Sojourning Sambawan Island

The province of Biliran has always been underrated. Most tourists opt to go to Boracay, Bohol, Palawan and other famous tourist spots in the Philippines during summer season, but this stretch of unspoiled and pristine island in Biliran sans the crowd will surely surprise you. If you are into climbing hills, beautiful beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving and sight-seeing, Sambawan Island is a highly recommended place to avoid the hassle of crowded beach resorts at a very friendly budget.

Sambawan Island is located in Maripipi Island, a fifth class Municipality of Biliran Province. If you plan to visit this place, you have to prepare for your own food and potable water since there is no store in the island. The nearest store will take a 20-minute boat ride to the main island of Maripipi. It is best to buy everything that you need in Tacloban. We also brought our own camping equipment but there are six available cottages/kiosks for rent for P500-P1000. And there are also three available “kamalig” or bigger kiosks for P2500-3000 which can accommodate 10 persons if you plan to stay overnight. But of course, you can always pitch your own tent for only P100 and enjoy lying on the sand under the star-filled sky. There are comfort rooms in the island and water you can use to bathe for P20 per container. There is also power supply and cellphone signal.

We took the Tacloban route as our jump-off point to Sambawan. There are vans going to Naval Biliran. Travel time is two and a half hours for P150. Upon reaching Naval, we found out that this town is not really remote. You can actually buy things that you need here. There is a wet market, a number of bakeries and small grocery stores.

One must keep track of time because the 10:30am trip is the only boat trip that leaves to Maripipi from Naval port. We left Tacloban at 6am and arrived at Naval at 8:30. We still had time going around the small town. One important thing we bought in Naval is the rice packed in coconut leaves or what the locals called “puso” which they sell for P5. It does not easily spoil and kept a rice-dependent person like me going for three meals.

Puso!

From Naval port, we took the Brian Claire boat to Maripipi Island which docks at Maripipi port proper. Fare costs P60 for a one and a half hour boat ride. Brian Claire leaves Maripipi port to Naval the following day at 4am. From Maripipi port, there are habal-habal drivers that can take you to brgy. Ol-og, which is located at the tip of the island, where you need to take another boat ride for 20 minutes. Habal habal drivers charge 50 pesos per person for a drive to brgy. Ol-Og, but we were lucky to take a hitch on a truck to Brgy. Ol-og. From Brgy. Ol-og, we were charged 200 for our boat fare to Sambawan but you can always haggle for the price. The boatman offered to fetch us the following day for P170.

Upon reaching the Island, we immediately pitched our tent under an elevated pathway. The clear turquoise water is inviting and the panoramic view of the entire island is just magnificent. Sambawan, with its rolling hills, crystal clear waters, white sand, beautiful diving spots and rich marine life is probably every bit a taste of Boracay, Bohol and Batanes. Truly, a day is not enough to walk around the island from end to end and capture every scenic corner of it.

On this side of the Island are pieces of broken shell and reefs.

Sitting on a huge rock atop Sambawan hill

Turquoise water and beautiful reefs.

Sunrise in Sambawan

Panoramic view

Climb that hill and rest in the nipa hut while enjoying the perfect view of Sambawan and Maripipi Island.

We left Sambawan at 1pm the following day but the only trip to Naval has already gone. We decided to take a boat to Kawayan Island for P300. From there, we explored more of Biliran which boasts of 30 beautiful waterfalls. We asked the habal habal driver to take us to the nearest waterfalls in Almeria town and he took us to Bagongbong falls after a 30-minute ride and approximately 20-minute walk.

Bagongbong falls is a 30-feet high waterfalls. We have to walk downhill but we knew we were close because we can almost hear the raging water. Bagongbong is a secluded waterfalls, enigmatic and majestic nestled in a lush green forest. We just can’t wait to plunge and dip our sun-burnt skin in the cold and green water. So, crowd no more in Bora, there’s more to 7,107 Islands but be sure to be a responsible traveler. Take and leave nothing but good memories.###

Who is to blame on earth day?

One cannot just talk about earth day without linking man and nature. Many have organized environmental awareness activities such as earth hour and fun runs, but in a country where vast natural resources are found but where most people are also poor, there is so much more than environmental destruction.

Henry Sy, the country’s richest was responsible for murdering more than 180 trees in Baguio. Foreign mining companies all over the world such as Glencore-Xstrata, Philex mining, Sagittarius Alpha Realty Corp., to name a few  have been licensed by the state to intrude and displace communities. Those who defend the people and environment have been threatened, harassed, arrested or killed. Gerry Ortega, Leonard Co, Father Pops Tentorio are among those who have been executed by the state and to this day have not sought justice.

Capitalism and its overproduction of commodities created unnecessary “goods” dumped to third world countries like ours. Have we wondered that most of these trash were made by big companies such as Nestle, Coca Cola, Toyota, Apple, Samsung other oil and gas and food processing companies?  but many of us were molded to think that environmental destruction is caused by informal settlers and ordinary citizens who create trash and clog waterways without thinking that poverty is a creation of the state. But again, do we blame the likes of Henry Sy? Do we blame companies and countries that create trash? Do we see environmental destruction as more than just dumping of waste? No, because it is very convenient for us to blame the poor.

I remember that after the trees in Baguio were cut down by SM, I swore not to set a foot in any Savemore supermarkets. But of course, many of the wet markets now were replaced by Savemore. Sy is slowly monopolizing supermarkets and many of us have left with no choice but to go to SM to buy everything that we need, same with other products sold in supermarkets such as Nestle.

Imperialism, the highest and rotten stage of Capitalism is the ultimate culprit of environmental destruction. Many human rights and environmental defenders have become victims of abuses for defending the right to life and the right to a healthy and balanced ecology. These defenders who were on the forefront of the communities against imperialist plunder were red tagged by the state as communists. These defenders are continuously threatened and harassed.

We all dream of living in a just and free society. We dream of an environment that can be inherited by our sons and daughters, and it can only be done if we fight Imperialism, the root cause of poverty, greed, war and environmental destruction.

Perhaps, it is a long way to go, but as one of my favorite song goes, “you may say I’m a dreamer, but I am not the only one.” ###

Guiller Cadano: taking the path less travelled

August 30, 2014—Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, a total of 117 delegates participated in the fact finding mission organized by Karapatan Central Luzon. Pi Sigma Fraternity, Pi Sigma Delta Sorority, Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity, Kabataan Partylist, Anakbayan, Alyansa ng mga magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) and other farmers’ organization joined the two-day mission.

Brod Raymond Basilio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers and I, drove to Nueva Ecija together with KODAO productions, a media outfit. We arrived at Cabanatuan City at around 8:30 in the morning. The delegates had a caravan to the Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC).

 

 

    PPSC, Cabanatuan City–Where Cadano and Salonga are currently detained

 

 

 

We were asked by the military to stop the protest outside PPSC

 

Meeting Guiller and Gerald at PPSC

It was my first time to meet brod Guiller and Gerald after their abduction by the AFP swept headlines. As a staff of Karapatan tasked to respond to Quick Reaction Response, I was suppose to go to Nueva Ecija upon learning that there were two students abducted by the AFP. I was then clueless that one of them is brod Guiller. After waiting for news in Nueva Ecija, Sr. Cecille Ruiz of Karapatan Central Luzon told us that the two had been found and in the custody of the PPSC.

Upon reaching PPSC we had to deal with the harassment of the military. They took photos and videos of the delegates and asked us to halt the picket outside but we asserted that it is our democratic right to freely express ourselves. I confronted one of the military to stop taking photos/videos of us. He argued that one of our companions are taking videos too. I had to clear to him that our companion is a media person and it is his job to cover the mission and the AFP had no right to photograph every delegate of the mission only to make profiles of us and to be targeted in the future.

After series of negotiations, we were only  given an hour to talk to Guiller. His visitors took turns every 10 minutes just to accommodate everyone who wants to see him. I stayed for the entire hour to clear the story gaps  in the fact sheet of the incident that we had.

Guiller’s face lit up upon seeing his father along with his colleagues from Anakbayan, Kabataan Partylist and Pi Sigma. Guilly, as he was called, had gone a little thinner, said his close friends. There were exchange of how are yous, hugs and handshakes. Guiller was happy and somehow relieved, I can tell.

 

With Brod Guiller, Brod Raymond and UP Clark LE Sis Jean

Guiller recounted his ordeal with the military. I can feel his fear during the entire time that he does not anymore own his life. He admitted to making up stories just to give the military what they want to hear. He said he is recovering but he did not regret that he immersed with the farmers and ended up in prison. “Hindi ako kriminal,” he said. He even challenged the youth to stand up and contribute for genuine social change.

An hour quickly passed and we had to say goodbye to the two. Guiller asked for a cigarette and I gave him my entire pack and a lighter. He also got the books and some shirt I brought. I promised that we will carry the campaign and exhaust all our efforts for his immediate release.

Stepping into Carranglan Soil

After the jail visit, we headed to the community in Carranglan where Guiller and Gerald were abducted. It was a two-hour drive from Cabanatuan City.

We were informed that the military was stationed in the gymnasium near the Brgy.  hall of Brgy. T.L. Padilla in Carranglan. They pulled out on the day of our mission. There were 13 houses in the community surrounded by vast tract of lands and mountain ranges. The area was already close to Nueva Vizcaya. We immediately break into teams to get more information regarding Guiller and Gerald’s arrest and other human rights violatios in the community.

 Early morning of August 31. It was breathtaking in the area. Hidden behind the fog are beautiful mountain ranges.

 Rich Carranglan soil where first class palay grows. I talked to Mang Narciso, barangay kagawad of T.L. Padilla. , he said that palays are bought to them for 18 Pesos per kilo and will eventually be sold to market for 50 Pesos per kilo. They had no other source of income while waiting for harvest.

 This is where Cadano and Salonga were abducted on August 9.

More violations unfold

I talked to the Lola Valentina, 88, one of the residents in Brgy. T.L. Padilla. He said that the military dragged Guiller out of the house. “He was having a fever that day because of his skin boil. When they got him, they stepped on his skin boil. Guiller screamed and cried out of pain. I almost claim that they were my grandsons but they quickly took them away,” she said. “They were also asking me and other residents to take our long firearms out, but I had none. They came back 20 minutes after and went back again at 7 o’clock in the evening,” she continued.

Our interviews revealed that they searched all the 13 houses in the community, harassed and threatened the people, young and old.

 

 

Tatay Boy Cadano and his undying support to his son

I initiated a small talk with tatay Boy Cadano, Guiller’s father  to know more about his only child. Tatay Boy proudly told me about Guiller’s excellent performance in school from grade school until he graduated cum laude in UP Clark. I had to remain composed while he was telling his story.

I was quite surprised to hear so much from this old man that I had to ask: “alam niyo po ba na aktibista ang anak niyo at kung ano ang ginagawa niya?” He lit a cigarette and offered me one before answering my question:“Pinili niya iyon, alam namin kung saan siya nagpupunta, nagpunta siya noong SONA sa Maynila, sumama siya sa Lakbayan ng mga magsasaka, nagpupunta sa iba ibang lugar. Marangal ang ginagawa ng anak ko. Tumutulong siya sa mga magsasaka. Marami silang (magsasaka)problema dito.” Guiller must have been so lucky to have such supportive parents–unusual for many activist child like me.

Tatay Boy is thankful to Guiller’s brods and sisses for all the help he received right after Guiller was arrested. Tatay Boy is a retired bank employee and stays with his wife in Valenzuela. “Dalawa na lang kami sa bahay ng asawa ko. Minsan nagkakasakit siya pero pag pupunta dito kay Guiller nawawala ang sakit. Nagsasalitan kami sa pagbisita kay Guiller dahil magastos sa pamasahe,” he said. Tatay Boy told me that after Guiller’s arrest, his relatives stayed away from them and expressed their fear of getting dragged to the case for bearing  “Cadano” surname but he said “hinahayaan ko na lang, alam ko naman na walang kasalanan ang anak ko.” Tatay Boy also said that he saw the alleged firearms and explosives recovered from Guiller, he kidded Guiller “Anak nakita ko yung sinasabi nilang mga baril mo tsaka yung lalagyan ng mga granada at bala, ang ganda pala.” Guiller replied “tatay, takot nga ako humawak ng baril at hindi ko alam ang itsura ng mga iyon.”

Tatay Boy and I exchanged numbers and I promised to see him in Manila and all our events and campaigns for the release of Guiller.

At night we, had a short solidarity program with the community. Farmers sing while others recited a poem and solidarity messages. Upon receiveing his award, tatay Boy said: ” Maraming salamat po sa suporta niyo sa anak ko. Si Noynoy Aquino ang gusto niya hindi land for the landless, kundi land for the landlords.” I was quite surprise how he had a grasp of the peasants’ issues, I thought that maybe, Guiller must be a good son, a good organizer and had painstakingly mass worked at home–one thing I cannot figure out how to do.

The farmers from AMGL also recognized Gerald’s mother and Guiller’s father who were also with us during the mission as “Ulirang Magulang.” We were also joined by Fr. Ernie Pesimo.

 

 

The night ended and everybody find their own places to settle. It was not the first time that I have attended fact finding missions which are usually in far flung and heavily militarized areas, I was not able to sleep well. I would occasionally wake up, keeping myself alert 24/7 as much as possible.

Fr Ernie to the people of Carranglan: They are not NPAs

Early morning of August 31, we prepared for a concelebrated mass by Fr. Ernie and Fr. Lloyd Nepomuceno. Father Ernie had a meaningful homily about Gerald and Guiller. He introduced them to people of Carranglan as good individuals and not NPAs. Fr. Ernie said he personally knew the two and they were helping Fr. Ernie with his research on the plight of the farmers.

 Protest outside San Nicolas Parish Church, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija

After the mass, we went to San Jose City district jail for a quick visit to another political prisoner, Fernando Salazar.

The group headed for lunch at the Bishop Roberto Mallari’s residence in San Jose City. We also sought audience with him regarding the case of Guiller and Gerald. The farmers also address their land problems to the diocese of San Jose City. Bishop Mallari committed to extend help to the farmers of Central Luzon.

We also had a short program in front of the San Jose City public market and distributed leaflets to market-goers and passers-by.

 With Tatay Boy Cadano and brod Raymond Basilio at San Jose City Public Market

I told Guiller I was able to visit him because of the help of Pi Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association Inc., and he has this short message to say to all his brods and sisses:

I was glad to see Brod Guiller and the life that he embraced despite the many opportunities along his way as a passionate, hopeful and intelligent youth. But he had to sacrifice the little comforts of his peti-bourgeois life to struggle with the wide exploited masses. He does not only carry the principles of his organizations, he took the path less travelled, walked barefoot with the peasants and served the people even if it cost him his life and liberty. My salute and highest respect to a son, a brod and a comrade. ###

The fall of Palpa-RUN

I dreamed of you several times Jovito, several times since I started as a human rights worker in 2011.

My first task was to keep track of Karen and Sherlyn’s case. I never knew them. I was only introduced by Mrs. Connie Empeno, to her daughter’s UP ID. “That’s Karen, my daughter,” she said.

I went through voluminous court records, affidavits and other documents of the case, trying to put the facts together. I opened folders and boxes of pictures and affidavits–all horrifying. I read Raymond Manalo’s chilling story on how he was abducted and how he suffered in the hands of the military. He vividly remembers every detail of his captivity including the torture of Karen and Sherlyn.

Their families searched for them in hospitals, camps and morgues but the searched remain futile. I turned another folder and I saw a picture of a nude and burned woman but it was neither Sherlyn nor Karen. I saw pictures of exhumation, burned clothes, which is allegedly owned by farmer Manuel Merino.

Since then, I have never slept well. I had nightmares. I remember waking up one morning in a hogtied position similar to what I read. I am disturbed everyday that I am able to patch Karen and Sherlyn’s stories little by little.

I thought this job is not for the faint-hearted and that maybe, I cannot continue.
Days passed as a human rights worker and I heard Nanay Connie and Nanay Linda speaking in several occasions. I hear their soft voices cracking until they paused and silently break into tears. Every daughter or son could probably not stand such scenario.

They were brave–too brave to remind me that their suffering is not theirs alone. The ordeal of their daughters could happen to anyone. I realized that nothing is more cruel than cases of enforced disappearances because there is no closure. The families do not know whether they will grieve or not. Worse, I hear the mothers say, “If they are dead, give me their bones.”

The first time I saw Palparan is during the preliminary investigation of the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case filed by the two mothers against Palparan and other high ranking military officials. Jovito stares like a criminal. He stares like he will eat you alive. He stares like he will not forget your face. That was the last time. We haven’t heard of him since a warrant of arrest was issued by Malolos court. Palparan went into hiding for almost three years.

Meanwhile, the trial for the other accused in the case continues but was going at a snail’s pace. It was purposely delayed several times by the defense as if the two mothers’ agony is not enough. Justice is elusive and the system was heartless.

Today was suppose to be an ordinary day, until the news broke early morning that Palparan was already arrested near where I was living at exactly the same time and place I was running some errands. My dreams scared me more when I went to the house where he was hiding. I tried to look up the windows but nothing can be seen through the gaps of the capiz windows. It looks really old and dark–the kind of place seen in movies where villains live.

I was not even a victim, but his name, his face, his stories of killing, torture and abduction scares me. He was so close that I felt he was watching over me and his victims and all he wish to kill—the activists and dissenters struggling for social change.

Let not this butcher sow terror and evade justice again. He has to answer for all his sins to the people and remind BS Aquino’s government that we will be watching. ##

What DAP F*ck (In re: BS Aquino’s televised speech)

“Ang una ko pong tatalakayin: Ano ba ang sitwasyong dinatnan natin?

Kung maaalala po ninyo, nang umupo tayo sa puwesto, tumatakbo na ang 2010 budget, at minana rin natin ang panukalang budget ng 2011. Isipin po ninyo: Sa 1.54 trillion pesos na dinatnan nating pondo ng 2010, nasa 100 billion, o 6.5 percent lang nito ang natitirang gamitin sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng taon. Talagang mapapaisip ka: Saan kaya nila dinala ang pera?“

We’ve heard this opening salvo gazillion times and we all know what the President BS Aquino meant. Of course this line has reference to Gloria Arroyo. He’s not done yet pointing fingers with the past administration and he will never be done until his last day in office for all his misfeasance, nonfeasance and malfeasance. Bago bago din ng style sir.

The succeeding paragraphs are gibberish. It mentioned of GDP, figures that were never felt by ordinary citizens. Malayo sa bituka. He probably, dreamt of this speech from his 8-day hiatus from the public, kind of delusional.

Aquino appeals to the Supreme Court: “Sa mga kagalang-galang na Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema: Tulungan n’yo naman kaming tulungan ang ating mga kababayan. Balikan niyo sana ang ginawa ninyong desisyon nang may pagsasaalang-alang sa mga inilatag kong paliwanag ngayong gabi. Umaasa po ang sambayanan sa makatwiran ninyong pagtugon.”

Supreme Court is done doing its role in applying and interpreting the Constitution and it ruled unanimously that DAP is unconstitutional yet BS Aquino shamelessly defended it on national TV as if his administration is not tainted by corruption at all. Stop acting like you are above the law and the people!

And what kind of figure of speech was he trying to tell with that quoted text message? It was irrelevant, illogical and misplaced. He probably wanted to send a message of “good faith,” but sorry, we’re not buying it.

Finally, like a predictable plot, he ended his speech with this: “Bilang pagtatapos, muli kong ididiin: Mabuti ang DAP. Tama ang intensyon. Tama ang pamamaraan. Tama ang resulta.Mga boss, ipinapangako ko sa inyo: Hindi ko hahayaang pahabain pa ang pagdurusa ninyo, kung ngayon pa lang, ay kaya na nating ibsan ito.“

This gives us more reason to seek for all available remedies to remove you from office, sir. We have suffered enough from the rising prices, poverty and corruption that you deliberately and continuously protect with all arrogance. 

“Marami-maraming salamat po, at sana po ay naliwanagan tayong lahat.“

Isa lang po ang reaksyon namin nang matapos ang speech niyo habang namumuwalan pa kami ng pandesal: ANO DAW???

 

SA TOTOO LANG.

Sa totoo lang:

Nais kong makita ang mga nakaluklok sa pwestong makulong, damhin ang malamig na rehas na malayong malayo sa mga tintirahan nilang mga mansyon at condominium na de-aircon;

Nais kong makatabi nila matulog ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan na itinuring nilang masahol pa sa ipis at daga;

Nais ko silang tubuan ng sari-saring sakit sa balat dala ng matinding init sa loob ng kulungan. Magurlisan ang kanilang mga balat na kanilang pinakiingat-ingatan—ang mga mukha nilang pina-botox at pina-Vicky Belo gamit ang pera ng bayan;

Nais ko silang masuka habang kumain ng pagkaing baboy;

Gusto ko silang mahiga sa matigas na tarima, hindi sa malalambot nilang mga kama;

Gusto ko ng maramdaman nila maging isang Andrea Rosal, Miradel Torres, Eduardo Sarmiento, Moreta Alegre, Rolando Pañamogan, Wilma Austria, Benito Timazon, Kim Gargar at napakarami pang bilanggong pulitikal nakakulong at pinagmamalupitan ng mga kagaya nila.

Gusto kong marinig ang kanilang mga panaghoy, ang pagsigaw nila ng inhustisya, na hindi makatao ang kanilang kalagayan. Gusto kong maranasan ang buhay at sistema na kinakanlong ng mga katulad nila.

Gusto kong halikan nila ang mga paa ng mga maralitang puno ng kalyo, dumi at putik.

Gusto ko silang yumuko, manguyapit sa mga amoy-pawis na mga manggagawa at magsasakang nagpapalamon sa kanila.

Gusto kong pumapel sa kanilang pelikula bilang kontrabidang humahalakhak habang pinapanood silang nanginginig sa takot.

Dahil marapat lamang nilang matikman ang klase ng lipunang pinapanatili at ipinagtatanggol nila.###

PALAYAIN ANG LAHAT NG BILANGGONG PULITIKAL!

Move over OSCARS: Top 7 Best Dramatic stint on Philippine Politics

1. Gigi Reyes acts like Eugene Domingo when brought to the female dorm of Camp Bagong Diwa.She can also star in any horror movie as a possessed woman. Gigi says wheelchair is such a cliche. (Oo nga naman)

 

(Baliw-baliwan ‘te?)

 

2. Erap Estrada could be Gigi’s leading man for coming to her rescue upon learning that she will be brought to a jail under subhuman conditions.

(P.S. bago umepal, paki i-spell muna yung mga electronic welcome machine sa mga shed ng Maynila na ang nakalagay “Welcome to MANILIA,” anuva.)

 

 

3. Ramon Bong Revilla could make a telenovela for a family series. Imagine taking a dramatic final breakfast with the Revillas and having a press conference before going to Camp Crame and flashing his big smile while his mug shots are taken. (Ginawang Oscar wall ang mugshot wall?)

 

 

4. Bong Revilla (again) can star in a teenage flick “Project X” part 2 for throwing a party inside the jail. (Yeah! YOLO!)

5. Juan Ponce Enrile, on the other hand, fits in the role of Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell) in the movie Saw. Let’s play a game! (Magkamukha sila ‘nung puppet, in fairness)

 

(Lurve you, Gigi! Hmwah!)

 

6. Sec. Butch Abad (best actor for a silent film, maybe?)

 

(Tulala sa isang tabi, at di mapakali….) 

 

 

7. Noynoy Aquino can star with Dakota Fanning in Hide and Seek Part Two. (Tago-tago din pag may time)

 

(Kebs ko sa inyo. Ilabas ang PSP!)

 

 

Note: When everything else fails, magkaka love-life bigla si Kris Aquino. Sigurado yan!

 

*Photos from google

Spur of the moment (A Cagbalete trip)

A plan for a summer getaway usually ends up with just a PLAN. One night, my housemate Tina and I decided to go to Quezon and explore Cagbalete Island.  A self-confessed G.I. (geographic idiot), I found a good travel buddy. Tina googled everything we need to know about the travel, including the fare, and how to get to the island. Born and raised in Quezon province, I never really had a chance to explore the beautiful places in my hometown so I said yes to this adventure and didn’t really mind getting lost.

We left Manila at around 9:30 in the evening and boarded AB liner in Pureza, Manila. We arrived in Pagbilao at around 1:00 in the morning and rest a little at our house in Pagbilao. We woke up very early to go to Pagbilao market and spent PhP 500 for our baon, which is good for five people!

From Pagbilao, we traveled for 30 minuntes going to Mauban port. At Mauban port, there were several bangkeros who will offer you a ride to Cagbalete Island. Cagbalete is a 40-minute boat ride from the port.

We were asked to pay PhP50 pesos for environmental fee. (I don’t know about this environmental fee, because they maintain a coal powerplant in Mauban, which is also near Cagbalete. A similar coal powerplant is also maintained near kwebang lampas in Pagbilao. Coal-fired powerplants are known to emit harmful pollutants).

We hired a private boat which costs 2,000 but you may opt for a public transport for only 50 pesos per head. Public boats leave at 10 in the morning. The only advantage when you hire a private boat is that it will take you to the resort where you want to go while public boats will drop you at Cagbalete port and will take a 30-minute walk to the eastern part of the island where most of the resorts are situated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Based on my housemate’s research, it is good to stay in Villa Cleofas because they have cottages and tents plus they have other activities to offer. True enough, we found our place under a Talisay tree with a hammock. We talked to the owner of the resort and she asked if we will be staying overnight or will be using a cottage or a tent. We said we will only be staying for the whole day. Since we will not be using any of their amenities, we were asked to pay pHp100 pesos, instead of only pHp 50 if you will be using a cottage or a tent.

I also love the pine trees standing along the shore!

Because we were so excited to take pictures, we didn’t notice that it is already low tide and that the water is slowly subsiding as far as 1 kilometer. We had to walk far so we can swim.

Bangkeros also offer island hopping, usually for pHp 1,500. They will take you to sand bars. During low tide, you can walk towards what they call the Bonsai Island where Bonsai trees are  surrounded with beautiful rock landscape.

There’s also a river that meets the sea which is around 800 meters away from Villa Cleofas. They say its good for skim boarding and of course, picture taking!

The owner also said there is a farm near our place where locals sell fresh vegetables. Unfortunately, the locals have just harvested their crops. We’ve only seen a field of green and red chilis.

We only had a short time in the island. It’s suppose to be an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life but a day is too short to roam around the 1,640-hectare pristine island.

There’s more to know in Cagbalete.  Sometimes, those the eyes can’t see.  I would love to talk to the locals and know more about the lives of people in Cagbalete the next time I visit.

What do I get from this spur of the moment trip? A burnt face and shoulders and an achievement of overcoming my fear of not knowing where to go. Hoooray to unplanned trips!:) ###