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Tales and Tips: Anawangin Cove, Zambales

Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

(Photo courtesy of Francis, Ced Valera, Bek, Marc, Brian, Maan, Jolan)

This coming weekend is my much-awaited return to Anawangin, Zambales. I was first introduced to the island (or more appropriately, cove, as someone has corrected me in my multiply entry) when I signed up for Travel Factor’s Anawangin-Capones Photoholic Trip (Link: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/371/08_0223-_Anawangin_Cove) This time around, Jerome, from DEFTAC, is organizing this overnight trip and Chris and I are tagging along.

Only more than a month after, I’m already all so fired up to go back to the curved island with pristine white sand beach.

What to love about Anawangin

Travel Time. There are a lot to love about Anawangin. It’s not so far a drive from Manila for one. I used to frequent the Batangas resorts since it’s only 2.5 – 3 hour drive from Manila and the semi-white beaches are not so bad. I liked White Cove Resort (which was under the management of UCPB) in Nasugbu, Punta Baluarte in Calatagan, Playa in Calatagan, La Luz in Laya to name a few. I remember in college, Gina, King, Ryan and I spontaneously go to Batangas at our whim, regardless if we packed any bikinis or brought food. Having my conservative parentals, it was usually a day trip since I wasn’t allowed then to stay overnight. (How cruel right? Haha.) Nowadays, with the heavy traffic along SLEX, it turns me off to travel south nowadays.

Going to Zambales last February took us a quick 3 hours time. My friends tell me now that with the birth of the Subic expressway, it’d be so much faster an en route to Zamba. 2 hours maybe? We’ll test that this weekend.

There are no roads leading directly to Anawangin. One must take off from the Pundaquit beach and catch a 20-30 minute boat ride to the Cove. Boat ride costs around PHP1,000 one way, which can be shared by 5-6 people. You can also be more daring and go the long way by trekking 6 hours of open trails through the Pundaquit range

Virginity. It’s a double-edged sword. No resorts built around the cove preserves the pine trees laced around the vicinity for one. No resorts also mean that the place stays clean because there is lesser trash produced –which means no commercial pollution. But this also equates to not having a fluffy soft bed to lie in, no personal toilet and bath (which means you have to take a bath using the pump/deep well or take a boat ride to one of the Pundaquit resorts and use their shower), and all the other perks that hotels/resorts have like satellite TV. There are absolutely zero resorts in Anawangin, either you bring your own camp gear (tent and sleeping bag) or rent one from one of the resorts in Pundaquit. There are a few tables and huts (?) that you can rent for PHP 150 the whole day. By being virgin, I also mean there is no signal site at the Cove. One carrier has one bar of signal sometimes, but you have to be near the water to get a signal. Anawangin’s virginity sets it apart from other popular beaches like the overcrowded Puerto Galera or Boracay. Only about 20 mini-groups recline their tents in the area.

The Beach. White sand. Pine trees. Cool water. This is the perfect scene to lounge around, read a book, or watch the sunset. There’s also a marsh in the Cove streamlining to a mountain where you can practice photography.

Beach Must Haves:

Nivea Sunblock SPF 50

My skin easily burns so I need a higher SPF. I have Beach Hut, Banana Boat, etc. but I find Nivea’s non-greasy sunblock as the best in the market. It dries up fastest among the other brands and protects my sensitive skin the most.

Mosquito Repellant

As far as I can remember, there weren’t that many mosquitoes at Anawangin, but it’s always better to be safe than have a constellation of mosqy bites on your legs. I personally use Johnson’s & Johnson’s clear anti-mosquito lotion, but you can always rely on OFF lotion. If you really want to be over protective of your legs, or you’re just really paranoid about Dengue/Typhoid or whatever, you can buy this small gadget that steers mosquitoes away using its very low and indistinct sound that it emits. It’s only two inches small and has a clip-on, which makes it easy to clip on your pants or shirt. I forget what it’s called but I used it in Sorsogon during the Fireflies encounter along the Ogod River.

Digital Camera

If you have an extra battery pack, bring it. Two batteries are always better than one. There is no way you can charge anything on the Cove.

Drinking Water

Bring gallons. To replenish your skin and body of loss fluid due to heat and for washing in case there’s a long line by the pump. There are two water pumps on the Cove, but since people wash their dishes too. Sometimes you don’t want to wait 20 minutes just to get your hands and face clean.