Chinese Feast at Phoenix Court, The Bellevue Manila

Before we finally said goodbye to The Bellevue Manila (and before our quick staycation had come to an end), we decided to have lunch at the Phoenix Court, the hotel’s famed Chinese restaurant. 

Aside from Thai and Greek cuisines, hubby and I are big fans of Chinese food. The play of flavors, the seafood creations, the migraine-inducing umami and the servings good to share make Chinese cuisine an irresistible one for us. They say if you’re off to a date, go to a French restaurant and have your foie gras and a glass of Bordeaux, but if you’re out for a family dinner, Chinese food is the way to go.

The ambiance resembles a typical Chinese restaurant – busy. The interiors are warmly-lit with a number of round tables in different sizes. There is also a room for intimate get-togethers.

So, let’s go to the most awaited part…FOOD.

We started with a bowl of sweetcorn with crab meat soup. Of course, Akisha was more than happy she finished my bowl on her own. 

Sweetcorn and crabmeat soup

I have been wanting to let hubby try Xiao Long Bao, so when I saw it on Phoenix Court’s menu, I immediately ordered one. It is a delicious dumpling with soup inside. Though it came to our table dry and not piping hot, still it’s a must-try. 

I looked at the menu again to see if they have taro puffs (my favorite and the only taro dish I eat aside from Quickly’s taro drink). Unfortunately, they don’t have, but they have their own version called “deep-fried taro dumpling”. I like the filling. Creamy and savory. But I still long for the crispy textured taro puff. Akisha loves it though. Must have been perfect with chili sauce!

Deep-fried taro dumpling

Their version of hot prawn salad is a winner. Gargantuan breaded prawns, apples and a sweet-sour-garlic-ky dressing, this dish gets a thumbs up from me!

Hot prawn salad

Since we were so full to the brim from that heavy breakfast at cafe D’Asie, I just ordered braised seafood bean curd in claypot and yang chow fried rice for the mains. The servings are so huge that we ended up so full and had to pause and sip some tea in between.

Braised seafood bean curd in claypot

Yang chow fried rice

We decided not to have dessert anymore as we were soooooooooooo full! What a way to end our stay at The Bellevue Manila! So, if you’re looking for some Chinese fare in the south, try Phoenix Court. Make sure to tag your family and share a sumptuous feast together. Again, servings are HUGE.

Scrumptious Breakfast at Cafe d’Asie

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I just can’t live without it. I usually eat heavy breakfast, except at times when I know I’ll be doing a lot of physical activities in the morning. So, when we go out of town, or when we stay at hotels, I really look forward to a hearty, tummy-filling breakfast!

Our stay at The Bellevue Manila includes buffet breakfast for two at Cafe D’Asie. The buffet spread is quite impressive, as it offers an array of Filipino, Continental and American breakfast favorites. There was  an entire corner with Filipino specialties like danggit (dried fish), dilis (anchovies), longganisa (local sausage) and dried squid. To complete the Filipino breakfast experience, sinangag (garlic rice) is also available.

Hubby’s Pinoy Breakfast

While hubby opted to kickstart with his favorite Filipino fare, I chose to start with a warm bowl of congee with garlic, egg, sesame oil and spring onions. My dear Akisha loved it, too!

Congee

After savoring my bowl of congee, I got some Western favorites like bacon, Hungarian sausage (a bot spicy but I love it) and potatoes. I also had fried rice and dried fish. An egg and omelette station is also on standby, so I asked the chef to make some ham, cheese and mushroom omelette for us. The serving size is good to share.

My sort of a Western plate

There are also some healthy breakfast options like yogurt, peaches, lychees and who;e table full of assorted breads.

Healthy options

Fruit bowl

The dessert buffet is almost similar to the night before, only with the addition of some Danish pastries and cheesy ensaymadas.

Breads galore

Buffet breakfast at Cafe D’Asie also comes with a choice of refillable coffee, tea, hot chocolate and fresh fruit juices. My baby indulged in the delectable hot chocolate, while I had tea and apple juice. What a way to start the day!

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The Bellevue Manila

North Bridgeway, Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest Corporate City, 

Alabang, Muntinlupa City

For more inquiries, please contact 7718181 or email tbmnl@thebellevue.com

Special thanks to Mr. Ryan Chan and Ms. Jehn Domingo for this wonderful staycation

Birthday Dinner at Cafe d’Asie, The Bellevue Manila

Cafe d’Asie’s All-Day Buffet After our rejuvenating massage at the Mandarine Reflexology and Spa, we prepped up and had our dinner at Cafe d’Asie. We opted to have the buffet so that we can sample every dish on the spread. Cafe d’Asie is located at the second floor of The Bellevue Manila’s main wing. It offers all-day buffet, featuring myriad international culinary creations.

Freshly-tossed salad

We started with a warm bowl of seafood  chowder topped with crispy bacon and croutons. It’s a hearty start I must say. Akisha loves the soup that she even got my bowl!

Seafood chowder with croutons and bacon

There is also a salad bar with good choices of crisp veggies, toppings and dressings.

The salad bar

There is also a wide spread of appetizers that includes fresh mussels, shrimps, cold cuts and cheeses. I requested the chef to cook buttered garlic prawns and mussels for us. When it landed on our table, it just smelled so good! We finished it in a snap.

Appetizer buffet

Buttered garlic shrimps and mussels

I have also indulged in fresh sushi and sashimi at the Japanese station. I got salmon, tuna, California maki, ebi and a lot more. 

Assorted sushi and sashimi

Hearty steaks are also on offer. The chef made a sumptuous 2-slice steak for me with a delicious peppercorn sauce and mashed potatoes. The succulent steak is a bit heavy, but we love it nonetheless.

Steak with Peppercorn Sauce

There is a pasta bar and a dimsum corner as well, but we weren’t able to try it because we were already so full by the time we saw it. A good selection of grilled seafood skewers are also available.

The dessert buffet has a wide variety of cakes and sweets, though we opted to have the classics like the bread pudding and brazo de mercedes. 

Pudding and Brazo de Mercedes

Assorted desserts

 We have also tried the drinks of the  month – Gazpacho Bloody Mary and Three-Berry Smoothie. It was my first time to try bloody mary, and was so surprised at its ingredients! The lady staff said it has tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, tomato gazpacho, pepper, sea salt and lemon juice. Wow! I never even thought that Worcestershire sauce can be mixed with a drink! 

Gazpacho Bloody Mary doesn’t taste like tomatoes at first, perhaps because of the tinge of spice from tabasco and the hint of saltiness from the  sea salt. But as you continue sipping it, it eventually reveals that “tomato-like” after taste. A good and interesting mix though.

The Three-Berry Smoothie is a concoction of assorted berries on a creamy yogurt smoothie. It’s kinda sweet so it can serve as your desert, too! These drinks came with a special edition The Bellevue Manila tumbler.

Gazpacho Bloody Mary and Three Berries Smoothie

When we were about to leave, the lady staff came in with another surprise for hubby — another birthday cake this time from Cafe D’Asie! Sweet!

Birthday cake for hubby

So when were finally full to the brim, we called it a night and went back to our Tower Grand Deluxe room to have some glasses of Manny O and a few last bites of cheese and nuts. What a way to celebrate our birthdays! Thank you so much The Bellevue Manila!

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The Bellevue Manila

North Bridgeway, Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest Corporate City, 

Alabang, Muntinlupa City

For more inquiries, please contact 7718181 or email tbmnl@thebellevue.com

Special thanks to Mr. Ryan Chan and Ms. Jehn Domingo for this wonderful staycation

The Mandarine Spa at The Bellevue Manila

On our first night at The Bellevue Manila, our itinerary includes a pampering one-hour massage at the Mandarine Reflexology and Spa. 

The spa is located at the third floor of the Tower Wing where the pool and the poolside bar are also located. We were welcomed by warm interiors in shades of red, yellow and black. 

While waiting for our room to be ready, we were served two cups of tea. The tea was not too hot nor cold, just enough to awaken our senses before a rejuvenating retreat.

After awhile, we were led to our room, a couple’s room that is. It is spacious enough to fit two beds and a small bed for my toddler (where she stayed the whole time playing her Dad’s cellphone). There was also a huge flat television, so my daughter indulged in Nickelodeon for the time being.

Clean robes, shorts and towels are provided, and the sheets and pillows are all sanitary.  The room smells like a fusion of green tea and peppermint, which I both love. I asked the therapist to dim the lights so that I can take a nap while I’m having a massage.

The one-hour massage started with a few kneading to prepare the muscles to a more relaxing experience later on. I commend the therapist for using just enough pressure (I like it hard on my back and medium on the rest). She also placed a warm herbal pillow on my back which is so relaxing! I swear after that I wanna look for that herbal pillow and buy it for myself. We were, however, not able to see the shower rooms and the jacuzzi at the Mandarine Spa. I guess that’s not part of the treatment. It would’ve been nice to stay in the jacuzzi for a few minutes before indulging in a pampering massage.

 

After our rejuvenating massage at the Mandarine Spa, we checked out the poolside and we were so amazed by the kois swimming in a little pond there. They are so big and vibrant!

The poolside also offers a nice view of the city’s skyscrapers. Its vibrant lights complete the mood.

The poolside bar offers drinks, cocktails and snacks while you indulge in the Olympic-sized pool, or your toddlers enjoy in the kiddie pool adjacent to it. Good music and a smoothie will definitely make your day at the poolside!

Overall, our spa experience was a blast. So, if you happen to be in the south, why not pass by the Mandarine Spa at The Bellevue Manila.

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The Bellevue Manila

North Bridgeway, Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest Corporate City, 

Alabang, Muntinlupa City

For more inquiries, please contact 7718181 or email tbmnl@thebellevue.com

Special thanks to Mr. Ryan Chan and Ms. Jehn Domingo for this wonderful staycation

Our Birthday Staycation at The Bellevue Manila

The grandiose lobby connecting the main and tower wings

Every year, my husband and I would always have what we call a “birthday trip”. Two years ago, we went to Puerto Princesa before the Underground River was declared as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Last year, we survived the paradisal Caramoan Peninsula. This year, we decided to postpone our birthday trip to El Nido until early November in time for the long weekend. But, when we were invited to stay at The Bellevue Manila, it just seems too good to say no. Lo and behold, we decided to have a birthday staycation in the city.

Artful wall accents in vibrant colours

The Bellevue Manila is located at the heart of Alabang in Filinvest Corporate City. Its name is derived from the French words “belle” that means beautfiul, and “vue” which means view. 

It is about  a 45-minute drive from Makati City, or even less if you’re taking the Skyway. Or, you may also opt to commute by boarding any Alabang-bound bus from EDSA or Osmena Blvd. Alight across Starmall and walk through the terminal near Festival Mall where vans that go inside Filinvest Corporate City are located. Fare is Php 10. It will bring you right at the doorsteps of The Bellevue Manila.

The charming elevator lobby

The reception area of The Bellevue Manila is located at the Tower Wing (the other one being the Main Wing). The warm smiles of the staff will welcome you as they assist you on a smooth check-in. A charming staff in a beautiful long dress assisted us to the Tower Grand Deluxe – our room for the night.

We were so surprised when the lady showed us complimentary wine and cheese, and a delectable birthday cake waiting for  us in our room! How sweet of them! There was the award-winning Manny O Agapitos Branco and a plate of cheeses. They must have known that I can eat cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I particularly like the one wrapped in herbs.The white wine stays true to its description,  a nose of tropical fruits with a refreshing soft acidity. Nice choice for The Bellevue Manila, I must say.

A birthday treat from The Bellevue Manila

The 46-square meter Tower Grand Deluxe room is the biggest among the deluxe category. It is a corner room so it gives a panoramic view of the city. It also has a plush king-sized bed with pillows that are so soft they will lure you to sleep. I do not know how The Bellevue Manila knew that we will be coming in with Akisha, my 3-year old toddler, but a small bed was waiting for her when we got inside the room. Talk about personalized service! These people must have done their research on us very well. Thumbs up! 

The spacious room with a plush king-sized bed

We were also welcomed by a complimentary fruit basket and a note card from Mr. Ryan Chan, the Corporate Director for Communications and Marketing of The Bellevue Resorts. Sir, maraming salamat! Indeed, we had a pleasant and enjoyable stay at The Bellevue Manila. Two coupons for a complimentary welcome drink were also handed to us. The drinks can be claimed at the poolside bar and at the Vue Bar at the 22nd floor of the Tower Wing. The bar boasts a 360-degree view of the city and a state-of-the-art light and sound system.

Welcome fruit basket

The bathroom and bedroom is separated by a glass panel, a drama that I like actually. There is a tub for a relaxing warm bath, and a rain shower. Premium Acca Kappa bath amenities are also available. I particularly like the White Moss Glycerine soap which I use up to now for my face. 

The glass panel separates the bathroom from the rest

A rainshower in the sleek bathroom

Acca Kappa bath amenities

From one of our windows, a panoramic view of the city and The Bellevue Manila’s Olympic-sized swimming pool can be seen, while on the other, a picturesque view of sunrise in the morning.

The Bellevue Manila is a perfect nook when you want to somehow be “away” from the metro without actually leaving the city. I actually thought the location is inaccessible, but after we went there in less than an hour via the Skyway, I was quite amazed at how near the place is, and how convenient it is to commute from Makati. Plus, the location isn’t as busy as Makati or Ortigas, so you will really feel like you are not in the city at all. It is very family-friendly so no need to worry about tagging your kiddos along. I am sure, The Bellevue Manila is also a nice place to celebrate the upcoming long weekends and even Christmas! 

Take advantage of their ongoing October promo rate of Php 5,500 nett per night on a Tower Deluxe room, or Php 10,000 nett for two consecutive nights or two rooms both overnight. 

More of our birthday staycation soon! So, stay tuned!

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The Bellevue Manila

North Bridgeway, Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest Corporate City, 

Alabang, Muntinlupa City

For more inquiries, please contact 7718181 or email tbmnl@thebellevue.com

Special thanks to Mr. Ryan Chan and Ms. Jehn Domingo for this wonderful staycation

Spelunking in Baquitan Cave, Islas de Gigantes

Our last itinerary on our second day in Islas de Gigantes was spelunking at Baquitan Cave. After our exhilarating island hopping activities, we went back to the base camp at a little past 3:00 pm, as Joefer Decano instructed. We just had coffee at the base camp, dressed up and off we went to Baquitan Cave.

From Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn, we had to walk for about 15 minutes until we reached the start of a steep slope which served as our entry point to the cave. Since it was raining that morning, the path is muddy so we had a hard time going up. We were also wearing our ever reliable flipflops (at least we thought so until we figured out it’s not suitable for trekking after all, hehe). Three out of five of us gave up and went down the slope. Thing is, it was harder to go down as it was so slippery and there was no rope whatsoever on the trail. The slope is about six to seven feet high at an angle of about 45 degrees, but it took us so long and tons of courage to go down. Add to that the several twigs on the ground that eventually marked a long wound on my thigh before I was finally able to go back to ground zero.

So, lo and behold, our friends Uly and Bhey continued the trek and was able to explore Baquitan Cave. All the photos from this post are from them. Salamat Uly & Bhey!

According to them, the cave is so beautiful with stalagmites and stalactites just starting to form. The formation inside the cave is quite impressive but they feel it needs a lot of work in terms of preservation.

During their spelunking activity, there were parts were they don’t even know where to step on or cling on to get to the next chamber. So, they had to do it a la Tarzan and Jane and made use of the old vines.

Our friends also saw these human bones inside the cave. Again, we believe that there’s so much to discover at Islas de Gigantes in terms of archaeology and history. It is believed that this cave served as a chamber for soldiers during the World War II. There are also stories about Yamashita treasures that are belived to be buried all around the island, thus, the influx of treasure hunters in Islas de Gigantes at some point in history.

If you’re up to some adventure, spelunking at Islas de Gigantes is perfect for you. It has around 50 caves on the island alone, with varying levels of difficulty. There are five caves that are open for tourists as of the moment. The rest can be explored but with utmost precaution. 

Our friends had to crawl to this opening to get into the next chamber. 

Amazing stalagmites and stalactites can be seen inside the cave. 

This formation looks like a glistening piece of crystal! 

We envied our friends when they had shown us their photos. How we wish we were able to go there, too! So, we promised ourselves that the next time we go to Islas de Gigantes, we’ll go there in summer, bring trekking shoes or sandals and appropriate clothing for this adventure. 

When you go spelunking, your tour guide will be Kojack from Joel Decano’s team. You may reach Joel at 09184685006. Tour guide rate for spelunking is Php 200 per pax.

Ou friends Uly and Bhey crawling out of a small opening inside Baquitan Cave.

When they finally went back to the base camp, the two were enveloped in mud and exhausted but they said that’s one experience they would never forget. You survived, Uly and Bhey! Kudos!

Related Posts:

How to go to Islas de Gigantes?

Where to stay at Islas de Gigantes?

The Parola at Islas de Gigantes

Island Hopping  at  Islas de Gigantes

Snorkeling, Spelunking and Beach Bumming at Islas de Gigantes

Antonia Beach, Islas de Gigantes, Iloilo

Antonia beach at a glance

In my previous post (here), I wrote about the highlights of our island hopping activities at Islas de Gigantes. I focused more on the challenging, leg-breaking stunts we had to do to go inside the saltwater lagoon, climbing the rocks at Cabugao Gamay and doing jump shots at Bantigue sandbar. I promised to write about Antonia beach on a separate note because I feel there is so much to say about this island, so here it goes.

If you’ll ask me which of the islands provide a bird eye’s view of the entire Islas de Gigantes group of islands, my answer is – Antonia beach. The reason for being is that it has a lot to offer besides its pristine white sand and azure waters. No wonder it is where tourists are brought to have picnic lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon before heading back to the base camp.

A view of the nearby islands from Antonia beach

So, what are the things that you can do in Antonia beach? Though it is ideal for beach bumming (the sand here is finer than in Cabugao Gamay), guests can also enjoy lounging under the coconut trees while reading a book or having picnic lunch by the seaside. Its marine biodiversity is also very rich and surreal. Plus, you can go up to a small cave where you can have a nice view of the entire island.

Stunning rock formation

The other side of the beach

 As suggested by our boatmen and tour guide, we had our lunch by the seaside. Our food was prepared by Ate Anggay, the cook at Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn, and was composed of grilled fish and porkchop. Don’t worry about the tour guide and the boatmen, they also have their food and its part of the budget.

Ate Anggay’s Grilled Fish

Grilled Porkchop

 The packed lunch also includes softdrinks and mineral water. The breeze at Antonia beach will definitely lure you to sleep after a sumptuous feast. But please, try to resist it as there’s so much to explore in the island!

Scallop shells in the scallop capital

Again, we noticed mountains of scallop shells on the island. Joefer Decano, our tour guide said this is because the owner of the island is a scallop supplier. We really feel that these shells can be put into better use. I just came from the CITEM event earlier at SMX and saw a lot of world-class accessories made of shells of different kinds on exhibit. Some are even for sale and/or for export. Why not use these shells as a material to create things like that? 

Islas de Gigantes has a very rich marine biodiversity, because it lies at the epicenter of marine biodiversity in the WORLD! Yes, the Visayan Sea has such title so make sure when you visit Islas de Gigantes, you go way, way under just like what we did!

Corals in Antonia beach

 According to Joel Decano (Tourism Officer of Carles, Iloilo – 09184685006), they have identified seven diving sites around Islas de Gigantes, not to mention one site ideal for drift diving. There are no dive shops yet in Islas de Gigantes but for your diving needs, you may get in touch with Joel, as he, himself is a PADI-certified diver and  can accompany you on a diving safari.

The corals at Islas de Gigantes, both in Antonia beach and in Cabugao Gamay, are alive and humongous! Although, more varieties can be seen in Antonia beach. Please be weary though that in some seasons (like when we were there), we saw some tiny jellyfish swimming with us, so the water is a bit stingy. Otherwise, Antonia beach is a perfect spot to snorkel. So sorry to say this, but walang sinabi ang snorkeling site sa Boracay dito! Again, I intended to write that in the vernacular. 

We had brought some bread for fish feeding, and we noticed that the fishes here are not yet accustomed to being “fed” with crumbles of bread. Although, it took only awhile before they got used to it. 

If you’re tired of the underwater scene, you can go to the other side of the island where a small cave is located. You have to climb a bamboo ladder suspended on giant rocks. Again, my fear of heights forbade me go all the way up, but my friends did, so I just took their photo. 

There are more than 50 caves in Islas de Gigantes ready to be explored, but there are five caves highly-recommended for tourists. So, if spelunking is your thing, Islas de Gigantes is heaven for you! 

The cave at Antonia beach is just like a teaser for the yet another challenging activity that we were about to do later that afternoon. 

Meet Joefer Decano, Joel’s brother who served as our tour guide for oue entire stay at Islas de Gigantes.

From the cave at Antonia beach, you will see a nice panoramic view of Islas de Gigantes.

If going up the cave is challenging, going down is more difficult! But, as my friends came down the bamboo ladder, I envy them so much that I promised myself, on my next trip to Islas de Gigantes, I’ll go take the challenge,  so help me God!

Related Posts:

How to go to Islas de Gigantes?

Where to stay at Islas de Gigantes?

The Parola at Islas de Gigantes

Island Hopping  at  Islas de Gigantes

Spelunking at Baquitan Cave, Islas de Gigantes

Island Hopping at Islas de Gigantes

The entrance to Tangke Saltwater Lagoon

And now, for the piece de resistance of our Islas de Gigantes trip (drum roll please!)…

At around 8:00 am, we saw ourselves riding in tandem again on a motorcycle, off to the port where a pumpboat awaits us for our island hopping activities. The boat is smaller than what I imagined (my benchmark being the boat in Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa or in Coron). But, the boat, I tell you, is small but terrible. The regular rate for one-day island hopping at Islas de Gigantes is Php 2,500 for a boat that fits 10 people if you’re coming from Gigantes Norte. You may contact Joel Decano at 09184685006.

Early on, Joefer Decano (Joel’s brother who served as our tour guide) said that we might not be able to go to Uaydahon Island (a very nice snorkeling site) and Tangke saltwater lagoon because of the humongous waves roaring at the Visayan sea that time. We said it is OK to skip Uaydahon but begged to at least try to go to Tangke, as it is the most iconic site in Islas de Gigantes. So, upon consulting with the two other boatmen – Marni and Taboy – they said yes! 

On our way to Tangke, we can already feel the waves were indeed roaring. We thought Joefer  might be right, it’s risky to go there. But then, we kept our fingers crossed. When we arrived at the lagoon’s entrance, the waves got even stronger. Marni tried to jump off the boat and swam towards the huge limestone formation where he would try to anchor our boat but to no avail, he failed.  So we told them if it’s really risky, we should not go inside anymore and instead proceed to our nest destination. We were so sad then. ='(

After the failed attempt to go inside the saltwater lagoon, we cruised the waves to our next destination – Cabugao Gamay Island. There are actually two “Cabugao” islands in Islas de Gigantes: Cabugao Gamay (gamay means ‘small’) and Cabugao Dako (dako means ‘big’). We went to Cabugao Gamay as Joefer had suggested. “Cabugao” means pomelo or suha in the vernacular. It is named as such as there are a lot of pomelo trees within the island, though we haven’t seen one.

Cabuago Gamay from a distance

 The sand is white but not fine, but the island’s shape is an eye candy! If you have been to Bantayan in Cebu or Buntod Reef in Masbate, the sand there is similar to the one in Cabugao Gamay. Perhaps the reason behind is it’s location. Masbate lies at the northeast of Islas de Gigantes, while Cebu (Bantayan in particular) lies on its southeast. 

Coconut trees on Cabugao Gamay

 Cabugao Gamay has rows of coconut trees and sharp limestone cliffs on both sides. Make sure to wear your aqua shoes or flipflops because there are sharp shells (yes, you guessed it right, there are also scallop shells here!) on the sandbar. You can also go snorkeling here, but we were told that the corals and fishes here are less than in our upcoming destination – Antonia Beach.

The waves roar through the picturesque rocks

The sand gets finer as you go farther into the sea. But you have to be careful as the current tends to get really strong, so be vigilant and wear your life vests always.

The other side of the sand bar

Azure waters at Cabugao Gamay

 The water in Islas de Gigantes is so clear and blue. We could just imagine how nice it is to look at during summer when the sun strikes at the white sand and bounces off the clear waters. 

Rock formation at Cabugao Gamay

 The rocks at Cabugao Gamay are comparable to the ones in Coron. I remember seeing a rock formation like this at the far end of Malcapuya Island in Coron. 

The island is so serene. I can imagine the hit reality TV series Survivor doing their shoot here. Islas de Gigantes is like Caramoan in the earlier years. Hmm, I’d love the idea but on the contrary, I’d love my fellow Filipinos to enjoy the beauty of Islas de Gigantes first, bago pag-pyestahan ng mga banyaga. I intended to write that in the vernacular. 

The other side of the other side of the sand bar. =P

 A visit to Cabugao Gamay is not complete without the iconic photo ops atop the rocks. And to do that, you’ll have to climb the rocks, get dirty, and never look back. LOL. Make sure to wear non-skid footwear or flipflops and put your camera on a strap as the rocks are a bit steep and challenging. But, as Joefer said, if  you go caving in Islas de Gigantes, this one is just like a warm up. Though I am afraid of heights, my friends and Joefer gave me a hand and in no time I saw myself on top of the rocks with this panoramic view in front of me! Thanks, friends!

A top view of Cabugao Gamay

 After taking some photos and having a quick dip, we continued our journey and went to Bantigue Sandbar. It is just across Cabugao Gamay so in about 10 minutes, our boatmen anchored our boat to the long stretch of sand.

The sand is not as white as Cabugao Gamay’s, but it’s finer

The sand here is finer, but a bit yellowish in color. The comparison I could think of is that of Misibis Bay in Cagraray Island, Albay. At the far end of the island are about four to five houses inhabited by the locals.

A community lives at Bantigue Sandbar

from Bantigue Sandbar, you can see Cabugao Gamay. This can be a perfect backdrop for the much-anticipated jump shot! 

Do the jump shot here!

 Our next destination is Antonia Beach where we stayed longer for lunch, snorkeling and beach bumming. I will do a separate post on Antonia Beach next, so stay tuned.

Antonia Beach

At Antonia Beach, we saw another boat of tourists docking and overheard their conversation that they had just came from Tangke. And so we begged Joefer, Marni and Taboy again to bring us to the saltwater lagoon, as we believe that a trip to Islas de Gigantes isn’t complete without seeing this natural wonder.

So, excited to go back to Tangke, we packed our stuff and boarded the boat again. When we approached the limestone entrance, the waves were still roaring, but not as strong as the morning earlier. Our knights in shining armor – Marni, Taboy and Joefer – did their best to anchor the boat to the huge rock. It wasn’t as easy as we thought. Marni had to dive again and tie a long rope around the rock so that our boat will be sturdy. Joefer tried to put the wood that will serve as our ladder in between the boat and the limestone but again, to no avail, he failed. So, they tied the boat with more rope, Joefer was able to cross the limestone cliff, while Marni and Taboy held a bamboo which will serve as  a handle where we can hold on to while we cross from the moving tip of the boat to where Joefer was.  

My friends went in first. It wasn’t easy as you have to have a perfect timing as to when to step from the tip of the boat to the rock. I  decided I wouldn’t go. I can’t. I am not good in balancing. I might just end up hitting my head on the sharp rocks. But then my friends never gave up and persuaded me to try anyway. Again, it wasn’t easy. The waves made the tip of the boat move farther away from the bamboo where I held on to. I screamed my lungs out, and the next thing I knew, I was stepping on the rock where my friends are. Wheeeewwwww! Again, thank you friends!

Without further ado, here’s where we’re dying to go to – Tangke Saltwater Lagoon.

The enchanting saltwater lagoon

The lagoon is the best I’ve seen so far. Clear waters, amazing rock formation and serene atmosphere. Enchanting, indeed. When I first saw it, I can’t help but say “Oh my god, ang ganda!” while my heart was still beating fast from the stunt I made in order to get inside the lagoon. 

When we were still researching about Islas de Gigantes, we had read some accounts that says Tangke saltwater lagoon is enchanted. One proof is that you won’t see any leaf on its crystalline waters, something that is unusual as the lagoon is surrounded by cliffs that has a lot of trees ( and monkeys). Some believes that a goddess has been protecting the lagoon. However, Joel Decano shared a scientific explanation as to why there is no single leaf in Tangke. He said the water at the lagoon rises at high tide, and when the water gets low at low tide, all the trash including the leaves are somewhat being suctioned into the sea. Quite hard to believe but still makes sense.

Crystalline waters inside the saltwater lagoon

 Aside from shouting in excitement, the next words I said inside the lagoon was “dapat may photo ako dito!” And so, Joefer got our cameras and we had our photo ops. If you have a waterproof camera, better to bring that inside the lagoon than an ordinary camera because on your way out, you’ll have to go through a small hole in the water. Sort of like the one in El Nido but a bit higher. There goes another buwis-buhay stunt for me, because as you get out of the hole, you’ll have to swim to the boat while the waves are getting in your face as if bidding you goodbye.

Though we were so exhausted with climbing up and down, battling the waves and braving the challenging entrance of the saltwater lagoon, we still went home with big smiles on our faces. Islas de Gigantes is amazing. It is not your typical frou frou beach where you just flaunt your bikini and sip a margarita by the shore. If your dream is to be a part of Survivor, then Islas de Gigantes is for you. It’s definitely worth the long travel time from Iloilo. 

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The Parola at Gigantes Norte

The Parola at Gigantes Norte

On our second day at Islas de Gigantes, we woke up early to start our fully-loaded itinerary for the day. And by that I mean really early, like we had to get up at 5:00 am so that we can take turns in using the bathroom. At 6:00 am, coffee was ready for us at the verdant lawn of the Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn (contact Joel Decano at 09184685006), and at 6:30 am, three motorcycles fetched us from the inn and chartered us to our first destination – the Parola. Fare is Php 75 per person. Each of us also gave Php 20 to the caretaker.

The road to the Parola is concrete and narrow. On our way, we passed by some forested cliffs. A bit creepy but, well that’s part of the deal! We passed by some sharp curves and stopped at a spot where we had to walk uphill because the road is rough and unpaved so the motorcycles cannot pass through.  Little did we know that this “walk” will serve as our warm up for the coming activities later that day. 

So after about a 10-minute walk, we finally reached the site of the old lighthouse’s ruins. If you have been to Guisi lighthouse in Guimaras, you would notice that the ruins around the Parola at Islas de Gigantes looks almost the same. The Parola is built during the Spanish era to guide the ships going to Cebu and Masbate, passing through the epicenter of marine biodiversity in the world, the Visayan Sea. Though the old lighthouse in Gigantes Norte is not existent now, a new lighthouse was built.  

At the ruins of the Parola

Clockwise: Uly, Bhey, Irog, Me and Lennie

Ayaw namin mag-picture!

You can actually climb your way up to the top deck of the lighthouse as there are sturdy ladders open to the public, unlike in Guisi where you have to go one by one because the old lighthouse is dilapidated and can collapse anytime. The thing is, my fear of heights forbade me to go up, but my friends did. 

Bhey braving the ladders at the Parola

 I must admit, I envy them when I saw them up there! It must have been a nice experience to see a 360-degree view from the top. Oh well, next time I’ll try to conquer my fear of heights!

A bird’s eye view from one of the Parola’s windows

From the top, they saw a nice panoramic view of Islas de Gigantes, and a bit of the island of Masbate.

View from the top

There were several things we had noticed on our way to and from the lighthouse. First, there were no other vehicles at Islas de Gigantes except motorcycles (or at least we didn’t saw any). So, people either ride the motorcycle, or walk. On our way to the Parola, we saw some kids on their way to school, which is located in front of Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn, walking. They do not seem to realize how far the distance is,  or they just don’t have a choice. Imagine, in Manila, when I walk from Ayala to Greenbelt 5, I complain head on, while these kids do not mind walking the distance at all. I salute these  kids – all for the love of education.

Second, scallop shells are everywhere! These tiny shells must be turned into something – like crafts, construction materials or whatever. There’s too much potential in it that it is such a waste to just throw it around the island and let the bugs feast on  it. A kind of sustainable livelihood program using these scallop shells should be implemented. 

And you said you want scallops, huh?

Lastly, at the “entrance” to the lighhouse, we saw a huge hole. If this is something that the ‘treasure hunters had created, we don’t know. Are there still some ‘gold diggers’ looking for buried treasures at Islas de Gigantes? The quest continues.

So at around 7:30 am, we went back to Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn for our breakfast and our second and much-anticipated itinerary for the day – island hopping.

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Spelunking at Baquitan Cave, Islas de Gigantes

Off to the Base Camp at Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn

Mangroves on the scenic coastline of Brgy. Asluman, Gigantes Norte

After almost 12 hours on the road, hopping from one ride to another (includes waiting intervals at the airport, bus and boat), we had finally reached our destination – Gigantes Norte – one of the major islands in Islas de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo. We jumped aboard a bamboo raft from the passenger boat to get into the shore. From there, motorcycles were waiting for us. And by that I mean single motorcycles, not a tricycle. This is the only means of transportation in Gigantes Norte. Each motorcycle can transport two people at a time, so we hopped in pairs and off we went to our base camp – Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn. 

Standard fare is Php 10 per pax.

Motorcycle is the major means of transportation in the island

Gigantes Hideaway (as how the locals refer to it) is a short 5-minute motorcycle ride from the port, or 15 minutes by foot, passing by a scenic coastline lined with mangroves, some residential homes and mountains of empty scallop shells. Owned by Carles’ tourism officer, Joel Decano, it is the only established accommodation in Islas de Gigantes as of this writing. It is actually a compound where Joel’s family live side by side. 

The entrance at Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn

The three-bedroom main house was converted into an inn. Gradually, they are adding more rooms to accommodate more tourists. The main house has a clean bathroom with ample supply of water, a dining area and a spacious living room. There is a videoke machine and a sounds system in the house, which the guests can use for free.

The quad room at the main house

The rate is Php 200 per person per night, regardless of how many rooms you want to occupy. Of course, this depends on the season. We were the only guests when we were there, so we got two rooms. One room with a queen-sized bed (fits two pax) and another room with two single beds and a queen-sized bed (fits four pax).

The room good for two pax

Power runs until 11:30 pm only. After that, a generator supports the power requirements of the inn until early morning. So, make sure to charge your cameras and phones before the power shuts down. Also, there is no network signal in Gigantes Hideaway (all networks). There’s only a place they call “call center” where people are literally doing their “calls” and “texts”. So, if you’re hiding from your boss or your ex-lover, go to Islas de Gigantes and they will not be able to contact you for the time being! You’re on vacation, right?

A scrumptious seafood feast

Now that you know how to go and where to stay at Islas de Gigantes, the next question is: where do we eat or buy food? Worry no more as the friendly staff at Gigantes Hideaway can do this for you. The usual arrangement with them is that they will charge you depending on the market value of the ingredients that they will use to cook your food. Yes, at cost. And then, you’ll just have to give a tip to Ate Anggay, the cook.

The food, especially seafoods at Islas de Gigantes is so affordable. Dubbed as the scallops capital of Carles, you can buy a kilo of scallops at Php 110 and can go lower on certain seasons! Fish, crabs, lagang(a kind of shellfish) and all sorts of seafoods are abundant in the island that you can indulge without spending a fortune! Our total bill for the food for our three days and two nights stay (dinner on day 1, full board on day 2 and breakfast on day 3) was Php 1300+ only, good for five pax.

The food is not like the usual resort food as it seems like we were having a feast all the time. Imagine this: sizzling scallops, scallop skewers, fish sinigang, spicy lagang and fried fish on the first night alone! Plus crabs and all sorts of scallop dishes on the succeeding meals! We also have an abundant supply of coffee; and beers and liquors are just within reach.  

L-R: Joel, Bhey, Irog, Uly, Lennie, Me and Jingle

On our first night, we invited Jingle and Joel to join us over a few rounds of drinks. It was a blast I must say! During the conversation, we can’t help but talk about some interesting stories on Islas de Gigantes. Joel shared some stories as to why the group of islands is called “Islas de Gigantes.”

‘There are historical accounts saying it is because of the wooden coffins found buried within the island. These coffins are about 7 to 12 ft in length, so the locals thought the early settlers on the island are ‘giants’, thus the name,” Joel recounts. Two of these wooden coffins are displayed at the dining area of Gigantes Hideaway, in front a huge Balete tree. Interesting. The island has more than the sand and sea for sure. 

the Balete tree at Gigantes Hideaway

One of the two coffins in Joel’s custody

Joel also told us that just hours before we arrived at the inn, they had been digging within the compound because they were putting up another nipa hut and at less than three feet below the ground, they had found some ceramic jars with human bones and some personal belongings inside. They had displayed the jars in a wooden cabinet inside the main house, while they buried the human bones somewhere within the compound. Joel also said that there was a time when treasure hunters flocked to the island to dig and search for Yamashita treasures. Until now, there are still see some evidences of the diggings that they made on the island. 

Ceramics found from less than three feet under the ground

There’s so much to discover at Islas de Gigantes that I think the experts or the government should focus on. Imagine these ceramics and wooden coffins that they had found. I am pretty sure that there are a lot of stuff like these buried beneath the grounds of Islas de Gigantes. These are things that are part of our history – something that we should preserve and document. Hello UNESCO? Come visit Islas de Gigantes to see for yourselves!

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Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn
Brgy. Asluman, Gigantes Norte, Carles, Iloilo

Joel Decano – 09184685006

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Related Posts:

How to go to Islas de Gigantes?

The Parola at Islas de Gigantes

Island Hopping  at  Islas de Gigantes

Snorkeling, Spelunking and Beach Bumming at Islas de Gigantes

Spelunking at Baquitan Cave, Islas de Gigantes