The province of Batangas has some of the most visited beaches in Luzon. Being a province easily accessible to excursionists from landlocked areas, who believe that the sea is a vitamin, it is a quick haven for us who want a change of view from the city or the boondocks.
Also, with a coastline so long and a varied topography, Batangas has a variety of beaches to choose from, from white to black, and from sandy to pebbly beaches. You do you.
Would you agree, though: Cavite and Bataan do have beaches but they aren’t that far from Manila. And, as absurd as it may sound, we want to get away as comfortably far as possible. And, personally, Batangas is not so near yet not so far (”malayo man, malapit din”). Well, that’s totally subjective and it depends on where you’re coming from, but you get the point.
Moreover, Batangas also has other places of interest for side trips and stopovers before actually hitting the beach.
I have been to some places in this province but I haven’t even scratched the surface. How about including this in the annual travel bucket list?
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Batangas 2 Days 1 Night Family Outing Overview
Travel Date: January 1, 2023
Truth be told, I had the plan to have this family outing straight from the airport coming from Saudi Arabia. I thought that’s a cool idea, like how they do it in the movies. Except that I am not cool and I am a returning overseas worker who’s got a ton of baggage, not to mention the exhaustion from the flight. But I will definitely do that someday – imagine coming straight from the airport and heading to the beach. Coz no time to waste!
So, instead, we let the New Year’s Eve pass and hit the road on the first day of 2023.
I knew this would be the first trip for our travel-thirsty family. So, without high expectations, letting things be, letting my brother Andrew and cousins take charge, I rode along.
As an overview, here’s a brief summary of the two-days-one-night trip:
- Looking for the resort and accommodation happened two weeks before the trip while I was still still in KSA.
- Day 1
- Travel to Padre Pio Shrine in Santo Tomas, Batangas
- Overnight stay at Sigayan Beach Resort
- Day 2
- Sigayan Beach Resort check out at 12 noon
- Travel to Cavite/Taal view for some late lunch (turned out to be a dinner)
- Pick up of some pasalubong goods
On January 1st, 2023, at 6:00 AM, we travelled from Rizal to Batangas. The original call time was 4:00 AM, but who were we kidding?
Heads up: this isn’t a travel guide. This blog post is filled with my thoughts, first-hand experiences, and some other related stories.
Welcome to my brains!
Photos from Padre Pio Shrine
Candles offered by the visitors, a local snack called shingaling, and the goto Batangas.
Some photos I snapped at Padre Pio. Tita Neneng. behind her are Che and another aunt, Tita Nenet. Also, in another frame is Tita Nenet and Nanay. Also took a photo of my niece and nephew, Iya and Andrel.
One of the most popular shrines or churches to visit when going to the southern part of Batangas is the Padre Pio Shrine located in the town of Santo Tomas.
Most of my travel companions have been here before while it was my first time.
We reached Sto. Tomas at a little past 8:00 AM, around 2 hours from Montalban.
One observation you’ll have when at a famous Catholic shrine especially in the Philippines is how the immediate areas outside the church are filled with shops.
Most of these shops sell religious artifacts like rosaries and statues and some candles and other souvenirs. Also, you will surely find shops selling foods. The scene won’t be complete without the toy shops that target the kids.
After sitting and praying outside the shrine (we came just in time after the mass), we headed to look for a karendirya (eatery) to have our first meal of the day.
As I was in a relatively new place, I decided I would have something different.
I had not eaten a gotong Batangas (Batangas goto) before and my curiousity told me to have it. Some of us had loming Batangas (Batangas lomi) which I thought looked more delicious than what I ordered.
Gotong Batangas isn’t anything like our goto in Rizal or in places that serve the real goto. Well, they have the right to name their food whatever they want.
Someone who has some uric problem or hypertension best stay away from this dish. It is composed of entrails and is heavy on fat. The taste was what I expected of innards, but the spices and flavors didn’t taste special. Probably there are other gotong Batangas that taste much better. (Leave it for another travel quest.)
To the beach
A mobile shot of a ricefield somewhere in Batangas, on the way to San Juan.
After eating, at around 10:00 AM, we started our travel to San Juan which took us 3 hours. We stopped a couple of times to buy some food items.
The weather that day was very erratic. The rain and the sun seemed to be chasing each other around. One moment it was raining and sunny the next. A welcome drama, I should say.
Sigayan beach day 1
We reached Sigayan Beach Resort at 1:00 PM.
I cared very little about how the resort looked when we were trying to book it. The amenities were fine. Nothing special as it is a budget resort which is just right especially for a large group staying for a night, and just want to at a beach.
Check their website in this link (https://sigayanbay.com/) and see for yourself as I didn’t take much photos of the resort itself. Don’t expect too much though.
My mind was somewhere else and I paid little care about how the rooms were. All I cared that day was to be reunited with my family.
I didn’t even bother to go the pool or take a quick dip in the sea. The kids were enjoying, my cousins and in-laws (cousins) were enjoying, my aunts, uncle and my parents looked happy. That was more than enough.
After eating the lunch that we packed (baon), they started grilling the chicken. How about some ice cold rum while waiting for the barbeque.
I scouted the beach area and did a quick planning for the sunset photoshoot with my niece, Khloe.
Two photoshoots happened that day: a sunset session and a night session which was unplanned.
Read: Beach portrait photography in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas
I didn’t drink that much that night. I slept early to make up for the 1-hour sleep. Also, I was planning to the wake up early to catch the sunrise.
Some aesthetic lighbulbs; bamboo fence with some smoke (‘very probinsya’); a kid who is probably a son of a local boat owner who seems to be melting a plastic spoon with a cigarette lighter to plug dents/holes on the boat; Milo, Khloe’s baby; chicken barbeque, and some more random shots from the beach.
Family.
Sigayan beach day 2
Some of the photos from my morning walk. Also managed to put the phone on a boat for some self-portrait.
Due to the location of the resort, there was no chance to have a view of the sun coming from the sea. The best you can have is a sun coming from the mountain but it would be just a blob of white light by the time it shows up.
At past 6:00 I was already at the beach while most of my family were still asleep. (I think all of them were.)
I walked a little, took photos, and enjoyed the solitude for an hour. I took relatively few photos. I wanted to savor the moment of being there. I processed some of my favorite photos from this morning walk into black and white and I thought I’d post them separately in In Focus.
(Related: In Focus: Laiya, Batangas in black and white)
There were some early beachgoers but it was not until 7:00 when people started coming to the beach.
I went back to our room and some were already preparing breakfast while the others were waiting and chatting. And as usual, I was there, listening and observing for most of the time, or taking candid photos of them.
After breakfast, there was still time to have a swim. I still didn’t want to and just observed everyone from the shore.
By 11:30, we were prepared to check-out.
More family pictures during the second day. Beach time!
Travel to Tagaytay
The last part of our family trip was to go to Tagaytay and have lunch. Lunch!
The weather wasn’t as pretty the day before and it was rainy when we traveled to Tagaytay. I have a vague memory about the names of the places we passed by.
After taking the Tanauan Exit, we traveled through a mountain road to Talisay. It was an experience itself. The rain wasn’t holding back and the sharp turns uphill were kind of scary. Props to Roselle for making it through that tough drive.
The test of patience started when we reached Tagaytay. The traffic was the worst I’ve experienced in years.
We were headed to Bulalo Capital but the place was full when we got there and the waiting time was one hour. The option left was to look for another place to eat.
When things seem to be going against you, and your patience is being tested, hold on tight.
Marvith’s Bulalo Pares and More, and the Taal Lake
Taal lake as seen from the restaurant. Took a lot of effort post-processing to make that volcano appear clearer, because in actual it was so hazy. Didn’t want to overdo it and preserve the cloudy, gloomy vibe.
And here are some shots from the phone. I used my very old Note 9 here, and it is still surprisingly good.
At around 4:40 PM, we found ourselves at a place that had no customers but us. It was like the whole restaurant was reserved for us.
Marvith’s place has very few ratings on Google Maps. The place was clean. The view of Taal was spectacular. Probably there are other places that have better a view of the lake but this was my first time to get this close (I’d only seen it from the road).
While waiting for the food, I took the time to admire the beautiful view. It was also a good time to take some more family photos.
It was hazy from the rain but that didn’t stop me from appreciating this natural wonder.
It took about 30 minutes for the food to be served. I honestly didn’t have the chance to really savor and judge each dish (because there was a lot) so I just enjoyed and ate a little of everything and even forgot to take photos.
By 6:00 PM, we left Marvith’s to start our travel back to home.
Again. going from point A to point B in especially along the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Hiway needs a lot of patience during rush hour. It took us nearly 2 hours to get to the intersection to the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road.
I honestly don’t want to pass by this area again.
Cecila’s Buko Pie
Outside Cecilia’s wating for our orders.
I’m not a big fan of buying pasalubongs. Mainly because –especially when commuting– bringing boxes or plastic bags all way back to Montalban is cumbersome.
But if you happen to be in Tagaytay, Cecilia’s apparently is the new go-to when it comes to buko pies (coconut pie), at least according to my travel companions. What about Collette’s?
Cecilia’s (at least this branch) offers free kapeng Barako that you can take a sip on while waiting for your order, which was a nice way to end the exhausting, cold, but beautiful day before finally travelling home.
Parting words
The best things in life are free.
Just how much of this statement is true?
We travel with a cost. We pay for fuel, foods, fares and fees (that’s all f’s).
But the happiness we get from the experience is free.
The joy of being with our loved ones is free.
The excitement to see a beautiful sunrise is free.
The friendship between cousins are free.
The advice and stories from friends are free.
The smile and laughter on our family’s faces are free.
You are richer than you think.
Stop attaching happiness to material things and more on yourself, your freedom, and to your choice to see happiness from the people you love.
Go and create your best memories.
Let me ask you
What unforgettable travel memories do you have that you think is priceless? What kind of memories stick with you? What makes them special? Just looking back at a certain good memory gives you a reason to smile and be grateful.