Category Archives: Oriental Mindoro

Day Tour of Puerto Galera (Mindoro Oriental)

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The next day, we were again off, to another excursion, this time to Puerto Galera itself.  We again took a jeepney from the town proper and, once outside the city, the others, including me, again went up the jeepney’s luggage rack.  However, we had to always be on the lookout for approaching trees, ducking to avoid being thrown off the roof.  About 15 kms. out, we again passed the previously visited Tamaraw Falls.  The road to Puerto Galera zigzags most of the way and the scenery – thick forests, mountains planted with rows of calamansi trees, deep ravines – made for a thrilling and scenic ride. 

We first dropped off at Muelle Pier where RO-RO (Roll On Roll Off) ships and motorized outrigger boats from Batangas City dock.

White Beach

At the town, we had the choice of at least 13 superb connected beaches that have been developed for tourism within 7 kms. or so of the town. About 6 kms. from the poblacion, we dropped off at the broad 1-km. long White Beach which is immensely popular with tourists.  The water, however, gets very deep a few meters from the shore.

Trick photography along Tamaraw Beach

From White Beach, we hiked to the less developed Tamaraw Beach where many go for seclusion or peace and quiet.  Again, we had this beach to ourselves.  From Tamaraw Beach, we retraced our way back to White Beach where we boarded a jeepney back to Calapan.  Back at home, Rainy, Lulu, Liezl and Erwin boarded the 6:30 PM boat back to Batangas City.  Jandy, Ronnie and I stayed behind for another night, leaving the next day on the 10 AM boat.  We arrived in Batangas City by 12:45, and boarded a Manila-bound bus.  We arrived in Manila by 4:30 PM.

Pulong Laki (Calapan, Mindoro Oriental)

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The next day, All Saints Day, Jing again packed us some lunch (including beer) for our excursion to Pulong Laki (Big Island), one of the 3 Baco Islets, the others being Pulong Munti (Little Island) and Pulong Gitna (Middle Island).  All have white sand beaches.  We espied these beautiful islands during the ferry crossing from Batangas City to Calapan.  Ronnie also brought along his fishing rod.

On our way

Jing also chartered a boat very early in the morning for our use as, if there are no charters, their owners usually leave early in the morning to catch fish for a living.  From Ronnie’s home, we walked towards the nearby beach where our motorized outrigger boat and the boatmen where waiting for us.  Once on board, we were soon on our way.  The trip was smooth, usual for the morning and, after about an hour, we made landfall on the island.

The island’s coarse sand beach

The island had a broad, coarse sand beach, with vegetation and shade some distance away.  This didn’t matter much to us as we savored our first dip in a Mindoro Oriental beach.  From the beach, we also had a panoramic view of a couple of islands.  We were the only excursionists on the island that day.  I guess that most Calapenos were visiting their dead while most local and foreign tourists were in Puerto Galera.  We had this beach to ourselves.  

Doing some trick photography

Ronnie went fishing  and sunbathing while the rest went swimming or shell hunting.  Ronnie caught a couple of small fish that day which he cooked.  By mid afternoon, we all left the island, upon the boatman’s suggestion,  to avoid the high, late afternoon waves.  Back on the mainland, we again had supper at the house of Ronnie and Jing’s aunt.    

Tamaraw Falls (Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental)

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Come morning, after breakfast, we packed up our swimming gear as well as a picnic lunch as we were headed for the Tamaraw Falls, the largest waterfall in the province and a popular swimming spot for weekenders.  The falls, located 131 m. above sea level, is a 15-km. drive from Calapan. We took tricycles to the Calapan town proper where we all boarded a jeepney bound for the resort town of Puerto Galera.

Tamaraw Falls
Once outside the city proper, the others went up the jeepney’s luggage rack to better enjoy the view and the air.  The narrow road towards Puerto Galera alternated from sometimes paved to mostly rough.   After about an hour, we espied the falls along the road and alighted beside the aptly named Waterfall Bridge, just a couple of meters from the falls.  At this distance, we could feel the mist of water from the falls as we posed by the bridge.
 
The waterfall’s natural pool
It being the eve of All Saints Day, we were expecting a lot of tourists at the falls but it seems we were the only visitors.  Passing jeepneys sometimes stop for their passengers to take pictures but, after a few minutes, continue on their way.  Just below the waterfall is a shallow natural pool, fed by waters coming from the forested ravine above.
 
Our cool  dip
There were some picnic tables and a changing room across the road from the waterfall and below it are 2 man-made pools fed by the waters of the falls.  Its waters were equally shallow as the wooden barrier which dammed up the water was removed.
 
The man-made pool
We quickly changed into our bathing attire and first tried the natural pool below the falls.  Later, we transferred to the man-made pools.  In both cases, the waters were bracingly cold but refreshing.  The rocks were also slippery so we had to watch our step.  Even after lunch, we continued frolicking at the pools.  After this refreshing dip, we packed up and hailed a Calapan-bound jeepney to get home.
 
Tamaraw Waterfalls: Brgy. Villaflor, Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental

Tour of Calapan (Mindoro Oriental)

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From Calapan port, we all boarded tricycles which brought us to Ronnie’s 2-storey house which is located by the sea. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Ronnie’s elder sister Jing and their other relatives.  

At dining room with Ronnie (left) and Jing (center)
The porch overlooking the sea

Probably the only concrete house in the area, it had a spacious porch facing the sea (ideal for fishing and catching the sea breeze) and an airy roof deck where we had a panoramic view of the town, the sea and offshore islands.

View of Calapan Point
View of the town from the roof deck
View of offshore islands

After lunch, we all made a walking tour of the town proper.  At the town plaza, in front of the municipal hall, is a monument to a Mangyan youth.  There are also statues to our national heroes Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio as well local son Macario Adriatico, the first representative of Mindoro.

The town plaza

The Cathedral of the Holy Infant (Sto. Nino) is the seat of the Calapan Vicariate since October 3, 1951.  The original church, founded by Recollect Fr. Diego de la Madre in 1670, had two watchtowers.  It was torn down in 1959 to give way to the new cathedral. 

The Cathedral of the Holy Infant
After our sightseeing tour of the town center, we proceeded to the gray sand Aganhaw Beach which is located 4 kms. from the town proper.

Aganhaw Beach

After our sightseeing tour, we all proceeded to the house of Ronnie’s aunt where we had supper before returning home for a much needed rest.

My First Visit to Mindoro Oriental

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During the All Saints Day break, 8 year old Jandy and I joined Jandy’s TLC (The Learning Center) teachers Erwin Cifra, Glorain “Rainy” Canillas and Felipe Ronnie Martinez plus Rainy’s friends Lourdes “Lulu” Siguenza and Liezl Lumbao, on a tour of Mindoro Oriental, a first for both of us.  We plan to stay in Ronnie’s family home in Calapan, the capital of the province.  

L-R Erwin, Jandy, Rainy, Lulu & Liezl

From Manila, we all took the very early morning (4:30 AM) airconditioned  BLTB (Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus) bus bound for Batangas City.  The land trip took just 2.5 hrs. and we arrived at Batangas International Port in time to buy tickets and catch the next RORO (Roll On Roll Off) ship to Calapan.

On our way

Aside from passengers, these ancient, ocean-going ships also carry wheeled cargo such as cars, trucks, trailers and buses that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.  They are so named for their built-in ramps and doors that allow cargo be “rolled on” and “rolled off” the vessel when in port.

One of the islands we passed

The boat trip, via the Verde Island Passage (one of the busiest sea lanes in the country) took a slow 2.5 hours.  Still, it was scenic all the way as our passed a bevy of islands.  Just out of Batangas Port, we were awed by the rugged cliffs and white sand beaches of the 8-km. long, thickly vegetated Verde Island.  Then, as we approached Calapan Bay, we passed the much   smaller but equally beautiful Baco Chico Island, Pulong Gitna and Pulong Munti.  We arrived at Calapan port by 9:30 AM.