Most of the coolest islands in the Philippines are among the most hidden. You must exert efforts and resources to get to your dream destination. You'll have to do research, save up money, plot your leaves, plan your activities and bear with unforeseen circumstances along the way. These are some of the prerequisites you need to consider before you finally touch the finest sand and swim in clearest water you could ever dream.
And so, let's start this year as we shout...Hello Bulalacao!
About Bulalacao
Probably, the first thing that comes out in your mind when you hear the word "Bulalakaw" is a meteorite or a shooting star. Same here! But I never imagined that I could find an out-of-this-world experience in a place called "Bulalacao". It makes sense and I would believe that the origin of the island group across its coastline was due to meteor showers that happened million years ago, which eventually developed into magnificent and breathtaking islands - my version of Bulalacao Theory.
To get things right, Bulalacao is commonly known as the "Island Hopping Destination of Mindoro". It is located at the southernmost tip of Mindoro Island and 167 kilometers from Calapan (the nearest take-off point from Manila). Suguicay and Buyayao are just two out of 13 possible island-hopping destinations you can visit. Others are Tambaron Island, Target Island, Aslom Island, and Maasin Island.
We've planned this trip two months ago together with my High School Buddies and I've never imagined that we were able to turn our drawing into a reality. Tip 1: If you are planning to go here, you'll save an extra if you are at least 10 in total.
How did we get there?
From Manila
We've decided that we'll be meeting each other in Buendia LRT Station. Around 12:30 AM, we rode a bus going to Batangas Port for P 177 ( Ceres Bus with CR na mars!). Then, we got a 3 AM ticket bound to Calapan via Montenegro for P 192 (but starting on Feb 1 ticket prices will change na ha). Additionally, we pay P 30 for the terminal fee.
Around 6 AM, we've arrived at Calapan Port and transferred immediately to a van bound to San Roque, Bulalacao. I spent P 260 on a 5-hour trip from Calapan to Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao. You can also check RORO Buses in Cubao that travels directly to Bulalacao, but expect more delays since buses like this stop from town to town.
The adventure doesn't end here! From Barangay San Roque, we rode a motorcycle going to Barangay Bangkal which is the staging point to the rest of Bulalacao Islands. Fare is P 60 per motorbike. Note: 2 persons can share the fare since each motor can accommodate 2-3 person naman, pero afraid!
At first, I am hesitant to ride habal-habal again since I had a traumatic experience last December, but I have no choice and there are no other means of transportation to choose from. Thankfully, we've safely reached Bangkal after the bumpy and thrilling 15-minute ride. Upon reaching, we'll have to pay an additional P 20 for the environmental fee.
From Bangkal Staging Point, we transferred into a boat going to Suguicay Island for P 700 good for 10 persons (back and forth). But before that, you'll have to pass a wooden bridge just to get to the pavilion where boats dock.
Recap - from Manila to Suguicay I've spent P 809. Wooooh!
As we drew closer to Suguicay, waves start to become unfriendly leaving us nauseous for the rest of the trip. But all seems to fade away when we're finally welcomed by the verdant mangroves covering the island coast along with the vibrant bluish color of the ocean. Bonggacious!
Suguicay Island
We've traveled for a day just to discover and experience the unspoiled island of Suguicay. We've had so many challenges along the way but reaching this far is indeed very memorable and fulfilling.
Everything on this island is so relaxing and tranquil, probably because it's not crowded. You'll have your freedom to wear your improvised swimsuit and run along the shore (like what I did HAHA) with no other people to judge your imperfectly perfect body.
TEAM SUHA - Our group name that derives from the fruit "Suha or Pomelo" since this is the first food we've eaten when we reached this island.
Here are some of the photos from Suguicay.
Things to consider
1. If you are not a fan of long travels, this might not be the best place for you to explore. Although, you may choose to travel by air which could only take around 45 minutes. #RichKid #MayCreditCard
2. Check the weather. I honestly don't have any idea about the so-called monsoon or habagat (sorry na!) but please do consider the weather condition or else you'll not enjoy this trip mainly the island hopping activity. The best time to visit is from March to April.
Accommodation. We've paid P 2,000 for a 12 hours stay. This has 2 rooms with queen size beds and additional mattresses in each room. If you're on a tight budget, they have Nipa Huts available for rent which is around P 300 per night (open-air to ah, walang dingding) or you can bring your tent but you'll have to pay P 100 for pitching your tent.
They have public CRs but they are using seawater for regular usage. (Nalaman ko lang nung mag toothbrush, bat maalat?) They usually get water in Springs which we only use when we take a bath and in cleaning dishes. P 30 per gallon.
Water Supply. They don't have any permanent water supply in this island, so I suggest that you buy potable drinking water in the mainland before you go here. But if forgotten to do so, no worries as they are also selling drinking water but we're not that sure if that will work for those who has dainty stomach. P 60 per gallon.
Food and other necessities. Don't feel so complacent that they are selling meat and veggies here. They only have fresh fishes but you'll have to wait until 6 PM. We bought one and a half kilo of Galunggong for only P 105! Other necessities such as rice, cooking oil, soft drinks, tomatoes, eggs, canned goods, pancit canton are available naman.
They lend us traditional charcoal stoves and some cooking utensils. Guess what we're cooking here? (Pancit Canton mga dzai)
You can still update your socials since the signal is not a problem here for both Globe and Smart users.
The only problem that could hinder your updates and posts would be the electric power supply. Locals mainly rely on electric supply produced by a generator that runs from 6 PM to 10 PM only. So, having a power bank is a must in this travel. More so, if you want to enjoy the whole night, you can rent a "videoke" for P 1000 all night long. This simply means that you'll also have an electric supply the entire night!
Lastly, the singing session wouldn't be complete without Liquors, of course! Good news for the drinkers as they are selling Emperador, Red Horse, San Mig Light, and Apple (P45) and everyone's favorite... Ginebra San Miguel Gin (best liquor for travelers kasi walang hangover)!
We were told that the Islands of Suguicay and Buyayao are family-managed beach resorts, although you can do more activities in Suguicay as compared to Buyayao. Unfortunately, we failed to explore the rest of Bulalacao Islands as advised by our boatman due to unpleasant waves. Other than that, the weather was pretty hot and windy, just perfect for beach bumming - relaxation at its finest!
Are you tired of reading? Have some break and watch this Bulalacao travel video I've made. Enjoy and please don't forget to subscribe! *Wink*
Things to do
Aside from island hopping, you can do a lot of fun things here and it depends on what kind of person you are. Remember, that happiness varies on our interests and on how we appreciate things around us. In my case, I love taking pictures that tell stories. Pictures that are not just Insta-worthy but also deliver meaningful messages.
Kids playing on top of the tree in Suguicay Island.
Enjoy the panoramic view of their own version of sandbar. It might not be the finest as compared to buffet of sandbars in the Philippines, but what made it interesting is because of its attractively unique features - huge rocks on top of the fine white sand surrounded with shallow turquoise-colored water. Cravings satisfied!
Suguicay's sandbar located on the Northern part of the island.
Ever wonder what it feels to live in a cave? Well, you can try this narrow cave located on the side of Buyayao Island. This cave is usually included in the island hopping itinerary but if missed, you can ask the boatman to drop by since you'll pass this when heading to the shore.
Buyayao Island
Buyayao Island is a privately managed place as well but not that commercialized. There are traces which shows that this used to be a good resort before. More so, instead of seeing "Mabuhay" signs, we were welcomed with numbers of "No Trespassing" signs scattered across the island. We just stayed on the shore which is the only allowed area for tourists.
Exploring the Island of Buyayao
Everyone dreams to be young again even if our age doesn't allow. For young-at-heart travelers, socializing is one of the most important aspects of travelling. These kids joined us when we roamed around the island, surprisingly, their energy and happiness were so contagious. We're drained and tired after the long travel, but seeing them running freely around their playground led me into a realization - "look around and appreciate the simplest things that life offers".
Also, people living in this place have their dialect which sounds like a bit of Bisayang Romblon but they also know how to converse in Tagalog.
They may not be aware of the trends but they know how to make friends
There are plenty of other activities to try like beach volleyball, kayaking, and snorkeling. We didn't try these stuff because these are common activities plus, I insisted that this is not included on our budget. (Tag your friends who prefer to do activities without spending).
Of all these things that you wouldn't regret trying in this island is - Life Best. You'll definitely experience one of the best moments of your life. *wink*
We stayed here for only 12 hours and the rest of our time was consumed by travelling. Yes, it was a quick escapade but the amazing things that happened will last a lifetime. I hope we can stay a bit longer but our responsibilities are waving. (Not jowa duties but work duties)
What are you waiting for? The best way to discover the world is not by reading this blog, it should be you, exploring the wilderness and beyond.
"Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” - Ibn Battuta
With so much love,
Kendra
Disclaimer: The details above are based on my experience during my visit and these may change as time passes by.