A WHIRLWIND TOUR

Home A Whirlwind Tour Photo



A WHIRLWIND TOUR

 

            The Villa sa Aplaya’a Beach Resort can facilitate your trips to the coveted, must-visit and must-see places and sights around the island province of about 123 kilometers circumferential road traversing six (6) municipalities comprising Marinduque. Starting from the town where the Resort is located, we shall walk with you through streets lined with Old Spanish Era houses to our first town:

 

BOAC

 

            It is the provincial capital of Marinduque where it houses the provincial government and quarters several national government offices and its instrumentalities. It is the island’s center of trade and commerce and venue-center stage of the famed “CENACULO” and “MORIONES” Festival. Our first stop:

 

            THE BOAC CATHEDRAL is more than two (2) centuries old but has maintained its impressive original architecture and façade. Built by Jesuits atop a hill, it was originally intended as and still is a place of refuge.

 

            THE MARINDUQUE MUSEUM is located inside the Boac Park. It boasts of a wide collection of ancient Chinese potteries dating back from the Sung and Ming Dynasties and highlighting a notable historical period of trade between old China and Marinduque.

 

            THE BOAC MARKET where we buy our souvenirs and some local delicacies to nibble on our way to the next town:

 

MOGPOG

 

            Ten (10) minutes from Boac town proper is the town of MOGPOG or short for “MAAPOG” meaning a place in abundance of lime, a substance highly valued as plaster in the brick and stone construction during the Spanish Era. Again, we walk with you through the streets lined with well-preserved old houses before taking our ride which will bring us to the next stop:

 

            THE PAADJAO FALLS is a multi-layered drops culminating into the largest pool at the bottom which offers us a refreshing dip into the cool waters, a welcome respite after a somewhat tiring stopovers and suffocating heat of the summer. Next stop:

 

            THE BALANACAN VIEW DECK is on top of the highest promontory near the port area where we are afforded an unobstructed view of the sea and the islands located between Lucena and Marinduque which you could pay a quick visit upon arrival at the port of BALANACAN.

 

STA. CRUZ

 

            The biggest of the six (6) municipalities comprising Marinduque, it was so named because it is where the Spaniards first brought the Holy Cross which eventually found its home in:

 

            THE CHURCH OF MALABON which was built in 1609 and is dedicated to and is the sanctuary of the Holy Cross. It boasts of a unique sculpting technique to carve the numerous icons in a large tableau situated in the center altar. The half curve sculptures were carved on the wood itself which made up the whole tableau but which makes you think they were mounted.

 

            THE BATHALA CAVES is a system of caves, some of which are named: Church, Python, Secret, Underground, River and Cemetery.  The biggest of these caves is the “Church Cave”,  believed to have been used as a dwelling place of early inhabitants of the island and was popularly known to have been used as a place of worship and refuge by a fanatical group, a “Cult” named “Samahang Tatlong Persona Solo Dios”.

The “Python Cave” is one of the must-see caves.  The cave has only one entrance abounded by pythons which have never harmed any of the visitors. These pythons are believed to be pets of Bathala.

 

           

 

 

           

TORRIJOS

 

            It is famous for its manually operated looms which use buntals for its fibers. The resulting product is probably the finest in the country.

 

            THE POCTOY WHITE BEACH is not really as white as the famous Boracay Beach. Instead, it is known for its glittering coral yellow sand and crystal clear waters which for some is even better.

 

 

 

 

BUENAVISTA

 

            The southernmost point of the island which offers us a more open and scenic panorama. Just a swim away from the beach line is:

 

            THE ELEPHANT ISLAND is an elephant shaped islet which was developed by a Japanese investor into a resort and leisure park which attracted a lot of golf enthusiasts and water sport fanatics before it was reclaimed by the local government.

 

            MT. KALINDIG which rises 1157 meters from sea level attracts a good number of mountain enthusiasts during the dry months of March, April and early May.

 

            THE TRES REYES ISLETS named after the three nymphs, rose from natural formation of limestone and boasts of underwater caves which used to be ancient burial grounds. The seas surrounding the island offer interesting coral reefs which are attracting a number of snorklers and divers.

 

GASAN

 

            The sixth (6th) town and the last one in the circumference before bringing us back to where we started in Boac. The town derived its name from gasan-gasan or calciumate rocks which is in abundance there.

 

            The 123 kilometers round the island trip will eventually bring us back to the capital but just before crossing the IHATUB bridge, we stop and once more enter the gates of our luxurious haven by the sea, The Villa sa Aplaya’a Beach Resort.