When I first heard that this year’s June 30 was declared a special non-working holiday on account of President Noynoy Aquino’s inauguration as the country’s 15th President, I started thinking where I could spend it with the family. So many places I wanted to go, so many things I wanted to do, so many happenings I wanted to experience and share with my family. On the eve of the inauguration day, I even got a text from a CFC (Couples for Christ) brod that he could give me no less than 16 tickets to the said inauguration. They were tickets to reserved seats in front of the stage no less. I didn’t vote for Noynoy but I do wish him well and believe in his sincerity to lead his country out of poverty and endemic corruption mainly through good and effective governance. But historic as it may, the thought of bringing my family through endless queues and checkpoints, sweating it out in a sea of thousands of supporters under the threat of heavy rains was simply not on my mind.
Our final travel destination began to finally form when Odette my wife accepted a two-day team building consultancy job to be held in Nasugbu, Batangas from June 30 to July 1.
I wanted to spare her of at least the hardships of commuting very early to the place considering no company driver and vehicle was assigned for her travel. I thought it was a good compromise because the kids wanted to swim and beach resorts obviously ran abound in the municipality of Nasugbu, a place we have not been for quite a long time now.
With a very timely financial allowance given to employees in my office, good off-season rates and low room occupancy rates and the availability of CFC brod Rico Nicolas whom we hire for many of our out of town travels, our family was off to Batangas!
Our destination - El Cacar Beach Resort.
El Cacar Beach Resort
During the summer months, I have been trying to browse through the internet in search of good beaches to bring my family. Looking at the Nasugbu area, one name came popping out. Formerly known as La Alpea Resort, El Cacar located at Apacible Blvd., Bgy. Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas seemed to be a popular destination.
The shortest and only route that I know of to Nasugbu, Batangas (from Metro Manila) is via Tagaytay City. You can take either the Coastal Road or the South Super Hi-way (via Carmona). Then take the Aguinaldo Hi-way to Tagaytay. Though I strongly suggest that you take the Sta. Rosa exit from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) when going to Tagaytay. When you reach the T Junction, turn right, go pass by the Tagaytay Rotonda and straight on to Alfonso, Cavite until you reach Nasugbu, Batangas. Follow directional signs to Nasugbu’s town proper. When you see the only Jollibee in that area on your left side, turn left on that adjacent street. When you reach the dead end or the beach, turn right. About 250 meters away, you will see El Cacar Beach Resort on the left side or the beach side of the street.
Make sure you talk to the resort owners directly instead of the middlemen outside the premises to avoid additional costs. Call up Pam Ramos at their Paraňaque office or look for her brother Eric at the site itself.
Outside our room with CFC Brod Rico Nicolas
The ‘Pamela’ room
The resort itself was more or less what I expected. With no misleading claims that they are class A or B, this unassuming middle of the pack resort is well suited for the budget conscious vacation traveler. The two bed air-con room (‘Pamela’) we got with cable TV, ref and own CR for the off-peak day trip rate of 2,000 pesos was still quite reasonable, though rates posted at their sites were still the old ones and need to be regularly updated.
As soon as we settled in, I accompanied my two younger impatient kids who were raring to swim to the beach itself. The sight we saw bombarded me with mixed emotions. From afar, the sound of rushing waves and the view of the blue sea and fine sand was very inviting. However, as we approached the beach front itself, the unsightly presence of garbage everywhere was very saddening to say the least. Man-made wastes particularly plastic bags, sacks and packaging material lay on the beach sands and came floating on the rushing waters. Name your pick of junk food, chances are you’ll see its wrapper floating around.
The resort’s beachfront 
Environmental waste was scattered all over 
The kids loved the strong waves 
Sonny does a remake of a ‘Karate Kid’ scene 
Litter notwithstanding, my family tried to make the most of this otherwise beautiful beach. The moderately strong waves this part of the Batangas coastline was a highlight of our enjoyment. All our four kids loved the challenge the waves posed, anticipating and hoping every one that came was a ‘big’ one! “Is that all you got!” Joshua constantly yelled as if taunting the seas. We would all have a fun time seeing Joshua get what he asked with an onslaught of large waves crashing all over us one after the other!
Surfing, anyone? 
Despite the strong waves, the beach was moderately safe for young kids especially with their floaters worn as the shoreline was rather shallow for a considerable distance. Batangas beaches have the tendency to be rocky making it more difficult to walk or swim through them. Fortunately, the beaches here in Nasugbu have fine grayish sand that is gentle to one’s feet.
Lunch with Jollibee Chicken Joy
This white cat pestered us all throughout our lunch time 
Rolling with the waves
After lunch, we continued to relish the splashing waves, rolling with them as they moved rapidly toward the seashore.
Equipped with floaters
The route to the beachfront
By mid afternoon, one by one we had to leave the beach to clean up and prepare to accompany my wife to her training venue which was said to be nearby.
Overall rating for El Cacar Resort: 2 and a half out of five stars
By four o clock we were on the move again.
Next stop - Canyon Cove Residential Beach Resort
A short ten minute drive from the Nasugbu poblacion, you enter into a totally different Nasugbu beach property. Canyon Cove Beach resort is a condotel with a stunning beach view and shoreline. Touted as a worry free investment for prospective members, homeowners and unit owners, the resort boasts of world class amenities some of which we did see as we initially went around the place. Actually, the place is still undergoing construction/renovation in many areas being under new management, a joint venture development project between Tagaytay Grassland, Inc. (TGCI) and the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB).
At the Condotel lobby
Mediterranean-inspired villas that house the condominiums are interspersed inside the cove while Condotels located at the North and South wing of the main building; many enjoying a commanding view of the South China Sea.
Stunning beachfront
Surprisingly, the cove’s beach has white sand. I’m not sure whether this is a natural occurrence or may have been transported there from somewhere else. At any rate, the beach surface as you submerge still tends to be rocky as my kids told me.
Inside Lovey’s assigned room
Junior enjoys the room’s breathtaking view
Captivated by the stunning ambience of Canyon Cove, what we originally planned only as a whole day of rest and recreation became an overnight affair as my wife eventually convinced me for everyone to stay if the company that hired her as a training consultant would allow our family to stay in her room. A request that was happily granted. It was also good that CFC Bro. Rico Nicolas whom we often contracted for his transportation services agreed to stay with us in Nasugbu.
And so…the thrill of Nasugbu continued!
The calm and enticing waters of Canyon Cove 
Several villas remained unrehabilitated
Dinner time at Nasugbu's Chowking outlet My family stayed much of the time inside the room watching cable TV as Odette did her stuff as trainer. We did go out for a while in the evening as we had dinner at the town’s Chowking outlet. Unless you were filthy rich or famous as the actors currently doing a shoot at for a telenovela in Canyon Cove while we were there, I wouldn’t recommend that you dine in at the resort because of the pricey prices.
For all its progress, Nasugbu didn’t really have so many fast food restaurants as one would imagine. But I guess in a sense that actually adds to its somewhat rustic appeal.
Overnight bonding with my family
Breakfast at Jollibee As my wife had her morning meal with the company officials, we had our breakfast at Jollibee – Nasugbu. It was a fast breakfast as the kids particularly Joshua and Faith have been raring to jump into the Canyon Cove pools and have fun at white sand beach since yesterday.
Faith and Joshua enjoy the wide child-friendly pools...
…and the combed white sand beach!
The older Kuyas (brothers) are ‘allergic’ to the Sun Like my two older sons Junior and Sonny Boy, I decided not to try the waters anymore content in just exploring the beach front, hanging around one of the beach’s cottages and looking after my two younger children.
Unlike their older siblings, Joshua and Faith basked in the heat of the sun as they enjoyed the resort’s child-friendly swimming pools. I think they better liked those swimming pools as against the beach that while comparatively cleaner than the nearby beaches, still had many of those irritating rocky pebbles that could hurt your unprotected feet.
Still, Canyon Cove is a Batangas destination that I would recommend provided you really, really save for that special family weekend vacation.
Overall rating for Canyon Cove Residential Beach Resort: 3 and a half out of 5 stars
Nasugbu’s St. Francis Xavier Parish Church with its arched ceiling and wood carved chandeliers
As we left Canyon Cove early in the afternoon, we passed by a historic landmark of Nasugbu, the St. Francis Xavier Parish Church to thank God for our safe and joyous excursion.
While the edifice is relatively new considering much of its construction happened only during the 1990’s, the history of previous parishes and churches in Nasugbu, now a 1st class municipality in Batangas has been rich and for a time underwent a sad and dark turn of events.
The Roman Catholic Church in Nasugbu once was under the jurisdiction of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Balayan. The first chapel was constructed in Barangay Looc along with a convent for the parish priest. Later, the town transferred to its present location in the Sitio. An “old church” (lumang simbahan) in 1852 was dedicated to the Nuestra Seňora Virgen de le Escalera and Saint Francis Xavier. Sadly, the church was desecrated during the war for our independence against Spain in 1896. As the people of Nasugbu rose against the Spanish colonial regime, members of the Spanish Army locked up almost 500 men, women and children inside the church and then set fire to it. The Holy Mass was never again celebrated in that church after that ungodly massacre.
Another parish church was built on the present site on Laurel Street. Eventually he growing population in the municipality required the construction of a much larger church which led to the construction of the present Nasugbu Church. One point of interest with regard to the physical features of the church is a whole set of the carillon bells from France installed in 2006 at the church tower.
Of course, one also has to appreciate the beauty of the main altar with its expensive hardwood carvings. The altar has a restored antique wooden cross with the crucified Christ surrounded by statues of the Immaculate Conception, St. Francis Xavier and Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the whole province. The focus of course of the whole altar is on the Tabernacle of the Most Holy Sacrament where the real presence of Christ resides!
Beside the church’s baptismal font
The Nasugbu Church is declared a Pilgrimage Church under the Centennial Celebration of the Archdiocese of Lipa
Thank you, Lord for such a wonderful family outing in Nasugbu! Hope we could come back again to these idyllic places in western Batangas.
That afternoon we had another adventure in store…hopefully a sumptuous late lunch in Tagaytay!
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