Batangas | Trekking (Mt. Gulugod Baboy)/Swimming (Philpan Dive Resort) in Anilao

@ Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Anilao, Mabini, Batangas

Last April was my brother's scheduled vacation from his overseas job so I went home. I was just supposed to spend the weekend chatting with him and bonding with my nephew but since he just bought a car, we decided to just go on a road trip. We were supposed to go to MonteMaria in Batangas City but later on decided to just go to Anilao and hit the beach. I then remembered that I want to climb Mt. Gulugod Baboy so I suggested we climb it first then go on swimming later.



From our house, it took us around thirty (30) minutes to reach Philpan Dive Resort, the jump off point to Mt. Gulugod Baboy. We then inquired for the trek, got the service of a tour guide (fee is 500 Php) and then registered (registration fee is 20 Php, per person) ourselves for the hike. We didn't let our mom come with us, per advice of the people in the beach, since it's quite strenuous for her age so we rented a cottage for her and my niece first. Afterwards, we proceeded with the trek.



The first kilometer or so (I'm not a good judge of distance) of the trek to Mt. Gulugod Baboy is on an uphill concrete road. I dunno what's it with concrete/cemented roads but I find hiking it a challenge. Add to the challenge the fact that it's almost noon time, I nearly gave up after a few meters of walking. But we keep on going until finally, we got to the starting point of the trail. Upon seeing the somewhat steep trail, my brother and his family decided not to continue anymore. My sister-in-law gave up and feared that their son (a 6 year old) couldn't make it since he's not used to taxing activities such as hiking. So it's just me and my 2 nephews (one of them also a 6-year old who already trekked Taal Volcano) that continued the trek. After more or less three (3) hours, we finally made it to the peak.

beneath this hill is the campsite
Mt. Pinagbanderahan, from the campsite

Mt. Gulugod Baboy, a mountain range in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, is called as such because its peak's contour resembles that of a pig's spine (gulugod baboy).  It has three peaks, the highest of which is called Mt. Pinagbanderahan (meaning "where the (Japanese) flag was raised" during WW2) and not Mt. Gulugod Baboy but probably because the latter's name is more catchy, this mountain range became popularly known as Mt. Gulugod Baboy.

upper left, I think is the Taal area

At the peak of Mt. Gulugod Baboy, or rather Mt. Pinagbanderahan, is a 360-degree view of Batangas province. On the north/north-eastern side is Taal Volcano and the surrounding towns, Batangas City and its coastline as well as the Batangas Bay on the east, Tingloy island down south and Calatagan/Balayan Bay/Verde Island Passage on the west. It's a magnificent view up there, the reason I try to climb mountains (or hills?) from time to time, even though it's a feat for me. :P

Batangas coastline, if I'm not mistaken
Batangas Bay, if my orientation is right hehe
another view of Taal (upper left), Batangas City coastline/Batangas Bay (upper right)

leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures (down with our litters with us)

More Photos from Mt. Gulugod Baboy

I really enjoyed taking photos here, too bad I only have my cell phone with me. But that doesn't mean I would just stop, here are some more photos I took. I hope you'll enjoy the view...


Sombrero island, the smallest island in the photo




Philpan Dive Resort

Just for diving? What about swimming? And can one dive without swimming? Hehe, I'm just blabbering here. The resort is probably really good for diving/snorkeling and not for swimming as evident of the wounds I saw from the people who swam in this resort, including my brother and nephews.

Philpan Dive Resort is one of the resorts located in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas. It's probably one of the cheapest in the area (if not the cheapest); the entrance is just 150 Php per person (my nephews and niece who are 6-year old and below are free), cottage rental costs 500 Php, packed food and drinks allowed. The beach is stoney though, which I think is common in this area.

the stoney beach of Philpan Dive Resort

But despite the stoney beach, my mom and nephews and niece enjoyed swimming (or should I say dipping their bodies hehe). The kiddos loved it playing with the waves and splashing sea water toward each other. After an hour of swimming, we then prepared to go home. I would want to stay longer to take more photos of the sunset but my brother is not yet accustomed to driving and the road is a bit steep with many twist and turns we decided to go home early. But I managed to take this one, though:

sunset in Anilao

That's it, a weekend of fun and adventure with my family without spending that much. Looking forward for the next fun and adventurous weekend with them.

How to get to Mt. Gulugod Baboy/Philpan Dive Resort

From EDSA (Cubao, Kamuning area) or Buendia-LRT (Taft), take Batangas/Pier-bound bus (Jam, Jac Liner, ALPS) and get off at Batangas City Grand Terminal in Balagtas, Batangas City. From there, take Anilao/Mabini-bound jeepney and tell the driver that you're going to Philpan Dive Resort. You'll be dropped off at an intersection where tricycles going to Philpan are available, take one and you'll be dropped off at Philpan Dive Resort. Travel time from Manila to Batangas Central Terminal is around two and a half hours, moderate traffic considered while Central Terminal To Mabini is around one hour. Travel costs is around 600-700 Php, back and forth.

~ oo00oo ~

Mt. Gulugod Baboy/
Philpan Dive Resort
Anilao, Mabini, Batangas
Date of Visit:  April 19, 2015

30 comments:

  1. alam mo yung akala ko nasa Visayas ako dahil sa post mo? kasi akala ko Visayas lang ang may ganyang view pero kung tutuusi hours lang siya galing sa metro! COOOLLL! ang dami kong realization dito! ahahaha.

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  2. pasyal ka na sa batangas Steve, lapit lang naman. ganda talaga ng view dun sa gulugod baboy lalo na kapag sunset, di na lang kami nakahintay kase day-hike lang kami. :)

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  3. Hi there,
    thanks for dropping by at my site.. i really appreciate that...
    Gusto ko talagang mag mountain hike ever since kaso I don't have the courage yet and I don't think I am fit enough for such activity.. maybe soon.. I'm actually aiming to hit Pico De Loro and Mt Marami... they are so near from us eh..
    Again thanks for sharing
    added you in my blog roll so I can visit you here more often Thanks

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  4. hi BlueDreamer! try hiking gulugod baboy first, it's easier compared to pico de loro. the trail is easier plus it's not too steep, actually I wasn't able to reach PDL's peak, it's too steep for me and I have fear of heights din kase, hehe. good luck on your soon-to-be adventures. :)

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  5. required po ba mag tour guide o di naman? thanks!!!

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    Replies
    1. I think di required ang tour guide, nag avail lang kami kase may mga bata at wala naman sa min na hiker talaga kaya need namin ng guide. may mga blogs din ako nabasa na never na mention ang tour guide so I suppose, wala silang kasama.

      thanks for dropping by, ingats sa pag-akyat. :)

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  6. Hello, do we need to have tour guide and service to get into Gulugod Baboy?

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    Replies
    1. hi anonymous! as I said above, I don't think tour guide is required. I read several blogs, no mention of acquiring services of a tour guide for their hike.

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  7. hi! may mga parking area po ba sa jump off? or sa philpan kayo nag park?
    TIA
    - Brian

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    Replies
    1. Hi Brian, thanks for visiting here. we parked our car sa philpan, 50 pesos if I remembered it right. walang parking area talaga na free, medyo masikip din kase dun sa jump off, puro bahay at maliit ang kalye. Ingats sa climb nyo... :)

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  8. Replies
    1. Hi Demy, I'm not sure if meron night trail or kung meron ba signages since may guide kami kasama, di ko na sya napansin. pero may mga bahay along the trail so I think di kayo mahihirapan tukuyin yun daan, di kayo maliligaw hehe. pero much better pa rin siguro kung late afternoon, around 5pm kayo akyat para safe lalo na kung wala kayo kasama na familiar sa lugar. Ingats sa climb nyo... :)

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  9. Hi there. Ask ko lang po kung magkano entrance fee and cottage?

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  10. Sorry. I found the details na. Hehe. Ask na lang kung required ba mag cottage and allowed ba mag pitch ng tent dun?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jelyn! I don't know if cottage is required but if you're gonna spend some time there, I think you'll need one. As for pitching of tent, alang space for tents ako napansin eh, malamang di pwede.? hehe

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    2. Thanks sa info. That's really a big help. :)

      Any idea if the entrance fee was changed?

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    3. Sorry, no idea about the current rates but try their FB page, it says 'typically replies within minutes', use 'philpan diving resort' as search keyword. good luck. :)

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  11. Hi! Do you have,by any chance,a contact of any of the guides?

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  12. Hi! Do you have, by any chance, have a contact of any of the guides?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Adrian, I don't have his number but he's an employee of Philpan so if you need one, maybe you can ask them. :)

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  13. Hi po ask lng f ok lng khit wlang tourguide mg overnight kc k.e dis Saturday.
    Slamat

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  14. Hi ask lng po f ok lng khit wlang tourguide? Mag overnight po kme this coming Saturday may 14 2016

    Slamat po

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    Replies
    1. pls read my reply to other commenters with the same question. thanks :)

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  15. Hi! I just want to ask, is there a public restroom in Philpan? We don't intend to check in kasi day tour lang naman, so I am really hoping na they have a public restroom na pwedeng pagbanlawan after a quick dip. And if so, is it covered by the entrance fee or may separate fee pa? Thanks in advance!

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    Replies

    1. hi bea, I can't recall paying other than the entrance and the cottage fees; in most cases, entrance fee includes free use of shower rooms. :)

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  16. hi. does Philpan offers overnight stay ?

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  17. hello po. Pwede po bang mag overnight dun with the tent?

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  18. afaik yes but verify with philpan dive resort, may FB page sila, pa-check na lang sa kanila if may bago advisory re overnight stay sa GB. thanks :)

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