Gala Pinoy Redux

The chips were laid on the table. The cards were dealt. And each of us 4 players was either trying to look serious or nonchalant. We were, after all, playing poker where one has to try selling the value of their cards through bets, bluffs and facial expressions or the lack of it. But instead of being in a smoky casino, we were by the sea, breathing in salty air and listening to the rustling of the palm trees around us.

We were along the coast of the Balayan Bay, in a family resort called Blue Dolphin. True to its name, we were surrounded by walls and decorations in various shades of blue, which far from resembling a depressing feeling, actually made me feel calmer and more relaxed.

Except when we were playing poker, which electrified the rather tranquil atmosphere of the resort. Marc and I were poor bluffers because we laughed and bragged about values of cards we never have. Ferdz and Nina, meanwhile, were a little more difficult to read. They looked at their cards, bet and there was no telling exactly what we were up against when playing with them. So it wasn’t really surprising that they managed to win several rounds of the game.

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“Okay, Guiuan, what do you have in store for me this time?” I asked myself as I woke up to the sound of waves at the ABC beach in Guiuan’s Calicoan Island.

It’s my first time to be in Calicoan, but I’ve been to Guiuan so many that I couldn’t possibly come up with creative stuff to write about it.

It was great then that an old friend, Ms. Janet Israel, was our tour guide for that day. And while I try as much as I can from packaged tours and tour guides for most of my trips, this one was a welcome exception. It was probably because I knew our guide, or maybe because I needed to write down as many the facts and details I could for the article I was going to write once the trip is over.
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Inside the Jiabong Cave.

Today started early, but then again not early enough for us to reach Catbalogan by 7:30am, as our itinerary suggested. By 6:30am, we were just leaving Biri, and the trip from there to Catbalogan takes several hours.

It was almost noon when we arrived at Catbalogan, the capital of Samar province. And though it’s been almost two decades since I last remember setting foot here, it was still basically the same as I remembered it. It is still a bustling city with streets filled with jeepneys and buses that come from other towns and pedicabs that take locals around the city. Its skyline is dominated by buildings and signboards of businesses with the mountains of Samar as its backdrop. To its west is Leyte Gulf and one could easily see the island of Biliran from a distance.

Catbalogan is Samar province’s center of commerce even back in my grandparents’ days, a status that remains to this day. So if you’re looking to buy anything from clothes to local raw materials, you can find them here. It also has a Jollibee—perfect for anyone craving for the usual artery-blocking, yet sinfully satisfying fastfood, which is a rare sight on this island.

But we didn’t go to Catbalogan for the fastfood, nor to go shopping. Rather, it would be our jump off point to the nearby town of Jiabong. Plus, it is also in this city where Joni Bonifacio is based. He is to be our guide in our spelunking trip in Jiabong, Samar.
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A snapshot of one of the rock formations.

I’m up early. Way too early. My clock says 3am and it’s an ungodly hour for me who usually sleeps at 2am and wakes up at 9am. I haven’t really slept a wink, but mixed emotions of excitement, anxiety, and sleepiness put my head into a spin. I’m going on a four-day trip with people I haven’t met, writing about a place that’s dear to me, and I haven’t slept a wink. I get antsy when I don’t get enough sleep.

I try my best though to find my own corner at the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, to be silent, slow down my mind completely, and hopefully doze off. Moments like this make my judgment hazy and lead me to doubt about everything I know at that point. Is our trip really today? I check my calendar for the date, the exchange of text messages I had with my contact, and other information that would put my mind at ease.  Did I bring enough clothes with me? Did I bring my spare camera battery with me? Well, there’s no use thinking about that now. So I just sit still, wait for the other folks who will be traveling with me, Marian, the editorial assistant and Joi, the photographer.

Destination: Samar Island, particularly the areas of Biri, Catbalogan, Jiabong, Calbiga, and Guiuan. I haven’t really thought of Samar as an island, not even a place on the map. For me, it’s just my second home, well at least the third of it, Eastern Samar. I honestly could care less about the other two thirds, since it’s been ages when I last set foot on its western and northern parts.

Vague Flashbacks

My earliest memory of Samar was when my grandfather—my father’s uncle—accompanied me on a plane ride going there back in the early 90s. I was barely in grade two then, and I remember that we rode the 4 or 5am Philippines Airlines (PAL) flight to Tacloban. During that time, they still served empanada unlike today when all you get are a pack of cookies and peanuts.
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A view inside the Calicoan Surf Camp, Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Almost two weeks ago, I went on a trip to the island of Samar for an assignment for a local magazine. And although I have been there for far too many times, the trip gave me a refreshing look at the island that I consider my second home. Its people welcomes visitors with open arms and have a fantastic sense of humor. They also know how to have fun.

On the way to Samar.

And the place is nothing short of fantastic. Sure it’s not on top of the list of many travelers, but that is where its charm lies. You won’t find lots of tourists here, not too many touts have yet discovered how to vie for your attention, and you can explore the island with relative safety. Plus, with accommodations ranging from homestays to some several-figures worth for an overnight stay, you can enjoy Samar no matter your budget.

This post is just a preview of where I’ve been on the island. And where have I been exactly? Here’s a quick list with some photos I snapped with my trusty smartphone:

The ‘Biri Nice’ Island of Biri, Northern Samar

Biri has five rock formations that come in a variety of interesting shapes and sizes, give you an astounding view of the Pacific Ocean, and seagulls that threaten to harm you to protect its young. It also has fantastic people and a 12-hour power schedule that will let you enjoy the stars on a clear night.

Click on the following link to read more about the Biri rock formations.

Jiabong Caves of Jiabong, Samar

Don’t know what cavernous means? Then you need to get inside the caves of Jiabong. That’s because there’s no other way of describing how the caves look like inside. Plus, they are wet, sparkling, and challenging cathedrals that bats call home.

The link leads you to the post on the Jiabong Caves.

Lulugayan Falls, Calbiga, Samar

If spelunking is too adventurous for you, then there’s the Lulugayan Falls just south of Jiabong. But don’t be fooled by its looks as getting there can be quite challenging too.

Click on the link to read more about the Lulugayan Falls.

Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar

Yes, Calicoan Island is a popular surfing spot, but when you get bored with the crashing waves, the town center of Guiuan has lots of interesting things to offer you.

You can read more about Guiuan here.

Excited yet? Check out these posts every Wednesday in the coming four weeks. For now, I’ll rack my brains writing these posts AND the articles I need to submit to my editor. Until then!