Congrats, Westbridge School for Boys! #WB25

Say Hello to US-USAN ISLAND, GUIMARAS!

My short trip to visit a friend has guided me the with knowledge that the Island of Guimaras is cooped with beautiful beaches yet to be discovered and introduced to the public.

Tustusan Island is one of the many destinations where you can silently sit under the palm trees while enjoying the traditional home cooked adobo prepared by the family whenever you go to the beach. Going there reminds me of my Palawan days where I can just lounge by the beachside and marvel at sounds of the waves crashing, the wind cooling the nerves and the peaceful isolation of your surroundings.

“hark, now hear the sailors cry, 
smell the sea, and feel the sky 
let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic...” 

Me: Abi ko ma island hopping 8?!?? Bugtaw na!!

(Wake up guys! It’s time to go on an adventure!)

Bob: Permi ka lang ga dali! Muna ginabayaan ka na lang kay!

(Rise and shine! What a great day for us!)

Me: Ai? May problema ka aga pa?

(I’m so excited!)

The result of booze and late night talks

It was suppose to be a look away snap. But some friends just don't get it. Hahahaha

Me: Te ano ma expect ko sa Tustusan? May Rumbuhan to?

(What is there to expect today?)

Bob: Naaaan. Expectations naman. Kaya na sasaktan ka eh. Wag kasi mag expect

(A grand surprise await those who expect)

Yes, the bangka has no cover. Enjoy the sun!

MOVING ON AT NATURE’S TRAIL CAMP, GUIMARAS

It was a whirlwind holiday and the lone sailor surely needs a lot of beach lately. Basking under the sun is surely on top of my priority. Who can resist nature and the sea?

Me: I think I need to go the beach. *Thinking really deep*

Bob: You do. Come to Guimaras. I’m currently handling this new resort and I can surely hook you up for some great beach hopping

Me: Great! How about Wednesday?

Bob: Call Napay!

Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.

And so the adventure begins.

Napay: Malakat ta sa Wednesday ha. Di na mag inarte kay maupod si Stephen kag Leo

(Beach on Wednesday at 7AM. Stephen and Leo are coming)

Me: Ma apas lang ko bi. May nahulat pa ko daan nga friend. Basi siya na ni true love ko. Di ka ka pakot ya

(Can I just come a little later? There is this someone who I want to join me. Maybe we can go there at 5pm?)

Napay: Te ma adjust ka naman? Abi sila naman pa hulat subong. Di kami ya maghulat simu samtang ga asa ka naman da sa wala. Arte mo.

(We should all go on time. I'm so excited!)

Me: Wow ha. May ganun agad? Sorry naman. Masubuan gid ko na ya. Pero game. Alas Siete tayo bukas!

(7am it is)

One of the many views you can see along the way

The morning after, At home waiting for like 10hrs..

ME: Alas otso na! Naka love ka pa ba?

(it’s already 8AM. What’s the plan)

Napay: Di ko kadala salakyan kay si baboy nang indian. Alas diyes na lang ta kitaay. Ready naman si leo

(Stephen can’t make it. He is a pig. Let’s just meet at 10AM)

Me: La na ko nakibot. Ready naman ko. Kay paanod ko ni akon feelings sa beach. Chikin

(See you then!)

In Guimaras:

Bob: Hi Guys!! Welcome to Guimaras. The land of the sweetest mangoes in the world. We offer the best beaches at a very affordable price.

Me: Bob! GRO ka?

(Bob! How are you?)

Bob: Huo. Amo na kabudlay mangita kwarta. Anyways, Guimaras is composed of more than 98 branggays and almost 50 undiscovered islands. Most Guimarasnon rely on crop production  for their livelihood.February is a special month for Guimaras as they begin harvesting mangoes for the famed MANGGAHAN FESTIVAL.

Me: Baw ka alam ba. La da welcome drinks? Manager ka di

(That’s nice.)

Bob: Wala! Bayad ka ya sang drinks mo kay empleyado lang ko di ya.

(Thanks Jan. Let go and tour the area)

Your welcome view when you arrive at theresort

And they have a wishing well! Perfect for romantic hopefuls

Even the corners can be a potential instagram post. hahaha

NATURE’S TRAIL RESORT

The area is not fully developed. yet. However, there is an on going construction for an adult and kid’s pool which will surely be much of an attraction. Aside from the cozy and peaceful ambiance, the resort offers a wide range of activities you can choose from.

Saya bes?

 Me: Ka mahal man na di man. Bi ko kay ikaw di manager la ko gastos?

(What is the budget when coming here?)

Bob: Abi pagpuli to sa Iloilo kung wala ka ya kwarta. Or didto ka sa rumbuhan tinir

(It’s quite affordable. Here is a detailed budget breakdown:)

Fare	400.00(one way) good for 4	Php 200
Entrance fee		Php 50.00
Food	(Depends on appetite)	Php 250
Total		Php 500.00

Accomodation:

Overnight stay:

Hobbitown: P850.00 good for 2pax

*fan room with personal bathroom

Bungalow: P2500 good for 5pax.

*airconditioned with personal bathroom

How to get there:

• From the port, ride a jeep going to alibhon. Fare costs P14.00/ pax
• Upon arrival, hire a tryke going to Sibunag at P150 for 2person

*you can directly hire a motor driver at P400 from Ortiz port going to the resort. This is cheaper if your are in a group of 4-6 people.

The sun, they excite me

Because i'm a rebel at heart. hahaha

Secret mangrove reserve inside the resort

The night will not cease to amaze you

Me:  La gid di food? Gutom na gani sa paghigugma, pati ba naman dire puwasa?

(I’m hungry. Do you have food available?)

Bob: Te sala ko nga nagutman ka sa pagpalangga? Abi ko ga diet ka man bala.

(Yes jan, we offer various kinds of meals from seafood, chicken and pork. We also customize the menu base on your preferred meal)

You might want to consider this:

• The resort is all about comfort. Upon arrival, you need not worry about food because they offer a variety of choices to suit your needs
• If you are looking for an escape away from the busy life, this is surely for you

Me: La gid di happenings? Manakop ta bala talaba sa dagat

(Can we go island hopping? I’m really craving for the beach)

Bob: Baw, abi ang pagka bighalan ibilin sa Iloilo.

(sure, i’ll schedule you for 8:30AM. Sound cool?)

Early morning view

How can you not forget your worries with this beauty in sight?

What to do there:

• Go on an island hopping to Tustusan Beach 
• Horseback riding! 
• Sit by the beach and listen to the waves 
• Take a walk to the mangroves 
• Enjoy the peaceful place by listening to some jazz music playing on their PA system

 

Nature’s trail resort also offers team building packages that can cater to more than 50 person. Check out their Facebook page at NaturesTrail for more inquiries.

And so we trailed the islands of Guimaras. And this requires a new post.

The lone sailor will go on another adventure to bring you more discoveries!

For updates you may follow me on my instagram account @janraethesailor

Have fun!

THE GREAT MALANGABANG ISLAND ADVENTURE WITH TEAM MAHALO

First and foremost, let me thank Mr. Lester Ronco for making me part of this grand adventure.

The merman went on an adventurous spree. With thirty unknown people joining this grand activity, I  felt alien. At times, my mind wonders how I can take risks lightly. However, it was an adventure worth going through even on a thousand lifetimes. (chikin)

"If you sing to the mermaids, they come when you are drowning"

  This is what I needed. And God made a wonderful way to make this come true. 

It was a rough start since work would not allow me to go. But after some emotionally charged events, my boss finally said yes.

Her exact words were: It's useless for us to see you here when we know that your heart is somewhere else. So go. 

Thanks. The thought applies in most parts of my life. A million thanks.

A pre-departure photo with some cool strangers

With countless people to thank to, I clearly don't know where to start.

To my SM City Iloilo family. Ceelin vitamin bottles are not easy to gather. But giving me another fifty (50) bears of joy? Pure bliss. The kids loved every bits of it.

Thank you SM City Iloilo!

Little ben can't help but be amazed with some little snapshots

Aside from the gift giving, a medical mission was also made for the seniors of the island

and the fun begins.

Photo credits to MAHALO team

Photo credits to MAHALO team

Photo credits to MAHALO team

Photo credits to MAHALO team

It was a humbling experience to do a simple act of giving back to the community what God has generously blessed me with. Thank you team MAHALO for the opportunity which both gave me greater understanding on love and service. I am looking forward for more trips with your group. (That is if you still want me to still be part of. hehehe) 

Thank you team Mahalo and the lovely people of Mangalabang Island for this wonderful adventure

But the adventure continues in discovering the hidden beauty of the island. Check out AGHO ISLAND for more exciting details!

AGHO ISLAND ON A Php700 BUDGET

The merman was on the run for some good swim, and boom, Concepcion happened! The trip was truly memorable as I made new friends and gave gifts to kids in Mangalabang Island. So yeah, aside from some wet adventures, I felt the spirit of Christmas come alive too! But this requires a separate post you can check out real soon!

It was a beautiful discovery that made me become an advocate of our local tourism. It is indeed true that we should "EXPERIENCE WESTERN VISAYAS FIRST" as the region offers various destinations we have to discover. With a seven hundred peso (P700) budget, I was able to do an overnight stay under the stars in what I called the "EL NIDO" of Iloilo.

Three hours away from the city, Concepcion is a quiet coastal town in the northern part of Iloilo. Primarily, the town boasts its panoramic sea and landscape summing up the beautiful islands in the Philippines such as Anawangin’s grassy peak, Caramoan’s vast sandbar and El Nido’s picturesque backdrop.

The island offers pristine beauty in both sea and land

 

How to get the

•  Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines usually offer direct flights to Iloilo from almost all parts of the country
• Upon arrival, ride a van going to SM City Iloilo
•    From SM City Iloilo, you can either ride a LEGANES JEEP or a TAXI going to tagbak terminal
•  Either ride a van or a bus going to Concepcion Town proper at P120.00
•    Go to their tourism office and inquire for the rates of boats you can rent

Boat rental fee normally costs P3,500 for 15pax or P1,500 for 5-8pax which is good for a whole day island cruise. For more accurate deals, I suggest you check out the tourism office near the Concepcion Fish Port. The cheapest option for solo travelers or backpackers is to hitch a boat leaving the port to various trip destinations. Rates may range from P50-100.00 only. (wink) 

Take note:

• Cottages in the Island costs P500.00 for day time use
• I suggest you bring your own food as this is a no electricity, no sari-sari store type of adventure 
• You can do camping overnight at no extra cost or get an overnight cottage at Php 500.00
• Mobile signal (Globe, smart and sun) is present in the island
• There are ATM machines available in Concepcion Town proper
• Goggles and more sunblock is a must!
• Make sure to clean your area when you leave the island. Leaving your trash behind is totally unacceptable.

 

SAMPLE ITINERARY
Time	Activity
05:00 - 06:00 AM	Tagbak Ceres Terminal
06:00	ETD to Concepcion Town Proper
09:00	ETA to Concepcion Town Proper
09:00	ETD to Agho Island
9-9:30AM	Pitch tent; ready for lunch
9:30AM`-12NN	Enjoy the beach
12NN-2PM	LUNCH/Rest
02:00-5PM	Island Hopping; sunset spotting
06:00PM	ETA to Agho Island/Pitch tents for Overnight stay
07:00	Dinner
08:00 PM to 10:00 PM	Socials and Games
10:00	Lights off

**Special shout out to LESTER RONCO for making this itinerary and inviting me to join the great Concepcion adventure.

The sand is a perfect place to pitch your tent

Be awed by its conservative beauty

Budget breakdown:

Fare	120.00(one way)	Php 240
Food	(Depends on appetite)	Php 250
Boat	P3500/15	Php 233
Total		Php 723.00

Go cliff diving

The bionic man will go on another adventure to bring you more discoveries!

For updates you may follow me on my instagram account @thecorporaterobot

Have fun!