The Poor man's Boracay

As I was growing up in Iloilo, there were two white sand beaches that were known during the summer (of course there were more eventually and most of my childhood were spent in Villa beach). They usually said that if you have the means or the money, once can always travel to Aklan to the island of Boracay. Of course Boracay was totally different then than it is now. There were barely resorts, electricity and water. But I would have to say that it was the best of Boracay that I have seen.

If you're in Iloilo and you can manage to go to Boracay, there was always Guimaras. This is where you can find the best mangoes (dried mangos are better compared to those of Cebu), Balaan Bukid (where you can go on a pilgrimage during Holy week and which I never did) and white sand beaches. Some Ilonggos would call it the poor man's Boracay since it is the best alternative. Although now Guimaras is starting to have it's own reputation.

Filipinos became aware that there is such a place when disaster struck in 2006 because of an oil spill off the coast of this Island, thus damaging the beaches, reservoirs and fish supply of Guimaras, Iloilo ang Negros. I am glad to see it slowly recovering.

I brought my office friends to Guimaras where they got several kilos of mangoes and attested that it was really different and better tasting compared to the other mangoes in the Philippines. We went to Alubihod beach and rented a boat to take us around the area. They said not to swim in Alubihod beach as there were so many people. We followed their advice and they indeed were telling the truth and I would say, they were quite good tour guides although I hope they could be more confident with their Tagalog for my friends.

They first took us to the Pawikan sanctuary which I didn't know existed. A Pawikan is a kind of turtle and they have been identified as endangered species which I'm guessing people like to eat their meat. Here you can hold them and take pictures. They would take care of the Pawikans and then release them eventually. I also got to see the Puffer fish for the first time and it was quite amazing that they are not dying above water.

We then went to Ave Maria Island and we felt that it was our own private beach. The sand was white and soft and there were nice rock formations around. There were some corals as well and you could snorkle. We spent most of our time here and this was where we got our nice tans or should I say sunburn as we did not expect the weather to cooperate.

We then went inside a cave and also saw Baras beach. The blue waters just made me thankful that it was no longer black or has oil films in them.

I only spent less than PHP 250 for this beach trip and I would have to say that it was the cheapest. So how does one get to this part of Guimaras? Take a pump boat in Ortiz in Iloilo City, its somewhere behind Ateneo de Iloilo (Santa Maria Catholic School). Once you get to Jordan Wharf in Guimaras, get a multicab or a jeepney going to Alubihod beach. You can ask them to get mangoes on the way to the beach. This is a must and green mangoes at the beach with grilled food is the best.