Then we visited Fort Pilar, their military fortress built by the Spaniards.
When we reached Paseo del Mar we met Kuya Manny Paster of Lacuachero Outdoorshop who will guide us at our Merloquet falls trip the next day. We agreed to pay 600 per pax for the transpo and guide fees. He also add rapeling activity at Merloquet falls. He asked us what is our itinerary for the day and we told him that we will visit Pasonanca Park that afternoon. He offered to tour us at the park for free. Of course, we are on a budget so we agreed.. hehe swerte
After dinner we went to Fort Pilar Shrine,where Our Lady of the Pillar was placed at the wall outside the fort.
The next day we went to our much awaited trip to Merloquet falls. My travel and forum friends and I were really excited for this trip because aside from falls seeing we will get to experience rappelling at Merloquet falls. Most of us don't have experience rappelling so this will their gears.
Before going to Merloquet falls we had a side trip at Zamboanga City fish port where we could buy fish for pasalubong but we dont have refrigerator in our lodging so we didnt bought anything.
When we arrived at the jump off point of Merloquet falls we register our names at a house and then proceed trekking. For about 15-30 minutes we reached the beautiful Merloquet falls.
start trekking
konting lakad na lang makikita na kita merloquet =)
ang pinakamagandang falls na nakita ko, so far =)
After picture taking we had our lunch prepared by Kuya Manny Paster, actually lunch is not included in their package but we asked him to cook for us and he agreed. We rest for a while after taking lunch then we proceed to the second level of Merloquet falls and they prepared the gears to be used for rappelling.
Kuya Manny gave us instructions on how to use the rappelling gears. He also told us that we don't have to panic and always trust the gears. I'm the last one to go down and since it was my first time I got scared a bit but I have to control my fear and finish the activity, and of course I did (sa ngalan ng picture.. hehe) with the help of kuya Leo Alejo because my left hand's grip was weak during that time.
sa ngalan ng picture, magrarappel ako =) (Photo credits to Leo Alejo of Lacuachero Outdoorshop)
At 2 in the afternoon we started to trek back at the jump off point because we also wanted to visit Taluksangay Mosque which is far from Brgy. Sibulao where Merloquet falls is located. Kuya Manny contacted his student (Kuya Manny Paster is also a college teacher) who lives near the mosque. His student adviced Kuya Manny to cancel our visit because its already late and we are not sure of our safety there. We agreed so they just drop us at Aniceto and they'll just meet us for the copy of pictures they took during our trip (pictures included at their package).
We met Kuya Manny at one of the restaurants at Paseo del Mar and he gave the copy of our pictures. We paid him 700 pesos for the package plus the food and drinks that they provide.
We tried their knicker bocker, their version of halo halo, for our dinner.
On our last day we went to market for pasalubong buying. I bought dried squid and fish and some noodles at the market. We went back to Jimmy's Satti House and Myrna's Bakehouse, both located at Pilar St.
After food tripping we plan to visit the Yakan Weaving Village and looked for a tricycle to ride going to Yakan.
I bought a bag and malong for souvenir at Yakan Weaving Village.
We paid 300 pesos for the trike going to Yakan and back to Aniceto. At first he asked us 320 pesos but we ask for a lesser price and he agreed at 300 pesos. I didn't get his name and he don't have a phone number but here he is and his trike. I think he didn't overcharged us for his service.
Our last stop was at Canelar Barter Trade. I bought some chocolates, malong and tshirt for pasalubong. Tip for shoppers is that you ask first every store then buy at the store who gave the cheapest price. But if you don't have much time, ask the seller to give you a lesser price, he/she might gave you the price that you like.
We all agreed that we had a great time at Zamboanga City not only because of their beautiful place but Zamboangueños are one of the nicest people and they will also put some more effort to help us in our visit. This is definitely one of the places I want to visit again. Til we meet again Zamboanga or should I say Hasta la Proxima, Zamboanga.
Contact numbers
Leo Alejo of Lacuachero Outdoorshop - 09177107424
Ma'am Ludy of Dept of Tourism - 09228246456
Kuya Jojie (vice president of trike association) - 09263764868
Itinerary
1st day (Pueblo tour)
5:30am - Depart Manila
7:00am - Zamboanga City Arrival
7:15am - Check-in at Casa Atilano, bonding with gt sises and my travel friend
10:00am - Start Pueblo tour
10:15am - Reservation for the Sta. Cruz Island tour at the tourism office at Lantaka Hotel Bldg.
11:00am - Fort Pilar and Zamboanga City Museum
12:00pm – Lunch at Jimmy’s Satti House at Pilar Street
3:00pm - Meryenda at Myrna’s bake house
4:00pm - Visit the other tourism office at N.S. Valderosa St., claim their free Chavacano dictionary
4:30pm - Zamboanga City Market, walkathon at Pueblo
5:30pm - Zamboanga City Cathedral
6:00pm - buy some groceries at Mindpro Mall
7:00pm - back to Atilano
2nd day (Sta. Cruz islands and Pasonanca Park tour)
5:00am - wake up
6:45am - left Casa Atilano
7:10am - arrival at Paseo del Mar, travel to Sta. Cruz island
7:30am - arrival at Great Sta. Cruz Island. Photo ops and brunch at the island
11:30am - depart Great Sta. Cruz Island. Travel to Little Sta. Cruz island
11:50am – ask permission to visit Little Sta. Cruz island
12:30pm - arrival at the port at Paseo del Mar, meet up with kuya Manny Paster of Lacuachero Outdoorshop
12:45pm - visit Lacuachero Outdoorshop, tour organizer of Eco-adventure tours at Zamboanga City
1:00pm - back to Atilano, wash up and lunch at a carinderia near the lodging inn.
2:00pm - Pasonanca Park tour c/o Lacuachero Outdoorshop (Boy scout camp, treehouse, aviary, butterfly farm, unknown soldiers memorial shrine, Cesar Climaco Park , photo ops at a river)
6:00pm - Baywalk, sunset photoshoot
7:00pm - dinner at Sugba tula kilaw foodhaus
8:30pm - Fort Pilar Shrine
9:00pm - arrival at Atilano
3rd day (Merloquet falls and rappelling)
7:00am - start tour
8:10am - Zamboanga City fish port
9:50am - jump off point of Merloquet falls at Brgy. Sibulao
10:00am – start trekking
10:20am – Merloquet falls at last =)
11:00am – lunch
12:00pm – start trekking to second level of Merloquet falls for the falls rappelling
12:30pm – rappelling time
2:00pm - goodbye Merloquet, I’ll see you again
2:30pm - arrival at jump off point
2:45pm - travel time
5:00pm - back at Atilano
8:00pm - dinner at Paseo del Mar, tried their knicker bocker
10:00pm - back to our lodging inn
4th day Pasalubong time =)
7:30am - Zamboanga City Market
8:00am - breakfast at Jimmy’s Satti House
8:40am - Myrna’s bakehouse, tried their Maria Clara cake
10:00am - travel to Yakan Weaving Village
11:20am – Atilano
11:30am – Canelar barter
1:00pm - lunch at a carinderia near Canelar barter
1:20pm - back to Atilano
3:00pm - ride jeepney going to Zamboanga City airport
3:15pm - check in
4:10pm - boarding
4:30pm - til we meet again Zamboanga
6:00pm - arrival at terminal 3
7:00pm - home sweet home
Lodging inn | 120*3 | 360 |
Transportation | 1144.58 | |
airfare | 682.08 | |
taxi (baclaran to T3) | 100 | |
terminal fee T3 | 200 | |
trike airport to Atilano | 15 | |
jeepney to pueblo | 7.5 | |
trike mindpro to atilano | 16 | |
trike to paseo del mar | 16 | |
terminal fee going to sta. cruz island | 5 | |
jeepney to pueblo | 7.5 | |
trike to atilano | 16 | |
jeepney to pueblo | 7.5 | |
jeepney to canelar barter | 5 | |
jeepney to zamboanga airport | 7 | |
terminal fee zamboanga city | 40 | |
shuttle T3 | 20 | |
Tours, Entrance Fees and Tips | 1160 | |
Sta. Cruz Island tour (1thou per boat) | 200 | |
Entrance fee Sta. Cruz island | 20 | |
Cottage rental (100 per cottage) | 20 | |
Little Sta. Cruz island (add 300) | 60 | |
tip security (100) | 30 | |
entrance aviary | 5 | |
entrance butterfly farm | 5 | |
Pasonanca tour (gas only) | 60 | |
yakan weaving village | 60 | |
Merloquet Falls | 700 | |
Food and Drinks | 1047 | |
Mineral water | 38 | |
lunch at Jimmy's | 106 | |
cake and coffee at Myrna's | 82 | |
groceries | 106 | |
siomai and siopao at family friend chicken | 70 | |
brunch | 70 | |
lunch | 40 | |
softdrinks at aviary (30 pesos for the guide) | 6 | |
softdrinks | 15 | |
dinner | 143 | |
knicker bocker | 60 | |
dinner | 75 | |
breakfast at jimmy's | 66 | |
coffee and cake at myrna's | 98 | |
lunch | 72 | |
pasalubong atbp | 2259 | |
daing | 350 | |
noodles | 34 | |
yakan bag | 300 | |
yakan wallet | 90 | |
yakan malong | 300 | |
ref magnet | 70 | |
chocolate | 365 | |
malong | 450 | |
bandanas | 100 | |
tshirts | 200 | |
total | 5970.58 |