ISLA VERDE, BATANGAS: "CENTER of the CENTER"

AN OPEN INVITATION: ISLA VERDE, BATANGAS CITY

Isla Verde was named after the Spanish explorer Capt. Juan Verde.

Isla Verde is the Center of Marine Biodiversity in the world and the Verde Island Passages as the “Center of the Center of Marine Shorefish Biodiverisity” (from wikipedia).

The island has a total of 1,625 hectares with 6 barangays and a population of 7,482.

Isla  Verde Location

Plan of Activities:

Trekking

Swimming

Snorkling

Boating and Fishing

Station of the Cross

Learning the "Pakaskas" Making

Visiting the Tourism Office of the Island (Buy Native Products)

Pilgrimage to Saint Paul the Apostle Parish Church

Socialization with the Locals

*optional - We may proceed to Puerto Galera Island (if budget will allow us)

Itinerary:

THURSDAY (MARCH 28) THURSDAY

5:30 am - Taft Bus Terminal

take "BATANGAS CITY PIER BUS via CALABARZON"

7: 30 am - Grand Terminal Batangas City

from the terminal, ride jeepney going to batangas city  (Php 8). Then, take another jeepney ride going to LEA BEACH, TABANGAO BATANGAS (Php 18).

8:00 am - Lea Beach, Tabangao Batangas

This is where will take our boat ride to the island. (Php 100)

This is "AQUA TAXI".

 

(Isang beses lng ang byahe ng bangka everyday. Umaalis to ng 9-10am.Depende sa dagsa ng pasahero...So bawal malate. Apat ung bangka dun. Ung Aqua Taxi sasakyan natin kasi bound tau for San Antonio)

12 noon - expected arrival natin sa island.

This was the pier of the former "Isla Verde Island Resort" along Sitio Subukin, Brgy. San Antonio, Batangas.

12:00-3:00pm - pitch tents, cook lunch and socialize with the locals, pede na rin kau magswimming if carry nyo ang init. hahaha

3:00pm - akyat tau sa mataas na bahagi ng island. 5 hours hike din un.

8: 00pm - pitch tents, rest. cook dinner and socialize with the group.

*strictly no alcohol tau ah.

*6:00 pm- stop muna sa kung nasan man tau..ROSARY TIME

10 pm - (KNOWING ONESELF: AM I ONE WITH JESUS/Self reflection)

11:00 pm - Lights off/ sleep

FRIDAY (MARCH 29) GOOD FRIDAY

5:00 am - wake up/ breakfast

6:00 am - ROSARY time

6:30 am - break camp

7:00 am - trek going to St. Paul Apostle Parish Church

12: 00 - arrival sa church

St. Paul the Apoastle Church, Isla Verde

The Church's Altar made of sea shells.

Dito na tau magdadasal ng stations of the cross.. Late na kc tau sa station of the cross that will be led by the Parish. Miyerkules kc nila gagawin un..Ung station of the cross nila ay lilibot sa buong isla which will take a whole day, hanggang gabi pa nga...

Sayang kc thursday pa tau darating. So, sa church na lang tau darasal.

1:00 pm - late lunch tau.

2:00 pm - will visit their native products center.

3:00 pm - ahon tau punta gawaan ng "PAKASKAS" (one hour din pa-ahon)

4:00 pm- balik tau sa baba. swimming, snorkling. (kanya kanyang provide tau ng gamit pang snorkle,,hehehe..uupa lang tau small boat para dun sa gusto tlgang makita ung ganda ng coral reefs.
note: ang papayagan ko lng ung swimmer tlga ah (dala kau underwater camera pra macapture ung ganda, para di sayang:))
sulit sya guys...ISLA VERDE is dubbed as the WORLD'S CENTER FOR MARINE BIODIVERSITY.

dun nmn sa di nakakalangoy,.no worries..sa pampang palang...maeenjoy nyo na ung mga small fishes, reef formation at mga star fish:) At syempre, ung magandang Rock formations.

6:30 pm - pitch tents tau near the shore. dinner


SATURDAY (MARCH 30, 2013) BLACK SATURDAY

<two options>

eto now ung optional. If di tau magPUERTO GALERA, 4am, dadaan na ung bangka paBatangas.
so:
*we need to sleep early.
3:00 am, break camp tau.
4:00 am boat na tau
6:00 am - LEA BEACH
6:30 am- Grand Terminal, take bus to Manila
9: 00 am - Manila:)

eto nmn if mag PUERTO GALERA TAU
5:00 am break camp
6:00 am sakay tau ng bangka going PUERTO GALERA
Php 1800 ung upa. maximum of 15 persons na un.
in two-three hours will be in Puerto Galera, depende sa alon.
9:00 latest time we could arrive in PUERTO.
9:00-1:00 pm - enjoy the BEACH:)
eat, swim and socialize
2:00 pm- pack-up.boarding sa boat
ung fair kc..nagbabago..handa kau ng pera 150-300...depende kasi sa dagsa ng tao..GAHAMAN ung mga bangkero..hehehe
3:00 pm-4:00 pm - BATANGAS CITY PIER
4:00 pm - take bus to manila
6:00 pm- Manila:) 

BUDGET (for fares):

without PUERTO GALERA- from batangas city to. (PHP252) 

with PUERTO GALERA - depende sa dami natin na maghahati sa upa ng bangka at depende sa fare pabalik ng batangas. more or less Php 600. (may sukli pa yan i think)

note: di pa dyan kasama ung pamasahe sa bus if ur from Manila. Kau na lng mag--add> thanks

* Bring Extra Money na din for pasalubongs and food as well:) marami tindahan sa island:)

THINGS TO BRING:

-clothes good for three days

-hiking and swimming attire (hehehe)

- foods good for three days (pero marami naman sari-sari store dun)

and we can buy fresh fish too

-flashlight and headlight

-tent, sleeping bag

-water 

IMPORTANT THINGS YOU MUST KNOW:

- May tubig naman sa island, kaso maalat. So, dala nalang kau water or bili kau dun. May tubig tabang nman kaso yun ay tubig ulan na inipon ng locals.

-Walang kuryente ang isla. Pero may generator na ngbibigay ilaw sa island. 6pm-11pm lng yun.

-Isa lng palage ang byahe ng bangka, so be time conscious tau.

- Secure ur belongings nga pala..Iplastic ung mga bagay na dapat di mabasa:)

- Ang atin pong trip is not just a trip to enjoy, holy week po,,,so lessen the noise po tau..lets respect the locals there.

-THIS TRIP IS FOR US TO RELAX and FEEL GOD.:)

So, pano guys, tara tara..consider this..ngaung holy week lng medyo mahaba bakante natin..sama na kau..sana mapush natin toh..

For queries..Contact me na lng. ---> Ms. YNO (just leave a msg on my FB. Im so willing to answer) thank u:)

HAPPY HOLY WEEK TO ALL:)