Which Island would you visit?

So Many Islands So little Time comes to mind since your needs apply to at least a couple of dozen beach locations if not more. But with only a week frequent, daily transportation is a must so here's the choices I posted to almost the same request as yours;
where to go from manila for a week
Philippines' Best Beaches
Pagasa -Philippines 24 Hr WEATHER FORECAST

From Manila:
Nasugbu and Matabungkay can be reached by bus from BLTB Bus Station on EDSA in Pasau City leaving every 30 minutes for Lian then go by jeepney to either Nasugbu or Matabungkay. Matabungkay's 5km (3mi) brown sand beach cannot be compared with beaches such as those on Boracay however its convenient location near Manila provides a great escape from the city. Nearby Ligtasin is where longer term residents live but the Coral Beach Club offer inexpensive cottages for tourists. RANKING 3

San Fernando, La Union's San Juan Beach, 8 kilometers to the north stretches from Urbiztondo to Ili Norte offers good conditions for amateur surfing during the months of November to February. This is the nearest good beach to both Baguio and Angeles City. A few of the hotel and bar owners in Angeles own beach resorts here that offer a getaway from the nightlife on Field's Ave. with lush tropical gardens overlooking the South China Sea. The beach is located in the Bauang - San Fernando area about an hour and a half from Baguio, 3 hours from Angeles and 5 hours from Manila. RANKING 4
NEW Accomodation; Berschen-Residence is located 3 Kilometers North of San Fernando City, opposite of Lingsat Cemetery. Take tricycle to Berschen-Residence or jeepney that routes to Lingsat. Rooms with Kitchen, fan, and refrigerator are P500 / night with weekly and monthly discounts. jacinta_kupsch@yahoo.com
Tel+639159800871 Address: #24 Sto. Nino Road Lingsat San Fernando City, La Union 2500 Philippines

Puerto Galera, on the north central coast of Mindoro Island has the BEST BEACHES closest to Manila being less than 3 hours by bus to the Batangas Pier with a 90 minute ferry. Take the BLTB bus on EDSA in Pasay City leaving every half hour at 9AM or before and you can be settled and in the water before 3PM. Besides the variety of beach scenes, Mindoro offers virgin jungle for the more adventurous traveler where you can visit the primitive Mangayad tribal villages inland.

Want to party the night away? Single? Then Sabang Beach, the only beach with "dancing girls" and nightlife is for you. Couples may want to stay elsewhere like nearby Small or Big La Laguna, very quiet beaches situated next to Sabang Beach but an easy walk to Sabang where the most dive shops and restaurants are located.. These beaches offer good snorkling and diving, or just a place to "chill" after a hangover from partying in Sabang. RANKING from 5 to 8 depending on travelers' main interest.

White Beach located west of San Isidro is the best white sand beach with the lowest priced cottage rentals . Most younger, world travelers stay at White Beach. RANKING 7

Aniuan Beach and Talipanan Beach located in the next two bays are rather quiet with limited accommodation but becoming more popular with travelers who want to "get away from it all". RANKING 6

North Pandan Island, off the west central coast near Sablayan located in the middle between San Jose in the south and Mamburao in the north of Mindoro Island's wet coast. RANKING 9

Boracay Island's famous White Sand Beach is on the western, sunset side of this tiny island off the northwest tip of Panay Island and will rate all of the other beaches in the Philippines comparing them to one of the BEST BEACHES in the S.E. Asia and the world. So Boracay is rated a TEN.

Guimaras Island between Iloilo and Bacolod, Negros offers several beach destinations; Raymen Beach at Alubihod, Nueva Valencia with a white sand beach, Baras Beach Resort in Bgy. Lawi, Jordan in a hidden lagoon good fro swimming and windsurfing, Free Land Beach Cottages and Shann Beach Huts both in Poblacion, Nueva Valencia good for a day trip for picnics, Enrico Beach in Zaldivar, Buenavista, and Sunrise Beach in San Enrique, Buenavista. RANKING 3 to 5.

Bantayan Island is off the northwest coastal tip of Cebu Island. You can either ride the air-con bus (CBL) from North Bus terminal to Hagnaya (2 - 3 hours) and from there take the ferryboat to Santa Fe (1 hour) or take the 9PM ferryboat (Don Martin) from pier 1 in Cebu City directly to Santa Fe, arriving about 5 AM. Either way it's inexpensive only about P150 ( U$3 ). RANKING 9

Malapascua Island covers less than 4 sq Km located 8Km off the northeastern coastal tip of Cebu. You can easiy explore the island in just a few hours. Remote enough to avoid tour groups means travlers must endure a dusty, bumpy three-hour bus ride from Cebu City to Maya, followed by a 45-minute banca trip. RANKING 9

Panglau Island's Alona Beach is near enough to Bohol's capital city, Tagbiliran and the famous "Chocolate Hills".
RANKING 5

Dakak's White Sand Beach was more developed then natural but we have heard mixed reports about it from our guests. It's located near Dapitan, a city on the northwestern coast of Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao. the main complaint was about the overpriced luxury resort there not really providing good value for money so if you could find a budget rental of some sort from the local Filipinos you'd enjoy its beauty. RANKING 6

Palawan's 1000 Island includes many great beaches, many without names. I always remember this long white sand beach walking distance to San Vicente, a small coastal town north of Port Barton on the west coast of Palawan, south of El Nido. In the Calamian Group, Palawan's northern islands few if any of the best white sand beaches have fresh water enough to sustain life but organized day trips from Coron where most people stay are possible. White Beach San Vicente geographical RANKING 10 Tourists Pleasure RANKING 3
Port Barton RANKING 6

EL NIDO, located in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan, about 240 Km from Puerto Princesa, with the Linapacan Strait to the north, TayTay to the south, facing the South China Sea to the west. El Nido traces its roots to the Tagbanua tribe as "Talindak", renamed "Bacuit" when the Spanish arrived in 1890 and finally, in 1954, Bacuit became EI Nido, named after the edible bird nests in the area, the main ingredient in the delicacy, "Nido" soup. El Nido's scenic, off shore rock formations and cliffs, lush tropical jungle and crystal clear waters with multi-coloured fishes and corals have made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Palawan. RANKING 8

Wow Asia Bill too many choices!
Fantastic information you should publish a book!

I don't mind a connecting flight , as I am SUPER picky with my beaches if it's not up to scratch I'm out of there so need really good recommendations. I love white sand, blue sea and little much of anything else. A hammock, simple hut and cool breezes. Got to be pristine.

Anything come to mind?
HAHAHA another open door and thousand island to pick from?
What is your own experience of this?
I love KO PHA NAGAN island in Thailand small bay little traffic or people but remote and difficult to reach. I may not have that luxury due to lack of time. I am married with kids but will be on my OWN yippey!
Maybe some flights from Japan so direct to one of the island and from there a boat trip to a better island??? I know there are flights to CEBU.

I'd head to Palawan. I don't know how easy/hard it is to find accomodations around Honda Bay (2.5 hr drive from Puerto Princesa), but that was soo beautiful when I was there in 2000. Rather empty at the time. Excellent cheap seafood too.

hi, come and visit to our place here in davao, and we can offer u the most beautiful beaches n our land of promise davao city..i have a friend hu knows how to speak nihonnggo in case u are..and my friend is a manager of a tourist inn, a cheapest n davao city whre most of the foriegner stay... if u want, i can be ur tourist guide.. heres my contact #: 63922 4676 538, 63921 660 557

Hmm.... try to research this.... pearl farm of island garden city of davao....thats the most expensive here..but u can also look for a lot of choices frm our black or white beaches n the island.

Hard to add to Asia Bill and others' good suggestions, but one little pristine getaway is Siquijor. You'd need to grab a supercat ferry from Cebu, but the Coral Cay Resort had everything you asked for, the best food I experienced in the Phils at a reasonable price.

Thank you all for for your great tips. I am leaning towards flying into CEBU direct and heading over to Vibrationpositive's recommendation just took a look at Coral Cay Resort definately looks great and the price is just right!
Cheers all.

If you want peace and quiet with great beaches, fly into Cebu and head north to Bantayan Island. You won't regret it.

Of course, there's more info here.