The Pinay Solo Backpacker » Quezon

Travel Guide: Kwebang Lampas Beach in Pagbilao,Quezon

thepinaysolobackpacker — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:30:37 +0000

HOW TO GET TO KWEBANG LAGPAS

First go to Pagbilao, Quezon:

HOW TO GET TO PAGBILAO QUEZON

Ride a bus bound to Lucena and get off at Lucena Grand Central Terminal. From the terminal there are jeepneys to Pagbilao.

Since I took the bus from Alabang it’s roughly Php 160 for an ordinary bus to Lucena ( my apologies,this trip is back in 2010 so I can’t remember the exact figure). Travel time is around 4 hours.

HOW TO GET TO KWEBANG LAGPAS
From Lucena Grand Terminal. Look for the jeep bound to Pagbilao. Fare is Php10. Then at Pagbilao Market Terminal, look for a jeep going to Brgy. Polo. Get off at the jeepney terminal in Brgy. Polo. then you can walk or rent a tricycle to Kwebang Lagpas. The Marker is the Power Station.

Travel tips:

Bring enough food, booze and water. There’s no store at the beach.
Don’t litter. Save our shores.

Kwebang Lampas Travel Expenses (rates based on May 2010 solo trip):

Ordinary Bus Fare (Alabang-Lucen Grand Terminal) - Php 160.00 ( Buses en route to Bicol will also pass by Lucena Grand Terminal and Pagbilao )
Jeep Fare (Lucena Grand terminal – Pagbilao) - Php 10.00
Jeep Fare (Pagbilao Market – Brgy.Polo) - Php 30.00
Tricycle Fare (Brgy.Polo to Kwebang Lampas) - Php 150.00 (but you can also walk to Kwebang Lampas from Brgy.Polo’sjeep stop may take around 30 minutes)
Entrance Fee to Kwebang Lampas jump off-point (tricycle) - Php 25 Entrance Fee to Kwebang Lampas jump off-point (visitor) - Php 5.00
Boat Fare (Kwebang Lampas jump-off point -private beach)- Php 35.00 but you can also walk, may take 15-20 minutes Entrance Fee to Kwebang Lampas - Php 50.00
Tricycle Fare (Kwebang Lampas jump-off point to Brgy.Polo crossing) – Php 400 (but you can also take a jeepney back to Pagbilao from Brgy. Polo last trip is 5pm, just leave the beach around 4pm to catch the jeep to avoid renting a trike which is pretty hefty otherwise you can rent a tricycle. Check the rates above. Bus Fare (Lucena – Manila) - Php 160.00

Total Expenses: Php 975

It’s a private property and the owners doesn’t allow overnight stay for security reasons.

Cottage rental – Php 300- Php 500 pitching of tent is allowed.

Where to stay in Pagbilao, Quezon:

Villa Anita Butterfly Garden and Resort ( my family stayed in this charming resort sometime in 2006 because this is owned by the family of my uncle’s sister -in-law).

KM 174 Brgy. Cabuyao Padre Burgos, Quezon

Telephone #: (042) 716-0326
Cellphone #: (0921) 524-0110

Check out Time: 12:00 pm
inclusion:
Free use of swimming pool
Breafast for 2 persons

Villa Anita Room rates:
Suite Room - Php 3,200
Dorm Type - Php 4,000
Nipa Hut -Php 900
Nipa Hut Jr. - Php 800
Tent - Php 500
Extra Person - Php 200

**This is part of my Quezon travel series**

Lucban at Nightfall : Life Before Pahiyas

thepinaysolobackpacker — Sun, 22 May 2011 11:28:13 +0000

Harvest festivals are celebrated by different cultures all over the world primarily to give thanks to their gods for a fruitful harvest. The Philippines being an agricultural country has its own share of a colorful and grand harvest feast , perhaps the most famous dates back to the 16th century and held annually in Lucban, Quezon, known as Pahiyas Festival. It is a testament to the Hispanic colonial influence on Filipino culture.

Pahiyas Festival is more of a religious celebration in honor of San Isidro Labrador (Isidore the Farmer), the Catholic patron saint of peasants and day laborers.

Every 15th of May, houses in the municipality are clothed with agricultural produce such as vegetables, fruits, rice grains, palm hats, flowers, ferns, paper mache and colorful rice wafers known as kiping. It should be noted that this is only one of the many celebrations in the Philippines for the patron saint, there’s one in Aklan, Nueva Ecija, Marinduque and Bulacan.

San Isidro Labrador

To evade traffic, I hopped in an ordinary bus bound to Lucena (special thanks to Ferdz Decena for the info on this route) on a Saturday afternoon, a day before the bountiful festival. I texted a fellow blogger Atty.Mhe-anne who will be couch surfing in a house of a new found friend in Calaguas, Issa Collantes. It was a 4 hour bus ride but the the palm trees dancing against the pinkish sky provided a much needed warmth and fondness. The atmosphere along the road makes me crave more to revisit the simple life in our province.

It was already dusk when I arrived in Lucena Grand Terminal, so I asked around for a jeepney going to Lucban (Php 30/ USD 70) . Good thing I was able to catch the last trip but I was starving so I grab some siomai and ran back to the jeep before I get left behind. It was an easy 45 minute ride, no traffic yet, I should say I was lucky!

But when I arrived in Lucban, my friend is still enjoying their long drive around the province of Laguna, so although I’m restless because I haven’t slept for 24 hours, I had to maximize my time. Otherwise, I can secure a bench to nap near the church. Sleeping in public places is becoming a habit lately, though it is synonymous with adventure, I must admit I am starting to pity myself.

I was greeted by throngs of crowd of young people preparing for the feast the next days. Hats made of native materials of all colors and styles adorn the sidewalk, that if it weren’t for the old colonial Spanish houses and the the smell of Lucban’s longganisa permeating my nostrils, I’d probably think I’m in Britain looking for a Royal hat that I could wear on my engagement with Prince Harry.

After eating dinner at a barbecue stand beside the main road, I followed the crowd going to the plaza. The streets are adorned with trimmings for the upcoming feast. This town reminds me of Liliw, Laguna with the heritage houses, shops and all. I went inside almost every shop, checking the goods and the prices, pretty cheap and comparable to the prices in flea markets and tiangge in Manila. I particularly like the posh royal and summer hats (retail price starts at Php 50/USD 1.16) and the stylish flat shoes of all colors and designs (retail price starts at Php 100-Php230/USD2.32-5.33).

I went around and found some souvenirs for sales, the artsy masks (Php 80 up/USD 1.85), the epic ref magnets (Php20 up/USD 0.46) and key chains (Php 10 up/USD 0.23). I love the colorful and artsy designs of the items, even the quality of the souvenir shirts (Php 130 up/USD 3.01) looks good.

how to make ref magnets

In the midst of the crowd I stumbled on an art shop selling products from all over Asia, bought a scarf from India for Php300 (USD 6.95), it looks like my Bohemian skirt from Nepal, with all those handwoven small mirrors in the quilted-like cloth. One of the things I love doing whenever I travel is hunting for bargain shops, flea markets , vintage and art shops with unique artsy stuff and memorabilia and it’s nice to accidentally find one in Lucban.

Lucban, a sleepy town, transforms into a crowded and lively tourist destination during the world-known Pahiyas Festival. Strolling around the municipality before the harvest feast, gives one a glimpse into the lives of the local and the preparation for the grand celebration.

Like any other typical fiesta in the Philippine setting, men and women are seen busy preparing for the feast and entertaining their guests, mostly relatives and friends arriving from another province.

Upon roaming around the town center, I noticed that the men and children mostly takes care of the decorations of houses while the women are busy cooking or entertaining their guests, and most teenagers are either on a drinking session or at the plaza for the rock show. Whoever said there’s not much people prior to the festival is dead wrong but yeah, “lesser” compared to the day of the event itself.

Legend has it that the municipality of Lucban in Quezon province whose situated at the foot of Mt. Banahaw derived it’s name from pomelo (Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis). Surprisingly, the citrus fruits is not the signature food or delicacy of Lucban but it is Pansit Habhab, Longganisang Lucban and kiping.

Pansit is the local term for noodles in Filipino cuisine and it has many variants. Pansit habhab (also known as pansit Lucban) is a noodles mixed with vegetables and vinegar is added before serving.

cooked pansit habhab

The name habhab is said to have originated from the way the pansit is eaten – without a fork and spoon (kamayan) picking the food with your hand and directly putting it to your mouth when eating.

a store selling uncooked pansit habhab in packs

Pansit habhab are sold in packs at the stores in Lucban for Php 40 (USD 0.93) and the cooked ones were being offered at the sidewalks during the feast for Php 10 (USD 0.23). My tastebud favored Pansit Habhab than Longganisang Lucban.

Longganisa is the Filipino term for sausage. Unlike the typical sausages though, Longganisang Lucban is smaller with longer shelf-life and is self-contained since you don’t need oil to cook it. It is flat, sour and garlicky compared to the usual sweet and oily sausages we buy at the supermarket. They’re seen hanging, tied in the bamboo poles during the feast and retails at Php 70 up (USD 1.62 up). At dusk, I chanced up some locals who are preparing the famous longganisa outside the streets.

Lucban is also famous for it’s sweet delicacies: broas, torones, apas, etc. – the usual pasalubong (Filipino term for goodies brought home from a visit to another place usually tourist destination). And of course, there’s the famous decor during Pahiyas Festival - kiping.

I didn’t know that you can actually eat kiping. All the while I thought they’re just colorful Japanese papers cut into the shape of leaves. Kiping is a leaf-shaped wafer made of rice paste. Mature leaves are collected and laon rice is used to prevent cracking of the rice wafer.

It was getting late and my friend is still roaming around somewhere, I went looking for the church and found a lighted hut with some weary tourists. I secured a place to rest or sleep if ever my friend won’t find me. But alas, when I am about to close my eyes, the loud voice of the tanod surprised me and awakened some people taking a nap! “Bawal matulog dito! (Sleeping is not allowed here!) “, he shouted and closed the lights. Errr! If there’s one thing I don’t like about my experience in Lucban is staying in that church garden. I wish the church people could’ve opened there doors for weary tourists at least for that night. I bet the poor San Isidro wouldn’t be happy about it. I’ve seen a couple of tourists rest and take a nap in the church garden, but the guards kept shouting and displaying their old guns and sticks like they rule the world. I even entered the church and had my photo taken on the miniature church with all the lights and kipings and the lady manning the church kept asking me as if shoving me away. “Sino bang inaantay mu? ” , and then shouting to the other tourists, “sarado na jan wala ng daan!”

As soon as a truck loaded with chairs entered, I heard them talking in front of me, “ And dame pang tao, bahala sila, isarado naten na yan!”. How about those tourists who doesn’t have a place to stay, but we’re just too ecstatic to visit Lucban at dusk to evade traffic the next day? I bet it wouldn’t hurt for the church people to open their gates at least for one night for these people, besides, this is a celebration for the saint of peasants and day laborers.

So the tourists walked out of the church park as the powerful church people closed the gate. Good thing, my friend was already waiting for me outside the gate and introduced me to her friends who invited us to their house. In celebrating a religious feast in a town I barely know, I expected the church people to welcome poor people like me, but instead it’s the strangers who welcomed me warmly.

*conversion rate used*

1 Philippine peso = 0.023191 U.S. dollars

*Special thanks to: Issa Collantes and family for the accommodation and food, Atty. Mhe-anne Ojeda and friends, Zaide Uy, Sally Velasco, Bryan Colona and friends.

Beach Bumming at Kwebang Lampas

thepinaysolobackpacker — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:15:22 +0000

A spur of the moment..that’s how I ended up on a bus headed to Brgy.Polo in Pagbilao, Quezon a day after my much-awaited beach bumming this summer was canceled because of my backpack buddy’s medical condition. I’ve never had much trouble planning a trip than this summer’s supposedly beach backpacking, I never expected it’s just so hard to find a secluded white beach near the metro, like a 1-2hr ride especially when you’re on a tight budget.

Kwebang Lampas is actually one of my top options but after learning that the owners doesn’t allow an overnight stay, if it’s a 5 hour ride so if where gonna return on the same day it”ll be too tiring, I erased it on my list. After the long search, I found the right one (which I refuse to reveal until I get to backpack that beach).

The next day, my brother showed me the raw shots of his friend at Kwebang Lampas . It was 9:15 am, I’d definitely be stuck there at night considering the trip will take about 5 hours, so if the beach resort closes at 6pm and the last trip is at 5pm then I’m dead! Think think think! The pictures are really tempting, besides what is summer without beach bumming?! No way!!! I have to find that place, I’ll just cross the bridge when I get there. There’s always a solution to a problem! So after taking a quick shower, I took my backpack and removed some clothes since it’ll be a day trip only. I still have the chips that I bought for the’ trip. Sigh… Oh well, I gotta hit the beach to satisfy my itchy feet, and find an answer to the question –> where should I stay? Since I super miss the laid back life, my ultimate plan is to find a host where I can stay for the night. I kinda miss sleeping in papag, I wanna stay in a humble kubo (nipa hut) of a local.

I took Lucena Bus Line’s non-ac bus in front of Metropolis Alabang. The trip took about 4hours. The fare cost me Php 117 and stopped at Lucena Grand Terminal. I sat in front of the jeep so I could get a full view of the road, paid Php10 for that ride. On the jeep, I heard a family asking the driver to drop them to the jeep station bound to Brgy, Polo. That’s exactly where I’m headed so I joined them.

the Power Station beside the shore of Brgy, Polo is the landmark that your near Kwebang Buhangin

The jeepney needs to be full before leaving. Fare is Php 35 per person but the locals I was with paid more because they have extra baggage, like feeds, groceries, rice, plywood, etc. “So where are you headed?”, the woman asked. ” Uhmm.. I don’t know, I’m looking for this white sand beach called Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lagpas,” I answered. She stared blankly at me as if telling me she has no idea, and not even the other passengers. I took out the piece of paper where I wrote the directions. One passenger commented, maybe it’s Luntiang Buhangin, and they all agreed. They’re the locals, so I trusted them.

the beach in Luntiang Buhangin

It was a 45 minute ride and I was getting excited. The jeep stopped at the crossing, I got off together with one guy and an old couple carrying heavy baggage and plywood. I shared the tricycle with them. I only realized I was headed to the wrong direction when I saw the marker which read “WELCOME to LUNTIANG BUHANGIN” and the trike entered a small sitio.

The driver dropped the old couple at their house which is just on the beach front, the other passenger asked where I’m headed while the driver was busy unloading the baggage of the old couple and he confirmed I am indeed at the wrong place, so he told the driver to take me to that beach instead and he’ll just walk home. Awww.. I bid goodbye to the old couple, they wanted me to take a look at the beach fronting their house saying I might like it and I could stay there instead, I took a picture of it and told them I was really looking forward to finding that beach and I wanna go there no matter what. The driver then pointed the landmark —>the Power Plant, which I remembered reading before but stupid me just forgot! haha. I paid him Php150, since it’s a special ride.

I arrived around 4pm at the jump off point. The driver wanted to pick me up again on my way back but I told him I don’t know yet what time I’m leaving. So he instructed the man standing in front of the nipa hut to take me back to the jeep station and he showed me the way, I am to follow the trail until I reached that hill on the other end. I was ready to walk to towards the swamp, some muddy trail and rough road towards the cliff when they called me and offered me a quick boat ride, “you can take the boat for Php 30.” “Hmmm…not bad!”, I murmured thinking it was still a long walk. I was shocked to find out that 3 lil boys will maneuver the small bangka (outrigger boat) for me, unfortunately they couldn’t get it started so they had to paddle the boat all the way. I paid them Php50 since they had trouble taking me there.

the trail towards the cliff

I thought I was there already but the boy showed me another trail. I met a couple of groups on their way home at the jump-off point. Alright, so they’re kinda staring at me probably asking why is this girl in a summer dress and a backpack all alone roaming that hill when the beach resort is about to close! There’s 2 trails and I followed the wrong one and I ended up at the cliff which I don’t mind because I love to be on top of a cliff, so I had to go back and follow the other one which lead me to a swamp.

at the gate

The gate is closed, and no one seems to answer. I tried knocking again and after a few minutes, an old man came out. I actually thought the resort has closed already because I read online they close at 4pm so I explained to him I was lost and I can tell he believed me because I am obviously tired and sweating to death. “Come on in, we’re open until 6pm”, he said. Yay!

I ‘ve got 2 hours to enjoy the beach, unfortunately, the last trip of the jeep to Pagbilao is at 5pm, he said, you have no place to stay here. “It’s alright manong, I’ll find a way I’m sure!” , I gladly answered. All I could think of at that point is to take a dip in the beach!!!

Ahhh… the beach is all mine!! I was the only guest since everybody left already. I started taking pictures of it first but I reminded myself to limit taking photos and enjoy the beach more this time! And so I did. It wasn’t the perfect beach and I wasn’t looking for one either. I just wanted a solace at this strange time in my life. The sand isn’t as powdery a the one’s I’ve visited before but it’s okay to walk in barefoot, some parts on the side of the cave is kinda rough though because of the corals. Even the sand at the bottom of the water is not really rough to the feet but not so powdery either but the water is clear so it’s really good to take a dip and swim!

After 2 hours of savoring the beach. I bid goodbye to the caretaker, this time it’s is wife who was there, Aling Divina. So I asked for some info, she told me I could just hire a trike for probably around Php250 to take me to the highway where the buses to Manila passes by. I left hurriedly but on the way, I saw the beautiful sunset peeking to me at the woods. I can’t help but take a picture of it, so I chased the sunset. I ran towards the cliff to get a good view of it, but it’s a few meters away still and the sun is going down so fast and unfortunately, a huge cloud blocked it! But it’s rays left a divine image in the sky. I started taking pictures, and didn’t notice that it was getting dark already. I could hear the insects humming and the cold wind blowing on my face. It’s about time to walk on.

It was already dark when I reached the dead end of the road, a gate with iron bars is the landmark that you have no other way but to turn right, the guard behind the iron bars of the Power Station’s gate was shocked to see me. ” Why are you alone walking on the dark? “, he asked. “Eh ganun tlaga eh.” He directed me towards the swampy trail. I went towards the 1st bahay kubo(nipa hut), the home of the 3 lil boys who paddled the boat for me. I initially planned to stay at their house but upon seeing how they are busy making a small boat. I hired them to take me to the highway. I started to bid for Php250, he refused saying it’s too far, he said to Pagbilao it’ll cost Php 600 but he can’t take me there since it’s overtly far. So I could go to Crossing instead, he quoted me Php400. I took it.

I was starving and the only chips left on my bag is Chippy, which I gave to the driver’s cute lil kids. I bid goodbye to his wife and his children. Inside the trike I was sitting beside his kid and later on with their huge black dog who kept following us. The driver asked me why am I roaming alone in Quezon, it’s quite dangerous considering it’s a place known for NPAs. “They are smart people, they won’t harm you if you’re not an enemy. I am just here to explore. I am not an enemy. “, I answered.

When one is lonely, one loves sunset. -The Little Prince-

It was cold and dark, and I was starving and sleepy, finally after probably around 45 minutes, we reached the crossing. I gave him Php500 bucks. I went looking for the nearest store to buy softdrinks at least, I was tired. But to my surprise, the stores there only sell water! “Ate, wala na kayong may kulay na inumin jan? “, I inquired at the next store. Luckily, they sell those fruit drinks in tetra pack. I crossed the road to wait for the bus, it’s quite hard to catch the bus there and it’s scary because I’m alone on the dark side of the road. Most houses are closed already and the lights is located on the other side of the road. After about 30 minutes, one non-ac bus stopped, I suppose they are one of those buses from Bicol.

My adventure started and ended in Metropolis at 12 midnight. Sometimes even if it’s not meant to be, you gotta make things happen.

SAVE OUR SHORES! (S.O.S)

I see the beauty in the imperfect.

HOW TO GET TO KWEBANG LAGPAS

First go to Pagbilao, Quezon:

HOW TO GET TO PAGBILAO QUEZON

Ride a bus bound to Lucena and get off at Lucena Grand Central Terminal. From the terminal there are jeepneys to Pagbilao.

Tips:

Bring enough food, booze and water. There’s no store at the beach.
Don’t litter. Save our shores.

Entrance fee: Php 50

Cottage fee: Php 400-Php500

Tenerife has some of the highest quality beaches, several of which have soft golden or volcanic sand with warm tranquil waters ideal for swimming. All inclusive holidays in Tenerife are wonderful.