Story: Weekend in The Philippines

A great benefit of being a native English speaker, is the ability to relocate to nearly any place in the world, well, any place that does not speak English as their first language. Because of these teaching opportunities and the scholarships that are offered through the National Cheng Keng University, I have found myself living in Tainan City, Taiwan. It is a smaller city, very relative using Asian standards the population is around three million. Along with many other great opportunities the south island has to offer, one of the greatest is the new flight route from Kaosiung Airport to Cebu, The Philippines. This route has just been opened and they offered a nice promotion price, around sixty USD for a round trip flight. Without a thought I purchased a ticket and left on a thursday night to the paradise that is The Philippine Visayas.
The flight was only three hours, leaving at midnight and arriving at three in the morning. Immediately upon landing, I realized that I was far from the chinese influences of the Hun dynasty that are so apparent in Taiwan, and that I was now entering “Spanish” Asia. The streets of Cebu recalled travels through Baja California. Similar construction, dirt roads, and bright colors and no more chinese writing, but an English alphabet all came together to bring about the feel of the latin roots of this country, as well as really separate it from the “China” where I have been residing.
Since we arrived so late at night, and were planning on taking a ferry at six in the morning, we did what any responsible 25 year old grad student does. We went straight to a bar/restaurant that was open 24 hours. The place served giant beer steins an bratwurst, I was really beginning to feel the change of environment. The time passed quickly amongst good friends, along with overall excitement that we were to have a great weekend in paradise.
The plan was to head to the island of our friend Betty, Bohol island. The ferry ride was amazing, we left Cebu in the dark and crossed the oceans to the view of a spectacular sunrise. We arrived at Bohol with powder blue skies and white fluffy clouds floating low in the sky. Seeing the hustle and bustle of the docks of Tagbilaran, the port city, and watching this city come alive right before my eyes was amazing. The Philippine people wear a smile so large it infects you with happiness. It was off the boat and into the public transportation system. What is known as a Jeepney, these are old jeeps and busses that have been decked out in ways that would make “pimp my ride” a little jealous. Gaudy chrome rims and metal wrap around brightly painted tin sidings, and whatever else could be put on them. Men in cut off sleeves were grabbing luggage and bags from people and throwing them on top, while people were climbing in, on this first bus we were surround by students attending saturday classes and elderly woman returning home from their morning shopping at the port, it was all book bags and big fish.
The jeepney took us quickly out of the chaos that is Tagbilaran, through the country side, to Alona Beach. This drive was so amazing that the rest of the trip could be spent staring at a wall, and it would have already been a success. The terrain is very tropical and jungly, we flew past homes with chickens and roosters running around ox and cows lazily walking around the houses. When people could see our white faces sticking out the windows of the jeepney, their hands would shoot up almost quicker than their white teeth would be gleaming at you. This was always followed by a shout or a hello, especially the younger children. They expressed such an excitement to see people that looked so different.
Our arrival at Alona beach began with the typical issues any traveler deals with when arriving at a tourist type of place. There was Jesse the scooter rental guy that had to befriend us and talk to us about where we from and get to know us like we were long lost brothers. There were the hotel people showing pictures of their rooms, and explaining why this was better than that. The most striking thing about this, and what became a recurring theme during the trip was the non-threatening nature or the fact that these people were not annoying, as is the usual case. Many times in these situations the people are pushy and in your face. Not the Filippinos, they were casual and informing with a coy smile on their face. More of an attitude of anything you want, it is here.
We had already booked our rooms at Genesis Divers, which was about a ten minute walk down the beach. Yes, you had to walk because we had gotten to the point where no cars were allowed. The white sand, the blue skies, warm sun and boats gently rocking in the ocean invoked quotes along the lines of “Paradise Lost....Paradise found” and other such lines, that couldn’t even come close to describing the beauty of this palm tree lined, white sand beach. The boat ride, the drive, and now the walk through a calendar picture. This was the perfect way to spend a weekend, a “jetset weekend”.