Photo by Allan Barredo
It is frustrating that most posts on Cagbalete are reduced to meaningless pictures of people. Most filipinos probably take that "picture is worth a thousand words" thing too seriously - or just too lazy to make a proper informative entry. In any case, I hope this won't trun out to be one of those meaningless posts...This is my first time to go to Mauban( GPS coordinates 14°11'17"N 121°43'50"E). It may look like a big city on GoogleEarth but its small and most streets barely fit two vehicles side by side. We took two cars and parked them in the garage of our host and owner of Villa Cleofas Mr. Tonet Reyeg.
Public transport leaves the Mauban port at 10am and then at 4pm (twice a day).
The fee is 30pesos per head. We brought about 100kilograms of gear with us. This includes food rations for 3 days, tents, cooking and eating paraphernalia, charcoal, gas lamp etc... and personal belongings.
There is no extra charge for bringing a lot of stuff but give the head port carrier a little something for loading it all into the banka.
It is only about 13kilometers from the Mauban port to the Cagbalete public transport drop off. However, since the banka has to go directly against the current (waves are large so prepare to get wet), the travel time from Mauban to Cagbalete totals approx. 50minutes. Whereas the travel time back to Mauban will only take about 30minutes.
Please understand that these estimates are valid only during the (RP)summer months when the wind blows from the East.
Disembarking from the boat on Cagbalete Island is similar to the way one disembarks from a banka on Boracay when there used to be a Station1,2 & 3. The public transport banka is huge and can carry about 50 people with ease. A boat this large cannot dock properly without a docking port and there is none on this island. Both the Neneng(bigger boat owned by Lito Durante) and the Arthur2 stop a distance from the shore and passengers must disembark onto a small dinghy and proceed towards the shore.
It is sad that the Cagbalete port is overrun by what can only be considered as "squatters". This is one of the best parts of the island because water recedes only slightly during the low tide thus making the shores an excellent swimming area.
The squatters have filled the shores with garbage and one even setup a pigpen (babuyan) right on the shoreline. What a waste of prime beachfront. What are the local government units doing about this I wonder? Locals must be taught not to indiscriminately throw garbage around.
As you can see from the map above (taken from Google Earth), one needs to hike about 1.4kilometers to reach the resort from the port of Cagbalete. We rented a small boat where we loaded all the gear for transport(300pesos one way but you can negotiate if you plan to arrange pickup from same boat) to the Villa Cleofas resort while the rest of the group proceeded on foot.
(photos below by AllanBarredo on NikonD50 April 28, 2007)
Sulit na yung 300 as you can see from the third image that the route from the port or sabang to villa cleofas totals approx. 10 kilometers as the boat has to go around the shallow portions.
(photos below by AllanBarredo on NikonD50 April 28, 2007)
As usual, low budget lang kami so we brought camping supplies like food and tents. It turns out they were renting a small open cottage good for 8 for only 900 pesos. They also had about 6 common toilet and bath on the resort. We rented one open cottage and setup our camp by the shore instead of opting to sleep in the cottage.
What I like about this resort is that the wind never stops blowing. In fact, I heard that studies have been done on the feasibility of erecting wind powered generators. Yes, the island is without power and relies on portable diesel generators which are shut down at about 12midnight.
Another plus is that the resort owners recognize the need for silence. Loud booming noises are not allowed after 10pm.
(photos below by AllanBarredo on NikonD50 April 28, 2007)
There are no corals to be seen around any of the resorts. One needs to take a banka to nearby locations to enjoy those. We did not do that this time so I cannot comment on whether or not they have good snorkling areas. The wide open space left by the low tide is great for playing soccer as some parts are pure sand with little or no rocks at all.
It would be a good idea to charter a banka to bring you further up the island. I have not tried this myself but there seems to be some good beaches over there.
(photos below by AllanBarredo on NikonD50 April 28, 2007)
The beachfront sand is very soft and "white" for the most part. One can take a long stroll along the beachline on a moonlit night as the sand, because of its good quality, is pretty much illuminated even by a quarter moon just like in Boracay.
(photos below by AllanBarredo on NikonD50 April 29, 2007)
Prices are about the same on both resorts I know. Ambiance is better at the Pansacola resort but it may get a bit hot in the evenings there as they are situated on the south-side of the island and the wind blows from the East. However, the Pansacola resort structures are all made of wood. Their big room is rented out at 2,500 (good for 20pax), medium rooms at 1000 to 1500 (good for 8 to 10pax) and small open sleeping ground at 500pesos(good for 4pax). All come with free tables and cooking area. Toilets are shared. The owners's name and contact numbers are found below
Rommel Pansacola
Cagbalete Island Beach Resort
LandLine#042-784-0158
cel# 0928-505-8633
(photos below by AllanBarredo on NikonD50 April 28, 2007)
Villa Cleofas accomodations may be seen here http://www.cagbalete.com/accommodations.htm
The host and hostess of villa cleofas are truly very kind and attentive to their guests. As I mentioned before, I really like their resort because the wind never stops blowing so its very nice and cool even when the sun is at its hottest. The only setback is that the water recedes half a kilometer from shore on both resorts during low tide.
Tonet/Tess T. Reyeg
Villa Cleofas
landline : Home (+632) 928-7934 Office: ( +632) 754-1063
mobile: (+63) 917-8140496 /(+63) 917-8143475
E-mail: Winston.Reyeg@pmintl.com
(photos below by AllanBarredo on NikonD50 April 28, 2007)
Directions to Mauban can be seen here http://www.cagbalete.com/howtogetthere.htm
118 comments:
Very nice place. The scenes is really beautiful, I hope that someday I will be there to see its beauty.
Keep visiting our own beauty in Philippines.
thanks heartsees. maganda talaga dun. hindi kita dito pero we pitched our tents on the sand, super lambot. sarap matulog... hehe. Tapos maski summer eh malamig kasi hindi humihinto ang hangin. truly a nice place to relax and unwind.
thanks for posting infos about cagbalete. it was so informative with matching perfect shots makes it a must see destination.
i along with my friends are visiting the island this wednesday.
hope you keep on posting your future adventure...
you are most welcome mhie. i hope you enjoy cagbalete. It is a GREAT place to camp and relax. you can still catch the continuous winds from the north east (amihan) until the end of april. stay at the villa cleofas side as the winds are in their favor. mainit sa pensacola at this time of year until habagat winds come.
i'm back from cagbalete. i have explored most of our islands but it's the first time i've seen such vast sand on low tide. and with its serene ambiance and unspoiled beauty wooh!!!...wala kong masabi kundi babalik ako this april : )
thanks again.
nice! I'm glad you enjoyed your trip!
hi! i've been going to cagbalete since i was a kid because my dad's family owns some properties there. i'm thrilled when i hear of people who appreciate it for what it truly is... a beautiful, natural place where you can relax and get away from all the trappings of modern life. thank you for your kind words about the island and i hope that this kind of positive publicity would encourage our government and NGO's to preserve the island's pristine beaches and natural resources. hope you would come back to the island and take more beautiful pictures, as i am one of the people who are guilty of taking "people pictures" when i'm there. just not talented, i guess. hehe. cheers!
oh yes! the lambanog from the island is really good. even my friends who were scared to try it at the beginning ended up loving the stuff. no hangover pa! i am with you regarding the squatters. I even contacted WWF to ask for their assistance(educating the inhabitants about how to care for the environment, teach them other means of livelihood so they don't have to resort to dynamite fishing, etc.) but I suppose they have their hands full at the moment. Cagbalete has been getting a lot of attention from the media though, which seems to be pressuring the local government to take care of the island, too. that's also added revenue for them if it becomes a tourist destination, right?
thanks again and hope to see you at cagbalete this summer.
yes, definitely an added revenue if they just make sure the prime beach fronts are maintained. I really hope I can go back this summer kasi ubos na rin lambanog ko eh...hehe...
hi
sabi mo the waves are big so prepare to get wet. I want to go to cagbalete but i am scared to ride on a banca on open seas and the trip could take as much as one hour. Please tell me, is it safe?
thanks
hello,
The bangka is quite big as you can see in the pictures. Even the big waves did not move it so much. Don't worry, its quite safe. There are life vests available too if you care to wear one.
hi how much is the bus ride going to lucena? thanks.
hello anonymous(I wish you left your name?). The bus ride is around 290pesos. You can get more info from this site http://www.cagbalete.com/howtogetthere.htm
hi, i am a daughter who owns the pensacola, actually it's pansacola:)) and we have not yet really decided with our resort name as u can see:p well, anyway.. hi!!:)) have you really been there and met my dad na?? when?:)) my dad, told me, some of our guests seen the place because of the internet daw so i decided to check all the sites that our resort was featured:) and im glad i've seen ours here:) thanks anyway.. i also want to inform that my dad changed his no. already but still using the cell no. that was posted, but to be sure.. u could also contact him for resevation and information in 09285058633:) thanks a million:))
Hi Katkat! Yes! I've seen and talked with your dad last April29,2007. I don't know if he still remembers me but I was with another amateur-photographer friend of mine and he was the one taking pictures while I took notes. It was dusk and he graciously entertained our questions. I told him I'd like to feature it in my blog and I guess this is where some of your guests read about your resort. I have a picture of your dad but he had his shirt off and I didn't know if he would let me post that. Its funny that some of your dogs accompanied us all the way to VillaCleofas that night and then hiked to Sabang with us the next day. Ang babait ng dogs nyo :) hehe... Sorry for the misspelling, I'll correct that soon but forgive the misspelled names in the images kasi baka di ko ma correct yun kaagad. Thanks for the new number!
the resort is beautiful and all that, but the owner is a different story.
recently me and 14 of my college friends held a reunion over there at the resort. we were so disappointed by the way the owner handle our comments. he was so arrogant. maybe because he thought that we were still kids or something. we were never a priority in the resort because of that. our cottage good for 15 persons had only 3 matress. whats wrong with that picture? 15 persons and 3 matresses.
a word of caution bring an adult then maybe you'll get some respect or atleast some attention in there coz in our experience we were treated like kids. by the way were all college graduates and most of us are proffesionals.
for the owner you said you have 13years experience and all other crap. in the bussiness you do, it doesnt matter if its 50 years. the way you handle us for the small things we ask is very arrogant and i must say even disturbing to most of us or all of us.
need a good place to stay in cagbalete i highly recommend Villa Cleofas we were there 3 weeks before pan"suck"ola resort.
cheers!
Thats really too bad... if the room is good for 15persons then it should have an equal amount of mattresses, or at least half that if the mats are big enough for two. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I hope you were still able to enjoy the sun and sea.
yes, i truly agree with what "anonymous" said in the previous post.
we had a good time and enjoyed, however, we were not treated the way we were supposed to. since we were low on budget, we decided to bring our own food instead of having our food catered. one stff even told us, "hindi kasi kayo nagpa-cater eh kaya wala kaming pakialam sa inyo...kayo ang bahala sa sarili nyo..." is this the way you should treat your guests/customers?
one more thing, its really hard to deal with the owner. magandang kausap sa telepono pero tinatago naman pala ang tunay na kulay. we were just asking about a certain thing and he already told us that we were accusing him of not being true to his word. that's why we asked so that things will be clarified. personal umatake yan! hindi na po yata tama yun mr. pansacola. akala namin mataas ang pinagaralan nyo pero mukhang hindi yata. you know, respect begets respect. and this is not age-bound! the words that you have said were not of an educated and good-hearted person.
well, comparing villa cleofas and pan'suck'ola, we will still choose villa cleofas where people are nice and accomodating. the experience is much more enjoyable when people around you are good and warm-hearted.
aja!
Thank you for your comment purplepinkblue! Budget outings are not only for the young. The very reason for this blog is to introduce everyone to budget outings and camping as an alternative to expensive resorts. As I've written in this blog, not only did we bring our own food but we brought our own tents to VillaCleofas. Mr.Tonet of VillaCleofas even lent us their kitchen utensils and pots. I hope Mr.Pansacola or Katkat, Mr.Pansacola's daughter, can shed some light on this issue. Is there truly some discrimination against visitors who bring their own food and/or tents? If so, then this issue needs to be addressed.
yes indeed sir demeter when we were in villa cleofas the kitchen and all utensils were lent to us aswell and compare to the matresses in villa cleofas we rented the cottage good for 8 persons we were drowning in matresses it was like we were only 7people but the whole floor of the cottage was covered in matresses! good for atleast 10-12persons, also we did enjoy the sun and the beach before all this happened ty for asking :)
I too would really love to hear their side of why such outburst of words came from them and their choice of words adressing us.
We chose a budget outing but it doesnt mean we cant pay.
Looks like money dictates what attention or accomodation one should get if that was the case we should have gone to villa cleofas instead.
we just tried pansacola and regreted it. should have tried sto.nino resort instead. by the way sir demeter you didnt post in your blog about sto.nino resort, as far as i know there are 3 resorts in cagbalete namely villa cleofas,sto.nino and pan"suck"ola.
to the owner again 13years doesnt make you perfect in the bussiness and it doesnt automatically say you been there long enough to know everything. remember its not you the owner who says good reputation about your own resort, BUT the customers who have been there and experienced it. then because of that i must say 13years of bussiness sure is a joke or an exaggeration.
to mr.pansacola please do comment on this maybe your choice of words would be different considering this is a public blog.
again cheers!
yes purpleinkblue i remember na sinabi nung isa babae dun sa pan"suck"ola na "hindi naman namin kayo pakain or cater so wala kami pakialam sa inyo!" tama ba naman yun? sa mga nagbabasa dito sa blog tama ba naman na ganyan ang sabihin sa isang customer ng resort. nagbabayad din naman kami ah.
so kung ganun din lng naman pla ang usapan dapat pala dun na nga lng kami sa villa cleofas. Pasensya na hindi kami nagpacater sa inyo d tuloy kayo kumita mr.pansacola. next time po pa cater na kami sa inyo. oops would there be a next time... i dont think so!
13years na pala sila sa resort na yun tapos courtesy lng eh wala pa para sa mga customer. sabi nga nila eh so wat kung 13years na kayo sa business d nga naman kayo ang magsasabi na wow dito na kayo sa resort namin maganda! ang magsasabi nyan eh hindi yung tagal na 13years kung hindi yung ilang araw na experience ng customer sa resort nyo!
pasensya na po dito ko nlng nailabas ang galit ko.
anonymous, I've already texted mr.pansacola re:this matter. Lets just wait for his side in the days to come. Now regarding Sto.Nino resort. I passed by two resorts on the way to the Pansacola establishment but I was not able to stop by. I would appreciate any information on these resorts (accomodations, prices, ok to camp and/or bring ur own food, ambience etc...) - especially some contact numbers. Any information you have would be great. Thanks
Hello nimitz. I can't be sure pero siguro konting misunderstanding lang ito. Lets wait for Mr.Pansacola to give us his side. And lets try to reduce hurtful words to a minimum kasi maraming nagbabasa nito okay? It is clear that you guys are hurt, I know the feeling. However, I believe in fairness and that there are always two sides to a story.
hi sir demeter yes i have info on sto.nino resort they gave me a price and accomodation list. my gf have it ill post it asap. i goodside about sto.nino is they have aircon rooms good for someone who have kids or babies also the river is right beside/behind there resort. downside is they are inside the treeline and far from the beachfront.
regarding the resort issue it is clearly a misunderstanding that i agree with you sir demeter. but the words he choose to say to us and the tone of his voice is a different matter. he sounded very arrogant to the point even saying this words i qoute "13 years na ko sa bussiness ngayon lng ako nakarinig ng ganyan, kung makakapunta ko dyan ngayon eh coconfrontahin ko kayo!" that what he said in a tone that is very "mayabang" for me. and his ending words to my gf is "nene ayusin mo ang tingin mo sa buhay bata ka pa" that were the words that made me angry. mr.pansacola for your information my gf is not a kid if you should know his education im willing to bet is better than you. a graduate of UP and soon to be a doctor of UST. so please you should be the one fixing your attitude. sir demeter i apologize for the post of my friend nimitz maybe he couldnt control his emotions. i also inform all of my friends who were in the incident about this blog discussion so they could follow-up on the issue or comment themselves.
also yes i myself heard someone from the staff say those words "hindi naman namin kayo pakain, kaya wala kami pakialam sa inyo" i told this to my father and he was very angry, he wants to call mr.pansacola and give him a piece of his mind but that wouldnt be fair to mr.pansacola without hearing his side.
i too sir believe in fairness so that why ty for texting him and informing him. again i want to hear what he will say to us.
i loved our stay here.. well, almost..
we went here just this weekend.. love the beach, the sand, the sunshine, the river! though the long walks were really tiring, we enjoyed the picturesque views.. sadly, we're not lucky enough to see any star fish nor sea urchins..
i got really fond with the sea.. the low tide was really LOW that it almost looked like a desert.. when we went here, the sea was really calm so we didn't experience the big waves as mentioned on the previous blogs.. we just lay on the beach (during high tide), some 200-300meters from the shore, while waiting for the next wave.
the good thing here is that the place is really quiet and it's a perfect place to take a break from work or school.. surely, i'm going back to this island, but not at pansacola again.. maybe we'll try sto.niño or villa cleofas instead.. hopefully they will have BETTER SERVICE there than pansacola.. we we're really frustrated on how they treated us.. anyway, im waiting for his side on this story... i think we deserve some explanation, he ALMOST ruined our vacation anyway!
for the other readers of this blog.. cagbalete island is truly a must-see place! piece of advice: be wise on picking the place to stay..
happy vacation!
To anonymous: Thank you for posting that info on Sto.Nino resort. Mr.Pansacola has already called me up and said that either he or his daughter Kat will voice out their side in the coming days.
To Skittsyple, thank you for your entry. I am happy that young people like you make it a point to take time and visit these beautiful islands!
you're welcome demeter..
i got really fond of the island.. hopefully the people there would maintain its beauty and would really preserve it..
when we were walking back from the river to our resort, we heard a loud sound of explosion from the sea.. and i do pray that it's not dynamite fishing.. if you know somebody who could see to it that the sea and the creatures living on it will be protected please do encourage them to protect the sea.. thank you sir! :)
it's really a nice place!
for the other readers.. check out this site: www.purpleinkblot.multiply.com, i posted our pictures on the island.. visit the beautiful place sometimes!
i would really love to hear from their side sir demeter. i dont want this issue to be a one sided one favoring us. but it will be much appreciated if mr.pansacola will be the one giving out his side not his daughter. i doubt his daughter know what really happened.
anyways any response from their side is much better than nothing.
as i promised sir demeter info on sto.nino resort.
MVT STO.NINO BEACH RESORT
standard room w/e-fan- 1.5k a day
in excess of 4 adntl 150 per head
(including children)
deluxe room aircon- 2k a day
in excess of 2 adntl of 250 per head
bahay-kubo with room
2-5 persons- 1k
cottage along the sea:
small- good for 20- 500php
big- good for 30- 1k
entrance fee per person from 7:00am to 6:00pm - 100php
(for guest who will just go swimming, sight seeing and picnic)
contact numbers:
Fely 09217275398
0427841036
Ryan 09108823346
thats all the info sir demeter.
Thank you for that valuable info anonymous. I've texted Mr.Pansacola again today. Hopefully he will comment on this soon.
Id like to thank you, Demeter for this interesting and informative forum, made more colorful recently by my ‘ornery’ behavior. I must have gotten off the wrong side of my bed that day, made more likely by the fact that it has only one good side to get off from. To the guys rubbed the wrong way by the tone of the voice, mea culpa. But you are right, I should explain. Please feel free to contradict if what I may say are not true, according to your experience that day. First, let me tell you, none of our ‘staff’ have a degree or have even finished high school, which may explain why they may have some trouble communicating, but they do what is required and of course, are friendly to guests. We don’t have what you may call a guest relations person, but the old lady who gives you the mattresses etc, and calls everyone bunso, resembles that. Our sleeping arrangements are by group, so we have wide mattresses that can sometimes sleep 4. She said she gave you 5 and a beach mat so Glenna? And a friend could sleep on the beach. The rule is, ask and you will receive. Salita, our GRP will always accede. The rub seems to have started when you demanded free unlimited coffee and choco drinks after a carefree night of fun and drinks. You tried 3 times and said I offered you that when you were just inquiring. Nababago pala pag andun na!! Talk about tourist traps!!! The cook had to call me on the radio as this is a new experience with her. This is where the mistake of getting off the bed kicked in, I should have gone back to sleep. But we do give unli coffee and choco to guests that trust us to feed them while they enjoy what the sea and sky may offer. We’d like to believe it makes them come back repeatedly, besides the gayuma that Auling the cook concocts. We aim to make life easier for everyone, so for convenience, we put up a very mini store, for those who lost their slippers to the tides, cards for compulsive gamblers, cigarettes for those in a hurry to meet our maker, liquor for the sober, medicines for the hangovered, sitsirya for the over nourished, etc, and we are open to suggestions. Enough of this self selling, or pagbebenta sa sarili. Let’s get back on track. Looking back, it may have been really presumptuous of me to be seemingly lecturing a future doctor when my job really was to make people happy. Again, mea culpa. But you must agree that not everyone enjoys being called a lawyer. What I really wanted to say in my unsolicited advice was for the future doctora to learn to put herself in other people’s shoes, so her point of view will be varied and she may better understand where they are coming from. You know, I still haven’t come across a movie house that gives free pop corn. We don’t charge entrance and the cook will do nothing but boil water pag me dumating na 100. But the cook also lends her utensils that she isn’t using, though she also has her sarcastic moments, like one time when a girl ask her for kerosene to light their fire for the 3rd time; she goes, ay mayamaya nini at manghihingi pa tayo sa gasolenahan But she did accede after saying that good naturedly, of course. Enough of that also, I may be setting another firestorm. Re the recommendations; Ed of Villa Cleofas is a cousin and I also recommend their place as it is also in this beautiful island. I have not visited his place but I hear there are things better over there. For one, the mosquitoes are bigger daw. Joke Ed!! Ei the island was one of the features in the last issue of Metro Active magazine, an issue dedicated to beach sports. They seemed to have used info from ur website in their directions on how to get there. By the bay, you guys seemed to have overlooked Judge Alpajoras’ compound. The plants and flowers there are products of a labor of love, and you may want to ask him about legal things gratis et amore, and about plants and flowers. Don’t ask for too many cuttings though. To the guy who mistakenly misspelled our last name, drop by again and let me share with you stories and my private stash of lambanog. You may yet find me amiable, and correctly advertise, ‘Enjoy the island, have some ‘Fun’ suck a cola With your indulgence, please allow me an anecdote. An in law went on a trek to the beautiful Mount Banahaw. While savoring the majestic view from above, a companion exclaimed “will you guys look at that ugly barbed wire fence some nitwit put up to spoil the view?” She wasn’t looking for a visual treat! She was looking for something to spoil the moment and she found it for everyone. True happiness comes from within.. and from peace of mind. Here I go again Glenna… Anyway, no man is an island daw, and I am not the beach. When you find time and inclination to go, just look at the fun part. Life is too short, make the best of it. I love you all and thanks for the critique. It is a learning experience.
thank you for the reply sir weve been waiting for that for quite some time now.
I just like to clarify, on her behalf, that we never demanded unlimited coffee and choco. We only asked for clarifications. Perhaps, if it was explained to us properly that there was a misunderstanding about the unli coffee and choco, probably the whole scenario would have been alot different. You can really see in this incident how powerful words can be. We can either make or break experiences even relationships.
I would also like to apologize to you sir Pansacola for misspelling your name as you have said, perhaps it was my temper that led to that. We have nothing against your resort sir, it was a misunderstanding on both parts and not a war ^_^.
As you have said sir life is too short let us make the best out of this incident and experience. Lets not hold a grudge against each other sir. I might come back to cagbalete and take your offer on that lambanog sir. We also learn from this experience and apologize if some remarks are uncalled for, ty for the experience in your resort sir by the way its not all that bad, just a simple misunderstanding gone bad.
again cheers
Thank you for that beautiful write up Mr.Pansacola. Your words were very decent and gentlemanly. Bigger mosquitoes! haha... Congratulations on getting featured in Metro Active Magazine! And thank you too, anonymous, for your good will. I would like to close this mini forum.
Cagbalete is really, TRULY, an amazing island with lots of nooks and crannies left undiscovered! I believe the beaches of Cagbalete are well on their way to becoming prime tourist destinations. I encourage everyone to go visit and keep coming back! I, for one, can't wait to go back there again once the rainy season is over! I am grateful to resorts and resort owners like Mr.Pansacola and Mr.Reyeg who make it possible for people on a budget to stay at their cozy resorts and still keep their budget. Mr.Pansacola mentioned something about the resort of Judge Alpajoras... I remember passing by a resort that was surrounded by a lot of trees on my way back to Villa Cleofas from the Pansacola Resort. I wonder if thats what he was referring to? Any additional info would be appreciated.
Hi Demeter! I think the house you're talking about ("surrounded by a lot of trees on my way back to Villa Cleofas...") is former Ambassador Lavina's beach house. That's in between my dad's beach house and Villa Cleofas. I heard it actually has a bath tub...;-)
Hello Chinkee! Now that you mention it, I recall that someone mentioned it was owned by an Ambassador and that he abhorred defacing the natural landscape. Thanks for the info! ... bathtub eh? ...I hope I get to see that someday :)
nkapunta na me ja.. last may.. ang saya.. ang ganda ng place.. sobra.. sobrang nkakarelax.. mafefeel mo tlagang malayo ka sa city.. as in pahingang pahinga ka.. ngstay kami sa villa cleofas. sobrang saya.. promise.. wala u pagsisisihan pag pumunta u..
thanks for visiting.I'm glad nahikayat ka magpunta sa paraisong ito. I plan to go back there next year din. Miss ko na talaga ang magandang lugar na yan. I hope you got to sample the local lambanog.
nice blog...thanks for the details..travelers like you would help the tourism industry boom..
Sir, I just want to say thank you for the wonderful entry. I was trying to book a reservation at Villa Cleofas for my birthday but the (this April 10 hehe) but sadly, they had no more vacancies. I tried calling Mr. Pansacola also but they were also fully booked. So good thing Anonymous posted the information about MVT Sto. Nino here, and thankfully, I was able to make reservations. Hooray! This has been the only site I've been to that has information about that resort so I'm very thankful. Again sir, thank you and I hope you keep blogging about the beautiful places in the Philippines. :D
hi, I'd like to ask if you think it's advisable to go there around august-september? my bf and i are planning a trip around that time. you mentioned about the waves :) and these two months are "rainy" months so i'm just apprehensive about the big waves :p thanks!
August and September are habagat months which means the wind will be coming from the southwest.I don't think you'll have any problem with the waves. I haven't tried it but you might want to try staying at the Pansacola resort because it might be cooler there during those months. Good luck
hello there sir demeter its me again anonymous from last year if you remember. i was the one with the "incident" hehe...
im so glad that my info on MVT Sto. Nino was of used to someone namely Ms.Diane.
about the inquiry on going there august-september i wouldnt really advice going there those months. As far as i know "maulan po". summer is the best time to hit cagbalete! But who knows maybe you like hitting the beach in rain, i know i do! good luck
Hi and welcome back Anonymous. Sana you can leave a name so I know who to thank for that. But all the same, very useful info yun, please post additional info or updates okay? Cagbalete is getting to be a very good and popular place to go thanks to bloggers like you and all those who participate in this mini forum. I remember another resort being built malapit dun sa river. If you or anyone has info on that please share naman.
How's Cagbalete these days? Anyone hopping to the island? Id love to go, but the accomodations seem expensive during the rainy season.
Thanks!
Hi, I plan to go alone to cagbalete and would just like to know if a female solo traveller is safe to trek the 1.4 distance to the nearby resorts like villa cleofas? And same question, has anyone been to Cagbalete during September? I very much would like to see the place during the low tide and I'm not sure if there's only a particular month or time of day for it.
thanks!
@anonymous - it's not really advisable to go there now during the rainy/storm season. Besides, the boats do not travel if the waves are too big.
@grace - tough question... I haven't heard of any untoward incidents pa naman. Besides, you are going to walk that path in the morning naman diba? It takes about 15mins lang liesure walk. However, pls remember that the sabang or port is made up of squatters. I suggest you contact either Tonette of Villacleofas or Mr.Pansacola of the pansacola resort to let them know your itinerary. Sabay ka nalang sa kanila going there to be sure.
ay yanung ganda talaga ng mauban ay... syang nga lang mismong maubanin eh di masyadong mkapunta... thnx mr. for advertising our pride, cagbalete "the boracay of quezon??"
sana makapunta kmi ny the year n graduate n kami... kaso bka mahrapan kmi sa buget???
nice find....pag kumalat na to malamang ma raid na naman to ng mga jologs...accessible kasi e
like what happened to anawangin..ayun..puro kalat na ng basura tsk tsk
Nice place, definitely going to return there. We stayed at the Little Prince resort, which is just s short stroll from the port and the people there were REALLLLYYYYY nice!
i've posted some pics here....
http://pinoytranscription.blogspot.com/2009/06/cagbalete-island-escape-to-paradise.html
Hi... we've seen this blogsite and become interested in cagbalete... specially with Erwins comment posted sept 2009, can you please help us to get in touch with somebody from little prince resort? please please please.....
big bunch of thanks!
Hi demeter! also, may i commend your site! very helpful talaga...
please help us naman to contact somebody from little prince resort or if its not possible can you suggest other resort in cagbalete? villa cleafas is fully booked, where else can we stay? please.....
dear Travellers, sorry for not responding to your inquiry. I have been a bit occupied lately. Unfortunately I have no contact numbers for this "prince resort". All travellers reading this post should be advised that its better for you guys to bring camping gear especially this coming summer. If all resorts are fully booked they will still allow you to camp if you have tents. Setup camp at either of the resort's beachfronts and pay the minimal fee to use their toilets and facilities.
To Lief and Larry(where are you now?)
We were there in Cagbalite when Boracay was still unkown and undeveloped, It so happened that my brother in law was a friend of the Pastranas in Lucena, so i tagged along going to Cagbalite. I was with the two brothers Lief and Larry who has the same age level as mine, the sons of Mr. Roger Pastrana(+). We had a fine week and the best summer vacation i ever had in my life, the sun, sea, fine white sands and the strong winds, coupled with the unadulterated surroundings and the pristine clear waters which fish of different colors and species came near us when we were swimming and playing in the chest deep waters.
Mang Roger and my brother in law catched and grilled fish and something not good to look at a specie of fish or mollusk but delicious when cooked. What else can you ask for. And we climbed a tree whose fruit we called puzzle fruit, we used as a contest who make it whole again with the fastest time. those were the days i longed for, no work no obligations even with no money in my pocket.
hello sir! my friends and I are interested of going there on May. is there any parking space in 'pantalan'? and is it safe?
hello there were planning to go there in cagbalate this comming may 15 kso ksby xa ng pahiyas festival do you think maiipit kmi ng traffic going to mauban commute lng kmi.. and anu marecommend nyo smin na beach resort pansacola or cleofas..thanks...
just got back from our trip in Cagbalete yesterday.we stayed in Cleofas (from what I heard "punuan na this month" since peak season na). We rented a medium cottage since all available cottages were already reserved. fully booked na yung resort that time but still the place is big enough for you to have privacy and enjoy the place (may nakasabay kaming magteteam bldg that time). Pansacola serves great food but ang habol ko kase eh yung Bonsai islet which is just infront of Cleofas and also the river. :) Super enjoyed our stay though the 6-7 hours of travel is quite tiring (Bus to Lucena - Bus to Mauban - Trike going to pantalan - banca to Sabang Port - trek to Villa Cleofas). The locals are all friendly and nice. Also, we were lucky that the owner of Cleofas had their generator working 'til 6am. electricity is only availbale from 6pm to 1am but since madaming guests that time, di na nila pinatay yung generator. No mosquitoes too and mahangin din sa gabi. :)
hello..we are planning to visit the place this may...we are group of hikers.... merun po b place d2 na pwde magpitch nlng ng tent instead of entering either one of the resorts... thank you...
hi! tnx for visiting our place,im happy kasi nag-enjoy kayo sa pagpunta nyo sa cagbalete. im proud to be one of the taga-cagbalete. hope to see you there!
Hi again thanks for the advice guys about cagbalete, can anyone here give us any information about the mvt sto nino cause we made an arrangement the them but because villa cleofas is fully booked, so would like to hear good or bad feedback or even photos of the resort.. thanks...
Hi this is trina.ask ku lang sana. if sa mauban beach pede dun mag tent? or camping? and panu pag may sasakyan san sia pede iwan? thank you.
Wow! Thanks for this post man. Great for those who are planning on exploring the island, like in me and my friend's case for that matter.
Hi Mr. Demeter, thanks for posting such beauty of Cagbalete, I was born in Mauban but now living here in Manila I'm happy to know somebody that has concerned from all squatters living in Cagbalete and thinking something to help preserve and cared the beauty of this place . I'm working in an American firm which our concerned is to protect the environment and maybe now is the time to do something regarding your observation of that place. Thanks for reminding me. I promised we will do something. Keep Up your good works towards Nature"
Hi Mr. Demeter, thanks for posting such beauty of Cagbalete, I was born in Mauban but now living here in Manila I'm happy to know somebody that has concerned from all squatters living in Cagbalete and thinking something to help preserve and cared the beauty of this place . I'm working in an American firm which our concerned is to protect the environment and maybe now is the time to do something regarding your observation of that place. Thanks for reminding me. I promised we will do something. Keep Up your good works towards Nature"
Sayang, kami yung papunta sana dyan last July 7, 2010 kaya lang lumubog yung bangka na sinasakyan namin. Thank god at wala nadisgrasya samen pero grabeng trauma iniwan sa anak,asawa at mga kasama ko. sana hindi na maulit yung nangyari na pinasakay kami sa maliit na bangka na ang capacity lang yata ay 3 tao. we will try pa rin bumalik para matuloy kami sa resort. Pero bka matagalan.. Sayang talaga. we travelled for almost 5-6 hours to get there in Mauban,Quezon.
Hello everyone,
Although hindi kami nagstay sa mga resorts dun, we also experienced the beauty of cagbalete island.
The white sand, the friendly smiles of the locals.
I did small video at youtube hehehehe kindly visit na lang the "CAGBALETE ISLAND OUTING"
Hhehehe balik kami dun this OCTOBER SEM BREAK try namin villa cleofa, sana magkitakita tayo dun
Thanks GOD BLESS!
wow, gusto sagutin isa isa yung comments kaya lang puro naman kasi "anonymous" eh? Anyway
@kenjival - nice carefree days. Cagbalete sure has that carefree atmosphere talaga!
@arvin steve - sorry for this really late reply but for those who plan on going this summer, I think mas okay mag pitch ng tent niyo sa cleofas kasi winds will be continuous there (habagat). Also, I don't think ma traffic naman kasi diba sa Lucban ang daan ninyo?
@anonymous(es) -- yes, sobrang dami na ang nagpupunta dun now that the word is out. Ganun talaga I guess. Before posting this blog and before I went there there was scarcely any material on Cagbalete. Ngayon grabe na so I guess a lot of people are finding it a good place to go na nga. That means pretty soon the boat operators will catch up with the demand. My suggestion is that you call either Pansacola or Cleofas resorts and ask for the current schedules for the boat ferry service, they should be updated
@anonymous(es) - again, you can park at mauban residences of whatever resort you choose to stay in OR camp at. If you plan to setup your tent in front of Villa Cleofas then call them up and tell them. You need to use their CR facilities anyway so you have to pay them the minimal fee. The owner is very kind and accomodating naman and will accomodate your car parking for the duration.
also, I know of no beachfront around the Mauban pantalan, if you plan to pitch tents at Mauban and not in Cagbalete then you should go a bit further up north. However, I never tried this so do so at your own risk, sorry.
@ekim - thanks for visiting and I hope you had a great time there
@anonymous - i hope there are developments regarding the squatters living in Cagbalete. They should be restricted from throwing their garbage indiscriminately at least right?
@anonymous with sunken boat. -- really sorry about that experience. Sayang na sayang nga naman talaga. Which boat was this?
and finally, to @anonymous ulit, I'll be sure to watch your vid. Thanks for posting it and I hope more people can enjoy the beauty of Cagbalete Island.
While there, try buying lambanog SASA, its really good. Pero bili kayo nung wala nang amoy (1yr old or more)!
appreciate all your insights and your very useful information about the island, I also liked the drama in the comment board, Anon and Mr. Pansacola like Donaire and Montiel.. lol.. My Verdict..will stay at Villa Cleofas, Maam Tess was very accomodating and helpful, her suggestions and her attitude really makes you feel like your in good hands.. Although I crave for the food in Pansacola, I feel like Villa Cleofas will be able to top that, hopefully try the local fave kuray.. It will be a pre bday party for myself with 9 other good friends, 3d 2n , April here we come.. thanks again ... Oh and mr.Demeter, if i could ask about the conditions of showers and toilet in that place,, is it find a spot and squat? lol, POSO?
@anonymous -- very good choice for this time of year. nonstop ang ihip ng hangin diyan sa beachfront. Kung mainit sa cottage then setup tents along the beach and bring your cots - galing yan. I so envy you? I wish I could do 3d2n din this summer! haay...
Please greet Tonet and Tess for me.
As regards to your inquiry. They have communal toilets and shower rooms. If I remember correctly, 4cubicles yan, 2 rudimentary toilets(hindi squat position, normal sitting ito), two shower/changing rooms. Cemented ang sahig. May isang poso sa labas lang ng CRs so kanya kanyang igib. I hope that answers your question?
For those readers inquiring about the LITTLE PRINCE RESORT at Cagbalete please refer to ERWIN's blog at
http://pinoytranscription.blogspot.com/2009/06/cagbalete-island-escape-to-paradise.html
He also posted some beautiful pics and detailed writeups of his travel to cagbalete and his stay at little prince. According to his own comment on his blog dated Oct11,2010, the contact number for Little Prince Resort is 09074934437. Please do take the time to read what he wrote. Thanks
thank you Mr.Demeter this is anonymous Francis that asked about the Toilet conditions on Feb 09,, salamat.. we moved our plans to next weekend March 12... I will make sure to give Ms.Tess ur regards.. ano po sabihin ko galing kay kuya Demeter?? lol.. some concerns I have from my mates was some warnings about NPA situation in quezon, u know kidnapping and all.. I feel its pretty safe tho...is it?? .. again Mr.Demeter , thank you for your very useful blog,, I feel like Im part of some expedition, and my adventure started from your BLOG..lol
Hello Anonymous. You are very welcome. I'm glad I was able to help someone to go and visit another one of our beautiful beaches. Kailangan talaga tangkilikin natin mga pinoy ang sariling atin diba. Don't worry, I have not heard of any incident of kidnapping naman dun? And just go and enjoy the beautiful sand and beach, napakaganda and relaxing dun. Go and talk to Tess and Tonet. I don't know if Tonet still remembers me though?..., just tell him its from Mr.Francis, the blogger. Before this blog there was absolutely very very little (2 short articles only) about Cagbalete island.
mag katokayo po pala tayo ,Im Francis aswell,, no worries I will tell em ur hi's and hello's .. 15-20 peeps will be with me on this trip , I hope maam tess have a great catering service that could accomodate us.. whew.. What a way to start the summer !
Salamat Kiko. I'm sure you will have a GREAT time there. Walang malapit na tindahan dun so better bring some foodstuff pa rin even if you'll get their catering. Bring drinks and snacks. Visit the small island during low tide(night) and do a bonfire. Great way to bond. Have fun!
hi mr. demeter, mga magkno po kayang budget para mkapunta dyan sa cagbalete. thanks po.
@anonymous - that depends on 1.how many days you plan to stay 2. what resort 3. if you cook your own food or order food from the resort 4. how many you are and 5.what boat you will be using from mauban to cagbalete.
The transpo fee by public bus from Manila to Lucena then another to Mauban will cost about 270 pesos. Then the boat ride from mauban to cagbalete will cost you 40 pesos. So thats 310 x 2 = 620pesos back and forth na.
Assuming there are 4 of you and you will stay the normal 3D/2N at one of the resorts, you will spend an average of 1500 to 2000 per head (total na) inclusive of meals from the resort. If you bring your own food it will be cheaper of course but more hassle nga lang.
However, don't forget that this is an island where all foodstuffs and materials must be brought in from the mainland. It is imperative that you contact the resorts first and arrange your stay with them.
the rommel pansacola resort is good but here are the things i hate about it.
1.boat ride will cost you 5 hours or more in peak seasons renting a private boat wil cost around 2.5-4k what a raket right? and a list for public boat for 50php is pure utter BS. no one is there to supervise it. no waiting area. *take note we arrived there 7am*
2.people who are supposed to be locals who have boats don't even take consideration if you have a kid. they will make you wait and wait until you give up on such price for the private boat.
3.the port is so filthy dirty and a lot of illegal settlers. and the locals not so friendly some of them are rude.
4.if youre gonna stay there for long be sure you have enough supplies. prices are DOUBLE some even TRIPLE what it's supposed to be *calling local government agency*
5.security very lax. one group of tourist lost 8k cash and gadgets. be sure that if you leave your place someone from your group will stay to guard your belongings.
6.bonfires are supposed to be free. not here 50-100php and it will last for 5 mins. WTF
7.no private toilets. you can manage right?
9.sea grass everywhere. can't you guys clean up???? *a proof that the place isn't ready for tourist*
@tcb - wow, that certainly isn't a short list! I never tried going there during peak season but it sounds like a hellish experience. I'm sorry you had to go through that.
I assume you are talking about the sabang port at Cagbalete Island. Yes it seems that the local government is playing deaf to our pleas. Will someone please follow up on what the government is doing about these squatters on the best part of the island? (Mr.Pansacola? any updates on this?)
I don't mind paying 100 for the bonfire if the fire lasts until morning and the locals clean up afterwards. You're right, thats really NOT a good way to spend your money.
On the seagrass, I do think thats the responsibility of the individual resorts. At least for their part of the beach.
hi. I understand that not everyone is happy about what they find at the port around Mauban. the locals really are not yet ready for the surge of tourists. i was born there (reared here in Manila) and most of the locals are "relatives" to some degree but I still find myself being discriminated against when coming home. hindi sila sanay sa ibang tao. note that these people work really - and I mean REALLY - hard to earn a living kaya hindi madali sa kanila to see people na nandun to have fun. i'm not saying this about everyone but when you come to a place na alam mo namang hindi pa ganun ka-developed, don't expect to meet Boracay. A good research about the place would be helpful.
good day.balak namen ng bf ko pumunta s cagbalete with own tent and own foods.meron bang nagtitinda dun n fresh sea foods?in case na bibili kame and lulutuin nalang namen.san ba mas maganda talaga villa cleofas or pansacola?thanks
@anonymous - no offense meant of course. However I think, by the way you put your comment, that you agree there MUST be something done about it right? Locals must be made to bend to the rule of law, not anarchy. I know what you mean by fishing communities working REALLY hard. I'm not new to their plight kasi madami na din akong na encounter, at natulungan na fishing communities. The ones in Cagbalete Sabang have resulted to rearing pigs and chickens because the waters around them have been abused to uselessness either by them or their forefathers and relatives. It is these livestock that they use to augment their income that is causing much pollution as all the waste is then thrown into the immediate shore. Along with refuse from the homemade lambanog...
Being from there, can you possibly help to bring this to the attention of the local government? You sound genuinely concerned about the situation in your home province so I really encourage you to do something about it. A lot of readers of this forum , including me, will be more than happy to help you get in touch with nature/marine preservation groups and foundations if you can help arrange meetings with local groups and LGUs. Change must start from us. Wala na tayong puwede asahan na iba.
@valelicious - good day to you too. yes, meron naman mga tinda sa sabang ng cagbalete island pero unstable ang supply. One never knows kung ano ang available for the day. Its better if you can buy your supplies from the mainland, or bring it from Manila or where you will be coming from. There are small sari sari stores in the port area and I saw them selling some meats and vegetables when I went there before.
In all fairness to Mr.Pansacola, I think their resort is quite cozy pero di pa kasi ako naka stay dun. All I can say is Villa Cleofas is very comfortable for me, and couple owners Tonet and Tess Reyeg were very accomodating. We borrowed cooking/eating implements from them and cooked our food by ourselves.
hi, demeter. i'll try to get in touch with the local government and let you know as soon as possible. thank you. :)
hi! does anyone have the contact # for clemente resort? thanks
hi there! my family and I went there twice this April. Gusto ko lang share experiences namin don.We stayed in Pansacola Resort, actually ok yung place, hindi masyadong matao and pag low tide malawak talaga yung sand bar nila yun nga lang madami talagang sea grass. we brought our own food and utensils kasi once you borrowed something from them lahat may charge.
2nd resort was Little prince resort na sabi ang owner ay isang judge...(i just heard from the people around there)
I ask the "lady" na magstay kami don for 2 nights and i need a private boat since medyo marami kami at puro kids.Ang dumating na boat sa gat uban to pick us up e pang fishing at hindi pang passenger so i decided na mag public kami which takes us about 4 to 5 hours pa bago makasakay. pagdating sa cagbalete (little prince resort) the house was too old, too dark, i rented the big house with private cr pero nakikita ko may ibang pumapasok. sa dining area ang daming "gamu-gamo" walang sink to wash food and dishes pero you can borrow anything from their kitchen. while sleeping at around 1130pm namatay na ang gen.set nila so lahat kami nagpapaypay because the kids were sleeping na at maraming mosquitoes.so we all decided na paglumiwanag na since hindi kami nakatulog lilipat kami sa Pansacola resort. kasi hirap din maligo sa beach nila malapit n kasi sila sa sabang were most fishermen live kya medyo marami tao. I will not recommend Little Prince Resort. Pansacola maybe...And I heard one more resort there pero walang contact. MR. TY Resort(not sure sa spelling)maganda daw dun sabi ng mga locals. So if anyone knows this resort kindly give infos naman coz i'm still willing to go back to Cagbalete Island.
Hi Demeter, Iam planning to get there after my last week escapade in borawan & dampalitan. Medyo mahal pala mga packages. Usually for beach camp lng me. Mas ok yung matutulog ka sa tent & magluluto ka side. How much if you have your own tent and will stay there for 2 nights? May sample ka ba ng summary of expenses mo? Thank you very much!
Hello Mr. Demeter Thanks for your helpful Blog... My boyfriend and I is planning to go to cagbalete this July 02-04, I'm hoping na walang bagyo that time... mag Tent lang kami well depende sa weather.. Im really excited, Im reading Blogs so I know what to expect kahit papano... sana may ibang tao din dun to meet new friends.. ---Joi---
Hello Mr. Demeter Thanks for your helpful Blog... My boyfriend and I is planning to go to cagbalete this July 02-04, I'm hoping na walang bagyo that time... mag Tent lang kami well depende sa weather.. Im really excited, Im reading Blogs so I know what to expect kahit papano... sana may ibang tao din dun to meet new friends.. ---Joi---
Is it advisable na mag tent lang sa Villa Cleofas? excited na talaga ako haha:)
Sir Demeter I heard that 2 lang po daw nag schdule ng boat that go to cagbalete 10:00 and 4:00 totoo po ba yun? if yes ano kaya advisable time na umalis kami dito sa alabang? or should I say what time yung advisable time na nasa Lucena grand Terminal na kame? prefer po sana yung 10am boarding time sa panatalan,
@Joi - looks like you are really excited and ready to go to the island. Thats great. However, pls remember that we have entered the typhoon season and Cagbalete Island is situated on the most common typhoon path. The waters can also get very very rough during typhoon season. Please use caution and check the weather forecast for your target dates. Most importantly, check maybagyo.com for any typhoon warnings before you go.
As for your questions,masarap mag tent sa Villa Cleofas. The sand is great and you can sleep closer to the shore. However, if you encounter heavy rains and wind, your tent might collapse. Kung July pa kayo pupunta then maybe its better to rent one of the huts or cottages nalang?
As for the public boat transportation schedule, yes 2 lang yan pero if the sea is too rough then the boat might not leave. I have heard such reports before. Please coordinate with Tess or Tonet, the owners of Villa Cleofas and get updates from them para hindi sayang ang punta ninyo. If you decide to go then I suggest you board the bus at 6am to get to the port by 10am. You can confirm this estimate by calling the owners of course. Have fun!
Hi Mr. Demeter, Thank you so much for your warnings.. I really appreciate your help. Hmm can you help me decide hehehe I really dont know where to stay, I am considering to rent a kubo nalang,the problem is I dont know where to go Villa cleopas or Pansacola:(
cagbalete ay lagoon pa na isla kaya ang sarap ng hangin at relax ka talaga nag tent lang po kami sa villa cleofas pero sanay bigyang pansin ng local na pamahalaan ang mga daanan sa mga tourista ang tabing daungan sa isla ay my banlatan pa naka discourage po ang amoy grabeh sana ilipat nyo naman po nakakahiya minsan my dumaang bisita kasabay ko sa pagbaba ng bangka akala koy inatake sa puso kasi namula at di raw sya makahinga,sos maryosep kaya pala sa amoy ng banlatan nako naka shy!thnx
hi demeter!!! i love your blog!! it is so informative. :) i am going to cagbalete tomorrow (wednesday) on my own... and your posts will definitely be a big help. journeyingjames actually advised me to do some visayan-trip, unfortunately, a conflict with my work arised, good thing i found your blog. keep it up! <3
@joanne - thanks for taking the time to comment! Im glad to be of help. Ive read some of journeyingjames latest blogs and loved it too. Have fun in cagbalete!!!
@joi - this time of year its definitely better sa villa c. Cool non stop winds kasi
hi again demeter! thanks alot! illsurely add your blog to my favorites! ;)
hello, may I ask if villa cleofas can accommodate 100 pax (company outing)?
@anonymous - yes I believe they can accomodate that number of guests. However, I am not sure if they can cater food for your party. You have to arrange that with Mr.Tonet. Please call him at the numbers I wrote above. You also have to arrange parking and transport. Good luck and have fun!
Such a nice place indeed... Will be visiting the beach the 17th of this month. You photos was taken way back 2007 do you have any latest pictures? Does it still look enchanting as before? Any changes with the cottage/entrance rates?
@anonymous - hello there. I believe the rates have gone up slightly. I'm sorry but I failed to go back as planned earlier this year. Perhaps when I go back to manila this summer or late summer? I believe that nothing has changed much with the scenery - thats a very good thing indeed. There is, I believe, a new resort setup at the far side of that dune-like area displayed on my blog. When do you plan to go?
My friends and I went to Pansacola for an overnight stay last March. I was a bit hesitant to bring our group there due to negative comments posted in 2008. However, we had a very good experience naman. We did not meet the owner, but while I was still coordinating with him prior to our stay, he was very nice. Kahit may last minute changes kami, okay lang with him.
Ang saraaaap ng food, and the crispy pata was the star of their menu. Though communal yung mga bathrooms and toilets, madami naman at malakas yung tubig so it was still convenient. The resort staff were nice and courteous too. They even accommodated our request for earlier AM snack because we had to leave on the first trip. So 7 AM pa lang , naluto at binalot na namin yung merienda...take out na eh.
They even have post-sales service there hehe. My friend left her jeans sa resort. I asked Mr. Pansacola if it's alright to have it shipped to us in QC. He immediately requested his staff to have the jeans washed. Then Mr. Pansacola himself brought the jeans to a courier in Lucena para mapadala sa amin. Siya pa nag abono since we only knew the shipping cost nung na receive na namin yung package.
All in all, Pansacola Resort is highly recommended. Just manage your expectations. Cagbalete Island is not as commercial as Bora or Galera. It is perfect for the outdoor types or those who love the beach more than the comforts of luxurious hotels.
@anonymous - thanks so much for sharing your Pansacola experience. Sobrang bait pala ni Mr.Pansacola talaga. Try ko rin siya next time.
"It is frustrating that most posts on Cagbalete are reduced to meaningless pictures of people. Most filipinos probably take that "picture is worth a thousand words" thing too seriously - or just too lazy to make a proper informative entry."
WAW!Could it be that at the time of your writing, blogs are supposed to serve as information desks? Cause it's not so now. What is frustrating is when people are frustrated over too much expectations. I shall make a visit to this place asap and see if Cagbalete is best presented in photos or -- in blackboards instead.
@elmer - thanks for visiting and leaving that amusing comment. but seriously dude, don't you get tired of bloggers posting "anawangin cove, the best!" and then after that its all pictures of them? even more of them and less of the sites!
I think that now, more than ever, blogs need to be BOTH entertaining AND informative to be of any use right? The purpose of blogs, after-all, is precisely for entertainment and the spread of valid and usable information right?
Anyway, I'm glad this blog moved you in some little way to visit that island. Have fun!
very informative! thank you!
you know demeter if you're stuck to that "entertaining and informative" convention, you are in for more frustrations re pics and blogs. but i strongly believe that one day you will be liberal enough to note that blogs are not just confined to that entertaining and informative dogma. Let loose.
BTW, yup i did went to Cagbalete. And i would like to narrate it in photos. AND to help your site become more informative, boat fee is now @ 180PHP/pax two ways. And this is a cut-throat price. I shall let you know why when I find the time.
@elmer - thanks for the info! You have an interesting blog, keep it up! And congratulations on winning that photo contest.
hi sir, i just wanna say thank you for your blog. we went to cagbalete last weekend. super helpful tlga.. very informative. galing :D - franz
Hi, your very welcome. I'm glad I could help. Hindi ba maalon going there last week? Habagat na and we had some bad weather diba. Did you stay at Villa Cleofas?
hello sir im so thankful sa lahat ng comments ng mga turista na pumupunta sa isla anyway matagal napo sana akong mag blog sayo at e post po ang pagbabago sa pagpunta ng mga tourist sa cagbalete island i would like to inform na sa lahat po na gustong pumunta sa isla ay need po ang tourist arrival log in bago po kayo sumakay ng bangka papuntang isla anywer na mga resort na gusto nyong puntahan o saan man kayo naka book na resort doon po kayo bibili ng ticket na worth 180 per head balikan including ng enviromental fee,terminal fee,porters fee yan po bago ma aprove nag public hearing muna last april this year at my ordinance na talaga at kasalukoyan na pong inaayos na ang turismo ng mauban para maging maayos at ma preserve ang isla sa kadilang dididayo na ito ng ibat ibang lahi ng tao ma foreign man o locals nag emplement na rin ang tourism ng mag assist sa lahat ng pax na dumadating sa isla bastat my tour guide na din doon mag receive kong needs ang giudes sa 1st timer at sa lahat ng walk in na gustong pumili ng resort marami napo ngaun ang nagtatayo na rin ng mga campsite at kubo na pwde ma rentahan one of them ay villa noah,ate pinay kubo,kua itog campsite malapit lang sa sabang kong loaded lahat ng resort my home stay din po s cagbalete na mga piling bahay na at sinusurvey bago ina aprrovan na safe tutuloyan ng turista kong nais po ninyong malaman ang iba pang info my gov license will trained tour guide at nc2 passed doon sa isla naka antabay sa lahat ng my mga ticket na turistang dumarating si ate rose coliao 09104518108 sasalubongin po kayo at ihahatid saan nyo gustong pumunta na resort sa isla ..ticketing ofis chey pansacola09489837411 injo have fun at cagbalete island...thaks more power sir....
@anonymous - thank you so much for that invaluable update! There is an important issue I want to ask. Yung sabang dun sa Cagbalete maraming squatters before -- what happened to that area na? Its the first thing that guests see and its a real shame na ganun siya ka dumi at magulo. Sayang talaga yung beachfront kasi nag aalaga lang sila ng baboy dun diba? Has that been cleaned up already?
We had a very good experience at Joven's. The owner (Tita Rexie) was very accommodating. The food was great. Very clean place with well trained staff:)
Initially, we went to Villa Cleofas. We stayed there for a night, but we transferred to Joven's...no regrets! The place may not as big as Villa Cleofas, but the food and service were commendable:)
They even set up a romantic dinner for my hubby and I - by the beach, under the sweet moonlight, and with standard music...definitely a night to remember:)
In Cagbalite, expect the unexpected...we went back to Mauban riding a boat with 2 freaking cows:(...Attention: Mauban TOURISM!!!
BTW, look for a boatman named Jake and his son Jeriel...They can give you a pleasant tour service beyond expectations:)
Generally...we enjoyed our stay in Cagbalite... As what the natives say...Cagbalite is a promise land - people will promise to come back..and soon we will!
@lajugueta - Thanks so much for sharing that! Do you have contact email, phone numbers and contact person for Joven's? Also some info on overnight costs? Meals etc.?
just got here 3days ago..super ganda sa cagbalete..although i will not really recommend this if you're the type who's planning to swim the whole day since ang low tide d2 ay parang naglakad ka sa megamall before you find the the best location to swim.. 10am-5pm po ang low tide.. this is more for the nature lovers, for wildlife enthusiasts, the corals in baliscar are really a sight to behold esp the sand ripples na pwede mong tulugan so puti at sa pino hahaha.. i love this place.. will definitely go back here.. we were asisted by ms rose and his hubby kuya wilmer who toured us in the island..this place truly is a paradise :)
hello po sa lahat, nagbabalak po ako pumunta dyan sa Cagbalete Island... ask lang po saan po ba pwede mag parada ng sasakyan bago dumiretso sa island? nauna na po yung isa kong friend dyan ngayong araw na ito mismo. sya ang nag sabi saakin regarding sa island na yan. some of friends from ePLDT na bumyahe na din kahapon papuntya dyan.. Sir pwede po ba makahingi ng contact person kung saan pwede mag park ng sasakyan? at hingi na din po sana ako ng updated rates... since yung naunang ePLDT na mga frinds ko ay company sila pupunta dyan baka iba yung rate nila... ako namn po eh family ang kasama ko.... salamat po...
Hi, my friends and i are planning to go there this May. However, i was informed that there are NPA's around the area. I am still searching for any blogs, info regarding this matter. It might be hard for me to even found one article mentioning about this but i would appreciate if i will be able to read something regarding security of the place. Thank you so much.
Walang NPA Po sa isla safe Po Ang lugar Namin kami pa Ang natatakot sa mga turista dahil Ang ibang turista pumunta lang para mag wala sa kalasingan...akala moy siga natakot Ang kapwa turista at Ang iba my pakay sa isla ..my mga pulis nag ikot sa lahat Ng resorts at my security gaurd na Po Ang bawat resort required na Po yon Bago mag operation...for safety sa lahat Ng turista..
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