THANKS TO the global economic crisis, resorts lining the beach of Matabungkay are looking forward to doing good business during Holy Week with this stretch of Batangas coastline suddenly proving to be popular once again with domestic tourists.
Matabungkay, located in the town of Lian about three hours by public transport from the capital, ?is the nearest clean beach to Metro Manila,? said barangay chair Teodoro Palahang.
The Matabungkay barangay is able to monitor the number of beach-goers by charging a P3 entrance fee.
?Those who don?t want to spend a lot going to faraway beaches like Boracay can just come here,? Palahang said.
Vacationers started trooping to Matabungkay as early as last weekend, he said. Many of these beach trippers are students on their summer break.
Palahang and residents who earn from the range of services they provide to vacationers say they expect the influx of people to peak during Holy Week.
Some 100,000 people visited Matabungkay last year, of which almost 40,000 showed up during the Holy Week.
70 resorts, hotels on 2-km beach
For most Filipino Catholics, the last week of Lent is a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and death of Jesus Christ through various observances and services of worship meditation. But since it coincides with the summer school break, it is also a time for going on beach holidays.
According to Palahang, more than 70 resorts and hotels operate in Matabungkay?s 2-kilometer beach, and many of them are expecting to be very busy this week.
As early as January, the 86-room Matabungkay Beach Resort and Hotel was fully booked for Holy Week, said sales manager Mayla Dio. Room prices range from P3,700 to P6,200.
Floating cottages
Tito Mendoza, 32, rents out his three ?floating cottages? for P1,500 each for the entire day. Most of his customers are families on vacation, he said.
Floating cottages are bamboo rafts with built-in tables and chairs and a small roofed section. Some even have barbecue grills and can accommodate up to 25 people.
There are about 200 of these floating cottages on the Matabungkay beach.
Some villages rent out paddle boats for P500 an hour.
A Korean businessman who maintains a small canteen by the beach also rents out his two jet skis, among other fancy rides, for P4,500 an hour, according to cook, Betty Bautista, 43.
There are also the usual makeshift food stalls on the beach.
Matabungkay can be reached by taking the bus bound for Calatagan, the town to its south which also has a beach.
Festival coming up
Palahang said that for Holy Week, 26 barangay police volunteers will be patrolling the beach to assist the regular police detail.
?We will ensure the security of our tourists,? he said.
He said some visitors might just want to extend their stay after Holy Week as Matabungkay will be celebrating its feast day with a ?balsa (raft) festival? on April 21 and 22.
