Celebrating Life in Capari

"I prayed and understanding was given to me; I asked earnestly and the spirit of Wisdom came to me."

Wisdom 7:7

Modest - a word that was derived from the latin word modestus. It is a word used to describe what is in the middle, an average.

The 14 kms white sand beach of San Vicente.

That is the word used to describe Capari(i). I beg to disagree.

My curiosity about San Vicente started to creep in when I heard that there is a white beach stretch in the Philippines that is not Boracay. Then news was all over that the youngest female mayor has been elected. Suddenly, San Vicente is already featured as the 4th season destination for the Survivor Philippines castaways. I was overwhelmed and I can't wait to pack my camera and leave. After all, it is my birthday.

To reach San Vicente, you will need patience and a whole of prayer - trust me, you do. I took an airplane to Puerto Princesa. I hope it was just that easy, but I have to take a trike to reach Charing Terminal. Sounds like a joke? Charing terminal is commonly known as San Jose Terminal in PP. Based on my research, San Vicente bound vans are rare, so I made sure to reserve a seat before my trip. Luckily, I was seated beside the driver so I didn't get bored to the 4 hour long drive from PP to San Vicente. 

It was like being in the front row of a blockbuster movie. There was a checkpoint - simply because of transporting mangoes in and out of one area (apparently, the mangoes were infested of some pests). The road leading to San Vicente proper was the climax. It started to rain when we entered the boundary to San Vicente. The lush forested area masked the fury of the raindrops, but the steep sharp-curved dirt road, which is now muddy, showed us no mercy. We even witnessed a motorcycle accident because of the muddy and steep road. I thought I would perform a blessing for the dying - please not while I am on a holiday.

Capari Resort.

I finally arrived after almost 5 hours of travel from PP to San Vicente. It is usually 4 hours but we were delayed due to the rain. Kuya driver was kind enough to drop me off my destination - Capari Resort. It used to be Caparii but the owners decided to drop the other "i" when they opened the resort to public.

Deluxe rooms.

According to their website, Capari is a modest resort with only 17 rooms. One can enjoy visiting for a day or stay for the night.

Mess Hall.

The modesty of the resort is obvious. This structure is all in one. The reception area, the lobby, the dining area and the function hall.

Sumptuous fresh food.

What they lack in facilities, they make it up to their food. On my first night, I had grilled sea bass with vegetable. Then on my second, yes, my birthday night, I had LOBSTERS! I know. I had the vow of poverty, but I just have to do this, only for tonight.

Beach Front Room.

When I reserved the room, I specifically told them that I wanted the only one beach front room. This is it. I never knew this, but the staff told me that this is the same room that Richard Gutierrez stayed in as well as other celebrities staying in the resort, and I am just one of them.

Afternoon in Capari.

I can feel how remote this resort is. It was just me and this speedboat by the beach after I settled in.

I was thankful that I got the only beach front room. I can just sit at my porch and then click!

“A breeze, a forgotten summer, a smile, all can fit into a storefront window.” 

― The Sun Watches the Sun

A fascination.

Boardwalk leading to the mess hall.

Dusk.

When the night starts settling in, there is nothing but silence and the crash of waves along the shore.

Life begins at a certain age, they say. The truth is, life begins when you want it to.

A dawn each day brings forth hope to begin a better life than yesterday. 

Fully grown coconut trees surround the vicinity which completes the beach vibe of the resort.

Survivor Tribal Council.

The season 4 Survivor Philippines tribal council which was set within the resort.

The remains of the tribal council set still lures in guests to the resort. 

It would've been fun if I can participate in one of the survivor challenges. 

Maybe, I can become the first Priest castaway.

The props used by the production team are still lying around the resort.

When not busy with what they offer by the beach, ask one of the staff to accompany you to walk up the hill for a perfect top view of San Vicente. 

On to my left from the hill top, the busy beach front of the Poblacion, to the right is the 14kms long white sand beach of San Vicente.

Since it is my birthday, the manager, Sharon Padua was kind enough to set up a beach front lunch. The best part is, I get to blow my birthday candle on top of spaghetti. yum yum.

Ka Lui.

Any Palawan trip is not complete without visiting Ka Lui. 

A local restaurant known for eating barefoot.

Make sure that you reserve a table when planning to eat at KaLui to avoid the long waiting lined up outside.

Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

A century old church that has been a spiritual foundation of PP locals.

Capari is truly a modest resort - at a glance. 

I was one of the lucky few who experienced the best that it has to offer. The staffs always extend their help and go out their way just to make my stay unforgettable. They don't let the simple things to slip away. Every morning, they make sure that the lounge and a beach towel is waiting for me by the beach. Once I sat down the lounge, a pitcher of ice cold water will be brought out. Once in a while, a staff would wonder around, snooping or maybe hoping if I would need anything. 

Capari has stepped up a notch of their modesty and overwhelmed me with their service.

Squirrel.

Finally, a modest resort does not have an in house entertainer! Squirrel! I literally squealed when I saw them one morning. The staff was excited to share that these squirrels only come out in the morning, around 6 - 7 am. Who would've thought that I will see one here in the remote island of San Vicente. Squirrel!

I have reached the Philippines' final frontier and I have survived - the nik nik bites. God must have a good reason to bring me here. To spread the beauty of San Vicente thru my lens and declare a call to preserve its natural beauty.

Exploring the Amazing Anawangin Cove

"Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:6

Pines trees in an island - in the Philippines?

I must see this.

So I did further research about a cove that is called Anawangin. A beach that is just a few hours away from Manila. According to my research, the best time to go there would be on a weekday just before summertime to avoid the crowd.

Perfecto! It was the last week of March. I packed my usual beach essentials, this time with my pillow - you'll know why.

I drove like an F1 racer in my excitement and left Manila around 10:00PM. I drove so fast that I reached San Antonio, Zambales within 3 hours. I know that the small town will be sleeping by the time I got there. So instead of knocking on each door like Joseph the Carpenter to look for an accommodation, I reclined my seat, opened the window a little, placed my pillow above my head and snuggled with Cindy for the night. Yes, with Cindy - my car. I woke up at around 3:30AM with sweat and insect bites. This is not a good idea I thought. I got up, bought coffee and bread at 711, went back to Cindy and ate breakfast with her.

At 4:00AM, I started proceeding to Pundaquit. It was still dark and the place is unfamiliar. I followed my boatman's instruction on how to get there but I took a wrong turn and I got a little lost. I activated my GPS and went around. I passed by the same funeral parlor twice and ended up in a dead end. Scary! So much for trusting my GPS. I went back to where I started, restarted the GPS and texted kuya boatman for more directions. At 5:00, I was already boarding the boat and on my way to Anawangin Cove.

There wasn't a lot of people then on the cove, just a few campers still sleeping and probably drunk from the night before. The sand was off-white and the forest on the beach's backdrop is lusciously green and abundant with pine trees.

A rewarding view after a 10 minute hike.

This is another cove on the right side of Anawangin that is yet to be explored.

An early morning sight on top of Anawangin.

Kuya Joven - my guide savoring his first look of Anawangin Cove from atop.

Beach at the end, river in the middle and pine trees along the island.

Anawangin Cove's beach front.

This is where the beach ends and the hike up the mountain starts.

"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you."

The river. Lucky for me it hasn't dried up yet.

The only connection from the beach to the forest passing along the river.

A comfortable camper found a spot for camping.

Zohan my dog? If you noticed, the sand here in Anawangin cove is white. The reason behind this is the ashes of Pinatubo eruption that was blown through this way.

"The Lord is my Shepherd" had brought me here to capture the beauty of this cove.

I took a quick dip. The water was surprisingly warm this early morning and it’s not that salty. Yes, I taste tested the water. I didn't stay long at Anawangin Cove. After hiking, dipping and eating pancit canton worth 100 pesos, I went back to Pundaquit. I was already on the road back to Manila around 11:30AM.

What sets Anawangin Cove to other beach destination in our country? That would be the Pine trees that thrive on the island; the water itself and the back-to-basics experience of staying in an island. If you ask me now if I will go back to Anawangin, I'd say yes in one condition, the caretaker of the island retain its beauty and stop dividing the island for profit.

Conquering Mt.Pulag

"All you winds, bless the Lord.

Dew and rain, bless the Lord.

Frost and chill, bless the Lord.

Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.

Praise and exalt Him above all forever."

Daniel 3:65,68,69,75

Mt.Pulag is the second highest mountain in the Philippines.

So what?

I am not a mountain climber, and I don't want to be one. However, when I saw pictures of Mt.Pulag, I made a note to myself to become a onetime mountain climber - a Mission Impossible!

Mt.Pulag stands at 2922 meters above sea level. It has the highest peak in Luzon. I am afraid of heights. I've never reached the peak of Albay's famous perfect-cone Mt. Mayon which is only 2462 meters above sea level.

Across the Philippines it is the 2nd highest which makes it the top destination of experienced mountaineers. I am never a mountaineer. In fact, I've never even camped out when I was a Boy Scout.

Mt.Pulag can be reached through Benguet. I hate zig zag!

The temperature can drop down below zero. I have weak lungs.

Disregarding the impossibilities, I set out to conquer Mt.Pulag. With God, nothing is impossible, I said to myself. I will do my best and my best will be good enough. Do I sound like the boxer-preacher Manny Pacquiao? YOU KNOW... I am Tom Cruise anyway.

Guides gathered on one of the hills as they wait for their groups for decent on day 2.

The Breaking Dawn imagination. Edward Cullen? Jacob Black?  Errr... one of the three German nationalities on my group checking out the campsite on day 1.

More people setting up camps.

Bahay Kubo? Nope. It's the makeshift comfort room.

Bushes that seems like broccoli.

Even the sun sets in paradise.

But when the sun rises, it would bring the sea of clouds.

Sunrise at the camp site.

Alas! Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar found their way to me - "I am Jesus."

At one of the peaks.

Here comes the sea of clouds.

Out of the four peak at the summit of Mt. Pulag, I got to go up to two.

The scene that made me want to conquer the impossible.

Climbers enjoy their descent from the peak.

A loner? Maybe just discerning. Who wouldn't? When you're up there, it feels like you are in Heaven.

Colors on the mountain canvas.

Leisurely descent from the summit even if it’s too cold.

Descending from one of the peaks.

"Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents; one for you, one for me, and... who else?"
God has created this heaven on earth for us to appreciate His greatness!

With a heavy heart and a lighter bag (food supply has been consumed), we descended back to the rangers station. While we were walking, my thoughts flew back to how I begun this trip. Questions float by; how did I survive without joining a mountaineer's club and trek packages? How did I climbed up the camp site 2 within only two hours? How did I survive the rain during the night? How did I sleep in the ice cold night? How did I move my legs to up to the peaks in the morning when my legs were shivering from the cold?

Hmmmm.

I got my tent, 2 sleeping bags, a winter jacket, a headlight, oil and lotion, 2 bottles of coke, a bunch of chocolates, bread, tuna, some fruits, my trash bags (that also became my raincoat and my tent protection against the rain), water bottle and my faith.

This mission ain't impossible after all.