As “Viber-ed” by Grace to
the Paranoid Traveler
Grace shared her journey with Philippine Flight Network's Paranoid Traveler to provide our readers with an exclusive look at 'The Great Philippine Road Trip,' a journey that perhaps most of us would not even dare consider taking, especially when there is always the option to fly!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Typhoon Butchoy (international name: Nepartak) was making its presence felt in
Metro Manila when our family commenced our migration to the South, but the weather was expected to improve. We were excited for the adventure ahead especially after seeing
the jeepney banner, "God is always with us." This was a sign of assurance as
we headed out to the South
Luzon Expressway (SLEX) for our first stop in Legazpi.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Entering
Quezon Province
From
SLEX, Waze directed us to the Pan-Philippine
(Maharlika) Highway then to Tiaong Diversion Road. The highway spans from
North to South taking you on a very scenic ride of the countryside.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
The
perk of traveling on a rainy day is having the highway all to ourselves.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
As we drove through Atimonan, Quezon, the skies began to clear!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Downpour
at Sipocot, Camarines Sur
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
After
a day of travel, we finally saw someone we know in Pili, Camarines Sur.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
We arrived in Legazpi, Albay where we enjoyed some sili ice cream.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Now
driving to Matnog to catch the ferry to Allen, Samar.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
After
days of rain, the sun came out and the skies were blue. Perfect for crossing the
seas!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
We admired the skill of the bus and truck drivers who could squeeze their vehicles onto the ferry boats neatly. We were last to board.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
This
is how it looks at the bottom of the ship.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Goodbye,
Luzon!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Visayas,
here we come!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Our voyage took us from Luzon (Sorsogon) to Visayas (Samar) cruising through the San Bernardino Strait, which they say can be very rough sailing. Thankfully, our journey was smooth and uneventful.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Penafrancia
is one of many shipping lines at Matnog pier ferrying vehicles and people to
Samar.
Crossing the ferry from Matnog, Sorsogon to Allen, Samar cost P1,600 for our car freight charges and passenger fare on board Penafrancia Shipping Company which is one of many shipping lines in Matnog pier ferrying vehicles and people to Samar.
Crossing the ferry from Matnog, Sorsogon to Allen, Samar cost P1,600 for our car freight charges and passenger fare on board Penafrancia Shipping Company which is one of many shipping lines in Matnog pier ferrying vehicles and people to Samar.
The sailing time is only 1.5 hours---faster than driving from Quezon City to Ortigas Center on a Friday night!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
I
don't mind the long drive with this view!
Driving took half a day to
Tacloban. The RORO
trip was smooth with the calm sea and the sun up shining brightly. It was a perfect day to sail. I had more motion sickness driving to the port than on the ferry because my
husband was driving as if he was in a Daytona race.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Entering
San Juanico Bridge, the longest bridge in the country.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
We
paid a visit to McArthur’s landing site
and spent the night in Tacloban. We headed out to Liloan Port early the following morning for
the second ferry boat ride to Surigao (Mindanao), which many people said is longer
and possibly rougher. We'll see.
We had a restroom break at the office of the Dept. of Public Works and Highways atop a hill on the road to the port. Too bad I forgot to take a photo. It’s a good place to stretch and rest. The restrooms are very clean even though it is in the middle of nowhere!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
We reached
the end of the Eastern Visayas after a three-hour drive from Tacloban. The
Pan-Philippine (Maharlika) Highway stretches all the way to the end. The road was
really good!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Our
trusted Avanza on her second RORO ride! Mindanao, here we come!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
This
is how they position the smaller vehicles on the Fast Cat lower deck.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
The
economy accommodation
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
The
premium economy accommodation
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
The
sailing was so smooth that we did our homeschooling onboard tackling, what
else, Philippine geography.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Hello,
Mindanao!
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
The trip lasted for an hour. Crossing from Liloan, Leyte to Lipatan, Surigao on board Fast Cat cost P3,558 covering car freight charges and passenger fares for Premium Economy cabin (air-con bucket seats). Here, you have to buy your snacks whereas they are free in Business class.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Arriving
in Surigao with our welcome banner from heaven.
It
took us eight hours to get to Davao City in spite of my husband’s Formula One
driving due to road constructions that rendered some one-way only. We cruised
along the CARAGA Administrative Region composed of Surigao del Norte, Agusan
del Norte and Agusan del Sur. I had no idea how huge Mindanao was until we made
this trip! As we were in a hurry, we had
to forego photo ops along the way. We reached the area surrounding Butuan City
(the capital of Agusan del Norte) around 5 pm. It would have been an ideal
place to sleep over as there were nice hotels in Butuan and malls in the city proper.
It already seemed like we had been driving forever as we made our way through Agusan del Sur! By
8 pm, we stopped at a roadside restaurant and resort called Hillview Resort for
dinner and a half-hour respite. We knew we were already far from Manila
because the names of food were a bit different, like "pututoy" which
is like halo-halo except that it is partnered with puto.
We
hit the road again determined to be in Davao before midnight. Waze was telling
us we could make it by 11:30 pm. Incidentally, Waze was our very reliable guide
throughout this journey. Local radio station signals were already out but our
Waze was still active.
Except
for gas refilling, we did not have any other stops. We kept filling up our gas
tank to full every time we saw a Petron gas station, which was strategically
located all over the country.
The
roads were smooth, winding through the mountains of Agusan del Sur and onto
Compostela Valley. Some parts were dimly lit which concerned my dad in Davao who
phoned around 9 pm telling us to just break the journey and stay the night in
Butuan. Too late as we were already miles away. We later found out that the
areas we passed by were not very safe late at night.
For most of the night driving, we saw quite a number of trucks and SUVs
speeding ahead. Our trusty Avanza couldn't go as fast but we managed to hit town
after town, noticing that the highways were well-lit once nearing the town/city
proper. When we hit Nabunturan, the capital of Compostela Valley, I knew we
were closer to home so I phoned my mom who warned us about a speed limit “once
you pass Panabo. Our traffic enforcers in Davao are strict. You best slow down.”
By
this time, I could no longer take photos due to travel exhaustion and everything
was already enveloped by the darkness of the night.
Tagum was well-lit with malls
along the main highway lined with palm trees. Panabo comes after Tagum which
was signaled by a strict military check point.
We were finally entering Davao Del Sur and going towards the city. One of the
first things that welcomed us was an electronic speed monitor that told my
husband that his current speed was 45 kph. That was a good reminder because the
maximum speed limit in the highway was 60 kph and only 30 kph in the city
proper. The smell of durian was somewhat faint but strong enough for us to know
we had reached Davao. By 12 midnight, my parents were thrilled to see their
grandchildren and we were able to breathe a sigh of relief. We were home.
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
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| Copyright photo: Grace Dousel/PFN |
Posts
Thanks for the excellent article. I was planning to do the drive from Manila to Davao and this will be a big help for reference.
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Now, how can a bullet train proposed to run from luzon to Mindanao make way through San Bernardino (Sorsogon) and Surigao Straits? There is a news that the European Economic Community will help the Duterte government with funding this project?t
ReplyDeleteTo cross San Bernardino and Surigao Straits, the most feasible option is to bore undersea tunnel way down. One of the most preferred example is the Seikan Tunnel.
Deletethank you! my daughter and i have been planning to do this for a while now. big help :D God bless
ReplyDeleteI have done some of this route through Samar by bus. It is very scenic.
ReplyDeleteThe missed to mention the following, bituka ng manok in Quezon, Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, cities of Calbayog and Catbalogan, Agas-Agas bridge in Sogod, So. Leyte (tallest bridge in the country)
ReplyDeleteMay i ask how much is the total fuel cost and ferry cost? Thank u plano po kasi magbyahe from mindanao to naga
ReplyDeleteLast 2003, we were plying round trip to Luzon from Bislig City. Honestly I admit: it was very scenic especially passing the massive Mayon Volcano twice! :)
ReplyDeleteHow much cost you in all including ferry fees, hotels, food and the gas? Planning to get mirage at manila and be driven all the way to davao in similar route.
ReplyDeleteGreat! SAlamat po sa pag share nyo...
ReplyDeleteGreat article Grace. I've done round trip Manila Cebu (via Bicol-Samar-Leyte and via Mindoro-Panay-Negros and vice versa) in early 2000 and in 2007 with my family, and this article relives that amazing experience. Glad to find out that Leyte to Surigao takes only 1 hour on the Fast Cat.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I liked it and enjoyed reading it, Thanks for sharing this useful information.
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ReplyDeletei wonder how tiring was the travel
ReplyDeleteHi, I read your travel diary,It was great that you were able to document your trip with your family. Those memories are priceless. My wife anf I are also driving to Tagum, Davao and your article is helpful in planning our road trip. Thank you. Joseph Cintron
ReplyDeleteVery good account of your travel. But I wanted to see how much did it cost you all in all including hotels, food, fuel, roro and other incidental expenses. We are planning to do this by the end of this month
ReplyDeleteThis is very informative and I admire how your family is bonded thru travelling. I wanted to do this and travel my 86yr old grandmom to Legazpi before she reaches her dawn of life and let her see her siblings and family.
ReplyDeletehi. were there check points?
ReplyDeleteGreat Article, Inspired me to do it again one more time, while I still can. But instead of driving a truck like I used to, I'm planning on using my motorcycle, just not sure if it would endure long travels.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this article, I will be following your time table excluding the R&R though.
ReplyDeleteI am planning to do the trip next month (on my own). I've almost gone to all the places in Mindanao by land and this will be a first for me.
Well done on this article, God bless you and your family!
Great Article, we're planning to do the same..thank you for sharing..God Bless!!
ReplyDeleteHi! I will be doing the same po on last week of may. Ask ko lang po, masyado bang steep ang mga daan? Is it advisable for new driver na idrive manila to davao? Salamat po!
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