A Hidden Paradise

Angelica T. Dalit

Im sure youll be dumbfounded once you enter the realm of the San Ildefonso peninsula, one of
the most isolated places in Aurora province. Its people taking pride in diverse wildlife and marine life,
living in harmony with nature, and preserving a distinct culture establish a unique identity.
On our summer escapade in May 2013, we boarded a banca that took us to the peninsula. The
waters reflecting the blue skies, the majestic front of the place, and the peace enveloping us entertained us
on the one-hour trip while we were chatting amid the whir of the motor of the banca. The place offered a
lot of exciting activities, such as hiking, sunrise-watching, and swimming in the clear waters of Tibu, a
small U-shaped saltwater pool at the Pacific Ocean shore, inhabited by bulaklak ng dagat, banagan
(lobster), starfish, and fish including that similar to clownfish but different in color. These are among the
attractions of Ibayo (as common people call San Ildefonso) which make it a sure candidate for tourism
industry.
San Ildefonsos beauty, however, is in contrast with peoples lifestyles. The place lags behind the
rest of the province in terms of educational and economic development. People cant enjoy the luxury of
having electricity because their electric motor cant sustain the whole community. Electricity is available
from six to nine oclock in the evening only. Even the water system hasnt yet been available to those who
live near the mountains, and water still has to be fetched from man-made wells. People feel the need to
survive without all the technologies we enjoy now. The worst of all is that the youths, to be able to study,
have to cross the sea (a way too dangerous for them) just to get to the nearest high school, and their
failure to cross the sea on weekends would mean no allowances.
Considering that other places obtain benefits from the government, I think its high time for San
Ildefonso to receive what it truly deserves.

Published in The Carmelian Faces (official publication of the Higher Education Department of Mount
Carmel College of Baler), JuneOctober 2013, Volume VIII, No. 7, p. 6