Alubihod Beach Hopping

For days, I have been in constant hope of having to spend some time at the beach.

Finally, I did.

Just a boat ride away from Iloilo City and then a 45-minute drive from the warf, I reached Alubihod Beach in no time. Found in the small town of Nueva Valencia in the island of Guimaras, it is just a short stretch of white sand and calm blue-green waters. The stretch is lined by only three resorts, all of them looking fine and accommodating, so there is really no problem which one is best to choose. All their beachfront are all the same anyway. Just lay a beach towel on the sand and sunbathe or swim!

View from the isle

I didn't stay in Alubihod for too long though. I didn't want to. My mind was already island hopping ahead of me when I got there. I needed to catch up to it. Plus, people started coming in the place so I thought it was right time I look and go to more serene places.

So island hopping I went. I need to find those indie beaches, I jokingly thought to myself. There are lots of motorboats for rent along the beach, you just rent one and it goes anytime you want.

This was it! Indie beach hopping was my way to call it.

We got to this little island first. The sun was up, sky was clear, white sand isle, clear blue-green waters, and a lonely log bench lay at rest – it was perfect. Getting stranded in that island for a day wouldn't suck much to me actually.

Pawikan

The next island we sailed to, which I thought would be a long sail, was actually just a several meters across the clear blue sea from the isle where we were. I could have just swam my way across. 

Anyway, the place was serene, only the sound of the small hugging waves was there to listen to. Also, there is this pawikan (Filipino for "sea turtle") caring and feeding station in the island. I actually managed to carry one pawikan.. with care (for its a caring center). After exploring the island some more, off we sailed to the next.

We sailed to this little cave "river" of clear glowing green waters next. A number of bats, hopefully just fruit bats, were a-perched upside down inside and a few spiky stalactites hung the ceiling.

At the snorkeling bay

Silent waters run deep.. really really deep! Of what seemed to be just a foot-deep of clear water (for one can see the sea bed beneath!) was actually a few tens of feet deep or so, according to the boatman. Woah and scarrry.

The snorkeling bay was our last stop. The boatman docked its motorboat in mid-bay clear waters, I jumped off it immediately. Wee! Groups of corals spread and spread indefinitely over the seabed. They don't amount much to Tubbataha but they're a beauty to see. Plus, I found a lot of nemos.

We soon returned ashore to Alubihod and enjoyed the beach, now quite deserted in the late afternoon, one more time. Packed away and a kilo of famous sweet Guimaras mangoes bought on the drive back, the sunset at the warf was as sweet.

All in all, it was really fun (indie fun!). Definitely worth all the sunburns and tan.

I took lots of photos of the islands and myself, you can check them all out here.

"To myself, I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me."
- Isaac Newton

Walking the Streets of Iloilo City (1 of 3)

It is not good to remain as "tourist" in your own city.

But surprisingly sometimes, it is. Be a day-tripper. 

Actually, it was an unplanned plan of mine. 

The night I flew back to Iloilo City for summer vacation, the idea of walking around the city the next morning kept running on my mind for all reasons yet unknown to me. Maybe, I just missed the city too much. I have been away for months to study in Manila. I thought it might be a good thing to do because I have been hearing about these several restoration projects going on in the city quite a lot lately, perhaps go see how they are now going or something. Also, I heard there is this new city gallery that has been put up inside the newly-built city hall as well. I have been dying to see it. 

I admit, sometimes, despite feeling Ilonggo by heart and feeling it to the bones, I feel like I still need to get to know the city I live in even more and much deeper. And so, without itinerary the next morning, I just went down the streets and walked them.  

Rizal Monument in Plaza Libertad

It was a hot morning at Plaza Libertad in the City Proper District. To visit the new City Gallery was at the top of my list so I decided to start my day there. It was a good choice, and it is mostly suggested by the city government when starting city tours anyway so it was just right.  

The gallery is open daily during official city hall hours. There was still no one else there but me and the lady attendant when I came. Inside, the very first thing I noticed was the mini Lin-ay statue on display. "Lin-ay" is Hiligaynon for "lady". It is a nice piece, sculpted with lots of meaning and detail. The original and the actual one is right on top of the city hall, stands about fifteen feet tall.  

A lot is inside the city gallery, all informative and very interesting stuff. On one side, there is this long row of busts of the city's present as well as its long-gone honorable mayors. On the other side is a showcase of the city's authentic festival costumes, e.g Iloilo Chinese New Year, Paraw Regatta, and Dinagyang. 

Fun fact: the city's long winding river, the Iloilo River, forms a nose-like outline when viewed up high, hence the origin of the word "irong-irong" (in English, "nose-like") and later the word "iloilo". 

That is really some added knowledge to me. I learned a lot already, thanks. 

From a book guide (that sadly was not for sale) inside the city gallery, I got quite a few ideas of where to go around next in the city.  

Loney Monument in Muelle Loney

Walking just one or two small blocks away from the city hall, along the nearest river bank that in history was once a very busy international port of sugar world trade during the nineteenth century, I found myself standing, in complete wonder, in front of an authoritative statue of a skinny man in a suit. At first look, I was surprised to see such a statue erected there. I did not even know such existed! Sadly, it seemed to be under-appreciated by the people around the place, almost always unnoticed. Also, the monument has no nameplate nor any engraved work on it which is just odd for me. 

But anyway, the statue is of British mister Nicholas Loney, who was very great man. According to information, as I did some readings, during his time, he was the one who brought the sugar trade and industry in the city to unprecedented heights. Because of his efforts, the city progressed greatly, even became the most prosperous city outside Manila, and gained its title "Queen City of the South" from the monarchy of Spain. Amazing thing.

I came to realize soon after why the place is called "Muelle Loney".

After that, the sun was already getting high and the day was getting hotter, so I decided to get some shade under the concrete buildings nearby. Then I went back to the city streets again. 

If you'd like to know more about the streets I walked and explored, continue reading the next page here.

Miniature model of Plaza Libertad in the City Proper District of Iloilo City

Walking the Streets of Iloilo City (2 of 3)

(continued..)
From Muelle Loney, I walked my way back to J.M. Basa Street along an alley near the freedom grandstand, where I went up to imagine how it felt like to watch the live performances of the ati tribes during Dinagyang from there. It felt wrong, it felt too small. Perhaps magic indeed happens during Dinagyang.  

I crossed and continued walking along Mapa Street, looking up here and there, feeling like a tourist while admiring peculiar sites busy citygoers don't have time to see. I reached the street's end and turned left to Rizal Street. There is this old mansion along it that I certainly know of, I remembered. What sets apart this mansion, and what makes it very memorable to me, is its unique fence on which a lot of eagles are perching. A total of nine if I counted right. 

Ledesma Mansion, also known as the "Eagle House"

Owned by one Don Celso Ledesma in the 1920s, the mansion looks very imposing of its gothic renaissance architecture and design. Some says that there actually is a real Philippine Eagle perched on its balcony sometimes. I did not catch it when I passed by the "Eagle House" though, but I would have died in delight if I did. 

I continued my way down the street back to Plaza Libertad then straight to Muzones Street to reach Fort San Pedro. I heard the fort has been undergoing some rehabilitation, too, so I went to see. The sidewalks are well done and the streetlamps are fancy-fit for a bay view park. More beautification efforts still needs to be done here. Though the heat was hotter in this part of the city, the breeze was strong and cool. 

From the island's end (that is Fort San Pedro) all the way to the other end of Calle Real (J.M. Basa), I walked my way back again to the busy street to meet some company, my little sister. But I took my time very well, I made sure to myself never to hurry when walking. So instead of walking along Calle Real straight, I took some left and right turns along its way. I passed by Guanco Street, which very known to me as the street where the other Gaisano mall is located. Though a funny thing about this street that I noticed was that it was lined by many carinderia (in English, "local eatery") from end to end. The whole time I was passing by Guanco Street, usual Ilonggo lunchtime viands (e.g dinuguan, fried fish, KBL or kadios-baboy-langka, utan na monggo, fried chicken) among others were displayed. The whole time, my stomach started to growl at me, too. 

Surprisingly after, seeing that I managed to end myself up in the city's central public market (as I started seeing a line of shops of native Ilonggo products and souvenirs), I felt a sudden excitement to shop. I did. 

Turning right to Aldeguer Street, where a mass of peanut brittles (locally called bandi) and other bandi-like delicacies are being sold, I continued walking straight back to J.M. Basa to meet up with my little sister under the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch. The beauty of Calle Real is slowly emerging again, I thought to myself. The design and architecture of the restored structures were kept the same, I'm glad. Their colors were made pastel.

Here, look at some photos I took of the already rehabilitated buildings along Calle Real.

I made it to Iloilo City's kilometer zero and I pigged out on one nine-inch mozzarella pizza! If you wanna know where, continue reading the next page here.