"You made me miss my hometown. You should come back to Almeria with me next time!"
-Eloiza Delotavo
Last June 16, 2016, I visited Almeria in Biliran Island- an island known for its sweetest and clearest mineral water in the world located at the Northern part of Leyte. It's funny because everyone was already back in school while I'm in Biliran Island extending my summer vacation! I got my friends in Cebu questioning me where I've been lately because of my absences and online updates; however, one of my closest friends, Eloiza, had no doubts where I had spent my last summer vacation. She immediately recognized where I've been through my pictures because it was her hometown. "You made me miss my hometown. You should come back to Almeria with me next time!" she said. Well I'm looking forward to that! But as for now, here is how I spent my days in Almeria with my family and friends.
We took an Ocean Jet boat in Cebu Port and left at 9:00am for Ormoc. We traveled for three hours on the sea which is the fastest travel time to Ormoc according to my cousin, Alvi. Taking the usual boat to Ormoc would take 5 hours to reach there.
When we reached in Ormoc, we rode on a van heading to Almeria. Me and Alvi were on the front seat and we were able to talk with our driver about Leyte because this was our first visit. During our 3 hours of road trip, we were able to see an endless scenery of mountains and farms. Rice farms and sugarcane farms were almost everywhere stretching on land for kilometers. The greenery were absolutely breathtaking for me. Leyte has abundant water sources which is also used for energy which explains the number of power plants on mountains. I really appreciate the preservation of their river systems as well. One thing that surprised me on my first visit is definitely their habalhabal- a motorcycle used for public transportation. The habalhabal in parts of Leyte had rooftops which amazed me because it was a clever idea. I think the logic behind this is that the establishments are far from each other and taking passengers there could be frustrating considering the hot weather.
Biliran Bridge connects the Biliran Island and Leyte. Taking a photo of the bridge inside the vehicle was a struggle but I'm glad to at least have a good shot of it.
We arrived in Almeria around 2:00pm and stayed at my Auntie Edwina’s house. We had our lunch and rested there for awhile trying to recover all the energy after our long trip. After that, me and Alvi took a walk outside the house and we discovered a stream just across the road and an over flowing fresh water from a hill which was used for irrigation. Fresh waters are everywhere in this place! I used to ask for a glass of water and people usually tell me to drink from the tap because the tap water is the fresh water coming from the mountains of Biliran. I had to get used to this because we don’t do this in Cebu but hey! Why should I spend a bottle of mineral water if I can drink one from the tap water, right? Amazing! And not to mention the huge rice farm and the beach just a few walks behind auntie’s house. Wow! I could live a life like this. It’s very refreshing, I must say.
We spent our nights and days in Agta Beach Resort, a family owned business of my cousin’s side, Kuya Steve. This resort is the first of its kind that offers scuba diving services in Biliran Island and I also heard that it is a popular beach resort in the island. Knowing a little about the resort and seeing the beauty of its beach, it is an honor to spend my last days of summer here for free! Click here for more info: biliran.ph/thread/904/agta-beach-resort
Just beside Agta Beach Resort, it is the VRC Beach Resort, where most of the children enjoy swimming in the big pool. This is the only resort that has a pool for now, but Agta Beach Resort has constructed a pool of its own and it will be open soon. This is also the resort where the 12th Sabitsana Family Reunion’s Program took place as well and I was happy to be a part of the event. I get to know my cousin Kuya Steve's family side.The Sabistanas are well known in Biliran according to my friend, Eloiza. I have witnessed their strong family bond and they truly value that as family members from all around the globe really came to attend this event.
On the other side of Agta Beach Resort, is the Coco Grove Beach Resort. They share one beach coastline. I wasn’t able to get in there but I was just passing by it in the morning until I reached at the rocky areas of its place.
Have you seen the famous rice terraces of Banaue, Philippines? Well here’s a mini version of that! I’m seeing it in a close up view this time and not from the inside of the van. I even got my foot stuck in the mud! This is what curiosity do to people but that didn't ruin my day. It was still worth the experience. Now I know what it feels like to have my foot buried under the mud and probably the next thing that I should do is try planting rice and work with a carabao. Too bad I wasn’t ready for that when I got there!
Me and my cousins, along with Kuya Steve's family and his students were heading to Tuboran Spring which was located above the rice farm we passed. It was challenging because we had to walk up on our way for a few meters while some of us were carrying bag packs. When we got there, we found ourselves a small pool to swim which was the cold spring we were looking for in the middle of the jungle.
Another thing we did together was harvesting mangoes and we get to see other fruits hanging from their branches. But we were all about the mangoes! We love mangoes! And it goes well with bagoong- fermented shrimp/ shrimp paste. Sometimes I make the sauce myself (Soysauce+Sugar+Chili=Umami!)
After harvesting, we went to this cliff which was just beside the VRC Beach Resort. From here, we can see a nice view of the Dalutan Island. The waters were so clear and it's nice to swim beside the rocks but I heard that this place is infested with snakes. I heard it not once but twice! One of Kuya Steve's Student even saw one. Sometimes, beauty is filled with dangerous stuff so be careful.
The most exciting activity I did during my stay was kayaking after swimming! I did it the whole afternoon without noticing that I'm cooking my skin under the sun. Alvi had muscle pains on the next day after kayaking with me but I was still rolling it with Kuya Steve and a pack of Piatos with us! It was so much fun because I'm doing something for the first time. Yup! I have never done this until I was given a chance to do so. The corals were visible during the low-tide when I was kayaking solo but this is not advisable so I had to go back to the shores before the waters were completely drawn back to the ocean and I had to wait until it's high-tide again. Kayaking to Calutan Island is possible as well since Kuya Steve's students were able to reach there and witnessed its beauty; however, this is risky because the current changes in the middle of the ocean and when it's low-tide, water level goes down until the rocks in the middle becomes visible. It's better to rent a boat going to the island with a group of people during high-tide. Renting a boat is worth P600 which can carry a number of passengers already. Once you reach to that island, you can't avoid the entrance fees and they probably the same system if you go to other islands as well.
June 19, 2016, I arrived in Cebu Port, 9:00am, and that is how I ended my extended summer get-away. I have doubled my tan lines doubling the proof of my enjoyment. Leyte’s peacefulness and its environment have marked my heart. No wonder Eloiza missed her home so much because it was filled with so many beautiful things. Though I missed some of the places she mentioned, I am contented of where I was because I have made the most out of my stay. I rather look forward to discovering those places someday. Summer 2016 was indeed a blast! It's filled with so much memories being carved inside my head and feelings etched in my heart. It is an achievement to be able to get this far as a traveler and I am so grateful to Kuya Steve for this wonderful opportunity; family for the warm welcome; and friends for the new friendship! It was great to have ended my Summer 2016 with wonderful people.
June 19, 2016, I arrived in Cebu Port, 9:00am, and that is how I ended my extended summer get-away. I have doubled my tan lines doubling the proof of my enjoyment. Leyte’s peacefulness and its environment have marked my heart. No wonder Eloiza missed her home so much because it was filled with so many beautiful things. Though I missed some of the places she mentioned, I am contented of where I was because I have made the most out of my stay. I rather look forward to discovering those places someday. Summer 2016 was indeed a blast! It's filled with so much memories being carved inside my head and feelings etched in my heart. It is an achievement to be able to get this far as a traveler and I am so grateful to Kuya Steve for this wonderful opportunity; family for the warm welcome; and friends for the new friendship! It was great to have ended my Summer 2016 with wonderful people.