If there were any doubts whether the sun will appear when we boarded a bus from Legaspi to Sorsogon, they were quickly dispelled as the blue waters of the sea sparkled beneath the clear blue skies. As we approached Subic Beach on Calintaan Island, the boat ride was smooth sailing over calm waters. I kept my expectations in check by telling myself, "This is just another beach in my own beautiful country."
I assumed it was just another beach. Anyone, like the swarm of humanity around us, could appear to be a typical individual. But deep down, each of us has a distinct personality that sets us apart from one another. Visiting a new place provides a similar sense of anticipation—of what remains to be discovered.
Subic beach in Calintaan Island is located off the coast of the northern tip of Luzon and a Herculean's stone throw away from Samar.
It is easily accessible from the sleepy town of Matnog, Sorsogon. This seaside town is alive with fishing activities and the hustle and bustle of everyday life. From sunrise to sundown, eager conversations about the day's catch and what have yous of daily musings of a small town can be heard.
At around 7:00 a.m., Kuya Charlie picked us up from our small rented nipa hut by the beach. We only took a quick bite of a few Spanish Breads purchased from a local bakery because we were still full from our previous night's dinner of "daing" and "adobong pusit." His friend, the boat's owner, was waiting for us at the port near the market. The ferry ships bound for Samar dock at the main port. You will pass by an arch that says "You Are Now Leaving the Island of Luzon" on the way there - while the idea of crossing to Samar was very appealing to myself and my friend Tin, the only thing that held us back was the work that awaited us back home.
There will always be another time, especially if you've developed the habit of always finding a way to venture out and explore the world. The prospect of crossing to Samar excites me, and it is something I am looking forward to. However, Subic Beach was the destination that awaited us that morning, along with the fishing sanctuary of Juag.
We arrived at Subic Beach around 9:30 AM after spending about less than an hour at Juag Fishing Sanctuary. Tin deliberately left her swimsuit since she's supposed to be on a "beach hiatus" as she told me.
She'd been traveling extensively in the past few months as a sort of moving on tool from a break-up, with the most recent stop being Batanes, which she'd only visited last month. That left me alone to swim in the fine crystal clear waters while Tin pretended to be a paparazzi, taking pictures of me as if I'm Jude Law - only with a striking beer belly. However, this could be justified by method acting practice for a mobster role in an upcoming film.
She'd been traveling extensively in the past few months as a sort of moving on tool from a break-up, with the most recent stop being Batanes, which she'd only visited last month. That left me alone to swim in the fine crystal clear waters while Tin pretended to be a paparazzi, taking pictures of me as if I'm Jude Law - only with a striking beer belly. However, this could be justified by method acting practice for a mobster role in an upcoming film.
The other side of Subic Beach, which is only a few minutes away by boat, is more impressive because there are fewer seaweeds scattered on the shore. We spent more time on that section staring out at the breathtaking scenery. It's agonizing because I know we'll be leaving in a few hours. I wish I could pitch a tent right there, read a book, and enjoy the strong breeze of wind in the sunshine for the next 2-3 days without thinking about leaving.
The beach is inhabited by a few caretakers, and we spoke with the owner of that part of Calintaan Island on the other side of Subic Beach, where we first docked. He told us about his plans to develop the beach, and part of me wishes he and the other beachfront lot owners would just leave the beach alone, and to be free from any man-made structures.
As travelers, we must learn to make do with what Mother Nature has to offer. Unfortunately, most travelers are the lazy type, the ones who would request an air-conditioned room, a pool room, or a beach-side bar. Not every beach can be as beautiful as Boracay, and the rest should be left alone. Untouched and only suitable for camping trips. I can only hope that whatever definition of "development" they had in mind is more environmentally friendly and mindful of carbon footprints.
Yet, I still feel fortunate to have visited this beach before any form of development is put into motion. Shout out to my fellow travel blogger friends Claire and Gael for writing about this island earlier in the year. I hope we can all enjoy our country's beautiful places by nurturing them and making sure they don't wither away in the wrong kinds of 'development.' I'm blogging about this place not only to encourage people to visit and support local tourism, but also to remind us all to be responsible travelers.
It was getting close to lunchtime, and we were moving at an Amazing Race-like clip. We regretted our decision to leave, but not for long, because we were glad to have spent some time exploring this part of the Philippines. It was also a big plus to travel with a new friend in Tin. Like the Beatles song, it now goes into my "There are places I remember" memory vault. It's a perfect place to park your mind aimlessly, especially now that I'm back in the boring corporate world of the big city.
