SUMMER ROAD TRIPS

IN last week's issue of Fast Times, we featured places that can be visited within a 100-kilometer (km) distance from Manila. This week, we are going further, featuring places you can drive to within a 200-km radius from Manila.

It is now double the distance, and careful planning for a road trip to these places is highly recommended, as the longer distance now requires staying overnight. So, it is best to work out the details like making an itinerary, identifying attractions to visit, knowing where to stay, what to bring, where to eat, and so on. It is also important that the vehicle has undergone some preventive maintenance procedure before going on a longer trip.

Lobo Pebble Beach

Pantabangan View Deck

Pantabangan Lake

Punta Malabrigo Lighthouse

Dingalan Black Beach

Pantabangan Water Reservoir

Old Houses of Mauban

Driving in Dingalan

Cagbalete Sand Bar Mauban

Laki Beach Mariveles

These places are not your regular weekend destinations. Sometimes, it requires going off-trail, so it is best to bring vehicles that can navigate unpaved roads. Getting there also requires patience, lots of it, as some of these destinations require finding your way the old-fashioned way: by asking for directions. But once you reach your destination, you get to see some of the most beautiful spots you can reach by driving for less than 200 km from Manila.

Five Fingers, Mariveles, Bataan (156 km)

Located on the southeastern tip of Mariveles, Bataan, the Five Fingers are several coves that can be visited by renting a boat from Mariveles. If you look at the map, the series of coves actually looks like a hand with outstretched fingers. The first stop for finger-hopping is Cochino's Point (the thumb) for some rock climbing on monoliths. Next stop is Talaga Point (index finger), followed by Horno's Point (middle finger) for the 50-foot cliff jumping. Next stop is Naiklec Point (ring finger), and last is Longos Kawayan Point (pinky finger) for those interesting rock formations and unusual stone arches. After visiting the Five Fingers, visitors usually proceed to Laki Beach or Aglaloma Beach for lunch, followed by some beach activities like swimming. Those who wish to stay overnight can camp at either of these two beaches.

Dingalan, Aurora (171 km)

Located some 171 km from Manila, this municipality on the Pacific side of Luzon is often dubbed as the "Batanes of the East" because of its breathtaking landscape. It's a four-hour drive via North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and Central Luzon Link Expressway, then to the Bongabon crossing through Sierra Madre to reach this municipality on the Pacific coast where one can go island hopping, climb to many of its view decks, and enjoy its black sand beaches. Drive further south to Barangay Ibona and charter a Farmall — an agricultural tractor — which takes visitors on a ride through rice fields to visit the stunning Lagtas Falls.

Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija (167 km)

Pantabangan was once a thriving town established by the Augustinian missionaries as early as 1645, but in 1966, after the Philippine Congress passed the Upper Pampanga River Project Act, the old Pantabangan town was submerged in waters to create the Pantabangan Dam, which was finally completed in August 1974. The new Pantabangan town was transferred to its present location after the dam was completed. The Pantabangan Dam has now become an interesting place to visit for a family picnic or just for sightseeing. It is also possible to do fishing, boating, kayaking and even jet-skiing on its water reservoir. The lake's higher elevation has attracted developers to put up resorts around its ridge to attract visitors to enjoy its cool mountain weather. Every summer when the lake's water recedes, one can take a boat to the old Pantabangan and visit it as the old church, the cemetery, and other structures reemerge.

Lobo, Batangas (145 km)

My fascination for lighthouses brought me to Lobo, Batangas. The Punta Malabrigo Lighthouse, completed in 1896, is one of the best-preserved lighthouses in the Philippines. Malabrigo Point's rocky coastline and strong currents earned it the name "mal abrigo" or "bad shelter" in Spanish. But its beautiful pebble beach and submarine garden have now become the favorite weekend getaway of intrepid travelers. Lobo also has the Olo-Olo Mangrove Forest and Ecopark, which the local tourism office promotes as "a true haven and totally preserved nature sanctuary where you can enjoy your time finding peace while experiencing the abundance of nature through bird watching, kayaking, eco-walk within the mangrove forest." It does not mention, however, that you have to drive through a scary, narrow old wooden bridge to get there.

Mauban, Quezon (139 km)

Driving to Mauban in Quezon means going to the Pacific side of Southern Tagalog and seeing the sunrise instead of the sunset on the eastern side of the region. Being there very early in the morning means catching the fishermen as they come back to shore with their fresh catch of the day. It also means having a full day to explore its old church, its several dozens of ancestral houses, and a public bath that was built in 1725. Being in Mauban in the morning is also a chance to take the boat for a 45-minute boat ride to its hidden gem: the island of Cagbalete. It is an island where adventure awaits: where one can explore its completely deserted white sand beaches, go snorkeling on its fish sanctuary, visit a sandbar that only appears during low tide, or simply have a quiet time after enduring the drive to get away from noisy Manila.