BICOLKNOWN

A Journey to "Diver's Paradise" - Burias Island

by Ruel A. Reyes

It was March 31, 2005 when a group of five had decided to go and explore some exciting places in Burias.With me is Alex Aborde, a certified dive instructor of PADI and the group. Our purpose was to explore the "local boracay" or most popularly called as "Isla Sombrero", we call it that way because of the beauty and coolness of that island. "Isla Sombrero" has got its name from local folks in San Pascual because of its shape - hat.

I'ved been around the Burias Island before from Claveria to San Pascual and the southwest and southeast portion of the island from 1996 - 2000, but I did'nt have the chance to make an island hoping with Burias' best islets since my concentration was to make the job (installation of communication equipments) done.

We arrived at the Pier of Burias at around 12pm, as it took at least more than 2 hours to travel during summer time, and meet our contact person, 161-23, the president of Kabalikat Civicom Burias Chapter.After taking our lunch, we have decided to take a tour through our guide and traveled for almost 45 mins using a small motorized banca from San Pascual to "Isla Sombrero".

It was really amazing! "Isla Sombrero" has the real nature's beauty as what the folks in San Pascual claims.Water was so calm that it would invite you to swim and enjoy there freshing warm water around the islet. "Isla Sombrero"is rich in natural resources such as feebles and the white sand around the islet will surely captive your attention.As we go along, I find some time to take a walk around and take some pictures and found that it would take at least 30 mins to go around theentire islet. Alex was busy in exploring the island too but did'nt find some extra time to go deep ("I mean to dive") while the group was busy taking pictures too and picking distinct shells and feebles.

People living in the island is its owner and some folks who are fond of making dried pen ball size squids or locally known as"pusit". Dried "pusit" is being soldin the locality of San Pascual and Pasacao.

Take a quick look at the pictures of the islet:

After exploring "Isla Sombrero", we go on island hoping the rest of the islets in the eastward part of Burias Island.In my personal and to the rest of group's opinion, these islets posses an exceptional beauty and a real attraction to tourist and nature lovers.

We go back to San Pascual and have the chance to meet and talk with the Honorable Zacarina Lazaro, the municipal mayor of San Pascual and discussed findings that we got by visiting and exploring "Isla Sombrero" and rest of the islets.

"Isla Sombrero" can be locally compared to Boracay Island once properly developed. But one thing that dismay me and the rest ofthe group is the non-stop quarry of feebles on the islet. Take a look at thepicture above. During our visit, our cameras captured a vessel named M/V Munti Carlo I from which the quarried feebles is being loaded. Wehave learned that feebles was quarried on a monthly basis and the feebles is being delivered to construction companies in Manila. I think the local government and the agencies concerned in this issue should take part and pay attentionon taking care of the islet.Tourism can provide great opportunites and hundreds of jobs to peopleliving in Burias.

In my personal opinion, GOD has given us the beauty of the nature and I think that we should personally care for it.

source: http://www.discoverpasacao.ca.gs/