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.
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