Philippine Holiday 2017: A Disappointing Return To Sabang Beach

Overlooking the floating bar

This alley is full both of tourists and girls at night.

Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera. My husband rented an ATV for us with our son to visit Sabang today. I am writing this and I am thinking for a nice or a good introduction to this blog. You know it, when you are full of disappointments, it is like you are lost for words. I remember the first day that I saw Sabang, I fell in love right away to this place. In fact, I hold dear those precious memories of this place in my heart, a part of the early years of marriage life. Two of our friends who are also here for a vacation told us that Sabang is not a good place anymore to stay. It is now filthy, populated, and a Danish friend told us that Sabang is now a disgusting place because of the rampant prostitution, in private or in public.


We parked the ATV at the back of the small town market. We walked going to the alley that leads to some of our 'once our favorite hangouts.' The discos and bars are still close, we passed them by to go to our favorite coffee shop, the Rocks Cafe, just across the Hammerhead Disco. The cafe is now closed. We walked further, but the foul-smelling alley smeared totally my hopes to enjoy our visit, I saw it myself that Sabang is now disgustingly dirty, I did not even finish sipping my mango shake, I told my husband that I like to go home. At the parking, I vomit.

 I am glad we decided to stay in White Beach. Our son is enjoying everything here, especially the clean swimming pool. Sabang is still a recommended place for a great diving experience, but aside from that, Sabang has nothing to offer... Except bars, nightlife, and according to what I read from a Trip Advisor's contributor, a place for a cheap prostitution. It saddened me because I, myself too is a Filipina, by heart and by blood.

Philippine Holiday 2017: Now In White Beach, Puerto Galera

the boat that took us to White Beach from Batangas Pier

Lunch with my son at the busy beach area

me with my son at the boat

breakfast at the beach

passing by the Coco Beach 

approaching Sabang Beach

the Sikat Bus

After one day and two nights stay in Manila, we arrived on the island of Oriental Mindoro yesterday afternoon. From Manila, we took the Sikat Bus, the bus that brings  tourists twice every day to Batangas Pier. From Batangas Pier, another one hour ride in the boat getting to the island. Because of the past super typhoon that hit Luzon, our bus trip took three hours. There are still road and bridge damages that make the motorists to turn to alternate longer route.

Before, we always stay in Sabang. This time we are staying at White Beach. The boat first stop was in Sabang, discharge the passengers there, then to Puerto Galera, finally in White Beach. A staff from the resort where we are staying was there to meet us and to give us a lift going to the hotel. It was a tiring day. In the evening, we have dinner at the nearby local restaurant. One of my husband's friends who is also a Dutchman with his wife and daughter were also there to join us. After our dinner, we returned to the hotel where there is a special program that being held by the officials, officers, and staff of the Department of Education. A night of Philippine music, songs, and dances.

This morning, we have our breakfast at the beach. The sand sparklingly white in the sun. The waves are huge, good for a windsurfing. Only, I observed that the White Beach is now very commercialized. While awaiting for your food and even while eating your meal, there are approximately ten vendors who will approach you to sell something, earnings, bracelet, tour guides, boat rides, to braid your hair, even an offer to have a tattoo.

I just understand that they are doing it for a living. Anyway, it is my nature to always see the good in a situation. So I am here again to share some beautiful photos I made here in Puerto Galera... It's only just begu

The Beautiful Puerto Galera

Sabang Beach

The Philippines is renowned because of its rich culture, heartwarming people, rugged mountains, and of course its stunning beaches. This time, I would like to feature in my blog the beautiful Puerto Galera.
Puerto Galera is a small town in the province of Oriental Mindoro. It is a few hours travel from Manila. Puerto Gallera is a Spanish for "port of the Galleon." When it says Puerto Galera, typically it refers to the town and the beautiful beaches and resorts that surround this municipality.

The floating bar, view from our cabin

Always like a home to us, Steps and Garden Resort

There are two very famous beaches in Puerto Galera. The Sabang beach to the east and White Beach to the west. These two beaches are the primary destinations of the tourists who are coming in Puerto Galera.
I first visited Puerto Gallera with my officemates and our manager during my Citibank days. We stayed at White Beach for two days and two nights. While they were enjoying the nightlife at the beach, I was alone in our accomodation with a novel. But I enjoyed our stay there. I have fun riding on a banana boat, I watched the spectacular sunset, and before we leave, a Mangyan woman braid my hair.

Tamaraw Falls

At Batangas Pier

my husband and our friend, the owner of Extreme Sports Philippines

Lonelyplanet.com posted: "each has its own distinct character, spanning the range from sleaze to sophistication, you'd be well advised to choose carefully."
After White Beach, about three years later, my husband took me to Sabang, Puerto Galera. Now, I fully understand what does the lonelyplanet.com imply.

Me and my son with the tourist bus to Batangas Pier

Attending our meeting anywhere we are. 

Despite of many  unfavorable comments about Sabang, I even read on internet, someone called Sabang as the worst place in the world, I came to love this place. It has its unique quality that makes me longing to always come back there. During our stay there I make friends, and few of them are still my friend until today.

There are many wholesome activities that you can enjoy while you are in Puerto Galera. But it is at night time that Sabang got so alive. I went with my husband in scuba diving. Puerto Galera is an excellent diving site. We travel from town to town with a buggy and we went up to Calapan.

my husband to go scuba diving

habal-habal ride

those days at Steps and Garden

Here are some of the places that I can recommend when you are in Puerto Galera: The Tamaraw Falls. It is 15 km from Puerto Galera.
The Mangyan Village. There are special jeepney trips going to these places. Viewpoint. A small restaurant at the tip top of the forest where you can dine and drink, the view from there is superb.
From Sabang, you can take a tricycle going to Viewpoint. For fun, instead of tricycle, we ride in habal-habal (motorcycle).
Every time we are are in the Philippines, we take time to also visit Puerto Galera. My husband has a good long time friend there, the Belgian guy who owns the Extreme Sports Philippines, also located in Puerto Galera.

The view at Viewpoint

In my solitude

At Big Lalaguna

We always stay in Steps And Garden Resort. It is like a villa at the top of the hill. The rooms are very neat and their swimming pool is really clean.
How to go there? From Manila you can take a bus going to Batangas Pier. At the Batangas Pier, there are boats going both to White Beach and Sabang. It takes an hour from Batangas Pier to these beaches.
There is also a special tourist bus that carries tourists from Manila to Batangas Pier. Boat arrangement going to Sabang or White Beach is included. They hold their small office on the ground floor of the City State Garden Hotel in Mabini. We prefer this one. I think they have two or three trips going to Batangas Pier every day.
Puerto Galera for me is also worthy of your visit. Whether you are a nature-lover or fun loving. I hope my photos give you some insight what to expect about this place. Still, once you are there, discretion lies on the shoulder of the visitor. You can find out why.