Islands 100

When I was first invited to a medical mission to Alaminos, Pangasinan I was a bit skeptical.

The last time I visited the Hundred Islands, I was a Grade 1 student and I was counting the islands and verifying if it was indeed a hundred. I counted only 88. But of course, I wasn't riding a helicopter. In the limited world of my first grade brain, if I don't see it it does not exist.

But the numerical accuracy of the Hundred Island was not the source of my skepticism. My skeptical mind was arguing against the wisdom of taking a 6 1/2 hour trip to a place I presumed to be a testimony of neglect by our public officials. Also, when I think about the traffic mess that is EDSA, I am skeptical whether I will survive the trip with my body parts still intact.

You see, I am in my late 30s (44 to be exact) and I am concerned about my health. But the real reason is that I am an impatient person and a 6 1/2 trip to a place unbeknownst is not exactly my idea of fun.

Now three things finally convinced me to go on and set my skepticism aside. One, I will be in the company of my friend Budge Batalla who I haven't seen for a long time and the 6 1/2 hours of debating, cajoling, wit exchanging and reminiscing I expect to share with him is something quite attractive. Second, this is my first medical mission and I am always open to new experiences. I also figured it might relieve some of the stress I am feeling on account of my endless laundry list of things to do since I arrived here in the Philippines. Third, I want to see for myself and once again prove my theory right that public officials are ruining my Motherland's natural wonders.

To make a long story shorter, I went.

I enjoyed Budge Batalla and his endless stories and reminders of our haylicon days in the eighties some of which actually happened. I enjoyed the smile in the faces of the recipients of medical care, medicine, food stuff and clothes that we distributed up there in Alaminos. I enjoyed the company of Mayor Nani Braganza who was a college comrade and who was running the town quite well as evidenced by the quick action he took on the wreck that Typhoon Emong left behind. But most of all I enjoyed the spectacular display of natural beauty that was the Hundred Islands. Even if I was proven wrong, which to my my mind is not very often, I must admit that the Hundred Islands was not neglected at all. It was in the hands of a mayor who truly cared for his hometown and was genuinely concerned about his town mates.

Now, let me try to paint a picture of this place they call Hundred Islands. As we approached the pier dotted by the panorama of islands in a canvas of blue waters and bluer skies, my skepticism was melted like ice cream in a DC summer. My mind was totally blown away and my faculties of intellectualism was replaced with a child-like awe at the Majesty of Mother Nature itself.

When we boarded the boat leading to the Islands 100, the balancing act that was involved sent chills through my spine. But in a good way. The fear was replaced with relief as I boarded the boat without incident. I felt that I was a tightrope walker although all I navigated was two feet. So much for exaggerations.

Well anyway, we boarded two boats and one of them was called Black Panther but that was not the one we boarded, maybe it was Pink Salmon but I did not bother to check. My machismo prevented me from doing that and besides I was too busy taking pictures.

There was an island full of bats that we rudely woke up from their slumber by blowing the horns of the Black Panther. Except for their shrieks they seemed not to mind. They were too busy to eat us, apparently siesta was more important. Then we saw a row of islands that were so pristine green that a Maryland forest will be...well, green with envy. There were big islands, medium sized islands, small islands, tiny islands, tinier islands, tinny winy islands and islands that you can fit in the size of your palm (if you were Godzilla). In any case, you get the point it was a natural wonder, the islands were of sizes varied is what I'm trying to say. And I'm not exaggerating this time, except for the palm sized part.

So we finally arrived in one island called Osmena and Budge and I went for a soak. Budge took off his shirt which sent the DENR on alert but I chose not to take off mine. I am very modest, as followers of this blog may have already figured out. The waters were so clear you can see tiny fish floating like we were not there. The wildlife here have a tendency to ignore tourists. I dove in the clear blue water and almost hit my head on a coral. Luckily the coral was coated with algae that cushioned my idiotic decision to dive in the first place. What can I say, I fell in love with the place. My brains take an LOA when I am in love. Ask Budge.

Oh well, while I was soaking and talking to Joseph about the travails of the garment industry, they called us to board the boats once again to head for Governor's Island. It was very hard to leave my lover, the Beach but I went. I'm a democrat I always submit to the majority decision.

So we headed for Gov Isle and arrived but not before passing islands and islets that were so wonderfully clothed in greenery and dotted with white sand that my worldly cares left me and went on strike. I was totally blown away again by the majesty of the entire sight and I frantically took pictures. It was wondrous, it was marvelous, it was fantastic, magical even.

At Gov Isle we begun to talk politics with Mayor Nani. We were talking about agriculture, governance and other stuff that turned me on even further. But alas ! Rain clouds were gathering and we had to head home before a storm hit us. On the way home to Manila, while I was conversing with Budge, pictures of the Hundred Isles hit my brain like a hailstorm. Budge and another writer made me promise to blog and so here it is.

I will return to Hundred Islands. That's a pledge a made to the Mayor. I don't break my promises.