Resort Review: Basiyaw Resort (Padre Burgos, Quezon)

Date of Stay: October 30-November 1, 2016

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: ******

Rooms: ****

Condition and Cleanliness: *****

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: *****

Food and Beverage: ******

Other Amenities: ****

Value for Money: *****

Basiyaw Resort

The one storey, no frills, wood, thatch and bamboo Basiyaw Resort, beside Basiao Port, has 4 simple fan-cooled rooms with bath (PhP1,500 per night).  The room facing the beach has a balcony with seating area where you can watch the sunset and, come morning, observe fishermen unloading their catch from their boats. 

Basiao Port

Located offshore, 500 m. from the clear waters of the gray sand Basiao Beach, are Mag-asawang Bagosina (also called Talabaan Islands), two big boulders, 100 m. from each other, that jut out to the sea and are approachable during low tide. The bigger of the two is Malaking Talabaan (Big Oyster).  The smaller island, Maliit na Talabaan (Little Oyster), is a rock formation which juts out to the sea with rocks curiously arranged and piled.  

Magasawang Bato

Though the resort has no restaurant, you can buy fish directly from the fishermen and have it cooked, for a small fee, by caretaker Ms. Lezel Pardito-Salut (whose house is just nearby) anyway you want it (fried, grilled, sweet sour, sinigang, etc.). You can also ask Ms. Lezel to prepare other dishes as well.

Multi-purpose hall

Basiyaw Resort also has a multi-purpose hall with shower rooms (male and female) and a kitchen sink and counter (for those those who want to prepare their own food). For nighttime entertainment, you can rent a videoke machine.  A sari-sari store, where you can buy provisions, is located nearby. For those bringing cars or vans, a parking lot (PhP100/car/day) is located just across the street from the resort. 

Balcony

The resort also offers daylong  island-hopping tours (PhP1,800) to Dampalitan Island, Pagbilao Grande Island and Borawan Island.  Entrance fees (PhP150/pax for Borawan Island and PhP80/pax or the other two) and overnight fees (PhP220/pax for Borawan Island, PhP160/pax for Dampalitan Island and PhP190/pax for Pagbilao Grande Island) are not included. The rocky and undeveloped Dampalitan Island, a 10-15 minute boat ride, boasts of mangroves and a long stretch of white sandy shoreline (Dampalitan Beach) lined with agoho pine trees and palm trees.

Dampalitan Island

Borawan Island is known for its Boracay-like crystal clear waters, beige sand beach (Borawan Beach) and its towering, Palawan-like karst formations and limestone cliffs (perfect for rock climbing, bouldering and rappelling). The island’s name is a portmanteau (a blend of  the world-famous islands of Boracay and Palawan). 

Borawan Island

Pagbilao Grande Island has a 70 m. long and 10 m. wide private white sand beach (Lukang Beach or Puting Buhangin Beach) at the southwestern part of the island.  

Lukang Beach

The cove is also known for its beautiful limestone rock formations that form a small, unique cave right at the edge of the cove famously known as Kwebang Lampas.  This easily explored, tunnel-like cave has openings at opposite ends. The water at one end of the cave is freezing cold, while water at the opposite end is warm.

Kwebang Lampas

For those wanting to camp overnight at these islands, Basiyaw Resort also rents out tents (PhP300/tent).  They can also prepare food and send it over by boat. In the near future, the resort plans to add 4 airconditioned rooms with bath.

L-R: Lezel, Melissa, Almira and Jandy 

Basiyaw Resort: Brgy. Basiao, Padre Burgos, Quezon.  Ms. Salut's mobile numbers: (0927) 621-1861 (Globe), (0977) 370-8249 (Globe) and (0907) 214-8455 (Smart).

How to Get There

Distance to Manila: 171 kms.  From Manila, take the South Luzon Expressway. From Lucena City and Pagbilao, continue along the National Highway until you see the sign “Quezon National Agricultural School (QNAS)” on your left (this school has been renamed TESDA). A few feet away, you will see an arch on your right, which says “Welcome to Bondoc Peninsula.”Take a right, passing through the arch. Continue for about 15 to 20 minutes along a scenic, winding road, until you see a fork road. You are now in the Poblacion of Padre Burgos.