CAMIGUIN 7: Paras Resort

This is where we stayed during our Camiguin vacation. 

Twenty-eight years ago, this did not even exist. I asked Cynthia, our host before the name of the beach with lots of coconut trees and where we jumped off to the White Island and she said that is the present location of the Paras Resort.

Paras Beach Resort is just a short ride from Mambajao, Camiguin's capital and a few minute boat ride away from  the  white sand beaches of the famous White Island.

Paras Beach Resort was originally built as a private beach house of the Paras family, but now has become a popular vacation accommodation, known for comfort and convenience in Camiguin.

Since its opening in March of 1995, Paras Beach Resort has extended its doors to both local and foreign tourists. 

that's White Island off shore...

Cottages and amenities

Flowers in Paras Beach Resort

Paras at night...

Accommodations: Here are some of the room choices there...

Standard Room
- (8 rooms) airconditioned with hot & cold shower, cable TV, telephone
- 1 queen size bed and 1 single bed

Superior Room
- (6 rooms) airconditioned with hot & cold shower, cable TV, telephone, refrigerator
- 1 queen size bed and 1 single bed

Deluxe Room
- (8 rooms) airconditioned with hot & cold shower, cable TV, telephone
- 2 queen size bed and 1 sofa bed

Suite Room
- (2 rooms) airconditioned with hot & cold shower, cable TV, telephone, refrigerator
- 2 queen size beds and 1 sofa bed

Family Suite Room
- (1 room) airconditioned with hot & cold shower, cable TV, telephone, refrigerator
- 4 single bed

My friend told be not to miss the yummy pizza just across Paras Resort...but she told me only after. Why not try it...I heard the chef is a foreigner...

We had a very comfortable stay in Paras Resort and I think this is an ideal place to stay in Camiguin!

CAMIGUIN 5: Via Cruzes, Sunken Cemetery, Old Church Ruins

We visited three old religious landmarks in Camiguin: the Via Cruzes, the Old Church Ruins and the Sunken Cemetery.


First stop: Via Cruzes, the Old Volcano Slope
Life size statues of the 14 Stations of the Cross [Jesus' passion, death and resurrection] dot the trail to Old Vocano's Peak. 

We didn't reach the peak...I think I would surrender before reaching it, but then, the others were lazier... 


Second Stop: Old Catarman Church Ruins
This is the Ruins of Gui-ob Church in Barangay Bonbon, 16 kms. from Catarman. We see ruins of adobe walls, belfry and convent which remained after the 1871 earthquake and volcano eruption which wiped out Catarman.

As we visit the place, I appreciate the beauty of the ruins, the green grass and tall trees and the airy atmosphere... I couldn't visualize the destruction of the eruption. 


Third Stop: the Sunken Cemetery

A large white cross marks a cemetery swept into the sea by Old Vulcan's eruption in 1871. This is an ideal place to watch the Camiguin sunset over the ocean. It is also frequently visited place for snorkeling and diving. 

An annual fluvial procession is held in honor of the sunken graves of their forefathers and as a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and usually done on the month of November.

It sort of has an eerie feel... maybe, because it is associated with ghost stories and suspense movies. But, its presence on the sea is a marvel in itself! I couldn't picture the snorkellers and divers of these wrecks...

This side of Camiguin is so historical and religious and I am happy that this is preserved as a tourist place. It shows the deeper side of Camiguin, other than the beauty of the seas and the beaches.

CAMIGUIN 4: White Island

Today, they wanted to go to the White island, but I wasn't too keen to wake up before 6 a.m. just to go there. But they woke up Joko to join them and I woke up, too. I followed them just to take pictures as they take the boat ride, but in my subconscious, I know I wanted to join them...and so I did! I was unprepared but I guess for me, the most important thing to bring was just my camera..and nothing else!

White Island is a sandbar about 1.4 kilometers off the shores of Camiguin between Agoho and Yumbing district and is one of the most popular sites to visit in the island. 

the building behind the boatman is Paras Resort!

Barangay Agoho and Yumbing are 4 km north of Mambajao. A motorela brings you there in 10 minutes.

Since we were already in the Paras Resort across the White Island, we just needed an 8 to 12 minute boat ride from the boat-station in Yumbing, beside the Paras Resort to the White Island costing about Php 300.00 to 400.00 per boat and you can divide the cost depending on the number of passengers, up to 8 people.

This sandbar has absolutely no trees nor shrubs, with picturesque  background, Mt. Hibok-Hibok and Mt. Vulcan. 

I thought I remembered a single shrub there 28 years ago but I guess it may have been a small hut!

I thought there was a shrub then...and we were the only visitors, only four of us!

We now have to pay an environmental fee of P20.00 but it is fine since they really do keep the beach clean.

Sign the visitors record book and pay Php 20.00...

Since it is a sandbar, of course, we see lots of white sand. Now, there is a continuous influx of tourists in little pump boats visiting the sandbar where you can swim, snorkel or simply just enjoy the view. 

The island is still big enough and there are areas
where the visitors don't necessarily go there anymore...

found a little shade...

don't forget the souvenirs...

looks modern from the vantage point...

It was enough for me just to be there again...

Freedom!!!

the seaweed and the sand dollar...

now back to Paras Resort!

I appreciate the people of Camiguin and how their political will makes their Island a very nice and comfortable place to visit! It is very clean...with good roads...kind people...and they have developed the tourist spots they have...and still keep the rustic feel!

CAMIGUIN 3: Katibawasan Falls

From WikiPilipinas: Katibawasan Falls is a waterfalls located five kilometers southeast of Mambajao at the foot of Mt. Timpoong in the island of Camiguin. It measures about 250 feet which cascades to a rock pool surrounded by ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders.

"Katibawasan" word is from Cebuano and Illonggo dialect 

which means: "To have overcome".

How To Get There:  From the port you can rent a car, jeep or a multi-cab for Php1500 this will included the tour of whole Island, this amount was set by the tourism department of Camiguin.

However, when we went there, we brought our own transportation all the way from Zamboanga to Cagayan to Camiguin and back...

Here we are now in Katibawasan Falls. As we enter we pay Php 30.00 per person. 
After 28 years, I see again the beauty of this thin cascading falls and am contented to just behold it! This time, we didn't dip into the pool, and I was so excited just taking pictures of it!

in the 80s, we were young then, and did funny things!...
nobody around then, so we could do what we wanted to do...

in the 80s...

Here we are now in Katibawasan Falls in 2010...

as we enter we meet this "guy"!

the waterfalls is veil-like!

The structures in the area are more cemented than when we last went...

I try to catch the water...

or do this!!!

Of course, as you go out, there are souvenir shops there...

Imagine all the way to Camiguin, the shop will still be named 168...

Off we go to our next stop...