24 hours in Zamboanga Challenge

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It was a year ago when I first planned to go but a week before our trip the Atilano Pension House where we were supposed to stay was bombed and so we cancelled the trip. Then the second attempt. I booked a flight going to Zamboanga for only a day meaning we will be in Zamboanga for only 24 hours and experience this Latin City of the Philippines. Can I do it? Researching, Planning and Coordinating is necessary. If it fails the whole trip will be wasted. Then a month to go, a bomb exploded in a bus where 7 people were injured. Oh no!!! The question is should I go or not? Bahala na si Batman.

And so, this is it! Coming from my 18 hours duty, I arrived at home past 2am. I was waking up Jen but she is still at dreamland. For the meantime, I fixed my things and went to shower. Before 3am, off we go to the airport. Just in time we arrived at the departure area when it was time to board the plane.

Around 530am when we landed at Zamboanga International Airport. Earlier than we expected. But this is good because it gives us more time to explore.

As advised by travel bloggers, we walked outside the airport and took a Canelar bound jeepney. With no idea where we are heading, the jeepney stops and driver said "dito na po". In my mind, I don't have idea what it is but we went down the jeepney. We looked around. A little anxious to ask for direction. We moved on and saw Plaza Pershing. Now at least I know where we are.

Next to Plaza Pershing is Plaza Rizal...

and then the Zamboanga City Hall.

Its 6am! We continue to walk around till we reached Pillar Street where the famous Jimmy's Satti House is located and of course tried this Chicken Satti. Yes! I'm curious of the taste so I have to try it. The food is a bit spicy and the soup is overflowing. Honestly, for me, its nice to try but its not kind to my taste.

At 630am, we proceeded at Paseo del Mar. Our call time for Pink Island is 7am and so we have 30 minutes to go around. Fort Pillar is just a few steps away from Paseo. A man approached us selling candles. I brought one for me and for Jen. When we arrived at Fort Pillar there was an on-going mass. Its sunday! The mass is in Chavacano. I only understand a few keywords. We went to the other side of Fort Pillar where the candles are lighted. I said a few minutes of prayer then off we go to Paseo del Mar.

10 minutes before 7am, we arrived at the Sta. Cruz Island Tour port. I coordinated with the DOT thru SMS before our scheduled tour and so we were expected. We were asked if we want to join the boat of the first group since we are only two and they were 15. They divided the group into two and we joined the other half of their group. We paid P100each to the group. In my mind, it should be divided by the number of person in the boat. Well then fine. At least we have P300 discount for the boat. For the tour we paid P700, Entrance fee of P20 and ah.... terminal fee P5. Okay we did not pay the terminal fee. hehe! The DOT officer said the collector hasn't arrived so its free for now.

After 15-30 minutes of waiting and boat ride, we arrived at Sta. Cruz Island or "Pink Island". One of the four Pink Islands in the World. Why pink? Because the coral is mixed red and white in color so in our sight it looks like pink. 

I approached a man, which I thought is a coordinator in the Island but he is a policeman on guard, and asked where is the Badjao Cemetery. He then asked another man the location and he guided us going to that place. He is not Badjao or he didn't know anything about the ceremony of the Badjao's.

 From Badjao's Cemetery, he showed us the souvenier vendors. I'm looking for the mini-vinta and some fashion jewelries. Result, i spent P350++ for those :)

Since we don't have food and drinks. We are so unprepared and we are so hungry. We asked for the seafood they are selling. This one is squid that cost P100 for half kilo. Then they asked P50 for cooking. Rice is also offered at P30!!! Actually the rice is their own lunch.

While we are waiting for the food, we took advantage to take picture and enjoy the beach. We had good conversations with the local officers. They are looking forward for the promotion for tourism of the Pink Island probably this summer 2013. They looked at it as a soon Boracay-like place. There will be water activites and accomodations will be build in the island. In my mind, I hoped they will still preserve the beauty of the island. Waste properly disposed and no concrete structures... please!!!

At 930am, we decided to leave Sta. Cruz Island to continue our journey. We then visit the National Museum which is a few steps from Paseo del Mar.

From National Museum to Guiwan Bus Terminal, we had our first encounter with the overly-priced tricycle fare. We were charged P60. The guard from the National Museum told us that we will only pay P20.

At Guiwan Bus Terminal, bound to Pagadian. The guard on duty has a detector and so our bags were scanned. We left the terminal passed 1030am. We used the travel time for our most needed sleep. After 1.5 hours, we knew we are almost there at Vitali. Jen asked the woman beside her if its near. The woman replied its still a long journey. And so we waited patiently.

Then, I saw the "Welcome to Brgy Vitali" sign. Finally!!!

I asked the man at the check-point where we can take the ride going to Merloquet falls. He asked the habal-habal driver to take us to Merloquet falls. From the checkpoint to the drop-off point to Merloquet Falls is still very far. Our legs are aching. This is not a comfortable ride.

At the jump-off poing we paid the entrance fee of P5 then off we started the trek going to the falls without a guide. The way to the falls is well paved. Our driver did not even bothered to guide us.

After about 10-15 minutes, my jaw drops to this majestic falls. I'm not disappointed going a long way to here. It is so worth the trip. Sadly we are time pressured and so we did not soak our bodies into the waters of the falls and we don't want to travel from there going back to the city with wet clothes .

I explored a little at the waterfalls. I went up to the first level and ended up with an injury. The rocks are so slippery. And so i'm one of the casualties of this waterfall. Luckily, its just a minor one.

After taking pictures of the falls, we went back to the highway to take the bus going back to the city. The driver charge us P150 each.

At 330pm, we arrived at the bus terminal. We took a jeepney ride that has a ZCPM sign. At the end of the journey, the jeepney driver told us to get tricycle ride going to Canelar Barter but I don't want to because I don't want to get over-price again. Then I look around and saw the sign of the Cross of the Cathedral. We walk towards it.

I had my jaw-dropping at this Cathedral. Wow! It is so beautiful and so big. It is a three-story building with an elevator. Again, since it is sunday, mass is on-going and in Chavacano.

Okay since we were time-constraint we took the tricycle ride from the cathedral to Canelar Trading Center. The driver told us "bahala na kayo". I don't have an idea how much so I gave him P100 then he returned P50.

Its almost 5pm, so some of the stores are already closed and some are already about to close. We hurriedly look for the one we are at to... chocolates! I got Koko Jelly, Chocolate wafer and Zamboanga T-shirt.

Since we are already in Canelar. I knew that the Atilano Pension House is just around the area. We walked from the Barter till we saw a sign of the pension house which is behind Gerry's Grill. 

We approached the receptionist. The fan room is not available and so we checked-in at an AC room which cost P430 good for two at 12 hours time. We showered then prepared to go out again.

At 6pm, we took a jeepney going to Pasanonca Park. After a few minutes, I saw Pasanonca Park signboard so I knocked the roof of the jeepney and went down. It was already dark and I was expecting to see the boy scout tent. But we saw nothing. We  again took the jeepney ride then finally saw the Boy Scout Grounds but it is already close. We tried to look at the other gate and it is open. We went inside then asked the guard if we can have pictures since we were from Manila and will be leaving tomorrow morning. He allowed us and also he showed us the tree house.

Past 7pm, we went to Paseo del Mar for Dinner. We were so exhuasted that we deserved a much chilling. We had dinner at Mano-mano. I ordered Grilled Liempo. After which we went to another place which is called "Distrito". It's just 2 restos away from Mano-mano. We had a few bottles before we called it a night. Before heading back to the Pension House, we saw the light show. It is wonderful.

At 930 pm, I know the night is young, lights off. zzzzzzzzzzzz.........

At 4am, finally we woke up after 30 minutes alarms. Took a tricycle ride going to the Airport and we checked in. Boarded the plane at 550am then off we go back to Manila at 630am.

Summary of SCHEDULE

405am ETD Manila to Zamboanga

530am ETA Zamboanga International Airport

540-6am Canelar Jeepney to Plaza Pershing, Plaza Rizal and City Hall

6-630am Pillar Street for Breakfast At Jimmy's Satti House

630am Fort Pillar

7am-930am Pink Island Tour

930am-10am National Museum

10-1030am Guiwan Bus Terminal/ Waiting for Passengers

1030am-1230pm Travel time going to Brgy Vitali

1230pm-2pm Merloquet Falls

2pm-330pm Travel time going back to Zamboanga City

4pm Cathedral

430pm Canelar Barter

5pm Check in at Chang V Atilano Pension House

6pm Pasonanca Park/ Boy Scout Grounds

730pm Dinner and Chill at Paseo Del Mar

930pm Back to Pension House and Sleep

330am Alarm

4am Going to the Airport/ CHeck-in

615am Zamboanga to Manila

730am Arrival in Manila

Summary of EXPENSES:

P140/2 (P70) taxi from Makati to Terminal 3

P200 Terminal Fee

P35 Red Ribbon Cinnamon Bread

P7 Canelar Jeep

P50 Chicken Satti with rice

P20 Entrance Fee to Sta Cruz Island

P150/2 (P75) Squid and Rice at Sta Cruz Island

P700/2 (P350) boat ride Sta Cruz Island

P150 mini-vinta

P150 x 2 Earrings/ 1 Bracelet

P30 Earrings from another stall

P20 Bracelet because the vendor don't have change (daw)

P20 National Museum Entrance

P26 Sprite and bottled water

P60/2 (P30) Tricycle to Guiwan Bus Terminal

P125 Bus ride to Brgy. Vitali

P150 Habal-habal ride to Merloquet Falls

P5 Entrance to Merloquet Falls

P25 noodles

P125 Bus ride to Zamboanga City

P 8 ZCPM jeep

P50/2 (P25) Tricycle to Canelar Trading

P70 2 pieces Refrigerator Magnet (Buy 3 for P100)

P140 Tshirt

P200 Koko Jelly

P130 Chocolate wafer

P430/2 12 hours stay at Chang V. Atilano Pension House

P8 Pasonanca Jeep

P8 Boy Scout Grounds

P10 Jeep going back to ZCPM

P100 Dinner at Mano2

P220/2 (P110) 2 SM Light and French Fries

P60/2 (P30) Tricycle from Paseo del Mar to Pension House

P50/2 (P25) Tricycle from Pension House to Airport

P40 Terminal Fee

P60 Arroz Caldo at airport

P30 Bottled Water

P20 Shuttle Bus from Terminal 3 to Baclaran

P69 Breakfast at Chowking

P130/2 Taxi from baclaran to Makati

TOTAL:  P3,018