Where the Heck is Marinduque?: Some of My Favorite THD Photos and the Newton's Sound Boards

Planning to Visit the Philippines Soon?

There are hundreds of tourists attractions in the Philippines. But as a lover of the Island of Marinduque (Home of the Morions and Heart of the Philippines), I am indeed partial to its beauty, charm and its friendly and hospitable residents. Therefore, help me achieve my dream of seeing this island becomes a world tourist destination, by telling all your friends and relatives about this site. Welcome, to you all, new readers and faithful followers of this site! The photo above is Poctoy White Beach in Torrijos, Marinduque with beautiful and majestic Mt Malindig in the background. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing your copyrights.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Some of My Favorite THD Photos and the Newton's Sound Boards

I moved here at THD last June, 2023. I participated in a lot of activities ( excursion and special events), besides my 4-day bridge playing. THD has a website and FaceBook Page and has an excellent on-line presence ( Fantastic Advertising). As a result as of this writing date, THD has 100& occupancy and several names in the waiting list.

This posting is a collection of events that I have participated and my photo included, There are other numerous events that I have attended, but have not been documented with photographs. Here are some of my THD Photos from my collection.

Dinah and I on Father's Day Dinner

Excursion to Pier 39, San Francisco via Oakland Ferry

Italian Dinner at the Comet Room- Add-On to Newton's

Sterling Vineyard Tour

Ugly Sweater Day

Tea Harvest Party with Cydney Carbah

Christmas Time with Santa Claus ( Eric Cox)

Hawaiian Luau with Sue and Hisako

Dancing with Marsha in one of our Happy Hour Event on Fridays

Halloween with Norman Nelson

Dean Elias and I, Octoberfest Celebration

My New Haircut from In-House Barber Shoppe

Sea Food Cioppino with My Dinner Bibs for Protection

Jenny ( Leasing/Marketing) Shively and I

My THD Talk about the Philippines in My Light Green Polo Barong

Halloween Party with Martha Rodrigues

Valentine Dinner with Sue Bramson, Mary Ann DeWald and Jay Pollack

My Harris-Waltz T-Shirt and Pin

Mary Ann DeWald and I at Sam's Chowder House, Half-Moon Bay Lunch Excursion

The Larimores ( John and Carol) and Mary Fenelon and Me

THD Residents Lunch Excursion to Sam's Chowder House, Half-Moon Bay, CA

Lunch at FOB- Award-Winning and Michelin Rated Filipino Restaurant, Temescal District, Oakland, CA

Brunch at the Claremont Club and Restaurant, Berkeley, CA

Lastly, THD News: Ted Treat is now our Activities Guru! I talked to several residents in the 2nd Dinner Seating. A majority told me the sound boards are working. So today I took 2 photos of Newton with the sound boards as follows:

I posted in my previous blog my initial comments/suggestion about the unhealthy noise during dinner time at Newton's and the possibility of Sound Boards. Again, my million thanks to THD Management for improving our Quality of Life Here at THD. https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/02/suggestions-for-improvement-on-quality.html

Newton's Restaurant before Sound Board Installations and removal of the Plastic Olive Tree in the Center.

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ABOUT ME

I am a retired (Chemistry Team Leader from USFDA) Filipino-American who loves writing, gardening and photography. My wife (of 58 years) and I enjoy the snowbird lifestyle between the US and the Philippines. We have a small but very private beach resort( see above video) in the beautiful island of Marinduque, Philippines. I have several blog sites(ten), a personal blog, blogs about retiring in Marinduque and our beach resort and conference center-CHATEAU DU MER. I also write for www.squidoo.com now owned by HubPages.com

Marinduque: A Photogenic Province and Tourists Destination

Marinduque is a photoblogger dream. The province is endowed with unspoiled white sand beaches, pristine blue waters, fringing reefs, virgin coral reefs, coves, limestone caves, meandering rivers, mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls and streams, fabled sulfur and hot mineral springs,old churches and of course beautiful sunsets. The Internet is filled with photographs of the scenic beauty of this island not only from the local professional photographers but also from amateur photographers all over the world. The province has more than six big islands popular to beach lovers, scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. It has Mt Malindig known to mountain climbers and hikers. It has Bathala and Tarug Caves popular to spelunkers and just curious seekers. In one of the eight caves of Bathala, there is a resident python, believed to be enchanted. If he shows himself when you visit the caves, it is suppose to bring you good luck.

Sunset over Tres Reyes Islands- Photo from panoramnio.com The nearest and most accessible islands from the capital town of Boac are the Tres Reyes Islands ( Islands of the Three Kings), Gaspar, Melchor and Baltazar in the town of Gasan. The local names are Laki, Pangkog and Man-nga ( see map above). These islands are located southwest of the mainland. The other three group of islands bigger in area and more populated are Polo, Maniwaya and Mongpong Islands. These are located in the Northeast part of the mainland in the town of Santa Cruz. Maniwaya's Polo Maria White Beach is being develop as an alternative to Boracay. There is a bigger island, Salamongue Island which is not as well known to the tourists and residents.. I really do not know the reason, but I believe it is not as accessible from the mainland . Moreover, it is not as developed( no electricity or running water) compared to the other islands.

One of the most popular white beach located in the mainland in the town of Torrijos is Poctoy White Beach. It is about a 70 minutes drive from downtown Boac. Poctoy White beach with Mt, Malindig as the background is the most photogenic and the most photographed scenery in the island.

Just late last year, the former Elephant Island in Lipata, Buenavista, owned privately, was renamed Bellarocca Resort Island and Spa. It has been converted to look like Santorini Island, Greece with buildings all painted in white sticking in the cliffs. From what I heard, this resort is one of the most expensive and luxurious resort in Southeast Asia. The cheapest room charges $300 per night excluding meals and other amenities. When I was in Marinduque last year, I met a few rich and famous Filipinos( businessmen, actors and actresses, TV personalities)) from Manila as well as Korean and Japanese tourists at Masiga Airport in Gasan on their way to the resort. From the resort advertisement, I know that the most expensive accommodation is a 3-bedroom villa with its own pool and jacussi charging about $ 800 per night without meals. Dong Ho, Oggie Ramos, Ferdz Decena, Allan Barredo, Sydney Snoeck and Dennis Villegas are some of the photographers that I know who have photo blogs about Marinduque. Their pictures are beautiful, unique and mesmerizing. It is worth your time to visit their photo blogs sites. Looking at their photographs of Marinduque, its Tradition and Culture will surely make you proud of the beauty of our island paradise.

Planning to Visit the Philippines Soon?

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Some of My Favorite THD Photos and the Newton's Sound Boards

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