EL PESCADOR RESORT HOTEL, Bolinao: A Retrospect Account of our Stay in an Upscale Fisherman's Resort

Putting up a beach resort in the middle of a coastal town such as Bolinao is a challenging feat because the environmental impacts of a growing population around it definitely will be felt in the waters around it. Several mitigations such as rehabilitating the beach sand is but merely superficial because the sea water will still remain the same, replete with organic pollution from domestic wastes from the surrounding community rendering the shores foamy with detergent. 

The next best thing for the owners to compensate for the contaminated beachfront is to place a swimming pool.  That way the hotel resort still regains it stature  as the premiere tourist accommodation in town, the remains a venue for selfies and groupies but the swimming pool is the main palce fro getting wet.

When it was finally decided that Bolinao will be the venue for this year's environmental field trip, I contacted our accredited tour provider Exploria Tours Inc. regarding the accommodation and itinerary in Bolinao since I have no idea where to stay.  In going there, Exploria provided 2 brand new Toyota Hi-Ace and Grandia vans for the 12 students and 2 faculty which includes me.

El Pescador Resort Hotel was the accommodation of choice.  It's a premiere resort right at the very tip of Bolinao and gives a bilateral access to both the Marine Laboratory and Patar countryside.  Strategically, it was a good choice which I agreed.  However, since the beach was not really ideal, I told Hector our guide that I would prefer a resort where it would really nice to swim in the beach and not always in the pool.  

The Bolinao Environmental Field Trip was just an overnight event so we maximized the time by leaving Cavite at midnight and traveled throughout the night until we reached Bolinao early in the morning.  Despite the long trip, the students are still in high spirits because they are pretty well aware of what Bolinao has to offer.

Bolinao is a small, peaceful town where life seems to be uncomplicated yet shows cluttered signs of urbanization.  This piece of land making up the southern horn of the Lingayen Gulf is predominantly inhabited by local fisherman long before the coming of the Spaniards and had been constantly in trade with the neighboring Chinese.

Bolinaons believed the proximity of Bolinao to mainland Asia is made it very accessible to trade as demonstrated by the audacity of the Bolinao local government to claim that the first mass was actually celebrated here by an Italian priest and not in Limasawa.  If the claims are true then the Philippines has long been in contact with European explorers coming from the west long before Magellan sailing from the east arrived in the Visayas. 

Upon arriving in Bolinao our first stop was the visit to the Bolinao Marine Laboratory of the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines where the students had a lecture on different projects of coastal resource management and sustainable development.  We were also orientated in preparation for our island trip to Silaqui Island the next day.

After the visit to the Bolinao Marine Laboratory it was now time to check in the hotel and rest our travel-weary bodies.  The moment we arrived what do you think is the first thing that most people look for?  CORRECT!-THE BEACH!  I hurried down the lane leading to the beach unmindful of the people in the reception. It was a hot cloudless day and almost noon when we arrived.  There were no people around only us.  

When we reached the beachfront, we were not too impressed with what we saw.  There is this beach seemingly laid with white sand with a mixture of crushed corals and shells and everywhere from end to end is a long stretch of sea grass littered in the ebb tide with some debris mixed with the grass..  The sight is not something you would jump for joy. What a bummer!  The beach was actually not inviting at all. People don't want to go swimming in the beach if they don't have the chance to frolic in the sand.  In fact, in the entire duration of our stay, none of us actually swam or even dip in the sea in front of the hotel. 

After the beach we proceeded to the reception and noticed the swimming pool.  In fairness to the owner what they lack miserably in the beach they made it up in the swimming pool.  The pool is actually cool and very inviting to dive into.  I will be doing a review of it later on.

The hotel actually has two areas.  The building where we stayed seems new and the bungalows at the rear portion of the resort is the old part.  The new building has a spacious living room area with several sala sets, huge earth jars and a glass waterfalls making the ambiance of the reception area very cordial and cozy.  However, it was a little hot during midday since there's no airconditioning in the place.

We were led to our respective rooms and behold! The interior was elegantly designed with wood as the motif.  The room itself is very big with sofa.  What you're viewing here is just half of the room.  The other half looks exactly the same with prepared beds that look very inviting after a long night's journey.  It has refrigerator, dresser table, sofa set and flat screen TV with cable channels.  

(photo credit:  Jinky Lalaine Amon)

The room juts out into the sea via a balcony that gives guests a 180 degree picturesque view of the sea.  The downside of this however is that it doesn't have internet wi-fi.  Having disconnected with the virtual world might actually be a good thing so that it helps you reconnect with nature. 

  Second, the airconditioning is the inverter type where it automatically turns off during the night until it wakes you up because it's also too warm in the room.  We had a problem trying to set the thermostat so that it doesn't turn off often throughout the night.  We didn't sleep well that night.  Well, that's probably the energy conservation plan of the resort owner.  I hope it doesn't become a disadvantage for them when guests starts complaining.  Another thing is the shower while taking a bath.  The experience was like taking a shower under a drizzle of rain because the water heater is giving out too little water from the spout.  

But I do appreciate the water and energy conservation efforts of the owner.  But I think they should raise the awareness of the guests so that they don't come out of their complaining of these.  Many guests are wasteful because they have a mindset that they have to get their money's worth when staying in a hotel even to the point that they waste away the electricity and water more than what they paid for.  It is this very culture that contributes to our many environmental woes.   

Now, let's review the food in El Pescador! First of all, since the town of Bolinao is well known to be a fishing village, it is just fitting to give the resort its name "El Pescador" a Spanish word which means "fisherman" in English.  Given that, the menu always contains fish which expectedly should always be the case.  In all the dinner and lunch and even breakfast, different kinds of fish cuisine was served that goes well with the other viands occasionally accompanied with chicken and pork.  Of course the meal always comes complete with different preparations of vegetables.

Hector our tour guide was pleased with the way the tour was turning out fine that he treated everyone with "Halo-halo" a type of dessert which contains a variety of sweet ingredients and fruits mixed with crushed ice blended with sugar and milk. Halo-halo is a local name which means "mix-mix" in English.  Everyone jump for joy as they grab their goblet of the delicious treat and started to gobble up its delicious and cold contents to beat the summer heat.

Next is the swimming pool that makes you feel so royal since we practically had the place for ourselves which makes the experience very classy as if we were staying in a five-star hotel.  

The downside however is you don't get to see the view of the sea while enjoying your cool dip in the pool.  In the middle of the day there is really not much shade so expect to really get a deep tan by the afternoon.

(photo credit:  Jinky Lalaine Amon)

Probably the one thing that El Pescador really lacks is a dead center sunset or sunrise.  I'm always a sucker for sunrise and sunsets and I often while the time away doing nothing but wait for the perfect moment to take the shot. Upon orienting myself with the position of the sun, I realize the sun sets on the left side of the resort while facing the sea.  I was not really enthusiastic about taking a sunset picture with the sun dropping over land and the sky was blanketed by a hazy sky scattering the light all over the sky.  It actually created a panorama of a burning sky which regretfully I wasn't able to capture but luckily one of my students took this shot from her suite balcony.  However, the setting sun was really not good to shoot directly because the shape is very diffused and there is not corona to defined the boundaries.  It was a good sunset indeed while we were immersed in the swimming pool and resting after a tiring day's work.

The sunrise on the other hand came out on the other side if the resort and it was not your anticipated sun slowly coming out of the land.  It had actually risen up way past the horizon by cloaked in a layer of dark cottony clouds diffusing the light all around the sky.  By the time it appeard behind the clouds, it was already way up but at least it illuminated the sea beneath it where I got a picturesque scene of a fisherman preparing for today's fishing trip while the sun reflected gloomily on the waters beside him.  It was a good morning indeed!

While taking a stroll on the undesirable part of the resort where they dispose the construction debris of the resort, I came upon this junked Russian submarine parked in the corners.  I was able to determine its origin based on the inscription on one of its valves.  Seeing a submarine always raises my eyebrows about the intention of whoever the owner is.  

I first saw a submarine here also in the northern Philippines where it was displayed as one of the popular tourist spots also in the northern Philippines facing the West Philippine Sea.  Although it was still in a good condition it also raised some speculations in me.  Is it just coincidence that affluent people in the north of the country are fond of submarines?  Did you ever recall a local recreation or travel TV show that features submarines as their marine attractions?  Nah! I don't think so! Why would someone invest so much money on a submarine without using it for recreation business to recover his investment?  If you ask me, that's probably because he can recover it in another business that is clandestine, inconspicuous and probably illegal.  Why need a submarine? It was probably used for transporting contraband goods. The contraband goods if I may aptly describe it might have come from a country which is very close to the north of the country and the receiving party here in the Philippines might be a very affluent and influential person.  Anyway, they are all just speculations and I still leave it to you to figure it out as well.

Overall, our stay at the El Pescador was a pleasant experience that I may consider makes up for some of its shortcomings.  The food was delicious and adequately served.  The rooms were splendid despite the absence of internet connection and the energy ans water conservation features of the room.  The swimming pool was ok despite having no view of the sea.  But despite these setbacks, El Pescador still remains a resort hotel to recommend because of the hospitality and the good security and concern for privacy of its management.  I just hope that when the resort is complete that they should have a very efficient solid waste and water treatment facility to mitigate the pollution and maintain a sustainable environmental management plan so people will still flock to this resort hotel everytime they visit to see the treasures of Bolinao.

SAMANG NORTE FALLS, Bolinao: Seize the Moment and Take the Plunge or Forever Regret

Have you ever visited a super awesome place but regret not doing what you want to do?  There are moments in life that one has to take a leap of faith for one to find out what's on the other side.  Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.  If you wait for a lifetime for the right moment is a paradox.  Take a chance and whether it came out right or wrong are all the lessons of life.  If you dare nothing, then when the day is over, nothing is all you will have gained.  The brief moment I had with my students when we visited this enchanting falls imparts a simple but relevant lesson in life.

When the moment came for me to prepare for the annual Environmental Science field trip, our original destination was supposed to be Palawan but many complications arose which prompted us to shift our attention to Bolinao, Pangasinan.  I had to create an itinerary that covers both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.  The tour provider presented several proposals that was a little too high for the students so I streamlined the program.  One thing that entered my mind are the waterfalls of Bolinao.  

Every time I write about  a place I always see to it that I write trivial information that stimulates the curiosity of my readers.  But on this occasion the name "samang" which is the name of Bolinao Falls 2 doesn't seem to hit anything on every search engine I used in the internet.  The old-timers here could probably shed some light about the name of this place.  From what I have gathered, the closest I  have ever come to getting to know the origin or the palce is that "samang" maybe the contracted form of the word "samahan", which depicts the regionalism of Filipinos in the northern region, hence the very popular S.I. or Samahang Ilocano.

The hectic schedule of our Bolinao environmental field trip relegated the visit to this falls on the last agenda of our list.  The morning was a tiring activity for the students where they went snorkeling the entire morning to swim up close and personal with the giant clams.  After we returned to the hotel, every one ate lunch, took their final bath and prepared to go home.  Everyone was tired and no longer consider the idea of getting wet again when we visit Samang Norte Falls on the way home.  But for someone like me who seizes every moment to get wet when chasing waterfalls is something that will never fade away.  

It was a whopping 7 kilometers of rough road drive inland from the main highway for the 2 brand new Toyota Hi-Ace Vans we were riding but the travel was relatively comfortable.  I was ever ready to get wet as soon as we arrive at the falls.  But for the students who were spick and span when they trekked to the falls, what welcomed us was a jay-dropping sight of a very beautiful falls inviting a weary traveler to just let it go and take the plunge.  I immediately seized the moment and jumped into the water.  No sooner was I in the water when the student all went back to the vans to change back to their wet clothes.

I had the falls all for myself at that moment and thank God for this feeling of peace and serenity that He has given me in my life despite the challenges that beset me in the past.  All that has come to pass and everyone of us has our ups and downs in life. But what matters most is how we rise up and learn to move on with life.  All these peace and tranquility I give thanks to the Almighty.

 One thing I regret not doing during our visit to this beautiful falls, as a photographer, I allowed myself to be dumbstruck by the beauty of the place that I forgot to venture and capture the waterfalls with my camera at all angles possible.  The mysterious bottom that is not visible from the surface had such a hypnotic effect on me that all that was in my mind was to jump in the water to get that adrenaline rush my body was craving for. The same effect seemed to have taken over everyone else since the only business at hand was to jump in.

The students had youth on their side and the feeling of invincibility as they jump fearlessly into the dark waters of the pool below.  Those are privileges they are now enjoying which they will cherish and never regret doing for the rest of their lives.  

But for me as a mid-century man, the adrenaline rush is my fountain of youth to keep all the diseases at bay that are constantly threatening my very existence here on Earth.  Just like them, I took a leap of faith and it felt good.  But for those who hesitated, there will still be other times to try it but I advised not to wait for the right time because there is no such thing as a right time for moments like these.

In relation to our topic of ecotourism, many tourism in natural areas such as this waterfalls is not genuine ecotourism and is not, therefore, sustainable. Ecotourism is distinguished by its emphasis on conservation, education, traveler responsibility and active community participation. Specifically, ecotourism should possess the following characteristics: a conscientious, low-impact visitor behaviour; sensitivity towards, and appreciation of, local cultures and biodiversity; support for local conservation efforts; sustainable benefits to local communities; local participation in decision-making; educational components for both the traveler and local communities.  

Increased tourism to sensitive natural areas without appropriate planning and management can threaten the integrity of ecosystems and local cultures. The increase of visitors to ecologically sensitive areas can lead to significant environmental degradation. Likewise, local communities and indigenous cultures can be harmed in numerous ways by an influx of wealth and other temptations.  Although there are clear efforts being undertaken by the local community, they still have a long way to go in keeping the ecotourism of Bolinao Falls sustainable through the years.

  

CAPE BOLINAO LIGHTHOUSE, ENCHANTED CAVE and BALINGASAY RIVER: Awesome Bolinao Attractions All-In-One!

The Patar countryside is rich with awesome tourist sites such as an iconic lighthouse, long stretch of powdery, light-brown sand beaches, coastal rock formations, 3 subterranean caves, a marine sanctuary and a pristine river estuarine all together makes Bolinao a must-visit destination for an avid traveler and photographer.  With so many caves to visit, Enchanted Cave was our chosen hole to explore and this is our story.

After an afternoon swim and marveling at the rock formations from afar, we traced our way back to the hotel and passed by the Patar lighthouse. Cape Bolinao Lighthouse in Abac, Patar, is one of the famous lighthouses in the town of Bolinao, Pangasinan, the other being Port Bolinao Lighthouse in Guigui-wanen, Barangay Luciente I. 

It is the second tallest lighthouse in the Philippines after the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, which is in Ilocos Norte. The lighthouse has a crucial role in preventing accidents at sea for over a hundred years in an international maritime corridor to Hongkong, Japan, USA and other countries.

We had a posterity groupie on the ledge of the lighthouse compound overlooking the West Philippine Sea.  Built on top of the rocky hill Punta Piedra Point, the lighthouse overlooks the West Philippine Sea. Also visible from the lighthouse are archeological sites where artifacts from the 14th to the 15th centuries have been uncovered, the 1,269 hectare Cape Bolinao Dendro Thermal Ipil-Ipil Plantation, vast white beaches, and coral reefs.  Cape Bolinao Lighthouse is about 351 feet above sea level. 

The land elevation, according the Bureau of Geodetic Surveys, is 250 feet, while the lighthouse structure itself is 101 feet high. It has a large revolving lens. A system of gears turned by pendulum weights held by a steel cable, much like a clock, causes the light apparatus to rotate. Visibility from the lighthouse reaches up to 20 miles midsea towards a lighthouse at Poro Point.  Cape Bolinao Lighthouse was constructed in 1905 by American, British, and Filipino engineers to guide ships and boats plying Cape Bolinao in order to prevent sea disasters.

Our next stop was the Enchanted Cave.  The cave is one of three geological caverns along the Patar coast.  The very same type of rock makes up the rock formations scattered across the Patar beach.  Close scrutiny reveals the igneous rock type suggesting the volcanic geology of the place.  Although there are no active volcano in the area, it is interesting to note that embedded in the solidified magma are fossilized seashells that seems prehistoric in nature.

I was wondering whether the Enchanged Cave and other similar caves in the area are covered by the law declaring caves as protected areas and if so, no alterations should be constructed in the cave to preserve the natural state of the geologic formation. The cave is located within a private property and the owner charges a particular fee for visitors.  I just hope that the owner avoids creating structures that would ruin the natural appearance of the cave's interior but sadly, I will be disappointed with what I will see. Along the path going to the cave is a collection of fossilized giant clams displayed in a plot indicating that these giant mollusks are in fact endemic to the area.

  We had another posterity groupie as a remembrance of a memorable experience in Bolinao before some of my students will be graduating and carving a new career out in their respective fields of environmental science.

The path to the cave is entirely paved in concrete.  I would understand the concern of the owner because the pavement prevents mud from being carried into the cave.  That's probably the price for considering the safety and satisfaction of the tourists.  But I believe the owner can create concrete paths that are a little less conspicuous and one that blends with the environment.

As we entered the cave's entrance, a stairway leads to the narrow opening.  A sense of thrill begins to build up in each one of us as we eagerly await what would greet us upon entering inside.

Upon entering inside the cavern, surprisingly, there was a staging area for guests before going down into the natural pool below.  I was a little bit disappointed with the concrete floor because they could have made it a little natural if they had used indigenous adobe stones that would have blended well with the cavern walls.  A ventilation fan was also installed because the rocky walls absorb the heat from the outside and releases the heat inside the cave which increases the internal temperature a little bit higher.  With the heat, you would really be inclined to enter the cool water to offset the anxiety brought by the heat.  Everyone was hurrying to take a dip despite the mysterious appearance of the natural pool where the pool's bottom is not visible from the surface.

The air inside the cave has a characteristic sulfur odor suggesting that the cave is indeed volcanic in nature.  There was a floating feeling of euphoria in everyone as all of us is enjoying a first-time experience swimming in a natural pool in a subterranean chamber.

A lifeguard is stationed inside to ensure that visitors comply to the rules while inside the cave.  He is also there to ensure the safety of everyone swimming in the pool.  We had a thrilling moment when I requested him to turn off the lights for at least 5 seconds to have the feeling of total darkness inside a cavern.  Some of the students were a little bit scared so the lights were just off for about 3 seconds only. That was surely one memorable experience for everyone.

After that refreshing dip inside the cave, everyone emerged very happy but a little bit hungry.  Good thing Hector our tour guide brought a long some snacks to relieve some of the hunger pangs.

Up on the surface, there is also a swimming pool for visitors who a a bit claustrophobic from entering the cave.  It has a grotto in front and a refreshing ambiance of open air and trees in the surrounding.  The owner does have a good foresight in addressing different kinds of visitors.

Our last stop after Enchanted Cave and before calling it a day is the Balingasay River.  This is the first time I"ve heard about this river and research told me that this was once given the recognition of being one of the cleanest rivers in the Philippines.  The entire stretch of the river is protected area and the banks inhabited by mangroves that serves as an environmental buffer which is one very important ecosystem service that mangroves provide.  

It was unfortunate for us to find out that there is actually a boat ride that tours visitors around the mangrove area but sadly our itinerary cannot accommodate this activity during our Bolinao tour.

Today was a very successful and educational experience for everyone! We get to see the pristine beaches of Patar, the anthropogenic navigational lighthouse, a fully disturbed cave system and a mangrove estuarine river.  All these attractions visited in just one afternoon of fun and exploration.  In concluding our environmental lesson for the day, conventional tourism causes damage to the environment. Minimization of the impact thru ecotourism requires regulating the numbers and mode of behavior of tourists to ensure limited damage to the ecosystem.  Ecotourism means education, for both tourists and residents of nearby communities. More importantly, if ecotourism is to be viewed as a tool for rural development, it must also help shift economic and political control to the local community, village, cooperative, or entrepreneur. This is the most difficult and time-consuming principle in the economic equation and the one that most often  fall through the cracks if improperly followed.