Travelling to Panay Island from Batangas via RORO

One of the options to travel to Panay Island from Luzon is by travelling via RORO from Batangas City. It may not be the best option for a 10 hour trip from Batangas port for those who are sea sick, but once you reached the Caticlan Port in the Island of Panay, you will have the convenient way to reach the scenic island of Boracay.

Few years ago, I travel the same Batangas-Caticlan route with a Calapan-Roxas land trip and another ferry to Caticlan. It was a back breaking trip because I had to transfer many times along the way. 

 Starlite Ferry Schedule 

2GO Ferry Schedule

Batangas port serves several RORO destination in Visayas regions loading big cargo trucks full of local cargo and passengers buses from Cubao and Alabang terminals in Manila. 

First thing first, please check the weather before travelling. The sea can be rough if there is a bad weather. Chances are authorities may not allow the vessel to leave the port and you may get stuck waiting for the weather to clear.

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You can book and pay tickets online or you can get your tickets at the terminal. 

My wife and I manage to get a one way ticket via MV Saint Anthony de Padua, a RORO vessel to Caticlan port from Batangas ticket office and paid P 1,310.00 for a tourist economy class, one day before we travel.  Batangas port can be pretty chaotic during the long holidays and receives a deluge of travellers from Luzon to Visayas provinces.

These are the room rates and fare:

Super Value Class. Non AC. Common toilet and bath. Double deck beds.              

P 1,250.00 inclusive of 12% VAT

Tourist Class. Common toilet and bath. Double deck beds.                                       

P 1,350.00 inclusive of 12% VAT 

Cabin for 4                                                                                 

P 1,930.00 inclusive of 12% VAT

Cabin for 6                                                                                  

P 1,930.00 inclusive of 12% VAT

Suite room for 2                                                                          

P 5,111.00 inclusive of 12% VAT

For complete fare rate, booking and schedules you can access the website:

https://travel.2go.com.ph/ 

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After a thorough security checks in the terminal and paid terminal the fee, we reached the waiting area for boarding. I think everything was smooth because my wife and I chose to travel in July which is not a high season. But before boarding the vessel, men and women were asked to form a separate line for final body screen and the security personnel deployed bomb sniffing dogs. It was a little inconvenience to endure but for the security purpose it was OK.  

Double Decks beds at Tourist Sections

At Tourist Section, they give free bed linen and one pillow case for free. Just give a valid ID for deposit which you can also collect after returning the next day.  

It was a pleasant travel 10 hour overnight travel for me to Caticlan Port. First, because the weather was good, which was my utmost concern. Second, the vessel have manage the boarding of the passengers very well. 

There are many facilities available on board the vessel. There is a small chapel, a restaurant that serves wide selections of meals and drinks, a bar with live band that also serves beers and snacks and a small lobby with cafeteria where you can order coffee and snacks.  

They also serve a FREE breakfast of tuna flakes and rice. To be honest, it taste blunt. But still good to fill the empty stomach. They also serve arroz caldo and there are other hot and cold drinks available on board.

We reached Caticlan port, in the island of Panay around 8 am the next day.

And while leaving the RORO vessel, I paused and looked behind me. I saw the white beach of Boracay and smile. I walked again to go to my next destination.  

More photos:

State Rooms

on board bar with live bands on the roof deck

this is the on board Resturant

the Famous BORACAY Island

  

Tuna flakes and rice breakfast

La Paz Batchoy for 12 dirhams only - Namit Gid!!

These days, it may be a little difficult to find a restaurant that can satisfy your cravings for a low priced meal.  But thanks to this newly opened Al Tabakh Al Mahir Cafeteria in Sharjah. For just 12 dirhams you can get a steamy hot bowl of Batchoy. 

If Lomi is a popular dish popular in Batangas, Batchoy traced its origin to Lapaz, Iloilo City. Hence the name La Paz Batchoy. Batchoy is a mixture of broth, miki noodles, meat (beef or pork), liver and chicharon. There may be a few variations but those are at least the basic ingredients.

Al Tabakh Al Mahir Cafeteria is owned and operated by Pinoy and is located in Butina area in Sharjah. We live close to the cafeteria and we were actually excited for the opening of the restaurant. If you are familiar with the places in Sharjah, almost, if not all of the Pinoy restaurants are strategically located near Megamall Shopping mall area. Because most of the kabayans live near or close to Megamall Shopping mall.

But this small cafeteria is an exemption. The owner chose to open the cafeteria in an area where there are few Pinoys. 

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Anyway, since we were the first customer and they just opened the restaurant on that day, the only menu available is Batchoy. Why not? I missed Batchoy a lot! So we ordered 2 bowls and they serve really quick. One bowl of a steamy hot bowl of Batchoy is a good serving for 2 people. I was impressed by their generous serving of meat, liver, beef stripe, and chicharon.  

And the BROTH! Yes. The BROTH my friend. It's the most important of all!! If the broth is "un batchoy" like then is not a batchoy at all! Forget it!

But I was not disappointed. It's really a batchoy! :) I am absolutely satisfied. Namit gid!

This is it! Take a look at the 12 dirhams batchoy!

The restaurant is clean and with ample parking spaces in front and the back side of the building. For me, the only downside is the location of the restaurant. But if you find a little adventure in taking a short trip to the restaurant, I think you will not be disappointed. I am sure people will start coming to eat and visit this restaurant in the coming days.

The service crew informed that sooner they will add more menu to their list. So that might be worth another visit next time.   

Al Tabakh Al Mahir Cafeteria location in Sharjah near Butina area.

25.36834, 55.39701

You can try cooking your own Batchoy by following the recipe from Panlasang Pinoy.

Here is the video:

Note: pork products are not served in the restaurants in UAE being a Muslim country.

Marian Orchard - A Pilgrimage Site in Batangas

If you are looking for a solemn place for a retreat to pray and reflect, then there is a place for you to visit in Batangas province.

Welcome to Marian Orchard.

Marian Orchard is a religious themed pilgrimage site tuck away in a laid back community in Barangay Malabanan, Lipa, Batangas. It consists of a chapel, a 2 story bell tower with a Jesus Christ statue sitting on top of it, life size station of the cross around the sprawling property, a souvenir shop and several buildings for meditations and prayer and a small cafeteria.  

one of the life size statue of station of the cross

Marian Orchard is busy during the lenten season as a must go pilgrimage site in Batangas. But if you want to visit for a moment of silence to meditate and reflect, I am sure you will love to visit the place for a day. 

It's location is not actually difficult to go to. There are several modes of transportation that you can use to reach the place. 

So if you plan to visit Marian Orchard, I suggest you include in your itinerary The National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Sto Tomas, Batangas which is just about an hour away from Marian Orchard. 

The shrine of Padre Pio is another pilgrimage site In Batangas. I will try to write about this in another post. 

Acropolis Greece?  :) 

The chapel and the statue of Jesus.
It reminds me of the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

Surprise Find: Bee Farms

There are several bee farms and stores selling honey along the road in barangay Malabanan. Probably due to the cool weather in Lipa and many trees around the area, the place is conducive to growing bees and harvesting honey. 

But we did not have the time to check because we were running out of time that day. I am thinking of visiting Marian Orchard another time and buy my supply of honey.  

How to get there.

If you are travelling by car from Manila:

Head south via SLEX and Star tollway to Batangas.
Exit at Balete exit to your right. Marian Orchard is about 6 km to your left.

If you are Taking public transport from Manila:

If you are taking bus to Batangas via star tollway, most buses drop passengers at SM Lipa. From SM Lipa take jeepney or bus going to Sto Tomas or Tanuan. Tell the driver to drop you at Jollibee Levitown. Behind Jollibee there are jeepneys going to Balete and will pass Marian Orchard. Or you may take tricycle from the same terminal. 

Things to know before you visit Marian Orchard:

ADDRESS:

Malabanan, Balete, Batangas

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OPERATING HOURS:

Open daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.  

Last entry at 5:00 PM.

Holy Masses:

Every first Fridays of the month, Saturdays and Sundays @ 4pm.

ENTRANCE DONATION:

P 50.00 Mondays to Fridays

P 80.00 Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays

Children below 3 ft come in FREE

Students, senior citizens, PWDs, and Balete residents enjoy all-season P 50.00 entrance.  
Just present valid ID.

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For group bookings and reservations, please contact:

info@marianorchard.org