Oslob: Butanding and Sumilon Island

This is my favorite province in the Philippines.  This is where my first white sand beach from.  If you guess it right, it’s where Bantayan Island is.  But this time, I went on the farther South of Cebu.

Famous for the whale shark watching, Oslob had been a fast growing tourist destination for years now.  A three to four-hour drive from Cebu City from the South Terminal.  Or a 30-minute boat ride from Dumaguete City to Liloan, then a tricycle ride from Liloan to Oslob.  There are many resorts in the beach side of Tan-awan.

The beach resort where we stayed was Aaron Beach Resort.  It had a fascinating view of sunrise, Sumilon Island and a beach front.  The resort also offered the whale shark watching tour.

Tourists from all over the country and all over the world flocked thru this site to witness every morning the whale sharks.  Before we get to see the whale sharks, there were briefing areas where the tour guides explained necessary precautions and guidelines for tourist.  The local government also protects the butandings welfare.  Tour guides and boatman have their ID’s so we felt secured about the tour.

After which, we rode a boat and lined up with other boats at the viewing area.   And alas, we were seeing the gentle giants near us.  

If you want to swim with the butanding, don’t forget not to put lotion and not to touch them.

After which, we went to Sumilon Island.  Sumilon Island is privately owned by Bluewaters Sumilon Island.  They offered an overnight stay and a day tour with lunch.  The resort owner allowed non-guest to experience the sand bar which is the highlight of the island. We opted to just stay at the sand bar for a minimal fee. 

We enjoyed the sand, sea and sun.  During high tide, the sand bar is covered with water, so it’s best to see Sumilon Island during low tide.

There were no shades and no facilities in the sand bar.  Tourist bought with them food and water because there were no shops. As a reminder we should always take our trash with us.    

Backpacker in a Luxurious Hotel in Boracay

It is the number 1 travel destination in the Philippines.  It even ranked number 1 as the best beach in the whole world.  It would always be found in the bucket list of every Filipino who loves to travel.  It would always have a special part of every one who have seen the island.  It would always be a travel destination of every “balikbayan” Filipinos. It would be a dream destination for foreigners.   And yes, I’d been there for the nth time, both for leisure and for business.

I’d tried a backpacker’s lodge and some good resorts in Boracay. It was a dream for a backpacker like me to be able to try a five star luxury resort.  And I would say, I’d been able to try it one of the Top Hotels in the country, Discovery Shores Boracay, a kick-off meeting organized by our foreign counterpart. 

Upon arrival to the Caticlan Airport, we were greeted by the staff of the hotel and gave us bag tags to ensure that we were the hotel’s guests.  We then waited for the van to arrive and we were transferred to the lounge near the port before we boarded our boat to the island.  The boat was airconditioned, snacks as served snacks and we were seated comfortably in our boat and within 15 minutes we were at Jetti Port.  We took a van again that would take us to the resort.

Discovery Shores  Boracay is located in Station 1, Balabag. The staffs were accommodating, friendly and courteous when we registered to get our keys and assisted us to our rooms.  There were a welcoming note and snacks when we arrived at our room. 

Our room was junior suite, double sharing queen-sized bed with a veranda.  The features of the room was really amazing.  The amenities were excellent.

They also have a Terra Wellness Spa, Fitness Center, the Sandbox Kids room, and swimming pool.  The resort’s beach front gave a stunning view of the sunset.  

And since we had a business meeting here, the food served during breaks were superb.   The buffet breakfast was served in Sands Restaurant.  Our lunch was a fused of Asian culture because our guest were from the different Southeast Asian countries. The party organized on our second day was organized in the Sandbar, which includes band, fire dancers and fireworks.  Our guest from the nearby countries were astonished with the Discovery Shores, Boracay and the view of magnificent sunset.

for more information: www.discoveryshoresboracay.com

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Why I keep coming back to Bantayan Island

In 2009, I decided  to go back to the first island I fell in love with.  And this time with a different travel buddy, my best friend in college, Patti who dwell in Cebu for work.  

It was August when we came back.  It was still the same feeling seeing Bantayan Island for the second time.  We stayed in Budyong, traversed the Sugar Beach, ate freshly catch seafoods bought from locals and went back to Sta Fe Beach Club and the Ogtong Cave. 

I came back last summer of 2014 to Bantayan Island, revisiting the place some months after Yolanda devastated the island.  And this time around, I traveled with a group.  There were eight of us who went there after our convention in Cebu City.  That Friday night, we went to San Remigio and stayed to our colleague’s house.  In the morning, we went to Hagnaya Port to bring us to Sta Fe port.  We stayed at the side of the ferry and enjoyed the view and breathe of fresh air going to Bantayan Island.

Upon seeing Bantayan Island again, I felt I was home.  It saddened me though, that the coconut trees were cut into halves.  Other trees were disheveled too.  I could still see the effect of Super Typhoon Yolanda within the vicinity of Sta Fe as some houses had broken down.

We went to the town proper of Sta Fe and ate a sumptuous lunch in a restaurant called Coucou Bar Bantayan Island Hotel and Restaurant.  There were new restaurants in the area. Restaurants before were located in the resort and there were only some carinderias around.  We checked in at the Sta Fe Beach Resort near Sta Fe port.  We booked two cottages without aircon, and we split into two.  The cottage and the veranda was big enough for us.  Our cottage was near the beach, while the other one was at the back. 

After settling our bags and changing to our swim wears, we headed to the beach front and started enjoying beach.

We took pictures while waiting for the boat that would take us to Virgin Island.  We walked thru the fine sands of Alice Beach towards the boat. 

Virgin Island was a secluded area and you need to pay an entrance fee for the day tour.  

We took pictures and enjoyed swimming in the beach. 

We waited until the sun sets from the horizon.  

It was already low tide when we got back to our resort.  We took a bath and ate at the Island Daddy Dok’s restaurant where we get a grilled pork, fish soup and shrimps.  We also took some time in the grocery to buy our drink for the night, ice and some snack foods to munch during our drinking session.  As we get back to our hotel we drank and shared stories about lives.  When we finished drinking, only half of the group decided to take a night swim.  We actually didn’t swim but, enjoyed the cold beach water.   

We transferred at the beach front where there were other customer who were also enjoying the night.  We were the ones left until past midnight.  We already finished our drinks and we headed to the waters where we stayed there for another hour.

The following day, we were already up when the sun rose.  Because we where in the east side of the island the view of sun rise was fantastic.  After taking pictures of the sunrise, I toured the group in Sugar Beach.  

This side was the best hit area during the super typhoon.  Some of the resorts where recovering but there were also resorts that were really devastated.  We walked from Sugar Beach until we reached the area where we could also see the port.  We went back to Sta Fe Beach Resort where we enjoyed our breakfast before we went back to San Remigio.

The next time I visit Bantayan Island, I need to go to the Bantayan town proper and Madridejos.  These two municipalities that I haven’t explored yet.

Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in the Philippines

Grab a copy of the latest Fly Magazine for an insight of the different Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in the Philippines.

Three pages write ups, if you are looking for a Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants.   Only in Powerbooks.

One Island at at Time, Article for Travel Now Magazine

Travel Article for Travel Now Magazine Vol 3, 2015

One Island at a Time - Krabi, Phuket and Phang-Nga

On the Northern Tip of Cebu: My first white sand beach

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/533285/lifestyle/travel/on-the-northern-tip-of-cebu-my-first-white-sand-beach

On the northern tip of Cebu, my first white sand beach

Published August 17, 2015 7:42pm

Text and photos by KRISTINE AGUSTIN

It was the first white sand beach I ever set foot on. It was known by the locals of Cebu, but not by Manileños, back then. Seeing the island for the first time, in 2001, was like seeing paradise.

I had flown to Cebu to visit my company's accounts. I was in sales and one of the perks of being a sales agent was to go to our clients all throughout the Philippines if needed. My colleague Ritz, who was based in Cebu, told me to spend the weekend there so we could visit one of the islands.

I rebooked my flight and we went to the Cebu City North Bus Terminal and boarded a six-hour bus ride to Hagnaya Port in San Remigio. We reached Hagnaya port before lunch time and we ate our lunch while waiting for the ferry boat to Sta. Fe Port. It was an hour-long ferry ride, during which I finally got to see the island, with its pristine white sands and clear blue waters. And it was love at first sight.

Bantayan Island is off the northern tip of Cebu. It has three municipalities: Bantayan, Madridejos and Sta. Fe. The main modes of transportation are tricycles and motorbikes. We rode a tricycle to our beach resort. There were nipa huts and tall coconut trees that swayed in the winds that made the resort cool and breezy. Budyong Beach was fronting south and was part of the stretch of Sugar Beach.

Upon checking in, we took a nap for a while. After the sun set, we went to the Sto. Niño Catholic Parish Priest and ate at the carinderia outside that offered grilled chicken, pork and fish.

The following day, we went to Ogtong Cave. There are steps that lead you to the small cave. After going down the steps, we swam in the cold water in the cave.

We explored the Sta. Fe Beach Club and then headed back to Budyong and swam a little more. After lunch, we went back to Sta Fe Port and headed back to the city to catch my plane back to Manila.

I vowed to return to Bantayan Island. Since then, I have gone back—in 2009 and in 2014, and am still hoping for another trip there sometime soon.

Bantayan Island has been listed as my number one travel destination in terms of beach, food, resorts and people. And I will never get tired of going back. It will always be my comfort zone. My first love. My first ever worthwhile travel. And the reason why I started exploring the archipelago and loving my very own country. — BM, GMA News

Kristine Agustin, 35, is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas and a licensed chemist. She is currently working as a sales supervisor at Lifeline Diagnostics Supplies Inc., in the sales and marketing of different products for research for both the private sector and government institutions. She has contributed to Smile Magazine and Travel Now Magazine.