Poctoy Beach in Marinduque

If you haven't heard about it, I've traveled solo - for the first time! And yes it's Marinduque. I explored Maniwaya Island  on the first day and was so blessed to meet the owner of the Residencia De Palo Maria resort. They were the best and they made my stay so memorable with all the perks I got (that I didn't think I would get if it I wasn't traveling alone).

On the second day of my Marinduque adventure, I went straight to the Sta.Cruz church at the town of Sta.Cruz. I took a tricycle from the Buyabod port and paid 25 pesos for the trip. It was a Sunday so I just settled outside the church. I took a peek inside and amazed with the structure of this 18th century church (1714). I also saw the Holy Infant Parochial school just beside the church.

Sta.Cruz church

TRIVIA: separate parochial schools for boys and girls were established during the Spanish era

What I noticed about Marinduque was the erratic electrical supply. Most establishments have their own generator sets and blackouts were a common thing for them. And so I walked to the Sta.Cruz public market and looked for the jeepney terminal. 

I needed to go to the town of Torrijos for another beach bumming in Poctoy beach. Torrijos is the next town right after Sta.Cruz but it takes 1 hour - the least - to reach the town by jeepney. I searched for a jeepney with the signboard "Torrijos" and hopped in. There was a bench in the middle of the jeepney and top loading is just a normal thing to them. Oh boy the jeepney was full - really full of people and some fresh produce. 

It was my first jeepney ride in the province and I didn't know how it works there, how do you say "Para" and how are you going to pay, so I just observed how they did it. I noticed that people were quiet. I mean no two persons were talking so loud. Everyone was whispering. I loved it. The view was amazing. 

After 10 minutes, someone unloaded the jeepney. He knocked the roof and paid directly to the driver when he went down. So that's how they do it there. But there were few passengers who paid even before they went down and passed the money from one passenger to the other until it gets to the driver - just how they do it here in Manila. 

I heard someone paid and said "Poctoy" and then eureka! I just have to keep an eye on that girl to know that I was on the right place. The fare was 40 pesos. If you're coming from the town of Sta.Cruz, you have to seat on the left side of the jeepney and look out for the Poctoy Beach arch. I arrived at around 9:50 a.m. and it took me 55 minutes to reach Poctoy beach from the town of Sta. Cruz.

source

air-cool windshield

there's room for more

I asked the girl (13 years old) if I can walk from the main road up to the Poctoy beach. She said yes and asked me if I'm from Manila - she said it was obvious. She's Ayssel. We had a quick chat and I learned that her dad takes care of a beachfront homestay and that I can ask her dad about it. 

After a few minutes we were at the beach. It was a Sunday and as expected, people flocked on this government-controlled beach. There were people everywhere - What am I doing here with all of these people? But then again, I can't quit. Need to move forward. 

There were some entrance and parking fees (20 pesos entrance fee + 10 pesos environmental fee). And then we moved on and saw their mini grocery near the beach. I met her Mom (Ate Anabel) and Dad (Kuya Russell) and then we walked a few meters to the Dud's Homestay. 

don't miss this arch

walk a few meters and there's the beach

Dud's Homestay is not a resort - if you're thinking about room service and the works. It's a private house wherein the owners decided to make it as a homestay if they're not in town. There are fan rooms and AC rooms. It ranges from 1,200 to 1,800. And because I needed a cheaper room, I stated my case to Kuya Russell - especially that there was no electricity supply at that time so it made my offer more acceptable. I haggled up to such point that he gave up and gave in with my offer. It was for 600 pesos - he called the owner and cited that I was alone and stuff. Deal! 

I got the double fan room with a seaview at the second level of the house. There was a functional kitchen on the first level. I didn't get to have my own toilet and bath but hey, I was alone and I owned the whole house. I got scared at first (coz I don't have a key of the house or something) but Kuya Russell assured me that everything will be fine and asked Ayssel to accompany me at night but I declined. I think that was too much hassle for them already. 

Dud's homestay

great for big groups

bar on the left / dining and kitchen area on the right

let's go up!

living area on the second level - perfect for tambay

my double room for 600 pesos - c'mon! almost 50% discount

the shared toilet and bath on the second level

Kuya Russell left me and I stayed at the veranda to check out the view. It was a busy Sunday. People were everywhere and enjoying the sun and the beach with family and friends. I was there alone in the house, alone in that trip - I would be lying if I didn't wish to have some soul with me but then I realized I was really destined to be in that situation at that time. 

So there, at around 11 a.m. I fixed my stuff and read my book and went into a deep sleep - without a fan. I woke up at around 2 p.m. and got hungry. I realized that I only had coffee and some biscuits that morning.

the veranda

almost finished this book

trying a morion mask

It would be such a waste of time to just lie there and read so I went out. I was looking for an eatery but found none. I went to Ayssel and their store. They wanted to cook something for me but I don't want to bother them anymore so I took their second offer - a nice and big cup noodles plus some bread. I had a nice chat with Ate Anabel and her booming business. She said that she gets almost all of her stuff at Divisoria. She also mentioned about the guests they had at the beach. They are happy that tourism in their province is starting to boom.

poctoy sand

ansabe?

infer! mababaw yan mga bagets

After that I went to the beach - with the scorching heat at 2:40 p.m. I looked around and realized that this is totally not the place for me. I walked along the shore and move further. Away from the public area. I went to the leftmost side of the beach (facing the sea) and found out that there were some big rocks on that end. When I went passed those rocks I found paradise!

go to the leftmost part of the beach (facing the sea)
go beyond those rocks

way past those rocks

There were no people. There were some private lots and properties but they don't own the beach right? So I've decided to stay there for the whole afternoon. 

truly amazing

salamat sa remote

I just needed a decent photo with Mt. Malindig as a "backdrop"

I took a dip and checked out the beach. The water was so refreshing and I enjoyed it. Camwhored because there's nothing else to do. Ran around. Jumped. Shouted. Rolled over the sand. Felt like crazy. But yeah it was funny. And then I saw this unpretentious bahay kubo. It said "private" on one peg but no one even bothered to shoo me away. Maybe it's because I'm alone and not bothering anyone. So there. I spent almost 3 hours on that side of the beach. Didn't get to self-actualize (not that I intend to) but to hear the waves and see that kind of view kinda stabilized my whole being.

One thing I learned from Tita Girlie on my recent Coron trip - you get to REALLY enjoy vacations if you work like hell and is hungry for the stillness of time, if you're like me who travels because of my husband's job then you'll consider vacations as a very normal thing.

ang "private" kubo na tinambayan

spent almost 3 hours here

Kids learn through experience, not memorization - Long past stopping by Oran Canfield
baka ma - Tito Sotto

After sunset, I went back to the "public" beach and wondered why people flocked on this area and not on the paradise just 20 tumblings away from there. Oh well, to each his own. I went back to Kuya Russell and Ate Anabel's store and watched this showbiz-oriented show on local TV. I also had some few bottles so as to convince myself that sleeping alone in the house will be a very good idea. 

I went back to the house, took a shower and slept like there's no tomorrow. I think the beers helped. Birds that were gossiping early in the morning woke me up. It was such a nice sleep and I immediately went to the veranda to check out the beach. I needed to get a better view so I went to kitchen, made some coffee (I had some stash with me... everytime I travel) and went into the beach. 

It was a nice morning and there were no people around. It was so refreshing. And then I looked at the time, it's time to go now. I quickly fixed my stuff, took a shower and made a note telling the Real family how I really appreciated their help. I went to the same route I did yesterday and there I was on the main highway waiting for my jeepney to arrive.

sunrise!

me + my bags + marinduque = total bliss!

And then I went to the town of Boac...

Dud's Homestay

Poctoy Beach, Torrijos, Marinduque

Kuya Russell Real (caretaker) - (+63) 947.351.02.20

Ate Anable Real - (+63) 929.224.63.15