Thursday, June 13, 2013

Zamboanga City : Sta. Cruz Island, the Pink beach!

Sta Cruz Island, another beach destination after our Malamawi Island  trip in Basilan on a Saturday of November, 2012. You can go directly to Paseo del Mar if planning to go to Sta. Cruz Island.  You need not to reserve anymore at Department of Tourism Office, there are already DOT employees/personnel at the berthing point.  One just needs to register their names before proceeding to the trip.  DOT employees are so nice and advised us that we can look for some persons who will also go to the island if we want to share the Php1000 boat fee.  Boat fee already includes an escort.  Maximum capacity of the boat is 10 persons. And then you have to add Php25 entrance fee each and Php10 terminal fee.
baby James at Paseo del Mar

Kuya Raymond Lim, personnel from Dept. of Tourism Zamboanga City told us that most of the Zamboangueños have'nt been to Sta Cruz Island because of security reasons, even his family has'nt set foot on this pinkish sand of the island... 

at the berthing point

with our escort in going to the island

At pagdating naman po ng island mas marami pa po military personnel to make sure that the tourists are safe.

 


Walang dapat sayanging oras...okay pose na =)



napapapikit sa init =)



vintas


come here bebe ko =)




There's a souvenir shop within the beach, these boats, vintas are sold at Php150

Oha!

There are cottages in the island... the prices are Php100, 200 and 500

                            The Little Sta. Cruz Island so near from the Pink Island

I wanted to go to Little Sta. Cruz Island, the baby of Sta. Cruz Island. But we learned that the island is a protected area and oftentimes used by military men.  It was used as a Balikatan Exercise area.  If you insist on visiting the area, one needs to coordinate with the PNPs, and an escort will accompany you in going to the little island.  For safety reasons it is better to view the island from afar.  Wag na makulit, hehe =) 


The reason why the beach became pink is because of the crushed red-organ pipe corals... There are only a few pink beach in the whole world at dapat di palagpasin ang pagpunta sa Sta Cruz Island kapag nakarating ng Zamboanga City =)


                                                   going back to Paseo del Mar

Sta. Cruz Island conquered! Yiheeee!!!  Next time sama ka.  Magugulo nga lang kami, hehehe=)

We're just going to take a nap and then stroll Zamboanga City again...Gracias!

Zamboanga City: Asia's Latin City

We booked our tickets via Cebu Pacific thru their 26pesos seat sale in February of 2012. On top of my list is Surigao and Coron. The usual…ubos agad mga ganung destinations. Why not try Zamboanga City? We got it at Php1066/person roundtrip 

At NAIA Terminal...checking in =)

I still have plenty of time to research since our travel is 9 months away.  I read some blogs about the city and learned that there are a number of must-see places in Asia’s  Latin City, Zamboanga.
Upon arriving at Zamboanga airport

It feels so good to listen to Zamboangueños when they talk.  A music to my ears.  They were speaking Chavacano, a Spanish creole, spoken by 80% of the population.


                                                      at Hermosa Hotel

We arrived on a Friday night in Zamboanga City and booked our accommodation at Hermosa Hotel for 3 nights at Php850/night good for the 6 members of my family =). Hermosa Hotel is located at Mayor Jaldon Street contact numbers are (062) 991 2040-42.  Standard rooms are at Php700, deluxe rooms at Php850.  The hotel has an AC, private toilet & bath and a cable tv.  The hotel is just walking distance from Plaza Pershing, City Hall and some malls.

 
Southway Square Mall

On the next day we proceeded to Canelar to meet our guide, Kuya Jungjung Corpuz in crossing Isabela City, Basilan.  After reaching Isabela City, we just bought our food at Jollibee Basilan and proceeded to Malamawi Island, Isabela.  After our roundtrip lakwatsa at Isabela, we scheduled the following day in going to the Pink Island, Zamboanga City.

The main modes of transportation in the city are tricycles and jeepneys.  A friendly tip, some tricycle drivers are taking advantage in asking for a high fare even if the trip doesn’t even cover a kilometer.  Never tell the driver that your destination is a hotel, they will notice that you are a tourist and ask for a higher fare. We paid Php100 on our first tryk ride, and on the following day we find ourselves walking to tourist destinations which made my kids “simangot” all the time, hehehe =). While walking "uy yung pang tricycle pambili na lang ng ice cream".  When we ride a tryk again the following day, we just said to the driver that he drop us to PLDT, an establishment near our hotel… we paid Php50.

food stall near Hermosa Hotel

Zamboanga City Hall


After our Pink Island adventure on a Sunday morning, we just took a nap at the hotel and began walking.  We passed through Ateneo de Zamboanga and Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, the biggest cathedral I've ever been.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception

We continued walking to Fort Pilar to attend a Sunday mass. Thank GOD for keeping us safe although we keep on insisting on going to these places. The number of people attending the mass can prove that although this is a Muslim populated place, there are still a number of Catholics in the city.
Sunday mass at Fort Pilar
lighting our candles at Fort Pilar
After mass, we proceeded to Paseo del Mar.  So lively at night!  There’s also a free musical fountain show every night. Paseo del Mar is a seafront park located near Fort Pilar.  We ate at “Barcode”.  Food so affordable and so yummy =)

Paseo del Mar at night

On our last day in Zamboanga City, the kids woke up so early so we can proceed immediately at Pasonanca Park.  We walked from Hermosa Hotel to Pueblo and look for a jeepney in going to Pasonanca, fare Php10.  There's no entrance fee at the park.
 
boy scout Josh at Pasonanca Park

Pasonanca Park is approximately 5.3 kilometers north of City Hall and is dubbed as
 "Barrio dela Paz"

the teepees at Pasonanca Park where the boyscouts/girlscouts can do some outdoor camping

 the cool ambience of the park

One can spend a night at this tree house.  It has all the amenities of a mini hotel 


This park is built to commemorate the 24 Filipino boy scouts who died in a plane crash in India while they were on their way to attend a Jamboree in Greece in 1963.




The nearby place is the Butterfly Garden located at Jardin de Maria Clara, entrance fee is Php10.  This garden park was named after the late mayor Maria Clara Lobregat.  It houses floral and butterfly species.  It also has an aviary park that rooms eagles, parrots and turkeys.

 

After this we came back to Pueblo to eat at Jollibee of course because that’s what my little boy always ask but deep inside I really wanted to try Satti, Zamboanga’s pride. Afterwards we proceeded to Yakan Weaving Village.  We looked for Upper Calarian jeepneys in Pueblo, the jeepney terminal is in front of the public market and near police station.  We paid Php12 each for the fare.  At Yakan Weaving Village, where the art of weaving is famous of, have used plants like pineapple and abaca converted into fibers as basic material for weaving. Using herbal extracts from leaves, roots and barks, the Yakans dyed the fibers and produced colorful combinations and intricate designs (wikipedia).
 
We bought 3 shawls at Php100 each and a native wallet at Php50.
 
We forgot her name but you can see her at Yakan Weaving Village...so accomodating =)

yakan weaver

We’re running out of time, we haven’t visited yet the famous “Barter Trade”.  We just learned that it is just a walk away from Hermosa Hotel.  I have bought plenty of chocolates at a very affordable price.  A box of chocolate costs around Php90-120/box.  I bought 4 boxes of chocolates at Php415. 

 
Tryk fare to airport is only Php8 each, we paid Php32.  Terminal fee at the airport is Php40. 

Gracias! Zamboanga City =)

We will be back here if time permits.  Tawi tawi is also on our lists, and we have to drop by Zamboanga City in going to Tawi Tawi. Wish! Wish! Sana may mag sponsor ng plane tickets, hehe =)
 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Basilan : Isabela City

Isabela City is the capital of Basilan.  The province of Basilan belongs to ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) but the city of Isabela is administered as part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.  The city is located on the northern shore of Basilan.  Across the Basilan Strait to the north is Zamboanga City. (wikipedia).

The native language is Chavacano, a Spanish creole, understood by 80% of the population.

Here are some of basic Chavacano
Yes - Si!
No - No!
Good morning! - Buenos Dias!
Good Afternoon! - Buenas Tardes!
How are you? - Quetal 'tu?
How much is this? - Cuanto 'ste?
Thank you! - Gracias!
Welcome - Bienvenidos!

How to get to Isabela, Basilan:
Ride a fastcraft ferry at  Zamboanga City for an hour at Php 150, kids half fare.  Regular ferry fares are at Php 100 and will take an hour and a half to reach Isabela, kids' rates are at Php 40.  
 

on board Weesam Express Fastcraft

arrival at Isabela Port

at Isabela Port with my kids


in front of Basilan Provincial Capitol



Yahoooo!!! there's a Jollibee store in Basilan... Jollibee will always be a kid's haven wherever it may be located...
my kids at Jollibee playground

Jollibee's 500th store: Jollibee Basilan opened in early 2005

bancas crossing Malamawi

After enjoying Malamawi Island, we roam around Isabela...I just used my point and shoot camera for the other locals not to notice us in taking pictures.

the City Hall of Isabela

Basilan Provincial Capitol

Basilan's map at the back located at the city plaza
vintas
the altar with an intricate mosaic from Italy

Sta. Isabel Cathedral has been bombed several times and most of the time there are armed personnel guarding some of the gates of the church to monitor closely the people entering the area. 


A Muslim area but you'll be surprised that there is a large number of  Catholics in  Isabela.  Roughly there are 73% Roman Catholics and only 27% Muslims.  Yakans and Tausugs are predominantly Muslims while Chavacanos are Christians. 

Muslims gathered outside Sta. Isabel Cathedral, proving that Muslims and Christians in Basilan are in good terms.

our service jeep owned by Poe Reynera, the Manager of Malamawi White Beach

We braved to go to Basilan because we have a local guide in going around Isabela.  You can also message thru his blogs Sir Dong Ho, a travel blogger, who is also a native of Basilan.  I came to know Sir Bobby Reynera in Sir Dong's blog and he commented that it is safe to go to Basilan, not knowing that he is the owner of the 11 hectare Malamawi White Beach and the 48.9 hectares on the northern end of Malamawi Island located on top of the mountain.  He is developing it for future tourism purposes to somehow address the negative image of Isabela.  A true hearted Basileño, he tried to serve his fellow Basileños by running at the local elections last May 2013 as a vice mayor of the city but sadly he loss.  He has generated jobs by hiring some Badjaos to maintain his beach resort and Hacienda Bobby Rey.  

Mr Reynera has  provided us with a guide starting from Zamboanga City port up to Malamawi White Beach in Isabela City.  And surprisingly it is the Manager of the White Beach, kuya Poe Reynera, together with his son, who fetched us at the port.  If travelling alone or in a group it is better to have a local guide so that the guide will only roam you around safe places. Or better contact Dept. of Tourism Isabela when going to the city.


going back to Zamboanga City
the regular ferry at Php100 for adults and Php40
For travel assistance :
* Hja. Gigi Carama-Junudi, Basilan Provincial Tourism Officer, Provincial Capitol Building,
   Isabela City, Basilan.
* Jayson Tubil, Isabela City Tourism Officer, Isabela City Hall Complex, Isabela City, Basilan.


Bobby Reynera - Owner of Malamawi White Beach - 0916-7138518

You can also visit Basilan's official tourism website at
http://basilan.gov.ph/index.php/tourism-basilan


We also visited  Malamawi Island
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