CEBU, Philippines - January always ushers in the kind of holiday hang-over that’s only bound to morph into a giddy anticipation for summer as the months of April and May are just a couple of months away. It’s the kind of anticipation that no amount of works, reports, or monitoring sheets can simply put a damper on—and kicking off one’s shoes in Sumilon only serves to spike up this excitement of everything that has to do with the sun, surf, and sand.
I’d like to hit the point head on by saying that I’m not a total fan of crowded beaches because spending downtime at the beach, on a more personal note, means serious me-time sans the boom-boom of party music and weaving through crowds of people itching to take a dip in the water.
Boracay may be a favorite for many but for me, it will always be Sumilon.
Sumilon is a tiny piece of paradise off the coast of Bato, Oslob. Surrounded by pristine white sand and shifting sand bars, this coralline island is far enough and yet near enough for a weekend vacation that’s just right to replenish one’s creative juices after being thoroughly squeezed and juiced from the demands of a big city job.
How to Get There
There are two ways of setting foot in Sumilon Island. The first is by travelling from Dumaguete City to Sibulan and taking a 30-40 minute ferry ride from there to Bato. From Bato, it will only a take a few minutes’ ride to the ferry port that will take you to Sumilon Island. Another, much longer and a rather more stressful way is by taking a three-hour drive from Cebu City to Bato, Oslob. If you’re neither from Cebu nor Dumaguete, I highly suggest that you take the Dumaguete route if you wish to get to Sumilon stat.
Where to Stay
Seaside pavilions are strategically located off the jutting rocks where one can relax to the rhythm of crashing waves against a rocky shore. Compared to other highly commercialized resorts, Sumilon is still rugged and raw enough to allow for one to commune with nature.
The island doesn’t fail to give you that lethargic, kick-your-shoes-off feeling that’s an essential element for a dream hideaway. In fact, Sumilon is lonely enough to make you feel that you own the island.
What to Do
To enjoy Sumilon completely is to immerse oneself in the bevy of things to do in this small island. Get an early start by grabbing a walking stick and trekking through the island’s rough trails. Trekking is best a little while after sunrise while the air is still cool and the sea is calm from an overlooking view at the topmost point of the island. Explore the ruins of the island’s watchtower before making your way down for breakfast at the dining pavilion overlooking the vastness of a tropical sea.
Teeming with biodiversity, missing out on diving and snorkelling are a mortal sin when one is in Sumilon. Feast your eyes on the vibrant underwater gardens of this marine sanctuary or glide through its glassy aquamarine waters while taking a breezy boat ride around the island at sunset.
Up the ante early on in the afternoon by wind surfing or kayaking or take it easy by exploring the island’s lagoon which is nestled amidst a mangrove forest.
Discovering Sumilon
The island is dotted with benches, hammocks, and quaint native day beds with beach lanterns and breezy curtains hanging from bamboo rods. These spots are strategically scattered all over the island, most of them offering a great view of a glittering aquamarine sea meeting the vast expanse of a cerulean blue sky.
These spots are actually scattered about to allow the visitor to discover a spot that the visitor can call his own and thus spend endless minutes stargazing or taking in the island’s serenity.
Sumilon is not exactly a party spot and thank God for that. The island’s strength is in how it fills the soul with a fulfilling sense of silence and serenity that one cannot find anywhere else.
Sumilon is God’s gift to the soul.