise of spectators and their flashing cameras.  They are caged according to size and breed.  The biggest cage has a viewing deck elevated at the center of the area.

The gigantic Pangil in his own cage and pond

The most breathtaking and noteworthy of all these crocodiles is the 18-ft. long Pangil (from the native word meaning “fang”), reportedly the country’s second largest and the oldest crocodile (about 60 years old) in the park. He has a pond and a big cage all to himself and, even if he just lies still, he still amazes every curious spectator, including me, with his immense size.

The Crocodile Dancing Show

We arrived in the midst of the 4:45-5:45 PM crocodile dancing show which showcases the leaping ability of the crocodile.  A piece of meat is suspended by a rope just below the cage for the crocodile to eat and  the crocodile leaps (up to 6 ft. high), through its mighty tail, to reach it.  I also saw the skeleton of a 14-ft. long, male, Indo-Pacific crocodile named Boktot who died in 2005 at the age of 40.

The skeleton of Boktot

The park is more than just a crocodile farm as it also houses other exotic animals such as eagles, parrots, lovebirds, mynahs, turkeys, ostriches, monitor lizards (bayawak), Burmese pythons (one of the 6 biggest snakes in the world), bearcats, Oriental civet (or Malaysian civet), Philippine warty pigs, monkeys, Philippine sailfin water dragons, turtles, a male and female Siberian tiger (there are times when feeding them is open to the public), etc..  A few steps from the center of the park is the Davao Butterfly House.

A park ostrich

Davao Crocodile Farm: Riverfront Corporate City, Ma-a Diversion Rd., Davao City, Davao del Sur. Tel: (082) 286-8883 and 286-1054.  Fax: (082) 221-4671. Admission fee: PhP150 (adults) and PhP75 (children, 2-12 years old). Open daily, 8 AM-6 PM (7 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays). Website: www.davaocrocodilepark.com.

Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve (Davao City, Davao del Sur)

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Pag-Asa, the first eagle to be bred

After lunch at Jay Mendoza’s residence, he drove me all the way to the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve, a natural captive breeding facility established to conserve the critically endangered and mighty Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), the country’s national bird.

Locally called haribon (short for “hari ng ibon” or “king of birds”), it is also the symbol and icon of Davao City.  Its 2-m. (6.5 ft.) wingspan also makes it the world’s second largest eagle after the Central and South American harpy.  Due to illegal logging and irresponsible cutting of trees (resulting in a loss of habitat), its uniqueness (there is a demand for it in major zoos of the world) and its very size and majestic stance (making it a very desirable target as a trophy), the Philippine eagle has become critically endangered.

Jay Mendoza

In 1987, the private, non-profit Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. was organized to save the eagle through captive breeding management, field research, community-based enterprise development and conservation education.   They set up the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve near Calinan, 36 kms.  northwest of the city.  This nature park, spread over a large forest preserve, is planted with different fruit-bearing trees and is now home to 14 of these Philippine eagles, out of a known population of 119 (2 others in the DENR office in Los Baños, Laguna, 96 in Mindanao, 5 in Aurora and the Sierra Madre Mountains and 2 in Samar).

Philippine Eagle Sanctuary

The Philippine Eagle was first recorded by John Whitehead on a collecting expedition in 1896.  Formerly called the monkey-eating eagle (now amended), it is called manaol by the Cebuanos and Muslims, aguila by the Tagalogs and mamboobook or malamboogook by the Bagobos, Mandayas and Tagakaolos.  It is only found in the Sierra Madre mountains in Eastern Luzon and the heavily forested area of Mindanao.

This eagle stands one meter high, weighs an average of four to seven kilograms, and has a powerful bill, strong legs and claws and eyesight eight times that of a human.    Its general body color is grayish brown on the back and wings, white at the front neck and belly and has shafts of gray brown streaked feathers on the head which, when erect, forms a crest.  Its raw meat menu includes flying lemurs (kaguang), wild cats (musang), flying squirrels (tapilak), snakes, chickens, bats and monkeys.

Brahminy Kite

Flying at speeds of 70 to 80 kms. per hour, one eagle claims and defends a wide, 60 to 100-sq. km. territory in lowland and medium elevation forest and nests (a crude platform shaped by branches and twigs) are established approximately 80 ft. atop the tallest trees in the jungle (sufficient enough for it to have a good view over its territory) or on high promontories overlooking a stream or river.

The Philippine Eagle is a faithful mate, having been observed to usually prefer a monogamous lifestyle.  At breeding time (between August and January), they usually indulge in high-soaring aerial courtship and are said to mate in mid-air, in or near the nest. The female lays one white egg every two years and both parents alternately incubate the egg for about 60 days until it hatches.  Usually the male does the hunting, sharing his catch with the female and the young, especially during breeding time. Hunting flights extend to the cleared areas as well.   The eaglet fledges within 150 days and becomes independent at 18 months, at which time the parents drive the juvenile out of their territory. It matures after 6 years.

Philippine Brown Deer

On January 15, 1992, Pag-asa (“hope”) was born in the center, the first eagle to be bred in captivity.  A second eaglet, born five years later, was named Pagkakaisa (“unity”).  On February 23, 1999, another eaglet, Pangarap (“dream”) was born through artificial insemination, followed by Maginoo (“respectful”) on December 15, 2000.

The center is also home to other indigenous birds such as Brahminy kites (Haliastur Indus), African grass owls (Tyto capensis), crested serpent eagles (Spilornis cheela), Philippine hawk-eagles (Spizaetus philippensis), grey-headed fish eagles (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus), white-bellied sea eagles (Haliaectus leucogaster) and cockatoos; and wildlife such as tarsiers (Tarsius philippensis), Philippine deer (Cervus mariannus), saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), crab-eating macaque(Macaca fascicularis) and reticulated pythons (Python reticulatus).

Sunbathing macaques
Philippine Eagle Sanctuary and Wildlife Preserve: Malagos Gardens, Baguio District, Davao City, Davao del Sur.  Tel: 224-3021.  Fax: 224-3022.  E-mail: info@philippineeagle.org and phileagl@pldtdsl.net.  Open daily, 8 AM to 5 PM.  Entrance fee: PhP50.00.  To get there, take a jeep to Calinan along C.M. Recto Ave., A. Pichon St. and  Bankerohan Market.  At Calinan Public Market, take a 30-min. (5-km.) tricycle ride to the center. You can also take a 45-min. airconditioned bus ride from Aldevinco Shopping Center.

Ocean Park (Hong Kong)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

From the Peak Tram, we all met up at the Ocean Park main entrance where we rode cable cars in 3 groups, ascending to the headland section (1,400 ft. above sea level), during which we had an unparalleled and spectacular view of Hong Kong Island, the sublime South China Sea beyond and the expanse of the park including Atoll Reef, Shark Aquarium, Ocean Theater, the 72-m. (236-ft.) high Ocean Park Tower (with its cabin which slowly revolves from ground to top) and its rides.

Cable Car

This marine park’s main draw is its marine attractions at Marine Land.  Mark,  Nenette and their kids Gelo and Matthew watched the thrilling theatrics of adorable Pacific bottlenose dolphins and Californian sea lions (the official mascot of Ocean Park is “Whiskers,” a waving sea lion) in a huge pond at the open-air Ocean Theater.

Atoll Reef

On the other hand, we visited the Shark Aquarium where 70 sharks from 35 species are displayed. At its underwater viewing tunnel (Asia’s first), we observed Black Tip Reef Sharks, Pygmy Swell Shark, Hammerhead Sharks and other kinds of sharks, looking at them eye to eye as they safely passed overhead.  Too bad we missed seeing divers feeding or playing with sharks.

Shark Aquarium

We next visited the expansive Atoll Reef where 2,000 fish in 250 species are displayed in a huge, coral-themed aquarium. Shaped like a 3 or 4-storey, elliptical fishbowl, here we viewed a variety of fish through 6-cm. (2.4-inch) thick glass windows. Atoll Reef is divided into the shadow and the deep levels, each exhibiting its characteristic aquatic life.

Marine Life at Atoll Reef

The collection includes sharks, tropical fish, nautilus, tiny Pomacentridae fish, a gigantic Zebra Shark, morays, groupers, turtles and over 400 kinds of maritime animals from the Pacific Islands or the South China Sea, plus some corals and cays.

Sea Jelly Spectacular

Another sensory wonder was the Sea Jelly Aquarium, Southeast Asia’s first.  Here, we were awed by over 1,000 sea jellies of all sizes, shapes and colors from all over the world.

The Dragon

The park’s other attractions are its numerous exciting rides.  Too bad the Dragon, a steel roller coaster (the longest one in Hong Kong) with 842 m. of track, was closed for servicing.  I, however, tried it (alone) on my second visit. My 2.5-min. ride, travelling at a maximum speed of 77 kms. (almost 48 miles) per hour, consisted of heart-stopping twists, turns and 360-degree loops with a brief but thrilling stint of being suspended upside down.

Abyss Turbo Drop

However, Cheska and I tried out the swinging Crazy Galleon, the Eagle and the thrilling Abyss Turbo Drop.  At the latter, we were slowly raised, on a platform, vertically up a 185-ft. tower (where we had an overall view of the ocean and park). The platform then stops briefly at the top before it drops abruptly straight down in free fall in 5 sec., surprising even us who were prepared.

Flying Swing

Jandy joined us in the Ferris Wheel and Flying Swing were we were swung in chairs as high as 7 m. (23 ft.) through a gyrating wave.  We missed out on the Zamperla Mine Train (a roller coaster), the Space Wheel and the Raging River, all at Adventureland.  Upon closing time, we all left the park the same way we came in – by cable car.

Ocean Park: Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong.  Tel: 3923 2323.  Open Mondays-Fridays, 9 AM–5 PM.

Kowloon Park (Hong Kong)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

After checking in at Kimberley Hotel, all of us decided to have our lunch at a restaurant along Kimberley Road.  After lunch, we all returned to the hotel where Grace, Dad and Mom decided to catch up with lost sleep.  Not so with me, Jandy and Cheska, deciding, instead, to do some sightseeing of our own.

Kowloon Park Entrance

From the hotel, we all walked to the nearby 13.47-hectare (33-acre) Kowloon Park. The park was formerly a site of the Whitfield Camp Barracks for the British force with a battery (Kowloon West Battery II) on its west side. In 1970, the Urban Council redeveloped the site into the Kowloon Park and it was officially opened on June 24, 1970. From 1975- 1978, part of the site was occupied in the construction of the MTR.  In 1989, the park was redeveloped at a cost of $300 million, which was funded by the then Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Due to topographical and other site constraints, the northern part of Kowloon Park is selected for active recreational area (Aquatics Center with 4 swimming pools, tennis courts, etc.) whereas the passive amenities area (children’s playground, aviary, Chinese Garden, Bird Lake and exhibition center) is mainly in the south. We were more interested in the latter.

Tai Chi Enthusiast at Chinese Garden

Behind the Kowloon Mosque and next to the Health Education, Exhibition and Information Centre, we came upon a bronze sculpture of 2 ribbons that intertwine to form a heart, inaugurated on December 1, 1997, World AIDS Day, crafted by Van Lau, an influential Hong Kong artist responsible for many of the city’s other sculptures.  It commemorates the victims and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Ribbon Symbol of AIDS

At the Pond Garden is the “Pool Pavilion” done by British sculptor David Watkins in 1989.  This is a fabulous piece of artwork, which gives a delightful touch to the park, consists of bent parallel steel tubes joined together, taking the shape of trees. The sculpture is placed at the center of a pond and people can get through it and become part of the work themselves. The witty shapes of the tubes radiate a festive mood and it takes you right in the middle of a carnival.

David Watkin’s “Pool Pavilion”

The park has lots trees, beautiful gardens, plenty of paved sidewalks for walking or jogging, and a large area for concerts and special events.  At the Chinese Garden, we watched various groups practicing martial arts and taichi.

The Park’s Aviary

It is also a haven for birdlife.  The park has a nice aviary composed of 7 planted enclosures accommodating over 140 birds of 38 species (parrots, pigeons, pheasants, etc.) plus plenty of shaded areas where visitors can sit and watch the antics of the birds. There’s also a rockery, a man-made waterfall and a decorative trellis. The park also has a Bird Lake with 200 finches of 20 species.

Greater Flamingos at Bird Lake

The park also has a pair of identical, 2-storey, colonial military barrack blocks, constructed in circa 1910. Linked by an extension block constructed in the 1980s to provide more space for the former Hong Kong Museum of History from 1983 to 1998, it now houses the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre.

Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center

Kowloon Park: 22 Austin Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Admission is free except for Swimming Center and Sports Center.  Tel: 2724 3344. Fax: 2724 4197.  E-mail: kpqr@lcsd.gov.hk.

How to Get There:  By subway, take Subway Tsuen Wan Line and get off at Jordan or Tism Sha Tsui station and walk to the park.  By bus, take Bus No. 1, 1A, 2, 2C, 6, 6A, 7, 9, 13X, 26, 35A, 41A, 63X, 81C, 87D, 98D, 203, 208, 219X, 234X, 271, 281A, 296D or A2 and get off at Kowloon Park.

Nagtangco Island (Mompog, Marinduque)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Our trip to Marinduque wasn’t complete without a visit to one of its outlying islands.  I opted to visit the 8-hectare Nagtangco Island.  The next day we took a jeepney to Balanacan Pier, one of two ports of entry into Marinduque.  Offshore from this fine natural harbor is an imposing statue of Ina ng Biglang Awa (the patron saint of the province).  The statue is located atop a concrete view deck which is connected to the mainland by a concrete causeway.  Curious, we all made the crossing to the view deck.  

Balanacan View Deck
At the fisherman’s wharf, we approached a fisherman and negotiated for the use of his motorized outrigger boat.  We finally settled on the amount of PhP1,000. The boat trip to Nagtangco Island was smooth and uneventful and took all of 30 mins.
 
On our way
Nagtangco Island
Nagtangco Island, together with nearby San Andres Island, have spectacular white sand beaches and we still haven’t had our fill of these beaches.  However, unlike our Poctoy White Beach visit the day before, the beach where our boat landed was packed with picnickers.   Fronting the beach was a concrete resthouse, currently unoccupied, and I approached its caretaker.  Along the way, I noticed that the beach on the other side was deserted.
 
The beach open to the public
The private beach

The caretaker told me that the beach I noticed was private and off limits to outsiders.  However, with a touch of diplomacy, I was able to get access to this beach.  While my companions were enjoying a private, uncrowded swim, I climbed its nearby craggy viewpoint where I had a panoramic view of San Andres Island.   This island visit truly capped our stay in this lovely province.

San Andres Island

Taking Chances in Marinduque

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Holy Week was again around the corner, and I was again browsing my bucket list of must-see places to visit.  Tired of mainland Luzon, I opted for some island-hopping and decided on Marinduque Island to witnessed its trademark Moriones Festival which happens only during Holy Week.  For company, I brought along my kids Jandy and Cheska, plus Jandy’s Jesu-Mariae School teachers (and my friends) Mr. Jowel Fatlaunag and Ms. Veneriza “Vener” Trillo with her son Yor.  For the short-haul drive to Lucena City (Quezon), the gateway to the island, I used my 2003 Toyota Revo.  Though not enough to accommodate all six of us, I still brought along my 2-pax tent and camping equipment (portable stove, sleeping bags, etc.).  Vener also brought along a similar tent.

Balanacan Pier in Mompog

I met up with Jowel, Vener and Yor at Jesu-Mariae School and we all left Manila by 4:30 PM, Wednesday.  The trip took longer than the usual 3 hours, with traffic delays, toilet breaks and a stopover at a gas station for dinner (packed by Vener).  We arrived at Lucena City’s Dalahican Port by 9 PM. I was thinking of staying overnight at the city and leave for Marinduque in the morning but the sight of a long queue for ferry tickets made me change my mind, so we decided to take a chance by taking the 10 PM Blue Waters fast ferry to Balanacan Port (Mompog).  After securely parking the Revo at the pier, we all boarded our ferry.  It being a holiday, the ferry was packed with travelers, from the deck all the way to the pilot’s cabin where we stayed,  sitting on monobloc chairs.  Being overloaded, the crossing took much longer.  Coupled with this, the sea during that time was rough and waves made the boat sway left and right, at one time making me fall off my chair and almost out the cabin door and into the sea.  I was lucky enough to hang on for dear life.  After this rough, wave-tossed crossing, we all made it to Balanacan Pier by 12:30 AM. 

 

A Sabtang Welcome (Batanes)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

The third day of my 5-day stay in Batanes was reserved for a visit to the 40.67 sq. km., beautiful, mountainous and extremely rugged Sabtang Island.  According to a coffee table book published by the DOT in 1994, Sabtang Island was chosen as one of the 12 best destinations in the country.  I wondered why.  Having left Mama Lily’s Inn very early in the morning, I was able to hitch a ride, via Batanes Gov. Vicente Gato’s van, to Radiwan Port in Ivana, the gateway to the island.   I was to travel with distinguished company.  Joining me in the falowa (a round-bottomed boat) for the nearly 1-hr., 5-km. and fairly rough crossing across the Ivana Channel was Gov. Gato himself and Congresswoman Henedina Razon-Abad (wife or former Education Secretary and Congressman Florencio “Butch” Abad), both inaugurating a school library on the island, plus guests Ms. Carol Pobre and Ms. Bing Talla, both of DOT Region II, and Ms. Margarita Garcia, a Fil-American Fullbright scholar teaching art to Ivatan schoolchildren (I later found out she was living at the lighthouse at Naidi Hills in Basco).

The scenic, winding road to Chavayan

Sabtang’s beautiful shoreline is similar to Batan Island, having intermittent white sand beaches, deep canyons, sand dunes that rise up to a hundred feet and steep, 200 to 350-m. high mountains that run down the island’s spine, making the island slope outward to the coast.  Small level areas are sporadically found along the northeast coastline and mountains have to be terraced to accommodate communities.   The only town, the picturesque Sabtang (also called Centro or San Vicente), is located on the island’s eastern seaboard.  The waters around the islands are said to have one of the richest fishing grounds in all of Batanes.

Church of St. Vincent Ferrer

It seems one half of the island’s 1,678 Isabtang population came out to greet our party upon our arrival.  I, however, mistook the town’s parish priest for the mayor but soon corrected myself and paid my respects to the boyish-looking Mayor Juan “Johnny Caballero, smartly attired in a Hawaiian-style polo shirt. The blessing soon got underway.  

Naidi Hills (Basco, Batanes)

Posted on by — Leave a reply

Come late afternoon, I decided to hike up the nearby Naidi Hills, northwest of Basco proper.  Here, I had a unique view of Baluarte Bay, Basco, mist-shrouded, 1,009-m. high  Mt. Iraya (Batanes’ highest mountain), the sunset and the rolling hills.  The hills used to be the site of the Philippine’s tallest wireless communications facility, bombed by the Japanese planes on December 8, 1941.  Only the base remains.  Also on the hill are the damaged buildings and bunkers that used to house the communications facilities. 

The bucolic Naidi Hills

The hill is now home to the new 6-storey, 66-ft. high conical Basco Lighthouse (also called Naidi Lighthouse), one of 3 lighthouses proposed by former Congressman Florencio “Butch” Abad.  Built in 2003, it is located a few meters away from Radyo ng Bayan station  and standing on the same site of Basco’s first lighthouse.  It has a view deck on the fifth floor.  Beside it is an Ivatan stone house constructed of native materials and essentially of vernacular architecture.  The hill is also home to grazing cattle.  On one occasion, one bull gently prodded me to vacate the grass I was sitting on. 

One of Naidi Hills resident cattle

Naidi Hills: Sitio Diajang, Brgy. San Antonio, Basco, Batanes.