We all yearn to revisit places especially the ones which contributed extraordinary experiences to us. Regardless how many times we see the place, we never had outgrown that special bond despite we witness it fading through time.
Several miles of long bumpy drive plus another two hours of unsteady sea trip has absolutely numbed my feet and tested my patience for long distance travel. I was uncomfortably waiting for the boat’s engine to stop because I was on the brink of vomiting. Sooner, my tantrums subsided just as the waves outside have calmed down. Atlas, the familiar nostalgic saline breath of the sea and the contours of the island maiden behold upon my senses.
The Rapu-Rapu Island has its own feature of attractiveness—like a modest pretty lady waiting to be discovered to stardom. Although the island had been controversial for several years due to the protest of the residence to the environmental hazards caused by polluted emissions from the oil and carbon mining, it has never been talked about as a beautiful tourist destination.
The beach is a fine strip of clean cream sand blending towards the calm and crystal-clear bluish-green water. Closer to the shore, the forest includes coconut, mango, narra and pili trees. Beneath, rich foliage of ferns and flowering shrubs of gumamela, yellow bells and others add to the appeal. The isle is a simple natural spot yet, surely anyone will love its pure beauty.
The innermost part of the island is an array of compounds with “pawid” houses, vegetation plots and pens for livestock. A few meters from the beach, my grandparent’s house stands unbent by frequent typhoons and weathering. When it was destroyed by typhoon Sisang in 1987, it was concretize to withstand calamities and to provide a temporary evacuation shelter for the neighbors who lost their homes.
The island of Rapu-Rapu in Legaspi, Albay holds most of my unforgettable and adventurous experiences. The summer of 1997 was a memorable occasion because it was my first time to visit the small barrio. I remembered the antique narra furnitures and enormous shell decorations inside my lola’s house; the deep well, the source of potable water which was stored in an earthen jar, the abundant star apple and macopa tree and the wooden bench built underneath the huge mango tree where I used to hang out with my childhood friends. Some of the exciting events happened mostly at the sea. There, I learned how to catch fish using fishing lines and nets, ride a row boat, pick edible shells and sculpt sand castles. Also, I was familiarized with the different marine organisms—from the plants to the fishes and shells. No wonder, I was extra tanned every after summer vacations.
I have cherished those memories, and now; I came back to reminisce, to close the gap between the place and myself, and to tip one’s hat just like the old times. I was surprised by the changes around the place and how old the house was emptied with the decorations and furnishings I once adored. I went out wearily and found the vast sea glistened in sympathy and compassion.
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