Scattered on the shoreline of Valugan Boulder Beach are bigger and bolder version of the sedimentary rocks found in Mabua Pebble Beach in Surigao City. In lieu of powdery sands, these large stones spewed by the ancient-time eruptions of Mount Iraya spreads on the coast of this tiny part of Basco, Batanes fronting the Pacific Ocean.
A
Scramble Along the Beach
Going on a "walk along the beach" here means scrambling your way over the giant rocks of round, oblong and elongated shapes with smooth surfaces. On top of some, you would see Zen stones piled on top of each other.
On my twin visit here spanning my two journeys to Batanes, I made sure of enjoying myself some quiet time just by sitting on top of a random boulder to clear my mind as I listen to the sounds of the swells crashing on the rocky bed of Valugan.
While the water isn’t for swimming no thanks to the strong waves and current, Valugan Boulder Beach is a perfect place to just relax, take photographs and achieve a Zen state of mind.
East
of Eden
Known to the locals as "Chanpan", it carried its new name of Valugan, which means "East", because of its location in Basco. The waters off the coast of Valugan is considered as a sacred fishing area of the Ivatan fishermen. A traditional fishing season called "faypatawen" is observed from March until the end of May every year.
The Ivatan people are an Austronesian ethic group native to the islands of Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
The massive rocks piled on the shoreline of Valugan is said to have spewed from the mouth of Mt. Iraya during its series of volcanic explosions from 325 B.C. to 505 A.D. Initially, these rocks were characterized by rough surface that was smoothened over time by the relentless waves of the Pacific Ocean and the West Philippine Sea.
On my second time here in Valugan, I came with with fellow travel writers on a familiarity tour of Calayan Island and Batanes organized by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines. After we posed for a photograph, I walked a further stretch of the shoreline over large boulders and in the process, the looming presence of Mt. Iraya caught my eye.
Realizing how these enormous rocks made its journey from the mouth of the volcano to where I stand, I could only shake my head in awe of how the great, yet catastrophic forces of nature can cause a bolder sight of wonderful nature.
