Part of our celebration of Sentenaryo ng "Araw ng Marinduque" is the holding in this island-province of the 4x4 Jeep Club Philippines Jamboree from February 22-24, 2020.
Marinduque. Known for the Moriones Holy Week ritual with the colorfully-garbed moryon or Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus Christ, this is a motoring paradise for its gorgeous highways and low vehicle density. With only a 150-km circumferential road, you can have more time to devote to the sights and sounds or even redo the island’s circumnavigation.
Marinduque can be reached by air or by boat via Lucena City.
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| Road to Luzon Datum. Photo by Eli J Obligacion |
Exciting road trips for 2020
By Bernard L Supetran
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 19,2020
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 19,2020
Every New Year brings new challenges and bucket lists of
things to do or places to go for the weekend warriors. With new exciting car
models from the popular brands and relatively unexplored destinations, 2020
will be another banner year to hit the roads less traveled and discover why
“Driving is more fun in the Philippines.”
Here are some routes worth exploring on wheels across our
enchanting chain of islands.
Palawan. Named time and again as the world’s best island by
prestigious global publications, this archipelago boasts of owning the “every
island an adventure” tag and rightfully so. With 1,780 islands and islets and a
road network of about 1,000km, there is so much to discover here, aside from
the famous St. Paul Underground River in the capital city of Puerto Princesa.
The city, one of the country’s biggest, is in itself a
consummate trip with its scenic winding roads hugging the coastline. With a
vast land area, its nearest town to the north and the south would take more
than an hour to reach. Puerto Princesa also has a bevy of recreational spots on
top of its usual beach destinations, which are sometimes affected by inclement
weather.
Beyond the city, motor to the newest hotspot of San Vicente,
a 14-km long master-planned beachfront colony, and up to the northern most town
of El Nido. Roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries will be put in place to connect
it to the equally-exciting island of Busuanga and Coron town.
Down south, you can drive to Narra and Quezon towns, all the
way down to Brooke’s Point where a Ro-Ro service is being eyed to connect it to
the Malaysian state of Sabah.
Silliman University Portal
Negros. This huge island is composed of the Oriental and
Occidental provinces, and is among the most enticing drive destinations because
of its blend of the mountains and sea. Dumaguete, the “City of Gentle People”,
is an ideal entry point because of its blend of the old and the new.
Its most popular road is Rizal Boulevard where the national
hero made a stopover en route to his exile to Dapitan. This bayside promenade
has evolved into a nocturnal colony dotted by cafés, watering holes, hotels and
restaurants which offer cool sea breeze and sunrise view. A must see is the
iconic Silliman University, with its iconic American-era Siliman Hall and
Museum, the Romanesque-style Church and its ampitheater, and its twin portal
gates along the tree-lined avenue.
Named as among the best retirement places, Dumaguete has
also become a sports tourism haven for its promotion of physical fitness
programs.
Circumnavigate Negros and swing by the cities of Bais, San
Carlos, Escalante, Sipalay, Victorias, La Carlota, and Silay, which have
interesting pit stops before winding up in Bacolod, the capital of the
Occidental province. Along the coastal areas, go beach bumming and engage in
various water sports, most notably scuba diving.
Mountaintop view of Sarangani Bay from Maasim
Sarangani. Don’t let reports of earthquakes scare you from
discovering this well-kept secret which blends adventure and culture. Reachable
via Gen. Santos City or Davao on a three-hour panoramic journey, this province
embraces Sarangani Bay which has pockets of powdery sand and marine sanctuaries
on its 200-km coast. Roads are well-paved, and peace and order situation is
remarkable which make driving a pleasant experience.
Take adventure to the next level literally and try
paragliding in the mountains of Maasim for a breath-taking view of the bay. Not
to be missed is an interaction with Blaan, Tboli or Tagakaolo indigenous
peoples which are known for their sought-after exquisite dyed handwoven fibers.
A highland spot worth-driving is the 816-meter high
Kalon-Barak Skyline Ridge in Malungon which has a commanding view of Mt. Apo,
Mt. Matutum, the Sarangani Bay and Davao Gulf.
Camarines Norte zigzag road. Photos by Bernard L. Supetran
Camarines Norte. Declared as the country’s “zigzag capital”,
this is among the best places to test new SUVs and four-wheel drives. With some
100km of twists and turns in the midst of tropical rainforests, this Bicol
province region has been under the radar for decades until it surprised
everyone with the Calaguas islands group which was named as the top tourism gem
in an online poll.
Feast on succulent seafood and spicy dishes, tan on the
alluring unspoilt Pacific side beaches, or frolic on the icy waterfalls and
river resorts. CamNorte is marking its centennial this year and will be filled
100 festive events that will entice you to visit.
Moryons of Mogpog, Marinduque by Provincial Tourism Office
Marinduque. Known for the Moriones Holy Week ritual with the
colorfully-garbed moryon or Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus Christ, this is
a motoring paradise for its gorgeous highways and low vehicle density. With
only a 150-km circumferential road, you can have more time to devote to the sights
and sounds or even redo the island’s circumnavigation.
Marinduque can be reached by air or by boat via Lucena City.
Whew! So many roads, so little time.
