VILLALON, CALUBIAN LEYTE

 ST. ANTHONY PARISH
VILLALON, CALUBIAN, LEYTE

HIGATANGAN ISLAND

        After our trip to the Carnaza Island  we passed by Higatangan Island. Higatangan which is part of the municipality of Naval in Biliran province is situated at the northern tip of the island of Leyte. It is in fact closer to the mainland of Leyte than to Biliran island.  It is famous for its sand bar which is at the main barangay of Higatangan. There are a number of resorts that have sprung up in the island like the Hagdan Beach Resort and Higatangan Cliff Jump which are found on the western part of the island. The island already has a cemented circumferential road. But travel is mostly by habal-habal or tricycle. 

Higatangan cliff dive. 

Link to my first post on Higatangan: Higatangan in 2009

The Cathedral of the Diocese of Naval and the churches of Almeria and Biliran

The installation of the new bishop of Naval in the person of the Most Rev. Rex Ramirez last January 12, 2018 enabled me to visit the Naval Cathedral and some other parishes in the island of Biliran.  Just a few days before the installation, a massive landslide covered an entire settlement near Naval, some roads were made impassable, and the approach to two bridges was destroyed.  

CATHEDRAL PARISH OF OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY
Naval, Biliran
Founded: 1860

Bp. Rex Ramirez.

Pictures taken during the installation of the new bishop of Naval, the Most Rev. Rex Ramirez on January 12, 2018. 

OUR LADY OF PEACE AND GOOD VOYAGE PARISH (F-1986)
Almeria, Biliran

ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE PARISH (F-1828)
Biliran, Biliran

With the parish priest of Biliran, Fr. Edelino Suyom. 

Part of the road was destroyed.

The approach to the bridge got destroyed. 

There was a settlement in this area and all the houses were buried under mud and rocks together with the residents. 

Kawayan, Biliran

The beach in Cogon, Kawayan lies on a natural cove which is about 15 minutes by boat from the town of Kawayan in Biliran. Except by a motorbike, the beach is inaccesible by land. The beach is made of coral stones, not fine white sand. From the beach of Cogon, Kawayan one can see clearly the island of Maripipi.

This beach was seen by the priests from Naval as they were on the boat to Calbayog for the installation of Bp. Abarquez. The parish priest of Kawayan, Fr. Peejay Pabatao, OFM had to check it out first and had the cottage repaired for our coming.

The island of Maripipi is clearly seen here at the back. When one sees the tip of the mountain of Maripipi it means that the sea going there is calm.

The corals in the sea were mostly destroyed and they said it was because of dynamite fishing. But here and there, there was some growth of soft sea vegetation.

Frs. Fabs, Vic and Bedel enjoying the sea.

From left to right: Frs. Jess Ty, Fabian Mariano, Peejay Pabatao,OFM (our host), Bedel Mocorro and Sam Salazar, OFM.

Bp. Bactol of Naval relaxing after a hearty meal.

Some of the seashells that we partook. It was a seafood-galore banquet prepared by the parish priest of Kawayan.

We pitched tent for the night at the beach.

The downside for swimming here is during lowtides, as it has a shallow seashore. One has to wade further in order to swim.

The following morning, the tip of the mountain of Maripipi island was covered with clouds and it was a sign for the locals that the waves are high in crossing over to the island.

At the pier of Kawayan with Jess and Fabs with other times called Obispo island at the background.