Travel Diary: My Most Favorite Province in the Philippines is Guimaras
STORY: I think it's about time i write about this beautiful province in the Philippines called Guimaras. Two years have passed since i set foot on this beautiful paradise. Situated just across Ilo-Ilo is this very quiet municipality of Nueva Valencia. Totally foreign to my ears, all i know is someone i heard from the pier said she was going there, so was i. I went to Guimaras because it was unheard of, not after the ill fated accident spilling which i rather not discuss. I wanted to go there because of its rustic appeal, its local culture, its innate sensibilities, and its beautiful scenery. Straight from the Ilo-Ilo airport in the city, i went to the ferry to catch a ride to Guimaras. About less than a hour later, and not knowing where i am actually heading, i felt the sudden rush to just settle anywhere. I arrived at the Tourism office and was asked to point where I'm heading.
I HAVE NO IDEA. I am totally clueless.
The lovely girl told me to get a private ride. I insisted that i want to ride with the locals. I waited for about an hour for the jeepney to start traveling. It was maybe - a five or six year old kind of jeepney; silver plated but lost its shine. There were a couple of young teens looking at me. There was a mother with her little baby, milking her breast. There was also an older man with a fighting cock. A woman was holding her plastic bag filled with vegetables in one hand, and a hanky covered to their nose. The jeepney was loud with screeching sounds. In short, it was a terrible ride. But it didn't bother me, not even with the fact that i don't understand a word coming from the driver's mouth.
I asked in Tagalog how much is it to get to Nueva Valencia. He answered about a few pesos. Not bad. I patiently waited as i got to my destination. And then, i was set off to go to the nearest beach resort where i could stay in a shack, eat loads of seafood, use time to think about life, watch the sunrise, watch the sunset, mingle with the locals, and of course eat the sweetest mangoes.
I remembered saying "Oh my God", as i look around where i was. It was the most beautiful place I've been anywhere in the Philippines, even better than Boracay. It's quiet charm easily made me so alive. The water was unbelievably green, the sand was so white it was reflecting the bright rays of the sun. There were rocks, cliff, rock formations to my right. There was also a nearby island to my left. The locals said that during low tide i could actually walk along the sea going there.
This was surreal. You know when you see a place you couldn't imagine you're actually going. This is it. There was no one around when i arrived. I ordered lunch, and settled in my room made of old wood and with a fan attached to the ceiling. A big window opens up to the view of the ocean. The best part... as soon as i step out of my room, down a few steps, is a cove with a beach all to myself.
I spent the days chillin' by the beach, getting myself pampered with a feast, drinking beer, watching the view, taking photos of everything that fancy my eyes. And at night, i go have dinner set up outside as i watch the full moon. It appeared so near almost touching the horizon. I also made friends along the way. Guimaras will always be special to me. It's the one place i know i will go again someday.
As i enter the cave, i see a distant island, untouched by anyone but a few people who happen to live there.
Guimaras' best features are the crevices of the rocks, aquamarine waters and mind-blowing sunset. Its amazing rock formations can picture endless characters in your mind. It's so peaceful and photogenic here that every angle is a good shot. / There's a grotto standing topmost of the mountain. I go there every mid afternoon to pray to the Virgin Mary to bless me and my family with infinite happiness and good health.
This is the short cut i take from one island to the other. Bound by huge rocks and the water depending on the tide, this is the path that will lead you towards the huge cave.
I've never done spelunking before. It was very dangerous at that time because the tide was high and almost every rock i step into gushes with water. But i braved it and went straight to the viewing deck or as i call it.
This is the view. I couldn't put words just because the photo itself speaks of how beautiful this place is.
The next day was more sun and beach for me. The sky was so blue. I took this photo while lying on the sand, watching the day pass by. With coconut trees in sight, clouds in white and the sound of the ocean, i lull myself to sleep.
Then, i woke up to the sound of a sea gypsy selling loads of trinkets, and of course, Guimaras Mangoes. I don't know but i tell you this, it is the sweetest mango I've ever tasted. Its sweetness is pure, very calm to the buds. And eating it with my bare hands while at the beach is just heaven.
I couldn't help but wonder why a lot of people don't go to Guimaras. This is the far left side of the other beach i went to. More popular with a couple of shacks built by the ocean. I found this spot to be somewhat quiet. I set up my iPod, listened to Moby and just watch as the water crashes with the rocks. Calming.
TIP: I say the most essential experience anyone going to Guimaras is watching the sunset. Up until now, i found the sunset by the cliff in Nueva Valencia in Guimaras to be the most touching, loneliest, and most heartbreaking of all the sunsets I've watched. It is so lovely i took a photo every 5 minutes.
REALIZATIONS: As i write this, i felt a bit sad that it's been more than two years since I've been here. I remember telling the caretaker i will go back as soon as possible but things went on a different direction and i was headed out of the country. But by far, still one of the most breathtaking places I've been to will always be Guimaras. Its grace, its poise, its shyness to travelers, its innate charm, its beautiful people and its wild characters. A sudden urge i feel now is to go back in this lovely province in July as i set to go back to Visayas to explore the other provinces. I will always remember.
If there's one photo i took of Guimaras that best represents the province, this would be it. The dying sunset - the most beautiful photograph I've taken anywhere I've been. It's like this..
I think dying and not being able to see this beautiful place is just sad. It's lonely. Only in Guimaras have i cried watching the sunset.
If you want to go to Guimaras and experience paradise... click here to go to the province website - http://guimaras.gov.ph/
16 Comments:
aha! no wonder you're marketing guimaras like it's THE place to visit if it was your last day on earth. nice post jerik.
nope i don't work for anyone in guimaras i don't work for anyone at all. currently jobless, hahaha... but i want to help out the tourism of the province so much to see in there.. hehe really you should go soon!
im very happy that you appreciate the beauty of our place and the sweetness of guimaras manggoes..im from guisi nueva valencia guimaras, i dont know if you reach that place the time you visit guimaras but i do hope that the next time you go there you try to visit guisi beach and the old ruins of 18th century lighthouse, im sure you will enjoy watching sunsets and sunrise while siting in the fine white sand..Good Luck and God bless..
Its really nice to read this article, am thankful that you had wrote this. Guimaras is a hidden paradise
I consider Guimaras Island as my second home. I like your last sunset photo
wow its amazing someone like u appreciate the beauty of guimaras.thank u
@Anonymous Wow! I haven't been to Guisi but i have heard excellent recommendations about the lighthouse and its rustic charm. I am just counting the days when i will be back in Guimaras. I hope to visit the province again very soon. When that time comes, i will really take time to visit every town and explore the many wonders of the province. Thank you very much for reading! Hopefully, i can meet you there too.
@Anonymous No doubt, the most beautiful island province in the Philippines. Thank you very much for reading. Hope you can come back to read some of my stories.
@redlan you are very lucky to be able to live in such a beautiful place. i loved every single minute of my stay there. and i can't wait to go back again. Thank you very much! Hope to read your thoughts again.
@Anonymous I am truly blessed to be able to travel around Guimaras. My personal favorite. I hope you could read my blog about how much i miss the province! Thanks! Keep reading! :)
wow,thanks a lot for the free ads about Guimaras,i was actually hyped up, if i'm not from Guimaras i will say this is truly a "Must visit Place" Good job " salamat gid"....
@Anonymous There's something about the province that i love so much. I am not from Guimaras but i love it very much. I felt like it was home. Hope you can visit the province too. Where are you from? From Visayas, perhaps? Hello!
Hi Jerik, which resort in Nueva Valencia did you stay?
@trisha_cerilles Hi there!!! I stayed in a resort called Villa Igang! Great value for your money. I loved my stay there and the people are really friendly.
VILLA IGANG BEACH RESORT
– Poblacion, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
MATR Corporation c/o John B. Lacson Foundation
M. H. del Pilar St., Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines
Contact Persons: Ms. Lorlyn Arañador / Lina Rizon
Contact Nos.: (033) 3365507 / 3378074 / 09173110260 / 09263753634
The sunset views of Guimaras especially the cave shot was stunning! No wonder one would cry seeing it because of its loveliness...
Nice take on Guimaras. There are only few travel blogs and articles that writes and explores like you about this hidden destination in Visayas.
@Ian Guimaras boasts a wealth of wonders. it's really a blessing for me to be able to travel around this side of the Philippines. I have been very vocal about my fascination with Visayas and it's gorgeous provinces. Thanks so much for your comments Ian. I hope to see this province prosper in the future!
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