HUNDRED ISLANDS AND MT. PINATUBO

When it comes to Luzon Trip, I am always incharge in buying tickets,  making itineraries and arranging  accommodations for the group. This time, its a 2 days tour to Hundred Islands and Mt. Pinatubo.

When we arrived in Manila our hired  two (2)  aircon van were already  waiting for us at the airport. Together with my 19 outdoor buddies from Manila and Davao, we departed NAIA 3 at 1:30am and arrived in Alaminos, Pangasinan at 6:00am. 

Our first stop was a day tour in Hundred Islands in Barangay Lucap, Alaminos, Pangasinan  which is composed of 124 islands at low tide and 123 islands at high tide but only three islands were developed namely Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children's Island. Everything went well except that after lunch our tour operator called us asking if we will pursue our trip to Mt. Pinatubo for the next day since it was closed for the day due to heavy rain and no assurance if  we could get the chance to climb the next day. 

Late Lunch in Dagupan City

After our tour in Hundred Islands, we had our lunch in Dagupan City and had our meeting for any back up plans for the next day activity but we can't make a final decision since we have different decisions. It was a headache for me. Our dinner and overnight stay was sponsored by  NIA Office in Tarlac. We are so thankful for their warm  accommodation. Our group decided to have a tour on the next day in Tarlac. 

AT NIA Office, Tarlac

Dinner at NIA Office

But, thanks to my friends Tina, Cheryl, Marj and Tupe for pursuing to Capas, Tarlac the next morning and when the weather was nice they give the climbers a go signal  to trek Mt. Pinatubo. We were so happy since it was our main target why we were in Manila. The 4x4 vehicle ride took us around an hour via skyway and the trek is thirty to forly minutes depending on your pacing.  The trail was easy even kids are allowed.  In the end, everything turned out right and we were back to Manila with satisfaction in our faces.

4x4 vehicle ride

with Mr. Juan dela Cruz

A Kid Aeta you will meet along the way

Journeying Sarah at the majestic crater lake of Mt. Pinatubo

Photo credits: Keir Ashley Lim, Olan Emboscado, Caroline Espejon and Ophelia Casel

The Weekend Trip to Cebu and Bohol

Our original plan was to have a day tour in Cebu City but since Airphil Express cancelled their early morning flights  we grabbed the opportunity to rebooked our flight and changed it to a 2 days 3 nights vacation without any charges. Together with my daughter and some friends, we took the 7:00pm flight bound for  Cebu, Mactan Airport. We spend our first night at CSC Office Dormitory.

Port of Cebu

Wake up call was 3:00am the following day since we had to catch the 5:45am in  trip in Pier 1  to Tubigon, Bohol. The fare is Php200.00 one way for tourist class and pPhp280.00 for business class. We had our breakfast in a fastfood near the Port of Tubigon and afterwards we bought some extra food and water.

Our first stop was in Sagbayan Peak a 30-minute ride via Bus. If you're traveling with children, Sagbayan Peak  is must visit with lots of cartoon characters statue and a playground. Before leaving Sagbayan Peak, we arranged a motorcycle that will tour us around Bohol at the rate of Php600.00 good for two persons. We visited Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Manmade Forest in Bilar, Tarsiers in Loboc and Sagbayan, Man Made Forrest,  Hanging Bridge, Loboc River, Albuquerque Church,  Loboc Church and Museum, Loboc Church Bell Tower, Baclayon Church, Blood Compact Shrine, St. Joseph Cathedral  in Tagbilaran City and Our Lady of the Assumption in  Dauis. It was already 5:00pm when we arrived at my grandmothers house where we spend the night.

Sagbayan Peak

Chocolate Hills, Carmen

Manmade Forrest

Tarsiers can be found in Sagbayan Peak and Loboc

Hanging Bridge

Loboc Church

Loboc Church Bell Tower

Albuquerque Church

Baclayon Church

Blood Compact Shrine

St. Joseph Cathedral, Tagbilaran City

The miraculous well located in the altar of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Dauis

The next day, we traveled back to Cebu via Tubigon. From the Port of Cebu our first stop was  Fort San Pedro located outside the Port. In the afternoon, we visited Taoist Temple, Magellans Cross and Basilica de Sto. Nino, Cebu Cathedral. We were lucky to have a free accommodation from our friends residence Mr. and Mrs. Jhay-R and Bernadine Gonzaga of Cebu City. We stayed for the night and leave Cebu the next morning.

Taoist Temple

Magellans  Cross

The Altar of Basilica del  Sto. Nino

Cebu Cathedral

 Please check this photos for the scheduled trips from (Cebu-Tubigon, Bohol) as of  September 2011 or v.v.: