The simple pleasures of Cagbalete Island, Quezon

Who would have thought that Southern Luzon has its own beach that is equally blessed as that of Boracay Island in the Visayas? At first, Cagbalete Island, located off the coastal town of Mauban in Quezon province, was for me just an item on the Internet, described as a paradise surrounded by very fine sand — sand that one would thought can only be experienced in Boracay, touted to be the country's home of finest beaches. But my recent trip to the island, which has a total land area of 1,640 hectares, proved to be one worth sharing so people from Luzon, particularly Metro Manila, who always crave to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, can now experience within just a few hours of travel what Boracay offers. Ferry from Mauban Cagbalete Island is just a few kilometers away from Mauban town proper, which Metro Manilans can take a bus going to Lucena City. The bus ride costs a little over P190 and takes no more than three hours. At the Lucena City Grand Central Terminal, where all buses drop by, mini-buses bound for Mauban leave on an hourly interval. The one to one-and-a-half hour travel only costs P30. From Mauban, you board a ferry that takes an hour to reach the island. First-timers need not really worry about locating the Mauban port. You can even just walk to it on getting off the bus, with a bit of help about directions from the hospitable residents. On my first visit there with my girlfriend, we learned the ferry ride costs P30 per passenger, and the Mauban-to-Cagbalete ride leaves at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, and the Cagbalate-to-Mauban ride is at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Inviting sight Even before the ferry finally docks at the island, the sight of the sea makes you so eager to dive into it: The water is so clear and green, and the fine, off-white sand of the island sprawls like a long playground. Instead of private resorts, you see mostly houses, where you can stay if you prefer to experience directly the hospitality of the local residents. But there are also resorts tucked in various areas of the island. And it is there that silence, peace, nature, and the basics of life await the traveler. If one is not loaded with personal things, it may be an exciting experience to walk by the shoreline on a clockwise direction in search of a preferred resort. My girlfriend and I did this until we found the Villa Cleofas resort, which is owned by the very hospitable Manila-based Reyeg family. What a good way to burn calories while you marvel at the sight of the setting sun and feel the wet but warm sand of the island. More than the place, it is the people of Cagbalete that really makes a visit to the island a memorable one. After a 30-minute walk, nothing can be more soothing than being given a very warm welcome by no less than the resort owner, Mr. Tonet Reyeg. Tent by the sea Immediately on our arrival, Reyeg told us that all regular accommodations — cottages and nipa huts — were already occupied. But he was quick to offer an alternative – a tent. And that was music to my ears. There's no better way for a Metro Manilan to experience the island than going back to the basics. So we asked the resort staff to raise our tent on the ground facing the sea, almost near the shoreline, as I was anticipating to settle in with the fresh air coming from the sea and the sound of the water splash as background music. Just as we got in our tent, we were treated to another taste of the Reyeg hospitality — fresh buko juice for our welcome drink, delivered by no less than Reyeg's wife. And, by the way, have I mentioned that the tent would only cost us P200 per night? Back to basics At Villa Cleofas, it's back to basics. It has no regular power supply, except for a few hours a night, when the power generator is turned on, and the water supply come from the traditional poso, or well. Drinking water is no problem because the owner brings in purified or mineral water at the resort. If you make advance reservations, the resort would cook home-style meals for you — ncluding fresh seafood, of course. Or you can bring your own food and and cook it yourself right at the resort's kitchen for a very minimal fee. The island offers a few activities, other than swimming, like a volleyball, boating, or hiking by sea at low-tide. Or you may just want to settle in a duyan, several of which are strategically hung betweeb trees near the shore, and you can snore like a pig all day. Cagbalete Island does not have the busy bars and restaurants and high-end resorts that Boracay Island and Puerto Galera have. But its simple and natural beauty may just be its main attraction. As a frequent beach traveler, I would say that the island is a good alternative to the quiet but more developed beach resorts in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, for Luzon-based people. After all, what matters really to beach lovers are the clean waters and fine sand, and what matters to vacationers are the relaxing but not very costly experience. All these you can experience at Cagbalete Island. - CALVIN NORIEGA, GMANews.TV