Oriental Mindoro: Things to do in Puerto Galera

Just a few hours from Metro Manila, Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro is a favorite for weekend travelers looking for a beach close enough to the city; but one that offers many options to fit your ideal beach destination. Be it a party, food adventure, a cultural encounter, an underwater paradise or a deserted stretch of white sand, Puerto Galera has something to offer. Here are some things you could see and do in Puerto Galera:

1. Experience some of the most diverse coral reefs in the world
It seems that most foreigners visit Puerto Galera to dive. Sabang Beach is teeming with dive resorts. The beach itself is nothing really. But many stay in Sabang Beach because it is the jump-off point for the wonderful dive areas of the coast of Mindoro. Remember that the waters in between Batangas and Mindoro are said to be the center of the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world! You won't be disappointed when you choose Puerto Galera as your dive destination, definitely a diver's paradise!

2. Visit the many beaches
White Beach is of course the most popular. There are many places to stay, a lot of food options, and an active nightlife. So if you are looking for the party, then White Beach is the place. But since almost everyone is there, peace and quiet might be difficult to find. But don't fret, with over forty kilometers of coastline, Puerto Galera has other beach options.

We stayed at Aninuan Beach, a few minutes away from White Beach. But among the top five beaches are Bulabod, Aplayang Munti, Bayanan, Haligi Beach on Boquete Island, and Long Beach on San Antonio Island. Beach hopping tours are available at Minolo Port.

3. Meet the local Mangyan community
We got to visit the Talipanan Mangyan Village near Aninuan. They have a very active basket weaving venture and you can buy good quality baskets and other products, or have some made to order to your specifications. There is another Mangyan village further up the mountains in Baclayan where you can also arrange a cultural immersion.

4. Visit its many waterfalls
Tamaraw Falls is of course the most popular, being the most accessible. But if you're a fan of waterfalls, you can visit Tukuran, Aninuan and Talipanan Falls as well.

5. Drive up to the Ponderosa Golf Club
If you're a golfer, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. But non-golfers will definitely enjoy the view of Puerto Galera Bay. And yes, they are constructing a zipline there as we speak.

6. Attend the music festivals
Mark your calendars for the Malasimbo Arts and Music Festival which happens early in the year. It's a chance to celebrate music, arts and nature in an outdoor natural amphitheater at the foot of Mount Malasimbo. Every Black Saturday, you can catch the Summer Music Festival to enjoy a night of reggae.

7. Go on a food adventure in Sabang Beach
Because of the many international tourists it caters to, Sabang Beach is host to many really great restaurants serving international cuisine. I definitely enjoyed dinner at Toko's in Atlantis Dive Resort. Aside from their really diverse menu, they have daily specials and serve really good pizza!

How to get to Puerto Galera
Please check out this detailed post on how to get to Puerto Galera (White Beach, Sabang and Muelle). It includes options for getting to Batangas Port and to Puerto Galera.

Oriental Mindoro: How to get to Puerto Galera (White Beach, Sabang & Muelle)

Manila Channel at the entrance of Puerto Galera Bay

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, most known for White Beach and Sabang Beach, is quite close to Metro Manila. It has 42-kilometers of uneven coastline which will most definitely satisfy your preferences, be it a party beach or laid back quiet getaway.

There are several ways to reach Puerto Galera. By car, take the SLEX and STAR Tollway all the way to Batangas Port (about 2 hours). You can leave your vehicle in the open air parking facility (they call it Park and Ride which is the term the guards are familiar with), or you can take your vehicle to Mindoro via the RORO to Calapan City (although Calapan is still an hour away from Puerto Galera, about 51 kilometers). The Park and Ride costs Php155 for overnight parking and Php6 per hour in excess of 24 hours.

Yachts anchored in Puerto Galera Bay

Alternately, public buses go all the way to Batangas Port. So make sure to ask the bus if it's going all the way to Batangas Port before boarding. Outrigger boats for Puerto Galera (sorry, no airconditioned fast crafts servicing Puerto Galera) leave from Batangas Port Terminal 3.

View of White Beach in Puerto Galera

Note that there are various Puerto Galera destinations which include White Beach, Sabang and Muelle (which is the main port in the poblacion of Puerto Galera). There are also trips to Aninuan and Talipanan. So make sure you know where your resort is. I spent Php220 for a ticket to Muelle, Php30 for the terminal fee (which you pay for when you purchase your ticket), and Php50 for the environmental fee paid in another counter in the ticketing area. The boat trip takes between 1 to 2 hours.

Minolo Shippine Lines (MSL)
Boats leave Batangas Pier every 15 to 30 minutes from 6 a.m. (5 a.m. during Peak Season) to 5 p.m. Tickets to Muelle cost Php220, while tickets to White Beach cost Php275 one-way and Php500 round-trip. MSL leaves Muelle between 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and White Beach between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. (4 p.m. on holidays)
Tel. Nos. (043) 2873614 (MSL Office); (0917) 8392608, (0916) 6054887 for Batangas; (0915) 2044348 and (043) 2873608 for Muelle; (0916) 2074747, (0915) 4945323 for White Beach

Father and Son Lines (FSL)
Boats leave Batangas Pier every 15 to 30 minutes from 5 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. FSL has trips to Sabang, Muelle and White Beach. Ticket cost is Php230 for Sabang and Muelle; Php270 one-way and Php500 round-trip for White Beach. MSL leaves White Beach daily between 8 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. (7 a.m. on Monday, Sunday and Holidays; 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. during Sundays and holidays)
Tel. Nos. (0917) 3610772 or (0943) 3236992

Galerian Lines
Boats depart Batangas Pier between 5:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. White Beach fare is Php275 one-way and Php500 round-trip; Aninuan and Talipanan fare is Php325.
Tel. Nos. (0915) 3128647; (0916) 4427936; (0916) 2056110; (0922) 7676903; (0905) 3839079; (0916) 4446605

There are also passenger and RORO services to Calapan for those who want to bring their vehicles to Mindoro. Trips are also more frequent and are available 24/7. Remember that the trip to Calapan takes about 2 hours plus another hour by land from Calapan to Puerto Galera. Here are your options:

Montenegro Lines
Passenger and RORO ships from depart from Batangas Pier to Calapan and v.v. every two hours for 24 hours at even-numbered times. RORO fare is Php1536 for light vehicles, Php240 per person for regular fare, but they are currently on promo fare at Php192 per person. They have WiFi on board.
Tel. Nos. (043) 7238294 or (043) 7236980

Super Shuttle
Passenger and RORO ships depart Batangas Pier for Calapan at 5:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. and depart Calapan for Batangas at 1:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. RORO fare is Php1440 for light vehicles and Php192 per person.
Tel .No. (043) 7221655

Starlight Ferries
Passenger ships depart Batangas Pier for Calapan every two hours for 24 hours at odd-numbered times. Regular fare is Php180.
Tel. No. (043) 7239965

Note: Fares and schedules are accurate on the date of posting. Best to call the phone numbers above for confifmation of schedules and fares.

More from Puerto Galera soon! I'm here to judge for the De Galera Festival. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @ivanhenares.

Holy Week practices in the Philippines

Aside from being one of the most solemn religious events in the Philippines, Holy Week or Mahal na Araw is a colorful display of Philippine culture and religious fervor. Here are some cultural practices you should not miss:

Palm Sunday
Today is Palm Sunday so we won't be able to witness these events again until next year. There were unique palm processions in Sta. Isabel in Malolos, Obando and Baliwag in Bulacan; as well as in Gasan, Marinduque. In Sta. Isabel, an image of the Humenta or Christ on a donkey joins the palm procession as women spread their tapis or traditional aprons as the priest walks by. In Gasan, the priest himself rides a real pony on the way to church.

Holy Wednesday
Many procession are held on this day. Check out the folk Baroque images in the Laguna towns of Pakil, Majayjay and Paete. In Paete, it is said that the images for the Catholic Wednesday and Aglipayan Thursday processions move and speak in archaic Tagalog. In Pampanga, some of the best heirloom carrozas are brought out in Betis, Sasmuan and San Fernando. Also check out the processions in Baliwag, Malolos, Barasoain (Malolos), San Pablo and Molo (Iloilo City).

Maundy Thursday
In churches around the country, the Mass of the Last Supper will be celebrated in the evening. After this Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is enshrined in an Altar of Repose or monumento, and churches remain open for the visita iglesia. But some people do the visita iglesia while the sun is out though in order to see the lavish colonial churches in daylight. I have an old post on visita iglesia suggestions at Visita iglesia routes for Holy Thursday. But I'll have another entry on churches to visit soon.

Around the country, the chanting of the pabasa continues. In San Fernando and Guagua, there are colorful puni or pabasa stations with a fiesta atmosphere. Also check out the cordero or Lamb of God rituals in Betis, Guagua, Pampanga and Morong, Rizal. A lamb sculpture made out of mashed potatoes or kamote (sweet potatoes) is the center of this practice.

Good Friday
There is so much to see on this day. There are public self-flagellations in many towns around the country. In San Fernando, Pampanga; Pulilan and Hagonoy, Bulacan; and Navotas, they use wooden slats attached to ropes to whip their backs. In Hermosa, Bataan; Sasmuan, Pampanga; and Pakil, Laguna, flagellants use chains. In Kalayaan, Laguna penitents wear fronds and flowers. While in Infanta, Quezon, penitents wear hoods embellished with flowers to invoke fertility.

In Magalang, Pampanga and other parts of Pampanga, penitents crawl on the ground or carry crosses made out of banana trunks. In San Pedro Cutud in San Fernando, about a dozen penitents are nailed to wooden crosses after a traditional play called the Via Crusis. Check out the entry Good Friday in San Fernando, Pampanga to get detailed information on Good Friday practices in San Fernando.

The moriones, with men dressed as Roman soldiers, are held in General Luna, Quezon; Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro; and Boac and Gasan, Marinduque. The one in General Luna is said to be the oldest moriones event in the country. There is also amulet hunting and testing as well with shaman assemblies held such as those in Calabanga, Camarines Sur where hooded shamans pray at the Holy Bier at 5 a.m. In Pakil, Laguna, check out the Turumba procession of the Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba.

In the towns of Sta. Rita and Sasmuan in Pampanga; as well as Tayabas, Quezon and Boljoon, Cebu, the sermons on the Seven Last Words of Christ are followed by the Tinieblas, a theatrical ritual marking the death of Christ with the banging shut of the church doors, the wailing of women and the hammering of church roofs to symbolize thunder. The body of Christ is brought down from the cross by two men dressed as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. In Boljoon and Sta. Rita, they are assisted by people dressed as the Marys and St. John who all deposit the image on the lap of a woman designated to be Mother Mary. She wails loudly for several minutes. In Sasmuan, the town orchestra plays the Stabat Mater as a choir sings. This is followed by a public veneration of the image Christ's body or the Sto. Entierro.

Some of the most lavish processions of the Sto. Entierro are held in Lingayen, Pangasinan; San Fernando, and Guagua, Pampanga; Malolos and Baliwag, Bulacan; Binan and San Pablo, Laguna; and Argao and Carcar, Cebu. In Carcar and Sorsogon, Sorsogon, the Soledad procession is held late at night.