Must-See in the City of Angels: Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, Los Angeles, USA

    My first stop-over in the USA was Los Angeles (LA), the City of Angels. My daughter, Trina, was about to graduate from her Master’s degree from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. But thanks to my cousins, residents of LA, they graciously hosted my stay for one week before I embarked on my Alaskan journey. Visiting my cousins in LA was like visiting my angels in LA. Since I had very little time, the challenge was to pack-in as much adventure as I can in that one week. It seemed that Lan and Kiko were experts when it comes to squeezing in tight visits to LA, so we did see as much as we could.

Lan's rose garden.

     Before going on tour around LA on my first day, I was not able to resist the temptation of posing behind the roses in my cousin Leilani’s (Lan for short) garden (photo above). According to Lan, it was her husband Kiko’s gift-for-all-occasions. Instead of buying her flowers each time, she can just pick the flowers of her choice anytime. Husbands, this a good tip in case you forget to buy your wife those ‘obligatory’ flowers.  Have the ‘missus’ plant and harvest her stuff, too!

Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels.

     Coming from a Catholic country, the Philippines, a first-stop and a must-see in LA is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels (Picture above: L-Lori; R-me). “This is found in the midst of downtown LA serving a total of over 5 million Catholics. In design, art and furnishings, the Cathedral is rich in cultural diversity in a city in which Sunday Mass is celebrated in 42 different languages (http://www.olacathedral.org/).”

     Upon entering the Cathedral, you will be greeted with this fountain, part of the Gateway Pool and Water Wall (Picture below). “The Gateway Pool and Water Wall near the Shepherd's Gate off Temple Street were designed by California artist Lita Albuquerque. Her art symbolizes the Scripture passage of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well (http://www.olacathedral.org/plaza/fountainsfs.html).”

Gateway Pool and Water Wall.

     What are endearing about this fountain are the words sandblasted out of the marble. The words are in numerous languages spoken during Masses in 287 parish churches in LA. As one of the most popular languages spoken in California, Jesus’ words, “I shall give you living water,” is also inscribed in Pilipino. 

     Inside, I was mesmerized by the hugeness of the cathedral (picture below). “The 11-story cathedral has a fixed seating capacity for 1,900 people and an additional 1,100 in moveable seating, for a total of 3,000 people in the nave and sanctuary. By its design, the nave encourages the full and active participation of all people in the Liturgy. No pillars block vision because nine steel trusses and the chapel structures on each side support the soaring, cedar wood ceiling. The dynamic effect results from Moneo's design that avoids right angles and symmetry (http://www.olacathedral.org/).”

Inside the 11-story Cathedral.

     To the left of the altar, high on the wall is a huge architectural Cross (Picture below: L-me, R-Lori). Light pours through alabaster into the church along the slanted crossbeam. The cross is the emblem of Christ, "the Light of the world.” Notice, too that the floor is made of 60,000 Jana limestone stones. Each stone was purchased by donations from individuals and families in honor of their loved ones. Donors, honorees and memorials are eternally remembered and displayed in a special hand-inscribed Archival Register (http://www.olacathedral.org/). As devotees, Lori and I took this opportunity to pray for God’s blessings and thank Him for this US tour, in Jesus’ name.

Architectural Jesus on the Cross.

     Baptism symbolizes the entry into the life of Christ and His Church. “The font of the Baptistery is designed to accommodate Baptism by immersion. The steps lead from the far side down into the immersion pool. The Baptized person emerges onto the nave side where the People of God are assembled and makes the journey forward to the Altar to share in the Eucharistic Presence of the Risen Lord. Four red carnelian granite fonts on each corner of the immersion pool have a continuous flow of living water, holy water for blessings, and a reminder for all of their Baptism (http://www.olacathedral.org/.” The picture below shows the Baptistery.

Baptistery.

     I am so grateful for this visit to the LA cathedral. It was a fitting start to my one month tour of the USA. Getting God’s blessings on this tour turned this into the perfect adventure in the USA. 

Why You Should Explore the Secret Paradise of Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines

Coming to Caramoan is like discovering a hidden treasure. Caramoan is composed of numerous small islands that used to be unheard of until a popular reality TV series, the Survivor, chose the islands to be its setting. Understandably so, the islands are a picture of serenity amidst the chaos in the city. They are a welcome respite to the everyday stresses of urban dwellers. Hidden for such a long time are the varying hues of blue-and-green seas, corals, lush mountain vegetation, the fishes and the sands. The sands in the islands are, for me, their biggest treasures. Come and visit some of these islands and see for yourself why tourists are tantalized by these hidden treasures.

               The trip from Sabang Port, Camarines Sur, starts with a ferry ride to Guijalo Port, Caramoan. This takes a little more than an hour. The best time is to leave from 6 am and arrive at around 7:15 am.

               The tour of the islands is the best part of any Caramoan adventure. However, one can also enjoy other amazing tourist destinations like the Caramoan National Park, the Centro, and the beaches where one can indulge in swimming, diving, snorkeling and spelunking, among other water sports activities. The best part for me in my journey to Caramoan was island hopping, swimming and just drinking in the view of the different islands where nature was at its best.  

Minalahos Island (above).

               The first stop for us, AGM family and friends, was Minalahos Island. The small beach enclosed with imposing rock formations was the perfect place to take lunch. Having visited more famous white sand beaches in the Philippines, I was not impressed with the grayish and compact sand in this island. We had this souvenir picture (below) taken before partaking of our packed lunch.

AGM family and friends.

Lunch was the Philippines’ famous adobo and freshly caught steamed crabs (below)  provided by our tour operator c/o Joseph Valencia.

Steamed crabs for lunch.

Next stop was Matukad Island. A mystical island, the attraction of Matukad Island was the lagoon situated on top of the rugged cliff. My brother-in-law, Vidal was brave enough to climb the cliff and take this picture (below). The myth goes that whoever takes a picture of the fish in the lake dies, as the family who ate one of the two fishes caught in the lake died. Of course, some tourists were able to take a picture of the remaining fish and remain alive as of today.

Matukad Island.

              Not only was the mysticism of this island irresistible, the white sand impressed me. It was fine as powder, comparable to the white sand in Boracay, another famous tourist attraction in the Philippines. A tour of Caramoan will not be complete if you’re not able to take a shot of this view (below) from atop the cliff. This picture below pretty much sums up the alluring essence of Caramoan: the blue-green water, white powdery sand, limestone rock formation, and the lush mountain vegetation. 

Top View of Matukad Island.

For a perfect walk on the beach, one should not miss taking a souvenir photo in this island. I just noticed the sand turning pink here (below).

Matukad Island Beach.

The shallow clean water beckoned as the sun was searing hot. So I took the opportunity to bathe in the sea to cool myself. The water looked so clean with the white sand underneath. I could have stayed on, except that there were a few more islands to conquer.

Swimming in the clear waters off Matukad Island.

Next stop, Lahos Island. I’d rather remember this as ‘lagusan’, Pilipino term for tunnel or passage way. Two big limestone rock formations separate the yellow-white, fine sand. One side of the island faces the Caramoan mainland; while the other side of the island is the Pacific Ocean, facing Marinduque, another gateway to Caramoan. 

Lahos Island (above).

Taking deep breaths of the cool, fresh air, drinking in the view, and walking barefoot on the soft as silk yellow-white-almost-pinkish sand of this island were a perfect breather from all of life’s hustles. Notice that I was not sure of the sand’s color (yellow, white or pink?). Maybe you could decide for yourself when you visit Caramoan.

Lahos Island Beach.

We took time swimming on the Pacific Ocean side. The large coral stones provided shade from the dangerous glare of the sun. At the same time, non-adventurous swimmers, like us, enjoyed wallowing in the knee-deep water (below).

After swimming, a souvenir shot was in order (below).

And a jump shot by the boys (below).

 Further along, we made a stop to fully appreciate the hidden treasures of the sea. Snorkeling must be taken advantage of. But my husband, Leo, ‘born-and-raised-on-the-sea’, dove without snorkels. As you can see from the picture below, the water was shallow, so it’s not scary at all, even for neophyte divers.

Leo, diving without snorkels.

On the picture below are what one sees in the water, live corals, where ‘Nemo’ feeds and breeds.

Corals with 'Nemo'.

The others rested on the boat while we slowly inched our way up (below).

The last stop was a hidden cove (below), wherein, we waited for the low tide to see its full splendor, or else miss the beach entirely.

The cove had this cave (below), where, it was easy to imagine hiding from the ferocious tropical typhoons that visit the Philippines often. Since it was summer, hiding from the hot glare of the sun was a more acceptable reason. Once again, I was amazed by the different texture and color of the sand in this island, yellowish and coarse. I wonder why these islands were made different from each other: maybe showing off the Philippines’ beauty in diversity?

On the way back, a picture of a lone fisherman (below) plying the Caramoan waters, greeted us; maybe, going home after a bountiful catch for the day.

We stayed overnight at the River View Inn courtesy of a package tour prepared and handled by their guide, Joseph Valencia, who has become a friend to us. We went back home to Donsol, Sorsogon the way we came. From River View Inn we were brought to the pier by the resort van; then we rode the boat to Sabang pier. Then, we rode our private vehicles which we parked near the port in Sabang. After about four hours, we reached Donsol, Sorsogon.

How to go there:

From Manila: Ride a bus or plane going to Naga City. The best time is to leave Manila around 9 pm (by bus). Around 6 am, ride a van going to Sabang Port. Then take a ferry going to Caramoan Guijalo Port. If you made a reservation, staff of your resort will fetch you and take you to your resort. A few minutes of rest and you should be ready to embark on your amazing Caramoan adventure.

For inquiries regarding your package tour you may contact AGM Beachfront Resort; email: agmresort@gmail.com; tel.no.: +63-9212660180; URL: www.agmresort.com

Fun-filled Start to a High School Reunion @ Big 30 Pizza and Pasta

     We had our ‘official’ high school reunion in January 2013. However, our classmate, Sonny was not able to make it on time. Upon little prodding, he acceded to host another reunion because he missed us so much. This meant he sponsored the batch t-shirt, the trip to Tagaytay and the food during this excursion. We agreed to meet in Tagaytay from Sta.Cruz, Laguna but our tummies beckoned. So we decided to stop-over Paseo de Sta.Rosa for a little snack at Big 30 Pizza and Pasta. 

Big 30 Pizza and Pasta in Paseo de Sta.Rosa, Laguna.

     Little did we know that our other classmates from Manila, also, decided to stop-over Sta.Rosa.  What happened next was a riotous affair in Sta.Rosa.

L-Sonny, the excursion sponsor; R-Above and below: High school classmates

 in a riot after meeting each other for such a long time.

     Finally, after about 45 minutes, our order of pizza arrived. It was the 30-inch All Meat Pizza (₱1,608) with ground beef/pork, meat chunks, bacon, ham, frankfurter sausage, special cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese. It was huge at first sight. I wondered if we could all finish this because we were more than 15.

Big 30 All Meat Pizza.

     Before the eating, there was the goofing around. These two (below) have always been fun to be with, even when we were teenagers.

L-R: Junie and Jo Ann eating the pizza with no hands.

     The pizza did not disappoint. It had all the meaty goodness of pizza, flavorful and tasty. The crust was thin and a little bit soft-and-crunchy, cooked just right. Believe it or not, we were not able to finish the pizza and there was still enough for take-out.

Mouths are full. My classmates are busy gorging on their pizza and talking at the same time.

     For our drinks, we ordered 1 Tower of Lemon Iced tea (₱198) and 2 Towers of Pineapple Juice (₱198 each). If the flavors are too strong for you, you can mix both to come up with lemon-pineapple- tea. While the drinks were good for 8 people, we were not able to finish them all. 

L: My classmates, while keeping up with the latest updates over their juices and teas; R: Mixed lemon tea and pineapple juice.

     The servings were large at Big 30. Make sure that you are very hungry when coming over or you could take out the left overs with the boxes that they provide. But you have to bring your containers if you want to take out left over drinks. This pizza adventure at Big 30 Pizza and Pasta was just the start of a long fun-filled day for us. It was a fitting start to more adventures and surprises for all of us.

These are the happy faces of high school class Section Narra’77, Pedro Guevarra Memorial High School during our excursion.

     Big 30 Pizza and Pasta has this address: Paseo 2, Unit 3B,4B,5B, Greenfield City, Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna. 

My Favorite Car: BMW Plant Tour Spartanburg, South Carolina

     My favorite friend, May Godfrey, works for my favorite car company, BMW. How cool is that? BMW is touted as the “ultimate driving machine”. May has been with BMW, Spartanburg Plant, South Carolina, since she migrated to the US with her daughter Camille. So it was really a privilege to visit the BMW car factory and Zentrum Museum courtesy of my childhood friend. 

BMW Manufacturing Co, 1400 Highway 101 S, Greer, SC as viewed from I-85 (http://www.neighborhoodpreviews.com).

     The BMW plant in South Carolina is the only BMW manufacturing company in the US. It is the only producer of the X3, X4, X5, and X6 in the world. The $2.2 billion plant is one of the company’s global five-plant production networks. The Spartanburg BMW plant employs 10,000 and fuels the economy of the Upstate Region (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_US_Manufacturing_Company). Some of the BMW models are shown below (https://www.bmwusfactory.com/manufacturing/factory-products/plant-spartanburg-vehicle-models/

Some of the BMW models (above).

     Factory Tour.  We took the 10:00 am factory tour. According to their website, “BMW’s only American factory is a marvel of the blending of modern engineering and design aesthetics. Visitors have a first-hand look at the process of how the ultimate driving machine is built during the guided plant tour (https://www.bmwusfactory.com/zentrum/tours/guided-factory-tour/).” Visitors are not allowed to take pictures inside the factory, so I was not able to take my own pictures. 

We are being given a briefing before the BMW Factory Tour.

At the factory, humans and robots work together to achieve the BMW quality that is the envy of other car manufacturers. A video of how they manufacture their car is shown in their web site: https://www.bmwusfactory.com/bmw_videos/world-class-manufacturing/.

Inside the BMW plant. (http://www.neighborhoodpreviews.com)

 BMW Zentrum Museum.  After the plant visit, guests may take a look at the past, the present and the future of BMW, through a self-guided tour of the Zentrum Museum.

The BMW Zentrum Museum in Greer/Spartanburg, South Carolina (http://businessclimate.com).

      Inside the Zentrum Museum, we saw cute-looking cars called the Isetta cars. “The Isetta is an Italian-designed micro-car built under license in a number of different countries, including Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil,^[Germany, and the United Kingdom. Because of its egg shape and bubble-like windows, it became known as a ‘bubble car’, a name later given to other similar vehicles. The BMW Isetta was, in 1955, the world's first mass-produced-3-Litres/100-km-car. It was the top-selling single-cylinder car in the world, with 161,728 units sold (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta).”

Trina (upper L) shown with an Isetta car on display at the Zentrum Museum.

     Motorcycle fanatics would have a field day at the Zentrum. “BMW manufactured its first motorcycle in 1923, the R32, which featured a flat-twin boxer engine. BMW Motorrad still uses the flat-twin boxer configuration, but now manufactures motorcycles with a variety of engine configurations. BMW Motorrad regularly enters its motorcycles in the Dakar Rally, an annual car, truck, and motorcycle race that runs from Europe to Africa and has featured riders such as Simon Pavey and motorcycling celebrity Charley Boorman. BMW Motorrad motorcycles have won the Dakar Rally six times (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Motorrad).”

Trina with some of the BMW motorcycles on display at the BMW Zentrum.

     One of the most popular BMW cars is the Z3, “the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW. This was the first BMW model assembled in the United States.  It was later featured in the James Bond movie in November 1995, GoldenEye in which a blue prototype was provided for filming in late January 1995.  The entire 1996 BMW Z3 roadster production run, more than 15,000 roadsters, was sold out by the time the car was introduced (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z3).” Photo below shows the Z3 on display at the Zentrum.

BMW Z3 featured in a James Bond 007 movie.

     A visit at the BMW factory and the Zentrum Museum usually takes about two hours and a mile of walking. It is highly advised the participants wear closed, comfortable shoes. This tour is advisable, not only for BMW fans, but other car enthusiasts who want to learn about making the ultimate driving machine, the BMW.

L: Me and May in front of a BMW Roadster; 

R: Me taking Trina’s photo inside the Zentrum Museum.

           The tour costs $10 for adults, $3.50 for students and BMW Car Club members (must have CCA card with you upon arrival) qualify for a discount. For more details regarding this tour, log on to https://www.bmwusfactory.com/zentrum/tours/guided-factory-tour/.

How I Got My US Visa: Trina’s Graduation from the University of Alaska

     Getting a US visa is not easy. Friends and friends of my friends, virtually strangers, have long and sad tales of how they failed to get approved by consular officers of the US embassy. Some have tried, not only once, twice, even thrice, just to be issued that longed-for-visa and fulfill their American dream. I was lucky the first time I tried. How?

     I was issued an invitation by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to attend the graduation of my daughter, Trina, for her Master of Science degree in Food Science. But this was not the primary reason that I was approved. Maybe some of these were: I was working with a state university, the University of the Philippines Los Baños as Assistant Professor; I have been to other countries previous to this trip; my husband is a Canadian citizen; and I answered the consul with confidence.  No matter why or how, I was elated when my tourist visa was approved. This meant I could go and embark on a one month tour of the US c/o my daughter, Trina.

Trina and Me before her graduation rites outside
Carlson Center, Kodiak, Alaska.

               Trina’s graduation. Trina’s graduation was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. The John A. Carlson Community Activity Center is a 6,443-seat multi-purpose arena in Fairbanks, Alaska. It is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks ice hockey team of the WCHA, the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the Indoor Football League, and has been the site used for the university's commencement exercises as well as graduation ceremonies for Lathrop, West Valley, and North Pole High Schools (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlson_Center). We were among the first to arrive inside the auditorium. 

Trina and Me inside the Carlson Center before the ceremony starts.

    

 The electronic bill boards congratulate the graduates.

     I became emotional when it dawned on me that we were the only Filipinos in the crowd. I double checked the program just to be sure. Indeed, Trina was the only graduate from the Philippines. Any mother would be proud of her daughter’s graduation. But I was doubly proud because Trina, through a graduate assistantship was able to survive even if this was a long way from mainland USA, and very far away from home (the Philippines). 

Trina (middle) is the only graduate from the Philippines at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

     I almost teared-up when Trina was at the stage  proudly showing-off her diploma.

Trina (middle) at the stage after receiving her diploma.

     After graduation, there was much jubilation outside the Carlson Center. 

L: Trina with other graduates after the ceremonies, outside Carlson Center; 

R: Other graduates are creative in celebrating their graduation.

     A post-graduation program was prepared for the graduates, their parents and the faculty inside the Carlson Center. I wanted to savor the moment, so I suggested that we go inside. I still hadn’t gotten over the feeling that Trina’s hardships finally paid off. This was the start of a better chapter in her life, work in the industry or another graduate degree, a doctor of philosophy degree. Inside the center, there were snacks prepared for everybody and an opportunity for more picture-taking. 

Congratulations Trina. 

     After Trina’s graduation we were treated to dinner by a mentor-friend at an original American diner. I was very thankful for this US tour because it enabled us to bond together after more than two years of Trina’s graduate work. We proceeded to other US states and, finally, Georgia, USA, where work awaited her at the University of Georgia. After this stint, Trina was also able to work for Bunge, Illinois, a private food company. 

     Presently, she is at the University of Oregon pursuing her doctor of philosophy degree major in Food Science. Hopefully, I will be able to attend her graduation because I was given a 10-year visa by the consular office of the USA. Next time you apply for a US visa, make sure that you have valid reasons and that you are truthful about your declarations to the consular officer. They are trained to see through your honesty and intention. 

Best Philippine’s Giant Secret Revealed: Swimming With Whalesharks, Donsol, Sorsogon

     Since its revelation in 1998 to the media, tourists have been continuously going to the quaint town of Donsol for the amazing experience of swimming with whale sharks. Thus, previously unknown to many, the secret of the existence of these gentle giants has been revealed for the world to enjoy.

     Swimming with whale sharks is just like walking with dinosaurs. This is because the whale shark (Rhicondon typus) is the world’s largest fish, which, according to Wikipedia, grows up to 12.65 m or 41.50 ft or more, and weighs 21.5 mt or 47,000 lb. These giants of the sea visit Philippine waters, specifically, Donsol, Sorsogon from November up to June. Nomads of the sea, these migratory fish not only visit Philippine waters, what is more fantastic is the report by the WWF that whale sharks also breed in Donsol waters. See video here : https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=180493475819. 

Whalesharks are gentle giants of the sea. 

(Picture courtesy of http://worldwildlife.org/species/whale-shark)

This only means that we may see a lot more of this fish if we take care of them.  Whale sharks have big mouths that feed on planktons that are abundant in Donsol. According to my husband, who is a native of Brgy. Dancalan, whale sharks have been sighted as far back as he could remember. Since its revelation in 1998 to the media, tourists have been continuously flocking to the quaint town of Donsol for the amazing experience of swimming with the gentle giants. Thus, previously unknown to many, the secret of the existence of these gentle giants has been revealed for the world to enjoy.

Listed as one of the endangered species, an interaction with the ‘butanding’, as locals call it, should be part of your bucket list. Whale sharks are seriously jeopardized by commercial and accidental fishermen who sell the fish for its meat, fins and oil. So why don’t you swim with whale sharks until the supply lasts?

 In Dancalan, Donsol, Sorsogon, guests are required to register at the Whaleshark Interaction Center before embarking on their adventures (island hopping, diving, interacting with whalesharks, fireflies, manta rays, flying fish, etc.). My daughter, Tisa and his son, Kiel (below), registered as local tourists and paid P100 each. Foreign tourists are required to pay P300 each as registration fee.

Tisa and Kiel  at the Tourism Center (background).

Our family stayed at the AGM Beachfront Resort, 1 km away from the Whaleshark Interaction Center (WIC). The gate of AGM cannot be missed, left side of the road from Donsol town proper going to the Tourism Center.

AGM Beachfront Resort, Dancalan, Sorsogon, Philippines.

The AGM Beachfront Resort (below) is one, if not the most awarded resort by Trip Advisor. Located in Brgy. Dancalan, Donsol, Sorsogon, it has been consistently recognized for its excellent service to customers (http://www.agmresort.com/). 

 

Inside the AGM Beachfront Resort.

From time-to-time, boats are seen a few yards from the property because whale shark interaction with tourists is ongoing. Specifically, one Christmas day, boats with tourists on board were seen in front of AGM Beachfront resort on their whale shark interaction adventure (below). One boat can accommodate 6 persons and may be rented for P3,500/ boat.

Whale shark interaction in front of AGM Resort.

 Tisa and family are shown below during their whale-shark-watching-experience (below).

The latest addition to AGM resort is this infinity pool with a dazzling view of the sunset (below).

The pool has a Jacuzzi where guests can relax and enjoy their vacation (below).

     My family and I are enjoying the fresh crabs, shrimps and barbecue served at the AGM restaurant (below). The restaurant offers native, Mediterranean and Western fares at very reasonable prices.

Visit Donsol, Sorsogon, swim with whalesharks and stay at AGM Beachfront Resort, one of the most awarded resorts by Trip Advisor. Its rooms are air-conditioned, with toilet and bath and cable/TV in each room. Wifi is available in the restaurant. The rates of the rooms at AGM Beachfront Resort are as follows:

Standard Room: queen bed good for a couple (2 persons), Php 2,200/N

•        Additional person in a roll out bed: Php 300/N

Twin Room: 2 single beds for 2 persons, Php 2,400/N, tax included

•        Additional person on a roll out bed: Php 300/N 

Premium Twin Room: queen bed and a single bed good for 3 persons, Php 2,600, tax included  

•        Additional person on a roll out bed: Php 300/N

Family Room: 2 queen beds good for 4 persons, Php 3,000/N, tax included       

•        Additional person on a roll out bed: Php 300/N

               How to go there:

              

By plane: From Manila Domestic Airport to Legazpi  Airport takes 1 hour. From Legazpi, an AGM van can be rented and pick you up and bring you straight to AGM Beachfront Resort for a little over an hour.

               By bus: Take the bus plying the Manila-Legazpi route. This may take 10-12 hours. From Legazpi terminal, ride a van going to Donsol (about 1 hour). From Donsol town proper, ride a tricycle going to Brgy. Dancalan, 5  minutes away.

               By private car: Manila to AGM Beachfront Resort, Brgy.Dancalan, Donsol takes about 12-13 hours.