It was during the hot summer month of April 2012 when I first set foot in Calaguas. For a beach babe like me, I vividly remember how its azure skies and clear waters made me fall in love with her at first sight. I did not know I was going to be able to visit her again this year. I almost said no to my buddy who invited me but since it was a chance to meet a new set of cool friends, I agreed in the end. It was a spur of the moment decision but I did not regret it.
I do not want to expound on how slowly the shadows of Boracay are growing on its shores. Or on how commercialism are creeping in its shadows. Or on how the loud music of the big cities find their ways in her solemn night skies. And on how irresponsible and insensitive some people are by letting sky lanterns wander into the grasslands.
Isn’t it enough that we have turned our other gorgeous beaches, i.e. Puerto Galera and Boracay, into impromptu party places? We have disco houses and party venues for these kind of activities! To those who really want a break from the hectic city living, kindly spare places like these please! Beaches are for solitude and serenity. Communing with Mother Nature, that is.
I was actually asleep when my travel pals witnessed these. However, it was not new to me since some of these happened also in my initial visit. I told them that our visit was a lot quieter, a lot less crowded and much more solemn than my first. It was due to the fact at that time it was the height of summer. I still remember those tour groups, complete with the identical tents and all, setting up mobile bars and dancing with the blaring music until the wee hours of the morning. I know if my buddies witnessed what I had seen, then pissed off travel bloggers would be the understatement of year.
For this post, I will focus on the experience I had. My first visit here was truly memorable. I was with fun-loving people who shared the same passion as mine. I miss them to bits actually. I have not seen almost all of them for more than a year. I wonder how they look like now.
My second visit to Calaguas is memorable too. But in a wackier, stomach-ache-inducing laughter shared in between seconds of deep breathe breaks. Trust me, these bunch will make you stop and beg, “Hey guys, can you please let me breathe even just for five minutes?“. 😀 Though Calaguas turns into an ugly-duckling at night, during daytime, she is still the same Calaguas I have fallen in love with. The moment of falling in love with her all over again is much sweeter the second time around as I had shared it with these guys.
To you Calaguas, I sincerely hope and pray that you stay the way you were before. I hope those regular travelers would feel the deep disappointment behind these sweet words. Remember, it takes an eternity for another Calaguas to be birthed by Mother Nature. If we are all not careful, when we wake up tomorrow, she will break our hearts and just disappear in the blink of an eye.
"To those who really want a break from the hectic city living,
kindly spare places like these please! Beaches are for solitude and serenity." –> Amen!
Yes indeed Claire! 🙂
Wow, Calaguas Island! I want to explore this place.. Hopefully, soon.. 🙂
oo nga ganda dito simpleng buhay, sana ma-maintain 🙂
same here… wow calaguas, haven't been here 🙂
Try coming here! Just ignore the other side effects of tourism so you can fully enjoy your visit 🙂