I Love Ormoc City!!!

For many, Ormoc is just a gateway to Cebu. It seems to me that most Ormocanons think that every traveller they see in their city is just passing by. We were asked a couple of times if we were going to Cebu. From a typical tourist point of view, there is nothing to see and do in Ormoc. Nevertheless we loved it there. We are not the type of travelers who like to be in every tourist destination. Just knowing the place and its people are enough for us. There's nothing fancy nor extraordinary in the city but its people are awesome. Next to the Negrenses of Dumaguete City, the Ormocanons are the nicest and kindest people in the Philippines I've encountered. No one ever tried to take advantage of us by overcharging us fares in the tricycle, jeepney, van, or bus. No one stalked us to beg for money. No one ever tried to sell their stuff to us incessantly. The vendors at the bus station will offer you things but once you say no they immediately walk away. You don't have to say no many times just like in many other places we've been to before. The people in Ormoc left us in peace wandering in their streets or their own space. This is the kind of place we want to be, where people respect our own personal space and just let us explore their wonderful place on our own.  

Someone's junk is someone else's treasure

"Salvage Hunter"

Future Ms. Ormoc

Yeah Man!!!!

Photo monster :p

In the heat of the sun waiting for their social welfare

Banana Que

Ormoc's Mcdo

Old house in downtown Ormoc

The tricycles are the kings of the road in Ormoc

Colorful public utility vehicles

The vehicles are their canvas!

Filipinos are flexible, they can fit in anywhere

Another old structure in downtown Ormoc

This is one of the rewards of traveling in the Philippines, the locals trust you to take their pictures just for fun!

I think this billboard best sums-up how the Ormocanons are. They are happy people and that remarkable happy disposition is simply infectious.

How many more environmental offenders can this island take?

The white beach of Boracay is no doubt the best beach the Philippines has. There's no other beaches that I've been to in the Philippines that has same cool fine white sand, warm turquoise water and perfect depth and slope suitable for swimming. Inspite of  its beauty, this is one destination in the Philippines that does not fascinate me. Instead of  nourishing my soul, it bothers me. Why? This is one place that's been robbed of its natural beauty and people. It seems to me that no one really cares or no one knows how to control and manage the developments on this island. The more I return to this island the more it breaks my heart. Each time I return, I see an ever changing landscape --- structures sprout like mushrooms without any regard and respect to its natural landscape.

 In 2006, this was a lush hill at the end of station 3. This place used to be the hide out of teenage boys who rob tourists of their belongings they left unattended on the beach while they are snorkeling. I can vividly remember that my husband chased those boys until the foot of this hill. He lost track of them since the vegetation was thick and his agility was no match against  those local boys. The landscape is totally different now. I wonder where are all the birds and other wildlife of this hill take refuge now that all the trees and plants that covered this hill have disappeared? I can't help but ask, is it really necessary to chop off this hill to give way to these cottages? Why can't they build in harmony with the natural landscape?

I wonder how many wildlife did they disturb and hurt in building this tunnel so that the guests of the new shishi poopoo resort will have an easy access to the white beach.

 The scenario is not different in Bulabog Beach. This was in 2006 where a few vacation houses seem to hide against the lush greenery.

Three years later, there are already sore thumbs sticking out on top of this cove. It looks like everybody wants a piece of this island. I think my own people will never stop building until this island can take no more.

If you are not a kite surfer and your itchy feet happen to bring you to Bulabog Beach, you would think that it would be nice to walk on this crystal clear shallow water. What you don't know is, you will be walking on an endless sea bed of garbage. It seems no one really cares to clean-up this other side Boracay and it's really sad. :(
 
I am so envious of the way the Malaysian government manages their tourist destinations. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park that comprises of four islands is obviously way too commercialized and yet the virgin forests of those islands remain untouched. I can only drool in envy!

Gaya Island

Manukan Island

There are few accommodations at islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and most of them are expensive. I think this is their way to keep the tourists away and just let them opt for a day trip. Many are complaining that the corals of these islands have been destroyed by too much tourists but I haven't seen any island in the Philippines that has school of fish just near the shore like Manukan Island has.

My dear Philippines, let us learn from Malaysia that was able to hit that multi-million tourist mark while keeping most of their natural attractions intact.

Corong Corong, El Nido, Palawan

We are going back to Palawan again in two weeks time and I can't help but wonder what facelift El Nido has undergone these past seven years. Last year, on our way to Port Barton, we took the van going to El Nido because we missed the only jeepney going to Port Barton that day. The passengers of that van were mostly foreigners and three locals including myself. I heard the friendly lady told the foreigners the accommodations along Bacuit Bay are fully booked. She said "if you can't find a room in Bacuit Bay, try Corong Corong." Having been to Corong Corong six years ago, I told myself, she must be joking them. Out of curiosity, I politely approached her to ask what's in Corong Corong? I remember there was nothing there in 2005 only a couple of shacks of some locals. She told me, "Oh dear it's all different now. You should visit again so that you will see all the changes." Oh My God! Here we go again, going through the realization that this business acumen thing is never innate in us. Ouch! If we have what it takes to be a real estate magnate, we would have seen the potential of this place but El Nido was just too difficult to reach at that time whether by land, sea or air. We were not ready yet to live a semi-Robinson Crusoe life.

This was Corong corong village seven years ago. Our itchy feet led us to this small fishing village where we became instant attractions to the locals especially the children who followed us everywhere we went. These children scrutinized us with passion like we are aliens from another planet. You will see here that man needs very little to survive. These children have nothing and yet they are genuinely happy.