It was the day after our adventure on Cobrador Island. The plan was to move from Romblon Island to Sibuyan Island to visit a waterfalls in the municipality of Cajidiocan.
The ferry, Maria Querubin, was arriving around 6:30AM from San Agustin, Tablas Island and will be leaving for Ambulong Port in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island at around 7:30AM. According to the locals of Romblon Island once the ferry docks, it will not take long for it to leave, that is why we should be ready to board when the boat arrives.
We heard a loud honk signalling the ferry’s arrival. Goods were unloaded and loaded. We went inside through the slippery stomach of Maria Querubin. The smell was of industrial oil. Then up through the stairs to the passengers area. (10 Pesos/person terminal fee)
I don’t know if its a general thing for ferries, but I noticed on all the ferries that I rode, not only in Romblon, people would place their stuff on seats and even if there are other passengers that are standing, they would not remove their stuff from the seats. I wish people would be more considerate to others. There’s really nothing you can do but to be an example or ask them kindly for you to be seated.
The locals were right when they told us that the boat will be leaving immediately as it left before 7:30AM, earlier than its scheduled departure.
It was a calm trip in the month of May 2013. Got to see a different perspective of Romblon Island. Story’s of dolphin sighting emerged but they were not seen. It was a 2 hours and 30 minutes journey. Time well spent for getting to know more of Dazl, Pam and Marky. (228 Pesos/person from Romblon Island to Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island)
The boat arrived on Ambulong Port in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island. A port made of concrete with the nearby land full of mangroves. The mangroves gave a good impression on me. If a port where many people pass by still has a lot of mangroves then it shows a glimpse on how well preserved the inside is.
Ambulong Port in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon
We went down and asked the jeepneys lined up in the port on where they were going. Some to San Fernando. Some to Cajidiocan. We thought of not riding it yet but there were no longer any jeepneys left. So we boarded and paid 120 Pesos/person for an hour trip to Cajidiocan. 😐
Jeep to Cajidiocan
The eople inside the jeep were friendly and very accommodating to give us some of our much needed details around the island. What they usually see are people who goes to Sibuyan Island to climb up Mount Guiting-Guiting and not being able to have time to explore more around the island. They told us were the unusual ones but I’m glad we were.
One remarkable part of the jeepney ride was when we passed by a flooded area. The weather was great, a bit cloudy but no signs of rain falling, and the leaves on the flooded area was dry. We asked the locals about it and they said that it’s because it was high tide.
Submerging road
The flooded road was situated in a mangrove area, showing that we were still near the sea. According to the locals, on some months the roads waters were significantly submerged making jeepneys unable to pass by. I made everyone everyone stop to wait for the tide to come down, some in frustration, that eventually will lead to the delayed departure of Maria Querubin to Romblon Island.
We arrived in Cajidiocan, settled down and talk to the locals. And the following hours were filled with laughter, knowing more about the place and becoming an impromptu judge at a local bikini contest before we call it a day.
Before I end this post, I saw this when we visited the municipal hall of Cajidiocan.
I was impressed that they showed publicly their projects and the budget of for the specific projects. It shows that they were not afraid to show the people a glimpse of what they were doing. Making themselves accountable if the projects fail to be delivered.
Kudos to the people behind this!
This is where the taxes you are paying go. Thank you very much for your support.
Follow my Sibuyan Island, Romblon Series
- Sanctuary Garden Resort in Magdiwang
- Dam, Dalipi River and DENR Substation at Magdiwang
- Lambingan Falls in Magdiwang
- Firefly Watching in Magdiwang
- Journey to Cajidiocan
- Gomot Falls in Cajidiocan
- Late Afternoon Around the Town San Fernando
- Tricycle Tour from San Fernando
- Busay Falls in San Fernando
- Cantingas River Resort in San Fernando
- Dagubdob Picnic Grove in San Fernando
Follow my Romblon Province Series