Monday, July 24, 2006
Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park: Good food and amazing vistas
Danilo V. Adorador III
SINACABAN municipality in Misamis Occidental is a seemingly nondescript town at first glance.
But wait. Try asking local folks "where to?" and they will gladly point you in the direction of the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (Moap).
Moap, as this by-the-sea gateaway is popularly called, lies in a 60-hectare coastal area lush in mangrove trees -- some of which are still budding, like offshoots of the placid sea. A string of cottages, restaurants and function halls dot its serene environs -- each connected by wooden bridges.
Not afar lies another Moap attraction -- the Dolphin Island, where snorkeling and kayaking enthusiasts can bask in the blue waters if the weather allows. As the name suggests, the diminutive island, which houses a good restaurant in its midst, also nestles a number of dolphins enclosed in a network of pens massively surrounding the entire area. The dolphins were said to have been rescued by fishermen, and the entire belt itself, according to caretakers, has become a dolphin sanctuary.
For a few bucks, visitors can also enjoy feeding fish and be enamored by the little sea creatures quickly assembling to partake of the vittles -- all in their resplendent colors.
But the teeming marine life, including untouched and rehabilitated chorals can't be as crystal clear than when viewed through glass-bottomed boats. There are also available boats if one wants to explore Moap's mangrove-laiden fisponds overflowing with close to a million aquaculture fingerlings. The fingerlings, officials say, are distributed to fish farmers to maintain livelyhood.
Moap's inland zone, meanwhile, also boasts of a Mini-Zoo, a small Ostrich Farm and several clusters of hatchery for different aquamarine life.
One day of sauntering is never enough, so visitors can stay overnight where they can choose between superior and suite room types, which can accommodate 50 persons.
Moap is Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos's brainchild. An academician before he entered politics, the good governor envisions the area to be a site of aquaculture production, marine life conservation and eco-tourism. If the sister province Misamis Oriental is known for its beaches, Misamis Occidental on the other hand, is known for steadfast, if not cultic emphasis on environmental protection and conservation.
Did I forget the food? No can do. The delectable giant lobsters. The succulent, tender varieties of plump fish cooked exquisitely. Ah, the seafood delights -- all under the cool shades of native-designed huts. How would you forget such a gastronomic experience?
And how would you dare not return to Moap for another blend of good food and amazing vistas?
(July 24, 2006 issue)
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