Summer Shalala

CEBU, Philippines - Maundy Thursday, I was staring at my room's ceiling. Tired of doing dvd marathons, I was getting irked with Facebooking. Most status was bragging about their holy week vacation spots and the rest were at their respective homes in the province.

When I got a knock on the door from my cousin, everything just fell into place. I knew I just got to get out of my bum state. So to ward off boredom, my cousins, a friend and I thought of a one-day vacation of our own. The only problem was where to go? We wanted a place not yet swarmed with people, a place amazingly worth our very tight budget. Going to the northern or southern towns seemed to be quite extravagant for us, so we immediately scrapped the idea. We found ourselves heading for Mactan Island and while in the jeepney, we decided that we’d go to Olango Island. Opon's beaches are quite overrated and surely jampacked by then.

To get to Olango, you could board a ferry from the wharf just beside Hilton Resort and Spa at Punta Engaño . It would only cost you 15pesos for the ticket and one peso as terminal fee; if you want a much cheaper way, you can go to another wharf just beside Portofino beach resort where a 10-peso ride awaits you.

The crossing from the wharf to Olango Island was quite fast, roughly 15-20minutes. Once you set foot on the island, a number of tricycles are there for your convenience. The only problem was that we did not know where to go. Not the bird sanctuary since I've been there a number of times already. I wanted to be in another part of the island. So we lingered at the waiting shed and conversed with the locals and some of the trike drivers. When we asked for a cheap beach resort, white sand and good toilet & bath facilities, they simultaneously uttered one word — SUBA.

We thought: what could we possibly lose if we'd try it out? So we were in for another 20-peso tricycle ride which was quite fun on its own, especially if you're on the driver's backseat. We finally stopped at Sitio Suba, which is part of Barangay Sabang. We then knew that we had hit the jackpot. When I asked for the name of the resort, the caretaker blurted out Shalala! I laughed out loud. But the beauty of the place can make you utter: OhhLala! The sight of four newly built bamboo huts lined up along a mangrove beach area was already an exclamation mark for me. Plus the white sand was heaven for my aching feet. The beach is really ideal if not perfect for children and those who lack the gift of swimming. There is a big portion of shallow areas. Parents could have a great time to relax without the pressure of being constant lifeguards. They could really just leave their kids to play among themselves.

Everything here is cheap. To start, the four cottages cost 200Php each and if one chooses to stay overnight, there are two (non-aircon) rooms with toilet & bath facilities. What's wonderful is that there are no extra charges for excess persons, so you can fit in as many people in the room. There's a common toilet and washing area for guests and it's for free. There is also a large open ground where you can do beach sports from volleyball, badminton or Frisbee. It would be ideal also for team building exercises. A number of rentable kayaks are available for only 100 pesos, unlimited time usage.

Aside from these sporty treats, there's something special about this place: the resort nests in an Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (OIWS) Recreational Zone. The mangroves are actually under the care of the sanctuary and the DENR. So everyone can get intimate with nature by strolling through a wide area of mangrove forest. And yes, if you're lucky enough, you may be able to spot some migratory birds which are in fact considered the most loyal guests of the resort. It would be best if you'd pack your binoculars and telephoto lenses along with you. And with a large open ground, you could just pitch tents and do a camp out under the stars if you'd chose to stay overnight.

Truly a bargain. Imagine how we had so much fun on a P200 (each) budget!

P.S. There's a store within the resort for basic needs like water and soft drinks so you don't have to carry heavy stuff on the trip. So what are you waiting for? Let's go SHALALA!