CABOGAO GAMAY ISLAND TRIP 2011

This tour is a part of my March 31 - April 5, 2011 Iloilo-Boracay-Guimaras Tour where I served as the Tour Coordinator for the school outing of the teachers, staff and the families of the Blessed Redeemer Christian School in Sauyo, Novaliches, Quezon City. The trip kicked-off with our group boarding Zest Air leaving Old Domestic Airport at 4:30 A.M. and arrived Iloilo International Airport at 5:25 A.M. though we were at the airport as early as 1:30 A.M. to beat the required 2-hour before flight departure policy. Our group is consist of 19 participants, namely: Teresa Santiago Corpuz (school principal and co-owner); her sons: John James and John David; her niece - Eunice Ann Santiago Bulo; her nephews - Daniel Eleazar Mina Santiago and Victor Joseph Santiago Bulo; Teachers: Elenita S. Corpuz (Tess' elder sister), Mylen S. Ricarte and daughter Hazel Mhei S. Ricarte, Daisy P. Dela Cruz and husband - Baltazar P. Dela Cruz and daughter - Heidel Anne; Marie M. Tabilin and son - Ainyelle Alexis M. Tabilin; Farida L. Sedillo; Rogelio "Ogie" C. Manicat aka Carina; Michael Harigdig and Oliver Santos S. Gallardo.

Cabogao Gamay Island which is an ancestral inheritance of the family of Rhett Paul B. Bolivar whom I knew thru my blogspot account advert where he is based in Manila with Mobile number 09166128967. His brother, Mark Timothy B. Bolivar with mobile number 09308430774, who is based in Gigantes Island, accommodated us where his boat operator relatives (Enrico and Leoner) met us in Estancia Feder Port.

The island has a concrete comfort room and a house of the island caretaker and for those who wish to stay there for an overnight, they can bring with them their tents.
How to go there?

From Iloilo International Airport, take the shuttle van service at P50 per person going to SM City. From SM City of Iloilo, cross to the opposite road then take a jeepney to Tagbak Bus Terminal for P10. Then, take a Ceres Bus to Estancia at P146 with a travel duration of three hours. Estancia is a municipality of Iloilo Province. The bus will stop in Estancia Bus Terminal and take a tricycle for P10 per head to Estancia Feder Port. From Estancia Feder Port is a boat ride for one and a half hour to Gigantes Island where there are community settlers. From Gigantes Island to Cabogao Gamay Island is 20 minutes boat ride.

Drinking water stations are available in Estancia and for those who wish to stay in any island in Gigantes Islands Group, they can market their food and water from Estancia. There is no water source in Cabogao Gamay Island but the boat operator can provide water for bathing and cooking from Gigantes Island.

The island is awesomely beautiful with its natural beauty at its best. It is highly recommended to stay there for at least overnight.

We have been there from March 31 to April 2, 2011.


I will be there this coming June 17- 20, 2011 touring another group of five and by that time, it will include the beautiful Sicogon Island. See you there.

GIGANTES ISLANDS GROUP BEACH AND ISLAND HOPPING

View Gigantes Islands in a larger map

This trip is dated April 1, 2011 which is a part of my March 31 - April 5, 2011 Iloilo-Boracay-Guimaras Trip still consisting of 19 but we are still based in Cabogao Gamay Island. This is a beach and island hopping of the beaches of Gigantes Island along with two other nearby islands, namely: Bantigue and Cabogao Daku Islands. Bantigue Island prides its sandbar and clear water beach strip.

The beaches of Gigantes Island included: Tugbungan Beach with a cave, Puting Baybay Beach and Antoniya Beach Strip. The Tangke Lagoon is also located in Gigantes Island which is already a part of Brgy. Lantangan, Gigantes Sur.

I happened to visit the community of Gigantes where our guides and boat operators: Mark Timothy, Joshua James, Leoner and Enrico reside.

Joshua James B. Bolivar, one of our Cabogao Gamay Island Trip guides, assured me to be our guide in climbing the Bandiraan Peak of Gigantes highest peak and the limestone ridge called "Boulevard" this coming June 17-20, 2011 when we go back to Gigantes.

I was so happy to be in commune with the people especially the children in Gigantes Islands. There are also stores there in Gigantes and basic grocery items and cheap dried fish and pusit are available.

However, it is advised that the drinking water should be bought from Estancia Water Stations which requires a deposit of P205 per container with the water of 5 gallons costing P25 only. Fish in Feder Port in Estancia is cheaper and raw meat are also available there. Estancia Public Market is big and some restaurants are also available within the area.