The trip to Gigantes Islands begins at Bancal Port in Carles. Boat fare is as low as P90 pesos while tourists are charged a one-way environmental fee worth P75. Bancal Port thrives with small and huge water vehicles alike. Fishermen dock here where their day’s catch are traded at the fishing port next to the tourism office. Visitors who want their own private boats for the island hopping may also transact with boat operators. Rate usually begins at 3,000 for a 10-seater boat.
Gigantes’ shores are not as powdery-white as Boracay’s but the sand definitely glimmers in its golden appeal! Tourist boats dock at Sitio Langub in Barangay Granada on the main island.
“Sir, bili na po kayo ng souvenir,” chanted the children to guests walking towards Gigantes’ lighthouse. They chant sounds like the trademark “May uwi si Nanay sa bahay” of Kris Aquino’s movie Feng Shui. Nevertheless, the children’s intone doesn’t sound that creepy.
The old lighthouse (once called Faro de Sibulac Babae) was built during the Spanish period. The Philippines was opened to international trade after Mexico gained independence. To protect the galleons that ply the Philippine seas, the Spanish authorities undertook the construction of 70 lighthouses towards the end of their colonial regime. Faro de Sibulac Babae once had a metal tower or tourelle made France and assembled on site. Below the tourelle is a complete dwelling facility made of coral stones, bricks and hardwood.
Today, this little tower (English version of tourelle) is gone and were replaced by modern, aluminum solar-powered lighthouse. The dwelling facility was restored by the ABS-CBN Foundation and one of the rooms was converted into a coffee shop managed by a group of mothers in Gigantes Norte.
Local children freely frolic on the shoreline on sunset. When they saw me taking pictures of them, they immediately hurried towards me to pose and gave the widest grin they could! They asked me if I’ll upload the shots on Facebook. "Of course, you'll all be seen by my friends on Facebook!" And they smiled had gone brighter. Simple pleasures like this are enough to bring happiness to the children of this island. How I envy them!
Everywhere you look in Gigantes you see boats either floating on the sea or resting on the shoreline. With the golden sky as the backdrop, one can’t help but pause, take a deep breath and be thankful for this beauty!
When dusk settles and evening awakens, locals retreat to their homes while tourists relish the peace and respite that Gigantes has to offer. It is full-moon on my first night in Gigantes, so I can't miss the chance not capturing it on my smartphone.
Gigantes Hideway is one of the first resorts to operate in the island. Rustic cottages are offered to guests. The owner, Joel Decano, admits that the accommodations are not luxurious. They are actually offer very basic amenities but he wants guests to have a feel of the island’s simple yet carefree lifestyle. I got a very reasonable deal for my stay here which covered my room, meals, island hopping and tour guide for two nights and three days.
Legend has it that Gigantes was once home to giants. Wooden cadavers were excavated in the islands’ caves and were believed to have been the final resting place of the islands’ primitive settlers. The smallest measure six feet and could extend to eight feet.
Experience authentic island living in Gigantes. At Gigantes Hideaway Inn, guests can actually sleep on a tree house perched on top of a banyan tree (locals call it balete). Or you can enjoy a slumber on one of the hammocks that hang under the shade.
The locals of Gigantes primarily thrive through fishing. The steady influx of tourists since 2014 has provided them another source of livelihood. Many locals are now employed as tour guide. When sunshine hits the sand, a golden blank beholds. The sea turns from dark green to aquamarine and the rays shimmer to your eyes' delight.
Antonia (pronounced as Antoneeya) Island offers the most number of activities to tourists who yearn for adventure: snorkelling, diving, swimming. Tents are for rent for those who want to enjoy the night outdoors and sleep right in front of the sea.
The islands’ rough cliffs were scarred by the tough seas and strong winds. However, they look perfect just like that. There's a huge, bottle-shaped wood that lies in Antonia's shoreline (Above). I wonder if someone carved it, or was it nature you did it? Coconuts are everywhere offering a place to rest for those wanting to avoid the scorching heat of the sun.
Bantigue Island boasts of a sand bar that changes shapes depending on the season. It overlooks a breathtaking view of the other islands? While the cerulean water offers a soothing site. Gigantes offers a rich choice of seafood. Crabs, shrimps, fish, squid, scallops, you name it! You can even ask for a boat-load of wasay-wasay (pictured above). Boats dock at the sand bar, which changes shape depending on the season. It could be s-shaped (usually every summer), c-shaped, or t-shaped, said our tour guide.
Ah, Cabugao Gamay Island, the poster island of Gigantes. You see this island all the time on social media. It's Gigantes' most photographed attraction. No island-hopping adventure is complete without climbing the famous hill which tourists climb despite the sweltering heat to get that signature shot.
The resort owner constructed a concrete stairway that covered the boulders, which, to me totally eliminates the thrill of climbing up. Now every one else wants to have a selfie on top with Cabugao Gamay’s view behind them. Tourists have to endure the scorching heat and the queue just to have their photos taken.
Another must-do in Cabugao Gamay is piling up rocks to show that you have actually made it to the island. Tourists would look for white, flat rocks and pile them up before leaving the island. I remembe doing this also when I was in Mararison Island. Cabugao Gamay is Gigantes' most visited spot and boat-loads upon boat-loads of tourists come here every day. The influx swells every summer.
We are always reminded to take care of the islands which we visit. Prominently hung in one of the coconut trees is this handpainted signage with the message loud and clear. With mass tourism invading even the remotest of the country's beautiful islands, expect for trashes to litter around. But with the lesson from Boracay, I bet travelers have now gone more conscious when it comes to taking care of the environment.
Tangke Lagoon. It is a salt-water lagoon with the surrounding rock formation that looks cobalt blue from above. It seems the lagoon is enclosed by the boulders but there's an opening where water from the sea comes in. When it's high tide the lagoon fills up with water, but goes dry during low tide and when drought is extreme. Many myths surround this interesting natural attraction. There's a story that goes that every San Juan, or the feast day of Saint John the Bapist on June 24, the water level would dramatically rise. Visitors are told not to make too much noise, or else they'll earn the wrath of the engkantos who reside in the island.
A balete tree sprouts and grows on a rock. Locals believe that spirits live in the balete tree.
Another source of livelihood among the locals in making dried fish. Some do this for their own consumption, others, who can manage to produce in huge batches, would sell them.
I asked our tour guide on our way to the Bakwitan Cave what are these bamboo path walks for? They were actually constructed for the locals to walk through during the rainy months. Flood usually threaten the locals and so these make-shift bridges with railings on one side were made.
Bakwit is the Hiligaynon term for escape or flee to one's safety. During the war and when typhoon devastates the island, the locals would seek refuse in this cave. The cave once served as the final resting place of the island-dwellers. Bones were excavated here and a closer look on some stones one can find them dented with ribcages. Exploring Bakwitan Cave begins with a short hike up to the cave's entrance.Going further brought me and my tour guide to a spacious cavern where a ceiling opening lets light come in. Stalactites and stalagmites abound, too. Keep your eyes open and you'll see an image of the Virgin Mary out from the rock formations inside the cave.
Now, here's a little saddening. Not far from where I stayed are these mountains and oceans of shells. Locals sell scallops and many purchasers wanted them plucked from their shells. The locals would painstakingly remove the meat and just dump the shells here causing the place to smell foul. With all these shells, there is a huge potential for a thriving shellcraft industry here. It's just a matter of time to train the households on how to make quality products out of their natural resources. Of course, a little help from the local government to package and market these crafts would yield profitable results. But for now, I think these shell dumpsite is a total sore.
There is a small mangrove forest nearby the sea of shells. By the look of them, they seem to centuries-old or so.
Gigantes is truly a beautiful island. Pristine. Tranquil. Unadulterated. Magical. Mythical. What else best describes this paradise? Anyway tired of the city life or wanting to forcibly escape the world can come here for a day or two. There's no wifi or phone signal or so call really disconnect from the banalities of life and gather yourself to emerge feeling better.
