Bantigue, Gateway to Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas

If you want to go to Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lagpas in Pagbilao Quezon, one of your options would be through a boat ride in Barangay Bantigue. It can easily be reached through public transportation.

From Manila, which is the capital of the Philippines, there are a lot of bus companies plying Lucena City. One is Jam Liner located in their Buendia-Taft Station. Fare last February 2011 is about Php210. You need to get off the bus when you reach Lucena City Grand Terminal and ride a jeep going to Pagbilao. Halfway to Pagbilao in about 30 minutes, you'd need to get off at Bagong Tulay where there's a tricycle terminal that can take you to Brgy. Bantigue. Tell the driver that you'd want to go to the coastal village and hire a boat to take you to Puting Buhangin. You shouldn't be paying more than a hundred and fifty pesos. Or you can also drop by Silangang Nayon first, a floating restaurant where you can have a sumptuous meal before heading to Puting Buhangin. You'd just need to walk back the road from Silangang Nayon and wait for a tricycle, like what we did, to take you to the boat area. We paid Php80 for the three of us from the highway to Silangang Nayon and Php10 each from Silangang Nayon to the coastal area of Barangay Bantigue.

On the way you'll pass by Pueblo Por la Playa on your left, a member exclusive resort and the barangay hall on your right. At the end of the cemented road, the tricycle will turn left into a narrow dirt road and at the end of it is the coastal area.

You'd see a wooden house owned by Mang Bin, one of the boatmen in the area, who transported us to Puting Buhangin. We were quoted Php1000 for a 30-40 minute boatride, I haggled and we paid Php800 for the three of us. It is way cheaper compared to Silangang Nayon's boat rate of Php1500.

Bantigue also has it's own charm. It is a fishing village and the water is really bountiful. Fishermen place a box shaped net trap in just waist high waters and they are able to harvest big crabs. When we arrived back from swimming in Puting Buhangin, we coincidentally saw one of the fishermen harvest and tie the crabs to sell in Dalahican. Crabs sell for only Php180 per kilo. We wanted to buy a lot to bring home with us but we have yet to go and stay in Lucban Quezon for a day so we just bought a kilo and Mang Bin's wife kindly cooked it for us. I think she just boiled the crabs in Sprite (soda), she said that way, it won't spoil right away. The crabs became a part of our dinner when we reached Lucban that night, and it tasted so fresh and sweet.

If you'd ask me, the beach area is also swimmable. Water is clear and looked clean plus the sand is also white. It's not something very powdery but it was inviting. It is a fishing village though and no accommodation is available but for a daytrip, it will surely work. :)

The Day I Got Mesmerized by Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas

I never thought a place like this exists here in the Philippines. Don’t get me wrong. I know how beautiful Philippines is and for that I am so proud to be a Filipino. It’s just that Puting Buhangin is so serene, a private cove that’s perfect for people seeking an intimate encounter with nature, something ironic for a country with ninety four million population.

Researching for this trip, I found out two options on how to go to Puting Buhangin, one via trekking and the other through a boat ride. I prefer trekking, however, I found out later on that trekking is no longer allowed since the area one needs to walk through had been purchased by a businessman and they don’t allow passing through the property anymore. I’d be honest to say that I haven’t validated the truth behind that story but I opted for the boat ride. It’s less adventurous but then, it’s better to do what I’m sure about to save time and it’s a perfect option anyways since we had lunch in Silangang Nayon, a floating restaurant that’s a close proximity to the fishing village where we rented a boat that took us to Putting Buhangin.

It was a cloudy day with occasional drizzles when we arrived in Pagbilao Quezon. The wind was blowing cold February breeze but it didn't change our spirits from being euphoric. We were all excited reaching the cove. We boarded a boat in Barangay Bantigue and as soon as our boat left, the earlier white cottony clouds were replaced by thicker black clouds. In about twenty minutes of riding the boat, the Pagbilao Power Plant became visible in a hazy sea then rain poured hard so we secured our backpacks to make sure our things didn't get wet. We're a different case though, we were all soaking from the rain, the wind kind of made a joke on us for it blew harder but we're in a light spirit so we just chose to enjoy the rain and cold. It rarely happens anyway so it wasn't really a discomfort, rather a new experience to savor. :)

The weather made me feel that it was really testing us because when our boat reached the power plant area, the rain stopped. Parts of the sky illuminated a blue tint and clouds were still prevalent but the sun was shining in that part of the sea. It felt like being warped in a different dimension.

After the power plant, the view turned more interesting. We passed by small patches of white sands on a limestone backdrop. Trees are abundant. Rock formations became a usual sight then we passed a white limestone, it looked sparkling from our boat.

In just a few minutes from the white limestone, our boat was continually moving swiftly when a cave opening materialized from the rock formations. It looked like half of it was being submerged in sea water. Just a few more seconds and our boat maneuvered turning a sharp left. I saw we're headed a crescent shaped white sand cove with emerald waters. That's when I realized, we have almost reached our destination - the opening I saw is the Kwebang Lagpas and the white sand cove is Puting Buhangin.

I can't contain my excitement once our boat docked the shore. What I was seeing is definitely worth the travel, the rain and the cold wind. The water is super clear. The coral sand is visible in the shallow area and the water turns emerald green in the deeper part of the beach. Since our clothes are wet from the rain, we started swimming right after paying the Php50 entrance fee.The water is calm, having the two rock boulder formations on both sides of the cove kind of regulate the waves entering the cove. The cove is crescent shaped and is really white, made from powdered corals.

Walking to the other side of the cove, I noticed that there are bigger bits of corals that haven't been crushed by the sea yet, something that might be a bit discomfort to the feet if not wearing slippers. Once you decide to go to the waters though, the sand turns fine and softer in just a few feet. As I was walking into the deeper waters to dip, I felt something rubbed in my feet and curious as what it is, I wore my goggles and checked it out. To my surprise, there are about seven white colored fishes swimming around my feet. It was amazing! I tried to capture their photos but they were moving too fast and looked almost transparent as the water so it was hard distinguishing them. The waters of Pagbilao Grande might really be prosperous, evident of the fishing boats near the cove.

Kwebang Lagpas is a unique feature of Puting Buhangin. It is located on the rocky right side of the cove. It is accessible from the shore and the other opening fronting the seas and deeper waters.

It is a small cave that won't need a lot of time navigating. Once inside, you'd notice the smooth wall of the cave, proof that when sea water is high, the whole cave is being immersed, something you won't wish to happen while you're inside it.

The place is really peacefully relaxing. We're the only guests when we went there. There are open cottages available for rent that are built under coconut trees. You may prefer not to rent a cottage but to just lie down in the bermuda grass lawn under the cool shade of the trees or in the shore, which we did since we just visited for few hours. The only downside is that there's a restroom but it is locked, the caretakers didn't bother to open it for us. It was a good thing that we needed to leave soon since we had to travel to Lucban Quezon where we stayed for the night. We traveled back to Brgy. Bantigue with our clothes still wet and changed in Mang Bin's (our boatman) house.

The cove is only open for day visits but I'm hoping that would change once the case on the cove's real ownership is settled. I'm hoping they can do something about the restrooms too. Nevertheless, when it comes to the beauty of Puting Buhangin, it is still a heavenly place that will surely captivate you. One of the places I call a sanctuary - quiet, isolated and extremely mesmerizing.

Please check this http://mybackpackdiaries.blogspot.com/2011/04/bantigue-gateway-to-puting-buhangin-and.html on directions going to Puting Buhangin.

Silangang Nayon Park and Restaurant, Food and Nature Combined

If you're a fan of food and nature, you'll surely enjoy visiting Silangang Nayon Park and Restaurant.

It had been a sleepless night before we left for Quezon. Maybe it was excitement that kept me awake for hours. Nikko and I have been planning to see Puting Buhangin of Pagbilao, Quezon. Coincidentally, my sister working overseas had a long holiday from work because of Chinese New year so I told her she can come home for the weekend and join us in going to Quezon, which she happily did. So few weeks before our trip, I started researching and working on our itinerary and projected expenses. That's when I've stumbled upon writings about Silangang Nayon. I know right there and then, it will be included in our itinerary.

We boarded a Jam Liner bus going to Lucena City in their Buendia-Taft Station. The bus left six thirty in the morning and arrived our destination at around ten AM. I asked the bus conductor to drop us at the Lucena Grand Terminal and asked if we can walk from the highway to the jeep terminal. I was told it will still be far. So upon alighting the bus, we rode a tricycle and paid Php10 each just to realize that the terminal is just 2 blocks away. It is in fact the same terminal that's visible from the highway and one can probably walk and reach it in just 3 to 5 minutes.


There are queues of jeeps and buses going to different towns in Quezon, even to Bicol provinces. We rode a jeep headed to Pagbilao. I know that Silangang Nayon is in Brgy. Bantigue, thesame area as the jump off point for Puting Buhangin, (which we visited after lunch) but I didn't find any clear information on where we should be getting off from the jeep. I asked the locals for directions. The jeep dispatcher and driver told me they will drop us at the tricycle terminal headed to Silangang Nayon. When unsure and almost lost, always ask the locals. They will be your most reliable GPS for the moment. :) It took us around 30 minutes reaching the road where the tricycles going to Bgry. Bantigue are parked and it is located halfway to Pagbilao town proper so we didn't get to see the town.

Back in Lucena Grand Terminal, we were given warnings by the locals to just pay the tricycle Php15 each. They said there have been instances when tourists were taken advantaged of paying up to Php200 per trip. I appreciate the information. True enough, when the tricycle reached Silangang Nayon and I verified with the driver that the rate is Php15/person, he told me that the present fare is Php80 for the three of us. I just didn't argue though and just handed him the amount. In fairness to the driver, that's about a 20 minute ride from the highway to the restaurant, about 6.5 kms. travel so I’m not really sure if the locals riding the jeep with us made a mistake or it’s really just the driver that’s trying to deceive :(

When I stepped the gardens of Silangang Nayon, I suddenly forget what transpired earlier. I was seeing greens and blooms everywhere and it kind of confused us where is the pathway going to the restaurant when a staff/waiter wearing a green shirt appeared from nowhere and assisted us. I told him we don't have a room reservation but we're just there for lunch. He then guided us to the floating restaurant. :)

I was really excited, I know my sister and Nikko felt the same way. Walking towards the cliff, the sea materialized then the floating restaurant. To get there, we walked downwards to a cemented stairs then crossed a narrow bridge made of bamboo strips nailed together and are supported by bamboo spiles. The bridge appeared weak but it just added to our enthusiasm. Once I set foot in the bridge, I felt the very strong chilly winds of Tayabas bay, it was really cold and that forced the three of us to slip on our jackets. It was really cold. The sun isn't even shining and it was drizzling so you could imagine how it was that day.

Reaching the restaurant, I noticed that the bamboo stilts are then replaced by cement poles to strengthen the foundation of the structures. It's safe to stay in the huts after all. :)

Our waiter showed us the menu. It was too cold that we ordered soup. I was hoping they have scallops but there were no sea shells available to bake or grill except for oysters which we usually have whenever we go home in the province so we decided to skip it and just ordered vegetable and fish dishes. Prices are reasonable but is higher than average. I wouldn't suggest having a full meal here if you're working on a budget. Well, I was actually working on a budget but this lunch is my sister's treat. Thanks to her! hahaha! As we're waiting for our order to be cooked, we started capturing pictures of the place. It was almost deserted except for 2 lovers having lunch in the bigger hut.

Minutes later, I noticed this plane-like box that is suspended in a cable and thus looking like it is flying from the top of the cliff to the kitchen area of the floating restaurant. This is the flying waiter that I've read in blogs. It delivers some of the ingredients needed for the dishes, which the waiter, who also works as a cook, use to prepare food in the kitchen area. If your order is grilled, it will be delivered cooked right away using this plane because the restaurant has a separate grilling area.

When our order was served to us, we hurriedly started feasting on the soup to feel warmer. The Silangang Nayon fried rice is delicious and it is almost a complete meal having had its share of chicken, pork, shrimp, egg and pineapple tidbits. If only I've known it earlier, we could have just settled with just rice alone. hahaha! The steamed fish and stir friend veggies didn't please my taste buds; it tasted ordinary and a bit salty. My sister paid a little less than Php1,300 and should the servings be not as big as it was, (each serving good for about 4 people) I'd say it's not worth the money. Overall, I think that it's the ambiance and experience that you're really paying in Silangang Nayon, food just comes second.

After lunch, we spent more time capturing photos of the place. They also have in land huts where groups can have their meals. It looked cute with shell decorations. Huts are located few meters away from each other giving privacy to diners. These huts are more accessible and save you energy if you don't want to walk further. They also have a not so manicured grass area in Silangang Nayon where a gazebo perfect for pictorials is located.

We dropped by the reception area to get our change then decided to leave because it was getting late and we're still going to Puting Buhangin despite the cold weather. We walked towards the gate and passed by the newly built conference/function hall.

We had to walk a dirt road leading to the main road where we can ride a tricycle to the coastal area of Brgy. Bantigue. It is in this dirt road that I've seen a cow, so friendly and demure, she won't even move when I was taking her photo and she looked at my eyes even after the photo shoot. haha!

Reminders

Silangang Nayon Park and Restaurant is closed on the following holidays, Good Friday, All Saint's Day (Nov 1) and Christmas Day (Dec 25). Operation resumes on the following days.

How to go to Silangang Nayon Park and Restaurant

Ride a Lucena City bound bus. One is Jam Liner located in Buendia-Taft Station. Fare is Php209 and takes 3-4 hours. Ask to be dropped in Lucena City Grand Terminal since some buses goes further to SM Lucena/Dalahican. You will be dropped in the highway and the terminal is visible, it's walking distance. Ride a Pagbilao Bound jeep and ask the driver to get you off at the road going to Silangang Nayon. Fare is Php18 when we went there and takes about 30 minutes. Lastly, ride a tricycle going to Silangang Nayon. Locals said fare should be Php15/person for 4 people but we were charged Php80 for all three of us. Travel time takes about 20 minutes.

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