A tour around Pitogo in Quezon

After we had our escapades at Soliyao beach in Pitogo, the following day, April 17, 2016, we dressed ourselves up on our way to a tour around Pitogo. Madam Flor hails from Quezon that is why she tour us around her hometown.

Pitogo is a fourth class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 21,380 people. (source, Wikipedia). Pitogo has a few places of interests like: Conversion of Saint Paul Parish Church, Countryside Hotel, Soliyao Beach Resort, Puting, Buhangin Beach, Parola / Kastilyo, Villa Rosa Ancestral House, Taklob Beach, Pacatin (Tapat Ibayo) Beach, Pitogo Wharf.


























We started the tour with the visit to Conversion of St. Paul Church located at the high area of Pitogo and has a good view of the sea. It's fascade is simple but beautiful. The fascade is a neo-classic design.

Conversion of St. Paul Church

 

After we visited the church, we passed by the Pitogo lighthouse. Unlike the lighthouse in Gumaca, Pitogo lighthouse is smaller.  it was built by the Americans during the American era and serves as  a reference point of fisher folks and lost ships at night.

Pitogo Lighthouse

We passed through the different streets in Pitogo, in the Municipal Hall, and some schools. Madam brought us in a view deck where we can have a glance of the town as well as the sea surrounding Pitogo.

 

At the View deck

After Madam Flor tour us around Pitogo, the next spot we went to was the Sea Wall.

Escapades at Soliyao Beach in Pitogo, Quezon

Last April 16 and 17, 2016, Madam Flor, Mavic and I had our escapades at Soliyao Beach in Pitogo, Quezon.

We went to Buendia and rode a bus at JAC Liner station bound to Lucena on the eve of April 15, 2016. At 1 a.m. we left Manila and reached Lucena at 3:30 a.m. From the central terminal of Lucena, we rode a bus bound to Gumaca, Quezon and traveled 2 and a half hours. From Gumaca, we went to the market place and bought our foods to eat when we go to the beach. After buying our foods we rode a jeep going to Rizalino where the house of Madam Flor is located. After cooking all the foods that we're going to bring, we rest for a while and packed our things and headed our way to Soliyao Beach in Pitogo.

We rode a tricycle in going to the beach. It was a fun-filled road trip because the wind was so cold and as always i was amazed by the beauty of nature surrounding  Pitogo. The road to the beach was narrow, steep and rough. it took us almost an hour to get there.

Soliyao Beach is beautiful. According to the people living near the beach, it is still undeveloped. It is still a virgin beach.



To our surprise, the entrance fee is P5.00 for the adult and P3.00 for children. There are cottages to rent for P350.00.  But because we were only three, we got the cottage rental for only 200.00.

There is a small comfort room for shower but don't expect it to be very clean like in other expensive resorts. There is a drum filled with water for the guests to use for other necessary needs. There is also a care taker who will assist you.

We rented a cottage and placed our things and started to explore the beach and eat our mini-boodle fight.

At around 1 p.m., we rested, slept and we really had a good sleep at the cottage. The place was really cool with lots of trees that served as shelter. The sea was calming and relaxing.

At 4 p.m. we started to roam around the beach and took photos that will describe how beautiful the place was and how we enjoyed the weekend at Soliyao Beach.

We asked the care taker to buy us rice and cook for us. We paid P45.00 for the rice and P35.00 for cooking it for us.

We also waited and watched the sun set.

At 6 p.m. we were fetched by the nephew of madam Flor who drove us to Soliyao beach. When we reached Rizalino, we took a bath, rested, had our chit chatting and slept.

The following day will be another adventure for us as madam Flor tour us around Pitogo and headed our way to Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon.

Expenses:

Transportation
Buendia to Lucena P180.00
Lucena to Gumaca 109.00
Gumaca to Rizalino, Pitogo P18.00 (jeep)
Rizalino, Pitogo to Soliyao Beach (tricycle) - c/o Madam Flor
Soliyao Beach to Rizalino, Pitogo  (tricycle) - c/o Madam Flor

Entrance Fee: P5.00

Cottage Fee: P200.00 (divided by 3) P66.00 each

Contribution for Food P100.00

Rice: P45.00 (1 kilo)

Cooking of Rice: P35.00

Total: P558.00 (per head)

Weekend Getaway @ Calatagan, Batangas

Last April 9 and 10, Nica, Janelle, Harold, Hazel, Harry and Jennard were able to pursue one of our summer getaways this 2016.

As early as 5 am we were already awake preparing ourselves for our trip to Batangas. We left Manila at 7 in the morning. We took LRT ride from Blumentritt Station to EDSA station. We went to the Van terminal going to Calatagan, Batangas at the parking lot of Metro Mall. We paid P180.00 for our transportation from Manila to Calatagan, Batangas. We left at around 9 in the morning. We reached Batangas at around 1:20 p.m. As soon as we arrived, there were numbers of tricycle services that will bring you to your destination.

We were then going to Burot. But the tricycle drivers were persistent in telling us that Burot beach was already crowded and the management decided to stop accommodating tourists who want to go to the beach. We were thinking if we will pursue in going to Burot considering one of the factors --- if we will enjoy. 

Before we decided if we will take Burot or some other beaches within the place, we took our lunch in one of the carienderias around near the tricycle station.  After that, we went to the market to buy foods and other needs for our camping and weekend getaway.

After doing so, we arranged two tricycle services to bring us to a nearby beach similar to Burot. We were brought in a beach resort also in Calatagan, but it didn't pass our expectations. We were a bit disappointed so we again look for a beach that will suit what we are looking for.

Our service driver told us that there was another beautiful beach nearby called Caisip Compound Resort. We went to Caisip compound and we landed at the Casa Astillero in Caisip Compound, Calatagan, Batangas. 

We paid P100.00 each for our transportation from the market to the beach. Supposedly, it should only be P50.00. Since we went on to some other places, we gave them 100.00 per head.

Be sure to get the contact number of the tricycle driver who brought you to your destination so that you can call them anytime to fetch you if you are going home already.

On our way to the beach

We were welcomed by Jeng (katukayo) the care taker of the beach resort and oriented us of the beach rules and regulations. We paid an entrance fee of P120.00 each.

We brought our own camping tent. We have 3 but we only fixed two tents because there was a fee for every tent that you will use. For small tents it cost P200.00 and P250.00 for big tents.

After fixing our tents we had a little rest then started to explore the beautiful place. Our sights were filled with the starfishes, corals, stones and other plants that were clearly seen through the beach water.  We had a long walk and reached far from the shore line because it was low tide that time. It was as if we were reaching the skies as we get far. The sun light gave an illuminating effect when it hits the water. We embraced the cold wind as we sit in the stones while having "kwentuhan."

We waited for the sunset as it was seen clearly in the other corner of the beach. It was a serene moment. A silent moment. We took photos of the beach and the sunset and we truly want to capture everything around.

After watching the sunset, we prepared our dinner and prepared for the bonfire. We paid P200.00 for the woods that we used during the bonfire. We gathered around and cooked hotdog and marshmallow on the fire.

  

Then we clean ourselves ready for the long kwentuhan that awaits us before we close our eyes and sleep.

The following day, we took the opportunity in chasing the beach. We walked again in the water, play, took photos and just staring around appreciating the beauty of God's wonderful gifts.

We also did boating, island hopping and snorkling and paid P150.00 each. The life vest and the snorkling gadgets were included.

The island that we were into was really beautiful. The white sand was really fine ad the water is like crystal clear.  We passed through other beach resorts like the Stilts and Playa.

When we reached the islands, of course, we do took lots of photos. Harry, Hazel, Jennard and Jennica made sand castle while Harold and Janelle enjoyed the clear water. Me? I am busy taking photos and videos.

Jennica and I explore the island and went to some of the rock formations and took photos. We also pass through a small cave within the island.

Before we went back to our resort, we stopped in the middle of the sea, jumped and swan into the water. We did had fun, really!

When we reached the resort, we fixed ourselves and the things that we used. We called the tricycle services that we hired to fetch us to bring us to the bus/van station back to Manila. We paid P50.00 each.

Before we finally bid goodbye to Batangas, we ate our dinner in a carienderia near the bus/van terminal.

We took the bus heading to Taft Avenue. We leave batangas before 4 p.m. and we were home at around 9 p.m. The traffic in Tagaytay and Cavite made our trip back to Manila long and tiring. We paid P180.00 each for our transportation

Our next trip (hopefully) is Calaguas!

In my bucket list this summer: Padre Burgos, Quezon; Blue Coral, Batangas, Minalinggao National Park and Pahiyas Festival, Quezon!


Individual Expense:
Transpo from Taft, Edsa to Calatagan Batangas - P180.00 (either van or bus)
Tricycle to Casa Astillero P50.00
Fee for building tents (we brought our own tent) P200.00  (good for 4 persons) (we divided it to 3)
Bonfire P200.00
Bangka for Island Hopping/Boating/Snorkling P150.00
Triclcycle to van/bus staion to Manila P50.00
Van/bus from Batangas  to Manila P180.00

Total is P1,010.00 - - - estimated total because the foods were not included in the computation.