February 8, 2016

Marikit-na, Maniwaya

“It is so hard to leave - until you leave.  And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world.”
- John Green
























I didn’t know what to expect coming to Maniwaya. I didn’t make any resort reservations. I just needed to get away and rode the earliest bus that will take me to Bondoc Peninsula. I just wanted to know if what I need is just love and the beach just like that quote I found later on at Marikit-na. But perhaps, after all my musing and long walk by the beach, all I need is simply the awareness of how blessed my life is, and that love isn’t always a verb.

How to get to Markit-na, tips, and trivia:
1. From Buendia, take Lucena-bound bus (4 am) and get off at Grand Central Terminal.
2. From Lucena, take Catanuan-bound van (7 am). Tell the driver to drop you off at General Luna pier or market. General Luna is the town before Catanuan.
3. From General Luna, take the passenger boat going to Maniwaya (10 am). Boat fare is just P150 and travel takes an hour. The same boat leaves Maniwaya and returns to General Luna at 7 am the next day.
4. From Maniwaya pier, ride a habal-habal going to Marikit-na. Fare is just P20.
5. Marikit-na is a portmanteau of the two words “Marikina” (where the owner hails) and “marikit” (beautiful). As the name suggests, the resort is truly homey, rustic and marikit. It used to be just a vacation house for the owner’s family and friends until recently converted into a resort.
6. Electricity in the island runs from 3 pm – 11 pm. But since the resort has its own solar panel, expect additional hours of electricity any time of the day.
7. Kuya Ron (resort manager), Ren and all the staff are very hands-on and helpful to the guests. They can arrange boat transfers and island hopping (Palad Sand Bar and Ungab Rock Formations) and cook for you for just P200 per meal.
8. Maniwaya can also be reached from mainland Marinduque. But it takes additional hours and more transfer, if taking this route from Manila.  
9. Contact information of Marikit-na for reservation – 0927-8789782.

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