Laag ni LoyLoy: Visayas

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PILOT TEST FOR LABELS

Don’t know where to start your travel this year? Want to explore but in uncrowded place?

and want to relax and refresh out from heavy workloads?

Then, Manjuyod White Sandbar is a perfect place for you! Located at Bais City, Negros Island, this beautiful and for me a majestic piece of attraction is one of a kind experience.

The tempting turquoise green seawater makes you swim and enjoy the place while walking the infinite view of sandbar from afar. Philippines has a lot to offer with in terms of beautiful beaches and this one is an example.

This amazing elevated huts sit in the middle of the sea caught my attention in going there, as some netizens and locals says the “Maldives of the Philippines”.

Fortunately, it never fails my expectation when we arrived the white sandbar, even though our trip to Manjuyod Sandbar was moved due bad weather and some of our friends are stranded in the port in Cebu.

As a travelers tip # 1: if you’re traveling with a group, much better to book early to hasten your trip, you can directly contact the Bais City Tourism for the arrangement of your trip, they have government boat provided as well as they can assist you to book from private boat operators, I will leave the contact information of the Tourism officer (She’s very friendly and accommodating).

But if you want to try the Do -It-Yourself travel going there, it’s up to you since it is still manageable, there are outrigger boats in the wharf that you can negotiate the price for you to save more money.

Boat rental is ranging from 3,000.00 to 5,000.00 depending on the capacity of the boat good for a whole day use and sometimes a dolphin watching comes in your tour. In our case, we rented the good for 10/pax capacity boat, but unfortunately we didn’t watch the dolphin due to strong waves coming from Tañon Strait. So, we headed directly to the sandbar rather than to watch the dolphins.

By the way a travelers tip # 2, you can also ask the tourism officer or the boat operator to prepare for a lunch, roughly about 200.00 per person or you can buy at their Mercado (Supermarket) before going to the sandbar, just in case if you don’t have prepare a food since no stores in the sandbar.

We arrived in Bais city around 7:00 in the morning from Dumaguete City about an hour of travel.The boat operator welcomes us in Bais City and give some short orientation and later on we go to the Capiñahan wharf where our boat is waiting for us. Our boatman said travel time would roughly 15 to 20 minutes and about 30 to 45 minutes when there is bad weather or strong waves. From the wharf you can visibly see the elevated huts but it’s very small. As we come closer and closer we can’t hide our excitement (mura mig mga gagmay’ng bata nga lipay kayo, nga kanang first time makakita og sandbar).

When we completely dock at the sandbar, we are very amazed how the sandbar looks, we’re anticipating only a small portion of sandbar, but when we arrived an hectare of sandbar welcomes us, how amazing is that?

Without further a thou, I’ve set my camera and start taking photos (Instagram na this! para biya sa future, unsaon nalang. LOL!).

Travelers tip # 3, when you want to see the infinite view of the hectare creamy white sand it must be at around 8:00 a.m. to 09:30 a.m. or you can also check your calendar high tide or low tide indicator for best sandbar experience.

After a series of taking pictures, do some photoshoot daw? Haha, for Instagram purposes. Haha, LOL, I leave my camera for a moment and take a walk around the sandbar, just to mesmerize the scenic view of the place and to create a wonderful feeling of achievement between me and the place.

As time passes by, we witness the hectare of creamy white sand gradually covers by water and in less than an hour the sandbar is now fully submerged in water.

In that short period of time, we rush to manage taking pictures just to capture the very last sandbar that we see. How majestic it is as the sandbar vanishes and turns into water.

When the water gets higher and higher, we stayed in the boat and look how the nature works, and it’s incredible! After taking our lunch, around 1:30 pm we give our final thanks and depart to the place.

A piece of reminder, be a responsible tourist or traveler, LEAVE NO TRACE in the place. by simply bring your garbage back to the mainland for proper disposal or you can ask your boatman if they have available plastic bags.

How to Get there:

Getting in Manjuyod Sandbar is not hard to navigate. From Dumaguete City, it took about an hour by bus to get to Bais City and the fare is roughly about 50.00-70.00 pesos. Tell the bus driver or conductor to drop-off you at Bais Tourism office which is along on the road in front of Mercado de Bais. From there take a tricycle going to the Capiñahan wharf fare around 10.00-15.00 pesos. But if your bringing your own car just headed directly to the wharf, but if you want to take a tour at the Bais City and buy some food is much better for best adventure experience.

Contact Information:

Bais City Tourism office: (035) 402-8338

Rosemae Salig- Tourism officer: 0975-041-4040

Email: baistourism@gmail.com

A highly recommend going to the sandbar since they can meet you/your group at any convenient time and place in Bais City also they can guide you going to the wharf.

(Note: Booking must be a week before your scheduled trip)

Sample Budget for Day tour only:

PARTICULARS	RATES
Boat Rental	3,000.00
Food and Water	2,500.00
Other expenses	500.00
Total	6,000.00
(Note: sample budget is based on 10 persons.)	6,000/10pax = 600.00/pax

If you’re staying overnight on the elevated huts just contact the Bais Tourism for proper booking accommodation and give you some orientation in the place as well the rates of each huts.

Don’t forget to share this to your family and friends! And leave a comment below and tell us your Manjuyod Sandbar experience.

Thanks for reading!

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It was out of my mind to go to Roxas City since I was not prepared and I haven’t done some research what are the attractions in the place, but then, it was an abrupt decision during that day and I’ve decided to have a day tour only. Later that day I’ve packed my bag and of course I’ve fully charged my phone and power bank (mag piktyur-piktyur biya, unsaon nalang ang mga followers ani). Early in Sunday morning, together with my girlfriend (also love traveling and my travel buddy) we’ve headed directly to Ceres Terminal to catch the early trip so that we could roam more around the city since the travel time would be approximately 3-4 hours. the weather on that day is sunny but manageable (basta laag gani wa najud nay pakialamay) as we travel from Iloilo City to Roxas City. During the travel time I manage to research on what are we going to do and what are the attractions and after long-long hours of seating in the bus, we finally arrived at Roxas City.

CAPIZ PROVINCIAL CAPITOL

Our first stop in the city is the Capiz Provincial Capitol. It is situated one of the busiest road in the city and its accessible by jeeps or tricycle, about approximately 3 kilometers away from the terminal. As per brief history, Capiz became the second Spanish settlement after Cebu when Captain Diego de Artienda, sent by Legaspi Landed in the town of Pan-ay and proclaimed it the Capital of the province. The Capital was then moved to the present location of Roxas City (courtesy of www.capiz.gov.ph).

We only manage to take photos in front of the Capitol even though there are jeeps, vehicle, and tricycles that passes by, and by the way the capitol is fronting the famous fountain in the Roxas City which is the marker of kilometer 0, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Statue, the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, the Roxas City Hall, the old Spanish Bridge and the Pres. Manuel A. Roxas Monument.

Tips: if you want to know more about the capitol, visit at working days for you to roam around inside the capitol unlike us we visited on Sunday.

IMMACULATE CONCEPCION CATHEDRAL

Next stop is the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral. Considered as one of the oldest churches in Panay Island. The current structure was built on 1800’s, the architectural style of the church is quite the same in the other churches in Panay island that I’ve been visited.

it has a wide door and a tall belfry on its side. Inside the cathedral is a very beautiful big altar in the center and the statue of Mama Mary. On the other side of the altar you can see different statues place in a small altar. The ceiling is painted with white along with black outlines that makes it more beautiful when you look above.

Before we go to our next stop, me and my girlfriend Johanna silently give thanks and make a prayer. The cathedral is walking distance to the Capiz Provincial Capitol and beside the Roxas City hall, no need for you to be worry when you visit the Cathedral.

ROXAS CITY FOUNTAIN ROTONDA

Just step outside the Cathedral is the Roxas City Fountain Rotonda. The fountain is the starting point in the Capiz province or known as kilometer 0. Built in 1925 but destroyed by shrapnel’s during World War II and later restored after the war in 1946. According to the locals, what we see is not the original fountain back in the days. It was change the entire design later on year 2007. The original design was there are four male statues in knee and weigh carrying position. The fountain is very memorable in the city since it witnesses how the city of Roxas became now and back in the days as well as the history of the City.

PRESIDENT MANUEL A. ROXAS MONUMENT

Have you been wondered who is the fifth president of the Philippines? Well, Roxas City is the hometown of the Late President Manuel Acuña Roxas.

The monument is adjacent to the Roxas Cathedral and beside the Roxas City Hall. Although I don’t know what kind of president he is (aside from the history books) because I’m not born during that day but I’m pretty sure that he is a great president that throughout this year’s we’re living the things that he did. We manage to take photos though it’s so hot. Along the monument is a little plaza on the side where you can sit and relax while watching the passers-by.

PANUBLI-ON MUSEUM

Just few walks away from the Late President Manuel A. Roxas monument is the Panubli-on Museum. “Panubli-on” a Hiligaynon term meaning guardian of precious things is the official name of Roxas City Museum. The whitewashed museum building, once a circular water tank is a good example of intelligent architectural reuse. (excerpt from http://angpanublionmuseum.weebly.com/).

During our visit we are not able to go inside because of the renovation so we just roam around and take some photos.

BAYBAY BEACH

Trivia: Did you know that the seafood capital of the Philippines is in Roxas City. Yes, you read it right. If you’re a seafood lover, then your very much welcome in this City. The seafood center is quite away from the city proper.

Just take a tricycle and go to Baybay Beach. The Baybay Beach also is a gathering or bonding place. You can bring some mat and do picnics with your families and friends. The windy and the cool breeze of the sea makes it more comfortable to stay. There is also a small island that you can see (I wonder what island it is). We’re just stay for a while and take some photos.

CULASI LIGHTHOUSE

Heading to our last stop is the Culasi Lighthouse. It is accessible by jeep or tricycle but we opted to take the tricycle. The lighthouse is very adjacent to the Culasi Port. There are two ways to go to the Lighthouse, its either you go inside to the port and ask the guard where the Lighthouse is (If the guard permits you to get inside to the port) or you can take the walkway in the left side of the port (you can ask the locals their friendly). Actually we have no idea that there is some kind of trekking way up there.

So we’re not ready for it and It takes about 30 minutes to get up there. Leading to the lighthouse is not hard but I recommend to visit during sunny days, it will be slippery during rainy days. One of the things that I liked is the station of the cross leading to the top, that is a plus point to the visitors.

And finally we are on the top. The lighthouse is tall and nice coated with white paint. The lighthouse is clean and well-maintained. That was a fulfilling feeling when you’re at the top where you can see the blue colored sea water and the cool breeze of air. As usual, we take some photos, jump shoots and videos just for fun. According to the Local Government of Roxas City, their planning to beautify the Lighthouse as they see a potential for tourist attraction.

Just a reminder be a responsible tourist, please don’t leave any trash in the area. We rest for about 30 minutes before we go back to the city proper. We take the jeep back to the terminal and catch the bus back to Iloilo City.

Here are some of the attractions in Roxas City which we visit:

CAPIZ PROVINCIAL CAPITOL
ROXAS CITY HALL
IMMACULATE CONCEPCION CATHEDRAL-ROXAS
PRES. MANUEL A. ROXAS MONUMENT
OLD SPANISH CITY BRIDGE
ANG PANUBLI-ON: MUSEUM
ROXAS FOUNTAIN ROTONDA
BAYBAY BEACH
CULASI LIGHTHOUSE

How to get to Roxas City

From Manila you can book a flight to Roxas Airport or Iloilo International Airport.
(fare and schedule may differ, please check the
Cebu Pacific Air or Philippine Airlines website).

From Iloilo City, go to Ceres Terminal at Tagbak and take Roxas City bus fare approximately 150.00 pesos.

After you reach the Roxas City you can take jeep or tricycle. We take the tricycle and arranged for about 150.00 pesos.

Quick Itinerary

TIME	DESTINATION
09:00 am	ETA to Roxas City
09:20 am – 11:00 am	Visit Capiz Provincial Capitol, Roxas Cathedral, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas Monument, Panubli-on Museum, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument, Old Spanish Bridge, and Roxas City Fountain Rotonda.
11:30 am	Lunch
12:00 nn	ETA to Baybay Beach
01:30 pm	Roam around the Baybay beach and piktyur-piktyur
02:00 pm	ETA to Culasi Port
02:30 pm	Start trek to the Lighthouse
03:00 pm	Arrive at the Culasi Lighthouse
04:00 pm	Trek back to the Culasi Port
04:30 pm	Arrived at Roxas City Terminal
08:00 pm	ETA to Iloilo City