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Published: September 16th 2007
I'm back in Homonhon Island. I took the land trip again with Lina and her daughter this time. Emie's niece is getting married after the town fiesta. I'm glad to be back. My first stop is Habag town in Homonhon and afterward I'm going to Bitaugan to stay with Emie and her family.
I walk around town with Lynie (Lina's daughter) and Liza, her cousin who lives there. I was able to visit Little Habag, a few minutes walk from the plaza (my point of reference; it's where the basketball court is located). We visited Mana Naning and her family. I didin't know there was another "baranggay" in Habag. I was not able to go there before. There are fewer houses here.
I was able to talk with Mana Naning and she told me about the other towns of Homonhon like Suluan (it's across the main island of Homonhon) where she used to be assigned as a teacher. She told me about the lighthouse over there. When I met with Emie, I asked her if we can tour the other towns. Emie went to see Papa Ramon, to ask if we can hire his banca for the tour. It
was good that he is available on the day we are to tour.
Emie prepared our food. We left early. We were five people travelling. (Emie, Mark, Papa Ramon, another man who helped in sailing the banca, and me). We left Bitaugan Daku early in the morning. Our first stop was Suluan Island. It was a "wavy ride", everybody was calm because Papa Ramon knows the sea route. It was about two hours boat ride.
We arrived at the "port" of Suluan and we introduced ourselves to the locals in the "port" and made our intentions known to them. The locals were very friendly. We stopped by the church first. The houses in the town by the main road looked different from the ones in Habag or Bitaugan. They were constructed in cement and colorful. We walked the main road leading to the white beach and crystal clear waters. Further down the road was the steps leading to the lighthouse. We just walked up about one-fourth way, we didn't have much time to explore Suluan for this is a day trip only.
As we were taking pictures in the steps. We noticed there were a group of
locals getting "buko" (coconut). They gave us coconut to drink and eat. That's what's special with coconut, a "fruit" you can eat and drink. Afterward, we walk back to town and thanked the townsfolk for welcoming us into their town.
We are off to Pagbabangnan where Ferdinand Magellan first arrived in the Philippines (according to the locals). Ferdinand Magellan was a Spanish navigator. His name appears in Philippine history books as he rediscovers the Philippines (on his way looking for Moluccas, the Spice Island). As we arrived, I notice that the shore was rocky and waves were strong. I'm excited to be able to visit this place. On the 100th year anniversary of Magellan's landing here, Mark (Emie's husband) informed me that the King Juan Carlos of Spain went to visit this place.
The place remained intact as I can observe. There are no houses in the area of the Magellan site. We had our lunch here. We took a dip in the small spring where Emie said, may have been Magellanand crew's source of drinking water. The cross that stands here now is not the original one though as the locals told me. There is also a
Magellan's cross near the Sto. Nino Shrine in Cebu City. If you are a history buff, you may want to check about the Magellan's cross found in the Philippines.
This is the highlight of my trip this time, visiting Suluan Island and Magellan's Cross in Pagbabangnan. I was also able to go with Emie to the town fiesta in Inapulangan where I met Lina as they have relatives there too. It's a town also by the beach. Back at Emie's place, we also went to the spring just a few minutes walk at the back of the Public Elementary School.
I went back to Manila via Philtranco bus. It looked like a cargo bus as there was a room full of boxes at the back. It's still the same, the aisle seats were full as we traverse through towns, passengers kept coming in even if there are no more seats.
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Naty Castellano Martinez
non-member comment
Reunion in Homonhon
I was born and raised in Casuguran Homonhon Island but I've never been there for almost 30 years now.I really miss the island especially our barrio Casuguran.Napakalaking kasiyahan ang ibinigay sa akin ng travelblog ni Ms Agnes Lim dahil nakita ko ang mga lugar na di na napupuntahan sa Homonhon.Talo pa nga niya ako kasi di ko pa nararating ang dinaungan ni Magellan,ang Cantilado...pero mayroon lang po akong gustong linawin,nakarating po sila sa Suluan Island na sabi nila part of Homonhon,hindi po kasama ang Suluan sa Homonhon kasi bukod siyang isla.Pagkatapos,ang mga barangay po doon ay hindi pa po town....simpleng barangay lang po sila.Homonhon Island and Suluan Island are under the municipality of Guiuan...Guiuan is our town..pero nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya at napasaya niya ako sa mga pictures na inilagay niya.Salamat Ms Agnes Lim....Regards sa mga taga Homonhon na makakabasa nito lalo na ang mga taga Casuguran miss ko kayong lahat....