The Amana Waterpark boasts of having the biggest wavepool in the entire Philippines. It probably has a bit larger wavepool than that of Splash Island, although it can’t seriously challenge Splash Island when it comes to the variety of water slides and rides (as of now, Amana has a wavepool and a kiddie pool). Still, if you’re within the vicinity, a wavepool would really be enough to entertain the kids this summer. A swimming pool, by itself, would do the trick. A wavepool would definitely be better. (If anyone knows why they say “13 waves” to describe Amana, do tell us. I don’t know if that has something with the more established resort also in Bulacan: 8 Waves Waterpark in San Rafael.)

More importantly (for the budget-conscious, at least), Amana allows food and drinks to be brought inside (we received a subsequent clarification from Amana that only food and water are allowed). Alcoholic drinks are not allowed, and so are containers that are made of glass (also, as normally required in swimming pools, come ready with the proper swimming gear).

Amana opened its gates last month, March of 2009, and it is far from complete. There’s so much room for improvement for this place (let’s just leave it at that), though I didn’t mind the narrow, not-so-smooth road going to the resort — I always consider the journey part of the adventure in going places.

How much? Entrance fee (day swimming) is P250 for adults, and P200 for children (4 feet and below) and senior citizens. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. Entrance fee (night swimming, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) is P120 for adults and P80 for children and senior citizens. Some cottages, on the other hand, have the following basic rates: 8 persons – P600; 10 persons – P800; 30 persons – P1,500.

How to go there? Now that you know how much it costs, let’s talk about how to get there. From Metro Manila, take the North Luzon Expressway (NLE) and go to Sta. Maria through the NLE’s Bocaue Exit (turn right after the exit ramp). Upon hitting a fork in the road (with PTT gas station at the middle of that fork), take the road going left. Then you’ll see the newly-opened Walter Mart. Turn left at the WalterMart intersection. After that, it’s a series of right/left turns, so just follow the streamers/directions along the way. If that fails, ask for directions: Bagong Barrio, Pandi, Bulacan. That’s where Amana Waterpark is found.

Contact details, as appearing in its website:

Tel No. (02) 299-6612; (044) 661-2383; (044) 661-2384; Cell No. 0922-870-8428; 0923-713-5874

Map and directions, click here.

We have been putting off our trip to Manila Ocean Park for more than a month. We would have loved to be among the first to go, but since long lines are expected with newly-opened establishments, we decided to wait until the lines aren’t that long. So, today, a Sunday, we decided to go (there are so many long weekends to choose from, by the way). The Manila Ocean Park opens at 10:00 in the morning, so getting there earlier means no hassle in looking for the perfect parking space and no falling in line. There are two parking areas: one beside the Manila floating hotel, right after the Manila Hotel, while the other is near the restaurants (Manila Harbor, Pantalan, etc.). You may also want to leave your water and food at home because, just like Enchanted Kingdom, food and water are not allowed unless bought inside.

You should have no problem getting there because the Manila Ocean Park is surrounded by so many landmarks. It’s just behind the Quirino Granstand. It’s at the other side of the Rizal Park (also known as Luneta, where the statue of the national hero, Jose Rizal, is found). There are two points of entry: one at the intersection of the Manila Hotel and the other at the interesection where the Museo Pambata is found. It is under 5 minutes from the US Embassy, Baywalk and the Manila Yacht Club. See map and directions.

I must say that the highlight of the trip is what I’d like to call the “sea tunnel”. It’s a thick glass tunnel underneath the huge aquarium. You feel you’re under the sea, without Sebastian or Ariel. Not good for a claustrophobic. The view is great, which is the “something” that I mentioned earlier that should make up for the lack of whale or sea lion shows. But I’m going ahead of myself. Let’s go back.

The first part of the tour is called Agos, which is an open area with plant-filled high walls (except that the plants are newly planted), with a waterfall. At the top of the high walls are thick wires running from one end to the other, which gives the eerie feeling of being in one of the dinosaur cages of Jurassic Park. Here you’ll be greeted, not by a T-Rex, but by giant fish like the Giant Arapa–something. There’s the Electric Eel (I was tempted to ask for a demonstration if it’s really an electric eel). There’s a statue that seems to be out of place, though. I believe it’s a fertility statue, which looks like the one found in one of the Boracay islands. I don’t know why it’s at the Manila Ocean Park, but I know for sure that the nuns who were with us didn’t get their photos taken with the statue.

It’s hot at the open Agos section and you’ll let out a sigh of relief upon entering the next section, which is air-conditioned. Here you’ll find the Pajama Cardinalfish, which is only one of the types of fish that I’m still trying to figure out how they got their names. There’s the Titan Triggerfish, which I include here because it has a cool name. There’s the Longhorn Cowfish (a yellow fish with long horns, but doesn’t look like a cow) and Hispid Frogfish (which doesn’t look like a frog), both weird-looking fish. There’s the Giant Spider Crab, which, as its name suggests, is huge, and looking at it feels like watching a movie about aliens. There’s the Longfin Bannerfish, with its lovely strips, and the Spotted Garden Eel, which hides itself by burying half of its body in the sand.

There’s Convict Blenny (which appears to be wearing the old black-striped prison uniform), guarded by the Sergeant Major (no, I’m not kidding, the Convict Blenny is also a fish). There’s the Featherstar, starfish and anemone. When you say anemone, what comes to mind? Ah, clownfish. Nemo, the most famous clownfish, and his father’s sidekick, Dory, are also at Manila Ocean Park.

There’s a restaurant (Ozeano), which is right after the Fish Spa (perhaps you’re wondering if they massage a fish at the Fish Spa). Other fastfood stores, like Chowking, are still in the process of construction. But I guess I’m yapping too much. Just take time out to bring your kids to Manila Ocean Park. My son had a great time and I was surprised to hear him say new words, which we didn’t teach him, like a panda (the logo of the WWF, which is a partner of the Manila Ocean Park), as well as other familiar names like seahorse, turtle, shark, whale and stingray. There are other photos and videos of different kinds of fish, but we can’t upload everything here. So just go and enjoy.

See map and directions

Reasonably priced at under 5,000 per villa a day, with three bedroooms at the second floor and plenty of space at the ground floor (there are also bungalow type residences), the Montevista Villas is a good getaway for the entire family. If you’re on a budget mode, you could bring enough beverage and food to last for the vacation (they discourage cooking inside the villas, which has a refrigerator but no cooking equipment, but you could always bring a rice cooker of some portable cooking/heating device). If you prefer the full-serviced hotel setting, Holiday Inn is just a stone’s throw away.

We (and by “we,” I mean a group of 14) were at Montevista only for a day, so we really had no time, and I was not really interested, to go around. I was planning to try the spa, but decided to sleep and rest. Maybe next time I’ll check out the golf course or try my luck at the Casino Filipino.

There should be no problem going to Montevista, as the North Luzon Expressway is travel-friendly. Take the Angeles exit, which is near the end of the expressway, turn right after you pass the Angeles toll both, then just go straight (or ask around just to be sure). If this article brings up more questions than answers, you could contact Montevista Villas through these numbers: (045) 599-7000, 845-2495 and 299-5800. And if only this article is sponsored, I could also tell you who to look for when you call. Just kidding. =) Enjoy your vacation.

Because Tambuli is in Mactan island, you’re guaranteed fresh seafood. You enjoy eat-all-you-can buffet, while watching a great  performance of folk dances. While the beach is not really as spectacular like Boracay or Bohol, the water is clean for water activities like zooming in a jet ski. If you’re tired of seawater, you could choose among the freshwater pools. And because it’s somewhere secluded, you could enjoy your privacy. Read more about Tambuli Beach Club through its website. Enjoy!

More information at the Directory.

What’s more impressive, however, is Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, a five-star hotel and resort. It’s a paradise where you could choose to frolic in the beach or the number of swimming pools.

Should you proceed to the beach, there are a number of water activities including jetski. Don’t forget to bring crumbs of bread to feed the fish in the water near the beach. You could choose among the number of dining options, although I prefer the Cowrie Cove, where you could enjoy fresh seafood right by the beach. You could relax in the spa or spend the night in solitude, contemplating about anything at the wharf. There’s really more you could do, that is, if you could pull yourself out of the room. With a soft bed, a balcony overlooking the swimming pools and the beachfront, and with a significant other, why would you get out of the room?

I didn’t have much chance to enjoy this paradise the first time I was there, when I served at the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) Ministerial Conference, held here way back in 1996. I promised myself, just like MacArthur (although Gen. MacArthur made his promise to the entire country), to return and enjoy this paradise, but not on taxpayers’ money. I kept my promise, almost ten years and a couple of pounds after. Really, there’s too many places to see and so many things to do, with so little time to do it all. See the Philippines every chance you get, because there might not be another chance to do it.

More information at the Directory.

Just a caveat, there are less expensive options (also discussed in this blog) if you want to enjoy Mactan. Still, if you have money to spend, Shangri-La is one of the best options.

Of course, there are a number of good spas around, including those scattered in the cities of Metro Manila. It’s entirely possible that the massage in the best city spa may be similar with, even better than, that in Nurture Spa, but there’s one major difference — being immersed in nature. Nurture Spa is located in Tagaytay City, which is the nearest alternative to the cool atmosphere of Baguio. So, a massage is a good alternative from (or a good activity some time after) eating bulalo at Leslie’s Restaurant, steak at Massimo’s, or cheese cake at Bag of Beans.

The spa is a bit far from the main road, which means that you bask in the quiet and tranquility of nature. Nurture spa has a number of cottages, including a cluster of authentic traditional Ifugao huts, which means that you could take time out — the whole day, overnight or for a couple of days — to stretch and relax. If these perks don’t interest you, then go there for the massage.

Here’s how to get there. You could also read more about the Nurture Spa through its website. I strongly suggest you make a reservation before going there. (Photo: “Stolen” shot at the stairs of our rented Ifugao hut. See the high fence? The hut is sealed from the rest of the cottages. That’s perfect if you want privacy. Enjoy!)

There’s a fish farm in the middle of the sea on the way to the Pearl Farm, but there are no pearls. Not that it matters, anyway, because you go there to enjoy the resort.

We took a van from Davao City, but not before devouring a good serving of sinugba na tuna (grilled tuna) and kinilaw.  We tried to drop by the Crocodile Farm but there was no more time. This is just the Pearl Farm.

Jump-off point after the ride is a hotel with a pier, Waterfront. Peddlers of pearls abound at the pier. While pearls. Black pearls. Different grades. Different sizes. Different prices. This only adds fuel to my initial (mis)impression that pearls are indeed cultured in the Pearl Farm. But the pearls are from the other areas of Mindanao, not from the Pearl Farm.

From Waterfront’s pier, the banca (boat) ride towards the Pearl Farm, located at Samal Island, takes some 30 minutes away.

The boat passes a number of white beaches. Pare, ‘yun na ba ang Pearl Farm? (Dude, is that the Pearl Farm?)  “No, sir,” the boat operator retorted with a smile. Maybe he has experienced (or suffered through?) similar child-like questions. Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

When you see beautiful cottages on stilts lining the white beach, you know you’ve arrived at the Pearl Farm. I thought it would be fun staying in a cottage where the balcony opens to the sea, literally. You can play some game (like spin a coconut?) and the loser gets thrown to the sea. Direct from the balcony. Or it’s like a Ro-Ro when it’s hot — roll-in, roll-out. Just slip to the water for a dip and roll back to the balcony when done.

Unlike Boracay or Laiya, there are no neighboring resorts or restaurants within walking distance. It’s just you, the island and the Pearl Farm (so choose your companion carefully, although that sly smile on your face tells me you know exactly who to bring).

But because it has no neighbors, it’s quite secluded . . . perfect for, you know. This is a self-contained place. Jetski and water sports. Billiards while having beer. A restaurant that serves good food. A number of swimming pools.

There’s no pearl grown in the Pearl Farm. The jewel is the place itself, where you could relax and enjoy nature at its best. Enjoy the white sand, the clean sea water, the gentle breeze, the fresh food and the great hospitality.

Perhaps those set of traits comes to mind when you hear Eagle Point Resort (Anilao, Batangas). I realized three things on our way to this resort.

First, are there eagles in Eagle Point? Yes, there are eagles at Eagle Point Resort, but these majestic birds are in cages (also sea turtles and sharks) Unless you’re a diehard animal rights advocate, it doesn’t really matter because you go there not for bird watching, but to enjoy the clear and clean waters, the secluded atmosphere, and the surprisingly good food. You go there to unwind and relax.

Second, I was expecting a great beachfront. There was no white sand and no beach area, unfortunately, but the seawater is clear and clean. We still enjoyed the sea. Plus there’s a swimming pool, with slides, for those who prefer fresh water.

Third, it’s a long drive. After 4-5 hours of driving from Manila, you go through a stretch of dirt road, then through a very narrow road — steep at certain points — carved out off the cliff. I believe it’s all worth it, though. As in Sagada, maybe it’s true that you have to go through hell to reach paradise.

Anyway, for romantic getaways (or, for any reason, you just want stay away from the crowd), the stand-alone cottages at the edge of the resort are highly recommended. You could read more about Eagle Point Resort, including directions on how to get there, through its website. See also here.