Camiguin: Accomodation: Pabua Cottages

by lakwatserong tatay

Prior to our Northern Mindanao, i had already made reservation for our stay on Pabua's Cottages and also got the services of Kuya Chris for Tour of Camiguin Island. As we reach the Benoni Port, Camiguin, we been greeted by one a child that Kuya Chris helper, he was the one meet us upon boarding out the RORO. But before we got out the port, of we did not missed to have an photo opportunity of Benoni Port Welcome signage....we may not know when we will have the chance again to go this "Island Born in Fire"... ^_^

Xplorerboyz @ Benoni Port, Camiguin...

Right after our meet and greet with Kuya Chris, together with his family, that were not aware Kuya Chris's wife and relatives where with us on RORO trip from Misamis Oriental....^_^.

our rented multicab...^_^

Here are some of the scenes that i've captured while going to Pabua Cottages....were we passed by seashores, Church of  Mambajao if im not mistaken and had to chance to got a close up shot of a motorela, one of the famous mode of transportation in Camiguin.

The motorela

Motorela - a tricycle-jeep hybrid public transportion in Camiguin

Kuya Chris just dropped her family on our way to Pabua Cottages, our trip from Benoni Port to Pabua Cottages lasted for almost 45 mins. By the time we arrived in Pabua, Kuya Puloy was still in Cagayan de Oro, one of the caretaker said that maybe by next day, we will had the chance to meet Kuya Puloy. So to make the story short...we just leave our big bagpacks on our room, and the tour started.

So moving forward, we had our 1st day of tour done in Camiguin and already shared of all the details, stories and information about the places we've been. Now let's go to our room accomodation.

room # 2

Kuya Puloy offered to us, Room # 2, which has two queen sized beds and one single bed, can hold up to six occupants. Our rented room includes towels and beddings. Our room is equipped with cable TV, A/C room and we had our own private toilet and bath facilities. We had also our own porch and dining area. And one of the most remarkable free is Wi-Fi access...^_^. For only php1000...not bad...^_^

Staying at Pabua Cottages makes a homey feeling, just placed in a compound. It is really best for trippers like us that are looking for lodging that has pleasant amenities and offers reasonable room rates. Located to drop off point when your group wants to go to White Island, like what we did...next post ko na un...and one of the popular restaurant.."Italian Bistro Luna Ristorante..sad to say di namin natry toh..^_^. just infront of this lodging house is one of the famous resort in Camiguin which is Paras Beach Resort. Just right beside also in this lodging is Paguia's Cottages, that i just found out a relative of Kuya Puloy Pabua...^_^

Pabua's Cottages offers: 9 Bungalow type cottages with different sizes, all are equipped with Cable TV's, A/C rooms and owns a Private Toilet and Bathroom. Each cottages has its own outdoor porch and dining area. Wi-FI access is available on the compound for FREE!!!!..Except for Room #7 that has its own kitchen, refrigerator, cooking equipments and utensils.

Room 1: 3 double beds (can accomodate from 6 to 10 pax)
Room 2: 2 queen size beds and 1 single bed (can hold up to 6 pax)
Room 3: 1 queen size bed (good for 2 pax)
Room 4 & 9: 2 double beds (good for 4 pax)
Room 5 & 6 & 8: 3 double beds per room (can hold up from 6 to 8 persons)
Room 7: A cottage with 2 rooms ( can hold up to 8 - 12 persons wit h2 double beds per room)

For more information just look at their page on Facebook : Pabua's Cottages
Owner: Mr. Puloy Pabua
Address: Brgy. Yumbing, Mambajao, Camiguin
Contact number: 09064152557

Paguia's Cottages...

How to get in here:
From Benoni Port, traveler's alike can hire a  multicab, or may take a public van to Municipal Capital of Mambajao, take motorela to Brgy. Yumbing, trip would last for almost 45 mins.

For multicab day tour which include pick from/to Benoni Port, here is the contact number of  Kuya Chris: 09215637788, 09069272420,  or you may add him at FB (Camiguin Kuya Criz Tour) we got it for ourselves 2 day tour (php2500).

Kuya Puloy & Me, just infront of their house...^_^

Together with Kuya Chris...^_^

I've already stayed in Pabua's Cottages...^_^

Next stop...our 2nd day at Camiguin....Island Hopping in Camiguin is More Fun in the Philippines...^_^

This is part of our 6-Days Northern Mindanao Escapades. Visited and X-plored 4 Provinces: Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte. Our second stop is Camiguin Island , that is known as the "Island Born of Fire", the 2nd province of Northern Mindanao.

Food Trips:
Food finds: Camiguin's Unique Dessert : Kiping
Food finds: Vjandep Bakeshop : Camiguin's Famous Pastel

Accomodation:
Pabua Cottages

Tours & Activities:
Having Fun at Sto. Niño Cold Spring Resort
Bura Soda Pool Resort
Walk to the Old Church Ruins
Trek to Walkway to the Old Volcano and Station of the Cross
Sunken Cemetery
Relaxation at Ardent Hot Spring Resort
A Glance with Katibawasan Falls
Camiguin's Ostrich Farm
Snorkeling at Giant Clams Sanctuary
Glimpse of Tanguines Lagoon

Island Hopping:
White Island
Mantigue Island

Camiguin: Ardent Hibok-Hibok Spring Resort

by lakwatserong tatay

After a grueling walk up to last Station of the Cross in Mt. Vulcan. and photo opps experience in Sunken Cemetery. Our next destination is to pamper ourselves in a natural hot springs resort that is popular in the Mambajao, Camiguin. Surrounded with beautiful landscapes environment and huge tropical trees, and located at the foot of Mount Hibok-Hibok.

Ardent Hibok-Hibok Spring Resort

It was quite late afternoon and the sun is almost down when we arrived in Ardent. We find it out not appealing at first sight. But according to Kuya Chris once you get inside you will surely not dissapointed. It has an admission fee Php30 for adults and Php 15 for children.

jayson & johari is paying entrance for us...^_^

Here are some of Ardent's Hibok-Hibok Spring Resort house rules billboard....there are anywhere else to be find...^_^

Sad to say we wasn't able to explore the resort because it was really getting dark that time, and there's onlny one thing on our minds, we need to go dip on this hot springs just to pamper us for an hour...^_^

the cemented pathways....

Ardent Hot Spring has six pools, each has different temperatures and sperated by tiers or layers. The waters is hot because of Mt. Hibok-Hibok, also called as Catarman Volcano, an active volcano and part of the pacific ring of fire. The water here could actually reach up to 40 °C....Buti nalang nun nagpunta kami rito saktong sakto lang ang init....^_^

The biggest pool

We stayed for almost an hour in the biggest pool that has 6mtrs. depth. There is a mini waterfall that is coming from the biggest pool. On its right is a canal, which brings cold water from the top. I think it used to balance the water temperature.

the other pool

According to the other guest that time, there are two smallest pools that is much hotter than the rest of the pools. But sad to say we missed to try those one, coz we're luck out of time to stay the resort...

here's another one....

So it's more fun in natural hot springs.....^_^ and of course we did not missed to have photo opps while on dip on the biggest pool of Ardent Hot Spring.

Xplorerboyz @ Ardent Hot Spring...

Ardent Spring  Resort offers huts, grill stations, cottages and dormitory facilities available for rent. They also offers overnight campers for php 125/person.

Facility Rates:
Grill Station - php20
Family Size Shed - php150 (first 3 hrs.) / php 10/hr, in excess of 3 hrs.
Regular Size Shed/Table - php70 (first 3 hrs.) / php10/h, in excess of 3 hrs.

Accomodation Rates:
4 units - Duplex Cottage (AC w/ CR) - php1200/room/day (good for 2 pax)
addt'l bed - php175/head/day
Family Rooms - php 2750/room/day (good for 5pax)
4 units - Dormitory Rooms (w/ AC) - php3080/room/day (good for 7pax)

Shower rooms and toilets are available.

Ardent Hot Spring Resort Contact no. +63 (088) 387-0948

Overall, we had a very great and relaxing moment on our stay, it helps us alot removing our stress and body pains that time. Specially with my co-xplorer Jayson, really likes our dip, and he actually the last person who got out of the hot spring pool...hehehehe..^_^

Lakwatserong Tatay was here...Ardent Spring Resort

Done with our 1st day of Adventures in Camiguin....we had to go back to our barracks...Pabua Cottages....hehehe.... Next day...is more of island hopping...White Island, Mantigue Island and Giant Clams Sanctuary...^_^

This is part of our 6-Days Northern Mindanao Escapades. Visited and X-plored 4 Provinces: Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte. Our second stop is Camiguin Island , that is known as the "Island Born of Fire", the 2nd province of Northern Mindanao.

Food Trips:
Food finds: Camiguin's Unique Dessert : Kiping
Food finds: Vjandep Bakeshop : Camiguin's Famous Pastel

Accomodation:
Pabua Cottages

Tours & Activities:
Having Fun at Sto. Niño Cold Spring Resort
Bura Soda Pool Resort
Walk to the Old Church Ruins
Trek to Walkway to the Old Volcano and Station of the Cross
Sunken Cemetery
Relaxation at Ardent Hot Spring Resort
A Glance with Katibawasan Falls
Camiguin's Ostrich Farm
Snorkeling at Giant Clams Sanctuary
Glimpse of Tanguines Lagoon

Island Hopping:
White Island
Mantigue Island

Camiguin: Walkway to the Old Volcano and Station of the Cross

by lakwatserong tatay

Right after seeing one of the historic spots in Camiguin, the Sunken Cemetery. Our next destination was kind a challenging and requires less than hour walk to reach the last and peak of the station of the cross and if you're in good condition and likes trekking, you could go on straight and summitted Mt. Vulcan for more or less two hours of trek.

Being a catholic and had the chance to visit different provinces, faith and devotion of the people is always present. Every provinces has their own way of showing faith and devotion. The island of Camiguin, however is different, being in a land where seven volcanoes lie and known to be tropical island. Their devotion and faith is apparent in many of its most popular destinations such as those in Catarman - The Sunken Cemetery and The Walkway to the Old Volcano, which we had the chance to visit and explored.

Xplorerboyz @ Jumpoff of Mt. Vulcan/Station of the Cross

Based from  history...the stories of Old Volcano and Sunken Cemetery are closely tied together. Where in strong earthquake happened in 1871 that the cemetery submerged in water and the ancient spanish church is destroyed. Both lay between the sea and the Old Volcano. Nowadays, the path up to the Old Volcano is known to be "Via Crucis", Station of the Cross.

As we started our walk/trek to finish all of the stations, we have some group photo opps...parang adik lang..sikat siya actually that time...^_^

When you're in Camiguin, i would suggest to try to walk in the slopes of Mount Vulcan for you to see and admire this unique "Stations of the Cross". It will just cause you a minimal environmental fee of 5php. Where all stations are composed of man high white statues. The first 4 stations lay in a canopy of trees, that would make it easier walk thru a cemented path.

One of my co-xplorer (Jayson..the man in white shirt below) that time was really pissed off with me that time due to unexpected walk uphill to Mt. Vulcan. But even though he doesn't like the walk, he still managed to join us...(in short ayaw niya paiwan sa baba...sayang daw photo opps...^_^)

After station 4, the concrete path turns into a common trekkers path...^_^. Dito na nabwisit si Jayson...kasi open na sa araw...hehehehe..Instead of shadowy forest, now the path would be really open to the heat of the sun and from large trees you will find more bushes by now up to the last station. But as you walk upwards the more rewarding the scenery would greet you.

konti nalang...^_^



remember jayson...look at him...^_^

With 3 more stations, we got a really great view of Camiguin. As the heat of the sun directing on us. It was exchange by seeing such scenery and simply breathtaking that makes your step a very worth climb up to the last station.

The Sunken Cemetery

x-plorerboyz @ the last station....^_^

After almost 1 hour of grueling walking/trekking and having photo opps in Mt. Vulcan. We reached the last station, and of course we did not missed the chance to have a group photo opps...galing mo Jayson...^_^

Here are the list of stations we had the chance to see. The Stations are not exactly the traditional stations described below:

1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus receives the cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets His Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
6. Veronica wipes Jesus' face with her veil
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments
11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus' body is removed from the cross (Pieta)
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.

At the top of this last statue, there was a cemented part where i had this souvenir shot and there was also a trail that maybe Kuya Chris saying that is going to summit of Mt. Vulcan. But we did not pursue to continue it because it was getting late and we have still one destination.....we will be wet but relaxed....^_^

lakwatserong tatay x-plored Mt. Vulcan

Remember about the photo opps that i told you earlier..we had one of our planking shots here in Walkway of the Old Volcano....i do hope wala po magalit sa min...^_^

After having a tiring feet and thirst feeling, there are food stalls and souvenir shops at the foot of the Via Crucis, were you could get cold drinks...^_^

souvenir shops & food stalls.....

We just got in time going down this mountain. The sun was almost getting down that time. Timely for our next and relaxing adventure.

Welcome....^_^

Done with our second to the last adventure of 1st Day Adventures in Camiguin Island. For our last stop in our 1st day....a relaxing stop...Ardent Hibok-Hibok Spring Resort....^_^

This is part of our 6-Days Northern Mindanao Escapades. Visited and X-plored 4 Provinces: Misamis Oriental, Camiguin Island, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte. Our second stop is Camiguin Island , that is known as the "Island Born of Fire", the 2nd province of Northern Mindanao.

Food Trips:
Food finds: Camiguin's Unique Dessert : Kiping
Food finds: Vjandep Bakeshop : Camiguin's Famous Pastel

Accomodation:
Pabua Cottages

Tours & Activities:
Having Fun at Sto. Niño Cold Spring Resort
Bura Soda Pool Resort
Walk to the Old Church Ruins
Trek to Walkway to the Old Volcano and Station of the Cross
Sunken Cemetery
Relaxation at Ardent Hot Spring Resort
A Glance with Katibawasan Falls
Camiguin's Ostrich Farm
Snorkeling at Giant Clams Sanctuary
Glimpse of Tanguines Lagoon

Island Hopping:
White Island
Mantigue Island