San Jose is a town in the province of Mindoro Occidental located in the southwest portion of Mindoro Island. It is about 195 kilometers from the city of Manila and could be reached via airplane or bus. There are no passenger ferries that dock to its port in Barangay Caminawit.
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| Government port of San Jose. |
Like the many towns that are far away from the large urban centers, the main economic activities in San Jose are fishing and farming. Salt is one of the main products of this town and is sold to various provinces of Visayas.
How to Reach San Jose, Mindoro Occidental
San Jose has an airport which is just a tricycle ride away from the town center. McGuire Airfield, as the airport was called, has one landing strip and one terminal building. PAL Express and Cebu Pacific Airlines have daily flights between Manila and San Jose, Mindoro Occidental.
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| Inside McGuire Airfield terminal. |
Another option is to travel by sea to Abra de Ilog and then by land across Mindoro. Ferries going to Mindoro are available in Batangas Port. You had to take a ferry going to the Abra de Ilog then ride a bus going to San Jose, Mindoro Occidental. This is the cheapest way of going to San Jose but entails a travel time of at least eight hours. So if you are in for a tiresome voyage and rickety road trip, then this is your best option.
Riding the RoRo buses is another option. There are daily trips to San Jose, Mindoro Occidental coming from Cubao, Quezon City. The price, about 900 pesos plus, is just same with the ticket price of PAL Express.
Sights to See in San Jose, Mindoro Occidental
I didn't see any beach resorts and tourist spots during my stay in San Jose. I saw some foreigners which made me think that I am actually missing something in this town. A commenter said that there is a beach on Ambulong Island, which is just a boat ride away from San Jose, Mindoro Occidental.
The town does have beach resorts but their beaches are not well developed yet. The town is blessed with wonderful mountains that could be a promising area for people who are fond of mountaineering and trekking.
Development is centered in the town center but there are no malls and tall buildings. The whole town is consisted mostly of farms.The centerpiece of this town is the well-maintained park in front of the municipal hall. People flock here every afternoon to stroll and relax. This park is what I like the most in their town. It offered a relaxing space and a good respite from the hustle and bustle of Manila and far away from the imposing buildings and tiresome malls that keep on hypnotizing the people to buy buy buy!
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| Rizal Park of San Jose. |
My few days visit in San Jose, Mindoro Occidental is not enough to describe the wholeness of the town. Who knows what things are to be discovered in this part of Mindoro? My only regret is I failed to visit any church in this town and add them to the list of churches that I already visited.
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I'm sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy your stay in San Jose. Perhaps, next time you can try out renting a boat to go to the off-shore islands. I hear they have great white-sand beaches there.
ReplyDeleteSo this is why you've been busy...haha! Try and include me in your plans.... *just kidding* but you know you might want to - with some others, of course! :)
ReplyDeleteHahaha...that's a nice idea Azil. Well I just reached this place because of my work. If our office allow us to tag someone along in uor trips in the future than I will take you.
ReplyDeleteISHMAEL AHAB,
ReplyDeleteIS THAT YOUR REAL NAME? YOU LOOK LIKE JAMES MACAPANAS, PROBABLY A CIVIL ENGINEER, GRADUATE IN ADAMSON UNIVERSITY?
i'm here in dubai....for sure you have not gone in the adjacent islands like ambulong, iling and white island. the beaches there are so nice..likeweise the sands are white. you have so many things still to ponder. next time..just in case you have the chance I advise you to be accompanied by a legitimate resident of our town. nevertheless,,i know you enjoyed the fresh air and somehow being mesmirized by the rusticity of rural life...(philip)
ReplyDeleteI was raised in that town.More than 4 decades ago I'd go to the roof of our house and look at the ocean as far as my eyes could see.I told myself I wanted to go beyond what I could see.I live now in the US with a beautiful home,a BMW and a Jaguar and within distance to diamond and 5 star hotels and high end malls.I look out now from the balcony of my house and my thoughts always bring me back to where I came from.And I touch my roots,and reach out from time to time.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in San Jose and practically watched it grew from a community (that included the present towns of Rizal and Magsaysay) of 22,000 residents to the present population of 110,000 (excluding Rizal and Magsaysay). The beaches then were very clean unlike at the present time that I feel ashamed of telling the tourists that I met. But Ilin Island is still a paradise with no pollution where people can breath the sweet sea breeze.
ReplyDeleteFor those who did not enjoy their stay in San Jose, I can tour you to the places where you will enjoy the most of your stay and will always remember how good it was that you will be lured into coming back.
Ishmael, politics like any other town in the Philippines is the reason why pollution remains the big challenge in San Jose.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous, just like you I grew up in San Jose and graduated high school at SMA in '56. I came to US in '72 but has re-established my residence at SJ. Discard your Jaguar & BMW, come back to SJ and together we will give back to the community what it needs to help the poor people we care and love. Don't be ashamed or afraid to identify yourself. People would not come to beg from you.
If you want a fresh air, fresh sea foods, veges and friendly people,then visit the San Jose, Occ. MIndoro..Try to be there, beaches are not only the place to remember but all of its resources. Cheaper price of those foods and freshness makes you to enjoy the stay here in San Jose....
ReplyDeleteYou are correct Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI hope that tourism in San Jose be included in the advertisements of Department of Tourism.
On your next visit to SJ, I suggest you stay at Villa Paulina Spa and Resort(http://villapaulinabeachresort.com/). There you can enjoy their food, massage and the beach. Nice beaches could be enjoyed in White Island,Inasakan, Turtle Island and Grace Island.
ReplyDeleteHi, just read ur blog.. Why not try visiting Sablayan that is 3hrs travel by bus from San Jose.. Lots of tourist destination, white beach (Pandan Island), Apo Reef and lot more.. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 1:
ReplyDeletePaulina Beach Resort? I will check that out in the future. ^_^ Thanks!
Anonymous 2:
Thank you very much for your suggestion. If I got another chance to visit Mindoro, I will try to visit Sablayan.
Actually, its a nice place Mindoro for me, i love this place. There are many tourist spot/attraction in Mindoro.
ReplyDeleteRafiel
ReplyDeleteMindoro is a beautiful place indeed. I am sad that I am not able to return to Mindoro. I want to go there and see the beautiful places.
I still remember my childhood days in san jose mindoro,i was a graduate of san jose pilot elem. school way back four and a half decades ago and i still cherish the memories of my life in that really beautiful place,hope to visit the place someday and meet my old classmates.
ReplyDeleteAnon.
DeleteI'm glad to see a comment from someone who came from San Jose. Please go back to your hometown. Bring back those childhood memories.
tommrrow i will be home to to my brother's celebration and visit my friendes and relatives there. I miss san jose very much. nice to live there too
Deleteit is true try to go there. i miss my good old days there. tomorrow i will be there to visit my friends and relatives and to attend to my brother's celebration and back on saturday here in cavite.
ReplyDeleteSan Jose has a total changed now. Visit aroma family hotel and resort complex. Near to the airport and famous aroma beach.
ReplyDeleteI like San Jose Mindoro very much.When I was there, I stayed in Bubog , its a good place especially if you are in aroma beach. San Jose now is one of the progressive place in Occidental Mindoro. Indeed, I would like to invite all of you to visit the aforesaid place.
ReplyDeleteI want to visit San Jose, Mindoro again. Thank you for the info.
DeleteHello! You can stay at Villa Paulina Spa and Resort(villapaulinabeachresort.com or check their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/villapaulinahotel ). To enjoy the tour, you can visit Grace Island, island hopping and land tour such as seeing the Devil's Mountain and Tamaraw conservation park.
ReplyDelete