Guimaras, the island of the sweetest mangoes

Aloha Guimaras. :)

October 28, 2009-- I welcomed Guimaras with utmost candor and love (and it welcomed me a bit forcibly. hehe). Too tanned for someone who has lived her life as a morenang, I gathered all the strength in me to stride into the sunny afternoon once again.

Before moving on, since the following blogs on Iloilo and Guimaras would be waken up from a dormant dream, I must gather all my goldfish powers to showcase what the island has to offer. And let me tell you now that the travel from Iloilo to Guimaras and extensively back again was as cheap as cheap can be since I was welcomed to the humble abode of my good friend and two-year roommate, the Ilongga herself, Fedi Lima. Not only welcomed in the humbled abode but toured for, all for the price of pricelessness. I thank you with all the hearts I can get.

So back to the blog.

Woke up early in the morning around 6am to travel to Guimaras. To reach Guimaras from Iloilo you could ride dinghy ferries at the Iloilo Metro Port heading to Guimaras. The ride only lasts for some 30 to 45 minutes and one ride costs about 30 pesos (US 60 cents). Be reminded that its no window features and limited space meant electronic valuables (i.e. DSLRs) are in danger of e-death and e-torture. But good memories require high definition, single lens reflex cameras therefore best strategy would be to buy your camera waterproof ziplocks and the likes of it.

Once docked, I've fallen head over high heels with Guimaras at the very site of tranquil mountainous seafront horizon. Lovely, lovely, lovely. To let you in a secret even, I've sworn (or hoped to swear) to be the place for my wedding bell ringing days. AHAHAHAHAH. And I'm done (it's too gooey to qualify for a good vibe). So let's just move on.

Guimaras is an island well known for its sumptuous and sweetest mangoes downgraded by the unfortunate downfall, the oil spill in 2006. Since then, they've moved forward and restored their immaculacy. I've discovered a horizon lined with white island beaches unadulterated by commercialization, foreigners and booze. I've trekked mango farms that have whole-year round mangoes, January to December and back again.

I don't have any photos on my mango eating mantras. I'm sorry for you for not seeing but satisfied with the personal memory of sweet taste.

The dinghy boat.

The Trappist Monastery taught me that ketchup or catsup can be made in any color it was from. Like for example, banana ketchup should've been yellow but with the capitalist take over on ketchup color, it had to be turned red. Talk about global conquerers of condiments.

On another note, it is the only men’s monastery in the Philippines run by Cistercian Order, established in 1972. The Trappist Monastery was a retreat place of serenity, solace and self-preservation from taxing endeavors of the materialistic world. The souvenir shop with island shirts, banig wallets, bags, jams and condiments is what keeps the place running.

Here's a snapshot of the church used for Services and taking photos are not allowed in it. So make do with 55mm zoom and 10ft distance.

Cabaling Beach Resort is one of the many (best) resorts in Guimaras. Blessed with coral reefs alongside mountainous terrain embraced by the sea, Cabaling is an enticing spot for intimate gatherings and travel tours.

The resort is surrounded by tropical gardens, a private place where you can relax in a comfortable ambiance.

Room rates range from 3000 (US $60) pesos to 7000 pesos (US $120) but fret not, the more people you gather the less the frenzy on booming budget needs. I advice you to go on group tours for less need for personal fund but catch is, it also requires less intimacy. Choose.

Oh, I remember when we were there, some bar takers around 20 (now passers/failers(?)) from San Beda law school were having there "goodbye SCRAs! and Cases! Hello beach, beer and brothers!". Good times.

Point is, less intimacy does not ALWAYS require less people.

You could reach the resort through private boats, ferries, motorboats and sailing boats from the Panay island. However, be sure to book your reservation to do so(or else you'd end up being sailors without the sailboat).

Oh coconut nuts spell tranquility and sunshine! :)

We forgot to bring swimming gear (?) and suits so we ended up taking photos (with a very very wrong aperture and shutter speed. sad to say). FYI, I forgot to look at what the photos DID appear since in the end when I got home, dang too dark for my shutterbug. Though I wasn't able to capture the true and vivid beauty of the place in these photos. (Pardon my unsophisticated portrayal).

There's Enzoy, Fedi's brother wa(lk)ding at the beachfront.

Moving on, we visited the Guimaras Provincial Monument and Museum. It was built in 2006 by then Governor Juan Carlos Rahman A. Nava, MD, now incumbent Congressman of the Lone District of Guimaras. It was written that the structure serves as a landmark for the people of the province as well as a museum for the memorabilia of its history.

It is a one-story building with accessible rooftops on both sides of the rooms and another on top of the main hall. The monuseum (as I've now dubbed it myself) is the integrated effort of building a monument atop the museum showcasing a sculpture of a man with a fishing tool and a plow. In an article I've read, it says this symbolizes the main livelihood of many Guimarasnons (is what they are called), farmers during the planting season and fishermen during the off-planting season.

The Guimaras Provincial Monument and Museum. Photo Courtesy of Discover Guimaras website.

Inside is an exhibit area of 12 x 20 meters with multipurpose rooms at the sides. Full of statues of Santo Ninos, Virgin Marys, and saints complete with the whole paraphernalia of rosaries.