Puerto Galera

Puerto Galera is the northwestern most municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is located at the southwestern end of the Isla Verde Passage, about 130 kilometers (81 miles) south of Manila.

Puerto Galera is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and diving spots. Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and White Beach, which have an active nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants. Both beaches also have an array of first-class and economy-class accommodations.

Puerto Galera is only three and a half hours away from Manila.

Tourism

This coastal town is well known among tourists for its numerous pocket beaches and many snorkeling and Scuba diving spots. The area was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973 and has some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia. The marine environment has benefited in recent years from the influx of tourist dollars. This has seen a huge reduction in the number of fishermen in the area, as they gain higher revenue from tourists.

Puerto Galera is a listed by the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World, and is the only bay in the Philippines to be listed there.

Among the famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang Beach and White Beach, which have an active nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants. Both beaches also have an array of first-class and economy-class accommodations.

Sabang beach is the main destination for foreign tourists, while White Beach remains popular with local travelers.Big La Laguna Beach and Small La Laguna Beach are considered part of Sabang with resorts lining the beaches. Big La Laguna Beach is popular for local swimmers and snorkelers. Since 2001 White beach has seen uncontrolled development. New restaurants and places to stay are rapidly encroaching on the beach itself and little remains of the once charming beach. Puerto Galera town is a pleasant but sleepy Philippine town with few attractions. It has a large central catholic church and a Pier area, with a selection of bistros and cafes.

Behind the beaches are the huge and generally unexplored mountain ranges of central Mindoro. A particular local attraction is the nine hole golf course perched on the hillside above White Beach which commands spectacular views over Puerto Galera's natural harbor and the Verde Island Passage. Mangyan tribes are scattered over the mountain sides - some of the more remote tribes have virtually no contact with the outside world. Of the eight tribes on Mindoro, the Iraya are the largest. They are based in the Puerto Galera area.

Puerto Galera is among the top diving destination in the Philippines. Excellent diving is found less than 5 minutes from Sabang Beach. The diving generally focuses around the areas either side of Escarceo Point, which is famous for its current rips. Strong currents are a feature of the diving in Puerto Galera and it is good advice to employ the services of an experienced local guide or dive centre. There are more than thirty dive sites all within a 5-10 minute banca ride from Sabang Beach. Marine life is highly diverse. 180+ species of nudibranchs are found in the area and many species of fish can be seen. A variety of wrecks have been sunk over the years in addition to the one wreck of an engine of a WWII Japanese patrol boat.

Puerto Galera is also one of the main technical diving destinations in Asia. Technical Diving International - [TDI] has many dive centers in the area, offering the full range of TDI courses from Basic nitrox to advanced trimix.

Barangays:

• Aninuan
• Balatero
• Dulangan
• Palangan
• Sabang
• San Antonio
• San Isidro
• Santo Niño
• Sinandigan
• Tabinay
• Villaflor
• Poblacion
• Baclayan

Environment

In the summer of 1998 there was some extensive coral bleaching around Medio Island and a large section of shallow reef ('Coral Gardens') was virtually destroyed. Recent evidence has shown it has almost recovered with a larger diversity of coral species, replacing the prolific table corals.

In 2006 two super-typhoons damaged the shallow areas around Escarceo Point. Many of the faster growing coral species were destroyed to a depth of 6m. This represented about 5% of the coral reef in the area. Since mid-2008 there are extensive signs of new coral recruitment. Acropora species (staghorn and table coral) are rapidly recolonating the area, with 10~20 cm growths. Within a few years most of the damaged coral will have been replaced.

During the period 2001~2005, large numbers of Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTs) migrated to Puerto Galera from adjacent areas. While most of the reef was unaffected, a few sites showed COTs density in the thousands/per hectare. A program run by the local dive shop association removed tens of thousands of COTs. Whether this had any real impact on the long term health of the coral reef remains to be seen. Control was made by injecting the COTs with a solution of swimming pool PH-control chemicals.

By 2008 the density of COTs had greatly reduced, down to a 'normal' range of 30 per hectare. This seems to have been a natural reduction, rather than due to any collection program.

A study by the University of the Philippines in the 1980s, found that the Batangas, Puerto Galera area has one of the highest diversity of marine species in the world. It forms the centre of the golden triangle - The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia - renowned for their coral and fish species.

Getting There

Puerto Galera is only three and a half hours away from Manila.

Instructions:

• Go to Gil Puyat, LRT Station. Light Railway Transit is such a popular mode of transportation, you can ask anybody how to get to LRT. Buy a ticket for Gil Puyat Station. Ticket costs Php 15.00.

• Just below the station is a bus terminal. Take a bus with Batangas Pier sign-board. Tell the conductor/driver to drop you off the pier. (2 Hour Trip)

• At the pier, look for a ticket booth. Buy tickets for the motor boat going to the beaches. The famous beaches in Puerto Galera are Sabang - the main destination for foreign tourists and White Beach - famous among the locals.

• At the booth, you will be informed of the boat's name you'll be in (sometimes a number) , the arrival time of your boat, and the date and time the boat will come and bring you back to Batangas Pier. You can also choose the schedule yourself.

• Wait in the sitting area as the names or number of the boat is being announced. Once the boat arrives, you will be assisted in getting on it. Expect a one and a half hour boat ride.

Things You'll Need:

• Money
• Sunblock
• Swimwear
• Camera

PUERTO GALERA HOTELS & RESORTS / PUERTO GALERA HOSTELS

Tagaytay City

The City of Tagaytay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tagaytay) is a second class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. Only 55 km (34 mi) away from Manila via Aguinaldo Highway, it is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tagaytay City provides a good view of the Taal Volcano. The city is a popular summer tourist destination because of its cool climate due to its high altitude.

Geography

Tagaytay City lies on top of the Tagaytay Ridge, which, at 640 m (2,100 ft) above sea level, is the highest point in Cavite. The ridge provides a spectacular view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano in Batangas. This view supports Tagaytay's main industry, which is tourism.

Location:

Tagaytay City is located in the Province of Cavite, on the island of Luzon, approximately 55 km (34 mi) south of Manila. It lies within 120° 56' longitude and 14° 6' latitude and overlooks Manila Bay on the North, Taal volcano and Taal lake on the south and Laguna Bay on the east.

The City is linked by the national highway to the Metropolitan Manila Area and to the Province of Batangas. It a weak type that boboniks is also connected by the roads to the adjoining municipalities of Amadeo, Mendez, Indang, Silang and Alfonso in Cavite towards the northwest, to the cities of Calamba and Santa Rosa in Laguna in the northeast and to the town of Talisay in Batangas in the south.

Land Area:

Tagaytay City has a total land area of 66.1 km² (26 sq mi) which represent about 5.14% of the total area of the Province of Cavite. There are 34 barangays, 6 of which are urban and the rests are classified as rural.

Topography

Tagaytay City is characterized by mixed topography, the southern and eastern portions are covered by hills and mountains which is generally forests and open grasslands. These are the ridge with slope ranging from 10.0 to over 25 percent. On the other hand the portions adjoining the municipalities of Mendez, Indang, Amadeo and Silang are level to nearly level areas interspersed with very gently sloping surface. The built-up areas including the urban center is situated in these relatively level portions of the city.

Tourism

Aerial view Taal Lake. Travel from Tagaytay City to the lake is via a short road (~4km) passing through Talisay, Batangas.

The city of Tagaytay is a tourist attraction for local and foreign visitors. It is a vantage point of Taal Lake and Volcano. Tagaytay also offers a view of Taal Lake - a lake within an island within a lake.

Tagaytay is an hour and 15 minute drive from Manila via the South Luzon Expressway, or may be reached via the Coastal Road Expressway and the Aguinaldo Highway. If going through the South Luzon Expressway, take the Carmona Exit and drive down through the Governor's Drive and turn to Maguyam, Silang up to the entrance of Tagaytay City. Or through South Luzon Expressway, take Sta. Rosa exit going straight to Tagaytay City. There are two possible ways to get to Tagaytay via the Coastal Road: Taking the Coastal Road to the Aguinaldo Highway and continuing south, and using the Indang and Mendez Roads in the Trece Martires City and Amadeo areas. If coming from the neighboring town of Ternate, Cavite take the Naic Road and drive straight to Indang and Trece Martires City. From Batangas, the best way to reach Tagaytay is through the new circumferential road. From Laguna, you may enter Tagaytay through the Carmona exit. There are buses that ply to Tagaytay from Manila on a daily basis. Several bus companies have their terminals in Cubao, EDSA, Pasay City, and at Baclaran, below LRT, Manila.

Climate

Temperature and Precipitation

Tagaytay City's climate is characterized by relatively low temperature, low humidity and abundant rainfall. The City is endowed with a cool and invigorating climate with an average temperature of 22.7 °C. Situated approximately 600 meters above sea level, the city is misty and is relatively cooler during the months of December, January and February. Like most areas in the Province of Cavite, the city has two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. The climate has made the city ideal for sports, picnics, conferences, honeymoons, country homes, and spiritual retreats.

Humidity

Tagaytay has an average humidity of 78% which makes the city cooler than Metro Manila where relatively humidity exceeds 81%. Northeasterly winds prevail in the City from October to April. Winds come from southwest from May to September. The cool Tagaytay breeze has made the city ideal for leisurely kite flying and competitions.

History

Legend has it that the word Tagaytay came from "taga" meaning to cut and "itay" which means father. A father and son were said to be on a wild boar hunt when the animal they were chasing turned and attacked them. As the boar charged towards the old man, the son cried "taga itay!". The boy's repeated shout reverberated in the alleys of the ridge. Heard by the residents, hunters and wood gatherers, the cries became subject of conversation for several days in the countryside. In time, the place where the shouts came from became known as TAGAYTAY.

During the Philippine revolution of 1896, the ridges and forests of Tagaytay became the sanctuary for revolutionaries including those from nearby provinces. The passage to and from towns via Tagaytay added the word "mananagaytay" to the native's vocabulary. It means "to traverse ridges."

On February 3, 1945, the 11th Airborne Division of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger's 8th Army performed a combat jump of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment and associated elements on the ridge, with a drop zone around the Manila Hotel Annex, which had been cleared of Japanese forces by Filipino soldiers of the 4th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th and 46th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and recognized guerillas. To commemorate this event, a marker was installed in 1951 at the junction of Silang, Canlubang-Nasugbu roads by the city officials in coordination with the Philippine Historical Institute.

Education

At present, there are seven (7) high school in the city, four (4) of which are private and three (3) are public. 16 Public Elementary Schools; 12 Private Elementary Schools; located at different barangays. Out of the 34 barangays, 31 have their own day care center with playgrounds. Some barangays have also established their own Community Learning Center. There are three (3) colleges in the city –City College of Tagaytay (CCT), Olivarez College and STI College. CCT and Olivarez College are open to all enrollees for tertiary education while SVD offers post graduate studies to the seminarians aspiring for priesthood and brotherhood.
For the out-of-school youth residents who have given the opportunity to formal education, the City Government in coordination with the Department of Education provides an alternative pathway by which out of school youth could earn/obtain educational qualification comparable to the formal education through the Alternative Learning System (ALS). The ALS coordinators conduct Continuing Education Program (CEP); massive information campaign and Literacy Classes in Elementary and Secondary School Leavers; Basic Computer Literacy Program and Livelihood Programs . The service provider also reviews and prepares the examinees for the Accreditation and Equivalence Test. Five (5) Elementary A&E Test Passers were promoted to Secondary Level while 15 Secondary A&E Test Passers were promoted to college. At present, the City has one (1) Mobile Teacher and two (2) ALS Coordinators.
The City’s participation rate for elementary school is 97.39% and 92.37% for secondary school, respectively. Cohort Survival Rate is 88.71% for elementary and 94.8% for secondary. 

Places of Interest

Tagaytay Picnic Grove

Tagaytay's playground is the popular Picnic Grove. It features huts line along the gentle slopes of the Tagaytay Ridge. It is a prime location, providing the finest view of the volcano far below. It is located in Barangay Sungay East.

People's Park In The Sky

An artful blending of natural and man-made attractions, poised on the highest point of Tagaytay City. It stands on a 4,516 sq, meters solid ground and overlooks four bodies of water – Taal Lake, Balayan Bay, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. It is located at Dapdap West and Dapdap East, approximately 6 to 7 km away from Silang Crossing. Tragically (and wastefully), however, in the past 12 years, this prize destination has deteriorated into a dirty, smelly, and ugly kind of place. The construction of a building of a weather station violates Proclamation no. 740 (s-1996) which states to preserve the ecological balance within one-kilometer-radius area around the People's Park in the Sky.

Tagaytay Highlands

Tagaytay Highlands is a recreational and residential complex.

Divine Word Seminary

Divine Word Seminary, one of biggest schools of theology in the Philippines in terms of population and land area, is also one of the oldest religious institutions in the city. It is run by Divine Word Missionaries also known as SVD.

41st Division USAFFE Marker

Tagaytay played a significant role in Philippine history. During World War II, Filipino soldiers and military officers found refuge on its vast forests and ridges. It was used as landing site and sanctuary for the Filipino USAFFE soldiers and paratroopers on their way to liberate Manila on February 3 to March 3, 1945. The 41st USAFFE marker is a one place where you will know more about Tagaytay’s rich political history. It is located beside the Metro Tagaytay College of Business and Arts, Kaybagal South, Tagaytay City.

11th Airborne Division Marker

On February 3, 1945, the 11th Airbourne Division of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger’s 8th Army airdropped military supplies and personnel together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops on the Tagaytay Ridge amidst enemy groundfire. Their mission: to secure Tagaytay City and guarantee the easy flow of troops and supplies to Manila, an action later proved as significant to the Manila Liberation. A marker was made at the Silang Crossing to honor the event.

Filipino-Japanese Friendship Garden

This 1,200 sq. meters garden was constructed to inculcate the value of freedom, peace and international unity into the hearts and minds of the people. It is located in front of Development Academy of the Philippines Conference Center, Sungay East, Tagaytay City.

GETTING THERE

Tagaytay is easily reached from Metro Manila via the Coastal Road or the South Superhighway. BLTB buses from Pasay, Metro Manila having a destination signboard of Nasugbu or Balayan ply the route passing Tagaytay City. If traveling by automobile take the South Superhighway (SSH.) The SSH offers the least traffic out of Metro Manila. From Manila take the Santa Rosa exit and turn right after paying the toll. Drive straight on until you get to the Tagaytay City market place, the entrance of Tagaytay City, just about 20 minutes from the Santa Rosa exit.

Alternatively you can take the coastal road through Imus, Dasmarinas and Silang Cavite. Though this route takes longer and has more traffic, there's lots of sights to see along the way.

For Foreign Visitors your best bet may be to hire a private car or an FX (a van like Taxi,) from "OUTSIDE" the International airport. Be advised that taxi's at the airport are controlled and will charge you way over the odds, even for local trips into the Metro Manila area. Therefore it is advisable to hire an FX or taxi OUTSIDE the airport for you're onward journey by land, including a trip to Tagaytay.

An FX comes with a driver for around US$35, one way, for the entire day, if you're a good haggler. They might ask you to pay for the petrol as well, no more than Php 1,000. So in essence , you can have your FX take you to your Tagaytay Hotel, check in, then have your driver take you to as many tourist spots you can handle.

Private air conditioned transportation to and from Tagaytay is approximately Php 5,500. But this includes you're return trip back to Manila after your staying in Tagaytay for one or more nights!

Travel time : 1 to 1 1/2 hours' drive time from Manila, even less from the international airport. 

TAGAYTAY HOTELS / TAGAYTAY HOSTELS / TAGAYTAY ACTIVITIES & TOURS