A Glimpse of Negros Occidental

Posted in negros occidental with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on July 5, 2009 by abigstesoro

Known as the sugar capital of the Philippines, Negros Occidental is a blend of the cosmopolitan and the rustic lifestyle… the modern architecture and the stately Spanish-Era mansions and haciendas.   The people of Negros Occidental are regarded as affectionate, friendly and fun-loving people who enjoys the finer things in life.   Everywhere you go you see vast sugarcane plantations… a marvelous sight to see as the swaying green blades of the sugar canes touch the azure skies.

Negros Occidental occupies the northwestern half of the island of Negros and is made up of many provinces with Bacolod City as the Capital.

Victorias City, Negros Occidental

Church of the Angry Christ, Victorias

victorias 01

victorias 02

the altar of the Church of the Angry Christ…. this church is located inside the Victorias Milling Company compound.

Manapla, Negros Occidental

Chapel of Cartwheels, Manapla

this chapel in a secluded area of Manapla is constructed of old carabao cartwheels and other farm implements

victorias 03

victorias 04

victorias 05

i instantly fell in love with this simple, rustic chapel in Manapla… i was wondering where we were heading when we suddenly turned into a dirt road and passed by fruit orchards… but when we reached a little clearing with this rustic,  lonesome structure under a shady tree… nothing compares to this fine, ingenuous artistry and craftsmanship of  the Negrenese…

Escalante City, Negros Occidental

the sugarcane plantations as one travels the rustic roads of  Escalante

escalante 11

escalante 12

Bonista Beach Resort….. an environmental  friendly resort in a sun-drenched tropical setting where the waters is cool, the air is fresh and traffic noise is almost non-existent… located in rural, unspoiled Escalante…

escalante 14

escalante 13

escalante 16

the beach at Bonista at low tide

escalante 01

a private cove

escalante 03

the resort’s pool area

erscalante 10

escalante 15

escalante 04

the rooms at Bonista

escalante 05

escalante 06

escalante 07

a natural mini lake along the  road going to Bonista Beach Resort

The Ruins, Talisay City, Negros Occidental

The Ruins in Talisay City is such a breath-taking place… a grandiose mansion built in the 1900’s by sugar cane baron, Don Mariano Lacson.   The edifice is best viewed during dusk when the rustic mansion turns into glowing gold as the setting  sun’s rays changes the mansion into a magical spectacle.

Bacolod City

Bacolod City Hall


Panaad Park, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City


The Heritage House at Silay City

Stepping into the Sunshine @ Moalboal

Posted in moalboal cebu with tags , , , , , , , , , on May 8, 2009 by abigstesoro

Along the western coast of Cebu is a long stretch of pristine white sand beach comparable to that of Boracay… Moalboal’s very own Bas Dako… where the powdery white sand meets the lapping waves of the crystal clear sea… rich in marine life… ideal for swimming, snorkeling and even diving… many enjoy various water and beach sports. The only complain I have with Bas Dako is that it gets too crowded during summer weekends… azure sky… warm sunshine… cool, clear sea… Bas Dako… a perfect summer escapade in the west coast…

moalboal 01

moalboal 02

58 shoreline

65 shorline3

63 ops! ang tsinelas

64 gikap0y

47 byu sa basdako

50 way pandungay 'net

52 kmang_kmang

moalboal 03

moalboal 04

moalboal 05

05

75 grp pic

77 pabor lng taas ani!79 smile!

sunset in moalboal

sunset at Bas Dako

Sidetrip at Manila Ocean Park

Posted in manila ocean park with tags , , , on May 7, 2009 by abigstesoro

I have always wanted to go scuba-diving and explore the underwater paradise… a totally different world yet a truly beautiful and magical place… but the only hindrance for me to experience this life-long dream is that I don’t even know how to swim or float! good thing that an oceanarium or underwater park was constructed in Manila… Ocean Park Manila… a state-of teh art Oceanarium…

ocean-park-01

ocean-park-02

1_440724433l

The Bahura

the first part of the Oceanarium where numerous tanks display the country’s colorful underwater rainforests…. beautiful, colorful corals and coral reef fishes…

1_762062575l

1_853660653l

1_872389631l

1_212303415l

1_369614975l

1_740184059l

baby sharks at the lower right … shark eggs on the upper portion… an awesome sight

The Laot

or the Fishing Ground… here, huge aquariums display different deep sea fishes in all sizes and colors

1_904211152l

1_959503604l

1_328763424l

Spider Crab

ocean-park-03

Buhay na Karagatan

or the Living Ocean…. a 25-meter walk along an underwater tunnel… a one of a kind experience for ocean lovers where you get to witness how underwater creatures interact with one another in their natural habitat… a truly awesome experience…. i just could’t get enough of this part of the Oceanarium… i culd stay here the whole day….

1_683230320l

pb180050

ocean-park-04

ocean-park-05

1_140545388l

fell in love with these sea creatures….

1_228431548l

1_930746537l

1_895062942l

1_931719185l

Pating

or Sharks…. a very huge tank from floor to ceiling where numerous predators of the sea are on display… be esmerized as you come face-to-face with these fierce sea creatures… one of the displays in the Oceanarium i find fascinating…. the tank holds black-tipped reef sharks and angel sharks…

1_140290262l

photo28444

1_318227215l

Exploring Mactan’s Island Destinations

Posted in caohagan island, mactan island hopping, pandanon island with tags , , , , , , , , on April 29, 2009 by abigstesoro

Mactan has a lot of neighboring islands ideal for island hopping, beach bumming, snorkeling and scuba-diving. The most famous is Olango Island or the Olango Wildlife Sanctuary, where many migratory birds flock during winter season from neighboring countries like Siberia, Northern China and Japan. Based on data gathered from studying these birds in Olango, these birds use Olango as their refueling station as well as their wintering ground. Many foreign as well as local tourists visit Olango to enjoy bird-watching as well as swimming and the island’s bountiful seafood.

Another famous island destination is Pandanon Island. The powdery white sand and the warm turquoise water makes this island the perfect get-away for those who are looking for a perfect day of fun under the sun. This island actually is a sandbar, part of a tiny, inhabited island of Getafe, Bohol…. thus not a part of Mactan, Cebu. But many local and foreign tourists include Pandanon Island as one of their island destinations when they are planning on enjoying an Island-Hopping Tour of Mactan Islands. The one-hectare stretch of white sand is carved by a lagoon ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Other island destinations that are equally famous are Hilutungan Island and Nalusuan Island where one can enjoy luxury accomodations and amenities for daytime or ovenight stays. These two island resorts are Protected Marine Sanctuaries ideal for scuba-diving and snorkeling.

PANDANON ISLAND

photo1565

1_490815449l

photo1566

Pandanon Island from afar

photo15941

dsci0568

dsci0569

1_748373258l

dsci05941

dsci0572

dsci0579

photo1575

photo15722

dsci06072

dsci06011

panda11

panda13

1_580868215l

1_696359755l

photo1582

photo1588

dsci0629

dsci0608

dsci0611

group picture after a great time at Pandanon Island

CAOHAGAN ISLAND

dsci0659

dsci0663

dsci0675

the bounty of the sea at Caohagan Island

dsci0679

dsci0678

photo1604

photo1605

photo1606

photo1608

Discovering South-West Cebu with Kawayan Marine Resort

Posted in alegria cebu, badian cebu, bais dolphin watching, ginatilan cebu, malabuyoc cebu, samboan cebu with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 21, 2009 by abigstesoro

I’ve been traveling around Visayas, been to some provinces in Mindanao and Luzon… stood gawking at picturesque landscapes, majestic waterfalls, tranquil lakes… frolicked in powder-white sand beaches, been captivated by unspoiled islands and islets… been riding outriggers, passenger boats, buses and airplanes. But I have never discovered all the beautiful and God-given gifts nature bestowed upon the island of Cebu, my home. So now, whenever I have weekends to spare, I hop on buses or private vehicles with friends and family and take time to tour and discover the South-West side of Cebu island… where every town has their own scenic spots to discover and admire…

A quaint, family-owned beach resort in the sleepy town of Malabuyoc provides tours of scenic spots of Malabuyoc and neighboring towns. A perfect antidote to the busy and hectic life of the city, Kawayan Marine Resort is the perfect haven for those who seek refuge, seclusion, relaxation and comfort. While away your day reading a book or lazing around while the crisp, cool sea breeze touches your sun-kissed skin, bask under the glorious sun, go kayaking and snorkeling in the resort’s protected marine sanctuary and discover colorful fishes, corals and the resort’s pride, their giant clams or you can sit outside at night and admire the diamond-studded sky and watch shooting stars streak across the dark, velvet sky… a past time you seldom get to enjoy while living in the brightly lighted city. The soothing sound of the waves rushing to shore lulls you to sleep in their cozy and spacious bamboo rooms built on stilts above the sea. It is also the ideal place to start your adventure tours like diving, dolphin-watching, snorkeling, cave exploring and spelunking, waterfalls and lake tours. Their friendly and capable staff give tours and act as guides to some of South-West Cebu’s natural wonders… Alegria’s numerous waterfalls, caves and lake…. Malabuyoc’s Mainit hot springs and the famous aventure-seekers’ favorite, Montaneza Falls and the hidden jewel of Malabuyoc, Looc Waterfalls… Ginatilan’s Inambacan Waterfalls…. Samboan’s enchanting Aguinid Falls… explore the underwater paradise with their Scuba-Diving Package… or have a fun day watching dolphins play and spin beside your outrigger with their Dolphin-Watching Package. They also offer Dive Courses with licensed diving instructors wherein you are issued a license after completing the course and their Discover Scuba Package is good for one day with two dives but the guest aren’t given licenses. There are a lot of activities to occupy and entertain the guests whether for relaxation or adventure.

Buses bound for the South are plenty at the South Bus Terminal. Just hop on a bus heading for Bato-Barili and inform the bus conductor that you’re getting down at Kawayan Marine in Sto. Nino, Malabuyoc… usually the buses charge 130-150 for the trip to Malabuyoc depending on the bus company. The bus ride takes 3-4 hours. The room rates at Kawayan Marine are reasonable and they even cater meals for their guests upon request, but you have to inform the resort a few days before your scheduled stay. Their rooms are at 800 pesos, good for 2-3 persons and 100/extra person. Their catered meals are at 550 for 3 sets of meals ( breakfast, lunch and dinner) but excluding drinks. Guests could also bring their own food. They charge 300 per day for their adventure tours and that includes two guides for any destination the guests chooses. Their Dolphin-Watching Package is for 5,000 but if guests would like to enjoy a stop-over at Manjuyod White Sandbar, the rate is 5,500… the outrigger can carry up to 20 persons for the tour.

For inquiries and reservations please call mobile number +639175466686 and look for Mr. Fred Ponce. Or email at yawyan15@yahoo.com; coconutjungle@hotmail.com; conniecebu@hotmailcom

for Kawayan Marine rates, accomodations and other services  : http://kawayanmarine.wordpress.com/

KAWAYAN MARINE RESORT, Sto. Nino, Malabuyoc

kawayan-marine-100

picture-1361

kawayan-marine-103

a lean-to outside the resort for guests as they wait for the bus

kawayan-marine-1012

kawayan-marine-01

the panoramic view of the sea from Kawayan Marine’s bamboo bridge

Picture 097

img_0166

picture-184

picture-186

picture-188

kawayan-marine-110

kawayan-marine-113

kawayan-marine-114

kawayan-marine-116

dsc09885

kawaynan-marine-117

white-sand-cool-b-pic-samboan-falls-008

kawyan-marine-119

Picture 126

goat-cows-mainit-waterfall-dolphin-033

glorious sunsets at Kawayan Marine… an everyday spectacle at the resort…

THINGS TO DO @ KAWAYAN MARINE

A. Kawayan Marine Dolphin-Watching Package and Manjuyod White Sandbar Package

cimg6037

img_1788

IMG_1888

IMG_1929

dolphins-011

dolphins-021

dolphin-clams-0941

1_971201852l1

p10100522

cool-banana-pic-inventory-de4-09w-sand-007

cool-banana-pic-inventory-de4-09w-sand-008

Manjuyod White Sandbar during low tide… picturesque, pristine, breath-taking sight with the powdery, white sand beach, azure sky and aquamarine waters

img_17041

img_1705

dsc099992

img_1706_11

img_1712

img_17211

Manjuyod White Sandbar during high tide… perfect for snorkeling and swimming

B. Kayaking

Picture 044

picture-046

picture-048

picture-0521

C. Scuba-Diving and discover the Underwater Paradise

white-sand-cool-b-pic-samboan-falls-033

white-sand-cool-b-pic-samboan-falls-030

dolphin-clams-024

dolphin-clams-026

dolphin-clams-029

Sea Turtle

dolphin-clams-028

dolphin-clams-033

Giant Clams

dolphin-clams-040

dolphin-clams-046

Giant Clam or Tridacna Gigas

dolphin-clams-071

dolphin clams 035

dolphin-clams-054

dolphin-clams-076

Clownfish or also known as Anemonefish

dolphin-clams-052

dolphin-clams-083

dolphin clams 084

the magical, beautiful, breath-taking underwater paradise…

D. Adventure Tours ( Malabuyoc and neighboring towns )

MALABUYOC, SOUTH-WEST CEBU

Montaneza Falls

first-level

bisan-lisod-posing

montaneza-falls-101

img_1568

img_1569

18-height-does-matter-here

img_1574

one endures an arduous climb over boulders, wade in the cool river, scramble over rocks to get to the breath-taking waterfalls of Montaneza

img_1580

dsc09743

dsc09746

montaneza-falls1

27-the-beauty-of-nature

montaneza-falls-1001

img_1585

img_1596

39-going-down-for-another-level

the lush vegetation and huge boulders surrounding Montaneza Falls

Looc Falls

looc-061

05

towering stone cliffs flank the river that leads you to the falls

looc-05

looc-021

looc-01

a trail up the hill, through dense vegetation, is the only way to reach the hidden jewel of Malabuyoc…

looc-falls-01

looc-falls-02

breath-taking, captivating, undiscovered waterfalls of Looc, Malabuyoc

looc-04

looc-falls-041

GINATILAN, SOUTH-WEST CEBU

Ginatilan Public Plaza

dsc09973

img_1695

img_1696

the public plaza of Ginatilan

Inambacan Falls, Ginatilan

the first levell of Inambacan Falls where many flock for a cool swim and a thrilling dive

picture-0171

Picture 031

picture-032

picture-037

the upper falls of Inambacan which remains undiscovered and unappreciated by many local tourists… a hidden paradise for the adventurous town locals

Picture 163

Picture 161

Picture 169

Picture 173

Picture 176

Picture 193

beautiful, breath-taking Inambacan Falls… some 30 minutes hike uphill, crossing shallow rivers and through tropical vegetation leads you to this hidden jewel of Ginatilan…

picture-0401

footbridge leading to Inambacan Falls

SAMBOAN, SOUTH-WEST CEBU

Picture 109

img_1655

the Rotunda of Samboan’s town proper… standing on top of the kiosk’s roof is a statue of a farmer

Jacob’s Ladder and the Ancient Watchtower

built in 1878 with coral stones, Jacob’s Ladder has 154 steps leading to the Ancient Watchtower which is also built with coral stones… it’s original purpose was to provide the villagers living by the sea easy access to the church… but now is used by the locals as a place to relax, get-together, spend a leisure time with family and friends while enjoying the panoramic view of the Tanon Strait and neighboring Negros Island.
Picture 118

Picture 123

the 154 steps of Jacob’s Ladder leading to the Watchtower

Picture 119

view of the sea, sky and mountains of Negros Island from inside the Watchtower

Picture 113

the Watchtower

St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church of Samboan

Picture 114

Picture 126

Aguinid Falls

the first level as seen from the river

Picture 132

Picture 098

the second level of Aguinid Falls

img_1623

img_1648

img_1624

the third level of Aguinid Falls where one can clamber up the cascades since the stone remains rough from mineral deposits left by the cascading waterdsc09829

img_1629

dsc098351

img_1644

the upper level of Aguinid Falls where one can get to this unspoiled, magnificent beauty by climbing further up the stone wall or climbing up the side of the mountain with roots and plants to grab to heave yourself up

Picture 160

to upper level aguinid

Picture 142

Picture 143

Picture 144

Picture 157

Picture 152

ALEGRIA, SOUTH-WEST CEBU

Kawa-kawa Falls

picture-073

on our way to the falls

picture-063

first level of Kawa-kawa Falls

picture-064

picture-0672

second level, Kawa-kawa Falls… a difficult climb up a steep hillside with only vines and plants to grab to prevent from slipping and rolling downhill to reach this falls…

Caves of , Valencia, Alegria

picture-077

picture-0781

picture-081

picture-1261

more than an hour’s hike over hills and plains to reach the numerous caves found in the mountains of Valencia

picture-082

the cave’s entrance

picture-091

picture-094

picture-099

IMGP1256

IMGP1264

IMGP1266

picture-106

picture-107

beautiful and magnificent rock formations inside the cave

Montpeller Falls , Alegria

an hour or more of arduous hiking on steep hillsides brings you to this breath-taking, hidden beauty of Alegria… nestled in the tropical mountains of Alegria, more than three stories high of cascading waterfalls… one can even get a glimpse of this nature’s wonder from the sea…

picture-136

the hike uphill with loose soil and rocks to make your hike even more difficult and a real adventure

picture-1561

picture-1471

picture-146

imgp11751

imgp11771

imgp1184

picture-149

imgp1190

picture-155

picture-1441

picture-162

picture-1701