Mabini
Mabini is a municipality in Batangas. Mabini lies in a peninsula overlooking Batangas and Balayan Bays. Its major destinations are Anilao, the birthplace of Philippine's scuba diving industry, and the beach resorts not far from Manila. Though largely a destination by mid-class locals, foreigners do visit the area alike as a diving destination not far from the capital.
Fishing is once the major source of income for the village, but tourism became the present source of municipal revenue. The local government, however, has tried to keep tourism sustainable, so, no hotel or restaurant chains are found in the area.
Understand
Mabini sits on the Calumpan Peninsula, overlooking Balayan and Batangas Bays, and the Maricaban Strait. Mabini derives its name from Apolinario Mabini, a Filipino revolutionary, better known as the "Brain of the Revolution" (Utak ng Himagsikan) and the "Sublime Paralytic" (Dakilang Lumpo). The municipality is formed in 1918, formerly part of the nearby town, Bauan.
Mabini's main destination, Anilao, is the Philippines's birthplace of scuba diving. The proximity of Mabini to Manila proved to be advantageous to the growth of tourism in the area, making it the nearest equivalent to beach and diving spots like Boracay or Puerto Galera (the latter is also near the metro, but you must board a boat, fast craft, or RORO ferry from Batangas City). The completion of the STAR Tollway further increased its accessibility, though at the cost of causing traffic jams in already-congested Batangas City and its surrounding metropolis. The peak season is during the after-school vacation between March and May, so, expect resorts to become packed and fully booked.
The diving scene is alive in the Anilao area, but there are many beach resorts and diving spots all around the coast, except to the south of Mount Gulugod Baboy. Municipal services and businesses are concentrated in the east, in the Poblacion and Mainaga area.
Across the Maricaban Strait is Tingloy, a small island town has a handful of some off-the-beaten-track sights. While a separate municipality administratively, Tingloy is treated as part of Mabini in general.
Tourism information
Tourism information can be found at the small park in the Mabini Crossing triangle, an intersection of Bauan–Mabini Road and Mabini Circumferential Road in barangay Poblacion.
Get in
By car
Mabini is two and a half hours away from Manila and about one hour from Batangas City. Travel times can be affected by traffic jams and peak season traffic, so get prepared.
Most visitors from Manila will take the STAR Tollway to Batangas City, then the Diversion Road, Route 436, and Bauan–Mabini Road. Traffic through the Batangas City metropolitan area has worsened after the completion of STAR Tollway, so it can take longer. Expect longer travel times during Holy Week.
There is an 10-kilometer (6.2 mi) expressway-grade bypass road being built north of Batangas City, San Pascual, and Bauan, but construction has only begun in 2018, and is not expected to be open to traffic in 2021.
Another way to get around the traffic jam in San Pascual and Bauan is to take the STAR Tollway, exit at Lipa, follow Jose P. Laurel Highway (Route 4) to the junction in barangay Banaybanay, take Route 433 through Cuenca and Alitagtag, and then follow Route 436 from Santa Teresita to Bauan. It can reduce time wasted on traffic, and cut the expense on tolls (₱47 on Lipa, from Santo Tomas toll plaza, as against ₱95 on Batangas City, given a distance-based toll of ₱2.27), but congestion do exist at Lipa, especially on weekdays. Another alternate route is via San Jose and Bauan, but it carries you through narrow roads in inland barangays.
By bus or jeepney
There are no bus services to Mabini, but, you can take a bus to Batangas City and take the Batangas–Mabini jeepney service at the terminal, or catch one under the Bolbok flyover. The fare can either cost ₱38 from the Grand Terminal or ₱32 from Bolbok flyover, plus your bus fare.
See
Do
Hiking
There are hiking tours to Mount Gulugod Baboy, not too far from the seaside resorts. There is one major trail from barangay Bagalangit, which takes one hour to complete. Highlights are camping at the summit and views of Batangas Bay, Metro Batangas and surrounding areas, and Mount Maculot. Tourist information is available at the jump-off point at Bagalangit, and boat rentals for those snorkeling or diving is also available.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
- Anilao Outrigger Resort, Solo, Anilao, ☎ +63 2890-6778, fax: +63 2-729-6571. The resort provides complete diving equipment and houses a restaurant and bar. There are about 185 steps down to the resort from the parking lot. Porters will carry your luggage up and down, but you have to climb all of those stairs, which can be strenuous. From ₱2,800.
- 🌍 Sea's Spring Resort, Mabini Circumferential Road, Mainit (10 kilometers from town proper). Air-conditioned rooms, with cable TV, hot water and views of the beachfront or the mountains. Cottages are also available. There are also an outdoor swimming pool with slides, and natural hot spring baths. From ₱2,666.
- 🌍 Mayumi Resort, Mabini Circumferential Road (12 kilometers from town proper). Small Filipino-themed beach resort. Scuba diving available on site.
Stay safe
Stay healthy
- 🌍 Mabini General Hospital, F. Castillo Street, Poblacion (On the Mabini Crossing area, just beside BDO.). Offers 24-hour emergency service and pharmacy
Connect
Go next
Batangas City is the transport hub in the area; travelers will use the city as their jumping point to the rest of Batangas, or to other beach and diving destinations like Boracay and Puerto Galera.
Another nearby option is Taal, a heritage town just one hour via Route 436. You may continue further west on the coast, to other seaside resorts in Lemery, Balayan, Calatagan, Lian, and Nasugbu.