CEBU, Philippines - The sunbeam ricocheted from the stark white sand to our faces as we breathed in the salty sea air. We were in Calanggaman Island, a paradise to any beach lover. Mr. Tsuguro Dobashi, Alegre Beach Resort & Spa’s Japan coordinator (he has been so for more than two decades) was simply in awe.
“It is beautiful, it is really beautiful,” he said in his crisp Japanese accent. It was ironic that he was recommending the island to his Japanese guests for years and yet it was the first time he personally felt the cool island sand on his bare feet.
It was then he understood the mystery of his erring photographer. “I sent a photographer one time to take pictures of the island. He was so entranced by the beautiful place that he forgot to take pictures!” Dobashi laughed as his eyes crinkled at the memory.
And indeed, the island was magical. Spanning a mere 9.82 hectares of pure white sand, Calanggaman Island has two sand bars extending on each side like a bird’s wings. Maybe it was so named because of its shape – calanggaman comes from the root work langgam, a Cebuano term for bird and the word calanggaman denotes a place for birds or with birds. It could also be so named as it can be a seasonal haven for migratory birds or was a bird sanctuary at one time or another.
Either way, Calanggaman Island enchants you with its outstretched wings of pure, powdery, white sand – you can span the entire perimeter on foot in less than thirty minutes - surrounded by blue, crystalline waters too tempting to resist. And indeed our comrades were already taking a dip, savoring the cool seawaters and eagerly donning their snorkeling gear.
The island fringes are full of corals and fishes. It has a reef top at 10 meters and a drop off to more than 200 meters – from there underwater exploration begins. You’ll find caves, arches and overhangs, all flowing with sponges, gorgonians and coral. Visibility can reach 30 meters, offering an amazing underwater wonder world for divers to admire. Some divers got lucky and saw thresher sharks, stingrays, eagle rays and all types of sea turtles.
Calanggaman island is part of Tinabilan village in Palompon town of Leyte, the main island located next to Cebu. It takes only two hours by boat from Alegre Beach Resort & Spa and it is a favored island hopping site for Alegre’s in-house guests.
Dobashi was all the more at awe at this island he has been recommending for years. Calanggaman is a favorite site for Japanese tourists, who sometimes like to play shipwreck in a deserted island paradise. If you’re not a diver you will still love the stretch of sand wings, seemingly flying between sky and sea as you laze and sunbathe.
Details of Calanggaman Island packages for Alegre’s in house guests are available at its website www.alegrebeachresort.com or inquire at Tel. Nos. (63)(32) 231-1198, (63)(32) 254-9800 in Cebu or (63)(02) 634-7505 in Manila or mail reserve@alegrebeachresort.com. (THEFREEMAN)