A trip to Magalawa island in Palauig, Zambales is quite an experience. Coming from Olongapo City is an average of two hours drive passing by nine towns of Zambales. Travel time depends of course on your stop overs to experience the picturesque view of the province.
You have two options on how to reach Magalawa island. You may opt to bring your own car or take a commuter bus instead. However, the later would incur longer time travel. Driving your way to Magalawa island, you will off-load to the shores of Barangay Luan in Palauig, Zambales where number of boat offers ride going to the island for php100.00 (two-way trip, pick 'n drop). Safe parking is also available for only php100.00 per day.
There is a community in Magalawa island - a barangay. People were warm and accommodating. It is good to walk within the island's community as you would meet the friendly locals. Fresh seafood were also available just ask the fishermen usually docked in the shore from 5:00am to 6:00am. People in the island speaks fluent in Filipino, most in Zambal and some in Ilocano.
There were two operating resorts in the island: Armada Resort and Ruiz Resort. Both resorts accepts reservation and walk-in guest and offers flexibility of services from accommodation, food, rafting and snorkeling.
Entrance fee to Armada is php300.00 and for Ruiz it would cost you php100.00. For backpackers who wants to stay outside you can rent a tent for php200.00 per night. Air-conditioned rooms is available in Armada resort and they also offer non-AC rooms but I find their rates a bit pricey. For Ruiz resort "kubo" is available at a reasonable price.
We noticed as we talked to resort owners of Armada Resort being managed by Grace and to Ruiz Resort owned and operated by Mang Molo, the later resort is more budget friendly. We stayed in Armada resort but I would recommend especially if your budget conscious you stay at Mang Molo's Place - Ruiz Resort.
During our stay in Magalawa, we cooked our own food, there is a small market in the community where you may buy what you need at cheaper price compared to resort's store some fresh seafood is available early morning. Do not forget to bring mosquito repellent and a lot of drinking water. You may seek and borrow kitchen utensils to the resorts. Another thing that caught my attention is the floating foil packs from junked foods and plastic bags, broken glass buried by the shore and not to forget the long rough and bumpy road.
Experience Magalawa....contact Mang Molo at 0929-467-0505 and Grace at 0920-948-3303.
