I will always love Sibugay

“We cannot spend much time here especially that it’s going to be dark soon,” said one of our military escorts the moment I walked in the fine white sand beaches of Looc Labuan in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay. “I spent almost two hours traveling to the place and would stay here for only five minutes?” I muttered. Nevertheless, I said not a word. I smiled but in my mind I was decided on finishing the ceremony of releasing the nine-day old turtles to the sea. Getting to the site, we traversed the muddy, narrow feeder road that led to the Looc Labuan beaches. We had a truckload of amiable, efficient military escorts who joined us from Ipil, the capital town of Sibugay to the municipality town of Tungawan where Looc Labuan is. Dr. Dan Oporto from the DENR had invited us to take part in freeing the turtles to the sea. We had met the doctor the night before during dinner at Gov. George Hofer’s house. It seemed like a noble idea freeing these tiny little creatures to their own habitat. Life of the little turtles is in danger the doctor said, if they stay on land. They could be killed by predators like snakes and humans. And if at sea they are not found by creatures bigger than them, they are safe. Human turtle poachers are their biggest enemy, he said.

In the beginning, I was uneasy about the military hovering all over us as we moved around Sibugay to tape stories for Boy & Kris. I learned later that they were necessary. The Looc Labuan beach area then was called a “no man’s land.” Travel to Looc Labuan was a bumpy yet fun ride. We had to alight from our 4x4 Ford Everest thinking less weight inside the car would make it easier for the driver to manipulate the murky, muddy roads. “Huwag hihinga,” I exhorted my companions Philip, Eyen, Almed as the driver navigated with all his might the muddy roads. It was like off-road racing. The one we watch on TV. I was told that this particular road is going to be fixed in the next few months.

The day we were to leave for Looc Labuan, Al Raagas, one of Rep. Ann Hofer’s staff had choreographed the vehicles to be used. We didn’t know why everybody was asked to ride in four wheel drive cars. Hindi pwede yan, he signaled to the Honda CRV driver that carried my executive producer Jhasmine and Boy & Kris writer Darla.

We passed by well-paved roads, that has a view of the tranquil Sibuguey Sea. The sight was cool and beautiful. We went though winding turns that seemed like we were moving around the Ifugao rice terraces. Are we there yet? asked Philip my assistant. In five minutes we are there, said the driver.

Dr. Oporto and some barangay officials greeted our party — Rep. Ann Hofer, Karla and Mon Fernandez, and the Boy & Kris staff. Dr. Oporto explained that he made a mistake in identifying the turtles as hawksbill the night before. They are, he said, green turtles. Then we freed the young turtles to the sea. It was heartwarming. This place that used to be a “no man’s land” is now a quiet, peaceful community of former Muslim rebels who made friends with the formidable, no-nonsense father of Sibugay Province, Gov. George Hofer.

Zamboanga Sibugay is an enchanting place. It is peaceful, refreshing, pleasant and relaxing. No hurried pace of the city. The air smells good. Wherever you look, you see beautiful hills, grazing lands and a vastness of greens. Zamboanga Sibugay was initially a part of the province of Zamboanga del Sur. And in 2000, the third district of Zamboanga del Sur became a province largely with the initiative of then Rep. George Hofer now governor of Sibugay. Sibugay is a land of many attractions. It is home to the oldest rubber plantation in the country and the largest rubber producing province in the country. It is also one of the top three provinces that produce sea weeds or agar-agar. Zamboanga Sibugay has been attracting local and foreign tourists and foreign investors. It is rich in minerals, marine and agricultural products.

During my five-day stay, I learned how to tap rubber sap which is best bled from 4 to 6 a.m. I get to sample the smell of money (that is how they call the stinking smell of rubber) that permeates in Naga. I wore rubber boots made from Naga rubbers. I also got to taste Kabalasan oysters. Kabalasan is home to one of the world’s freshest, tastiest and biggest oysters. Oysters grow best in murky waters. In Kabalasan, oysters are planted in knee deep waters. And after a few months they are ready for picking.

We also visited the gallery of Saud Ahmad, whose paintings are hanged in the houses of former First Lady Amelita Ramos, Tingting Cojuangco and many others. Saud did not have formal lessons in painting and his style which he calls ochre is entirely his. He has been featured in international magazines. Saud treated us to a sumptuous lunch of curacha, prawns and inihaw na bangus.

Also becoming a tourist attraction in Sibugay is Noah’s Ark. As the name connotes, it is a huge boat single handedly built by Narciso “Jack” Sardual, a former sailor who has made a good fortune traversing the seas. However, an unfortunate incident happened in his life that led him to build the enormous Noah’s Ark. And in a few year’s time, Noah’s Ark is ready to ply the seas. He has been able to continue building his gargantuan boat with the help of Gov. George and his family.

I will always love Sibugay as I will always love Zamboanga. On our way back home to Manila, we dropped by Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City. Earlier in the week, en route to Sibugay, I was asked to speak before Rep. Beng Climaco’s scholars at the Western Mindanao State University. It was a huge crowd full of wide-eyed dreamers. It was inspiring to see them express their dreams. I could have stayed longer to listen to their aspirations, but I had to rush as I was to start my journey to the beautiful province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Thank you Mommy Dulce Hofer for being a kapamilya. And thank you Tita Linda for the sinful cassava cake, thank you Jet Hofer and everyone in Sibugay for your hospitality.

Zamboanga Sibugay, we will see you again.