Motorcycle Theft

Shocking!
Last week of April, me and my friends went to Robinson's Pacita, San Pedro to buy stuff
we need for our summer swimming. There were 6 of us and 3 motorcycles.
I have a Yamaha Mio Soul while my friend had a Yamaha Mio Amore motorcycle.
The third motorcycle was a honda wave motorcycle. We parked at Robinson's motorcycle
parking area then went inside to go buy groceries we have in our list.
After shopping, we went back to the motorcycle parking area and i noticed that the
motorcycle parked beside my motorcycle was different. It should be my friend's Amore.
From that point on we got scared of the worst. I was hoping someone just moved my
friend's motorcycle to a different parking area but it wouldnt make any sense because
there were a lot of free space there. But still we looked around the area including the other
parking areas nearby hoping to find the Amore. Sadly, the worst really happened, the
Amore was stolen!

My Friend's Negligence or Robinson's Security?
My friend have been negligent indeed as I have been also. We have been so confident
thingking our motorcycle wont be stolen in a parking like that which is inaccessible by a
van.Also, there is just one entrance and exit to the parking area and Tricycle drivers can
see the parking area because they are in the entrance area. If some men would carry any
motorcycle or push a unlocked motorcycle, it would be obvious. Except that the
motorcycle was probably stolen using random keys. And tricycle drivers don't memorize
the driver of each motorcycle because its not their job anyway.
After we have concluded that the Mio was really stolen, my friends told the security guard
about it. The security guard said "ah marami nang nananakaw diyan" (in English : "oh,
there have been motorcycles stolen from there already") WTF?!
I am not blaming the Robinson's security team but I think they should have painted a
warning on the parking area to lock their motorcycles since the incident isn't new. Maybe
they haven't mentioned the incidents to management? I don't know.
I am not blaming anyone but we were just disappointed by the guard's reaction. The
security guard told my friend that the parking area is not theirs. What? Then whose
parking is it? If a rider would park in front of Robinson's entrance they would point to the
parking area we parked on. So how come its seems they are saying its not their
responsibility. Also, they should have at least offered to get the information about the
stolen Mio for the record. Who knows? maybe the thief is so stupid he would fail to
mention to  his buyer that it got stolen from there. It's far fetched but who knows? After
we finished reporting the incident to the police and I after I drove around Pacita area
hoping to find the lost Mio, we stayed outside the closed Robinson's and chatted while
waiting for our friend on the Honda Wave circling around San Pedro looking for the
stolen Mio. We chatted about what the security guard should have done. That they should
have recorded it. A little later, one security guard approached my sad friend and asked
about the Mio so he could log it. hmmm, i don't know if they heard us criticising them or
they just finally realized what they should do.


I Have Been Lucky

I was surprised myself. I have been parking in the same area and didn't think that my Mio
would be stolen from there. Mio motorcycles being stolen isn't new to me but the only
knowledge I had was Mio motorcycles are usually stolen by carrying it by a couple or
more men into a van or being chased by faster bikes with a back rider pointing a gun to
the victim. I have heard of Honda Waves being stolen using random keys but I didn't
think it would work with Mio. I have owned a Honda Wave before and I noticed that its
key is very simple. I have been lucky for so long. I have stopped using a chain lock to
my mags. I just prevented from parking in areas where a van can stop beside my Mio
to pick it up. But im not going to push my luck anymore. I will be buy a good chain lock
for my mags so my Mio wont be stolen by random keys in seemingly safe parking areas.

Learn from this
If you own a Mio, a Nouvo, a Skydrive or a Raider (most commonly stolen motorcycles) or
other motorcycles especially those that are new or look new, buy a lock and use it always.
As an added security, you can install a security alarn for your bike or a secret switch.

Sampaguita Beach Resort

About the Resort

Sampaguita Beach Resort is just one of the few beach resorts in Barangay Sampaguita,
Bauan, Batangas. Me and my high school friends have been swimming yearly in
Batangas since 2003. As the years go by, the number of cheap beaches in Batangas
with clear waters decreases. This must be because more and more people come to
Batangas in the summer. Those resorts closer and easily accessible from Manila are the
ones who gets crowded each summer and gets more trash. Brgy Sampaguita is one
place not easy to drive to from anywhere. We have been there four years ago and the
place was the best Batangas beach we have been into. It had clear waters before and
until now. It is adjacent to Anilao Batangas which is easier to drive to.


How to Get There 
There are two ways to get here.
One is via a boat ride from Anilao.
The second way is how we got there. Buses and long jeeps wont be able to go there.

From South Super hi-way take the Batangas Exit then go to Star toll way exit just
straight on,  all the way to Batangas City then at the bridge before Batangas Port, turn
right going to Bauan until you see the Bauan Municipality and at  Bauan hospital then
turn left going to Mabini Anilao. When you reach Brgy San Pedro,  find San Pedro 
bridge then turn right (landmark - look at the right side of the road until you see a  big
tarpulin of Rising Tide Construction Supply and Small Bridge next to it) then straight
ahead until you see the beach. The graph leading to Coconut Beach Resort can also 
help.
Click here to see the map > http://www.coconuthillsbeachresort.com/images/map_new.JPG

Altitude Graph

Why its hard to get there?
If you know how to read an altitude graph, this graph
will give you an idea. If not, just make sure your
vehicle is well conditioned especially your brakes
because your vehicle will climb up a mountain and
come down to the beach and the road is narrow and
there are sharp curves on the way. While we were
going down the mountain, every resident we met along
the way said "ingat po kayo", now that's  enough to
give you an idea.

GPS trace from Star Tollway Batangas Exit

Enlarged Trace from Brgy. San Pedro to Sampaguita Beach Resort

Not in Google or Ovi Maps.

We have been in Sampaguita Beach Resort before but we had a guide and a different 
driver back then. My friends' concern this time was how to get there without getting lost. 
Gas price is up so misdirection wont be nice. I told my friends not to worry because 
I have GPS. They were not so convinced until we got to the  resort without any 
misdirection. But i was so overconfident at first that I thought that i will see a map trace
to get there via google maps, ovi maps or openstreetmaps. I was wrong. Trace you see
above is the trace i made. That road is not yet in google maps or ovi maps. If you are 
using GPS and want to download my trace, go to waypoints.ph and Search for 
Sampaguita Beach Resort then download the gpx file.

Travel Time 
From Carmona Exit, we departed at around 4:30pm and arrived at the beach 7pm.
Traffic was lite in  SLEX and STAR Tollway. We only encountered a slow traffic while
passing through Bauan Town proper. From Brgy. San Pedro to the beach, we had to
drive carefully.
Going back home, we departed from Sampaguita Beach Resort 2pm and arrived at
Carmona around 4pm, it was faster.

Accommodations
There are tables priced at 300pesos and bigger tables priced at 400pesos.
If your group is higher than 10, then you will have to get two tables.
And if you are staying overnight, the price will double.
If i remember it right, the price will not double if you get a room.
Rooms are priced at 1500 and 2500 pesos.

Contact Info
Mrs. Carina : +639163749536

Pros and Cons

The good thing here are the clear waters and cheap accommodations.

The Cons are the extra charges. I don't know about the other resorts but in
Sampaguita Beach Resort, Mrs Carina charges 200 pesos per tent (if you want to
set-up a tent) and when we tried to make a bonfire, we were halted because
Mrs Carina said there is a charge for that.. WTF!
We didnt even ask how much, we just decided not to have a bonfire. Limited Budget.
 There is also a 100 peso parking fee for overnight stay.
Oh and there is an extra charge if you want to charge your phone or use electric
devices.

There was 16 of us. The entrance fee is 30 pesos per head and the tent fee is
200 pesos and we had 4 tents. We choose two 400 peso tables but we got a deal for
2000 pesos for everything. We saved 880 pesos hehehe..
Mrs Carina is a nice person, you can get a good deal from her.

Tip:
Be sure you have all that you need when you leave.
There are only a few stores in the beach and prices are way up understandably so.

click on the pictures to see full view

Other Resorts in Brgy Sampaguita
If you prefer a classy resort, Coconut Beach Resort is also in Brgy Sampaguita.
They have Jet-ski, Wake Board, Restaurant, Snorkeling and other Amenities.
Check out their website > http://www.coconuthillsbeachresort.com/
For the limited budget, choose Sampaguita Beach Resort or other cheap resorts in the Barangay.


credits to > annalyn.net :)