On May 5 and 6, I was thrilled to join the fam tour and tourism product run for Maripipi and Sambawan Island in Biliran together with tourism officials from DOT Region 8, tour operators from Tacloban and Ormoc City, official tour guides, local media, as well as the Maripipi LGU municipal & barangay officials. It was a wonderful experience which honestly took me by surprise.

Why? Because it was a different kind of summer adventure. This wasn't just fun and frolicking at the beach under the sun... this is was SO MUCH MORE! And you can watch my YouTube VLOG and experience it for yourself virtually.

Honestly, when my mother-in-law said we were going to Sambawan Island, I thought that was it! She said it was an invitation from the DOT Region 8. We didn't get any itinerary and we were the only ones from Ormoc. Everyone else was from Tacloban. But that didn't stop us from mingling with the group and connecting with them during the trip. I gained a whole new experience and a wonderful set of new friends as well. The goal of this trip was to showcase what Biliran has to offer and of course, promote tourism. And you know what, I am super happy to show you guys all the amazing things we learned, tried, and conquered.

If you want to visit Maripipi and Sambawan Islands, there are professional tour guides from local LGUs to make your experience as memorable as ours and of course, provide you if not entertain you at the same time with fun facts and trivia to make your trip even more worthwhile. I highly suggest contacting a TOUR OPERATOR like Fran-Con Viaje International for a hassle-free and compelling tour package for a getaway to Biliran Province.



From Ormoc City, we drove to Naval in Biliran for almost 2 hours (roads in Lemon, Leyte are still undergoing repairs and construction), but if you're lucky you can get there in just an hour and a half if you get a ride from V-HIRES (14-seater passenger vans). You can take a ferry to Maripipi and Sambawan island from Naval but it will take you 2 hours to get there via pumpboat. So instead, for this tour, we set off from Kawayan Port, which is 30 minutes away north of Naval. From there, it took just 40 minutes to get to Maripipi Island.


The cultural immersion we participated in was truly awesome and educational even for someone like me who isn't from the big city and is also a provincial gal. What more if you're from an urban jungle and you get this whole new level of adventure?


The tour was actually very educational as it gave you the ultimate glimpse of what life is like living in a place where THERE IS ZERO CRIME RATE! OMG! For real! They don't even have a jail and the police who are assigned there count themselves very lucky because it's like living in paradise! So I asked, "Why is Maripipi known as the ISLAND OF NO RETURN?" The townsfolk replied and told me it's because people who go there subsequently STAY! Either that or they go home with wives already! LOL. Life is just so much simpler and better in the island. Our Habal-Habal (motorycle) driver told us it should now be known as the ISLAND OF MANY RETURNS. Check out my video to see the sights and sounds of Maripipi Island.


During our tour around the island, I can't help but notice the numerous and huge volcanic rocks everywhere. It occured to me that the island is probably a volcano and when it erupted, that is what made Sambawan Island nearby. And then we saw this humongous rock with a footprint! It's a huge foot! And so it was narrated that back in the day, there may have been giants that lived there... Or it could be BIG FOOT, who knows? :P


When we asked why it is called MARIPIPI, we were told that according to legend, two star-crossed lovers fled Biliran (the mainland) to this island and they were its first inhabitants. Their names were MARIA and PEPE. Eventually, the island was named after them but spelled MARIPIPI. Their mayor, Hon. Uldarico Macorol, is very down to earth and accomodating that it was pretty obvious from the interactions between his constituents that he is loved dearly and well respected. Also to be noted is how clean it is all over the island. I have nothing but praise for their solid waste management. They have a very effective garbage segregation and disposal practices! WOW! I wish we had their kind of discipline. Good job, guys!

After we explored the 10 different sites in Maripipi, we now headed to Sambawan island which only took 30 minutes to cross via pumpboat. We got there just in time to witness the amazing sunset which I am so sad I couldn't capture very well because I didn't actually bring my digital camera. You should know that I took photos and videos of this trip using only my iPhone. Like I said, I really didn't know we were going on an adventure. I thought I was only gonna be sippin' piñacoladas and soaking up the sun on the beach. I tried though...

 
Sambawan Island did not disappoint. The island is mosquito-free, fly-free, and lizard-free as far as I am concerned, with those things I consider significantly when I visit a certain place. If you're thinking white sand like the one I went to recently in Macrohon, Leyte or as fine as the ones you find in Kalanggaman Island or Digyo Island, well, that's not the case. This island is actually made of corals. Just like Tangkaan Point in Padre Burgos.


But the view is SPECTACULAR!!!



The beach is not so big and it is good that they are controlling the influx of tourists because seriously I'm not fond of overcrowded beaches.


It really is a beautiful island that you need to visit and put in your bucket list ASAP! There are many cottages and huts available but you'll need to book them via tour operators or the local Tourism office of Biliran. You can stay overnight in a big cottage which accomodates up to 10 persons. There are beds and mats available. It costs Php2,500 for an overnight stay. Their bathroom and toilet are very nice, too! Way better than I expected. Open-air small cottages are also available where you can pitch your tents in front. It costs only Php1,000 for the big ones and Php500 for the small ones. Entrance fee to the island is Php50 per head.


While it is best to bring your own food to the island, in 2-3 weeks' time the restaurant will be opening and if you get a tour package via the tour operators and official tour guides, you can even have full board meals if you wish just like we did during our trip. No more hassle with worrying what and where to eat. They will just serve you what you need. :) Here's a yummy pan de coco, locally made in Sambawan Island.

Made in Sambawan!

To get the best view of the island, you'll have to climb up a hill. It's a rather tiring ascent but it is worth it, I'm telling you.



If you're interested to visit the place, please contact FRAN-CON VIAJE INTERNATIONAL to book a tour with them or inquire about the MARIPIPI-SAMBAWAN ISLAND packages. Add them on Facebook or visit their website at www.viajeintl.com. You can also drop by their office at  Unit 1 D. Santiago Bldg., Real Street, Ormoc City or call Tel. No. (6353) 561-8039/  Mobile No. (63) 919 568 5757 / (63) 0917 306 1209. Email them at travelandtours@viajeintl.com.

In the meantime, here's my VLOG below which you can also watch at http://youtube.com/mymaria. Enjoy!






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