Philippine Travel Notes

As said in the previous story , when the hi/hello ‘session’ was over, there appeared 2 motorbikes ready to take us “habal-habal” style to the famed Capul Lighthouse. How did this happen? Ah eh… am not really so sure now. Maybe one of my companions signaled at them without me noticing. So off we went to the lighthouse – 4 adults 1 child, 2 motorbikes. This lighthouse is probably 8 or 9 kilometers from center of town (munisipyo), but what I’m sure of is: our ride took exactly 21 minutes. Yes twenty-one butt-whacking minutes! Or should I call this butt-thumping! It’s like this… I am not really that comfortable riding habal-habal. I have said that many a blog ago. I do believe it has something to do with the “if you are used to driving, you’re not fine riding” kind of feeling. Well that’s just me. But, if there’s no other choice, or if it’s the only way, or if the “vox populi” dictates so, I do not have any qualms riding habal-habal. But most of my trips (include Bangkok, Hanoi, Phnom ...

The Church and Fortress As we had a guide (the friend who now lives in Allen) I just followed wherever he said we should go (he said there are only 2 important tourist landmarks here anyway). First was our excited walk (just a few steps) to the Spanish era church and fortress that still stands sturdy. Whoawow! I never thought there’d be something like this in Samar. A stonewall fort just like a small Fort Santiago or Fort San Pedro is what one sees when coming from the beach landing. Inside is the church and convent/office. It’s a thick wall just like the many other Spanish-era fortresses in this country. Though this is one of the few (or the only one I can remember as of now) that has a church still intact inside its similarly still standing thick outside perimeter walls. And just like all such kinds of structures, one can still climb up the walls and see from up there, the vantage view of our forebears – hehe this time it is a view of a street and a row of residences (just like ...

How did we go there (and back)? Via an unusual route with unusual arrangements! It’s like this: during dinner, we asked the kids (yep, the Veranda crew) on what was the best way to get across to Capul. They told us there are fishing boats at the little village beside the resort that can be hired instead of still going to the other side of the island via habal-habal to catch the usual commute from either Allen or Victoria. Hmm, more convenient! A fantastic plan – after breakfast, we would walk the few steps to the village, then ride our respective boats. Respective boats? Ah, I meant me and the 2 friends on a hired boat to Capul (P600 “round-trip”), and the friend/guide and his kid to Allen (Monday, he had to go to work). Morning came, and we convinced our friend from Allen to just go with us. He is not hard to get y’know. So he said yes. Yey! After breakfast, we merrily walked (via the road instead of via the beach because I needed cigarettes) to this little fishing village guided...

This has been on my “to see” list of long ago. But I did not expect I’d see it this time. Did not even expect it would be that accessible from where I was (in San Antonio). It just happened that my afternoon (sunset) view had that entire length of Capul Island in the picture. When I asked, I was told we can rent boats for a special trip across the strait. Thus, I toyed with the idea, and voila, following day, I went to Capul! Ah, I’d say, I was unprepared, or make that “unready” to learn and absorb things I saw and heard in Capul. Did not do my usual checks and asking around. So I did not at all had any inkling as to where on the island I would ‘land’, what to see or things like that. I did not even know yet, where is what and how much in going there, etc. Yet, there I was, on the island of Capul finally… The only Visayan island that has a non-Visayan language/dialect! Me, a proud speaker (and fluent, I must claim) in the 3 principal languages of the Visayas – namely Cebuano, War...