Ariara Island, Palawan. Another island making it to the international scene.

As you all know, this island located in the remote part of Palawan, has been named as one of the top 100 Best Holidays in Vogue-UK Magazine. This exclusive island or should I say high-class expensive resort is located in the area called Linapacan in Calamian Group of Islands. Now, this Philippine destination being named as a top destination on a known magazine is something that we Filipinos should be proud of. This could mean a free advertisement for Philippine tourism. Even though, I know, a lot of us Filipinos can’t afford to stay in this expensive resort, still, we should be proud that this island is getting an international recognition as a top destination.

Picture from  www.ariaraisland.com

I searched for some information regarding the resort and as I expected, this resort has that exclusivity. Only 18 guests are allowed to stay at the resort and you will need to pay for the entire resort. That means, you’ll have the entire island for you and for your friends or for your 17 other companion. You’ll have the entire island for partying and swimming, and snorkelling and just getting your tan. I checked their websites and here are their rates:

Ariara resort rates. Click for a larger view

Ariara resort rates. Click for a larger view

For the rates, all I can say is “what the heck!” It’s so freakin expensive for an average earning guy like me! Whoooooa! to the highest level! Hehehe! That’s about more than 200,000 pesos per night to stay in the island. That’s $295 per person per night and multiplied it by 17 or 18. Or if you’re only 8 in the group, that means paying 18,000 pesos per person per night. Well, you’ll be renting the entire island, so that means you’ll have the privacy that you want. But for me, since I don’t have that kind of money, I’ll just stay at some of the cheap but beautiful islands around the country. I know there are a lot of other beautiful islands in the country where I don’t need to spend that much, but for sure the amenities are not the same. So anyway, the thing is, we should be proud of our country because we are blessed with several thousand beautiful islands. What we should do is to take good care of our beautiful country and learn to appreciate what we have.

For more information, you can check their website at www.ariaraisland.com

Iriga City, Camarines Sur. The City of Crystal Clear Springs.

Iriga City is located in the province of Camarines Sur, Bicol Region. This city is a landlocked city with Mt. Asog as its prominent landmark. Iriga is my hometown. I’m proud being an Irigueño. I grew up in this city and this is where I’ve spent most of my life. Well, I lived here since birth until high school and then by college, I transferred to Naga City and then after graduating from college, I transferred to Metro Manila where I spent more than 5 years working. And now, since I’m a work-at-home guy, I am now living again here in my home city.

Asog County Hotel, Brgy. San Isidro

Bersabaren Resort cottages

Bersabaren Resort rooms

Bersabaren Resort, Barangay San Isidro

Bersabaren Resort swimming pool

Iriga City was a sleepy city some few decades ago, but now, it is a vibrant city with lots of business establishments. Iriga City is also known as the City of Crystal Clear Springs, and it’s all because of the abundance of natural spring scattered all over the city. We have more than 30 water spring so there’s an oversupply of water in this city. Well, I can say that Metro Manila will envy us for having an oversupply of water.hehehe! Magsasawa ka sa tubig dito sa Iriga.  And because of the abundance of natural spring, we also have lots of spring resorts. We have more than a dozen resorts and its one of the tourist attraction in the city, aside from hiking the Mt. Asog and visiting some other destination in Iriga City such as the Inorogan Chapel and the city Grotto.

Gilkrissa Resort log cabin

Gilkrissa Resort, Brgy San Nicolas

Gilkrissa Resort

 My home city is also the business and academic center of the Rinconada District, which is the fifth district of Camarines Sur. We have lots of schools and colleges in the city and the two universities we have here are the University of Saint Anthony and the University of Northeastern Philippines. There’s also a La Consolacion College campus in Iriga City. A famous personality who hails from Iriga is Nora Aunor. She was born in Iriga City. And did you know that Iriga City is the home of the first bus company in the Philippines? It is now known as the Philtranco Bus Company or formerly named ALATCO. They also have a museum in Iriga City. So come and visit our city. There are a lot of things to do here, and if you run out of things to do here, Iriga City is just a few hours of travel from some of the known tourist destination in the Bicol Region such as the CWC and the Mayon Volcano.

Iriga City PNR Station

Iriga City bus terminal

Iriga City jeepney terminal

Iriga City terminal

Iriga City van terminal

bus terminal

La Consolacion College, Iriga City Campus

Masosu Spring Resort rates

Masosu Spring Resort, Brgy. San Isidro

Masosu Spring Resort, Brgy. San Isidro

Mt. Asog

Saint Anthony De Padua Parish Church

Ybalon Resort rates

Ybalon Resort,  Iriga City

Ybalon Resort

Ybalon Resort

Ybalon Resort with Mt. Asog in the background

Here are the rates for some of the resorts in Iriga City:

Gilkrissa Function Hall and Resort

Brgy San Nicolas.

Entrance Fee: Adults – 50, Kids – 30

Cottages: 250 pesos

Log Cabin: 2,500 per night, good for 2 pax

Bersabaren Garden Resort

Brgy. San Isidro

Entrance Fee: 40 pesos, day rate; 50 pesos for overnight rate

Cottages: 200 pesos

Rooms: 400 pesos for 12 hours only. Good for 2 pax. 100 pesos per additional person

Masosu Spring Resort

Brgy. San Isidro

Entrance Fee: 30 pesos for adults and 20 for kids for day rate from 7am to 5pm; 50 pesos for adults and 25 pesos for kids for night rate from 6pm to 12am; 70 pesos for adults and 25 pesos for kids for an overnight rate from 6pm to 5am

Cottage rental fee ranges from 200 to 350 pesos

A family room is also available for 1,500 to 1,800 per night. Good for 5 to 8 pax

Ybalon Resort

Brgy. San Juan

Entrance Fee: 50 pesos for adults and 35 pesos for kids for a day rate from 9am to 5pm. 60 pesos for adults and 45 pesos for kids for a night rate from 5pm to 11pm.

Cottages: For an umbrella, 200 pesos. For a mushroom-shaped hut, 300 pesos. For a nipa hut, 350 to 400 pesos.

How to get to Iriga City:

By Plane:

Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines have several daily flights to Naga Airport, which is locally known in Bicol as Pili Airport. From Naga Airport, located in the town of Pili, you can ride a bus or a taxi bound for Iriga City. The city is about 45 minutes to 1 hour ride from the airport. The bus fare from Pili to Iriga City is 30 pesos. If you’re coming from Naga or Pili, you will be passing the forked road in Baao town going to downtown Baao and Iriga City. Just after the railroad crossing, turn left going to Iriga City, because if you turn right, that’s the road going to Nabua and Legazpi City.

By Bus:

From Manila, there are several buses bound to Bicol region. Ride a bus that is bound for Iriga City or Legazpi City and then get off at Iriga City.  If you’ll be riding a bus bound for Legazpi City or Tabaco City, be sure to ask the driver or the conductor if the bus will pass by the city of Iriga because some buses will not pass Iriga City and will just use the diversion road at Nabua town. The usual travel time from Metro Manila to Iriga City is 8 to 10 hours. There are a number of bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City, that have buses bound for Iriga City, Legazpi City and Tabaco City. There are also bus terminals in Pasay City, near Pasay Rotonda.

By Train:

The PNR has a regular train schedule for the Manila-Ligao City route. The train departs at Tutuban Station in Manila every 6pm and 8:30pm and arrives at Ligao City at around 6am the next day. Ride the train and get off at PNR Iriga City Station. The last station is Ligao City station which is 45 minutes away from Iriga City so be sure to get off at Iriga City. The usual travel time is 10 to 12 hours. 

Gilkrissa Function Hall and Resort, the newest resort in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

There’s a new resort in Iriga City, and it’s called Gilkrissa Function Hall and Resort. Actually, this business has already been in existence for several years now but during those years they only have a function hall. A few weeks ago, they constructed a swimming pool to convert their business into a resort. The place is just a small resort. The pool is a small pool which is only 4 to 5 feet deep and very ideal for kids.

  

the resort waterslide

Gilkrissa swimming pool

mini-bar at the pool

log cabin

They also have several cottages that are for rent and you can also rent a log cabin for an overnight stay. As of now, they only have 3 air-conditioned cabins that are available for rent and these are only small cabin with one queen size bed, a small refrigerator, a flat-screen tv and its own bathroom. The cabin can only accommodate up to 2 persons only. The price for the cabin is 2,500 pesos per night. The rental fee for the cottages is 250 pesos only and for the entrance fee at the resort, that’s 50 pesos for adults and 30 pesos for kids.

The resort also has a minibar at the pool and a waterslide. I don’t know if they offer foods at the resort or if you can order a cooked meal, but I guess they have those kind of services since they also have a large function hall that is for rent for wedding reception, birthday parties and other activities. The resort is located at Emerald Street, Barangay San Nicolas, Iriga City. You can call these numbers for more information. +639198571433 and (054) 299-1832

How to get to Gilkrissa Resort:

By Plane:

Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines have several daily flights to Naga Airport. From Naga Airport, located in the town of Pili, you can ride a bus or a taxi bound for Iriga City. The city is about 45 minutes to 1 hour ride from the airport. The bus fare from Pili to Iriga City is 30 pesos and be sure to get off at the San Nicolas barangay hall. From the barangay hall, you turn left and then take the first road to the right. The resort is just more or less than 100 meters from the barangay hall. If you’re coming from Naga or Pili, you will be passing the forked road in Baao town going to downtown Baao and Iriga City. Just after the railroad crossing, turn left going to Iriga City, because if you turn right, that’s the road going to Nabua and Legazpi City.

By Bus:

From Manila, there are several buses bound to Bicol region. Ride a bus that is bound for Iriga City or Legazpi City and then get off at Iriga City.  If you’ll be riding a bus bound for Legazpi City or Tabaco City, be sure to ask the driver or the conductor if the bus will pass by the city of Iriga because some buses will not pass Iriga City and will just use the diversion road at Nabua town. The usual travel time from Metro Manila to Iriga City is 8 to 10 hours. There are a number of bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City, that have buses bound for Iriga City, Legazpi City and Tabaco City. There are also bus terminals in Pasay City, near Pasay Rotonda.

By Train:

The PNR has a regular train schedule for the Manila-Ligao City route. The train departs at Tutuban Station in Manila every 6pm and 8:30pm and arrives at Ligao City at around 6am the next day. Ride the train and get off at PNR Iriga City Station. The last station is Ligao City station which is 45 minutes away from Iriga City so be sure to get off at Iriga City. The usual travel time is 10 to 12 hours. From Iriga City PNR station, ride a tricycle and tell the driver that you’re going to Gilkrissa Resort at Barangay San Nicolas. The travel time is just around 10 minutes.