A TRIP TO CANIGAO ISLAND WITH THE GK-CFC COUPLES OF LEYTE

Last May 17, the Gawad Kalinga team of Leyte invited me to join them on an overnight excursion to Canigao Island in Matalom, Leyte. I didn’t hesitate to accept, as I was free that day and it had been quite some time since my last visit to the island.

Since it was the weekend right after the elections, the port in Matalom—where one takes a boat to Canigao—was packed with vacationers waiting for their turn to cross. During my previous visit, the jump-off point was a barangay directly across from the island, and only a handful of tourists were around.

Now, the port has been moved to the town proper of Matalom, and the process has been systematized. All visitors must first register at the Tourism Office, where they are assigned a boat that will bring them to the island—and the same boat will also be scheduled to bring them back.

We pitched our tents at the back of the island, right where we were offloaded. I was given a tent of my own. Since the following day was a Sunday, the team asked if I could bring a Mass kit so we could celebrate Mass on the island. As all  of them were members of Couples for Christ, they also requested if they could renew their marriage vows during the Mass—which, of course, was no problem. I was pleasantly surprised when they all showed up for Mass dressed in white at a makeshift altar by the beach. 

 

There were so many vacationers trying to catch the boat to Canigao. It took us two hours of waiting before we were able to board the boat that was assigned to us for the twenty-minute ride to the island.

There were not that many people in the back side of the island. 

A variety of shellfish were being sold on the island. The one shown above is locally known as Sunlutan. Since they had already been removed from their shells, I had no idea what they looked like when still alive.

Bug-atan

Tikud-tikud

Litub

With the GK team couples

All dressed in white for their renewal of marriage vows. 

CANIGAO ISLAND

Last March 26, 2008 right after the Holy Week, the personnel and staff of the Sts. Peter & Paul had an overnight camping in the island of Canigao in Matalom, Leyte. One good thing with Canigao is that the island is not far from the mainland. It only takes about ten to fifteen minutes by boat in order to reach the island. It has white sand for the beach. Lately, the municipal government of Matalom constructed some cottages on the island. They also have cleared the area of the grasses that is why the beach has become wider.

Pitching tents for the overnight camping

We also have a portable generator which we always bring along during our camping.

Sunrise in Canigao

The sand bar

In the shallow waters we found Nokot, a kind of sea weed which look like green noodles. They would cling to some stones and can be seen only when the waters are calm. It is succulent and it can be eaten raw with just vinegar and soy sauce or it can go with fish tinola or with kinilaw.

The Nokot that we harvested from the sea.

The lighthouse in Canigao

The SPP clergy

With the office staff

A final pose in the island of Canigao before leaving

The whole Sts. Peter & Paul staff and personnel posing in front of the parish church of Matalom