THE BEACHES OF SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

Just across the town of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro is the island of Ilin.  The island still belongs to San Jose. It has ten barangays and with the nearby Ambulong island it has now become a parish with the parish church found in Iling Proper. It has become famous as this is where Fr. Fernando Suarez, the healing priest was assigned by the Bp. Palang  and where he built a beautiful church made of bricks courtesy of DMCI.  I was told that there are good number of beautiful coves and beaches around the island but the most famous one is in Inasakan.  The beach has a very fine almost powdery white sand, much finer than Boracay. It has very clear waters but a bit cold for swimming. Perhaps it was because of the almost clayish sand that instead of reflecting the sun, the heat would penetrate it leaving the water cold. 

I got to visit the island when I happened to be invited for the sacerdotal ordination of a friend in San Jose. It was the first ordination in seven years in the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose. I told my friend that I would like to visit the island as I was not able to go there when I went around the island of Mindoro in 2016. He right away contacted the parish priest of Ilin who made available to me their boat that would pick me up in San Jose the day after the ordination. Upon arriving in Ilin Proper where the parish church is situated and a short tour around the parish church, we right away took the boat to go to another part of the island in Inasakan where their most beautiful beach is found. 

Maniraga Beach Resort, Inasakan, Ilin Island,  San Jose, Occidental Mindoro

Santisima Quasi Parish, Iling Proper, Ilin Island of San Jose

Flanking the tabernacle are hand painted icons of the twelve apostles which were imported from Jerusalem. 

The old chapel of the Iling Proper just beside the new church. 

The painting of the Holy Trinity in the old chapel is said to be miraculous that many would come to the island for pilgrimage. 

A spectacular sunset in Ilin island. 

Manadi Island in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro

On our way back to San Jose, we passed by this islet and a sand bar. 

Just a few minutes away from the pier in San Jose is this island called Manadi and other times just called White Island. The place is good for snorkeling as there are good corals that can be seen. 

Bahura Reef/ Sandbar in San Jose

Just a few minutes away from White island is this sandbar called Bahura Reef.