Lesser known good side of Britania Islands

In our recent trip to Britania Group of Islets, La Entrada was the original jump-off point because Madam Mercy Alameda, the owner of the resort, wanted to meet Gly’s American friend Rick. But something cropped up, leaving Madam Mercy with no choice but to head for Butuan City posthaste. Good thing she informed us of this, otherwise we wouldn't have discovered something that I just felt need to be shared here.

When we stopped at the toll gate in Barangay Salvacion, a man in tattered yellow clothing peered into the Fortuner’s window.

“You wanna get a boat, SirMa’am?” he said, showing gaps between his nicotine-stained teeth.

“How much?” I said.

“1500,” he smiled, “but you can still haggle.”

“I know the rate; it’s 1200.”

“Okay, Sir. 1200 it is.”

“Then why did you say 1500? You know what? It's bad tourism.” Irritation was thick and palpable in my voice I could write an FB status on it.

He knew better than to answer.

The power window of Nick’s Fortuner began to roll up. “It’s for 1200, Sir,” he now sounded desperate.

I thought: Finding another boatman and negotiating for the same fixed price could be time-consuming. So I signaled to the man my approval. And like a gunman in his getaway motorcycle, he sped away ahead of us.

We followed him as he led us to the site where LGU-San Agustin had first built a boardwalk. About five boats were docking next to thinning mangroves.

We only had snack food because we thought of ordering lunch at La Entrada to be brought to Buslon Island. While the boat was being readied, I asked Reil to drive me back to La Entrada. But then I thought of asking the man with nicotine stained-teeth if there were restaurants in the area.

The man said something that sounded like payday.

There’s a house there that sells abundant freshly caught fish of the premium species and other seafood [think crabs, prawns, lobsters, and shells] at a price that won’t make you feel like you’re being held-up. Lapu-lapu the size of my thigh goes for P200 a kilo; my favourite katambak sells at 150 a kilo. And the good thing is: the husband and wife team will prepare the fish for you in any way you want it done----kinilaw, sinugba, or tinuwa. You just pay P60 per kilo for the effort. And hear this: the P60 per kilo thing goes with utensils that they will bring to Buslon Island along with fish and other gastronomic delights, including a vinegar and soy sauce mix mixed [no, it's not a typo] with spices and sili.

The man with nicotine-stained teeth offered to drive to San Agustin to buy us pork liempo that the same husband and wife tandem grilled for us in a manner that had us all raving. So yummy!

And so while our lunch was being cooked in the mainland by the husband and wife team, we sailed off to Buslon Island and swam to our heart’s content. Just when we started to grow gills, the boat carrying our utensils and food arrived.

Now, isn’t that wonderful?

Next time you visit Britania Islands, go by this route and look for Precy Josol. I have her cellphone number but I don’t have her permission to share it here. So: my apologies. But if you want, just send me a message and I will be glad to negotiate on your behalf.

Don't just take my word for it. Come visit Villa Azarcon and see for yourself.

cagpangi falls in villa azarcon

I first gushed about a cascade’s visual impact when I was a kid vacationing in Sagbayan, San Miguel about 15,375 days ago. That summer our cousins invited us to a picnic in Panghasaan, a falls located in the navel of a primeval forest that’s part of the vast agricultural land owned by Lolo Endong.

Panghasaan Falls, as I remember it, is a multi-tiered cascading wonder with pools that come in different shapes and sizes. Young as I was then, it made me feel connected to a certain force of nature that was both primal and electrifying. Since then I had gone to many waterfalls, so many in fact that I had lost count. But I’m no junkie, which means I don’t embark on waterfall-chasing trips. However I do my own check-outs, especially the accessible ones.

And Cagpangi Falls in Villa Azarcon is very much accessible.

Just about 16 kilometers [or 20 minutes on average speed] from Tago, Cagpangi Falls is small and quiet. As it flows, it mesmerizes with its delicate beauty and watery grace. Comparing it to another of Surigao del Sur's iconic falls using a musical metaphor, one may say that Tinuy-an Falls is hard rock while Cagpangi Falls is rhythm and blues.

Like all other falls, Cagpangi is seasonal: at times it gushes like a broken dam, other times it trickles like sweat. And its height is not impressive; but this becomes an advantage as Cagpangi Falls is not obscured by mists even when flowing at full volume. The better for the inner camwhores in tourists.

Canopied by a thick foliage that blows a cold mountain air, Cagpangi Falls is a natural cocoon for homo sapiens with weary heart and soul. But above all, it’s a place to celebrate nature and life because of its awe-inspiring power no matter how subdued.

Cagpangi Falls is part of Villa Azarcon, an inland resort in Barangay Cabangahan, Tago, Surigao del Sur. Because of its proximity, it’s now fast becoming the favourite weekend getaway of tourists who have no problem going there in private vehicles or PUJs because the road is already concreted.




Villa Azarcon fuses natural and man-made attractions. It has two kiddie and one adult pools built in ways that stoke the water babies in men and women.

With its rustic ambience, Villa Azarcon evokes an old world charm. And with its well-manicured grounds, it’s ideal for early morning yoga or Zumba and late afternoon picnics.

Owned, developed, and managed by Atty. Tonyboy Azarcon, Villa Azarcon offers air-conditioned cottages [P1,500 a night] and dorm-type accommodations [P250 per head]. It also charges each visitor with a 25-peso entrance fee .

Visit Villa Azarcon soon and prepare to get wet.

the unrivalled britania islands

The panoramic view of 24 islets dotting the horizon like half-submerged domes gives one the impression that Britania is where Poseidon once held court. And the god of the sea must’ve made sure to position these floating charmers such that they kiss, hug, and part as one sails past them.

Britania is famous for its group of islands. But fact is, it’s an assemblage of islets, sandbars, and promontories in varying degrees of land mass and protrusion. All these are uninhabited with minimal or no vegetation, surrounded by water of the clearest glass, and carpeted with sand the color and texture of Goldilocks polvoron.

Long before Britania became a magnet for tourists that it is now, it was called Alepanto. And to this day, old folks differ on who gave this rich fishing village its original name. Some say it was a band of nomads looking for a place to stay and earn a living during the Spanish period; others say it was Gregorio Lamela (aka Kapitan Golong), then a highly respected local. Alepanto was later renamed Bretania by Eufemio Darunday, ex-mayor of San Agustin, who likened its distinct island-beaches to that of Great Britain’s. It was only recently that the spelling was changed to “Britania”.

A visit to Britania must include hopping to its premier quartet of islets: Buslon, Naked, Hagonoy, and Hiyor-hiyoran. Organized boat operators offer tours with standard rates for unlimited time: P1,500 for 15 passengers or less; and P2,000 for 20, with extra passenger going for P100 each.

If one can visit only one islet, then Buslon it should be. It’s the nearest but still, like the rest, it’s a natural studio for taking pictures that would make a good cover photo for Facebook and guaranteed to make his friends weep from envy. It also has two subsidiary islets that one can access on foot if brave enough to wade in waist-deep waters. These twin rock promontories both named Panlangagan hold a secret cave and a pocket forest.

Hiyor-hiyoran is the islet with the most vegetation. And if one is lucky to meet fishermen there with a catch to spare, he gets to sample shellfish cooked in saltwater or try his hand at gutting fish and collecting roe from sea urchins. The rocky portion of Hagonoy provides a textural contrast to its incandescent sand. And with huge slabs of stone strewn everywhere, it’s easy to visualize the Little Mermaid doing a “selfie” in her iconic pose.

Naked Island is actually a sandbar that stretches and recedes with the tide but never vanishes. Because it resembles a fallen cloud that God never bothered to pick-up, this ridge of sand is the closest one gets to walking in the clouds. That said, it should be made the highpoint of one’s Britania experience.

One doesn’t capture Britania; one savors it. And it’s a pity that most tourists go there just to earn bragging rights in Facebook instead of living the moment of the hard-to-beat experience. These people don’t realize that no matter how many times they click their cameras, they couldn’t upload the sea-scented breeze that caresses like a cold spirit of a forgotten loved one; or the splitting of the glassy water by the boat’s hull; or the sensation of fine sand stroking the feet in ways much gentler than the softest rug could ever do; or the heady feeling one gets from braving the current as he goes islet-hopping on foot.

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Britania is a barangay of San Agustin in Surigao del Sur. To get there, one takes a bus to Tandag but alights at Salvacion junction where there’s a tourist assistance center. Because Britania is still 2.8 kilometers away, one has to ride a motorcycle and pay a minimal environmental fee. Just a few caveats: Food and beverage are not sold in all four islets, and so one should bring his own provision. Nobody is allowed to stay overnight in any of the islets. However there are hotels and restaurants in the mainland, the most famous of which is La Entrada because of its above-average facilities and amenities.

If one intends to go island-hopping, he can hire a boat until 2:00 PM. The usual route is Naked-Hagonoy-Hiyorhiyoran-Buslon. But if he wants to visit Buslon only, which is good enough, he should do it before 4:00 PM. While on tour, some boatmen may turn devious, saying they can’t park at Buslon because it’s too crowded or it’s difficult and risky to go to Hagonoy because the wind has shifted and the tide has changed. One must insist and not allow to be tricked this way.

The best time to hit Britania is early morning, when available boats are still plenty and one can choose which to hire. This way, too, he has a longer time to enjoy the islets and take all the “selfies” he wants.



(Note: This article was published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 18 August 2013 under the title, "The Incandescent Britania Islands". Here's the link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/467819/the-incandescent-britania-islands Photo credits: Olan Emboscado, Jonnie Sacote. )

Hiyas nan Carrascal with Shamcey Supsup

Because I had yet to fit my barong, I went home at high noon on 16 July. And as usual, Lydia exceeded my expectations; my barong was a killer.

I napped. Then came the text message from Ms. Totit, the Search for Hiyas ng Carrascal chair, asking what time I wanted fetched. I said about 5:30 because the anti-social me didn’t want to mingle with other judges and instead want to go directly to the pageant’s venue, which was the boulevard. She said I had to go directly to Oasis Resort where dinner would be served. And I have reserved a room for you just in case you decide to sleep there, she added.

I didn’t have plans of bringing the dslr camera because I didn’t want to take pictures at the same time I was judging the contestants because it’s rude. But at the last minute, I changed my mind. And so I texted an officemate to request the clerk to prepare the camera and to recharge the battery. I would just pick it up on my way to Carrascal, I said. But knowing the office would be close by then, I told her to leave the camera with the SSS guard downstairs.

My sundo came late. I went inside SSS office and grabbed the camera on top of the table along with the charger. Then we headed for Carrascal.

We arrived at Oasis Resort at about 7:30 PM. Only the candidates who were being made up were there. No judges; no organizers. Some gay handlers were bitching they hadn’t eaten yet. At the counter, a resort staff gave me the key to “Aircon N”. When I asked her where the food for the judges was, she said she didn’t know.

I was famished and it was getting late. I texted Ms. Luanne, a committee member and a former graduate student, asking if the pageant would start anytime soon because I needed to have a bite of food first. She said they’d wait for me.

The staff at the counter told me it would take 30 minutes to order food. I pleaded to her to serve me anything edible. She phoned someone in the kitchen and said, in front of me, to see if there was some left over from the buffet they set up earlier. I fell off the high chair.

Then I proceeded to my room to freshen up and change while the kitchen crew was scouring his territory with leftover food he could feed me. It was 8:45 PM when Luanne had me fetched by the Everest of Vice Mayor Arreza. When I arrived at the venue, the spectators were singing the Lupang Hinirang. As we hit the back door I was cursing myself. Good thing I saw Sir Polong, a school principal and a former graduate student, and he guided me to my chair. The light was blinding and I could sense people were looking at me either because I was late or my barong was shining from the glare of spotlights circling the venue like mad.

The judges' table carried a keyboard and an LCD monitor containing a programmed judging sheet. All we had to do was input the scores.

Then the pageant began.

The male host introduced Shamcey Supsup as co-host and the crowd went wild. As the show progressed, I took notes in between my rating the 19 candidates who were all not from Carrascal. All the while, the dslr camera was on my table beside my cell phone.

I received a text message from Ms. Tessie Molejon-Miranda commenting on my nice barong. She was watching the show in Cantilan on cable tv.

Then it was time to serenade the candidates. Shamcey said Paolo Avelino was not available but not to worry because an equally popular substitute was with her. And out came Aaron Villaflor. When Aaron started singing to the candidates, I took the camera, turned it on, aimed, and shoot. Nothing. I tried again. Nothing.

I checked the SD card; it was there. Then I checked the battery; it wasn’t there. The image of a charger flashed in my mind. It was inside my backpack that was sitting on the bed at Oasis Resort.

Fuming, I texted the clerk, demanding an explanation why she didn’t put back the battery after recharging. She said she didn’t know how and that was the reason she sent the charger that contained the battery.

I was shot! I thought of Lovely, Maria Isabel, Nonon, and Tita.

The pageant ended. And I had no picture to show how great my barong was. Hahaha

Shamcey was squirreled away by the organizers and I was sitting there waiting for Ms. Totit to tell me the vehicle was ready to whisk me home to Tago. Ms. Niknik Montenegro (Kote’s wife) came up to me to say she wouldn’t be hitching a ride with me.

About 20 minutes later, Ms. Totit said I’d be riding a van to Tandag with Shamcey Supsup and her party; they were staying at Villa Maria Luisa Hotel. Ms. Totit made me follow her backstage, to a secret room where Mayor BB Pimentel was entertaining Shamcey. On a small table were various seafood. When he saw me, Mayor BB stood, pulled me and introduced me to Shamcey. She extended her hand and we shook. Then Mayor made me sit beside Shamcey and left. Niknik entered the room and pulled me to have a photo op with Shamcey.

Then we rode the maroon van back to Oasis Resort to get our things. Inside everybody was laughing as Shamcey and her manager mimicked the candidates in the Q&A.

It was already 1:30 in the morning.

the 2013 Carrascal Bunting Contest

This year’s Bunting Contest was participated in by Barangays Baybay, Doyos, Embarcadero, and Saca. Chaired by Romel M. Oribe of the Department of Trade and Industry, the board of judges had, as members, Maryvil P. Cruz of the Provincial Governor’s Office and Arman V. Decena of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The judges rated the entries on 11 July 2013 using the following criteria: 25% Creativity which refers to the manipulation of material as an important element of design in a manner that’s artistic and fresh; 20% Originality and Design Rationale which refers to the story behind the overall design and the uniqueness of materials employed and the use of innovative touches that don’t veer away too much from the traditional concept of bunting as fiesta decor; 30% Visual Impact which refers to the raw power of the overall design to create a strong positive impression involving the visual sense; 15% Color Combination which refers to the harmonious interplay of colors that reflects and captures the occasion’s festive mood; 10% Online Vote which refers to the votes cast by Carrascalanons from all over the world using the Internet. This was computed by dividing the total votes garnered by a contestant with the total votes cast, then multiplied by 10%.

In determining the winners, the judges used guidelines that stipulated the rank system. The same guidelines provided that a tie shall be resolved using the point system.

The literature submitted by the participating barangays to the Bunting Committee guided the judges in understanding the rationale behind the designs, thus making it easy for them to appreciate every nuance of the creation that otherwise would have remained meaningless. To illustrate, one entry mentioned in its literature the use of “gihay” that was simply invisible in the design. Yet closer reading of the literature revealed that “gihay” was wrapped in colored cellophane and used to prop the outline of the tail and fin of the giant fish which served as the centerpiece of the whole bunting design. The literature went on to say that “gihay” which makes a broom signified the barangay’s concern to clean the environment. Ingenuity like this is what makes Carrascal Bunting Contest worth perpetuating!

Much better than last year’s, this year’s buntings articulated eloquently the mood of Carrascal, which was jovial and celebratory. Using patterns that were easy on the eyes, all entries were very good in terms of design, color combination, quantity, etc. Truth be told, the judges practically had nothing negative to say about the entries.

More than making the streets of Carrascal beautiful in a dream-like way, the buntings sent the message that Carrascal is on its way to economic progress but at the same time continues to preserve and nurture the much-valued and long-held tradition that defines the Filipinos as a people and as a race.

While the judges picked this year’s grand prize winner in a unanimous decision, there was a triple tie for 2nd place. Consistent with the contest guidelines, the judges determined the runners-up via the point system.



[Note: As I post this, I still have a standing gag order against naming the winners as they will be announced on 15 July yet.]

grammar glitch in Lincoln's grave marker

My sister Gly visited recently the famous Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois. One of the photos she posted on FB was a marker whose inscription really bothered me.



Then on 3 July, I finally wrote an email to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to raise the matter. Below is the email.

*****

Sir/Madam:

I'm from the Philippines and I have a friend who is still in the US touring historical sites. She had gone to many wonderful places including the Lincoln Tomb. As proof, she had posted photos on Facebook. And this marker (please see attached photo) with the following inscription really bothers me, thus:

THE GRAVE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

This structure marks the graves of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their four children. Members of the Lincoln family chose the site in May 1865. Planned and built the years following the president’s shocking death, the tomb remains an imposing symbol of the peoples’s (underscoring mine) sorrow.

Doesn't the "s" after the apostrophe make the sentence ungrammatical? If not, please enlighten me. Thank you very much.

*******

Then on 9 July, I received a reply from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, saying it acknowledges the error and promising to correct it as soon as possible.

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The full text of the email runs, thus:

Romel,

Thank you for pointing out this error. We do appreciate it. One can never have enough eyes for proof reading. We will take steps to correct it as soon as possible.

Best,


Karen E. Everingham
Historic Sites Division
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
217/785-1584
F: 217/785-8117
www.illinoishistory.gov/hs/sites.htm
www.illinoiscivilwar150.org