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Anilao uncovered: A ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ itinerary
"Biyahe ni Drew" airs every Friday, 8:00 PM, on GMA News TV. For more information, follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For updates on your favorite documentaries, follow also the official Facebook page of GMA Public Affairs.
Why do local and foreign Biyaheros keep coming back to Anilao, Batangas? The answer is simple: It is one of the best dive sites in the world.
Because of its proximity to Metro Manila, some people tend to dismiss Batangas as just another province with a considerable amount of resorts. In this itinerary, Drew Arellano will show you that there is more to Batangas than swimming pools, kapeng barako and the Taal Volcano. Sama na sa biyahe ni Drew sa Anilao, Batangas!
How to get there
Anilao, Batangas is just a few hours away from Manila. To get there, you can either ride a bus from Cubao or from Pasay. Once you are at the Diversion Road, get off the bus and hail a jeepney going to Mabini-Anilao. Ask the driver to drop you off the tricycle terminal where you can hire trikes that will take you to the resort of your choice.
What to do
Scuba diving
Did you know that Anilao, Batangas is believed to be the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines? In fact, Biyaheros have been going to Anilao to learn scuba diving since the 1960s. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a professional. When you're in this place, seeing the rich marine life is a must.
One of the most important dive spots in Anilao is the Cathedral Rock, the place where Dr. Tim Sevilla first proved that it is possible to grow corals in barren waters. Cathedral Rock is also where you can find a cross blessed by none other than Pope John Paul II.
What truly makes Cathedral Rock a favorite scuba diving destination is the actual marine life in the area. The fish in this site are so friendly, you can take even selfies with them.
Other than Cathedral Rock, you can also go to the Koala and Binukbok dive spots, where you can see small but colorful fish, shrimps and crabs. If you're lucky, you can see dolphins too!
Island hopping
Aside from diving resorts, Mabini, Batangas is also home to a number of islands perfect for people who want to spend their vacation outdoors. The best choice is Sumbrero, a small island covered in powdery white sand. With an entrance fee of P50, you can already go here for picnics. It is also close to diving spots.
Then there is Isla Markaban, more popularly known as Isla Puting Buhok. "Kasi ang pagkakilala nila sa akin dito laging sa buhok ko, kaya tinawag nilang Isla Puting Buhok," explains the white-haired Tatay Oscar, who has been in the island for 12 years.
The entrance fee to Isla Puting Buhok costs P250 per person. You can either have picnics in the cottages or stay overnight by bringing your own food and pitching your own tents.
Windsurfing
Fee starts at P2,500 (six hours inclusive of instructor and windsurfing board)
Summer is a great excuse to learn something new. For Drew's Anilao trip, he studied how to windsurf for the first time. Windsurfing lessons for beginners last for six hours but you do not need to spend that long to learn the basics. Just make sure you know how to swim and remember all the things your instructor tells you.
Drew was able to successfully windsurf in less than an hour. "Dati kasi I was kind of intimidated with this sport but anyway, this one is worth a try. Look at me! Sinong mag-aakalang kanina lang ako tinuruan?"
Hiking
Take a break from the water and go up a mountain. Mount Gulugod Baboy is just a 40 to 50 minute ride from Anilao, making it a popular hiking place for Biyaheros who are in the area. Once you are at the peak, you will have a bird's-eye view of Mabini, Batangas.
"Natutuwa ako kapag malapit na malapit 'yung dagat tapos puwede tayong umakyat ng bundok [na] ganito kataas," Drew says. "Akalain mo meron palang ganyan sa Anilao."
"Be-a-hero," be a Scubasurero
The people of Mabini, Batangas came up with ways to make sure that their tourist attractions would be well-maintained.
Enter the Scubasureros, divers who volunteer to make the ocean a cleaner and better place. Tourists are also invited to bring their own plastic bags when they dive so that they themselves could pick the trash they see underwater.
Not a diver? You can still help! The simple act of disposing your trash properly already means a lot.
Where to eat and stay
Pier Uno
Anilao, Batangas
Rates start at P2,700
Traveling with the whole family? Try Pier Uno. This resort offers big air-conditioned rooms that are fully equipped with cable TVs and hot and cold showers. They also have swimming pools, jacuzzis, karaoke and Wi-Fi that you can use for free. You don't have to worry about food either. Buffet meals are automatically included in this hotel's overnight package.
Anilao Discovery
Anilao, Batangas
Rates start at P5,300
Want to stay in a resort that is right in front of the sea? Anilao Discovery is the right place for you. The suites in this resort provide tourists with a great view of the sunrise and the sunset. Each room has a lanai too. Drew says, "Actually, sobra siyang comfortable. Very modern, very clean!"
Anilao Backpackers
Anilao, Batangas
Rates start at P500
Anilao is a place booming with resorts and budget hotels. If your main purpose is to scuba dive, it is best to choose a simple hotel where you can spend the night.
Anilao Backpackers has all kinds of rooms for budget Biyaheros. The most popular option among foreign divers are the beds in the terrace, which you can rent for less than P1,000 per night.
Bontoc in Batangas Bed and Breakfast
Mabini, Batangas
Rates start at P3,000
As its name implies, Bontoc in Batangas Bed and Breakfast (BBBB) is an Ifugao-inspired hotel in Batangas. Everything in BBBB has a native feel. The dining and leisure areas are decorated with wooden Pinoy trinkets and their buffet menu consists mostly of Filipino dishes. The best part: Room accommodations automatically come with four buffet meals.
There are so many reasons why Biyaheros keep coming back to Anilao. However, more than world class dive sites and tourist-friendly accommodations, the joint effort of the local community and the volunteer Scubasureros is truly the reason why this place remains a Biyahero favorite.
Without these heroes, Anilao will never be as clean and beautiful as it is. Don't forget to do your share. Bumiyahe at "be-a-hero!"
Why do local and foreign Biyaheros keep coming back to Anilao, Batangas? The answer is simple: It is one of the best dive sites in the world.
Because of its proximity to Metro Manila, some people tend to dismiss Batangas as just another province with a considerable amount of resorts. In this itinerary, Drew Arellano will show you that there is more to Batangas than swimming pools, kapeng barako and the Taal Volcano. Sama na sa biyahe ni Drew sa Anilao, Batangas!
How to get there
Anilao, Batangas is just a few hours away from Manila. To get there, you can either ride a bus from Cubao or from Pasay. Once you are at the Diversion Road, get off the bus and hail a jeepney going to Mabini-Anilao. Ask the driver to drop you off the tricycle terminal where you can hire trikes that will take you to the resort of your choice.
What to do
Scuba diving
Did you know that Anilao, Batangas is believed to be the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines? In fact, Biyaheros have been going to Anilao to learn scuba diving since the 1960s. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a professional. When you're in this place, seeing the rich marine life is a must.
One of the most important dive spots in Anilao is the Cathedral Rock, the place where Dr. Tim Sevilla first proved that it is possible to grow corals in barren waters. Cathedral Rock is also where you can find a cross blessed by none other than Pope John Paul II.
What truly makes Cathedral Rock a favorite scuba diving destination is the actual marine life in the area. The fish in this site are so friendly, you can take even selfies with them.
Other than Cathedral Rock, you can also go to the Koala and Binukbok dive spots, where you can see small but colorful fish, shrimps and crabs. If you're lucky, you can see dolphins too!
Island hopping
Aside from diving resorts, Mabini, Batangas is also home to a number of islands perfect for people who want to spend their vacation outdoors. The best choice is Sumbrero, a small island covered in powdery white sand. With an entrance fee of P50, you can already go here for picnics. It is also close to diving spots.
Then there is Isla Markaban, more popularly known as Isla Puting Buhok. "Kasi ang pagkakilala nila sa akin dito laging sa buhok ko, kaya tinawag nilang Isla Puting Buhok," explains the white-haired Tatay Oscar, who has been in the island for 12 years.
The entrance fee to Isla Puting Buhok costs P250 per person. You can either have picnics in the cottages or stay overnight by bringing your own food and pitching your own tents.
Windsurfing
Fee starts at P2,500 (six hours inclusive of instructor and windsurfing board)
Summer is a great excuse to learn something new. For Drew's Anilao trip, he studied how to windsurf for the first time. Windsurfing lessons for beginners last for six hours but you do not need to spend that long to learn the basics. Just make sure you know how to swim and remember all the things your instructor tells you.
Drew was able to successfully windsurf in less than an hour. "Dati kasi I was kind of intimidated with this sport but anyway, this one is worth a try. Look at me! Sinong mag-aakalang kanina lang ako tinuruan?"
Hiking
Take a break from the water and go up a mountain. Mount Gulugod Baboy is just a 40 to 50 minute ride from Anilao, making it a popular hiking place for Biyaheros who are in the area. Once you are at the peak, you will have a bird's-eye view of Mabini, Batangas.
"Natutuwa ako kapag malapit na malapit 'yung dagat tapos puwede tayong umakyat ng bundok [na] ganito kataas," Drew says. "Akalain mo meron palang ganyan sa Anilao."
"Be-a-hero," be a Scubasurero
The people of Mabini, Batangas came up with ways to make sure that their tourist attractions would be well-maintained.
Enter the Scubasureros, divers who volunteer to make the ocean a cleaner and better place. Tourists are also invited to bring their own plastic bags when they dive so that they themselves could pick the trash they see underwater.
Not a diver? You can still help! The simple act of disposing your trash properly already means a lot.
Where to eat and stay
Pier Uno
Anilao, Batangas
Rates start at P2,700
Traveling with the whole family? Try Pier Uno. This resort offers big air-conditioned rooms that are fully equipped with cable TVs and hot and cold showers. They also have swimming pools, jacuzzis, karaoke and Wi-Fi that you can use for free. You don't have to worry about food either. Buffet meals are automatically included in this hotel's overnight package.
Anilao Discovery
Anilao, Batangas
Rates start at P5,300
Want to stay in a resort that is right in front of the sea? Anilao Discovery is the right place for you. The suites in this resort provide tourists with a great view of the sunrise and the sunset. Each room has a lanai too. Drew says, "Actually, sobra siyang comfortable. Very modern, very clean!"
Anilao Backpackers
Anilao, Batangas
Rates start at P500
Anilao is a place booming with resorts and budget hotels. If your main purpose is to scuba dive, it is best to choose a simple hotel where you can spend the night.
Anilao Backpackers has all kinds of rooms for budget Biyaheros. The most popular option among foreign divers are the beds in the terrace, which you can rent for less than P1,000 per night.
Bontoc in Batangas Bed and Breakfast
Mabini, Batangas
Rates start at P3,000
As its name implies, Bontoc in Batangas Bed and Breakfast (BBBB) is an Ifugao-inspired hotel in Batangas. Everything in BBBB has a native feel. The dining and leisure areas are decorated with wooden Pinoy trinkets and their buffet menu consists mostly of Filipino dishes. The best part: Room accommodations automatically come with four buffet meals.
There are so many reasons why Biyaheros keep coming back to Anilao. However, more than world class dive sites and tourist-friendly accommodations, the joint effort of the local community and the volunteer Scubasureros is truly the reason why this place remains a Biyahero favorite.
Without these heroes, Anilao will never be as clean and beautiful as it is. Don't forget to do your share. Bumiyahe at "be-a-hero!"
