Selinog is her name.
She lies off the coast of Zamboanga del Norte and sits in the Philippines’ Bohol Sea.
Map of the Philippines.
The Approach
She can be elusive, making you cut through voluminous waves—unless the mistress of the sea, decides to lay out a mirror-like water track for you, easing your bangka boat ride.
The boat ride to this isolated strip can take up to two hours in a motorized outrigger.
An elongated strip of white sand heralds what she has to offer.
The chameleonic ocean blue water furtively mutes to turquoise, moments before the island appears on the horizon. A miniature bay fronts her, bathing her alabaster shores.
Selinog, formerly known as Silino, is home to less than eight hundred people. It’s been designated a marine reserve due to its pristine white sand beaches and aquatic resources. (Source: Dept of Tourism)
She lies amidst the blue and yet the ocean depths have succumbed to her charm–nature whimsically sculpting a pool by design on her shores.
Above her, luminous skies coalesce with the weather, bathing all who behold her with hues of bright and light.
Bankgas bring visitors to this isolated paradise in the Southern Philippines. Source: Doc Sam Wanderer
The Arrival
As soon as we set foot on her sands, her crystalline waters warmed our skin and spirits. Sparsely planted rental palm-shades lined her foreshore, evoking respite shelters and afternoon naps. As we delved past them, a makeshift market consisting of a lone hut was manned by two fishermen selling the catch of the day. The haul was eclectic, ranging from minute parrot fish to a 25-kilogram yellow fin.
Aside from island fishing, Selinog residents also make salt, weave baskets, and offer marine tourism and home stays for a living.
DAY TRIPPING
We had planned to spend the day on the island, so we purchased a portion of the day’s catch—fresh off the boat, with the promise of meal prepared by the women of the village soon after.
The sand bar protruding from the island divided the waters in a Solomon-like fashion, one side tranquil, the other agitated by seasonal winds. We bathed in the more serene waters, washing away all of our worldly storms and currents of unrest.
Source: Weekend Traveller
The placid waters were rivaled by the pathway that led to the heart of the island. Well-kempt lawns and carefully tended tropical gardens lined the path, with not a single discard in sight—only flowers, palm trees, and lush green shrubs.
For a moment, I had a déjà vu, envisioning myself in a remote Swiss village—organized, well groomed, and idyllic—a far cry from the tropical disarray that one has come to expect in the Philippines.
The Treasure
The inhabitants of Selinog, slightly elder, donned tanned complexions and irrefutably genuine smiles—the same smiles etched on our faces as soon as we saw the shaded beach-front table that an hour later awaited us with the tide’s banquet. Perfectly grilled fish, heartwarming fish broth, and white rice aplenty.
Like the gift that keeps on giving, the triad view of sea, sun, and aquamarine brought everyone’s best version to the table, galvanized the depth in our conversations, and harmonized our inner pulsing.
Photo from the author.
The Departure
Stomachs and hearts well-fed, we left Selinog not with a heavy heart but with our essences replenished.
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