Hugom & Laiya Beaches

Hugom Beach Sunset

Hugom & Laiya beaches located in San Juan, Batangas are vacation havens for people who love outdoor adventures and beautiful sunsets & sunrises in the Philippines. Both have long shorelines of white sand, azure waters, warm waters and cool breezes. These are ideal getaway destinations for people seeking quiet and relaxing place to hang out with where one can hear the splashing sound of the waves, chirping of the birds and the like. Various water activities such as swimming, kayaking, boating and jet skiing are available around. Meanwhile, the boundary area of Hugom and Laiya is perfect for snorkeling. The waters are clear. You can even watch some fish sanctuaries, coral reefs and other marine life at shallow waters just a few meters away from the shore.

If you like mountaineering, you can trek to Mt. Daguldol mountain trail as well as to the hidden coves and falls like Naambon Falls & Mainit na Pulang Bato.

Rock Formations!

Where To Stay

I recommend the following resorts:

• Palm Beach Resort
• Blue Coral Beach Resort
• Acuatico Beach Resort
• Taramindu Beach
• Kabayan Beach Resort
• Acuaverde Beach Resort

See Other Accomodations


Best Time To Visit

March to June - Dry months in the Philippines. Resorts are usually fully booked so I recommend that people must make a reservation before making a trip.

Getting There

PRIVATE TRANSPORT

From Lipa City Toll exit, turn right towards Lipa City town called Laurel Highway (National Highway). You'll pass by La Salle Lipa on your left side & will be approaching a fork road. Take the right road which is Recto St. the main road going to the city proper of Lipa then you are now in the city proper of Lipa. The traffic could be heavy so you've to turn right at Torres St. Drive Torres St., this will lead you to the towns of Rosario & Padre Garcia.

Take a left turn going to the town proper of Padre Garcia. You will pass by its public market & turn right after the public market. Head towards Rosario.

Along the way you'll see a billboard to Batangas Racing Circuit. Take the left side and this will lead you to the town of San Juan. Taking a right turn to Batangas Racing Circuit will lead you to Rosario.

When you hit the town proper of San Juan. Look for the Municipal Hall, at the right side. Take a right turn at the Municipal Hall of San Juan, this will lead you to the barrios of Laiya and Hugom.

At this point, all you have to do is follow the main road or public highway. The drive depends on which resort you are headed too. Driving all the way to Hugom will drive you up a hill of rough road. Drive carefully! 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Ride a bus to Batangas City. There are buses like ALPS, JAC, JAM etc that travel from the bus terminals in Buendia, Pasay and EDSA TERMINALS. From Batangas City, ride a jeepney heading San Juan, Batangas town. Laiya & Hugom are in San Juan. From the terminal (landmark would be the market area), ride a jeepney or a tricycle to Laiya.

PHOTO GALLERY:

This is Mike. My Brother. My Travel Buddy!

Cagayan De Oro City

My CDO Trip July 2011
CEB 5J Flight

Cagayan De Oro is the official provincial capital of Misamis Oriental located along the central coast of Northern Mindanao Region which is the second largest archipelago of the Philippines. It is considered as one of the most progressive and competitive cities in the country nowadays. There are medical facilities, utilities and infrastructures within the city such as highways, flyovers, bridges, airports, seaport, telecommunications, condominiums, shopping malls, night cafes, bars & restaurant, hotels and numerous modernization & beautification projects to meet the future's demands.

 

       A Zero Visibility Experience

Cagayan De Oro is considered & marked as:

• The Melting Pot In Mindanao - due to its accessibility, economy and tourist attractions.
• The City Of Golden Friendship - due to warm residents and the camaraderie & hospitality of the entire people.
• The Shopping Capital Of Northern Mindanao - due to the presence of numerous malls, smaller to bigger shopping centers, department stores, supermarkets, retail to stand-alone stores and modern public markets wherein residents from nearby provinces visit the city to shop. 
• Popular Malls around the city includes:
  
• Limketkai Center
• SM City Cagayan De Oro
• Robinsons Cagayan de Oro
• Gaisano City Mall
• Centrio
• Paseo Mall and Market City - Under Construction

• The School Capital Of The Region - due to the presence of several universities, colleges, tertiary schools and a number of foreign schools. Major Private Universities are as follows:
•  Xavier University - Ateneo De Cagayan
• Liceo De Cagayan
• Capitol University

^_^

All of which specializes in medicine, nursing, commerce, computer science, engineering, and law, as well as graduate and post-graduate courses.

As a  nature lover and an adventurer, Cagayan De Oro is one among my fave spots in the country. White Water Rafting & Kayaking are the famous and the most promoted activities being pushed by their tourism through aggressive campaigns. No wonder tourist arrivals in the city is presently & continually on the rise.

Meanwhile, here are some of the city's attractions:

• Macahambus Adventure Park - Entrance Fee: P300/person inclusive use of skybridge & zipline. (Temporarily closed.)

• Macahambus Hill Cave -picturesque spot, the site of famous Battle of Macahambus Hill which took place in the 1900, the first Filipino victory against the Americans.

• Monigue Cave - this is a cave located at Barangay Mambuaya wherein its entrance is a flowing water from an underground stream. The cave has a small opening & a six inches airspace between ceiling and water that you have to submerge yourselves one by one, equipped with a helmet and a waterproof cap lamp. The cave contains a beautiful sparkling formations called the calcites.

• Mapawa Nature Park - has small waterfalls for swimming and nearby are picnic tables under big trees, a few minutes ride away from the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village. A guide trek to the big water falls and a mini forest Horseback riding Camping, Rapelling, etc.

• Malasag Eco-tourism Village - fascinating living museum which showcase the different houses of the ethnic tribes of Northern Mindanao.

• F.s. Catanico Falls - natural wonder falls; 30-minute drive away from the city proper.

• Xavier Museum - houses the important historical artifacts of Cagayan de Oro, including a human skeletal remain found at Huluga Cave.

• Pueblo De Oro Golf & Country Club - all weather championship Golf course designed by world's renowned designer Robert Trent Jones II; with complete facilities.

• Rodelsa Hall - this is Liceo de Cagayan University's theater with state-of-the-art acoustics and concert pianos,and repository of antiques collected by one of the city's oldest families.

• Night Café And Night Market - a street cafe set-up where one can have sumptuous native delicacies, mostly grilled food and cold drinks with live bands providing good music. One can also engage in sliding prices of vintage or imitation clothes, shoes, accessories at Divisoria Night Market.
  

• Kagay-an Resort - former Lawndale Spring Swimming Pools having the biggest and deepest swimming pools in the city.  Entrance fee is Php5 for adults and Php2 for kids below 12 years old and senior citizens. This includes free use of the pools. Rental of cottages is Php100 for the big hut and Php50 for the small hut for a full day’s use. A set of table and two benches is at Php25-35. The use of the huts and tables is on a first come, first served bases. No reservations are allowed. The fee for the use of the function hall is whole day ( from 7 am -6 pm only)Php2,000, and half day (7-12 noon or 12noon to 6 pm ) is Php1,000. Reservation is required. The resort is in Sitio Taguanao, Barangay Indahag. It is 15 minutes away from the poblacion. To get there, take a jeepney plying the Taguanao-Cogon Market route. Jeepney terminal is in the Cogon Market vicinity.

• Tourism Showhouse - showcases the best of Cagayan de Oro’s tourist oriented activities, most especially its whitewater rafting adventure. 

• DXCC Museum - a well-known radio broadcasting station located at Don A. Velez Street.

What To Do

• White Water Rafting
• White Water Kayaking
• Pinoy River Rafting

Where To Stay

For a budget travel, you can find a lot of cheaper inns near the city proper which are open 24 hours. You can also check the link to see the list of accomodations in Cagayan De Oro City.


Getting There

Cagayan de Oro is very accessible by land, air and water transportations. It is also the home of the busiest airport and seaport in the country. The fastest way to get to Cagayan de Oro is by plane. There are flights from Manila and Cagayan De Oro daily through airlines: Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Philippine Airlines and other airlines such as Asian Spirit that have small planes. There are shipline routes & schedules going there every other day through WGA Superferry. There are also ferry boat trips and fast crafts from Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, and other cities. 

Buses for those who are just within Mindanao area are also available. 

CEB Magazine

Form Of Transportation In Getting Around!

You Can Find Several Villages & Subdivisions In CDO! 

Slers Ham & Cofee
YUMMY

Daminar Riverside Garden

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Daminar Riverside Garden in Oroquieta City, Philippines

Daminar Riverside Garden is one among the favorite destinations of many locals and tourists aside from the  City Plaza,  Boardwalk,  Taboan and the Marine Sanctuary,  all located in Oroquieta City, the capital of Misamis Occidental in Mindanao, Philippines.

It's a restaurant and a resort situated beside the pristine water of Layawan River (consistent awardee of the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran as the Cleanest Inland body of Water in the Philippines) which flows directly from the bosom of Mt. Malindang, offering the people with production and life. With its river waters, wooden cottages, nice & clean swimming pool, fresh air & cool breeze, it's indeed an ideal place for relaxation & family gatherings.

When I went there, I enjoyed the view of the beautiful scenery & the swimming in the river.  There were variety of guaranteed safe seafoods, the must-try yummy native foods and those quality dry goods in a very affordable price.

Truly an eye dropping scenic view exists in this place.  My visit to it was worth my time. Every second in this place feels like home. 

EXACT LOCATION: Purok 1, Villafor,  Oroquieta City, the capital city of Misamis Occidental in Mindanao, Philippines

Daminar Riverside Garden Accommodation Rate depends on the season but still very affordable!

Cottage Rates:

Day:       8AM - 5PM is Php 150
Night:     5PM - 11PM is Php 200

ACCESSIBILITY 

Oroquieta is accessible by land and by sea. Big buses, jeepneys and vans regularly travel from Ozamis and Dipolog where the airport and the seaports are located. It is forty-five (45) minutes ride from Ozamis City. It is one and half hours ride from Dipolog City. Tricycles or motorcabs are the major mode of transport within the city. 

GETTING THERE

• By Air -  From Manila:  Book a flight via Cebu Pacific/Airphil/PAL from Manila toeither Ozamis City Airport or Dipolog Airport. Travel Time is more or less than an hour.

• From Ozamis City Airport - Ride a  Van/Bus/Jeep with Oroquieta Signboards.  Travel time would be 45 Minutes. Reaching Oroquieta town proper, ride a Tricycle. Tell the driver that you're going to Daminar. Fare is less than Php50/Head. Daminar Riverside Garden has No Entrance.Fee.
•  From Dipolog City Airport - Ride a  Van/Bus/Jeep with Oroquieta Signboards.  Travel time would be 1 1/2 Hours. Reaching Oroquieta town proper, ride a Tricycle. Tell the driver that you're going to Daminar. Fare is less than Php50/Head. Daminar Riverside Garden has No Entrance.Fee.

• By Ship/Vessel - Get a ticket for Ozamis City at WG&A Superferry Ticketing Offices or at any other shiplines. Travel time would be longer compared to air transport. (3 Days & 2 Nights)
• From Ozamis City Port - From there, you need to ride a Tricycle or a Tri-Sikad (a manpowered transport) that'll take you to Lotradisco Jeepney Terminal near Gaisano Mall.  From there,  take a jeep with Oroquieta Signboards.  Travel time would be 45 Minutes. Reaching Oroquieta town proper, ride a Tricycle. Tell the driver that you're going to Daminar. Fare is less than Php50/Head. Daminar Riverside Garden has No Entrance.Fee.

PHOTO GALLERY

 

 

Cauayan City, Isabela

Sierra Madre Mountains

Cauayan City is one of the two cities in the province of Isabela located in Region II.

The town got its name from the word "Cauayan" meaning bamboo in the dialect of Gaddang, the early settlers of this place.

Founded in 1740, the town was originally located alongside the Cagayan River and later moved to its current location due to constant river flooding.

It was previously claimed by other provinces.

1. Originally a town in the province of Cagayan.
2. Transferred to Nueva Vizcaya in 1839.
3. Finally became a town of the province of Isabela when the province of Isabela was created by a Royal Decree issued on May 1, 1856.

I was able to go to Cauayan City, Isabela with the New Channelz, my previous band group, due to a 31-day gig at Queen Jennifer Hotel. Upon learning the assignment from our booking manager, we became excited because the name of the place was new before our ears and it sounded like a very faraway land.

The Long & Winding Road!

It was a Saturday when we traveled going there. Pretty rainy yet. We boarded on a Dalin Bus. It was a very long and a very difficult way trip. The concrete & gravel roads were winding. Up & Down the bus we're on went. The bus needed to climb to the mountains then go down again to get to the location. We had stop-overs. Scenes around could be seen. Big trucks and cars and motorcycles were having a hard  time climbing up. There were ladies selling corns along the highway. Great Scenery - View of the Sierra Madre Mountains. A mixture of fear and joy I felt then, until I fell asleep during the trip.

New Channelz Band

Cauayan City, small but merely developing. The air was fresh. I admired the simple lifestyle of the people. Hotels & Accomodations could be seen near the Cauayan Proper Bus Terminal as soon as you get off the bus. There's a big public market. There were bars, fast food chains, restaurants, malls, money transfer shops. Many establishments could be found as well as rice mills, furniture, metal craft & automotive shops and a bottling plant. The foods were yummy & delicious. Most of the residents are Ilocanos, Gaddangs and few migrants from the Cordillera provinces. It often rains there, and I mean like everyday, so we haven't toured as much as we liked.
Some of Cauayan's Attractions

• Jaycee Farm and Theo Antonio Resorts
• Our Lady of Pilar Parish Church
• Tabacalera and La Insular Ancient Bodegas

Cauayan City Festival

Gawagaway-yan Festival is a celebration of Cauayan's bountiful livelihood for the ethnic residents. It gives recognition to the Cauayeno's ancestry (Gaddang) through streetdancing, float parade and other native activities.

Queen Jennifer Hotel
We performed there!

Where To Stay

• Amity Hotel
• Queen Jennifer Hotel
• V-Gees Hotel and Resort
• Theo Antonio Resort
• Jaycee Farm and Resort
• Jed Hotel

Getting There

• By Land

Cauayan City is reachable via public Dalin Buses & private vehicles through Maharlika Highway. Neighboring towns are Luna on the north, Reina Mercedes and Benito Soliven on the east, Alicia and Angadanan on the south, and Cabatuan on the west.

• By Air

Accessible by air transportation using its own domestic airport, Cauayan Airport serves the general area of Cauayan, located at Barangay San Fermin.

Cebu Pacific Air flies to & from Cauayan four times weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays). Most of them are morning flights.

In This Photo:  Jay (Bass), Hope (Vocals), 
Jicka (Vocals)
Yami (Drums), Drew (Guitars), Nong (Second Keys), 
Jose (Main Keys) &
Jeff (Vocals)

Jicka (My Former NC Female Vocal Partner)
 & Jay (NC Bassist)

Me & Nong (NC Second Keys)

Me & Jay (NC Bassist) with Our Former Alternate Band - The RushBucks

Jeff, My former Male Vocal Partner with the Men from RushBucks

Our Afternoon Hangout!
Motorbiking - The activity I loved the most during our stay in Cauayan!