April 18 – 19, 2015
Since the entire family (The Mendezonas) was present, Mami thought it would be best to go on a last-minute family outing but the question was where. It was a weekend during the summer season so we knew it was going to be fully booked everywhere. We just wanted to go some place near Manila but Papi requested to go to the beach so clearly Tagaytay or Baguio was out of the question. Subic was meh, we already went there the last time so we ended up checking out places in Cavite and Laguna, there really was nothing available and if there were it was either they didn’t have enough rooms to accommodate all 15 of us or the rates were really jacked up.
For some reason Puerto Galera came to my mind, I think the last time my cousins and I were there was during my early college years—maybe 2004? At one point Puerto Galera used to be the “In” beach to be before Boracay became popular, that’s what I was told anyway. I had good memories of Puerto Galera so I suggested the place, mom actually thought it was okay and when we searched for accommodations there were a bunch of hotels that had room availability for a party of 15 so with mom’s booking powers she found a wonderful place for the weekend, Out of the Blue Resort.
The road trip from Alabang to Batangas Port took more or less 2 hours. We had to take a 45 minute boat ride, usually the public bangka takes you to Sabang beach but we arranged for a private bangka to take us directly to the shore of Out of the Blue. The typical cost for a private bangka is P3, 500.
Out of the Blue, we see youuuuu
The view while going up the stairs to our villas
Mom got 2 villas to accommodate all of us and they were beyond spacious, couldn’t take a photo since we were all too tired and we started settling in
Poor Teo was happy to be out of that bangka
Good Morning, Puerto Galera!
The boys room
Our room. I’m sharing with Marco and Pilica
Our neighbor’s place didn’t look too bad either
The view from our villa
After having breakfast in Out of the Blue and and settling in, Mom arranged for a boat to take us to White Beach since the shores in our area weren’t really swim-friendly
Our boat mates for that trip: Camille and Javi
Papi and Marco
Mommy, Diego and Mikel chilling all the way in the back
When we got to White Beach some of us decided to jump right in
And others found it too hot…
Yep the sand texture was perfect but at that moment it was way too hot
Eating by the beach after swimming—the best thing ever!
Look at that smile, Teo’s happy he’s not swimming in the beach
Hanging out with his Ninong Javi
Wondered where Papi was after lunch and this is where he was, just right next to our eating place
… the rest of the boys followed suit. Haha.
While the boys were out getting a massage, Camille, Jessica and I explored the local tiangges
I find myself getting attracted to the local market—same in the Bahamas, same in Cambodia, same anywhere else. You never know what interesting things you might come across in markets like these, although this one really didn’t have anything extraordinary. I did end up getting braided anklets.
The view while the girls and I stopped to grab some shakes
Classic Mindoro Sling—still the most traydor drink ever
People started coming in during the late afternoon and it was getting crowded. It’s a good thing we had our fill of sand and sea so we left for Out of the Blue and ended up swimming in the pool there.
We started Day 2 by taking a couple photo right by our balcony
Ready to leave for the beach
Paparazzi-d these two love birds. Awww..
Mateo putting sun block on Ninong Javi’s tummy
Off to the bangka we go
Sunnies pic…Jessica, Me and Pilica
Because yay Diday wouldn’t pose for the camera
The beach our boat guy took us to
Swimming was a family affair
Photo credits to Camille. Me and my baby bump.
The kids building their supposed sand castle
The girls and Diego apparently. hahaha
Pauline with teo who refused to swim.
We always have fun with jumping pics, don’t you agree?
Wacky, every single one of us. Photo grabbed from Camille 🙂
After swimming, we packed up, dressed up and had lunch somewhere close by
Ending this family trip with us almost tipping the boat. Haha. Typical.
~Rhea