40/81 Masbate

My 40th of the 81 PH Provinces 🇵🇭

My supposed first solo 💃 travel attempt turned out to be double 👯‍♀️ (ehem Arfem). Glad to have a companion in the end. If it was just me, imagine me low key panicking after finding out that my Cebupac terminal was in 4 while looking stupid in line outside the terminal 3 departure gate 30 min before the boarding time (Basa basa din kase ng itinerary/boarding pass..tsk tsk tsk). Then trying to get a taxi but driver wanted to milk money. Then plane returning back to Manila bec it couldnt land in Masbate due to thunderstorm.. And then being stuck in the airport for 5 hours, waiting for another flight! How fun would that be if it was just me! Haha! 🤪

Travel Dates: January 16-19, 2020

🛫 January 16, 2020. Departure: 1PM, arrival: 2:45PM via Cebu Pacific, Terminal 4.
🛬 January 19, 2020. Departure: 7:05am, Arrival: 8:50Am via Cebu Pacific, Masbate Airport

DAY 1:

😲 Originally, our scheduled departure and arrival from Manila to Masbate is at 5AM and 6:50AM respectively. Our plane was able to leave on time, unfortunately couldn't land in Masbate because of bad weather condition at the time. The planed turned around back to Manila. This is my first time experiencing this though I heard similar stories before. Back in the airport, as soon as we landed, a text message came in to inform the next flight detail or an option refund/rebook. We opted to push onto the next flight because helloooo our vacation leaves and also, we just want to get done with this...  We were assisted right away, brought to our designated counter, given free lunch which is a piece of fried chicken, rice and water, and a copy of our boarding pass. I was able to change my return flight to Manila, which was originally on a Saturday to now Sunday, same time. 🤨 Being stuck in the airport terminal is no joke. In total, we waited for 5 hours.

This caused problem in our entire itinerary, mainly in our pre-booked accommodation in which we made online. prior to our trip, through Agoda

Originally, we were supposed to arrive early (6AM) in Masbate. Masbate has 3 major islands -- Masbate, Ticao and Burias. Our plan is to visit Masbate City and Ticao Island:

Day 1: 

❎Explore Masbate City in the morning

❎Go to Ticao Island Resort in Ticao Island

Day 2:

❎ Check in at Greenview Hotel and Restobar

❎ Explore Buntod Sandbar and Marine Sancturary

Day 3:

❎ Check out for an early flight back to Manila.

Upon arriving back in Manila, we decided to switch our  Day 1 and Day 2 because the ferry that goes to Ticao Island's last departure from Masbate is at 3PM, which is almost the same time our arrival time in Masbate. With this, we have no allowance to travel from the airport to the ferry. 

I called immediately these 2 accommodations, explaining to them our situation and requested to move our check in date. It's a good thing that both Greenview and Ticao Island Resort were kind enough to accommodate our request.

Finally, with arrival in the afternoon, our plan went like this:

Day 1: 

✅ Check in at Greenview Hotel and Restobar

✅ Explore Buntod Sandbar and Marine Sancturary

Day 2:

✅Go to Ticao Island Resort in Ticao Island

Day 3:

✅ Back in Masbate City 

✅ Check in at Ross Ho(I was able to move my flight from Saturday to Sunday giving me 3rd night)

✅ Explore Masbate City in the afternoon

Day 4:

✅ Check out for an early flight back to Manila.

After our accommodation and itinerary was settled, we just waited for our next flight which was scheduled to leave at around 1:00PM, with arrival in Masbate at around 2:45PM. 

Finally! Arrived in Masbate Airport

The airport is really small. Too small that checked in bags are just manually brought by the staff inside the arrival area and then hand it to the owners. Once you are out of the airport building, it'll take just few steps to the gate. And in the gate are tricycles. 

We just walked to Greenview Hotel and Resort. It was pretty near. 

Greenview Hotel and Restobar

Reception

Second floor area. Free water. 

Our room!

twin beds

🏨Greenview Hotel and Resort. 1,600 pesos a night good for 2 persons, air conditioned room, LCD cable TV. We got twin beds, with comfortable pillow and blanket. I like that there is a water dispenser with hot and cold water on our floor. What I do not like though is that the water heater is not working and water from the shower is weak that we asked for a pail. Also, we had to ask for toiletries like soap and shampoo, which should have been available automatic. Our stay comes with a free breakfast but we were served with what was only available - hotdog, egg, rice and coffee.

THAT AFTERNOON....................

After checking in Greenview Hotel, we immediately prepared to go to Buntod. At 4PM, we hailed a tricycle going to Rendezvouz hotel. It is nice that this hotel is just near the Greenview. We paid 10 pesos each to the tricycle driver. This hotel is one of the drop off to Buntod, but unlike the other drop off, there is a 10 pesos entrance fee here.

🛥 A boat is required to get to the Buntod reef, which will take roughly 15-20 min ride. Boat rental is 500 pesos good for 5 pesons. This will be collected by a boatman after bringing you back to where they picked you, plus a 20 pesos entrance fee to Buntod.

🔶 Sandbar. There is a main floating hut where you can lounge or prepare your food. Tables and chairs are available. There are tons of activities that can be done but for us, we just enjoyed taking photos along the bar. The sand is clear, which makes it perfect for swimming. You can also explore the mangroves at the other side. Once it gets a little dark, we all left.

DINNER AT SUTUKIL

inside Sutukil Restaurant. Airconditioned room. 

Sugba Fish. Tuwa (tinola) Fish. Kilawin Fish.

 Sutukil. Short for Sugba, tula and kilawin. Sugba means grilled, tula means stew and kilawin means fresh fish soaked in vinegar. We hailed a tricycle, told the driver Sutukil. Once there, paid 10 pesos.This airconditioned resto is open til 9PM. The Sutukil is 600 pesos which is a serving of grilled fish, fish stew with long beans and fish kilawin with cucumber! We enjoyed them all so much!

DAY 2

🏝 Getting to Ticao Island Resort

🔹We took a ferry from Masbate City port/pier. We told the driver to drop us off at the pier en route to Lagundi port. Tricycle fare from Greenview Hotel & Restobar is 10 pesos. At the port, there is terminal fee of 30 pesos and then ferry fare is 100 pesos. Travel duration is 45 minutes. Ferry leaves every 2 hours from 5AM to 3PM.

Masbate Pier/Port 

Pay an environmental fee here: 30 Pesos

Clean Waiting area. Airconditioned. There's a charger area.

Angel Heart Ship 

Inside the Ferry

nearing Lagundi Port

Lagundi Port

 🔹Lagundi port has clear water that fishes can be seen. It is very small too. We took an airconditioned van going to San Jacinto pier. Fare is 100 pesos, travel time 35minutes. This is better, we think, because we'd be sitting in a comfortable airconditioned van halfway to the resort. We asked the van driver to drop us off to where we can get a habal habal that could bring us to the resort. At the San Jacinto ferry, he called one of the habal habal drivers looking for passengers, was offered 200 pesos per person per habal habal. Travel time from San Jacinto pier to the resort, 15 minutes with a nice view of the of hills, coconut and corn farms.

TICAO ISLAND RESORT

🏨This place is perfect for chillin'. We booked the Deluxe Fan Room for 2,200 pesos thru Agoda. This is good for 2, without breakfast. We stayed in one of the Cabanas which has its own hammock, 2 beds, 2 pillows on each bed, hot shower, toiletries. The room is spacious too! The food is pricey and that is because of its big serving. They cater to mostly foreigners who come here to dive. The staff are super friendly too! Free kayak, free horse back riding and borrowing of books and game boards like chess, jenga, sungka etc. Coffee is available until it lasts. The only downside here is its weak cellular and data signal which is so annoying to those who couldn't live without it, but an advantage to those who likes to disconnect themselves from the busy outside world. Their beach has trash along the shoreline, which is not ideal for swimming. It only makes sense that their kayak 🛶 service is free to make up for their unswimmable beach. To be honest, I am a bit disappointed. Amenities wise I was expecting more.

🔹🔹The

THE FOLLOWING DAY........

🔹From the resort back to Lagundi port, we got the service from the same drivers because its cheaper compared to the one offered by the resort - 500 versus 700. Drivers picked us up at 9AM and then arrived in Lagundi port a little over 10AM. We paid 120 pesos for a ferry ride back to Masbate City, which was scheduled to leave at 11AM. Last trip from this island is 2PM. There are aren't interesting to do in this resort that we are interested about anyway. Like I said, this place is perfect for chilling, doing nothing but stare at the sea and its horizon. It could have been nice if our goal going here is just that, but we gotta keep on moving, there are other things to see. 

🔹Habal habal contact person: Japo Almencion Yalotrab. 09097866863.

BACK IN THE CITY...............

🛵 Tricycle is the main transportation around the city. Fare is 10 pesos. And it is just easy to get one. Simply hail and tell the drive where to. The driver will decline if your destination is off their way.

🏨 Ross Hotel.  Once back in the city, we immediately searched for an accommodation. We found Ross hotel that is located right at the center of the city, near the church, Provincial capitol, rodeo ranch, fast foods, etc. I was just a walk in guest and prior to Ross Hotel, we scouted different budget hotels and inns like GV Hotel, Anthony hotel and Novo hotel, but the room are either too small, dirty, old. Ross Hotel is fairly clean, with hot shower although the space where you stand is so narrow, I wonder how can a thicker body can fit in here. Bed and pillows are comfortable enough, thin blanket, small cable TV, soap and shampoo and tissue (no toothbrush). No breakfast. Couple room for only 1,000 pesos per night.

This is my first time to be alone in a room in a different city. It feels lonely, to be honest. And I felt scared that somebody might just knock or something. But I got through the night, good thing I was too damn tired that I slept immediately. Woke up at 4:30AM the following to prepare for our early flight back to Manila.

AROUND THE CITY...........

I am glad to tick this off fro my list. Did I enjoy it? Yes, for sure but not so over the top. I had the best time eating fresh fish Sutukil. 👍❤️🌟🌠. Buntod reef and Ticao Island resort were interesting, although I have seen better ones. I think if we have come here on their festival -- Rodeo festival, that would be the ultimate experience.  After all Masbate IS the Rodeo Capital of the Philippines.