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Bantayan
Island: The Tropical Oasis
By Jershon G. Casas
As the warm
tropical sun embraces the equatorial region between the months
of March and May, you can be certain that the summer season is
upon the Philippine Islands. Philippines is blessed with many
exotic hideaways waiting to be discovered, and one of those extraordinary
places to visit is called Bantayan Island. Many have heard the
name but only few can truly say that they have experienced the
Bantayan Island adventure. Its characteristic crystal white sandy
beaches and its clear blue waters are comparative to the shores
found on the better known Boracay Island. Its charm is its remoteness,
making it ideal for vacationers wanting to escape the hustle and
bustle of the city life and relax in a more peaceful and unspoiled
paradise.
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About Bantayan Island
Bantayan
Island is located at the northernmost tip of Cebu province, just
off the northwest coast of mainland Cebu. The island is composed
of 3 municipalities namely: Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos.
Base on the income classification of each municipality: Bantayan
Proper is 2nd class, Santa Fe is 5th class and Madridejos is 4th
class. The island is generally referred as the “Egg Basket” in
the neighboring regions because it has been able to generate over
one and a half million eggs per day to supply the growing demand
of eggs for mainland Cebu, Panay, Negros, and Leyte. Although
most of the island's high-end beach resorts are concentrated in
the small town of Santa Fe, both Bantayan Proper and Madridejos
are places worthwhile visiting. Both have historical sites that
provide a glimpse to the historical and cultural origins of the
people of the island.
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How to get to Bantayan Island
The
Bantayan adventure begins with a 2 hour road trip to the northernmost
tip of mainland Cebu, Hagnaya Port in San Remigio. There are several
mode of transportation to Hagnaya: by bus, v-hire, taxi and other
rented vehicles. The non-aircon buses are the cheapest (Php60)
but not the most comfortable mode of transportation. The bus terminal
is located at the Cebu North Terminal near SM Cebu. The first
trip is at 3am and the last trip is at 7pm. Buses depart every
45 minutes. The v-hires are quite expensive(Php3,500) but give
the passengers the freedom to depart at their convenience and
furthermore, the vehicles can usually accommodate a maximum of
about 15 persons. The terminal is located in SM parking lot near
the front entrance. Renting a taxi (Php1,500+) would be a good
alternative for smaller groups. However, the most convenient way
to travel is to drive a private or rented vehicle to Hagnaya and
transport it via the ferry all the way to Bantayan Island. Private
car owners may choose to leave their vehicles in Hagnaya Port
(Php50 per day) or in private parking lots(Php100 per day). Transporting
the vehicle to the island by ferry will cost about Php1,300+,
depending on the type and the size of the vehicle.
For
travelers commuting to the island, a casual 45 minute to 1 hour
ferry ride (Php140 to Php170) will take them to the port of Santa
Fe, but for those impatient vacationers, the fast craft (Php150)
will only take 30 to 35 minutes.
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in Bantayan
Upon
arrival at Santa Fe port, visitors may choose to tour the town
of Santa Fe, or continue their road trip to Bantayan (proper)
and Madridejos. Both towns are accessible from Santa Fe by means
of buses, jeepneys and tricycles. Traveling from one town to another
will cost P20. Short rides within any of the towns will cost Php5
to Php20 for pedicabs and Php10 to Php25 for motocycle (Habal-habal)
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Places To Visit and Things To Do
Santa
Fe’s main attraction is its crystal-clear waters and its long
stretch of powdery white sand. On the right of Santa Fe port,
you will find the Marlin's Beach Resort, White Sands Resort, and
Santa Fe Beach Club. As you walk along the beach to the left,
you will find Ogtong Cave Resort, Kota Beach Resort, Budjong Resort
and other smaller resorts. Kota Beach Resort is said to be a popular
resort in Santa Fe due to its reasonable rates and accommodations.
For vacationers wanting a little more luxury, the Ogtong Cave
Resort is a perfect place to visit or stay. A Php100 entrance
free will give you access to its facilities such as the free flowing
spring water pool and cave. The Ogtong Cave may not be as majestic
and as well lit as other well known caves around the world such
as the Cango Cave in South Africa, but its beauty lies in the
fact that visitors can submerge in its cool spring water. An enclosed
area of the resort houses the 3 exclusive cottages with their
own Jacuzzi, semi-private sauna and pool. Major resorts offer
a variety of foreign and local dishes to satisfy even the most
discriminative palate. On the other hand, small restaurants and
canteens within the town offer cheap but tasty local delights.
A 20
minute ride from Santa Fe will lead to the municipality of Bantayan.
Bantayan Proper is basically the center of commerce in Bantayan
Island. This bustling town is the home of several small to medium
size business establishments. For budget conscious travelers,
there are pension houses within the municipality, but for vacationers
wanting to unwind in a beach front resort, the Mayas Beach Resort
is just a few km from the center of town. Their native inspired
bungalows, rocky volcanic-like promontories that traverse towards
the shoreline, a medium size swimming pool, and a mangrove garden
are features that bring nature lovers to this resort. A prominent
fixture across the road from the municipal plaza is the monolith
stone church of Bantayan or better known as the Saints Peter and
Paul Parish of Bantayan (Cebu’s First Parish). A copy of the famous
Bantayan Indult is found in the church museum located at the back
of the church. This document states that the parish of Bantayan
is given special permission through Padre Doroteo Andrada del
Rosario to allow the islanders to eat meat on days of fasting
and obligation. For the explorers, there are many islets near
Bantayan such as Hilotongan island, Moamboc Island, Botigues Island,
Doong Island and many more that are ideal destinations for island
hopping. Peiping Restaurant, Jelas Restaurant and Kermit’s Restaurant
are just a few of the many eateries in and around the municipality.
The “Boneless Danggit“ which is the pride of Bantayan Island are
abundantly available in the market place. For someone with an
adventurous palate, a must try native delicacies of the island
are “Taguangkan” (Chicken embryo and small intestine on a barbeque
stick ) and “Dogo sa Manok”(coagulated chicken blood on a barbeque
stick). The island’s delicious “Letson baboy”(Roasted Pig) is
a mouth watering delight that leaves even a voracious eater with
a great sense of satisfaction.
The
northernmost point of the island is the municipality of Madridejos.
A 30 minute ride will take vacationers to the center of town.
On the right side of the main road is the church plaza which houses
the 12 Stations of the Cross, a design concept inspired by the
Vatican garden in Rome. A new museum of church artifacts was built
as a gift to the Virgin Mary by the parishioner of Madridejos,
and is now open to the public upon request. Further along the
main road is the famous historical landmark of the town, Old Kota.
Kota is both an open museum and a beach resort. The Old Kota,
which is mostly made of coral stones, was constructed as a fort
to protect the locals from Muslim pirates who occasionally raided
the island. The resort area has a clean beachfront with cottages,
aircon rooms and a canteen, perfect for picnics and overnight
stay. In the near future, new facilities and infrastructures will
be available to the public as plans are being conceptualized by
the local government headed by Mayor Salvador dela Fuente and
Municipal Tourism Officer, Owen Daruca, to attract more tourists
in Madridejos . Affordable modest accommodations are available
in Madridejos namely: Green Breach Resort, Villa Anita Beach Resort,
Christine Mae Pension House and Plaza Verde. There are no high
end restaurants in town, but there are many cheap clean restaurants
(Kota Park, Chistine Mae and Five Wins) and canteens that cater
to budget conscious vacationers. A must try Alejos Lechon is highly
recommended; unfortunately it is only available during Sundays.
It is definitely worth while waiting for after all; many claim
that they serve the best roasted pig on the island. Dried and
fresh fish products are available in the market place. Finally,
a drink at a local bar and a marathon sing-a-long session with
the locals (lawisanons) will end a perfect vacation at Bantayan
Island.
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Trade and Industries
Despite
the isolation of the island from mainland Cebu, basic infrastructures
and services are available. The main road that links the three
towns is cemented, making it easy to transport goods and commuters
throughout the island. Major landline and wireless companies,
Internet providers and local TV cable companies are present on
the island.
The
major industries in Bantayan Island are fishing and poultry. The
tourism industry is still in its infant stage, but the passing
of a new bill sponsored by Congressman Benhur Salimbaong, will
amend the wilderness bill of Bantayan Island, thereby reverting
back to the original status of the island, and as a result, will
attract new investors and property developers to the island.
Vince
Escario, the Consultant for Tourism and Cultural Affairs/ Acting
Information Tourism Officer of Bantayan mentioned that the local
government units and the private sector should be prepared for
this sudden influx of new businesses and people. The three areas
being addressed at this point in time are: 1) Environmental Law
– Creating and implementing laws that protect the environment,
including the marine life, 2) Waste Management – To develop a
waste management system that is sustainable and could help maintain
the balance between the growing population and the environment,
and 3) Infrastructures – To lay down the infrastructures needed
to foster the development of new industries.
It
is with excitement that is being felt by the local people and
investors regarding the positive future of the Island. Hopefully,
this new change will bring about economic prosperity for everyone
on the island without sacrificing this beautiful paradise.
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Important Dates to Remember |
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