Not Your Typical White Sandy Beach

July 05, Malabrigo Beach - Part of my month long birthday celebration, I have decided to spend one of my boring weekend in a secluded beach far from the noisy and polluted city to relax and to feel refresh after. When I was searching for places to go, almost all website are pointing me to beaches in Laiya, Quezon and some other fine sand beaches, but Malabrigo Beach. Malabrigo Beach is not your typical white sandy beach because all you will see is small to medium size pebble scattered around. So I decide to give it a try visiting the beach even if it is almost four to five hours away from Manila by commute depending on the traffic. I love adventure, anyway. 

Going there is quite easy. I just followed the routes the same as what I have read in other blog except the prices has changed. We left Manila at 8:00 a.m., and arrived Lobo, Batangas at around noon. It took us around four hours to reach Lobo which includes almost an hour zigzag road going there from Lubijo. We took a short lunch break in a local restaurant there and have their famous Batangas noodle delicacy, Lomi Noodles. While having lunch, we got to chat with the owner of the restaurant and got to know some of the directions and time schedules of the last trip going back Batangas. 

After we had our lunch, we walked a little bit to take a tricycle ride going to Malabrigo. We asked our tricycle driver to drop us at the Malabrigo Lighthouse. After half hour tricycle ride along the road beside the rice fields and mountain ranges, we then arrived at the hill top where we have seen the majestic Malabrigo Lighthouse. The lighthouse is one of the two lighthouses in Batangas province, the other is in Calatagan as per the caretaker. 

The lighthouse was built during the Spanish period, but still is functional until now. We took a short walk around the lighthouse and have some short chat with the caretaker. The caretaker then pointed us the direction going to beach side which is just few big steps down the steep stair near the lighthouse,I tell you it’s the most tiring thing you will do there. When we got to the last few steps and got to see the beach side, almost all our hard work going down the steep stair has washed off and we felt just to run naked toward crystal clear water. The water was so clear that you can see fishes swimming around, and the waves were not that strong as those in beaches in Quezon. The place was so calming since it is far from the residential area and we are the only one swimming in the beach aside from the other guys. The sun was not that hot and air was so refreshing, all perfect just for a short beach nap. The place is really ideal for those who planning to relax, to do yoga, or just to skinny dip.

Around 3:00 p.m., our driver picked us up in the beach side and told us that we should leave to catch the last trip of the jeepney going back to Batangas. We then dressed up just behind the big rocks and went up to the lighthouse. Before we left, we still got to have short conversation with the caretaker about lighthouse. We left Malabrigo satisfied and with a perfect suntan, just right for a weekend getaway. 

Malabrigo Beach is truly one of the hidden gems of the Philippines. The beach was very secluded and uninhabited so you will rarely see trash around the area. I just hope that people will keep the area as it is. I also hope that the government will help to maintain the lighthouse and also, the beach side. This trip really made me beach sick and wanted to see more of the beautiful hidden beaches of the Philippines. Now, it is time for me to plan for my next beach adventure again! 

How to get there: From Buendia Taft, take the bus going to Grand Terminal, Batangas, From there take a jeep going to Lubijo. Then take another jeepney from Lubijo going to Lobo, Batangas. Finally, hire a tricycle going to Malabrigo. Tell the driver to drop you off at the Malabrigo Parola.