Maniwaya Revisited

This is how Boracay was 20 years ago. Once you go to Maniwaya, you will keep coming back.

invisible vollevball net?

I first went to this island when there were probably less than 50 residents, back in the early 80s. On my two visits last year, I saw some resorts being built, and I was not surprised that someone will think of building accommodations for visitors wanting a piece of paradise.

I started blogging about Maniwaya then.

http://boyplakwatsa.com/2012/05/05/maniwaya-island-camping-is-still-allowed/

I went back to Maniwaya last Maundy Thursday (2013) and the resorts were fully booked – – – yet one can still contrast the density of people on the water versus the elbow-to-elbow density in  famous Boracay. Somehow, Maniwaya visitors still feel they own the beach, even during the peak travel season. I can see it is not going to be the case for very long.

On a Maundy Thursday, still not elbow-to-elbow

Today, a Maniwaya vacation is still restful. Pitching a tent is still enjoyable as you will not have to be in a spot with 200 tents side by side. There are open cottages for picnics, like the one we rented for a day tour. We paid only P500 for a huge table with many benches, shaded under a tree.

The owner of the THREE BROTHERS store is so enterprising they built the open cottage we rented. And they also have 3 units of bamboo huts for rent, at only P750 for the day or P1,500 overnight. This is a good enough place to stay – – –  there is a bed, a small veranda, a bathroom, and even a kitchen.

At the property’s fence, there was this info on contact details:

The cottages can accommodate 5-6 people sardines-style, but cheap for P1,500 overnight (24 hours)

THE CONGRESSMAN’S BEACH PROPERTY

The congressman that represents Marinduque has also built a vacation place in Maniwaya. He probably believes, too, that the island is paradise that he would like to have a part of. On one visit, I saw him jet-skiing. On a visit last year (or was it two years ago?), I chanced upon the congressman with whom I had a couple of beers over lively chat on how Maniwaya may be more popular and more accessible, to spur Marinduque tourism.

a bit of Bali in the congressman’s property

RESIDENCIA DE PALO MARIA

A new resort hotel is Residencia de Palo Maria. First of all I was confused and thought this might be the high-end extension of the first-ever resort accommodation in Maniwaya, also called Palo Maria. As it turns out, Palo Maria is the name of the barangay where both are located. Residencia de Palo Maria has air-conditioned rooms, and a swimming pool. They also operate ATVs,   watersports facilities like jet skis, banana boat rides, kayaks, speed boats, snorkeling, etc.

the newest resort with swimming pool and aircon rooms (photo taken by my friend Bob Gan Ferrer)

A family room at La Residencia is at P3,500 for overnight stay (24 hours), with aircon, cable TV and ref. The room is good for up to 5 persons although there is an extra charge of P200 per bed/person. A twin bungalow room rents out for P3,000. A bamboo hut/kubo with fan and TV rents out for P1.500, for 2-3 persons.

Contact Details: 09192375633, 09228670312,09179540495, landline (046)5172189. Email residenciadepalomaria@yahoo.com. Facebook : residencia de palomaria

OTHER DAYTOUR PICNIC OPTIONS

On the stretch where the congressman’s property is located, there are many open-cottages that may be rented by day excursion visitors. In fact, I imagine that some would even rent these as accommodations, sleeping on the built-in benches, enjoying the sea breeze while resting at night. This stretch, in my opinion, offers the best spot for visitors to the island.

an open cottage beside the old Palo Maria

FROM THE MAIN ISLAND OF MARINDUQUE

Maniwaya is best accessed from Buyabod Pier in the town of Sta Cruz. Fares are very reasonable. Enjoy Maniwaya. But I appeal to one and all to keep the place the paradise that it is. Be responsible and do not throw around plastics and other wastes.

the view from where we took off in Buyabod

approaching Maniwaya

HOW TO GET THERE FROM MANILA

To go to Marinduque, take a bus to Lucena and head to Dalahican pier. From there there are many ro-ro trips to Marinduque.

roro from Dalahican to Marinduque (photo taken by my friend Jun Bucao)

Whether the roro is going to Cawit or to Balanacan, visitors can easily take a jeepney ride to Sta Cruz. There are boats that ferry passengers to Maniwaya or to the other islands at reasonable fares. If you are traveling as a group, you may even consider renting out the whole boat. A boat for 25 people can be rented for P3,500 on a whole day excursion to the island, the rental cost covering travel to and from the island. Prepare to pay a landing fee, charged  per person. The take off point is the Buyabod pier in the town of Sta Cruz, less than an hour by jeepney from the Balanacan pier in Mogpog.

Buyabod pier used to be a port of entry from Lucena. Now it exclusively handles Sta Cruz-Maniwaya and other small islands

cheap fares to paradise

Marinduque : more than Moriones

Ask anyone about travel plans to Marinduque, if at all, and the likely answer is to see the famous Moriones festival. But this happens only during the Holy Week.

My two recent explorations of the whole province convinced me that the province is so under-rated, and has so many things to offer to tourists, both local and foreign.

Traveling to an island is always exciting. And Marinduque will more than excite you with its so many islands, white sand beaches, waterfalls,  caves, and historical sites. And access is actually easy – – – it lies at the very center of the Philippine archipelago. You can call it the heart of the Philippines.

I made two one-week visits recently, with only 5 days of stay in Manila in between. And I think I will be coming back for more. Here’s why.

Marinduque has zero crime rate. The only other province that has zero crime rate is my other favorite, Batanes. You can walk around Marinduque and not fear for your life or your belongings.

Marinduque is beautiful. Not your five-star resort destination, but perfect for a getaway on an idyllic town. I toured all six towns (Boac, Gasan, Buenavista, Torrijos, Sta. Cruz and Mogpog) in one day on a hired van (P3,500) on my first day to case the joint, and planned the rest of my stay based on what I saw on my island tour. For this post, I will only write about the capital town. I shall be covering the other towns in separate blog posts. Else this blog entry will be very long and there may not be enough chance to appreciate the beauty of the other towns in one long reading.

BOAC is the capital town and the seat of the provincial government.

Boac Town Hall, being improved on my visit

Provincial Capitol

The streets are paved with old houses made of wood, giving the town a period look. It is easy to walk around Boac, the streets are parallel to each other and finding your way back is not a problem. For culture vultures, a visit to the old library and the cathedral would be mandatory.

Boac Museum and Library

Boac Church, high on a hill

EATING OUT

Restaurants and cafes dot the streets surrounding the town plaza.

Kusina sa Plaza offers inexpensive Pinoy meals, turo-turo style, in airconditioned comfort

fastfood-style roadside cafe

Just opened Holy Week 2011

Casa de Don Emilio overlooks the plaza

feels like Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila – – serving P150 buffet dinners !

Boac is the nerve center of the province. Banks and ATMs are available nearby. The airport is 11 kms away from the town center. The busiest port, Cawit, is near the airport. It is also in Boac where visitors take off for the other towns, on the jeepney terminal just off one of the main roads, close to the public market.

the province is serviced only by ZestAir at the moment

Cawit in Boac is the busiest port of entry

WHERE TO STAY IN BOAC

Boac Hotel is The Address in Boac. It is a beautiful old hotel in the quiet end of town, right next to the Boac Church. I like the way the interiors were done, evoking a 60s – 70’s feel. The cafeteria is lined with old vinyl records of Victor Wood and other singers of his era. Old photographs line the walls, as well as ladies bags that were in fashion during those years.

old photos, old ladies bags, vinyl records on the cafeteria wall

arrow root “uraro” from the BOAC Hotel store is a popular pasalubong

There are regular rooms, airconditioned or fanned.

Room 202 for a family, beautiful but there is not a single cabinet. Luggages and clothes stay on the floor, or whatever is left of the cramped space.

The best rooms are on the third floor, reached via narrow stairs. These are the suites – – slightly bigger rooms and the only difference from the de luxe rooms are that these rooms have hot and cold showers.

Suite B at the 3rd floor. P1,800 a night.

Rates start at P1,000 for fan rooms, P1,200 for de luxe airconditioned rooms, P1,800 for suites (they are not big rooms !), and P2,000 for family rooms.

BOAC HOTEL may be contacted at 0915 486 7337. Room rates include fetch from the airport or pier, and breakfast for 2.

EASTPOINT HOTEL is a beach hotel at the far end of Boac. No, you wouldn’t stay here if you have business to attend to within the town center. It is more like a beach holiday hotel.

a twin room at Eastpoint Beach Hotel

a raft on the Eastpoint beach

Eastpoint rates start at P750.00 for a standard double bed. . There are family rooms for 4 persons at P1,600, and cottages for 5 persons at P1,800.00. Contact them at telephone number (042) 332 2229, 0920 900 6892, 0916 744 9529, and 0920 271 8681. Email them at eastpointhotel@gmail.com.  Website is http://www.eastpointhotle.com

ABBY’s PLACE  is right in front of the wet market.

hotel fronting the wet market

not an ideal location, but rather decent rooms

Rooms start at P700.00. Contact them at telephone number (042) 3322643 xxx

If you are looking for budget accommodations, there are several pension houses in Boac. One such is HAPPY BUNNY, where room rates start at P300, without television, and no airconditioning. A room with a queen size bed for 2, with TV goes for a mere P650. . Electric fans cool the un-screened rooms. A portable airconditioner can be brought into your room at an additional cost.

the pension house that is also the home of the best litson manok in town

a room at Happy Bunny

Contact the owner, Mrs. Cristy del Mundo at telephone number (042)3322040 or mobile number 09195248440

A preview of the other towns, to be covered separately in my blog:

GASAN  is the next town. This town is lined with beach resorts. Clean even while the sand is black, and with some pebbles. The resorts become better as you go further and nearer the next town of Buenavista.

BUENAVISTA is famous for the Bellaroca Resort on Elephant Island. It is too pricey though, and I had to content myself with viewing it from a distance.

TORRIJOS  is my favorite in all of Marinduque. This town is most blessed with the province’s whitest white sand beach. In fact I was told that the white sand in Bellaroca came from the shores of Torrijos, barged to Bellaroca.

STA CRUZ is the largest town, and the jump off point to the small island of Maniwaya. This small island has white sand, a rustic feel, and looks like Boracay before the throng of tourists came in. 

Completing the island tour, just before returning to Boac, is the town of MOGPOG.

HOW TO GET TO MARINDUQUE.

Take a bus to Lucena City. Most buses go all the way to the Dalahican Port. Otherwise, take a tricycle to take you to Dalahican.

By private vehicle, take SLEX and drive on to Lucena. After Tayabas, take the diversion road to skip the city traffic, following the SM Lucena signages. When you hit SM, the side road takes you to Dalahican.

Marinduque is serviced by at least three shipping companies, taking passengers to 3 differetnt ports within Marinduque. The most popular is Montenegro Shipping that leaves Lucena early morning, at midday, and at 4pm. Travel time to Cawit, a barangay in Boac, is 3 hours. Fare is P340. You can load your car on a ro-ro at P1,300 per light vehicle.

On my second trip, I took the 2:30 pm ro-ro from Lucena to Balanacan, in the town of Mogpog, via StarHorse Shipping. This is my recommended route for first timers to Marinduque. Approaching the port, one will be amazed at the several islands passed on the way to the sheltered pier. The other port is Buyabod,  in the town of Sta Cruz, but I have not traveled this route yet.