Cruise ship visits EV tourism sites

CEBU, Philippines – A total of 75 foreign tourists and 12 escorts on board the 100-suite Caledonian Sky cruise ship, operated by Zegrahm Expeditions, visited the historical island of Capul in Northern Samar on February 18, and then Limasawa Island on February 23.

Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said the international cruise was intended for “historical Philippine islands,” and that the tourists’ visit to Capul was a “success,” as they were awed by the historical Faro de Capul (lighthouse), learned of the island history, danced with local performers, and were serenaded with local songs at the fortress church.

Tiopes said the tourists, “warmly welcomed by the locals,” also rode for the first time the “habal-habal”, and the “kangga”, a carabao-drawn wooden sled. “They were also engaged by the community in their short walk to the banadero (public bath), watched the local women sang while doing laundry with one guest trying his hand at washing his shirt using the traditional “palo-palo.”

The tourists were also taken to a coconut farm where the locals showed them why the coconut tree is called the "tree of life", how copra is made—from harvesting to drying and transport—and one guest even tried to climb a coconut tree.

The locals also demonstrated how broomsticks, baskets, roof shingles, and charcoal are made from coco materials, and watched how delicacies using cocomeat and cocomilk were cooked. “They couldn’t resist tasting the food and even bought some for take home,” Tiopes said.

While walking down the island’s narrow streets, they were welcomed by schoolchildren waving flaglets and singing Waray-waray and Abaknon songs. To cap their tour, they had snacks of local delicacies, tasted lechon, and quenched their thirst with fresh buco juice, Tiopes said.

The cruise ship later sailed and dropped anchor off Limasawa in Southern Leyte, where the tourists combed the white beach, went diving and whaleshark watching at the Pintuyan-San Francisco area. They also watched a dance dance operetta about Rajah Kulambo and his five wives, learned to write in Baybayin and had henna tattoos with traditional pintado designs of the island.