February 2013 ~ Jamer Lover

In one of my continuous extension of help to the organization that helped me pursue a good future, I was able to travel, for the very first time, to the enticing islands of Samar and Leyte (Northern). Though the experience was quite exhaustive, it has become a worthwhile travel.

On January 18, 2013, when the people of the world started to flock to Cebu City to witness the year's most awaited festival, the Sinulog Festival, I was fleeing away from Cebu to Samar with my co-volunteers and staff. Around 6:00 pm on that day, we sent off to our journey. From Cebu City Pier 3, we sailed on a Cokaliong Ship. The trip required us to stay on the ship for 11 hours, almost half day, up to arrival time. Here are the details of the trip.

Shipping Lines: Cokaliong Shipping Lines

Vessel: M/V Filipinas Dinagat

Departure Date/Time: January 18, 2013 @ 7:00 pm

Depart From: Pier 3 Cebu City

Depart To: Manguino-o Port Calbayog City

There are actually two shipping lines that travel to/from the same route. The other one is F.J. Palacio Lines, Inc. Both shipping lines have one ship only for that route. If you wanna enjoy a trip to Samar, the schedule of the trip is on Mon/Wed/Fri at 7:00 pm. Take note if you don't want to be left behind by both ships.

At 5:00 am the following day, I was awakened by the vague, almost clear, early morning display of Samar. The time is perfect to get a snapshot of the first sunrise ray on top of the elongated island. Here are few photos of the baby lightings.

Early morning view of Samar Island from Cokaliong Ship.

Early morning of pre-first-sunrise-ray on top of Samar Island from Cokaliong Ship.

First ray of sunrise on top of Samar Island from Cokaliong Ship.

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The port of Manguino-o is like 50 meters away but the ship crew could hardly dock the ship due to strong winds. There was a cold front facing the area at that time. The unoccupied beds on decks, one of which swam to the sea, were flying from the open cabin which caused to hurt some of the passengers. The most heart-pounding part was when the nylon connected to the rope used to secure the ship for docking was cut short due to untimed throwing and strong current. The crew would then need a replacement. That took the passengers sometime stranded on ship. Thanks, the crew finally undocked the ship after three hours. I've posted some photos of port staff who helped dock the ship.

View of Manguino-o Port Calbayog City, Samar.

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Cokaliong Ship crew throwing the metal attached to a nylon to the port area for docking.

Port Authority staff assisting the ship for safe docking.

It seems like the main way of land transportation to far places in Samar is through van. You would hear most of the time the word "Grand Tours", "Van-vans", "DupTours" which refer to public van companies in the area. The schedule of departure is usually every after 25 minutes especially for Grand Tours' vans which I rode on during the trip. If you would ask the locales there, they would usually recommend travelling through those van companies since bus schedules are limited. The people there as well are friendly and you could trust them easily due to their accurate and correct answers to strangers like me asking for "how to's" and "where is". So if you are confused where to go and how, ask any person there and you'll get the answer you need. By the way, the people there speaks in Waray, a dialect in the Philippines, but they understood a little of Visaya. So if you don't know how to speak Waray, I recommend you speak to them in Filipino or English.

I was given a little opportunity to roam around Calbayog City, the capital city of Samar. Here are few photos I took.

Cardinal Rosales ancestral house in Calbayog City, Samar.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral Calbayog City, Samar

Park in front of the church in Calbayog City, Samar

Nijaga Park Calbayog City, Samar. The park is named after Benedicto Nijaga, a local hero.

The staff with me and I spent the rest of the night in Imelda's Lodge (former name is San Joaquin Inn), though the name is a lodge but it is not the usual lodge in some places like Cebu City. We took a two-room bedroom with TV set and aircon. They already provided guests with body towel, soap, and shampoo. I told you, a different lodge from what you see in Cebu City.

Early next morning, we took our way to Allen to Lavezares, Northern Samar. That was about a two-hour trip from Calbayog City through van. Amazing! Though a hundred kilometers away, that was the first time I saw a volcano. The volcano was Mount Bulusan, view captured from the Urdaneta Bay in Lavezares. This photo was taken at sunset.

Sunset view of Urdaneta Bay, Lavezares displaying Mount Bulusan.

We silenced the night in a convent headed by nuns sitting in the middle of the nearest mountain. There were no neighbors on top and you could not find your way down easily since there were no light to guide your way except for mobile phone lights and the flimsy light provided by the moon. The place was too eerie that I hardly slept. I even requested for a roommate during that night from the female working students but no to avail since the male ones are already on the other house. The nuns though are very accomodating and the meals they provided were delicious and heavier than enough. You could not finish your eating without the fresh fruits.

The following morning, we were accompanied by the place caretaker down to the mountain. The trip was almost over and I should go back to Cebu City already. My buddy during the trip still need to go to other place to complete the mission. So I went back alone (for the first time [shiver!--]). Since there is no ship from Calbayog to Cebu City on Monday night, I need to travel from Calbayog City, Samar to Ormoc City, Northern Leyte. This trip required me to transfer from one van to another since there is no straight van trip from Calbayog to Ormoc. From Calbayog City to Catbalogan (1 hour), Catbalogan to Tacloban (1 hour), Tacloban to Ormoc City (2 hours). I had the opportunity to get a glimpse of Northern Leyte and the longest bridge in the whole Philippines, the San Juanico Bridge. So excited to share to you, so here are the pictures of the bridge.