Quezon | Pagbilao Grande Island's Kwebang Lampas

QUEZON | Pagbilao Grande Island's Kwebang Lampas
Kwebang Lampas Travel Guide

 

It had been months since the dry season (summer) in the Philippines passed for 2014. Yet, the finale beach camp trip I did with a few friends to Kwebang lampas of Pagbilao, Quezon still brings a vivid memory for me of a white sand beach cove. The towering Pagbilao Power Plant was an amalgamation amidst the rocky and green terrain, the scattered rain clouds of both days I was there, the sand that clings to my skin and the carefree banter of beach campers who are just too happy to be away from the bustle of Urban Manila; Kwebang Lampas was our refuge for this weekend. Even as light rains poured from time to time, telling us that this summer is soon over; as I lay alone inside my tent while people lounge by the beach side in drunken stupor; I could use a hug and a cuddle then, but I was never alone, not really.

I’ve never heard of Kwebang Lampas until a veteran backpacking friend Gail decided to go back to Kwebang Lampas and check it out as a possible location for an overnight trip. It had been years since she made this visit and Kwebang Lampas used to be a haven for her. She came back with a positive outlook; it is possible to bring an entire team to go back packing to Pagbilao Grande Island’s Kwebang Lampas. This post is an account of me and a team of friends who spent an overnight trip, camping in a beach without any resort, electricity and bare cell phone signal in Kwebang Lampas of Lukang Beach. 

The Pagbilao Power Plant tower, rising between the rolling landscape of Pagbilao Grande Island.

The lake that stands as a natural barrier before the esteemed beach in Kwebang Lampas.

The Many Names And The Moniker

This particular beach corner in Pagbilao Quezon comes in many different names and a moniker, but there is nothing more official or politically correct in any of them unless it’s placed on the map perhaps. It’s very frustrating to search for information about Kwebang Lampas, there’s only but a few bloggers who wrote about their experience be it good or bad. This piece of beach front land was formerly owned by the Lukang Family; hence it was once called Lukang Beach and a private property where an overnight stay was not allowed before. Kwebang Lampas as it is more popularly known is actually a Moniker name for the tunnel like cave system on the rocky western side; Kwebang Lampas refers to a cave that passes through. If you take to trek on arrival and pass through at the back gate of the property, you’ll find it crudely painted at their gate “Grande Island Beach,” we have to consider that this beach is in Pagbilao Grande Island but that Grande Island beach may refer to any of beach coves in this Island. Puting Buhangin beach actually refers to the number of white beach coves surrounding Pagbilao Grande Island, and Kwebang Lampas is only one of them located southwest of the island. So far, the most acceptable name online is Kwebang Lampas. 

The back gate property entrance.

On a rainy late afternoon, Sunset hidden in the rain clouds.

I’ve thought well and long before deciding to blog about Kwebang Lampas because I believe it deserves a second chance. Frankly, the negative things written about this place in some blogs can be disheartening, especially to someone who haven’t heard of Kwebang Lampas before. My rule in blogging about a certain place is that if I have nothing good to say, better not talk about it because my expectations and perspective is different from my readers. I try to be as positive as I can. I’d see a crowd of people in the beach and I won’t be disappointed, like me they are there to enjoy as well. I’d be ask to be pay an entrance fee, sure I’d grudgingly pay it without ranting like a cheapskate because I have come prepared and known that I would pay at some point, I’m stepping into someone’s property after all. Vandalism upsets me, and like many other tourist destinations, Kwebang lampas is not out of them, but if you think about it, vandalism had been in human nature since time immemorial, ancient Egyptian’s, Greeks and Romans did them, so why would it change the world now. I can live with a few Vandals in my photographs, if they don’t look pleasant, it's really easy to remove them. I have to admit though, I’m one of those hopefuls who are trying to spread the word to stop vandalism, it’s a smear and doesn’t look pleasant anywhere.

Pardon me, I’m trying to paint a more positive view of Kwebang Lampas as I see it befitting. Let me show you in these photos shot with a Canon Point and shoot Camera. 

A Place For Photo Ops

This photo is only one of the set I got before the rocky entrance to Kwebang Lampas. The wings were merely borrowed from Gail who likes to bring wings to wear for little fun photo shoot when she's in a beach. There were a lot of people swiming and lounging in the beach then, but they stayed at a safe distance as spectaters while I muster my courage and overcome every ounce of shyness. The result was a set of photos I could proudly show off. Check the full feature here: Beach Photo Shoot

Photo credit: Chaz Zenith

Wing costume: Gail Guarizo 

Photos shot with Canon SX170 Travel Zoom 

Inside Kwebang Lampas. The walls are lined with few Vandals that I removed through photo editing.

How To Get There

Note: I joined a team building to get there, so we hired a van to take us up to the registration area for Lukang Beach. I wasn’t part of the ocular team who scouted this place first. This how to get there by commuting with buses, jeeps and tricycle. Prepared by Gail Guarizo.

Bus Option To Lucena

• Take a bus en route to Lucena (either from Buendia or Cubao) and get off at Lucena Grand Central Terminal. From the terminal there are vans and jeepneys going to Pagbilao. Manila to Lucena Bus fare is around Php 209.00, one-way fare. 
• Second Route is to take a bus going directly to SM Lucena.

You may want drop by SM Lucena to buy supplies before heading to Pagbilao.
There are jeepneys from SM Lucena Going to Pagbilao Market terminal. Fare is 15.00.
You can also buy supplies at a public market near the terminal.


From the Lucena Grand Central Terminal

• Take a jeep ride bound for Brgy. Polo for Php 35.00.
• Tell the driver that you are going to Lukang Beach (Lukang Beach is the old name of Kwebang Lampas).
• Once in Brgy Polo, you can hire tricycle going to the Kwebang Lampas Registration area.
• Tricycle drivers are charging around Php 200-250.00 one way, to bring you to the registration area.
• We met a Tricycle driver, name is Tolits (will send his number, if you need it) and his asking price is Php 150.00.
• Price of course depends on number of pax and camping gears and supply you are bringing.

Three options on going to the Beach from the Registration Area.

• Walk all the way to the beach.
• Boat ride to cross the lake, Php 20.00 Round Trip. Short hike to beach, approximately 15-30 mins.
• Boat ride to cross the lake and rent a boat to take you and all your camping gears, food, water, etc to the beach. Prices vary, depends on your negotiation skill with the boatman.

At the registration, you have to pay for entrance.

• Php 160.00 For an Overnight stay.
• Php 20.00 If you are crossing the lake via boat, two-way.
• Php 300.00 Tents for overnight rent.
• Php 700.00 Tables for rent.

Ang Pala-lagaw's Kwebang Lampas Photo Gallery

Check this link for the flickr album: Kwebang Lampas

After a long ride, we were treated to a bilao of Chamy Pancit. This was in a store were we can also wash up after the trip to Kwebang Lampas.

The view after the registration area is a lake that we have to cross by a boat that would ferry us along with our supplies and belongings to the other side.

Once crossed, beyond this side is rocky beach where a boat are sometimes moored to bring guest to the front of Kwebang Lampas.

The beach alight with morning sunrise.

It was a long fun night and in here, we are preparing for a well deserved full breakfast.

On our way back, Mamang Bangkero looking before the seascape before him.

On the Map

Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, Faithful lover, True Explorer...

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