Balud on the south-western side of Masbate is a paradise waiting to be explored. It has several unspoilt white sand beaches, a marine sanctuary, one of the oldest lighthouses in the Philippines, the freshest seafoods, and a festival that celebrates the bountiful harvests of its farmers and fishesmen.
But getting there is not easy. There's a direct flight from Manila but it's very expensive. It is also possible to do bus travel from Manila then ferry transfer to Masbate but this takes plenty of time.
For our visit during the Pangumagat Festival, we flew in from Manila to Daraga, travelled by land to Pilar, Sorsogon, took the fast craft to Masbate City, then finally travelled for another hour and half to Balud.
In between, we were able to get a fantastic view of Mt. Mayon from Daraga Church, and caught the most stunning sunset upon arrival in Balud.
#baludmasbate #pangumagatfestival #mayonvolcano