Location: Bicol Peninsula and Samar, Philippines
Still in Matnog waiting for the ferry's departure to Allen of Northern Samar
The question is: Where is Matnog and Allen? Well, Matnog and Allen are two different places. Matnog is a municipality of the province of Sorsogon and geographically speaking, it is the southernmost tip of the island of Luzon. While Allen is a municipality of Northern Samar where ferries from Matnog dock. Allen is the northernmost tip of the Samar Island. There is also an alternative port in San Isidro, also in Northern Samar but Allen is the most famous and oldest connecting port from Matnog. Technically, Matnog connects to Visayas and Mindanao when the ferries coming from it land either in Allen and San Isidro.
A FastCat carrying vehicles and passengers from Matnog to San Isidro
Though it takes 13 hours bus travel from Manila to Matnog, I still consider it convenient on my part since when I take a bus from Pasay City at 8:00 P.M., I will be in Matnog the following day at 9:00 A.M. I will only sleep while on board the bus at night. Besides, there are bus stops for eating meals which is usually the first stop is in Atimonan (Quezon Province), then Naga City, and a certain part of the Sorsogon province, then finally in Matnog.
Matnog Port can accommodate multiple ferries at a maximum of five
The best thing of this night trip is when you wake up while on board the bus at around 6:00 A.M., you will see Mayon Volcano. The sprawling rice fields with a refreshing view would welcome you as you open your eyes. So, if you are travelling with your own vehicle, you can spend time enjoying the majestic view of the Mayon Volcano. There are more suggestions that you can capture the famous perfect-cone volcano in the province of Albay. However, let's just limit them into four in this blog. First, is at Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga ; second is at Quintuinan Ranch of Camalig and the third one is at Sumlang Lake, also in Camalig and fourth is in Legazpi Boulevard viewpoint in Legazpi City. Let's take a look with them one by one.
The postcard-perfect Mayon Volcano as viewed from Cagsawa Church ruins in Daraga, Albay (Philippine Tourists Blogspot)
Mayon Volcano as viewed from Quintuinan Ranch in Camalig, Albay
Mayon Volcano as viewed from Sumlang Lake in Camalig, Albay
Mayon Volcano as viewed from Legazpi Boulevard viewpoint in Legazpi City (Stock Adobe Image)
There is still more, and it's up for you to find out.
Captured while on board the bus along Ligao, Albay
As I wake up early in the morning, I open the curtains of the bus not to let go every inch of sight that unfold as the bus moves forward.
Another captured picture along Ligao, Albay while on board the bus
I find the province of Albay to be blessed with so much natural beauty. This countryside is so scenic that even if you are on board the bus traveling you will be amazed of the pictures you will capture.
Matnog as viewed while aboard the ferry
During the peak season, Matnog Port Terminal is extremely busy with buses, trucks, private cars reaching to thousands in a stretch of one kilometer or longer while passengers are thousands. The economy of this municipality thrives on these arrivals of passengers on their port.
The other side of Matnog with Mount Bulusan at the backdrop
If you want to enjoy Matnog, an overnight stay will suffice visiting three of its famous attractions, namely: Subic Beach, Juag Fish Sanctuary Lagoon, Tikling Island and its pink beach and Calintaan Island Beach.
To give you an idea, how these tourist destinations, a sample picture and its link is provided below:
Subic Beach (Trevally Travel and Tours)
Juan Fish Sanctuary Lagoon (Tripzilla)
Tikling Island (Explora.ph)
Tikling Pink Beach (Tripzilla)
Calintan Island (Trevally Travel and Tours)
If there is still enough time or if you find time, you can enjoy a swim together with whales in Donsol, still a part of the Sorsogon province which is 2 hours and 40 minutes travel from Matnog or at a distance of 138 kilometers via Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26.
Watch and swim with whales in Donsol (Trevally Tours and Travel)
You see! Matnog can be an ultimate destination in terms of tourist destinations. Now, let's go back to our point of discussion. the Matnog-Allen exchange.
A FastCat servicing passengers from Matnog to San Isidro
The choice of taking receiving ports like Allen, San Isidro or Dapdap depends on the bus of your choice. FastCat is more expensive than the ordinary ferry but it is faster which only takes 1 hour and 10 minutes. Below is its schedule:
Matnog to San Isidro San Isidro to Matnog
6:00 A.M. 3:00 A.M.
12:00 NN 9:00 A.M.
6:00 P.M. 3:00 P. M.
12:00 MN 9:00 P.M.
A ferry servicing passengers and vehicles from Matnog to Allen or vice versa
The ferries plying from Matnog to Allen and vice versa usually are the Star Ferries and the Montenegro Shipping Lines with an estimated speed of 1 hour and 50 minutes. While the FastCat from Matnog to San Isidro or Dapdap and vice versa is one hour and 30 minutes. The following pictures is a compilation of different dates of trips in Matnog Port Terminal.
When buying bus ticket, the ferry fare is already included. This is distributed by the bus conductor upon boarding the ferry. On the other hand, when buses board the ferry, they required to be empty of passengers since the latter is required to purchase a ticket for terminal fee of P30. Thus, when one boards the ferry, he needs to present his ferry ticket and terminal fee. So, it is important to keep them, or else you will not be allowed to board the ferry.
Villa Costa Conchita Beach Resort in Allen
Allen does not only serves as a getaway to Visayas but if one tourist opts to stay for a few days, there are some tourist destinations he can visit with. Villa Costa Conchita Beach Resort is just in Barangay Calarayan of Allen, Northern Samar of barely 5 minutes from its town proper.
Villa Leonor Beach in Imaga Beach Coast of Cabacungan in Allen (Photo credit: Bill Baylon)
A 30-minute drive from Allen town proper can give you the white sand beach of Villa Leonor Beach Resort in Imaga beach coast of Barangay Cabacungan of Allen, Northern Samar. The place is not highly commercialized.
Also from Allen, you can take options to visit the nearby famous destination like Biri Island, Capul Island, San Antonio beaches of Dalupiri Island and the Pink Beach of San Vicente.
Now, let's peep into these destinations, I mentioned above. Their link will give you the details of how beautiful they are.
The fascinating and mystical Biri Island
The tranquil and laid back island of Capul Island
The white sand and clear aquamarine blue beaches of San Antonio in Dalupiri Island
The remotely undisturbed pink beaches of San Vicente in Northern Samar
When you travel further Samar, you still have a lot of destinations to visit and enjoy with but meanwhile, let's just concentrate on those locations near Allen, Northern Samar.
Meanwhile, let's go back to our Matnog-Allen exchange. . .
My trip from Allen to Matnog
Going back to Manila, when I will take again a bus trip, I will pass through Allen going to Matnog and the following pictures would tell you of the usual scenarios. As our bus arrives at Allen's Balwharteco's Port terminal, we pay a terminal fee of P20 and an environmental fee of P5. Then, we wait from port's departure area till our ferry's passengers are called to board.
After boarding and the ferry is still loading goods and vehicles, it is not at all boring while waiting for the ferry to depart from Allen. There are so many things to make you busy while waiting.
After boarding and the ferry is still loading goods and vehicles, it is not at all boring while waiting for the ferry to depart from Allen. There are so many things to make you busy while waiting.
They are coin divers at Allen's Balwharteco Port Terminal
The following pictures show how these coin divers do just to earn money from the coins being thrown by the ferry passengers to the sea while the ferry is loading and preparing for its departure.
By watching and throwing coins to these entertaining coin divers, you won't notice the ferry is already leaving the port.
Our ferry is slowing disengaging from Allen's port
When the slowly moves away, your first to do is to go to your place and check your belongings if it is still there. After all, the accommodation provided are just long ordinary chairs.
The passengers' seat in the economy class
Usually, ordinary ferries like this has only one class, the economy where passengers are just given a seat while on board for 2 hours going to Matnog.
The ferry's open upper deck
Normally, if the ferry is already navigating at sea, many passengers would crowd at the ferry's open upper deck waiting for the sunset. My usual time of trip from Allen is late afternoon. Hence, it is just timely that there is sunset.
Waiting for the sunset
The open upper deck of the ferry seem like a park where people unwind. In this place, some strangers find friendship and even true love. I knew of stories where couples meet from this place and eventually love started to grow.
CONTACT:
If you want to avail some of the tour packages in Sorsogon, you contact one of the tour operators who can be contacted through his Facebook Account at Wedmar Gacis.
TOUR PACKAGES AND OTHER DETAILS:
Rental for motor boat for Subic Beach is P2,500 for Day Tour and P3,500 for Overnight which is good for 5 persons capacity only, since social distancing is being observed. This rate also includes the island hopping. It is back and forth. The motors boats used for operation are licensed with Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) registered in Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) as well as the owners and boatmen. Included in the island hopping are the Tikling Island, Juag Lagoon/Fish Sanctuary, Sea Cave and the Subic Beach.
In terms of accommodation, there is a choice between airconditioned or fan room. The rate for the airconditioned rooms vary from P2,000 to P5,500 as it depends on its size. On the other hand, the rate for the fan rooms vary from P2,000 to P3,000 due to varying sizes. The P2,000 rooms for both aircon and fan rooms is good for 2 persons only, but it can be maximized to four using extra beds. The P3,500 airconditioned rooms have 2 beds with a capacity of 4-6 persons and the P5,500 airconditioned rooms is a family room. For overnight guests, they can get the services of the cook if they have food supplies with them and the open cottage is for free already.
There is an environmental fee of P70 per head for locals and P320 for foreigners. If it is Day Tour, the rental for the open cottages is P600 but it is P700 if overnight. If guests have tents, they are not required to get a room for accommodation. There is also available tents for rental.
There is a parking space for fee if guests wanted their vehicles to be safe. For Day Tour parking, it is P150 and P200 for overnight. This parking space is a private parking secured with with fence and gate and a guard.
