Love the Summer? Love PUERTO GALERA!

2013-05-01T01:17:00.003-07:00

The name Puerto Galera is Spanish for “Port of the Galleons.” For centuries, trading vessels would drop anchor of the shores of this place on the northeastern coast of Mindoro Island. Today it’s one of the top places for a quick weekend trip for the people of Metro Manila. Puerto Galera is just a few hours away.

The party’s always on at White Beach. Its restaurants and bars do a good trade. But if you’re looking for something more laid-back, head to a private resort in Sabang or Muelle (the main port) beach.

The “center of the center” of marine biodiversity in the world is Verde Passage – the waters between Batangas and Mindoro. Its coral reefs house about 60 percent of the world’s shore fish. Sabang is your jump-off point.

Puerto Galera is among the top diving destination in the Philippines. Excellent diving is found less than 5 minutes from Sabang Beach. The diving generally focuses around the areas either side of Escarceo Point, which is famous for its current rips. Strong currents are a feature of the diving in Puerto Galera and it is good advice to employ the services of an experienced local guide or dive centre. There are more than thirty dive sites all within a 5-10 minute banca ride from Sabang Beach. Marine life is highly diverse. 180+ species of nudibranchs are found in the area and many species of fish can be seen. A variety of wrecks have been sunk over the years in addition to the one wreck of an engine of a WWII Japanese patrol boat.

Puerto Galera is also one of the main technical diving destinations in Asia. Technical Diving International - [TDI] has many dive centers in the area, offering the full range of TDI courses from Basicnitrox to advanced trimix.

TOP THINGS TO DO

Enjoy off the beach

Try island-hopping around Boquete Island and San Antonio Island.

Chase waterfalls

Tamaraw Falls is the most accessible one. But there are other waterfalls worth going to, such as Tukuran, Aninuan, and Talipanan.

Support local culture

When in Puerto Galera, try to meet the local Mangyan community. Visit the Excavation Museum, the Mangyan Heritage Center, and the Mangyan Iraya Village in Baclayan.
Dance to the music
The Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival takes place at the foot of a mountain, at a natural amphitheater. Bands both local and international come to celebrate music and art. There’s also The Summer Music Festival, which is a night of upbeat reggae.

Enjoy the food

There are wide variety of food destinations in Puerto Galera. Papa Fred's Steakhouse ranked #1 at www.tripodadvisor.com for its high quality of food and service.

You can visit this site for more reviews and the food they offer: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294254-d2666396-Reviews-Papa_Fred_s_Steakhouse-Puerto_Galera_Oriental_Mindoro_Province_Mindoro.html

Papa Fred's Steakhouse

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Puerto Galera/Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera, Mindoro 5203, Philippines

0063432873361

Website

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Ranked #1 of 32 restaurants in Puerto Galera

62 Reviews

Price range: $4 - $40

Cuisines: German, Seafood, Steakhouse, Pasta

Good for: Outdoor seating

Dining options: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Reservations, Delivery, Late Night

More Restaurants that offer great food and service at Puerto Galera here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g294254-Puerto_Galera_Oriental_Mindoro_Province_Mindoro.html

Boss Jeff and Jerome eating halo-halo :)

How to Get There

A tourist transport operator (SIKAT LTD) operates from the City State Tower Hotel in Mabini St., Ermita Manila. The tourist coach leaves at precisely 8am---7 days a week. You alight at the port of Batangas for your ferry to Puerto Galera. The bus and ferry trip takes about 4-5 hours. Cost is approx US$15 per person return. The ferry leaves Puerto Galera also everyday at 9:00am to connect to the bus in Batangas.

The Swagman Manila also operate a bus leaving at 7.45 every morning from hotel in Ermita, Manila, approx Peso 350.00.

More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. The former has a terminal in EDSA-Pasay City while the last two have theirs along Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), also in Pasay City. Schedules of these buses are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6AM and every hour from then on (depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from Php 130 to 150 depending on whether it is regular or an air-con bus.

If you are in hurry you can take the passenger vans (FX) which are also located on the other side of bus terminal along Pasay near Gil Puyat LRT station. These passenger FX/vans are using Star Tollgate an express way directly to Lipa Batangas going to port unlike other buses, but charging almost the same fare of air-con buses.

At the Batangas City Pier, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, depending on which port guests intend to enter. (There are three main entry points to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier and Sabang Beach and two alternate entry points direct to White Beach and Talipanan).

PRICING INFORMATION

Visit

http://www.wowphilippinestravelagency.com/destinations/puerto-galera/packages/index.php,

they offer great package for people who wanted to travel to Puerto Galera.

SOURCES:

http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/puerto-galera-mindoro-oriental/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Galera,_Oriental_Mindoro

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080105082016AAsid2Y

"CHURCH IN THE SKY" - Visiting Christ The King Parish in Muzon, Taytay, Rizal

2013-04-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

"Church in the Sky"

Dela Cuesta Hills, Muzon, Taytay, Rizal

Tel: 470-0410

From Manila to Taytay Rizal.Visited twice already, and I really love this place. Quite confused why they call it "Church in the Sky", and when i got the chance to be here, the first word that came out on my mouth was WOW. Very nice people, everyone used to say "Hi" and "Good morning" to us even if they are busy during that time.

Not the typical type of church where you can see flower and popcorn vendors on the side, Christ the King Church provide wonderful scenery,peace and solemnity to its community. Clean, fresh air, wonderful people - reasons why Taytay Rizal must be proud of.

Photo taken just right beside the church. Really breath-taking.

History.

The parish of Christ the King is bounded by the two barangays of Muzon and San Juan. These barangays are formerly part of the parish of St. John the Baptist. So there are two parishes in the politically set – up town of Taytay Rizal east of Metro Manila.

The parish of Christ the King formally erected on May 15, 1984 after almost a year of preparing the would – be parishioners-setting up their minds, pulling out human resources and bargaining for the establishment of the seat of the parish, less than a year after the formal inauguration of the Diocese of Antipolo . It was the first parish created under the Diocese of Antipolo.

The parish of Christ the King has a total land area of 1,831 hectares, a close to 30,000 population, 85 percent of which are Catholics residing in almost 30 sitios, compounds and subdivisions from "Homeland to Kapalaran:" in a common boundary speaking manner.

The barangays of Muzon and San Juan become populated in the early part of the 80’s with the introduction of subdivision ownership, with subdivision developers growing in number and with subdivision amenities magnetizing largely the buying populace. The influx of new residents was exceedingly uncontrollable.

Parish Schedule:

Mass: Mon-Sat 6:30 am CTKP Site

Wed-Fri 6:00 pm CTKP Ibaba

Sat. (Anticipated) 6:00 pm CTKP Site

Sun. 6:00 am, 9:00 am CTKP Site
5:00 pm, 7:00 pm CTKP Site

Baptism 11:00 am Sunday

Fun.Mass Make an arrangement at the parish office one day before the interment

Blessing By appointment

Wedding One month prior to wedding date

Confession Wednesday and Friday after the 6:30 am mass

Sick call Anytime depend upon the availability of the priest

Office Hours: Tuesday- Saturday 8:00 am- 12:00 pm
2:00 pm- 5:00 pm

Sunday 8:00 am- 12:00 nn

Monday No office

(source: http://www.dioceseofantipolo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=413:christ-the-king-parish-muzon-taytay-rizal&catid=120:profile-christ-the-king-muzon-taytay-rizal&Itemid=1373)

For Directions kindly visit this map:

https://maps.google.com.ph/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=christ+the+king+parish+church+taytay+rizal&fb=1&gl=ph&hq=christ+the+king+parish+church&hnear=0x3397c71b30c82813:0xf5e02302ae65c580,Taytay

Photo of me at the church :)

..Exploring Philippines..

Love the Summer? Love PUERTO GALERA!

Papa Fred's Steakhouse

"CHURCH IN THE SKY" - Visiting Christ The King Parish in Muzon, Taytay, Rizal