We went to Puerto Galera last Holy week with our friends to celebrate one of our office-mate's birthday. I must say that i won't go there during Holiday ever again but definitely would during off peak season or other date rather than Holy Week.
We leave our house around 3 o'clock in the morning and arrive on the JAM Liner station in Buendia around 15 minutes past 4 in the morning. It is supposed to be less than an hour travel from my place but reblocking in EDSA ruin our travel time. By the time we arrive on JAM Liner, the line going to Batangas is so long and almost no bus arrive for an hour. We were able to ride on the bus just when the clock strikes 6:20 in the morning.
We arrive on the Batangas Pier around 8:30 am but then again another block buster line can be seen anywhere. We bought tickets going to White Beach easily but the payment for Terminal Fee is so hard. We try to ask some personnel assigned for the commuters but even them doesn't even know where to point us because passenger paying for Terminal Fee and buying tickets were mixed up. Tired and exhausted, I ask my boyfriend to find the Terminal Booth and surprisingly he was able to found it at the front of the main building and the line was not that long, far from the line that was pointed by the ground personnel. While on the line, a foreigner we're able to line break or "singit" on the line. My bf try to approach the guard and surprisingly the guard told him "pagbigyan na lang" or just let him thru. Many people we're shocked on the guard's response but there's nothing they can do.
We manage to get the tickets for less than hour but our departure time is around 11:30. Killing time is so hard because of the chaotic scenery of the passengers. Some are tired, some just go back home, many children doing tantrum and no area to rest. Gadget will be your best friend in this kind of situation. Another thing is, make sure you carry tons of foodie and water on your bag to avoid buying on the terminal. Foods here are so expensive!
The last part of our Pier experience is the departure. Our gate is on the 2A. Many people fall in line to enter the departure area BUT the line has mixed passenger on different time of departure. We don't fall in line there because its hard to know when will be the guards allow them to enter. Its already 11 am and our departure time is near. I try to ask a guard roaming around what is the departure time the guards on the door is calling. Even this ground guard doesn't know what is going on. He told me that even he doesn't know what the door guards up to. He almost cry while he explains. I think he is exhausted on the number of people they are guarding. I walked away with my question unanswered. We manage to go inside the departure area when we tell the door guard that our departure time is 11:30 am. The guard was too kind to let us in but some passenger behind me keep murmuring because they fall in line for a long time. Well, its not my problem anymore.
Inside the departure area, there are some store selling foodies. I think they should be outside because its hard to find a store beyond the gate. We manage to go outside the port to go to our banca but the guard won't let you in unless your bags were checked by their bomb sniffing dogs to which I must say that they should do this often for passengers security.
Overall, the lines, management of ground personnel, volume of passenger and the EDSA reblocking ruin our timeline and brings tons of exhaustion on our Holy Week vacation. I must say that if you doesn't have tons of patience, you better not go there during peak season especially Holy Week where in tons of people consider Puerto Galera as great option to enjoy holiday rather than Boracay.
Fare Breakdown (one way):
Buendia to Batangas Pier Bus - P166.50
Boat to White Beach - P275.00
Terminal Fee P 30.00
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P471.50 per head/one way
