Cruise ship lists Eastern Visayas towns as one of their 2016 destinations

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TACLOBAN CITY – A cruise ship will again dock next year in the two island towns on the opposite side of Eastern Visayas, both rich in culture and history, where foreigners on a cruise ship made stopovers six months ago.

“They loved their activities, enjoyed the rustic ambiance of the place and, most significantly, were charmed and friendliness of the entire community. And the good news is Limasawa in Southern Leyte and Capul in Northern Samar, will be part of another cruise itinerary next year, ” said Karen S. Tiopes, Department of Tourism director for Eastern Visayas.

The Zegrahm Expeditions is now marketing the 17-days journey to the wonderful places in the Philippines on March 12 to 28, 2016, according to their website.

The 100-expected guests are set to pay the cost of USD14,980 on island-hopping in the country aboard Caledonian Sky. The same cruise ship that brought foreigners on an excursion for 10-hours each to the two islands in the region.

The highlight of Zegrahm Expeditions 2016 is Palawan, but the 17-day cruising in the country will also bring tourists to Southern Leyte and Northern Samar.

It was the first time that a cruise ship visited Limasawa last Feb. 23, according to Mayor Melchor Petracorta.

He said that the local government unit expected more cruise ships to visit their place, as the town would celebrate the 5th centennial of the first catholic mass in the country and the Far East, on March 30, 2021.

When world explorer Ferdinand Magellan reached the beautiful island of Limasawa on March 16, 1521 together with his 150 crew, he asked Fr. Pedro de Vallerama to officiate mass on an Eastern Sunday, March 31, 1521.

The mayor said the tourists were captivated by the charm and splendor of the island. The guests were treated to an operatta (a short version of an opera) about Rajah Kulambo, the chieftain when the first Mass in the archipelago was held 494 years ago and his five wives.

They also learned to write their names in ancient Babayin. Tatooing using henna ink was part of their activity, with intricate designs of the Pintados – the indigenous people with tattooed bodies as called by the Spanish colonizers.

Limasawa was the biggest land excursion of the tourists complete with culinary feast with the “lechon” (roasted pig) as the centerpiece.

While the operatta show was ongoing, the more adventurous geologists, bird-watchers and divers were having whale shark encounter at the clear waters of Sogod Bay. In fact two whale sharks showed up according to Tiopes.

The other stopover of the tourists would be at the charming Capul island, one of the Balicuatro islands of Northern Samar.

The tourists had the fun of their lives, really experiencing how it is more fun in the Philippines. They experienced riding a carabao, a habal-habal (single motorcycle with one or more passengers), climbing a coconut tree, washing in the water spring with ladies singer while washing their clothes.

They had a tour of the coconut plantation to see the many uses of coconut tree – from making coconut oil, coconut lumber, charcoal, broom, baskets, decors, coconut meat made into delicious delicacies, among others.

When the foreigners aboard the 4,200 tonnage Caledonian Sky made a stopover at Capul last Feb. 18, they were greeted with native songs and dances.

The fun continued as folk dances were performed in the town plaza in front of the historic St. Ignacius de Loyola, a 400-year old stone church, one of the oldest churches in the country.

The guests were also brought to the historic Faro de Capul (lighthouse), they were awed by the scenic view and learned about the island’s past from guides.

With the many beautiful islands that we have, we hope to encourage more cruise tourism, said director Tiopes.