Galleon Port Of Palapag
I did not even know there was such a thing! Thanks to my driver for suggesting that we pass by this port. Dagdag kaalaman! Oh yes, an additional historical knowledge!
Physically, it's actually nothing but a 'pantalan', no different than many little ports all over this archipelago. But it has 'historical value' if you are into those kinds of things.
That's where the concrete structure starts jutting out to sea for probably 100 meters.
That habal-habal, aw scooter nga pala [pronounced: is-koo-ter] was my ride.
And as you can see at right, is a historical marker planted by the National Historical Commission in 2015, describing the historical significance of this very place/locale.
I tried zooming another shot I had of the marker, so I can show the words clearly.
So what did I learn? Let me English my Tagalog heheh. Hagii, puyde ba Waray nala?
Anyway, this port was a last stop of galleons, to load up on firewood, food and water en route to Acapulco Mexico. Reverse, it was an 'official repair stop' of galleons from Mexico before heading to Cavite (usual final stop of the Acapulco-Manila trade route).
So now I'm making konek-konek da dots... after na-discover ni Ferdie (Magellan ba!) ang Homonhon Limasawa Mactan etc., his successors found out, that the northern end of the big island (Samar), is a shortcut pala to Manila! Ito na nga yan - Palapag!
Hmm, I wonder about when did this happen? I seem to have not read or heard from history that says something like you can go to Manila without passing by Homonhon.
It was a discovery era. They must have been excited about it. There must have been a bandillo or bulletin telling all Spanish sailors that a new route to Manila was found!
Something like "hey heads-up dudes, legacy na yung ke Pigafeta via Homonhon! Going to Manila, enter via Palapag na, direct from the Marianas, it's nearer" Parang ganun ba!
Imagine that. Interesting topic na, first 8 lines lang ng history marker!
The middle portion talks about Malaspina. Siya yung umikot ng mundo for scientific (and political) accounting. Kaso pagbalik sa Spain ikinulong din, at pinauwi sa Italy! I wonder though where exactly was the astronomical observatory. Volcan Viejo. Taal?
One of Malaspina's ships was named Atrevida hehe. Wala lang, naaliw lang ak!
The lower portion says the GI Joes docked here. But I know also, that years later, si Manong Doug(las MacArthur) naman ang nag-setup ng naval base doon sa Guiuan.
So, Samar was a strategically positioned island even in those early years. It was the gateway to the country. Now kaya, not anymore? Hmm, ewan lang! I think... it still is.
Imagine that 'no?! This island of Samar has been (and still is?) prominent in this our country's talambuhay. Aside of course from Philippine Deep, Magu, Kuratsa, Redtide!
This is such a rich island nga naman. Oist, when I was little, schoolbooks described Samar as the 3rd largest island in the country. Ngayon 4th na lang. Anyare ba? Ha?
Ahehe, IDK-na kung ano/sino ang 'official' sa dami ng hurub-hurub sa internet! Baka kasi, kasali na ngayon yung mga reclamations sa Dumaguete, Bacolod and Talisay.
Or baka naman din, kinakain na ni Pacific Ocean ang kalupaan ng Samar Island. Ta!
Ah bahala na you at bahala na them, let's go back to Palapag's Galleon Port. This!
I have no technical knowledge about sea travel, ports, passengers or fishing, so all I could say while standing there was... what a fantastic scene on a hot sun shiny day!
I walked forward waving a hand at my driver to stay put near the historical marker. I think he was attempting to give me my hoodie I left at his scooter. Then I saw this...
'Wag kang tumawa! At least it's not the walang kamatayang 'I Love xxx' or 'I 🧡 xxx'! Yes, it could have been better. Pero okay na yan, kesa yung Rizal na iba ang mukha!
It says "I Serve Palapag"! Style-google lang ang colors, at naputulan ng ulo si "G".
Hayaan mo na. 'Wag kang ano!
Forward pa more, and I realized that this is actually a busy-enough fishing port.
That big fishing boat at left just docked as we arrived. I watched them approaching. At the time I clicked that pic, they were getting ready to offload all their laman-dagat!
The other fishing boat farther right was just about done unloading their catch of the day. Buyers (and onlookers) were still milling around their last few crates on ground.
My Great Catch: a white-colored Refrigerated Van at the end of the pavement. Very obviously a buyer, a market intermediary. They make everything mahal in our world!
Buyer, Mamalitay, Dealer, Trader, Ahente, Negosyante, Lab-asero, Agpalako, etc., etc! They come in many names, styles, resources and/or descriptions. ALL are wealthy!
Oist, if we look at "their side of the coin" theirs is a very lucrative business - many call it "laway lang ang puhunan" or "tubong lugaw". But if you look at them from a macro economic point of view, they're salot sa lipunan for they cause economic imbalance.
Sila yung bibilhin ang isda mo sa pantalan at 1 peso, dadalhin sa palengke, ibebenta ng 12 pesos. Kaya ikaw fisherman, konti tubo; ikaw misis namalengke, mahal ang isda!
Sila dealer... RICH! Tas magiging mayor, governor, congressman... the cycle of life!
Hoy teka, ang aking travel blog, baka maging political blog na. Cannot be!
My Greatest Catch: Palihon Island. That's that little island with a white sandy beach just across this fisherman's wharf - ay Galleon Port nga pala. Hmm, it looks enticing!
Okay noted. Will research and maybe put it back in my bucket list! Palihon Island.
That's THE fun and 'adventure' of traveling. You'll never really know, all that you may come across that can perk your interest - then you keep traveling, forever. And ever!
Okay, time to move on. I haven't even gone out of Palapag yet!
Walking back to my scooter and driver, I looked to one side of the pier and saw this:
This area (at the base or start of the concrete wharf) is obviously not even something special to the local folks here. But already a Triple Wow for me! 1] the beach sand is even lighter in color than at Kingven Resort (Monbon Beach) where I was yesterday.
2] there's a sparse growth of mangrove trees - it would be good to know if those are just sprouting, or the remains of what might have been a mangrove forest? In case I haven't said yet, I lately caught an admiration for mangroves - where sea life begins.
3] those cute little bancas, they even have engines! Ah, those are THE "motor" here! Note: it is pronounced in Tagalog or Spanish - not English! I know those are used for fishing but I wonder where Palapag fishermen go to catch fish. The Pacific Ocean?
FYI, that landmass far in the background is an island-barangay called Binay (we are not in Makati ha?) Driver told me, it's a popular source of sea grapes. I asked ano it?
He said lato. And I said animal ka, may pa-sea-grapes sea-grapes ka pa, lato lang pala! But as we laughed, come to think of it, I remembered, it is latok in Sabah and latoh in Singapore (Riau Islands) - but all pronounced the way we Pinoys say "lato"! O, di ba?
If I didn't roam Palapag, I'd never have known about "sea grapes". Travel is learning!
Aw, syempre pa, I also looked to the other side of the pier. And I saw this...
Me and driver asked around as to what it might have been. No one could give us an answer. But surely not one from the "galleon trade" era hehehe! Semento na yan e, o!
Well, what I can be sure of is... it succumbed to the elements! Hmm, ano kaya yan?! Me pa-lookout effect pa o! Yun chimney-like thing na parang sa bahay ni Aguinaldo.
That led me into imagining, which part in this area was the foundry or 'hangar' (teka, pang-eroplano yan, ano ba tawag sa pagawaan ng barko?). Where did they "fix" ships?
Curiosity leads to nowhere but additional knowledge. Hanapin yan!
Anyway, I took a pic when about to exit this port. The road isn't yet concrete pala!
Worthy of note that there is a 'mobile store' (at right) - it's a tricycle where the cab or 'caja' is used for displaying his tinda. Not sure if that jug has melon or mango juice!
Still at right, I think it's a guard house or ticket booth in the making. Ta, may bayad na!
At left there's still my limousine for the day, and my scooter driver was getting ready. Where the man in green shirt is still sitting, is the location of the historical marker!
Aw, ito yun, sa baba!
Di talaga sila umalis dyan, I wondered what they were waiting for. Galleon or Gallon?
Oops, clarification... hindi mga sanggano and mga yan. Masaya silang kausap. And, nagpaalam ako sa kanilang dalawa if I could take that pic. I even showed it to them.
And my driver jokingly told them "ma-viral kam" hahaha!
Alright, let's move! Next story, I should already be in Mapanas.
Hopefully!
Physically, it's actually nothing but a 'pantalan', no different than many little ports all over this archipelago. But it has 'historical value' if you are into those kinds of things.
That habal-habal, aw scooter nga pala [pronounced: is-koo-ter] was my ride.
And as you can see at right, is a historical marker planted by the National Historical Commission in 2015, describing the historical significance of this very place/locale.
I tried zooming another shot I had of the marker, so I can show the words clearly.
Anyway, this port was a last stop of galleons, to load up on firewood, food and water en route to Acapulco Mexico. Reverse, it was an 'official repair stop' of galleons from Mexico before heading to Cavite (usual final stop of the Acapulco-Manila trade route).
So now I'm making konek-konek da dots... after na-discover ni Ferdie (Magellan ba!) ang Homonhon Limasawa Mactan etc., his successors found out, that the northern end of the big island (Samar), is a shortcut pala to Manila! Ito na nga yan - Palapag!
Hmm, I wonder about when did this happen? I seem to have not read or heard from history that says something like you can go to Manila without passing by Homonhon.
It was a discovery era. They must have been excited about it. There must have been a bandillo or bulletin telling all Spanish sailors that a new route to Manila was found!
Something like "hey heads-up dudes, legacy na yung ke Pigafeta via Homonhon! Going to Manila, enter via Palapag na, direct from the Marianas, it's nearer" Parang ganun ba!
Imagine that. Interesting topic na, first 8 lines lang ng history marker!
The middle portion talks about Malaspina. Siya yung umikot ng mundo for scientific (and political) accounting. Kaso pagbalik sa Spain ikinulong din, at pinauwi sa Italy! I wonder though where exactly was the astronomical observatory. Volcan Viejo. Taal?
One of Malaspina's ships was named Atrevida hehe. Wala lang, naaliw lang ak!
The lower portion says the GI Joes docked here. But I know also, that years later, si Manong Doug(las MacArthur) naman ang nag-setup ng naval base doon sa Guiuan.
So, Samar was a strategically positioned island even in those early years. It was the gateway to the country. Now kaya, not anymore? Hmm, ewan lang! I think... it still is.
Imagine that 'no?! This island of Samar has been (and still is?) prominent in this our country's talambuhay. Aside of course from Philippine Deep, Magu, Kuratsa, Redtide!
This is such a rich island nga naman. Oist, when I was little, schoolbooks described Samar as the 3rd largest island in the country. Ngayon 4th na lang. Anyare ba? Ha?
Ahehe, IDK-na kung ano/sino ang 'official' sa dami ng hurub-hurub sa internet! Baka kasi, kasali na ngayon yung mga reclamations sa Dumaguete, Bacolod and Talisay.
Or baka naman din, kinakain na ni Pacific Ocean ang kalupaan ng Samar Island. Ta!
Ah bahala na you at bahala na them, let's go back to Palapag's Galleon Port. This!
I walked forward waving a hand at my driver to stay put near the historical marker. I think he was attempting to give me my hoodie I left at his scooter. Then I saw this...
It says "I Serve Palapag"! Style-google lang ang colors, at naputulan ng ulo si "G".
Hayaan mo na. 'Wag kang ano!
Forward pa more, and I realized that this is actually a busy-enough fishing port.
The other fishing boat farther right was just about done unloading their catch of the day. Buyers (and onlookers) were still milling around their last few crates on ground.
My Great Catch: a white-colored Refrigerated Van at the end of the pavement. Very obviously a buyer, a market intermediary. They make everything mahal in our world!
Buyer, Mamalitay, Dealer, Trader, Ahente, Negosyante, Lab-asero, Agpalako, etc., etc! They come in many names, styles, resources and/or descriptions. ALL are wealthy!
Oist, if we look at "their side of the coin" theirs is a very lucrative business - many call it "laway lang ang puhunan" or "tubong lugaw". But if you look at them from a macro economic point of view, they're salot sa lipunan for they cause economic imbalance.
Sila yung bibilhin ang isda mo sa pantalan at 1 peso, dadalhin sa palengke, ibebenta ng 12 pesos. Kaya ikaw fisherman, konti tubo; ikaw misis namalengke, mahal ang isda!
Sila dealer... RICH! Tas magiging mayor, governor, congressman... the cycle of life!
Hoy teka, ang aking travel blog, baka maging political blog na. Cannot be!
My Greatest Catch: Palihon Island. That's that little island with a white sandy beach just across this fisherman's wharf - ay Galleon Port nga pala. Hmm, it looks enticing!
Okay noted. Will research and maybe put it back in my bucket list! Palihon Island.
That's THE fun and 'adventure' of traveling. You'll never really know, all that you may come across that can perk your interest - then you keep traveling, forever. And ever!
Okay, time to move on. I haven't even gone out of Palapag yet!
Walking back to my scooter and driver, I looked to one side of the pier and saw this:
2] there's a sparse growth of mangrove trees - it would be good to know if those are just sprouting, or the remains of what might have been a mangrove forest? In case I haven't said yet, I lately caught an admiration for mangroves - where sea life begins.
3] those cute little bancas, they even have engines! Ah, those are THE "motor" here! Note: it is pronounced in Tagalog or Spanish - not English! I know those are used for fishing but I wonder where Palapag fishermen go to catch fish. The Pacific Ocean?
FYI, that landmass far in the background is an island-barangay called Binay (we are not in Makati ha?) Driver told me, it's a popular source of sea grapes. I asked ano it?
He said lato. And I said animal ka, may pa-sea-grapes sea-grapes ka pa, lato lang pala! But as we laughed, come to think of it, I remembered, it is latok in Sabah and latoh in Singapore (Riau Islands) - but all pronounced the way we Pinoys say "lato"! O, di ba?
If I didn't roam Palapag, I'd never have known about "sea grapes". Travel is learning!
Aw, syempre pa, I also looked to the other side of the pier. And I saw this...
Well, what I can be sure of is... it succumbed to the elements! Hmm, ano kaya yan?! Me pa-lookout effect pa o! Yun chimney-like thing na parang sa bahay ni Aguinaldo.
That led me into imagining, which part in this area was the foundry or 'hangar' (teka, pang-eroplano yan, ano ba tawag sa pagawaan ng barko?). Where did they "fix" ships?
Curiosity leads to nowhere but additional knowledge. Hanapin yan!
Anyway, I took a pic when about to exit this port. The road isn't yet concrete pala!
Still at right, I think it's a guard house or ticket booth in the making. Ta, may bayad na!
At left there's still my limousine for the day, and my scooter driver was getting ready. Where the man in green shirt is still sitting, is the location of the historical marker!
Aw, ito yun, sa baba!
Di talaga sila umalis dyan, I wondered what they were waiting for. Galleon or Gallon?
And my driver jokingly told them "ma-viral kam" hahaha!
Alright, let's move! Next story, I should already be in Mapanas.
Hopefully!
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