BICOL's PINANGAT: My Pasalubong Recommendation

I consider Bicol as one of the best provinces I have been to in the country. In my experience, the people were so nice, the beaches were so good (see where I stayed in Donsol here), and the food was really unforgettable!!!

Indeed Bicolano Cuisine are freaking delicious! From coconut milk (gata)-based dishes to unique desserts (try Pili and Sili Ice Cream), almost everything is a must try.

Pili Ice Cream is the bomb!

So after the whole Bicol trip, I looked for something to take back to Manila to share the goodness of Bicol  to my friends and loved ones.

You can buy different pasalubong items in Ibalong Pasalubong Center located in Legazpi Grand Terminal. But if you want to take home a delicacy like I did, I recommend Bicol's Pinangat. It's Manila's version of Laing, made from gabi leaves,  dried fish, shrimp paste and maybe some coconut milk. You can buy it in local restaurants along Camalig, Albay but if you already happen to be in the terminal, you can go to SM Supermarket. They sell famous Dad's Special Pinangat in chilled packaging, perfect for transporting. They sell each pack for Php 45. I recommend getting the spicy flavor.

Pinangat sold for Php 45

Travel from Legazpi to Manila took 12 hours so prolonging the life of this dish was very critical. In order to keep it chilled, I bought a cooler box for  Php 150 and put some ice in it. Tube ice were conveniently placed beside the Pinangat's chiller.

Tube Ice

The icebox had to be sealed securely to make sure that the ice water would not spill during the trip. Thankfully the staff from the supermarket helped me seal it using packaging tape. (Bicolano's are sooo nice!)

Right after I went home, I immediately checked the package and still found some ice on top.
I put the Pinangat in the fridge and left one pack to be heated for dinner.

Bicol PNR Still in Operation - Naga - Legazpi

If riding the PNR train to Bicol is included in your bucket list, just like me, then you are in luck!

PNR has resumed its operation late last year (2015) but only from Sipocot to Naga to Legazpi.

After stopping its operation due to calamities in the Bicol Region, PNR now operates from Sipocot Camarines Sur up to Legazpi, Albay.

Currently, there is only one one-way trip per day. Train from Naga to Legazpi leaves at 5AM in the morning. In the afternoon, train goes back to Naga from Legazpi at 5:20PM.

Hope these pictures below I've taken during my PNR trip in Bicol Region will provide additional information on their operation.

PNR Legaspi Station

Naga to Legazpi Bicol PNR Fare Matrix

Naga to Legazpi PNR Trip Schedule

restored facilities dates back to Spanish era

PNR Legazpi Station

Just the ordinary train were used

PNR Daraga Station with the best view, the Mayon Volcano

written April of 2016

Cres Snack Inn: Legazpi, Albay's Budget Friendly Food Haven:

Located along Rizal Avenue, Cres Snack Inn is probably one of the underrated restaurants in Legazpi Albay, probably because it did not appear in my searches when I googled best places to eat in the province. It may look like an ordinary Carinderia or "turo-turo" but they serve one of the best Bicolano dishes I've ever tasted. 

Cres Snack Inn along Rizal Avenue, Legazpi City, Albay, Bicol

Here, you can order food by half, so you can try two or more of their dishes. I personally tried their Bicol Express (of course!) and Laing. Both were tolerably spicy and really delicious.

Price ranges from 50 to 100 plus pesos per order. We were seven that time, each of us ordered  two plates of food in half serving with one rice and our bill was only 665 pesos. That's less than 100 pesos per person.

Different dishes to choose from, Bicolano food etcetera

Laing of course!

 Special thanks to our Bicolano friends for recommending Cres Snack Inn!

Marine Diversity in White Beach Puerto Galera

Just got time to upload this video I shot last year.

 This is just a short glimpse of what you will experience if you try snorkeling in Puerto Galera.

You have to pay an extra 100 Pesos to the boatman to take you to the sanctuary. This is because you will have to be taken by their small boats because big boats may damage the corals and therefore not allowed. But I tell you, it's definitely worth it!

Here's another, during our fish feeding experience... Waves were a bit stronger so it was really hard to swim (or was I just scared? hehe)

2013 Senatoriables Educational Background

If you are the kind of voter who considers educational background in choosing your senators, kindly read on for I have listed down the Educational Attainment of the 33 Senatorial Candidates running for the 2013 election.

1. Samson Alcantara                 Bachelor of Laws, Manuel L. Quezon University School of Law
2. Sonny Angara                        Master of Laws, Harvard Law School
3. Bam Aquino                           Executive Education Program on Public Policy and Leadership, Harvard University
4. Greco Belgica                        Post-graduate Studies in International Trade and Commerce, University of California Berkeley
5. Nancy Binay                           BS Tourism, UP Diliman
6. Teddy Casiño                         BA Sociology, UP Los Baños
7. Alan Peter Cayetano              BA Political Science, University of the Philippines; Doctorate in Law, Ateneo de Manila University
8. Tingting Cojuangco               Master in National Security Administration, National Defense College of the Philippines
9.  Lito David                             Bachelor of Arts Major in Sociology, University of the Philippines Los Baños
10. JC De Los Reyes                    Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
11. JV Ejercito                             BA Major in Political Science, De La Salle University
12. Jack Enrile                            Masters in Business Administration, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California
13. Chiz Escudero                       Master in International and Comparative Law, Georgetown University
14. Baldomero Falcone              MA in Philosophy, University of San Carlos
15. Dick Gordon                          Bachelor of Laws, University of the Philippines
16. Edward Hagedorn                 Bachelor's Degree, University of the East
17. Gringo Honasan                    Master in Business Management, Asian Institute of Management
18. Risa Hontiveros                     BA Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University
19. Loren Legarda                      Masters in National Security Administration, National Defense College of the Philippines
20. Marwil Llasos                        Master of Laws, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
21. Ernesto Maceda                    Master of Laws, Harvard Law School, Cambridge Massachusetts
22. Jamby Madrigal                    Master’s Degree Sorbonne French Niveau Superieur
23. Mitos Magsaysay                   BS Business Administration, University of the Philippines Diliman
24. Jun Magsaysay                      Post-graduate studies in Business Administration, Harvard University
25. Ramon Montaño                    Bachelor of Science, Philippine Military Academy
26. Ricardo Penson                     Master's in Development Practice, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
27. Koko Pimentel                       Bachelor of Laws, University of the Philippines
28. Grace Poe-Llamanzares        Bachelor Arts in Political Science, Boston College
29. Christian Señeres                  Juris Doctor major in United States Constitutional Law, Northwestern School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
30. Antonio Trillanes IV              Master in Public Administration Major in Public Policy and Program Management, University of the Philippines
31. Eddie Villanueva                  Bachelor of Laws, University of the Philippines
32. Cynthia Villar                        Master’s Degree in Business Administration, New York University
33. Migz Zubiri                            Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management, University of the Philippines Open University

Activities in White Beach Puerto Galera

TAMMARAW FALLS

Please read my previous blog: On the Spot Puerto Galera, a Detailed Guide to White Beach PG  for complete information on our Puerto Galera experience.

45-minute trip from White Beach by tricycle

We had to travel for 45 minutes to reach the Tammaraw falls. Our transportation was one tricycle only because she could not get another one for some reasons. So we fitted ourselves, all six of us,  in that vehicle until our bodies ached during the 45-minute travel to the falls. Entrance to the falls was only 30 pesos. The Falls was not that magnificently stunning, but still beautiful nevertheless. It was hard reaching the main falls because of big steep rocks, it became sort of a rock climbing/spelunking challenge. We enjoyed swimming because unlike other falls, the water was only waste deep, perfect for non-swimmers like us. We spent 30 minutes swimming and taking pictures, then we headed to our next destination.

Falls is just beside the road

Tammaraw Falls, White Beach, Puerto Galera

Swimming pools in Tammaraw Falls, White Beach, Puerto Galera

VIRGIN ISLAND:

The island was called Virgin Island simply because of the Virgin Mary Statue in the location. You can do nothing except picture taking and appreciating the beauty of the sea. We spend only 10 minutes there.

ETC.

We had a short trip to the market to buy some things we thought of buying cheaper if we buy it in the market. We had a gallon of water for 50 persos, one 1.5L of soft drink for 45 pesos and some chips. We also bought ballot, penoy and pugo for merienda. We had a short stop over to the ATM to get some extra cash before finally heading “home.” We reached white beach shore around 6 PM. The whole trip was from 3 PM to 6 PM, Almost 2 hours spent only for travelling.

NIGHT LIFE IN WHITE BEACH PUERTO GALERA

The thing that Puerto Galera beated in Boracay I think was their fire dancers. Unlike Boracay whose good fire dancers are mostly inside tented bars which you have to spend some cash. Galera’s fire dancers are in the shoreline. Performing to the whole crowd for free (optional to give tip for picture taking) and there are lots of them! There are also much better than the Boracay performers because of the tricks that I have not seen in the latter like tumbling while fire dancing. They also had plenty of female fire dancers! I remember my father being excited while going to a bar in Boracay with fire dancers and later got disappointed after finding gay fire dancers. Haha! No offense to gays out there. J

SNORKELLING, FISH FEEDING, ISLAND HOPPING

For our Snorkelling / island hopping activity, we decided not to call Ate from yesterday after what happened to our Tammaraw Falls activity. The moment we reached the shore, we were done negotiating with the first fixer who approached us. The package costed 1500 pesos for 6-8 persons, not bad for 250 for each of us. We have to travel by tricycle to take us to the mini port where the boat that would take us was waiting. We paid an extra 50 pesos per tricycle; we took 2 tricycles so we would be comfortable during the trip unlike yesterday. Aling Rodora, the owner of the boat told us that her offer for the Tammaraw falls trip was only 1000 pesos and that we would be taken by a multicab. Now atleast we know who to call next time. She gave us bread for the fish feeding, 2 bags for 20 pesos.

Free advertisement for Queen Reyna for Treating us well. :)

We had to take a tricycle to take us to this port

As we were sailing to the Snorkelling area #1, we noticed small boats tailing us. I knew from the blogs I have read what these boats were for, and that was to take us to the Snorkelling Area #2, where no big boats can go, for additional price of course. I told Manong that we were not interested with Snorkelling area #2 so Manong signalled the guys from the small boats to stop tailing us. When we reached the Snorkelling area, there were some guys on small boats stil offering us to take us to the Snorkelling site. Since I was bit disappointed with the quantity of species I found in area #1, we finally agreed after his assurance that we will not be disappointed with area #2, however, we still haggled down the price from 200 per person to 100. We took two boats, 3 persons per boat not including the sailor. When we reached the Snorkelling area, we were asked to carefully jump down the water and hold on to the rope hanging from the boat’s side. We were then slowly pulled / dragged while our bodies were in a Snorkelling position and then I saw the difference of Snorkeling Area #1 and #2 and decided the #2 was the real Snorkelling area. We were careful not to stand in the water as we might step on the corals or worse on poisonous sea urchins! We also saw sword fish and sea snake on the bottom part, far enough to harm us. Manong was right, 100 pesos was totally worth it, we even shouted to tourists from other boats to agree to go to Snorkeling Area #2 because they would not be disappointed.

check out the video of our snorkeling experience  here!!!

Small boats tailing us

Very persistent in following us

Snorkeling Area # 1, where big boats park, few fishes to feed... boring

It's more fun in Snorkeling Area # 2!

How Snorkeling in Snorkeling Area #2 was done, Snorkelers would be pulled by Small boats

UFO VS BANANA BOAT

After the snorkelling, we were also offered the underwater cave trip and giant clam activity but politely declined as we were already short on budget and time. We had a short stop over on a small island first to have some Halo halo and then finally head back “home.”

We were back to our hotel at 10 am and decided to do another activity before we go back to the city. At 10:30 in the morning, we did the UFO instead of the Banana boat because of two reasons. Banana boat required 10 persons and we have to wait for 4 more if we are going to ride in it, and second was that we felt that the ride was kinda scripted and boring. It was our first time on the UFO and totally enjoyed it. The UFO ride costed 1800 for 6 persons.

UFO Ride in White Beach Puerto Galera

WHAT TO EAT

We found this restaurant serving unlimited rice and was open for 24 hours. Now don't expect too much with the "Garlic" in Garlic Rice. Its just plain rice topped with shredded garlic. lol

Restaurant serving unlimited rice in Puerto Galera

I spent 149 pesos for one meal consisting of rice, chicken wings, salted egg and tomato. The taste was not extraordinary but the salted egg sealed the deal.

Affordable food (unlimited rice) in Puerto Galera, for only 149 pesos

Also Read:

Where to Stay in White Beach, Puerto Galera

Where to Stay in White Beach, Puerto Galera

On the Spot Puerto Galera, a Detailed Guide to White Beach PG

After a couple of changes in our plans, my high school friends and I finally decided to stick to our original plan which was to celebrate our High School reunion in White Beach, Puerto Galera. We were only six in the group (4 high school friends to celebrate our reunion, lol, plus two other “friends”), all first timers in Puerto Galera. The date was April 13-14, 2013, Saturday to Sunday. At the end of this blog, I will list down our expenses which totalled about 3,600 pesos per person.

White Beach Puerto Galera

PREPARATION:

We had no hotel and ferry ticket reservation so I can say that this was a sort of on the spot outing. The only preparation we had was the setting of the call time and making sandwiches and adobo to serve as our “tipid food.” We also packed our things enough for an overnight outing including my snorkelling gears and aqua shoes. We also read some blogs first to gather information on where to stay, activities etcetera. I made this blog and made it as detailed as possible for the benefit of readers/outing organizers like me, hope this looong blog helps. J

GOING TO BATANGAS PORT

We arrived at Jam Terminal, Cubao (aka Kamuning, Kamias Branch) at around 3:30 in the morning. Thanks to the late comer such as myself, we were not able to board the 3 AM trip. I was actually surprised that at that early, there was already a line of passengers waiting for the next trip, mostly Puerto Galera bound to spend the weekend. We left Cubao at 4:30 AM. Fare was 175 per person.

Batangas port on our way to White Beach Puerto Galera

BATANGAS PORT TO WHITE BEACH

We reached Batangas Port at around 6:10 AM, after reading a couple of blogs, we knew we only had two options: Father and Sons Shipping Lines (FSL) and Minolo Shipping Lines (MSL). We also had already anticipated fixers/barkers who would like to assist us in booking ticket for Puerto Galera. We politely refused Manong from FSL’s offer and told him that we do not have budget for his tip (we really intended to spend as little as possible for this outing). But he assured us that it’s okay and his job is just to bring passengers to FSL, maybe that’s where he's getting his commission, and so we agreed. He was the one who lined up to pay in the cashier, but one of us was beside him to be safe. We paid the same amount as the other’s who paid personally without fixer’s assistance (Php 500 round trip ticket), so we were sure that we were not charged by Manong. I momentarily became paranoid when he told us to wait and suddenly ran to the other side and disappeared, he still had our Php 480! I nervously looked for him and eventually found him, turned out that “the other side” was the terminal fee cashier. P30 for terminal and P50 for environmental, not sure which was 30 and which was 50 really :-D). After getting our tickets, we lined up for the entrance, we did not pay Manong any tip because of his assurance a while ago, we just told him “God bless po” for his kind assistance.

And so we boarded the boat. FSL boat is big and can accommodate many passengers. Aside from White Beach, FSL has also trip going to Muelle and Sabang.Time check: 6:30 AM.

We reached the shore of White Beach, Puerto Galera around pass 8 o’clock in the morning. The place was okay, a bit crowded because it was weekend. Since we bought round trip tickets, we were asked to approach the FSL booth by the shore to confirm/reserve our return tickets for next day and chose a schedule of departure; we chose the 4:30 PM trip.

Father and Sons Shipping Lines

Father and Sons Shipping Lines Crew

FINDING A PLACE TO STAY

Our next mission was to find a place to stay. We decided not to book a room online because of the rates ranging from Php 3,500 to 4,800 for a capacity of 6. There were fixers in the FSL booth offering us a place to stay. We told them that our budget was Php 2,000 – 3,000, to maintain our maximum budget allocation of 500 pesos per person for the accommodation. One of the fixers gave us two options: first was on beach front for 3,000 pesos and the other was located in small alley a little far from the shore for 2,500 pesos. We chose the first one, Mindoro Korea, beside Mindorinne Oriental Beach Resort.

We had to wait long because they are still preparing/cleaning our room. Luckily, they had their own restaurant so we decided to have an early lunch. We just bought rice and had our “tipid food” Adobo as our meal. Our room was ready by the time we were done eating.

Also read my blog: Where to Stay in White Beach, Puerto Galera  to know more about accomodations in Puerto Galera

Mindoro Korea Hotel

ACTIVITIES

For a detailed version of this part of our trip, check out: Activities in White Beach Puerto Galera

We booked Tammaraw Falls and Virgin Island trip with the same fixer who brought us to to Mindoro Korea. She charged us 1500 for the whole trip, I am not sure why we did not insist on haggling for a cheaper offer, but we later found out that 1500 pesos was really expensive. The package also included a trip to the market to buy some stuff and a stopover in an ATM for extra cash. The whole trip was from 3:30 PM to 6 PM, 1.5 hours spent on travelling alone.

Tammaraw Falls

We then spent the rest of the night watching fire dancers whom I thought were much more entertaining than the performers I saw in Boracay. Plus they also have more hot fire dancing chicks there than in Boracay. We also tried the famous Mindoro Sling and honestly I did not like it! It tasted more alcohol than juice. We even ordered from another bar thinking that it would differ in the mix, but the alcohol taste was still dominant.

Then came day 2. After having our breakfast, (our tipid food adobo of courseJ), we decided to do the Snorkelling / island hopping activity. We did not want Ate from yesterday after what happened to our Tammaraw Falls activity. The moment we reached the shore, we were done negotiating with the first fixer who approached us.  We paid 1500 for the trip, excluding the tricycle fare, tip and “others.” The entire activity was fun specially the fish feeding in the “real” Snorkelling area (aka Snorkeling Area #2). The entire activity lasted almost two hours including travel time.

Queen Reyna free advertisement for treating us well :)

More fishes in Snorkeling Area #2

At 10:30 in the morning, we did the UFO instead of the Banana boat because of two reasons. Banana boat required 10 persons and we have to wait for 4 more if we are going to ride in it, and second was that we felt that the Banana ride was kinda scripted and boring. It was our first time on the UFO and totally enjoyed it.

For a detailed version of this part of our trip, check out: Activities in White Beach Puerto Galera

GOING HOME

Our check out time was 11:30 in the morning and since our trip back to Batangas is at 4:30 in the afternoon, we decided to have  lunch first to kill some time. We left our bags in the reception area of Mindoro Korean to look for a place to eat with videoke. We ate, sang, and drank a mild version of Mindoro sling which we totally enjoyed this time, for more than 3 hours. We went back to Mindoro Korea to fetch our things, bought some pasalubong and finally head to the FSL ferry waiting for us.

Going Home

EXPENSES

Expenses for one person

Also Read:
Where to Stay in White Beach, Puerto Galera

Activities in White Beach Puerto Galera