Eye to eye with Mother Nature

TRAVEL… travel and travel…

That’s the only thing I wouldn’t want to do. It’s like, you’ll give me free tickets to travel the whole world but still, I won’t dare accepting it. This is why green trees and colossal waves in beaches only exist in my imaginations. My sister Merj once told me that I am a couch-potato. Well, it’s true and I loved facts.

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But still, as what my invented proverb says, “The more you don’t accept it, the more it appreciates you.” I laughed when I and my brother Jeff invented that.

But the day came when I defined that invented proverb.

It was June 16, 2009. My mom was so excited talking about vacations that she forgot the cake she was baking while she was also yelling at me, sitting on the sofa watching the most romantic movie ever – “Twilight”. My mom was talking about going to Misamis Occidental and I didn’t’ bother asking when or why, I just continued watching the movie and enjoyed the pleasures of popcorn that I was eating.

And then all she said was, “You’ll be coming with us.” Then I stumbled. I didn’t want to. All I will get will be scratches, allergies and an uneven skin tone. I wanted to fake a flu or vomit unevenly but the consequences which my mom laid were so crucial.

So I went to Misamis Occidental, with no hope, no joy, no excitement. Nothing. None at all.

The days were so boring… that was what I thought.

Day 1. My Uncle Tito fetched my whole family at the pier and I was covering my nose with anything that suits because the oxygen was deprived, it was all carbon dioxide. And then we slept at my Lola Linda’s house. It was a great night because I’ve got to meet my cousins that I have only seen on mailed pictures by FedEx, especially my cousin Earl whom I played mudpies with when I was little.

Day 2. My mom woke me up so early. On that day, we had a 30-minute ride from Tangub City, where my mom grew up, to Sinacaban town. I had no idea on the things that I would do there. When we arrived, we were welcomed by cheerful faces of the receptionists at the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), famous for its Dolphin Island. It was past 10:00 when we arrived so we decided to have our lunch. All I could say was “burrp”. My stomach was so full with shrimps and lip-smacking crabs together with the ocean breeze that made neither the seven of us say, “I’m already full.” The food was very appetizing.

After eating, we were guided to a 50-meter bamboo bridge that leads to a small barge. We were going to the Dolphin Island. It was a 24-minute travel, just enough to eat my cotton candies. When we arrived at the Island, I ran because I couldn’t believe my eyes. I saw five dolphins getting in and out of the water with a school of fish following their rhythm. The Dolphin Island was constructed by the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental to preserve marine life, especially dolphins.

We spent almost the whole day doing kayak which we rented for P100 per hour, a price worth paying for people who want to experience an hour of aquatic adventure.

Then we did snorkeling… dive… and dive. And then we went home. I realized I would never experience all of that if I hadn’t go with my family. It was absolutely an eye to eye with Mother Nature.

(Ana Ma. Kim B. Vallente is a high school student of Alubijid National High School in Misamis Oriental. She wrote this piece during the Regional Schools Press Conference held in Clarin, Misamis Occidental in December 2009 that earned her third place in the feature writing contest. She will represent Northern Mindanao to the National Schools Press Conference slated on February 22 to 26 in Tagum City)