The beauty of (Philippine) beaches and hills

Saturday, September 03, 2005 The beauty of beaches and hills (Last of two parts) WHILE most beaches around Metro Manila may not be as pristine as their counterparts in the southern islands, nevertheless they offer the important advantage of being located just within two hours' drive from the city. Many of these tourist attractions are part of the coastlines of the Cavite and Batangas, two provinces which together with Laguna, Rizal and Quezon form the Calabarzon, rapidly emerging as one of the country's prime industrial area. If you are in the export-import business in particular, chances are you will be visiting this economic zone and you can take make the most of the trip by driving just a few miles further to experience the sea and sand. One of Cavite's top beach resorts is the Puerto Azul Beach Hotel. Located about one and a half hours' drive from Manila, the hotel is surrounded by various sports and recreational facilities of the adjacent country club that includes a tournament class 18-hole golf course. As part of the Grand Hotels group which includes Manila's Philippine Village airport hotel and the Grand Boulevard Hotel on Roxas Boulevard, convenient shuttle services are offered to and from Puerto Azul and the Manila properties. Tour packages are also available. If you go further along the coast, you will soon reach the Caylabne Bay Resort. The resort has an all-suite hotel spread out over seven hillside structures with only two suites on every floor for maximum space, privacy and convenience. Selected suites boast of sun decks with private jacuzzis that enable guests to enjoy the whirlpools while gazing at a spectacular view of the bay. Children are a high priority at Caylabne where specially prepared activities like puppet shows and sand castle building are part of the itinerary for kids from ages four to 12-a perfect excuse for parents who wish to get away from their offspring for a few hours. If you rather see a diver's kingdom, Batangas is the better option. Like Cavite, various resorts dot Batangas' coastline and finding one that meets your budgets is not a problem. An hour and 45 minutes travel time will lead you to the Matabungkay Beach Resort and Hotel, one of the most popular and reasonably priced resorts in the area. The resort's main attraction is lunch on a bamboo raft right on the waters. Calatagans' famous beach resort, Punta Baluarte, has made a comeback. The new owners promise to restore its former glory, which at its heyday has even surpassed Puerto Azul's fame. Like the Cavite resort, it is built into tiers along the mountain side and also offers a jeepney shuttle service to go around the resort area. The town of Nasugbu is home and jump off point to several white sand beaches. Visitors usually park their vehicles for a nominal fee at the Wawa port to take a 20-minute banca ride to excellent resorts like White Sands, Maya-Maya, Munting Buhangin and other island coves. Accommodation ranges from simple picnic huts to bamboo cottages complete with bedding and modern plumbing. Be prepared to get soaked when traveling to these resorts. Not all boats can dock right on the sand (especially diving high tide) and thus you may need to wade anywhere from ankle-to waist-deep waters to reach the shore. It is also wise to keep your valuables and dry clothing in a waterproof bag. If you are not planning to stay for the night, don't forget to make pick-up time arrangements with the boatman. In Batangas, Anilao is synonymous for diving haunts. Vistamar is one of its first-class dive resorts that rent out equipment and hold diving instructions classes. Nearer the northernmost part of Luzon and at least an hour's plane ride from Manila, a long stretch of coastline marks the west side of Ilocandia region. The black sands are reputed to have therapeutic effects on the skin and resorts like Agoo Playa and Cresta del Mar usually encourage guests to literally get buried neck-deep in the fine grains. Towards southern Luzon, the islands of Mindoro and Palawan are also favorite haunts for beach bums. There are several resorts offers rooms and amenities that suit every budget. In Mindoro's Puerto Galera beach front, Coco Beach stands out as the most luxurious. It equivalent in Palawan are El Nido on Miniloc island and Club Paradise in northern Palawan. Both are still largely unspoiled. You need not go father than Cebu's international Mactan airport to see the beach. Just a few minutes away is the Shangri-La Mactan Island Hotel, which combines five-star accommodation with beach amenities. Nearby is the Argao Beach Club, which offers almost every conceivable water sport equipment, even down to a glass bottomed boat for viewing the sea's riches without getting your feet wet. Also on Mactan Island are the Mary Cielo Resort and the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, which also offer comprehensive aqua sport and recreational facilities. Southwest of Cebu city is the Green Island Golf and Beach Resort. The amenities are of international standards and golf enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the 18-hole par 72 course. Perhaps the most famous beach destination in these parts of the archipelago is Boracay Island. It has been dubbed as one of the best beaches in the world and justifiably so. The water is so clear and the white sand so fine that except for the seasonal crowd, the growing number of resort complexes and the reduced population of its seashells that once were scattered on the coast, Boracay today still offers the same raw natural beauty that has charmed the backpackers who have first discovered the island. If money is no object, Club Panoly Resort with its international standard facilities is well recommended. It is located on the northern tip of the island and offers more privacy that the other resorts which are located close to each other. Other reputable resorts include Fridays', Sandcastles, Cocomangas Beach, Laguna De Boracay, Lorenzo Beach, Mistral Beach, Marimar Boracay, Boracay Beach and Yacht Club, Pam Beach, Palomar, Paradise Garden, Paradise Lodge, Pearl of the Pacific, Pink Patio and red Coconut. Located closer to Panay Island, Boracay is as accessible from Iloilo, Manila or Cebu. If you must visit the island in January, be sure to book several months ahead as most locals are wont to combine their Boracay holidays with a stopover in the town of Kalibo in Aklan and join in the celebrations of its mardi gras-like fiesta called Ati-Atihan. From Iloilo City, you can take a bus to Caticlan. Take a ferry to upon reaching Caticlan. The trip takes five hours. Fast becoming a byword as a beach heaven is Mindanao's Dakak, which is a private resort village. Coconut palms, exotic flowers, crystal clear waters and a dense forest carved with several hiking trails are part of its allures. As the name suggests, the Pearl Farm Beach Resort was once used to cultivate pearls. It has been renovated into a private retreat featuring unique Samal stilt houses for accommodations The Muslim motif is used liberally to add charm to the resort's offerings. (September 3, 2005 issue)