Canigao Island : Leyte's Hidden Paradise

Canigao is an islet located in the Philippines, near the municipality of Matalom, Leyte, an hour and half away from Maybog, Baybay Leyte, my barrio. Canigao is a small island of southwestern cost of Leyte. The Island is known for its white sand beach, surrounded with corals and crystal clear water. Canigao is a popular yet inexpensive weekend gateway for families and friends residing in Leyte and tourist visiting the island. Canigao Island is manage by the local tourism of Matalom Leyte.

Canigao Island, from a far.

Canigao Island, up close.

Canigao is always been in my bucket list to travel and explore when I go home in Leyte for vacation. I'd been hearing good reviews and seeing picturesque images from my friends who visited the Island. And most of them would tell me to come visit the Island, and just recently I had the chance to take a 5 days off from work and I decided to go home to Leyte and made sure that Canigao Island is in my itinerary.

Matalom Leyte's drop off point. Just follow the sign...

and you'll reach Canigao's pick up point.

October 23, 2014 Me and my bestfriend/childhood Madelyn Lumba Porcadilla and cousin/good friend Brenda Galanza decided to go to Canigao for a day chilling and exploring the Island. From our place in Maybog, we woke up early at 5:30am and took the 7:00am bus ride going to our town proper in Baybay City. From Baybay bus terminal we ride a van going to Tacloban and asked the driver to drop us off at Matalom Leyte, after an hour ride we reach Matalom and walk for 15 minutes to reach Canigao's pick-up point.

Waiting area for Tourist/Visitor going to the Island.

with my friends Madz and Brenda while waiting for our boat ride going to the Island. We had fun taking the obligatory photo opt at at the Bamboo foot bridge going to the motor banca ride to Canigao Island.

while waiting for the boat to leave chilling while looking at the open sea.

At Canigao's pick up point awaits are the local government of Matalom's tourism office. They organized the motorized banca ride going back and fort to the island. You only have to pay Php 40.00 for the entrance+environmental fee and Php 60.00 for boat ride per head. And if you are in a hurry to reach the Island, you can rent the boat for Php 1,500.00 only back and fort. Because boat usually leaves at the pick up point when passenger reach at 25 people. But if your below 25 people the local tourist officer will divide the Php 1,500.00 pesos amount depending numbers of passengers ready to board the boat.

Arriving the Island. Hello Canigao!at the Entry signage on the island.

Wow! Welcome view of Canigao Island.

Blue skies and white clouds forming as we got off the motor banca.

Canigao Island is one of the Leyte's hidden gem of paradise. It is unknown to many especially to the people from Luzon and Mindanao. When we reached the Island, the first thing we did is find a place for us to stay. In Canigao there are no Hotel establishment in the Island, but their are camping tents to rent for Php 300.00 per day, table and chair to rent for those who want to stay under the shades of trees or coconut tress just like us. Rentals for table is Php 50.00 each and chair for Php 10.00 each. Or you can rent a cottage for Php 300.00 for a day.

Our spot in the Island.

Me and my friend Madz enjoying the sun and the white sand of Canigao Island.

But if you are a big group and planning to stay overnight in the island, their are rooms for rent also for Php 1,500.00 per night inclusive of 2 double deck bed, comfort room and electric fan. As of now the island does not have electricity, the only thing that gives the island lights and power are generators. The island also has an open conference area or function hall for groups who has an indoor activities or programs. If your a small groups like us and too lazy to bring and carry foods all the way to the island, worry no more because there are available stores in Canigao Island. Local caretakers sell fresh fish and rice, and they offer cooking too for a very cheap price. Like for us we brought 2 different kind of fresh fish, one is big and the other one is small and paid it for Php 180.00 pesos plus Php 30.00 fee for cooking and cooked rice for Php 60.00 good for 3 people and we had a very delicious hassle free lunch.

Canigao's room for rent for Php 1,500.00 per night.

Canigao's open conference room/function hall

You also have an option we if you want to cook your own food. Canigao has a place for you to do so.

Canigao's cooking area.

Canigao Island is truly beautiful...I felt in love instantly, the island is spectacular. It has abundant fishing grounds and untouched coral reef in the surrounding waters making the area suitable for snorkel and diving. The beaches have fine white sand very great for beach volleyball and other outdoor beach activities. The Island can be tour for an hour and explore by foot, some parts of the island are not passable. There are also some parts of the island wherein rock formation dominates the beach but still offer a picture perfect as the white sand area of the island.

Canigao is very secluded, nature lover and adventure seeker like moi would surely love this place. And would surely have a good time chilling or simply meditating with mother nature. Canigao Island is very laid back, unspoiled and so infamous to tourist which make the island not so crowded and as for now the island is not yet exploited. I hope the local government could keep this island clean, natural and peaceful in the future.

Leyteños call Canigao as Leyte's Boracay version because of its white sand like bora itself minus crowd and bars.

the obligatory jumpshot with my friend Madz.

Canigao is truly a perfect place to communicate with nature!.

Beautiful sandbar behind us.

Meditating...

How to get to Canigao Island from Maybog, Baybay Leyte.

• Canigao Island is Located in Matalom, Leyte (South of Baybay Leyte)
• From Maybog take a bus going to Baybay time travel is 20 to 30 minutes with Php 20.00 pesos fare.
• From Baybay bus terminal take a van bound to Tacloban or Maasin, Leyte
• Tell the Driver to drop you in Brgy. Maitum, Matalom Leyte. Travel time is 1:00 hour with Php 80.00 pesos fare.
• Take a tricyle going towards the jump off point of Canigao or you can take a walk for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Take a boat bound to the Island with approximate 20 to 30 minutes boat ride.

Inside the VAN going to Matalom, Leyte :) with my friend Madz, Me, Brenda and her baby Mabbie.

How to get there: If you are from the City of Ormoc, Buses and PUVans are available for your travel to Baybay City. From Baybay City you can ride a van or bus going to Matalom, Leyte, or take the PUVans that would go straight to Maasin and just asked the driver to drop you off at Matalom so you won't have to stopped at Baybay City. Travel time from Ormoc to Matalom is 3:00 hours. The island is accessible from the Barangay Itum in Matalom. On the Barangay there are local tourism officials who will assist you, you'll just have to pay for the entrance (Php 20.00) and enviromental fee (Php 20.00) and for the boat rides sailing back and forth to the island for only Php 60.00, round trip fare.

How to get there: If you are from Manila, Their are various flight flying daily from Manila to Tacloban. You can check PAL Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Zest Air and Air Asia for flight schedule bounds for Tacloban. From Tacloban City or "DownTown" as the local people called it, take a van either Duptours or Van-Vans bound for Maasin Leyte. And tell the driver to drop you off at Matalom Leyte. Fare is around Php 200.00 pesos and travel time is about 3:00 hours. 

Maybog-Canigao Expenses:

Transportation per pax

Bus from Maybog to Baybay                       25.00 

Van from Baybay to Matalom Leyte           80.00 

Entrance Fee                                                20.00 

Environmental Fee                                      20.00 

Boat Fare                                                     60.00 

TOTAL:                                                    200.00 

Lunch at Canigao for 3 pax includes 

Fresh Fish 1kilo include cooking fee         220.00

Rice                                                              60.00

Water 3 bottle                                             120.00

Cola 2 bottle 1.5                                         140.00 

Others                                                         200.00

TOTAL:                                                     740.00 

PS. Prices may subject to change without prior notice.

We had an amazing lazy afternoon at Canigao Island and called it a day!

Thank you for reading and visiting my blog, for updates, and video's please LIKE my Facebook page at Upinde Cordero.

Xoxo,

Tine :)

CANIGAO ISLAND VIDEO

Every place has its own beauty and allure. God made us unique thus also for the places and location in Earth. - Anonymous 

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My Experience Going Home to LEYTE : Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Aftermath

I am from LEYTE. I grew up in Maybog, Baybay, Leyte. So when Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit my beloved province of Leyte. I am one of those worried individuals who can’t sleep, think and work properly thinking and worrying their family back home. Maybog is where we came from so 95% of the populations were my relatives, but my immediate family I’m most worried about was my older brother Patrick and his wife Nene, his kids Patricia 4yrs, John Paulo 11mos and my niece Den-den 11yrs. (daughter of my Sister). 

Six days after Yolanda hit on the ground, I was still unable to speak to my brother, and I’m only hearing news from friends and neighbors who were able to speak to their love ones or through sharing updates in social media such as facebook. This adds worries on my part, because I’m getting different stories of what had happened in my family and in our house back home. When finally my boss arrives from the U.S. she let me go and booked me a flight going home, taking Manila-Cebu- Cebu-Ormoc route. Since going to Manila-Tacloban is too risky for a girl like me to take.

It wasn’t an easy journey for me, as soon as I landed in Cebu. November 16, 2013, 4:30am on board via Philippine Airlines arrived at Mactan International Airport at 6:30am. I took a cab going to Pier 4, hoping I could catch the 11ish am schedule for SuperCat bounds for Ormoc. But to my disappointment 11ish and 1ish schedule bounds for Ormoc were all fully book and the only available scheduled is at 4:30PM. So I booked it, check in my luggage and took a nap at Supercat 2Go terminal.

As I was taking my nap, my unconscious self was talking to me; 

“Cristina are you kidding me? You’re going to wait for 8 hours doing nothing when maybe you can go out and check out if there are other sea craft that would leave early and who cares if it’s a fast craft or not, important is that, you will be in ORMOC before eve, or you’re sorry.” 

The idea of arriving in Ormoc at night woke me up, Holly cow!!! I am so dead once I get there late. Supercat 4:30PM will arrive there at around 8ish at night, no rides going home to my barrio and Ormoc is not a safe place to stay at night, there are no lights and the thieves are going around at night in the City. So I went out asking the porter’s working on the area. And they told me there is one, leaving at 11:00am bounds for Ormoc, The Lite Shipping. Went there bought my ticket and went back to Supercat ticketing office for a refund and for my luggage. 

At LITE SHIPPING, I meet people that I am thankful for, people who helped me and become my friends. And amazing crew who let me try how to drive the wheel for a moment that made me feel like I'm the Captain of the Ship.

Kuya Gaga Porter 5 Lite Shipping

I would like to thanked this guy in yellow (above pic). Kuya Gaga Porter #5 at The Lite Shipping he carry all my luggage, take note not just a luggage, my 40 kls luggage from the ticketing office till we get to my designated bed on the ship. I paid him 250 pesos, originally I made bargain with him from 250 to 200 and he said yes with no further complain, but when I saw all the hardship and effort he was to take just to carry my luggage, I felt awkward, I felt bad it wasn't easy and if I were to carry those luggage I would not asked for 250, I would definitely asked for more. Lesson Learned. Be Nice and Kind and avoid being Kuripot or Miser in situation like this.

Have you ever met someone who is so positive with all there thoughts when all their chances are zero?

With Ate Bingbing 

YES! I meet one inspiring hopeful lady on my way home. I meet Ate Bingbing at the Pier; she was in line at Supercat ticketing office when I was talking to the officer in charge for my refund ticket. She asked me why I have to cancel my ticket and told her that there is an early rides going to Ormoc. She asked me if I could take her along with me, with no question asked I nod and said yes, we went there together, and she look after all my things when I was running hoping I could get a ticket for her. I wasn’t even thinking if I could trust her. I mean she’s a complete stranger from nowhere. All I know is that we’re on the same boat; we want to go home as soon as possible. And in order for us to be home early is to help each other. 

On the cruise we were talking where we came from and where we heading once we lands in Ormoc. I told her mine, and she told me hers, to my surprise, she told me she’s going to Tacloban. As we all know Tacloban is the most devastated City hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda. Then she continues; she’s living in Cebu but her families were from Tacloban City, her Uncle, Aunts were dead and the only survivors from her family were her two nieces. She’s coming back to Tacloban to get them and take them with her back to Cebu. And her second reason for coming back to Tacloban that broke my heart is her missing mother. She’s so positive and hopeful that she will see her mom alive in spite what happened to Tacloban. Her mom is one of the prisoner's who escape when the winds ripped off the roof of the prison and from a flooded jail.

She told me she will wait her Mom for one year and was imagining that maybe the reason why she can’t get hold of her mother’s whereabouts right now, because her mom’s phone is low-bat  or maybe her mom is still in shocks because of what happened.

Listening to her story really made me cry  inside, If I were in her shoes, I would hope the same, as long as there is no confirmation of her death I would hope and wait that one day she will be home. Dead and Missing are two different story, when we say dead means no coming back, but when we say missing there is a possibility of coming back. Let’s keep them in our prayers that hopefully she will see her missing mother soon. 

Enough with the sad part, sharing you my awesome experience on board. I was the lucky two who were able to go up at the Cabin Crew Room the most restricted part of the ship. The LITE SHIPPING crew of the ship allows us to drive the wheel. Yay!!! It was fun feeler Captain of the Ship ang Peg ko :) They were super cool, with this white guy next to me I felt like were on educational tour :)

Related Blog Entry:

• Sign of HOPE Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Aftermath in Maybog, Baybay, City Leyte 

• My Family and Our House : Super Typhoon Haiyan Yolanda Aftermath 

Super Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, which devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed.-Wikipedia





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