On an island and 3 feasts

Saturday, April 30, 2011

An island

AN ISLAND always connotes remoteness, isolation, distance. The word might even suggest lack of electrical power, which redounds to absence of cold refreshing drinks, air conditioning units, mobile and laptop batteries wearing out.

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So the question, “Why there in the island?” could be one of the questions a typical urbanite would ask if he or she is presented with the matter. But for those who love adventure and travel, Sipaway would always mean thrill, exploration, discovery, and conquest.

As what I always say, the travel makes the sojourner leaves the hustle and bustle of the city life and cares and worries of the work behind. Moreover, if the traveler needs to do a lot of re-thinking, to be able to plan what he needs to pursue for the year and next, then he needs a quaint and quiet place to do this. That’s why our group ventured to Sipaway before the Holy week started to have both.

Traversing the trans-link highway of Don Salvador to San Carlos City was not quite a long travel because of the comfy ride in the air-con bus plying the route. Upon reaching San Carlos, the group took a “trisikad” ride to the city wharf. After haggling for the best reasonable price, the group took a boat ride to Barangay Ermita in Sipaway Island.

With the scorching heat of the mid-day sun, the 10-15 minute pump boat ride was not really that snug. Yet, the clear, blue sea water surrounding the island of Refugio, another name for Sipaway Island, is but a soothing balm to the heat of the sun. And this natural element is the main come-on why a visit to Sipaway is a must.

The pump boat docked in the Ermita wharf. Unlike other rural ports, Brgy. Ermita’s port was constructed well, made to last long and strong against the waves, and the storm. (please insert the dock way pix here) The group walked through the concreted water breaker.

At La Basilia Beach Resort in Barangay Ermita was where the group billeted. Cost –cutting and wise budgeting are the main reasons why the group did not choose the plush accommodation of the other popular resorts in the island. Even with its laid-back ambiance, the place offered the group a comfortable place to stay. So after negotiating with the locals to cook the food and sell us our needed water (which is ‘imported’ from the main land), the group nestled in the place.

Having been oriented that electricity is provided only from 5 in the afternoon to 11 in the evening, the group proceeded to go early with the plans: explore, conquer and work.

With explore, the group found out the island is but seven kilometers from tip to tip, can be travelled by means of a “habal-habal” (a motorcycle without a side car, ridden with another passenger), or can be circumnavigated with a hired boat, has plenty of coconut trees, has concrete wharf or a “pantalan” (please insert the concreted water breaker pix here) which was designed not only for boats but also conducive for bathing and bathers, alike, dotted with clean, white sand, and surrounded with clean, clear blue waters, abundant in coral reefs, starfishes, mangroves.

And sunset in the shoreline of Sipaway is one of the most beautiful, nostalgic and romantic moments to experience in Sipaway.

And what better way to conquer the daylight and the inviting clear waters, notwithstanding the flushed skin and the weary limbs, but to dip in Sipaway’s water? And with all the cares and worries left behind, you can be yourself and frolic in the alluring, soothing waters of Sipaway or walk your way through the white sand beach, to ponder on things, plot out your plans and cry “eureka” for a new spurt of bright ideas. Such, is the conquest the group is looking for.(please insert the clear blue waters of Sipaway here)

And meantime, as power commences its lighting influence on the darkness of the night, then the members of the group can do the work they are supposed to do. Such were what we did. And, thank God, we achieved both reasons why we went to the place.

So, are ready to temporarily leave your city ‘sandals’ behind and explore the different elements of Sipaway? (please insert rubber slippers pics here)

On feasts

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad, indeed!” May 1, 2011 marks three significant events, which the Catholic Church celebrates: the beatification of Pope John Paul II, the feast of the Divine Mercy, and the special feast memorial of St. Joseph, the Worker!

The Venerable Pope John Paul II, as Sovereign of the Holy See, had served the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years and 168 days from October 16, 1978 to his death on April 2, 2005. The 4th Pope to be acclaimed “Great” by the faithful and even by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XV1, Pope John Paul II had had been one universal figure calling the faithful to live a life of love and holiness.

For us Filipinos, Pope John Paul 11 will always be the “Pope for the Youth”. Memorabilias, photographs, articles and testimonies of the great Pope’s visit to our country last January 10-15, 1995 for the World Youth Day held in Manila, will always remind us how much Pope John Paul II loved and blessed our people and our country.

The Manila World Youth Day was the first world event held in an Asian country. Yet, according to records, the celebration was able to gather a whooping 5 to 7 million crowd which converged in Luneta during the affair’s closing ceremony.

And with his call for solidarity of humanity, despite differences in race or creed, and his visits to so many other countries, Pope John Paul II had endeared himself to many people.

No wonder why the faithful made the calls of “Santo Subito” (Saint immediately!) during Pope John Paul II’s funeral. Why? Pope John Paul II had shared himself selflessly, wholly to the members of his flock.

That’s why he was, and is still, so well-remembered and greatly loved. As a result, Pope Benedict XVI started the canonization process for the late Pope John Paul II during the feast of our Lady of Fatima last May 13, 2005. And stories of love and miracles supported the process. But we, the faithful, can always pray for the last and final step after the beatification of Pope John Paul II - his step to sainthood.

Today is also the feast of the Divine Mercy. And as narrated in the diary of Saint Faustina, the Lord had asked the nun to have a feast day dedicated to His Divine Mercy. Thus, as supported by liturgical texts, the second Sunday of Easter, which is also the institution of the sacrament of penance, was allotted for such. This feast of the Divine Mercy (please insert the Divine Mercy pix here) was granted by Pope John Paul II to the universal church on the occasion of Sister Faustinas’ canonization last April 30, 2000. What a coincidence!

And to celebrate honest work done by good workers, we also commemorate today the special memorial of St. Joseph the Worker. St. Joseph was declared saint and protector of the Catholic Church by Pope Pius IX in 1870.

If May is the month of so many ‘fiestas’, then the month really started a good one, with the celebration of the God’s love, mercy and protection. As we cherish Easter’s victory with Jesus’ triumph over sin and death, may we always be faithful, loving, hopeful and true. Here’s to a blessed week ahead.