San Jose, Mindoro

[Frozen Toes]

I think decided na ko pumunta dito. Gusto ko ng Apo Reef! Medyo kinakabahan lang ako sa sharks. I've seen one too many when-sharks-attack movies. Hehe. Alexandrea and Sleepy_Me, kung di kayo natuloy, tara sama ko!

[shegothim]

ang mura ng rt fare ng mla-san jose wala pang 1k ang total nung nagmock booking ako. sayang mas mahal ng ilang daan iyong nabili ko.

[melodymedley]

I booked a Cebupac flight waaaaay back in June bound to San Jose Mindoro on February 17-21, 2010 (Thursday-Monday). By any wild chance, baka somebody else here booked the same. Lets go! 

I am thinking of booking a Feb 11-14 flight dahil seatsale naman sa Airphilexpress ngayon and para makasama sa TF. Yun nga lang, I have no idea kung may signal.  Anyone?

[rocky]

ang mura ng rt fare ng mla-san jose wala pang 1k ang total nung nagmock booking ako. sayang mas mahal ng ilang daan iyong nabili ko.

kaya nga di na ako nagtitingin para di ma-disappoint. sinabihan mo si glenn na magpabook na?

[nutz_17]

I think decided na ko pumunta dito. Gusto ko ng Apo Reef! Medyo kinakabahan lang ako sa sharks. I've seen one too many when-sharks-attack movies. Hehe. Alexandrea and Sleepy_Me, kung di kayo natuloy, tara sama ko!

hello mga sis. napansin ko lang yung talks nyo about apo reef. allow me to enlighten you. apo reef is actually in the municipality of sablayan which is 2 hours away pa from san jose by land. from sablayan, byahe kayo to apo reef ng about 3 hours naman by boat. both municipalities have a lot to offer. san jose has the agbiliwa and if you want to get very nice and mura mangyan inspired souvenirs, you can look for kuya nonong of ligad crafts. sa sablayan naman, they have a museum, a very educational place without being boring.

apo reef is a different experience altogether. it will literally take your breath away. from the sand, to the lagoon to the lighthouse. di ko naranasan mag dive dun but snorkelling was more than enough to make me happy. super bongga ang kulay ng mga fish! there was one time na may nakasabay pa kami na butanding on the boat ride. mas malaki pa sa bangka namin! also, i did experience na habang nag snorkel, dinaanan ako ng baby pating! as in! pero not to worry. apo reef has no history of shark attack kasi mga baby lang ang napapadaan sa areas na pwede kayo mag snorekl. yung malalaki kasi mababahura/sasadsad sa reefs. hehe! tsaka, busog daw lagi ang mga pating dun dahil breeding ground ng mga isda kaya no shark attacks.

if you guys are wondering why i know so much about apo reef... i was part of the task force marlen, the one in charge of looking after apo reef. so feel free to contact me if you have any queries. for free yan ha. hehe! the place is beautiful kasi and i hope more people get to enjoy it. actually, anyone here who has questions about Mindoro, ask nyo lang ako. i know the whole place. mula sa mga barangay nya hanggang sa mga bayan, mga resto, mga hotel. i enjoyed my almost 4 years of stay exploring mindoro...

[rocky]

^thanks for sharing those info sis

[nutz_17]

di kayo magsisi sa pagpunta nyo dun sis. ang ganda talaga. i-timing nyo na makapag overnyt kayo para ma experience nyo ang sunrise, very beautiful talaga. ask na lang kayo sa mga tropa ng army na andun kung may queries kayo. kahit sa mga bantay dagat, though i'm sure alam naman na ng guide nyo kung ano ang mga bawal dun.

[shegothim]

thanks nutz sa tips. naeexcite na ako sa apo reef trip namin.

[nutz_17]

you're all welcome mga sis. forgot to tell you earlier, wala nga pala signal dun. hehe! tsaka brings lots of water and wet wipes kasi yung poso dun maalat pa rin ang tubig na lumalabas. nasira kasi yung desalinator.

[yang]

mas makakatipid ba dito than going elsewhere for good beach?

[nutz_17]

di ko masasagot ng diretso tanong mo sis. ganito na lang...

transpo
mla-san jose (plane) - less than 1, 000 to 6, 000 (depende sa makuha mong tiket)

san jose - sablayan (aircon bus) 160

sablayan to apo reef (pakyaw) more than 1, 000 ( i can ask the exact amount sa torusim office ng sablayan)

mla - sablayan (aircon bus) 700 plus (cubao, sampaloc, alabang ang bus terminal ng dimplestar - the only aircon bus line papunta dun, wag kayo mag ordinary)

average hotel prices in san jose

sikatuna beach hotel, sikatuna town hotel, jasmine hotel - 800 standard with rooms with higher room rates

white house and villa paulina - high end hotels ranging from 1, 500 to 4, 000 per day

sablayan hotels

la sofia - 900
dami pa hotels dun. nakalimutan ko lang names. if you need any help on your itinerary or accomodation just ask so i can find it out for you.

mura ang tuna at lapu lapu dun pati bigas. hehe!

restaurants to check out
san jose - sikatuna beach restaurant, circle, villa paulina
sablayan - thirdy's grill

the only good bar - biboy's

[cristal28]

^ hi sis nutz. i hope you can help me. planning our 8th year anniversary so dapat something special and i think your the best person to ask. how much kaya ang total expenses for 2 and san ang nice place to stay. overnight lang sana. okay ba yun or dapat at least 2 days kami? hope you can help me. thanks

[nutz_17]

if you plan on going to occidental mindoro, i recommend pandan grande island instead of apo reef kasi walang facilities dun sa apo pero sa pandan grande, ok. sa sablayan pa rin sya. you can stay at a villa na around more than 1k lang. they have their own restaurant dun and you can try their dinner na 400 something, kumpleto na yun. isa pa, bagay mag anniversary or honeymoon dito kasi pag pumunta kayo dun, feeling nyo kayo lang ang tao sa mundo. as in makakapagrelax kayo at makakapagbonding. may signal din dun kaya pwede pa rin kayo maontak in case of emergency. please feel free to contact jane 09183169709. just tell her lt. obina from the army gave you the number. you can also click the link below so you get a glimpse. you must try the glass bottomed boat kahit pandan or apo reef kayo pumunta. yung transpo expenses is as listed below. by the way, sayang ang pagod nyo sa byahe kung overnight. kahit you stay ng 2 nights.

http://www.sablayan.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=35

[yang]

so there is a bus going to sablayan. ilan oras naman ito?

[nutz_17]

yep. dimplestar and occidental mindoro transport cooperative. 1-2 hours mla to batangas port, bats to abra de ilog roro boat ride is 2.5 hours and abra de ilog to sablayan is 3 hours pero sa boat ka lang aalis sa bus. yung fare na 700 is inclusive na sa roro. di kasama mga stop over. mas maganda yung magbyahe kayo sa gabi para wala traffic at para di ka abutin ng inis sa tagal ng antay sa stop over. sablayan to pandan is 15 minutes.

[yang]

^thanks sis. but i checked cepu pac and zest air offering 799 and 899 fares. =)

[cristal28]

sis nutz yun bang link that you provided mapupuntahan din namin yung mt iglit? eh yung hanging bridge and yung falls pwede din ba siya if we stayed for 2 days? how much kaya budget to explore the said places? nakakita ako sa zest air pero ang aga ng uwi pati sa cebu pac syang yung last day namin if ever.

[rocky]

^sis, ganon din kahit sa airphil maaga pauwi namin. no choice kasi isa lang naman flight don.

[cristal28]

dapat pala talaga 2 full days para mag enjoy kasi yung pang 3rd mo talaga pauwi na lang yun. hmmm dapat mag plan pala ng leave sa office. 

[nutz_17]

if you want to go to pandan and mt iglit and other spots, kulang ang 2 days. if you're gonna take the plane, mas maganda pakyaw kayo ng sasakyan from san jose so you can drop by the falls and hanging bridge tapos alis kayo ng at least 2 hours before you travel to sablayan para makatawid kayo ng pandan for the evening. overnight kayo dun and see the sunset. sunsets in occidental mindoro are spectacular indeed! then alis kayo after lunch, maybe drop by sa sablayan museum then travel to san jose. spend the rest of the night in san jose but don't forget to drop by sa shop ni kuya nonong for beautiful souvenirs. as in bibilib ka sa quality and presyo.

pls remember mahaba ang byahe sa occidental mindoro kasi rough road pa. kaya nga i advise na wag kayo sumakay sa hindi aircon na bus at di every hour may available. not to burst your bubble pero one of the drawbacks of occidental mindoro is the rough road and transportation kaya i advise against you guys going to different places all in one go if you only have 3 days and 2 nights. 

cebu pac, airphil at zest air lang meron at lahat tag isang flight lang talaga. kaya mas maganda na magplane kayo para shortened na lang ang travel nyo. now that you know na rough road ang high way dun, you might want to just stay in san jose and spend your day in one of the resorts sa ilin or ambulong island. i can ask someone to check the rates for you. sayang, ngayon ko lang nadiscover tong GT. i would have played hostess to all of you and invite you all noon pa.