Romblon Archives - Lakas ng Trip

Gomot Falls in Cajidiocan, Sibuyan Island, Romblon, Philippines

February 27, 2014 by Josiah 2 Comments

(May 8, 2012) It was the fourth day of our visit around the Province of Romblon and we were now ready to go and hike Gomot Falls. One of our main destinations in the island of Sibuyan Island.

The day before, we had to visit the Municipal Hall of Cajidiocan since we needed to have permission to enter the land where the Indigenous People (IP) of Cajidiocan resides because that is where Gomot Falls resided. I think it’s also inside Mount Guiting-Guiting Natural Park. Once we got permission to enter the land we finally had our much needed rest for the trek the next day. But the municipality had different plans for us, as we were invited to judge a contest in one of their baranggays.

The event ended at around 1:30 AM and we had to wake up early so we could start our trek early to Gomot Falls.

We woke up at around 6:00 AM, ate breakfast and met with our guides (Kuya Inggo and Kuya Jeffrey) which actually live near the falls. We decided to buy burgers for lunch at a local shop, which was actually a bad move as they have really slow service making us start to leave town at around 7:53 AM. But at least we were starting.

We started at together with Marky of NomadicExperiences.com, Dazl of DazzlingDazzle.com and Pam a friend of Dazl which became our friends too. But after a few minutes it was obvious that the group had different speeds. Dazl and Marky guided by Kuya Inggo were in the fast group. Me and Pam guided by Kuya Jeffrey were in the not so fast group.

So we kept on walking through coconut plantations and through trails without cover. The sun was hot which encouraged us to walk faster for shade.

Bunsoran Marine Protected Area at Ferrol, Tablas Island, Romblon

March 4, 2013 by Josiah Leave a Comment

We met members of the US PeaceCorps while having dinner at Romblon Deli in Romblon Island. They told us that they were doing different projects in the province of Romblon. We visited one of their projects, Mangrove and Bird Sanctuary, during our motorcycle tour around Romblon Island. The Bunsoran Marine Protected Area was told to us by Ian, one of the PeaceCorps, who was managing the project in Ferrol, Tablas Island.

Cove at Bunsoran Marine Protected Area

When we arrived at Odiongan at Tablas Island, Romblon we visited a friend of Dazl’s which offered to accompany us to the municipality of Ferrol. So after half an hour on the road, finding Ian in the Municipal Hall and him pointing us to Brgy. Bunsoran and we finally arrived at the Marine Sanctuary.

Banton Church of Banton Island, Romblon

March 4, 2013 by Josiah Leave a Comment

When we arrived at Banton Island, Romblon at around 4:42PM last May 17, 2012 we first looked for a lodging then a place to have our dinner. When we were finished looking for the things we needed and it was still 5:42PM, we decided to waste no time for a few minutes of the sunlight left. We asked people around on what we could visit in the shortest time possible and they pointed us to the Banton Church.

Banton Church

The church in Banton Island was quite near the A & A Lodging House, it took us less than a minute or two to reach it. We entered a high gate with a high wall to get to where the church is located. We saw the church and on the other end of the road was another gate with a high wall. I think the church is located inside Fuerza de San Jose, or known as kuta or a Spanish Fortress.

Gate of Fuerza de San Jose

According to the locals the church was built in the 16th century. The structure does not seem to be built on the 16th century due to many modernized renovations.

Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary in Looc, Tablas Island, Romblon

March 3, 2013 by Josiah Leave a Comment

After our visit at Bunsoran Marine Protected Area in the municipality of Ferrol, Tablas Island, Romblon our next stop for the day would be the Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary. So we headed to Looc via a private vehicle and went straight to the Port of Looc. From there we had to register at the KOICA Office and tell them that we were going to their Protected Area and pay the entrance fee.

I’ve visited a lot of Marine Sanctuaries before my visit to Looc, usually a part of the Marine Sanctuary are land but for the one in Looc everything was in the sea. There are only rafts in the middle where visitors could relax and enjoy their time with the fishes.

After paying the entrance fee (100 Pesos per person) we boarded their pumpboat/bangka to take us to the rafts. When we found out that we could sit at the top we did not hesitate to go straight to the roof and have our little picnic while enroute to the rafts.

Boarding the boat

Dazl and Jessica doing roof picnics

It was a short 10 minute ride to the rafts. Inside the rafts are chairs so people could sit, a Comfort Room and a hole in the middle where the caretakers feed some fish to let visitors see them up close and personal. Visitors cannot feed the fish nor can they swim on the hole in the raft. Even without the feeds there were a lot of fishes swimming below the raft. Maybe their trying to hide from the sun to avoid getting skin cancer. 😛

Arrival at the rafts

The lighthouse near the rafts

On the side of the rafts we swam for a bit to get our daily dose of dipping on the waters of Romblon.

When we went up the raft again we tried talking to the Bantay Dagat who were assigned on the raft that day. They told us stories of them still guarding the place even at night and even during storms.

Dazl talking to the Bantay Dagat

The lighthouse is also a part of Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary. Other than it being an indicator of shallow water it is also an indicator that the boats should not trespass to the Marine Sanctuary.

After spending about 1 hour and 10 minutes on the rafts we decided to call it a day and head back to the port. Then drive back to Odiongan.

Looc Bay Marine Refuge and Sanctuary Details

Location: Looc Bay, Tablas Island, Romblon

Operating hours: Daily from 8AM to 4PM.

Rates:
100 Pesos/person for Adults
50 Pesos/person for Children 4-7 years old
* This rates are inclusive of the boat to the rafts.
* Rates are minimum of 3 persons.

50 Pesos/set – Mask and Snorkel

How to get there

From the town of Looc, one can ride tricycles going to Looc Port for 10 Pesos per person.

There are jeepneys from San Agustin Port, Odiongan and Santa Fe going to Looc.

How to get out of there

Since there are not much tricycles in the Port of Looc when we visited there, one can walk out of the port until you find a tricycle that would take you to town.

Notes

You can buy some food and drinks from the KOICA Office when you register there.
There are boats going to Caticlan from Looc Pier. According to the staff at KOICA Office fare is 300 Pesos per person. Estimated Travel Time is 3 hours. Estimated Time to Leave is 8AM daily.
Boat to Caticlan at the Port of Looc

Follow my Tablas Island, Romblon Series

Follow my Romblon Province Series

Lambingan Falls in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon

March 2, 2013 by Josiah Leave a Comment

It was still almost 4PM, when we found a tricycle on our walk from DENR Sibuyan Substation, so we decided our luck to visit Lambingan Falls before we head back to Sanctuary Garden Resort. We negotiated first on how much we would be paying the tricycle driver and once we agreed on a price (sorry I forgot, but I think it was 300 Pesos) we rode the tricycle and directly went to Lambingan Falls.

It took us 20 minutes to get to Lambingan Falls. We were greeted by the staff of the Lambingan Falls and were told to pay the entrance fee to enter the falls.

Entrance Fees

After paying together with out tricycle driver we walked to the trail to the falls. I was happy to see that the development of the waterfalls was like in Dagubdob Picnic Grove where they used little concrete to improve the waterfalls.