Travel Guide: Calaguas

Once in a while there comes a breakout star in the Philippine beach scene that promises to be the next best beach destination. Calaguas was once that. It seemingly appeared from out of the blue, promising to be as beautiful as Boracay yet as peaceful and unspoilt. Calaguas remains to be both of those; still beautiful and undisturbed despite being a popular tourist attraction for the past few years.

Calaguas islands are part of Vinzons in Camarines Norte. From Manila, you can get there by land through Daet. There are several bus lines that travel from Cubao to Daet, and the bus fares range from P450 to P750, and the travel ranges from seven to eight hours. Domestic flights to Naga are also available, and from Naga, there are vans that go to Daet. From Daet, there’s another van that would take tourists to Paracale, the port town that is the gateway to Calaguas. From Paracale, it’s only a matter of looking for a motorboat for rent to take you to Calaguas.

The island itself does not have hotels or resorts to accommodate tourists. Many visitors bring tents which they can pitch on the beach for a fee. For those looking for a more solid place to stay in, there are some rooms and restaurants available in Paracale. There are also no restaurants and eating establishments in the island, so tourists are advised to bring their own food. There is, however, a store in the island, but only provides the basic necessities.

The light sand and jewel toned waters pretty much maps out the things that you can do in Calaguas. The scene is perfect for lounging in the beach, going for a swim, and just getting lost in the moment. The clear waters are also perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving; just remember to take the proper equipment with you.

Aside from enjoying the waters of Calaguas, exploring the shores is also a fun activity to do. From the Mahabang Buhangin, which is where most tourists camp, one can walk from north to south of the island in under half a day. The beaches differ from each other, from the rocky beaches in the north, to the white sandy beaches in Mahabang Buhangin, and the pebbly but clear beach in the south. There are also high points within Calaguas, where the rest of the island and the Pacific are visible.

Boats can also be rented for an island hopping tour around Calaguas. Tinaga Island, Cumalasag, Pinagtakpan, Pinagcastillohan, Balagbag Maliit, Balagbag Malaki, Bendita, and Mantigbi Beach are a few of the islands that you can explore around the area.

Back in Paracale, there are old churches such as the church of St. Peter the Apostle Parish and the St. John the Baptist Parish for those looking for some religious and cultural experience. Pulang Daga beach also gives tourists a place to swim.

From Calaguas, Labo in Camarines Norte also provides attractions with its falls. You can choose among Saltahan, Burok-Busok, Malatap, and Palanas falls, or just simply visit them all. A cave tour in Cadig Cave in Labo is also an option for cave explorers.

All in all, Calaguas is between being mainstream and being off the beaten track when it comes to tourist attractions in the Philippines and is perfect for those who want to experience the best of both worlds.

Air Asia Philippines' Delectable Hot Meals

Remember the days when airline food has such a bad reputation that it has almost become the standard for terrible cuisine? Thank goodness times are a changing, and airline food has upped their ante. Case in point: Air Asia’s new array of in flight food. Air Asia offers an assortment of meals to suit any picky eater’s taste. Plus, the meals are Asian inspired, so diners will always feel at home even at above 35,000 feet in the sky.

For domestic flights, Air Asia offers sandwiches, perfect for satisfying cravings during short trips. Passengers can choose between Chicken Caesar and Kani sandwiches (P130 each), which they can pair with noodles or chips. 

For longer flights from the Philippines, Air Asia offers rice meals in three varieties: 

Uncle Chin’s Chicken Rice, a roasted chicken meal seasoned with Uncle Chin’s special secret chilli, ginger, and garlic sauce. This is one of my favorites. I always order this whenever I get the chance. 

Beef Caldereta, a beef stew from the Philippines made with tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, bell peppers, onions, and peppercorns 

Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak, made with coconut rice, Pak Nasser’s special chilli sambal and juicy chicken rendang, with fried anchovies, crunchy peanuts, and half a hard-boiled egg on the side. The crunchy peanuts and fried anchovies added texture to the dish and the sambal sauce perfectly complements with the chicken. Highly recommended for travelers who loves Asian food.

The meals above are worth P200, but passengers can get a 20% discount if they pre-order the meals 24 hours before the flight. 

For flights to China and Korea, Air Asia offers passengers with the following delicacies, worth P230 each: 

Korean Beef Steak, tender beef cooked in perfectly complementing sweet sauce 

Honey Glazed Soy Chicken, made with chicken breast doused with sweet-and sourness of the honey lemon sauce. 

What meal is complete without dessert? Air Asia has got that covered as well with its unapologetic roster of sweet treats: Choco Banana Pound Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and the best-selling Sinful Chocolate Cake. The cookies are really good. You'll feeel the chocolate chips mels in your mouth as you start chewing the cookies. The chocolate cake on the other hand is definitely sinfully delicious. I loved it a lot.

Now aren’t you happy that you won’t be stuck with “yucky” airline food the next time that you fly? Just fly Air Asia, and you’ll never regret ordering that in flight meal!

I am beginning to imagine that maybe memories are like this dessert. I devour it, and it becomes a part of me like forever. #AirAsiaHotMeals #EatFlyBlog #travel @airasiaph

A photo posted by Travel & Food | Glen Santillan (@escapemanila) on Apr 27, 2015 at 3:10am PDT

Valor: A tour of the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial

In celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan, the Ortigas Foundation gave a tour of the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial in BGC. Designed by American Architect Gardner A. Dailey, the cemetery and memorial spans 152 acres and features a chapel, two hemicycles, display tablets, and a courtyard.

The bright sunny weather highly contrast the grim stories we were told. One of the most heartbreaking ones is the story of the Sullivan Brothers who were honored and remembered on one of the tablets of the missing. All five Sullivan Brothers perished in action on the light cruiser USS Juneau that was sunk in June 1942. This tragedy led to the Sole Survivor Policy in the American Military.

I have always thought the memorial was off-limits to Non-Americans but how wrong was I. The cemetery and memorial is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to visit and pay respect to the fallen heroes of World War II.

OPEN HOURS: 9 am to 5pm; daily except December 25 and January 1

*The Manila American Cemetery & Memorial is included in the list of MovingMemorials around the world by Architectural Digest. 

**Payment for the tour was a donation of books to the Ortigas Foundation.

President Barack Obama visited Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines on April 29, 2014.
photo from the Americans Battle Monuments Commission website

tablets of the missing features 36,285 names.

a star mark soldiers given a medal of honor while rosettes confirm who have been recovered and identified.  

this tour has drawn quite a crowd that i needed to be divided into smaller groups. 

In the center of the cemetry is this intricately carved limestone-clad chapel. 

one of the twenty-five mosaic maps depicting american military moves in asia and the pacific.

a fraction of the eleven plots surrounding the memorial.

not every hero was a christian. here lies a jew who died in world war ii. 

a nameless headstone for an unknown hero.