December - January 2010

 

InFlight’s contributing photographers share their favorite landscape shots from across the islands. Oggie Ramos tells their stories

As seen through the lenses of:
Allan Barredo • Bien Bautista • John Callahan • Erick Dantoc • Iah Isip • Jaypee Martinez • Aj Ordoñez •
Ruel Pine • Oggie Ramos • Gutsy Tuason

Camiguin Island, Babuyan Islands
By Gutsy Tuason

This photograph of Camiguin Island, one of the five major islands of the Babuyan Islands, shows nature in its brilliant layers. Tuason took this shot when he was on a mission to shoot Babuyan’s 45-foot humpback whales in May 2005. Located in the Luzon Strait, north of Luzon, Babuyan is also home to virgin rainforests and beautiful beaches. Its surrounding waters is the migratory route for the humpbacks, declared protected species by the provincial government of Cagayan. If you want to increase your chances of a sighting, go anytime from November to May. Be prepared to face a 16-hour travel time and to rough it out. As Tuason says, “bring everything – food, water, flashlights as there is no power supply on the island.”

Where to stay: No rooms here. Arrange to stay with the locals or take a tent and camp out.
How to get there: Book a one-hour domestic flight from Manila to Tuguegarao, Cagayan. Then hop on a jeepney that will take you to Aparri in two hours and from Aparri, you catch a ferry to Camiguin Island, an eight-hour sea travel. You can also get on a banca from Sta. Ana, Cagayan which cuts the sailing time to six hours.

Nueva Vizcaya’s night sky
By Gutsy Tuason

This otherworldly landscape  was taken at four in the morning from the summit of Mt. Ugo in Nueva Vizcaya, about 2,130 feet above sea level. A barren tree trunk catches the light, hundreds of stars light up the sky, and in the foreground, the clouds cloak the rice fields below in feathery haze while at the other end, the distant lights of Manila glow a burning yellow.

Where to stay:  Set up tent at Mt. Ugo.
How to get there: Tuason suggests breaking down the trip by driving from Manila to Baguio, a five-hour trip, spending the night in Baguio, and driving the following day to Cayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, where you park your car and camp at Mt. Ugo. It’s a six-hour trek to the summit so some degree of fitness is needed.

Gutsy Tuason is a freelance photojournalist and award-winning underwater photographer.
Visit www.facebook.com/scottgutsytuason

Turtle Sanctuary, Matina Aplaya
By Erick Dantoc

This two-kilometer cove in Matina Aplaya, Davao, is a turtle sanctuary, a nesting site for the critically endangered hawksbill turtles and other turtle species. Dantoc left Sampaguita Inn on Mayon Street in downtown Davao at four in the morning in time to shoot this landscape at the break of dawn. Soon as the turtles lay their eggs on the beach and bury them in the warm sand, the “Task Force
Pawikan Davao” staff would move the eggs to the hatchery for safety, increasing the turtles’ survival rate to 90%. Seagulls and egrets are also regular visitors to the cove.

Where to stay:  Matina Aplaya is a 30-minute drive from downtown Davao City. Book the Marco Polo (+6382/ 221 0888) or Waterfront Insular Hotel (+6382/ 233 2881). Venturing to nearby Samal Island is also possible via a motorized banca. In Samal, you can stay at the Barcelo Pearl Farm (+632/ 433 7532).
How to get there: Take a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Manila to Davao City. Rent a car or hire a taxi to
Barangay Matina Aplaya from downtown Davao.  
 
For more on Dantoc’s works, visit www.wanderboy.wordpress.com or www.flickr.com/photos/erickph

Cagbalete Island, Quezon
By Allan Barredo

At low tide, this unnamed beach on a private island in Cagbalete, Mauban, Quezon, presents a unique signature — wavelike patterns on five kilometers of dry sand. “During high tide, the beach narrows to about two-three meters of sand. The seabed is so flat you can walk 500 meters out to sea and still be in waist-deep water,” says Barredo. When he took this shot, great egrets were feeding on small fish. Cagbalete is known too for its coconut
crabs and crustaceans.Where to stay:  No-frills cottages and tents can be booked at Villa Cleofas (www.cagbalete.com) at the northern end of the island.

How to get there: From Manila, take a bus to Lucena, a three-hour trip, and then take a mini-bus to Mauban, Quezon, a two-hour trip. From Mauban Port, a 45-minute boat ride will take you to Cagbalete Island. There are only two boat trips daily, one at 11am and another at 4pm, subject to seat availability.
 
For more on Barredo’s works, visit lantaw.blogspot.com or www.flickr.com/photos/allanbarredo

Mantigue Island, Camiguin
By Oggie Ramos

Ramos is a nature freak and loves off-the-beaten paths. Having been to Camiguin thrice, he wanted to explore the less touristy places and chanced upon Mantigue Island. He took this shot of the island from the banca en route to the town of Mahinog. The morning sun was up, making the sea sparkle and the clear waters reveal the wealth of corals underneath. Mantigue has an inland forest and clear waters, home to huge table corals  sheltering schools of fish. Its forest is a nesting place of migratory birds while its beach is a nesting site for turtles. The local government is in the process of restoring the island to its pristine state and relocating its residents. Camiguin province is home to seven volcanoes, beautiful beaches, cold and hot springs, and waterfalls.

Where to stay:  Mantigue Island is ideal for day trips. The town of Mahinog has several resorts such as Islet Beach Resort (+6388/ 387 4005).  The next town, Benoni, has basic rooms at  J&A Fishpen and  Resort (+6388/ 387 4008).
How to get there: Take a one-and-a-half hour flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, where you catch a bus for a two-hour ride to Balingoan port. From Balingoan, take a one-hour ferry ride to Benoni. There are bancas for hire in Mahinog or  Benoni. For more info, call the Camiguin Provincial office at +6388/ 387 1097.
 
For more on Ramos’ works, visit www.lagalog.com or www.flickr.com/photos/oggie

Apo Reef Natural Park
By Ruel Pine

This sun, sea, and sky landscape  was taken one late morning after Pine went on a tour of Apo Island in Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental. He stopped by a fishing ground outside the Apo Reef Natural Park and shot this scene. On average, a fisherman in the area catches 15 to 25 kilos of fish each boat trip. The park, with an area of 15,793 hectares, and dwarfed only by Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, lays claim to the largest atoll-like reef in the country. It is a success story in conservation, having succeeded in stopping all destructive fishing methods two years ago to give the reef time to recover.

Where to stay:  Pandan Island Resort (www.pandan.com) in the west coast of Occidental Mindoro is a small resort offering bungalows and dive safaris. It’s also the closest resort to Apo Reef, with travel by outrigger boat from the resort to the reef taking about 90 minutes.
How to get there: It takes 125km by boat from Puerto Galera. To get to Puerto Galera, take a bus
(BLTB Bus Lines, EDSA, Pasay tel: +632/ 833 5508) from Manila to Batangas port, and from Batangas port, take a banca directly to the beach of your choice.
 
Ruel Pine is a conservationist and photographer for WWF Philippines, covering the Donsol area in Sorsogon. To view more of his works, visit http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/ruelpine

Pundaquit in Zambales
By Iah Isip

This shot was taken on the long beach fronting Pundaquit, a fishing village tucked away in Zambales, well known among trekkers and surfers for its beaches and mountain trails. Surfers catch the waves in this bay during the monsoon season while island hoppers visit for sightings of dolphins and whales. About 4km away is the neighboring Capones Island, with its beach coves lined by pine trees, more reminiscent of North America than the tropics. Facing the China Sea but sheltered by the hills, the waters of Pundaquit are calm and ideal for swimming. Sea turtles lay their eggs on the long beach from December until February.

Where to stay:  Pundaquit is a budget destination with inexpensive accommodation. Punta de Uian, about 1.7 km away from Pundaquit, is a well-kept and comfortable resort offering standard rooms and stone huts with terraces. Rates are from P3,400-P6,600. Tel: +6347/ 252 2692.
How to get there: From Manila, San Antonio, Zambales is a three- to four-hour drive. From San Antonio, it’s a 20-minute ride to Pundaquit. For more info, visit www.pundaquit.com.
 
For more on Isip’s works, visit www.iahisip.com

Vigan Island, El Nido
By John Callahan

Snake Island,  a beautiful islet that’s only visible at low tide, was photographed by Callahan using a makeshift tripod from a three-meter bamboo pole. With the camera securely fastened on top of the pole by several nylon cable ties and the self-timer set in 10 seconds, Callahan got his desired perspective and clicked away. The result is this photo of a magnificent serpentine patch of pristine sandbar with the beautiful islets of El Nido in the background.

Where to stay:  El Nido Miniloc and El Nido Lagen offer luxurious island accommodation. Visit www.elnidoresorts.com. Dolarog Beach Resort (www.dolarog.com) has nice cottages by the beach fronting Bacuit Archipelago. Room rates are from P3,200-P6,100 per person per night. Casa El Nido (www.casaelnido.com) is a two-storey, Spanish style, self-catering house that has a huge living area and can accommodate six for P3,000 a day.
How to get there: El Nido is about an hour’s flight from Manila via SEAIR (www.FlySeair.com). Your resort can book transfers and island hopping trips.

For more on Callahan’s works, visit www.jscfoto.com, www.tropicalpix.com


Banul Beach, Coron
By Jaypee Martinez

This may be a cliché tropical shot,  but Banul Beach is still very much a hidden gem. Martinez calls it “Coron’s Little Boracay,” with its fine white sand and clear waters. The only difference, he says, is that Banul has more fish than tourists. This stretch of beach is less than 150 meters, and its seabed is gradually sloping, with a fine, sandy bottom, a good place for diving and snorkeling. There are two huts and two cottages on the beach that you can use for a whole day for a fee of P100 per guest. The funds are used by Tagbanua keepers for the upkeep of the beach. A few minutes from Banul by motorized boat are the marine sanctuaries in Siete Pecados, the Twin Lagoons, and the Kayangan and Barracuda Lakes. 

Where to stay:  No accommodation on the beach, but nearby Coron town has plenty of resorts and guest houses. Try Divelink Resort (+63918/ 926 1545 or +63917/ 858 1799).
How to get there: Take about an hour’s flight from Manila to Busuanga airport. From the airport, take a jeepney to Coron Town. The journey takes one hour. You can rent an outrigger boat at the sea port near the Coron Public Market or book a diving or island hopping trip with your resort.

For more on Martinez’s, visit www.jaypeeps.multiply.com

Club Noah cave
By Bien Bautista

The curved details and bright camel hues of the Club Noah Cave in Club Noah, Taytay, Palawan, was taken by Bien Bautista in 2007 when he was on assignment for SEAIR InFlight. “It reminded me of a Picasso painting,” said Bien. “It was magical. We did not know it existed.” Taytay is located in the middle part of Palawan, sandwiched between Busuanga in the north and Puerto Princesa and El Nido in the south. And like any other area in Palawan, it’s blessed with beautiful white-sand beaches, magnificent caves, and a diverse collection of flora and fauna. The gentle dugongs or seacows are among the rare species found in the waters of Taytay. 

Where to stay:  Flower Island Resort off the coast of Taytay, Sandoval, northeastern Palawan has native thatched cottages with airconditioned and non-airconditioned rooms. Visit www.flowerisland-resort.
How to get there: Take a one-hour flight from Manila to El Nido via SEAIR. From El Nido, take a one-and-a-half hour van/jeepney ride to Batakalan, and another 30 minute ride by speedboat to Flower Island. From Flower Island, arrange for a tour to Club Noah cave, which is 30-40 minutes away by speedboat.

Bien Bautista was the Camera Club of the Philippines’ Master Photographer in 2001. To view more of his works, visit www.bienbautista.com

Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur
By AJ Ordoñez

Caramoan Peninsula has towering limestone cliffs, caves, lagoons, and white-sand beaches. caves and lagoons, and white-sand beaches. The whole island was the setting for the French and Bulgarian editions of TV adventure reality series, Survivor. Shown here is the island’s Katanawan Beach, which has fine sand, crystalline waters, and a rugged coastline dominated by limestone formations. Its seabed has a mixture of powdery sandand crushed corals, great for snorkeling and diving. The nearest dive shop is in Naga City, about three-four hours away, so take your gear with you if you intend to dive. 

Where to stay:  Pack your tent and camp out on the beach if you feel so inclined or book a stay at Gota Village Resort (www.gotavillage.com), which offers 70 airconditioned wooden cabins set in Gota, a small cove in the northwest portion of Caramoan. It has a limestone hill that separates Gota East and Gota West, two narrow but beautiful beaches.
How to get there: Take a one-hour flight from Manila to Naga and rent a van headed for Nato Port in Sagnay. From the port, catch a fastcraft (10am and 1:30pm daily) to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. For more info, visit www.caramoan-paradise.blogspot.com.
 
For more on Ordoñez’s works, visit www.aordonez.multiply.com