Thursday, November 09, 2006

San Vicente, Northern Samar

The town of San Vicente, N. Samar is composed of seven islands. The main town of San Vicente lies isolated south from the six other islands which composes the town of San Vicente. The six other islands which almost face each other like in a circle are Sila (which boasts of a pink sand beach), Tarnate, Sangputan, Panganoron, Maragat and Mahaba. The beautiful beaches are found in these group of six islands. In San Vicente there is only one small cove where people usually go for swimming. San Vicente was formerly known as Destacado island. When it became a town separate from Capul, it was changed to San Vicente, however one barangay in the main town retained its name as Destacado. San Vicente is not yet a parish but only a mission station although having its own permanent priest assigned. Fishing is the main livelihood of the people, hence there is not lacking fresh fish on the table. However, there are still illegal dynamite fishing being practiced. We heard two dynamites exploded when we camped there in Sila.

Last Monday, Nov. 6, 2006 together with Frs. Louie, Mony and Roy and our computer man Ronnie, we visited the island of San Vicente. When I called up the administrator priest of San Vicente, Fr. Jose Sumayop he inquired what I would like to do there. I told him that upon arriving in San Vicente we would like to go to that famous pink sand beach and stay overnight there. He had been there for six months and he had not known that there was a beach with a pink sand and he wondered where I got the information. It was of course related to me by the former administrator, five years before who kept inviting me to visit San Vicente when we visited the nearby island of Capul. And so two days before we arrived, Fr. Joesu went for an inspection tour of the beach and had it cleaned, as it had not been visited for sometime already and there were lots of debris along the beach.
We arrived in San Vicente after leaving from the port in San Isidro at 4:30 p.m. after a two hour boat ride. We were told to take snacks first before proceeding to the pink beach. What met us was not just snacks but already a heavy seafood meal of fish na kinilaw, sinugba, pusit na sinugba and calamares, camoteng kahoy, and vegetables nga pipino but the thin one like a sikwa, among others.
We left for the island of Sila where the pink sand beach was supposed to be at past six in the evening. It was a 45 minute boat ride to the island, but it was a glorious night as we saw the moon arising from the east illuminating the seas. In Sila we pitched camp there. This part of Sila is called Binantal. People from the town of San Vicente accompanied us, as well as people from Sila and Tarnate also joined us, as they were the ones who prepared the food for dinner that night. It was really the second dinner for the night. They had with them two newly catched fish and an octopus which were cooked just there. There were almost 50 people there who welcomed us that night. The parishioners coming from San Vicente stayed overnight with us, while the people from Sila and Tarnate went home that night only to return the following morning bringing food again for breakfast. Since we brought with us a portable generator set, we had lights the whole night.
After breakfast and having inspected the truly pink sand beach and done some swimming (there were lots of tiny jelly fish in this part of the beach at this time), we went for an island hopping. From Sila, we visited all the islands which compose San Vicente: Panganoron, Mahaba, Maragat, Sangputan and Tarnate.


The boat that would bring us from San Isidro, N. Samar to San Vicente.

The main island of San Vicente


The church of San Vicente.

The altar of the Church of San Vicente


Maragat Island is the second biggest island after San Vicente. Pictured above is the southern end of the island. The current here is so fast that even at midday the water is so refreshingly cool.



Sunset in San Vicente


Mahaba Island

The sand bar of Mahaba Island


Enjoying the waters of Panganoron island.
Panganoron island has the best beach for swimming. The beach is clean and white and the waters so clear.
Panganoron Island

Frs. Louie, Roy and Ronnie having the time of their life in Panganoron island.
One has not really been to San Vicente if one has not visited the beautiful white beach of Panganoron island. Our host, Joesu, on the right.

The island of Sila where the pink sand can be found.

It's really one-of-a-kind pink sand found in the island of Sila.

Look ma, the sand is really pink in Binantal beach found in the island of Sila.

We pitched our tents for the night at Binantal Beach in Sila.
The octopus that was served to us.
People from the barangay of Sila prepared our food for us.
It's Fr. Roy rock climbing, at least for pictures sake!

Sangputan Island


Chapel of Tarnate

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi po! very nice places and pictures. can you pls. help us how can we go in san vicente samar with the pink sand? how much will it cost us to be there? where can we stay if it's overnight? any contact person? pls. include also cuatro islas in leyte. Where going this may in tanauan leyte hometown of my father. im finding nice places to visit in leyte to save time instead of going to bantayan in cebu. thank you po in advance.

Anonymous said...

hi po ulet! can you pls. send po your reply to my email ghlenz.plamio@gmail.com or ghlenda2000@yahoo.com...i'm so fascinated to all the picture's you posted coz i'm also nature lover. anyway's thank you po ulet in advance..

V said...

Hi, delighted to find your pictures of Maragat Island. Believe it or not, back in 1878 my great-grandfather from Liverpool, England was working as an Able Seaman on a sailing ship - a clipper - that wrecked or ran aground on that island. You are the only person I know of that has visited, and there are no other pictures online that I am aware of. You have given me a glimpse into my own past!

Ever see pieces of coal on that island? It may very well have come from my GG's ship, as they were carrying coal and lost about half their cargo there.

Thanks again for the beautiful pictures!

hazel francisco gabog said...

hello i was originally born in sila island which now pink beach sila,this the coolest and peaceful place ever since. i remember it was just only 8 houses in there not much people even though it is only few i enjoy this place everyday swimming no matter what my grandparents cannot stop me because its real beautiful, i can see the corals,fish everything under of it.i love the sea,i love this place so pure and clean,its real paradise for me, but when i need to enter primary school we transfer in sangputan(lolo's place).
kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh
miss ko na ang sila....

Anonymous said...

hi! this is riza albuera julian currently residing at las vegas as beauty advisor supervisor in a company and i am proud to be a maragatanon.i'm glad that someone step-on to view the maragat to the world now my cousins and other relatives here in las vegas, california,germany and other country can experience the sight of maragat & other part of northern samar, thanks guyz!. Congratulations Marillo 'Chokoy" Albuera for winning as town councilor, my father we're proud of you!

Anonymous said...

hello! san vicente!

Anonymous said...

oh!i live san vicente for me that the best,island in my enternal life,i am so excited every year in my vacation,in my adorable hometown,i spend my time and bonding with my family,and get ready a picnic in marasbaras beach and eat lot of food, like urchin,and sweet potato,and i love san vicente,i miss my family so much,,,and also my one favorate teacher,i great her HAPPY B-DAY,THANK YOU TO WONDERFULL PERSON TO US,MAM MRS,ADORASCION LEGASPI!MANY MORE B-DAY YO COME IN YOUR LIFE, I MISS YOU SEE NEXT YEAR!

Anonymous said...

to anonymous who's asking how to reach san vicente,it's easy and cheap.you can go to either pasay or cubao bus terminals,and just ride the bus, that going to bulan, sorsogon, and then if you are already in bulan sorsogon,just ask some tricycle to bring you in pier,and wait there until you can see the boat that are going to san vicente,and just ask if you are not really sure.san vicente is really good and peaceful place.hope you can reach there,but it's better if you have a companion that already laeving there, so it will easy for you to go there.maybe you will spend just 1500,food is included,

Edgar said...

Hi! Thanks for your engaging account of you trip to San Vicente. Mind if I ask your help? I'm trying to identify the islands on Google Earth but it only knows the islands by their old names (by Search). Back in the Spanish era, the six northern islands were called Naranjo Islands and their names were: San Andres (northernmost), Escarpada (easternmost), Medio (center), Aguada (south), Darsena (closest to Aguada) and Rasa (closest to San Andres). Would you be able to match these islands with their current names? I'd very much appreciate your help. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

HELLO SAN VICENTE!

I LIKE TO GREAT ALL THE TEACHER IN SAN VICENTE NORTHERN SAMAR HAPPY TEACHER DAY!THANK YOU MAAM!S ADORASCION LEGASPI! MAAM MELCHORA LUNEZA,MAAM NENETA DELO SANTOS,I HOPE U HAVE MUCH LONG PETIENT IN UR STUDENT AND CONTINUE TO TEACH THEM GOOD VALUE! I SALUT YOU MAAM! THANK YOU!

beachanatic said...

The corresponding present names of the islands of San Vicente could be the following: San Andres is Maragat, Escarpada is Sangputan, Medio is Panganoron, Aguada is Tarnate, Darsena is Sila and Rasa is Mahaba.

Anonymous said...

Hi. I am a Filipino living here in the US. I moved here with my Family when I was 14 years old. I am 41 now. This pictures really make want to move back home for my retirement. Whoever you are who is maintaining this blog, thank you. Great job. Keep on doing it.

beachanatic said...

Thanks Anonymous for your comment. There are very many beautiful places to retire from here in the Philippines. For beaches you just choose from those unspoilt yet by developments to those that have been developed already. There is really no place like home.

Anonymous said...

hi father!this blogspot of yours is really nice...our plan to have a vac in haven of fun, dalupiri, n. samar had brought me to ur site..instantly ive come to love ur blogs & the pics, make me wanna go to every beach (esp. the unpoiled ones)u have posted...for sure it had cost u a lot of money...of which i cannot afford..so for now, id be taking my vacay through ur pics hehehe...please keep on posting!!

beachanatic said...

Thanks Anonymous. Just wanted to help others who have the same passion by posting infos
on how to get to the different beaches in the Philippines, how much, needed contacts and what to see and expect in the beaches that I have been to.

Anonymous said...

I have never seen better than this site.

Anonymous said...

I like this site^-^

Generic Viagra Jokes said...

The place looks beautiful, excellent photos, I already put it in my list of places I have to visit.

Anonymous said...

ang ganda ng lugar na to,,mkakapunta din ako dito ,,

Anonymous said...

tnx father sa paggawa ng site na to...rgards from my gf kilala ka nya

sunrise_67 said...

jejejjeejej @ mhil_31:coment pa xia.. mkkpnta ka rin jan. just wait for the ryt time.
To my fellow san vicentehanon ,, i missed u all !!! regards God bless..

Anonymous said...

sunrise_67 pla hahhhh????
miss mo na ba cla?
ambla b c father dugangan ang mga pictre sa site nga ja daw nami haw
^_^

Anonymous said...

pakilala na bla knanda sunrise2x kaw pa mung ,,ako pa gli ma introduce knimu teng?haha^_^

Anonymous said...

pakilala na bla knanda sunrise2x kaw pa mung ,,ako pa gli ma introduce knimu teng?haha^_^

sunrise_67 said...

@mhil_31 : jejejejjeeje bsan kaw pa ma introduce d ra kakilala tnda ...
i coment mu lmng pa dugangan mu pics.

Anonymous said...

okie ahhh...
elow po founder ng site
mayroon pa po ba kau ibang pics ng san vicente northern samar? please upload naman po
tnx
more power
godblezzz^_^

Anonymous said...

oh! my beautiful! home town! i realy miss this place next year! i will visit again my family!!and also my alomnus!!oh i am so excited this event!! see you in 2012!!

Anonymous said...

tnx 4 the upload
author
hehehe
^_^

Ice Breaker_18 said...

oh my !!!na mis kuh poh pumunta sa mga chapel na yan ,, SVFYM_musta choir ??... to Fr.jr_pwd pu upload u dating mga pics sa san vi ..tnx.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this blog. That's all I can say. You most definitely have made this blog into something thats eye opening and important. You clearly know so much about the subject, youve covered so many bases. Great stuff from this part of the internet. Again, thank you for this blog.

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

Ice Breaker_18 said...

I really miss my hometown !!!
i hope that one of these days ,i can go home ....

" there's no place like home "
To my adviser Mam adoracion.. i missed u and to my classmates ..wct _lirio,patience..

L" all 4 one, one 4 all "

ray meds said...

what a beautiful place, of course all the island in this region of the caribbean are real mini paradise, and this pictures are the most real prove.

ray meds said...

Just wanted to thank you, not just because the nice post, but pretty much more because my grandfather is nearly recovering from his surgery and he has almost nothing to do but staying on bed all day, his best source of entertainment has been this blog and I feel this is something good for him and his recovery.

Anonymous said...

I just added this blog site to my feed reader, excellent stuff. Can not get enough!

Anonymous said...

hello! to my all teacher!in my beautiful home island,happy teacher day,ang paborito kong maam adoracion
legaspi thank you much for being a good second mother to us,i really miss you,and also my untie nineta delo santos,erlinda francisco,and melchora luneza! maraming salamt sa sa inyo,pagtuturo sa amin!!

Anonymous said...

hi hello good day to all who visited this blog, what I can say is that the place of san vicente, particularly the pink sand beach is located, is very nice and coll place. that's one of a kind beach i've ever visited. I assure you, you will enjoy staying in this part of the philippines. How I wish to go back to that place, if beachanatic will plan to go there again...

Unknown said...

By reading this blog, comment, messages etc.. Made me cry and made me homesick again..... I really want to go home.... But i cant. I was born in maragat but studied secondary school in san vicente..... I cant say who's my favorite because for me they're the best teachers/model..... Without them i wouldnt be here crying during winter time.... Winter time here made me think of maragat all the time..... I miss all the fiesta crlebration,christmas,beaches during summer,, mostly the seafoods there.... Seafoods in maragat were very cheap as i remember.... I miss a lot the sea orchin,squid,tuna,buraw,octopus,boiled banana dip in fish paste(ginamos),.....fresh coconut meat and juice,oyster,kangkong,ganas(sweet potato tops/leaves) with fresh fish in kalamansi juice.... Most of all i miss MALUNGGAY!!!!,,, santol,wild guava,barisbis... Now,,, remembering those seems like i want to cry again.

Unknown said...

I forgot the balanghoy( cassava),and camote,,, huuuummmm i wont exchange those natural organic foods in burgers here.....

Anonymous said...

hello, i am planing to go to san vicente in 2 weeks, so can anybody tell me if there is a place or room on the islands to sleep ?
thank you for answer
christofbolz@web.de
christof