Changing Tides at Calatagan’s Starfish Island and Sandbar

As our motorized outrigger breezed through the western Batangas coast of Calatagan away from Manuel Uy Beach, we passed several now-familiar coastal landscapes on the way to our morning destination. We had passed this way before not more than two months ago. Years ago we would expect to encounter the same half-submerged sandbar surrounded by clear, transparent waters we last saw in February.

Beating the Summer Heat at Calatagan’s Manuel Uy Beach

Much of the Philippines is currently feeling the effects of an unusually hot dry season with heat indexes in some areas reaching an alarming 53°C. The latter figure is classified as extremely dangerous and could result in heat stroke for some people. (Four people had already died from heat stroke in Pili, Camarines Sur recently.) As a result, we had to think twice about going to a beach in Calatagan, Batangas to accompany a nephew here on a short vacation from his work overseas.