Discount deal for Borawan-Dampalitan Island Adventure from Cash Cash Pinoy

Our coworker saw a deal from CashCashPinoy  for an adventure in Borawan –Dampalitan Island Adventure and the price is just 599.00 pesos and 5 vouchers required. It sounds affordable, right? So we rushed to book, 7 of us purchased. We looked for the right dates to book because we are all working and we can’t go on tour together. August was our target month because there was two holidays but the agency told us that July to August they don’t accept tours for weather condition is not good during those months. Last October 27 and 28 we had the chance to book because of the Barangay Election.

We got early and contacted the agency for she gave the instruction that we should text or call when we reach Vista Playa. The agent told us to contact a certain person, who was going to meet us. Funny she asked us  to contact a person, when she should be the one arranged it for us, why we got an agency if we would contact others too? We learned that the agency in the deal is not based in the area; they just have contact in Padre Burgos.

While we were waiting for the local contact we took pictures and had our breakfast in the restaurant.

Finally after less than an hour, the local contact arrived. She offered us to take a side trip to Putting Buhangin also known as kuwebang lampas. We had to add 600.00 for that plus 80.00 pesos per head as entrance fee for the island. We were asking for discount since we paid 4,193.00 for 7 persons. But she refused because the agency just sent the local contact 2,300.00 and it is still lacking. It’s an internal issue don’t know what their agreement, so we took the side trip instead.

Just a tip for those who are looking for a discounted tour better check the local tours first, that’s what we learn from this trip. Especially if the price sounds cheap, you don’t know it could be cheaper if you would directly book a tour from the local agency.

Like in our case we paid 4,193.00 pesos for the deal plus 600.00 for the boat and 560.00 for the entrance in Kuwebang lampas a total of 5,353.00 pesos. Unlike if we could have directly taken a tour from a local contact, we could have saved more:

Boat rental for the three islands (Borawan-Dampalitan-Kuwebang Lampas)– 1,800.00

Entrance fee for the three islands (80.00 per island) – 1,680.00

Overnight Stay in Kuwebang Lampas with tent good for two to three persons additional of (100.00/per person) – 700.00

So we could just have spent a total of 4,180.00 that’s for 7 persons already. But well it’s a lesson for us discount is not always a discount. The deal said 599.00 instead of 1,200.00. It was a false deal.  The fees are fixed mandated by local tourism so no overpricing with the local agents. Well it’s our fault we didn’t check first. So you guys next time check it first too.  Don’t trust the discounts. 

How to get to Borawan, Quezon Province

Mostly those who want to go to Borawan take Lucena city then will take a bus from there to Unisan or Mulanay. But someone told us that there is a bus going straightly to the place of the port in going to Padre Burgos from Alabang, Muntinlupa. It was not clear what the bus name was. Since, we are living near the area much easier for us.

We were on our way to Alabang around 3:00am because it was a day before the Barangay Election we didn’t like to be trapped in the traffic. Around 3:30 we were already in Alabang, asking some drivers and conductors what bus would take us to Padre Burgos but all of them said we should take Lucena city bound buses. All of a sudden a middle age guy told us that there is a bus in Metropolis Mall Parking lot that goes there regularly. True enough there is a bus, Barney Auto lines, the signage should be Unisan. The first trip to Unisan usually 6:00am but since the bus filled up earlier we left Alabang at 4:42am

We told the conductor to drop us in Vista Playa since that was the instructions of the agency we were booked. The conductor didn't know that place so he called someone. We could have just say Marao. Because the Vista Playa is on the right side and could be seen right away. 

 1.  From  Alabang to Brgy. Marao, Padre Burgos the bus (Ordinary) fare was 221.00 pesos (The guy in Vista Aplaya said it should be just 180.00, he said it was overpricing) 

Vista Playa is a name of restaurant that has been changed into Konotum Restaurant. There are some would offer tour and the good thing the tour rate is standard so no over pricing.

There is no bus that could take to Manila straightly from Marao, the buses are usually filled already so we had to go to Lucena city.

2. Marao to Lucena city (ordinary fare ) the bus  fare is 35.00 pesos.

3. Lucena City to Alabang, Muntinlupa (ordinary fare) the bus fare is 147.00 pesos.

You can find some alternatives in going there. Its better take this tour with a group, the more the better and the cheaper.

National Museum of the Philippines

The National Museum of the Philippines Month is over. But friends National Museum is FREE on Sundays all year round. If you  will attend the Pasyal Intramuros or just do picnic in Rizal Park during Sundays, better drop by in the National Museum. You will be amazed how rich our culture is. The buildings of the museums are near Rizal Park it is in P. Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila City. It is opened from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10AM to 5PM. For more inquiries you can visit its website.

The storage area and protector of the Philippines' natural and cultural heritage is the National Museum. It tasked to achieve the goals of instilling cultural consciousness and a sense of pride and nationalism among Filipino citizens through its activities covering the sciences, education and culture. 

It occupies two buildings; the main building is the National Art Gallery, former Old Congress Building, where the arts, natural sciences and other support divisions are being exhibit. The other building is the Museum of the Filipino People; former Finance building, where the Anthropology and Archaeology Divisions are exhibited.

Hope the management will give tour guides like they can group the visitors in small groups and explain each gallery or art piece. I noticed the visitors were on their own, it will help a lot if there are tour guides to explain, in that way visitors can appreciate more the collections that are being exhibited.