Summer Outing at Pranjetto, Tanay

Summer Outing at Pranjetto

Summer 2010 is the hottest summer we've experienced for the past few years. We live in Antipolo and this is the only summer when we are forced to open the aircon in the middle of the day. An electric fan is usually sufficient to get us through the heat. But this year, the midday heat is so unbearable that we usually open the aircon when at home.

Being only an hour away from Antipolo, I didn't think  Pranjetto Hills Resort in Tanay will have a weather no different from what we experience in Antipolo. But I was so pleasantly surprised when we arrived there. It was windy and cool even at midday. The receptionist said it was the hottest summer they experienced, but for us who live in Antipolo, and for the rest of our relatives who live in Manila, this place provides a welcome respite from the heat. I can imagine how cold it is from December to February. 

This is a popular destination for motorbike riders. So you see a lot of riders traversing this route. When I drove our car going there, I understood why they use the route to practice their riding skills. The turns are sharp and the road gradually goes uphill. The road is well paved and motorists do not frequently pass the route. Bikers usually have breakfast at a small restaurant at Pranjetto.

What That Kids Will Enjoy

During summer, what the kids would enjoy would be swimming. This place has one swimming pool with several huts around it. It's located in a slightly shaded area. This resort is surrounded by trees and located in a slightly forested area.

What That Adults Will Enjoy

1. The adults will like the proximity of the place from Manila. It's only an hour's ride from Antipolo, an hour and a half, from Cubao.

2. The cool weather even in the hottest of all summers

3. The paved roads

4. The peace and quiet

5. The beauty of the natural landscape.

Traveler's photos of the Resort:

• see my post Pranjetto Hills Resort: Traveler's Photos

Rates:

How to book:

My sister-in-law who booked the huts had a hard time contacting reception. Contact numbers are shown above with the rates.

My tip:

1. In any day outing, the hardest part is providing lunch for everyone in the group. On this trip, what I did is order Jollibee. The convenience of fast food takeout is:

• you can order the meals only the night before, and have it ready for pickup the next day. In the case of Jollibee, you can also cancel anytime until 30min before pickup because they text you in the morning prior to making it to find out if the order is still on.

• it is already individually packed, complete with utensils. So all you need to bring when you leave home are the drinks.  

The nearest Jollibee along the way from Antipolo to Pranjetto is Jollibee Cogeo. I ordered Spaghetti and Yum with TLC for pick up the next day. Jollibee Cogeo was very efficient and had my order ready and on time when I picked it up.

2. Sunday is the best time to do this trip. People are usually out on Saturdays at the malls. When you go to this place, you have to use Marcos Highway which has several malls along the way.

3. If you live in Antipolo, you can avoid the traffic caused by jeeps en route to Cogeo by Sumulong highway and making a right at a fork 2 km from Assumption Antipolo. It leads you directly to Cogeo town.

What to bring:

• swimsuit
•  sunblock
•  towel/sarong
•  slippers
• floaters
• pump
• food in disposable packs 
• drinks (especially water) 
• first aid medicines (for headache, fever, dizziness, indigestion) 
• hand sanitizer 
• tissue/toilet paper/wet ones 
• camera (digicam or videocam), extra batteries

How to get there:

• for detailed directions, see my article " How to go to Pranjetto Hills, Tanay".

Travel time:

• from Cubao to Pranjetto on a Sunday: 1 1/2 hours. 

• from Antipolo to Pranjetto on a Sunday: 1 hour. (Pranjetto is 42 km from Valley Golf, Antipolo)

Day Tour Itinerary:

Day tour hours is from 8am-5pm, which means the resort is open to day tourists from 8am-5pm only.

9am-11am: Travel time from Antipolo to Pranjetto with stop at Jollibee Cogeo 

11am-3pm: Swimming and Lunch 

3pm-4pm:   Travel time from Pranjeto to Antipolo

Pasalubong  
From Cogeo to Pranjetto, there is no store where you can buy pasalubong. You have to go up to Antipolo to encounter any pasalubong store.



Total cost of the trip: Under construction

Approximately

To compute for your own trip, download this interactive excel file: 

Pranjetto Hills Resort: Traveler's Photos

Pranjetto Hills Resort: Traveler's Photos

          To see the rates, my itinerary, and travel tips to this destination, check out my article "Summer Outing at Pranjetto".

          To find out how to get there, check out my article "How to go to Pranjetto Hills, Tanay."

This entrance is along the National Road and leads to the small restaurant

This entrance is also along the National Road, at the right side of the restaurant.
Cars can be parked here.

Motorbike parking near the national road

The small restaurant

The simple menu of the small restaurant

The convention hall

Amethyst Hall
This is located at the left of the convention hall shown above

Diamond Hall
This is located at the center of the convention hall shown above

Ruby Hall
This is located at the right of the convention hall shown above

This is where the rooms are located

Another view of the building where the rooms are located

The swimming pool is surrounded by trees

The swimming pool
The yellow building on left is the comfort room.
The building behind the pool is where the karaoke is located.

The surrounding forest

The view of the resort from above

Hibiscus Garden Inn: Value for Money Family Accomodations in Palawan

Hibiscus Garden Inn: Value for Money Family Accommodations in Palawan

  

The last time our family went to Puerto Princesa, we stayed at Casa Linda Inn. It is by far the cheapest accomodations we have stayed in. The room was very cheap and basic but we had a clean room with private toilet and bath. For a big family like us, the cheap accommodations provided by Casa Linda Inn made our Puerto Princesa trip possible. See my review on  Casa Linda Inn here.

On the other hand, if I had more funds then and the kids are older, I would choose Hibiscus Garden Inn. Maximum capacity for Hibiscus Garden Inn rooms is 3 persons. But I can request to have 2 adjacent rooms so a family of 6 like ours can be near each other. A classic room costs P1800 per night good for 2 persons, and the the extra person rate is P500 per person. So if three persons will occupy a room, the cost will be P2300 per room per night, or in our case, it will be P4600 per room per night for a family of 6. Not bad since a 3-star hotel in Manila good for 2 people cost around that much.


In my discovery of this place, I relied heavily on the following reviews, which also contained traveler's photos. As I've mentioned in previous posts, traveler's photos more accurately show the true condition of the place. Here is the link that may help you decide to book this place: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294257-d1163069-Reviews-Hibiscus_Garden_Hotel-Puerto_Princesa_Palawan.html

What kids will like about this place

• It has wifi. 
• It has cable tv in the rooms.

What adults will like about this place

• It's near the airport. 
• It's near public transportation, like the tricycles, because it's located on the main road
• It's also near restaurants and the capitol.

Contact Information:
Hibiscus Garden Inn website 
Hibiscus Garden Inn email address 


Location:

Check out the location of Hibiscus Garden Inn in relation to the airport and to Casa Linda Inn. Hibiscus Garden Inn is in the lower right portion of the map and Casa Linda Inn is in the upper left portion of the map.

BANAUE: Best time to visit the Banaue Rice Terraces

BANAUE: Best time to Visit the Banaue Rice Terraces

Lonely Planet Philippines (shown here) concludes that the best viewing time is one to two months before harvest because it is at its greenest.

Lonely Planet Philippines

UPDATE AS OF APRIL 2014!!!

We visited the Banaue Rice Terraces both in Banaue Viewpoint and Batad in April 2014. We were informed by the locals that due to climate change, they moved planting season from February/March to April to avoid the typhoons. I am therefore updating my old post shown below:

I am also sharing with you other information I got from the locals about current practices: 

• The rice terraces in Banaue, both in Barangay Viewpoint and Barangay Batad, plant the Tinawon variety of rice. Tinawon means once a year. 
• Tinawon takes 6 months to grow. They only plant tinawon once a year.
• They tried planting other varieties but it didn't flourish so they returned to Tinawon.
• The Tinawon is not commercially available because they only produce enough for their personal consumption.
• If you wish to taste Tinawon, they will sell you their personal stock still in stalks and will pound the grains and cook it for you.
• Since they changed planting season to April, harvest time will be in October. Based on Lonely Planet's recommendation, the best time to see it all green will be in August. But August weather in the Philippines is unpredictable so it's important to take it into consideration.

When is the best time to view the Ifugao rice terraces?

With the new planting season, I am color coding  the months in the same way as the old post to indicate what you most probably will see when you arrive at the Ifugao Rice Terraces on your chosen month. You get to decide when, in your opinion, is the best viewing time for this famous site.

January to March is not the best time to view the rice terraces, not unless you want to see it in its barren look. Some people appreciate the rice terraces and enjoy them as well during this time. 

April to May is planting season. It's slightly green but not lush. However, this is summer time in the Philippines so it's a nice time to visit because the weather is fairly predictable and there is less chance of rain. 

June to July is a good time to see green rice terraces.

August to September is the best time to see the rice terraces at its greenest. 

October to November is the best time to see the rice terraces in its golden color.

December is not the best time to view the rice terraces, not unless you want to see it in its barren look. Some people appreciate the rice terraces and enjoy them as well during this time because of the cold weather. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

BELOW IS MY OLD POST FOR REFERENCE:

• Banaue plants rice only once a year. Harvest time is in August. So best viewing time is June and July.
• Batad (a few kilometers from Banaue) plants rice twice a year. Harvest time is June and December. So the best viewing time is April to May and October to November.

When is the best time to view the Ifugao rice terraces?

I have color-coded the months to indicate what you most probably will see when you arrive at the Ifugao Rice Terraces on your chosen month. You get to decide when, in your opinion, is the best viewing time for this famous site.

January to March is not the best time to view the rice terraces, not unless you want to see it in its barren look. Some people appreciate the rice terraces and enjoy them as well during this time. 

April to May is the best time to see the Batad rice terraces at its greenest.  

June to July is the best time to see the Banaue rice terraces at its greenest. 

June is harvest time at Batad so you can see it in its golden color. 

August is harvest time in Banaue. 

September is planting season in Batad. 

October to November is the best time to see the Batad rice terraces at its greenest.  

December is harvest time in Batad

To help you decide when to view the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras, photos below (not mine) will show you what to expect at any time of the year.

January

Photo courtesy of ironwulf.net

February

Photo courtesy of Sahlee Camposano

March 

Photo courtesy of Jen Salegumba

April

Photo courtesy of Marcos Chymera

May

Photo courtesy of stlrams, tripadvisor forum member

June

Photo courtesy of colatwist

July

Photo courtesy of ferdibee

August

Photo courtesy of Bobby Wong

25th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution: Schedule of Events

Schedule of Events

25th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution

February 17, 2011

Exhibit of the Inaugural 

6:00 P.M., SM The Block

This exhibit showcases the coffee table book that documents the events from President Cory Aquino’s funeral to the Aquino campaign up to the inauguration of Benigno S. Aquino III as President.

February 21, 2011

NoyNoy: Triumph of a People’s Campaign  

5:00 P.M., Powerbooks, Greenbelt 4

A book written by Ambassador Wilfrido Villacorta will be launched. The book chronicles the success of the Aquino campaign in capturing the Presidency.

Exhibit of the Revolution Revisited by Kim Komenich 

6:00 P.M., Ayala Museum

An event co-sponsored by the Ayala Museum, this exhibit features 60 photographs taken by Kim Komenich during his assignment in the Philippines at the time of the People Power Revolution. Fourteen of these photos were given the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography.

February 21 to 27, 2011

Sonny Camarillo Exhibit

Thirty iconic pictures taken by Sonny  Camarillo during the EDSA People Power Revolution will be displayed along EDSA and White Plains Avenue. The pictures tell the story of the revolution as seen through a photographer’s lens.  

February 22, 2011

Tree Planting Activity 

9:00 A.M. to 12:00 NN, Camarines Sur

The Local Government of Camarines Sur, led by Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., has organized a tree planting activity wherein 50,000 trees will be planted on governmentacquired land. In an attempt to feature the value of  Pagkakaisa, this area, now called the “Community of Hope”, serves as a home for rebel returnees and military families.

Inauguration of the AFP Museum and Blood Letting 

2:00 P.M., AFP Grounds, Camp Aguinaldo

The room where Former President Fidel V. Ramos and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s announced their withdrawal of support has been converted to a museum. This event will feature the inauguration of this historic place. A blood letting will simultaneously be conducted in the AFP grounds as well.

PEOPLE-POWERED MARKETS: Sa Bayang Umaasenso, Sama-Sama Tayo 

4:00 P.M., NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City

The Ninoy and Cory Foundation in coordination with the Makati Business Club organized this event in order to guide and educate Filipinos on how people and private companies can use the market to address social problems in the country.

Yes Pinoy Symposium – Trainer’s Training (until the 22nd) 

Venue: Kabayan Hotel, Cubao, Time: 10:00 A.M. 

Participants will be trained in facilitating the EDSA Babies Speak Symposiums so they will be able to cascade the symposium in their respective regions.

February 23, 2011

Pilipinas Got Bukas 

7:00 – 8:30 A.M., Rizal High School, Pasig

In order to engage the youth towards volunteerism, the YesPinoy Foundation organized this event that will showcase a human mosaic composed of 2,500 students. A passing of the torch by the EDSA Veterans to the EDSA Babies will also take place.

EDSA Babies Expo 

9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., SM North Sky Dome

Exhibitors will provide avenues by which EDSA Babies can join in nation building through volunteer and other socio-civic programs. Exhibitors will be composed of student organizations and NGOs.

Program and Awarding: Best Entries in Bright Ideas and Bold Initiatives for a Better Future 

3:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., SM North Sky Dome

Winning projects and entries for the Bright Ideas and Bold Initiatives for a Better Future program will be given.

EDSA Babies… Congrats Mga Sikat! 

7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., SM North Sky Dome

This is a pre-graduation treat  to high school and college achievers. Various artists will perform for the students and the winners of the Bright Ideas and Bold Initiatives for a Better Future program.

EDSA 1 Clips Film showing in schools nationwide

Documentaries and films about the revolution will be shown in various schools across the country.

40-Hour Vigil in 25 Churches 

8:00 P.M.

A 40-hour vigil will be held starting on the 23rdup to the 25th will be held in 25 churches across the country. 

Freedom Tour will begin (will run until the 25th) 

8:00 – 9:30 AM, 9:30 – 11:00 AM and 5:00 – 6:30 PM

This is a tour that will tell the story of the revolution. The tour will cover the following areas: La Salle Greenhills, the EDSA Shrine, the People Power Monument, and Club Filipino.

February 24, 2011

Eucharistic Celebration 

5:30 P.M., EDSA Shrine

A mass will be celebrated at the EDSA Shrine on the eve of the 25th Anniversary of the success of the revolution.

Freedom Tour will continue 

8:00 – 9:30 AM, 9:30 – 11:00 AM and 5:00 – 6:30 PM

This is a tour that will tell the story of the revolution. The tour will cover the following areas: La Salle Greenhills, the EDSA Shrine, the People Power Monument, and Club Filipino.

February 25, 2011

Honors and Flag Raising Ceremony 

7:30 A.M., People Power Monument

A flag raising ceremony at the People Power Monument will kick off the celebration. An Ecumenical Prayer will also be held after the ceremony.

Unveiling of the Cardinal Sin Statue and Flower Offering at the Ninoy and Cory Statues 

9:30 A.M., Rizal Park

This event is spearheaded by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.  In attendance will be residents of Manila, the religious including twenty-five bishops and Catholic school students.  After the unveiling, flowers will be offered at the Ninoy and Cory statues. 

Job Fair 

7:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M, POEA Building

The POEA  will hold a job fair featuring thirty licensed employment agencies who have committed to offer a total of 25,000 job openings.   This job fair is open to the public and thousands of job seekers are expected to come.

EDSA Strip 

7:00 A.M. to 12:00 midnight

The north bound lane of EDSA will be transformed into a festive strip where people who will attend the celebrations will be able to see the actual tanks used by soldiers during the revolution. People will also be able to register and make commitments for the country at Tatak Edsa Registration tents. Food will be available at P25 at food stalls put up by the Philippine Franchise Association.

Medical-Dental Mission

9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., Camp Aguinaldo Gate

A medical and dental mission will be held throughout the day at the Camp Aguinaldo Gate in front of EDSA.

Unveiling of Marker 

11:00 A.M., POEA Building

A historical marker will  be  unveiled in the exact location where former President Cory Aquino delivered a speech during the EDSA People Power Revolution. 

Boodle Lunch 

12:00 Noon, EDSA

There will be a boodle lunch along EDSA for 2,500 people including CEOs, LGU representatives, student leaders, and others. This activity seeks to rekindle the spirit of sharing that transpired during the EDSA People Power Revolution. 

Salubungan Program 

3:45 P.M., EDSA

This will reenact the “Salubungan” that happened 25 years ago when then General Ramos and Defense Minister  Juan Ponce Enrile joined forces against the dictator. The forces will converge at the People Power Monument.

Live Musical Variety Show 

8:00 P.M., White Plains Avenue

A live concert will be held that will showcase  various Filipino artists from the Kapuso,Kapamilya, and Kapatid networks. The variety show is divided into five (5) suites: “Simulain, People Power History 101,” “Ang Diwa, the Spirit of EDSA People Power,” “Mga Simbolo, People Power Lives On,” “Mga Bayani, the Heroes of Today,” and “People Power Ngayon, Nation Building Today.”   The PANA Ad campaign will also be launched at the concert.  A fireworks display will follow the concert.

LGU Participation

LGUs across the country will hold events that will include medical missions, tree planting, monitoring of smoke belchers, and other projects to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution. 

Freedom Tour will continue (VIP tour at 1:00 PM)

8:00 – 9:30 AM, 9:30 – 11:00 AM and 5:00 – 6:30 PM

This is a tour that will tell the story of the revolution. The tour will cover the following areas: La Salle Greenhills, the EDSA Shrine, the People Power Monument, and Club Filipino.

February 26, 2011

Unveiling of the Kalayaan Marker 

10:30 A.M., Kalayaan Hall, Malacañang

During the Marcos regime, the hall was called Maharlika Hall. When former President Cory Aquino assumed office, it was renamed Kalayaan Hall. A marker will be unveiled at the hall to commemorate this event.

People Power Awards 

11:00 A.M., Heroes Hall, Malacañang

This event is in recognition of the personalities who played significant roles during the EDSA People Power Revolution.  The awardees are: (Living) Fr. Reuter, Nap Rama and William Esposo, and (Posthumous) Don Chino Roces, Rep. Stephen Solarz, and Teodoro Benigno.  Lunch will be served and the film entitled “The World Remembers EDSA” will be shown.  Music will be provided by Mr. Ryan Cayabyab.

February 27, 2011

People Power Run

The route of the run will be from the People Power Monument to Ortigas, Greenmeadows, and C5. Simultaneous runs will be held in Bicol, Cebu, Zamboanga, Dipolog and Angeles City.

YesPinoy Foundation Relaunch 

7:00 P.M., NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

The event will be attended by members of the YesPinoy Foundation and various artists.  During the Relaunch, the EDSA Babies shall articulate their commitment to carry on the Spirit of EDSA – the spirit volunteerism.  

How to go to Batanes on a Budget

How to go to Batanes on a Budget

TRANSPORTATION

The single biggest travel expense for this destination is the transportation cost. In other destinations around the Philippines, there are other transportation options to choose from, like the ferry or a long road trip. The cheaper form of transportations is usually the more inconvenient. For Batanes, this is not the case. Even the more inconvenient means of transportation to Batanes may end up more expensive than simply riding the plane. The best way to go to Batanes is still by airplane from Manila. 

The option of riding the ferry from Cagayan or Ilocos is not very reliable. Also, the ride takes almost the whole day. So if your time to visit Batanes is limited, this is not an option for you. 

Taking a 12-hour road trip from Ilocos or a province near Batanes then taking a plane ride to Batanes is almost as expensive as taking the Southeast Asian Airlines flight from Manila. See my article on Batanes Airlines to compare the cost of taking SEAIR from Manila instead.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Book at Batanes Resort. Batanes resort remains is an inexpensive resort with all the basic amenities you need for your stay. See my article on Batanes resort.

SIGHTSEEING TOUR
If you're part of a big group, hire a van and a guide for your tour. The cost of the van and guide can be divided among the members of your group. The more members that you have in your group, the less cost per head. 

If you're a single traveler or a couple, and you know how to ride a motorcyle, you can do a motorcycle tour. If not, you can hire a tricyle for the day to help you explore the island. You can opt to hire a guide to explain things to you. But the cost of the guide is in addition to the cost of renting a motorcycle or hiring a tricycle for the day. 

You can negotiate and customize your tour to suit your budget. The tour guides are very accomodating. 

See the rates given by our tour guide to give you an idea where you can negotiate.


MEALS
If you stay at Batanes resort, the meals served there are inexpensive so you do not have to look far for meals. But for a taste of Ivatan cusine, be sure to try Pension Ivatan. See my article on Pension Ivatan.

My tips:

If you want to cut cost on your Batanes trip, focus on saving on airline cost by means of: 

1. Traveling during off-season in the Philippines.

Off-season travel in the Philippines is generally from June-December 15, January 3 -March 15, except during:

a. non-working holidays that fall on a Friday or Monday.

b. the Christmas season in the Philippiens that last from December 16-January 1.

c. The Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

d. The week and weekend of the Chinese New Year

e.  The weekend nearest Valentine's Day

2. Watch out for regular fare sales during the airlines' anniversary, the annual Philippine Travel Tour Expo in February and the Philippine Travel Mart in September.

The greatest discount I have seen so far during these sales is 50% off the regular fare. So it's really worth watching out for these sales. In our case, since I travel with kids who go to school, we usually have no choice but to travel during peak season.

Check out my article on when to catch SEAIR promo flights to Batanes.