ANAWANGIN COVE (where Brokeback Mountain was partly shot)

or so it seemed.
Anawangin Cove is still part of the mainland of Zambales although the only ways to get there are either through a 30-minute boat ride from the Pundaquit Beach or a five-hour hike over the Mt. Anawangin (Mt. Pundaquit). This relative isolation weaved magic for this quaint (peculiarly odd but very pleasing) beach get-away.

Odd? the beach is lined not with palms but pine trees, in volume enough to shade more than 400M stretch of sand for camping. This rare feature had spelled this cove's instant rise to both sand-worshipper's and mountaineer's buzz. it was only this last three years that tourists had continuously been flocking here every weekend which i think began when it was introduced in the net where I, too, land on it.
But i for one would like to keep it secret. Being there, four days and three nights, felt it should remain undiscovered. Selfish? It was so beautiful and peaceful, you don't want too much convergence of people to ravish it. But on the other hand, who was i to keep this from everyone who deserves to find it?

So here i am sharing. 'was there last week.
we would have chosen to hike over the mountain but the supplies for the next four days were more than enough for us to carry on our backs so boat-ride it was. Manong Rodrigo's banca was fast and in 2o-minutes record time, we were welcomed by Manong Vernie and friends, the caretaker of the place. It was thursday noon and we were the only visitors. I felt transported to a foreign place. I was embraced by trees and only paces away was the serene sea. the sand was powdery-gray making love with the ashes of Mt. Pinatubo (they said that only after the eruption did the place evolve into something like this, the pines and all) so that would make white-beige on the uppermost but it turned smooth gray once wiped by the waves.

the day would clock around cooking for meals, walking, swimming and reading. what a relief it was to have handfuls of firewood and dried pine leaves nearby. Preparing food in the camp was pretty relaxed. We had adobong chicken, kinulob na pork, dried pusit, salted eggs, pasta, pancit bihon, tuna, and luncheon meat. I felt i had gained pounds whilst i was there. with such a tranquil ambiance, who wouldn't be apettized?
we spent 2nd day exploring the trail and stream of rocks 100M far back from the sea. we even saw a bird's nest nestled on the rocks along the way. what a delight! there was also a lake by the side of the southern beach where i thought the location could well be where brokeback mountian was shot, hence the title.

it's really transcending.
thursday and friday night, two groups arrived, one each day both leaving a night after. the morning of saturday was different. as early as 6am, pumpboats came and went, visitors arrived by the dozens and including those coming from the mountain. by 12 noon, there were already more than thirty tents pitched and more than 200 hundred people on the sand and it felt crowded. privacy? well, we had it for two days.

the waterpump we solely used whenever we wanted it, was being lined for. the restrooms including the two which were just finished the time we came and the ones we used did not hold it. by night of Saturday, one was dirty, and by morning of Sunday, both toilets were. it was somehow saddening but this was part of camping in a place where no cellphone signals came in, no electricity worked for comfort. I am sure, despite this, everyone was awed and enjoyed their stay. you can hear it from them. They will share this experience, they will tell their stories. they will be back bringing friends with them, proud of the place.

i am too.
Getting here:
Victory liner buses ply the route from 5am in Pasay and as early as 1am from Caloocan
Pasay - San Antonio, Zambales 266.00 -4hours
San Antonio Municipal Hall - Bgy. Pundaquit 25.00 -10minutes
Pundaquit Beach - Anawangin Cove 1000.00 - 30 minutes

Post note:
the rate of the boat is already back and forth and shared with everyone so that would mean less budget for each in a group. 1000boat rate is good for 5-6pax. Also you can request the boatman to sidetrip on your return to nearby Capones Island ( don't miss the still functioning century-old lighthouse) or Camara Island (sandbar from November to February) for a minimal additional fee. You can test your haggling skills here.

The place is fronting South China Sea. If staying the night, bring a tent. You wil be camping in a place where most of the time, you will be under the forces of nature. So take caution. The beach and the swimming area is wide but there may be underwater cliffs where current may be dangerous especially during high tides.

There are also resorts and available accomodations in Pundaquit Beach.

Random Hike - Bundok ng Mag-asawang Bato

We were having refreshments and supplies from the nearest store on the afternoon after we climbed down from Mag-asawang Bato when an ex-counselor of Tingloy approached us and introduced himself. He gathered we were the ones camping by the beach. Although the place is generally safe, he obliged himself to let us know that if need be, we can come to him for any assistance.

during the course of the conversation, he managed to share with us bits and pieces of the mountain. according to him, the last time he trekked up was when the town-council agreed to look into a proposal to put shades on the track and rehabilitate some areas. We agreed that would be a good idea granted that these shades blend into the environment otherwise it will just ruin the setting. Not everyone would be happy about that come holy week when some locals hike to adhere to a yearly pilgrimage. Also he said that there were actually three not two giant rocks coupling on the peak (which we had previously noticed when we summitted- so it's not really a mag-asawa, is it?).
What escaped us though was the giant clam shell (kima) underneath these rocks. A huge shell up about 600MASL, now that is interesting.
What happened in this town years, maybe centuries ago may likely caused this. Tsunami?

That thought can send shivers camping on the beach. not for us though. We had a nice three hours trotting up and down that mountain, and about the same time swimming. you can only guess how far we had already drifted to sleep before we could even be bothered.

on the other hand: i still think it's unfair that while i was panting during the hike, JR, 11-year old boy who was newly-circumcized- and i mean newly, was running around the bushes like he was in the park...

1st link: Camping on Masasa Beach, Tingloy

Tingloy Island - A Humble Rural Town

Christmas and two weeks holiday...
A wanderer that i am i felt i had to go, leave the city, and enjoy the year-end outdoors. But i don't have such a privilege. My work needs me when at least most of our "kababayans" are out for the holidays.. Sigh, sigh, sigh.. I have plans ahead of me but for now, i shall content myself to go back to the place worthy of one's return. Only a few seconds into the photos, i feel i was gifted to have been to one humble town where simplicity is the way of life...
Maricaban island- "where part of Marina teleserye was shot, where beautiful white sand beaches lie in wait for the nomad's soul". i'm no Marina fan but i was in search for respite and surely one unpopulated beach would have cured my then weary soul. And the mountain too was a welcome hike.

On sunday morning, we set out for the Maricaban Island. It was a gift for my birthday. The anticipation was more exciting than opening a present. All-in-all it was a five-hour ride including the stop at Balagtas, Batangas city for a quick bulalo. yumm. (the popular place is where you see two large cauldrons steaming on the road towards the town's port).

On to Lipa city, where we transferred to a puj going Anilao, Mabini. To a port where the passengers know everybody else. While waiting for the boat to fill up, we felt like intruders. Though that welcomed a different kind of fun. Adventure perhaps. Everybody had themselves picked up by locals, some walked to nearby houses.We came ready to camp but where here was the Maricaban's famous beach and the low-key mountain called MAG-ASAWANG BATO? And where under this midday sun is the restroom?

First inquiry solicited a disheartening response- "no, Maricaban is unaccessible by tricycle. two mountains or a boat will tackle such course." The second one elated us. MAg-asawang Bato jump-off can be reached through tryke.


Slowly, the town had as calmed. at times, i wondered how drivers here were able to gp past through one-way narrow streets sometimes even unpaved. We already learned that Maricaban, with the famous beach is on the other side of the island and we are in Brgy. San Juan. I felt connected here so maybe Brgy. Maricaban will have to wait.

The Bundok ng Mag-Asawang Bato like the town was a little mountain with its own story. And after trying to hike the first half- and taking lunch uphill, we decided to check-out the beach. We camped on one of the shades. the only facility near us was a fresh-water well about 200m from the shore. We met new friends, young children who frequented the shore. The kids were sun-burnt, their laughters so much warmer than the light. it was them, the twins, and their older brother RR, their young lady pals, their neighbor JR, who made camping so much more comfortable and lively. they helped us start our fire and cooked two different variety of pasta meals (one with meatloaf, the other with tuna) which we feasted on. it was a hit with them. we also cooked fresh squids and galunggong i bought from mr. fisherman. and of course, they helped me pick the prettiest of the shells..

Two days of pure delight, playfullness, endless swimming, and repose during the night. the sea was clear, the seawall behind are black as hawk, the white sand was rich with shells, i can hardly say goodbye.

it was such a joyful place. It was the Masasa Beach. in the town of Tingloy.
the locals return. who am i to say no?


1st link: Random Hike- Bundok ng Mag-asawang Bato, Tingloy

30 Minutes Up Close with Baliuag

As childish as it was, i didn't let the visit in Baliuag pass without chasing the flock of white birds in the rice paddies. I saw them while i was playing with my nephew along the road separating my ate's place from the plots tended by her in-laws. From a distance, the birds seemed to me only feathers playing with the breeze and settling finally. As it is, they were feeding on the leeches and snails on the empty frames. It was almost planting season again, and there were already farmers tending thier own with the help of their best-friends, the carabaos.
Had the rain didn't pour, i could have stayed in the plains longer.







The B and C Orchids Exhibit

Along the way, we stopped over at Razon's Halo-halo Baliuag Branch, but what caught my attention was the colorful orchids displayed 5 paces away. My papa and mama during my teen years have collected some rare and beautiful species of this flower and the whole family was fascinated with their vibrance and variety. Even now, we are still awed by the silent sophistication of this beautiful flora.

Happy Birthday Ate Ghalie!!!

we had a great time this weekend in my sister's place in Baliuag, Bulacan. she will be celebrating her birthday today and since most of the family are working during weekdays, we agreed for a saturday trip. fortunately for me this time, i was allowed a weekend day-off to tag along.

It was supposed to be a surprise visit but hey when there is something exciting coming up, there will always be someone giving the leaks, hehe. My sister just had a liver operation and the family was really very thankful that she bravely got over the process and recuperating just as strongly. It was a heartwarmingly celebratory day and the Gamboas welcomed us heartily and prepared delicious meal for us, especially ginatang alimango with just enough spice- really yummy.

My mom hardly ever travels now, but this time she ignored her own sickness to be with her daughter. i am myself a sentimental and had i not compose myself , i could be crying just seeing the family get together again. but hey, aside from drama sessions, this family had shared enough hilarious and unorthodox humor, making fun of each other and indeed the day was filled with contagious laughters.

another get together is being planned, and we are looking forward to that another whacky day!