Travels 172: Revisiting Labason, ZaNorte!

On a weekend, I came back to the roots of my late father and retrace his humble beginnings. He is a young man with a big dream however, lived in rural life that was Labason, his hometown. The last time I visited the municipality was during I was in university and it was years trying to reconnect the dots as I took the chicken bus unto the interior of what is to be known as the most rural yet progressive town.

I am on my way to a place with a heavy heart since the day I return was the day my late uncle will be buried. The late Walter Bidad is a closed relative of my late father and he was instrumental in our journeys to where we are now. He served as our inspiration and guide post too.

While arriving hours before the burial, I took the time out to take on the sleepy town armed with my partner, Nikkon on hand. What has been will remain to be a great journey of memories back when I was young.

Labason is a municipality of Zamboanga del Norte that started with a humble beginning yet the town has a legacy of its own. It has been progressive but since it is an interior town, its progress is limited compared to Liloy, its old sitio who sits comfortably well beyond the progress of Labason.

Still, Labason is a town of its own. I am proud to have been back even only for hours. On my way back to Liloy, back home, I dropped by Tamayo Beach Resort and the breathtaking view of the beach is a welcoming calm.

Travel 122: Aliguay Island escapade

The entire JCI organizations in Mindanao went out of our way to visit Aliguay island, off Dakak in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte for our 2nd ACM/RCM, an event of the JCI Philippines that are designed to reinforced its programs and projects, informing members of the new directions of the organization, briefing of national projects, reporting of different regions and much more, going to reinforce the friendship we all built throughout the years.

We went to meet at the ZANORTE Capitol Plaza in downtown Dipolog City and had breakfast with my brothers from JCI Greater Pagadian at the Dimsum Place. Afterwards, we went off to Bucana Wharf area to take on the ferry going to Aliguay Island. By the way, the Serpentina ferry only goes to the island on weekends (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) with Php 200 per person fare one way. For the most adventurous, a motorized Bangka can be rented for Php 1,500 per day use.

Well, what to expect in going to Aliguay? The waves were mighty and beautiful and as the rest of the group had experienced, it is once in a lifetime journey, complete with prayers, laughter, fun and serenity. The waves are higher and higher but the moment we saw the island, the feeling of relief were all felt and the excitement is heightened.

Unaware of what to expect, I was greeted with a makeshift floating wharf in the island, very much of a fun-filled experience to disembark from the ferry. A great way to experience the travel to this island is the chance to disembark on this floating platform.

The white sand beach greeted us and the sun is bursting in mid-day heat so the summer is very much felt. The walk on the sand is one that every traveller felt relief after the tossing waves. It is a beautiful island which has its own helipad, its own cemetery and a small neighbourhood of fisherfolks.

The island is self-energizing itself using solar power so lights are on at 630pm and are off at 5am each day. The island has a Tacubo restaurant that offers sumptuous meals. There are tent areas all over the island for those who wanted to taste the au naturelle feel of it.

Coming here are of many ways. One can take a smaller vessel which usually takes an hour to an hour forty-five minutes across the waters or the ones we took using the fast-craft ferry which is an hour trip.

Aliguay Island is one great island that promises both as destination and a journey. Coming here is great relief when you see the island from the quay and the blue waters, so clean embracing you to take the dip and enjoy the sun.

Indeed, Aliguay island is one visit no traveller should miss.