Back To Minasangay Island

From the last paragraph of the previous story, I said "let's go back to Minasangay", right? Yes I did. But driver actually reminded me, we have already been to this place last 2016. Which, all the more pushed me to come back because we said we'll be back! So, back to Minasangay Island we were. Here we go!

On this visit to Minsangay, I thus, had 2 things in mind: 1) compare it with Canhugas Nature Park, and 2) see how the "island resort" has developed or progressed (if at all it did), since I last visited in 2016!

Make the long story short.., I observed that...

This is officially called the Minasangay Island Marine Ecological Park and Resort! I didn't pay enough attention last time. I just noted the big font on that signage. But the smaller font completes the name.

The long walk from entrance to that signage above, and the bridge is still the same - far!

But something happened to the bridge entrance, Maybe it's almost done. And Mana Asunta is gone!

Well, I wasn't sure if the 'show your OR for inspection' is really gone since there's a monobloc chair, but there was no "checker" when we entered! Driver even joked saying "aadto hit kabakhawan na-uro ada"!

Look, there is already a rampway for PWD accessibility. Oh ha? they listened to me!

The "hanging bridge" looked somehow already done, but we were surprised there are now two!

Maybe business is good, maybe there're already big crowds visiting, that they needed a bigger bridge!

The long walking path after the bridge seems to have been moved nearer the water; the edifices that were being built are now big open cottages for large families and/or groups. Hey, the eerie expanse of dead mangrove trees is now back 'alive' (greener). I heard tales that they died due to Yolanda's waves.

But the views were/are still the same.., (eternally) breathtaking panoramas of the Pacific Coast.

The jumping boards and swimming areas are fairly the same, so we walked straight and all the way, to what we knew then as the farthest end of the development/construction, which was somewhere here:

Remember the two fishermen who were piling rocks and stones for the riprap?

OMG it has since progressed a very long way, into something like this... [look at the left edge]

Considerably a lot more structures (aside from the riprap paths that the 2 manongs were building)!

When I was talking to them, we were behind that corner boulder, everything here was still a plan!

That time, they said "there will be more cottages", right? So I guess these are the ones referred to...

I did not see overnight accommodations, but maybe those are being developed now, somewhere...

At the back of those huts above, there is now even another marker - for posterity shots and selfies!

We were told there are more on-going developments/constructions further ahead, even a viewdeck up atop a limestone rock. But I said I'd rather see them when they're done. Another reason to come back!

Hmm, compared to my last visit in 2016, these were so much more of amenities that they've put up.

And yes, I liked that setting of bigger/better tables and benches sheltered by the rocks. Huwag naman sana gumuho in the near or far future. Kulba haha! But, these are better than at Canhugas or Jagnaya.

Anyway, as answer to my objective 2 which was to compare Minasangay Island and Canhugas Nature Park, they're incomparable. Well, for amenities like sitting areas and more formal cottages, this one is better especially for families or big groups. But for the adrenaline junkies, the cliffs of Canhugas rock!

I haven't walked the low tide shallows of Canhugas. But here, low tide or high tide, rock areas beckon!

Can you see three little fishy-fishies basking in the safety of the rock? If not, see them enlarged below:

I don't know if those are the kinds that people eat, as that small, they're already adorably colorful! But I was sure they're the ones that have bigger chances to mature without being devoured by the big ones!

Okay, I guess that was a good enough visit, if only to compare & contrast Canhugas with Minasangay.

Minasangay does not have the mind-bogglingly crazy photo-op of the rampaging waves at Canhugas' rocky ridges, unless there's anything like that on the other end that's yet to be developed. Cliff jumping though is like no other in Minasangay that Canhugas does not have, unless they are planning to erect similar contraptions on the shallow (left) side. The pros and the cons just balance out! So, I like both!

I therefore conclude that: Minasangay Island Marine Ecological Park and Resort in Balangkayan, and Canhugas Nature Park in Hernani, are two of the best places to visit on Samar Island's Pacific Coast.

I can keep coming back, no issue!