Showing posts with label Quezon Province. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quezon Province. Show all posts

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Kwebang Lampas, Puting Buhangin, Dampalitan and Borawan Islands

The original plan was to go to Borawan only, the popular island and beach destination in Quezon... When we went to the jump-off, we were given the rate for our island hopping.  It is Php1800 for 3 islands good for 8 persons.

 

How to get to Kwebang Lampas?
As i mentioned earlier, Borawan is our original plan so we went to Padre Burgos for the jump-off.  There are Lucena buses in Cubao, Pasay and in Buendia, bus fare Php 212 with 3-4 hours travel time.  From Lucena Grand Terminal, ride another bus going to Unisan. Get down to Brgy. Marao or Brgy. Basiao in Padre Burgos town with 1.5 hours travel time.  And from there hire a boat good for 3 islands already, Kwebang Lampas, Dampalitan Island and Borawan Island. 

But if Kwebang Lampas is your only destination. Ride Naga, Daet or Tagkawayan buses in Cubao or Pasay and tell the conductor to drop you at Pagbilao town proper.  From there ride jeepney going to Brgy. Polo.  Tell the driver that you will be going to Kwebang Lampas.  You will arrive at the Pagbilao Power Plant area (Capascapas).  And from there you have to walk/trek for around 20 minutes or ride another trike.    
jump off at Padre Burgos, Quezon
one of the islands that you will see along island hopping
Manong bangkero said that we will go first to the farthest, and that is Pagbilao Grande Island...in Kwebang Lampas and Puting Buhangin.

another great view along island hopping
just arrived!
 

 

cottages at Kwebang Lampas
Kwebang Lampas Rates:
Entrance Fee - Php 80 
Tent Space - Php 200
Cottage Fee - Php 350
CR - Php 2/Php 1
Unlimited CR - Php 70 (with ligo)

Puting Buhangin refers to the whole array of beaches at Pagbilao Grande Island.  Kwebang Lampas is the cave on the right side of the beach.  The cave has two openings and that is where the name Kwebang "Lampas" came from, because it is "lampasan".  






the other side of the cave
  
rock formations in Puting Buhangin
view from the cave
 

Other activities in Puting Buhangin other than swimming...

volleyball with imaginary net

sun bathing

Off to second island.... Dampalitan Island

camping can be great at Dampalitan Island
Dampalitan resembles Anawangin Cove with plenty of Agoho trees (pine-tree like).  It is an hour boat travel from Puting Buhangin.

Dampalitan Rates:
Entrance Fee - Php 60
Tent space - Php 100
Kubo - Php 850

3rd island - Borawan Island



Borawan was named after two great islands, BORAcay and palaWAN.  From afar, limestone cliffs and rock formations looks so amazing and compared to those of Palawan. The sand is white though not as fine as Boracay.  But still Borawan can be a good escape from a week's work.  Do not expect too much but the beach is clean and very well maintained. 



Borawan Rates
price rates as of June 2016
Amazed by the neatness and cleanliness of the place.  The water is clear and swimmable up to the areas covered with net.  If you swim outside the net, be prepared to be stung by a lot of jellyfish.  Water can be murky especially if you arrive with a lot of tourists.

There are kayaks and bamboo rafts to explore the island.  There is also a net meant for volleyball playing.



just enjoyed the photo shooting
 

Boat rate for Borawan only is Php 800 good for 8 persons.  If you will explore all the three islands, standard boat rate is Php 1,800. Contact Liza Salenguay at 0907-5486827/0905-1934162 or Shaionie "Aya" Dalisay at 0915-2569255.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Pahiyas Festival in Lucban

Pahiyas is one of the biggest and most colorful festival in the Philippines.  It is the most festive festival I've ever attended!  The color explosion is simply awesome and great!


Lucban, Quezon celebrates the Pahiyas Festival every 15th of May in honor of the patron saint of the farmers, San Isidro Labrador.  

Though I am alone traveling for the first time, still I was able to enjoy the view and take unlimited photos.  I started really early when crowd is still manageable.  This year the fiesta falls on a Sunday. The coming of people admiring for the decorations will be huge.  Started at 5:30 am and ended at 8:30am.  If you started late you have to struggle to other turistas for picture taking. I was still also able to attend the mass at the cathedral. By 8am the people are already everywhere....


How to get to Lucban, Quezon?
Through private vehicles:
Take South Luzon Express Highway and exit in any of the following:
1. Exit at 52a - Lucena exit
Pass the following towns : Sto. Tomas- Alaminos- San Pablo- Tiaong- Candelaria- Sariaya -Lucena City-Tayabas-Lucban

2. Exit at 52b - Calamba exit
Pass the following towns : Calamba - Bay - Pila - Sta. Cruz - Pagsanjan - Cavinti - Luisiana - Lucban

By public transportation:
There are Lucena bound buses in Cubao, Pasay and Alabang and LRT Buendia. From Lucena ride a jeep going to Lucban.

There are also Sta Cruz buses in Kamuning and LRT Buendia and from there ride a jeep going to Lucban.




households preparing for their decor
According to stories that in 1595, the town's first parish priest, Father Miguel de Talavera, who was instrumentatl in the construction of a wooden church in Barrio Kulapi, had the farmers bring all their harvest to the church for blessing.  The farmers believed that this rite was necessary because they were convinced that failure to observe it could mean drought, famine and bad luck for the farmers in Lucban.







Residents decorate their houses with fresh fruits, vegetables and colorful kiping.  Kiping is a colored paper made from rice.  It is edible.

 








colorful lambanogs selling in the streets


Don't forget to attend mass at Saint Louis, Bishop of Tolouse Parish Church in Lucban.  The church was constructed in 1595 but was ruined by fires in 1733.  The renovated church was completed in 1738.  Efforts have been made to preserve the church exteriors but the interiors have been changed already.





The procession passing by the streets with Pahiyas decors to bless them fruitfully throughout the year.












the Lucbanin Farmers

Truly, it was a Walk To Remember...

Pasalubong Center: 

 Try also the garlicky and less sweeter taste of Lucban Longanisa.


Other Pahiyas treats are the "Higantes" Lucban version.

The Lucban Tourist Information Center near the cathedral.


Other Places of Interest in Lucban:
Kamay ni Hesus with 292 steps on the left and 278 steps on the right ascent. It has the 50-ft image of Jesus Christ when you reach the top.  Other places with meditative prayers are Luklukan ni Maria and Depictions of the 20 mysteries of the Holy Rosary, Angels Hill and Garden of Eden.  It was built in 2005 by the healing Priest Father Joey Faller.

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