The CBCP
Secretariat enjoyed an overnight excursion to a resort in San Juan, Batangas.
On our way, we made a stop at the National Shrine of St. Pio in Sto. Tomas,
Batangas, a welcome spiritual detour where we celebrated mass. Afterward, we continued to San Juan,
where we had lunch at the local parish church.
Our overnight stay was at Calubcub Bay Resort and Recreation in San Juan, a property with spacious grounds and two swimming pools. However, I observed that the beach area wasn’t ideal for swimming, as it had dark sand and chocolate-brown waters.
The following
morning, we visited the public beach in Laiya, about 15 kilometers away, which
boasted ivory-colored sand. Being a weekend, the beach was bustling with
visitors. Various water activities were available, including a thrilling banana
boat ride that many of my officemates eagerly enjoyed.
On our
way back, we took the scenic coastal route to Batangas City, passing by the
Malabrigo Lighthouse and Montemaria, which is said to feature the world’s
tallest statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.