Costa Rica – October 2024 - On 2 October Costa Rica hosted the tenth edition of the Siemens-DEDICO student technological meeting an event that celebrates the collaboration between technical education and the business sector which brings together students from technical institutes offered a platform to demonstrate skills in the use of advanced technologies and find solutions to the real challenges of the sector students from various technical institutes in Costa Rica and El Salvador participated in challenges focused on technological innovation with access to state-of-the-art equipment and training provided by private sector companies Among the national schools that have distinguished themselves: CTP Mercedes Norte CTP Agustiniano Ciudad de los Niños the Ricaldone Technical Institute in El Salvador participated as a guest institution which managed to win first place in the competition The Institute stood out for having offered the best solution to one of the proposed challenges creative and technically rigorous approach Students demonstrated their ability to apply the knowledge acquired in real-world situations underlining the importance of these skills in an increasingly demanding and specialised labour market ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application left to be with her Lord and Savior and her husband Joe of 62 years on Wednesday December 13 She was preceded in death by the love of her life Joe I her oldest brother Ely Paul (Sunny) Martinez She leaves behind her four daughters along with their families Tina Griego and husband Darren of Albuquerque Annette Joyner and husband David of La Luz Matti and husband Caleb Sokoll of Albuquerque Priscilla graduated from Highland High School in 1957 She was in high school when she met Joe at Second Presbyterian Church where she and her parents attended The two were inseparable singing together in the church choir She and Joe then led the church's youth group for many years Due to their creative and innovative methods they touched many lives of young church members and brought them closer to God Priscilla raised her daughters and numerous other kids in after school care while being a stay-at-home mom she began working for the Albuquerque Public School System in several different areas They included Kennedy Middle School as a bilingual educational assistant and La Luz Elementary School as a nurse's aide and at the Graphics Services and Del Norte High School as a workroom aide She was also a vital support for her husband helping and volunteering for his VICA club at the school She retired from the Albuquerque Public School system in 1995 she learned how to decorate cakes with a dear friend and her love of cakes gave her a chance to share her very talented gift with so many friends Her memory will live on throughout all the children's lives for which she cared for deeply A viewing will be held at FRENCH-University Her memorial service will be held Saturday at Second Presbyterian Church with the Rev she will be interred at Sunset Memorial Park with a reception to follow back at Second Presbyterian Church for food and fellowship Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Residents in Camarines Norte Complain About Villar’s PrimeWater’s Poor Service Three towns in Camarines Norte have been without water supply for several days allegedly due to poor service by PrimeWater a company owned by the wealthiest family in the Philippines and Basud have endured a five-day water outage reportedly caused by the high turbidity levels of the Mampurog River Residents have criticized PrimeWater management for its lack of communication and failure to inform water concessionaires about the sudden disruption in supply The affected residents have expressed frustration citing foul odors and unsanitary conditions resulting from the abrupt water service interruption PrimeWater claimed to have reopened its filtration facility in Barangay Dagotdotan Frustrated by the recurring water supply issues residents are demanding the cancellation of the Joint Venture Agreement between the Camarines Norte Water District and PrimeWater They argue that the partnership has failed to improve water services in their area Some consumers even staged a protest at PrimeWater’s office in Daet calling for the resignation of Johnson Chan PrimeWater announced a 2.06% increase in water rates this month citing the Consumer Price Index and Power Price Index as the basis for the adjustment “POLITIKO: Navigating the Pulse of Philippine Politics” encapsulates our commitment to providing comprehensive and dynamic coverage of the ever-evolving political landscape in the Philippines we delve deep into the heart of political matters offering insightful analysis and timely updates that resonate with the pulse of the nation With a foundation built on journalistic integrity since 2014 POLITIKO stands as the compass guiding you through the currents of Philippine politics ensuring you stay informed and engaged every step of the way Somewhere in the United States lives a Mercedes Maybach S-Class that And that’s because Mercedes has issued a warning to the owner to not drive it until a recall can be completed It turns out that a poor weld might cause the rear axle carrier to completely detach from the suspension thrust arm As the recall very clearly states in the official recall paperwork “the vehicle might sway due to roadway influences the vehicle could pull to one side in the event of emergency braking the controllability of the vehicle would be impaired Yea, that sounds like it would be a rough enough ride that not even a Maybach could smooth it out. Thankfully, the potentially dangerous flaw was found before any accidents or injuries occurred. Furthermore, 10 other S-Class vehicles this safety notice says nothing of units sold outside of the country that could also require a fix Read Also: A Near-New Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 Is Being Sold With An Invalid VIN At least the owner can enjoy the sumptuous interior of the Mercedes-Maybach S580 The carmaker has committed to providing all 11 affected customers with a loaner car while their S-Class is in the shop technicians will check the subframe weld on the rear axle carrier and replace it if necessary While we don’t have any photos of the specific weld in question, the rear axle carrier in a Mercedes S-Class is no cheap part. Think of it much like you would the front sub-frame in most modern vehicles and more to the chassis and body of the vehicle We’re just thankful that nobody was hurt and that Mercedes was able to catch the issue before something of that nature took place 10 units of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class are also involved in the recall COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER Café Britt’s new “Britt Coffee Lovers Experience” brings a world of history to your morning cup of joe Café Britt welcomed The Tico Times for a behind-the-scenes look at their new tour, which is held at their Britt Coffee Tour offices in Mercedes Norte de Heredia began the tour by explaining how “coffee is a balance.” And so too was their performance which mixed a healthy amount of self-deprecating humor with enough information to keep the morning lively and interesting but rest assured it included plenty of coffee tastings Details: The Britt Coffee Lovers Experience costs $29 for residents and $34 for tourists. The tour lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes and can be conducted in English and Spanish. For reservations, visit www.coffeetour.com or call +506 2277-1600 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page With the new Mercedes SLC Final Edition the German automaker says farewell to its smallest two-seater roadster in the range We contacted Mercedes about the future of the SLC and we received confirmation that there is no direct successor planned. This could very well mean that we’ll never see another small Mercedes roadster for the foreseeable future Let’s face it, mainstream (or in this case less expensive?) convertible sports cars are dying if they’re not dead yet. All we’re left with is the Mazda MX-5, the new BMW Z4 (thank Toyota Supra for that) and the Audi TT Roadster So let’s take a look at the history of a Mercedes that will be known for its innovations and for introducing younger customers into the dealerships The original Mercedes SLK was launched back in 1996, and immediately attracted huge interest with its innovative folding hard-top that kickstarted the whole trend It was also the fist time Mercedes was offering a two-seater roadster that’s smaller than the SL The original SLK was advertised as the roadster “for all weathers”, with its Vario-roof operating through an electro-hydraulic system in just 25 seconds while still offering the class-leading safety levels of a true Mercedes featuring a pair of fixed rollover bars behind the seats and a very stiff windscreen frame Customers were given a wide range of engines to choose from starting from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produced between 134hp (136PS) and 190hp (193PS) fitted with a 3.2-liter V6 with 215hp (218PS) and of course the SLK 32 AMG that was powered by a supercharged V6 with 349hp (354PS) The second generation of the SLK arrived in the spring of 2004, featuring a much more aggressive design that was inspired by the SLR McLaren the second-gen SLK offered a much sportier driving experience than its predecessor that was combined with more powerful engine options It was also the first car to introduce the “Airscarf” neck-level heating system that was integrated to the seats keeping the driver and passenger warm with the roof down even in the middle of the winter The engine range started with a supercharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder in the SLK 200 with 160hp (163PS) and included a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 in the SLK 350 with 268hp (272PS) if you went for the tire-slaying SLK 55 AMG with its 355hp (360PS) Mercedes revealed the third generation SLK (which later morphed into the current SLC) in 2011 The new model was redesigned completely but it arguably lost some of its charm during the transition it introduced a new folding hard top that incorporated a glass top called the ‘Magic Sky Control’ The new glass roof could switch from transparent to dark at the press of a button This was also the first SLK to become available with a diesel engine in Europe in the SLK 250 BlueEfficiency variant. Base models continued using the 1.8-liter four-cylinder petrol, with 181hp (184PS) or 201 (204PS). The SLK 350 grew more powerful to 302hp (306PS). The SLK 55 AMG remained the hot rod of the range packing 5.5 liters of V8 goodness and 416hp (422PS) to play with Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism At least 27 schools and government buildings in Camarines Norte province showed cracks following the magnitude 5.3 earthquake that hit Tinaga Island in Vinzons town on Wednesday according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) The agency’s 5 pm situation report said there were no casualties or major injuries But medical teams treated several students who suffered fainting spells and a spike in their blood pressure in Vinzons Pilot High School and San Roque National High School in Mercedes town Four barangays in Mercedes town also reported that 40 persons suffered panic attacks when the quake hit at 1:05 pm while members of their barangay disaster teams were in planning sessions The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said quake of tectonic origin occured at a depth of one kilometer the PDRRMO reported cracks in Banocboc Elementary School Mangcayo Elementary School (including the stage) Eugenia Quintela Memorial High School (Banocboc) Classes were suspended at Vinzons Pilot Elementary School while other private schools also cancelled afternoon classes to check on the status of their buildings schools in the province showed photos of swift but orderly evacuations of hundreds of students The Mabini Colleges High School Department in Daet town posted a video of students streaming out of buildings to the designated safe area the official school publication of the Naga City Science High School said students executed the duck and hold position and then proceeded to their assigned evacuation areas there were also cracks at the Comelec Office in the LGU Bldg and the bridge of the Lupa National High School Daguit National High School reported cracks on the second floor classroom Other schools that sustained damage were Bayabas Elementary School While most damage to buildings were reported as minor the PDRRMO said inspections would continue to ensure the safety of occupants There was no word yet of further cancellation of classes in the province as of 8 pm residents have long endured the daily struggle of fetching water from a well for drinking and household use. serves as her family’s only water source. Despite the potential health risks associated with consuming well water the community has grown accustomed to relying on it due to lack of alternatives Sayno faces the challenge of climbing back to her home with a jug filled with well water She collects a meager amount daily for washing shared that residents have been dependent on the well for generations. The discovery of a potential water source in the area has given hope to residents. is now conducting a study on the Oliva River to establish a modern Level III Water System Facility The facility aims to supply water not only to Barangay Oliva but also to neighboring barangays facilitated by the Barangay Oliva government and the company the community welcomed the new water system project. Residents view this initiative as the answer to their long standing wishes Barangay Captain Wilson Gutierrez expressed his gratitude and said that the project extends beyond Barangay Oliva. chairman of the SP Committee on Public Utilities clarified that the company is allowed to install facilities in areas not serviced by Primewater and Camarines Norte Water District assured residents that the project's Phase I construction would commence soon He said that they use an environmentally friendly approach using rocks from the Oliva River to elevate the water Residents were also reassured that the new water system would not have a minimum fee Barangay Oliva became the first in the province for such a water system providing a model for the Provincial Government to replicate in other towns who lack a reliable drinking water source gmaregionaltv.com is home to the latest stories produced by news teams of GMA Regional TV from stations in key areas across the Philippines Bicol is one of the Philippines’ most disaster-prone regions but farmers here now have a reason to expect higher productivity in spite of more challenging weather conditions This is thanks to Green Super Rice (GSR) lines and other stress-tolerant rice varieties that are being introduced and replicated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and FAO demonstration farms that feature GSR lines have been established in cooperation with local government units to allow farmers to observe and compare stress-tolerant lines from varieties that they traditionally use The sites for these demonstration farms have been specifically chosen because they are located in communities where flood drought and/or saltwater intrusion are prevalent farmers often have to live with reduced yield because of these hazards a rice farmer from Mercedes in Camarines Norte flooding is an accepted occurrence in his community they are forced to save what they can by harvesting their crops earlier than they should “Because of the saltwater intrusion and drought and with no irrigation to wash out the salt particles from my farm my harvest had gone down to as low as 14 bags.” Efren said you can see how the seeds [GSR lines] are performing in spite of the condition of my farm I think I can harvest more than 100 bags by the end of this cropping period.” Conditions can be equally challenging for farms in drought-prone areas without irrigation facilities Many farmers in these areas only have one cropping period for rice in one year and would have to wait several weeks or months before being able to plant again predicting the best time to plant is becoming more difficult for farmers like Frank Piquit who has been farming rice for more than 30 years “We now experience the extremes here: flooding during occasional rains and drought at the height of the summer season,” he said “I plant short-term crops like melon and watermelon to help us get by because I do not have the resources to risk planting rice when the weather gets so unpredictable.” While farmers like Efren Dayaon acknowledge that extreme weather conditions will continue to be a challenge he’s now more hopeful about the future as he stands proudly over his rice field “Neighbours who pass by my farm often ask about the GSR lines They are impressed that the rice plants are still in good condition in spite of the saltwater intrusion.” The introduction of GSR lines as a good practice option for DRR is part of an ECHO-funded FAO regional DRR project supporting agriculture in Southeast Asia (Cambodia the project is also showcasing other good practice options including vegetable gardening more efficient use of fertilizer and improved soil and water management practices These practices can make a big difference for smallholder farmers in terms of increasing their agricultural productivity and improving farm-level resilience FAO and the DA have been collaborating to enhance climate risk management and disaster preparedness in Bicol and today is a model for DRR initiatives The DA Regional Field Office in Bicol established a Technical Unit for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management along with 15 community development plans with local counterparts and communities DIPECHO-funded project is also present in the Caraga and Davao Regions in Mindanao Some local government units (LGUs) in Camarines Norte have joined the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in its campaign against Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) cash card pawning an agency official said on Tuesday (April 2) “Recognizing the importance of safeguarding the welfare of 4Ps beneficiaries have taken proactive measures to ensure that the 4Ps grants are directly given to their beneficiaries and used for their intended purposes The LGUs have enacted ordinances aimed at preventing abuse and exploitation in the use of cash cards,” DSWD Field Office-5 (Bicol) Regional Director Norman Laurio said Laurio noted that the ordinances are designed to ensure that these funds are utilized only for the intended purposes mandated by the program and nutrition of its children-beneficiaries local governments aim to crack down on loan sharks and government officials who violate the law This move is seen as a crucial step in protecting the interests of 4Ps beneficiaries across these localities,” Dir “We commend the proactive efforts of the local government units in Camarines Norte in addressing the issue of Cash Card Pawning,” he said To further ensure the effective implementation of these measures Laurio said a Technical Working Group composed of representatives from DSWD Bicol and local councils will be formed “to conduct thorough monitoring and coordination.” the national and local governments can ensure that the benefits of the 4Ps program reach the intended recipients and contribute to their socio-economic empowerment,” the DSWD official stressed 4Ps plays a crucial role in improving the lives of Filipinos particularly by ensuring children’s access to education and healthcare highlighting the collaborative effort among government bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a comprehensive approach to development Philippines – Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) is now a state university President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No and renaming the institution as the University of Camarines Norte (UCN) A copy of the law was made available to the media on Thursday Within 120 days of the law’s approval the newly created UCN should submit a 5-year development plan including its program budget to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) undergo a management audit in cooperation with CHED and set up the university’s organizational the board of regents was ordered to come up with implementing rules and regulations within 60 days of the law’s effectivity 11399 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation CNSC started as the Camarines Norte High School in Daet town in 1920 It was converted into a national high school in 1973 In 1992, it became a state college through RA No. 7352 integrating the Abaño Pilot Elementary School in Daet Camarines Norte National Agricultural School in Labo and Camarines Norte National School of Arts and Trades in Jose Panganiban to compose its different campuses Another campus was later established in Entienza in Santa Elena town MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) slightly intensified over the Philippine Sea on Tuesday afternoon while threatening Luzon and the Visayas with serious rain and winds Kristine’s maximum sustained winds increased from 65 kilometers per hour to 75 km/h and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a press conference at 5 pm on Tuesday The tropical storm’s gustiness is now up to 90 km/h from the previous 80 km/h Kristine was located 390 kilometers east of Daet moving west northwest at 15 km/h from 10 km/h PAGASA still expects Kristine to gradually intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall in Isabela or the northern part of Aurora on Wednesday evening it may cross Northern Luzon’s mountainous terrain then emerge over the waters west of the Ilocos Region on Thursday afternoon or evening “Re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea,” added the weather bureau The yellow circle in the image above shows that “strong to gale-force winds extend outwards up to 760 kilometers from the center” of the tropical storm — affecting large swathes of the country Below is the list of areas where tropical cyclone wind signals are in effect as of 5 pm on Tuesday minor to moderate threat to life and property minimal to minor threat to life and property The highest tropical cyclone wind signal due to Kristine could be Signal No “The wind flow coming towards the circulation” of the tropical storm and the northeasterly windflow are also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas: Rain from Kristine will persist in Luzon and the Visayas PAGASA again advised affected areas to brace for floods and landslides due to the tropical storm there is a minimal to moderate risk of “life-threatening” storm surges in Catanduanes PAGASA said up to high seas are expected in the seaboards of Batanes as well as northern and eastern seaboards of Camarines Sur (waves up to 7 meters high); and seaboard of Polillo Islands as well as northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar (waves up to 6 meters high) Up to very rough seas are expected in the seaboard of Zambales and eastern seaboard of Sorsogon (waves up to 5 meters high) Up to rough seas are seen in the northern and western seaboards of Surigao del Norte and remaining seaboard of Bicol (waves up to 4 meters high); seaboard of Zamboanga del Norte and Cagayancillo Islands as well as western and southern seaboards of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental (waves up to 3.5 meters high); and remaining seaboard of the Visayas and Quezon northern and western seaboard of Calamian Islands and western seaboard of Occidental Mindoro and mainland Palawan (waves up to 3 meters high) Small vessels should not venture out to sea Up to moderate seas will persist in the remaining seaboards of the country (waves up to 2.5 meters high) Small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing Kristine is the country’s 11th tropical cyclone for 2024 and the first for October It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday 4 was raised over Catanduanes and part of northeastern Camarines Sur as tropical cyclone Pepito (international name: Man-yi) intensified into a super typhoon on Saturday PAGASA reported that the center of the eye of Super Typhoon Pepito was estimated at 185 kms east of Catarman it has maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center strong to typhoon-force winds were expected to extend outwards up to 440 kms from the center 4 has typhoon-force winds with speed of 118 to 184 kph posing significant to severe threats to life and property Storm-force winds in these areas carried speeds of 89 to 117 kph posing moderate to significant threats to life and property which has gale-force winds of 62 to 88 kph with minor to moderate threats to life and property with strong winds having speeds of 39 to 61 kph posing minimal to minor threats to life and property PAGASA said the highest Wind Signal which may be hoisted during the occurrence of Pepito is TCWS No intense to torrential (> 200 mm) rains will be experienced on Saturday up to Sunday noon over the following areas: Catanduanes heavy to intense (100 - 200 mm) rains were expected over Albay Moderate to heavy (50 - 100 mm) rains will be over Sorsogon PAGASA warned of a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 meters in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Region (western coast) a gale warning was raised over the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and the eastern seabooad of Visayas or very high seas will be over the following coastal waters: Sea travel will be risky for all types or tonnage of vessels and that all mariners must remain in port or seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside up to rough seas will be over the following coastal waters: are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels Up to moderate seas over the following coastal waters: Mariners of motor bancas and similarly-sized vessels are thus advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and PAGASA said Pepito was forecast to move generally west northwestward within the next three days before turning generally westward to west southwestward from Monday afternoon Pepito is more likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes on Saturday night the state weather bureau said that based on the limits of the forecast confidence cone a landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur or Albay during the same time frame (if it moves slightly south of forecast track) or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora on Sunday afternoon or evening remains if it moves slightly north of forecast track Pepito is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday Pepito will move generally west northwestward over the weekend and pass over or near the landmass of Bicol Region and La Union before emerging over the West Philippine Sea Sunday evening or Monday morning With radar imagery showing signs of eyewall replacement the intensity of PEPITO may begin to maintain or slightly decrease in the next coming hours if the eyewall replacement finishes prior to its passage over Catanduanes the super typhoon will resume intensifying," PAGASA said PEPITO will likely make landfall over Catanduanes as a super typhoon at or near peak intensity and as a super typhoon or typhoon over the Quezon-Aurora area," it added PAGASA said significant weakening will occur during the passage of Pepito over mainland Luzon on Sunday but it will likely remain as a typhoon until it reaches the West Philippine Sea Classes were suspended in some areas on Saturday due to the threat of Pepito Some flights for Saturday, Nov. 16, were also canceled due to the bad weather Meanwhile, the Catanduanes power grid will implement a total shutdown on Saturday in preparation for the threat of Super Typhoon Pepito The Philippine Coast Guard said more than 3,000 individuals were stranded in ports on Saturday morning as sea travel was canceled in many areas due to the threat of Pepito 3,217 persons were stranded in 45 ports in Southern Tagalog Two vessels and 1,217 rolling cargoes were also stranded in the same ports 198 vessels and 156 motor bancas took shelter in the same areas Several dioceses nationwide have asked for prayers and vigilance from the public amid Pepito according to a news release by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines The local government of Naga City has imposed a curfew effective noon Saturday for the protection of residents as Super Typhoon Pepito continued to move closer to Bicol {{gallery.imageDetails.images.0.description}} most people get busy packing their bags for a stimulating vacation If you are someone who is drawn to the calm blue seas then the beaches in the Philippines are among the best options to plan a holiday Apuao Grande Island should certainly be high up on the list is named the “ZigZag Capital” of the Philippines for its breathtaking twists and turns along the island Visitors would certainly enjoy a trip down this island Mocha (a local surfing instructor) said when we were planning to visit Calaguas on our first day in Daet in Camarines Sur After a short discussion while having breakfast we decided not to pursue Calaguas due to the heavy rains and strong winds we just stayed within the vicinity of our hostel and had a fantastic afternoon with a pair of SanMig and Laing on our table We were lucky to have sunny weather on our second day so we immediately planned for a beach escapade according to Mocha – our resident surf instructor/guide so we agreed to visit another beach destination called Apuao Grande Island We all headed to Daet Wet Market to buy rice and something to grill for our picnic lunch Taking a Tricycle to Mercedes Port is expensive we took a small flat passenger boat to the town of Basud then we proceeded to a sitio called Kayukyukan to meet our bankers (boatmen) The original Bangkero that “Mocha” contracted was not there when we arrived It’s a good thing we met a guy who owns an outrigger boat who agreed to bring us to the island The first 20 minutes of our boat ride were smooth the waves became bigger but not that dangerous The boat ride was rather exhilarating and fun:) After approximately 45 minutes of boat ride, we finally reached the island. The islands of Apuao Pequeña and Apuao Grande (connected by a sand bar) are covered with pine-like agoho trees similar to those in Jomalig Island We stayed on the island for only three hours we just played with our cameras and resident cats & dogs and we had an excellent alfresco lunch while enjoying the sea breeze It is a beach resort that was famous in the 1980s and boasts today of several spectacular unspoiled beaches It is located in Mercedes (The Mercedes group of islands is mainly composed of 7 islands) in Camarines Norte at a distance of ten minutes from Canton Island Its landscape is brushed with astonishing caves and rock formations The island is laced with sublime shorelines of white sand and clear blue waters has in recent times fallen into a state of disrepair with most of the villas being leased out to expatriates it is seen more as a fishing town rather than a private resort which features the white sandy beaches and Agoho trees The people on the island are warm and hospitable and would fill in any void for homesick travelers Daet Camarines Norte can be reached by land travel from Manila by buses (Cubao) 02 7227567)- buses ply the Manila-Daet route and vice versa you can reach Mercedes town by riding a tricycle or Jeepney Boat rentals from Mercedes and Caramines Norte cost around Php 2,000-2,500 you ask for the fish port (pantaloon or Pandawan) which should take 45 minutes to get to the island You can also go to Kayukyukan in Basud to rent a boat to Apuao Grande Island remember that the accommodation here is usually very basic There is just 1 villa available for rent at a cost of Php 2,500 and the villa features only 2 rooms but can accommodate up to 10 people tourists have the option of staying in houses beside the villa It might be a good idea to book well in advance if you plan to stay overnight If you aren’t looking at an extravagant holiday or beach side parties then Apauo Grande Island is worth giving a serious thought the calm beauty and serene beaches will prove to be far more cathartic than a luxurious hotel room Follow and Subscribe to OutofTownBlog.com on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, and Team Out Of Town on YouTube for more travel-related updates. Get fresh travel stories straight into your inbox Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting Get the best travel stories straight into your inbox Some of the pages on this travel blog contain affiliate links Whenever you buy something or book travel-related services through one of these affiliate links We get a small commission at no extra cost to you we only recommend products and services that we feel are helpful and beneficial to our readers To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. 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