Thursday, August 30, 2012

Faro de Punta de Malabrigo

Faro de Punta de Malabrigo, or Malabrigo Lighthouse, is the light station strategically built at Malabrigo Point (southernmost tip pf Batangas Province) in Lobo, Batangas to guide the ships that passes through the very important Verde Island Passage, a busy maritime route located between the islands of Luzon and Mindoro.

Completed in 1896, this magnificent edifice designed by Guillermo Brockman, has survived the fury of time. In fact, Faro de Punta de Malabrigo is one of the very few Spanish era lighthouses that are still in good shape. Aside from the light which was replaced with a modern, solar powered one, everything from its 17m white cylindrical brick tower to its single-story keeper's house has remained intact and continuously serve the vessels in the sea up to this date.

Old photo of Faro de Punta de Malabrigo, date unknown
photo source.
The whole structure was brought back to its former glory in 2004. As part of Adopt-a-Lighthouse project of the Philippine Coast Guard with the help of Akiko Thomson, Malabrigo Lighthouse has been refurbished and restored almost to its original state. National Historical Commission of the Philippines saw its significance in maritime heritage, thus declaring it a National Historical Landmark in November 27, 2006.



I was able to visit Malabrigo Lighthouse last August 26, 2012 when I came to the town of Lobo for a solo adventure. It's quite far from the main town, requiring about 15 minutes tricycle ride (P150 one way).

front of the lighthouse
I was very much delighted upon seeing this lighthouse, it was indeed in perfect good state (to think that it's more than a century old). The tower and the keeper's quarters were newly painted and the grass in the front yard are very well trimmed. It was such a fine and lovely building.

the white cylindrical tower
the solar panels that power the light
the light of the tower
Although I failed to climb up its tower (entering and climbing up the tower is prohibited), I still enjoyed the views of Verde Island and the mountains of Mindoro from below.

Faro de Punta de Malabrigo

Getting to this lighthouse is discussed in this post: Solo Day Trip to Lobo, Batangas.


*reference: http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/phl.htm 


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Farola Series

11 comments:

  1. bago lang ba ung solar panel? The last time I went here around 2010, wala pa to. great photos btw.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess so.. nung bumisita ako parang yung buong building bago lahat e :)

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  2. uhmmm parang dito nag shooting ang Lalaki sa PArola? lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. oo nga eto yung sa lalaki sa parola

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  4. it is nice to see na meron palang mga lighthouses na well kept or at least renovated na..

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  5. Hi Ivan!

    This was my 4th lighthouse. I visited this one last 2010. I do hope whoever painted the tower white should have consulted heritage professionals first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe the restoration is part of the Adopt-a-Lighthouse project of Phil Coast Guard and has the consent of NHC and other concerned groups.. :)

      Delete
  6. hello. malaki po ba un kalsada from city to farola?
    kasya po ba ang bus? thanks po

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  7. Hi. I just want to ask kung magkano ang pamasahe kung manggagaling ako mismo sa bayan ng Lobo. Thank you. :)

    ReplyDelete

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