Travel to Hundred Islands: A Paradise Where Good Souls Reside

We come from Baguio where the weather was cooler. I knew it was going to be hot in Pangasinan once we got there. I was actually praying for a more ideal weather, like what we are used to here. Alominos must have heard my prayers. Cloudy skies were above us by the time we came there.

Several minutes later, after asking for directions, we were able to finally reach our initial destination. There, we were greeted by Mary ( her nickname ) whose legal name was Rodolfo. She resembled someone I know. We bought some food for the tour, and off we went to our Hundred Islands tour in Pangasinan.

Where the Islands Bear the Surnames of the Great Presidents of the Philippines

Some of the figures that were on the islands were the statues of Jesus and the Saints. Mama Mary was also in one of the caves, which Mary said held historical significance for the Hundred Islands.

Then the challenging part. It was hard for me to go through the floating walkway that connected one island to another island. It was kind of scary for me because it felt like I was going to be toppled over by the strong winds. We all made it in one piece though. The kids went on a zipline adventure. We also lingered on the sands.

Uncovering Another Story on the Way to the Bonsai Park

Talking to Mary, we learned that it was not the peak season that month. We also noticed that some parts of the structure of an island were destroyed. She said that it was destroyed by a typhoon right before we came. According to news, it was typhoon Jenny that wreaked havoc on the island during that time.

She also revealed some other juicy stuff. She said that the fishermen were not allowed to fish in the vicinity. The crab and other seafood that they sold on the islands were caught in another location. Some sold crabs. For 150 pesos of crabs, the merchants can even cook them for you. We did not get those since we did not know they were available on the islands themselves and we already bought our meals before we boarded the “bangka” or wooden boat.

There are several adventures you could get to experience there like swimming and kayaking. Then I got curious about her, Ms Mary. I asked her how she became a tourist guide. She said it all began during Covid season.

She said that at that time, her job did not do well. Her parents were also in Pangasinan and needed to have someone to be with them. She came home, and luckily, the tourism industry opened up an opportunity for her to be a tourist guide.

After that, she said she did not come back to that other town where she used to work, but remained a tourist guide in Hundred Islands. I wondered if she loved her job. Several minutes more, several pictures later, several islands later… I think I saw and might know why it was easy to fall in love with the job and the Hundred Islands.

Hundred Islands & Mary Through the Eyes of a Tourist

I am accustomed to birds in Baguio City. Some of them are outside my window… I would be woken up by the sound of a flock of small Maya birds that came back day in and day out since they were heartily fed by my Indian neighbours in the morning and in the afternoon. It was bird sounds and birds flying around that I would watch and hear when I took my coffee outside my bedroom door.

I would tease those birds and tell them not to poop on my clothes hanger or washed shoes. There is a certain movement in their wings. I also get to see Rock Doves, fed by my neighbour across the street. Those Rock Doves come and go depending on the season. The ravens at the Lourdes Grotto where I would sometimes jog have a certain vibration. There is a certain vibration to the way those mighty black feathered wings fly. They pass by you swiftly sometimes. I am lucky to see them up close, but not as close as the Maya or Rock Doves that linger and watch outside my window. The rock doves are also in our Fire escape so you get to hear them sing. It’s as low as a crow’s.

The birds in the Hundred Islands on the other hand floated on air. They would not sweep past you like the birds here in Baguio City do. They floated like air under their wings and could linger in one place while at it.The movement was like the movement of the still water beneath them… steady as can be.

The mighty waves, while steady, were strong. You can feel that as you cross the floating walkway at the Hundred Islands. Mary said there was a trick to crossing the floating walkway. She told us not to look at the walkway and the waters, but instead, to look straight ahead. I was not used to the waves underneath me, more so to the stronger winds from all directions. I needed to watch the floating walkway. It was my way of jogging here in Baguio City and it prevented me from stepping on spiky stones at the Lourdes Grotto Grounds. So I opted to watch the vibration of the walkway out of habit.

I saw a Turtle and Crocodile island. She also talked about the numbers of the islands being different depending whether it’s high tide or low tide, then she laughed afterwards. Ahh.. so she was in the Ms Charlene Mulach Miss Universe era, that time when it was held here in the Philippines.
The host asked Ms Philippines how many islands there were in the country. Ms Charlene has a witty reply. She said, “High tide, or low tide?” Leyn (my sister) and I laughed at Mary’s joke. The kids did not get it.

Mary reminded me of another friend named Lady here in Baguio City. With the humour experienced and shared, I might not remember all the details well… but her eyes, the way she held my sister’s hand while assisting her at the boat… how can I forget? We met my friend Lady here again during the early season we were here in Baguio.
I did ask her permission if I can write about her just in case I do get the privilege to write about my experience here. So several months later, what do you know? How can you forget someone like that?

The eyes can see what the eyes reveal. She had happy joyful eyes, a gentle voice that can calm a crying baby. I felt like I had known her in another lifetime.

Tourism Embraces People in Hundred Islands

One can observe that tourism provides a means of living for families and individuals in the Hundred Islands. There are commercial establishments there. There are also fishermen and food merchants. As for the likes of Ms Mary, tourism opened an opportunity at the time that she lost her job due to Covid. It’s amazing how one can lose something in exchange for another… and do it in a paradise where the waves, wave on the sands, where the sands let you paint your own sunshine when there is none, and the boats keep you afloat, taking you to the next paradise land.

I came home with the water still vibrating around me like I was afloat on the boat. I slept with the waves in my dreams. I wanna go back and visit again”, were my thoughts. Mary’s ID expires a day before my birthday this year (I took a photo of her ID). I wonder if I can get to visit before her ID expires? If it does, I hope she will still be our tour guide if there is a next time. Or… I wonder if I will see another beautiful smile on another wonderful boat ride.