Cagbalete Island (Quezon)

I have been to several places here in Luzon, but all of them were only centered on historical sites, mountains, waterfalls, and food trips. 

Around April 2014, a friend of mine, sent me a shared link via Facebook regarding information on a trip to a less-known place called Cagbalete Island, situated in Mauban, Quezon. 

Since I was not an avid fan of islands due to the fact that I do not know how to swim, I was not then inclined to give it a go, but eventually, I realized…hmmmm…why not give this aspect a try. 

So on May 1-2, 2014, we embarked on a trip to faraway Cagbalete Island to fulfill my very first island overnight trip. 

DAY 1: MAY 1, 2014

We assembled at the JAC Liner bus terminal at Kamias, EDSA, QC and the Lucena-bound vehicle departed at 12:30 AM. Our destination was the Lucena Grand Terminal and we paid a fare of Php 218.00 each. 

JAC Liner (Kamias, Cubao, Quezon City)

Arriving at 3:45 AM at the Lucena Grand Terminal, various eateries were already open to cater to hungry travelers who would want a super early breakfast. Pasalubong outlets can also be seen here, wherein you could already buy food items and water before proceeding to Mauban, Quezon. 

Arrival @ Lucena Grand Terminal

Various Eateries

Pasalubong Outlets

We departed at 4:30 AM via a Mauban-bound NCR Lines non-aircon bus, and the fare from Lucena to Mauban was Php 54.00. 

Mauban-bound NCR Lines bus

At around 6:30 AM, we were already in Mauban. We dropped by a local grocery in order to buy food in easy-open cans, junk food, and mineral water. Yes, it is better to buy these necessary items before you arrive at Cagbalete Island. 

A few walks from the grocery, we arrived at the Gat Uban Park, at the end of Gomez St., along the sea wall, which had a statue of the legendary Dumagat warrior and town hero Gat Pangil (also known as Gat Uban because of his gray hair). 

Gat Pangil monument

Sunrise @ Gat Uban Park

We also visited the St. Bonaventure Church, which underwent a lot of rebuilding since it was first built in 1647. The present church was built in 1891. 

St. Bonaventure Church (Facade)

St. Bonaventure Church (Altar)

The façade of the Mauban Municipal Hall had 2 old cannons bestowed by Spanish Gov.-Gen. Rafael Maria Aguilar to the town as a reward for the rescue efforts done for the Spanish friars captured by Moro pirates. The cannon were later used against the Spanish to effect the surrender of Tayabas to the revolutionaries in 1898. They were restored on April 16, 2004. 

Vintage Cannon @ Mauban Municipal Hall

We then proceeded to the Daungan Port, where the boats to Cagbalete Island were docked. 

At the Brgy. Daungan Multi-Purpose Hall, we went to the Tourism Information and Ticketing Booth and paid the Php 40.00 terminal fee and the Php 30.00 environmental fee per head. 

Brgy. Daungan Multi-Purpose Hall

Passenger boats here depart at 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM only, that is why you should arrive early and secure a ticket due to the influx of a lot of travelers. 

While waiting for our boat to depart, we saw several children making a living by diving into the water once a tourist hurls a coin. 

Earning a Living...the "hard" way!

Our boat left the port past 9:00 AM and safely arrived at around 10:30 AM at the Sabang Port in Cagbalate Island. 

In order to maximize time, rather than walk our way towards our venue for accommodation, Villa Cleofas, which would entail 30 minutes, we decided to rent a private boat, which would bring us faster to our target place, and that was when we met our bangkero, Mr. Marte Fortunado. 

Boat Ride from Sabang Port to Villa Cleofas Area

Arriving at the island side where Villa Cleofas was near, we docked at a rocky area, which was so far from the shore due to low tide. Thus, we had no choice but to walk a long way from our boat towards Villa Cleofas. The long trudge consisted of some slippery stones, various land forms, and some species trapped among some rocks. 

Arrival at the Shore

The Terrain of the Shore

More Terrain of the Shore

One major feature of Cagbalete Island would be the wavy sand formations appearing during low tide. 

A Mangrove

Walking towards Villa Cleofas

Threading a Watery Area

Wavy Sand Formations

As we finally entered Villa Cleofas, we went straight to the restaurant area, and just ordered rice and softdrinks for lunch. In Cagbalete Island, if you want to have lunch served there, you should inform your accommodation contact first that you want to eat there and tell the person what type of food you want so they would know what to buy in the market, which would be bought near the Daungan Port. Unfortunately, we did not order in advance, that was why we bought food items at a local grocery when we arrived at Mauban. Our main courses for lunch were just Corned Tuna and Tuna Paella from easy-open cans, and were just heated at the restaurant. 

Villa Cleofas

Villa Cleofas Restaurant

Eating our "Koboy" Lunch

After paying for the rice and their “heating” services, as well as for our accommodation, which was a Medium Cottage that can handle up to 12 pax, worth Php 3,000.00 for an overnight stay, we then entered the cottage to unload our stuff and refreshed ourselves. Our cottage was just a fan-room type, and with a private toilet and bathroom, located at the back of the cottage. 

Medium Cottage

Electricity in Cagbalete Island only runs from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM since they only use a generator. 

Also, make sure to bring mosquito repellent when visiting this island. There are several roaming around, even inside bathrooms and toilets. 

At 2:00 PM, we sped off via the same rented boat going towards Baliscar Island in order to view an old lighthouse situated there. 

Nearing Baliscar Island

After around half an hour we arrived just near the island, but due to rough waters, which would pose as danger if ever we decide to dock, we just decided to just take faraway photos of the famous lighthouse to our dismay. 

Old Lighthouse @ Baliscar island

Traveling back to Cagbalete Island, the boat dropped anchor on a certain spot, and my companions went snorkeling around the said area. Problem was there were several sea urchins at the bottom, so they just stayed almost at the surface of the water. 

Water Bliss!

We then arrived back at the island at around 4:30 PM to refresh ourselves at our cottage, and began strolling along the shore, doing photo ops, as well as visiting some resorts along the way. 

Nature's Beauty!

Joven's Beach Resort

Villa Noe Beach Resort

At 7:00 PM, we went to the restaurant to order Steamed Lapu-Lapu (Php 200.00) and Barbeque (Php 40.00) for Dinner. Cost for paluto ng Lapu-Lapu was Php 150.00. 

Dinnertime!

The day ended with us sleeping with only two electric fans and some mosquitoes hovering around grrrrrr. 

DAY 2: MAY 2, 2014 

As what I have always been doing once I am on a beach or island, I woke up at 4:30 AM and rushed to the spot where the sunrise occurs. While Indian-sitting on the sand with a mini bench acting as my tripod, the sun appeared at around 5:30 AM. 

Couple Enjoying the Sunrise

After eating breakfast of Corned Tuna from an easy-open can coupled with Tasty bread, we went back to our cottage to check out and proceeded to our next tourist spot via a private boat anew. 

Breakfast Enjoyment!

Departure from Villa Cleofas

Mang Marte, the boatman, took us to the western side of the island, which they called “Cagbalete Dos”. Actually, the place where majority of the tourists stay is “Cagbalete Uno”. 

As we entered Cagbalete Dos, there was a boat, owned by the Barangay in that place, who collected a certain fee from our boatman. According to Mang Marte, all boats coming from Cagbalete Uno would pay a fee in order to enter the realm of Cagbalete Dos. I just forgot the reason why. 

Approaching "Cagbalete Dos"

Getting off the Boat far from the Shore

Anyway, here at Cagbalete Dos, when low tide occurs, you could easily get off the boat and enjoy the clear waters at only less than 5 feet deep, with a majority of sand at the bottom and some rocks. Only a handful of visitors can be seen in this area since the only way you could experience this place was to rent a private boat. Mangroves can also be seen here. 

Water Enjoyment!

That's how far we were from the shore

The Mangroves

After enjoying this wonderful hidden place, we sped off near Sabang Port and had lunch at the boatman’s residence. 

Enjoying Lutong Bahay Lunch ala Cagbalete!

Group Shot at the Boatman's Residence

We departed from the island at 2:30 PM via private boat anew and left Mauban town proper at 4:30 PM via a Lucena-bound NCR Lines non-aircon bus. 

Departure from Mauban to Lucena

Cagbalete Island may have been listed lately as one of eight great islands in the Philippines in a May 2014 magazine, but sadly it still ain’t that popular maybe due to lack of promotion from the Department of Tourism as well as the media. All I could say is that, this island is definitely worth the trip and if you browse further into the internet through travel blogs, your guess is as good as mine. 

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Monasterio De Tarlac / Capas National Shrine / Aquino Ancestral House (Tarlac)

Every first half of the year, millions of Filipino Catholics celebrate the so-called Holy Week during the Lenten season here in the Philippines. 

Various activities abound such as Fasting and Abstinence, Via Crucis, Pabasa, Visita Iglesia, and Self-Flagellation. 

Since Jesus Christ is the central figure during this time of season, it was in this context that me and my friends decided to embark on a trip to the famed Monasterio De Tarlac, located in the Mount of the Resurrection, Eco-Tourism Park, Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac. This unique holy place houses the Relic of the True Cross of Christ. 

A great opportunity to pray and ask for forgiveness in front of a great historical religious artifact directly connected to Christ…what more can you ask for. 

Poster seen along the way as you go uphill.

We arrived at this sacred compound at 9:30 AM on April 5, 2014, a few days before Holy Week, in order for us not to encounter an army of Catholic devotees, which are expected to descend on this place.

Main Entrance Tarpaulin

Monasterio De Tarlac is a 43-hectare property, within the 278-hectare Tarlac Eco-Tourism Park. 

The monastery is run by the Servants of the Risen Christ (SRC) Monastic Community, founded by Fr. Ronald Thomas Cortez in 1998. In 2005, Fr. Cortez attended the World Youth Day celebration in Germany, where he met Msgr. Volker Bauer, the custodian of the relic. At the time, Msgr. Volker was looking for someone to whom he can entrust the relic since the monastic life in Europe is slowly dying. Aware of Fr. Cortez’ Monastic Community in the Philippines, Msgr. Volker entrusted the relic to him. And so in 2005, the holy cross came to the monastery. 

On January 30, 2007, the sacred relic of the Holy Cross was enshrined in a baroque-inspired chapel. 

The Chapel

Below its altar, behind an elliptical pane of glass, is the relic encased in a silver ark reliquary decorated with symbols of the crucifixion of Jesus, such as a pair of dice, a hammer and nails, and a ladder. Near the top of the chapel's retablo is inscribed the Latin pious expression, "Ave Crux, Spes Unica", meaning, "Hail to the cross, our only hope". 

The Altar

The Reliquary

A Catholic mass is offered at the monastery at 10:30 in the morning every day, except on Thursdays when it is closed for maintenance and monastic activities. After the mass, the faithful are allowed to touch the reliquary. The relic is only exposed twice a year– every 30th of January, on the anniversary of the enshrinement of the relic; and every 14th of September, on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. 

Aside from the chapel and the Relic, there were several other nearby structures that can be seen surrounding this area, such as statues, a castle-type of church, a viewdeck, and a wooden cross. There were also souvenir shops and an eatery in the vicinity. 

Mini Stage

Administration Building & Information Office

"Lamb of God" Statue

Virgin Mary Statue

Wooden Cross

Castle-type of Church

St. Augustine, Bishop and Confessor, Doctor of the Church Statue

The Viewdeck

Lastly, a few walks near the parking area, lo and behold, was a 30-foot statue of the Risen Christ facing the valley and the mountain ranges in the West. 

The "Risen Christ" Statue

A view from the top

After visiting this solemn place in San Jose, since we were already near Capas, also in Tarlac, we then dropped by at the Capas National Shrine.

Main Entrance

The Flagpost

Located in Barangay Navy, this was built by the Philippine government as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died at Camp O'Donnell at the end of the Bataan Death March. This is a significant site related to Veterans' Day in the Philippines (Araw ng Kagitingan), every 9 April, commemorates the surrender of the combined US and Philippine forces to the Japanese in 1942. 

Several structures can be seen inside the Shrine.

Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc. marker

Site of the original marker erected by the survivors of Bataan-Corregidor defenders in 1948 to honor the Filipino USAFFE and American soldiers made Prisoners of War after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor and who died while in captivity. 

The monument also contains the names of the Filipino USAFFE officers interned inside the concentration camp in Capas.

Three Markers All In A Row!

Philippine Scouts marker
- Dedicated to the memory of over 2,600 Philippine Scouts inducted into the United States Army who died inside the concentration camp in Capas where they were interned after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor.

MEMORARE marker
- This is dedicated to all those civilians of the Provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, and Tarlac. It commemorates the many men, women and, even children, for their many acts of courage and compassion displayed towards the exhausted and desolate Fil-American Prisoners of War during their March of Death to Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac, that occurred in April 1942.

Memorial for Czech Heroes
- Honors the seven (7) named Czechoslovaks who joined the allied forces in the defense of Bataan, went through the Death March, were confined in the concentration camp in Capas, and later lost their lives while in captivity.

Battling Bastards Marker

Dedicated to honor the American soldiers who were incarcerated in the concentration camp in Capas. The cement cross, built as a memorial to the thousands who died in the camp, is a replica of the original cement cross built by the POWs. On the wall behind the cross are inscribed names of the men who died at the camp.

Defender's Hall consists of a modest collection of photos that document the Death March and travails of POWs in prison camps.

Defender's Hall

 
This was the former Guillermo Francisco Hall, once the site of the administration building of the Capas National Shrine.

Boxcar

It has preserved one of the remnants of wartime atrocities - a boxcar that transported survivors of the Death March from San Fernando, Pampanga to Capas. Measuring six feet long, eight feet wide and six feet high, it had once been a freight car of the Manila Railroad Company before the war and could fit only 50-60 people. But Japanese soldiers forcibly squeezed in 150-160 using rifle butts and bayonets. The captives, whose only source of ventilation was a slit on the door, suffocated in the virtual over under the tropical heat. Many of them died in their upright positions, their bodies giving up on constricted space which had been polluted with excrement, urine and vomit.

Obelisk

On 9 April 2003, an obelisk was unveiled. With a towering height of 76 meters, it stands as the focal center of the entire shrine which symbolizes peace. The needle-like tower consists of three sections which represent the Filipino, American, and Japanese people in this modern age of global peace, who have learned the lessons of war. The core area of the tower (hollow) is accessible to the people. Here they look up through the three-prong steeple to be amazed by the magnificent height and form.

Wall of Heroes

The Wall of Heroes is dedicated to the Filipinos and American brave men and women who, in defense of the Philippines in various places in the islands during WWII, died in battle or while in captivity. Etched in the inner black granite wall of the Memorial are the names of some 30,000 Filipinos who were interned inside the concentration camp in Capas.

Bridge of Remembrance

It took more than half a century for the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor to remember the role played by the O’Donnell River in the survival of the Prisoners of War in Capas. The historic river was the only source of water which sustained them during five months of incarceration.

The Bridge of Remembrance was built in grateful recognition and tribute to the O’Donnell River.

We then took off for lunch at the Fiesta Island Seafood Hub, located at the Azaya Garden Resort, also in Capas.

Main Entrance of Restaurant

Lunchtime!

Aside from dining, you could also try their Zipline.

Ziplining!

Since we still had loads of time left before the day ends, we decided to visit the Aquino Family Ancestral House in Concepcion, Tarlac.

This place was called Ninoy Aquino Ancestral House because the National hero Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino is a known son of Tarlac. Born in the quiet town of Concepcion, Ninoy Aquino resided at this old house which still holds the charm of a humble family.

Found just within the vicinity of the municipality, it is just a walking distance from the town hall which is also historical a picture of which also appears in the current 500 peso bill. 

This house was constructed way back 1939. 

It was only in 2011, courtesy of President Noynoy Aquino, that this house was open to the public.

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