Coming Again to Camiguin by Ariel Allera

Coming Again to Camiguin

By Ariel Allosada Allera

Revisiting Mindanao's best-kept secret afforded me new and exciting memories which I owe to Camiguin Beach Club for the invite. My virginal visit the year ago was enough for me to be captivated by this island's raw beauty and exotic charm. But until my recent visit, I was always hoping for another occasion, to be captivated some more—after all, Camiguin means: Come again.

The smooth-sailing voyage did not prolong my renewed excitement because, in 10 hours, I was able to view this pear-shaped volcanic island. Apparently nothing has changed in the visage of the port of Balbagon in Mambajao town, including the porters who are well trained to respect the privacy of tourists who do not want their goods and chattels touched.

It's hard for every tourist not to gaze at the clean roads as well as the green environs of Camiguin, to embrace its cool, refreshing ambiance, and to kiss the island's distinctive romantic aura. It's not surprising why many tourists keep coming back here. And to articulate their impressions: “Camiguin's main attraction is the sheer concentration of its natural wonders and its residents who are simple, genuinely friendly, hospitable.”

Good examples are the staff and crew at Camiguin Beach Club. Lovely couple cum operations resident managers Mahleen Zaragosa and Jay Jamero have not run short of their kindness and hospitality since the previous time they accommodated me. Strategically located in Yumbing, Mambajao, the resort boasts of its century-old Bita-ob trees that provide a cool shroud over the swimming pool. Owned by Mr. Jacinto Jamero, this is the only one in Camiguin which has its own natural beachfront with a boardwalk where guests can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the famous White Island some two kilometers off into the sea. Boating my way there reminded me of the White Sand Bar on Tañon Strait between my hometown of Malabuyoc, Cebu, and the town of Manjuyod, Negros Oriental.

White Island's crescent-shaped sand bar with tiny pebbles is uninhabited, and is surrounded by crystal-clear waters—perfect for swimming, sunbathing, snorkelling, and shell collecting. What I enjoyed here most was the picturesque view in the background of two of Camiguin’s seven volcanoes—the dormant Old Vulcan and the active Mount Hibok-Hibok.

Old Vulcan’s eruption in 1871 wiped out a lot of Catarman town’s essential parts, including the San Roque Church, the convent and the bellfry in the small village of Bonbon. It is now a tourist spot, known as Catarman Church Ruins, which reminds us of Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, Albay, with just about the same story to tell.

A stone's throw away are the Cross Marker and the Sunken Cemetery. The latter lies 20 feet underwater. The cross was installed in 1982 to mark the community cemetery that sank during the above-mentioned volcanic eruption. Aside from being a tourist spot, this landmark has become a pilgrimage site where Bonbon folks hold their fluvial procession every November, bringing flowers and candles, to honor the graves of their forefathers.

Four kilometers north in the uplands lies the magnificent Sto. Niño Cold Spring. The icy cold water is ideal for picnickers who want to have fun together at the pool, like myself and my companion/best friend/boyfriend, Roel Catoto.

Lying at the foot of Mount Timpoong, some five kilometers southeast of the Camiguin’s capital town of Mambajao, is Katibawasan Falls. Its cold waterfalls, which measure 256 feet high, cascade to a rock pool surrounded by ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders—ideal for those who want to cool off. If you've been to the famous Kawasan Falls in the southwestern town of Badian, Cebu, you would know what I mean.

But for those who want to get a natural treatment for their ailments, Ardent Hot Spring is perfect! Its sulphuric hot water is said to be a medicinal element that can cure virtually most illnesses. Located in Esperanza, Tagdo, six kilometers southwest of Mambajao, its hot spa is a natural pool of about 40-degree Celsius coming from the bowels of Mount Hibok-Hibok. What I loved most in Ardent is its lush vegetation, which offers serenity and quiet for stressed out people like me. Uh, I wish I could stay here longer but time didn't permit me so.

A must-see for religious tourists is the Via Cruzes. As part of Camiguin’s annual celebration for Panaad every Holy Thursday and Good Friday, devotees from the island and nearby regions pay a visit to each Cross of the 14 stations, by trekking the walkway leading to the peak of Old Vulcan. Because it was only a few days away to the holydays, I didn't let that opportunity slip away despite the downpour. With the same intention of expressing penitence and enriching spirituality, others walk the 64-kilometer circumferential road circling the whole island of Camiguin.

What an exciting weekend it was for me! I had made the most out of everything with these new experiences afforded me by this paradise of an island called Camiguin. I wouldn't have learned to appreciate more its beauty and charm had I not come again to this enchanting part of Mindanao that they also call "... the island of your imagination."