2015: First Quarter Travels

by lakwatserong tatay

First three months of 2015 is done and summer period has already started. I'm just so lucky that i have been to different places in just three months specially together with my family and friends...

So let me start with my first travel stop....

An early trek near on our house in Angono, Rizal. I've named the place as Mt. Perlita named after the restaurant that can be seen on the peak together with old tower....^_^

With my wife, kuya gab & ate gayle trekking to bushes...^_^

Next stop was a traverse dayhike in Mt. Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal to Tinipak River, General Nakar, Quezon Province. Together with xplorerboyz Carlo, Melvin, Johari, Joel and Ekoy. It was another memorable dayhike because of its memorable road trip, almost all assault hike and a very refreshing dip at Tinipak river. Although our adventures was not complete, we promise to ourselves that we will comeback for its cave and waterfalls.....^_^

Xplorerboyz @ Mt. Daraitan Summit

X-plorerboyz enjoying Tinipak River

Summertime is almost started. So better to start the summer with a beacheenering trip and our next stop was a family beacheenering trip at Laiya, San Juan, Batangas in Sigayan Bay Beach Resort. This is the first time that Macoy family had an beach adventure for our yearly summer trip. My kids really enjoyed the beach and all of us had also a great time spending the shores of Laiya..^_^

Me with my family at Sigayan Bay Beach Resort

Next stop was another road trip travel up north. The province of my mother-in-law. Together with my wife, kids and the rest of Macoy family, we travelled to Bauang, La Union. To enjoy another weekend of beacheenering, visiting relatives and a little get together gathering. However it was really hard for me travelling with an upset stomach, but this will not stop me to enjoy another family vacation...^_^

Me @ Baccuit Sur, Bauang Beach

My kids are really enjoying....^_^

Me with Gab at St Peter Parish Church of Bauang, La Union

Weekend Getaway Group Shot @ Tito Senyong's Place....

After our weekend stay at La Union, it's time to go back to reality, however we had another stop prior in going back to Manila.We visited, toured and pray for our safety trip back home at the Church of Manaoag also known as The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag....^_^

Family photo opps at Manaoag Church

My kids @ Historical Church marker

So for the meantime, this is all of my travels and family getaways !!!!! Just check me on all of my social media sites as im always posting where i have been...#lakwatserongtatay....^_^

Lakwatserong Tatay will be back !!!!!!

Camiguin: Giant Clams Sanctuary

by lakwatserong tatay

Our last destination is known in Camiguin as a Clams and Sea Shells Sanctuary. It caters different species of small and big clamps. Located in Brgy. Cantaan, Guinsiliban, nestled in a cove that has beautiful white sand beach. This beach is known as Kabila White Beach where the Giant Clams Nursery is located too.

path towards to clams nursery

As you walk and enter the clams premises, there's a minimal fee of (php25), a help in maintaining the sanctuary because as you have know, the person behind taking caring of the clams are working here for free, means their just waiting for tourist / backpackers alike us to get on their premises and paying a minimal entrance fee or may get some of their tours.....:(

tours & activities

Billboards and notices are present as you get inside...Promoting awareness about giant clams that where lucky enough to have this clams living on our country.

This beach was actually divided into two the Kabila White beach that has also a minimal fee and requested to sign on a guest book, which we did not do because where going to the other of the park is the breeding center and education facility. Where there are available glass aquariums and giant round cemented pool created for giant clams.

x-plorerboyz going to breeding center

DENR marker

9 species of clams...

As we entered we proceeded to their breeding center where we had a little learning session about giant clams. That their are 9 species of clams in the world, 7 of these were found in our country and lucky for us that time that 6 of those species where present beneath their clams sanctuaries.

Here are some of the clams that was placed on breeding. In a giant round pool type that has seawater inside and oxygen for this clams to breath.

my photo opps with one of the clams

Here are the baby clams...for non-swimmers, this educational session to observe Giant Clams is such a pleasure. They actually reacts on your movements and close their shells with astonishing speed. Please avoid getting shots with flash as the clams actually reacts. As you approach more carefully or wait for a few moments while the clams opens again, you can observe how they breath and their other movements.

Your group can roamed around in this facility, as you will see different sizes and colorful images of the clams.

more colorful giant clams....^_^

Jayson, Regie, Melvin, Johari and I were just the only visitors that time, so we had the luxury to ask question as we many as we can....solong solo namin ang sanctuary...^_^

More baby clams on the other white round pools located in breeding center.

They also have a station where they taking care of orchids and some other flower fauna's. Sad to say i wasn't able to take many shots of them because my cam is in a bit low bat condition that time....tipid shots na kami...here are some of the common flowers i've seen...^_^

Here's one of their treasures, the clams that creating pearls. They have this in sanctuary and captivity. Based from ate, our guide and lecturer that time. This clams usually creating pearls months or sometimes takes a year. Just forgot to take note of the explanation, why?....^_^

Another place on this sanctuary is the training center and dive camp, where if your a swimmer you will have the chance to see the actual sanctuary and dive into it. Sad to say that time all of us doesn't have underwater camera. But we are all amazed how beautiful the sanctuary was. There where hundreds maybe or really more because, we just go beyond on the floating raft provided by the clam sanctuary.

What you will inside is another learning facility, where you could see different dried shells, actual pictures of the clams there taking cared of. This area also served the changing area for snorkler lovers alike us.

shell and t-shirt souvenirs...

some of the artifacts.

Of course, we did not missed to have our photo opps while inside this sanctuary...one of our wacky shots...

the x-plorerboyz...

x-plorerboyz with our lecturer...^_^

Too bad my camera just got empty that time and likewise to my buddies. Only Jayson and Reggie got the photo opps while taking on our snorkeling gears....:(

Jayson & Reggie are getting ready....

Here are the list of activities and corresponding fees you may opted to choose as you will get inside this giant clam sanctuary....just a little bit info, we got our snorkeling activity that time on just a minimal fee..natuwa masyado samin si ate lecturer....thanks po ate...But for the sake of the personnels we gathered little funds from us that time for a donation on their foundation....^_^

Thank to Regie, for this one last shot on his camera, before getting empty bat too....on the other side of this picture is the Kabila White Beach Resort, which we missed to explored....sayang gahol na sa oras eh...^_^

lakwatserong tatay @ giant clams sanctuary

Done with Camiguin X-ploration, two more provinces to go....Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte, and few more activities we had like Chasing Waterfalls, Zipline and many more....^_^ Just an update our supposed to be 2012 X-plorerboyz Trips was moved to November due to bad weather we encountered on our scheduled flight last Sept 8...buti nalang libre parin ang parebook, so by November....so...Cagayan Valley and Isabela...here we come.....^_^

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: Mantigue Island

by lakwatserong tatay

Right after our tour at Ostrich Farm, we had still 3 places to visit and were done with our Camiguin Island Adventures. Our next stop is an island hoping activity, to set foot and visit one of the famous island of Camiguin known as Mantigue Island, sometimes called as Magsaysay Island.

Mantigue Island

Mantigue Island is located in Mahinog, has estimated 4 hectares in land size. The island has white powdery sand that makes it glows from afar and invites most of the tourist to visit and see the island.

Mahinog Tourism Center....jumpoff to Mantigue Island

the tourist attendant that day...^_^

And then after few discussion at the tourism center, and pay for our boat transfer vice versa.We payed for entrance fee (php20/each) and boat ride (php550) good for 6pax, we able to haggle for additional 1 passenger because is was only good for 5 pax (php500) boat transfer Mahinog-Mantigue-Mahinog. Thanks to my kuripot/pangungulit skills....^_^.....and then we sailed.....yahoo...

Mantigue Island Motorboat Service Ass.

Boat transfer here in Mahinog is organized and controlled by government, so don't be afraid to get over price offer by some of the local nearby this island.

group photo opps...thanks kuya bangkero...^_^

After 20 minutes wiggling in the sea of Camiguin, were getting near the island, as per our bangkero...the boat ride usually takes 20-30 minutes transfer or maybe defending how the seawater could goes because as per kuya the seawaters around Mantigue Island could go sometimes rough and wavy....^_^

maybe this is their patrol boat....

Our boat....akalain mong nagkasya kami diyan...kasama pa dalawang bangkero....^_^

the mighty edgar

Mantigue Island is surrounded by a shining white beach of powdery coral sand. The clear waters reveals the hard and soft corals and the other part of the island is surrounded by sea weeds, making this island ideal for swimming, snorkeling and diving. The center of Mantigue was turned into a nature park full of lush, green mini-forest with different trees that has name on it, wild grasses and plants.

view of Mt. Hibok-Hibok

X-plorerboyz infront of Mt. Hibok-Hibok

As you start to walk towards the tourism center in Mantigue Island, there were many Nipa huts available were you could choose to stay together with your friends....but for us that time we escape that thing and choose to go nature park tripping...^_^

small fishes is present just near seashore...^_^

Mantigue Island caters for 21 families most of them were related to each other. In earliers years as per our kuya bangkero's this island settlers caters tourist alike to stay and be accomodated but due to government rules they were not allowed to do it anymore and infact there where tried to transfer in Mahinog but all of the settlers refused. But as of now, there where instructed to maintain cleanliness and peace in the island that i just hope to be maintained and not entertain anymore other settlers. Based from my research way back 2009 there where only 10 families settling the island but as per our visit and talk with some of the locals in the island there were already 21 families living the island. I just hope the government of Camiguin is aware of this for this island to remain clean and free to visit by tourist alike us.

sea weeds to be dried out.

Of course, one of their main source of living is fishing and getting this sea weeds that their placing under the sun to dried out. Just forgot to ask ate (forgot the name...^_^) what's the reason why it has to be dried out.

some of the local settlers...

And then after few minutes of walking..we reach the other part of the island. The entrance of Mantigue Island Nature Park.

welcome....

The tourism center of Mantigue Island....as per the tourist information, you may manage to get inside the park without guide but we choose to opted to get a guide to help the locals the earn some money. There where no standard guide fee, monetary funds with do.....^_^..we just give oud makulit, funny and photographer guide as very nice tip fee...sorry nakalimutan ko ulit ang name pero based dun sa tourism center siya lagi ang nagguide...^_^

Mantigue's Tourism Center

Mantigue Island Map

After few minutes of discussion and a bottle of very cold drink at tourism center...we entered the park...here what you may see inside... i was not able to upload some of the local trees inside the park...but you may want to check it on my fb account...^_^

the entrance

i really don't know if this is fruit or what?

One of our siesta time in scorching heat under the sun....^_^ sarap dito promise...^_^

ang sarap humiga sa part nato...see...^_^

time to get out...one last shot...^_^

The park ends with a big tree that you may have a chance to get inside and have a photo opportunity, we have so many photo opps inside the park and off course with the unique tree and here is one of our group photo opps  before we get out the Mantigue Island Nature Park.

swimming time....

Right after our x-ploration tour, we still have remaining time to enjoy the island so we choose to go swimming inspite of the rough waters of Mantigue Island...^_^

our cool and funny guide....photographer  pa!

You might notice this picture above as my header.....Infact this year, X-plorerboyz are heading for a new destination for 2012 with new add ups (Carlo, Shanwar, Joel and plus one (?) and of course us the original (Brian (pasimuno palagi...^_^), Regie and Melvin) and two of the original (Jayson and Johari) wasn't able to join this trip because of some personal reasons... :( ....This time our trip is way up North.....and will be this month from 11-14, A Four Days of backpack trip to Cagayan Valley and Isabela...^_^

X-plorerboyz @ Mantigue Island

Lakwatserong Tatay @ Mantigue Island, Camiguin

Done with another island hopping activity in Camiguin's Mantigue Island and we will proceed to our last stops...A Glimpse of Taguines Lagoon and Exploration and Snorkeling at Giant Clams Santuary...^_^

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