Whenever I feel the urge to get away for a weekend recluse, I pack my bag and head to Punta Malabrigo in Lobo, Batangas.
I am not a swimmer, and I come to Punta Malabrigo to spend time mostly walking along its kilometer-long pebble beach or exploring its century-old lighthouse. I usually stay at the Punta Malabrigo Resort owned by a charming couple named Mang Johnny and Aling Zeny.
My first contact with the couple was about 10 years before when I was doing some research on Philippine lighthouses. Since then, I have come more than a dozen times to enjoy the secluded beach of Malabrigo and enjoy the company of the old couple.
Road to Malabrigo
From Manila, drive straight to SLEX and STAR expressways and continue to the provincial capitol, where the road leading to SM Batangas forks either through the mountain road or coastal road – both leading to Lobo town.
From the town center, drive through the long concrete bridge; pass the barangays of Sawang and Soloc before reachinng Malabrigo where the road finally ends.
Walking Around
Punta Malabrigo is located on the lower tip of the whole Batangas mass. “Mal Abrigo” means “bad harbor” and centuries of strong waves have formed a barrier cliff where the lighthouse is now located.
Fronting Malabrigo is Verde Island, and the background is the outline of Mindoro’s Mount Halcon. On several visits, I saw dolphins swimming a few meters from the shore.
Unless you are an experienced swimmer, water activities in Malabrigo are very limited. I suggest that you just enjoy walking along the beach of Malabrigo. The whole stretch of Sigayan Bay is filled with black pebbles instead of sand. When I bring friends in Malabrigo, they spend more hours combing the beach beach for shells and unusually red-colored stones and dead corals instead of swimming on its cool, clear waters.
Trekking To The Lighthouse
A short trek from the beach leads to Punta Malabrigo Lighthouse, standing on a 39-meter cliff, this lighthouse guides all sea vessels passing through the Verde Island Passage.
Faro De Punta Malabrigo was built at the end of the Spanish colonization. Designed by Guillermo Brockman and built by Jose Garcia in 1892, it features a 17-meter cylindrical brick tower inside a courtyard.
In front of the lighthouse is the old wood and brick structure designed to house the lighthouse keeper and his family; at the back are the old engine room and the kitchen.
After a long walk on the beach, I often go to the lighthouse and watch as the sun slowly sets on the South China Sea.
