Malalison Island: Over the Hills and Far Away

The sun had barely awakened from its slumber when we began to set off for the rolling hills on the western side of the island. It was almost the start of the rainy season – it would actually rain almost every late afternoon – but the oppressive heat during much of the day forced us to plan an early morning trek when the temperature would be more tolerable.  We woke up just in time to catch a picturesque sunrise and by 6 AM we were on our way.

Logbon Island: Bayanihan and a Fishing Community

Many of our island-hopping trips in the last few years involved forays into deserted islands or beaches in protected marine sanctuaries with hardly a village or settlement in sight. Our recent island-hopping trip in Romblon Island, however, was different. The first two islands – Cobrador and Alad Islands – all had communities located just behind immaculate white sand beaches. The third island – Logbon – held a surprise for us.

Cobrador and Alad Islands: Hopping Around Romblon

It was one of those things we had dreaded on a long trip and it happened on the morning we were set to go on an island-hopping tour at Romblon Island. Leo felt a stabbing pain on his lower back on our way out of the Parc Bay Mansion. Fortunately though it wasn’t as bad as we first thought and he was able to manage his condition as we boarded our boat towards the group of three islands lying off the western coast of Romblon Island. And fortunately so because it was a beautiful, sunny day.

Talipasak Beach on a Hot Summer’s Day

We weren’t supposed to be here this early, having just arrived at the port town of Romblon at 6AM. But after trying to catch up on sleep at our hotel, we were startled awake by a sudden brownout. With summer in high gear, we had to leave our hotel room before it got steaming hot inside. With so many beaches on the island, it was a no-brainer where to go to cool down on a hot and dry day.

A Beach Named Bonbon

We first set foot on this white sand beach at the end of our island-hopping tour, on our second day in Romblon. We had spent an inordinate amount of time at our third island destination leaving us only several minutes to explore beautiful Bonbon Beach before we had to return to Romblon town. Our boat hurriedly docked in the middle of Bonbon’s long, curving sandbar and we lost no time in exploring the beach, by now beginning to get awash in the golden rays of a sun lazily dropping down into the distant horizon.

Tiamban: Beach Bumming Paradise

We hadn’t planned going to this beach this early, having just arrived at Romblon town at 6 AM. Our initial plan was to catch up on sleep in the morning, then head for Talipasak Beach in the afternoon. We would then visit three other beaches including Tiamban Beach, on the following day. But a sudden brownout before 9AM changed our plans. It was unbearably hot in the hotel and with the multitude of beaches nearby we’d be fools not to cool off at these, so off to Talipasak we went.

Bolinao: Beyond Patar Beach

In our past two visits to this coastal town our primary destination has always been the same: Patar Beach. Blessed with white sand and crystal-clear waters, Patar Beach we thought was worth the long 6-hour plus drive from Metro Manila. So when Leo drove his mom, sisters and a nephew to Bolinao in Pangasinan province recently, his first impulse was to bring them to this white beach wonder. Not having been to this beach since 2011, however, he was in for what was almost a rude awakening.