3
DAYS IN PARADISE
By: Faith Regala
From: https://pepregala.wordpress.com/
Photo credits to Irog Jose
Before
hooking up with hiking I was then a frustrated wave catcher. My friends and I
would spend our spare time at the beach surfing the waves of San Juan La Union
during my stay in Baguio. I equally love mountains and the beaches. I’m the
type of girl who dreams of Maldives instead of Paris. Nature and culture are my
idea of travel and seldom take pleasure to manmade tourist attractions.
Anyway, few
weeks ago I spent three days in paradise, nothing but superb experience. For a
couple of times I have seen pictures of Alibijaban Island and the islets nearby
because of that I’d really wanted to pay visit to the place. Until an
invitation from GalaPH came, I was sort of reluctant to join because aside
from the host and other friend I know no one from the participants. It
would be a 3-day trip and was worrying of a lot of things. Nonetheless, I
joined the event and thank God I did.
At 10:30pm
we left Ayala, Makati. We had few stops and arrived at the port of Quezon at 7
or 8 a.m. While waiting for our boat we walked in the community nearby the port
had our lunch and looked for goggles for our snorkelling activity. We were able
to buy goggles for the price of P35 which was by the way really awful. At
9:00am we boarded to our boat and ready to hit Sombrero Island, Masbate which
was the first on the list in our itinerary.
The travel
time from Manila to the port took us more than 8 hrs. And the boat ride was 1
1/2 hour.
As we were
approaching the island I was stunned by it’s beauty, pearly white and powdery
Sand, coconut trees surrounding the island and nipa huts very Filipino themed
place.
Facade of the Sombrero Island, Masbate
After
cooling down from the lengthy travel we went island hopping. Dapa Island is
just few minutes away from Sombrero Island, our next destination. There we went
trekking to reach the peak of the rock formation. It was nice to be on the
top…. you see a different perspective of everything.
At the peak
of Dapa Island, behind us is Sombrero Island
When we’re
done with our photo ops we decided to get back to the boat. Though the pathway
is sort of challenging we were able to make it no scratch no bruises. And amid
the discomfort of the trail our one fella took advantage to relate it with his
hugot lines, one after another. I therefore conclude that Masbate is the hugot
capital if the Philippines lols.
Some
pictures from the Dapa island
Photo courtesy of Sir Irog Jose
One of the many sparrows we saw from this island.
While we were swimming, the sun faded out
strikingly. I couldn’t help but realize that life is truly a gift. To be able
to see the beauty of nature, to feel the heat of the sun and coolness of water.
To hear the waves of the ocean and the chirping of the birds that brings music
to your ears.
Moving
forward after taking bath dinner was ready we had grilled liempo, inihaw na
bangus, Sinigang and salad. Afterwards, the organizers set the place for our
socials placed candles forming a circle, some of the participants who were part
of a band performed for the group while everyone’s humming and singing in a
single tune as the drinks were passed around. After a couple of songs we ended
the socials, some went to sleep while my new found friends and I thought of
something to do.
Carrying our
sleeping bags, chips, wine and candles we laid them down in the sand and stared
at the billion star galaxy. It’s a paradox that everything’s so simple yet so
extravagant. I meant nothing was really fancy, no expensive dinner, no top of
the line hotel rooms, no cruise ships but everything’s extravagant! Probably
being connected with nature alone made it extravagant. Would you dare trade the
billion stars over city lights? Or the soothing and serene sound of the ocean
waves over the loud and non-substantial “so called” music of disco bars in the
metro.
Home away
from home
Second day
was also a memorable one for me. After eating breakfast we took a quick
swim and prepared for our island hopping.
First stop
was Anima Sola island, the main attraction of the island is the rock formation
similar to Kapurpurawan’s in Ilocos Norte.
I can’t say
much from this island, it’s a middle-of-the-road for me.
We also
passed along these islets which were so lovely.
Next on the
list is Inirawan Island which is one of my favourite. It was a love at first
sight. How could you not lay eyes on this beautiful island of white fine sand
and crystal clear water? And not from afar is a sight of the Tinalisayan
Island the bomb, the sand bar!
The very
time that we arrived at Inirawan all we could just utter were words of
amazement. The water was so crystal clear and the island is very much secluded,
we were laughing over the boat ducked at the island which has something painted
“Virjhen island” nice humor huh. It was my first time to see a sand bar, it’s
the coolest thing ever!! Oh! Philippines you are one blessed archipelago. I was
a little saddened when we immediately had to leave the island to avoid getting
late in crossing Alibijaban, which is our next and last stop.
The boys had regression when they saw the sand bar
and run as fast they can and as far as the end of the line.
As we were
approaching the Sombrero Island the waves became untameable that our boat had
to slow down, we got wet and all because of the big waves splashing and hitting
our boat but all is well we reached the island safely. We had to wait for an
hour because the waves were so big and it will be risky to cross the Alibijaban
in that condition. But when we were already travelling toward Ali, it rained
and the waves went wild…. it was a raging sea. I know we were nervous of what
could possibly happen, some wore their life vests while others were cracking
jokes just to break the silence. And it was really really hilarious that out of
nowhere someone sang “every night in my dreams i see you I feel you” lols. We
failed to catch the sunset in Alibijaban because of the delay due to weather
condition but silver lining is, it added spice to our trip, it was a heart
pumping nerve wracking experience and all but to wrap we reached Alibijaban
safe and sound.
Alibijaban’s
name was derived from two names from a royal family according to one local whom
I asked regarding the story behind its name. It was then just a small rock
which eventually transformed to a beautiful island, the first to lived on the
island where King Ali and Queen Jaban, their love story and what happened next?
That I cannot tell you. lols. At first I was kinda upset with Alibijaban,
because I felt it was congested already I wasn’t expecting of a community and
concrete houses and other stuffs from there. But when we walked to the
mangroves area, it took me by surprised it was beautiful just as how I see it
from the pictures in the internet.
I was
regretful not to have a good quality camera to capture such a lovely landscape
like this. Everything’s picturesque, a rural type of living, so laid back,
relaxing, serene, everything beyond words. All along I thought that ladies are
the ones who are just very much interested with beaches. But in a group of
mostly men I wondered “why do men love beaches?.” Maybe because it excites you,
it thrills you, at times it drives you insane, wild and then the next thing you
know, it calms you, gives you peace, it touches your soul. It’s depth remains immeasurable,
you can never fathom it. It’s mysterious as that you just gotta deal with it.
The clear
waters of the Alibijaban Island.
I feel have
seen so little yet in this country. More mountains to climb and beaches yet to
explore. Each time I travel, I get so proud of how wonderful our country is and
feel upset why many of our countrymen choose to travel abroad when there are so
much tourist destinations in this country. One of my bucket-list is
to tick off all the 80 provinces of the Phils. And promote local tourism,
if and when that happens I’d be more than a happy kid.
Lastly, I
have to commend the team who hosted this event, Kudos Gala PH! Everything’s
organized and you were all approachable and friendly, thanks for the exciting
gifts from the raffle during the last night. To Gala Ph and my new found
friends, so much looking forward to another adventure with you guys.
Photo
credits: Kix Tablete, Romer Matubang, Billy Palatino, Sef Lechuga
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