Hell weeks are reserved specifically for the summer term, since from June to March, ‘hell week’ stretches for one semester too many. The endless series of papers and proposals are just itching to drown the unwary student, that is, until we hit the final stretch.
Once the 18th arrives, cap those pens off and bid farewell to the semester; three weeks of untainted freedom are clamoring to be spent. There might be no place like home, but jaunts into these uncharted territories will be well the break’s worth.
Bangui, Ilocos Norte
The past few months have taken a toll on everyone, just as much as the world on his shoulder strains Atlas. Anyone would gladly plop down on white sand and listen to the gurgling waves after trudging through the gruelling rigors of the academe—not to mention sitting through a ten-hour bus ride to Ilocos Norte. (The prudent opt for the P800 bus, but P1,300 for a one-hour flight doesn’t sound too bad.) Then again, bumming around the beaches of Pagudpud isn’t for everyone.
A view deck along the highway lends a stunning sight: fifteen windmills all in a row along the curving shore, facing the South China Sea and the breezes that roll off it. The tricycle ride down to Bangui Bay and straight to the base of these steel monsters only solidifies the spectacle.
When the clouds drift idly, the windmills’ gently spinning arms impose a mild sedative. Spread a blanket on Bangui’s beach—read a book, write a journal entry, capture the trip with one unique backdrop—and bask in the shadows of tranquillity and ingenuity. Chances are you’re not the only one; Bangui’s windmills takes strolling and lying on the beach to another level.
Once the winds pick up, view the raging windmills at their peak—from any point on Ilocos Norte, fifteen columns can be seen probing the skies.
Buenavista, Marinduque
When stress gets the upper hand, people would turn to masseuses and stylists. Short-term therapies, as it were. With a three-week break looming, perhaps it’s time to turn to a long-term alternative—like hot springs.
Marinduque is already known for its Moriones Festival, so transportation isn’t much of a problem. (A trip by plane costs around P1,700; for the adventurous, buses and ferries are available for up to P160 and P500, respectively.) However, only tricycles and jeepneys (or cars, if you care to risk it) can reach the tucked-away Malbog Hot Springs in Buenavista.
The Malbog Hot Springs have the dormant volcano Malindig as its heat source; consequently, the sulfur levels in the spring are quite genuine, leading some to acclaim the water’s healing capacities. Therapeutic or not, the site can calm any frenzied mind and soothe any battered body. There are the swimming pool-sized springs, circular cisterns, and natural ponds, all fed by the volcanic springs. Curiously enough, the water doesn’t bubble as much as you’d expect; in fact, you’d hardly realize that the water came from springs, save for the unmistakable whiffs of sulfur.
Soak in a spring-fed pool, far removed from the strains of the city, and surface profusely invigorated—after three weeks, not even the impending new term can dampen spirits.
Pandan, Catanduanes
Boracay is a milestone in every adolescent’s life. A hectic academic load only serves to bottle verve, and what could be a better site of restlessness than the beaches where there’s always something happening?
Relatively, Pandan is uninhabited and abandoned. The town on the tip of Catanduanes has a population barely half of Boracay’s weekend guests, no lavish hotels to accommodate outsiders, and no viable means of transport. The nearest transportation hub is Virac, a three-hour bus ride away up and down mountain passes; from Virac, it’s either an hour-and-a-half flight (at around P2,000) or a fifteen-hour ferry and bus ride (at around P500) to Manila. Transportation and luxury woes aside, Pandan has beaches to rival that of any seaside resort.
There are three beaches linked in succession but separated by rocks. The first beach has the finest black sand interspersed with volcanic shards; in contrast, the second has the chalkiest white sand, filled with plants and water that reach to just above the ankle. The third beach is the hardest to access, either through a sloping hill or gushing rapids. It’s a combination of the previous two: golden brown sand and pebbles and an abundance of starfish.
Pandan is as secluded as Boracay is exposed; the budding socialite might prefer to live it up in frenetic Boracay, but the unassuming visitor might find himself reigning beaches in Pandan.
Bellarocca, Marinduque
Considering the Philippines is an archipelago compromised of over 300,000 square kilometers of land (Singapore, considered a tourist hub, has only 710), it’s a little surprising that we haven’t fully taken advantage of the myriad of islands on the Philippines for benefit of tourists. With roughly 3,000 uninhabited islands, the possibilities for the wealthy or the adventurous to have their own private vacation island are limitless.
It is no longer just a possibility with Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa. Situated off the southwest coast of Marinduque, it may front a province, but Bellarocca is not the Survivor-type of island where every day is a struggle to find food and shelter—that completely misses the mark. Think of Bellarocca as the weekend getaway at its most indulgent.
With the cheapest deluxe rooms going for $420 per night up to the most expensive villas that cost over $1,320 per night, Bellarocca is not for the backpacker on a budget. Rather, it is for the sophisticated traveler, looking for a posh, extravagantly classy five-star resort on an isolated island, perfect for absolute relaxation and luxury.
