Tags: Festivals and Fiestas, Indigenous Culture, Travel Tales and Tips, Vacation
By Anna Valmero
BUENAVISTA, MARINDUQUE– This province is dubbed the “heart of the Philippines” – literally speaking – given its unique shape and geographic location. Traveling here is an adventure in itself.
Marinduque is famous for its Moriones Festibal every Holy Week and more recently, as the entry point to the luxurious Bellaroca Island Resort.
For those traveling to this island for the first time, here are some tips to make your Marinduque experience less stressful and worth it.
By air or by land? Given the distance, how to get there is a major consideration factoring in time and money. Traveling by plane is the quickest because you can arrive 30 minutes. However, Zest Air is the only local carrier that flies from Manila to Marinduque and back. A two-way ticket per head costs around P4,000 based on regular ticket fees but online promo fares could cost only P1,100 for a roundtrip ticket.
The only flight out of Manila is scheduled around noon but could be delayed for as much as five hours so be ready to entertain yourself with a good book and lots of music. Be sure to have a bit of food ready, if this happens.
If you’re on a budget, you can take the bus and the Roll On, Roll Off (RORO) ferry. Travel costs around P600 for one way, inclusive of bus and ferry tickets. Travel time, though, is at least seven hours or longer, depending on weather condition and other factors.
A three-hour bus ride takes you to Lucena seaport. Once there, you have two options: take the ferry going to Mogpog, which leaves 4a.m. daily. Or the one headed to Kawit in the capital Boac, which leaves at 8a.m. Reputable ferry lines include the Montenegro Lines and Starhorse.
Travel light. By bringing only one hand-carried backpack, you can save 30 minutes to one hour of waiting time at the airport. Follow the backpackers’ mantra: carry only the essential and bring multipurpose clothes. These include toiletries in small packs, a pair of shorts or pants, cotton shirts, a pair of swimwear and sandals.
If possible, roll up your clothes to allot space for pasalubong inside your backpack and then carry a foldable shoulder bag for your wallet, cellphone, camera, medicine and other essentials. If you can forego the laptop, so much the better.
Ask around for budget hotels. If you have a relative or friend who can accommodate you during your stay, you’re lucky since you won’t be spending much on lodging. Or you can opt to ask around for lodging that fits the budget such as local hot spring resorts. You can also ask them for tips on public transport, tourist spots to visit and helpful gestures to respond to local customs and traditions.
Bring a decent sum of money. Since Marinduque is not highly urbanized, a handful of ATMs can be seen at the airport and capitol only. Most shops do not accept payment by swiping plastic cards so be sure you have small bills and loose change for buying a bottle of water or snacks. In case you left home penniless, there are at least two ATMs at the NAIA Terminal 4 (formerly Domestic Terminal 1).
Enjoy the putong as a rite of passage. The putong is one of the unique traditions of Marinduquenos in welcoming and wishing guests a good stay. The locals waiting for you at the airport or at the resort take pride in this longstanding tradition, wherein they dance, sing and crown guests with flowers or handwoven nito fashioned in the form of a necklace or an actual crown.
You may be tired from the long trip but take some time to enjoy this heart-warming welcome fit for a king and queen. Dance with the locals if they invite you. The locals have prepared well and good for your arrival so be a gracious guest to them as well. After you have your first putong, you would that the people you meet in all your travel destinations are as entertaining and warm.
Last but not the least, enjoy the unspoiled nature and of course, listen to the stories of the loving people of Marinduque. Majority of the people speak fluent Tagalog and English so no need to worry about getting lost or dealing with a difficult conversation.
Related stories:
A glimpse of Bellarocca, Marinduque’s version of ‘Santorini’
Marinduqueños sing and dance to welcome visitors in ‘putong’
Rejuvenate at the Malbog Hot Springs in Marinduque
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