Bantog Backpackers

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

We rented a van when we visited the touristic places of Bohol. We decided to sleep at Panglao Island after that whole day exhausting but very fun tour. The island is 15 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City.

We woke up with this scenery

This is where we stayed for two nights in Panglao, Php1000/room beachfront

My daughter had a terrible asthma attack a night before going to Panglao, the sea breeze calmed her down...

it will be thriftier to bring food at the island, all the things and food and everything to be bought in Panglao are quite pricey...

Walking around Panglao in the morning is the perfect thing to do in the island

We just love the beach... beach lovers forever <3

Check the sand quality of Panglao in this picture guyz...

me, my hubby and my baby Janelle with Ninong Rowie

she's starting to walk all by herself

looking for a free buko

in front of Bohol Beach Club

dad and Janelle

We can only take photos at this deluxe resort because accommodation rates ranges from Php8,000 to Php14,000. Their rates here. Visit their official website at http://www.boholbeachclub.com.ph/index.html.

I also read a blog about a resort spa equally beautiful like the Bohol Beach Club. Panglao Island Nature Resort is an exclusive luxury beach resort in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol. Accommodations at Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa ranges from Php7,600 to Php 25,200... OMG! If you want some peace and quiet then this resort is for you. The place is offering a day tour for Php700 and maybe half of the price is consumable. For Php700 price one can already use their facilities like the infinity pool and their wonderful beach. There is also a cave within the resort property, the Cambagat Cave, where one can also explore and swim. Check the PINR link at www.ilink.ph/panglao-island-nature-resort

daddy's girl

I love you baby...

I really compared the sand quality of Panglao and that of Boracay. Panglao's sand quality is much finer than the latter. The sand is really talcum-like powdery white. There are a lot of seaweeds during morning but there are cleaners removing them everyday.

Bohol is so fortunate and blessed with numerous fine and white beaches. The most popular among them is the Alona Beach. It is a small and quiet one and a half kilometer beach located at the southwestern side of Panglao island. The other beaches are Dumaluan, Bikini, Momo and Doljo Beaches.

Panglao Island is one the main tourist destinations in the Philippines. Talking about Panglao most of the people immediately think about "Alona Beach". Similar to Boracay you can find an amazing white beach and crystal clear water. Unfortunately also like Boracay this place has lost lots of its former beauty. Every season more and more restaurants and bars are opened and the beach gets pretty crowded during the high season. Still diving around the island is one of the best of the Philippines. Especially Balicasag Island is really worth diving at. If you can avoid to go there in the very high season Alona Beach is still a beautiful place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panglao_Island

About 250 new species of crustaceans and 2500 new species of mollusks were found around the island. The discovery was the work of the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project. The project found that Panglao alone has more marine biodivesity than Japan and the Mediterranean sea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panglao_Island

The boatmen within the Panglao island vicinity will offer you an island hopping for Php1500 and above. Snorkeling gears and lifevest already included at that rate.

Buboy and Pau <3

Balicasag is a flat island four kilometers southwest of the Doljo Point off of Pangalo Reef, which is about 30-45 minutes from Panglao Island. Narrow reefs about nine to 49.5 meters wide, are one of the many reasons why Balicasag Island has gained popularity among many foreign and local divers.

Diver's Haven is a dive site that features an impressive array of fish and marine life. Another fascinating dive site is Turtle Point, a haven for (no surprise) turtles. Turtle Point lies on the eastern side of the island and features caves about 60 to 75 meters down. Located on the southwest side is the Cathedral Wall, and the north side is The Royal Garden. The Garden is profusely covered with corals that form a psychedelic and vibrant reef full of assorted tropical fish. Last, but not least is the Black Coral Forest, where one has the rare opportunity to swim through the black coral.
http://www.myboholguide.com/bohol-scuba.html#Balicasag_Island

An article on where to stay in bohol from budget accommodation, homestays and beach resorts, click here

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Ilocos Norte (Ilokano: Amianan nga Ilocos) is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.

Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian rule over the country during the latter half of his incumbency. The Marcoses enjoy a modicum of popularity in the province. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper class hotel and beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Norte

Before my flight back to Manila, I requested my officemate to take me to Paoay. The town is home to Paoay Church, Paoay Lake, and Malacañang of the North.

Paoay Church

The Church of Saint Augustine, commonly known as the Paoay Church, is the Roman Catholic Parish Church of the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. In 1993, the church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one best examples of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

Paoay church is prime example of Earthquake Baroque architecture, which is the Philippine interpretation of the European Baroque adapted to the seismic condition of the country. Destructive earthquakes are common and have destroyed earlier churches all throughout the country. Aside from Baroque, the church facade also exudes Javanese architecture reminiscent of Borobudur of Java.

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paoay_Church}

inside the cathedral


the bell tower of Paoay Church

the Neo classical architecture Ilocos Norte Capitol

you can notice the image of Mama Mary on the 3rd layer from the top

The Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag City in the province of Ilocos Norte is one of the first things you may spot upon entering the city proper. It’s a massive 45-meter bell tower said to be one of the tallest bell towers in the Philippines and was built by the Augustinians in 1612.

The tower has earned its “sinking” reputation because it is so heavy and it was build on sandy foundations that it is sinking into the ground. Stories mention that a person on horseback could enter the tower with ease back when it was built. Now, a person of normal height has to bend down just to enter the vaulted entrance.

http://www.vistapinas.com/article/sinking-bell-tower-of-laoag

a lunch treat from kuya Jun before my flight

time to go home ...

I stayed at Java Hotel during my five days stay in Ilocos.

For Ilocos Norte accommodations, particularly Laoag, click here.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

There are a lot of touristic places in Ilocos Norte. This province is blessed with a lot of interesting and amazing places. I was fortunate to travel Ilocos Norte once again. The first time we went here, we were not able to reach the beautiful places after Laoag. So when I learned that I will be coming back here I made sure that I will tour Kapurpurawan, Bangui and Pagudpud. There are more touristic places but my time is so limited so I was not able to visit the other sites.

The Kapurpurawan is located between two famous tourist spots Cape Bojeador and Bangui Windmills.

The once dusty and dirt road has become paved already so going to this place will be easier. There is an entrance fee of Php15 per person. Horse back riding is also a must-try in Kapurpurawan for only Php100.

the newly constructed wind mills

Kapurpurawan Rocks are rock formations created by forces of ocean and wind

with my friend Ate Oly

The highest portion of the rock formation had been cordoned because of some irresponsible tourists visiting the place. A lot of vandalism was observed and because of these that area became off-limits to the tourists.

Only one word for Kapurpurawan.... STUNNING!!!

I must say that Kapurpurawan is a must-site visit in Ilocos Norte. This is the best place I've seen in Ilocos Norte. Everything is just so amazing! The wind is so strong that they extended the wind mills in this area. Perfect views, perfect place, perfect sea breeze, perfect place for photography. Kapurpurawan really rocks!!!

There are a lot of souvenir items at Kapurpurawan from shirts to mini windmills items. The price is reasonable and affordable.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, that was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. It was first lit on March 30, 1892, and is set high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where early galleons used to sail by. After over 100 years, it still functions as a welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.

The light marks the northwestern-most point in Luzon. The northeastern-most being Cape Engaño Lighthouse on Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan.

The 66-foot-tall (20 m) octagonal stone tower, the most prominent structure in the vicinity, can be seen from as far away as Pasuquin town in the south and Bangui on the east on a clear day. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the highest-elevated nor tallest lighthouse in the Philippines. But the highest elevated still original and active Spanish era lighthouse in the country. Corregidor Lighthouse is higher at over 600 feet (180 m), and among the Spanish Colonial lighthouses, the tower of Cape Melville Lighthouse is the tallest at 90 feet (27 m). In Mindoro Strait, the recently erected modern tower at the Apo Reef Light Station rises to a height of 110 feet (34 m).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Bojeador_Lighthouse

Bangui Wind Mills

Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The wind farm uses 20 units of 70-metre (230 ft) high Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines, arranged on a single row stretching along a nine-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay, facing the South China Sea.

Phase I of the NorthWind power project in Bangui Bay consists of 15 wind turbines, each capable of producing electricity up to a maximum capacity of 1.65 MW, for a total of 24.75 MW. The 15 on-shore turbines are spaced 326 metres (1,070 ft) apart, each 70 metres (230 ft) high, with 41 metres (135 ft) long blades, with a rotor diameter of 82 metres (269 ft) and a wind swept area of 5,281 square metres (56,840 sq ft).

Phase II, was completed on August 2008, and added 5 more wind turbines with the same capacity, and brought the total capacity to 33 MW. All 20 turbines describes a graceful arc reflecting the shoreline of Bangui Bay, facing the South China Sea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui_wind_farm

Pagudpud is approximately 560 kilometers north of Manila. It can be reached 2 hours from Laoag City or 10 to 12 hours from Manila. The white sand beaches and the crystal blue water make Pagudpud a haven for tourists. The beach has been dubbed as the Boracay of the North. The local tourism of Pagudpud encouraged the homeowners to offer their houses for a place to stay for tourists. And for a lists of good home stay accommodations, click here. A stay can costs as low as Php230/person/day.