The town of Vinzons in the province of Camarines Norte
is famously known for the white sand beach
of Calaguas . However,
there is a small island located just 15 minutes boat ride from the mainland. It
is called the Quinamanokan
Island , an undeveloped
island with a beige-colored to golden brown sand beach.
Quinamanokan Island |
A few months ago, me and my friends was looking for a
nearest island to spend our weekend and since we never been to Quinamanokan and
it is the nearest from the mainland, we then decided to visit the island. Nagsimula
kaming magbyahe from Naga
City . We rode a public
utility van bound for Daet and then from Daet we rented a tricycle to Barangay
Sula. We paid 150 for the tricycle. From the barangay, we rented a boat to
Quinamanokan. We agreed for a price of 1,500 pesos for 4 people. The boat
travel took us almost an hour because there were huge waves that were hitting
our small boat. Usually if the sea is calm, it will only take about 15 minutes
to travel from the barangay shore to the island, and it will also cost less
dahil hindi na iikot ng medjo malayo ang bangka para umiwas sa mga malalakas na
alon.
The Sandbar, the beach facing the mainland Luzon |
We arrived at the island around 3pm and we immediately
prepared our dinner since there is no electricity in the island. Wala din pala
source of fresh water sa isla at buti na lang umulan nung gabi kaya
nakapagbanlaw kami ng fresh water. There are also lots of coconuts kaya may
pwede din mainom na tubig.
We brought with us 2 tents but we didn’t use our tents because
we prefer to sleep at the only hut in the island. The hut also serves as an
overnight shelter for fishermen and for the Bantay Kalikasan. By the way,
Quinamanokan island is also a marine sanctuary kaya laging may Bantay Kalikasan
people na nakabantay dun 24 hours. When we had our overnight stay at the
island, madami din kami kasabay na mangingisda na nakisilong sa kubo kaya
madami kaming nagsiksikan sa kubo kasi maulan din nung gabi. But what really
made our stay in the island exciting were the firelies that dances all night.
It was a night of fun kasi naligo kami sa ulan kahit madilim at nanuod din ng
mga lumilipad na mga firefly.
the side of the island facing the Pacific Ocean |
the side of the island facing the Pacific Ocean |
The rain did stop late at night and naging cloudless din ang
sky kaya nakita din namin yung mga bituin at buwan at nakakita din kami ng mga
shooting stars. We spend the rest of the evening laughing, wishing upon the
stars at nagbilang ng mga shooting stars. It was also a great night because it
was also a post birthday celebration for me and a pre-birthday celebration for
one of friend.
We woke up early morning to prepare for our departure back
to Daet. Around 8am kasi aalis yung night shift na mga Bantay Kalikasan kaya
sasabay na kami sa bangka nila pabalik ng Vinzons and then from Vinzons,
sasakay na kami papuntang Daet. Now, the reason kung bakit sa Bantay Kalikasan
na kami sasabay instead of riding our own rented boat ay dahil yung bangka na
nirent namin ay naputulan ng boat propeller habang bumabyahe kami papuntang
Quinamanokan kaya after nila kami maihatid sa isla, umalis na din sila pabalik
ng mainland para maipaayos ang bangka and they’d just referred us na lang sa
mga Bantay Kalikasan para sa bangkang sasakyan namin pabalik ng Vinzons. Hindi
naman kami magbabayad ng extra kaya okay lang naman para sa amin.
Before we left the island, I and one my friend decided to
walk around the island. Inikot namin ang buong isla and I think it took us
about an hour para maikot ang island. The best part of the beach is the one
that faces the mainland, kasi yung sa side na nakaharap sa Pacific ay medjo
mabato na at maalon pero may mga beach pa naman at same pa din ang kulay ng
sand which is beige to golden brown. I tried to check the sanctuary pero
masyadong maalon kaya medjo malabo din ang tubig at di ko makita ang ilalim and
you will actually need to swim for a 100 meters from the shore para makita ang
coral reefs. So after namin magikot at lumangoy ng konti, we then left the
island and travelled to Vinzons, and this time we took a different route which
is longer because we have to travel via the river in Vinzons. Pagdating namin
ng Vinzons, sumakay na kami ng jeep to Daet and then from Daet we then boarded
a van bound for Naga
City . Ayan lang naman ang
kwento ko tungkol sa Quinamanokan, boring noh?hahaha! pinagtyagaan mo
naman..hahaha!
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