The Municipality of Guinayangan is a fast-developing municipality in the province of Quezon. It is known as the Seafood Paradise of the province. Guinayangan came from a native word for cane "gayang", they "copied"---ginaya and adopted the name to become "ginayangan" or what is now known as "Guinayangan". Its people pronounce it "Ginyangan" omitting the "a" sound.

The primary source of income is agriculture-based and marine products. It is composed of fifty-four barangays and has a total land area of 22,800 hectares. Shoreline beaches, a coral reef and resorts in natural settings are the primary tourist attractions that the municipality has to offer in addition to the usual hospitality and welcoming smiles of the people. The Maulawin Spring Protected Landscape is also a good place for various biological research.

Guinayangan has a charm of its own. Despite its urbanization and development, it has managed to preserve its air of a countryside community that endears itself to many who seek the conveniences of modern day living with the ease and pleasant pace of life in the countryside. As the old folks here say, once you set foot in Guinayangan, you could not resist coming back.

 

Guinayangan Tourism

Resorts and Beaches

You will surely enjoy the waters in Guinayangan. Three Resorts in natural settings and fresh flowing water from the rivers can be found not far from the poblacion area. All these are accessible to all type of vehicles since the main access to these leisure and recreation areas are all directly connected to the all-paved Guinayangan-Sumulong Provincial Road. Aside from these, shoreline beaches, although still undeveloped, are likewise frequented especially during summer vacation by local tourists within and outside the municipality. They can be found along the shoreline of Ragay Gulf stretching for approximately 32 kilometers southward from the Poblacion area. The shoreline beaches are all accessible to all types of vehicle taking the all-weather Coastal Road.

• Hillside Resort - Barangay Balinarin, Guinayangan, Quezon

Facilities:    

Bamboo cottages are available for rent. Entrance fees are made affordable for everyone. Swimming pool with crystal clear running water, videoke cottages, clean restrooms, billiard tables, swimming pool slides, open playing area, parking.  Hillside Resort is approximately 10 km from the town proper. It is accessible to all types of vehicles, and about 3 minutes walk from the parking area.

• Salacan Resort - Barangay Salacan, Guinayangan, Quezon

 Facilities:

Bamboo cottages, wide swimming pool area with cool, crystal clear running water, videoke cottage, clean restrooms, parking area.  It is approximately 8 km from the town proper. It is accessible to all type of vehicles.

• A & C Resort - Sitio Maulawin, Barangay Sisi Guinayangan, Quezon

Facilities:

Bamboo cottages, adult and children’s swimming pools with cool and crystal clear water, waterfalls, clean restrooms and parking area.  It is approximately 6 km from the town proper and accessible to all types of vehicles, and about 5 minutes walk from the parking area.

• Shoreline Beaches - Barangays Arbismen, Dancalan Central, Capuluan Central, Capuluan Tulon, Himbubulo Este, and Cabong Norte Guinayangan, Quezon

Undeveloped shoreline beaches along the coast of the Ragay Gulf encompassing the boundaries of shoreline Barangays of Himbubulo Este, Dancalan Central, Arbismen, Capuluan Central, Capuluan Tulon, and Cabong Norte. Presence of white sands.  Just a few minutes walk from the Coastal Road, accessible to all types of vehicles.

Natures Wonder

• Maulawin Spring Protected Landscape

The Maulawin Spring Protected Landscape is good for biological research where a rehabilitated forest lies. Sights of deer, monkeys, birds and big trees, wild plants and forest flowers will surely delight the eyes of any mountaineer trekking the steep mountain. This place also serves as one of the main water sources of the Poblacion Area.

• Palad Reef - Barangay Capuluan Central, Guinayangan, Quezon

Undeveloped diving and snorkeling area with plenty of corals and presence of aquarium fish. Proposed to serve as another Fish Sanctuary of the municipality. It is approximately 9 km from the town proper and accessible through motor bancas.

• Salacan Falls - Barangay Salacan Guinayangan, Quezon

Undeveloped 80-meter-high waterfalls with a wide swimming area and breathtaking natural scenery inside the woods. It is approximately 9 km from the town proper and accessible to all type of vehicles, and about 15 minutes walk from the parking area.

• Hinabaan Falls - Barangay Hinabaan, Guinayangan, Quezon

Undeveloped 60-meter-high waterfalls with a wide swimming area and breathtaking natural undisturbed scenery in the vicinity. it is approximately 10 km from the town proper accessible to all type of vehicles, and about 20 minutes walk from the parking area.

• Gapas Falls - Barangay Gapas, Guinayangan, Quezon

Undeveloped 80-meter-high waterfalls on twin rocks with a wide swimming area. It is approximately 12 km from the town proper and accessible to all type of vehicles, and about 20 minutes walk from the parking area.

The start of this trip is a 6-Kilometer ride from the town proper. Then you will need to trek the rest of the trip. This nature trip is not for the faint-hearted.

 

Cultural Heritage

Guinayangan is full of culture and heritage. Relics of the past still linger in the town. The old houses built from stone and wood will remind people of the Spanish era. The icons of the different saints are still preserved, one of which is that of the Patron Saint Aloysius Gonzaga.

The people here are very religious and hospitable. The culture of kissing the hands of the elders and praying together is still being done today. The Boling-boling is still continuously danced by the church-going female elders days before Ash Wednesday.

Holy Week, Christmas Seasons and barangay and town fiestas remain major religious activities in Guinayangan.

 

Historical Landmarks

• Century-Old Bells - Catholic Church Compound, CM Recto Street Barangay Poblacion

Living representations of the old existence of Catholicism in the municipality. A collection of all the bells used by the Catholic Church in calling its members to attend to their obligations to the Almighty and whose lost chimes remain unaltered in the minds of the faithful in reminiscing past celebrations and holding of traditions.

• Century-Old Acacia Tree - Roldan Avenue cor. Jose Rizal Street, Barangay Poblacion

Planted in the early 1900s which now stands approximately 50 meters and extends about 20 meters wide. Strategically located at the center of the town proper near the Municipal Building and the Catholic Church.

• Municipal Building - Jose Rizal Street cor. CM Recto Street, Barangay Poblacion

Built in September 1958 during the early start of the 35-year administration of the longest serving municipal mayor of Guinayangan, Hon. Mariano Roldan, Sr. The building remains to become the government center of present-day administration.

• Gabaldon Building - Guinayangan Elementary School, South-end of Roldan Avenue, Barangay Manggagawa

Erected in 1927 and is now the only standing institutional Building in the municipality built before the destructive World War II in 1942. Thousands of the school alumni regard the building as the living memorial and the foundation of their early quest for knowledge.

• St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish Church - Claro M. Recto Street, Barangay Poblacion

Rebuilt in August 1974 through the donations of the Catholic faithful, the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish Church remains to be the center of Catholicism in the municipality since its founding in June 1845 and  has been served by 52 parish priests in succession from its first parish priest, Rev. Fr. Bonifacio Estebez.

 

Fine Cuisine

Filipinos are known for their fine dining and excellent cuisine. With a long range of menus from local to international food, most of the restaurants cater to any nationality. But the most popular and well known part of Guinayangan is its variety of seafood and native cooking. The abundance of these seafood makes the municipality of Guinayangan popularly known as the Seafoods Paradise of Quezon.

From positive word-of-mouth advertising, fine dining in Guinayangan emerged as an upscale food business with a mission of pleasing the most discriminating tastes with services at par.  For the past several years, dining outside the comfort of home in Guinayangan have been also noted for the personalized services they offer and through the years have made the quality and taste of food very delectable and appetizing.  For only 150 to 200 Pesos, you can already get a full meal for 2 to 3 persons.

If you are in for a fast snack, fastfood centers are available in main streets and at the municipal public market.    With all the affordable and delicious fast snacks available during the times you most need it, you can never go hungry here.

 

Where to dine and wine?

• Bayside Videoke Bar and Restaurant - Jose Rizal Extension Barangay Poblacion, Guinayangan, Quezon
• Dalampasigan Bar, Lodge, and Restaurant - Roldan Avenue Barangay Poblacion, Guinayangan
• Splitz Pizza - Provincial Road, Barangay Calimpak, Guinayangan
• Jomari's Refreshments - Roldan Avenue cor. P. Isaac Street, Barangay Poblacion, Guinayangan, Quezon
• Divine Videoke and Bar - Claro M Recto Street Barangay Poblacion, Guinayangan, Quezon
• Narte's Carinderia - Placido Isaac Street Barangay Poblacion, Guinayangan, Quezon

 

Accommodations

In Guinayangan, you'll find very affordable inns, lodges and transient houses ready to accommodate you. It's one that answers your needs as leisurely travelers or busy businessmen. They are, strategically located within the Metro Poblacion area, where the business district, commercial establishments and institutional buildings are located and within walking distance.

• Bahay ni Sofia (A Farm House) - Barangay Himbubulo Este, Guinayangan, Quezon
• Dalampasigan Bar, Lodge, and Restaurant - Roldan Avenue Barangay Poblacion, Guinayangan
• Perez Reception and Traveller's Lodge - Barangay Calimpak, Guinayangan, Quezon

 

The Fiesta

When the month of June comes, the people of Guinayangan, Quezon prepare for the annual celebration of Gayang Festival, wherein the coconut tree and the banana are the main attractions of the festivities. The festival is highlighted by a street dancing competition participated by the residents of different barangays, as well as by elementary and high school students.

In the later part of 2000, the very first Seafoods Festival was held in the town. However, it was replaced by Gayang Festival in the succeeding years to give importance to the town's history.

 

Getting there

From Manila you can reach Quezon Province by bus to your destination.

Here is the list of terminals where you can ride buses with trips to Lucena, Quezon:

• EDSA-Kamuning
• Cubao
• Buendia-Taft
• EDSA-Pasay

Ride a bus from the stations above to Lucena, Quezon. Get off at the Lucena Grand Terminal. From there, jeepneys are available to the different destinations aroud the province.  Travel time will take more or less 4 hours from Manila.