A Stress-Free Sunday at Sumilon Island

Working at a public school here in the Philippines entails a lot of energy for all the tasks we need to accomplish the whole school year. Knowing that our “vacation” won’t be that long, my colleagues and I decided to take a quick trip as we are eager to, somehow, let off some steam. It’s been quite a while since I had a trip with these friends as I was unable to join them in their Camotes Island travel a few months ago.

Sumilon is an island off the coast of Oslob, south of Cebu. It isn’t really that far from my hometown but it’s actually my first time to visit the island. I have visited other islands in the Visayas but I haven’t really thought about going to Sumilon Island all these years. Maybe, it’s because I heard that you’d really have to be financially prepared if you stay there since it is part of the Bluewater Resorts Group. Fortunately, one of our colleagues availed of the membership and many of us became eager to visit the place. Discounts are highly encouraging, eh? 😅

Let's go!🚙 🚤

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Thanks to our colleague Ma’am Jackie and family for the ride to Oslob and then back.🚘

We agreed to leave Dalaguete at around 6:30 a.m. last Sunday. The earliest boat trip was at 8 a.m. in Brgy. Bangcogon in Oslob. Since I live 20-30 minutes away from the town, I had to wake up early for this trip. I kept wishing it wouldn’t rain because I will surely drive my motorcycle slower than I usually would, to be safe. I had a quick 7/11 breakfast and then we were off. We arrived before 8 am and we waited for our other friends to join us. Some didn’t make it due to personal reasons but nine of us plus a few kids were ready. We failed to board the 8 a.m. boat but we managed to leave the port at around 9 o’clock.

We have arrived! 👒

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You are the serenity I long for when my mind gets too noisy to even hear my own thoughts.💜

It is indeed my first time to set foot on this island. I didn’t really know what to expect, which is kind of a good thing. I’m excited to enjoy the beach and the buffet. I’m supposed to take my son with me but the weather wasn’t really that promising. I had to leave him home with my mom and take this chance to bond with friends and to give myself a little “me time”.

Reaching the island, guests were greeted “Maayong Buntag!” with a welcoming smile. They will guide you to which way you’d go. Guests like us who paid for the “day use” fee were led to the area where we can enjoy the beach and the pool, take a sumptuous lunch buffet, and do some activities that they offer. The island was pleasantly peaceful. The sound of nature seems louder than the guests moving about. I imagined staying here for the night. Surely, I’d be lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves, or the chirping of the birds and the bugs.

At First Sight 😍

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First few snapshots of the peaceful island resort 🤳

On our way to the beach, we passed by a restaurant as well as an infinity pool for the stay-in guests. We also passed by some bamboo huts that were actually private massage areas. There was also a small playground where kids and the “kids at heart” can enjoy.

Chilling out😎

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Clean place, safe space. 👏

There weren’t that many guests yet at the beach when we arrived. This gave us the chance to pick our spot. Of course, we chose the area nearest to the restaurant. It was safe from the rain and it was close to the pool (and the food haha). The kids were quick to enjoy the pool while we, the adults spent time talking about random things as well as taking pictures. I took a quick stroll around the area with Hayj, one of my friends and we took more photos of the beach and the mangroves that grew on the inlet. Hayj, who majored in Science, randomly shared some facts about the mangroves and the fish. It was amazing to see a lot of fish just swimming in the brackish water. They were moving peacefully, maybe trying to look for food, or just following the others for fun.

This area is where you can go fishing. But you must only catch and then release. 🐟 👍

Looking around this area of the island is already very calming. Though there were other guests around, I didn’t really feel that it was crowded or noisy. People were just enjoying their day at the beach. Some were there with families, lovers, and friends. We were all doing our own thing and it felt like we had our own safe space here. Nobody was drunk and noisy on the beach. People were also cautious about their trash. There were also staff who kept watch to make sure people were safe. It would be nice to stay longer. But since we’re here only until 3 pm (the boat’s last trip), we should enjoy our stay as much as we can.

Quick Workout? 😅 🚣‍♀

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Kayaking for the first time was both exciting and exhausting. My big arms were really useful! 😆 💪

We were still waiting for the buffet to be ready at 11 a.m. so we had the time to go kayaking. And surely, my big arms were more than helpful. I’ve rowed small boats twice in my lifetime so far, but this was the first time to ride and paddle a kayak. Though my arms felt weary a few minutes later, I felt at ease with what we were doing. It was fun paddling around. What made it more special was when we saw birds. Yes, there were several birds that I don’t usually see. I am not sure what exact species they were but I assumed one to be a kingfisher. There was also a large brown bird perching on the mangroves. There was even a large white bird that looked like the egrets I see on TV and in books. Those were simple yet beautiful moments. Minutes later, we bade the mangroves and birds goodbye. We came back just in time for lunch.

Pray. Eat. Repeat? 🍛

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Food was extra appetizing after that quick arm workout with the kayak paddle. 😉

The lunch buffet was ready and people were already lining up getting their plates full. Surprisingly, I didn’t add more rice this time. I filled my plate and only came back for the cucumber drink and those little slices of cake and pudding. It was a hearty meal because of the mussel soup, though heavily spiced. The pork belly was well-cooked and the sauce was flavorful but not salty. I also had some kinilaw na talong. It was moderately sour and well-seasoned. Then warm pizza was served and we were the first to get some slices. My favorite part of the meal was the cucumber-calamansi juice. I had to come back for a few more glasses and then I already felt full. I didn’t need a second heap of rice! Hurray! I’ve been on a constant battle with my poor eating habits especially when it comes to white rice. After our meal, we chatted as we rested our bellies.

Splish-splash! 👙 🌊

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The cure for anything is salt, or so they say. 😌

It was time to go swimming! We wouldn’t want to miss this chance to enjoy the beach. What amazed me was there were lots of corals, shells and shiny stones on the shore. We were told that these were naturally washed up there. Sometimes, depending on the current or the weather, these beautiful corals, shells and stones get washed up on the other side of the beach. We truly had a great time in the water as it was clear, clean, cool, and not too salty (in my case, I consider seawater too salty if I have a hard time opening my eyes after a quick dip). It felt like we were swimming for quite some time but we found out it had only been an hour so we showered first before we moved to the pool. Time went by quickly and it was time to shower, change, and go.

Thrive, my tribe! 💜

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Thank you, my dear colleagues and friends, for including me in this experience. Thanks to Kim and Jason, the resort members, who brought us the opportunity to visit Sumilon Island.

It was a short but memorable trip on a Sunday but I am grateful beyond words that I have, at least once in my life, visited Sumilon Island. I don’t know if I’ll be able to come and visit again someday but the memories here will always be special in my heart. Apart from all the new experiences I’ve had on this beautiful island, what I will always remember is the warm feeling of being with friends who are fun to be with and easy to talk to. Building this kind of relationship over the years is something of great value. As I have said, working in a public school is challenging, and having good friends somehow helps relieve stress. Being friends even outside our work, for at least 10 years, surely made a difference with how we connect with each other.

In life, it is truly great to have people who share your joy despite life’s burdens. Our trip to Sumilon Island surely gave us beautiful memories to treasure together as we get older. To more trips with this gang! 🙏 💜

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