PBA 4: CREATIVE NONFICTION

NAME: John Lennard Costuna GRADE: 12 HUMSS

HOLA! In Bantayan

(Hours, Leisure, and Adventure in Bantayan)

I was lucky to have travelled do different places ever since I was a kid. But this spectacular
journey to this one place called Bantayan, forever changed my life. I was grateful that my family
has the privilege to travel, not around the world, but in the Philippines. Every year we try our best
to follow our tradition of going out and travelling. It was on January 2020 that I had my adventure
on one of the most tranquil and peaceful islands of the country, Bantayan Island. I didn’t only want
to go there to have a vacation, I want to go there to reflect and look beyond my life. I want to
escape the loud and fast-paced city life even for just a short while. We were ecstatic during that
time, excited for the adventure that awaits us.

As we arrived in Bantayan, we were fetched by a staff of the Anika Island Resort in Santa
Fe, Bantayan. It was convenient since we didn’t have to mind how to get to the resort. As we have
arrived in the modern yet with a traditional mix style of Anika Island Resort, we were mesmerized
by the white sand beach and the view of the sea. We stayed in a wonderful ocean view room. We
arranged our stuffs, rested for a short while, then we went out to see the nightlife of Bantayan. We
rented a tricycle to go around the simple and quiet city of Santa Fe.

On our first night in center of Santa Fe, we decided to stroll first in the city center. We were
amazed by the wonderful blue and white lights that forms an arc in the main street leading to the
church. The people there are cheerful and easy to approach. However, I observed there were a lot
of foreigners who own businesses or eateries there. I felt that I am in another country because of
the number of foreigners roaming around and living in the place. As we continued strolling, I felt
my stomach grumbling. So, we decided to take a break and eat at a nearby restaurant. We saw a
restaurant that has a line. We became curious as to what that restaurant might offer, so we decided
to go there. To our surprise it was a buffet and the price of it shook us. It was only 199 Php! We
didn’t miss this opportunity to taste the delicious food being offered there. There were oysters,
scallops, crab and corn soup, lechon, calamari, and fish fillets. It was such a scrumptious feast. We
filled our stomachs to the brim and we made sure to have our plate’s worth of the food. Then, we
rode the tricycle to return to the resort.

After our first night in Bantayan, we rested in our room. The following day, after taking a
delicious American breakfast, our guide, the tricycle driver, suggested to go to the Obo-Ob
Mangrove Forest. As we rode the tricycle, we can feel the cold winds and the clean air of the
island. When we reached the forest, at first, I didn’t though much of it. However, when we started
walking, I was slowly becoming more and more interested on the trail. The mangrove trees protect
the island from tsunamis and it serves as a natural ecosystem for sea-life and the ocean. There were
different names for the stations of the trail. There was Camp Sawi in the middle and at the end, it
was Camp Wagi. When we reached Camp Wagi, I was at awe at the sight of the view. It was the
beautiful ocean and the skies that were the highlight. At this moment, my faith in God grew
stronger as I said, “Truly God created this masterpiece.”

After our trail in the Obo-Ob Mangrove Forest, we went to the oldest parish in Cebu, the
Saints Peter and Paul Parish. We went to mass to celebrate the Lord and thank Him for our
adventures. Although we didn’t understand their dialect, we just followed the mass and we felt the
presence of the Lord because of the holiness of the mass. After the mass, I saw that there are
wonderful murals and paintings on the ceilings of the parish. It is like the paintings on the Sistine
Chapel in Rome, but with a Filipino style. I have observed that the faith of the people of bantayan
were strong as they are united in prayers. While we are going back to the hotel, as it is our last
night in the island, we stopped by to buy souvenirs. We bought dried fish and fish products as it is
the best thing to buy in the island. We also bought keychains and t-shirts.

The next day, our last day in the island, we didn’t miss the best part of the adventure. It is
going to Virgin Island that boasts its pure sands and untouched nature. We rode a boat going to
the island and we were astonished by the sight of the island. It was pure and clean and it boasts a
number of marine wildlife. There were little fishes that were swimming by our side as we enjoy
the waters of the island. Upon reaching the end of our adventure in Bantayan Island, we were sad
but happy at the same time since we were able to enjoy and make the best out of our time in the
island. Truly it is a paradise. While on the plane back to Manila, I can still feel the waves and the
breeze of the island.
 I fell in love with Bantayan. The hours, leisure, and adventure we experienced in the island
will forever be embedded in my memories.