“Hold on to the boat side ate rain! So you won’t get dizzy from this trip’s wave dance!” I was more of reminding myself rather than everyone else- Joy, Rain and Mang Delfin (the boat man).
I spent most of my premed, marine bio life waddling in waves and snorkeling off coast Taklong Islands ( Guimaras ) . Yet, I never really went past that fear of the dark, deep sea waters that “ate” me during one harrowing boat capsizing incident years ago. But I love beaches, enjoyed snorkeling and chased coastline for my dream vacation house. I never stopped this pursuit even with that harrowing experience that almost robbed me of my precious life.
Today, we are traversing a channel, from Anawangin Cove to Capones Islands using a motorized boat that can only hold 4-5 people. Mang Delfin said this is one fine weather to traverse this channel. The waves looked calm to him.
I never knew what calm waves meant to him. But for me, riding on a motorized boat that danced on top of waves the size of its side panels, is already huge and threatening. I looked more horrified than the two smiling ladies in front of me. “Grabe pala ang calm waves dito!” shouted Joy. “Mukha nga at tingnan mo si Mang Delfin at yung anak nya, di man lang natitinag sa tinatayuan nyang boat ledge!” I added. The 30 minute boat ride almost choked my breath. The only consolation I have is seeing some fisherman alone in their small boats that rocked like see-saws, unnerved of the waves that seem like overturning his boat. “At least there is some one to pick us up when something bad happens!” I stupidly mumbled.
We have to turn around the island as the regular docking area is smashed with strong waves too dangerous it might whip our boat into the rock wall. “Ikot pa po tau, kasi ang lakas ng alon di tau maka da-ung!” shouted Mang Delfin. I thought this was a “fine weather”! At the back of the islands, the waves disappeared, much to my relief. The problem was, Mang Delfin forgot where to dock our boat and the road up to the light house. “Dito ata yun!” Mang Delfin pointed to a rocky, 50 degree inclined with no visible foot path. “Shucks, we will be needing our mountain climbing skills I guess!. Tara!“
Me and Joy don’t have problems climbing these uphill path. But our little princess, Rain have yet to start her mountain climbing lessons. Now she has to start on her four extremities. The good thing was, Rain was all excited of the adventure. I never heared her complaining of the tall vegetation, the steep inclination, the difficult foot holds and the tiring uphill push. I began the shortest, most impromptu climbing lessons I can give, to an eight year old lady! She was just taking it in stride and was cajoling us, Joy and me, to be slow climbers!
Oh, the genes…
With perspiration and countless pants on the way up, we reached the old Spanish era light house. Sadly, the sight was more of a neglect than a historic sight. The attempts at modernizing the light house is evident, but lacking. Even rain blurted “bakit di pinaayos to ni GMA?” To which we all laughed at. Mang Delfin said the caretakers of this light house was repairing the tower several weeks ago and that the guards there left already. We manage to get some pictures while climbing the stairs up towards the main entrance.
In this area, the sight is breathtakingly beautiful. The top hill plateau gave a 360 view of the vast sea in front of Zambales, and the light house at the back. The cool sea breeze seemed forever in this part of islands.
We got busy with our cameras and Rain was starting a video documentary of the place on her own. Joy and I giggled at the depth of words Rain recorded in her documentary. Even the grass has her descriptions.
It was almost lunchtime when we decided to leave Capones Light House. We had our lunch prepared already at Nora’s beach resort in Pundaguit yesterday, so we have to go there. Taking a few more shots and antics in the old lighthouse area we bade our final goodbyes to the place.
Tracing our way downhill, we were met by a crying sound halfway. Then Mang delfin hastened his pace to get early in our bangka. “Anu po yun!” I queried Mang Delfin. “Yung Anak ko po umiiyak! Natakot at akal nya iniwan na natin!” The poor child. Mang Delfin left his child to guard our boat. But the child was actually afraid of being alone but didn’t told us early on. Now he is crying… We gave rain the hint to appease the child almost her age. She gave him chocolates. I and joy never mentioned anything.
Our trip back to Pundaguit turned uneventful. The waves in this side of the channel is a lot calm than on the other side of the island. “Buti naman!” Rain even fell asleep. She was too tired on her first mountaineering lesson!”
At Nora’s beach, we just waited for our lunch to be served. Pork Sinigang and an ice cold cola quenched our thirst and hunger. “Sarap dito!” said Joy. Rain was continuing her documentary video and I was packing our things up. After paying our bill and checking our things, we thanked Nora, the owner of the place and Mang Delfin, our boatman, for the admirable service we got. Riding a tryke back towards the waiting area. When the bus came, we all happily dozed off in our seats!
