A year into my leadership as a chapter head in Sta. Lucia, I am elated that the second of two pastoral fellowship activities our leaders and I have longed to realize has also been finally brought to fruition last June 20 & 21.
After months of wishful thinking, our desire to conduct a family day for the chapter was achieved last month at the La Mesa Ecopark. Then last weekend our chapter household went on an overnight out of town excursion to Lobo, Batangas!
It was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of city life and the often nature of chapter activities. At the same time it also provided quality bonding time with my family and chapter leaders as well.
Prayers for our safe travel at the Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Taysan, Batangas 
We also passed by St. Michael the Archangel Parish located at Lobo’s poblacion area 
After several stopovers at Lipa City, Taysan and Lobo town proper, our group finally arrived around noontime at the Villamar Quez Beach Resort in Barangay Malabrigo, Municipality of Lobo.
Roughly around three and a half hours from Manila, Lobo is not as well known as other towns of Batangas such as Nasugbu, Matabungkay, Mabini or San Juan. Comprising of 26 barangays, Lobo is one of the poorer municipalities of the said province. However, one should not make the mistake of not visiting this place if the opportunity arises because it has its own set of natural wonders and historic sites to share with the traveling folk.
The name of the municipality ‘Lobo’ is said to have been taken from three sources. The first one is from the Tagalog word which means ‘wolf’. Second from the name of the river that runs through the area. Thirdly, from the name of early inhabitants named ‘Lolobos’.
Malabrigo as I learned from my experience exuded a unique sense of natural beauty as the barangay featured a jagged coastline that is different from what one may expect especially if you’ve been to other Batangas beaches such as those in Nasugbu or San Juan. Nonetheless, its rough features contribute to the raw beauty of its land and seascapes that is Malabrigo.
Welcome to Villamar Quez Beach Resort Swell. Nice. That’s how I would describe the ‘middle of the pack’ type beach resort we stayed in Malabrigo. Owned by relatives of a unit leader in our chapter, Villamar Quez Beach Resort is not one of those fancy resorts you often see in glossy brochures. But its room rates are reasonable and modest accommodations well okay. The place is unassuming and the friendly staffs give you a sense of hominess you may not always find in these more expensive establishments.
If you’re looking for more privacy, more beach space for your family then this secluded hideaway is the piece of paradise you are looking for!
Converging at the resort’s dining area
In front of our two bed air-conditioned room
Joshua and Faith excitedly scout the rocky beach
Bro. Gaddi and I warm ourselves up with some brandy 
My family tries out the relaxing hammock
Joshua is the first to hit the beachA caveat to all first time swimmers in Malabrigo - take caution of its big strong waves! Because the beach floor tends to be riddled with slippery rocks big and small, those waves can definitely knock the wind out of you!
Once you get the hang of it, you can venture farther out the beach which tends to have a smoother and sand filled bottom. Again, the strong waves of Malabrigo may not be for your young kids or senior loved ones so exercise caution and care!
Scenic view of the Malabrigo coastline 
Strong waves crashed into us all afternoon
Inside our room
Enjoying the waves with the kids 
Lunch break
Catching the beautiful Batangas sunset 
Others continue to enjoy a late afternoon swim
By a romantic sunset with my Lovey 
Pearls for sale anyone?
A final look as the sun fades away 
The night brought forth the hard drinks and videoke singing at the Banquet Hall 
A Lord’s Day celebration preceded dinner
Post-dinner singing 
Faith and Joshua are wide awake late in the evening…
…while in deep slumber the morning after 
The women of the chapter honor the fathers present
I think it wasn’t any accident that our field trip happened this weekend when we celebrated Father’s Day that Sunday. My wife, Odette had the inspiration to lead the other women leaders in honoring the fathers present in our chapter household that day.
Family picture 
On route to the Malabrigo LighthouseWhen we heard from Bro. Mar Marquez that there was a lighthouse nearby, some of us took the time to hike a few hundred meters at a chance to marvel at its historic splendor.
The rock-strewn upward hike is moderately challenging 
Our triumphant approach to the historic Malabrigo Lighthouse As an archipelagic colony, the Spaniards constructed lighthouses to safeguard the growing maritime traffic in major maritime routes around the country. A total of 24 lighthouses were built during the more than 300 years of Spanish rule in the Philippines.
The Malabrigo Lighthouse was formally known as the Faro de Punta de Malabrigo. Standing at 56 feet, construction of this Victorian-inspired edifice was finished in the late 19th century (1896) by Jose Garcia, a Chinese contractor based on the design of Guillermo Brockman. It served as a navigational guide to ships sailing through the Pasaje de Isla Verde (Verde Island Passage).
Still operational, the lighthouse’s original lantern and lenses however were restocked with halogen lights and now currently runs on solar power.
I understand that the family of famous Filipino swimmer Akiko Thomson (they have a house nearby) through an agreement with the Philippine Coast Guard has adopted and preserved the antique structure since 2004.
Fittingly, it was finally declared a national historical site on November 27, 2006.
Going back, we took another route which to me made all the difference! You see there is a concrete stairway near the lighthouse that will bring you down the beachfront crossing some of Malabrigo’s most charming land and seascapes.
Going down the beachfront, it was a scenic route I highly recommend “…Time in New England took me away
To long rocky beaches and you, by the bay
We started a story
Whose end must now wait...”
Excerpts from the song “Weekend in New England”
The sights and sound of the Malabrigo coastline kept Barry Manilow’s song ‘Weekend in New England’ playing on my mind.
If the Malabrigo Lighthouse brought out the historian in me, its jagged coastline drew out my hopeless romantic nature.
The quaint landscape reminds me of an old Barry Manilow song 
The waves hit the jagged coastline 
Lush foliage covers the cliff
Long rocky beaches So if you are the sentimental type whom loves to stroll long rocky beaches on a quiet Sunday morning, then Malabrigo is the place for you.
My family takes a morning swim 
A thankful and reenergized chapter household heads back homeI thank the Lord for this weekend fellowship with my family and CFC brethren. I thank Him for the quality time with my loved ones and another enriching travel experience in our country!
1 comment:
May i know the contact # of the resort. Thanks.
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