Liwliwa - My Carefree Junket!

Saddled with worries and disappointments for the past weeks, I asked my travel buddy to bring me somewhere where I can breathe, sit still and just do nothing. My sole goal was just to unpack the tons of stress within me and so I searched for the perfect place in the net. Criteria are simple – anywhere near the metro and should be within my modest budget. Going north will be more ideal, perhaps? After some hours of random searches, I’ve found my choice – Liwliwa in San Felipe, Zambales. 

A bit odd for me to be picking an unfamiliar place which is totally different from my usual destinations, but there is an inner urge that is telling me to go and see the place.

We initially planned to leave for Zambales early on a Saturday morning but we encountered a lot of hinges causing so many delays. Not really familiar with the destination (last time that I went to Zambales was about 4 years ago); we opted to rely on Waze,

The entire trip took us almost 5-6 hours (including the traffic and our brief lunch). Liwliwa is not hard to find (and will never be easy to forget). 

Based on my research, I am ready to see a laid-back place, unpretentious, chill, with an artsy and creative vibe. All these you can do in a beach setting – with wide shores and cajoling waves. True enough, we were greeted with these and more… this place is teeming with friendly folks, mostly young people, mix of locals and visitors. Instantly, you will feel at ease and at home.

Quickly, we found our spot near the shore. Glancing around, I knew I made the right choice.

We reserved a cottage prior to this trip at Balud sa Liwa which is just a few steps from the seafront. Some resorts are a bit far. Our cottage costs us only 1,500.00 pesos which is good for 5 persons. My daughter and her friends decided to sleep in the cottage but my hubby and I opted to just while away our time in the open cottage by the sea. After we ate dinner, we just stayed there sitting, exchanging stories, staring at the vast horizon in front of us. This is exactly what I need… and it is so relaxing! Priceless.

This is truly an unforgettable trip! Liwliwa is a blissful haven for the burned out spirits.

Liwliwa is a haven for anyone - surfers (with its consistent surf breaks which are good for beginners and professional surfers as well),  beach bummers, and for carefree souls. My daughter even said it looks like “Camp Sawi”, as no one cared whether you get drunk and be lost. You can shout at the top of your lungs or just walk, run or lie on the sands. You’re free to do anything and no one would mind! For me, Liwliwa is like a soothing haven pampering my tired and weary mind.

Accommodation: Board Culture or Good Karma, The Circle Hostel, La Zerena, plus a lot more. Bunk beds and hammocks are available for 350-400 pesos a night. Cottages are available in most resorts at 1,500 to 2,500 pesos (mostly kubo or nipa huts with common bathrooms and CR). You may also pitch your tents at most places, even at the shore for 150-200 pesos.

Food: There are two famous places - Mommy Phoebe’s Place and Ate Fely’s. You can buy food (yummy silog meals plus a lot more) on both stores for less than a hundred pesos! A must-try will be their fresh fruit shakes which they sell for around 40-80 pesos.

Activities: This is a surfer’s spot so expect a lot of them around. You may also try other activities like skim boarding, skate boarding, hiking, biking plus a lot more!

Internet: Signal is poor in this place although you may be lucky enough to catch some strong signal by the beach. Perhaps, it's a giveaway clue that you need to spend quiet moments to reflect on things.

How to get there:

Public Transportation: You may ride at Victory Liner (Iba-bound) at Cubao Station and asked to be dropped off at San Felipe. Fare is just around 300 pesos. At the corner of Bobulon Elementary School, you may take a tricycle to Liwliwa for 30/person.

Private: Take NLEX-SCTEX route heading off to Subic. From there try to find Kalaklan Gate and turn left going towards Castillejos. You will pass by the towns of San Marcelino, San Narciso and then you will reach San Felipe. Just after the bridge and the town sign, watch out for the Bobulon Elementary School on your left. Turn left on the street before the school and just go straight until you reach Sitio Liwliwa.

Aguas Azules

A Unique Summer Destination 

I was surprised to know that not very many people know about this resort. A few days before the Holy Week, I was looking for a place where me and my kids can go for the Easter. I am not in the peak of health (having just undergone heart procedures a few days back) and I am not allowed yet to travel far, so we cannot go to distant hideaways, lest, I might be taking a pricey risk. So, we were left with few options and restrictions which include close enough place (that means it should be within the Rizal area). I browsed the net and bumped into this resort. I am very familiar since it is our shortcut route to Antipolo whenever we need to bring our daughter to her school along Sumulong highway or when we feel like attending the Sunday Mass at the Transfiguration Chapel. But, never had we gotten the chance to catch a glimpse of this resort. I begun to wonder then, where is this place hiding all along? So, last Easter Sunday, we packed lunch, don in our swimming attire, and excitedly drove up to Thunderbird Resort (the nearest landmark given on the blogs I've read). It was like an adventure for us as we struggled to decide on which streets to turn after we passed the guard house. 

The instruction was to turn right on the third street after the guard house but it did not mention whether it was the guard house right after you negotiated the upward climb or the main guard house before Thunderbird Resort. Well, we found out it was the latter. Once you turned right, you got to go straight ahead and look for the basketball court and the white structure which seems to look like an events place to me. This is Aguas Azules, neatly tucked inside like an abandoned subdivision. The place is so unassuming, unpretentious but definitely relaxing.

It has four swimming pools, two for the kids and two for adults. It has giant slide which can add up to the excitement. The view is so overwhelming that you can just find your own spot somewhere and think of nothing while gazing at the horizon. We live in Rizal, just a few kilometers away from this place, but we never thought that there is a place like this where we can just have the best "bonding" times without hurting our pockets. 

They have cabanas for rent where you can leave your things, and where you can eat with your friends, loved ones and families. You can rent them out for 700 pesos (you can haggle with the guard at the entrance to give it to you for 500).

This part of the pool is the deepest (about 7 feet deep), so please warn the smaller kids and those who cannot swim well to just stay in the areas which has more shallow waters (there's actually a lot!).

Another amazing part of the resort is this bar. They even have stools built under the water so you can sit down here and grab some drinks without leaving the pool. But you got to prepare your own drinks and have it ready there as there are no restaurants (much less waiters) to serve you in this place. Bring your own foods and drinks is the rule.

Entrance fee is 200 pesos per head for adults and 100 pesos for kids. Not bad for such a big resort with great overlooking views.  Other resorts in Antipolo charges the same rate or even higher but not with this kind of sweeping vista of the mountains and the lake.

Please be reminded though that they are only open during daytime (from 9:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening). No one is allowed to stay behind after the said hours since there are no electricity in the resort. Well, for me and my family, last Sunday has been another day marked on our calendar as an unforgettable moment to remember. Thank you Aguas Azules! We will be back soon. 

How to reach Aguas Azules: From Ortigas Extension, just go straight towards East. Head towards the direction of Angono in the town of Rizal. Once you reached Angono, look for the Scrapyard restaurant on the right side (7-11 convenience store on the left side). This is he road called Guido Street. Turn left then go straight ahead. This is an upward climb going to Thunderbird Resort (yeah, the casino!). Once you reached the main gate, turn right on the third street on the right the just go straight ahead until you see the basketball court and the white structure behind it. That is the parking lot of Aguas Azules Resort.