Aboard a van
running at moderate speed, we reached the municipality of Estancia, the ideal
jump-off point for Sicogon Island, an hour after leaving Roxas City Airport. As
we waited for our speedboat at the port, I ventured into the fish market and
marveled at the vast array of dried seafood being sold across numerous stalls.
Our guide Melanie Ortega informed me that Estancia is renowned as the hub of
commercial fishing in the country, drawing comparisons to Alaska in the early
1900s due to the extensive fishing activities in the area brought about by the
large presence of marine life in the waters of Visayas Sea.
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| Home in the island: Huni Sicogon with Mount Opao in the background |
Less than an hour
on speedboat later, we shifted from the busy fishing port of Estancia into the
quiet and secluded setting of Sicogon Island where a short ride over land took
us to our home for the night, Huni Sicogon.
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| The sky's reflection on the pond is a clear as the beautiful day |
Featuring a spacious property laden with manicured lawns and gardens, a swimming pool, an outdoor bar, and a big shoreline, the resort spreads its 52 rooms on a 2-story building enveloped by the lush forest of the island and the majestic view of the 702-foot-high Mount Opao. A few steps away, one can find the tiny Sicogon Airport that has a short landing strip suited for small propeller passenger planes.
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| The landing strip of Sicogon Island's small airport |
With just a little
over 4,000 residents, Sicogon's airport used to primarily serve tourists
arriving on AirSWIFT flights from Manila until it stopped a few months ago when
the airline was acquired by Cebu Pacific Air.
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| Low tide sunset vibes |
Huni and the
island's two other resorts, Hatch and Balay Kogon, all managed and owned by
Ayala Corporation, greatly benefit from these flights to the island, which
account for 30%–40% of their guests. The three resorts remain hopeful that Cebu
Pacific will soon bring back the flights to the island from Manila.
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| The island is also an ideal birdwatching destination |
Sicogon, based on
my observation, is an ideal island for travelers looking for peace and quiet in
nature. I envision the island’s major draws being those who enjoy yoga,
meditation, and wilderness trips, which includes myself. This is why I
particularly loved our brief hike through a mapped-out nature trail the next
day, which led us to the remnants of a resort that operated on the island
between the 1970s and early 1990s. The route also led to a scenic path that took
us to a view deck, where we observed ducks floating on a glass-like pond as birds
of various species flew against the backdrop of the 702-feet high Mount Opao.
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| The beginning of the eco-trail |
Way before Boracay
Island became popular, Sicogon Island was among the first islands to serve as a
tropical playground for holidaymakers. If some accounts were to be believed,
the island could have also played a role in one of the Philippines' pop culture
milestones, as a setting for actress Tetchie Agbayani’s epic Playboy Magazine
photoshoot.
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| Ruins of the island's first resort that was abandoned sometime in the early 1990s |
As evidenced by the
ruins of the old resorts on the island, the ensuing decades following the end
of Sicogon’s heyday in the 1990s, the once-vibrant island, succumbed to time
rendering it a hidden gem of the past.
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| Not the Mayan ruins, but of an old resort on the island. |
That is until
recently when a slew of positive developments began to unbox Sicogon and
reintroduces the island once again. The landscape was quickly transformed as
Ayala Corporation, the company that owns the island’s three resorts, relocated
the small community in the coastal areas towards inland where the company also
built new housing units that will soon be awarded to some residents.
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| A walk in the woods is definitely in order when visiting Sicogon Island |
There’s Huni
Sicogon, which caters to those seeking a touch of luxury in seclusion,
while Balay Kogon, perched on a rocky hill with stunning views of the
Visayas Sea, offers a different experience and an environment conducive for
digital nomads. For the adventurous traveler, Hatch provides a laid-back
atmosphere that appeals to backpackers.
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| Counting ducks and birds. |
Being a first timer
on the island, I can already sense that Sicogon is gearing up a potential
tourism resurgence, positioning itself as a key attraction in Iloilo Province.
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| Approaching Sicogon Island |
Despite spending
only a couple of days on the island, the name of the resort where we stayed
wasn’t lost on me. Huni, when translated to English, would mean a
“bird’s call" or “sound of nature." Even for such limited time, I
found myself captivated by the enchanting melody of Sicogon.
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| The inviting waters of Sicogon |
With the cheerful
chirping of birds, the gentle rustle of trees swaying in the wind, and the
rhythmic echoes of waves lapping against the shore, the island appears singing
its way to reclaim its former splendor.
