Iloilo’s Finest - Events, Food, Places

May 25, 2008

Sandbar Island Beach Resort in Bolobadiangan, Concepcion Iloilo

Filed under: Places — augel @ 9:43 pm

Summer is not complete if you can’t go to the beach. Here in Iloilo, there are a lot of options on where to go. While the usual suspects include Villa, Guimbal or Oton, there are still a lot of undiscovered beaches here. One such place is the Sandbar Island Beach Resort in Bolobadiangan, Concepcion.

How to Get There

Concepcion is located in the northern portion of Iloilo and is more or less a 2 and a half hours drive from Iloilo City. You can either go to the Boracay/North Panay Bus Terminal in Tagbak, Jaro or if you are going with the barkadas, rent a van. Both options will not cost more than 120 pesos.

The island itself is some 30 minutes boat ride away from mainland Concepcion. You should call ahead to arrange for someone from the resort to meet you in the Concepcion market (”banwa”) to take you to the island. A big motorized bangka which can sit up to 15 will cost around 1500 pesos for a round trip travel.

What You Can Enjoy

Upon arriving, you can see a white sandbar about half a kilometer long, framed in the horizon by the Pan de Azucar mountain and other islets. The water is clear as glass and very inviting. One word to describe it would be “breathtaking”.

You may opt to rent one of the two bamboo cottages near the sandbar or pay for a home stay in any of the concrete houses of the Eusala and Fransisco families who make up the island’s native population. An overnight stay will cost 1000 pesos in any of the cottages.

Unspoiled as unspoiled could get, Sandbar Island Resort doesn’t have most of the modern conveniences found in the city. Lights are run by solar energy in the Eusala ancestral house while the rest of the cottages in the beach area are powered by a generator.

Fresh fish can be bought from the main island of Concepcion or from the neighboring islands like Agho. You must also bring any other things that you might need (ice, rice, canned food etc.). You can then request the resort cook to prepare food for you for a minimal fee.

After you have your fill of sunbathing, swimming or sunset watching, you can ask for someone to take you island hopping. There are still a lot of beautiful beaches and islets surrounding the island and you can take your time to explore and know the area even more. The views around the island are simply magnificient.

In the afternoon, you can join the natives in “panginhas” - collecting shells and other edible marine life during low tide before sunset. In the evenings, the same could be done with the aid of a torch or petromax. We call this “panulo”.

After dinner, you can arrange for someone to make you a bonfire. However, you must inform the resort beforehand (ideally in the afternoon) so that they can collect firewood for you.

There are some hammocks scattered around the island. These are definitely perfect for you to lie on and just enjoy some solitude, after from the busy buzz of the city life.

Sandbar Island Beach Resort
Contact Person: Manong Sanny
Mobile: (+63)9068197516

Concepcion Municipal Tourism Office
Contact Person: Mario Lazarito, Municipal Tourism Officer
Mobile: (+63)9194588451 or (+63)918311923
Email: mla65[at]my.smart.com.ph

Next: Celebrate Family Planning in August

October 22, 2007

Coming Back to Our Hometown

Filed under: Places — augel @ 11:32 am

Hanging Bridge at Tubungan

The Hanging Bridge at Tubungan

Last Friday my family along with my cousins and uncle and auntie went home to my mother’s hometown, Tubungan. Since my Lola died last October 29, 2006, I haven’t actually gone back to the place. Maybe because I’m still quite sad about my Lola’s passing.

But last Friday (October 12) was a holiday (Feast of the Ramadhan) so we all came back there. It was actually already 11am went we left, so it was way past noon when we arrived.

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September 21, 2007

It is Now Christmas

Filed under: Events, Places — augel @ 1:11 pm

Christmas Parol

The Christmas Parol

This post is long overdue. And yes, it is already Christmas. At least here in the Philippines. Christmas here in the Philippines is a four-month affair. Any month that ends in “ber.”

So as soon as it is September 1, you could already hear jolly carols playing on the radio. Some families may even start putting up Christmas decorations in their homes. Sadly, the decorations now are not as prominent as I remember. When I was still small (in years), I could see almost all houses in the neighborhood decorated with Christmas lights and decorations, especially the parol. Now, decorations are scant. Some people will comment that this is due to economic problems. Nevertheless, the Christmas spirit is no less felt and observed, even to the most poor of us.

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September 7, 2007

A View from Fort San Pedro

Filed under: Places — augel @ 12:09 pm

When I was little I used to remember the whole family (i mean the whole family — a throng of cousins, uncles and aunties, our yayas, even our dogs) going to this very relaxing and fun place. My father (tatay) would announce to the whole clan that we’re going to “Fort” (”Pa-port ta”… I actually used to think it’s called “Port”) and all of us would jump with excitement.

View from Fort San Pedro Iloilo

Along the Fort San Pedro Iloilo

We would bring food, blankets, and for my father, his fishing rod. I had no idea idea then what the place was really called, all I remembered was how we enjoyed so much running along the cemented ways and the slippery rocks, laughing and smelling the fresh and salty air of the sea. And when we got tired we would sit along the cement steps and look out to the sea; waiting for a fish to bite my Tatay’s bait and watch the sun set.

Ahh… good memories. Of course, when I grew up, I found out that the place was actually called Fort San Pedro.

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