#Touchdown Talisayen

[womanlalaboy]

Touchdown Talisayen: Womanlalaboy’s Travel Guide to Talisayen Cove, Zambales

SUMMARY

Type of Travel: DIY + Travel Package Date of Travel: December 2018 Duration: 2D 1N Budget: P1, 500 - P2, 000 Where we stayed at: Tents by the beach provided in the tour package we availed

Changes are hard to deal with especially when handling the unknown isn't really your best suit. Things have been really challenging in my workplace and all I did for the past few weeks was anticipate the impact, dread the days and sulk in loss. I never thought that I would successfully adjust to the new ways of my work and my new colleagues, but the change was actually good. And how do we usually celebrate growth? We eat out, we party, we announce it on social media, or we reward ourselves by splurging. To celebrate, I shifted from the usual and planned a getaway for me and my new workmates. We ended up choosing a package to Talisayen, Zambales and the experience we had is by far unlike any other.

We figured that we can use this time to get to know each other so we chose a place that won't be able to divide us with nightlife and other distractions. We stayed at a cove on a Monday so we literally have the beach for ourselves with a few locals running the place and guiding us. Planning ahead was really beneficial for this trip. I was able to negotiate things with our travel coordinator and of course, confirm exactly what we are to expect.

The only crucial thing with trips like this is that you can't simply go YOLO. Everything has to be considered - schedule, budget, food, and drinks, people to contact and so on and so forth. Having open communication with the group is essential to having a successful trip. Even with clear instructions, a member may run late so it's better to have at least one of your ever-present members to have a list of your contact information. Since we knew that this may be a problem, we allotted 30 minutes for the meet-up and had us picked up really really early since we're from Cavite and we have to endure so many traffic problems along the way. Had we tried commuting instead of renting a van, it must have taken us way longer than it should to arrive at Talisayen. Below is the simplified sample of our itinerary.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

DAY 1

2:00 AM - 2:30 AM - Meet-up 7:00 AM - 7:30 AM - ETA at Pundaquit Beach, San Antonio 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM - Camara Island 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM - Capones Island 10:20 AM - ETA at Talisayen Cove 12:00 PM - Lunch 6:30 PM - Dinner 7:30 PM - Bonfire

DAY 2

5:00 AM - Wake up 7:00 AM - Breakfast 12:00 PM - Lunch 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM - ETA at Pundaquit Beach 3:30 PM - 8:30 PM - ETA at Bacoor Cavite

It's a lot easier to budget your travel when you're ridin' solo because you only have yourself to think about. That is not the case with group trips. Since there may be people backing out and adding up days before the actual trip, your budget has to be flexible and you should pinpoint what to prioritize- which items have to be adjusted and which items have to be fixed. In this trip, only the allotted money for food and beverage is adjustable since that will have to depend on the number of members.

SAMPLE BUDGET

(for 13 pax)

8, 450 - Travel Package (650/head) 3, 550 - Food, beverage and eco fee 7, 500 - Van rental ________________________________ 19, 500 - 1, 500/pax

We chose the cheapest package they have so we can bring specific food that we will surely enjoy, but if you'd like to do nothing but relax and sample the activities offered, you can always negotiate with your contact and have everything arranged. We spent P3, 550 for food and beverages plus the Eco fee. Your food and beverage expenditures would depend on how much you guys eat and drink. The Eco fee is fixed to P20/head unless the local government changes the fee. It will have to be paid before entering Pundaquit beach. The van transportation would cost around P7, 500 depending on who you hire, what type of van you will need, your route and other travel agreements with the driver like the pick-up point, toll fees, and parking fee, but you can also ask your contact if they can coordinate a van rental.

HOW TO GET THERE

Public Transportation: Victory Liner Bus Terminal Cubao/Pasay/Monumento > drop off at San Antonio public market > tricycle to Pundaquit

Private Transportation via SCTEX: NLEX nothbound > exit SCTEX > Subic > Exit SBMA > Pundaquit

Private Transportation via Pampanga: NLEX nothbound > exit San fernando > Dinalupihan, Bataan > SCTEX to Subic > exit SBMA > Pundaquit

WHERE TO STAY

There are a few privately owned concrete cottages at the far end of the cove, but we're not sure if those are for rent as well. We had tents included in the availed package and we were able to use as many open cottages available since there were no other travelers.

We're really lucky to have Kuya Jess as our travel coordinator. I found about his page on Facebook and inquired via messenger and eventually via phone call everything we need to do to avail the package. He's very accommodating and considerate. He'll ask for your target budget and will give you several options to lessen your expenses. He'll also walk you through the process of booking the tour and will never leave you hanging.

Contact person: Jesus Bansales III Website: https://www.facebook.com/pg/alphajhess/about/?ref=page_internal Messenger: m.me/alphajhess Contact #: +63 977 321 7900

Package: 650/head (min. of 10 pax)

Inclusions:

Island Hopping (to Camara, Capones and Anawangin Cove)

Boat ride and Entrance to the cove

Tents for sharing 

Cottage

Cooking utensils (ladle, cooking pan and cooking pot)

Bundle of wood for bonfire

Charcoal to use 

Ice cooler w/ice

Water to drink (2 Containers)

POINTS OF INTEREST

We spent 2 days and 1 night relaxing by the beach and living as if we're island people by doing everything the old school way. We tried getting our own firewood for cooking, we pumped artesian well to get water and enjoyed the days with minimal use of technology.

Island and Cove Hopping Depending on your agreement with your travel coordinator, you can schedule when to do some activities offered. We had Island hopping to Camara and Capones before we arrive at Talisayen Beach. We were supposed to visit Anawangin on our way back to Pundaquit, but opted to stay longer in Talisayen and go straight back to Pundaquit afterward.

Trekking Our coordinator also offered a few trekking activities: trekking to the hilltop and trekking to falls which was excluded in the package and would have cost 100/pax/activity. We were too consumed by the beauty of the cove alone and just stayed by the beach playing cards, drinking beer and goofing around that we didn't have enough energy and time to do all the other activities.

Stargazing This might not be the most exciting activity to do, but the view of the stars, the bright Milky Way seen by our naked eyes is the highlight of this trip. The tent I was going to sleep in happen to break before the day ends so we had to use the tent instead as a cover where we can lay our backs and sleep the night away. Before sleeping, we just stared at the sky for a good 1 hour and count how many falling stars we'll be able to see. Moments like this are needed to take everything in. Moments like this count the most. I wish we could show you how beautiful that night was, but I wasn't able to bring my DSLR (again) and our phone simply sucks at low-light photography, but y'all should see it for yourself!

THINGS TO BRING

Medicine (Bonamin, mefenamic acid, meds for allergies if there is any)

Sunblock

Blanket

Portable pillow

Flashlight

Swimwear

Towel

Health Card and your company ID (always bring this)

Charger

Mosquito repellent

Cameras and charger

Personal hygiene kit (soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc.)

Aloe Gel or calming creams (for treating sunburn)

Eco bag for your used clothes

Lighter

Extra food

Extra Money

Extension cable

Pocket knife

Scissors

NOTES

Contact a legitimate and trusted local travel coordinator that actually cares!

Ask questions. It's always better to ask questions than assume things especially when you are coordinating a trip with someone else.

If you'd like to experience the simplicity of living in Talisayen, cook the old school way. Ditch the butane stove.

Bring something you can play with (no pun intended) like a beach volleyball, playing cards, board games, etc.

The cove lacks electricity. They use vehicle motor and generators run by fuel. So if you have a solar-powered charger, bring that thing! They charge 200 pesos if you need to use the generator to charge your phone, though everyone in your group will be able to charge their phones as they can run the generator until 12 MN from 6 PM.

When fishermen visit the cove with freshly caught fishes and other seafood, sample them. 

Bring easy to prepare food. We brought marinated meats for grilling, cooked Adobo and salted eggs with tomatoes. Foods that can be easily fried, but don't easily get spoilt would be great too, like dilis, daing, kikiam, and fishballs.

Talk to the locals and hear their stories.

Be kind to everyone just because.

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Also read: Liwaliw sa Liwliwa: Womanlalaboy's Travel Guide To Liwliwa, Zambales Also see:Touchdown Talisayen photo sets

[womanlalaboy]

Lublob #5: Boracay de Cavite x El Fraile

Dubbed as the Little Boracay in Cavite or Boracay De Cavite, Katungkulan Beach in Marine Base, Ternate has been a favorite among many tiga South (Southerners). The name of the beach may be translated to "call of duty" in English which I think is very symbolic and beautiful.

I hate to shatter your idea of the place, but I must say that Katungkulan Beach is far from the fine white sand beach of Boracay. However, it has a charm of its own. The drive on the way to Katungkulan, for example, is a never ending greenery of Ternate and Maragondon- two of the most forested areas in Cavite that are home to diverse species of flora and fauna. Not to mention the heart warming welcome you will receive from the monkeys at the Marine Base’s entrance. Unlike other monkeys I’ve encountered before, these aren’t as aggressive, but caution is still advised. 

When we visited the place, it’s closed to public due to a military exercise. However, since one of us is a family member of those in the camp, we were allowed entrance and we had the place to ourselves. Being a marine base, policies are strictly being implemented. We had to go through a lot of checks before we could really experience the cove. There are CCTV cameras around the area and the area is filled with warning signs. We were also not allowed to take photos of the military people and the camp.

We were escorted to where they put their life vests and were introduced to some of the officers. We were assured that we will be safe and we’re informed of where to get what else we might need. They were kind enough to offer us a tour around the beach. We were supposed to do a short trek to get a closer look at El Fraile, but the weather was having a little cry fest. We were given a little background of the place instead. 

El Fraile or the Fort Drum is known as a concrete battleship situated at the mouth of Manila Bay due south of Corregidor Island. It’s basically an island that is made to be a tactical fort after the Spanish-American War. El Fraile was leveled out and reinforced with concrete which made it look like a massive battleship with two gun batteries on the fort’s upper surface that are bigger than those at Corregidor. The construction lasted for five-long years. It was then taken by the Japanese forces in World War II until 1945. El Fraile is said to be the last to surrender to the Japanese forces. When the Americans were to take back Manila, they sat the battleship on fire

Our little vacation and scouting turned into a small discussion of our history and a moment to remember what we had to go through as a nation. Unfortunately, the fort wasn’t just abandoned, it was taken advantage of of those who seek steel. It’s being taken piece by piece and no protection is at sight. 

A few more searches would lead you to this general idea that Fort Drum is a  unique Harbor Defense fort that is unlike any other. Yes, there is nothing else like Fort Drum in the world. It is the strongest and most tactical maritime defense of the Filipinos- considered as both a naval and an engineering success.

For a country to stand on its own, it has to have the ability to protect its territories. El Fraile could have pose a great threat to anyone who would dare declare war against the Philippines. The military advancements then, with the influence of those who tried to occupy us, if developed to our benefit, would have given us hope and confidence that we can protect our country.

Sources

Fort Drum (El Fraile Island) - Atlas Obscura Fort Drum - Wikipedia Ang Pagsuko ng Fort Drum - iWitness

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Also read: Lublob #1: Liwaliw sa Liwliwa Also read: Lublob #2: Touchdown Talisayen Also read: Lublob #3: Belongingness Found In Baler Also read: Lublob #4: Elyu Then and Now

[womanlalaboy]

Lublob #4: Elyu Then and Now

If you knew me from 5-10 years back, you'd know how much I dreaded the process of traveling. I hated the hustle, the waiting, the walking, the inconvenience of not being in your home, and the anxiety of having to talk to strangers. I was pretty boring. But everything changed when I’ve decided to go out for once.

4 years ago, there was a film camp my friends and I were dying to attend. For one, it's free. Two, it featured my favorite filmmakers. Three, it was gonna be held at La Union; and four, I was ready to take risks. 

Hours after my college graduation, I traveled to Manila and boarded a bus bound for Laoag and dropped off at Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. It was my first trip with no adult supervision. but I wasn't scared at all despite my mom nagging me about accidents that take place in post-graduation trips. Because I have my friends with me at the time and the event place was just a few minutes away from where we checked in, I felt limitless. I felt like I could do everything. I marked that moment as the beginning of my adulthood journey.

We stayed at the Circle Hostel and I'm glad that we did. Staying there is kind of guilt-free- it's not luxurious (which you wouldn't need when you want to really explore a place), it's supporting the zero-waste advocacy, it's humble, it's cozy, it encourages people to get together, and it attracts interesting people. Though we slept on hammocks, we had a very comfortable stay. They're not as strict as other hostels or inns. We arrived around 1AM and we had nowhere else to go. We were expecting them to kick us out, but we were welcomed by a staff who told us that we can stay in their common area. They were also kind enough to let us use their electricity while we haven't checked in yet.

There were a lot of changes since my first stay there at the Circle Hostel. They have removed the pulley they used to serve food, drinks, and even laundry at times from the counter to the common area. They've removed the space where you can sit and lie down that surrounds the whole common area (which we used as our office tables while we edit our videos) as well as the bean bags. We eventually discovered them on the makeshift lying space near the newly built kitchen. They've made new restrooms and places to hang your wet clothes with. The paintings have changed, which should have been expected. Graffiti is ephemeral after all. I was just a little sad to not see our favorite graffiti there which deeply resonated with us. It was a quote painted in yellow on the locker area. It was the biggest painting there, the boldest, and the brightest. We even filmed a scene there of a woman in the middle of contemplating to kill herself with pills. If it wasn't the one that made us feel fearless being outside our comfort zone. I don't know what else did.

More than the unfamiliar feeling I got when I visited Circle Hostel again, I guess the biggest, “what happened here?” moment was when we went out to see the beach. Hindi mahulugang karayom (way too crowded or in literal translation: even a needle wouldn’t fit) ‘yung lugar. We had to stroll for a few minutes to get to the rocky side of the beach where there were only a few people watching the sunset. 

The road looks like a parking lot now. I guess more people are no longer commuting when they choose to travel to Elyu. They might be bringing stuff they couldn’t transport safely via bus like surf boards or guitars, or maybe the place is just attracting non-commuters, I don’t know. What I do know, though, is we no longer have to worry about where to eat. Every nook of Urbiztondo has a restaurant, food hub, bar, pub, cafe, or a simple food stall. Four years ago, my friends and I would have to walk for minutes just to find one that would spell ‘sulit’ for us. Or maybe I just grew up. Now that I make my own money, what’s sulit for me now may not be as sulit as when I was a student.

I remember Flotsam Jetsam being our go-to place at the time. It had an inviting pathway towards the beach, comfortable bean bags at the beachfront, chic huts, tempting bar, and overall boho feels. I didn’t even dare to see the place again. There were just way too many people, but my friend went and partied with her soju-filled tumbler while I doze off at Circle Hostel. There was actually a drinking game while I was sleeping, a few live gigs at the neighboring inns and hostels, but I was too tired to even bother. La Union Saturday nightlife is so lit and exhausting. I wither even without involving myself to any. But the sea... oh boy, is still as charming as it was 4 years ago. We spent the next few days basking in the sun, swimming, and surfing- washing away the exhaustion and filling ourselves with nothing but good vibes. We talked to people, drank, laughed the days away, and generally just had fun. 

If it weren’t for that trip I had 4 years ago, I don’t think I’d ever change, or grow, even. If I compare my previous self who’s always at the same corner of her room binge-watching series to my current self who does way more than just watching series, I’d say I’ve gotten more comfortable to facing things I’m unfamiliar with. I’ve gotten used to the feeling of discomfort. I’ve learned how to deal with being always anxious and afraid. If it weren’t for that trip I had 4 years ago, I don’t think I’d be this happy to connect with people, with nature, and most especially with myself. If it weren’t for La Union and the Summer Film Camp we forced ourselves into, I wouldn’t appreciate the time passing while waiting for something great. I wouldn’t appreciate the path I have to take to get to a beautiful place.  I wouldn’t appreciate the discoveries I make along the way. I don’t think I’d ever see inconvenience and discomfort as effective mentors to learn how to bend and stretch to be a better person.

Some of us are hardly ever here, and I’m grateful for the experiences I had that lead me to where I am right now- doing the things that fill my heart, and makes me more like me. I’m thankful for the opportunity to not simply breathe, but to truly live.

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Also see: Elyu Then Also see: Elyu Now

Also read: San Juan Is The One: Womanlalaboy’s Travel Guide to Elyu and more   Also read: Lublob #1: Liwaliw sa Liwliwa Also read: Lublob #2: Touchdown Talisayen