Real Texture: 2011

After observing the Good Friday procession in Paete, Laguna, we decided to had our overnight stay in Binangonan, Rizal instead of finding one in Liliw or Nagcarlan as it is on the way to Metro Manila. It was never our plan to visit & try Villa De Castro as previously, it's seems isolated to me if we look at the google map or wikimapia. So prior to the decision, I sent an SMS to John De Castro if the rooms in their resort were fully occupied & luckily there are still some rooms available and offered us a discount we can't resist. And on top of that, he told me that we can extend our stay until the following midnight if we arrived late that Friday night. After squeezing our way out of Paete & Pakil, we arrived at Villa De Castro at around 10:30PM.

To make the story short, the place is somewhat attractive once your inside. Here's our takes for the place.

To be continued & edited...

Magallanes is one of the 15 towns of Sorsogon province and a 4th class municipality. It is located at the southernmost tip of the island of Luzon which is about 48 kilometres from the Sorsogon City, the provincial capital, passing through two towns and a meandering road that snakes around Mounts Juban and Bintacan.

It's never an easy road to reach the place. Unlike other towns of Sorsogon, Magallanes is relatively isolated. "but definitely, going there is a great adventure," said Pinoy Traveler, a blogger who featured the town in one of his articles.

The rest of the journey is just lush tropical rainforest dotted by villages, schools and community churches.

Magallanes is a fishing town, popular for fresh and dried fish.

This is the place where I grew up, so please join me while I rekindle my childhood memories as I revisit some of the places of my little hometown,
....... MAGALLANES

The sun still shines in Magallanes.

To experience full view of sunrise, we need to wake up by 4am and forget the usual breakfast of Sinangag & Kusido (the favorite local version of Sinigang sa kalamansi) as we need to cross a sea to Bagatao Island and has to climb its highest peak.

To reach Bagatao's peak, one must conquer this steep stairway to heaven...

I mean, to Our Lady of Sta. Lourdes Grotto

this place is known to locals for its miracles.

Bagatao Island is also a haven for photogs.

Based on our interview with the locals, the bottom of this boat was made from layers of styrofoam while the outboard engine was converted from a press drill.

Some of our finds while exploring the shores of Bagatao

black pearl

nueve

While on our way to the other side of the island, we met these kids

Midway, we passed this wooden bridge connecting Pansud and Brgy. Behia. The beams were supported by the trunks of mangrove. People used to hike a mountain trail when this was not built then.

A little bit farther, we stopped on this historical site, the REAL ASTILLERO DE BAGATAO.

It is reputed to be the biggest Spanish shipyard in the whole Bicol Region where some of the biggest and most magnificent galleons during the Manila-Acapulco trade were constructed.