Camperspoint Philippines

Corregidor

Mounir Chaouche — 2011-10-04T14:32:17Z

The cry of a monkey, then silence again. The three men are looking across a bomb crater at the large building. Its dark windows stare back. It is burnt out, destroyed but still standing. The jungle and the monkey have retaken it.

None of the men talk. It is neither their knowledge of the thousands to have died here, nor the strange beauty of this unfortunate place that awes them most. It's the silence. As if the island were still trying to compensate for the deafening explosions that reverberated all the way to Luzon more than 60 years ago. The Spanish, the Americans, the Japanese and the Americans again. The men found traces of all of them. And they found the complete destruction in their wake. Ruins in silence telling the story.

Corregidor Island in silence? - Only by bicycle

This was Corregidor island earlier this year. The three men were two friends and myself.

But this was more. It was Corregidor re-visited. We had come back on our mountain bikes. No need for the tour bus, the tour guide on a blaring loudspeaker, the fixed route and noisy co-tourists. This time we were free to explore Corregidor's obscurest corners at will. And we were are all alone.

All this seemed so far from Manila. It is hard to believe that no bus or car is needed to get there. We simply rode from Ortigas Centre to the Cruise Terminal at the CCP Complex (Sunday morning - no traffic) and from there on the boat to Corregidor.

It is as true as it is against conventional wisdom: If you live in Manila you can still enjoy great cycling - with no need to worry about traffic. You just have to know where.

Bulacan - a nearby place with a far away look

Mounir Chaouche — 2011-10-04T14:32:15Z

The carabao is deeply unimpressed. It approaches us at frightening speed. This is relative speed though. The carabao in relation to the dusty ground is trotting along at its usual pace. But we are zipping on our mountain bikes around the bend and with an elegant swerve pass the indifferent big animal.

The cheering from the crowd on the cart behind the beast tells us: We are the first bicycle tourists here. Again.

We pass our admirers, the ground becomes firmer, goes downhill now, we click into higher gears, fingers on the break levers (ready for the next carabao around the corner) and with perfect speed we ride along the river bend.

Water so clean it invites us to jump in at once, but the ride got us hypnotized. No-one wants to stop or be anywhere else on the planted than right here. In our cycling paradise. And we are not on some remote island. We are just outside Metro Manila in Bulacan.

Manila's compatibility with cycling is under doubt, to put it mildly. Manila itself, that is true, seems to do everything to make life for cyclists hard and sometimes short. But it has left us some niches and escape corridors. If you know them then nothing stands in the way between your bike and some of the greatest cycling trips of your life.

Throughout the past 3 years I have seen more and more expatriates taken up cycling again.

Manila to Subic - ride with a trick

Mounir Chaouche — 2011-10-04T14:32:08Z

The lights of Subic Bay. At last.

But rejoice not too early my fellow riders for it is another twenty kilometres to our infinitely comfortable beds at cosy Baloy Beach. Twenty, they say, another twenty after the 90 we have done already, up steep mountains, along the route of the infamous Death March of Bataan and through frightening forests!

My esteemed cycling cohort, I hear your concern, but have we not enjoyed magnificent views from those mountain tops and ridges? Their heights must be scaled first and in pursuit of this quest have we not taken pleasure in the Zenic serenity of our long stretches in first gear?

The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets.

That's how Christopher Morley (a well known American poet) put it, but my cycling buddies could not care less for my poor attempts at combining the two arts.

They are not listening; in fact they are not even there any more. One had taken flight in a Jeepney some 15 kilometres ago; the other two disappeared in a private car shortly thereafter. I feel guilty. Maybe I should not have lead them to a detour up Mount Samat (very steep, one extra hour of intense pedalling).

This tour clearly had its ups and downs, literally and figuratively. But it also showed again that the Philippines is a country of many options. Even in remoter areas you always find a solution (like the ubiquitous Jeepney) should bike or rider not make it.

I meet my bike buddies again at our hotel at Baloy beach. I prepare myself for some critique but there is none of that. They are happy. And with reason so.

Who would have thought that you can ride from Manila all the way to Subic along super scenic roads, smoothly paved, yet almost free of cars?

There is a trick of course and it's the ferry from Manila to Port of Lamao in Bataan. It simply bypasses all the things you don't want to see.

The ferry returns in the evening, so day trips along the coast in Bataan are another option.

My Favorite Rides Around Manila

Mounir Chaouche — 2011-10-04T14:32:05Z

The Manila cyclist has choices so aplenty it would fill a book to describe them all. Here are only two of my favorites.

1. Corregidor Island.

Pros: Scenery, serenity, safety, seclusion and scary ghost towns. It's five stars for all of the above. Virtually no car traffic. Nice boat ride (open upper deck). Very few places on the planet beat Corregidor as a cycling destination.

Cons: It's not big. Even if you try all roads you can hardly ride more than 30 kilometres. The boat returns far too early. It will cost you P1300 (lunch included).

Vehicle: Good for road bikes, better for MTBs.

Ironically this prime cycling destination was de facto unreachable to Manila cyclists until recently. Sun Cruises, until recently the only tour operator there, stubbornly refuses to carry bicycles on the boat. Fortunately there is now also Prestige Cruises, who are bike-friendly. There are trips on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

How to get there:

• Choose a Friday, Saturday or Sunday (Sunday is best)

• Book your seats with Prestige Cruise. Contact Bong from Prestige on 0927 5555502 or 02 8328967, tell him you are bringing your bikes.

• Ride to the Cruise Terminal at the CCP Complex on Roxas Boulevard. If you come from around Makati or Ortigas Centre, take Buendia Avenue. It is a good run, especially on Sunday mornings. • 7am check in at the terminal, pay P1299 per person (it includes lunch)

• At Corregidor, being a tourist off the guide's leach, they make you sign a paper where you commit (smile) not to damage the place. After thousands of bombs dropped by foreigners they obviously have become cautious.

• You are back in Manila by 16:30.

2. Bataan to Subic Bay

Pros: Great scenery, long ride (80km to 110km), steep sections, no traffic.

Cons: You may arrive after nightfall. The ferry to the port of Lamao has no open deck (only a closed air-conditioned, TV-infested cabin.)

Vehicle: Good for MTBs, perfect for road bikes with low gears.

This one is for real riding. After a ferry trip of an hour and a half (use it to sleep and have breakfast) there is nothing to slow you down all the way to Subic but your own weakness.

It's smooth pavement almost all the way, but strangely there is almost no traffic at all.

Also for this ride you need no car or bus if you live in Manila. Start pedalling from your doorstep.

How to get there:

• Book a trip to Lamao (Prestige Cruise, contact Bong on 0927 5555502).

• Book a room. At Baloy beach rooms start at P1000, check out Harley's (047 2246922), Mangroves (047 2227909) or Shaevens (047 2239430).

• Buy the Central Luzon Map from Accu map (e.g. at Power Books) and check the route.

• Ride to the Cruise Terminal at the CCP, pay and board the ferry.

• Have breakfast (bring your own) on the ferry or sleep, you won't see much inside the closed cabin.

• From the pier go right on the Roman Expressway. After Caput go left. At a small T-Junction after a few kilometres go right (not on the map) then left on the Linao Highway. If necessary ask for the way to Mount Samat and check your map.

• At the turn-off to Mt. Samat to the left (there is a sign) you have the choice of going up the mountain and back or to continue straight. The trip up and down will add some steep 10 km and one hour to your trip.

• Follow the Linao Highway, check your map and if you have, bring a compass. It's not difficult, but not all the turns are no the map.

More rides to consider:

Marikina river banks. You can ride there from Makati or Ortigas. Marikina is in fact building a whole network of bike tracks.

The Maarat trail just behind the newly-built Timberland development near San Mateo in Rizal. This trail is a classic among local cyclists and features quiet mountain roads, steep inclines with only the occasional great view on Manila to remind you that you are not hundreds of miles away.

Our Goals

Mounir Chaouche — 2011-09-23T14:51:29Z

Meren Floranda Chaouche is Filipino, who put up this site not only to reveal the best places in the country, she also aims at giving those future travelers a wider view on Philippine culture, arts, history, cuisine and its people.

Mounir Chaouche is French, who traveled around the Philippines for 10 years, married with Meren and working as a systems engineer in the country. Continuously enjoying the Philippines since 1997, he discovered his fascinations for all things Filipino and thus gave his unconditional support to this website.

We basically created this site

to serve as a referential guide to visitors and residents of the Philippines.

to provide relevant online information on Philippine culture, arts, history, cuisine, people and best places to visit.

to unite people in a forum where they can interact and share interests on various matters regarding the Philippines.

We have extended our efforts to provide useful guidelines on how to move around safely and even to settle appropriately in the country.

We made sure the contents of this site are brief and simplified for easier comprehension. Please read our disclaimer for few things to consider.

For questions, comments or suggestions, be free to email us.

Photography: Luc Roullet, Mabelle Burgaud, Juliette Louis-Servais, Sophie Rodriguez, Michael Dioneda, Pia Faustino, Rodolphe Lina, Christophe Jan, Julie Dato, Marc Obrowski, Abi Quinones

Exclusive Articles: Marc Obrowski

Contact Camperspoint

Mounir Chaouche — 2011-09-23T14:50:11Z

Please proceed to Philippine forum for your general questions related to the Philippines. This is to give others the opportunity to share relevant matters that concerns your inquiry.

In case of feedback, advertising and technical support related to our forum, menu, articles and services or any other site section, please contact us.

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Mounir Chaouche — 2011-09-23T14:48:35Z

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Brief Description of the Philippines

Mounir Chaouche — 2011-09-23T14:44:10Z

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands and islets located in the southeast coast of Asia. It has a total land area of 300,000 square kilometers bounded by the Philippine sea to the east, Celebes Sea to the south, and South China Sea to the north and the west. It is separated by three main islands called Luzon, The Visayas and Mindanao. Manila is the national capital located in the heart of Luzon. Philippines cultural diversity evolved hundred years ago shared by the Malays, Spanish and Americans. Long time affiliation with the West made the Philippines the fourth most populous english speaking country and the only predominant christians in Asia. In many ways however, Filipino society is unique among its neighbors. It is a country of rich natural resources attracting large scale foreign investments from big countries such as Japan, United States and Europe.

Official Name : Republic of the Philippines

Official Languages : Filipino and English

Population : 54% rural and 46% urban

Basic Monetary Unit : Peso

Weights and Measurements : Metric System

Religion : Catholic 83%, Protestant 8%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist 3%

Main Products : (Agriculture) Rice, banana, cassava, coconut, corn, pineapple, sugarcane, sweet potato, (Forestry) ebony, kapok, mahogany, (marine) milkfish, scad, tuna, spones, pearls, (Mining) chromite, copper, gold, nickel, (Manufacturing) cement, garments, chemicals, foods, electronic equipments, petroleum products, wood products and textiles

It is a country subdivided into fifteen regions, into provinces, into cities and municipalities and into barangays (the smallest political unit).

Listed below are the regions of the Philippines :

Region I - Ilocos

Region II - Cagayan Valley

Region III - Central Luzon

Region IV - Southern Tagalog

Region V - Bicol

Region VI - Western Visayas

Region VII - Central Visayas

Region VIII - Eastern Visayas

Region IX - Southern Mindanao

Region X - Central Mindanao

Region XI - Southern Mindanao

Region XII - Central Mindanao

National Capital Region or NCR

Cordillera Administrative Region

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao

Angeles City Flying Club

Mounir Chaouche — 2010-10-07T11:39:54Z

Believe it or not, when it comes to Light Sport Aircraft flying (or ultralights or microlights as they are also called) the Philippines is the leader in Asia.

The Angeles City Flying Club, located near the old Clark Airbase is so popular and well-equipped that people from all over the world come to fly ultralight planes there.

Travellers can drop in for a joy flight, or stay longer and learn how to fly.

Details can be found at www.angelesflying.com

Philippine Biking Associations and Websites

Mounir Chaouche — 2007-04-25T15:04:40Z

Bugoy Bikers - The idea of this site is to collect information about mountain biking in the Philippines. We have biked almost the whole Visayas and would like to share our experience with you.

PinoyMTBiker - Philippines' Mountain Biking Community covering mountain bike topic, Info, News, Events, Pictures, Forum, Travel, Gear Reviews, Community, Fun Rides, Bike Commuting, Make Friends. The site focus on the Philippines, but welcomes cyclists from all over the world.