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Thursday, March 25, 2004
Deliberate disappearances
By Jude A. Bacalso
One confusing day, fueled by the summer heat, I decided to disappear. I headed out to this outcrop of coral rock, connected to the mainland by a wide bar of white sand. On certain seasons, the water would cut across this flimsy bridge and give one the illusion that you were on a separate island where the temporary obstruction went lapus-lapus, freely through.
The top of the hill looked out into many vistas: the beach for those who prefer the fell of sand and further on, the lighthouse of the town with the macabre name of Guinbitayan, which was just across Lapus-lapus; and behind us (we were on top of the outcrop), herbs, strange fruit trees, grass, and a secret trail that led to caves and a secluded bathing area, surrounded by the jagged edges of coral...for those who prefer rougher dips.
In the evening, everything became a family affair. The dinner of fresh lambay and gigantic fish, homecooked by the mother and daughter tandem of Naty and Joy Pino, were set on the table by Alna. Between the powerful beams from the lighthouse that sliced through on intervals, one is bathed in the artificial light of the ingenious bamboo light fixtures that earlier in the afternoon, lna’s husband Ronny Lechner was intent on latching to the roof.
The next day, everyone boarded an outrigger motorboat and cruised the eerily still waters to visit four islets to as far as Leyte. We went past Carnasa’s helipad and a lavishly-appointed catamaran, took a quick turn around Gato island, a seasnake and shark sanctuary, which featured a natural grotto complete with an image of the virgin formed by moss and rock.
The last stop was Kalanggaman, a breathtaking stretch of sand (not unlike Camiguin’s famed White Island, only much larger) that rose in the middle of the ocean, its ends like wings spread in a surge mid-flight.
I had certainly picked the perfect time and place to disappear. No one was looking for me with the lone exception of myself.
(March 25, 2004 issue)
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