Simply Intricate: Experiencing Anawangin with the 4As

Imagine an overnight stay in a remote place deprived of electricity, concrete buildings, cellphone signals and all the hustle and bustle of the city life. That's what I and my high school buddies had to go through last month at Anawangin.

Anawangin Cove, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales

Described as a crescent-shaped cove bestowed with off-white sand, lush pine forest surrounding and crystal clear waters, Anawangin is an island located in Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales. It is a 4-6 hour drive from Manila, a perfect destination for those who want to get closer to nature.

In our pursuit for the perfect summer getaway, I and my 4A friends came up with a non-traditional out-of-town get together last May 12-13, 2012 at this place. Despite of the 2-hr. boat ride from Mindoro to Batangas seaports, the 3-4 hr. bus ride from Batangas to Manila and the long journey all the way to the north, our group braved all the odds just to experience the cove's wilderness.

Station I: Calapan Seaport

Station II: at a Montenegro Shipping Line bound for Batangas

Station III: SM North EDSA

Station IV: Subic


Station V: @Resto Bar, Subic

Station VI: Chilling at 7/11


Station VII: waiting for our boat ride heading for the island

Hence, after all the endless walks, the tiresome boat rides, the never-ending drives and the long wait, we were finally able to set foot on the cove. We then saw the evergreen pine trees, the calm shore, the colorful tents and a camp site like no other. We were somewhere unlike any other places we've been with before. We were one with nature.


Anawangin, Here We Come...


Our Camp Site

My twin sister and I experiencing the Camp life

4As at Anawangin

It took us a while to set-up our tents and prepare for the next adventure for the day: the trip towards Capones island.


Prepping-up for Capones Island

Famous for its lighthouse, the sand and rock mixture, and the open sea, Capones Island is one of the main attractions of Pundaquit Zambales. It is a 20-30 minute ride from the cove, a place to go if you are in for some adventure.

Capones Island

the view atop the island


sitting by the rock

by the light house


the light house


the view from the top

The weather suddenly became unstable as we headed back to the cove. Clouds overshadowed the sky giving way to the pouring rain. Then, we went to the shore and swam our way at a place away from our home, somewhere we were only dreaming of seeing before.

Hence, as the day has finally come to an end, we all went back to camp. There, we had to survive a dark, rainy night at the wilderness with nothing but our tents, bags and each other. We were somewhere away from all the facebook dramas, the cheesy telenovelas, the stressful workplaces and all the negativities of the world. We were at peace and before we knew it, a new day has finally arrived.

What a beautiful morning...

Good Morning Anawangin...


Start the day right!

Unlike the previous day, the next one is all about exploring the wilderness. We've had two activities before we finally geared-up towards home. First, we had to climb one of the steep, rocky mountains of the cove.

Activity: Climb that mountain!


4As on a hike


My hiking adventure

Our last activity at the cove involved a visit to one of the rivers by the area. It wasn't as grand as the other rivers I've come across with but I had fun. We took a lot of pictures, had our own dose of 'kulitan' moments, and explored Anawangin for the last time as we then headed back towards home.


Time for some river adventure

by the river

with the Tamaraw skulls

Kulitan by the wilderness

I had to sacrifice another busy night shift at our ER for the sake of the long trip towards home but it was all worth it. I was able to spend some time with my long lost high school buddies and amidst the scorching heat, the endless search for normalcy and the quest for survival, my experience at the cove is something I'll always remember for the rest of my life.